The Bidding Room (2020– ) User Reviews

Experts?

[plan99 · 5/10 · 12 July 2020]

I am a fan of this type of programme, does that make me sad? probably but I don't care and I'll continue to watch them anyway. Normally I'm impressed by the knowledge of the "experts" on this type of programme, and I usually learn something from every episode, yes there's a but coming. I often know more about an object than the experts on this programme do so how they got the job I don't know. The prices that they are willing to pay are all over the place, common low value items are bought for too much, modern Capodemonte for example is a very low quality crudely made item that should have been laughed out of the room but they were fighting to buy it. Rare and beautiful items are bought for low prices that should have been bid up much higher but are not due to the experts' lack of knowledge. It's still worth watching however just to see what comes in the door next. I can't criticise Nige as that would be like kicking a puppy, it just can't be done can it.

October 2020 a Bronze figure of a horse is brought in and one of the "experts" asks "is it brass?".

Another "expert" praises the owner of an old bottle of wine for it being "corked" meaning the cork is still in it but the expression "corked" when applied to wine means that the wine has reacted badly with the cork making it undrinkable.

Their lack of knowledge is increasingly obvious.

January 2021 and an album of first day covers, which stamp dealers have difficulty giving away, was correctly valued at £10 is bid up to £150 and the seller doesn't accept the offer! The seller was even dafter than the person willing to pay £150 for a £10 item.

Budget four rooms

[alanfisher2001 · 5/10 · 18 February 2021]

If you have an item worth less than 200 pounds, then you might get lucky. Nigel Havers in white trainers, some expert in a cap, some experts who seem to avoid spending anything apart from Addie, who at least puts a bid in. Trouble is the bottom has fallen out the secondhand market, no one wants tat figurines etc cluttering up their house.

The 'Go Back Home With Your Stuff' Room

[charliehmi · 5/10 · 2 June 2022]

Members of the public arrive with personal items to sell to a room full of expert dealers to cover their train fare home. Beforehand an expert in a flat cap values the item. Nigel Havers presents and camps it up in a suit and trainers.

The trouble is, the items brought in either rarely match the tastes of the dealers, or more often than not they have no idea what it is. It's embarrassing sometimes how little they know, especially after being introduced as being 'at the top of their game'.

Items will be valued at 200-300, yet in the room will struggle to get to £50, or just receive no interest at all. First bid £20, then everyone else 'is out'. This happens a lot. It makes for extremely dull viewing sometimes.

So bad it's embarrassing

[juliet-67159 · 2/10 · 16 February 2021]

Not a bad idea but copied from Four Rooms and done on the cheap. The whole thing is charm free zone poor old Nigel Havers has sunk to this. The expert with his 'insider knowledge ' is clueless I dont know where they got him from but you might as well ask any man/ woman on the street who watched Bargain Hunt twice a year

He doesnt even know the dates for Victorian and Edwardian stuff he is usually way way out in his valuations. The dealers arent a whole better they can only cope with the tatty show them anything good like a classy painting and they are out of their depth., What is it for? Take it away please!

Pointless

[davey-bc · 7 July 2021]

Probably one of the most pointless TV Formats ever devised. "I'll give you £20.... I'll give you £30 .....£35......Sold. How this ever got to air i do not know. There is no programme here. No substance. It has neither the interest of Antiques Roadshow, none of the mild excitement of an auction ....just a group of people making an offer. Go and watch the fish fry at your local chippie i would say...more interesting than this ill-conceived non-programme that has nothing going for it at all.

Please stop changing the schedule BBC....

[david-rose11 · 8/10 · 7 January 2021]

Friendly, afternoon light TV to look forward to, but being moved around and cancelled by the BBC for Doris Johnsons stress programme.. MR Havers is perfect for this format as are the buying panel...Excellent cup of tea and a biscuit treat......

Get fed up of spoiling series

[tmccheyne · 7/10 · 15 September 2022]

Why WHY do all these programmes throw in repeats in a new series. So fed up of the programme makers doing this. It's the same with all such as Antique Roadshow, Repair Shop, etc etc etc. It totally spoils it for the viewer If you can't make the appropriate number for a series then you are failing. Stop throwing in a repeat.

It's bad enough at the beginning to have highlights of what's coming up, this spoils the excitement. But series made by this company does it. There is no need to do this to get us interested. I end up recording these type of shows so I can wiz through spoilers.

It's about time we have something new without these spoilers and repeats.

Only 1 bloke buys ?

[riggo-73503 · 2/10 · 19 October 2020]

Addie is likeable the others are a waste o space If you go on with anything over 200quid forget it The main expert is useless

Watchable frippery

[jmsneddon123 · 8/10 · 19 June 2020]

Ok it's not rocket science but is watchable. Havers is a bit gushy but appears to be enthusiastic band his little anecdotes are fun. The expert is pretty good and has a nice way about him. Some of the bids are derisory and an embarrassment. One or two of the dealers come across as not wanting to spend anything. Give it a go.

Beyond awful!

[richcoplen · 1/10 · 19 August 2021]

Awful, awful, awful, awful. Absolute degenerate daytime viewing with the dodgiest bunch of excruciatingly annoying so-called "experts" that the BBC could scrape together. It's a pathetic effort which struggles to emulate superb series such as "The Repair Shop" or "Antiques Roadshow". Get this off our screens please!

Bidding Room

[moirarudd · 10/10 · 3 July 2020]

Fabulous program love Nigel Havers as the host genuine and puts people at ease... Love to see what is brought in and the judges are very friendly...

Awful beyond words

[malcolmallsop-04042 · 1/10 · 13 June 2020]

Basically the illegitimate love child of Four Rooms on C4 and every other BBC antiques programme. Nigel Havers is dreadful as the host. You are constantly aware he is "acting" . He gushes and fawns over people bringing in their tat . The item is then valued by a very dull man who for some reason wears his hat indoors all the time. I can only assume His that his hair is as sparse as his charm. The item is then fought over by " leading dealers" - an unlovely bunch of people some sporting various bits of metal In their faces. It's contrived, derivative formulaic garbage and the BBC should be ashamed of it. They cancelled Flog It - which at least had the merit of touring the country and had some interesting background features and replaced it with this monument to greed and stupidity . Doubtless commissioned by someone who thinks that a CD player qualifies as an antique. Avoid.

Awful cheap daytime show

[pjstockdale · 2/10 · 14 October 2020]

This has everything that is truly awful about daytime television. Dealer's with no charisma. Participants you have no empathy with. It's like a cheap, cheap, cheap version of Flogit. Don't bother to tune in, you will be bored to death.

I Love It!!!

[susanj180159 · 10/10 · 13 March 2021]

I'm not understanding the poor reviews on here. I thoroughly enjoy this show: the format, the banter and the fun. It isn't a poor man's "Four Rooms" at all. It isn't trying to be a serious antiques show. I love the Yorkshire setting, the relaxed atmosphere and the gentle charm and wit of Nigel Havers. Anyone can go into the bidding room with a quirky item and the experts are always really happy to evaluate. They will even bid more for something if the proceeds are going to charity. I thoroughly enjoy it.

The Bidding Room

[studioAT · 3/10 · 21 June 2020]

Ah, 'The Bidding Room' - the BBC's latest attempt to fill their afternoon schedules with something that's not a game show.

Part Antiques Roadshow, part Dragon's Den, it features Nigel Havers presenting (in trainers sometimes! It just doesn't look right) in full 'kindly Uncle' persona, and oddly it all makes for mildly entertaining stuff.

Certainly not the worst thing on during the daytime slot.

Mouldy looking wall

[sarabamber · 8/10 · 24 February 2021]

I find the wall in the valuation room very distracting and somewhat disturbing. Is mould growing on the tiles? I do enjoy the programme overall and find the dealers very entertaining. Nigel Havers is rather irritating but looks as though he's enjoying himself.

Not the best

[edmail-86848 · 3/10 · 24 October 2020]

With a cast of dubious Del boys and a host who delights in behaving in an unharacteristicly camp manner this has to be one of the poorest programmes of the genre.

Some interesting stuff

[demainet · 8/10 · 11 May 2021]

Nigel Havers is his usual charming eccentric self.... interesting dealers....i ve just watched an old episode and was surprised that no one knew what the item was!

I was a 'copper ' ,the the copper bowl that was used in a scullery or outside boiler house to heat water in, it would have been set in a brick built boiler with a fire hole j underneath it to heat water for whatever.... now commonlyused as log bin or planters....... I find the programme very enjoyable.

Dull, bring back Ceefax

[jereth-284-123075 · 3/10 · 20 March 2024]

I don't like sticking the boot in but I agree with other reviewers - the programme format is so weak it's hard to understand why the BBC commissioned it. The seller - a member of the public - comes in with a piece of old tat, has a quick chat with Nigel Havers and then one of the bidders buys it. That is it. No emotion, no great competition, no likeable characters (Nigel excepted). Most of the items are dull and low value - it probably costs more to get them to the studio than the bidders end up paying. The programme format needs rethinking. Maybe if we could see what the successful bidder does with the item and what profit they go on to make, it might be more involving. That is probably beyond the budget of the show though so probably best to scrap it. Come to think of it, bring back Ceefax it was more engaging.

Awful

[michaelkeogh-11428 · 1/10 · 6 April 2023]

Absolute rubbish, watching this is like, going to the dentist and seeing his huge array of pliers while sitting down on his Sweeny Todd chair, l watched a couple of episodes at the beginning and felt like why what is this.

Anyhow it's obviously been heavily copied of various other programmes,l can't understand why people behind the scenes are getting paid to come up with a well used format ,that just doesn't work and still getting plaudits for absolute rubbish.

Antiques Road Show has been viewed many times because it works, this rubbish does not work, Anyhow the program has just started I've turned it off and I can have my teeth done.

A real afternoon treat!

[richard-97621 · 10/10 · 26 May 2022]

I have watched all three series of THE BIDDING ROOM with great interest. I love the setting 'in the heart of Yorkshire,' the chat between the seller and Nigel and Simon and, above all, the competitive camaraderie of the 'dodgy' dealers. It is ideal viewing for the older generation and I look forward to further shows in the future. For me, the outstanding dealer is James Gooch: he comes across as cool and intelligent and he loves the quirkier older items. He is the star of the show!