A contestant who appeared on BBC’s Bargain Hunt and mockingly “strangled” an expert has claimed participants were encouraged to react “animatedly'” for cameras.
Contestant Stevie Turner left antique specialist Charles Hanson and viewers at home stunned when he “throttled” him following a dire loss at auction when an Edwardian silver Vesta case that Charles encouraged failed to impress.
Steve, 58, and his friend Bill Smith, 83, had hoped to make a profit on the money-making show but were left “frustrated” when Charles’ advice to purchase the case didn’t go to plan.
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The item in question was £195 when purchased by the expert however it was only sold for £80 at auction.
(Image: BBC)
Sharing his experience on the show, which first aired in September last year, Stevie told The Sun: “My natural reaction was to throttle him.
“I hadn’t planned it, and Charles definitely looked shocked and didn’t see it coming.”
The contestant, who was part of the red team, also revealed that he and Charles did have a laugh about it after the incident occurred.
(Image: BBC)
Stevie added: “They know what to do to make it a good TV show and as a contestant, you’re conscious that you want it to be entertaining for viewers. You don’t want to come across as boring, so you get a bit more animated and they ask you to react for the camera… I certainly did that when I strangled Charles.”
As well as trying to come across as entertaining, Stevie went on to share other backstage secrets from his time on the programme, revealing how he and Bill felt “under pressure” to find three items on time while rushing around a busy market.
(Image: BBC)
The participant also claimed that the experts are allowed to scout around the markets before filming so they could “show off” their expertise on certain selected items.
Stevie claimed he had a “sneaking suspicion” that Charles did this before the cameras began rolling.
The Bargain Hunt stat also shared the embarrassing incident when a cameraman accidentally smashed an expensive antique “to smithereens” however the tragic moment wasn’t aired.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
