Series synopsis
The Bidding Room is a British reality television series that premiered on BBC One on June 8, 2020. It stars Nigel Havers and Simon Bower.
Nigel Havers welcomes people with an item they’d like to sell, introducing them to a valuation expert who gives them the specialist information they need to drive a hard bargain. Tooled up with this information, Nigel guides the sellers through to the bidding room, where the five eager dealers square up to spend their money.
Premise
Nigel Havers welcomes people with an item they’d like to sell, introducing them to a valuation expert who gives them the specialist information they need to drive a hard bargain. Tooled up with this information, Nigel guides the sellers through to the bidding room, where the five eager dealers square up to spend their money.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Nigel Havers as Self - Presenter
- Simon Bower as Self - Consultant
Episodes
This series spans 8 seasons with 198 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 30 | June 8, 2020 | December 28, 2020 |
| Season 2 | 25 | January 4, 2021 | February 25, 2021 |
| Season 3 | 25 | August 9, 2021 | May 9, 2022 |
| Season 4 | 30 | August 29, 2022 | October 2, 2023 |
| Season 5 | 30 | March 6, 2024 | November 1, 2024 |
| Season 6 | 30 | January 6, 2025 | May 16, 2025 |
| Season 7 | 25 | July 28, 2025 | December 18, 2025 |
| Season 8 | 3 | July 13, 2026 | July 17, 2026 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Five dealers bid against each other for items including a piece of hair-dressing history, a beloved toy, some classic furniture and an item saved from the tip. |
June 8, 2020 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Five dealers bid against each other for a harmonica, a silver belt and an underwear ad. |
June 15, 2020 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 The dealers mull over a doll designed to teach resuscitation, a 19th- century credenza, an industrial theodolite and a collection of dairy artifacts. |
June 22, 2020 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 New series. Nigel Havers returns with the programme in which five dealers bid against one another to buy intriguing items brought in by members of the public. The opening edition features a tribal mask, avintage seed drill, adecorative press, a toy horse and a mysterious Edwardian piece. |
January 4, 2021 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Nigel Havers presents the programme in which five dealers bid against one another to buy a pedal car, an Edwardian card table, a quirky voice box and a mystery pot. |
January 5, 2021 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Nigel Havers hosts as five dealers bid against each other for items brought in by the public, including odd medical models, a knife sharpener, a drinks cabinet and a toy milk cart. |
January 6, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Five dealers compete to buy medical posters and a miniature skeleton, industrial laundry carts, a boudoir stool, and a womble space hopper. Presented by Nigel Havers. |
August 9, 2021 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 There are no live broadcasts scheduled for this show. But it is available via the streaming provider below. |
August 10, 2021 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Nigel Havers hosts as five dealers bid to buy items brought in by the public, including an art deco cinema seat, a pair of 1950s toy poodles and a goffering iron. |
August 11, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Nigel Havers hosts as five dealers bid against each other to buy items brought in by the public, including a toy cafeteria truck, a surprising key and Victorian children’s clogs. |
August 29, 2022 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Nigel Havers hosts as five dealers bid against each other to buy items brought in by the public, including an antique diving helmet, a growling Steiff bear and a Basil Brush ride-on toy. |
August 30, 2022 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Nigel Havers hosts as five dealers bid against each other to buy items brought in by the public, including a toy rocket and rabbit, a gramophone, lamp shades, a high chair and a brooch. |
August 31, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Jack-in-the-Box Nigel Havers presides as sellers aim for top prices on items, including a film vending machine, The Bridge Over the River Kwai model, a gold changer, a jack-in-the-box and a chemistry set. |
March 6, 2024 |
| 2 |
Theatrical Clown Nigel Havers presides as five sellers aim to get the best price for their items, including a dressing screen, a coracle, a toy steam engine, a car mascot and a theatrical prop clown. |
March 7, 2024 |
| 3 |
Leather Pig Nigel Havers presides as five sellers aim for the best price for their items, including iconic London signage, a footstool, a musical decanter, a wind-up tin toy and a dental polisher. |
March 13, 2024 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Mannequin, Teddies and Magic Nigel Havers presides as five sellers aim to get the best price for their items, including a mannequin, a pair of teddies, a set of magic tricks, football pinball and a phonograph. |
January 6, 2025 |
| 2 |
Toy Horse, Lamps and Card Table Nigel Havers presides as five sellers aim to get the best price for their items, including a Mobo horse, a pair of brass lamps, Guinness buttons, a vintage pitch marker and a card table. |
January 8, 2025 |
| 3 |
Dolls, Fire Engine and Calculator Nigel Havers presides as five sellers aim to get the best price for their items, including a 1950s fridge, vintage dolls, lampshades, a ride on fire engine and an antique calculator. |
January 10, 2025 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Sinclair C5, Cavalry Coat, Henry Moore Maquette Nigel Havers and Simon Bower road-test an 80s icon, a coat fit for royalty is up for sale, and one shocked seller receives a life-changing bid. |
July 28, 2025 |
| 2 |
Crocodile Chef, Testo Reaction Meter, Drinks Case Along with a quirky 60s reaction tester and a tiny case with an intriguing past, a six-and-a-half foot-long alligator is let loose in the Bidding Room. |
July 30, 2025 |
| 3 |
Atlas Stone, Antique Automaton, Coffin Bank It’ll be guinea pigs for everyone if Georgia can help dad Callum shift his atlas stone, Peter’s antique automaton delights the dealers, and will anyone break the bank for a 70s toy? |
August 1, 2025 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Gorilla, Jewellery Box, DeLorean Nigel and Simon meet a jungle giant, a young seller brings their charming collection, and the dealers are blown away by the most futuristic item ever seen in the room. |
July 13, 2026 |
| 2 |
Corgi Puppet, Irish Dancing Dress, Vintage Hair Dryer A companion inspired by royalty charms the dealers, while everyone wants to try a retro beauty gadget and a couple of vintage signs demand to be taken home. |
July 15, 2026 |
| 3 |
Beatles Posters, Absinthe Pourer, 60s Terracotta Leopard Nigel comes face to face with a Beatles collection, Dutch dealer George learns about the Blackpool Illuminations, and a 1970s leopard sculpture encourages some roaring bids. |
July 17, 2026 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | BBC One |
|---|---|
| First aired | June 8, 2020 |
| Last aired | December 18, 2025 |
| Runtime | 45 minutes |
| Status | continue |
| Schedule | Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 15:45:00 |