Catherine Southon
(Expert)
How do you find life on the road?
Exhausting, but full of wonderful surprises!
What is your favourite part of your role?
All of it, but to uncover a real gem which nobody else has realised is the absolute icing on the cake - it's happened a few times and when it does it’s an amazing feeling.
Why did you choose a career in antiques?
The thrill of auctions, the excitement, the not-knowing and the sheer drama. I was attracted by auctions first and my love of antiques naturally followed.
What would you do for a living if you weren’t working in the antiques trade?
That's a tough one. I’d probably work as a curator in a gallery or a museum as that is what my Masters degree was preparing me for, although I don't think it would have been for me.
What advice would you give to anyone wanting to work in antiques?
Read as much as you can, handle as many antiques as you can and listen to people who have knowledge. Many collectors are willing to share their knowledge to those who are keen to listen.
How did you get involved in Bargain Hunt?
I was working on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s Flog It! for three years and then in 2006 I was asked if I wanted to give Bargain Hunt a try. I have never looked back!
Who has been your most memorable Bargain Hunt team?
A husband and wife team: the wife drove the husband (and me) absolutely crazy… we couldn't find her half the time!
What has been your best ever Bargain Hunt find?
A Curta calculator which the stallholder didn't really know the value of. I spotted it, persuaded the team to buy it, which they really didn't want to, then we watched it fly at auction. I can't remember what it made!
Which fairs do you particularly like shopping at when ‘bargain hunting’?
I love Peterborough, Lincoln and Newark, and nothing beats Norfolk when the sun is shining.
What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
TV, a takeaway and a large glass of red wine.
How do you spend your free time?
I don't get any! Any spare time I have, I like to spend with my children doing something fun.
Do you collect anything?
Not really. I have a collection of gavels, otherwise I just buy what I like.
Why do you think Bargain Hunt has such appeal?
That's tricky! I think people like to see the whole story from start to finish; finding an object, learning about it, then selling it at auction. I think people like the reality that sometimes things go well at auction, sometimes they don't. I hope the public also like to learn something from them.
Why would you encourage anyone to appear on Bargain Hunt?
It’s enormous fun!
