Bargain Hunt icon rakes in six-figure sum for ‘sleeper’ | UK News

Jonathan Pratt is a acquainted face to viewers of BBC’s Bargain Hunt, and its sister exhibits Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip and he has more than proved he actually is aware of his stuff when it comes to the antiques commerce. The 53-year-old made a identify for himself in the business thanks to his specialisms in jewelry, watches, English furnishings and Persian carpets. However, his largest payday got here from one thing outdoors of those classes. The star revealed his most memorable and profitable finds in a chat with the Source Vintage Antiques weblog.

“A Chinese bronze bell from the summer palace that sold for £440k (admittedly this was a bit of a sleeper!),” he said when requested before revealing some other profitable objects he had encountered. “I found a 19th-century violin by Giuseppe Rocca in Jersey whilst working at Sotheby’s, which sold in London for £140k,” he intimated, including: “Personal best purchase, a ski poster I bought at auction in Ireland for £180 that I sold for £2,100.”

It was this wonderful eye, ardour for antiques and charming persona which noticed Jonathan invited to be part of the Bargain Hunt staff in 2008.

After proving his mettle on the long-running competitors, he was then invited to be part of other BBC exhibits as an knowledgeable serving to groups spot a cut price that might be flipped for revenue.

He recalled a probability encounter with then-Bargain Hunt host Tim Wonnacott, who inspired him to be part of the BBC daytime show.

He said: “Back in 2007, I was at a friend’s wedding, where I ran into Tim Wonnacott. I’d worked with Tim at Sotheby’s, and he said to me, in his distinctive voice: ‘Tell me, JP: would you stoop so low as to go on Bargain Hunt?’ The rest is history.”

When he is not valuing objects on TV and in public sale homes, he enjoys a quiet life in his Sixteenth-century home in Hampshire and even partakes in some performing at the local theatre group. 

He met his spouse Claire when he was called to do an analysis of some objects while working at Sotheby’s and they share 4 kids together. 

Speaking about his spouse, he told Hampshire Chronicle: “She was working for a shipping company that went into administration and called in Sotheby’s to do the contents valuation as there was a great collection of antiques and marine art. Within two months we were holidaying together, we were engaged by Christmas and married the following April.”

Away from TV he made additional profession inroads in May 2024 when he joined Dawsons Auctioneers as managing director in May 2024. They present “professional, discrete current market valuation and sales advice for Fine Jewellery, Watches, Fine & Contemporary Art, Antiques, and family heirlooms”.