TV shows

The art and antiques trade have a love-hate relationship with television shows depicting their career choice.

The BBC’s decision to end the long-running Flog It! show after 17 years has been greeted with sadness by those involved and many viewers.

A dispute over the ownership of a score by Sir Edward Elgar involving the BBC and the former Conservative MP David Mellor could lead to the manuscript being given to the British Library.

Shown here at Antiques on High in Oxford is Caroline Henney, left, a costume jewellery dealer at this antiques centre, with Caroline Hawley, right, an auctioneer in Beverley, East Yorkshire, who is also a regular on the BBC‘s 'Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is' and 'Flog It!'

The BBC has put the production of antiques game show Bargain Hunt out to tender for a two-year contract, despite speculation that the long-running programme, now in its 50th series, would be axed in a drive to boost the quality of daytime TV output.

MADAM – I did a double – no, triple – take when I read the article ‘First Doctor Who script up at auction’ in ATG No 2332.

Leaders of four African countries have called on the UK and the EU to ban the trade in antique ivory to help stop elephant poaching.

MADAM – With the plethora of antiques-related shows on television, may I suggest that perhaps you could use your influence to have a specialist present a show on the subject of ivory in art.

The BBC’s Antiques Roadshow is reviewing its approach to ivory after campaigners called for a ban of ivory objects on screen.

MADAM – This week I listened in utter disbelief as actress and wildlife campaigner Virginia McKenna spoke on Radio 4’s Today programme calling for the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow to no longer show any items which contain ivory elements.