It's
August in England. Although a two week heat wave was predicted, we are now
on our fifth day of rain. There's a heavy drizzle as I arrive at Newark
Antique Fair to meet David Dickinson and the Bargain Hunt team.
Held at the Newark and
Nottinghamshire Showground it's the largest fair that Bargain Hunt visits
with up to 4,500 stalls. Luckily, on this dreary day, many are housed in
the seven permanent buildings on the site. It seems you could buy absolutely
anything here. Everything from chandeliers to shammy leathers is on display
and even with the
prospect of meeting
the brilliant David Dickinson I can't resist stopping to look at some other
glittering jewels, en route, in the form of beautifully set Victorian rings
in a rainbow of colours. Then I take time to check my hair as
I am conscious that I am on the brink of entering the presence of the man
with the celebrated sixties hairdo, that puts most men and many women to
shame.
In fact
my most vivid memory of my first meeting with him was the bellow of 'Is
it me you're looking for my dear?' and a shake of those lustrous locks.
How could anyone think it was a wig! As with all good days remembered it
had been a sunny day and I had encountered him stretched out on a plastic
chair at the hospitality tent, sipping lazily from a wine glass. He was
talking to his entourage about the pros and cons of larger and smaller fairs.
I stood waiting for a gap in his spiel in order to introduce myself, but
it never came. Instead he spotted me, stood up and came over. He was in
white shirt sleeves, and the image of him on that sunny afternoon bowled
me over. I thought he really is larger than life in real life! I soon learned
that the quick wit is for real too, no cue cards required, and the charm
and the tan!
By the
time I catch up with David and the team they are out and about in the fair
filming at various stalls. I've all on to keep up with them as they thread
their way through the crowds. The route of course has been planned earlier
in the day and they march from stall to stall, like people with a purpose.
And that purpose is to gather enough material from seven fairs and auctions
to make the next series. David takes a keen interest even control over every
aspect of the Bargain Hunt show. There's not an antique purchase that he
hasn't vetted.
Jan Moir for The Daily Express once described David Dickinson as 'the
most exotic object in the market by far' and I certainly know what she
means. While the rest of us are beaten by the rain and even those of us
sporting designer labels look shabby in the grey light, he is resplendent
in a sharp blue suit. The blues and creams of his shirt and tie are bright,
colourful and superbly tasteful. Every detail is attended to, his hands
are beautifully cared for, his jewelry is just right. Cufflinks and a
pocket kerchief are those finishing touches now rarely seen in day wear.
He's tall and tanned and effortlessly elegant. Everything about him including
his manners is immaculate.
I ask him 'how it's
going?', 'Yes. Very well' he says 'One more fair to do after this, there'll
be fifty shows in this next run, more repeats (aired) before that.' I can't
help but admire his exuberance, there's not a hint that the packed six weeks
of filming leaves him with the slightest ennui. Since I last saw him at
Wetherby just a month before he will have greeted around 160 contestants,
countless fans that are always on hand to ask for his autograph or trade
a catchphrase as well as the omnipresent vendors hanging on his every word
in the hope of a top tip. Just the thought of it leaves me jaded.
As I stand back to watch
the filming I observe that he seems to have been born for TV, despite the
fact that when he was born in 1941 a TV was a really rare commodity
and even the concept of TV as entertainment was held in doubt.
He's a consummate professional, attentive to his Director and happy to
repeat his lines and stunts as many times as necessary to satisfy the
technical needs of the camera man. It's certainly a tougher job than I
took it for, though that's not appreciated by all as I over hear some
stall holders comment 'Well, it's gotta be better than working'. The cues
from the Director appear to me to be fluctuating and beguiling, the need
to retake is just as baffling. Must be a technical 'thang' because David's
performance is faultless. He always delivers the goods on time, the cheeky
innuendo the gawfawwing laugh produced at will and yet no less sincere
for it. You only need to look at the faces of the bystanders to see how
genuinely amusing the man is.
Because of his charismatic
personality and the dedication and passion he applies to whatever he is
doing, David Dickinson would have been a success no matter what age he had
lived in. While meeting the requirements of the Bargain Hunt film schedule,
he is also committed to a tour of one man theatre talks at venues up and
down the country. For around £15.00 you get a front row seat for a
two hour talk on his experiences as a real life antique dealer in the trade
for over twenty five years. He tells me the next booking is at the Isle
of Wight. He certainly gets around! And to think he's still got the day
job!!!!
Next stop
is at a stall selling reproduction gear. David has spotted a Harley Davidson
he'd like to rev up. 'You call it a motorcycle I call it a work of art'
he enthuses to the proud trader. He tries on a helmet and glasses, then
decides against both. So he takes them off and checks his hair in a reproduction
antique mirror, I knew my trip to check my hair would be vindicated!
There's quite a crowd gathering now but he's not one bit self conscious
and continues for the camera right on cue.
Even with
a heavy filming schedule, and time at a premium because we're outside now,
the rain has let up but who can say for how long, he's still so willing
to stop to give autographs. He stops at one stall to give the trader a bit
of advice on the display of his goods and illustrates it with an example
from the stand he had at this summers fair at Olympia. From behind the vendor
troop his three young daughters all beautifully dressed and each with their
own notebooks hoping to get Mr.Dickinson's autograph. Part of me wonders
if he'll say 'Girls! May I call you Ladies!!' He writes individual messages
to each and tones down his normally bombastic manner to charm their cotton
socks. But that's David Dickinson all over.
For a man
who refers to himself as a traditionalist with a passion for the things
of the past he is very much a man living in the moment. He's attuned to
everything around him in this bustling market place, nothing escapes him.
Even with a show to to film, he will suddenly swoop on an interesting piece
that would have gone unseen by us lesser mortals, chat to the trader and
still be in the right place at the right time. He's an accomplished business
man because he's shrewd. He knows his stuff and he knows his public how
to tease them how to please them. And no matter how much of him we get,
like a true showman, he leaves us wanting more.
For
more exclusive photographs of the fourth series of Bargain Hunt including
shots that won't reach your TV screens go to the
next page.
