Eyes of millions on Bucks as hit TV show confirms landmark visit

The 1,000th edition of Flog It, the popular BBC One antiques programme presented by Paul Martin, is set to be recorded in Bucks next month.
Paul Martin, presenter of Flog It said he was thrilled to be returning to BucksPaul Martin, presenter of Flog It said he was thrilled to be returning to Bucks
Paul Martin, presenter of Flog It said he was thrilled to be returning to Bucks

The show, which is now in its 15th series and regularly achieves an audience of more than two million viewers in its weekday afternoon slot, will be at Bletchley Park in nearby Milton Keynes between 9.30am and 4pm on Wednesday June 22.

Bletchley Park, Home of the Codebreakers during World War Two and now a popular visitor attraction, will be hosting the landmark Flog It valuation day.

Rather like a treasure hunt, members of the public are invited to visit the heritage attraction with up to three antiques or collectables they might be interested in selling. Once valued in this iconic location, the owner and a team of experts decide whether an object should go forward for auction.

If the item is chosen for inclusion in the show it is taken to auction a few weeks later – hopefully when the auctioneer’s hammer falls its owners make a tidy sum.

Everyone who goes along to the valuation day will receive a free appraisal of their items – even if their antiques are not chosen for filming or to go to auction.

Flog It has made many significant finds during its 15 series, including a rare Aboriginal Broad Shield that had been kept hidden away in a viewer’s wardrobe which was brought along to a valuation day in North Lincolnshire, and went on to sell at auction for £30,000!

Flog It also discovered an unusual Royal Doulton Spook figurine in Blackpool which had been bought at a car boot sale for £2; it went on to sell at auction for £5,000.

Paul Tucker, Executive Producer of Flog It says it is a ‘privilege’ be filming at a site of such historic significance.

“The Flog It team are delighted to be hosting our 1,000th show at Bletchley Park,” he said.

“We look forward to revealing some of its fascinating history to our viewers. To help us tell the story we would be particularly pleased to meet people at the valuation day that worked or had relatives or friends working at Bletchley during the war years, or who have items related to the site during that period.

“We’ve got some exciting plans for the day to help us celebrate our 1,000th Flog It. If you’ve got something you would like valued by our experts then I do hope you’ll bring it along.”

Gillian Mason, Curator at Bletchley Park, said it will be fascinating to see what treasures people bring along.

“There’s a chance that hidden treasures relating to the work and lives of the Codebreakers during World War Two might turn up, which would be really intriguing.”

Paul Martin, presenter of Flog It said he was ‘thrilled’ to be returning to Buckinghamshire.

“On our previous visits to Buckinghamshire we’ve always received a very warm welcome,” he said.

“I’m really looking forward to coming back to the county and hope as many people as possible will bring along their items to the valuation day to be a part of this extra special edition of Flog It.”

The BBC plans to transmit the landmark edition of the show featuring Bletchley Park within a year of recording. Paul Martin will be joined at the valuation day by on screen experts Philip Serrell, Charlie Ross, Catherine Southon, Mark Stacey and Thomas Plant.

The items selected at the valuation day will go under the hammer at Jones and Jacob Auctioneers in Watlington, Oxfordshire on Wednesday 13 July.