BBC Bargain Hunt backlash as fans demand host be axed in furious shake-up row
Bargain Hunt fans called for an overhaul of the beloved BBC show.
BBC’s daytime favourite Bargain Hunt sparked backlash this week fromfans calling for long-serving host Charlie Ross to be axed as frustration mounts over the show’s format. Monday’s episode, filmed at the King’s Lynn antiques centre, saw both the red and blue teams suffer losses at auction. The red team walked away with minus £40 after buying a typewriter, dinner-service china and a Norwegian brooch. The blue team fared worse, with a £58 loss on a vase, vintage football game and silverware. Despite the poor profits, the reds were declared the winners.
Experts David Fergus and Caroline Hawley featured alongside Ross, but it was the host who bore the brunt of viewer backlash. Fans flooded social media with calls for change, blasting the show as repetitive and poorly produced. One viewer fumed on X: “I cannot believe that utter drivel is still going and it's not changed since it first started!” Another said: “Bargain Hunt is so predictable. Needs a total shake up. Get rid of Charlie Ross would be first.”
A third piled on, writing: “The epitome of boredom is a wet bank holiday Monday watching Bargain Hunt.”
Even the technical side of the programme wasn’t spared. One fan flagged a jarring continuity error, posting: “@BBCBargainHunt love this programme but editing a bit off today. Colin Young the auctioneer in nice blue suit but when the hammer goes down the auctioneer is in shirt sleeves.”
It comes just weeks after the BBC announced a shake-up to the show, introducing two new experts.
Ceramics specialist Serhat Ahmet, with over 30 years of experience in 18th to 20th century porcelain, made his debut on April 14. David Fergus joined on April 21 and brings auctioneering and studio glass expertise to the fold.
The announcement read: "It's a massive welcome [to] one of our new brilliant experts - it's @SerhatAntiques! Welcome to the #BBCBargainHunt team, Serhat.
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"Catch Serhat's first episode on Monday 14th April, when he's shopping with his blue team in #Exeter."
The other newbie David Fergus isn't a stranger to the television world as he previously hosted Cash In The Attic with Jules Hudson.
In a second post they marked Dave's exciting news with the caption: "Please give a huge welcome to our other new expert on #BBCBargainHunt. It's @1davefergus! You can watch David's first programme on #BankHoliday Monday 21st April when he guides his blue team in King's Lynn.'
Bargain Hunt airs weekdays on BBC One at 12.15pm
