David Dickinson’s back with Name Your Price
It has elements of the great 1980s game shows
Since bursting onto our screens, as the permatanned host of Bargain Hunt, David Dickinson has made the most of his opportunities. He went on to appear on Strictly Come Dancing in 2004 and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2005, helmed 10 years of Dickinson’s Real Deals, hosted his own chat show and has even done a spot of acting.
This week, the 75-year-old is hosting ITV’S new game show David Dickinson’s Name Your Price, in which contestants try to value collectables in a bid to win a cash prize. TV Times caught up with
David to find out more…
How is Name Your Price different from other antiques shows?
Lots of those shows on TV have the same format and can be a bit stuffy, but Name Your Price has elements of the great game shows from the 1980s and 1990s. Mixed in with that, I talk about antiques – and I can tell a good old tale!
Have you met many dodgy dealers in the world of antiques? In any business there are people who are dodgy. As a young man I got in trouble through being greedy and going in the wrong direction. But if you have any sense, you steer away from that. I’ve been a wheeler-dealer and an entrepreneur, but I don’t step on the wrong side of the
line – and I pay my taxes!
What did you learn from appearing on the genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are?
It was an amazing experience and covered the story of me being adopted as a child. I went back to Istanbul in Turkey, where my grandfather came from. I’ve discovered that a certain amount of my success is part and parcel of the genes I’ve inherited – my father was a silk and cotton trader and I think he passed on some of his trading ability to me.
Did your acting role on Heartbeat in 2005 give you a taste for more? It wasn’t too difficult – it was the old Lovejoy-type character, so the glove fitted very well! I recently played The Emperor from Star Wars on The Keith and Paddy Picture Show, and I’d love to do more acting.
The irrepressible Mr Dickinson on his latest show and why he’s a ‘tart’
How was it being on Strictly? I was in the first series, and I thought, ‘It’s a bit of fun – I’ll just be waving my arms around and having a laugh’. Even then, the practise regime was tough, but nothing like as tough and competitive as you see today.
Do you have any regrets?
I’m happy with where I’m at, and I’ve had an interesting and good life, despite the odd wrong turn. I’ve been married to my wife Lorne [a former cabaret singer] since 1969 – I got a good one! In this business you need a bit of luck. I did Bargain Hunt and got a National Television Award, and that led to Strictly. I’m a bit of a tart – you pay me, I’ll do it!