Georgia Humphreys
amateur enthusiasts compete against each other to buy something that takes their fancy at auction.
Then, under the guidance of pro Paul, the aim is to sell the items for a profit. But this is risky, as it’s their own money they are investing. It’s a fierce competition too, as they document their efforts through video diaries, and everyone is wondering who will make a profit and who will have their dreams dashed. And, at the end of each show, Paul reveals the ‘Dealer Of The Day’.
“Some got lucky and some failed miserably, but it was fantastic,” he recalls, a huge grin on his face.
“Some of them opened my eyes up to what they were looking at as well, which was really quite interesting. They’d pick up something I’d normally dismiss and say, ‘It’s only £15 but I think I can sell it for £25’ and I’d think, ‘You probably could’.
“In general a lot of them had good business sense. They probably didn’t know how to deal – I brought that out – but I’d say 50% of them were in business.” Filming was also a learning process for Paul, as with any new job, but one which he hopes will inspire any hopeful dealers to delve into some bargaining themselves. “It was hard work making it. There’s no footprint to a new show so I was pulling my hair out.
“It’s brilliant entertainment. It takes daytime antiques to a different place. It’s faster, and not so stuffy and it’s going to say to you, ‘Give it a go’.” Part of Paul’s role was to encourage the wannabe dealers and give them advice – even if they didn’t always take it.
His top tip? Quality always sells. “So buy the best you can afford and buy something that’s signed or dated because it’s provenance – you know who made it, who painted it and the date it was made or painted,” he elaborates passionately.
Paul is also keen to point out, Make Me A Dealer is not just “educational and entertaining”, but also different in that it has people putting their own earnings on the line.
“The press have been on the BBC’s back for a long time, where shows are using the BBC’s money – 50% of the time they (the contestants) are making a loss, and the profits go to charity, so this show we’re not using the BBC’s money.”
Paul, who studied art and woodwork at Falmouth College of Arts, was discovered by BBC Bristol when they interviewed him about his passion for oak furniture.
More than two decades later, does he ever cringe watching himself on screen? “I don’t mind watching myself, but the people on Make Me A Dealer, it’s cringey,” he admits gently. “They go in the shop and it all goes to pieces.
“It’s an emotional journey for me as well, because you can’t be too hard on people when they get it all wrong.”
As for how he relaxes away from filming, the father-of-two now has more time for drumming again (he played professionally for rock bands like The Quireboys and the Dogs D’Amour in the early 90s).
“I kayak a lot. And I’m a great snooker player – I love snooker, so I watch snooker a lot. I know Ronnie O’Sullivan so I go down to The Grove in Essex and play with those guys.”
■ Make Me A Dealer is on BBC1 weekdays at 4.30pm, starting Monday