Bargain Hunt's Ben Cooper admits BBC show 'can be a disaster' as he shares show secrets

Bargain Hunt's Ben Cooper has given fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the workings of the beloved BBC show, admitting that sometimes things can turn into a "disaster". During a chat on the Namaste Motherf*****s podcast with Cally Beaton, aired on August 8th, Ben shared insights from the popular antique-hunting series.

The antiques connoisseur emphasised the importance of participants taking "ownership" over their chosen items before heading to auction, hoping to see a return on their finds. Ben remarked: "What I do think with my teams...I like them to have ownership over what they buy so then sometimes, it can be a bit of a disaster."

He added with a hint of concern: "And I'm looking going, 'Oh, this is going to go very wrong', but I think, you know, it's their five minutes of fame to go and have a look at stuff. My bonus buy record is quite good."

Ben elaborated on the experience: "You've got to have a bit of ownership and so long as, you know, at the end of the day, everybody enjoys their day because they're long days when we're doing the filming."

He also described the atmosphere as "good fun" and noted that his teams usually leave satisfied. But he didn't shy away from revealing the competitive streak among his colleagues, especially the "ones you don't expect". Sharing a bit of insider gossip, Ben disclosed that his co-host Kate Bliss, whom he holds in high regard, is unexpectedly "so competitive".

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He even entertained listeners with an anecdote that illustrated their professional rapport, reports the Express. Ben shared: "I said, Oh God. Here we go. Another four losses. "I'm gonna be against Kate again, and Kate goes, 'Oh, don't be like that; don't be like that, but look; I've just found a Faberge egg and it was only £2.50'. And she'll make around about three and a half thousand."

Ben has been quite candid about his experiences in the antique hunting scene, having discussed his "embarrassing" auction losses in 2022. Speaking to the BBC, he revealed: "Within Bargain Hunt, I have made many losses and fewer profits!" He elaborated by saying: "Most surprising profit was a deck chair but financially it was The Charles Horner Brooch."

Ben noted that the brooch earned him a commendable £100, dubbing it his "best ever find" on the programme at that point. When touching on his losses, though, the expert admitted he "never" keeps track of "those figures".