One of the bits of fluff TV I like to watch is the BBC’s program Cash in the Attic. If you’ve never seen it, the concept is simple. A couple or family will want to raise some money for a particular project, so they call in an expert appraiser and a bubbly, good-looking host to rummage through their oldest and dearest possessions in cellar, closet, lounge, and the namesake attic, and quote a ballpark value for them. Then two weeks later said possessions are shipped off to auction where the host, expert, and participants watch with glee (or horror) as strangers battle (or not) to acquire these goods. The producers then append a 30 second segment on what the family has done with the money.
Sometimes the goal is admirable, like the woman who wanted to go back to see her friends in the Canadian Arctic town she left 40 years ago. Sometimes the goal is monumentally silly, like the parents who sold all their antique family silver, which could have been divided into several tidy lots, to purchase one phenomenally ugly modern painting that, I suppose, their three children will get to slice into thirds at some point in the future.
What is most breathtaking about the show, however, is when the expert (such as the wizardly Jonty Hearndon) will spot a piece of pottery from across the room and will instantly know what it is, how many of it were made, who made it (and when), and what it’s worth. It just doesn’t seem possible.
But then I found myself doing something similar, albeit on a smaller scale, the other day. I was watching another of my BBC shows, MI-5. In the background of one of the scenes, out of focus, were three bottles. I expect most people wouldn’t have even noticed them. “Oh,” I thought, “That’s two Glenfiddich bottles — from the coloring I think the 12 and the 18 — and a Balvenie.” Then I immediately wondered if William Grant & Sons had paid for the placement, as the two distilleries are owned by the same company. (Note added 25 October 2003: I think they were paid placements. A different episode of the show featured the same three bottles in the background of a different location.) Yes, there are far, far fewer scotch whiskies than types of pottery. But it’s still kind of cool pattern recognition. How about you: do you surprise yourself with bits of instant recognition?
Subscribe by email
Hello.
Has anyone ever commented about the apparent stock footage at the auctions on Cash In the Attic? After viewing several episodes featuring various hosts, we were amused to notice that at least three or four people appear in many different auction locations, always wearing the same clothing and sitting in the same chairs. We speculated whether this was stockage footage culled from past auctions, or Cash In the Attic employees inserted for laughs. Either way, it’s good for a few giggles!
And, if we’re talking about the same people, they all look absurd, don’t they? Funny hats and weird expressions!
I watch Cash in the Attic late in the night and I’ve been amused by both observations noted in previous posts. Even the most obscure items are instantly identified by the two resident ‘valuers’ Jonty Herndon and Paul Hayes. But in the end credits, there is another ‘valuer’ there. I have visions of the second person wildly hunting on the laptop to find out what some of the items are worth. But the thing that annoys me the most is all those shots of the same people with the same expressions dropped in the edited shows.
I am fairly addicted to the show and get annoyed when there is any other host besides my favorite Allister. Surely I need to get a life…lol
I RECORD ALL OF THE “CASH IN THE ATTIC” SHOWS. I HAD AN ANTIQUE SHOP ABOUT 35 YEARS AGO BUT DIDN’T HAVE A GREAT KNOWLEDGE OF EVERYTHING. THIS SHOW IS WONDERFUL. I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH!! JONTY HERNDON AND PAUL HAYES ARE SO WELL-VERSED IN THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS. A N D ALLISTAIR APPLETON! HE IS SOOOO GORGEOUS. TO BAD HE’S GAY. DO I HAVE A GIRL FOR HIM!!!!! WISH THEY HAD THIS SHOW IN THE U.S.!! I’D LOVE TO HAVE THEM SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH ME!!!
Is the reason that you no longer have the antique shop because you would shout at the top of your lungs, on the topic of whom you admire and find attractive, to every customer who came in?
Just curious. My other theory is that you use an antique keyboard with a broken caps lock key.
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!!!!!!!!
I am also a fan of Cash in the Attic, but wish they would air some newer shows. a couple of observations. I’m a tv producer and recognize and practice using “other” audience shots when editing, but some of the choices here are strange, as noted by other posters. seeing the same obvious people in the same clothes is odd. I’m crazy about Allister as host, much prefer him to either of the two female hosts or the other two mail hosts. I agree with the funny poster who questioned the wisdom of getting rid of all that gorgeous Italian silver. Also it’s interesting that my favorite auctioneer, Tom Keane, is often listed as that ‘other valuer.’ Don’t a few of the auctioneers make you grind your teeth…?? Well, it’s almost time to tune in… cheers!
just to prove the point that we should read our comments before we post them, i see an error… those two host are male….not mail… sorry.
I’ve been watching this show so long (and embarassingly I still DVR it everyday), that I know within the first 30 seconds what they’re selling, how it went at auction, etc. WHY CAN’T WE GET SOME NEW EPISODES?! And yes, I meant to scream there. Now I tend to watch the people a lot more that the antiques. And those guys are HOT. Wow, never paid much attention the first hundred times I saw each episode. Questions to consider….at what point did the producer decide to get these guys in a tanning booth before filming them? Two thumbs up on that idea. Who let Jonty dress himself? Ugly sweatshirts? Plaid pants? Pillowy quilted jacket? Ewwwww. Once he got his fine self into a suit it was two thumbs up. I do like some of the earlier episodes where he’d wear black jeans. Whew. That’s a well made man. And Paul. That man is genuinely beautiful, it’s like he’s not real. I could watch him watch paint dry, as the old saying goes. The lady host, the older one, can’t think of her name, bothered me. Why were we always looking down her aged cleavage? The other lady, she wore a pink coat for about a half season, was much better. She seemed to have a lot more upstairs than the other one. I like Alistair the best as the host (I’m female, no other explantion needed). I don’t care much for the newer hosts, guess they’ll grow on me though. As for the auction attenders, yeah, it’s stock footage. There’s one that I saw on at least three shows this week. And older woman who grimaces, waving her auction card until you remotely hear her bid recognized. She cracks me up every time, and I have to wonder what was the original item she wanted so badly? How many times has she had to watch herself doing that? Next question….how many times do you have to watch a tv show before you come here and can start having conversations about such minute details. ROFLMAO….a whoooooole lot!
I’m female, no other explantion needed
Actually, I think there probably is.
We may travel in different circles, but I know lots of women who wouldn’t go for him. I know a ton of men who would, though; heck, he makes me hot and bothered.
Also: pretty sure he’d more likely be into me than into you. No offense. :p
ROFL! Of course Alistair would be more into you than me, but he’s still hot.
Hi all – if anyone sees this (I just found the post). I read that this is how Cash in the Attic (at least the UK version) works:
1. Potential show guest send a request to the show/producers
2. If the producers are interested, they ask the potential guest(s) to send a list of what they hope to get in the end, and all the items in their homes that they believe are valuable.
3. A valuer will review the list to see if there is potential
4. If they feel it’s good enough to send someone out to preview the home and again value the items, this time actually looking at condition, etc.
5. If the in-person valuer deems the items sufficient to reach the potential guest’s monetary goal, they film the episode.
Unfortunately, all the “Oooh, come here you HAVE to see this!” Or, “I see something amazing in that corner behind the sofa! Look what I found in this box!” It’s all been taken out of storage and looked at.
That was a big bummer for me – but I still LOVE the show.
I also discovered that they’ll do several shows in one area, then all those people’s items go to one auction house. This is how in multiple episodes, you see the same people over and over. If you’ve seen it as many times as I have, take note of artwork or odd things that are on the walls – you’ll see things from other shows. They apparently group each show’s items together, then change and invite the next guest(s) in for their segment, etc. This time is often when they, “take a break until the specialist section of the auction.”
Soooooo, it’s a bit of a front (and I don’t blame them for filming multiple auctions at once) but the items are still so cool – and the reactions at the auctions are genuine. They may technically value the items three times, but the actual auction outcomes are completely real excitement
4. If that
I watch a tv show for enjoyment.I wsh Cash in the attic was on more often.I like auctions & it is fun to watch what some people think is a treasure.
I LIKE WATCHING CASH IN THE ATTIC BUT WHY DOESNT SOMEONE SEND LORNE SPICER AWAY TO LEARN DRESS SENSE AND GET A MAKEOVER. SHE TOO OFTEN LOOKS AS IF SHE CRAWLED THROUGH A HEDGE BACKWARDS . TIME SHE TOOK A LOOK AT HOW JENNY AND ANGELA LOOK AND REALISE HOW MUCH MORE “PRESENTABLE” THEY ARE. I FIND HERE CONSTANT TWITTERING AND POSTURING IRRITATING AND NAUSEOUS. HOPE IF THE SHOW IS AXED WE DONT GET HER ON SCREEN ELSEWHERE. WHY DO WE HAVE TO SUFFER THIS WOMAN