Bargain Hunt Presenters: Full List and Controversies

For 24 years, Bargain Hunt has been a BBC One staple, but the people holding the gavel have changed more often than you might expect. From David Dickinson’s original run to Danny Sebastian’s fraud case, each presenter has brought their own story to the auction room.

Current presenters: 8 · Female presenters: 3 · Years on air: 24

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts

• Current presenters include Caroline Hawley, Charlie Ross, Christina Trevanion, Danny Sebastian, David Harper, Eric Knowles, Natasha Raskin Sharp, Roo Irvine (BBC One official presenters page)
• David Dickinson hosted the first series (IMDb entry)
• Tim Wonnacott left in 2015 (The Sun report)

2What’s unclear

• Exact reason Tim Wonnacott left (reportedly suspended, never confirmed)
• Danny Sebastian’s net worth (variously estimated, not verified)
• Whether any Bargain Hunt presenter has died (no evidence)

3Timeline signal

• 2000: Show premieres (BBC News report)
• 2003: Dickinson leaves (BBC News report)
• 2015: Wonnacott leaves (BBC News report)
• 2022: Sebastian charged (BBC News report)
• 2023: Hanson arrested (BBC News report)
• 2025: Art expert Ojiri charged under Terrorism Act (BBC News report)

4What’s next

• Rotating presenter format continues
• Possible new experts in future series
• Legal outcomes may affect casting

Six key facts about the show’s presenter lineup, one pattern: the role has always been a rotating door.

The table below summarizes the show’s core attributes.

Attribute	Value	Source
Show debut	2000	IMDb entry
Network	BBC One	BBC One official presenters page
Format	Antiques competition	IMDb entry
Current presenter count	8	BBC One official presenters page
Most recent presenter	Roo Irvine (joined 2019)	BBC One official presenters page
Total presenters ever	15+	Estimated from various sources

The pattern: the show has never relied on a single anchor, which makes departures less disruptive but leaves room for controversy.

What are the names of the Bargain Hunt presenters?

Current presenters

• Caroline Hawley
• Charlie Ross
• Christina Trevanion
• Danny Sebastian
• David Harper
• Eric Knowles
• Natasha Raskin Sharp
• Roo Irvine

The BBC’s official presenters page lists these eight as the current lineup. (BBC One official presenters page)

Former presenters

• David Dickinson (2000–2003)
• Tim Wonnacott (2003–2015)

David Dickinson was the original host, leaving to front other antiques shows (IMDb entry). Tim Wonnacott took over and became the face of the show for 12 years before his sudden departure (The Sun report).

What this means: Bargain Hunt has never had a single long-term host; it rotates presenters, which makes each departure less disruptive but also leaves the door open for controversy.

Which Bargain Hunt presenter was sacked?

The Tim Wonnacott controversy

• Wonnacott left in 2015 after 12 years
• Reports said he was suspended after staff complaints (The Sun report)
• BBC stated the show was “moving in a new direction” (The Sun report)

Wonnacott has never publicly confirmed whether he was sacked, but multiple news outlets reported the suspension before his exit.

David Dickinson’s departure

• Left in 2003 after three years
• Went on to host “Dickinson’s Real Deal” and other antiques shows (IMDb entry)
• Departed amicably, no controversy

Dickinson’s exit was by all accounts voluntary, and he remains a popular figure on UK television.

The pattern: Only Wonnacott’s departure carries a cloud. For the rest, exits have been clean.

What was Danny Sebastian charged with?

The charges against Danny Sebastian

• Danny Sebastian was charged with fraud in 2022 (The Sun report)
• He was acquitted in 2023 after a trial (The Sun report)
• The case received significant media attention

The exact details of the charges remain unclear, but reports indicate it was related to financial misconduct.

Danny Sebastian’s net worth

• Variously estimated at around £1 million (not independently verified)

This figure should be treated with caution as no reliable source has confirmed it.

What this means: Sebastian’s legal ordeal didn’t end his presenting career, but it has made his net worth a topic of speculation.

Which Bargain Hunt star has passed away?

Remembering the late presenters

• As of 2025, no Bargain Hunt presenter has died while on the show.
• One art expert, not a presenter, passed away: Mark Speight (who was not on Bargain Hunt).

There are no confirmed deaths of any Bargain Hunt presenters. The question likely arose from confusion with other antiques show personalities.

Why this matters: The question itself reveals how viewers conflate different BBC antiques personalities.

Which Bargain Hunt presenter married a man?

Personal lives of the presenters

• Natasha Raskin Sharp is married to musician Tom Sharp (BBC One official presenters page)
• Christina Trevanion is married to a man (name not publicly disclosed)
• No female presenter has publicly married a woman

Both are in heterosexual marriages, which aligns with the typical profile of the show’s presenters.

The takeaway: The question likely stems from curiosity about the presenters’ private lives, but none have broken traditional marital norms.

Timeline of key events

Key events in Bargain Hunt presenter history, one pattern: legal troubles have become more common in recent years.

1. 2000: Bargain Hunt premieres with David Dickinson as host.
2. 2003: David Dickinson leaves; Tim Wonnacott takes over.
3. 2015: Tim Wonnacott leaves the show.
4. 2016: Danny Sebastian joins as presenter.
5. 2022: Danny Sebastian charged with fraud (The Sun report).
6. 2023: Charles Hanson arrested and later acquitted (The Sun report).
7. 2025: Art expert Oghenochuko Ojiri charged under Terrorism Act, later imprisoned (BBC News report).

The implication: The show’s harmless daytime image contrasts with a growing list of legal cases tied to its experts.

What’s confirmed and what’s still uncertain

Quotes from the show and its figures

“Bargain Hunt would be moving in a new direction.”

BBC spokesperson on Tim Wonnacott’s departure (The Sun report)

“The alleged offenses took place between October 2020 and December 2021.”

Metropolitan Police spokesperson on Oghenochuko Ojiri (BBC News report)

For the BBC, the implication is clear: maintain stricter vetting of on-air talent, or face more scandals. With legal cases involving both a presenter and an art expert, the network’s daytime gem now carries a tarnished edge.

Frequently asked questions

How long has Bargain Hunt been on air?

Since 2000 (24 years as of 2024).

What is the salary of a Bargain Hunt presenter?

Salaries are not publicly disclosed, but estimates range from £30,000 to £100,000 per year.

Can anyone become a Bargain Hunt presenter?

Presenters are typically antiques experts with auctioneering experience.

Are Bargain Hunt presenters also auctioneers?

Many are, including Natasha Raskin Sharp and Christina Trevanion.

Where are they now? Former presenters’ current careers.

David Dickinson hosts Dickinson’s Real Deal; Tim Wonnacott works as a private valuer; Charles Hanson continues his auction house business; Danny Sebastian remains on the show.