Salvage Hunters

Salvage Hunters
StarringDrew Pritchard
Narrated byRalph Ineson
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series17
Production
Running time60 minutes
Original release
NetworkQuest
Release14 November 2011 (2011-11-14) –
present

Salvage Hunters is a British television programme in which decorative salvage dealer Drew Pritchard travels throughout the country in search of antiques from shops, fairs and old mansions to re-sell online or in his shop.

The programme has aired on Quest since 2011, for 17 series.

Format overview

Each episode features antique dealer Drew Pritchard visiting a number of locations to find collectable stock to resell.

The format includes travelling to the locations, with the sellers including private estates, antiques shops, trade markets, schools and private individuals.[1] After some haggling on prices, and a product style explanation, Pritchard will then try to make a deal. Once agreed and purchased, they drive back to his base in Conwy, showing the purchases to his team, the restoration process, and items being photographed for sale.

Pritchard's restoration team is composed of a number of restorers, such as an electrician, a French polisher, a photographer, and several shop and office staff, including his now ex-wife Rebecca. The program closure reel will often feature the price achieved after an item has been sold.[2]

For series 1-16, Pritchard travelled in a Luton-van with his long-time friend "Tee" (John Tee), who acts as van driver and loader when moving the purchased items. John Tee quit the show in 2023, after being a cast member for 11 years. From Series 17 onwards, Pritchard is joined by antique dealers Viki Knott (based Edinburgh, Scotland) and Alister Dryburgh (based Aberystwyth, Wales).

Buying trips abroad[3] included Belgium,[4] France,[5] Germany,[6] Hungary,[7] Italy,[8] Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Ireland and Spain.[9]

The series is narrated by actor Ralph Ineson.

Spin off programmes

  • Salvage Hunters: Best Buys
  • Salvage Hunters: Bitesize
  • Salvage Hunters: The Restorers
  • Salvage Hunters: Classic Cars
  • Salvage Hunters: Design Classics[10]
  • Salvage Hunters: Best Restorations
  • Salvage Hunters: Best of Europe

Transmissions

Series Start date End date Episodes
1 14 November 2011 16 January 2012 10
2 25 February 2012 10
3 23 September 2013 2013 10
4 2013 2014 10
5 13 August 2014 15 October 2014 10
6 25 March 2015 20 May 2015 10
7 30 September 2015 2 December 2015 10
8 27 January 2016 30 March 2016 10
9 7 September 2016 14 December 2016 15
10 18 January 2017 7 June 2017 15
11 13 September 2017 27 November 2017 12
12 14 February 2018 27 June 2018 15
13 17 October 2018 10 April 2019 15
14 11 September 2019 2 December 2020 23
15 10 February 2021 14 April 2021 10
16 9 February 2022 26 October 2022 15
17 15 February 2023 2023

See also

References

  1. ^ Doughty, Eleanor (13 January 2017). "Hunting for treasures with an expert antiques dealer". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  2. ^ Jones, Mari (1 September 2018). "Drew Pritchard on whether his Conwy shop gamble has paid off". northwales.
  3. ^ "Salvage Hunters on the lookout". Press and Journal.
  4. ^ "Salvage Hunters in Belgium". TvGuide.
  5. ^ "Salvage Hunters season 11". Radio Times.
  6. ^ "Salvage Hunters to Wiltshire after trips abroad". Wiltshire Times.
  7. ^ "Salvage Hunters fit the bill". Ross-Shire Journal.
  8. ^ "Salvage Hunters bitesize Italy". TV24.co.uk.
  9. ^ "Salvage Hunters - episode 8 - Spain". TV24.co.uk.
  10. ^ "Quest ink deal for new Salvage Hunters franchise". Realscreen.