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Antiques Road Trip Star Izzie Balmer Credits Charles Hanson for Career Launch
Antiques Road Trip personality Izzie Balmer, a familiar face on BBC programs including Bargain Hunt, has revealed how fellow antiques expert Charles Hanson played a pivotal role in launching her television career. The 36-year-old, renowned for her specialized knowledge of jewellery and silver, acknowledges Hanson’s unexpected unavailability as the catalyst for her on-screen debut.
Unexpected Opportunity on Bargain Hunt
Balmer credits Hanson, 46, directly for her television break, explaining that he contacted her when he was unable to present an episode of Bargain Hunt. “Charles Hanson’s misfortune became a fortunate opportunity for me,” she recounted in a 2017 interview with Derbyshire Life. “I received a sudden phone call from Charles just minutes before a 10 am auction was scheduled to commence.”
She elaborated, “He was traveling to Birmingham and wanted to offer some words of advice to ensure everything proceeded smoothly. This was essentially his way of informing me that I would be appearing on television. No other auctioneers were available – I was the only option. I had to auction the Bargain Hunt items live in front of the cameras.”
Transition to Street Auction and Antiques Road Trip
Impressed by Balmer’s natural on-screen presence, the producers behind Bargain Hunt, who also worked on shows like Flog It! and Street Auction, subsequently offered her a co-presenting role on Street Auction. “I was thrilled, albeit a little apprehensive,” she admitted to the publication. “It was for the second series of Street Auction, a program that attracted approximately two million viewers for its initial series in 2016.”
Balmer described her initial filming experience as “awful,” adding, “We commenced filming in April, and my first day was truly terrible. I was uncertain of my role, and the weather was so cold that a runner had to continually lend me his coat.” Despite her initial reservations, her performance led to a regular position on Antiques Road Trip starting in 2019. More recently, Balmer announced the arrival of a new expert on Bargain Hunt.
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Welcoming New Bargain Hunt Expert Serhat Ahmet
Balmer shared behind-the-scenes footage from the Bargain Hunt episode, officially welcoming Serhat Ahmet as the newest expert on the program. Ahmet is already familiar with television audiences, having previously appeared on Antiques Roadshow.
Fanfare for Newcomer’s Debut
In a message to her followers, Balmer enthusiastically posted: “NEW EPISODE ALERT. This Monday, there’s a fresh episode of Bargain Hunt on @bbcone and the DEBUT of the newest member to the Bargain Hunt family, the lovely @serhat_ahmet. For those who miss it, it will be available on @bbciplayer @bbc.”
Serhat Ahmet’s first appearance was well-received by viewers. One viewer commented, “Great debut Serhat. They certainly placed you under pressure with the £1 bonus buy, but you secured a respectable profit. Looking forward to seeing you in future episodes.” Another echoed the sentiment: “Good to see a new face on the team, keen to learn as much as you about such a diverse range of items. Excellent purchase for £1!!”