The Duke. Sharp and sophisticated antiques trader with a famous tan. David’s a real bobby-dazzler!
A chance meeting with a TV producer at a barbecue led to David Dickinson‘s first TV appearance, a two-part documentary for the BBC made about him and his preparation for a show at an antiques fair.
Bargain Hunt
He came to public attention as an antiques expert on This Morning and BBC Two’s The Antiques Show owing in part to his facial resemblance to the fictional antiques dealer from the BBC drama series Lovejoy. His career break as a television celebrity came from presenting the game show Bargain Hunt on BBC One at lunchtimes which gained a keen following amongst daytime viewers.
A primetime evening version of Bargain Hunt was broadcast for a few years following the success of the daytime show.
Dickinson’s Real Deal
Dickinson moved to ITV in 2006 to present a new daytime antiques programme, Dickinson’s Real Deal which is broadcast on daytime weekday afternoons.
The show visits locations around the UK and asks people to come in and either sell their antiques and collectables for valuation by an antiques dealer who may offer to buy the item for cash. Alternatively, the participants can take a gamble and go to auction if the dealer’s offer is refused or no offer is made to buy the object.
Guest Appearances
Dickinson explored his family background in an episode of the third series of the BBC genealogical documentary series Who Do You Think You Are? broadcast in the UK on 4 October 2006. He was able to trace relatives in both the UK and Istanbul.
Dickinson appeared in the eleventh series of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway. The duo disguised themselves with prosthetics and fake accents to dupe Dickinson into believing there was a live argument and subsequent car crash on the set of his new ‘fake’ show Long Lost Treasures. During the aftermath of the wind up and following the big reveal from Ant & Dec, Dickinson said “you two have done me up like a kipper!”
TV Advertising
David Dickinson starred alongside Emma Bunton, John McEnroe, Tommy Walsh, and Noel Edmonds in a TV commercial for Tesco.
He has also starred in adverts for McDonalds and Costcutter Supermarkets.
