New Channel 5 auction show is coming to Liverpool looking for treasures

A brand new auction show is coming to Liverpool for two days in search of some family heirlooms to go under the hammer.

The Great Auction Showdown is about to start its first series on Channel 5 as part of the channel’s new weekday daytime schedule.

It will be fronted by dapper antiques expert Paul Martin, who’s a familiar face on TV to fans of all things collectible. 

The show will see Paul go head-to-head with a rival auctioneer to discover who can spot and then auction items for the highest total amount over the course of a week.

Each episode will have the competing experts taking part in a variety of challenges before auctioning their top finds at the end of every day. 

They’ll not only have to hunt out the most potentially valuable in a race against the clock, they’ll also have to persuade the original owners to let them sell their family heirlooms. It’ll then come down to an auction one against one, as they take turns to stand on the rostrum and convince possible buyers to part with their cash.

Whichever expert raises the most across five episodes will be named that week’s winner.

And here’s where Liverpool hidden treasures come in – a team from the show, which is being produced by STV Studios, has been filming up and down the country and it’s heading to the Museum of Liverpool at Mann Island next week.

On Thursday and Friday March 16 & 17 between 9am and 5pm it will be holding open valuation days.

If you think you might have something tucked away at home that could be worth a small fortune then now’s the time to dig it out and get it down there – especially if you’re open to the idea of parting with it!

A spokesperson for STV says there’s no need to reveal what you’re bringing along beforehand, although if you’ve got a masterpiece to offer it might be worth giving them some warning.

He explains: “People don’t have to apply in advance, they can just turn up on the day at the Museum of Liverpool with whatever they’d like to be valued. If they prefer they can also get in touch with the production team ahead of time to get some more information and that will give them a bit of a heads up about what to expect.”

STV has been commissioned by Channel 5 to make around 80 episodes of The Great Auction Showdown, which will be split across two series. Series one has already been filmed and that’s likely to be on screen this spring, with series two – featuring Liverpool – going out later in the year.

Paul Martin adds: “I can’t wait to get on the road, meet local people and see what incredible items I’m sure we’ll find. 

“This series is a competition – and one that I definitely want to win each week – so if you have something quirky, historical or exciting at home that you think could just be worth something, come on down!” 

Anyone who’s got something that could be of interest to Paul, can email the programme makers before the show comes to Liverpool on TheGreatAuctionShowdown@stv.tv or just arrive with it and hopefully be in for a big money surprise.