From B&B to BBC: Shropshire couple in a hunt to bag themselves a bargain
A couple who run a B&B will be seen hanging up the apron strings to go bargain hunting on TV later this week.
Nick and Alison Cooke, who run Angel House bed and breakfast at Angel Bank, Clee Hill, will be appearing on the BBC's Bargain Hunt on Thursday, after first applying years ago.
The couple, both 53, are long-time amateur antiques enthusiasts and were thrilled to get picked for the show, Alison said.
She said they were not big collectors but were fond of good pottery.
"We've been interested in antiques for about 10 to 15 years," said Alison, a former district nurse, who moved to the region with Nick, a former policeman, two years ago.
"We used to go to a lot of antique fairs, usually just to look as general interest, when we lived in Sussex. That's where it started from really," she said.
"But when we did the show we were looking around all the shops in Leominster, so that was slightly different and interesting to see that side of it."
The couple spent a day filming last October with expert Charlie Hanson, buying items that were then auctioned against collectables purchased by another couple.
She said it had been a long process getting on the show.
"My husband applied online a good year or more ago, just on the off chance, but we didn't hear anything for ages so we assumed we hadn't got anywhere," she said.
But, she said, they were then invited were invited to audition for the programme at Ludlow Assembly Rooms last summer - though were told they had not made it but would be kept "on the list".
"They have hundreds applying every week , so we expected to hear nothing more but then got a call and were put on the show."
Once filming each team was given just £300 and the winner was the one that made most at auction in Shrewsbury.
Alison said she was sworn to secrecy over how they had got on but, she said: "It was good fun, we enjoyed it - it was a good experience and all the people doing the programme, and the experts, were very lovely, very accommodating."
She said they would not be giving up the day job of running the bed and breakfast on Angel Bank, however.
Bargain Hunt featuring Nick and Alison will be broadcast on Thursday, February 5 on BBC One at 12.15pm.