A CHIPPENHAM auctioneer could become a regular sight on TV screens across the country after making his on-screen debut last month and being hired to appear on Bargain Hunt.

Tim Weeks, from Wessex Auction Rooms, appeared as a co-presenter on BBC One’s new programme, Street Auction, during which presenter Paul Martin and a co-host try to raise funds for someone in need.

“I loved it, it was an amazing experience,” said Mr Weeks, who took over the running of Wessex Auction Rooms from his dad, Peter, seven years ago.

“I arrived at the show and Paul Martin, ‘Mr Antiques’, comes over and he said ‘it’s going to be great working with you’ and I thought, how the hell am I here? Three months ago this was a dream.

“We go down the street knocking on people’s doors and ask them if they have anything we can try and sell for the person who we are helping.

“One we did in Gloucester was for a bloke who had narcolepsy, which was completely debilitating and that was a very emotional episode.

“It’s like DIY SOS meets Bargain Hunt and we’re really hoping to do another season and want this to be a very long-running show.”

Mr Weeks filmed five episodes for the programme, one in Bristol and two in Gloucester and South Wales, which will be shown over the coming week at 11am on BBC One.

And after the success of his TV debut, the 33-year-old will appear on Bargain Hunt later in the year as one of the show’s valuation experts.

“They offered me a role as one of their experts for an episode and it’s a different challenge and a different experience,” he said.

“Street Auction was a new thing to everyone and it’s a different pressure.”

Based in Chippenham, Wessex Auction Rooms specialise in the sale of toys and is managed by Mr Weeks along with his business partner, Martin Hughes, both of whom are among the youngest auctioneers in the country.

“I think being an auctioneer is the new rock ‘n’ roll. You get to control a room of people and perform,” added Mr Weeks, who lives in Bradford on Avon with his wife Alexa and two children, five-year-old Albie and three-year-old Bella.

“We want more young people getting involved because we’re proving that you can do it and be young.

“We want to change the perception of that fuddy-duddy auction house.”