Tim Wonnacott

Tim Wonnacott (born 6 May 1953 in Barnstaple, Devon) is an English antiques expert, whose career includes auctioning and television presenting.

Biography

Both his father and grandfather were Auctioneers in the South West, so his ambition was to be an auctioneer. He completed a post graduate course at the Victoria and Albert Museum in Fine and Decorative Arts. He is a fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and an associate of the Society of Valuers and Auctioneers.

Wonnacott joined Sotheby's in 1978, becoming a full Director in 1985. He was appointed sole chairman of Sotheby's South, based at Billingshurst, Sussex, and Sotheby's new saleroom in Olympia, London.

Wonnacott left Sotheby's in January 2003 after 25 years, in order to concentrate on Media Activities and, at the same time, started the fine art agency and brokerage business 'Tim Wonnacott & Associates'. The rationale of the business is for Wonnacott and his colleagues to provide independent advice to both buyers and sellers of antiques.

Television work

Wonnacott regularly appears as an expert on the "Antiques Roadshow".

In July 2003, Wonnacott replaced David Dickinson as the daytime host of the popular BBC1 television programme, "Bargain Hunt". The original contract was for 30 shows, but this has been extended to over 350 shows in light of his appeal to viewers.

Other appearances include on BBC1's "Restoration"; "The Divine Michelangelo"; "Test the Nation"; "Ready, Steady, Cook"; "This Morning"; "Top Gear"; "Going, Going, Gone"; "Going for a Song"; "Light Lunch"; "The Antiques Show"; "The Great Antiques Hunt"; and "Buried Treasures".

Personal life

Married with three children, two of whom attended Eton College, Wonnacott used to live in the town of Macclesfield, Cheshire, from where he ran Sotheby's operations in the North West.

Wonnacott has helped many charities over the years to raise money at auction, the most successful of which was the London 'Cow Parade' auction held in Autumn 2002, which raised over £400,000 for Childline. Wonnacott conducted another auction for Cow Parade in the Isle of Man in the presence of Prince Andrew which made over £110,000. On three occasions, he has conducted auctions for Cherie Blair at Chequers, the Prime Minister's Buckinghamshire country house, supporting charities including Refuge and Breast Cancer Care.

External links

* [http://www.timwonnacott.com Official website]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/antiques/tv_and_radio/bargainhunt_timwonnacott.shtml BBC interview with Wonnacott]
* [http://www.cssstellar.com/sub_page.cfm/editID/73 Bio at Agents website]
*imdb name|id=1399596|name=Tim Wonnacott