Bargain Hunt star Charles Hanson found himself at the mercy of strangers after being left stranded and waiting for rescue while on a journey south in search of hidden gems. The antiques expert was traveling to Scotland on his latest quest for treasures for his auction house when misfortune struck.
Pleading for Help on Social Media
On Wednesday, June 10, the 47-year-old BBC personality took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to call for help. Parked on the side of a road in a white van, he confessed to his 52,000 followers that he had a flat tyre while traveling north. He shared a video from the scene, saying: 'Morning people. I'm just off Swarkestone Bridge; it's the furthest southerly part the great Bonnie Prince got to in 1745. Forward on to the year 2026, it's the furthest southern point Hanson's got not on horseback but in his white van because for some reason I've got no spare tyre. As I came over the Bonnie bridge, thinking about the namesake, I got a flat tyre. But the sun's shining, I've asked for help, and I'm alright.'
In his caption, he wrote: 'Well... this didn't quite go to plan! ... Stranded on Swarkestone Bridge with a flat tyre and waiting for rescue. History has a fun way of repeating itself... Now then, does anyone have a spare tyre??'
Fans Rally to His Support
It didn't take long before fans flocked to the comments to pass along their best wishes. One user wrote: 'Oh no Charles, hope you were not waiting long.' Another echoed: 'Hope you didn't have to wait more than an hour.' A third chimed in with: 'What a pickle, Charles, take care.' Meanwhile, a fourth joked: 'At least you're not locked in another loo!'
A History of Mishaps
This incident comes after the presenter found himself locked inside a toilet on a train traveling from London to Derby back in April. He was on his way to an auction when he encountered train-related issues on East Midlands Railway. Sharing a clip from inside the locked lavatory, he told fans: 'I'm on the delayed 17:46pm train to London, but I'm locked in the loo. If anyone is on the train, I'll be grateful. For some reason, when I press these buttons, nothing is happening. Hopefully I'll be okay; otherwise, this could be a long journey.' He continued to press the buttons on the door before calling out, 'Hello,' in the hopes a passerby could hear him.
Thankfully, East Midlands Railway saw his cry for help online and replied: 'I'm already on it - I've contacted the Train Manager of the train I believe the unfortunate passenger locked in the toilet is travelling on. Thank you for tagging us, though - it's appreciated.' After asking his followers for help, he was eventually freed from the toilet, which turned out to have a sealant issue. However, his train toilet saga was not over. On the way back the following day, most toilets on Charles' train were out of order once again. He penned: 'A bit of a nightmare today. In a funny way, it's a blessing in disguise because I don't dare go.'
