Anita Manning, the beloved Scottish antiques expert from BBC's Bargain Hunt, Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip, is known for her passion for antiques and her recognisable Glaswegian accent. At 78, she keeps her personal life largely private, but her professional life is an open book. She co-owns Great Western Auctions Ltd with her daughter Lala, a business they launched together in 1989 that has grown into one of Scotland's leading independent auction houses.
Early Life and Career Change
Manning's interest in antiques began in childhood when her father took her to auctions on Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow. Despite this early exposure, she initially pursued a different path, studying physical education and dance at Aberdeen and Edinburgh universities. She worked as a teacher before marrying and having children. She has two children: a son named Luke, who lived in Hong Kong for several years, and a daughter, Lala.
Pioneering Female Auctioneer
In 1989, Manning and her daughter Lala founded Great Western Auctions in Glasgow. According to the BBC, Manning was one of Scotland's first female auctioneers, paving the way for women in the antiques trade. The auction house has frequently appeared on Bargain Hunt, Flog It! and Cash in the Attic. Manning reflected on her career change, stating: "Although I have always been interested in antiques, and loved their sense of history, their beauty, craftsmanship and design, I did not start my working life aiming to be an auctioneer or be involved in the antiques trade (in fact sometimes I still wonder what I'm going to be when I grow up). But fate put the opportunity in my path and being an adventurous sort of gal I changed direction and set up Great Western Auctions with my daughter Lala in Glasgow in 1989, becoming one of Scotland's first woman auctioneers."
Success on Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip
Manning first appeared on Bargain Hunt in 2010 and quickly became a fan favourite. Speaking about the show, she said: "One of the lovely things about being part of the BH team is the pleasure it seems to give to our viewers and I am always amazed at the diversity of its fans. It appeals to everyone, young and old alike." In 2016, she set a record on Antiques Road Trip for the largest profit on a single item. She purchased a Buddha statue for £50 and sold it at auction for £3,800, a 7,500% profit. This record was later broken in September 2017 when auctioneer Paul Laidlaw bought a Chambre Automatique De Bertsch sub-miniature camera for £60 and sold it for £20,000.
Home Life and Love for Antiques
In a 2010 interview with the BBC, Manning invited viewers into her home, which she described as "lively." The walls are covered with hundreds of antique paintings and photographs. She joked about her decorating challenges: "Being an auctioneer, the temptation to buy, buy, buy is very strong." Despite her vast collection, she considers herself a minimalist, adding: "I like to think of myself as a minimalist, people might not agree but I am. I've always loved clothes and I've always loved style. When I was a young woman I used to wear the most marvellous 1930s, 40s, sometimes even 20s clothes. They were so different it was fabulous."
Bargain Hunt airs on BBC One and iPlayer.
