Steph McGovern is set to host a new BBC series, The Big Deal, which pits seven pairs of trainee art dealers against each other in a competition to win a piece of art worth £50,000.
The former BBC Breakfast presenter described the show as 'The Apprentice for the art world'. Contestants will be tested on their profit-making skills, negotiating abilities, and creativity.
Steph's personal connection to art
Steph, 44, explained why she was drawn to the project: "My dad's an artist, so I grew up in a home full of curiosities. The kids in our neighbourhood found it weird coming to our house with the life-like sculptures in the garden and his curious paintings inside."
She added: "He went to the Royal College of Art, which was an amazing achievement for a working-class kid, but the realities of trying to make a living out of it meant he also had to take on teaching jobs. As a business journalist who loves art, I jumped at the chance to host a show looking at how to deal art. My dad was the first person I called when I got this job."
Expert judge joins the series
Steph will be joined by art expert Cordelia De Freitas, who will judge the contestants' efforts. De Freitas, making her TV debut, said: "I've never done TV in my life, so this experience has been wonderful, because I get to talk about my knowledge and my experience in the art world."
She also shared a light-hearted moment: "Steph has started calling me ArtDelia after she accidentally said it instead of my actual name. Somehow, that has stuck. I’m not sure how I feel about that! [laughs]."
Guest experts and broadcast details
Each episode will feature a special guest expert, including Matt Carey-Williams, Peter Staunton, Margo McDaid, Ani Petrov, Wilhelm Finger, and Melita Skamnaki.
The Big Deal With Steph McGovern airs on BBC Two and iPlayer from 13 August at 8pm, and on BBC Northern Ireland from 12 August.
