Fans of the long-running BBC antiques show Bargain Hunt were treated to an unexpected and hilarious moment during a recent episode, when a contestant abruptly vanished from filming only to return clutching a rapidly melting ice cream.
The Mysterious Disappearance
The incident occurred while the blue team, comprised of actress Lilian Bellamy and her partner Simon Williams, were scouring for potential bargains. Lilian was left baffled when Simon suddenly disappeared without explanation. "Isn't someone missing?" asked a voice from off-camera, prompting a confused Lilian to glance around and ask, "Well, where has he gone?"
Their team expert, Thomas Forrester, could only remark on Simon's earlier purchases, stating, "Well, I don't know. He bought two items." Lilian then confessed to his habit, revealing to viewers, "He does this all the time! Even when we are working together."
The Sweet Return
The mystery was solved moments later when Simon casually strolled back into shot, proudly holding an ice cream. "Oh, here he is, look what he's got," chuckled expert Thomas Forrester, as reported by the Express.
Lilian quipped, "Well, you could have got us one," as the treat began to melt and dribble down Simon's hand. He proudly revealed he had opted for an "extra big" portion. The rival team quickly spotted his frozen prize, leading Simon to jokingly offer it for sale at "50p!"
Viewer Reaction and Show Future
The amusing scene had viewers laughing along on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). One fan posted, "This was so funny!" while another commented, "This had me in stitches."
The light-hearted moment comes after fans expressed concern for the show's future in December 2025. Expert Danny Sebastian shared behind-the-scenes footage from a festive special with a reflective message, writing, "I so enjoyed doing this programme."
The official Bargain Hunt account responded warmly, saying, "Thanks for the memories, Danny," which triggered alarm among devoted viewers. Comments flooded in asking if it was his last episode, with one fan anxiously questioning, "You're not leaving, are you?"
However, the BBC was quick to quash any rumours of the show's cancellation, issuing a straightforward and definitive response: "Nope!"
You can catch up on all episodes of Bargain Hunt, including this ice cream escapade, on BBC iPlayer.
