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TV star hunts for the real deal

7:19pm Sunday 7th September 2008

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Amateur antique dealers tried to impress TV's David Dickinson with their 'bobby dazzlers' when ITV's Real Deal show was filmed in Oxford.

TV presenter Mr Dickinson - famed for his cheesy catchphrases - met hundreds of hoarders who had dusted off their family heirlooms for the recording of ITV's Real Deal at the Town Hall yesterday.

Each hoarder met antique dealers who gave a valuation on their artefacts, which ranged from diamond rings to pieces of pottery.

The owners were then made an offer by the dealer, with Mr Dickinson jumping in to give his opinion on whether it was a 'real deal' or they would be better off taking it to auction.

One of the first to receive Mr Dickinson's advice was Christine Lutman, who brought in three diamond rings she had inherited from her great aunts.

She received an initial offer of £300 from Deddington-based antiques dealer Brenda Haller, who has worked on the show since October 2006. Mr Dickinson stepped in to suggest the rings might be worth more in the region of £350.

Mrs Lutman said: "In my mind I had an idea of what I would accept, but he was certainly bolder than I would have been."

A deal was finally struck for £360 for the rings, which had lain in Mrs Lutman's jewellery box for 35 years.

One of the quirkiest items which excited David Dickinson and his team of experts was a box of Roman nails dating back to between 83 and 87 AD.

The box was brought in by Wheatley Park School teacher Sarah Stickland, who had been given it by her brother Ray.

The 30-year-old from Sandhills had no idea how old the nails were until the show's experts examined them.

She said: "It really was a chance discovery and I only brought it along because we were intrigued about what it might be.

"We were amazed to be told it had such a history."

She added: "It has no great monetary value - I think it's between £50 to £80 - but obviously it is of great interest."

Mr Dickinson said: "Filming the show is always interesting and deals like this one are all part of the fun.

"We have come to expect the unexpected - sometimes we find really valuable items, sometimes they're just quirky, but there is always something different."


Your Say Yourthisisoxfordshire

Tom, says...
7:27pm Sun 7 Sep 08

oompa loompa convention more like.

Sammy, Oxford says...
7:31pm Sun 7 Sep 08

David was adopted by the Dickinsons, a local couple. Mr. Dickinson died when David was 12, and as his adoptive mother worked hard to keep the family together, David was in part brought up by his French adoptive grandmother. Dickinson began an apprenticeship at an aircraft factory when he was 14, but quickly left to work in the cloth trade in central Manchester. At 19 Dickinson served four years in prison, the majority spent at Strangeways in Manchester, for fraud.


Hope nobody got ripped off !!!!!

Tom, says...
7:32pm Sun 7 Sep 08

Mr Ison wrote:
If only they were some other kind of nail.
"No more nails"

Mike, says...
7:33pm Sun 7 Sep 08

Sammy wrote:
David was adopted by the Dickinsons, a local couple. Mr. Dickinson died when David was 12, and as his adoptive mother worked hard to keep the family together, David was in part brought up by his French adoptive grandmother. Dickinson began an apprenticeship at an aircraft factory when he was 14, but quickly left to work in the cloth trade in central Manchester. At 19 Dickinson served four years in prison, the majority spent at Strangeways in Manchester, for fraud. Hope nobody got ripped off !!!!!
Ever heard of a second chance in life?.


Are you so perfect?.

Mr Ison, England says...
7:36pm Sun 7 Sep 08

Bars of soap would be so funny.

Sammy, Oxford says...
7:37pm Sun 7 Sep 08

Mike wrote:
Sammy wrote: David was adopted by the Dickinsons, a local couple. Mr. Dickinson died when David was 12, and as his adoptive mother worked hard to keep the family together, David was in part brought up by his French adoptive grandmother. Dickinson began an apprenticeship at an aircraft factory when he was 14, but quickly left to work in the cloth trade in central Manchester. At 19 Dickinson served four years in prison, the majority spent at Strangeways in Manchester, for fraud. Hope nobody got ripped off !!!!!
Ever heard of a second chance in life?. Are you so perfect?.
No


and yes so sod off !!

Mike, says...
7:39pm Sun 7 Sep 08

Judge people on how they are today,not on who they used to be.

The cycle of life throws experiences at all of us,some deal with them better than others.


Hence the reason some people have prison records and others do not

Shamone Brother.

Tom, says...
7:44pm Sun 7 Sep 08

Mr Ison wrote:
Bars of soap would be so funny.
Shame on you for such a disgusing comment.


Stephen, Oxford says...
8:16pm Sun 7 Sep 08

Mike wrote:
Judge people on how they are today,not on who they used to be. The cycle of life throws experiences at all of us,some deal with them better than others. Hence the reason some people have prison records and others do not Shamone Brother.
Once a thief and all that

Mike, says...
8:18pm Sun 7 Sep 08

Stephen wrote:
Mike wrote: Judge people on how they are today,not on who they used to be. The cycle of life throws experiences at all of us,some deal with them better than others. Hence the reason some people have prison records and others do not Shamone Brother.
Once a thief and all that
And all what?....

Have you never made a mistake?

Stephen, Oxford says...
8:22pm Sun 7 Sep 08

Mike wrote:
Stephen wrote:
Mike wrote: Judge people on how they are today,not on who they used to be. The cycle of life throws experiences at all of us,some deal with them better than others. Hence the reason some people have prison records and others do not Shamone Brother.
Once a thief and all that
And all what?.... Have you never made a mistake?
Once a thief always a thief, that is the all what, and no I have not made a mistake that resulted in me going to prison.

Mike, says...
8:25pm Sun 7 Sep 08

Stephen wrote:
Mike wrote:
Stephen wrote:
Mike wrote: Judge people on how they are today,not on who they used to be. The cycle of life throws experiences at all of us,some deal with them better than others. Hence the reason some people have prison records and others do not Shamone Brother.
Once a thief and all that
And all what?.... Have you never made a mistake?
Once a thief always a thief, that is the all what, and no I have not made a mistake that resulted in me going to prison.
You tell me you have never stolen anything?.

Think carefully before you answer.

Stephen, Oxford says...
9:39pm Sun 7 Sep 08

Did u actually read my post - what I said was I never made a mistake resulting in me going to prison. In other words I wasn't stupid enough to get caught derrrrr !

ricky, oxford says...
10:30pm Sun 7 Sep 08

Sammy wrote:
David was adopted by the Dickinsons, a local couple. Mr. Dickinson died when David was 12, and as his adoptive mother worked hard to keep the family together, David was in part brought up by his French adoptive grandmother. Dickinson began an apprenticeship at an aircraft factory when he was 14, but quickly left to work in the cloth trade in central Manchester. At 19 Dickinson served four years in prison, the majority spent at Strangeways in Manchester, for fraud. Hope nobody got ripped off !!!!!
squeeky clean buisness man? not one.

Tango man, Oxford says...
4:12pm Mon 8 Sep 08

Old DD isn't as dodgy looking as some of his dealers on the programme, they all make Lovejoy look honest!

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