Steph McGovern to host BBC Two art-dealing contest The Big Deal from 13 August
Seven pairs of aspiring dealers will compete for £50,000 of British art in a new primetime series
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A new BBC Two series will pit seven pairs of aspiring art dealers against each other for a £50,000 prize of British art. The Big Deal, hosted by presenter Steph McGovern, begins on 13 August at 8pm. Each episode will feature a guest expert mentoring the contestants as they navigate the art trade.
McGovern described the show as “The Apprentice for the art world” but emphasised that all deals in the competition are real. She told The Standard that the series would focus on both the business and the creativity of art dealing. The show will air weekly on BBC Two and iPlayer, with the first episode available in Northern Ireland from 12 August.
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Art world access for all
McGovern said she wanted the programme to challenge perceptions of the art world as exclusive. She grew up in Middlesbrough with an artist father, who attended the Royal College of Art. Despite his achievements, he supplemented his income with teaching jobs, a reality McGovern said shaped her view of the industry.
“My dad was the first person I called when I got this job,” McGovern told The Standard. She added that the show would highlight the “hustle” behind art dealing, not just the art itself. The series will feature a different guest expert each week, guiding contestants through challenges designed to test their business acumen and knowledge of the art market.
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“It’s like The Apprentice for the art world, but the deals are all real, and it’s as much about the hustle as it is about art.”
Steph McGovern, presenter
What happens next
The Big Deal will air its first episode on 13 August at 8pm on BBC Two and iPlayer. Viewers in Northern Ireland can watch the show from 12 August. The BBC has not yet announced the guest experts or the specific challenges contestants will face. The winner will receive £50,000 worth of British art, though the BBC has not confirmed how the prize will be selected or awarded.
Questions this report answers
+When does The Big Deal start?
The Big Deal begins on 13 August 2024 at 8pm on BBC Two and iPlayer. The first episode will air a day earlier, on 12 August, in Northern Ireland. The series will run weekly, though the BBC has not confirmed the total number of episodes.
+What is the prize in The Big Deal?
The winning pair of art dealers will receive £50,000 worth of British art. The BBC has not specified how the prize will be selected or awarded, or whether the winners will choose the art themselves.
+Who is hosting The Big Deal?
Steph McGovern, a presenter known for shows like BBC Breakfast and Steph’s Packed Lunch, is hosting The Big Deal. She described the series as a mix of art and business, inspired by her upbringing with an artist father.
+How can I watch The Big Deal?
The Big Deal will air on BBC Two and iPlayer at 8pm from 13 August. Viewers in Northern Ireland can watch the first episode on 12 August. The series will be available to stream on iPlayer after broadcast.
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