Dickinson's Real Deal star goes head-to-head with contestant for unusual bronze statue

Dickinson's Real Deal antique expert Karen Dalmeny was heard saying that she would go head-to-head with a contestant to get her hands on a “fantastic” bronze statue. The BBC star on Tuesday’s instalment met with John who is a removals operative.

He explained that he has been clearing out homes for more than two decades after starting out in the trade aged 13. Karen was fascinated by the ageing collector’s item, confessing: “It’s a proper antique, so I will give proper money.”

“A fantastic bronze has just arrived on my table. I love bronze. I am just going to try hard to get this,” she said before adding that she will put up a “fight” when it comes to purchasing it.

Astonished that John never paid a single penny, he explained: “I was doing a removal years ago and a lady was getting rid of them. She said take what you like and let me have them." Mesmerised by what he had said Karen’s jaw fell to the floor and said: “That’s a dream isn’t it.”

Although he had little knowledge of the item and shared that it had been sitting in his garden shed for 20 years. Karen gasped and shouted, “A shed that’s criminal”.

The “stunning” statue boasted an intricate pattern detail which left Karen impressed and was kept in its original state.

She said it depicted a dying goul which had suffered following a bloody battle as it sat in its “dying moments”.

John was looking to get around £500 for the piece as he wanted to treat his family to a holiday in Mexico.

Originally it had been valued at around £300 with host David Dickinson chiming in and saying he would have estimated it’s worth to be roughly £400 to £500.

Karen decided to stretch to a whopping £700 despite John cheekily stepping in and asking for another £50 - to bump up his holiday fund, which she politely declined.

David, 82, shared: “I just looked at the photograph of this and I didn’t realise just how large it was until I had seen it.”

“It’s actually a really nice casting. “My independent value was about four to five hundred on this. I know you put £700 there. And that does not surprise me.

“There is tooling and fettling there which are very very good, I presume it is the latter part of the 19th century and is one heck of a good-looking bronze. So I have no hesitation in saying £700 good offer Karen,” he added.

Delighted with his deal John shared: “I walked about with £700 and it cost me nothing I am ecstatic.”

Dickinson’s Real Deal airs on weekdays at 2pm on both BBC1 and Iplayer.