BBC2 “The Big Deal” with Steph McGovern
One of my Elvis Presley neon artworks “Heartbreak Hotel” — along with a brief appearance from me — was featured in episode 2 of The Big Deal with Steph McGovern on BBC Two on 20th August (Also available on iPlayer). The series is essentially “The Apprentice” for the art world.
In episode 2, the remaining six couples were split into two teams and tasked with sourcing artwork for two multi-million-pound properties Harefield House and Oak House recently completed by award winning local interior designer Peter Staunton who featured in the programme alongside series art dealer mentor Cordelia de Freitas, and set the teams their brief. The winning team would be the one that convinced the homeowners to buy the most artwork and generate the highest profit.
The contestants had to source pieces from local galleries and artists across Warwickshire. In the weeks leading up to filming I had been contacted by the production company Stellify Media about which works I could make available for the show and at what discounted prices, to give the teams the best chance of making a strong profit within their budgets. There was no guarantee any of them would choose my work on the day of filming and I had to keep myself free that day, just in case they contacted me.
On the day of filming I received a call from Belfast contestants Gavin and Liam, though the phone signal kept breaking up as they were travelling. Shortly afterwards Claire and Aaron got in touch. I arranged to meet them at the property, quickly loaded the artworks into my van, and drove to the location. I was surprised by the scale of the production — there were over 70 people involved, including the production crew — which added to the chaos and pressure of getting everything filmed in a single day in multiple locations. The afternoon was a bit chaotic and random (an afternoon of filming for what became just a few seconds of screen time), but enjoyable.
Fortunately they selected my Elvis “Heartbreak Hotel” neon, which was purchased by the client and helped their team go on to win the episode. Below are a couple of photos from filming last September and some video highlights from the programme. It’s an entertaining watch — part competition, part chaos, and full of local artists and dealers navigating the contemporary art world, complete with drama, contestant fall-outs and boardroom tension at the end !
