One of the most trusted and enduring antique experts in Britain, for over thirty years, writer and broadcaster Eric Knowles has been presiding over some of the country’s greatest auction rooms in his quest to find that piece of valuable treasure. Watching the legendary Arthur Negus on Going For A Song in the early seventies often provided the source of healthy family competition as the Knowles’s would take great pleasure in playing the game from home. This may have laid the groundwork for Eric’s passion for antiques and was something he always looked forward to and whoever lost would be the first to wash up! It was this feeling that made him realise his true passion and from this moment on he realised his true calling.
Joining Bonhams in 1976, Eric became involved in ceramics which eventually resulted in him appearing as the ceramics expert on the heavyweight Antiques Roadshow. Joining the series in 1981: the same day as the great Hugh Scully, Knowles quickly became part of the regular team and made a lasting connection with the show which survives today. The appeal of the Antiques Roadshow is something difficult to fathom and it’s testament to both the format and its experts to its longevity. Eric believes that part of its charm remains the ability for the audience to play along at home as we all like to guess the price of each item. Whether it’s something trivial which will not fetch hardly anything or a sacred object worth a handsome amount, there’s a degree of mystery and satisfaction in being told the truth.
In the mid nineties, this reputation has earned Eric significant recognition within the antique community and in 1995 the BBC had the idea of reprinting the vintage game show Going For a Song. With the legendary Michael Parkinson at the helm, Eric nurtured an on air chemistry with the original king of chat which often resulted in memorable moments between them. Working with the TV legend, he never lost his awe and respect for the broadcasting titan and was honoured when Parkinson invited him to take part in a charity cricket match. This offered an insight into the real man behind the microphone and the ability for Eric to bring his son to play illustrated the significance of family which Parkinson held so highly.
Roles in television continued for Eric and in 2003 became one of a handful of presenters to replace David Dickinson on the BBC’s Bargain Hunt. Over the years, there has been a multitude of different presenters on the BBC1 daytime programme and thrives upon the ability to obtain a temperature of all walks of British life as they compete to win a golden gavel. Eric is stunned by the continued success of Bargain Hunt and believes that it shall dominate the BBC daytime schedule for years to come. It was an absolute pleasure to welcome the evergreen Eric Knowles to Beyond The Title and he remains the perfect example that passion can be a very powerful tool in achieving your goals. Certainly a shining gem in a world of greed and inequality, it’s great to know that Eric Knowles shall forever remain grounded and humble over the sanctity of money.
Beyond The Title