David Dickinson
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David Dickinson (born August 16, 1941) is an eccentric British antiques expert who presents the game show Bargain Hunt on BBC television. He got his first break on television as an antiques expert on This Morning, due in part to his facial resemblance to the fictional antiques dealer Lovejoy as portrayed on television by Ian McShane. Dickinson's own speciality is vintage furniture but he has a wide-ranging knowledge of other antiques.
His show originally had a cult following in the United Kingdom, largely among students and the unemployed, due to its daytime slot. A weekly evening slot, added later, has brought him to the attention of a wider public.
He is known for his dark complexion (often implied to be a fake tan, but in fact a result of his Armenian ancestry) and numerous catchphrases. He will often ask female contestants "Do you mind if I call you girls?", describe particularly excellent items as "real bobby-dazzlers" (and conversely, poor items as "a load of tat") and refer to anything he considers a bargain as being "cheap as chips!". His nickname is "The Duke", a play on the fact that he is a big Elvis Presley ("The King") fan and a reference to his smart but slightly eccentric dress sense.
He is ruthlessly parodied by comedian Harry Hill in Hill's latest television series Harry Hill's TV Burp.
External links
- Official David Dickinson Website (http://www.david-dickinson.net/)
- Official "Bargain Hunt" website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/antiques/bargainhunt/)
- David Dickinson questions and answers (http://www.bbc.co.uk/antiques/bargainhunt/the_duke.shtml) (part of the above site) (Use this to fill in more biographical information!)