Cash in the Attic
The show that helps you find hidden treasures in your home.
Cash in the Attic was a British television programme that originally ran on BBC One from November 2002 to May 2012. The show’s tagline described it as helping people discover hidden treasures in their homes and then selling those items for them at auction. The programme was revived by Channel 5 in November 2021, with new episodes scheduled for 2022.
In each episode, a presenter visited a family’s home to learn what they needed money for. The presenter and antiques experts then searched the house and its surroundings, identifying and valuing antiques. The family later took those items to auction, aiming to reach their financial goal. The auction was not held on the same day as the search; it often occurred several weeks later.
During its BBC run, the show featured presenters such as Angela Rippon, Jennie Bond, Gloria Hunniford, Lorne Spicer, Ben Fogle, Chris Hollins, Aled Jones, Alistair Appleton, Angus Purden, and Jules Hudson. For the Channel 5 revival in 2022, Hudson—already a presenter on several Channel 5 shows filmed at Cannon Hall Farm—was joined by Chris Kamara. The new series aired on Channel 5 on weekdays starting 1 August 2022. Antiques experts for the revival included Paul Hayes, Jessica Wall, David Fergus, Jessica Forrester, and Kayleigh Davies. The earlier BBC series had experts such as Paul Hayes, Jonty Hearnden, John Cameron, and James Rylands.
Quick Facts
- Presenter
- Jules Hudson; / Chris Kamara (2022)
- Narrator
- Natalie Casey (2022)
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Num Series
- 18 (regular) / 6 (celebrity)
- Num Episodes
- 586 (regular series) / 126 (celebrity series)
- Runtime
- 30 minutes (2002–2009) / 45 minutes (2010–2012) / 60 minutes (2022)
- Company
- Leopard Films
- Channel
- BBC One (2002–2012) / Channel 5 (2022)
- First Aired
- 2002-11-04
- Last Aired
- 2022-09-28
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In the show, the presenter visited a family's house to find out what they need to raise money for. They then explored the house and its surroundings, finding antiques and valuing them with the help of experts. The family then goes to auction with the aim of making their financial target. The auction never takes place on the same day as the rummage; often it can take place several weeks later.
Reader's Guide
Cash in the Attic was a long-running BBC daytime series that popularized the concept of turning household clutter into cash through expert valuation and auction. Its format—combining personal stories, treasure hunting, and auction drama—made it a staple of British television for nearly a decade. The show's revival on Channel 5 in 2022, with presenters Jules Hudson and Chris Kamara, demonstrated its enduring appeal. The programme helped launch or sustain the careers of several antiques experts and presenters, and its tagline became widely recognized. Its significance lies in its role as a precursor to many later 'decluttering' and 'make money from your attic' shows, and in its reflection of a cultural fascination with hidden value in everyday objects.
Did You Know?
- The show aired on BBC One from 4 November 2002 to 24 May 2012.
- It was revived by Channel 5 in November 2021 for broadcast in 2022.
- Presenters on the BBC included Angela Rippon, Jennie Bond, Gloria Hunniford, and Ben Fogle.
More in British television series revived after cancellation 1-24
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