A PENSIONER who had never been inside an auction room before asked the woman next to her what would happen when the sale started - not that she really cared, she wasn't there to buy.

Along with crowds of others she was at Thomas Watson's in Darlington simply to catch a glimpse of antiques idol David Dickinson, who was in town to record eight episodes of the BBC show Bargain Hunt.

Fans jostled for position with real-life bargain hunters and dealers, who looked a bit bemused at the attention their local auction room was attracting.

As the auction started there was still no sign of the star of the show, but the whisper soon went round he was in the vicinity.

Wearing a purple pin-striped suit, pink shirt and gold tie it was hard to miss Mr Dickinson as he stood outside the auction room having a last cigarette and cup of coffee before facing the cameras.

Always performing, he smiled at passers-by, posed for photos and winked at the ladies before the call came for him to get down to the real work of presenting the top rated show, which recently moved from a daytime slot to a prime- time place in the BBC schedules.

David Dickinson's popularity has soared along with the ratings.

The real-life antiques dealer - who makes no secret of a colourful past which once saw him doing time for fraud - has become one of the BBC's top presenters.

Only last weekend, a satellite channel had nothing but Bargain Hunt repeats for 48-hours - surely enough for even the biggest fan.

In case you have been living in a cave for the last couple of years, Bargain Hunt gives two couples a £500 budget and, with the help of an expert, they are sent to an antiques fair to pick up items they think will sell for a profit.

The lots are then put up for sale and the couple who make the most (or lose the least) are declared the winners. The Beeb generously allows them to keep any profit.

The crew films eight shows at a time and there was a tight turnaround yesterday as one couple left and the next competitors arrived to see their lots go under the hammer.

Crushed into a corner of the auction room with a conveyor belt of contestants, David seemed totally at ease in the far from glamorous surroundings.

He turned on the charm and a brilliant white smile and threw out his catchphrases like confetti as soon as the camera was turned on.

Declaring one lot as "cheap as chips" and one female contestant as "a bobby dazzler" he effervesced with charm and cool composure.

It is amazing how excited people can get about winning £20 - this is no big budget game show but maybe that's why people like it so much.

"Anyone can take part," said David. "Whether they apply to come on the show or just play along at home.

"No one knows what the lots will fetch on the day. The element of the unknown makes it exciting for everyone."