Dealing With Dickinson

The producers of Dealing with Dickinson selected 6 obnoxious people who are sadly lacking in both brains and integrity, and proceed to film their constant and inane disrespect for a highly successful antiques dealer, who is well regarded as both an expert and television personality.

Apparently, this is meant to pass for entertainment. I for one was left appalled by the supposed 'apprentices' outrageous, indignant behaviour, and feeling an incredible sense of empathy for 'The Duke' David Dickinson.

Business is business, it isn't meant to be personal, but by gosh these contestants took the biscuit with their distinctly uncouth brutishness towards their mentor. Not only did they fail to observe, listen, hear and learn, they were also incapable of grasping basic business concepts, such as profits.

Oblivious to the advantages of having to hand, in Dickinson, a mentor with more than 25 years experience in profitable antiques dealing, the apprentices at one stage attempt a coup, whereby they believe themselves more knowledgeable than 'The Duke' himself! An idea which if not already absurd to the intelligent viewer, is soon proven to be when 5 out of 6 of the 'apprentices' fail a basic antiques knowledge test on placing some period chairs in order!!!

David Dickinson clearly made the right executive decision by pre-selecting every item that he would approve, for the apprentices to purchase at auction, if he hadn't they would have lost him almost every penny!

I shall only watch the final part of the series next Sunday, in the hope of seeing the penny drop amongst the ingrates, at how fortunate they have been to have a mentor such as 'The Duke'.

Yet again, I think, in Dealing with Dickinson, we have a programme that could have been so much more. David DickInson is such a personable guy, but the 6 team members could have been chosen for their willingness and eagerness to learn. What we get is a team that find it difficult to not knock pieces off each other and/or David. Already asserting in three cases that they know quite a bit, not generally wanting to know more, and complaining that they are not let loose with £50k of funds to buy whatever they want. If the audience want arguement, friction and a view of the dark side of David Dickensin's personailty - they get it.

If you actually wanted to see what this programme says it does in trailers - a team of six learning, being guided, buying and selling and becoming antique dealers - you'd be hugely disappointed. To achieve that the programme would need more stucture, more educational templates on "how to", more of David Dickinson's sharing of a deep knowledge of antiques and making a living through them. But as usual in these reality programmes we get lots of friction and personal stuff and extremely little "how to do".

I think David Dickinson will be very disappointed with the results, the feedback and probably quite angry that he's been used like this. It's a bit like seeing David drop his trousers - a big audience puller for the programme it appears in - but ultimately counter productive to his career and popularity.

I saw Dealing with Dickinson on Sunday night snd dare I say it, I think this could become a cult hit for the man affectionately known as 'The Duke.'

This is a 6 part show which puts 6 budding antique dealers under the tutelage of David Dickinson, and with his guidance, they must buy antiques to the value of £50,000. Once they have finished making their purchases, they must then sell them at a major antique's fair at the Birmingham NEC. The good news is that any profits the groups makes can be kept for themselves - the bad news is that any losses are incurred by their mentor The Duke. This is because David has put up the £50,000 and its his money on the line.

Due to this stipulation, this is where we see an entirely new side to Dickinson. We are used to David being one of TV's nice guys. Not any more, as the perma-tanned one "F's and blinds" his way through the show as the contestants challenge him and disobey his orders. Which is actually very funny stuff.

It makes a nice change from Bargain Hunt where it had looked he was becoming a one trick pony. Dickinson's talents had been wasted serverly on the prime time Bargain Hunt shows, having him reduced to taking part in comedy skits and failing to really let him showcase his knowledge of the business.

This show presents him as the wheeler dealer we all know he is and is a refreshing change.

The contestants are a mixed bag - some of them are clearly quite knowledgeable, others complete novices. The main problem is they all seem a bit dull. However, the real action should start in week two, and judging by the preview clip this is where we will see the fireworks as David gets fiercly protective of his £50K!

I enjoyed the opener and I think this series could turn out to be a winner!