Mark Stacey major surgery update

A profile of Mark Stacey a familiar BBC Bargain Hunt antiques expert and his health journey.

Mark Stacey undergoes major surgery and steps back from Bargain Hunt

Mark Stacey is a familiar face on BBC Bargain Hunt and a respected antiques expert who has appeared on Flog It Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is and Antiques Road Trip. Born in Neath in Glamorgan South Wales he moved to London to start his career in antiques. He worked at Bonhams and Sotheby's before becoming head of decorative arts and later a director at Hamptons Dreweatt Neate Fine Art. In 2011 he opened his own antiques shop in Kemptown Brighton focusing on bespoke and rare pieces sold through his site. Three years later he joined Reeman Dansie as an auctioneer and valuer where he once handled an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus that sold for thirteen thousand five hundred pounds.

Away from television Stacey plays the organ and sometimes performs at his local church. He previously worked as a residential social worker and says his lifelong love of collecting drew him to antiques. He joined Bargain Hunt in two thousand two after replying to an ad in the Antiques Trade Gazette and quickly impressed. He notes that the antiques trade is changing fast and offers a path for newcomers it is fun and rewarding but can pay little and requires thorough research. In two thousand twenty three he underwent robotic surgery to remove a bowel cancer tumour and later posted about the experience praising the NHS.

This profile shows how a career in antiques blends hands on work with media visibility. It demonstrates a path from major auction houses to running a shop and a television role showing how a passion for objects can lead to a public platform. It also reveals a personal side that resonates with readers when a public figure faces illness and relies on public support and the NHS.

The piece invites readers to consider the future of the antiques sector which relies on markets research and reputations. It sheds light on the tension between television glamour and the hard graft behind the scenes and suggests how small businesses keep their values while adapting to online sales and global markets.

Highlights

Meaning is found in objects and in how we care for them.