Sometimes even DJs need a break from spinning tracks. In this episode of Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, Radio 1’s Nihal Arthanayake and Dev Griffin swap the decks for a slightly less glamorous pursuit: antique hunting. Paired with experts Catherine Southon and James Braxton, respectively, the duo cruises the home counties in a vintage Jaguar XK8, on the prowl for underpriced treasures.
While the competitive spirit is ostensibly the main draw — after all, someone has to win at the auction — the real entertainment comes from watching these music maestros navigate a world far removed from their usual haunts. Nihal, a self-proclaimed novice in the antiques game, approaches the task with a mixture of enthusiasm and bewilderment, while Dev seems strangely at home haggling for vintage trinkets.
Beyond the usual rummaging through dusty shops, the episode also offers a few unexpected detours. We see Nihal and Dev engage in a peculiar game, proving that even antique hunting can be a surprisingly physical activity. Plus, their banter provides some much-needed levity, especially when Braxton attempts to educate them on the finer points of 18th-century porcelain.
The hunt itself yields a mixed bag of finds. Dev unearths some pottery in Dorking, while Nihal makes a potentially lucrative purchase in Woking. Whether these items will translate into auction gold is anyone’s guess, but the journey itself offers a glimpse into the curious world of antiques, celebrity quirks, and the enduring appeal of a good old-fashioned road trip. Tune in to see if these DJs can spin their antique finds into profit.
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip airs Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 7:00 PM on BBC Two.