I've been #thrifting this morning!

#MonochromeMonday

Gavin & Stacey star to host new BBC show celebrating charity shops and upcycling

Best known for playing Stacey in the beloved series, Page will now host Shift the Thrift, a BBC daytime show that celebrates thrifting, upcycling, and the buzz of live-stream auctions. Filming begins across the UK this September.

Contestants will be in a race against the clock as they hunt for charity shop treasures, transform them with flair, and sell them in high-energy, live-streamed auctions.

A shopping list that always includes an item to be refashioned will be provided, plus a fun scavenger hunt challenge. Contestants then work with some of Britain’s top social media upcyclers to customise their finds before pitching them to the public.

Page, an avid thrifter, has revealed that she herself had some success thrifting a vase as part of the series.

“I upcycled a vase I got for about £2, and live on the auction I was drawing on it and doing things. The money went up, up and up,” said the 49-year-old actress, from Mumbles.

“I think we ended up selling it for more than £100.”

“I absolutely love charity shops and have been customising and upcycling clothes for years, so this show is right up my street.

“It’s fun, fast, and gives people great ideas on how to find value in second-hand treasure – all while supporting brilliant local causes.”

Owen Gay, Executive Producer and Co-Founder of One Tribe, said:

“We’ve built a reputation for telling uplifting, people-focused stories across the UK, and this format lets us do that while championing sustainability and local causes.

“Charity shops are treasure troves full of stories, and we can’t wait for viewers to share in the thrill of the hunt and the buzz of the auction.”

Lindsay Bradbury, Commissioning Editor for BBC Daytime, added:

“Shift the Thrift is a timely celebration of creativity, sustainability, and entrepreneurial spirit. This is a programme that the whole family can sit down and watch together and might even inspire audiences to get out there and start thrifting.”

Julian Carey, Commissioning Editor for BBC Cymru Wales, said:

“We love a bargain, and we love the thrill of the hunt, and this series is all about the fun to be had rummaging for treasures and tracking down unique finds.

“It’s also a celebration of our network of charity shops, which are the backbone of fundraising in Britain and a brilliant model for how we can shop sustainably and cheaply while supporting good causes at the same time. As such, this feels like a timely and warm-hearted TV treat.”

BBC One and iPlayer have commissioned 12 half-hour episodes of Shift the Thrift, with filming starting across the UK this September. Six of the programmes will be based in Wales.

[Lead image: BBC Wales]