The Big Deal with Steph McGovern is a BBC Two arts competition series that takes viewers behind the scenes of the competitive and often mysterious world of the art market. The six-part series follows seven pairs of aspiring amateur art dealers who are determined to prove that they have what it takes to buy, sell and trade art successfully. Combining art, business and competition, the programme explores what makes a piece of artwork valuable and whether the contestants can turn their knowledge and instincts into a profitable collection.
Each pair begins their journey with the challenge of finding artists and artworks that they believe have the potential to succeed in the market. They must research artists, assess the quality and appeal of individual works and decide how much they are prepared to pay. Their choices require more than an appreciation of art, as the contestants also need to understand changing tastes, market demand and the commercial potential of the artists they discover.
The programme gives viewers an accessible look at how the art market works, including the processes involved in buying and selling artwork. Contestants have to negotiate with artists and sellers while making important financial decisions that could either increase the value of their collections or leave them facing losses. These challenges highlight the balance between artistic judgement and business sense that successful art dealers need.
The stakes become increasingly high as the pairs compete to build the strongest collection of British art. Their ultimate goal is to demonstrate that they can identify talent, make smart investments and successfully navigate the art market. With a £50,000 collection of British art at stake, The Big Deal combines the excitement of a competition with an exploration of contemporary British artists, dealers and collectors.
The series is hosted by Steph McGovern, the broadcaster and journalist known for her engaging interviewing style and experience presenting programmes covering business, consumer issues and current affairs. In The Big Deal, she guides viewers through the contestants’ journeys, introduces the challenges and helps make the sometimes complicated world of art dealing accessible to a mainstream audience. Her approachable style brings energy to the competition while allowing the focus to remain on the contestants, their artistic discoveries and the business decisions that determine their success.
