Charles Hanson
Charles Hanson | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 29, 1978 Holbrook, Derbyshire, England |
| Occupation(s) | Auctioneer, television personality |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Known for | Bargain Hunt, Flog It!, Antiques Road Trip |
Charles Hanson MRICS (born 29 May 1978) is a British auctioneer and television figure, recognized for his contributions to Bargain Hunt, Flog It!, and Antiques Road Trip.
Business
Following his qualification as a surveyor, Hanson launched his professional journey in 1999 at Christie's, undertaking an internship within the European Ceramics and Glass Department. He subsequently gained experience working with antique firms located in Cheshire and Staffordshire, before establishing Hansons Auctioneers and Valuers in Etwall, Derbyshire, in August 2005. The firm broadened its scope in 2016 by introducing Historica, a division dedicated to coins and ancient artefacts.
One of Hanson’s most prominent transactions involved a Chinese porcelain vase from the Qianlong period, which had served as a doorstop for over three decades before selling for £650,000. Other significant auctions include medals belonging to Rowland Hill, 1st Viscount Hill, leader at the Battle of Waterloo, and a medieval brooch previously owned by Katherine Neville, Baroness Hastings.
Hanson has also been active in charity auctions benefiting organisations such as the Herd of Sheffield and Careline.
Television
Since 2002, Hanson has been featured on the BBC show Bargain Hunt, where he provides expert guidance to teams buying and selling antiques for profit. In November 2018, he appeared as a specialist on a celebrity edition of Bargain Hunt, which included actors from the BBC drama Casualty raising money for Children in Need.
He has regularly appeared on Flog It! and, starting in 2010, competed on Antiques Road Trip, traveling between antique shops across the UK to maximize returns alongside other experts. In 2016, Hanson took part in the programme For What It's Worth.
Music
In 2017, Hanson collaborated with fellow BBC antiques specialists Philip Serrell, Charlie Ross, and James Braxton to record a rock rendition of "Sleigh Ride" for BBC Children in Need. The track, produced by Grahame and Jack Corbyn and released digitally via independent label Saga Entertainment, achieved the number one spot on the Amazon Rock Charts.
Personal life
Born in Holbrook, Derbyshire on 29 May 1978 to Philip and Gillian Hanson, Charles married Rebecca Ludlam in 2010. In August 2012, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Following this, he raised £39,000 for the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (Sands) by completing the Great North Run in September 2013.
Hanson lives in Derbyshire. Although previously residing with his wife and two children, a court ruling in February 2024 barred him from returning to the family home.
Domestic abuse allegations
In December 2023, Hanson was charged with domestic abuse offences including two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of assault, and controlling and coercive behaviour. He was granted bail pending a court appearance scheduled for 10 January 2024. At a pre-trial hearing held at Derby Crown Court on 7 February 2024, he entered pleas of not guilty. The full trial was set for 10 February 2025 with Sasha Wass acting as his defence lawyer. On 28 February, the jury delivered unanimous verdicts of not guilty on all charges.