Bargain Hunt expert Caroline Hawley has more than three decades of experience when it comes to antiques and often helps the teams make impressive profits, but the BBC star has another passion in life.
Although she dropped out of school as a teenager, she went on to join the University of Hull later on in life, where she graduated with a degree in French.
“I still find great pleasure in visiting the French antiques markets, where at least I can do a bit of haggling in their own tongue, and I love their attitude which seems to be far more relaxed than over here,” she told The Yorkshire Post.
“In the UK, traders will get there early and stay there late, and maybe, when lunchtime comes around, they’ll have a sandwich from a carrier bag under the table. In France, the stall is cleared, a tablecloth is spread, and out comes some wine, and they have a lovely picnic. Who wouldn’t warm to that?”
The expert opened up on her life away from the UK, saying she loved spending her free time hunting down bargains in France.
The star admitted she would live in France if she had the chance, expressing her passion for the culture.
When discussing what she would do for a living if she was not in the antiques trade, she said: “I think that archaeology would be fascinating but probably a little too slow and painstaking for me.
“I would want to dive in and unearth everything in double quick time; patience not being a virtue of mine. If I were allowed a second choice it would be a fashion designer, living and working in Paris.”
Also offering some insight into her hobbies, she said: “I spend my free time browsing around vide-greniers and brocantes in rural Normandy or at home in Yorkshire.
“I also love long coastal walks with my dog and enjoy Zumba, yoga and Pilates classes when I get the chance.”
She went on to explain how her guilty pleasure was “a large mint chocolate chip ice cream at the end of a long walk with my dog”.
