Mark Stacey & James Braxton first met in the autumn of 2003 whilst filming BBC's Bargain Hunt in Tunbridge Wells.

It was on this Live show where they really bonded, in this particular episode, with David Dickinson, Mark was paired with a Top of the Pops presenter, who spent her money on a handbag, witches balls and a ring! This episode was the highest rated show with 8 million viewers.

Having previously worked together on BBC 2’s Flog It, James’s company, bought Hamptons for whom Mark worked. This winning team will shortly be seen on BBC 2’s Antiques Road Trip touring East Anglia in James’s 1952 MG.

As well as being the top of their respected areas, James and Mark also share a passion for travel and wine – a perfect combination, but only when James and Mark can get time away from their busy home lives and respective families!

James presided over the first prime time live auction for BBC’s Children in Need. James has been a keen favourite for many charity Auctions as well as corporate work. He is a qualified surveyor with over 20 years experience in antique auctioneering, and is the Director of Dreweatts 1759, the UK's 4th largest auction group. James is a founder director with extensive experience in e-commerce, which has since migrated back to a bricks and mortar auction business.

Mark who was born in South Wales, but moved to London to work in the care profession before starting his own antiques dealing business, and has been in the antiques world for over 20 years, most of which was spent in auction houses. He joined Bonhams in 1995 at their successful Hove office as a general valuer and regional representative before joining Sotheby’s, initially specialising in the ceramics department, and then the valuations department for 5 years. Mark worked for Hamptons/Dreweatt Neate Fine Art, where as well as being a successful valuer he was head of Decorative Arts, and was later made a Director. Over this time Mark has gained a wealth of experience and contacts which will be used in a new capacity as an independent consultant, valuer and auctioneer