SALVAGE Hunters star Drew Pritchard has opened up about big changes in the programme’s 18th series.
Antiques dealer Drew has fronted the long-running show since its 2011 debut.
Throughout most of the show’s run, viewers saw Drew’s longtime friend “T” (John Tee) as a frequent travel companion who helped move purchased items.
Last year, it was announced T would be leaving Salvage Hunters after more than a decade.
Joining Drew in series 18 are fellow dealers Alister Dryburgh and Viki Knott, who will each accompany him on location in search of incredible finds.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun Online, Drew said he “really enjoys” having the newcomers as part of the on-screen team.
He added: “We all have different tastes. We all have different customers. We all have different markets.
“So we understand and appreciate what each other’s doing.
“But, you know, Viki is buying for her market in Edinburgh. Alistair is buying for his regulars.
“My market is very much interior decorators, collectors and other dealers. I sell a lot to other dealers.
“So sort of up the chain, basically. So we all have different, different tastes and different eyes.”
In the first episode of series 18, Drew and Alistair visit the Republic of Ireland.
Drew said he “loves” visiting the Emerald Isle due to having Irish family and appreciates the ease of travelling there from Holyhead.
However, despite sharing history, does having two antiques dealers in one location affect the show’s dynamic at all?
Drew shared: “If you put any two antique dealers at an antique fair, no matter how long they’ve known each other, they will compete.
“You know, it’s for real. It isn’t a silly competition. It’s all for real. And it happens all the time.
“I was at an antique shop the other day and I walked in and bought a pair of chairs.
“I walked out, a friend of mine [arrives]. I said, ‘Oh, hey, how you doing?’ He said, ‘Yeah, I’ve just arrived to buy some chairs.’ I’d just bought them.
“And then he bought them off me outside the shop. So it’s a never ending deal.
“You’re a bit nerdy when you’re an antique dealer. You do tend to all hang out together.”
Drew also teased what Salvage Hunters viewers can expect in the new episodes, commenting: “For this series, we met some dealers that I’ve known about for over 30 years and never met.
“We’ve had some extraordinary finds in people’s houses on this series.
“It’s been a near-constant array of finds on this one. It always amazes me what’s out there.”
Series 18 of Salvage Hunters begins airing tonight at 9pm on Quest.
