Bargain Hunt's Tim Wonnacott steps down after being suspended by BBC following altercation

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

The Bargain Hunt presenter Tim Wonnacott has stepped down after being suspended by the BBC following an alleged altercation with the show’s producers.

Wonnacott, who has presented the daytime show for 12 years, was suspended in September following a row with production staff.

Reports suggested that staff at BBC Bristol issued a complaint after objecting to Wonnacott’s behaviour, leading to a probe into alleged bullying claims.

A Strictly Come Dancing contestant last year who replaced David Dickinson as Bargain Hunt presenter, Wonnacott had a showdown with BBC bosses following the decision to suspend him, pending an investigation. The BBC declined to comment on individual staff matters and announced his departure on 25 November.

Wonnacott said: “I am pleased to have been part of Bargain Hunt for so many years and have thoroughly enjoyed every one of my, roughly, 1,200 programmes hunting out bargains with the contestants. Alongside continuing to voice Antiques Road Trip for the BBC, I look forward to developing new programme ideas.”

The BBC said: “We would like to thank Tim Wonnacott for his dedication to Bargain Hunt over the last twelve-years and for the great expertise that he has brought to the show in that time.”

The corporation added: “Bargain Hunt will be moving in a new direction next year utilising a team of experts who present a number of shows each. Tim continues to work with the BBC on Antiques Road Trip.” The presenter will however still appear in new episodes airing on BBC1 until early 2016.

The incident occurred just months after Jeremy Clarkson was sacked from Top Gear following an assault on producer Oisin Tymon.