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Steph McGovern
BBC Arts has announced Steph McGovern as presenter of a brand new six-part arts series co-commissioned with BBC Northern Ireland for BBC Two.
The Big Deal with Steph McGovern, first announced at the Belfast Media Festival in 2023 under the working title The Art Game, will see seven pairs of art-curious contestants battle it out in the competitive world of contemporary art dealing for the chance to win a lucrative prize.
From new auction records to sold-out shows, the art market is a vibrant global industry that generates headlines around the world. Yet for many, the art world remains shrouded in mystery...
Now, The Big Deal with Steph McGovern is giving budding dealers the chance to follow their instincts, flex their entrepreneurial muscle, and see if they can make money in the market. Some may have an appreciation of art already, but none of them have ever bought or sold artworks professionally before. Each week, the amateur dealers will face challenges that test their skills, from spotting breakthrough artists to building relationships with established ones, wooing potential buyers, and ultimately, securing the sale.
Their efforts will be judged by Cordelia de Freitas, the overarching series expert, alongside a variety of guest art market experts who will decide which pairs progress, and which must leave the competition. Judges include curator Matt Carey-Williams, artist Margo McDaid and Ani Petrov, marketing Vice President for a digital art marketplace. The winners will walk away with an incredible £50,000 worth of art.
Steph McGovern said: “While lots of people are happy to splash out on theatre tickets, music festivals or holidays abroad, spending time and money looking at, or buying art can feel a bit more intimidating. This show dispels the myth that the art world is exclusive. I’m buzzing for you to see how our dealers, from all walks of life, get on when we take them into the heart of the art market, and along all the arteries that stem from it, with the ultimate aim of making money!”
12 January 2026
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