Popular daytime TV show Dickinson’s Real Deal returned to screens on Monday for its 19th series.
It comes just months after the show’s iconic host David Dickinson was forced to deny he’d secretly quit the series.
Dickinson’s Real Deal began airing in 2006 and returned to screens at 2pm on ITV for its next season.
In April 2023 it had been reported that TV veteran David, 82, would be leaving the show after 16 years.
A show insider said at the time: ‘It’s an open secret on Dickinson’s Real Deal that David will be leaving the show after filming the upcoming series.
Popular daytime TV show Dickinson’s Real Deal returned to screens on Monday for its 19th series
It comes just months after the show’s iconic host David Dickinson was forced to deny he’d secretly quit the series (pictured in 2004)
‘He’s absolutely adored fronting the show, it’s been a huge success for the channel and viewers still love it 16 years after it launched.
‘David’s had such an incredible career in Showbiz so far and has no intention of quitting TV for good and is still open to exploring further opportunities.’
An ITV spokesperson told at the time: ‘The current series of Dickinson’s Real Deal is in production and filming throughout spring and summer. No decisions have been made on future series beyond that.’
But he is back for series 19 and the first episode saw him travel to Stoke in Staffordshire.
It had been reported that he was leaving the show to spend more time at home with his wife Lorne Lesley now they’re both in their 80s.
However, a representative for David hit back at the rumours, telling The Mirror: ‘David has no plans to retire from Dickinson’s Real Deal, a show he still very much enjoys making, and is hugely looking forward to working on the upcoming series later this month.’
David has been dealing in antiques for over 30 years, previously crediting his permanent tan and flamboyant character for earning him legions of fans.
He made his name on Bargain Hunt where he became known for the catchphrases ‘real bobby-dazzler’ and ‘cheap as chips’, later moving from the BBC to ITV, fronting Dickinson’s Real Deal from 2006.
Dickinson’s Real Deal began airing in 2006 and returned to screens at 2pm on ITV for its next season
It had been reported that he was leaving the show to spend more time at home with his wife Lorne Lesley now they’re both in their 80s (pictured in 2003)
The presenter starred on the first ever series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, competing alongside former professional dancer Camilla Dallerup and a year later took part in ITV series I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
His love of performing and showmanship was inspired by his wife Lorne, who’s a former cabaret star, with the pair first meeting in a nightclub during the 60s.
The couple, who have been married since 1968, share two children together, and also have grandchildren, one of which became the youngest ever contestant to successfully secure investment on business show Dragons’ Den.
David opened up about the highs and lows of his life in autobiography The Duke, where he talked about learning at the age of 12, he was adopted as a baby by Joyce and Jim Dickinson.
He discovered more about his heritage filming BBC documentary Who Do You Think You Are?, including that his Armenian grandfather was a former silk trader and worked on the same streets where he also learned the business.
The presenter starred on the first ever series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, performing alongside former professional dancer Camilla Dallerup (pictured in 2004)
Following his move from the BBC to ITV, David took part in Aussie series I’m A Celeb in 2005, with the likes of former EastEnders actor Sid Owen as his campmate (pictured in 2005)
Cheryl Hakeney, a dealer on Dickinson’s Real Deal for 14 years, told last year she remembers David selling at London Olympia, saying his stand resembled his outgoing personality.
She said: ‘I’ve known him for many years, I knew him before I was on the show because he’s a friend of my dad’s, which isn’t how I got the job, he was a fantastic antique dealer back in the day and he always dealt in really wonderful and unusual antiques, very interior design led.
‘He’s from Manchester but also used to exhibit at Olympia London every year and David’s stand was like him, over the top, and the most fantastic and unusual things. He’s great and you can’t believe he’s 81 and still working, he’s a true showman.’