Michael Hogben Biography

Maverick auctioneer Michael Hogben - friend of the stars, lover of fast cars, designer clothes and a celebrity lifestyle.

A Scorpio, born in Ford Road, Folkestone, Kent on 6 November, Michael was one of four children, losing his mother when he was five years old. Educated in Folkestone, Michael deliberately flunked his 11+ so he could attend the same school as his brother, Geoff.

Leaving school at fifteen to work in a shop, within a year he was running one himself. His father emigrated to Australia leaving Michael and his brother in England. At the age of seventeen Michael opened Mickey Finn, a fashion boutique, after acquiring a small inheritance.

Clearly the world of business suited him but after ten years Michael bored of the fashion industry and opened Kent's first wine bar - McCartney's - in Dover.

Michael studied art and decided to make his living buying and selling Victorian oil and watercolour paintings. Twenty years in the antiques trade and an auctioneer for fifteen, his own collection includes pieces by Patrick Caulfield and Tracey Emin "I love her style".

Michael ran his auction house Hogben Auctioneers in Folkestone with the help of wife Lesley and son Jai. He became one of the Bargain Hunt experts purely by chance when the Bargain Hunt team visited his saleroom in Folkestone to record four shows for the one of the early series. The producer liked his style so much and asked if he would be prepared to go on as an expert. Michael said yes but in his first show he dropped a bit of a clanger as he bought a pair of vases that were Art Nouveau but due to nerves said they were Art Deco!

Viewers have been treated to some fantastic moments such as the Worcester box that Michael bought with his team at the Ardingly fair for £140. It went on to make a massive £800 at auction! This remains the highest profit ever made from a single item in Bargain Hunt history.

David Dickinson was speechless, except for the words "the little man's come good". That's a record that'll take some beating for sure!

Michael and David Dickinson met through Bargain Hunt and have become very good friends. The Duke's always the first on the phone to congratulate him about things. So, since being introduced to millions of viewers he's not looked back.

A prime time BBC documentary series about himself followed, Auction Man, looked beneath the veneer of Hogben's auction rooms to reveal the human stories behind the goods that go under the hammer.

Crammed with characters and filled with hot tips on how to spot a gem, Auction Man introduced Michael as a real diamond geezer to the public and showed what made the business such a success with its regular visitors, celebrities, sharp customers and the unscrupulous dealers. Michael knows his fakes from his forgeries and his Doulton from his Delft.

After sending Jim Moir (aka Vic Reeves) a catalogue he began frequenting the saleroom and following a cuppa, which led onto a bottle of Chablis, and then another, he became a good mate and was best man at Michael's wedding.

Vic is interested in appearing on Bargain Hunt, probably on a celebrity show, and was asked to appear in the Children In Need editions but had prior commitments. He has a very good eye and can pick out which pieces will make the money but insists he wants Michael as his expert!

Michael has to juggle his life as an auctioneer and valuer with his life in the fast lane. He is also a panelist for the BBC Radio Kent show 'Ask the Expert'. Michael sold the auction house in 2004 to concentrate on new business ventures.

Michael got into antiques by accident, one day a long time ago, someone knocked on my door and asked if I'd any antiques for sale - which I didn't think I did, but he spotted a picture by an artist called Ethel Lucy Adams in the corridor and asked if I'd sell it for £50. I wondered who on earth would buy this painting by a woman I'd never heard of but figured out it was worth checking. Once they left I went straight to the local library and after some research discovered that the painting was worth £120 so I took it to my local sale room to sell and that was it. Hooked!

A big fan of Art Deco "it's such a great style", Michael spends time building his personal collection of decorative art from the '20s and '30s. Among the most distinctive pieces from this period were made by Clarice Cliff of which Michael is an expert.

He does like looking around for 18th and 19th century English furniture. You can always pick up some lovely pieces. Then there's the eight-day clocks, corkscrews and, of course, gavels.

Ever an eye for a bargain Michael buys all his clothes in the sales. Normally shopping at Dolce & Gabbana, Vivian Westwood, Paul Smith, Alexander McQueen and, of course, his trademark Timberland shoes. He particularly likes D&G shirts because they are always bright and groovy.

A lover of classical music, especially Mozart, Michael also enjoys listening to Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Eagles and Jeff Beck. He has also recently started listening to Pink Floyd again, but only the lighter stuff.

One thing's for sure, whatever Michael's life involves it is certain to include his sense of humour and lust for life. Putting the gain in bargain, the price in priceless and the fun in funky are what Michael's about. Remember, Michael lives by one of his many sayings "Have Fun, Stay Young".