ABOUT JB
About James Broad — From Auction Porter to TV Auctioneer
At 17, I walked into a local auction house as a porter, moving furniture and carrying boxes. What I didn’t know then was that I’d found my calling. The buzz of the saleroom, the stories behind each object, and the theatre of the gavel sparked a passion that has shaped my life ever since.
Fast forward more than a decade, and today I’m Associate Director and Lead Auctioneer at Whittaker & Biggs Auction Room — standing on the rostrum where I once stacked chairs, and guiding clients through valuations, sales, and the thrill of bidding.
My journey has also taken me onto television screens across the UK, where I share my enthusiasm for history, heritage, and the unusual. You may recognise me from BBC1’s The Bidding Room, Antiques Roadshow, The Travelling Auctioneers, or Discovery’s The Great Antiques Challenge. Each programme has allowed me to do what I love best: uncover hidden stories, celebrate craftsmanship, and inspire a wider audience to experience the magic of auctions.
For me, auctioneering isn’t just about buying and selling — it’s about people, stories, and connection. Whether it’s valuing a family heirloom, clearing a property, or creating the theatre of a live sale, my mission is always the same: to make auctions exciting, fair and accessible - inspiring the next generation to get involved, building through entrepreneurial passion with an infinite goal, and creating a legacy my family can be proud of.
If you’d like to know what your treasures could be worth — or if you’re ready to experience the energy of the rostrum — I’d be delighted to help.
