Art can sometimes feel like a particularly murky corner of British culture. Galleries, auctions, private collectors and enormous price tags can make the whole industry seem like something designed for people who already know what they are looking at. But The Big Deal with Steph McGovern looks set to change that – and, judging by its opener, it does a surprisingly good job.
The new BBC Two competition follows seven pairs of aspiring art dealers as they attempt to make their way into the professional art market. Contestants are essentially learning on the job, tasked with spotting up-and-coming artists, building relationships, finding buyers and ultimately proving they can turn their instincts into real profit.
Steph McGovern is an inspired choice to front it. Her style makes the subject feel considerably less intimidating, which is important for a programme dealing with an industry that can sometimes feel deliberately exclusive.
Moreover, Steph’s personal connection to art itself gives the show an emotional and approachable undertone. “My dad’s an artist so I grew up in a home full of curiosities,” said the presenter.
Stellify//BBC
“He went to the Royal College of Art, which was an amazing achievement for a working-class kid, but the realities of trying to make a living out of it meant he also had to take on teaching jobs. As a business journalist who loves art, I jumped at the chance to host a show looking at how to deal art. My dad was the first person I called when I got this job.”
The format could also remind viewers of The Apprentice, another BBC hit, with its ambitious contestants, competitive challenges, expert scrutiny in the form of mentor Cordelia de Freitas, and the pressure of knowing that not everyone will make it through.
But The Big Deal feels less cut-throat – and that is one of its strengths.
While the atmosphere is considerably more laid-back, the stakes remain substantial, with the winning pair receiving a £50k prize. Still, the show feels more interested in what its contestants can learn along the way than in watching them spectacularly fall.
This gives the series a surprisingly wholesome quality without making it boring. Each contestant is encouraged to get out of their comfort zones, and give something unexpected a chance – from an artist they might have overlooked to a sales opportunity that requires them to rethink their approach.
BBC/Stellify//BBC
The Big Deal gets into the business behind the art, too. Contestants have to consider whether an artist has potential, how they might build a relationship with them and, perhaps most importantly, whether they can persuade someone else to spend money on their work.
The results of their reasoning are shown through an auction, where prospective buyers give out their own, highly-anticipated verdict, before an elimination takes place.
Although Cordelia de Freitas provides the main central expert voice, she’s joined by guest judges including artist Margo McDaid, and curator Matt Carey-Williams, who will also be seen contributing to the competition.
The art itself is another major attraction. Some of the work on display is daring, unconventional, and likely to divide opinion. But The Big Deal is not asking viewers to become experts overnight. Instead, it encourages them to develop their own discernment, and consider why a particular piece might be worth more than imagined at first glance.
Ultimately, The Big Deal with Steph McGovern feels like The Apprentice’s more approachable, cooler, art-world cousin. The competition provides enough tension to keep things moving, while the format’s emphasis on learning and taking risks stops it becoming another reality show built entirely on humiliation.
The Big Deal with Steph McGovern airs this Thursday (13 August) from 8pm on BBC2.
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