Four Rooms

Four Rooms, from Tuesday 24 May, 2011, 8pm, Channel 4

In a brand new series, four of Britain's top dealers in art, antiques and collectibles wait in four separate rooms, each prepared to spend their own personal fortunes if the right item comes through their door.   From memorabilia to a mummified mermaid, art to antiques, members of the public have come to sell their prized possessions hoping to walk away with a life-changing amount of money.   But to do so, they have to work out when to sell and when to see the next dealer, because once they leave the room the offer is off the table for good.

In a gripping game of risk, ambition, and sometimes plain delusion, the sellers give everything they've got to persuade the dealers that their treasure is the real deal, while the dealers have to figure out what the real value of the item is. This test of nerves will no doubt dash some hopes, but for others, could lead to a bigger win than they could have ever of dreamt of.

Four Rooms provides a unique insight into the compelling world of how deals are struck, as well as fascinating information and history about a dazzling and surprising array of objects. The eight-part series starts on Tuesday 24 May, at 8pm.

Presented by Anita Rani (Watchdog, The One Show) the eight-part series introduces dealer experts Emma Hawkins, Andrew Lamberty, Jeff Salmon and Gordon Watson.  The series gives people who believe they have a precious artifact or collectible a once in a lifetime chance; to try and sell it for big money to four of the country's leading dealers, all of whom are spending their own cash.

But there's a crucial twist - the dealers are located in four separate rooms and the seller can only hear their offers one by one. The seller can decide to turn down the offer and move to the next room; but once they've turned down an offer, it's gone forever and there's no going back...

In tonight's show, a collection of Christmas cards from Princess Diana to her personal chef, an original 60s Dalek, a cigar owned by Winston Churchill, and a Francis Bacon portrait all but destroyed by the artist.  Will any make their owners rich?