TV presenter Tim Wonnacott is said to have stepped down from his 12-year role as host of daytime favourite ‘Bargain Hunt’ after allegedly being involved in an altercation with the BBC programme’s producers.

He had previously been suspended from presenting the show back in September, after it was reported that he had gotten involved in a blazing row with ‘Bargain Hunt’s production staff. He had continued to provide the voiceover for the BBC’s ‘Antiques Road Trip’, a role he’ll still be fulfilling despite this exit, according to reports.

Wonnacott replaced David Dickinson in 2003 as the face of ‘Bargain Hunt’ after the latter’s move to ITV. He also appeared on the BBC’s flagship Saturday night show ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ as a contestant in 2014.

Tim WonnacottTim Wonnacott has left 'Bargain Hunt' after 12 years

At the time of his suspension, the BBC said: “Tim is not currently in production on ‘Bargain Hunt’ and we are using guest presenters. We wouldn’t comment on individual staff matters.” Reports suggested that staff at BBC Bristol filed a complaint about Wonnacott’s behaviour towards crew members of the show, and that an inquiry had been launched as a result.

Now that his exit has been confirmed, the network said in a short statement on Wednesday (November 25th): “We would like to thank Tim Wonnacott for his dedication to ‘Bargain Hunt’ over the last 12 years and for the great expertise that he has brought to the show in that time. ‘Bargain Hunt’ will be moving in a new direction next year, utilising a team of experts who present a number of shows each. Tim continues to work with the BBC on ‘Antiques Road Trip’.”

Wonnacott himself said in reaction to his departure: “I am pleased to have been part of ‘Bargain Hunt’ for so many years and have thoroughly enjoyed every one of my, roughly, 1,200 programmes hunting out bargains with the contestants.”

However, because of the filming schedule, the departed presenter will still be seen in newly-aired editions of the programme until 2016.

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