The Gavin & Stacey star is back on the high street, swapping scripts for charity shop rails as the BBC’s thrifting and upcycling show takes to twelve new towns across England and Wales.
There’s a particular thrill that every charity shop lover knows. It’s the flick through a crowded rail that stops dead on something brilliant, or the dusty side table that you can already picture sanded, painted and transformed. It’s that feeling that has made Shift the Thrift such an easy watch, and it’s coming back.
Award-winning Nations and Regions producer One Tribe TV has been commissioned by BBC Daytime and BBC Cymru Wales for a second series, with Joanna Page once again leading the hunt for hidden treasures in the nation’s charity shops.
A homecoming with a seaside twist
For fans of a certain much-loved sitcom, one stop on the new itinerary will stand out. The series will take Joanna back to Barry Island, the seaside spot forever linked with Gavin & Stacey, where she played Stacey Shipman.
“I love the excitement of finding something amazing for a bargain price and then seeing what you can do with it, and it’s brilliant that we’re getting to explore even more towns and communities across England and Wales,” Joanna says. “And returning to Barry Island is going to be particularly special!”
Twelve towns, countless treasures
Barry Island is just one of twelve locations on the route for the new 12 x 30-minute series. Joanna and her team of expert thrifters will visit a mix of Welsh and English towns and cities: Aberdare, Cardigan, Neath, Prestatyn and Welshpool in Wales, with Cirencester, Leamington Spa, Frome, Ilkley, Lytham and Bakewell on the English side of the border.
It’s a route that takes in market towns, coastal resorts and former industrial communities. That variety is what Owen Gay, Executive Producer and Co-Founder of One Tribe, believes gives the show its heart.
“The response to the first series showed just how much appetite there is for a format that combines the thrill of the hunt with creativity, sustainability and great local stories,” he explains. “We’re delighted to be back with Joanna for a second series and to be taking Shift the Thrift to a fantastic mix of communities across England and Wales.”
How the challenge works
The format is simple, but the clock adds real pressure. In each episode, two teams head out into local charity shops to hunt for pieces with potential. They then have to transform their finds through upcycling, restyling or a little imagination before taking them to a live-streamed auction.
The aim is to turn second-hand discoveries into as much money as possible. Creativity counts, but so does knowing how to sell, and every penny of profit goes to the team’s chosen charity.
Riding the charity shop boom
The show’s return comes at a time when second-hand shopping has moved firmly into the mainstream. Charity shops are no longer just a place to drop off unwanted bags. For many shoppers they’ve become a first stop, whether to save money, shop more sustainably, or find something with a bit more character than the high-street chains offer.
Lindsay Bradbury, Commissioning Editor for BBC Daytime, sees that shift as central to the programme’s appeal. “Shift the Thrift has struck a real chord with our audience,” she says. “With the explosion of Charity Shops on our High Streets it is a relatable and relevant format delivered with real warmth from charity shopaholic Joanna Page.”
Julian Carey, Commissioning Editor for BBC Cymru Wales, agrees that the timing couldn’t be better. “Vintage clothing, pre-loved furniture and upscaled bargains have never been more popular and audiences really responded to the first series and the way Jo and the team went treasure hunting on our high streets,” he says. “It’s a show with a great message and is a lot of fun – we can’t wait to see what’s waiting to be discovered in the nation’s charity shops this time around!”
Catch up before the new series
If you missed the first run, or fancy a rewatch before Joanna heads back out, series one is available now on BBC iPlayer.
Watch Shift the Thrift on BBC iPlayer
Shift the Thrift is co-commissioned by Rob Unsworth, Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak Commissioning, and Nick Andrews, Head of Commissioning for BBC Cymru Wales. The Commissioning Editors are Lindsay Bradbury (BBC Daytime) and Julian Carey (BBC Cymru Wales). The Executive Producers are Owen Gay and Tom Cunningham for One Tribe TV, and the series is produced from One Tribe’s base in Chepstow. Sphere Abacus is handling international distribution, led by Jonathan Ford.
All images © BBC/One Tribe TV. Used with permission for editorial purposes.
