Hit BBC Two factual entertainment show Celebrity Antiques Road Trip returns next week for its twelfth series, and the line-up of stars heading out on the road this year includes Love Island winners, Strictly favourites, ‘80s pop royalty, and ‘The GC’…

Swapping the villa for valuations are Love Island champions Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Davide Sanclimenti. The pair were voted the nation’s favourite couple on the reality behemoth in 2022 – but they’ll soon be going head-to-head to see who can uncover the most interesting antiques and make the most money at auction.

Discussing his experience on the show, Davide says: “It was such a pleasure to be part of Celebrity Antiques Road Trip – from the nostalgic feeling of putting myself into an antique car, through to the fun side of buying and selling antiques.

“There was healthy competition between Ekin and I, and we had lots of fun as we supported each other through the experience. I learned a lot about antiques and how appearances can be deceiving; something may look like it could be worth a lot, but it may just be more sentimental value.”

Joining Ekin-Su and Davide on the eclectic line-up of celebs are Strictly professional Amy Dowden and former contestant Sara Davies, reality star and entrepreneur Gemma Collins and her BBC Radio 1 presenter friend Melvin Odoom, and 1980s popstar pals Samantha Fox and Sinitta.

Sinitta says: “I thought of Sam immediately when asked who I would like to do this show with, as whenever we bump into each other we always say we must get together, but life takes over and it never happens. This was the perfect opportunity to spend time together after nearly forty years, and we laughed non-stop like time had stood still. It felt so cool driving through the country lanes like pop music’s answer to Thelma and Louise!”

Sara Davies, who shot to fame on BBC One’s Dragon’s Den, says: “I’d always heard what an incredible adventure Antiques Road Trip is. Being with Amy made it even more special for me, and to be able to spend that time together and share the experience was just brilliant.”

The 20-episode series kicks off on Tuesday 10 October with husband-and-wife comedy duo Paul Merton and Suki Webster getting behind the wheel of one of the show’s classic cars. News anchor siblings Geeta and Krishnan Guru-Murthy are in the driving seat for episode two, which follows on Wednesday 11 October on BBC Two and iPlayer.

Paul Merton says: “When I saw Suki holding a beautiful vase, I realised they had three things in common: style, elegance, and the ability to hold water until it turns stagnant.”

Suki Webster added: “I had a wonderful time doing Celebrity Antiques Road Trip with Paul. Because I love being around lovely dusty old things. And I really like antiques as well.”

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, which is produced by STV Studios and has been a staple of BBC Two’s and iPlayer’s autumn schedule since 2011, sees pairs of famous faces travelling across the UK alongside some of the country’s finest antiques experts to hunt for hidden treasures and compete to see who can auction them off for the most money.

The experts accompanying the celebrities on their Road Trip adventures this year are Serhat Ahmet, Angus Ashworth, Izzie Balmer, James Braxton, Margie Cooper, Charles Hanson, David Harper, Roo Irvine, Hettie Jago, Ishy Khan, Paul Laidlaw, Irita Marriott, Tim Medhurst, Steven Moore, Natasha Raskin Sharp, Philip Serrell and Catherine Southon.

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip is executive produced by John Redshaw and Joe Sharp for STV Studios.

Muslim Alim, BBC Commissioning Editor, says: “It’s great to have Celebrity Antiques Road Trip back on BBC Two this autumn with another exciting list of celebrity duos and a plethora of weird and wonderful items that will have you guessing till the last minute on their profit potential.”

Craig Hunter, Creative Director of Factual at STV Studios, says: “We’ve been making this show for 12 years now and there’s still no better feeling than seeing a new crop of celebrities get as excited and passionate about the world of antiques as we are.

“Series 12 is one of our best celebrity line-ups ever and I can’t wait to share the series with our dedicated fanbase, as well as new viewers joining us for the first time.”

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip begins on Tuesday 10 October at 7pm on BBC Two and iPlayer.

Full celebrity line-up:

Paul Merton and Suki Webster
Geeta and Krishnan Guru-Murthy
Ian McElhinney and Tara Lynne O’Neill
Owain Wyn Evans and Dianne Buswell
Linda Robson and Brenda Edwards
Bobby Friction and Sima Kotecha
Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Davide Sanclimenti
Joanna Page and Wynne Evans
Sara Davies and Amy Dowden
Stephanie Beacham and Amanda Barrie
Samantha Fox and Sinitta
Gemma Collins and Melvin Odoom
Richard ‘Dick’ McCourt and Dominic ‘Dom’ Wood
Tricia Penrose and Dean Sullivan
Rt. Hon. Lord David Blunkett and Lesley Garrett CBE
Tez Ilyas and Eshaan Akbar
Amy Robbins and Michelle Hardwick
Tamzin Outhwaite and Julie Graham
Christine McGuinness and Colson Smith
Laila Morse and Rita Simons