What Am I Bid?: How One of Television's Favourite Auctioneers Went From Counting Sheep to Selling Silver

by Philip Serrell

When Philip Serrell gave up teaching to become a professional auctioneer, he thought he was embarking on a sensible and safe career--a quiet life in the country with no surprises. How wrong he was. In What Am I Bid? he tells of life after the events he described in his previous memoirs, An Auctioneer's Lot and Sold to the Man with the Tin Leg, to bring his story up to date. From dodgy cars to fakes in the sales room; angry livestock, mangled silverware and tortuous--not to mention muddy--experiences in local markets and farm sales, Serrell has been there, done that, and got the hoof prints on his suit to prove it.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 4, 2021

About the author

Philip Martyn Serrell is an English auctioneer, antiques expert and television presenter.

Serrell was born in Kidderminster, Worcestershire and attended the Royal Grammar School in Worcester, where he was a schoolmate of the Pakistani cricket captain Imran Khan. Serrell played both cricket and rugby for the school, prior to his attendance at, and graduation from, Loughborough College of Physical Education as a physical education teacher.

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am struggling to review this book because there were elements that I enjoyed and elements that did not work for me.

I think my biggest issue was the focus. I thought that this would be your standard biography i.e. the chronological events of the author's life. Instead it was a highlights reel of some of the author's more memorable auction items over - what I think was - a fairly brief period.

The issue was that there were elements of personal biography wrapped around the item anecdotes like newspaper around a valuable vase.

The relationship with Rose was fairly well documented chronologically but also not in any great detail at the same time Trips to the pub with Jim and his Mum's spam dinners were all recorded and yet there was no detail or culmination or ending. They didn't connect in any way with the items recounted so it just seemed jarring and odd that these elements of the personal were included when not with any real depth or impact but other personal developments or context were not.

There was no explicit timeline so I think it only covered a few years, and nothing of the author's TV career. It ended abruptly and without any sort of 'conclusion' to the more personal elements which again made me question why they'd ever been included.

Positively I loved reading about the items from the valuations to the auctions. The items ranged from valuable to the not so much but all of them were interesting reads.

I just felt that it should have either been an out and out detailed biography or a collection of stories about auction lots. It needed more focus.

[Trixie Collin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still chuckling

Country auctions are full of characters and the author catches the quirks and foibles...he sells everything from Kilmer jars to priceless antiques and makes you feel you are part of the action.

[Brian Wehrung · Rating 2 out of 5]

After discovering the TV show Antiques Road Trip, my wife bought me this book. I had high hopes for it, but was ultimately rather disappointed in it. I don't know what the intent of this book was; it was a bit of biography and a lot of random auction stories and other anecdotes. There was no sense in the timing of when these events occurred, but at least some of them appeared to occur shortly after Serrell starting working at the auction house - which would have been a number of decades ago. This made me very suspicious of the level of detail of specific conversations, etc. I doubt anyone would remember specific conversations in the detail presented that occurred 20+ years ago. This makes me think of lot of the book is made up based on general recollections.

[Soozee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really fun read, a grab bag of stories from Philip Serrell's life as an auctioneer. It isn't really an autobiography as such, but a series of vignettes that throw some light on this popular man. The whole book resonates with Philip's dry, self-deprecating humour and had me laughing out loud in parts. You can hear his voice in the writing, which is quite a skill to achieve.

He tells a really good story, and the book had me gripped throughout as we follow his rise to becoming a popular TV auctioneer, beloved by all. I really enjoyed it.

[Grant S · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice book, a bit disappointing there was no tales from his life in television and how he became involved other than a reference to it in the first paragraph so I have taken a star of for whetting the appetite and failing to deliver.

It would have been nice to know why he chose to wear a scarf in all weathers and share some stories with other experts on Antiques Road Trip and an insight into how the programme was produced.

Perhaps he is saving that for a fourth book and if so I’ll look forward to reading it. A likeable bloke and I have now completed all 3 of his memoirs on the bounce.

[Jeff Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a great fan of all the antique hunting programmes on TV and Phil Serrell is one of my favourite experts, so when I found he'd written some books about his long career in the industry, buying it was a no-brainer. Full of entertaining and often amusing anecdotes, this book is a must for fans of The Antiques Road Trip and Bargain Hunt.

[Ron Hardwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr Serrell comes across as a cheery chap, always looking on the bright side of life. This book tantalisingly hides his great skill as an antiques expert and auctioneer by his use of shovelfuls of self-deprecation. It's an amusing, if frothy, gallop through the course of Mr Serrell's career and, though never a work of great literary merit, it's fun and engaging to read.

[Samantha Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up from a charity shop simply because I've always enjoyed seeing the author on TV.
This was an enjoyable read, not an autobiography but a book full of anecdotes from the author about his early life in antiques. The great thing about this book was that I could imagine the author actually saying everything.

[Mr Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing tales of an auctioneer-but too short

The life and times of a country auctioneer. Interesting tales,with Serrel’s dry sense of humour. I was disappointed It ended very quickly, with many, many tales still to tell-probably for another book?

[BOOKWORM07 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

Everyone who watches Phil Darrell on television will enjoy reading this you a out his life as an auctioneer. However e ready to laugh so much. I did and my hus vCard and thought I was crying. Fantastic reading.

[Mrs Olga A Danes-Volkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful memoir

I have always liked Philip Sirrel on Antiques Road Trip and his memoir is equalling charming and amusing. How much of it is an amalgamation of facts to protect the innocent I can't say but it is a good read.

[Cath Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

As gentle as watching an episode if Antiques Roadshow, the book was an unremarkable meander through Serrell’s experiences as an auctioneer. A pleasant enough way to spend a couple of hours reading on a Sunday afternoon but nothing more.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read but

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, but not wanting to put you off reading it, giving it 4 stars as the chapters are long.

[Sue Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

A very entertaining and informative read. I must admit I was sorry when I got to the end which seemed to come quite suddenly.

[K Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy reading

I was most surprised that Phillip Serrell ,a fantastic auctioneer ,could be as good an author ,and could easily have another fantastic career as a comedian .

[Mrs Nicole M Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Typical Phil

Loved all of this book. You can hear him talking, with all his favourite sayings. Brilliant. Hurry up and write another, please!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. Funny, interesting and thoroughly enjoyable.