The country's leading amateur antiques enthusiasts battle it out to become Britain's first-ever Antiques Master in a series presented by Sandi Toksvig and featuring antiques expert Eric Knowles. The series begins with four contenders putting their skill and knowledge to the test over four tough challenges at Towneley Hall in Lancashire. Delia Sinden from London specialises in 19th-century ironstone pottery; Paul Belban from Somerset collects Georgian tea caddies; Alf Hughes from Cheshire has a passion for Staffordshire pottery; and Lynn Hardman from Cumbria loves the early 20th-century style of Art Nouveau.

The contestants are: Robert Gray from London, who has a passion for antique biscuit tins; Sarah Morris of Sussex, whose specialism is the glassware of French designer Lalique; Glen Steven from Hertfordshire who adores Moorcroft pottery; and Sue Hirons from Merseyside, who loves Doulton Ware.

The contestants are: Ben Poland from Stockport who loves Victorian jewellery; Christopher Shaw, a Georgian furniture enthusiast from Bath; Rowena Craddock from Essex who specialises in the Art Nouveau designer Archibold Knox; and John Boyce from Fife whose passion is Wedgwood pottery.

The contestants are: Judith Howard from Wiltshire, who loves the delicate beauty of 18th and 19th century English porcelain; Lance Khun from London, whose specialism is 20th century Scandinavian glass; Robin Carroll from Bath, who adores the craftsmanship of antique English furniture; and Rosemary Moghadam from Loughborough, who has a passion for Pilkington pottery.

The contestants are: Shona McNeill from London, whose passion is 18th century Worcester porcelain; Julia Price from Hertfordshire, whose specialism is the decorative detail of British pressed glass; Mike Shaw from Preston, who adores Art Nouveau and Art Deco bronze sculptures; and Marika Rajah from Manchester, a fan of the tiles and pottery of William de Morgan.

The contestants are Paul Hyman from Bedfordshire, whose obsession is British studio pottery; Virginia Peacock from Devon, who specialises in pre-20th century cameos; James Harris from Sutton Coldfield, who is interested in Victorian silver; and Danny Philips from Liverpool, whose specialist area is mid-20th century glass.

The contestants are Claire Howell from Walsall whose passion is 18th century English furniture; chocolate shop owner John Greenfield from East Sussex who has a thirst for antique decanters and drinking glasses; Chris Riddle from Cornwall who is drawn to the many styles of English 18th century porcelain; and Pam Cropper, from Worcestershire, who adores Caughley pottery created at the birth of the industrial revolution.

The contestants are Perry Field, a Crown Derby porcelain enthusiast from London; teddy bear devotee Marie Carroll, who hails from Manchester; Mike Merriman from Sutton Coldfield, who is a clock expert; and the youngest contestant is 20-year-old Manchester based student Ed Lyon, who loves Georgian silver.

It's the first semi-final in Towneley Hall in Lancashire. Four semi-finalists must put their skill and knowledge to the test over four tough challenges. The semi-finalist specialisms are Victorian jewellery, the renowned wares of Doulton, the many styles of English 18th century porcelain, and 18th century Worcester porcelain.

It's the second semi-final in Towneley Hall in Lancashire. Four semi-finalists must put their skill and knowledge to the test over four tough challenges. The semi-finalist specialisms are British studio pottery, Georgian silver, Staffordshire pottery and 18th and 19th century English porcelain.

Whose passion, skill and knowledge will prove to be priceless and earn them the inaugural title of Antiques Master?

Eastenders star Ricky Groves has a rare passion for antique fishing tackle, Embarrassing Bodies' Dr Christian Jessen loves the artistry of 18th and 19th century bronzes, the Apprentice runner-up and TV presenter Saira Khan adores the craftsmanship of Victorian furniture, and twice World's Strongest Man Geoff Capes loves the renowned work of French glass designer Lalique.

Richard Cole, a 25-year-old plasterer, specialises in Chinese ceramics; Anthony Pritchard from Hove has a love affair with English furniture and Londoner Stella Brooker collects antique dolls.

Three more contestants put their skill and knowledge to the test over three tough challenges at Towneley Hall in Burnley, Lancashire - John Denham, from Hertfordshire, whose passion is stoneware; Heather Ray, from Lancashire, who specialises in costume jewellery, and Stephen Micallef-Grogan, from East Sussex, who loves the purity of Lalique glass.

The contestants are Agnes Grunwald-Spier from Sheffield, who adores the elegance of Derby porcelain; Jim Bischoff from Swindon who admires the craftsmanship of snuff boxes; and Charlotte Howard from Wiltshire who loves the timeless beauty of antique jewellery.

Sandy Rich from Oxfordshire is a specialist in Commemorative items. Monica Evans hails from Warwickshire and has a passion for Kitchenalia. And Sheffield based dentist, Bernie Nuttall who has a love for French Art Deco glass.

Mike Carroll from Greater Manchester loves the artistry of the decorative arts, Fran Budd from Enfield has an unusual passion for antique soda syphons, and Charles Ormrod from London is a keen collector of rare Sheffield plate.

Ruth Collett from Lancashire specialises in distinctive arts and crafts jewellery, Matthew Wright from Devon has a passion for delicately crafted French Sevres porcelain, and Margaret Campbell from Edinburgh loves decorative antique tiles.

Twenty-year-old student John Rogers is a specialist in British silver, Diana Johnson from Shrewsbury loves British country pottery and Martin Easton from Bexhill-on-Sea has a passion for treen.

Jonathan MacFarlane from Devon has a passion for pewter, Barbara Harding from Lancashire is a keen collector and maker of teddy bears, and David Millard from Manchester delights in Staffordshire figures.

In Towneley Hall, Burnley for the first semi-final, three competitors put their skill and knowledge to the test over three tough challenges. They are Charlotte Howard from Wiltshire, who loves the timeless beauty of antique jewellery, Charles Ormrod from London, whose specialism is Sheffield plate, and Monica Evans from Warwickshire, whose passion is the history of kitchenalia.

The second semi-final is back in Towneley Hall, Burnley, Lancashire where three more contenders put their skill and knowledge to the test over three tough challenges. The semi-finalists are: twenty-year-old student John Rogers, who has a passion for British silver; a native of Edinburgh, Margaret Campbell, who collects ceramic tiles; and Jonathan McFarlane, who hails from Devon and has a love affair with arts and crafts to art deco pewter.

In the second semi-final we're back in Towneley Hall, Burnley, Lancashire where three more contenders put their skill and knowledge to the test over three tough challenges. Tonights semi-finalists are - John Denham a retired geography teacher from Hertfordshire, Stella Brooker a doll collector from Surrey and the highest runner-up from the heats, Sandy Rich an insurance broker from Oxford.

The contest reaches a dramatic climax as presenter Sandi Toksvig and antiques expert Eric Knowles test the three finalists' skill and knowledge over four challenges. Jonathan McFarlane from Devon adores pewter, from arts and crafts to art deco, while Sandy Rich from Oxfordshire is interested in historical commemorative items, and Charles Ormorod from London specialises in Sheffield plate.