Presenter Steph McGovern is set to return to the BBC after five years away, hosting a new series called The Big Deal. The show features amateur art dealers competing for a £50,000 prize in British art. It marks her comeback following the cancellation of her Channel 4 programme in 2023.
Steph McGovern, known for her time on BBC Breakfast, left the broadcaster in 2019 to join Channel 4, where she hosted Steph’s Packed Lunch for three years until its axing in 2023. Now, she is heading back to the BBC with The Big Deal, a six-part series announced by The Mirror on a recent Friday.
In August 2025, McGovern teased major work news on Instagram, revealing she would host three programmes within the next 12 months: a new daytime series on BBC One, a new evening series on BBC Two, and a longstanding show. The Big Deal fits as the BBC Two evening offering, described as neither a magazine nor chat format.
The programme pits seven pairs of amateur art dealers—none with prior professional experience in buying or selling artworks—against each other. Each week, they tackle challenges like identifying emerging artists and closing sales, aiming to win £50,000 worth of British art. The series will air in primetime on BBC Two later next year.
McGovern expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating: “While lots of people are happy to splash out on theatre tickets, music festivals or holidays abroad, spending time and money looking at or buying art can feel a bit more intimidating. This show dispels the myth that the art world is exclusive. I’m buzzing for you to see how our dealers, from all walks of life, get on when we take them into the heart of the art market.”
BBC Arts head Suzy Klein praised the series for “pulling back the curtain on one of the most fascinating but mysterious industries in the UK – the art market,” adding that it offers fresh insights into art discovery and sales while inspiring new collectors.
Fans have shown support, with one Instagram commenter noting they miss Steph’s Packed Lunch weekly. This return highlights McGovern's continued presence in daytime and arts television.
