EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
With a new series of Bangers & Cash about to air, we chatted with Derek Mathewson about his take on the current state of the classic car market
CCW: Congratulations on the new series. UKTV has commissioned 46 episodes across four new series – making it the highest number of episodes ever ordered by the network for one programme. How does that feel?
DM: We’re into our ninth series and this one includes our 100th episode and it’s amazing how it’s gone. The show means so much to so many people and has a huge following. We love making it and the deal is they keep up with us – we don’t keep up with them. No rehearsals, no second takes – if the cameras miss it, they miss it. What you see is all real.
I didn’t want to do it to begin with and turned it down three times, but then decided to give it a month’s trial and it’s carried on from there.
CCW: Bangers &Cash Live returns in August. The first show was well received so what comes next?
DM: Our first live event went down a storm. UKTV limited it to 3000 visitors per day, but they’ve now stretched it to 7500 visitors per day so we’re expecting a massive turnout. It was so popular and to have 15,000 over the weekend this year will be lovely. We’ll have our auction; we had 60 lots last year but I’m hoping to stretch that to 100.
CCW: As well as the regular TV show you also record Bangers &Cash: Restoring Classics. What are your thoughts on restoring cars in the current climate?
DM: I didn’t think the show would do very well but it’s becoming very popular. People are criticising it a little bit with the amount of money that they lose on restorations but that is what happens. You are going to blow money if you can’t restore a car or do most of the labour yourself. I think people should do as much as they can, if they can do it properly. When it comes to paint and upholstery, let someone else do that. A lovely paint job forms the impression of the car and it’s worth spending on that. All the mechanics, do it yourself. They’re easy, straightforward, enjoyable but the cost of restoration makes me feel sorry for a lot of owners. Working on classics is low-tech work – it’s just a lot of common sense and a bit of effort. T
