BBC Bargain Hunt's Christina Trevanion issues staunch defence of Tamzin Outhwaite over car boot backlash

Morning Live's Gethin Jones, 46, explained during the chart: "She [Outhwaite] posted a picture of herself at a car boot sale with her mates looking happy, having a lovely day out.

"It was interesting, a few people were mocking her online about shopping at a car boot sale. I'm sure you'll have an interesting take on this."

"Do you know, I was totally bewildered to be honest," the Bargain Hunt star replied. "I think is the best word for it, by the media reaction to it, because I have always, always loved a car boot sale."

The auctioneer and presenter went on: "What is not to love? It's just such a sustainable way of shopping.

CAR BOOT CREW!!! pic.twitter.com/NpfVo93Kfu

— tamzin outhwaite (@mouthwaite) June 12, 2024

"It's a great way to spend a Sunday morning, it's a really important way I find personally, of teaching my children to budget, to bargain.

"And also not only buying things but selling things - my children will sell their toys at a car boot sale to make money to buy other toys. [It's] just a really important learning lesson."

The actress at the centre of the bizarre backlash, who is best known for playing Mel Owen in EastEnders, addressed the criticism herself last week.

Taking to X, she penned: "Our yearly car boot sale is a family tradition. Last Sunday 6 adults & 6 kids met up in our cars and took up almost a whole row. We had the best time.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tamzin Outhwaite (@glamzin)

"Teaching our kids who range from 15 down to 4 that selling your unwanted toys & clothes is a great way [to] save money. We had the best time and we are already planning another."

She emphasised she had not "fallen on hard times" as some had speculated, adding: "To shame someone for teaching kids to be resourceful is pretty low. And I would never sell posters of me.

"My kids made quite a bit of cash as did my brothers & cousin, and with my takings, I got us a curry that night."

She ended the post: "If anyone knows of a great car boot sale we can do next please holla!!!"

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Elsewhere in the interview on BBC's Morning Live, Trevanion talked about filming a special episode of Bargain Hunt which featured beloved dogs.

"It was such a privilege to film that wonderful Bargain Hunt episode which was in celebration of 200 years of the charity the RSPCA," she told Jones.

She went on to quip: "And it was just so much fun, I mean the dogs were better behaved than some of our experts!"