Inside Bargain Hunt star Jonathan Pratt's home life with four children and three dogs

Bargain Hunt is back on BBC One with expert Jonathan Pratt offering his advice to the amateur teams. His day job as an auctioneer has changed hugely over the years.

What he enjoys most nowadays is working on large projects such as house sales. However, as a young boy his dream job was a vet, and he joked: "But in 1986 the series Lovejoy started on the BBC and that was that."

If he was not in the world of antiques now, he said he would love to work in garden design. The expert added: "I used to say I'd be a ski instructor but my back and knees wouldn't take it anymore."

He still describes skiing as his guilty pleasure, but most of his free time nowadays is spent "taxi driving the children". When asked how he likes to enjoy time away from the cameras, he expanded: "Gardening, taxi driving the children, answering emails.

"I have also discovered the delights of playing croquet after buying a set at auction." Jonathan studied Fine Art & Chattels Valuation before working in Edinburgh at Philips Auctioneers as a furniture porter.

His other employers include Phillips in Guildford, Dreweatt-Neate Auctioneers, Sotheby's Sussex and Bellmans, for which he became managing director.

Jonathan, who specialises in jewellery, furniture and Persian carpets, is also known for his appearances on Flog It!

His bio for the show gives more away about his home life with his wife Claire and their children, explaining: "Married with four kids, three dogs, a thirty-year skiing habit he can't kick and a love-hate relationship with a guitar.

"When up early enough he loves to run with the family's motley crew of canines in the Hampshire countryside."

Jonathan is on Instagram and he also describes himself as a lover of theatre, and he has even landed a small role in Kiss Me Kate.

The show is being held in November at the Theatre Royal Winchester, with Jonathan adding: "It's official, I've been bitten by the bug, but who doesn't love Cole Porter.

"This time it's a small part, nonetheless I seem to have been at rather a lot of rehearsals."

He has also spent the summer renovating his garden, expressing with pride: "We are almost there after a year.

"From brambles to a lovely limestone courtyard and now to trees and more plants."

Bargain Hunt airs on BBC One on weekdays at 12.15pm