By now, you must be aware of surprise hit US series Storage Hunters. It’s literally a reality show about storage auctions, but its melodrama and loud personalities have made it Dave’s top-performing series. On the back of this success, Dave have commissioned a UK version, which begins tonight at 8pm. But what makes the US series so addictive, and can a UK version work?
Firstly, the US series is fronted by American auctioneer Sean Kelly, who must take credit for some of the show’s success, being such an integral part of the show. Luckily, Kelly’s made the journey across the Atlantic Ocean to front the UK series too. It’s good to have one familiar face from the US series, and Kelly is able to ground the series in very much the same vein as Storage Hunters US. One box ticked.
Storage Hunters US is chock full of drama and big personalities – if you’ve checked out even one episode, you’ll know husband and wife duo Brandon and Lori don’t get along with Jesse – and their malicious business decisions are often hilarious as a result. Can the UK show get characters quite as riveting (and sometimes as annoying) as the US lot? It’s early days, but the answer looks like it could be yes. Suave wheeler-dealer Dan already doesn’t like used car salesmen Darren and Barry, husband and wife team Nat and John seem to be at war with each other, and Linda could be either an idiot or genius.
Finally, the auctions themselves are often pretty cool, and there’s the added excitement of the bidders not really knowing what they are bidding on, which can cause false confidence and disastrous losses. It’s fun to watch the bidders make a ton of money from what appeared to everyone else to be a couple of dusty boxes. Of course, it’s even more fun to watch the more annoying characters realise their mega-spend is worth virtually nothing. Schadenfreude, eh. And sometimes, like in the first episode of Storage Hunters UK, the bidders find something truly terrifying. It’s a mixed bag, and it keeps us (and the bidders) entertained.
Overall, if you’re a fan of the US series, you’ll definitely enjoy the UK remake. It’s true to the US version, full of interesting characters at war with one another, and funny to boot.
Storage Hunters UK airs on Dave from tonight (October 28) at 8pm. The second episode will follow the first at 8.30pm.