More Than 30 Episodes – Our Story with BBC One’s Money for Nothing

Yesterday, television cameras returned to The Emporium.

The latest project was a beautifully crafted pair of lamps made from reclaimed green glass bottles, created for BBC One’s Money for Nothing. Watching the crew at work once again prompted us to reflect on something rather special.

Over the years, The Emporium has appeared in more than 30 episodes of the programme.

What began as a single filming visit gradually became a long-standing relationship, with the production team returning again and again to film remarkable transformations, meet talented craftspeople and tell the stories behind some extraordinary creations.

For our customers, filming days became part of life at The Emporium. It wasn’t unusual to walk through the doors and discover cameras tucked between furniture displays, presenters chatting with traders or producers searching for just the right backdrop.

We’ve seen all sorts of wonderful objects pass through our doors. Furniture given a new lease of life. Vintage pieces transformed into something completely unexpected. Quirky lighting, imaginative home décor and one-of-a-kind creations that captured the imagination of millions of viewers before finding new homes.

Looking back through our own archive of photographs has been just as fascinating. The crew from Money For Nothing first filmed with us at The Emporium back in 2018, who remembers the pair of incredible tables they brought us? Read more about them in our journal post 'A Tale of Two Tables'

The pictures don’t simply document television filming; they capture the story of The Emporium itself. Changing displays, evolving interiors, traders who have been part of our journey, and, more recently, the transformation of our café into the vibrant destination it has become today.

Perhaps that’s why Money for Nothing has always felt so at home here.

The programme celebrates creativity, craftsmanship and the belief that beautiful things deserve a second chance. Those values have always been at the heart of The Emporium too.

After a short break, it was a pleasure to welcome the team back this week.

Seeing familiar faces, hearing the familiar call of “quiet please” before filming began, and watching another remarkable transformation take centre stage felt wonderfully familiar.

The green bottle lamps filmed this week won’t simply be remembered as another beautiful pair of lamps.

For us, they’ll always mark the beginning of the next chapter in a television story that has become part of The Emporium’s own history. Occasionally we'll have some of these BBC featured Money For Nothing items for sale in our online shop, check them out here.

We’re looking forward to sharing more behind-the-scenes photographs, favourite transformations and memories from over thirty appearances on BBC One’s Money for Nothing over the coming months.

For press and TV enquiries, please contact us here