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Hosts announced for Aussie Pickers

Meet Lucas Callaghan and Adam McDonald, hosts of A&E's new factual series Aussie Pickers.

Lucas Callaghan (pictured, left) and Adam McDonald (pictured, right) have been named as hosts of new factual series Aussie Pickers coming to A&E.

The 8 part Australian series, based on a US format, sees two “pickers” travelling in Australia, restoring forgotten relics and transforming one person’s trash into another’s treasure.

A&E General Manager, Jim Buchan said: “Lucas and Adam have impecable expertise in their field and incredible chemistry as hosts. Aussie Pickers is as much about the personalitities as the picks they find and we think our audience is going to fall in love with their down to earth, authentic charm.  The U.S series American Pickers is one of our A&E channel’s most popular shows so to find a perfect Australian equivalent is tremendously exciting for everyone. ”

Born into the industry, Lucas is one of countries most prolific Pickers. His specialty is “unique objects from the postwar period” that he restores to their former glory for profit. Renowned auctioneer Andrew Shapiro describes Lucas’ collection as “One of the more eccentric design collections he’s seen, spanning four or five decades.”

A Picker for 25 years, Lucas once Picked a 50c Cat In The Hat book and sold it for $18,000.

Recently finding more permanent storage for his finds, Lucas has opened up a shop in Paddington, Sydney, and is on the hunt for even more stock to add to his picks.

Originally a Bricklayer and hip hop MC, one rainy day Adam helped a mate working at an Auction house…he’s never looked back. After 10 years working as an auctioneer at Lawsons Auction house in Annandale selling 250 items a week, there is nothing this man hasn’t sold.

His most profitable pick was a $3 bus conductor’s ticket book he sold on for $2,750.

With his diverse knowledge of collectables and passion for ‘Industrial Antiques’ or as he likes to call them ‘Mantiques’, Adam is the perfect picking partner for Lucas.

Shine Australia, CEO Mark Fennessy said: “We look forward to introducing the public to Adam and Lucas – two great mates and amazing characters who make a living turning other people’s trash into treasure – who, without doubt, are Australia’s best pickers.”

Also joining the Aussie Pickers line up as resident auctioneer is Cecily Hardy, the mate that hooked Adam onto picking that fateful rainy day long ago at the Auction house.

Hailing from a family of auctioneers and collectors and growing up surrounded by antiques and collectables, Cecily has worked in and around auctions since she was 5 years old and by the age of 21 became the youngest female furniture auctioneer in Sydney. Auctioneering and collecting are in her blood and she is the perfect person to complement Lucas and Adam.

Aussie Pickers is produced by Shine Australia for Foxtel’s A&E, and Lucas and Adam will hunt, dig and haggle for hidden treasure in the backyards, sheds and attics of Australia as they get ready to launch the series in 2013.

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