QXL.com recruit antique BBC presenter for authenticity

NEWS Online auctioneers QXL.com have recruited BBC presenter Hugh Scully to host a new valuation service that, for a small fee, will provide a price for antiques online. The "virtual valuations" will be done via email, with QXL asking surfers to send in digitised photos of their object d'art. Scully, presenter of BBC's Antiques Roadshow for nearly 20 years, says he is "delighted to be playing a significant role in the online revolution". He is also likely to be delighted to be earning £3m for his company, fine Art Productions, and 10 per cent of the profit of the service. CEO of QXL, Jim Rose, said that the move was responding to customer demand to move into the higher value items market. The contract is for a five year period, in which Scully promises to use the contacts he has built up over years in the business to provide a "meaningful authentication service" to customers.