A TV star ‘sheds expert’ has urged people to check their own hideout spaces for unexpected ‘treasure’ that could be lingering hidden amid unwanted rubbish.
Shed And Buried presenter Henry Cole, 61, told how he now has 20 sheds crammed with hundreds of unearthed items including petrol pumps, vintage motorbikes and even a partially restored helicopter.
And he has issued a rallying cry for Britons to make more efforts retrieving similar ‘trinkets’ of their own, insisting: ‘One person’s junk is another person’s dream find.’
And he insists such garden boltholes are ‘good for the soul’, despite needing his own so-called ‘shed farm’ to sort and hoard his ever-expanding haul.
Cole, who has directed an Elizabeth Hurley movie, has also issued what he calls ‘Shed Commandments’ – while telling people what kind of things to look out for.
He previously co-hosted with Simon O’Brien a programme called Find It, Fix It, Flog It, which was launched in 2016 and featured them venturing to homes across the UK to find unique objects.
He was speaking ahead of the latest discovery+ instalments of his sheds show which come after a past programme ran on Channel 4 before moving elsewhere.
The pair would refurbish items so their owners could make a profit, airing for seven series before being axed by Channel 4 in early 2023 – only to be given a lifeline after factual channel Yesterday and free streaming service UKTV Play acquired the rights.
Have YOU found any forgotten treasure in your shed? Please email aidan.radnedge.mol@mailonline.co.uk
TV show Shed And Buried presenter Henry Cole has urged people to search for ‘treasure’
The biker and television presenter has opened up about the 20 sheds of his own
These are some of the finds stored inside one of the 61-year-old host’s own sheds
Now, however, Cole is focusing on the latest instalments of his separate show Shed And Buried, which was first shown on Quest in 2015.
Speaking ahead of its upcoming second stretch of a seventh series, he said: ‘I can understand why some people might think I’ve got a bit of a problem with “shed spread” but the fact is that sheds are good for the soul.
‘I’ve always said a shed’s purpose is to provide spiritual fulfilment through manual endeavour, so why wouldn’t I have a few of the things?’
And he urged people to be alert to what can be uncovered even amid what might seem unpromising stashes.
Cole said: ‘One person’s junk is another person’s dream find.
‘The stuff we come across in sheds reminds us that people have hugely differing opinions on what makes a thing special, and also why it’s important that we all have somewhere we can call our own space.
‘I’ve made some incredible discoveries over the last decade in Britain’s sheds, and I guarantee that right now there are thousands of hugely valuable, forgotten items buried away in sheds across the country.
‘Don’t forget that one man’s unwanted rubbish is another man’s treasure – and you’d be amazed at how much some of these things can be sold for.
Among keen biker Cole’s previous projects was directing the 1995 film Mad Dogs And Englishman whose stars included Elizabeth Hurley – they are seen here in October 2018
Henry Cole (left) is seen here with fellow auto fanatic Fuzz Townshend (right) in his new series
Henry Cole says such boltholes such as this one of his are ‘good for the soul’
Henry Cole and his Shed And Buried team are seen here with a pet dog named Jelly Bean
‘They say Britain is a nation of shopkeepers – and these days, we’re more like a nation of treasure hoarders in our sheds, even if we’ve forgotten exactly what’s there.’
He described how his own sheds felt like ‘the church of DIY’, adding: ‘An Englishman’s home is his castle but it’s the nation’s sheds that have fascinated me over the last 10 years.
‘I’ve seen at first hand how the nation uses their sheds as the ideal getaway from everyday troubles and a place to recharge batteries.’
Among the 237 discoveries when searching other people’s sheds for his TV show have been 69 motorbikes, 23 cars and nine classic tractors.
Other finds have included 10 petrol pumps, 28 automotive signs and 57 vintage ‘trinkets’ such as petrol cans, glass bottles and oil dispensers.
The presenter has also now outlined what he called a list of ‘Shed Commandments’ for people to follow.
Cole insisted: ‘For example, entry to a shed is by invite only – visitors are welcome but should leave with the impression that they have either delayed or assisted great work.
‘And my “Two Cup Protocol” means only two cups are needed per shed – one for you and one for a visitor, thus avoiding a build-up of dirty cups.
Shed and auto enthusiasts Fuzz Townshend (left) and Henry Cole (right) featured in the forthcoming seventh series of discovery+ show Shed And Buried
Henry Cole (right), pictured with Fuzz Townshend (left), has declared: ‘One person’s junk is another person’s dream find’
Shed And Buried host Henry Cole (pictured centre, with pet dog Jelly Bean) has also now outlined what he called a list of ‘Shed Commandments’ for people to follow
‘In your shed you are an ambassador for the best in humanity, relentless in your pursuit of quiet mastery, not a teenager who can’t tidy up.’
Among keen biker Cole’s previous projects was directing the 1995 film Mad Dogs And Englishman whose stars included Elizabeth Hurley and Joss Ackland – and Hurley attended the launch of his book A Biker’s Life in October 2018.
He also achieved a Guinness World record for fastest tandem motorcycle ride in May 2023, riding pillion with Allen Millyard and reaching a top speed of 183.5mph in North Yorkshire.
That topped the previous high of 181.42mph set by US pair Erin Hunter and Andy Sills in 2011.
Yet his sheds remain comforting refuges as well as sites for exploration, with Cole declaring: ‘You can do things in a shed that no one else cares about.
‘It might be painting model aeroplanes, restoring an old piece of machinery to its former glory or just putting your screwdriver collection in order.
‘There is no higher compliment one person can pay another than this: “Do you want to come and see my shed, mate?”.
- All previous seasons of Shed And Buried are available to stream now on discovery+, with a new series due to launch later this year on Quest.
