Belfast duo go from 'fish out of water' to a Big Deal

Two friends from west Belfast, who described themselves as "fish out of water" when it comes to the world of art, have been crowned winners of the BBC's The Big Deal with Steph McGovern

After winning Wednesday's final, Gavin and Liam took home the top prize of £50,000 worth of art.

The show sees budding entrepreneurs battle it out in the world of art dealing, taking on weekly tasks to test their skills, negotiate deals and, most importantly, sell art.

"I'd never been in an art gallery ever and neither had Liam," Gavin said. Adding that it "just shows you can do anything".

Having come into the competition as dark horses, Liam said no-one expected them to even make it to the second round.

He said it was "crazy to watch the evolution from the first episode to the end".

"We're us, we were happy to make it on to the TV and that was about it," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme.

"But once we got past the first round we began to believe in ourselves a wee bit and the judges saw something in us that we didn't even see."

Gavin added: "A lot of people on the show, I think they came in with an ego like they already knew how to sell art.

"Me and him came in openly admitting we know nothing, but we want to learn."

The final episode saw them pitch a six-figure piece of art at the Frieze Sculpture outdoor exhibition in London's Regent's Park to a group of industry experts.

In true TV style, The contestants were gathered with nothing but a dramatic pause standing between Liam and Gavin and the big win.

"I started to feel sick, and then I started sweating," Gavin said.

"I thought I was going to faint. And then she said, 'Gavin and Liam.'

"I just couldn't believe it. I grabbed Liam and started hugging him. I've never won anything in my life."

Liam said the £50,000 prize was "life-changing money, a life-changing opportunity".

With the win still fresh in their minds, the pair said they have not made any plans about what to spend their winnings on, but the show has spawned a new appreciation for art and owning a new gallery could be on the cards.

Their series mentor Cordelia de Freitas said "there was something in Gavin and Liam that was naïve" when she first met them.

"They were so clearly out of their comfort zone. I thought then and there, 'I can turn them into art dealers'," she said.

"And I didn't even know at that point that they'd never stepped inside an art gallery before."

Presenter Steph McGovern said "week after week" the pair continued to show up and take on "all the advice they were given".

"And it paid off. I'm so proud of them. I can't wait to see what they do next."