Scouting for Toys takes a nostalgic look back at the nation?s favourite childhood toys

Scouting for Toys, the show that goes behind the scenes at the world?s largest toy auctioneers ? starts 9pm Thursday 31^st March on Yesterday channel. 

The fascinating new documentary series, narrated by Kirsten O?Brien, takes viewers back to their childhood as it follows internationally renowned Vectis Toys Auctioneers in Teesside, where buyers and sellers from all over the world come to trade every toy imaginable, from Star Wars figures to vintage dolls. 

Every week, a colourful and eclectic range of artefacts passes through Teesside toy auctioneers, Vectis, and no two days are the same - some toys will smash the guide price while others may fail to meet their reserve. 

The series discovers how Vectis? team of experts value and catalogue a range of toys ahead of their weekly auctions. Along the way, the show meets passionate people selling the treasured collections they've amassed over decades.

In the first episode, to air on Yesterday at 9pm on Thursday 31^st March, the Teesside toy auctioneers prepare for a major sale of TV & film memorabilia, and pride of place is given to a vast Star Wars collection, amassed over many years by film fanatic, Declan.  Diagnosed with MS at 27, Declan was an avid collector, but sadly passed away earlier in the year.  His brother, Kieran, has brought the entire collection, hoping the items will bring joy to a new generation ? but it?s an emotional goodbye to a much-loved collection.  Vectis? Star Wars specialist Nick Dykes, evaluates the collection and shares his knowledge on which items are particularly sought after.

The TV & Film related sale held on the 24^th of March featured a large collection of modern and vintage Star Wars items, including figures, vehicles and accessories. The sale also included a large selection of Lego lots including groups of baggies, loose Lego, mini figures, Point of Sale displays, and a large selection of sealed sets. Further items included Dr Who, Masters of The Universe, Action Force and Action Man, Honey West, Dan Dare guns and sets, games, puzzles, badges, collectables and ephemera; multiple wrestling figure groups, a large collection of Toy Story items, plus vintage electronic games and consoles, comics, books, magazines and posters. 

The Specialist sale held on the 10^th and 17^th of March featured new fewer than 6 private owner collections. The Tyne and Wear Collection included boxed and unboxed Dinky models; The London Collection included further Dinky wagons, trucks and lorry?s plus pre- and post- war trade packs, personnel sets, and military vehicles. Further Dinky models were in The Stirlingshire Collection along with Corgi and Triang Spot-on, and The North East Collection included the same, plus Tekno, Politoys and others. The sale continued with The Massey Ferguson Tractor Collection, Hot Wheels Redline models and badges and Part 4 of The JMR Collection. The sale concluded with further Corgi, Dinky Toys, WSI models, Classic Construction Models, Drake, Japanese made and many others. 

The Jill Byron Teddy Bear Collection

Jill Byron was a familiar face and name on the teddy bear circuit since the 1980?s.

Born in October 1944 in South London, Jill led an eventful and fulfilling life. In her teens and early twenties she loved to travel, eventually settling down on a farm with her husband John. She has several passions, but the one that stayed with her was her love of teddy bears in particular musical and coloured bears.

Jill selflessly shared her vast wisdom with others either in person, writing for teddy bear magazines, contributing to books or to antique websites. Helping others by identifying their teds or sharing her mistakes to help others avoid them, she lived and breathed to help people around her.

For over four decades, Jill found herself rooting around in boxes of plush or mixed toys to unearth that special lost bear.  Her first old bruin, found whilst visiting a local general auction house, was described as an ?Early Chad Valley Bear wearing a vintage kitted scarf?. Jill fell in love and paid what she considered a huge amount of ?120 at auction for him, although she later commented that she would have gone further.

Jill was always a collector, never a dealer; each new addition was given a name (unless they already had one) and assured they would be staying with the family.

The collection grew exponentially and eclectically, it did not matter where the bear came from, who the manufacturer was or how old.  Each had to appeal in a different way, like the unusual 1940?s ? 1950?s open mouth black bear which was dismissed by many a collector until Jill saw the potential his laughing disposition would bring to her hug.

Over the years these early acquisitions were joined by Chad?s, Chilterns, Merrythoughts, Terry?s, Omegas and others.  Coloured and musical bears became a magnet for Jill and British bears always proved the hardest to walk away from. The odd elephant, dog, cat or animal managed to be rehomed too. Always with an eye to the correct value of an item Jill was mindful of not getting carried away, ever the optimist she had held the mantra there will always be another day and another bear.

Sadly, Jill lost her battle with cancer last year and she will be missed enormously by John, her son Kevin and Grandchildren Jesse, Tom and Scott. In typical Jill fashion it was her wish to share her collection.  The joy and happiness that bears bring to others would be the legacy that Jill wanted and her family will take comfort in upholding her wishes in the knowledge that they will be loved and cared for as much as they were by Jill.

This wonderful collection is to be sold on Thursday 24^th February 2022. For more information contact Joanne McDonald on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Kathy Taylor on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.