quick reply to all the questions as I have several new cases on and it is only Tuesday!
Some of the guys on the road are part time, but most are working all the time on different cases, what Heir Hunters has concentrated on is BV cases, the next series we film will have a lot more of the none BV cases as the list is not as good as it once was. Ewart is currently in Jamaica and will be for the next 2 weeks (yes it is a work trip)
As far as I know only 2 cases from the program have been solved as a result of info coming in. One was in series 1 when a case appears to have never been worked, it was fairly easy to solve all the info did was get us to have a look at it. the 2nd case was one we have always called the skeleton case, I cant remember the name now but it was in series 2 and 3 I think and was about a skeleton that was found in a burnt out building and had been there for several years, we got info that enabled us to prove the case, with out this the case may never have been solved.
I would like to do more on the appeal section of the program, give a better explanation and reason why the case is unsolved, at the moment the BBC just like putting more names out, how ever the new appeal section with Lisa and a little more research is going down well. so I hope in series 7 they may listen to me!
It can be very hard if there are lots of heirs to give out personal items when more than 1 person wants them so far we have not had a huge amount of arguments about any thing and usually just split the items to be shared out.
Most of the items we do recover however are of such poor quality and low value that not many people want them. Expensive jewellery is hardly ever found by us, remember that in most cases it takes 12 months before we get the property and in some cases you never know who has had there grubby hands on the estate. (I am sorry but that is just a fact of life so doesn't need much discussion, if cases got to us quicker we could protect the estate far more, TSol are doing there best to protect the estate but it takes several months to come to them and they are not the bad guys)
Sorry not going to give away all the trade secrets! "More info on the sources used, eg. directories and stuff" but will do my best to explain a little more.
Neil
and why has no one asked for more of me on screen!