Connect with us

Entertainment

A BBC Institution – The Antiques Roadshow

Sunday evenings wouldn’t be the same without the Antiques Roadshow, which has been a regular television fixture since 1979. We all love to hear the stories behind the objects which people bring in to the show, and gasp in astonishment when an old, chipped plate found at a car boot sale is valued at several thousand pounds.

History

The idea for the Antiques Roadshow came about in 1977 after the BBC produced a documentary about an auction house which went “on tour” to give valuations for objects to the general public. The first series of the Roadshow went out in 1979 and the format has remained pretty much unchanged ever since. Each episode is filmed in or around a historic site, and during the broadcast the presenter tells the viewers a little about the site in between the segments showing the objects brought in. The longest running presenter, Hugh Scully, fronted the show from 1981 to 2000, and the current host is newsreader Fiona Bruce.

Getting Involved

If you’ve always wanted to find out how much granny’s oak furniture or uncle’s oil painting is worth, there is nothing stopping you taking it along to one of the valuation days. A list of all future filming dates is published on the BBC’s website in the late autumn, and for summer 2013 the locations being visited include the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, Exeter Cathedral, Scone Palace and the Royal Ballet School.

Valuations

If the weather is pleasant, as many as 2,000 people can turn up at every Antiques Roadshow. Getting there as early as possible means less time standing in lengthy queues. The BBC guarantee than if you arrive before 4.30pm then your item will be appraised by an expert, but this does not guarantee that you will be filmed or that your item will be one of the few chosen to be on television. If you wish to bring a heavy item of oak furniture or a large painting to the Roadshow, email the BBC with your details and a photograph of the item well in advance of filming and they will try to arrange to collect the item from you and have it taken to the venue.

Most Valuable?

It’s the one-off items which attract the highest value on the Roadshow, and the most valuable item seen to date was a mock-up of the model which later became the Angel of the North, and which was valued at a cool million pounds. A rare silver and garnet brooch designed in the 19th century was valued at well over £10,000, despite the fact the clasp was broken. A bowl which sat on a dresser in Dorset for many years was brought to the Roadshow by its owner, who didn’t think it was worth much but was keen to find out more about its history. She was stunned to hear that it was a valuable bowl from the Chinese Ming dynasty, and even more stunned when it sold at auction for almost £200,000.

Citations:
  • Photograph of Antiques Roadshow by Louise McLaren Via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Featured images:
  •  License: Creative Commons image source

L. Keen loves antiques and blogging about them too.  With a young family she’s opted for modern Oak dining furniture from National Furniture rather than antique furniture.

Continue Reading

Recent Posts

Home Improvement1 week ago

Mastering The Maintenance: Breaking Down The Basics Of Your Ducted Heating And Cooling System

Welcome, fellow home enthusiasts! Ever find yourself lost in the labyrinth of your ducted heating and cooling system? Have you...

Business3 weeks ago

The Invisible Hands: Unveiling How Food Distributors Influence the Quality of Our Foods

Ever found yourself wondering why the tomatoes in your salad taste particularly fresh or why your preferred brand of coffee...

Marketing3 weeks ago

Webflow CMS: A Comprehensive Guide

Webflow is a powerful tool that allows you to create and manage dynamic websites without needing to code. It’s a...

Business3 weeks ago

The Three Most Important Benefits You Should Offer To Your Employees

Offering your employees a range of benefits on top of regular salary increases will really help to show that you...

Business1 month ago

Business Tips For Protecting Your Finances During A Recession

In 2024, taking the necessary steps to protect your finances for your business is now more important than ever. The...

Green & Energy2 months ago

Air Conditioning Installation: What You Need to Know

When it comes to getting an air conditioning unit installed, can significantly improve your comfort and home environment, especially during...

Marketing2 months ago

Marketing Tips For A Gym Wear Brand

When starting a gym wear brand, there are a few things you need to do and one of them is...

General2 months ago

Social Media Marketing: What Are All The Types?

Social media marketing is a tool that is a must-have in today’s digital age. it’s very rare that businesses can...

Business3 months ago

How To Become A Property Developer

There are several reasons why an individual will want to become a property developer. One of the main reasons for...

Business3 months ago

Remote Delivery Innovations: Case Studies from Leading E-commerce Brands

People have gone through much change in the past few years when it comes to online shopping. Nowadays, when delivery...

Business3 months ago

Why are Brits turning to online-only banks?

For years, large, conventional banks held all the aces when it comes to citizens’ finances in the UK. HSBC, Lloyds...

5 Important Web Design Considerations to Make For Better SEO 5 Important Web Design Considerations to Make For Better SEO
Tech4 months ago

5 Important Web Design Considerations to Make For Better SEO

Ever since the birth of search engines, practices in optimising websites for better search rankings have changed considerably. Where it...

SEO4 months ago

The Importance of Local SEO for Small Businesses

There are many different types of businesses and all of them will require online marketing however, with a small business,...

General4 months ago

Understanding The Unsung Heroes: Cool Rooms And The Importance Of Regular Repairs

Everybody loves a breath of fresh air when entering a superstore! But have you ever wondered who’s working backstage to...

Home Improvement8 months ago

How To Add More Value To Your Home

If you have some spare cash in the bank, it is likely you would like to spend it on your...

Categories

Archives

Trending