Antiques Roadshow witnessed a moment of discomfort on Sunday when a guest hinted that his mystery item might have been underestimated in value.
The peculiar scene unfolded at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, where expert Gordon Foster was fascinated by an unusual item brought before him.
Gordon exclaimed: "I love it on the when you get a mystery object and you've brought along a silver box! " He noted that onlookers had hazarded various guesses at its use from a lady's makeup container to a bespoke carrying case for caviar.
The owner then unveiled the truth the box was a live fly holder for angling, saying he was enormously pleased with it as it was a present from his spouse marking 17 years of marriage. Delving deeper, the individual disclosed that the piece was made from solid silver and crafted by the illustrious Asprey of London and admitted not using it for its intended purpose due to concerns over fragility.
Acknowledging its rarity, Gordon could recall just one similar piece in his duration as an appraiser, proclaiming that the silver content coupled with the Art Deco design and prestigious Asprey name signified the item had 'everything going for it', reports .
Upon Gordon valuing the piece between £2,000 and £3,000, the guest couldn't contain his excitement, exclaiming: "Wow, wow, that's amazing! " But the atmosphere shifted slightly when the man remarked: "I think she paid £4,000...", implying a possible undervalue, leading to a bout of laughter between them though it was unclear if the comment was in jest.
It comes after host Fiona Bruce shared a behind-the-scenes story from Antiques Roadshow, revealing that producers decided against airing a particularly harsh appraisal. Speaking to The Guardian, the presenter described how a man was left crestfallen after being informed by the show's glass expert that his supposed antique, bought for £1,000, was actually a worthless olive oil bottle from 2008.
The TV veteran, aged 60, recounted the moment earlier this year, admitting that while the scene was "too cruel" for television, part of her believed it would have been "great television". Fiona witnessed the man's disappointment firsthand and, despite the potential for a laugh, felt it was too unkind to broadcast.
She explained: "I suppose we could have broadcast it but it was just too cruel. The guy was devastated. There's a tiny bit of my brain that realises it would have made great television. But it's just not what the show's about. Poor chap, poor chap. The thing is, if you come on the Roadshow we are not about to humiliate you. The thing about Antiques Roadshow is not to humiliate people."
Antiques Roadshow is on BBC One on Sundays and on BBC iPlayer
