Theo Burrell, an antiques expert and familiar face on the BBC programme Antiques Roadshow, has died at the age of 39. Her family confirmed the news in a statement shared on her Instagram account on Saturday.
Diagnosis and illness
Burrell joined Antiques Roadshow in 2018 as part of the team of specialists who appraise items brought in by the public. In June 2022, she was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, a highly aggressive form of brain tumour with a typical life expectancy of 12 to 18 months. She underwent life-extending surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.
Her family said: "It is with great sadness that I share the news that Theo passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday afternoon. Neither she nor her medical team foresaw this happening quite so quickly."
Personal milestones and advocacy
Despite her diagnosis, Burrell celebrated several important life events. She saw her son's first day at school and married her husband Alex earlier this year. In a social media post, she described the wedding as feeling "so nice" after many years together.
Following her diagnosis, Burrell became a vocal advocate for brain tumour research. She campaigned for increased government funding, faster diagnosis, and more clinical trials. In 2023, she became a patron of Brain Tumour Research, a charity dedicated to curing the disease.
Around 3,200 people are diagnosed with glioblastoma in the UK each year, and only about 160 of those survive for five years or more. There has been no advance in treatments for this incurable disease in two decades.
Tributes and legacy
Dan Knowles, chief executive of Brain Tumour Research, said: "We are heartbroken that we have lost the phenomenal, determined and truly inspiring Theo Burrell to this devastating disease. She was always very open about her prognosis and knew from the outset her cancer was terminal but she was absolutely determined to make a difference for others."
Burrell's family added: "The cancer community provided so much comfort and strength to her in her darkest moments. But most of all it provided hope, and I think what she would want most of all is for other people to find hope in her story. Hope that the statistics aren't gospel and that one day they'll be very different."
