Antiques Roadshow star Theo Burrell has died at the age of 39 after living with a highly aggressive brain tumour. Burrell, who joined the BBC programme in 2018 as an antiques specialist, was diagnosed with glioblastoma in June 2022.
Family Announcement
In a statement shared on her Instagram on Saturday, 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. She was an incredible person who fought hard for her family, friends and raising awareness of this cruel disease.”
The family added: “She saw life events like her son’s first day at school and her wedding that a little over four years ago we thought she’d never see. 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.”
Diagnosis and Treatment
Burrell was diagnosed at age 35 after several months of worsening symptoms. She underwent life-extending surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Glioblastoma is an incurable type of brain tumour with a typical life expectancy of 12 to 18 months, and there have been no treatment advances in two decades. Around 3,200 people are diagnosed with it annually in the UK, with only about 160 living five years or more.
Burrell previously spoke about experiencing “dark thoughts” after her diagnosis and feared she “wouldn’t see my son’s second birthday.” However, she later wrote: “But I’m lucky enough to say I did! And no one can take that away from me.” She married her husband Alex earlier this year, saying it “feels so nice” to finally be wed after many years together.
Advocacy and Legacy
Following her diagnosis, Burrell became a vocal advocate for brain tumour research, focusing on increasing government funding, improving diagnostic times, and advancing clinical trials. In 2023, she became a patron of Brain Tumour Research, a charity dedicated to curing the disease.
Dan Knowles, chief executive officer 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. She constantly inspired us with how big her heart was and we will continue on our mission, driven by everything she taught us. Our thoughts are with her family, her friends and with all those who had the privilege of knowing her.”
