Antiques Roadshow viewers were treated to remarkable valuations on Sunday night as guests discovered the true worth of a £5 charity shop purchase. Filmed at Pollok Country Park in Glasgow, two visitors brought in a Dorothy Steel painting they had bought 20 years ago, joking that the taxi fare to get it home had cost more than the painting itself.
Expert Frances Christie was full of praise for the artwork, saying, "In my opinion, this is probably one of the best Steel's I've ever seen." She revealed that at auction it would likely fetch between £3,000 and £5,000. The guests were left stunned, with one exclaiming, "Oh my goodness!" and adding, "I can't think of any better fivers that I've spent... I can't imagine getting more value for money, that's for sure!" Another said the painting was worth far more to them personally.
Elsewhere in the programme, a guest sought a valuation on a family-inherited telescope believed to have belonged to William Lassell, the 18th-century astronomer. The guest explained, "He is my great-grandfather's great-grandfather." The expert was deeply impressed, noting Lassell's fame and his significant contributions to the Royal Astronomical Society.
"I think your items here are worth £20,000!" the expert declared, leaving the guest astonished. "Oh wow, I'm very surprised about that! I thought it would be an absolute fraction of that," they replied. The expert also praised the item's story, calling it "a beautiful story about a brewer who made incredible discoveries."
The episode also featured another jaw-dropping moment when expert Gordon Foster valued a 'Scottish treasure' at £150,000, leaving the audience gasping. Antiques Roadshow continues on Sundays at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
