Have you anything valuable in the attic?
BY SHUJAUL AZAM
shuz@slpmedia.co.uk
BBC One’s ever popular Sunday evening programme, Antiques Roadshow, will be filming for its 41st series in the grounds of English Heritage’s art deco marvel, Eltham Palace and Gardens, on Sunday, June 10.
Fiona Bruce and the team of Antiques Roadshow experts will be waiting to welcome visitors to the event and locals are being encouraged to dust off their family heirlooms, raid their attics and dig out their car boot bargains to bring along for free advice and valuations.
Last year, the programme celebrated four decades on the road with some truly amazing finds.
Fiona Bruce said: “Can this year be even better than our last? We’ll have to go some way to top the most valuable Faberge ever seen on the programme, a correction to Darwin’s theory of evolution by the great man himself and one of the best collections of showbusiness memorabilia ever seen by our experts.
“But I have every confidence we’ll do it and the thousands of people that come along to see us will pull some extraordinary things out of their bags/trolleys/bits of newspaper/suitcases/boats – and one year even out of a cart led by a dog. I can’t wait.”
Chris Small, English Heritage’s property manager at Eltham Palace, said: “We are thrilled to be welcoming the Antiques Roadshow to Eltham Palace this summer and I can’t wait to see what hidden treasures visitors will bring along on the day.”
A moated mediaeval palace, Eltham Palace was once the childhood home of Henry VIII.
The property was transformed into a showpiece of art deco design and cutting-edge technology in the 1930s by its glamorous, millionaire owners, Stephen and Virginia Courtauld. The property has 19 acres of beautiful gardens, which received a gold award at the London in Bloom Awards 2017.
Robert Murphy, series producer of Antiques Roadshow, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming thousands of visitors when we bring Antiques Roadshow to Eltham Palace and Gardens.
“It’s a stunning backdrop for a Sunday show and we’d love to see cherished objects and hear personal stories from the people of south-east London and beyond.
“It’s a great free, family day out and you can see how we make one of BBC One’s most popular programmes. You never know what will be the special object and our team of experts look forward to helping visitors discover the story of their item’s past.”
Doors to the event, on Sunday, June 10 open at 9.30am and close at 4.30pm. Entry to the show is free, everyone is welcome, and no tickets or pre-registration is required.
Although visitors are welcome to just turn up on the day, they can also share their stories about the special items they are bringing along before the event using the Share Your Story section on the Antiques Roadshow website.
Or email: antiques.roadshow@bbc.co.uk or write to Antiques Roadshow, BBC, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2LR.
For more information about Eltham Palace and its opening times, visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/eltham
Are you going to the event with an item you hope to be valued? – Email our reporter Calum Fraser first at calum@slpmedia.co.uk
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