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Why I Love...Antiques Roadshow

Fiona Bruce beside the Antiques Roadshow logo
  • Posted at 3:47pm
  • 01 September 2008
  • by PaulJones-RT
  • 14 comments

Nice cup of tea? Hot buttered crumpet? Antiques Roadshow? Mmmm…don't mind if I do.

Yes, Antiques Roadshow is the epitome of Sunday-night cosiness. A toasty duvet of a television programme to wrap round yourself as the evenings draw in.

So why is the latest series being heralded by a TV trailer featuring sports cars and explosions, along with the implication that slinky new presenter Fiona Bruce is here to "sex up" the programme? What next, a breakbeat version of the theme tune?

I don't want Antiques Roadshow sexed up! I can't think of anything more inappropriate (well, not that I can mention here). Antiques Roadshow is about tradition and history, romance and drama. Polished wood, burnished silver. Porcelain. Scrimshaw.

Yes, scrimshaw. It might sound more like the name of a Dickens character, but scrimshaw is in fact "1. the art of carving bones or sea shells. 2. an article made in this way". Items of scrimshaw are not the ornate products of skilled artisans, though. No, scrimshaw is one of the ways in which sailors once passed the time on long sea voyages (I have no idea what the others were). It's the maritime equivalent of whittling.

As well as being quite possibly my favourite word in the English language, scrimshaw provides a perfect example of what Antiques Roadshow does best. The programme uses objects to connect us to moments from the past. So a crudely carved whale bone evokes salt air, the cries of seagulls and a sailor leaning on the prow of an old whaling vessel after a hard day at sea.

These are the kinds of stories the show's experts regularly tease out, Bagpuss-like, from the artefacts that are placed in front of them. Yes, these connections to past moments, real or imagined, are what Antiques Roadshow is all about. That, and cold, hard cash…

"How much is it worth?!" It's the question etched across many a punter's expectant face as a Roadshow expert regales them with unwanted details of scrollwork and hallmarks and factory histories. And it's the question we're all shouting at our screens too: "How much? How much? How much?"

This is fair enough. We have a natural fascination with the discovery of secret treasure. We watch the show for those huge moments, where a tarnished piece of metal is revealed to be an ancient relic, or a painting discovered in an attic is identified as £2 million-worth of early Constable. The moments when the excited expert finally shows his hand, drawing gasps from the onlookers, and rendering the owner speechless. But, just like the items, these moments are valuable because they are so rare.

I remember one occasion in particular very fondly. A hopeful member of the public placed a garish piece of pottery in front of an expert, who responded with a dryness bordering on the arid, "Ah, someone's been lucky at the funfair!"

Now that's as priceless a gem as anyone will ever bring on the show.

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Post a comment | 14 comments

Comments

  • Posted on 15 November 2009
  • at 3:58pm
  • by Peter

I watched last nights Casualty and the actress who played Russ Abbotts wife was Patricia Brake. I believe this is the actress who is sitting on the hay cart during the Antiques Roadshow credits.

  • Posted on 28 October 2009
  • at 12:46pm
  • by Peter

That actress on the hay cart must have a name. She seems to be recognisable, as if her name is on the tip of my tongue.

  • Posted on 25 October 2009
  • at 2:07pm
  • by Joe

Very true about people standing around looking gormless, and on tonight's show I am one of them!

  • Posted on 15 October 2009
  • at 10:34am
  • by Jodie

I loved the one they did at Samare Manor in Jersey. All the people standing around looked cool.

  • Posted on 04 October 2009
  • at 9:41pm
  • by jay hempstead

What i like about antiques roadshow is how its shot so that you can study all the people who stand around watching - i often find this more interesting than the antiques and the experts chat. Bizarre facial hair; gormless expressions; absurd fashion senses... It can be fabulous entertainment, a random selection of ordinary people just standing there. I notice that the other antiques programmes are shot quite differently.

  • Posted on 31 March 2009
  • at 12:00pm
  • by LauraPledger-RT

Hi Gill,

We're told that the lady you see on the hay cart at the beginning of Antiques Roadshow is actually an actress employed by the company that did the programme titles.

  • Posted on 29 March 2009
  • at 8:16pm
  • by Gill

Who is the lady on the hay cart at the beginning if the programme?

  • Posted on 25 January 2009
  • at 1:01pm
  • by John

I love the programme and think Fiona does a great job. Just the right tone - different from Michael Aspel - but so she should be of course.

  • Posted on 21 December 2008
  • at 7:07pm
  • by Kismet

We have watched ARS for many years and have always enjoyed the expertise and the locations and the knowledge of the experts. We have no idea why they have put Fiona Bruce on this successful program, she certainly needs no more exposure and seems to know little or nothing about the antiques on the show. There must be a more suitable presenter whose manner is more in keeping with this national treasure

  • Posted on 27 November 2008
  • at 9:17pm
  • by "Dominic Littlewood"

I luv da show me ol' china. I fink da new prezenta is da dogs. Luved dat £1 miwyun pounds figgy-me-jig, I'm mean wud ya Adam-an'-Eve it. Next yull be tellin' me that Fiona Bruce FANCIES ME, I mean stone the crows strike a light. She'd afta be goin' frew some serious midlife crisis of confidense for dat to be 'appernin'.

  • Posted on 16 September 2008
  • at 11:35am
  • by Analyst

I have a short list of 'must-not-miss' programmes. University Challenge, New Tricks and AR....please keep them all going.

  • Posted on 15 September 2008
  • at 2:07pm
  • by Oldcurio

I recall a Frasier episode where Martin takes along a family heirloom and is absolutely resolved not to look surprised when the "Professional" gives a figure of value for the object....Martin just says, "Oh that is what I expected!" I wish it could happen for real....

  • Posted on 15 September 2008
  • at 2:05pm
  • by Ionaclio

I agree with Paul. The Antiques RoadShow should not be sexed up by the long leggedy beastie that is called Fiona Bruce. I fell asleep in her first show and could not have cared less last night about the second show, whereas we never missed previous series. Fiona last night accosted a young girl with several Wainwright books and asked the most stupid questions which this young girl was pleased to answer given that she had done most of the walks around the world, then la Bruce asked her the same question at the end as she had at the beginning. You weren't listening Fiona and to tell you the truth, neither were we....

  • Posted on 13 September 2008
  • at 6:41pm
  • by Barney Bilbo

I love old things. THe older the better. I kept a mars bar for 9 years. It was tastier than any of the more recently produced confectionary bars. Spot on.

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