Antiques Roadshow expert stunned as 'worthless' WWI gets huge six-figure value

A BBC presenter and expert on Antiques Roadshow was delighted when he valued a unique item that he had never come across before. history boffins since the show began in 1979.

From artifacts that have been passed down through generations to lost objects discovered in attics and car boot sales, the BBC programme fronted by Fiona Bruce who was delighted when the Duchess of Cornwall appeared on the show has seen it all. Every so often the huge valuation of an item leaves the show and its viewers stunned - even more so when their owners declare their refusal to sell.

Scores of guests over the years have turned down potentially huge profits by holding on to their possessions rather than selling them to collectors or listing them for auction. The show often saves the best for last when it broadcasts on a Sunday evening, keeping viewers hooked until the final moment when a staggering resale value is revealed.

May 2023 saw an incredible item that its owners believed was "worthless" receive a six-figure valuation. BBC presenter and antiques expert Mark Smith was delighted with the "unique moment" he was able to value an item he had never come across on the show before.

A couple brought a Victoria Cross to the show, which Mark described as the "top bravery award in our country". The couple thought it was worthless.

They said the medal was given to the lady's grandad for his bravery in the Battle of Passchendaele during World War One - but he sadly died before she turned five.

The guest shared more about her grandad's heroics: "He took charge when he saw that the platoon he was with come out under intense machine gunfire. A lot of them got cut down including the commanding officers, he rushed forward and attacked German machine gun posts."

Mark explained that the Victoria Cross is a "very humble medal" and Queen Victoria said: "It's not about the medal, it's about the deed behind the medal."

He added: "Queen Victoria didn't want it to be worth money but they do have a value."

The expert then revealed the medal could fetch between £250,000 to £300,000, leaving the couple lost for words. However, they confessed it "will never leave the family".