Vintage view: Antiques Roadshow

There’s show-stopping suspense ahead with a major find in the offing for the Antiques Roadshow. Kya deLongchamps is mesmerised by this and other tales from the long-running BBC programme. 

Sunday night would not be Sunday night without clinging to the radiator while the trumpeting descent of its theme music ushers in the Antiques Roadshow. Running since 1979, it had a winning made-for-TV format.

A clarion call goes out to a locality to bring forth the aged goodies and a nice big historical hall or swathe of lawn is thrown open to the crowds with their crumpled plastic bags and trailers. A group of world authorities, (after a discreet distillation by the programme-makers), then nose around the swag and give that all important valuation. Who could resist?