Antiques Roadshow guest left ‘shaking’ after valuation

During the most recent episode of Antiques Roadshow, audiences witnessed host Fiona Bruce deliver a significant announcement just moments after the program began.

As the beloved series commenced, featuring footage from the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire—home to more than 400 tributes honoring armed forces personnel and civilian organizations—viewers heard Fiona’s voice before she appeared on camera.

She narrated: “On the 8th of May 1945, celebrations broke out across the country to mark the end of the Second World War in Europe.

“But for many, this was just the beginning of the end. Germany and Italy may have been defeated, but the war against Japan was to rage on for another three months.”

The presenter revealed the show had traveled to Staffordshire for this unique episode, exploring wartime tales from what was historically referred to as the Far East, reports The Express UK.

BBC Fiona Bruce

Antiques Roadshow faces major shakeup as host details change (Image: BBC)

However, before the episode kicked off, Fiona revealed a significant departure from the program’s traditional format.

She declared: “Given the very personal and moving stories you’re going to hear, our experts won’t be offering any valuations on the items you’ll be seeing.

“To the owners, these things are priceless, and they offer a poignant insight into some of the darkest events of our past.”

Additionally, the BBC presenter described how the conflict in the Far East and World War II ultimately concluded with the use of what she termed the ‘ultimate weapon’—the atomic bomb.

Fiona Bruce

The BBC show aired a VJ special on Sunday night (Image: BBC)

Fiona continued: “Two atomic bombs were dropped by the US on the Japanese mainland in August 1945.

“Since then, victory over Japan, or VJ Day, has been marked on August 15. 80 years on in a special commemorative episode, we’ll relive key moments from the conflict, through the items you’ve shared with us.”

Throughout the program, expert Siobhan Tyrrell was eager to speak with two gentlemen about the ‘rare’ artifact they owned, which had been preserved by a soldier stationed in Burma at the beginning of the war.

Antiques Roadshow

Two men showcased their dad’s items from WWII (Image: BBC)

The pair possessed an old newspaper clipping from the Rangoon Gazette, dated the day following the Japanese assault on the US naval fleet at Pearl Harbor.

Curious about how they acquired the item, one of the men revealed they discovered it after their father’s passing, noting that he never discussed his wartime experiences with them.

He shared that his father served with the RAF and was deployed to Burma from 1941.

The duo also disclosed that among their father’s belongings, they uncovered a photo album chronicling his complete wartime journey.

Siobhan remarked: “Isn’t it great that he managed to keep this! I can’t imagine that there are many that have survived and it’s just an amazing record.”