New Antiques Roadshow Series To Show Only The Interesting Bits

Old Things News: The new series of The Antiques Roadshow will focus almost exclusively on what an item might fetch at auction, BBC chiefs announced yesterday. In a bid to modernise the programme for a new generation of viewers, detailed historical evaluations will make way for a brief estimation of what an item is worth, mirroring the format of popular Sunday evening rival You’ve Been Framed.

Under the current format of the programme, which involves an expert talking about the history, social importance and manufacturing process of each item, viewers have to sit through up to five minutes of confusing, historical information before finding out how much an object is worth. With the new format, people presenting an item will simply be asked if they know what it is and then told the estimated price.  A camera will then zoom in on their face.

BBC chiefs hope this new-look Antiques Roadshow will attract new viewers formerly put off by things that happened a long time ago.

Traditional fans of the longstanding Sunday night programme, however, have expressed relief that this updated format will continue to feature highlights such as footage of well-spoken pensioners attempting to hide their disappointment, and people who have taken enormous trouble to bring in huge but essentially worthless items such as a double wardrobe.

Story: James Andrews