Antiques Road Trip expert spills all on ‘unruliest’ celebrity guest. (Image: BBC)
expert Charlie Ross has revealed all about the “unruliest” celebrity contestant who turned the episode into a “madhouse”.
Charlie, who has appeared on the show for more than a decade, revealed that the late Terry Wogan caused the biggest ruckus on the programme thanks to his lively personality.
Recounting the 2012 episode, Charlie, 74, wrote in his book, Sold!: “The celebrity contestants, often from the world of showbiz or sport, add programme appeal and are never shy in front of the camera. On the whole, they were enormously fun to work with.
“The unruliest celebrity was, without a doubt, the irrepressible Irishman Terry Wogan. I worked against him, rather than with him, for he was teamed up with Charles Hanson in competition with the actress Caroline Quentin, whom I assisted.
“Terry turned the saleroom into a madhouse. He started by suggesting the contestants, not the auctioneer, should sell the lots they had bought. No, said the sales director firmly. ‘But this edition is the exception,’ Terry declared, jumping onto the rostrum and starting to call out for bids.”
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Terry Wogan appeared on Antiques Road Trip in 2012. (Image: BBC)
Terry’s antics included parading a vase around the room and bidding on his own item. However, his tactics were in vain, as Charlie and Caroline were the winners of the day.
The Antiques Road Trip episode was one of Terry’s final TV appearances before his death from cancer in 2016 at the age of 77.
Charlie is also known for showcasing his antique knowledge on and Flog It! However, he won’t be making an appearance on the flagship show, , any time soon.
A few years ago, Charlie was invited to join the popular programme and agreed without hesitation. But, as he started the process, he realised it was a “mistake”.
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Charlie Ross is known for his appearances on Bargain Hunt, Antiques Road Trip and Flog It! (Image: Getty)
He wrote: “The and I made a mistake. Theirs was to ask me if I would like to join the Antiques Roadshow team, mine was to say yes.”
Eager to rub shoulders with the Roadshow’s crew, his enthusiasm dampened when a pre-filming dinner revealed a frosty atmosphere: He recalled: “Several of them, notably Hugo Morley-Fletcher, Tim Wonnacott and Henry Sandham, were friendly and welcoming. I found the others harder work.”
The situation only deteriorated further when it came to actual valuations, culminating in a particularly challenging experience with a strongbox linked to the Spanish Armada.
He recalled saying: “Madam, how lovely to meet you. May I say what a magnificent chest you have.”
The cheeky comment elicited giggles from the woman and the camera crew, but it failed to amuse the director who took Charlie aside for a rebuke, informing him that Antiques Roadshow is a “serious programme”.
Subsequently, the scene was reshot without the joke.
Charlie reflected: “After a few undistinguished appearances, I suggested that perhaps Antiques Roadshow wasn’t really for me. They agreed, and I moved on to less serious programmes better suited to my wish to entertain as well as inform.”
Antiques Road Trip airs Monday at 3.45pm on One.