A guest’s appearance on Antiques Roadshow took an unforeseen twist (Image: BBC)
made a fresh return to with members of the general public bringing their prized possesions hoping to score life-changing valuations from experts. During the show, Stephanie hailing from Leeds arrived to speak to books and manuscripts dealer Clive Farahar with around 300 bodybuilding magazines from the 1940s, which featured photos of Arnold Schwarzenegger from the early days of his bodybuilding career.
Addressing the pile, Clive admitted: “I’m not going to go there,” after uncovering never-before-seen photos of Schwarzenegger with the guest’s father, who was also a bodybuilder. The expert said: “We’ve got these lovely personal photographs, you’ve got about four signed photographs of Arnold Schwarzenegger, what am I going to put on it, what do you think?” After the dumbfounded guest confessed: “I don’t know, I don’t have a clue, Clive continued: “Well I think this small private section of the collection, I’m going to put £2000,” which left Stephanie utterly shocked.
Read more:
Stephanie’s dad was friends with Arnold Schwarzenegger (Image: BBC)
She was left emotional by the unexpected valuation as she struggled to fight back tears as the expert confirmed: “£2000 for unknown photographs of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
He pointed out: “This one I think is a well known one, its one he uses, a publicity one. All the other ones, as far as I can see are absolutely private and early Arnold Schwarzenegger too.”
Stephanie then shared the story behind the touching photos and divulged: “My dad was born in India and moved to Kenya and then to England, his passion from young was weight training.
“He was a builder but always wanted to open his own gym, which he did in the 70s in Harrogate and he first met Arnold at the age of 19.”
Don’t miss…
Stephanie shared photo from the 70s on Antiques Roadshow (Image: BBC)
The guest continued: “Arnold’s inspiration was a Leeds bodybuilder, Reg Park, who made the film Hercules.
“My dad called Arnold to do some seminars in 1981 to Leeds, he came to our house, mum cooked,” as the camera panned to a photo of the young Stephanie, with her brother and mother posed with Arnold.
Talking about the photograph of Arnold with her dad, Stephanie added: “He just thought my dad was so strong,” as Clive joked: “And your father’s got all his clothes on; we can’t possibly tell from that.”
Stephanie concluded: “I’m very proud of my father and what he did. I just wanted to share it with you, something for Leeds.”