The BEST episodes of Antiques Roadshow season 38
Every episode of Antiques Roadshow season 38, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Antiques Roadshow season 38!
A team of experts from auction houses tours towns throughout the UK to value treasures brought in by members of the public.
#1 - The Royal William Yard 1
Season 38 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/11/2015
Fiona Bruce presents from the Royal William Yard in Plymouth where finds include doorknobs said to have belonged to Lord Nelson, a psychedelic painting of a band that played at Woodstock and a diamond necklace the length of a skipping rope. Nautical treasures are well represented on the waterfront in Plymouth, from a ship in a bottle to a painting of HMS Impregnable from 1789, but militaria specialist Graham Lay has doubts about a pair of doorknobs that were supposedly Lord Nelson's. The team are impressed by a chess set made from parts of the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, a winged armchair that has travelled from Vermont, USA, and a rare Japanese bronze vase that had been languishing in a Yorkshire garden. A psychedelic painting of a band that played at Woodstock intrigues Clive Stewart-Lockhart, and Hilary Kay meets a woman who is trying to locate a lost portrait of her cousin by Laura Knight. Jewellery specialist John Benjamin marvels at a huge diamond necklace that might be better described as a skipping rope, donated to the city of Plymouth by Lady Astor.
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#2 - Hanbury Hall 1
Season 38 - Episode 23 - Aired 4/17/2016
Fiona and the team are at Hanbury Hall near Droitwich in Worcestershire. It's thought the creator of The Archers based the fictional village of Ambridge on Hanbury, and so it's quite possible that Hanbury Hall is the inspiration for Lower Loxley Hall. Mark Hill values a pop art jacket designed by Sir Peter Blake. Sadly its value has been reduced after being eaten in places by a ferret. Rupert Maas appraises one of the finest nude paintings he's ever seen. Glass specialist Andy McConnell values the oldest piece of glass he's ever handled in a lifetime of collecting. Meanwhile a sketch of Napoleon on his death bed made hastily on St Helena prompts a debate about the reputation of the man. Marc Allum shows Fiona four vessels that elegantly evoke the spirit of Ancient Greece. But can she spot the one genuine piece that actually dates back two and a half thousand years?
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#3 - The Royal William Yard 2
Season 38 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/18/2015
The Antiques Roadshow makes a return visit to the Royal William Yard in Plymouth where treasures include a unique book of garden designs by a renowned landscape gardener, one of the last flasks of naval rum to be produced and a ceremonial wooden spoon awarded for the worst exam results in Cambridge. Jewellery specialist John Benjamin is the bearer of surprising news for a woman who thinks a charity shop bracelet dates from the 1960s and he offers a lesson in Art Deco to a young man who hopes to inherit a diamond and emerald brooch. Maritime curiosities are much in evidence and include a ceremonial hammer and chisel used to launch a ship and one of the last flasks of naval rum to be issued before the rum ration came to an end in 1970. Fergus Gambon is entranced by a set of doll's house furniture made from bonnet wire by destitute children in a charity school in Victorian London while Clive Stewart Lockhart is amused by a giant ceremonial wooden spoon once presented to the recipient of the lowest exam mark at Cambridge University. A rare piece of Republican silver steeped in Irish history stuns Alastair Dickenson while the value of a unique book of early 19th-century garden designs by Humphry Repton reduces its owner to tears.
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#4 - India Special
Season 38 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/13/2016
For the first time, Antiques Roadshow devotes an entire episode to celebrating the art and culture of one nation with this special episode hosted from the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, more commonly known as the Neasden Temple in north London. Many of the objects brought in for the scrutiny of Fiona Bruce and the experts demonstrate the interwoven history between the UK and India, such as ceremonial robes used in the flamboyant Delhi Durbar. Other pieces brought before the cameras include a ring given by a princess to a young boy who captured a kite after it was cut free in an aerial battle, and a 1925 Rolls Royce made for the Maharajah of Jodhpur. Finally, a bracelet once played with by children in a toy box turns out to hold its own secrets - including a surprise value.
Watch Now:Amazon#5 - Trentham Gardens 1
Season 38 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/24/2016
The Antiques Roadshow visits Trentham Gardens near Stoke-on-Trent, where treasures include rare items from the region's historic potteries, a brooch that belonged to flying ace Amy Johnson and a portable road map described as an early form of satnav. Jewellery specialist Susan Rumfitt challenges Fiona to spot the odd one out among a collection of gold necklaces and bracelets - one of which is actually made from a cheap imitation alloy known as pinchbeck.
Watch Now:Amazon#6 - Balmoral 1
Season 38 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/6/2015
By special permission from the royal household, Antiques Roadshow welcomes visitors to Balmoral, the Queen's private residence in Aberdeenshire, where treasures brought before the experts include a diamond tiara, a giant telescope and a ceramic pot by Pablo Picasso. In the Imposter Challenge, militaria specialist Mark Smith wonders whether Fiona Bruce can spot a forgery amongst a collection of rare medals.
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#7 - Bowood House 1
Season 38 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/3/2016
The Antiques Roadshow visits Bowood House in Wiltshire, where treasures include a collection of glass car mascots, a portrait used for target practice by schoolchildren and a previously unseen account of the sinking of the Titanic written by an officer who survived. Andy McConnell applauds a man with a passion for glass mascots that would once have adorned the radiators of luxury cars, but were they designed by master craftsman René Lalique? An 18th-century portrait of a lady catches the eye of Dendy Easton, but he's alarmed to discover that the pupils of the local school where it hangs have been using it for target practice. Ronnie Archer Morgan admires an unusual 19th-century walking stick carved with the head of a goose, intertwined snakes and a pair of boxers, while Hilary Kay hears how an Australian woman got to meet the Beatles during their visit to Melbourne in 1964. The team are impressed by a lavishly illustrated book documenting the travels of 19th-century explorer John Whitehead and a collection of personal documents belonging to an officer who survived the sinking of the Titanic, including a moving account of the cries of the drowning passengers.
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#8 - Balmoral Royal Special
Season 38 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/13/2015
The Antiques Roadshow pays tribute to Her Majesty the Queen as she becomes Britain's longest-serving monarch with a special edition looking back at memorable moments from past series that have touched on the life of Elizabeth II. Fiona Bruce introduces a unique celebration of the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II from Balmoral Castle, where the Antiques Roadshow filmed this summer. The Roadshow team have scoured the archives to find some of the most surprising items and poignant stories relating to the Queen that have been filmed over the past 20 years. Highlights include a recording of a speech the young Princess Elizabeth made on Children's Hour in 1940, described by the children of presenter Uncle Mac, and a behind-the-scenes account of the Queen's first televised Christmas message, complete with photos of Prince Charles and Princess Anne trying out the camera equipment. The team appraise royal memorabilia, from mugs and crisp packets to a surprising valuable piece of the Queen's wedding cake, while a seamstress recalls the thrill of helping to make the royal wedding gown. Several items provide a rare insight into the Queen's day-to-day life, such as her interest in racing pigeons, and a personal letter to a vet reveals wry comments about the weight of a corgi and touching lines on the death of a beloved pet. There's also another chance to see the Queen's meeting with the Antiques Roadshow team at Hillsborough Castle in 2014, when three experts got the chance to appraise antiques on display in the house and discuss them with the Queen and Prince Philip.
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#9 - RAF Coningsby 1
Season 38 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/20/2015
The Antiques Roadshow visits RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, an operational station home to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, where treasures include a portrait by John Singer Sargent, a teddy bear that flew with the Dambusters and an outrageous decanter from Las Vegas. Fiona Bruce introduces the programme from the back of a Dakota aircraft in mid-flight, setting the scene for an episode that includes a stuffed toy that flew on the Dambusters raid and original designs for the Vulcan bomber scrawled on a newspaper. A portrait of a 1920s socialite by celebrated artist John Singer Sargent catches the eye of Grant Ford, while a bronze bust known affectionately as Gus turns out to be closely connected to the world's most famous Impressionist painter. Miscellaneous specialist Mark Hill is dazzled by a show-stopping crystal decanter bought on a holiday in Las Vegas, while a coat found in a skip turns out to have been worn by an officer in the American civil war. There's a big surprise in store for an Australian visitor who bought a pair of earrings for a fiver in a charity shop in Perth, and John Benjamin introduces the episode's edition of The Imposter, presenting Fiona with four sets of rubies - only one of which is a genuine, highly valuable Burmese gem.
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#10 - RAF Coningsby 2
Season 38 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/8/2015
The Antiques Roadshow makes a return visit to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, where treasures include an aristocratic harp that survived the French Revolution, a beautiful Liberty necklace and a carved piece of wood with a mysterious function. There are plenty of mysteries in the show as jewellery specialist Susan Rumfit hears about a diamond brooch found hidden inside a barometer, and Jon Baddeley reveals the true purpose of a curious piece of carved wood dated 1775, leaving its owner lost for words. Fiona is intrigued by a length of tree that ended up inside a Lancaster bomber on a raid in Norway in the Second World War, while militaria specialist Graham Lay is moved by the remarkable story behind a pair of boots, a child's drawing and a parachute handle. The team admire a Liberty necklace that a young girl plans to wear for her school leaving ball, but a dilapidated French harp that dates from before the French Revolution poses a considerable restoration challenge for its owner. In a programme that has more than a hint of the Battle of Britain spirit, Mark Hill is intrigued to find a pair of wartime propaganda posters printed on hessian sacking, saved from a skip and kept under the owner's bed.
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#11 - Plas Newydd 2
Season 38 - Episode 13 - Aired 11/29/2015
The Antiques Roadshow returns to Plas Newydd on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales, where treasures include a Chinese silver punchbowl, a collection of historical items relating to deafness and a fabulous musical hummingbird. A mystery cabinet with a small brass tap is revealed to have a special purpose for the avid angler, while a magazine rack bought for a few pounds turns out to be the work of great Italian designer Piero Fornasetti. Marc Allum is fascinated by a collection of items relating to deafness, including ear trumpets and vintage hearing aids, and learns about George Downing, a 17th-century statesman who became fluent in sign language after growing up in a deaf community in Kent. A huge Chinese silver punchbowl puts a smile on the face of specialist Duncan Campbell, while the owner of a dynamic marine painting by Montague Dawson is relieved that they went back home to get it after pictures specialist Dendy Easton glimpsed a photo on their phone. The connection between a photo of a young man in an RAF uniform and a photo of the Apollo 11 astronauts moves books specialist Justin Croft as he hears the story of a teenage obsession and a life cut tragically short. Jewellery specialist Geoffrey Munn is dazzled by the jewelled hummingbird that pops out of a gold box, and reveals a value that leave its owner on the verge of tears.
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#12 - Christmas Special
Season 38 - Episode 16 - Aired 12/30/2015
Fiona Bruce introduces a festive edition from Lyme Park in Cheshire. Along with expert Will Farmer, she unwraps presents from Christmas past as they explore the changing taste in toys given as presents, going back to Edwardian days. Meanwhile, in the beautiful gardens, the team of experts meet over 2000 visitors bearing family treasures for valuation. Some precious objects boast impressive credentials, including a cup and saucer once owned by a queen, a pram believed to have been in use in Buckingham Palace and a dagger reputed to have been owned by Charles I. Adding to the seasonal atmosphere is a curiosity that celebrates the work of author Charles Dickens.
#13 - Trentham Gardens 2
Season 38 - Episode 26 - Aired 5/15/2016
The Antiques Roadshow pays a second visit to Trentham Gardens near Stoke-on-Trent, as Fiona Bruce and the team of specialists prepare for another busy day valuing family treasures. A very early movie camera excites expert Hilary Kay, who hears how it was first used back in 1910 to record some early natural history photography in Britain. A dagger with a gruesome history turns out to have been a clever recent purchase, while a flamboyant shawl that once belonged to film heart throb Dolores del Rio evokes a former glamourous lifestyle from the era of the 1930s in Hollywood. Closing honours go to a small figure of a Chinese man made in Staffordshire way back in the 1750s, which turns out to carry a high value today.
#14 - Bolsover Castle 1
Season 38 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/25/2015
The Antiques Roadshow visits Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire, where treasures include original illustrations for a Roald Dahl story, a miniature workshop stocked with thumb-sized working tools, and racing leathers worn by legendary motorcyclist Barry Sheene. There's childhood nostalgia aplenty when the team appraise two original illustrations for Roald Dahl's story Fantastic Mr Fox and a collection of Star Wars toys, complete with boxes, looking for a good home now that their owner needs to make room for a new baby. Glass specialist Andy McConnell is thrilled by a daughter's quest to find a replacement Venetian glass figure for her mother after a cherished piece dramatically exploded, while a mystery metal rod keeps the crowd guessing and turns out to be far older and more valuable than anyone expected. What seems on first glance to be a rather plain doll's house turns out to have been designed to show a plumber how to install a central heating system, while specialist John Foster marvels at a miniature workshop stocked with tiny working tools that was crafted by a disabled man with incredible skill. Ronnie Archer-Morgan challenges Fiona to spot the Impostor among a collection of rare silk scarves, and a pair of battered racing leathers evoke fond memories of motorcycle legend Barry Sheene.
#15 - The Royal Hall Harrogate 1
Season 38 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/27/2016
Fiona Bruce and the team head for the elegant Royal Hall in Harrogate for another busy day as two thousand visitors bring family treasures for their scrutiny. There's a frisson of excitement as a sporting icon is brought in, complete with security guards and accompanied by BBC Sport's Gabby Logan and Leeds United's Eddie Gray. Gabby is intrigued to know if it is possible to value such a rare and unique object but Fiona Bruce and silver expert Alastair Dickenson are on hand to help. Alastair's valuation, his highest in 20 years on the programme, brings gasps from the audience. Geoffrey Munn hears the emotional story of a sapphire ring left to a young man by a recently departed friend. Paul Atterbury learns about the family history and inspiration behind the world famous Betty's Tearooms. Philip Mould hears the extraordinary background that lies behind a simple portrait of a factory worker who went on to change working conditions for children in Victorian Britain.
#16 - The Royal Hall Harrogate 2
Season 38 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/3/2016
Fiona Bruce and the experts make a return visit to the Spa town of Harrogate in Yorkshire. The Royal Hall has played host to stars such as the Beatles and Duke Ellington, but top of the bill now is a little ink drawing that Phillip Mould believes could be by the hand of Pablo Picasso. If it is, it could be worth some very serious money. Oriental specialist John Axford keeps Fiona guessing as he challenges her to find the odd one out amongst four tea bowls. Plus Jon Baddeley values a model ship that took more than thirty years for its owner to construct and Marc Allum meets a man with a unique collection of model cars.
#17 - Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum 2
Season 38 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/10/2016
Fiona Bruce and the team head to Scotland for another busy day of evaluations at the impressive Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Objects exciting the experts include handsome jewels from 'auntie's treasure trove' that evoke a luxurious lifestyle from the art deco era, a painting by one of the Glasgow Girls group of artists and a family hand-me-down known as 'the ugly pot', designed by an important maker that carries a highly attractive value.
#18 - Plas Newydd 1
Season 38 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/6/2015
Fiona and the team of experts are at the Plas Newydd Country House and Gardens on Anglesey where members of the public bring their antiques and collectibles to have them valued.
#19 - Lyme Park 2
Season 38 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/1/2016
Fiona Bruce visits the scene where Colin Firth famously emerged from the lake as Mr Darcy - Lyme Park in Cheshire. Objects of interest to the experts assembled in the gardens include a pair of impressive pistols used to protect the Royal Mail from highwaymen, a tea caddy cunningly concealed as a pile of books and a picture of actress Sarah Bernhardt once owned by Elton John.
#20 - Balmoral 2
Season 38 - Episode 15 - Aired 12/13/2015
Antiques Roadshow makes a return visit to Balmoral, the Queen's private residence in Aberdeenshire, where treasures brought by visitors include an 18th-century bottle unearthed by a digger, a mirror inspired by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and a remarkable collection of medals awarded to a man who served in both World Wars and helped rescue survivors from the Titanic. Fiona Bruce enjoys the chance to drive a Land Rover originally acquired by the royal household in 1953 for use on the estate and now privately owned, and there's a glimpse of rare archive footage of the young Prince Charles and Princess Anne driving an electric child's car around the grounds. Two pieces of valuable glass turn out to have had lucky escapes, as Andy McConnell marvels at a bottle from the 1740s that survived being dug up by a mechanical digger and Eric Knowles admires a 1920s Lalique vase mistaken for a doorstop. Paul Atterbury is impressed by a fine piece of Scottish craftsmanship in the form of a mirror made in the Art Nouveau style by a student at the Glasgow School of Art during Charles Rennie Mackintosh's time. The team are enthralled by the life story of a pianist who accompanied world-famous opera singer Maria Callas on tour for two years and amused by a couple who bought a Clarice Cliff coffee set in a charity shop in the 1970s for £1, only to misplace the coffee pot and accidentally plaster one of the cups behind a wall. Militaria specialist Mark Smith is overwhelmed when a humble Christmas tin turns out to contain one of the most remarkable collections of medals he has ever seen, belonging to a man decorated for his service in both World Wars and his role in the rescue of survivors from the Titanic.
#21 - Walmer Castle 1
Season 38 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/15/2015
It's a glorious summer's day in Kent as the Antiques Roadshow arrives in Walmer Castle near Deal, where treasures include a valuable Wemyss piglet, a remarkable prisoner of war diary and a showstopping collection of ceramic grotesque birds by Martin Brothers. There are surprises in store for a woman who has always believed that her mother's ring contained a large topaz stone, and the owner of a rare Wemyss piglet, casually kept on a windowsill. A late 18th-century round revolving table with a secret compartment intrigues furniture expert Lennox Cato, while books specialist Justin Croft is enthralled by the story of Captain Webb, the first recorded man to swim the channel in 1875. Other curiosities include the diary of a British prisoner of war held captive in Germany, complete with photos of amateur dramatics, cartoons, and labels saved from food packages, and a beautiful set of French fashion illustrations from the 1920s. Rare objects include a table clock by renowned 17th-century maker Daniel Quare, and a showstopping collection of Martin Brothers pottery cherished by a man who began buying the bizarre, grotesque birds long before they became fashionable. Andy McConnell challenges Fiona to spot 'the Impostor' amongst a collection of Roemer glasses, only one of which is a genuine 18th-century piece - with a surprise guest appearance from Andy's mum.
#22 - Walmer Castle 2
Season 38 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/22/2015
The Antiques Roadshow returns to Walmer Castle, near Deal in Kent, where treasures include a rare enamel racing car sign, an art deco mask that frightens its owner's children and a jacket worn by JFK that could be one of the most valuable items seen on the show in recent years. Ceramics specialist Fergus Gambon suspects that an empire-style vase with a Sevres factory mark isn't quite what it seems. There's a surprise for Clive Farahar when the owner of a letter said to be from Nelson reveals the contents of a small box with a profound connection to her late husband. Marc Allum is thrilled to see a collection of post-war Italian design classics, from red a plastic Valentine typewriter to a fold-up lamp that had a tendency to melt, while oriental specialist Lee Young is intrigued by two vases and a statue that belongs to a family who once ran a travelling circus.
#23 - Bolsover Castle 2
Season 38 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/1/2015
The Antiques Roadshow returns to Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire, where treasures include a rare jade pendant found in a garden, a painting by novelist DH Lawrence and a huge collection of vintage hats. The team are transported back to childhood by a complete set of Enid Blyton's Famous Five books, while a vast collection of vintage hats draws a crowd as Fiona meets a woman whose hobby has become a full-time profession. Books specialist Justin Croft gets a new insight into DH Lawrence, author of Lady Chatterley's Lover, when he is asked to appraise a painting by the novelist, while a broken pot depicting a slave auction turns out to be a valuable piece of abolitionist memorabilia inspired by the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin. A beautifully crafted early 19th-century flintlock pistol catches the eye of militaria specialist Robert Tilney, and a flea-market purchase turns out to be a rare painting by Sidney Hunt, a member of the Seven and Five Society of artists that included Henry Moore and Ben Nicholson. A jade pendant dug up in the garden of a 17th-century house stuns Ronnie Archer-Morgan, who wants to know how a Maori hei-tiki artefact that could be over 300 years old ended up in a corner of England.
#24 - Durham Cathedral 2
Season 38 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/4/2015
Fiona Bruce introduces a return visit to Durham Cathedral, where treasures include a missionary's medical kit, an early etching by Dame Laura Knight and a beautiful carriage clock discovered on a Second World War bombsite. Fiona Bruce admires a remarkable collection of rare books in the cathedral's collection, including a 7th-century bible and an early version of Magna Carta, while ceramics specialist John Axford is charmed by a late 19th-century plate whose childlike decoration belies its value. The team appraise a rather gruesome 19th-century medical kit used by a missionary in Africa who followed in the footsteps of Stanley and Livingstone, and an early etching by renowned artist Dame Laura Knight. Clocks and watches specialist Ben Wright is amazed by the story of a beautiful engraved and gilded carriage clock that was discovered in a pile of rubble on a bombsite in Durham during the Second World War. Family treasures include football mementoes belonging to a man who played for Sunderland in 1913 and a collection of medals awarded to a young RAF navigator in World War II, now the proud property of his young grandson.
#25 - Bowood House 2
Season 38 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/10/2016
The Antiques Roadshow makes a return visit to Bowood House in Wiltshire where treasures include an 18th century box engraved with a secret code, an enamel cigarette case by a Russian master craftsman and a collection of items from the golden age of tailoring. Jon Baddeley is intrigued by a mysterious 18th century box engraved with a secret code that may once have contained cosmetic 'beauty spots' while books specialist Clive Farahar enjoys a cartoon inspired by a news report about a lion that escaped from a circus and took refuge in a Wiltshire school. The team admire a collection of vintage transistor radios, a scent bottle housed in a wagon drawn by a pair of goats and a blue enamel cigarette case presented to an Englishman who aided the White Russian cause during the Russian Revolution. Mark Hill meets two young men with a passion for tailoring and the work of Montague Burton, while glass specialist Andy McConnell is inspired by the story of an ordinary Stourbridge glass engraver, as told by a proud son. In a moving encounter, Fiona Bruce meets a man who only discovered he had a different biological father when he found letters to his late mother from an American soldier, prompting him to undertake a remarkable search for answers in North Carolina.