I am an Antiques Roadshow superfan and I spent the day behind the scenes… and this is what REALLY happens during filming

A man who is a huge fan of the Antiques Roadshow visited the set for the day and has revealed what really happens behind the scenes on the show.

Stephen Fugill, 50, has been a longtime fan of the smash hit BBC show and was thrilled when his daughter Megan told him it was coming to film in his native Derry.

He applied for free tickets through their lottery and was overjoyed when he found out he had secured them, and took Megan along to the event with him.

Giving an insight into filming, Stephen revealed disgruntled attendees binned items after valuations, said one family was left shocked by their huge profit, and told how he chased one expert for a photograph.

Speaking of his delight at being selected, he told MailOnline: ‘I have been watching the Antiques Roadshow for years and have always wanted to go on the show as I have been collecting antiques for a long time.

Exciting: Stephen Fugill (pictured), who is a huge fan of the Antiques Roadshow, visited the set for the day and has revealed what really happens behind the scenes on the show

‘I like to think I’m a bit of Del Boy or wheeler dealer so was buzzing to get on the show.

‘When my daughter told me the show was coming to Derry I was so excited. The tickets were free, however you had to apply to the ticket lottery so I didn’t think I would get one.

‘I was over the moon when I found out we had got tickets and instantly knew which antiques I wanted to get valued.’

Stephen gave an insight into what really happens behind the scenes on the programme after spending the day getting his own antiques valued by the experts.

The eager fan arrived at the event almost two hours early to make the most of the day, queuing from 9.30am ahead of the 11am start with his daughter Megan.

‘I went with my daughter, who wasn’t happy as we started queuing at 9.30am,’ he detailed.

‘When you enter the Roadshow, you check in, register your items and then you are assigned to a stall where there is an appraiser who’s an expert in the type of antique you have.’

Stephen took two of his own antiques to be valued and discovered one of his items was worth £28 more than the mere £2 he paid for it, while another was unfortunately worth less than he had hoped.

He said: ‘I brought 2 items, a hand painted vase which I had bought years ago for £2, I didn’t think there was much value in it but was interested to find out it’s history. 

Fan: He secured free tickets and took his daughter Megan along to the event with him, telling how his highlight was meeting glass expert Andy McConnell

Valuations: Stephen took two of his antiques and discovered one of his items was worth £28 more than the £2 he paid for it, while another was unfortunately worth less than he had hoped

‘The ceramic expert was really knowledgeable and was able to tell me it was crafted between 1920s-1930s, hand painted by two different people and was worth about £30. 

‘The other item was a sweet tray which i thought was hand painted and worth about £100 but was disappointed to find out it was a print and worth less than a tenner.’

Stephen revealed the highlight of the day was meeting glass expert Andy McConnell, confessing he chased him around the square to get a picture with him.

‘All of the experts were really friendly and and helpful, my favourite was the glass expert Andy McConnell,’ he shared. 

‘He was the expert I was most excited to meet, when I spotted him I ended up almost chasing him around the square so I could get a picture with him which really embarrassed my daughter. 

‘He was so well-versed and just as witty in person, he really brought the craic to the show.’

At one point, he spotted the camera crew filming a valuation and was quick to rush over, but unfortunately fell over his ankle in his excitement and nearly dropped his own vase.

Stephen also stood on his tiptoes in the crowds to make sure he got the best view of the television as he soaked up the lively atmosphere on the day. 

Exploring the site, Stephen visited a whole range of the stalls and listened to the history and valuations of other people’s items as well as taking along his antiques.

He told how the crowds were ‘shocked’ when a Chinese tortoise vase that had been passed down generations through a family was impressively valued between £6,000 and £9,000.

However, not everyone was as lucky, as Stephen shared that two disappointed women threw their antiques in the bin after finding out they were worth less than £5.

Delighted: At one point, he spotted the camera crew filming a valuation and was quick to rush over, but unfortunately fell over his ankle in his excitement

Thrilled: Revealing some filming secrets, Stephen (pictured) said he was surprised to learn that none of the valuations were set up as he detailed how visiting the show was a dream come true

He said: ‘There were two older ladies who were quite the characters and were very serious – one had a ceramic pig and the other had a painted jug. 

‘They thought there items were worth thousands but were told they were worth less than a fiver so ended up throwing them in the bin before leaving.’

Revealing some filming secrets, Stephen said he was surprised to learn that none of the valuations were set up as he detailed how visiting the show was a dream come true.

‘It was interesting to see how the show works behind the scenes and was surprised to find it that none of the valuations are set up and are all completely candid,’ he said.

‘It was a really good day, I definitely enjoyed it more than watching the show. I was on cloud nine and felt like a kid in a candy shop.’

Source: Read Full Article