Antiques Roadshow star dies at 46 after life-changing valuation

A guest on Antiques Roadshowhas died tragically just years after receiving a life-changing valuation on the programme.

The BBC antiques weekend show is cherished across the nation and swiftly became a staple after its launch in 1979. The young dad's death was announced as the American version of the show picked up an Emmy nomination in Outstanding Structured Reality Program.

As the US spin-off announced the nomination, the show's official social media page revealed a poignant tale of how one assessment transformed a family's fortunes overnight.

PBS executives posted a segment from a special episode that revisited some of its most unforgettable moments, featuring a piece with American stoneware authority David Rago.

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PBS executives posted a segment from a special episode that revisited some of its most unforgettable moments, featuring a piece with American stoneware authority David Rago.

In 2005, he met an astonished visitor called Tom, who had brought along an 1880 jug that had been passed down through generations. He explained to the expert: "This piece belonged to my grandmother, and when she sold her house, the grandkids and the kids could choose different things. This is the piece that I always wanted, so my name was on this one for a long time."

David proceeded to assess the massive jug at an incredible $65,000 (£48,264) to $85,000 (£63,115) before disclosing what the antique actually fetched at auction.

He informed viewers: "That was filmed on the Saturday. On the Monday morning the phone rang, it was Tom, our guest. He said: 'Were you serious about the price? Because we could really use some money'.

"And I brought the piece to the Philadelphia Antique Show in April of 2005. The first person in the door purchased it for $110,000 (£81,679). I remember calling Tom that night. They told me that for the first time in their lives, they had enough in their bank account to now apply to adopt a child, a baby boy from Guatemala."

Sadly, the fortunate guest only experienced being a dad for four years before he tragically died at the age of 46. The specialist continued: "The bittersweet part of the story is that, sadly, four years later, Tom passed away at the age of 46.

"Carol, his wife, had written to me and told me about it and thanking me for the moments and the good times that Tom had on Antiques Roadshow, and that their wonderful, adorable Henry was now in their lives. It's a story of what Roadshow can do to change someone's life."

During a later segment, the specialist was reunited with the family and young Henry, who has now finished secondary school, and even brought the family pitcher they had sold to fund their son's adoption.

It wasn't long before viewers rushed to the comments section to express their heartbreak for the family and celebrate the remarkable impact Antiques Roadshow can have.

One viewer wrote: "Gosh you guys hit me with the needle. That money being used for the adoption and then telling me Tom died. Talk about a one-two punch of emotions."

Another concurred: "What a heartwarming and tragically heartbreaking story. Thank you for sharing it with all of us. I know it touched others as much as it did me."

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