Antiques Roadshow expert pulls face at awkwardness after guest says 'low blow'
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WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.
An Antiques Roadshow guest exclaimed "wowza" as her inherited Lord Nelson received a top valuation.
BBC expert Mathew Haley encountered a guest who had in their possession a handwritten letter featuring quite the quirky tale.
In the picturesque surroundings of their filming location, Haley quipped: "So here we are today with some sheep over the moat from us and you've brought us a letter about sheep. Tell us all about it."
The owner of the letter revealed its fascinating history: "So this is a letter that was given to my step-father's great-great-great grandfather who was the farmer in question, given the sheep by Captain Bainton.
"He was the captain of HMS Leviathan at the Battle of Trafalgar and Nelson gave Captain Bainton a sheep.
"The sheep was in the Battle of Trafalgar, survived the Battle of Trafalgar and then when Captain Bainton came back to the UK, he then gave the sheep and the letter to William Raymond and this is the letter."
In response, Haley expressed his amazement: "Absolutely bizarre. It certainly is the first Nelson that I've come across that talks about sheep.
(Image: BBC)
"And here he is, writing from HMS Victory in June 1805, a few months before the Battle of Trafalgar.
"He's gone to the West Indies and he says 'I don't know how you're doing for stock but all I got in the West Indies was one sheep I can give you. And the sheep went on board and it went to the Battle of Trafalgar.'"
The specialist detailed how, back in the day, the Royal Navy would transport farm animals to provide sustenance for the crew and then highlighted a medal awarded to a sheep.
The owner revealed: "Well somehow it survived, came back and William Raymond the farmer who was given the sheep, crossed it with some south Devon sheep and said it had really good progeny, was well known for its beauty and fleece."
"So the sheep won a medal. Really, really fantastic," Haley commented.
"This is what we think of as a Nelson left-handed letter, because he obviously lost his right arm so you see two different handwritings from Nelson.
(Image: BBC)
"Very much a left-handed letter, very, very collectible really. The sheep interest can only add to it."
When it came to valuing the item, the expert estimated: "At auction, I would see it making certainly in excess of £5,000."
The guest couldn't hide their surprise, responding with an astonished "Wowza's!" upon hearing the valuation.
Haley couldn't resist throwing in a pun, joking: "Not much of a baa-gain", imitating a sheep's bleat for comedic effect on the word "bargain".
The pun was met with groans from the crowd, prompting boos, while the guest chuckled: "Low blow."
A brief, uncomfortable silence fell as the laughter from the expert, guest, and audience faded, after which Haley expressed his gratitude to the owner for presenting the letter.
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer.
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