BBC Antiques Roadshow guest grins awkwardly at expert joke
Antiques Roadshow viewers were left chuckling after an expert's sheep-related quip fell flat, prompting a chorus of boos from the audience.
BBC's Mathew Haley was evaluating a unique handwritten letter with a quirky tale when he attempted to make light of the situation.
Standing amidst a pastoral setting, Haley remarked: "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 shared its 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."
Haley responded: "Absolutely bizarre. It certainly is the first Nelson that I've come across that talks about sheep.
"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 item's owner continued: "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 enthused.
"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.
"Very much a left-handed letter, very, very collectible really. The sheep interest can only add to it", he remarked.
It was then time for the valuation as Haley predicted: "At auction, I would see it making certainly in excess of £5,000."
The owner was visibly surprised by the estimate, responding with an excited "Wowza's!"
Following through with the jovial mood, Haley cracked a pun, cheekily stating: "Not much of a baa-gain", complete with a sheep sound effect.
Although the audience booed his joke, the guest chuckled, replying: "Low blow."
A slight awkward silence befell as the laughter tapered off, before Haley gracefully thanked the guest for presenting the historic letter.
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