BBC Antiques Roadshow expert booed over joke after Lord Nelson letter valuation
Viewers couldn't help but laugh as an expert made a quirky sheep related joke which fell flat, sparking a chorus of boos from the audience.
The Antiques Roadshow audience couldn't help but burst into laughter and then a chrous of boos after expert Mathtew Haley's sheep related joke fell flat. The scene unfolded on the BBC show as Matthew assessed the value of a one-of-a-kind handwritten letter.
He began sharing its unusual story in a picturesque countryside setting. He 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 letter's owner delved into its history as reported by the Mirror: "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. Captain Bainton was the captain of HMS Leviathan at the Battle of Trafalgar, and Nelson gave him the sheep."
They added: "The sheep survived the Battle of Trafalgar, and when Captain Bainton returned to the UK, he gave the sheep and the letter to William Raymond, and this is the letter."
Reacting to the tale, the BBC expert said: "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 owner of the item elaborated: "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 expressed with enthusiasm. "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 observed.
When it came to the valuation, Haley anticipated: "At auction, I would see it making certainly in excess of £5,000."
The owner couldn't hide their astonishment at the valuation, exclaiming with a delighted "Wowza's!". Keeping up with the light-hearted atmosphere, the BBC expert delivered a pun, quipping: "Not much of a baa-gain", accompanied by an imitation of a sheep's bleat.
Despite the audience's groans at his jest, the guest laughed, retorting: "Low blow." A brief moment of silence followed as the chuckles died down, after which Haley courteously thanked the guest for bringing in the historical letter.
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