{"id":242223,"date":"2023-11-26T17:48:08","date_gmt":"2023-11-26T17:48:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lovemainstream.com\/?p=242223"},"modified":"2023-11-26T17:48:08","modified_gmt":"2023-11-26T17:48:08","slug":"where-antiques-roadshow-hosts-are-now-from-health-battles-to-tragic-deaths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lovemainstream.com\/tv-and-movies\/where-antiques-roadshow-hosts-are-now-from-health-battles-to-tragic-deaths\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Antiques Roadshow hosts are now – from health battles to tragic deaths"},"content":{"rendered":"

Antiques Roadshow has not only amazed BBC viewers with the value of items over the years, it's also seen a string of celebrity hosts.<\/p>\n

Stars like Michael Aspel, Question Time's Fiona Bruce and this year's Strictly Come Dancing star Angela Rippon have all led the famous show in the past four decaades, but where are they now?<\/p>\n

From hosting some of the UK's most popular TV shows to appearing on Morecambe and Wise and winning Rear Of The Year, the Antiques Roadshow hosts have had interesting lives.<\/p>\n

Here, OK! takes a look at what's happened to the popular TV show's famous hosts…<\/b><\/p>\n

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Bruce Parker<\/h2>\n

Bruce Parker, 82, was one of the original presenters of Antiques Roadshow, hosting the programme in 1979 alongside Angela Rippon and Arthur Negus.<\/p>\n

Before leading the show, he already had a successful career with the BBC, having helped launch several BBC local radio stations during the Sixties.<\/p>\n

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He then joined BBC South in Southampton, before presenting South Today for more than 35 years. After that, he became a familiar face on several programmes including Nationwide, Songs of Praise and as the voice of The Week's Antiques on BBC Radio 4, among others.<\/p>\n

Between 1992 and 2002, he was also BBC South's political editor and, before retiring in 2003, he was a member of the House of Commons press gallery.<\/p>\n

Away from the limelight, Bruce was married twice first to wife Anne before their divorce in 1984, and then to wife Suzanne. He also has three children called James, Sarah and Charlie. Charlie followed in Bruce's footsteps to become a cameraman for the BBC and filmed his father's last broadcast in 2003.<\/p>\n

However, Bruce suffered a devastating loss when son Charlie died in 2009 at the age of 34 years old. Paying tribute to his son, Bruce told The Southern Daily Echo: "He was lovely, we adored him. He always had an impish smile and he lived life to the full."<\/p>\n

Angela Rippon<\/h2>\n

Angela Rippon CBE hosted Antiques Roadshow in 1979 but she was already a huge star long before she joined the programme.<\/p>\n

She was a regular presenter on BBC's Nine O' Clock news from 1975, before presenting the first two series of Top Gear and hosting The Big Breakfast, becoming a TV icon in the process.<\/p>\n

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Angela famously showed off her dancing skills during a routine with comedy legends Morecambe and Wise. She told The Daily Mail: "It was such fun to do the Morecambe And Wise Christmas Special," and added: "Even though the two of them were huge stars, they made you feel like you were doing them a huge favour being on their programme." <\/p>\n

In the famous sketch, Angela starts by reading the news, before viewers saw her take to the stage for the routine. It also featured a funny Eric Morecambe shouting "Pina!" loudly while making a Pina Colada.<\/p>\n

She even did the routine again on Strictly Come Dancing in 2011, much to the delight of viewers. And this year the 79 year old TV veteran took part in the show as a contestant, partnered with Kai Widdrington, and sadly being the eight celebrity to be voted off earlier this month.<\/p>\n

Over 56 years since she first joined the BBC in 1966 as part of BBC South West, Angela continues to host BBC programme Rip Off Britain with Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville. Away from our screens, she was married to engineer Christopher Dare from 1967 to 1989.<\/p>\n

Arthur Negus<\/h2>\n

Arthur Negus continued to host Antiques Roadshow after Bruce Parker and Angela Rippon left the programme, remaining on the series between 1979 to 1983. He first became famous on the TV series Going For A Song, where he was regularly seen appraising antiques.<\/p>\n

Arthur also appeared on shows like The Generation Game and Arthur Negus Enjoys, and even starred in some sketches for Monty Python's Election Night Special in 1970. With such an impressive career, it's no wonder he was awarded an OBE in 1982.<\/p>\n

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Arthur was married to Irene Hollett and they had a daughter named Ann. Sadly, Arthur passed away on April 5, 1985, at the age of 82.<\/p>\n

Hugh Scully<\/h2>\n

Hugh Scully, known for hosting popular BBC programmes like Watchdog and Antiques Roadshow, started his career as a freelance journalist for the BBC in 1963. He was discovered by a producer who noticed his love for antiques, leading him to become the first and longest-serving host of Antiques Roadshow from 1981 to 2000.<\/p>\n

Hugh was married to Barbara Dean for over 43 years, with whom he had two children. Unfortunately, Barbara passed away in 2009 and Hugh died six years later at his home in Cornwall on October 8, 2015, at the age of 72. His Nationwide co-presenter Sue Lawley paid tribute to him, describing him as "a great talent" and "fun loving."<\/p>\n

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Henry Sandon, who worked with Scully on Antiques Roadshow, said he had an "immense ability to drink wine" and was "always happy, jolly and wonderful". He added: "I shall never forget the chap, he was ever so marvellous."<\/p>\n

Michael Aspel<\/h2>\n

Broadcasting legend Michael Aspel, 90, presented Antiques Roadshow between 2000 and 2007, after a stellar career that spanned both TV and radio. After launching his journalism career with BBC Radio Cardiff, he presented a number of TV programmes including Come Dancing, Crackerjack, Ask Aspel, Miss World and even provided the commentary for The Eurovision Song Contest in 1969 and 1976.<\/p>\n

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Like Antiques Roadshow predecessor Angela Rippon, Michael showed off his theatrical talents by performing on The Morecambe and Wise show, where he and fellow news presenters were dressed as sailors singing There Ain't Nothing Like A Dame. <\/p>\n

Along with hosting talk show Aspel and Company, This Is Your Life, Strange But True, Blockbusters and playing the role of the narrator in The Rocky Horror Show, it is no surprise that he was awarded an OBE for his services to broadcasting in 1993.<\/p>\n

In his personal life, Michael has seven children and has been married three times first to Dian Sessions from 1957 to 1961 and then to Ann Reed from 1962 to 1967. He later married EastEnders Christine Hewitt actress Elizabeth Power in 1977 before they separated in 1994. <\/p>\n

Michael has been in a relationship with This is Your Life producer Irene Clarke since 1994, and he has seven children. The star has spoken openly about being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2004, which he continues to live with. He told the BBC at the time: "Thankfully it's low-grade cancer. The strange thing about it is you don't feel unwell."<\/p>\n

"Without that check-up I may not have found out about it at all because there are no symptoms," he added.<\/p>\n

Fiona Bruce<\/h2>\n

Fiona Bruce has hosted Antiques Roadshow since 2008, after beginning her career as an assistant producer on TV series Panorama. From there she became a journalist for BBC South East, before presenting BBC Breakfast News and the BBC Six O'Clock news during the nineties.<\/p>\n

Along with Antiques Roadshow, 59 year old Fiona has presented a number of TV series including Crimewatch, The Money Programme, Fake or Fortune, The Queen's Palaces and performed All That Jazz on Children In Need.<\/p>\n

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In 2010 she was presented with Rear Of The Year alongside Hollyoaks actor Ricky Whittle, with Fiona saying during her acceptance speech: "This award has caused some hilarity among family, friends, and colleagues, as you might imagine." <\/p>\n

Fiona Bruce, the host of BBC's Question Time, shared with The Radio Times: "What I tell them, when they've picked themselves up off the floor, is that if someone had told me I'd been nominated for this 20 years ago, I'd have poked them in the eye. Now I'm just flattered anyone's still looking." She described her current role as "the most challenging job I've ever done", according to Daily Express.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, Fiona welcomed Queen Camilla \u2013 then Queen Consort \u2013 to the show to have her own treasures valued at the Eden Project in Cornwall.<\/p>\n

* This article was crafted with the help of an AI engine, which speeds up OK!'s editorial research and applies it to article templates created by journalists in our newsrooms. An OK! editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to okletters@reachplc.com<\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n