Antiques Roadshow's Fiona Bruce recalls brutal off-camera valuation too 'cruel' to air

Fiona has cut several awkward scenes from the BBC show (Image: BBC)

Fiona Bruce, the beloved presenter of BBC's Antiques Roadshow, recently shared a mortifying incident from the show that was deemed "too cruel" to broadcast. Despite her experience with hard-hitting programmes like Crimewatch and Question Time, this particular episode on Antiques Roadshow left her feeling empathetic toward the participant involved.

As she celebrated her 60th birthday, Daily Star unearthed this unaired moment which Fiona described as potentially "great television", but ultimately too harsh to share with viewers.

In an interview with The Guardian, Fiona recounted how a well-dressed man enthusiastically presented a glass bottle he had bought for £1,000 at an antique shop. However, the situation quickly became awkward when the show's glass expert examined the supposed 'antique'.

The expert informed the owner: "I'm afraid it's an empty olive oil bottle. Tesco, circa 2008. It's worth nothing at all." Although Fiona admitted the incident could have induced laughter among viewers, she felt it was too unkind to the man to air it.

In a recent interview, Fiona addressed a controversial episode in which a guest accidentally caused some unintended damage.

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Fiona Bruce famously clashed with Lord Alan Sugar (Image: BBC)

She remarked: "I suppose we could have broadcast it but it was just too cruel. The guy was devastated. There's a tiny bit of my brain that realises it would have made great television.

"But it's just not what the show's about. Poor chap, poor chap. The thing is, if you come on the Roadshow we are not about to humiliate you."

She also revealed that she's had some tense encounters, including a heated exchange with Lord Alan Sugar in 2009.

While filming a documentary series about his life, he commented that employers should have the right to inquire about an employee's family plans and childcare arrangements.

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Fiona reacted with indignation: "I cannot tell you how insulted I would be if my employers said to me, 'I just want to check what your childcare arrangements are'."

Alan suggested a response of "My childcare arrangements are perfect, they're fine" to which Fiona countered: "Well my answer would be, 'It's none of your business, actually'."

Recalling the heated exchange, Fiona later told Express.co.uk: "Alan Sugar letting rip in the confines of his private jet is quite something, I can tell you. I was asking him why women should have to declare their intentions to their employer about having children and he did get very angry I got the hairdryer treatment."

"But what you saw on the programme was only the tail end of the argument because the battery went on the camera when he was at his angriest. He probably wondered why we never used it and it is one of the biggest regrets that I have to this day."

Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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