Showbiz

Antiques Roadshow expert reveals unusual connection to rare trophy worth five figure sum

Antiques Roadshow expert reveals unusual connection to rare trophy worth five figure sum

An antiques roadshow expert has revealed an unusual connection to a rare trophy worth £75,000.

During an instalment of the show, which was posted on the BBC socials on Thursday, expert John Baddley met a guest with an array of impressive items from a former Wimbledon champion.

Referring to the man in a framed pH๏τograph as Norman Brooks, also known as ‘the father of Australian tennis’, John questioned how he knew him. 

The guest explained: ‘He’s my grandfather. In his tennis career, he won many, many events but he won Wimbledon in 1907, being the first foreigner to win Wimbledon which was considered a mammoth effort because the British weren’t going to let it go easily.’

Brooks had also won the international compeтιтion either as he took the trophy home for a second time in 1914.

From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail’s showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 

An antiques roadshow expert has revealed an unusual connection to a rare trophy worth £75,000 (John left and guest right)

An antiques roadshow expert has revealed an unusual connection to a rare trophy worth £75,000 (John left and guest right)

During a previous instalment of the BBC show, expert John Baddley met a guest with an array of impressive items from a former Wimbledon champion Norman Brooks (pictured)

During a previous instalment of the BBC show, expert John Baddley met a guest with an array of impressive items from a former Wimbledon champion Norman Brooks (pictured)

He continued: ‘We believe this trophy and the 1914 are the only full size replicas in existence.

‘Other than that, everyone else has only got miniatures.

‘I think that was borne out due to the fact they never expected to lose in 1907, so they just made another one, as it were.

‘Then from there to 1914, there was no one outside Britain that won it.

‘Even Tony Wilding, who was a New Zealander, he lived in Britain, right? So he got a miniature.

‘But grandfather got, we believe, the only two full sized replicas and even when we inquired at Wimbledon, they didn’t even know.’

John commented: ‘Which makes it exceptional, because I have to say, when I initially saw it, I just thought ‘Well somebody’s stolen it, [and] bought it over here. But exceptionally rare. Yes.’

When asked if his grandfather won the 1907 doubles as well, the guest replied: ‘Yes, he won the doubles in 1907 which was the maiden year as they say, from the point of view that he was the first man to win it but he won the singles and the doubles, which was quite staggering really.’

The guest explained: 'He's my grandfather. In his tennis career, he won many, many events but he won Wimbledon in 1907, being the first foreigner to win Wimbledon which was considered a mammoth effort because the British weren't going to let it go easily'

The guest explained: ‘He’s my grandfather. In his tennis career, he won many, many events but he won Wimbledon in 1907, being the first foreigner to win Wimbledon which was considered a mammoth effort because the British weren’t going to let it go easily’

Brooks had also won the international compeтιтion either as he took the trophy home for a second time in 1914

Brooks had also won the international compeтιтion either as he took the trophy home for a second time in 1914

Examining a weathered racket, the expert asked if it was the one used in any championships, to which the guest could not confirm. 'But certainly used by him, it's probably £5,000 or £2,000,' John said

Examining a weathered racket, the expert asked if it was the one used in any championships, to which the guest could not confirm. ‘But certainly used by him, it’s probably £5,000 or £2,000,’ John said

John then turned to his expertise to the valuation as he explained: ‘Purely in financial terms, I would have thought the doubles jug is going to be worth, to a collector, let’s put it that way, well in excess of £20,000 or £8,000.’

Examining a weathered racket, the expert asked if it was the one used in any championships, to which the guest could not confirm. 

‘But certainly used by him, it’s probably £5,000 or £2,000,’ John said.

The expert then moved his attention onto the main piece, the iconic Wimbledon trophy replica.

He said: ‘But what’s this worth? I mean, only one other replica known, which you also own, and obviously the original is at Wimbledon, but a mᴀssively important trophy to tennis enthusiasts.

‘It’s difficult to come up with a price but I think at auction, you’re talking about a figure well in excess of £75,000 or £30,000. So a fantastic piece.’

However, the guest, who appeared on the show in 2006, didn’t react to the mᴀssive sum, simply replying: ‘I believe grandfather believed these belong to Australia, not an individual.’

In an unexpected turn, the expert revealed his own personal line to the trophy, explaining: 'I also have a personal interest in this, because, I don't know if you have noticed but, if I can pick it up here, on the side there is 1893. W Bradley, Wilfrey Bradley

In an unexpected turn, the expert revealed his own personal line to the trophy, explaining: ‘I also have a personal interest in this, because, I don’t know if you have noticed but, if I can pick it up here, on the side there is 1893. W Bradley, Wilfrey Bradley

John then joked: 'So I hope you don't mind if I give it a quick kiss', and proceeded to peck the trophy before lifting it above his head

John then joked: ‘So I hope you don’t mind if I give it a quick kiss’, and proceeded to peck the trophy before lifting it above his head

John then suggested the guest donate it to a sporting museum, which the owner agreed it was something he would like to do.

Read More Antiques Roadshow guest floored by whopping value of ‘grotty’ item abandoned in garage for 20 years article image

But in an unexpected turn, the expert revealed his own personal line to the trophy, explaining: ‘I also have a personal interest in this, because, I don’t know if you have noticed but, if I can pick it up here, on the side there is 1893. W Bradley, Wilfrey Bradley.

‘Well my name’s John Badley. And he’s a distant relation of mine’, he disclosed as the guest remarked: ‘How wonderful’.

John then joked: ‘So I hope you don’t mind if I give it a quick kiss’, and proceeded to peck the trophy.

He then held the trophy over his head before declaring: ‘And then I do the classic’, to the applause of those watching.

‘That’s wonderful Jon’, the guest beamed, as John added: ‘I’ll take it with me now’, feigning a theft of the prestigious trophy, much to the crowd’s delight.

Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Related Posts

Love Island’s Grace Jackson reveals the secret to getting runway ready as the ʙικιɴι-clad star stuns at Miami Swim Week

Love Island’s Grace Jackson reveals the secret to getting runway ready as the ʙικιɴι-clad star stuns at Miami Swim Week

Grace Jackson has revealed the secrets behind getting runway ready after making her debut at Miami Swim Week 2025. The blonde bombshell, 26, oozed confidence while walking the runway…

Ricky Gervais, 63, shares his health fears as he discusses getting older and admits he always thinks he is ‘dying’ after Googling his symptoms

Ricky Gervais, 63, shares his health fears as he discusses getting older and admits he always thinks he is ‘dying’ after Googling his symptoms

Ricky Gervais has shared his health fears and admitted how Googling his symptoms has left him thinking he is ‘dying’. The comedian, 63, candidly discussed getting older and…

Helen Flanagan stuns in a busty pink dress as she shows off her gifted outfit – after ‘broke’ star admitted she’s lost her £3.5m fortune

Helen Flanagan stuns in a busty pink dress as she shows off her gifted outfit – after ‘broke’ star admitted she’s lost her £3.5m fortune

Helen Flanagan looked sensational as she took to Instagram on Saturday with a sizzling new post. The 34-year-old ‘broke’ soap star, who recently admitted to losing her £3.5 million…

ITV share Olivia Attwood’s hilarious unseen X-rated Love Island audition clip – eight years after she finished third place with Chris Hughes

ITV share Olivia Attwood’s hilarious unseen X-rated Love Island audition clip – eight years after she finished third place with Chris Hughes

ITV has shared Olivia Attwood’s unseen X-rated Love Island audition clip to their Instagram page this Saturday. Olivia, 34, originally appeared on the third series of Love Island…

Kate Hudson cuts a stylish figure in a brown midi dress as she joins glamorous Mindy Kaling and Brenda Song on the Emmy FYC red carpet for Running Point in LA

Kate Hudson cuts a stylish figure in a brown midi dress as she joins glamorous Mindy Kaling and Brenda Song on the Emmy FYC red carpet for Running Point in LA

Kate Hudson, Mindy Kaling and Brenda Song were dressed to impress as they attended the official Emmy FYC red carpet event for their series Running Point in El Segundo, California on Friday. American actress…

Desperate Housewives and Young Sheldon star Valerie Mahaffey dies aged 71

Desperate Housewives and Young Sheldon star Valerie Mahaffey dies aged 71

Desperate Housewives and Young Sheldon star Valerie Mahaffey has died at the age of 71.  The actress had been diagnosed with cancer and died in Los Angeles on Friday,…