An expert on Antiques Roadshow failed to impress the crowd with a ‘low blow’ joke.
Matthew Haley was presented with an intriguing letter written by Lord Nelson about a sheep during an episode of the BBC show which first aired back in 2015 and was recently repeated.
The guest explained it was given to her step-father’s great-great-great grandfather who ‘was given the sheep by Captain Bainton’.
She added: ‘He was the captain of HMS Leviathan at the Battle of Trafalgar and Nelson gave Captain Bainton a sheep.’
The honourable sheep lived through 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,’ the guest revealed.
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Expert Matthew Haley (left) on Antiques Roadshow failed to impress the crowd with a ‘low blow’ joke
Matthew Haley was presented with an intriguing letter written by Lord Nelson about a sheep during an episode of the BBC show which aired back in 2015
The guest (pictured) explained it was given to her step-father’s great-great-great grandfather who ‘was given the sheep by Captain Bainton’
Matthew was taken aback by the letter and commented: ‘Absolutely bizarre. It certainly is the first Nelson that I’ve ever come across that talks about sheep.
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‘Here he is, writing from HMS Victory in June 1805, a few months before the Battle of Trafalgar,’ he commented.
The expert added: ‘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 which I can give you’.
‘And the sheep went on board and it went to the Battle of Trafalgar.’
Matthew explained how the Royal Navy would have farm animals on their boats to help feed the sailors.
He said: ‘It looks like the sheep was given some sort of award for its duty in Trafalgar.’
The guest replied: ‘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,’ Matthew commented.
After valuating the item to be worth thousands, Matthew then attempted to make a sheep joke and quipped: ‘Not much of a baa-gain.’
A ‘boo’ sound appeared to come from the surrounding crowd as well as a few laughs and the guest chuckled as she commented: ‘Low blow.’
He went on to reveal it was a written by Nelson with his left hand and was ‘very collectable’.
‘At auction, I would really see it making certainly in excess of £5,000,’ Matthew said.
The guest looked surprised and said: ‘Wowzers.’
Matthew then attempted to make a sheep joke and quipped: ‘Not much of a baa-gain.’
A ‘boo’ sound appeared to come from the surrounding crowd as well as a few laughs and the guest chuckled as she commented: ‘Low blow.’
Antiques Roadshow airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.