June 17th 2024.
In a recent interview, former host of Antiques Roadshow, Michael Aspel, shared his thoughts on his departure from the popular BBC program. Aspel, who began his television career hosting other shows such as Come Dancing and Ask Aspel, joined Antiques Roadshow in 2000 and left in 2008, making way for Fiona Bruce to take over.
Looking back on his exit, the 91-year-old admitted that he "fell on [his] sword" because he knew the show's producers wanted him to leave. He found it ironic that he was being eased out of a show about antiques due to his age. Aspel also revealed that he still misses certain aspects of the long-running program, such as the opportunity to travel to different locations. He fondly recalls arriving in new places and thinking, "I'd like to live here," only to have the same thought at the next destination.
In the same interview with RadioTimes, Angela Rippon, known for her stint on Strictly Come Dancing, also shared her experience as a former host of Antiques Roadshow. Rippon, who joined the show in 1979 and left in 1983, went on to have a successful career at TV-am, which she co-founded and presented. She expressed her love for the show, describing it as a way to "reach back into the past" through people's stories and their treasured objects.
Both Aspel and Rippon noted that the types of items brought onto the show have changed over the years. Aspel mentioned that since he left, people have been bringing in items from the 1970s, which for him feels like just a few days ago. He even shared that some items included autographs from people he had met during his career, including Elizabeth Taylor, whom he once won a kiss from.
Aspel had previously addressed his decision to leave the show, stating that he wanted to do so "while it's still going well." At the time, Antiques Roadshow was celebrating its 30th anniversary, while Aspel was marking his 50th year in broadcasting. He explained that it felt like a "neat tie-up" to leave at that time. Despite some reservations and attempts to persuade him to stay, Aspel ultimately followed his own instincts and left the show. He reassured fans that he still had plenty of energy and hoped to continue working in the future.
Aspel's departure was a significant moment for the show, as he had been its host for eight years. He had presented a total of 200 shows and traveled over 200,000 miles during his time on Antiques Roadshow. His decision to leave was entirely his own, and there was never any mention of his age being a factor. The show continues to be a hit, and episodes can be streamed on BBC iPlayer.
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