Antiques Roadshow guest 'flips' as vase breaks on camera

A volunteer on has admitted to witnessing a costly accident on set that made one guest "flip". The BBC star posted in an online forum, giving fans of the show a chance to ask questions about what it was like behind the scenes. When asked about particular rules that volunteers have to be careful to follow while working on the programme, they shared that there is a very important one.

Volunteers are not allowed to touch any of the items guests bring in to be appraised, even if directly asked for help. The person explained that there have been accidents on set before, and it is not worth the risk.

They wrote: "There were several instance where owners dropped their objects, one woman dropped a vase that was valued at a couple grand... She flipped. We were told explicitly by the producers to not touch ANY of the guests' items, even if the owners were asking for assistance."

The American show helper also gave some insight into whether appraisers are allowed to snap up an especially interesting item themselves. The volunteer added: "The appraisers do not offer to buy items on the spot, because it would be totally unprofessional.

"They may express interest though. All the guests at the event are encouraged to pick up the appraisers' business cards, which are all set out on a huge table as the guests leave the event. Not all appraisers leave their cards though."

This comes after US Antiques Roadshow expert Gary Sohmers revealed the most expensive item he ever saw on the programme.

The quirky games collector shared: "On TV I appraised a collection of Charles Schulz art (Peanuts) for $450,000 [£339,200], but privately I have appraised collections in the millions."

He went on to explain that the guest he spoke to started collecting Peanuts comic strips for her son in the 90s. By the point Gary got to look at the collection in 2009, she had even accumulated pieces dating back to 1952.

At the time Gary said: " These are one-of-a-kind. What Charles Schulz would do is make a daily [comic strip], and then they'd make copies to send of to the syndicators, the newspapers that would be running them.

"And then, he would have the originals and give them away. And he gave most of them away." Despite hearing her collection valued at $450,000, the guest decided to hold on to her comics and keep collecting them with her son.