Antiques Roadshow star Fiona Bruce has opened up on her thoughts of modernising the BBC series and thought it could be a good way forward.
The 59-year-old has seen thousands and thousands of guests come and go with their prized possessions and family heirlooms, in the hope to walk away with a staggering valuation.
Bruce was recently asked whether diversifying the viewership of the show would be a good idea, noting it would bring in a new demographic.
Speaking with Jane Garvey in their podcast, Fortunately… Fi and Jane, Bruce was asked: “Are you under any pressure to slightly modernise the categories?
“I know that sounds bizarre as it's called the Antiques Roadshow, but you know, all of that collectable stuff?”
Garvey went on to point out that a pair of rare Nike trainers from the 1980s or 1990s “could get you a couple of grand now.”
Fiona Bruce has been presenting Antiques Roadshow since 2008
BBC
She suggested that it could gain a “brand new audience” that the show had never been targeting before.
Bruce laughed at the suggestion and explained: “That could be the thing that takes us into a new demographic, new level, and the next thing I know it’ll be on BBC Three!”
Dampening her hopes, Garvey joked: “No, they can’t fit you in between a documentary about STDs and something about Stacey Dooley – it’s a remarkable channel.”
One thing that Bruce did note that confused her was that collectors and sellers felt compelled to purchase trainers in the wrong size, without intending to either wear them or sell them on.
Fiona Bruce laughed off the allegations of the show being modernised
GETTY
“To buy a pair that you can’t fit your feet into strikes me as total bonkers. The fact that [trainers] are a currency in their own right, I find that amazing.”
Their chat garnered some backlash from listeners, as one noted: “Why not start another programme for those that want to buy someone’s old trainers?
“AR has already gone too far. The best ones on there are Geoffrey Munn with the jewellery, and Andy McConnell with the glass.”
Another added: “How long before Paddy McGuinness is a presenter? I’ve had to edit all the best bits out.”
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Fiona spoke out about Antiques Roadshow being modernised
ITV
“If they try and add new categories like trainers or something like that, I’m out. Don’t mess with something so good as Antiques Roadshow,” one slightly annoyed viewers noted.
A fourth expressed: “Fiona is a funny one. She knows that it would never get to that, especially not with here there.”