Antiques Roadshow pundit Marc Allum launched his new book, The Antiques Magpie, last night at Philip Mould & Co in Mayfair.
Allum has been an expert on the roadshow since 1998 and has got used to breaking bad news to those hoping they had struck gold. “Working at the BBC is like being in the diplomatic service, so I’m good at letting people down gently,” he said.
He was joined at the launch in the gallery by another neglected treasure, former Blue Peter presenter Valerie Singleton. “I met Marc when I was trying to sell a small teapot,” she recalled. “I took it to Christie’s and they said it wouldn’t sell for much but Marc managed to sell it for a lot more!”
We’re unlikely to see Singleton as an auction regular, however. “I’ve done courses in the past but I’ve forgotten it all,” she admitted.
