BBC Antiques Roadshow expert's 'heart skips a beat' over rare item

An Antiques Roadshowexpert confessed that his "my knees were shaking" upon seeing a rare 18th-century microscope during the show's visit to Hill of Tarvit in Fife.

Expert Mark Hillcouldn't contain his excitement, admitting: "When I saw this box coming down the queue, I was sitting down but my knees started to shake, because I know what's in this box."

Upon closer inspection, he marvelled: "What a beauty."

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The guest revealed that the microscope was a family heirloom, passed down to her due to her career in science.

"It's older than I thought it was, it was my grandparents' and they left it to me," she disclosed.

"My grandparents had it for longer than my mum was alive, I don't really know the story behind it," reports the Express.

Mark then delved into the history of the microscope, praising: "It's a wonderful instrument, it really makes my heart skip a beat."

He queried the guest: "You work in a laboratory, have you ever tried using it?"

"I have not," she confessed, adding: "I've been a big chicken, afraid to do any damage do it.

"But I do use a microscope at least once a month at work. Maybe I will give it a work."

Offering a valuation, Mark shared: "This is a bit of a living room decoration, it's a cureo in your house, connected to your career.

"It's also £1,200 to £1,800."

"It's more than I expected," the guest replied.

Antiques Roadshow airs Sundays at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.