Antiques Roadshow expert stunned as item found in loft belongs to icon

A guest on Antiques Roadshow left expert Mark Smith astounded with an "iconic" item her grandchildren had discovered in her attic. The expert was taken aback when the guest revealed the original owner of the item. Fiona Bruce presented another episode of the beloved BBC show on Sunday night. The latest instalment took place at an Antiques Roadshow in Crystal Palace park, where a new group of guests arrived to have their cherished items appraised.

Expert Mark Smith was overjoyed when he was shown a box a guest had unearthed in her attic. The guest explained that she had found a box of medals that belonged to her late father-in-law, who served during World War Two. In addition to the remarkable collection of French medals, the guest also discovered a small tube. She explained: "My two grandsons were up in my loft and they found a small old box.

"They came down very excited to say, not only had they found three medals in the box but they'd found this tube, which as you can see is addressed to Monsieur Poulet, and it says to Maurice from Mr Churchill."

The guest went on: "We slid the contents out carefully, and there inside, we found this cigar. Then another of my grandsons ran down to say he had found a newspaper article in the same box."

Mark was delighted to learn the cigar had once belonged to former Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill. He served as leader of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and 1951 to 1955.

The expert left the guest stunned on valuation when he said: "So you actually have one of Mr Churchill's cigars, isn't it fantastic. Well, the cigar is worth £2,000."

The owner was taken aback by the appraisal and exclaimed: "No, oh my goodness, really?"

Expert Mark then weighed in on the fascination with such items, noting: "His cigars are so iconic and people just want to own one of them."

Winston Churchill's penchant for cigars has cemented them as a piece of historical memorabilia, with the term "Churchill" having become a cigar size in his honour.

The historical heavyweight's image is inseparable from his trademark cigar habit, observed at pivotal moments throughout history, meaning demand for his cigars is incredibly high, particularly in auctions.