ANTIQUES Roadshow viewers were shocked when they tuned into the programme on Sunday night to find no antiques, and certainly no roadshow.
The BBC programme regularly follows experts as they travel across the UK to appraise antiques.
Sometimes families find out that an old object they’ve tucked away for years is worth thousands of pounds, while other times, they receive the disappointing news that it’s nothing but a momento.
However, in a shake up this Sunday, Antiques Roadshow aired a special episode about British nurses.
It saw the team head out to two historic hospitals in London where they met nurses and heard stories about what it has been like working for the NHS over the past 75 years.
Viewers were left annoyed by the change of topic, complaining that they watch the show to see antiques valuated, not to hear the history of British healthcare.
One person hit out: “No valuations…oh come on, that’s not fair, nursing or not!”
Another questioned: “But where are the antiques?”
A third sarcastically quipped: “Remember when Antiques Roadshow was an antiques programme and Countryfile was about the countryside? Heady days.”
One fan took a gentler approach, asking: “Great subject, amazing women and stories but has it got anything to do with antiques?”
Fiona Bruce was almost moved to tears during the special when she was showed a vintage photo of wartime nurse Edith Cavell, who was executed by firing squad.
The Germans shot her to death during World War I, despite the fact that she helped to cure wounded soldiers on both sides during the conflict.
In a letter read out by one of her relatives, she wrote: “I was always very strict and I loved you more than you’ll ever know.”
Meanwhile militia expert Mark Smith met up with a naval nurse who travelled to the Falklands to treat wounded troops.
