ANTIQUES Roadshow viewers were left in floods of tears as the latest episode commemorated the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
The special edition of the beloved BBC programme was filmed in Normandy, France and the D-Day Museum, Portsmouth.
Fiona Bruce, who has served as host since 2008, fronted the poignant episode and outlined a shake-up to the show’s format.
She explained: “We’ll be unfolding the events surrounding D-Day through various items and artefacts you’ve shared with us for this special commemoration.
“Given the very personal and moving nature of the items we’ll be seeing tonight, our experts won’t be giving valuations. To each owner, their item is priceless.”
That being said, the decision to not include any valuations didn’t appear to affect BBC viewers.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one wrote: “Astonishingly touching and beautifully produced #antiquesroadshow #dday.”
A second shared: “Well done @BBC for the extremely moving tales from D-Day on The Antiques Roadshow.”
Meanwhile, a third user added: “#antiquesRoadShow Gripping #DDay. My father landed in a glider.”
A fellow fan commented: “Amazing episode tonight”, while another echoed: “These wonderful people always make me well-up.”
“What a fantastic episode of #AntiquesRoadshow this is”, said a sixth viewer.
Fiona explained some of the history surrounding the momentous day and its unfolding events: “Operation Overlord saw an allied force of over 150,000 British, Canadian and American troops land in a combined naval, air and ground assault on Nazi-occupied France.
“From across the channel, the first troops stepped onto these shores on Tuesday 6th June 1944. A day that will be forever known as D-Day.”
BBC viewers saw one contributor discuss her father, who flew a Horsa glider for a special mission.
He was one of the pilots on the mission, and was expected to defend the bridges until reinforcements arrived once their gliders had landed.
She brought along a photographic map her father would have had with him to indicate where to land, along with a letter and a compass.
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The BBC guest added: “I can’t imagine how it must’ve been for him, as pilots they’re so exposed, but it meant a lot to my father to be part of a very important operation.”
Later, she explained her father had written a letter to her mother and brother the day before he set off.
Reading some of the words written by her father, she said: “Remember, when you do get this, be as proud as I feel myself being chosen to help launch this drive to free the world of all its terror and hardship. Everything will be ok, my love, as nothing can go wrong.”
Ultimately, the woman was very moved when reading the letter from her father as her voice started to wobble while speaking.
She said: “I feel incredibly proud and I feel very emotional that that’s my dad.”
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.