I found an old cigar in my attic – it turned out to be worth thousands thanks to its legendary owner
A GUEST on last night’s episode of Antiques Roadshow was stunned to learn an old cigar was worth thousands thanks to its previous owner.
Last night’s episode of the BBC antiques show took viewers to Crystal Palace Park in London, where a guest revealed she had an old cigar belonging to former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Appearing on Sunday’s episode of Antiques Roadshow, a guest met with expert Mark Smith to have her late French father-in-law Second World War medals valued.
However, she lacked the proper certification for the medals and was disappointed to learn they were only worth £120.
But she also had another important piece of WWII memorabilia to showcase. Hidden away in a tube was a cigar of important historical significance.
“As you can see, it’s addressed to Morris [her father-in-law] from Mr Churchill,” the guest explained before removing the cigar from the tube.
Showing further proof that the cigar her grandsons found in the attic did, in fact, belong to Churchill, the guest revealed a newspaper clipping that was stored with it. It explained that when he met a group of French soldiers, “Churchill called for Champagne and gave each member of the delegation one of his famous cigars.”
Mark was absolutely stunned at reading it. “You actually have one of [Churchill’s] cigars. Isn’t this fantastic!” he said.
Having such a legendary owner skyrocketed the value of the cigar, which Mark then revealed is worth £2,000.
The valuation left the owner astonished. She gasped: “No, really?
“Because it’s supported by the newspaper article?” she asked.
“And because [Churchill’s] cigars are so iconic and people just want to own one of them,” Mark added.
Churchill was synonymous with cigars and famously said: “I drink a great deal. I sleep a little, and I smoke cigar after cigar. That is why I am in two-hundred-percent form.”
Antiques Roadshow continues on Sunday October 22 at 8pm on BBC One.