Theo Burrell, a British antiques expert and auctioneer best known for appearing on the BBC series Antiques Roadshow, has died at age 39.
Burrell died after a years-long battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, her family confirmed. She became known to TV viewers for using her antiques expertise to examine and value historic items on the popular BBC program.
Her death was confirmed via her Instagram account post on July 12. It stated, “It is with great sadness that I share the news that Theo passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday afternoon. Neither she nor her medical team foresaw this happening quite so quickly.
She was an incredible person who fought hard for her family, friends and raising awareness of this cruel disease.
She saw life events like her son’s first day at school and her wedding that a little over 4 years ago we thought she’d never see.
The cancer community provided so much comfort and strength to her in her darkest moments. But most of all it provided hope and I think what she would want most of all is for other people to find hope in her story.
Hope that the statistics aren’t gospel and that one day they’ll be very different. “
Burrell married her longtime partner, Alex, in March, surrounded by close family and friends. She shared news of their wedding in April, just months before her death.
After being diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2022, Burrell openly documented her cancer journey and worked to raise awareness and support research into the aggressive brain disease.
In June, she marked four years since her diagnosis and reflected on how the illness had affected her physical and mental health. Doctors initially told her that patients with glioblastoma typically live 12 to 18 months, leaving her fearful she would miss major moments in her young son’s life. However, Burrell said she felt grateful to see him start school.
She underwent a second brain surgery in January and later experienced side effects, including partial loss of her peripheral vision. Despite facing more scans and an uncertain future, Burrell remained determined to keep fighting.
She also regularly offered words of encouragement to others living with brain cancer, reminding them they were not alone and describing every new day as a small victory against the disease.
According to the BBC, Burrell was a ceramics and glass expert who worked with Lyon & Turnbull auctioneers in Edinburgh. She joined Antiques Roadshow in 2018 as one of the show’s specialists, helping examine and value treasured items brought in by members of the public.
