Two veteran experts from the BBC’s “Antiques Roadshow” are taking their stories from the valuation table to the stage, with Hilary Kay and Paul Atterbury announcing an Australian tour in February and March 2027.
The pair will present “Treasures & Tales From The Roadshow”, a live show exploring the discoveries, unexpected encounters and production challenges behind the long-running television series. The tour opens in Caloundra on February 16th and concludes in Newcastle on March 7th, with dates across Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT and Victoria.
Kay is the program’s longest-serving specialist, having spent 48 years with the show, while Atterbury has been part of the team for 36 years.
The Australian visit comes as the production marks 50 years since its first pilot was recorded in 1977.
Although “Antiques Roadshow” is best-known for unexpected valuations, the Australian theatre event will focus on the work viewers never see. According to the production, its team can examine up to 10,000 items at a single filming location, with around 60 selected for broadcast.
“The finished program that reaches the screen is really just the tip of the iceberg,” Kay said. “An immense amount of work, drama, and excitement happens beneath the surface. Paul and I are looking forward to giving Australian audiences a firsthand look at what lies beneath.”
Alongside behind-the-scenes accounts, Kay and Atterbury will share their favourite discoveries, memorable encounters and rare clips, including some that never made it to air.
The show also features an audience challenge testing knowledge of antiques and collectables, although attendees will not be able to have their own possessions valued.
Kay said the series has endured because the objects often become a starting point for deeply personal stories.
“It’s got everything. All of human life is here; it’s a window into intimate, personal revelations inspired by an object and our shared enthusiasm for it,” she said. “The secret is we share a conversation with a level of intimacy you don’t often find on TV. They feel like they’re talking to a friend.”
Atterbury said he was looking forward to returning to Australia, citing local audiences’ enthusiasm for history and collectables.
“Australian audiences have always shown such a wonderful passion for history and collectables,” he said. “It is an absolute privilege to retune and share some of the great joys, hidden secrets, and untold stories behind the Roadshow.”
“Antiques Roadshow” has aired on ABC television for over three decades. The Australian tour includes stops in Noosa, Brisbane, Canberra, Chatswood, Bendigo, Geelong and Newcastle, among others. Tickets and more information can be found here.