BBC Bargain Hunt Eric Knowles' heartbreak over son's tragic death and life off screen

Eric Knowles has established himself as a recognisable figure in the antiques realm with an unmistakable enthusiasm for ceramics. The television personality initially rose to fame on BBC's Antiques Roadshow during the 1980s, subsequently securing presenting roles on Bargain Hunt, 20th Century Roadshow and Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.

Hailing from Nelson in Lancashire, Knowles' antiquarian journey commenced well before his television fame. He entered the London auction house Bonhams as a porter within the ceramics section in 1976, rapidly ascending through the hierarchy to become departmental head by 1981.

However, his fascination with antiques wasn't always present, and it was an unwelcome redundancy during the 1970s that ignited his passion for the field. He credits his professional path to being "largely a matter of fate and circumstance" following his dismissal from an engineering position in Lancashire.

Following a dramatic career transformation, he progressed through the ranks at Bonhams Auction House's ceramics division, before moving to Dreweatts and Bloomsbury in 2013, and subsequently assuming the position of executive chairman at The Hoard in 2019, reports Liverpool Echo.

He revealed: "My career in antiques was largely a matter of fate and circumstance that saw my interest in history and architecture lead me out of redundancy with an engineering company up in my native Lancashire to a job in London as a porter at Bonhams auction house. I was to stay with the company for the next 32 years. Working for an auction house guarantees that no two days are ever the same."

When Eric first dipped his toes into the world of television in the 1980s, he could hardly fathom the enduring appeal of BBC's Antiques Roadshow. He remarked: "When I started doing it I thought this could run for two to three years. I never thought it would be for 27 years. It is a formula that seems to work. It is always the BBC's most popular factual programme."

His natural flair for presenting led to stints on other daytime TV favourites such as Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is and 20th Century Roadshow. Eric even took on the role of guest presenter on Bargain Hunt, where he steered the red and blue teams in their quest to turn a profit from their antique purchases.

Beyond the world of antiques, Eric enjoys family life with his wife Anita and their two sons, Seb and Oliver. However, tragedy struck when Seb was tragically killed in a road accident on the M40 in Buckinghamshire in May 2015.

At just 26-years-old, Seb's life was cut short after his vehicle collided with a lorry on the motorway.

Seb, who was a DJ, was mourned by many, with an outpouring of touching tributes. The National Association of Disc Jockeys (NADJ) posted on Facebook: "All of us at NADJ would like to send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Seb Knowles (DJ Sparky B) who tragically died earlier today."

They added: "It's always a tragedy when someone is taken so young. He was a talented DJ who will be missed by all who knew him."

Eric's spouse, Anita, serves as the company secretary in their joint venture, Eric Knowles Antiquarian Services Limited. The pair reside in their Buckinghamshire abode.

The television personality devotes time to support various charities including Headway, FABLE (For a better life with epilepsy), the New Mozart Orchestra, and Wycombe Scanappeal. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an Ambassador for the Prince's Trust.