BBC Bargain Hunt's Eric Knowles' life off-screen including tragic loss

Eric Knowles has established himself as a familiar face in the antiques sphere, with a genuine love for ceramics that's impossible to miss. The television personality initially rose to prominence on Antiques Roadshow during the 1980s, before securing spots on Bargain Hunt, 20th Century Roadshow and Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.

Hailing from Nelson in Lancashire, Eric's journey into antiques began well before his television breakthrough. In 1976, he started at London auction house Bonhams as a porter in their ceramics section and swiftly climbed the ladder to become department head by 1981.

However, his fascination with antiques wasn't always there, and it was an unexpected redundancy in the 1970s that ignited his passion for the field. He credits his career path to being "largely a matter of fate and circumstance" after losing his engineering position in Lancashire.

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Following this significant career transformation, he progressed through the ranks at Bonhams Auction House's ceramics division, before moving to Dreweatts and Bloomsbury in 2013, and subsequently accepting the executive chairman position at The Hoard in 2019.

He explained: "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", reports the Liverpool Echo.

When he first dipped his toes into the world of television back in the 1980s, Eric had no inkling that BBC's Antiques Roadshow would become such an enduring hit. Reflecting on his early days, 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 in front of the camera opened doors to other daytime TV gigs like 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 helped the red and blue teams try to turn a profit from their antique purchases.

Outside of his professional life, Eric enjoys family time with his wife Anita and their two sons, Seb and Oliver. However, tragedy struck when Seb was involved in a fatal 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.

Seb, who was a DJ, received an outpouring of touching tributes following his untimely death. 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 for their joint venture, Eric Knowles Antiquarian Services Limited. The pair reside in their Buckinghamshire abode.

The telly personality devotes time to backing a variety of charities such as Headway, FABLE (For a better life with epilepsy), the New Mozart Orchestra, and Wycombe Scanappeal. He also holds the title of Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and acts as an Ambassador for the Prince's Trust.