Bargain Hunt tragedies - death just hours after show to Eric Knowles' heartbreaking loss

Bargain Hunt has been on our screens for 25 years, and while it may follow teams tensely competing to secure the best antique deals, it is widely regarded as one of the more comforting shows on television. Since its inception, it has been hosted by a range of different presenters, including David Dickinson and Tim Wonnacott during the show's early days, and, more recently, Christina Trevanian, Eric Knowles, Danny Sebastian, Roo Irvine, and Natasha Raskin Sharp.

While we may be used to watching them talk about antiques on our TV, off-screen, some of them have experienced dramas, tragedies, and heartbreaking experiences that many people aren't aware of. Let's take a look back at some of the show's saddest moments...

Seller's death

In March this year, the news broke that Stuart Withers, an antiques seller featured on the show, had died just after filming a new episode. The official Bargain Hunt social media account announced: "Following the filming of today's episode in Shepton Mallet, antiques seller Stuart Withers very sadly passed away."

Stuart's cause of death was not disclosed, but the program sent its "sincerest sympathies and condolences" to his family and friends.

Family tragedy

Presenter Eric Knowles, who is also an antiquarian with a special interest in glass and ceramics, experienced a heartbreaking loss more than 10 years ago. Eric, who is married to Anita, has two sons, Seb and Oliver. However, in May 2015, Seb was killed in a road accident in Buckinghamshire.

Seb, a DJ, was 26 at the time of his death. Following the news, the National Association of Disc Jockeys wrote online: "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."

Jail sentence

Another of the show's presenters, Danny Sebastian, had a tough time as a child after his father's death. Danny's dad was killed in a fire caused by a gas heater in his shed when Danny was just 14, and the presenter took his passing "very hard".

He said that after the death, he went "completely off the rails", telling the Lancashire Telegraph: "I was very very angry with the world and my dad wasn't around to discipline me." Danny began stealing clothes before venturing into robbery and violence, and was eventually handed a four-year prison sentence.

He explained: "Prison sorted me out. It was a blessing in a way, although I hated it." His advice to young boys is to avoid violence, saying: "No matter what the situation, don't put yourself in that predicament."