TV Blackbox
One of the world’s most successful television formats could soon receive an Australian series, with the pilot episode of Antiques Roadshow Australia now available to watch on YouTube.
Released this week by BBC Studios ANZ and the BBC’s official Antiques Roadshow YouTube channel, the pilot has already attracted more than 45,000 views as viewers get their first look at a homegrown version of the iconic program.
Hosted by The Chase Australia quiz master Issa Schultz, the episode was filmed at the historic Norman Lindsay Gallery in the Blue Mountains in 2025 after BBC Studios called on Australians to bring along their treasured heirlooms, antiques and family keepsakes.
The original British series first aired in 1979 and has become one of the BBC’s longest-running television programs, with experts travelling the country to value antiques while uncovering the personal stories behind them.
The Australian pilot follows the same successful formula, with specialists assessing everything from jewellery and artwork to historical artefacts and collectibles.
Among the episode’s biggest discoveries are a possible Pablo Picasso drawing, a remarkable moonstone jewellery collection and a Chinese silk painting hidden during the Cultural Revolution, before culminating in a surprise valuation that leaves everyone stunned.
Schultz said he was thrilled to be part of the first Australian episode.
“I had the absolute pleasure of being part of the very first episode of Antiques Roadshow Australia,” he said on social media.
“The stars, as always, are our kind souls who brought in a vast array of items and our wonderful experts who were able to give analysis both with warmth and the greatest of ease.”
While BBC Studios has not confirmed whether the pilot will lead to a full television series, its public release on YouTube is widely seen as a way of measuring audience demand before making a commissioning decision.
The original UK version continues to screen in Australia on the ABC and is also available through a dedicated FAST channel on 9Now.
