Antiques Roadshow star Theo Burrell dies at 39 after brain cancer battle

Theo Burrell, the antiques expert best known for her appearances on Antiques Roadshow, has died at the age of 39, four years after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

Her family confirmed that Burrell died peacefully on Wednesday, surrounded by loved ones, in a statement shared on Instagram on Saturday, July 11.

"It is with great sadness that I share the news that Theo passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday afternoon. Neither she nor her medical team foresaw this happening quite so quickly," the family wrote.

They described Burrell as "an incredible person" who fought tirelessly for her family and dedicated herself to raising awareness of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Theo Burrell defied prognosis after terminal diagnosis

Burrell was diagnosed with glioblastoma in June 2022 and was told she had between 12 and 18 months to live.

Despite the prognosis, she celebrated several milestones she feared she would miss, including her son’s first day at school and her wedding to longtime partner Alex on March 28.

Announcing their marriage on Instagram, Burrell wrote that it "feels so nice to be husband and wife after all these years together."

Earlier this year, she also appeared in a Department of Health and Social Care campaign urging increased government funding for cancer research.

"I am running out of treatment options and I will lose my life to this cancer," she said at the time. "There's absolutely no doubt about it."

After undergoing brain surgery and 17 rounds of chemotherapy, Burrell said she hoped future patients would benefit from advances in treatment, even if it came too late for her.

TV expert became passionate cancer awareness advocate

Burrell joined Antiques Roadshow in 2018 as a ceramics and glass specialist. She also worked with Edinburgh auction house Lyon & Turnbull, where she had been employed since 2011.

Following her diagnosis, she became a patron of Brain Tumour Research in 2023, using her platform to campaign for greater investment in research and to support others facing the disease.

Her family said the cancer community brought her "so much comfort and strength in her darkest moments" and added that Burrell wanted people to "find hope in her story."

Brain Tumour Research chief executive Dan Knowles paid tribute to Burrell, calling her "phenomenal, determined and truly inspiring."

He said she always knew her cancer was terminal but remained committed to making a difference for future patients through her advocacy.