An Antiques Roadshow expert got an unwelcome surprise after swigging from a guest’s 180-year-old bottle.

Members of the public bring historical artefacts on the BBC show to discover their value and background.

On one occasion, when a visitor brought a century old bottle for glass expert Andy McConnell to examine – there were unfortunate repercussions.

Upon assessing the piece, Andy determined a brown substance inside was either port or red wine.

He told the guest: ‘I think it’s port… port or red wine… or it’s full of rusty old nails and that’s rust.’ 

Following this, Andy then proceeded to dip his finger inside and lick the mysterious substance. 

Antiques Roadshow expert Andy McConnell got an unfortunate surprise while examining a guest’s historic bottle

Later on, Fiona Bruce enlightened Andy about the substance he had tried – specifically what it contained

Fiona took over as Antiques Roadshow presenter in 2008, succeeding Michael Aspel in the position

The show’s host Fiona Bruce, however, informed him later on in the 2016 episode about what he had actually tasted.

She subsequently revealed the liquid was comprised of urine, a tiny bit alcohol and a human hair.

Fiona explained that it had been a witches’ bottle, having been created as a talisman to ward off witchcraft, curses and misfortune.

The presenter elaborated: ‘Now, you thought it might have been port or wine… That would’ve been nice…

‘Inside were these brass pins, all of these dating from the late 1840s, and the liquid – urine, a tiny bit of alcohol and one human hair.

‘And a mysterious little creature called an ostracod, which is like a little cockle.’

Fortunately, Andy took the misstep in his stride as he joked: ‘Yummy.’

It comes as a guest on the programme was left wowed by the six-figure valuation of a rare object found in her home. 

Fiona Bruce and the BBC show’s team went to Firsite contemporary art gallery in Colchester for the episode which was shown over the weekend. 

During the episode, expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan was seen assessing the value of an unusual ironwood pole club.

The visitor explained her in-laws discovered the item initially, after buying a new home and discovering it had been left behind by the previous owners. 

She elaborated: ‘In the 1960s, my husband’s parents bought a house in West Wales with all its contents and this was in its contents.’

Through internet research, her family guessed that the pole club may originate from Fiji. 

Ronnie revealed it was actually from the Cook Islands, adding: ‘This is a magnificent ironwood pole club and the Cook Islands people call it an akatara. 

Elsewhere, an Antiques Roadshow guest at Firstsite in Colchester was left surprised by the value of her unusual item

‘They were made either on the island of Rarotonga or Atiu.’

He recounted the story of Captain Cook, who travelled to Polynesia and how, on his third visit, his surgeon spotted one of these pole clubs.

Ronnie continued: ‘Originally, this would have been a fighting weapon, but by the time there was contact from the West, this had become a ceremonial weapon imbued with manna. 

‘And manna is like the spiritual power of the warrior chief who would have owned this. I feel as though I’ve got the power holding this. It’s such an impressive object.’

Furthermore, he could deduce the item’s age – 18th century – by identifying that it is stone cut.

He added: ‘The 1770s when Cook arrived. If this could be attributed to anything to do with James Cook, wow. Things like this have a value. 

‘It’s a shame about the damage. There’s a little bit of the tip missing, but it doesn’t detract from its energy and power. 

‘If I wanted to put it into a sale – and this would go into a top sale in Paris – they would put a very comfortable pre sale estimate between £100,000 and £150,000.’

The guest was surprised to hear this, as she said: ‘Crikey. That’s amazing, really amazing.’

Speaking to the camera later on, the guest shared: ‘I just can’t believe how did something like that end up in an old house in the middle of Wales? 

‘How did it get there? I’d love to be able to step back in time and follows its journey because it’s just incredible.’

Antiques Roadshow airs Sundays on BBC One and iPlayer.