Antiques Roadshow ends with thoroughly modern 100th Object

Last night’s episode of the Antiques Roadshow, which took place at the British Museum, ended by highlighting Radio Four’s 100th object.

The solar lamp and charger has received good media coverage following the announcement last month. But this was special: Sunday night on BBC2, on a programme that regularly draws 5.5 million viewers.

The show’s panel of experts pitched in with their own ideas for a 100th item that represented the modern age. There was the SatNav: “nothing has done more for domestic harmony”. There was the pair of rubber clogs: “They’ve changed my life at the seaside". And there was the microchip: “I’ve never seen it, I don’t know how it works, but it has changed everybody’s lives.”

But last night's Antiques Roadshow finished with the 100th Object - the solar-powered lamp, which is housed within the British Museum. The Museum's director, Neil MacGregor, said, "In fact, it's sunshine, captured, harvested and stored, to be taken out and used wherever and whenever we need it."

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