BBC Antiques Roadshow icon's response to being axed from show after seven years
Much-loved presenter Michael Aspel hosted Antiques Roadshow from 2000 to 2007 before being axed by the BBC.
Michael Aspel has opened up about being axed from Antiques Roadshow in 2008 after serving as a presenter on the show from 2000 to 2007. The 91-year-old was a well-known figure on British television thanks to being a newsreader, presenting the Eurovision Song Contest as well as fronting several popular television programs.
One of his most iconic role's was on the BBC show as viewers tuned in to watch him on the Antiques series every Sunday evening. Now the host has addressed his exit as he explains that he was "eased out" as a result of his age.
"I fell on my sword, because I knew they wanted me to go," he told Radio Times. "It's ironic being eased out of an antiques show because of your age."
Opening up about the changes on the show today, Michael expressed: "Since I left, people bring along items from the 1970s, which for me seems like only a few days ago.
"Sometimes they have autographs of people I met during my career — the Beatles, film stars like Elizabeth Taylor and David Niven."
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Michael has been associated with some of the biggest television shows over his career which spanned almost 70 years before he retired.
He hosted Come Dancing, the predecessor to the dancing competition show we know and love today.
After featuring on This Is Your Life in 1980, he went on to host the show in 1987 after presenter Eamonn Andrews died, until the show ended in 2003.
This isn't the first time the broadcaster has been hit by claims of ageism after several older stars have moved on recently.
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Vanessa Feltz, 60, announced last July she was leaving her two BBC radio programmes and admitted she did not feel appreciated due to her age.
She also claimed older presenters are not "valued in the same way" after her exit from the BBC.
Prior to his death in February this year, BBC Radio 2 star Steve Wright revealed his Afternoon programme had come to an end as the 63-year-old hosted the show for 23 years.
As well as this, stalwart Ken Bruce, 71, quit his popular Radio 2 morning show after 31 years on the programme.
