BBC Antiques Road Trip star flooded with support as he announces heartbreaking family loss: ‘Was his time’
Antiques Road Trip and Antiques Roadshow regular Mark Hill has announced the sad news that his father has died.
The 50-year-old shared a tribute to his late father, affectionately named “Pa”, on both Instagram and X on Sunday afternoon.
Hill also urged his fanbase to donate toward Sir Jackie Stewart’s dementia charity, Race Against Dementia, in his father’s honour.
The antiques expert shared two snaps of his father, one of him on his own and a second alongside his son enjoying a cup of tea.
“Pa. (1940-2025). Thank you,” Hill penned in the accompanying caption on X, followed by a love-heart emoji.
“If you wish, donations to @racingdementia,” he signed off to his 15k followers.
Before long, Hill’s fans, friends, and followers rushed to share their messages of condolences.
“My condolences, Mark,” one X user reached out, prompting Hill to reply: “Thank you, Bendor.”
“Condolences to you and your family,” another weighed in alongside a love-heart emoji, while a third echoed the sentiment with a crying emoji.
Both fans were met with a “thank you” message from Hill. He added in a separate post to another well-wisher: “It was his time.”
Television audiences will most likely recognise Hill as a familiar face on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, where he has served as a specialist since 2007.
His expertise in collectables and twentieth-century design has made him a valued member of the programme’s team.
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Hill joined BBC’s Antiques Road Trip in 2022, expanding his television presence.
Beyond these regular appearances, he has co-presented several primetime BBC Two programmes, including Cracking Antiques alongside Kathryn Rayward in 2010 and Antiques Uncovered with Lucy Worsley in 2012.
He also fronted two series of Collectaholics, first with Mel Giedroyc in 2014 and subsequently with Jasmine Harman in 2015.
Hill’s journey in the antiques world began in 1996 when he started as a porter at Bonhams.
Pa.
(1940-2025)
Thank you ❤️
If you wish, donations to @racingdementia pic.twitter.com/7zvOUVCnTM
— Mark Hill (@antiquemark) July 20, 2025
He progressed to become a junior cataloguer before moving to Sotheby’s collectors department as a specialist.
In 2001, Hill joined the internet firm icollector.com, eventually becoming director of auction house services.
In 2006, Hill established Mark Hill Publishing Ltd, focusing on innovative books about emerging trends in twentieth-century design and decorative arts.
His publishing venture has produced numerous titles on subjects ranging from West German ceramics to Czech glass design.
December 2022 marked a significant shift when Hill opened a retail space in The Pantiles Arcade, Royal Tunbridge Wells.
The shop specialises in Czech and European art glass from the mid-twentieth century, reflecting his long-standing passion for the field.
Hill’s entrepreneurial journey reached a new milestone in January 2024 when he co-established Mark Hill Auctions Ltd in the historic Pantiles area of Royal Tunbridge Wells.