BBC Flog It! expert Michael Baggott dies aged 65 as co-stars pay tribute to antiques specialist
BBC Flog It! star Michael Baggott has died aged 65 after suffering a heart attack at Good Hope Hospital in Birmingham.
The antiques expert passed away yesterday following months of treatment after experiencing a stroke in October.
His death was confirmed in a statement posted on his social media accounts on Monday evening.
Baggott, who appeared on the BBC antiques show from 2017 until it was decommissioned in 2020, had been receiving inpatient care at the Birmingham hospital since his stroke last autumn.
“Heartbroken to share that Michael died yesterday in hospital of a heart attack following a stroke in October,” read the statement on his social media.
“He was a dearly loved son, brother, nephew and uncle who will be deeply and profoundly missed.”
— michael baggott (@baggottsilver) January 28, 2025
The family announced that details of a memorial service would be shared in the coming weeks.
Tributes have poured in from fellow antiques experts and television personalities.
Bargain Hunt star Charles Hanson described Baggott as “a giant of our antique industry” and “our Arthur Negus”.
“Michael’s thirst for knowledge for the ‘object within’ merited far more TV time too for a true and proper expert,” Hanson wrote.
💙 such sad news… condolences to Michael’s family 💔
— Roo Irvine (@RooIrvine) January 28, 2025
Flog It! expert Nick Hall praised him as “a true connoisseur and ambassador of the antiques world, a font of knowledge and generous with his knowledge”.
BBC Presenter Roo Irvine expressed her “sad news and condolences”, while Bargain Hunt’s Colin Young noted: “Michael made so many people smile, what more is there to wish for in life?”
In December, Baggott raised serious concerns about his care at Good Hope Hospital through social media posts.
In emotional video updates, he claimed he had been left severely dehydrated, receiving insufficient water for several days.
“I’m dying of thirst in a British NHS hospital and no one seems prepared to do anything about it,” he said in one clip.
While praising junior doctors and nursing staff as “the saving grace”, he criticised senior management and doctors for allegedly refusing water and treatment.
He later shared a more optimistic update, saying he was “slightly happier, slightly more hopeful” after finally receiving proper hydration.
Baggott began his career in antiques while still in school, making his first purchase – a Chester silver Vesta case – for £22.
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He went on to work at Christie’s auction house during his university years before taking charge of Sotheby’s southern silver department for four years.
Later transitioning to private consulting, he specialised in antique silver, smallwork, boxes, early spoons and provincial and continental silver.
He was also an accomplished author, publishing works including “An Illustrated Guide to York Hallmarks 1776 – 1858” and contributing numerous articles to The Finial, the journal of the Silver Spoon Club of Great Britain.