BBC Antiques Roadshow audience gasps at huge valuation of 'tiny' Oscar Wilde note

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.

Antiques Roadshow viewers were in awe as a "tiny" but "precious" note was revealed to be of considerable value.

Expert Matthew Haley encountered a woman at Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery who presented him with a small framed letter that piqued his interest.

Haley read aloud the note: "'Tomorrow, 7.45, no dress. OW.'", before asking the guest about its backstory.

The woman explained: "Well, this is a little note that was written by Oscar Wilde, inviting one of his chum's round for supper."

She added that she used to live on Tite Street, where Wilde resided, and her husband had given her the note.

Haley responded, "Absolutely lovely. I mean, Oscar Wilde is one of the greatest playwrights, as well as a poet and an author and a great letter writer and he lived in Tite Street in Chelsea in London between 18885 and 1895."

The guest reflected on Wilde's life, expressing gratitude for his witty remarks that permeated his work.

Haley mentioned some of Wilde's famous quotes, including "nothing succeeds like excess" and a reference to a "handbag" scene in The Importance of Being Earnest.

He continued: "He wrote The Picture Of Dorian Gray, A Woman Of No Importance, An Ideal Husband, these are super important works and Oscar Wilde's letters are really quite valuable.

"So even though it's a tiny note, I would expect this at auction to make between £2,000 and £4,000."

The crowd was audibly shocked by the valuation, with collective gasps echoing through the room, leaving the owner ecstatic as she exclaimed: "Great, I'm delighted. Thank you. Delighted."

Later, in a follow-up interview, the guest elaborated: "Two ways it means a lot to me first of all, because it's Oscar Wilde and Tite Street.

"And secondly, because it was a gift from my husband, it's a very precious piece of paper, and I'm glad I was able to bring it here today."

Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.