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Antiques Roadshow guest's shock at value of Paul McCartney autographed cartoon

The satirical sketch of The Beatles singer being searched by airport customs on suspicion of having cannabis was signed by McCartney himself.

Albertina LloydContributor
Updated
4 min read
Antiques Roadshow guest shocked at Paul McCartney cartoon valuation (BBC)
Antiques Roadshow guest shocked at Paul McCartney cartoon valuation (BBC)

What did you miss?

A guest on the Antiques Roadshow said her father would be proud of her for coming on the show after learning the value of a cartoon he had drawn of Sir Paul McCartney.

The satirical sketch of The Beatles singer being searched by airport customs on suspicion of having cannabis hidden in his luggage was signed by McCartney himself.

Watch the moment here...

The cartoon was drawn by the guest's father who met the Let It Be singer while he was working as Senior Customs Officer at Heathrow airport, and managed to make light of a somewhat awkward encounter.

What, how, and why?

Paul McCartney cartoon valued on Antiques Roadshow (BBC)
Paul McCartney cartoon valued on Antiques Roadshow (BBC)

The daughter of the late Customs Officer revealed her father Pete was a prolific cartoonist and drew sketches for all the airport magazines and newspapers during his 32 year career, as well as creating family birthday cards.

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McCartney was arrested for possession of marijuana while on a family holiday to Barbados in January 1984 and fined $200 dollars. On his return to London he was stopped and searched at Heathrow Airport where they were questioned and eventually charged with customs evasion of cannabis and fined £75 after pleading guilty.

During his time being questioned at the airport, cartoonist Pete sketched McCartney being questioned by Customs Officials and singing the words to his famous Beatles hit "Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away."

Hilary Kay. Antiques Roadshow. Arundel Castle 2006. BBC television
Antiques Roadshow star Hilary Kay was delighted by the cartoon of The Beatles star. (BBC)

The cartoon is signed "Paul McCartney" and in brackets "Play the pipes of peace", a reference to his latest No 1 single at the time.

Antiques expert Hilary Kay said: "In turning it over, this is really nice, because it looks like a piece of HMRC notepaper, it's got the reference there.

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"So while he was drawing this, Paul McCarney was being interviewed, and then, how come Paul McCartney has signed it?"

The guest said: "I think he just showed him the cartoon, that would have been my dad. He would have said 'Hey, this is a bit of a tense moment, but this might make you laugh.' "

Kay added: "And Paul McCartney would have thought, 'That's just great and signed it off.

Former Guitarist with the Beatles pop group Paul McCartney returning to London from a family holiday in Barbados in 1984 where he was arrested  for possession of marijuana and fined $200. He is wearing lapel badge with the words 'leave me alone, I'm having a crisis'.
Sir Paul McCartney and wife Linda at Heathrow airport in January 1984. (Alamy)

"How lovely, what a great story. Let's cut to the chase, there was your dad sketching away, I wonder if he ever thought that it would be valuable.?"

The guest replied: "He wouldn't have done, and I can tell you why - my dad hasn't signed it. It will have been just a quick scribbly thing and I don't think he would have valued it at all."

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Kay said: "Well the market values it highly, becasue it's a very interesting incident in McCartney's career, and it's too good a story. I think we're talking about at least two to three thousand pounds.

"And I hope that your dad would be really proud."

The daughter said: "I think he would, and I think he'd be proud that I've done this today."

What else has been happening on Antiques Roadshow?

Fiona Bruce s the host of the Antiques Roadshow. (BBC)
Fiona Bruce s the host of the Antiques Roadshow. (BBC)

The Antiques Roadshow is currently airing its 46th series, hosted by Fiona Bruce. The latest episode was filmed outdoors at Crystal Palace Park in south London.

A recent episode of the show saw a pair of battered old Beatrix Potter books in "appalling condition" valued at £2,000 because of a rare signature from the author.

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Another saw a guest – son of Sikh soldier Naik Gian Singh – moved to tears when he learned the astonishing value of his father's war medals, including a rare Victoria Cross.

And another guest brought a rare design for King Charles III's coronet made for his coronation as Prince of Wales in 1969 valued at £10,000.

In the previous series of the BBC antiques show, which has run since 1979, antiques experts surprised guests with their valuations of items including an original Live Aid poster, the first ever Beatles logo designed by a sign-making friend of the band and a signed helmet and overalls belonging to Formula One star Sir Lewis Hamilton to be worth £10,000.

Antiques Roadshow airs on BBC at 8pm on Sundays.

Read more: Antiques Roadshow

Watch: Rare Beatrix Potter items get values on Antiques Roadshow

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