09 October 2023 , 16:44
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Andy McConnell has been a household name since joining BBC's Antiques Roadshow in 2005 as a glass expert.
The TV star gained an interest in antiques at a young age and started buying and selling items at 14 years old. He soon became the only pupil at his school to pay his own fees. Not only does he appear on the BBC show, he lectures on glass and writes for many publications.
Fans of Andy used to be able to visit his antique and vintage glass shop, Glass Etc in his hometown of Rye, East Sussex. However, the coronavirus lockdown took its toll and he had to shut the place down. When it's not concerning his career on Antiques Roadshow or writing for publications, what do we know about the glass expert?
Before going into antiques, Andy was actually a rock and roll journalist in Hollywood. He interviewed many popular bands in the 70s and even created promo videos for rock stars in the 80s. After some time enjoying the high life, Andy switched to a career in antiques.
Andrew McConnell got into antiques at a young age (BBC)At the beginning of this year, Andy told fans he had emphysema, which is one of the diseases that comprise COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). It develops over time and involves the gradual damage of lung tissue, specifically the destruction of the alveoli (tiny air sacs).
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According to the NHS website, symptoms include shortness of breath, a persistent cough and chest infections. He opened up about the condition of This Is Money, revealing: "As a smoker of 30 cigarettes a day for 50 years, I think cigarettes should cost £500 a packet. I've got emphysema now. I've smoked 490,000 fags in my lifetime and I regret it now."
During the same chat, he opened up about owning his home and how it was a 'total fleapit' before he renovated it. "I own my home, mortgage-free. It's a two-bed house right on the beach outside Rye. I bought it four years ago for £230,000 and it's definitely gone up in value," he said.
"It was a total fleapit when I bought it and unmortgageable. In fact, the particulars said it was unfit for human habitation so I thought it was just right for me and got £95,000 off the asking price. All I've done so far is install a new bathroom and new boiler but I'm planning a complete renovation."
Andy also admitted that he goes to South East Asia for six months of the year as "a money-saving exercise because I don't have to pay to heat my house in winter".