Bargain Hunt's Eric Knowles avoided 'death sentence' diagnosis after horror health scare

Bargain Hunt host Eric Knowles (Image: BBC)

Eric Knowles, the beloved antiques expert from BBC's Bargain Hunt, has opened up about his personal battles, including a harrowing childhood marked by a cancer scare that led to hospitalisation.

His private ordeals were brought to public attention during his appearance on the BBC programme Matron, Medicine and Me, where he delved into the history of the NHS through his own experiences.

Despite facing what was once deemed an almost certain "death sentence", Eric's family breathed a sigh of relief when it was confirmed he did not have the dreaded disease.

Though the show is no longer accessible on iPlayer, records show that Eric revisited the emotional journey of his youth to the hospital, complete with a ride in a vintage 1960s ambulance.

During the programme, he consulted with oncologist Dr Margaret Rokicka, who shed light on the diagnostic process he underwent.

Eric Knowles opened up about a childhood illness (Image: BBC)

After thorough examinations, it was discovered that Eric was suffering from glandular fever, not leukaemia as initially feared.

The broadcast underscored the significant strides in medical science that now allow the NHS to successfully treat most childhood leukaemia cases.

Eric encountered moving moments, such as meeting a young cancer patient during the show, reports Devon Live.

Eric Knowles also looked into the origins of the NHS (Image: BBC)

Reflecting on his early days as a porter at Bonhams auction house, Eric spent time with hospital porters Steven Shaw and Andy McHale, observing their work for a day.

In a nod to his northern heritage, he made a pilgrimage to Manchester to visit the very hospital where the NHS was inaugurated in 1948.

To mark the end of his journey, Eric made a special visit to the daughter of a Burnley paediatrician who treated him during his childhood. Despite his early health struggles, the 71 year old Lancashire native appears to be in good health now.

He remains an ardent supporter of health charities, including Headway and FABLE (For a better life with epilepsy). As an antiquarian specialising in ceramics and glass, he has since become a non-executive director of scottishantiques.com.