BBC Bargain Hunt star Eric Knowles’s heartbreak following young son’s tragic death

Eric Knowles is best known for appearing as a ceramics and glass expert on Antiques Roadshow (Image: BBC)

Antiques valuer Eric Knowles, best known for sharing his expert knowledge on the BBC's Bargain Hunt and Antiques Roadshow, has become a renowned figure in the collectors’ world.

Despite his position as a recognisable television personality, Knowles has remained closely guarded about the death of his son, Sebastian, better known as Seb to friends and family.

The 26-year-old died after his Mercedes collided with a lorry on the M40 in the early hours of the morning on May 1, 2015.

In the immediate aftermath of the accident, Knowles took a period of bereavement leave and cancelled several scheduled appearances via his agent, but has largely avoided publicly commenting on Seb’s death.

The accident occurred between junction 1A and junction 2 on the northbound carriageway, close to Beaconsfield.

Eric Knowles make regular appearances to value antiques on the BBC show (Image: BBC (Antiques Roadshow))

Thames Valley Police confirmed shortly after the incident that the 53-year-old lorry driver involved in the incident was uninjured, but Seb, the driver of the white Mercedes car, had died.

As news of the accident broke, tributes to Seb and condolences to his family poured in.

Eric Knowles reposted several heartfelt messages on his Twitter feed in the days following the incident, responding to one user with the message: “Thank you so much for your kindness, Seb’s Dad.”

Four months after his son’s death, Knowles wrote: “Just a much belated but heartfelt THANK YOU to all out there for your kindness and words of support with regard to our son Sebastian.”

An inquest into the accident heard Seb had been driving in the motorway’s middle lane before crossing into the inside lane, which is when the collision with the lorry occurred.

Coroner Richard Hulett said there was “no obvious reason” why Knowles would have switched lanes, and suggested he may have momentarily fallen asleep at the wheel or been briefly distracted by something on the road ahead.

Investigators established the Mercedes was driving at roughly 96mph before the accident and a post mortem examination concluded there was no trace of alcohol or drugs found in Seb’s system.

Seb was working as a bank manager at the time of his death and his colleagues at the Gerrards Cross branch described him as “a rising star” in the organisation, adding he was “highly respected” and will be sorely missed.

Alongside his banking career, he also worked as a respected DJ in High Wycombe and played a regular slot at the Royal Holloway University Student’s Union.

He shared his passion for music with his antiquarian father, who has previously said he would have likely worked as a radio DJ had he not followed a career in antiques.