Antiques Roadshow star Theo Burrell has died at the age of 39 after a four-year battle with brain cancer.
Burrell’s family announced the tragic news in a statement shared on the reality star’s Instagram on Sunday.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Theo passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday afternoon. Neither she nor the medical team expected it to happen so soon,” the family wrote, along with a photo of Burrell holding her dog, Pip.
The message continued, praising Burrell as a “wonderful person who fought so hard for his family and friends and raised awareness of this cruel disease.”
“She has seen life events that just four years ago we thought we would never see, like our son’s first day of school and a wedding.”
Burrell married her husband Alex on March 28th. In 2020, Burrell and Alex welcomed their son, Jonah.
Burrell was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in June 2022. At the time, doctors gave her 12 to 18 months to live. Over four years, the star underwent brain surgery and 17 rounds of chemotherapy.
“The cancer community has given her so much comfort and strength in her darkest moments, but most of all, it has given her hope. I think her greatest hope is that others find hope in her story,” the family’s message said.
“Statistics are not gospel and I hope that someday that will change significantly.”
During his battle with cancer, Burrell dedicated his time and voice to causes that support cancer research and awareness. In May, she appeared in a video in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services to campaign for increased funding for cancer research.
“Treatment options are running out and this cancer is going to kill me,” Burrell said at the time. “There’s absolutely no doubt about that.”
“Things may be too late for me, but knowing that things will be better for future patients definitely makes peace.”
As fans may remember, Mr. Burrell started out in 2018 as a specialist on “Antiques Roadshow.” According to the BBC, she had been a ceramics and glass expert at Ryan and Turnbull Auctioneers in Edinburgh since 2011.
