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Jonathan Ross has detailed his huge collection of vintage toys and confessed the amount he owns is ‘not healthy.’
The TV host featured in the Toys and Childhood Special episode of Antiques Roadshow on Thursday during which he opened up about his love for all things plastic.
The broadcaster, 62, met with presenter Fiona Bruce and showed off his collection, which is one of the largest in the UK, and explained why he was a particular fan of Japanese action figures.
Asked about the origins of his obsession, Jonathan said: ‘And what a prosaic answer would be and this is quite typical, I think, is I come from quite a poor background. So when I was a kid, I didn’t have the toys that I wanted.
‘For example, major Matt Mason came out and I desperately want a Major Mason and I didn’t get one for like two years, and I kind of felt like I needed it, though, so this is that sense of childhood entitlement coming out.’
Surrounded by his toys, Fiona, 58, probed:’ And is this healthy? Do you think?’
Jonathan Ross said he was ‘aware’ that his collection wasn’t ‘healthy’ (Picture: BBC)
Jonathan replied instantly: ‘Obviously not, no, I’m, I’m aware that this is not healthy. However, look, Fiona, here’s the thing: the difference between a collector and a hoarder in my mind is a hoarder just saves everything any which way and can’t let anything go.
‘Whereas a collector knows what they have knows where they are, knows why they have it, and can release them back into the wild occasionally.’
Jonathan continued: ‘When I come here, the minute I walk in there, no matter what else is happening in my life, where there might be family pressures or work pressures, I feel that burden lifted because this is a very safe space.
Jonathan Ross showed off his vast toy collection in the special episode (Picture: BBC)
‘For me, It’s a very lovely space. And everywhere I look there are things that I love.’
Elsewhere in the episode, Fiona spoke to vintage toy collector Stephen Lane, who challenged her to place three rare Star Wars figures in order of value, while Mark Hill travelled to the V&A in London to find out how they’re preparing to move priceless toys to a new home.
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Raj Bisram also explored a fantastic Action Man collection, while Marc Allum tried his hand at much-loved table football game Subbuteo and learns the origins of its obscure name.
Antiques Roadshow is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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What a collection!
