I watched Antiques Roadshow US - and one huge difference disappointed me

I grew up with Antiques Roadshow on the BBC - the gentle Sunday night comfort TV where experts in tweed jackets unravel the history of your granny's tea set or a battered war medal, usually in the grounds of some stately home. It's been on air for more than 40 years, and for me it's always been less about the price tag and more about the history, the stories, and the quiet charm.

So when I sat down to watch the American version, I expected the same mix of heritage and humanity. Instead, I got something very different - and, frankly, one hugely disappointing thing compared to the UK. The US Antiques Roadshow isn't filmed in castle courtyards or sweeping gardens. It's in huge convention centres, buzzing with queues and bustling like a trade fair. The British version uses its settings almost like another character - Blenheim Palace, the Tower of London, or a countryside manor.

In the US, the backdrop feels impersonal. It's less heritage, more Expo. Then there's the style of the experts. In the UK, they're scholarly, softly spoken, often teaching us about the craft or history of the object.

Sometimes the valuations are so understated you almost miss them. But in the US, the appraisers are all about the big reveal. Everything builds up to the moment they announce a price, with dramatic pauses and gasps from the crowd. It's pure showbiz.

In the American version, money takes centre stage. In the UK, the value is almost an afterthought, tucked away at the end of a story about who owned it and why it matters.

In America, the dollar signs are the climax. The moment of truth isn't about history - it's about whether the owner is sitting on a fortune. Even the items reflect the difference. In Britain, it's all Georgian silver, Victorian paintings, and heirlooms passed down for generations.

In the US, you'll see baseball memorabilia, movie posters, folk art, or toys. Fascinating, yes, but the focus is firmly on Americana rather than the centuries of history that give the UK show its weight.

These gentle but obvious differences make the US version lose its sense of intimacy. The BBC's Antiques Roadshow is much more discreet, slow-burning, with a respect for heritage. The PBS version feels slick, loud, and made for the big reaction.

It's entertaining, but it doesn't have that same quiet soul. Both are brilliant in their own ways, and both perfectly reflect their countries.

But watching the US version reminded me of what makes the UK version so unique. It isn't just about discovering what something is worth - it's about discovering why it matters.