Patron
Antiques Roadshow expert Theo Burrell has worked for Lyon & Turnbull as an auctioneer and specialist in decorative arts and fine antiques since 2011. Theo's expertise extends to European ceramics and glass, fine furniture, design objects of the late 19th and 20th centuries as well as works of art and taxidermy.
Theo was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM) in June 2022 after suffering from migraines for six months. She underwent life-extending surgery, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Since her diagnosis, Theo has undertaken numerous media appearances and participated in our Walk of Hope in September 2023 to raise awareness of brain tumours. She became a Patron of Brain Tumour Research in November 2023.
She has visited our Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London, where she met scientists working at the forefront of the fight to find a cure for GBM and other brain tumours, and she appeared in a BBC Morning Live film to help raise awareness of a breakthrough from our Imperial Centre of Excellence which could see a blood test help to diagnose GBM in future.
In 2024, Theo joined other high-profile supporters to hand in our petition to Number 10 Downing Street and attended our Brain Tumour Awareness Month reception at Holyrood during which she shared her story with attending MSPs.
As well as undertaking her own fundraising challenges, which included braving the 131ft Aberdeen Tower Abseil, Theo has inspired her family, friends and colleagues at Lyon & Turnbull to raise money to help fund vital research to find a cure.
Donate to Theo’s JustGiving page for Brain Tumour Research
Instagram: @theo.burrell
Media highlights:
- 'We can get a man on the moon, but we can't cure brain tumours': Antiques Roadshow expert Theo Burrell, 36, living with terminal cancer makes heartbreaking plea for more funding amid treatment (MailOnline, 25th August 2023)
- TV's Antiques Roadshow expert announced as new patron of Milton Keynes-based charity (MK Citizen, 22nd November 2023)
- I was too shocked to cry when they told me I had a terminal brain tumour at 35. Now I just treasure every day with my little boy: Antiques Roadshow expert Theo Burrell's heartbreaking diagnosis (MailOnline, 27th November 2023)
- Breakthrough blood test can spot lethal brain tumours in patients, research finds (MailOnline, 26th January 2024)
- Antiques Roadshow’s Theo Burrell: ‘I’m 37 with terminal cancer – I’m grieving the future I’ll never have’ (The Telegraph, 21st March 2024)
- Glasgow auction house staff support colleague battling brain tumour (Glasgow Times, 30th March 2024)
- Antiques Roadshow star ‘hanging on to hope’ after terminal cancer update (Metro, 7th May 2024)