BBC Antiques Roadshow guest speechless at staggering value of signed Muhammed Ali napkin

One Antiques Roadshow guest was left utterly speechless when he found out the incredible value of his signed napkin.

The hit BBC antiques show took a trip to Ebrington Square in Londonderry on Sunday (February 23), where fans from all over Northern Ireland brought their prized possessions down for valuation.

Fans were treated to such treasures including a Celtic stone head, rare Belleek vases found in a charity shop and a model Austin Pathfinder pedal car. It wasn’t long before viewers got a peek at a very pricy item when one restaurant owner brought along a signed napkin from infamous boxing champion Muhammed Ali.

And it’s fair to say auctioneer and expert Raj Bisram was blown away by the impressive artifact as he inquired about how the guest acquired it. He recalled: "One night I got a phone call to my restaurant where I work for a table of eight people for Muhammed Ali, I reckon he was here for the special Olympics.

"And his wife asked me if I could cut the steak up for him because he couldn’t use his hands. So, I asked the chef, could you cut it up for Muhammed Ali but put them back together nicely.

"Then as the night went on, first of all he says to me, ‘Would I mind if he drew on the napkin’, I said no problem and I gave him a biro and I said to myself, ‘I’m going to try and have that when they go!’

"So I put the bill on the table and I said to his wife, ‘Can I take the napkin?’ and she said, ‘Of course you can have it. You’ve done a wonderful job and we’re very impressed’. She said, ‘What’s your name?’ and I said Michael, so she passed it to Muhamed Ali and she said, ‘Sign that for Mike.’”

The expert couldn't help but look at the napkin in awe, as he gushed: "I think it’s wonderful and this particular picture is known as the guiding light and it’s one that he did very, very often. He first did it in 1979 and also there’s some marks here." Michael added: "That's where he used it on his mouth, his DNA is on it."

The auctioneer went on to reveal the late boxer's surprising connection to Ireland, with his great-grandfather hailing from a small town called Ennis in County Clare.

The owner gushed: "It was great to shake his hand, I can still feel it now, shaking his hand" as he showed off a picture of the pair together in his restaurant.

It was at this point that Raj shared his valuation for the rare item, explaining: " So, I think this is a lovely thing, so value wise – and I am going on the low end here – I'd say between £6,000 to £8,0000. It’s a real iconic sporting item". Michael was left lost for wordds, simply mumbling: "Wow! Oh my God, thank you" as he shook the experts hand.

Antiques Roadshow airs on Sundays from 7.05pm on BBC One or catch up on BBC iPlayer.