Antiques Roadshow guest's eyes bulge at whoppping figure for George Harrison guitar

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.

An Antiques Roadshow guest couldn't help but be "taken aback" by the staggering value given to a guitar once owned by The Beatles' George Harrison.

Expert Jon Baddeley couldn't contain his excitement when presented with the extraordinary instrument as viewers encircled on the popular programme to learn its story.

Baddeley met the guitar's owner and musical expert Paul, starting off by saying: "Now you've brought me in an exceptionally rare guitar with an even more interesting story behind it. But let's focus on the make first. It's a make I have rarely ever seen."

Paul provided details that the guitar was crafted by Bartell of California in the 1960s and was a "very rare" fretless prototype guitar.

Paul continued: "And the story goes that the company owner has always said he gave one to John Lennon and he gave one to Jimi Hendrix. This is the Lennon one."

The expert switched his attention to another guest, Ray, who explained the tale of how the instrument ended up in his possession.

"In the 1970s and 1980s, I was doing lots of recording sessions on guitar and one of the things I used to do regularly was sessions for Handmade Films (production company) that George Harrison started.

"I was asked to play guitar, which was great, had lots of laughs and at the end of the session, George said 'I'm not sure what to do with this. You have a go.'

"And I just got handed the guitar. It's a strange old thing to play, because there's no frets."

"But I played a few notes and he said 'You're definitely getting more out of it than I am.

"'It's doing better for you, why don't you have it.'"

Baddeley quipped: "Well that's not a bad accolade that you can play better than George Harrison!"

The guest modestly replied: "At the time, this was quite rock n'roll as this. It's not the greatest of rock n'roll guitars unless you're going to play slide or something like that."

Baddeley then turned his attention to a photograph brought in by the guest, which he described as the "icing on the cake".

"Because this is George Harrison in his house in Friar Park, and here's George standing at the back and just down here on the left hand side, is the guitar in question.

"And you can see there the makers name and the design below.

"So quite categorically, that puts that guitar in this room, in George Harrison's house.

"I think that's 100% certainty, it is what it is."

When it came to discussing the guitar's value, Baddeley noted: "To a guitar collector, initially, a very rare guitar.

"Then to somebody who's a The Beatles fan, to own a guitar that was once owned by both John Lennon and George Harrison, can you get a better history?

"Two of the most important rock stars of the 20th Century."

After a brief pause, Baddeley delivered the valuation: "I would suggest that at auction, I wouldn't be surprised if it made between £300,000 and £400,000."

The audience was audibly shocked by the staggering valuation, with the guest's reaction echoing their surprise.

He exclaimed: "Amazing. That surprises me, because there it's been on the stand, just playing it.

"I've never really thought about value with George being a mate and that. Wow."

Baddeley hailed the guest's fortunate circumstances: "It's a good thing you were there on the day, in the recording session and he gave it to you and here it is today", before inviting him to strum another tune on the guitar.

Post-performance, Baddeley dubbed him a "star" and they exchanged a handshake.

In a later interview, the expert candidly admitted: "I think in 25 years, it's by far the most expensive thing I've ever seen."

Overwhelmed, the guest stated: "I don't know what to say actually, I'm really taken aback by it. I didn't realise it was worth that much money. It's lucky I don't keep it in the house."

Wrapping up the Antiques Roadshow discussion, Baddeley emphasised the importance of authenticity: "What's really important is the provenance and there it was, in the photograph, in George Harrison's collection. Wow. You can't do better than that."

Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.