Emmerdale Star Roxy Shahidi Thought She Was Sitting on a ‘Gold Mine’ — Until the Auction Shocked Her
Former Emmerdale favourite Roxy Shahidi thought she’d struck gold when she decided to sell two original artworks she’d owned for nearly two decades — but the truth turned out to be far less glamorous.
The actress, who played Leyla Harding on the ITV soap for more than 15 years, joined Angus Ashworth on Celebrity Yorkshire Auction House hoping to cash in on what she believed were valuable art pieces. Instead, she walked away with her prized possessions — and a humbling lesson in art valuations.
A Romantic Gift Becomes a Long-Held Treasure
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Roxy revealed that the paintings had been among the first gifts she ever bought her husband when they were dating.
“I had these two amazing original pieces of artwork,” she said. “I bought them as a gift ages ago for my husband. It was one of the first gifts I ever bought him when we were dating.”
Though her husband wasn’t overly thrilled at the time, Roxy fell in love with the artist’s style and kept the paintings for years.
“I liked the artist so much that I got two pictures – a big one for him and a little one for me. I was like, ‘This is amazing.’ Anyway, he was a little underwhelmed, it wasn’t necessarily his favourite piece of artwork.”
Believing She’d Found a Fortune
Years later, Roxy decided to check the artist’s current market value — and what she found convinced her she was sitting on a potential windfall.
“A few years ago I looked the artist up, and wow, these were going for a couple of grand each now! I’d only bought them for like £75,” she recalled.
So when Celebrity Yorkshire Auction House came calling, Roxy saw the perfect opportunity.
“I thought, ‘I’ll auction these off and I’ll probably end up with loads of money.’”
The Auction Day Shock
Unfortunately, the dream quickly turned into disappointment. Despite Roxy’s excitement, the artworks failed to attract a single bid.
“The research team said they couldn’t find the artist,” she said. “I was like… ‘You’re joking?’ I thought I was going to make an absolute mint.”
After 18 years of carting the paintings from house to house, the actress realised she hadn’t been sitting on a gold mine after all. But instead of frustration, she found contentment.
“I’d been carrying them around for 18 years, thinking I was sat on a gold mine! But I’ve got them back now and I’m quite happy with that, to be honest. I clearly like them more than anyone else.”
From the Dales to the Auction House
Roxy appeared on the show alongside fellow Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden, as they both put treasured items under the hammer. Her episode airs Monday, November 10, on Really / Discovery+, and promises plenty of humour and heart.
Even if the sale didn’t go as planned, Roxy’s good humour and down-to-earth charm have won over fans — proving that not every treasure is measured in money.