Theo Burrell made a devastating admission as she hit a huge milestone in her life. The Antiques Roadshow expert, 38, announced that her son Jonah has started school – something she never thought she would witness. This is because Theo was diagnosed with an incurable cancerous brain tumour at the age of 35. Taking to Instagram, Theo shared a black and white image of her husband Alex walking hand-in-hand with Jonah. In the caption, she penned: ” Last week I marked one of my biggest milestones to date – because my son, Jonah, started school!

“When I was diagnosed with a GBM in June 2022, Jonah was 19 months old, he was still a tiny little boy who could barely speak. Over the last 3 years I’ve watched him grow up to become a huge chatterbox and a very keen dancer, with endless energy and a great sense of humour!” Theo confessed she is “extremely grateful” at being able to see her son start school, three years after doctors discovered a 5cm (2in) tumour in her brain.

Theo continued: “I definitely did not think that I would get to see him start school and I’ve cried many times at the thought that I would miss this occasion. But here I am! And I’m extremely grateful.

“So to all those mums, dads, grandparents and guardians who aren’t seeing their children start school, we don’t forget you, you’re always missed, and your kids are definitely doing you proud. Well done to all those children getting through it.”

Theo was diagnosed with an aggressive grade 4 glioblastoma after experiencing symptoms such as nausea and headaches. She had endured the symptoms for more than six months, but her GP could not pinpoint the cause of her migraines.

Speaking about her experience, Theo told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland: “I started to get ill in the winter of 2021 and I wasn’t diagnosed until the June of 2022, so [I had] five or six months of increasingly worsening symptoms – headaches, sickness, problems with my vision, very, very pressurised pains in my head, migraines – the list went on.

“And it wasn’t until I went to A&E at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh that I was given the diagnosis. I had absolutely no idea it was coming, it was a huge shock.”

Since her diagnosis, Theo has documented her journey with her followers and aims to raise awareness over the disease.

In June, Theo revealed she was halfway through a 12-month course of chemotherapy.

The BBC star, who specialises in decorative arts and fine antiques, said in a video: “I did not think three years ago that I’d still be sitting here, relatively well, living my life, seeing my son grow up and marking various milestones like friends’ birthdays, anniversaries, and getting to enjoy my charity work, and just making memories with friends and family.”