A TV star who branded Dudley’s ex-council leader the “Homer Simpson of culture” in a row over a borough museum says he “laments” her departure from politics and that the area will be worse off without her.

Andy McConnell, a glass expert and long-time star of the Antiques Roadshow, publicly criticised former Conservative councillor Anne Millward after she branded world famous Broadfield House Glass Museum a “pet project” at a council meeting back in 2009.

The pair, however, were reconciled after meeting at the Kingswinford museum and agreed to work together with interested parties to help preserve the Stourbridge Glass Collection housed at the facility which had been touted for closure.

Plans to close the museum and make the staff redundant have since been put on ice and in a shock twist it’s Mrs Millward who has been left looking for a new job after losing her top council post and Gornal ward seat when she was beaten to the ballot box in the local election on May 5 by just two votes by Labour’s Stuart Turner.

Mr McConnell said, despite their initial differences, he believes Mrs Millward’s political demise will be to the “detriment” of the borough.

He said of her defeat: “I feel sorry for her actually, I think she was surprised by the opposition to the proposed closure of the museum. I never intended to be rude to her.

“She was a great spokesman for the area and I lament her going because I think she was a dynamic character and I think the area needs spokespeople with a bit of national consequence to them.

“When she wanted to close the museum she was the Homer Simpson of culture but later when she said she wanted a museum of international importance I couldn’t knock her for that; we were singing from the same hymn sheet.

“I think her passing from local politics is in the short term probably to the detriment of the area; she didn’t become leader of the council because she was a do-nothing.”

Mr McConnell said he remains supportive of plans to create a world class glass museum in the Stourbridge area but he does not hold out much hope of funds being available until the economy recovers and the 2012 Olympics have passed.