Episode 8 Antiques Road Trip

It's the nation's favourite antiques experts...

-I don't know what to do.

-HORN TOOTS

..with £200 each, a classic car and a goal to scour Britain for antiques.

What a little diamond.

The aim - to make the biggest profit at auction, but it's no mean feat.

Back in the game! Charlie!

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

SHE GASPS

So, will it be the high road to glory

-or the slow road to disaster?

-Oh!

This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Yeah!

It's the final leg of the Road Trip for debonair David Harper

and the queen of the auction room Anita Manning.

I will miss you, Anita. It has been a really great adventure.

David has a bit of a soft spot for his travel companion,

but our bonnie auctioneer Anita Manning

has already set her sights on someone else.

-I quite fancy him.

-Ha!

David Harper has his heart set firmly on winning the final auction,

but could he be about to fall for the wrong thing?

Oh, John, here I am looking at a pair of oriental vases.

I can sense myself getting into all sorts of trouble here.

Our lovestruck antiquers have been steadily eating up the miles north

in their sturdy little 1965 Morris Minor Convertible.

Our lovable duo started this trip with £200 each.

On this final stretch, David has £429.84 to spend.

Anita, however, has soared ahead, so she goes into this last leg

in the lead, with £565.25 for the trip ahead

and the competition's heating up!

-Well, I'm a wee bit ahead of you, David.

-Oh, stop it.

-A wee bit ahead.

A wee bit?

You're miles ahead, it's ridiculous, and should be actually illegal.

Quite right. Speaking of miles, David and Anita have been travelling

over 700 of them, all the way from Ramsbottom, Lancashire,

snaking their way up through Yorkshire to Bonnie Scotland,

ending up in Paisley.

Today's journey is commencing just outside the old weaving village

of Kilbarchan in Renfrewshire

and finishes at this week's final auction in Paisley.

David's first shop of this leg is Gardner's Antiques,

where he's meeting a dealer also called David. Stand by.

-Keep it nice and simple. Two Davids together, eh?

-Nice to meet you.

And he's quick to spot something of interest.

And that's that big lump of glass screaming the 1960s.

So cool and so stylish, very organic in its twisty shape.

But look at the light fitting itself.

That is not a recent addition, that is original,

contemporary to the glass.

That flying fish mark is a Strathearn Glass mark.

Strathearn Glass was manufactured from 1965 to 1980.

It's bang on trend and I want it so badly it's unbelievable.

Its ticket price is £95, but will the other David be willing to do a deal?

So, David, do you love 20th-century design or not?

It's not really my thing, but I can appreciate that it is attractive.

Right. That's bringing the price down, then.

-No, not at all.

-No!

-I didn't think so.

-Not looking too hopeful on that discount.

-Maybe use some of that Harper charm.

-I love it.

-Yep.

-I've got taste.

-You hate it...

-Not quite what I had in mind.

-What's the best on that for me, trade?

-That would be £80.

-£80?

-So that's it, as we say, the death?

-It is the death, yes.

-OK.

-£80.

Well, I think I've got to have it, David. Thank you very much.

David's spent big on his first item,

heading boldly towards the final auction.

Anita is ten miles south, in the town of Kilbirnie.

Anita has just over £565 burning a hole in her pocket.

Can she spend some of it in here?

MUSIC: My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion

Tell me a bit about this.

It was made by this enthusiast, this chap, who has completely

built it himself with its working steam engine inside.

This boat has been painstakingly made but with a £250 ticket price,

will thrifty Anita think it's worth the financial risk?

-I do like it. I'm sorely tempted.

-You can't lose money on that.

I know that I quite possibly could. It's a substantial buy.

-It's not a modest buy.

-I know, I know.

You wanted to come in and spend 30.

Clearly Greta's dealt with Anita before.

However, the fact that it's been made by an amateur

could decrease its value at auction significantly.

What is the very bottom that you would take for it?

220.

-I thought you were going to say 150.

-No, no, no, no, no.

-I can't be that much in loss.

-Would you take the 200 for it?

-I will.

-200, that's lovely. Thank you very much, Greta.

-You're very welcome.

-That's a great boat.

Brave move, Anita.

She's risking her lead by spending a huge chunk of her cash

on a bit of a gamble item.

Perhaps time to get back to some familiar ground, Anita. Jewellery.

-I was looking at this little brooch here.

-Isn't it sweet?

-That's nice.

-It's just a pity there's not a name on it.

-Is there no marker?

I don't see a sculptor's name on it.

I think this is quite a nice thing, Art Nouveau, and I love that period.

It's a piece of costume jewellery and I think it's very sweet.

Ticket price is £45.

Is 25...?

It's a bit low. I was thinking nearer 40.

-Well, if I could get even 32.

-Could you go to 30 for it?

-OK, then. Yes.

-Could we go to 30?

-Yeah.

For £230, Anita has picked up two items in this shop

and is on her merry way.

FERRY HORN BLOWS

David is taking the 35-minute ferry ride across the Firth of Clyde

to the beautiful Isle of Bute.

He's here to visit Mount Stuart,

one of the most spectacular Gothic revival buildings in Britain.

David is meeting Head of Collections, Alice Martin... Lucky old Alice.

-Hello, Alice.

-Hi, welcome to Mount Stuart.

..to learn more about this beautiful building and the incredible history

surrounding the family who created it.

Alice, this is some entrance hall, is it not? This is a house.

It is a house, yes. It climbs to about 89 feet.

Every house should have one.

It shows the stars in the northern hemisphere.

The house is the hereditary seat of the Crichton-Stuart family,

who share common ancestry with the Scottish monarchy.

So, how many generations, then, do the family go back here?

The family's involvement in the island goes right back to the 1300s.

The family were intertwined with the earliest of the Stuart's kings

so Walter, High Steward to the Scottish king,

married Robert the Bruce's daughter, Marjorie.

So, this family share common ancestry

with Bonnie Prince Charlie, Mary, Queen of Scots

and all of those great figures from Stuart royal history.

The house was originally built in the 1700s but burnt down in 1877.

The Third Marquess, thought at the time to be

the richest man in Britain, rebuilt it in the 1880s.

Unsurprisingly, no expense was spared.

This house is actually a phoenix that arose out of the ashes

and is estimated to have cost around £89 million in today's money.

Well, you would if you could, wouldn't you?

You would if you could.

When it was rebuilt, the finest craftsmen of the time

were brought in to replicate architectural marvels

from around the world.

Our floor in the marble chapel is a direct influence

from the Sistine Chapel, for example.

These banisters that you see around the gallery,

they're all exact replicas of Charlemagne's Palace

in Aachen in Germany.

All of the marble that you see around here is Italian and Sicilian.

He actually built a railway to bring all of the marble

from the pier down below the house up to the house

and built a worker's village for all the people that it took.

-It sounds like a movie, doesn't it?

-It is incredible.

-It's such a great script, that.

-It is a script.

The house also comes equipped with some great historical characters.

The Third Earl of Bute, who lived here in the 18th century,

was the first Scottish Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

He was also one of the founders of Kew Gardens

and his love of botany is believed to have stemmed

from the spectacular grounds here.

-OK, so this is our grand dining room.

-Grand dining room, indeed.

My gosh.

Where did the money come from?

A lot of the money that built this house comes from Wales and coal.

The Second Marquess had inherited through his grandmother,

Charlotte Jane Windsor, huge tracts of land in Wales,

and he, being an entrepreneur, the Second Marquess,

actually developed Cardiff from quite a small fishing village

into one of the largest coal-exporting cities in the world

by building massive docks, which were known as the Bute Docks.

With unlimited resources,

the house was equipped with all mod cons, such as ceiling lights,

and claims to have the first indoor heated pool in the world.

It was the most modern house in Britain.

Gosh, Alice.

I suppose this is a snapshot of absolute modern living...

-Absolutely.

-..for the very rich late-19th century family.

Yeah, yeah. I mean, if you had imagination and a lot of money,

you built one of these and, of course, being the first

that we know of in the world to be heated in a private home,

this is pretty unique. And it's just fascinating

cos this is obviously one of the parts of the house

that didn't get finished when the Third Marquess died in 1900.

-Sorry, the house was never finished?

-It's still a work-in-progress.

Whilst the family no longer live in Mount Stuart,

they are still dedicated to preserving

the Crichton-Stuart family history and the building,

now managed by the Mount Stuart Trust.

Thanks to them,

and not unlike Gaudi's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona,

work on this incredible building still continues today

based on its original designs.

Across the water,

Anita is in the traditional Scottish holiday resort of Largs.

Anita's catching up with yet another old pal at Narducci Antiques.

In spite of spending big in her first shop,

she's still got just over £335 left to spend.

Stand by, everyone.

I quite like this desk piece here.

It's a wee desk accessory and I suppose you would put

your papers and envelopes and so on in there.

Letters and envelopes, uh-huh.

And this would be where you would put your inkwells and a little...

-For your nibs.

-Nibs or stamps or whatever.

Probably... What would you say? Turn of the century?

-Turn of the last century, yes.

-Edwardian.

And these wee chookie birdies.

They're sweet, aren't they? Lovely.

This piece is fresh in today, so no ticket price.

Chance of a bargain, perhaps?

I'd like to be paying probably about £20 for it.

-I was thinking more of around the 45 mark.

-Could you come further down?

Could you come to 25?

-30, how does 30 sound?

-30 is sounding better.

Do you know, Franco, we're getting there?

-I see you winning this one, do you know that?

-Do you know? I do too.

28, Anita, how's that?

We're going to go for that. It's good at 28, but can I show you

-something else? Which is a wee bit mad...

-OK.

-..and you might

-just want to...

-Give you it.

-..get rid of it.

Another dealer who knows our wily Anita's ways.

So, that's one item down and another one still to play for.

Franco, I know this is a bit crazy but my eye was taken to this...

-For me, it's a little piece of sculpture.

-Uh-huh. Yes, it is.

It's quite an unusual piece, a wee centrepiece for a table.

-Uh-huh, for your candles.

-For your candles, yes.

When I looked at it, I thought, "Is it brand-new?

"Where does it come from? Is it just a piece of nothing, really?"

In the end, I didn't care because I liked it.

It reminds me of space travel and spaceships,

and surface of the moon, and Sputniks,

and all that sort of stuff.

This looks like a Christofle piece to me,

which could make it rather sought after.

For you, I'll do that for £25.

25?! Come on, Franco, you must know what you're selling here.

I would really like to be buying it for a tenner.

Try again. Try me again. Go on.

I'll throw a cuddle in.

-I'll throw a cuddle in if you say yes.

-15?

-Let's go for both of them.

-Thank you, thank you.

OK, thank you. Oh, Franco.

I say, Franco definitely deserves a kiss.

He's been incredibly generous there as Anita is about to find out.

It turns out that this is Christofle,

which is a good French make,

and Franco has just pointed that out to me.

He has also supplied me with the box for it

and, if I had known that beforehand... Franco...

You'd have paid me fortunes. You'd have paid me fortunes.

I would have paid you another £3.

Put it there, before you change your mind.

No, I'm not changing my mind. A deal's a deal.

That's unbelievably kind of you, Franco.

For £43, Anita walks away with a French centrepiece

and a fruitwood letter rack.

And that wraps up Day One.

Night-night.

It's the final day's shopping for our adventurous treasure hunters

and we're in Anita's hometown of Glasgow.

David is meeting Michael in the cosy Real Deal Antiques.

He's not hanging around, either.

A little tea caddy.

It's quite unusual to find these things

with their original little canisters in there.

This is a tea caddy dating to about 1820,

just after the Napoleonic wars.

-Tea used to cost a fortune, didn't it?

-Really, yeah.

300 years ago, one teaspoon would equate to the average wage

of a servant girl, so that is pretty expensive stuff.

This one's 1820, Regency, mahogany, sarcophagus shape.

Ticket price £25. Looks rough to me.

But those things, 20 years ago, in mint condition was £300.

Yeah, I can remember that.

In worn-out condition like that, a restoration piece, was 100.

-Now, it is a tenner's worth, isn't it? What is it?

-15.

Go on, then. Let's have that. It's a good start.

£15 for a Regency, 140-year-old,

thereabouts, tea caddy is absolutely ridiculous,

in the best possible way.

And if he can avoid knocking anything else over,

there's plenty more to see.

-What have we got here?

-Some bowling trophies.

I know this stand is silver-plate.

-Let's have a look. So, engraved 1975. Now, William Prout...

-Right.

..I think, was a trophy maker in Glasgow.

Ticket price is £35.

On a silver-plated stand.

Could it be reused as a trophy for someone else?

Well, it's nice to have a Glasgow

piece when you're in Glasgow, isn't it?

OK, well, it's silver but it's filled,

so it's very thin silver on a stand.

Is that 15?

Let me see it.

OK, we'll do that for 15.

Michael's obviously feeling generous

and that's another swift deal for the silver trophy.

Any more hidden treasure?

-Now that, I imagine, is a Henry Moore.

-Is it?

Well, if that was a Henry Moore, you and I would be retired, I think.

Well, in my view, it's got nothing to do with Henry Moore.

Anyway, the ticket price is £22.

Is that a five-pound note?

That's a good tenner's worth.

Go on, I'll give you ten quid for a Henry Moore.

Marvellous. I'm done. That's brilliant. I've bought three things.

-Right, OK.

-Thank you very much.

Let's get out before I smash something.

Quite right. That's a total of £40 for three lots. Good job.

Anita has crossed over to the south bank of the River Clyde

and the district of Govan.

She's visiting the eclectic Love Salvage,

with just under £300 in her pocket.

Go, Anita. Go, girl.

SHE LAUGHS

It's a laughing policeman.

-John!

-Yes?

-John, where did this come from?

You've got to tell me.

We got that a while back from another private dealer.

-It's papier-mache and some sort of fairground attraction.

-Uh-huh.

I quite fancy him.

Yes, does she love him enough to fork out some serious cash?

Remember, you've already taken a Titanic-size risk on this leg, Anita.

-Is this guy for sale?

-He is indeed.

-Everything's for sale.

-Everything's for sale.

-OK, darling?

-But for what price?

-He should be OK there.

Anita is way in the lead, but one wrong buy could cost her dearly.

-Tell me what you might look for him.

-He's priced about £60 just now.

-60.

-Yeah.

-It is just such great fun.

Would you take £40 for him?

-I could do him... 45 probably would be the best.

-45?

I'd be sad to see him go, but he has been here a wee while.

-Well, I think maybe he's got a new home then at 45.

-Fantastic.

Put it there, John. That's great, thank you.

-Thank you very much, Anita.

-You're coming home with me.

-And he's still smiling!

-He's still smiling.

And so is Anita.

Still in Scotland's largest city, David has one last shot to go,

and has just under £310 left to spend.

So, this is my last chance on this WHOLE trip to pull it back.

One more purchase and I can't go the safe route.

Can dealer John help him find that winning item?

Oh, John, here I am looking at a pair of Oriental vases.

I can sense myself getting into all sorts of trouble here.

Do you love them?

-Nope.

-You don't?

-No!

-Seriously? Why?

-What is wrong with you?

-The amount of damage.

That doesn't seem to be putting David off...

..neither does the ticket price of £220.

I can't help be drawn to them.

There you have a pair of monumental Japanese

late-19th century Meiji-period Satsuma vases.

A pair, John. What's wrong with you?

It's make or break. David needs to seriously think about this.

They're beautiful vases but severely damaged.

Can I buy them for sub £100?

-100 quid, cash.

-That's not sub 100.

No. 100 quid, cash.

OK, I'm probably the only person in the world that is very happy

to buy a pair of smashed Satsuma vases.

I'm going to have to have them. I love them so much I don't care.

-£100.

-Wish me all the luck.

-I certainly do, yes.

He's got an incredible 50% off his final item

and with that, our shopping for this trip is complete.

Alongside his risky buy of some bashed vases,

David picked up a a Strathearn lamp

a circa-1820s tea caddy, a silver bowls trophy

and a modernist golf trophy, spending a total of £220.

Anita adds the policeman's head to her giant risk

of the model of the Titanic

and her potentially valuable Christofle centrepiece.

She also bought an Art Nouveau brooch and a letter rack.

Anita spent a total of £318.

What do they think of each other's final purchases?

Now, this is where it starts to get serious - the Titanic model.

It's got bigness. It's a big baby that could make her a bit,

but I'm hoping... Please! ..it's going to lose her a bit.

The vases! These are massive. They are immense.

The damage is going to make a difference.

He's taken a chance. He's been brave but well done, David.

The last auction is finally upon us

and our dazzling duo are just outside Glasgow in the town of Paisley.

The auction today is online and in the room,

and is taking place at Collins & Paterson Auctioneers.

Wielding the gavel this morning is Stephen Maxwell.

-You're up first.

-I'm up first.

Calm yourself, David. First up, Anita's brooch.

Straight in at £12...

-Oh, good, I was going to get excited at that.

-I know.

..18, at 20 now is your bid, sir. At £20 has it.

I need a wee bit more.

At £20. Gone to number 289.

A disappointing start there for Anita and that was her safe item.

I feel fantastic. Absolutely... I'm ecstatic!

-Sorry, did I say that out loud?

-Not very sporting, David.

Will he be quite so smug after HIS first lot, the silver bowls trophy?

At 15, in at 15. 15, I have here.

Are you bidding? Oh, £18. 20.

-And 2, 22.

-Come on, come on.

We'll sell it, then, at £22... Gone there...

That's £7 on-paper profit.

Not a bad start for David,

though he's going to need to do better than that to catch his rival.

I'm getting there, Anita. I'm catching you. I'm catching you up.

Can his tea caddy shrink Anita's lead even more?

-How do you feel about that?

-Very confident.

It should double its money.

Any tea drinkers in today? Come on, now. £30, surely.

-At 20 then.

-Ugh.

At £20. Thank you, madam. £20 we have. Do I have 22?

22 at the back. 25?

-Got you now, sir.

-Go on!

-Still at 25.

-We'll sell it, then, at £25.

-A bit more!

-Gone there. It's 309.

-It's not double bubble, so I'm not happy.

Still, not a bad profit though, David.

Next, it's Anita's letter rack.

Thank you, sir. 25, I have straight in.

-28, £30...

-30.

-You're in.

..35, 38? The bid's now at the back. It's with the gent now at £38.

Gone there, 216. £38.

That's all right. Are you pleased with that?

-I'm happy.

-You've made back the loss.

-I'm delirious.

-Are you?

-I'm delirious.

-It doesn't take much, does it?

Apparently not. Another nice little profit.

Next up, it's David's Strathearn lamp that he fell in love with

-and rated so highly.

-Good Scottish glass lamp, this.

Start there at 20, surely? 20.

Thank you, sir. £20, we have. 20 bid.

Do we have...? 22 at the back. 25?

No, you're out, madam. With the gent at 25.

Do we have 28? It's with the gent there and we're selling...

-This is going to be horrible. No.

-Gone, 338. £25 there.

That's terrible. I knew it. I knew it.

But I loved it. What can you do? What can you do?

Well, bad luck, David. It's a big loss.

Just not what he needed in this all-important last auction.

-I'd buy it again.

-Would you?

HE SOBS

I bet you wouldn't.

Probably not. Next up, it's Anita's accidental great find,

a Christofle centrepiece.

She got this for a steal but will it live up to its potential?

I love it. It's modernist, it's French, it's, "Ooh, la, la."

It's got everything going for it.

-I'm starting on... OK, I'm actually straight in at £20...

-Unbelievable.

..on the candle holder. At 22, the gentleman. 25?

28. 30 and 2.

Now it's your bid, sir. It's in the room and 32 has it.

35, new bidder.

-38, 40...

-It's away!

-Well, I never. That's taken off!

..50, 5, 60, 5, 70, 5,

80, 5, 90, 5, £100?

-110, 120, 130...

-Crikey, and it's still going!

..170, 180, 190, 200,

210, 220, 230?

240, 250? 260, 270...

-I thought it would sell for a fiver.

-280!

-..290?

You're out. The bid's with the gentleman in grey.

We're selling to the room, fair warning to you, at £290.

-Gone. It's yours, sir. 290 there.

-Yes!

That's my Titanic then, isn't it? Never mind that thing.

That is unbelievable!

Unbelievable. It really was an incredible buy.

That amazing profit has now pushed Anita even further into the lead.

-Well, I must say that I'm quite happy about that.

-Happy?

-You should be doing the blinking cancan.

-The Highland fling?

Do that if you like.

Well, David, you've really got your work cut out now.

It's your modernist golf trophy up next.

£10 for the trophy. £10 surely for the trophy?

-£5...

-For goodness' sake!

Any advance on £5? 8, the lady now! £10.

-The lady of taste.

-Thank you, madam.

Are you back in at £12, no?

Yes, £12.

15. Still with the gentleman.

We're selling at £15. Gone there!

-Ugh! Disaster zone.

-You've made a profit.

A fiver. I need a lot more than that to catch you.

Anita's laughing policeman's head was an unusual pick.

Let's see how he does this morning.

Yes, a papier-mache fairground head of a laughing policeman, no less.

I never thought I'd say those words in an auction room.

Interesting lot. What can we say about it? Where would you start?

I have no idea. How about £20?

Yes, thank you, sir. Straight in at 20.

£20, we have. Do we have 22?

22, 25, 28, 30,

32, 35. For the same gent at 35.

Any advance? We're selling then at £35.

-Gone. Amazingly.

-Oh!

-140 at £35.

It was love at first sight for Anita,

but clearly not to the people of Paisley.

But her last item was the big gamble.

Time for Anita's Titanic model.

Will it sink or will it soar?

A lovely item, this.

I'm hoping it will sail away to somewhere nice shortly.

Hopefully profit.

£100. Thank you, sir. Gentleman has the bid at £100. 110 bid.

120, 130, 140, 150...

-The room's going quiet now.

-..160, 170. The bid's here at 180.

Are you bidding, sir, in white? 190, 200?

You're out. The bid's still in black. It's to my left

with the gentleman. Selling at £200.

-Gone. Number 67.

-Well!

£200 for the Titanic.

Wiped its face. Now, Anita must be massively relieved with that result.

Next, it's the final lot of the competition and it all rests

on David's beloved Meiji vases.

David might be behind but could this all be about to change?

-Start me at £100.

-Oh, go on.

-£100 surely for the pair.

Large vases, £100.

Go on! Ahem. Sorry, did I say that out loud?

I'll start, then. On commission I have £50 here

to start the lot at 50. Just a starting point. 50 is with me.

Do we have 5? 55 bid. £60?

-65, 70...

-Come on, come on...

-..75, 80?

You're out. Still with me at 80. It's on commission at 80.

Do we have 85? Still with me at 80. We'll sell them, then, at £80.

You won't. Don't sell them, don't sell them.

-Gone to number 30.

-Oh, no!

-Unbelievable.

-Aw.

Crikey, someone's got those for a bargain. Bad luck, David.

I don't care what you say,

you have absolutely thrashed me within an inch of my life,

so I think we should go and...

-Cup of tea, cake, regroup and do the figures.

-Uh-huh.

So, at the end of five incredible auctions, the results are as follows.

David started this leg with £429.84. After auction costs are deducted,

he made a loss of £83.06, meaning he ends this competition

with a respectable £346.78.

Anita started out with £565.25.

She's had another great auction today, making, after costs,

a profit of £160.06.

This means she's not just today's winner but also

the victor of this Road Trip,

with a spectacular final figure of £725.31.

Well done, Anita, and all profits go to Children in Need.

So, you know what? That's one each.

Several years ago, you and I hit the road and I beat you,

so I'm going to give you two or three years off

and I'm going to re-challenge you.

Be it on your own head!

As one road trip ends...

Another begins, and this time we're

coasting along with a freshly minted twosome,

Philip Serrell and Natasha Raskin.

When I found out I was working with you, Phil, I was a bit nervous.

What, really?

Yes, because your reputation goes before you.

Ha! It does indeed!

Philip Serrell is an august auctioneer based in Worcester,

who brings his many years of experience to the game.

-How old are you?

-28.

-Great.

-SHE LAUGHS

-How old are you?

Shut up.

Not to mention his sunny disposition.

Glaswegian Natasha Raskin is a relative newcomer to the Trip.

But this bright young auctioneer, specialising in contemporary

art, has already proved herself a very canny competitor.

Our duo are driving a delightful 1957 Porsche 356 coupe.

Delish!

Both of our experts begin this journey with £200 in their pockets.

On this epic road trip,

Philip and Natasha will journey from Narberth in Pembrokeshire, Wales,

covering several hundred miles to end

up in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England.

On this leg, they are winding through the Welsh countryside,

heading for auction in Cross Hands, in Carmarthenshire.

Right, Phil! Let's get this Road Trip a-going!

-Hi, you must be Peter.

-Good morning, Phil.

-Welcome to the Malthouse.

-Good to see you.

You've got some stuff in here, haven't you!

We are crammed with it, yes.

Certainly is. Full to bursting.

Oh, look out, he's on to something.

What on earth is that off? It's a measuring stick.

It's got on here, look - Bentley & Taylor, London.

So it's got to be quite a well-made thing.

Customs & Excise.

So this is actually...

It's got a brass cap down here.

This measuring stick, marked as being used by

Customs & Excise, is priced at £20.

Do you know what...?

I haven't got a clue what that is.

But I think that's quite fun.

So he's got the mystery measure in his sights and he's browsing on.

Hmm.

I don't think so, do you, Phil?

No, best not, but here is something more promising.

See, that's quite fun.

You know, this is a little miniature cricket bat.

Signed by the Australia cricket team 1956.

I mean, actually it's not signed

because these are all facsimile signatures. It's a transfer print.

That's a bit of fun, isn't it, you know?

15 quid. I've got a couple of cheapies I might be in for here.

Yeah, he has also spotted a ship's light,

probably dating from the early 20th century,

which is marked up at a hefty £95.

I think time for a sit down, Phil, don't you?

Your ship's light, has that been in long?

No. It came in two, three weeks ago.

What can you do on prices for me? What about the light?

The ship's light...

95 on...

I can treat you today and do it for 45.

-OK, would you mind getting the light for me?

-No, I'll do that for you.

I see no ships only hardships.

Let's hope it's not hardships for Phil.

What deal can they strike for all three items?

-I'm going to put these two in at a tenner each.

-OK.

-Ten, ten, 30. That's 50 quid.

-Yes.

-That all right?

-Yes, that seems reasonable to me.

-You are a gentleman, sir.

Thank you very much indeed. Thank you. Let me get some money out.

You better had. That's quite a deal.

All three items for a nice, clean £50.

Meanwhile, Natasha has driven on to the Pembrokeshire town

of Newport, where she is strolling off into the

Carningli Centre, a fine place to hunt for a special buy.

And she's soon spotted something that really fires up her interest.

-These are just so lovely.

-They've got to be Arts & Crafts.

It's a pair of early 20th-century firedogs,

used in a hearth to support firewood.

Sort of hand beaten. And then this lovely, typical Arts & Crafts motif.

And then a bit of a sunset or something in the top.

They are just lovely.

They are really, really nice. And they are only £30.

I'm getting the impression you quite like them.

I think I would like to have a punt at these.

Because they are really, really lovely.

Yes, time to talk to Anne then.

I suppose it's not really in my interest to say this, Anne,

but they are quite reasonably priced. I mean, £30 is the price.

Is there any movement on that?

-I could do them for 25.

-25.

Do you know what, Anne, I really think for the pair, 25 quid...

It's such a great deal. Can I please shake your hand on that?

-Lovely.

-I'm really, really grateful.

Deal done very decisively. And her first buy is in hand.

Now, Phil has travelled on to the village of Rhydowen.

He's strolling into Alltyrodyn Antiques,

where dealer Chris is on hand to help.

Oh, that's nice.

This is fun, isn't it?

BELL RINGS

I quite like that.

An old wooden till with working key and bell.

It probably dates from the early 20th century. And is priced at £60.

And there is another surprising item as well.

This is interesting, isn't it, Chris?

Because to the outside world,

-that looks like a small chest of four drawers.

-Yeah.

-But you and I know that ain't a chest of four drawers.

-We do.

It is, in fact, a commode.

Handy. It's mahogany and probably dates from the late Georgian period.

Ticket price is £35.

Its inner fittings have been removed, perhaps thankfully. Ha!

It could make a handy little firewood store.

Or be made into firewood.

That is just wonderful quality mahogany, isn't it?

It's lovely, yeah.

And that is just the finest woodworm you see. Can you see that?

-Yeah, I wouldn't bang that too hard.

-No.

He likes the till and the commode. So I feel a haggle coming on.

Come into my office, please.

Have a seat, please.

First, the till.

Go on, how much is it?

-40 quid.

-Behave!

-I'll give you 40 quid for it...

-Yeah?

But you've got to throw in the commode.

-No!

-I'll give you 40 quid the two.

-45.

-No, honestly, 40 is the end for me. It is the end.

-Go on, then.

-Are you sure?

-Yeah.

-You are an angel. Thank you very much indeed.

Let me get some money out.

Thanks to a very generous deal from Chris,

he's got another two items for £40.

The Silver Fox.

With that, a jam-packed first day draws to a close.

Night-night, Road Trippers.

Nothing will keep our energetic pair off the trail for long.

This morning they are in Trecastle.

Right, OK.

Which way? Oh, thank you so much.

They are clearly getting on well.

We'll see how long that lasts when there's bargains to be fought over.

They are heading into Trecastle Antiques Centre

and meeting dealers Margaret and Louise.

-Are they for sale or...?

-They are for sale.

Quite a collection of ladies' fans there.

-How much are these each?

-They are £15 each, Phil.

-That's beautiful, look.

-I know.

-I know.

Sounds keen. Looks like he's picked up his favourite from the bunch.

Something to keep in mind, no doubt.

-Yes, I will take care of them for you.

-Thank you very much.

Now keep browsing.

What's he got now?

Margaret, what's the national sport of Wales?

Rugby.

When in Wales...

It's a collection of 1970s Welsh rugby programmes.

-I was at that game.

-Were you?

-Yeah.

-There is no ticket price on them.

-So what could Margaret do?

How much for the lot?

20 quid.

That's the bargain of the day.

It might be, but Phil is looking for an even better deal on these

and the ladies' fans.

In my eyes...

I honestly think those have got to be 30 and those have got to be five.

That's what I really think, if I had the two. What do you reckon?

-Go on. We've had such fun.

-You are an angel, thank you very much.

Thank you, my love.

Good on you, Margaret.

That will keep Phil happy for a while at least.

Meanwhile Natasha is around here somewhere.

Oh, careful!

I don't know, this kind of section is quite good, actually,

because there is quite a lot going on.

There are really nice hand sickles down here as well.

A sickle is a hand-held tool for cutting a grain crops or grasses.

This set of three have a ticket price of £17.

And what's really nice is that Phil was telling me

in the car this morning that one of his items is riddled with woodworm.

And so is this one.

It says it has been treated but these too have woodworm.

Lovely.

So I don't know if maybe I just want to make Phil feel a little bit

more at home.

I'm not sure you're quite in the cut-throat spirit of this

competition yet, Natasha.

But the sickle's a definite possibility.

And on the rural theme...

I don't know why, but I really like this lawnmower.

And it does say on the label there that it is in working order.

I don't know if anyone would use it.

But for decorative purposes, it's great.

Yeah, have it in your lounge(!)

Why not? It dates from the late 20th century and the ticket price is £33.

Oh, something else now.

OK, this is a beautiful fireplace. That's really lovely.

Very nice indeed. Cast metal fireplace.

It's a late Victorian cast-iron fire surround,

complete with its original tiles.

It's £85.

It's £85.

In fact, the combined ticket price on the sickles, lawnmower

and fireplace is £135.

It's a little bit industrial, isn't it?

But I like it. No, I like it.

Time to speak to dealer Louise, then.

-If I make you an offer for the lot?

-Right.

I'm going to make you an offer of 100 quid,

-and if you think I've lost the plot, just tell me.

-OK.

-100.

Nice round number. Think of that. £100 in your hand. Today. Cash.

-Since it's you, we could probably squeeze to 100.

-Do you reckon?

-We could probably do that.

-You are acting on someone else's behalf,

-so I don't want to get you in trouble.

-No, I think that would be OK.

Crikey, that sudden flurry of impulse buying means Natasha

has another three lots.

Philip meanwhile is back in the car.

Having already bought all his items,

he is driving into the lovely Brecon Beacons National Park.

Near the village of Abercraf is Dan-yr-Ogof -

the National Showcaves Centre for Wales.

An extraordinary wonder of the natural world that was discovered by

two very courageous local farmers, the Morgan brothers, in 1912.

He is meeting the curator of the centre, Ashford Price.

-Hello, Phil.

-Ashford, how are you?

Welcome to Dan-yr-Ogof caves.

The cave system the Morgan brothers found here is now known to

extend at least 11 miles into the Earth.

And it's so vast that the outer limits are not yet known.

When they first found the caves, the brothers were looking for the

source of a river that flowed from the mountain, termed a resurgence.

In June of 1912, they actually went into the resurgence.

Literally by going in there.

They only went in there about a couple of hundred yards.

Just with candles. And one of them

found a little passageway leading off from the main river. Followed it.

And lo and behold, he didn't find the source of the river,

but he found some of the best caves probably in Europe.

With a little bit of trepidation, is it time to retrace some steps?

Yeah, I think so.

If it's any consolation, I've never lost a tourist yet.

You are in good hands then, Phil.

The Morgan brothers had no experience at all of caving

and ventured in with minimal equipment.

They came in the cave as complete novices,

not knowing what they were going to see

and certainly had no idea how long they would be underground.

So they came in with their ordinary suits.

They had a handkerchief tucked in. They had a their gold watch chain.

And also, which is amazing today, all they had with them

was literally a candle. Can you imagine?

Would you like to walk round this place on your own basically

just with a candle? They were exceptionally brave.

Cos if anything had happened to them on that first day,

nobody would have guessed as to where they were.

And certainly they would have just died in the cave.

It would have been a pretty grim ending.

What they were doing to try and get out, which is

-equally as important as coming in...

-Too right!

They would put a little arrow marks on what was then the sandy floor.

This was their only way actually of coming in and out of the cave.

On the second day, though, they got a little bit wiser

and they brought in some balls of string that they used on the farm.

And they tied it to where they actually entered the cave

and they ran out the string behind them as they went further

and further into the mountain.

I would have been absolutely terrified as to what was

-round the next bend.

-Well, I think they were also frightened

because as they went farther into the cave, one of them

actually took in, according to his diaries, his old ex-army revolver.

Despite their complete lack of experience and equipment,

the brave Morgan brothers managed to explore an extensive area.

They even used a small boat called a coracle

to cross the underground lakes.

Well, Phil, what do you think of that then?

This whole chamber is known as the Coracle Chamber.

It's about 40 foot high. Imagine finding that in 1912.

The Morgan brothers were responsible for discovering this

wonderful underground landscape, and their descendants,

of whom Ashford is one, still run the complex today.

Over the decades, other cavers have made greater

and greater advances through the stunning rock formations that have

been hewn over millennia by water passing over the limestone rock.

Experienced cavers are still discovering new

areas of the cave system.

Even with modern technology,

exploring underground can be dangerous

as rising water levels can cut explorers off,

temporarily depriving them of an escape route.

Cavers have been overdue. We've had a few cave rescues.

What do you mean by overdue?

They've had to spend a few nights in here.

That's a sobering thought.

In 1953, members of the South Wales Caving Club finally

discovered the area many consider to be the jewel of the Dan-yr-Ogof,

known as Cathedral Cave.

I don't think you see that in many places probably in the world.

Both the waterfalls there are about 40 foot high.

They lead onto vast cave systems left and right there.

You can imagine, Phil,

the vast amount of water required to make a cave passageway like this.

Obviously, a lot of this water came from all the various ice ages,

when, obviously, the planet was frozen.

It then thawed and, obviously, you had vast amounts of rainwater

coming through this area.

It is truly magnificent.

It doesn't matter how often I see it, I'm still impressed by this.

Thanks to the courageous efforts of the Morgan brothers,

the caves here can now be enjoyed by visitors who don't even have

to bring their own candle.

It is quite a magical place.

I'm feeling like Indiana Jones in here, you know?

-Where is that bit of string?

-We'll find it now. Come on.

Natasha has travelled on to Brecon,

to shop in Brecon Antiques Centre.

It's mostly glass, and it looks like one piece in particular

has grabbed her attention.

Look at that.

Is that not the most hideous thing that you have ever seen?

Well, it's not my style, but I'm sure someone would like it.

I think that I have to buy it.

Mm. Sensible reasoning.

It's marked up at £39,

but there's a 40% sale, making it £23.40.

Time for chat with Linton.

-This has to be the best thing I've ever seen.

-The magic slipper.

Linton is selling it on behalf of another dealer.

What do you think is the bare minimum?

18 to 20. But I think you might squeeze 18 out of him.

It has to be 18 quid for a Laguna glass boot vase.

It's the best thing I've ever seen. It's beautiful!

-OK, thank you so much. You are my prince.

-With pleasure.

And with that fairytale ending, they are all bought up.

Natasha bought the Arts & Crafts firedogs,

the three wooden hand sickles,

the mechanical lawnmower,

the cast-iron fireplace,

and the much-loved glass lady's boot.

She spent £143 exactly.

While Philip bought the Customs & Excise measuring stick,

the memento cricket bat,

the ship's light,

the till,

the commode,

the rugby programmes,

and the ladies' fans.

That little lot cost him £105.

So what do they think of each other's offerings?

I think Phil has done brilliantly. I think he is an absolute star.

I think my favourite item has to be the commode,

purely because we are in it together with our woodworm,

and I think it's going to be the battle of the woodworm.

I like to think that, you know, my influence has worn off on her,

because with those three sickles, we've got

all the true Serrell traits of rust and woodworm.

And I expect them to go in a similar fashion to my commode.

In a skip somewhere.

On this leg, they've travelled from Narberth, Pembrokeshire,

to auction here in Cross Hands, Carmarthenshire.

They are just arriving at Welsh Country Auctions, today's saleroom.

-Well, here we are. Are you ready?

-I'm ready. Are you ready?

Shall we go in arm and arm to our first auction?

That way, that way.

-This way.

-That way. Come on.

This bodes well.

Holding the gavel today is auctioneer Andrew Williams.

Right, let's get on with it then. The auction is about to begin.

First up, it's Philip's souvenir cricket bat, which he's placed

in a job lot with his collection of 1970s Welsh rugby programmes.

Five. Five pounds. At five.

-Eight. Ten. 12. 13.

-Yes!

The programmes are signed.

18. At £18. 20 in the back.

Two. 25.

At 25.

Any more? At £25.

On my right at £25.

BANGS GAVEL

Philip Serrell.

A decent profit for Philip.

-Well done. That's great.

-It's a profit, isn't it?

That's our very first profit.

You have started this auction with a bang.

Natasha now with her Arts & Crafts firedogs.

Ten I'm bid. At ten pounds.

At ten for the pair.

At ten. Ten pounds. 15.

20. At 20.

Five. 30.

Five.

At 35 for the pair. I thought these would have made more.

-At £35.

-No!

-BANGS GAVEL

-35.

-LAUGHING:

-They could have done better.

We just seem to be nerdling away at ten-pound notes here, don't we?

That strong start has Natasha now neck and neck with Phil.

Next, it's Philip's vintage till,

selling in a job lot with his Customs & Excise measuring stick.

-Rostrum bid to start. At 20.

-He's got 20.

-Five.

-Yes!

30.

Two. 35.

At £35. Let's have another ding.

38. 40 in the back.

At 40. Two. 45.

50. At 50.

Is it going to be another tenner?

-BANGS GAVEL

-50.

THEY LAUGH

It's £10 profits all round today.

I saw a lady over there, and she'd only got one glass left boot on.

-So you never know. If it's the right size...

-I'm glad she came.

Mind you...

There was a pumpkin and some wild mice out the back as well.

-Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo.

-Pardon?

SHE LAUGHS

You might have guessed. It's Natasha's glass boot now.

20 I'm bid. Rostrum bid to start.

-At £20. £20 bid.

-At 20. No, he doesn't.

-The glass boot at 20.

-He actually has that?

25.

30. At 30.

At 30.

-And five now? £30.

-I've made 12 quid thus far.

At 30.

-BANGS GAVEL

-30.

Someone does take to it. A surprise success for Natasha.

That was unbelievable. How did he...?

This is the best auction house in the land.

Now let's see if Phil's ship's light can illuminate proceedings.

-£20.

-That is sexy. £20 bid.

25. 30.

Five. 40.

Five. 50.

We're off to the races.

60.

Five. At £65.

-Hell yeah!

-65.

-Last call then at £65.

-Off the rocks anyway.

BANGS GAVEL

You are a legend.

Ha! Some might say.

And with that, Phil has now taken the lead.

So it's Natasha's mechanical mower next.

20, one of you?

Oh, go on! Why not?

Won't get a better cut than with a nice old push mower.

-At £2.

-Two?

-It's got to be sold.

-Why are they laughing?

At two. Five. At £5. At five. That was a lucky escape.

-This is terrible. They are laughing.

-Eight.

Yes, it's not usually a good sign.

At ten pounds. At ten. Save on your electric as well.

-Oh, no.

-Ten pounds here.

-Oh, no.

-At the end of the row then.

BANGS GAVEL

Oh, Phil! Oh...

The saleroom doesn't take to it. Bad luck.

Will Philip's ladies' fans fare any better?

Ten I'm bid. At ten. £10.

15 for the fans. 20.

Five. 30.

Five. 40.

Five. 50.

-And 60.

-Oh!

-I'm very surprised.

-70.

80. There's quite a few of them in there.

-We're back at £80.

-Yes.

-Once, twice.

All done at £80.

-How good is that?!

-That's a real result, isn't it?

SHE LAUGHS

Go and get one quick and fan me.

Blow me down! Philip is now a real contender.

It's Natasha's big chance to shine with her cast-iron fire surround.

-Pretty surround. At 20.

-Oh, no.

At five anywhere now?

-Oh, no.

-Going to sell it then. At £20.

25. Here comes the rush. 30.

35.

At 35. Lost you in the back now.

SHE GROANS

Bids behind me. At £35.

BANGS GAVEL

-Oh, that's soul destroying.

-I think you were unlucky with that.

-Oh.

So sweet. An unlucky loss.

-You live, you learn.

-Yeah.

-I'm in Wales.

I'm learning how the Welsh do it now.

So what will the Welsh saleroom make of Philip's

woodwormed commode? Holy Moses.

Wherever you would like to start. A reasonable offer?

Reasonable offer of...

20 I'm bid. At 20.

Quick, before they change their mind.

A little Georgian commode. At 20. Five. At 25.

Don't tell him to put the hammer down, it's going up.

No, no. They might change their mind.

At £25. All done? No more?

Last call at 25.

BANGS GAVEL

You are schooling me today.

You are schooling me today.

25 quid for that.

Ha! A very respectable outcome for Philip.

How do you feel?

Uh, I feel lucky.

And so you should, Philip.

One final lot now - Natasha's hand sickles.

Perhaps there is a woodworm collector in the crowd.

-Ten pounds for the three.

-Yes, come on!

Someone go ten.

Ten I'm bid. 12.

15.

18. At £18.

At 18 right down the centre.

-It's better than I thought.

-21 now?

-At £18 for all three. No more?

-BANGS GAVEL

-Yes.

-That's really good.

Very respectable.

I'm quite happy with that. I'm really pleased for you.

And I've really enjoyed our morning in Wales.

-It's been good fun, hasn't it?

-Yeah. Yeah.

Aw, aren't you two sweet?

So it's time to tot up the totals.

They both began this leg with £200.

Rather bad luck meant Natasha lost £38.04

after auction costs are deducted,

which means she has £161.96 to carry forward.

While Philip played a stormer,

making a profit of £75.90 after costs.

So he has £275.90 for the next leg.

-Thank you very much.

-Well...

-Very well done, Phil.

-Well, a bit of luck, but I tell you what, loser drives.

-Loser drives!

-I was going to say the winner drives away.

-No, the loser drives.

Loser drives. I'm up for it if you are.

And so, until next time, bon voyage!