Episode 3 Antiques Road Trip

It's the nation's favourite antiques experts.

-That's cracking.

-With £200 each...

Wonderful!

..a classic car and a goal, to scour Britain for antiques.

-That's exactly what I'm talking about.

-I'm all over a shiver!

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

-No-brainer!

-Going, going, gone.

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

-So, will it be the high road to glory...

-Push!

..or the slow road to disaster?

How awfully, awfully nice.

This is Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

Welcome to the final leg of our trip in a Triumph Spitfire

with Anita Manning and Raj Bisram.

This car reminds me of you, Anita.

A nice, small, sporty little number.

Oh, that's me!

Our convertible companions, auctioneers both,

are currently in the Kent countryside.

Home turf for one of the pair.

And all Kentish men are handsome, just like yourself.

Let it go!

When not flirting or behind the wheel,

they've been piling up some tidy profits - with Raj,

on only his second outing, doing awfully well.

-Deal?

-A deal.

-Fantastic.

You're £650, just about.

That could be a winning score over and over again.

If somebody hadn't made £3,800 on an Eastern deity.

No, we mustn't forget that, must we, Anita?

Yes, I was just getting around to

Anita's historic achievement at the last auction,

when this little fellow,

bought for £50,

sold for a record-breaking...

3,800.

Yes!

Whoa!

The Road Trip's never seen anything quite like it.

Raj has so far grown his £200 stake

to a highly laudable £632.48.

While Anita, who began with the same sum, now has a mighty £3,543.82

secreted somewhere in the Spitfire.

I bet it's under her seat.

After kicking off in Cambridgeshire, at Wisbech,

they'll chart a course through most of south-east England,

before turning north to Bolton, Lancashire.

And today, we begin in Kent, at Headcorn,

and finish up almost 300 miles away at the final auction in Bolton.

So, does the Raj revival start on this very spot?

There's no need to wish me luck. I'm going to need a miracle today.

-He's got a point.

-Cheerio, Anita. Have a lovely day.

-Hello!

-Hello, good morning.

-I'm Raj.

-I'm Shirley St James, welcome.

-Hello, Shirley. Can I call you Shirley?

-You can, by all means.

-Lovely to meet you.

-So, he'll be calling her Shirley, then.

And she'll be calling the dealer if he finds something he likes.

Hmm.

-Nothing in here, is there?

-Not just yet, Shirley.

I've spotted something that I like the look of.

It's a silver spectacle case

and I just think it's a little bit unusual.

-Shirley?

-What have you found?

I like this spectacle case, the Victorian one.

-Can I have a look at that?

-Sure.

Not only is it a spectacle case,

but it's actually made to fit on a lady's belt as well.

-Because that would have been...

-That's right.

It would have gone on the belt as well.

Oh, suits you, sir!

-Would you know what the best could be on that?

-We've got 59.

-I can make a phone call.

-All right, if you'd have a word?

-I will.

-Around the 25, £30 mark, OK?

-OK.

Bit of a gap, then.

What can Shirl the Pearl come up with?

30 is the very best, I'm afraid. It's the death.

Could be the death of me! OK, but, yes, I think it's worth every penny.

-So, shall we shake on that?

-OK.

-Thank you.

-It's a deal.

It SHIRLEY is! Oh, gosh.

Meanwhile, Anita has ambled her way to Lenham,

where the Corner House awaits - and it's not a pub.

-Hello!

-Hi. My name is Anita.

-I'm Lynne.

-Lynne...

what an extraordinary building!

Yes, it's a beautiful building.

15th century, Grade II* listed.

-Wow.

-Careful, Lynne. She might make you an offer.

She's got enough cash to buy the freehold.

Wow, we've got a bit of everything here.

What we have here is a piece of post-war 20th-century design.

This table is made of plywood and plywood was a material

which was used in the minimalist 20th-century design,

most successfully by Charles and Ray Eames.

Not brothers, as you might assume,

but an American husband-and-wife team.

Classic! Could it be one of theirs?

There's no maker's name - what a shame.

It's not by Eames but it's in the style of Eames.

It's priced at £125 and I think that that's not too bad.

Lynne?

I've kind of been swept off my feet by 20th-century design

-in your 15th-century antique shop.

-Right.

It's priced up at 125.

I think probably best price on that would be £90.

90? I'm going to go for it.

Thank you very much on that.

Great start, and she's not hanging about.

Look at her move, eh?

Magic.

-Can I have a wee look at this? Is it bronze?

-Yes.

She's a bit saucy.

Just a little!

She's lying on this sumptuous tiger skin.

I think that she is from the 1920s.

She's a bonny lass.

Cheeky!

It's priced at £250. Is there movement on that?

-Yes, very best price would be 200.

-Mm-hm.

I do like it but I think, actually,

there has been some repainting of the eyes.

190.

That's great, absolutely fabulous. I love that.

This is brisk.

I noticed these crazy little decanters here.

-They look like a bit of fun.

-Yes, indeed.

I think they would go terrifically well with my table.

They're priced at 24.

-Is there something we could do on that?

-£20?

It's a deal.

So, three rapid deals for a nice round £300.

Hang on to your bonnets!

Anita's definitely loosening those purse strings.

She's strong too. As for Raj...

I'm not really a jewellery buyer

but there's a really nice-looking string of pearls down there,

and pearls were so out of vogue

but I honestly believe that they're coming back.

Sounds like fun.

Freshwater, eh? Priced at £75.

They're lovely.

Look at those.

Us girls are all wearing them now, you know?

I quite like these, I think they're little bit different.

They've got a nice gold clasp as well.

Oh, it's in the original box!

Yeah, can we see what they do? I'll give you those.

It's a bit of a risky one, but hey-ho.

Quite. Imminent defeat can have that effect.

Now, where have we got to?

-No? Could I have a word with her?

-Raj dives in.

What about splitting it with me and we do 40?

You sure? OK, thanks a lot. Thank you.

We've agreed on 40.

So, that's £70 in total for the pearls and the spectacle case.

But while Raj goes looking for more...

..Anita's taking a break,

journeying across the North Downs to Canterbury where she's come

to find out about the city's history of pilgrimage from guide Hugh Elsom.

-Hello! I'm Anita.

-How do you do?

Welcome to the Canterbury Heritage Museum.

Founded in the year 597,

Canterbury Cathedral was already a hugely significant Christian site

when, in the Middle Ages, the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket

by the King's men made Canterbury known throughout the world.

Here, we've got a 60-foot frieze

which shows the story of Thomas Becket.

If we go through here, we can actually see some of the relics

that the pilgrims would have actually used

when they came to Canterbury.

Soon after his death, Becket was canonised

and within a very few years, the faithful had begun

making their way to the shrine of a saint and martyr.

So, here we've got a lovely collection of the badges

that pilgrims would have purchased

when they visited places of importance,

and these ones are all related to Canterbury

and many of them would have depicted

something to do with Thomas and his murder.

His cult would attract millions to Canterbury

and help to create the city we see today.

But who was Thomas Becket and why was he murdered?

He was the son of a fairly wealthy merchant in London.

But he was recognised at an early age by the then Archbishop,

Theobald, as being very bright and very intelligent.

And the Archbishop introduced him to the new, young King Henry II.

They became friends and political allies.

And Thomas became the King's Chancellor.

That appointment on January the 1st 1155

seemed like a shrewd political move.

The King was engaged in a power struggle with the Church

and as his Chancellor, Becket would ensure that Henry got his way.

-So, the church was a law unto itself at that time?

-Yes!

If a person was charged with a crime and they claimed

what they call benefit of clergy,

they could be tried by the church court

and their sentence was much, much more lenient than the King's,

and that really was the basis of the problem.

When the old Archbishop died,

the King decided to go even further and replace him with Becket,

despite him not even being a priest at that time.

But as soon as Thomas becomes Archbishop,

he had a change of heart and basically, he said,

"No, you're not having the power."

That meant that the two people began to argue and eventually,

the whole thing gets totally out of control.

Becket was even forced into exile for several years.

But although a truce was agreed in 1170, the rift remained.

Later that year, four knights who'd witnessed the King raging

about his Archbishop decided to take matters into their own hands.

The monks realised Thomas was in danger,

so they tried to get him into the cathedral.

The knights followed him in, they all lost their tempers

and they eventually clubbed him to the ground and eventually killed him

by chopping the top of his head off.

This was a horrific murder.

Tell me, how did the country react to this?

The ordinary people, well,

they didn't really know what was going on anyway.

But within the hierarchy and the papal courts, yes,

it was considered quite dreadful.

But that might well have been that, had it not been

for the unusual events which followed Thomas's death.

The first miracle was recorded within three days,

which was a woman of Canterbury who was blind got hold of

a piece of Thomas's cloak covered in his blood,

wiped her eyes, she could see.

They declared it a miracle.

And then, lots of miracles were all attributed to Thomas very quickly,

so within months of the murder,

numbers of people are coming to Canterbury.

And it reaches such a situation that Thomas, within three years,

was canonised, or made a saint.

What were the consequences for Canterbury?

Canterbury had always been a city of pilgrimage but over the centuries,

millions, literally millions, of people are coming to Canterbury.

Thanks to Becket's murder, the city became wealthy.

And the Church remained very powerful,

with the King forced to atone for his part in events.

But over 350 years later,

Henry VIII struck back when, during the Reformation, he ordered

that the shrine be destroyed and the bones within it burned.

These are capitals from this tomb found in a river

and this is probably all that we have left of this enormous tomb.

And these are a wonderful rose-coloured marble?

It's a special rose-coloured marble, which apparently was imported.

It indicates his martyrdom.

Hugh, this has been a fascinating story.

Thank you so much for sharing it with me.

-My pleasure.

-It's been lovely.

Meanwhile, back in the country - ooh-arr! - whither Raj?

Off to the village of Bethersden, of course,

where they have a barn that needs looking into.

-Hello, ladies.

-Hello.

-How are you?

-Hello, I'm Debbie.

-Hi, I'm Raj.

-Hello, Raj, I'm Jenny.

-Hello, Jenny, nice to meet you.

-And you too.

Right, Raj, you've got work to do. So go, boy, go, go.

Can you believe it?

This is a late 19th, early 20th-century wooden figurine

of a smiling Buddha.

Also with carved coins around the side here.

It's got a little bit of age to it.

There seem to be some worm bites underneath here.

It's only £18 on the ticket.

-Jenny?

-Yes, Raj.

I quite like the look of this Buddha.

I can phone the dealer for you.

What I'd like to know is what the very best on it is. Put it this way.

If we can do it in coins, I'd be grateful, OK?

-I'm not sure about that but I'll have a go for you.

-OK, thank you.

It's unlikely that success will strike twice, Raj,

whatever you get him for.

He's £18. And he'd like it for pennies.

THEY LAUGH

Tenner.

It's a deal.

Everybody's happy.

I've got to spend some money.

That's the idea.

This is one of my favourite type of pieces -

it's an old spice tin and it's got on here cinnamon, ginger, mace...

And that's a really pretty 18th-century spice tin

but at £78, I think it's probably the right price.

Not for taking to auction, though, eh?

If that was put into auction, it's going to be estimated £30 to £50.

Right, well, that's quite a whack off the actual price.

It is, but, you know...

Let me phone Lynne and see what she'll do for you.

So, while Jenny makes the call,

Raj looks like he's about to follow in Anita's footsteps again.

She's already made a profit on a globe.

Raj, I've got Lynne on the phone.

-Er, Earth to Raj?

-Oh, yes.

-£60.

-No.

-No?

-Nowhere near.

-I've got Raj for you!

Lynne.

It's a risky one for me.

How about we split the difference and call it 35?

Thank you so much! Thank you so much.

So, so much.

For a grand total of £45,

Raj has acquired this smiling chap and a spice box.

Well, it's been a busy old day, and time for a well-earned rest.

So, nighty-night, chaps.

We're out in the countryside for one last day of shopping.

Look at that, a rabbit! Or is it a hare?

Raj, we do get rabbits in Scotland.

Certainly do rabbiting on.

Later, they'll be making their way up north

for an auction at Bolton,

but our next stop is the village of Elham.

This is an Aston Martin.

This is a James Bond car!

I wonder if I could afford it.

I could just see myself as Miss Moneypenny,

or Pussy Galore!

More like Goldfinger on this trip, Anita.

Hi, I'm Anita.

Hello, I'm Julian. Welcome to Elham Antiques.

It's lovely to be here. Fabulous stuff!

There's plenty to tempt our record-breaker

in this establishment.

Look at that.

This is quite an interesting and unusual umbrella stand.

And if I look at the back, I'm looking for

a lozenge which will tell me that it is made by Coalbrookdale.

Yep, and there it is.

And I'm very happy about that because Coalbrookdale

was a quality, quality item.

Probably dating from about 1840 to 1870.

The piece is called Boy With Serpent.

Now, there is a loss here,

but this piece has so much charm.

Ticket price is £175.

Stand by, Julian.

I'm hoping that because some huge bird has come down and pecked...

-The head off.

-..the head off the snake,

that you might be able to give me a little discount.

-I'm sure we can.

-What's the very best you can do?

It's got 175 on it.

It could be 125.

-125.

-You've got to make money on that.

Put it there. That's great. Oh, he's terrific!

Three figures for the second time on this leg, eh? Anything else?

What a sweet little thing!

It's a little miniature Regency tilt-top table

which has been inlaid to form a chessboard.

There has been some damage and there's some restoration underneath

but it's not bothering me one jot.

This is the type of thing

that a chess player will fall in love with.

Reassuringly expensive, Anita. And let's see what Julian can do.

I quite like this.

It could be - give you a chance - £180.

-180?

-Yeah.

-Mm-hm.

-I'm so tempted.

-I'm sure there's a profit in that.

-You think so?

-Yeah.

-Aye, let's go for it! I like it!

-OK. Well done.

That's terrific.

I wonder if I could checkmate Raj

with this little chess set.

Beware the black queen, eh?

Elsewhere, Raj has one last chance to catch Anita.

He's heading for Folkestone with over £500 in his wallet.

-Hi there.

-Hi, Raj, nice to see you.

-And your name is?

-Paul.

-Paul, nice to meet you.

-Welcome to Rennies Seaside Modern.

-Thank you.

This isn't your average antique shop either,

because they specialise in 20th-century British design.

What's the most expensive antique that you've got in here?

Er, this wardrobe by Gordon Russell from 1923.

It's design number seven.

-Oh, is it?

-Yeah.

-There we go.

-And how much are you selling that for?

Well, we'd like £12,500 for it.

Wow!

Unlucky, Paul. Wrong expert for you today.

Raj has a more modest outlay in mind.

It's got a bit of sparkle to it.

-It needs a bit of a clean-up.

-It does need a bit of a clean.

Paul, I really like this garnet brooch.

-I know you've got £45 on it - can I make you an offer?

-Go on.

-£20.

-I'm sorry, I can't do that.

-But if I go to 25, what do you say to that?

-Go on, then.

-OK, lovely, let's shake hands on it.

-All right.

-Thank you very much, Paul.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

That's all, folks...stone...

with Anita on the way to the hamlet of Smeeth and her very last shop.

Not your average retail outlet, though, by any means.

-Richard?

-ANITA LAUGHS

-Sorry about that.

-Richard, I'm Anita.

-Hi, Anita.

This is a true restorer's workshop.

The smells are so exciting.

-The varnish, the shellac.

-Smells good.

-I want to buy some antiques.

-Let's go and sell you something.

Ah, there's nothing quite like a dingy storeroom

to gladden the heart.

Have a little look around, see what you can find.

Good luck in there, Anita.

I've found a croquet set that is probably one of Richard's projects.

The contents are all there -

we have the croquet sticks, we have the hoops,

we have all the original balls.

Now, I'm sure that if Richard worked on this,

he could make it a thing of absolute and total beauty,

but he hasn't started yet, and he's got hundreds of other things to do.

So maybe he would be interested in

selling this one to me for a good price.

Still after the very best deal, I see, despite her squillions.

-Richard!

-Yes, Anita.

-I've found a croquet set.

-What have you found?

-Yes, you have.

-And I think it's a big restoration project for you.

You know it is, you can see, but it's so wonderful and original.

What's your price on that?

I would like £150 for this.

I'd love it if the box was in better nick

and I'd love it if I had a maker's name.

What's the very, very best you can do?

-£125.

-£125! 125...

Yeah, it's a good price, Anita.

-Let's go for it, that's great.

-I think there's a profit in there.

She's into three figures yet again.

So, with those final buys wrapped up,

let's take a peek at what they'll be bringing to auction.

Anita spent £730 on a croquet set,

a cold-painted bronze figurine, chess table,

an umbrella stand, and a joint lot of cocktail set and coffee table.

Raj parted with £140 for a pearl necklace, a Buddha,

a spice tin, a garnet brooch

and a spectacle case,

with which he may make a spectacle of himself. Ha!

So, who did good - or best?

The Coalbrookdale stick stand - I love it!

I think she's made a fantastic buy at that price.

He's taking a leaf out of my book with the Buddha.

He paid £10 for it!

And that's probably all it's worth!

Oh, yeah? After setting off from Headcorn in Kent,

our experts are now making for their final auction

in the Lancashire town of Bolton.

The scene for the final showdown is Bolton Auction Rooms.

-Last one, Raj.

-Last one, yeah.

I wonder what auctioneer Harry Howcroft thinks

will wow the Boltonians.

The nicest thing is the spice tin.

Maybe not the most expensive thing in the sale, but it's a nice patina.

We love this and we'll get that away.

The cast-iron figurine of infant Hercules.

Nice looking thing. It has got issues.

OK, here we go, then.

Our first lot is Anita's croquet set.

-£34, we've made 34...

-£34!

-£34 bid.

-With me, on commission...

-I've 36.

-36, I've got...

-Oh, the internet.

-Here we go.

40, 42, 44,

46, 48, 50, 52 takes me out.

Are we all going to finish at 52? 52, back of the room at 52...

-HAMMER BANGS

-Aw!

-Thank you.

A great bargain for some lucky malleteer!

Let's hope that whoever's bought it

-will get it restored and play with it.

-I'm sure.

-Yeah.

-I'm sure.

Raj took a bit of a gamble on these pearls.

-£42.

-£42!

-I've 44.

-44, I've got 46 with me.

I just need it to get up to the thousands.

-I've got 50 with me, 55 anywhere?

-55!

-55, 60 anywhere else?

-All done, then.

-Very cheap.

-55...

Yeah, yeah.

It's a profit, it's a profit.

No doubt about that - he's just got a wee bit closer.

Well done, darling, well done.

Time for Anita's slightly saucy cold-painted bronze.

-44.

-Oh, got a long way to go.

-46, I've got 48...

-55!

-Takes me out...

Internet's taking over, internet's going. Good.

75, 80, 80, 85...

It's going now, it's going now, it's going, it's going.

-It's got a long way to go.

-On reception at £85? All done at £85...

-HAMMER BANGS

-Aww, jeezo!

I've just lost 100 quid on that one.

Yep, cos it's modern. Spoken like a woman who can afford it, though!

-And she had such a nice wee bum!

-Yes!

Bum job, more like it! Now, Raj and his garnets.

I've got a commission bid of 22.

-Is there 24 anywhere else?

-24!

Yes, keep going, keep going. It's cheap.

-I've got 26 for me on commission. £26 on commission.

-Still cheap.

28 anywhere? All done at 26...

-HAMMER BANGS

-Ah...

A moral victory at least.

You were going in the right direction.

Now, calling all grand masters - Anita's chess set is next.

£22 with me on commission. 24, anyone?

22 - you'd expect a little bit more than that. It'll go, it'll go.

-Takes me out...

-30, 32...

Yeah, internet buyers. They're bidding it up, here we go.

38...

We've 38 on the internet at the moment.

40 now in the room, it's in the room at 40...

Don't worry, don't panic. Look, it's going in the room, it's in the room.

£50 bid, 55, 60...?

-No? £55 bid...

-I think I'm going to burst out greetin'!

In the room at 55...

-HAMMER BANGS

-Oh!

First croquet, now chess -

sport just isn't paying for our Anita today.

-You're now giving me a chance.

-All right.

I might be able to win this leg, OK?

Come on, make it SPEC-tacular!

44 with me, is there 46 anywhere?

We're into profit already.

46, 48, £50, 55, 60,

55 with me.

With me, then, at 55...

-HAMMER BANGS

-Well done.

I'd say he's odds on to win this auction at least.

Well spotted!

THEY LAUGH

Can Anita finally make a profit with this joint lot?

24, 26, 28, £30...

This'll go up, this'll go up, here we go.

36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48...

Gent's bid at £50.

55, 60, 65, 70, 75?

No? £70 bid. Are we all done and finished? £70.

In the room, then, at 70...

-HAMMER BANGS

-Ah-ha-ha-ha!

Oh, well, she's got an awfully big nest egg to fall back on.

I think I'm still a wee bit ahead of you.

I think you might be a little wee bit ahead, OK?

Raj's bargain spice tin is next to go.

£42...

-Oh, excellent!

-At 42 with me on commission, at £42.

-That's spicing up your profits!

-46 with me on commission.

With me, then, at 46...

Another profit! Well done, Raj.

Oh, I think you're making up on me.

Oh, yeah, you must be worried by now, I'm sure(!)

Now, come on, Bolton! Let's get Anita a profit!

£70 bid in the room.

-Yeah, you'll still do it...

-80?

85, 90?

95, top it up. Top it up.

£100 bid. Is there 110 anywhere? 110. 120.

-130 in the room...

-130! Profit, profit!

At £150. Are we all done and settled at £150?

-HAMMER BANGS

-Yes! I'm happy with that.

Who knows what it might have made completely intact?

Here it is, then, Raj's game-changer.

Around £2,500 should do it.

-There's a little bit of interest, I can go in at £12.

-£12?!

You're in profit!

14 now, 16, 18, 18 takes me out, at £18...

-£18, that's OK.

-..20 now...

20? Oh, my goodness.

I've got a 20 bid, gent's bid at £20, 22 now...

-22!

-£24 bid.

All done, then? Gent's bid at 24...

-HAMMER BANGS

-Well done!

-It doubled its money.

You see, it brought a smile to folks' faces, and they wanted it.

They couldn't help themselves.

But despite Raj's best efforts,

the day and this Road Trip are all about Anita.

Anita has actually got the record-breaking profit on

Antiques Road Trip.

So we'd just like to congratulate her on that one.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Bravo! Well done, Anita.

Raj started out with £632.48.

And, after paying auction costs, he made a profit of £28.92,

leaving him with a total of £661.40.

Anita began with £3,543.82.

And she made a loss, after costs, of £392.16.

But she still got a bunch of flowers, and she's still our winner.

All profits go to Children In Need.

This trip has made history. You have made history.

-You are the Queen of the Road Trip.

-I'm lost for words!

And that doesn't happen very often!

Too true. We wave a sad farewell to one Road Trip,

but to keep our spirits up, along comes a brand-new adventure with

Derbyshire dandy Charles Hanson and the ever-jolly James Braxton.

Hey, nice hat. Is that one of mine?

Do you prefer Jim or James?

James.

-Jimbo?

-James.

James. Right.

Are you a Jamie?

No, I'm not a Jamie.

-OK, sorry!

-I'm James!

-OK.

Antiques expert Charles has a keen eye for spotting top lots,

and unfortunately, a hand for breaking a few, too.

Look out.

Look at these beautiful lug handles. Oops!

That's just become detached!

Oh, lordy! His rival on this journey is esteemed auctioneer James,

who's a lover, not a fighter, when it comes to the Road Trip battle.

I like to leave as friends, Mike!

I don't want to leave as an enemy.

I should hope not.

Starting this trip with £200 each, the boys will be taking to the road

in this 1964 DKW 1000 coupe,

which was manufactured in West Germany at a time

before seatbelts were mandatory - got it?

Don't you truly feel,

having hunted hard on the Road Trip for many years,

to come to Scotland, it really is a Holy Grail

-for the Antiques Road Trip?

-It is.

-The Scottish leg is what we all lust and hunger for, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Yes, it is indeed.

Beginning in the Highlands,

Charles and James will journey all over bonnie Scotland,

taking in the north-east and central belt, before finally finishing

across the border in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

This leg will kick off in Dingwall,

before ending up in Aberdeen for auction.

Charles will be kicking off the buying today, so watch out.

Fantastic, James, isn't it?

-This is where it all begins.

-Is it?

-Right, good luck.

-I'm off, James.

-Good luck.

All the best. Have a good day.

-See you later.

-Bye!

And off to the Objet d'Art.

It's a big shop with five rooms to explore

and the man in charge is William.

Looks like he could be Charles's dad.

-Good morning.

-Charles, good morning. How are you?

Absolutely splendid. Yourself?

-What a wonderful drive!

-Brilliant.

My eyes are going everywhere, because I can see you've got

a really good, varied mix.

I can also see this big...

What beast is that?

That's a Highland coo.

-Coo? Which is a cow.

-It is.

But you call it a coo?

-It's a Highland coo.

-OK, got it. I'm learning all the time in Scotland!

You are, indeed. Absolutely.

Every day's a school day, Carlos,

but it looks like something more familiar has caught your eye.

In this cabinet, here,

are a lovely, lovely pair of vases.

What, you say?

Yeah, I know.

You're from Derby!

Look at those flowers! Hand-painted in that rich, Regency spirit

of circa 1810. Look at these beautiful lug handles...

Oops! Hell...

Charles!

It was stuck,

and the handle, like on the side of a cliff,

has just become detached, so...

-William?

-Yes?

Just a quickie.

I was just handling the vase...

Don't worry.

..and the handle has just became just detached.

It'd been restored, hadn't it?

-Fine, yeah. That's fine.

-No problem whatsoever.

I mean, it just needs a bit of glue... Sorry about that, sir.

Don't you worry about that in the slightest.

-But, that, a lovely pair of vases.

-We'll get it restored, no worries.

Oh, what a start! First object in...

Anyway.

I think you got off lightly there, butterfingers.

Anything less fragile catch your eye, Charles?

That little dish at the far end.

-Yeah, that's Austrian.

-Is it?

-Yes.

Is it old?

I would think probably early 1900s, 1800s.

Late 1800s.

It's what we call a little waiter, isn't it?

It's a little, almost a small salver which people would have used...

For their creme de menthe.

Exactly...

-Or in Scotland, you'd use it for...

-Your dram.

-Your dram.

-Your dram.

-A drink.

-What I quite like about this are the marks here.

-Yes.

They are quite indistinct

and they look quite early marks.

The ticket says £125.

Charles, time to make a cheeky offer?

-£60?

-Indeed.

-Happy with that?

-Indeed.

-I'll take it.

-Much obliged, thank you.

Thanks very much. My road trip now is truly off and running.

-Highland fling?

-Indeed.

-How do you do the Highland fling?

-I don't know!

-Is it all that?

-Something like that, yes!

Charles got a great deal there,

purchasing the plate for less than half price.

Well done, Charles.

Voila.

James, meanwhile, has motored 25 miles down the road to Daviot,

just south of Inverness,

in the hope of finding his first purchase of this road trip.

He's come to Antiques & Architectural Salvage,

hoping to uncover some hidden gems.

-Hello!

-Hi.

-James.

-I'm Mike.

-Hello, Mike.

-Pleased to meet you.

-Well, it looks all very good from outside, I must say!

-Yeah.

Yeah, one of everything and two of everything else.

Mike's not kidding.

What on earth is that?

It's a lid from a whisky still.

It would have a big cross clamp and a screw,

to screw the top down tight.

So, the screw engages, sort of, there?

-Yeah, yeah.

-Holds it there.

What's it made of?

-It's cast brass.

-Cast brass, goodness.

-That is hernia stuff, isn't it?

-Yeah, yeah.

I love that.

Yeah, that could be £60.

Could it?

Could be.

With a ticket price of £120, that would be an impressive 50% discount.

That's quite fun, isn't it?

Have you got the corresponding thing?

No, I'm afraid I haven't. No.

Very often with antiques,

you don't necessarily need them, do you?

Oh, no! No, no.

You might not need them, but they cost!

The reclaimed stanchion and the rope has a ticket price of £40.

That's another item to think about.

But anything else, James?

I always like matchbox covers.

-It's a great weight, that one, isn't it?

-Aye.

-That's beautifully made.

-Yeah.

Oh, I see!

-So, you take it out and then strike.

-I think so, yeah.

Yeah, I think so.

It's £12.

Interesting.

Browsing over, James has a few things on his wish list.

Time to talk money.

I like that. I'll take that one, Mike.

-Good.

-What did you say on the still cover?

I said 60 on the cover, and...

-What did I say on the matchbox?

-12 on the matchbox cover.

£80, the wrap-up.

-Really?

-Cheers.

You've got yourself a deal. Thank you, Mike, thank you.

£60 for the whisky lid

and £10 each for the stanchion and rope, and the matchbox cover.

What a mixture.

Three down, two to go.

Charles, meanwhile, has made his way to Inverness

with £140 still in his pocket.

What can he find there at The Merchant?

-Hello!

-Good day to you.

-How are you?

-I'm very well, thank you.

-Your name is?

-Moira.

-Great to be here. Love your shop. Wowee!

-Thank you.

With a mix of antiques and vintage items, there's plenty on offer here.

That's quite nice.

What is it, do you know?

A glass vase!

Moira, I like your style! I like your style.

It's a bit rubbed.

Can you see? It's a really attractive hexagonal...

green glass vase.

The best price on that would be?

That one...

Probably £8.

-£8.

-Yes, on that one.

-I'll mental-note it and come back to it.

-OK.

OK, but for £8, it's a really nice object.

Noted. What's next?

Gorgeous vase.

Well, what we call a potpourri.

-That's pretty.

-Yes!

What I love about this is it's fantastic what we call

-Japanese Satsuma ware.

-Mm.

And Japanese Satsuma was made quite quickly

after the treaty of Edo, 1858.

Just out of interest, Moira, it's priced at £65.

What's your very, very best?

We've literally just got it in.

-Mm, look at me...

-So...

-£60.

-OK.

-That is it.

-That's fine.

-I couldn't do anything less than that.

-No, that's fine.

That's five pounds off. OK.

-Thank you.

-No problem.

I'll give it some thought. Thanks, Moira.

Something else to think about.

Any more for any more?

Just going to open this cabinet,

cos there's lots of interesting curios in here.

I quite like your little mouse.

Yes. Unfortunately, he's missing his eyes and his ears.

But he has the original tail.

Well, that's something.

-We always think back to the novel Edwardian times...

-Mm-hm.

..and our Edwardian ancestors were so novel

in what they used as a matchbox, and that's what this is.

-Yes.

-It's basically a small vesta case or matchbox.

He probably would date to around 1900.

What's the best price on this poor old mouse?

What do I have on my little mousy?

25.

I could do 18 on that one.

-Really?

-Yes.

He's cute.

With three potential lots playing on his mind,

it's decision time.

If I was to buy

the mouse, 18, vase at eight...

-Yes.

-26.

Plus, the very nice Japanese potpourri at 60...

-Mm-hm.

-That's £86, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Is that right?

-Yes.

-Fine. I'll take them.

-OK.

-Thank you. Yes, I will. Thanks, Moira.

-No problem.

A very successful bit of buying there, with three lots bought.

Marvellous.

Oh, another kiss.

It's been a busy old day for our experts.

Time for some well-earned rest.

So, nighty-night.

It's a new day and the boys are back on the road.

First stop is in the village of Auldearn,

where James has the chance to spend some of his remaining £120

at the cleverly-titled Auldearn Antiques.

It's a rather nice, very nice light. So, it's got a little rod here.

It's a rise and fall light. Rather nice.

Now, what's that?

Ah, a kilim rug.

It's quite grubby.

It's certainly been used.

But, in spite of being used...

..it's not bad. Not bad condition.

It's lovely and stiff. It's very tight weave.

Rather nice.

It could benefit from a good clean, but it's a nice kilim.

A kilim rug is flat woven,

a style typical from Turkey, Iran and Pakistan.

It can be £40 to you.

£40? Roger, I'll take it. Thank you.

That's the quickest deal that been done this week, thank you, James!

No messing about there, James.

Fourth lot bought - well done.

What a marvellous thing. There you are.

-One, two...40.

-Thank you very much, indeed.

Thank you very much, indeed, Roger.

While James has been busy buying, Charles has made his way to Moy.

He'll have a sedate start to his day with a gentle cruise

on the Caledonian Canal.

Unbelievable.

There she awaits.

From the Antiques Road Trip to the boating trip.

I can't wait.

Cutting through the mountainous heart of the Scottish Highlands,

this ground-breaking, 200-year-old mighty waterway was one of Britain's

biggest and boldest building projects.

Built in the 19th century,

the canal's design and construction was state of the art.

Linking the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean,

it's 60 miles long, with 29 locks.

Charles is meeting skipper Andy and Heritage Officer Chris O'Connell

to find out more.

Chris, it is truly awe-inspiring.

It is, isn't it?

But what I can't quite believe is the water we're on

was actually man-made. Why?

Well, it was a government-sponsored project

for employment for the Highlands.

At the time - after the Jacobite revolution - mass migration,

the Clearances, the Highland Clearances,

30,000 people leaving the country,

it was a way of keeping people in the country.

It was a government-sponsored employment scheme.

The father of modern civil engineering, Thomas Telford,

was brought on board to create the ambitious Caledonian Canal.

His vision was to combine clever construction

with Scotland's spectacular scenery.

In 1803, he surveyed the route of the canal,

an Act of Parliament was passed,

and construction began shortly afterwards.

Expected to take seven years to build,

the canal actually didn't open until 1822 -

five years late and way over budget.

Sounds pretty typical.

This is the ledger, the money spent.

We see here, Thomas Telford,

for general superintendence and management,

1803 to 1825, he was paid £5,272.

And that was literally the period of those almost 19 years

building the canal.

That, in today's money, is roughly £350,000.

Look at this - "whisky allowed to men working in the water",

£127 worth.

-Amazing.

-I don't know how much whisky you get for £127.

-Any whisky left over?

-I don't think so!

It's getting a bit cold up here!

No time for a snifter, Charles, it's your turn to take the helm.

Watch out(!)

Oh, dear - hold tight, gents.

This is the Antiques Boat Trip!

I should say, there is a speed limit.

Sorry? All right, sorry about that!

Not the smoothest of starts, hey?

It's just amazing. I can see so much in front of me...

When there's no traffic,

driving can be...like buying antiques - piece of cake!

The most impressive single engineering feat on the canal

is Neptune's Staircase, a spectacular flight of eight locks.

It takes roughly 90 minutes to travel up the 64 feet to the top.

There's a lock gate in front.

-Yes.

-How do we get through, do I just nudge it?

The lock keeper's waited, so we will head over towards the right.

OK. So I'll go slightly right, yes.

Hello, sir. Here's our lock keeper.

-Hello, sir.

-How are you doing?

I almost feel like saluting those Highlanders,

-what they've achieved.

-Yes.

-And, of course, Mr Telford.

Sorry, I'll concentrate.

-There's a little duck. Excuse me!

-HORN BLARES

Although at the time of opening the canal was considered

a commercial failure,

it has proven to be a stunning feat of engineering

which has survived hundreds of years and has been enjoyed by millions.

James, thank you ever so much.

I think in all my time on Antiques Road Trip,

this has been one of my favourite, most memorable experiences.

Being on Caledonian...

-Our pleasure.

-It's been wonderful.

James, meanwhile, has made his way to the village of Dulnain Bridge

for his final shop.

He's come to the Speyside Heather Centre

and is hoping dealer Betty can help him unearth

a bargain to take to auction.

Hello! My goodness, you're much taller than I expected!

-You're saying all the right things!

-Handsomer, as well!

I say.

You haven't got anything lurking behind the plaid curtain?

I can let you have a peek.

Oh! Into the inner sanctum! Follow me.

Ooh, look, this is where the treasures are!

So you've got a pair of those? I saw one of those outside.

That looks sort of like an Ercol chair

with the arm thing.

I'm going to look at the one outside and see...

Betty, are you all right with that?

-You wouldn't mind bringing that through, would you?

-OK.

So, James, do they match?

-It is a pair, isn't it?

-Mm-hm.

-Who are they made by?

It's Ercol, is it?

Ercol is the manufacturer.

Regarded for good quality.

It's got quite a nice, stylish back.

We've got a sort of stick back chair,

but it's got these, sort of, out-rigging arms.

Betty, what do you think you could do for the pair?

Think low!

Of course, they're not mine. Will I make the phone call?

Make a phone call.

Ticket price is £55 each.

They're not the brightest of order.

They've had a life, but so have I.

Look lively, Betty's back, and with good news, we hope.

You are one lucky man.

65 for the two.

Do you think she might go any lower, or not? 50?

She might stretch and give you the two for 55.

55, you've gone and got yourself a deal.

-OK.

-Thank you very much indeed, Betty. They are lovely.

Nicely done, James. That's you all bought up.

-Bye!

-Bye.

Charles isn't spent up quite yet

so he's made his way to his final stop in Kingussie,

sitting by the River Spey.

Here we are.

He's arrived at the White Cockade

with £54 burning a hole in his pocket.

Specialising in French and Scottish furniture,

kitchenalia and collectables, there is plenty on offer.

I thought this was quite old for a second, I thought, wowee,

it could be mid-17th-century...

I turn it upside down and it says "Made in Colombia".

So we never stop learning in this game!

It's not "just like that" today. It's not just like that.

It should be! Normally it is.

Just as Charles was starting to despair,

some ladles with a ticket price of £85 have caught his attention.

Time to call in dealer Laurence.

Are these old, do you think, Laurence, or reproduction?

They are old. I believe they are 18th century.

A set of... Is it four?

Yes, the big one as well.

I do think these are probably quite old.

You can see how they've been hand-finished.

I do like the patination on them.

What would be the best on them for the four, please?

I'll do 50, but that's my very, very, very best.

I'm going to go for the ladles.

-I'll take them, for £50.

-OK.

-Thank you so much.

It's taken me a while, but I've got there.

Am I happy? Give me a high-five!

Thanks a lot - done!

And that final high-five means our boys are all bought up.

Buying the ladles for £50

means Charles has almost blown his whole budget,

purchasing the silver waiter, the green Bohemian vase,

the Satsuma potpourri vase and the bronze mouse vesta case,

spending a total of £196.

James spent a little less, shelling out £175 on five lots.

He bought the copper whisky still lid,

the reclaimed stanchion and rope,

the silver matchbox cover,

the kilim rug and the pair of mid-century Ercol chairs.

So, what do they make of each other's lots?

Not a lot, I suspect.

Me being a metal man, I love the spoons.

Bit of red copper and I'm all over it.

The kilim rug was a real find.

It's a great object which currently has great scope to do very well,

so he's bought very strongly.

After starting in Dingwall in the Highlands,

our experts are now en route to auction in Aberdeen.

Today's auction is taking place at John Milne Auctioneers -

the firm has been trading in the region for 150 years.

-Ah!

-It's very grand here, isn't it?

-It is lovely, isn't it?

-In we go. Into the auction. Good luck, James.

-Good luck.

Presiding over today's proceedings is auctioneer Colin Edward,

but what does he make of our experts' lots?

The copper hatch lid, we have had a little bit of interest,

some of phone calls have come in to ask about it.

So...fingers crossed.

The mouse vesta holder,

although it's not perfect and it is only in bronze or brass,

it is my favourite piece and I think it should

get them a nice little profit, I think.

Aye... Lovely room, isn't it? And the sunshine.

Our experts are seated and ready to go.

First up, it's Charles's Bohemian green vase.

£10. 10. Surely, 10.

Oh, I can't believe it. Profit, profit!

-12.

-15. £15, on my left...

-Slow start. It's OK. That's great.

-Is it?

A green and gilt vase, at 15.

Selling at £15, all done at 15.

A lovely little profit to kick things off.

A little small step for auction mankind.

-That's OK.

-Is it?

-Auction mankind is walking.

Will it be more of a giant leap for James's matchbox cover?

-£10.

-£10.

-10. 12.

-It's a good thing.

-15.

18. 20.

22... 25.

28. At 30.

£30.

At 30, all done now at £30, the matchbox cover...

So, that's a profit apiece. Great stuff.

It was nice, you got the right price.

A long way to go. But you're ahead.

Next up are Charles' set of copper ladles, bought for £50.

Here we go.

-£30.

-Oh, dear.

-Hello, hello.

35. 40. 45.

50. 55. 60.

-65...

-We are in business.

-70.

-75...

-Very speccy.

-They're speccy, they're speccy.

-80. 85.

-Hello!

At 90...

-Go on, Madam! Go on...!

-At £90, at 90 on my right, at 90.

If we're done, at 90...

-95.

-One more!

-100.

Madam!

105.

All done now at £105.

Now, that's what I call a result.

Thank you! Thank you, madam!

Thank you!

Enough of the kisses.

Now it's the turn of James' reclaimed stanchion and rope.

-10, I'm bid. 12.

-Profit.

-15, 18.

-Well done, James.

-20.

-22.

-Go on!

£22, on my left at 22.

-The VIP rope...

-That's clearly a very important person buying it.

At 22...

Another good return there for James.

The wind is blowing the right way.

-Isn't it?

-What, easterly? Westerly? Northerly?

We're going up. We're both going up in the world.

Indeed. Next up is the auctioneer's favourite,

Charles's bronze mouse vesta case.

20. Someone at £20?

20, I'm bid.

-22. 25.

-Go on!

28. 30.

32. 35.

38. At 40.

Come on, keep going!

42. 45.

48. 50.

52. 55.

-On the phone at 55.

-There's a phone bid!

-At 58.

-Hello, the UK!

60?

No, 58. 60? 60.

-65.

-Go on!

-£65, the bid is on my right at 65, all done?

-65!

At £65...

Aberdeen is proving very profitable for our boys -

fantastic result there for Charles.

-What a good man!

-What a good man.

He's no mouse!

James' kilim rug proved as popular.

£60. 60, I'm bid 60.

At £60.

One bid of 60...

All finished, one bid, £60?

All done... At 60.

Bad luck, James, but a profit is a profit.

They go or they don't.

In this instance, they didn't, that's a shame.

Charles, you're up again. It's your Satsuma potpourri vase.

-40 I'm bid.

-Come on!

-At £40.

42. 45.

-That's a really good object.

-48.

At 50.

52.

55.

£55, at 55.

All done at 55, nice little potpourri pot...

Ah, what a shame. First loss of the day.

It had the most legs to run

and I think if this market was worldwide,

it could have made more.

Will James' pair of Ercol chairs fare a bit better, I wonder?

-20.

-Here we go.

-20 I'm bid...

-Come on, move!

..for the Windsor-style chairs.

22, 25.

28, at 30...?

32, 35.

38. At 40.

-42, 45...

-Is the buyer Norwegian?

£45, the lady has bid in the room at 45.

If we're done at 45, I'll sell at £45...

Hard luck. That is a small loss for James, too.

Thank the Lord I only lost £10.

Now, can Charles pull a profit with his final lot?

It's the silver waiter.

-20 I'm bid, 22, 25.

-It's away.

28. £30, far back, 32.

35. 38. 40.

42. 45, 48.

At 50.

55, 60.

65, 70...

75...

At 80.

-That's OK.

-£80.

-Go on!

All done now, at 80,

all finished at £80, bidder's far back, at 80.

Another profit. He has to be pleased with that, well done, Charles.

I'm happy, that was my Achilles heel,

-I'm still running.

-It's over.

-I'm still running, baby.

Time for James's final lot - the copper whisky still lid.

£40 in front.

45.

-£45.

-What did it cost you, again?

-Look at me.

-50.

55. 60. 65.

70. 75.

80. 85.

90. 95.

-100.

-Cometh the hour.

-I know.

-105.

-110.

-Wow!

115, 120.

125, 130.

£130, the bid is on my left at 130.

Selling now at £130.

James ends on a high with that marvellous profit.

-Back in the game.

-You are back in the game. Back in the game.

-Hanson-Braxton.

-Let's go. Let's go.

It's a close call. Who's going to come out on top?

Let's do the maths.

James started this leg with £200.

He made a tidy profit of £60.34 after auction costs,

leaving him with a wonderful £260.34.

Charles also began with 200

and he too made a profit of £66.40 after auction costs,

which means he's today's winner

and leads going into the next leg with a healthy £266.40.

What fun!

Do you think the winner should sit in luxury as the passenger?

Yes!

HE LAUGHS

-Thank you, Aberdeen.

-Thank you, Aberdeen.

Bring on...Dunfermline. Bye-bye!

Cheerio, chaps.

Next time, the boys are back on the road in bonnie Scotland.

Charles is smooth-talking...

-Bob, you have character.

-Oh, thank you!

..while James has his haggling hat on.

As all the best hagglers do, you do need the fez.