Episode 9 Antiques Road Trip

The nation's favourite antiques experts.

£200 each, and one big challenge.

Testing!

Who can make the most money buying and selling antiques as they scour the UK.

The aim is trade up and hope each antique turns profit.

But it's not as easy as it sounds

and there can only be one winner.

So, will it be the highway to success

or the B road to bankruptcy?

This is the Antiques Road Trip!

This week, we're road tripping with auctioneer Charlie Ross

and porcelain expert Mark Stacey.

Shut up and drive!

Their chosen transport, a 1965 Mercedes Pagoda Roadster.

Charlie Ross ran his own auction house for 25 years.

He's a furniture expert who's wooing the dealers

into slashing their prices.

Would you think it's forward if I gave you a kiss to say thank you?

Opponent Mark Stacey came third last series.

A valuer, dealer and auctioneer,

he's fiercely competitive.

I'm here to thrash you, Charlie. Come on.

Each expert started their road trip with £200.

Mark has thumped Charlie in the profit stakes right from the start.

I think it was perfectly fair, don't you?

He's taken his £200 and transformed it

into a bumper £355.55.

Charlie's put heart and soul into every buy.

I can't resist it, Francis. Can I shake you by the hand?

But it's not enough.

His last auction saw him turn in a loss of £33.57.

I'm devastated.

He begins today's show with just £215.34.

So Charlie's got a fight on his hands.

Oh, Charlie, bad luck.

Mark and Charlie are on the fourth leg of a trip

which began in the West Midlands and is now a whistle-stop tour of Wales,

with the finish line in Chippenham in Wiltshire.

On today's show, they're leaving Anglesey

for an auction showdown in Carmarthen, further south.

Their first stop-off, Newcastle Emlyn.

But there's a problem.

It's raining. The Pagoda roof is up and Charlie has the buying blues.

-Know what I'm going to do today?

-What?

-I'm going to stay in the car.

Because I would lose less money sitting in the car than shopping!

Oh, don't be a stick-in-the-mud!

Newcastle Emlyn sits on the River Teifi.

Thanks to Oliver Cromwell, the castle was blown to smithereens during the English Civil War.

The town had 35 pubs in 1868.

Today there are only eight.

Never mind. There's an antiques centre for the boys to peruse.

Already the native Welshman is complaining.

It's cold and it's raining and it's summer. We could only be in one place. South Wales.

-A hotbed of antiques.

-Come on, I've smelt an antiques centre.

Charlie desperately needs to get back in the game.

I've got to be a bit more careful here. On the other hand, I've got to spend my money

in order to catch up Mark. But with £215, that's going to be difficult.

Yes, it is. You'd better get looking!

What do you look for in a teddy bear?

A good character.

A long snout. Good length of leg.

A chunky thigh.

Good limbs.

Neither of those teddies really fit the bill.

Not to be bought.

From chunky thighs and long snouts to Mark Stacey.

This is quite fun.

It's a little sort of custard set, I suppose.

You'd have very thick custard in there, like a creme brulee

or creme anglaise.

Actually, it's priced up at only £6.50.

Known as cream ware, this lead glazed earthenware

was first perfected by Josiah Wedgwood in the late 18th century.

Queen Charlotte was so taken with it,

she appointed Wedgwood as the royal supplier of dinnerware

in 1762.

This custard set is a little younger.

It's late 19th century.

I'm just going to see whether this is actually dirt on here

or whether it's actually in the firing.

If it's in the firing, then you've had it, really.

What I might do is see if the antiques centre has a kitchen,

and I'll give it a wash and see how it comes up.

While Mark channels Molly Maid,

Charlie's being colourful.

Cranberry glass.

Named because of the colour.

Victorian.

And very collectible. Ladies love cranberry glass.

With that crimped edge, it's a pretty vase.

The Victorians were obsessed with all things decorative.

Cranberry glass was a favourite.

The red came from adding gold chloride to molten glass.

Good pieces can fetch several hundred pounds,

sometimes more.

Unfortunately, this one ain't rare.

It's £38. I dare say in the trade it's 35. Might be 30,

which is coming down to the sort of price it would make at auction.

So not a profit unless I was to be very rude and offer a fiver!

Across the shop, Mark's up to his elbows in soapy bubbles!

One of the cups has got a little chip on it.

There's a crack there.

That one's not coming up very nicely.

This one is marked. It's marked "Etruria, England".

Etruria was one of Wedgwood's main factories, which adds value

to this set if you're careful.

I think, if we can get this for a fiver or less...

-CLATTER

-Ooh, dear!

As I was saying, if we can get this for a pound or less!

Don't do that at home!

If we can get this for a fiver or less, it would be really rude not to buy it.

Mark's off to charm dealer Stephen Furness.

Steve, I've had a little clean-up there,

in the limited facilities you have.

I've found one I think is not part of it.

One that has a nasty hairline crack in it, and a couple of chips.

But overall, I think it's actually quite a nice little thing.

-It's got 6.50 on it.

-A fiver.

-Four?

-Go on, then.

Definitely worth all that scrubbing around in the lavvie.

Now, what's Charlie up to?

I like the silver and steel cigar cutter.

-Overlaid silver on the handle.

-On the handle.

And a steel body to it.

Great quality. What do you think that is? Edwardian?

-Yes, Edwardian, just on the cusp, yes.

-Yeah.

Edward VII was a famous cigar smoker.

So it was fashionable for gentlemen of the time to follow suit.

Cigar cutters dangled from watch chains and were impressively decorated.

This is perfect for a fat, hand-rolled cigar.

It's priced at £48.

-Very nice. I don't suppose I can buy it for a tenner?

-Not a tenner!

-Are you sure?

-Absolutely!

-38 would buy it.

-I'm going to think seriously. 25?

35.

-28?

-30, come on!

I was almost tempted to say 29 but he's been so reasonable, I'll give you £30 for it.

Thank you very much.

Mark's going Edwardian, too.

A cellist's chair. But there's no price on it.

The type of inlay is very Edwardian. That all dates to about 1910.

It's getting on for 100 years old or so.

I'll find out how much it costs.

There's a chair in here without a price on it.

The label's come off it.

-Yes. 65.

-Oh, 65, is it?

-It's a shame, isn't it? It's quite pretty.

-Very pretty.

Mark's putting the chair down, but he'd better watch out.

With Charlie around, he might have it stolen from under his nose!

I'm always looking for things that have lost their price tags.

You always live in hope that somebody's forgotten how much it should be priced at.

This is from the Sheraton revival period.

Thomas Sheraton was a neo-classical English furniture designer

in the late 18th century.

In the Edwardian era,

furniture-makers revived the classic lines and designs from 100 years previously.

Great inlay.

It's mahogany base, strung in box wood,

inlaid with olive wood and with satinwood.

Fantastic quality workmanship.

Charlie's hooked, so he's sending dealer Keith Bunold to find out more.

-If it could be unbelievably cheap...

-I'll find out for you now.

But will Mark work out Charlie's sitting on his potential profit?

How's that?

-I couldn't see the price on it.

-There's 65 on it.

Who's looking at that?

-A customer.

-Not Charlie Ross?

-No, no.

-I saw my eye on that first. I've asked already and I've reserved it. Haven't I?

I've actually reserved that chair.

He's not having it because I saw that first. You all saw me.

I waxed lyrical about that piece.

If he's interested in it, I'm determined he's not going to have it!

Lucky for Mark, the chair belongs to Stephen's wife.

-What do you think she'll do it for?

-45.

It's tempting to say the deal is done and he can't have it.

No, I'm being wicked. That's nasty, isn't it?

Shall I be that nasty?

Cheeky Mark is off to tell Charlie he's bought it.

-Too late, Charlie.

-You've bought it?

-I've already bought that chair.

-You can't have it, my friend.

-Why not?

-It's too expensive for you!

-Oh!

-It was £65... £68.

-68?

-68.

What did you get it down to?

-I got it down to a very respectable...

-25?

-No, not that, Charlie!

-30?

-No, a little bit more.

Mark may have stolen it back,

but he's still to get a deal on it.

The thing is, I haven't really bought it yet.

I don't know. But I just wanted to go and stop him.

Make him worried, make him concerned that I'm just napping at his tail.

Let's have a word with Stephen. We'll try and get it for 40.

We can't do a little bit better? 35?

We can do it for 40.

£40?

It's rude not to buy it for £40, really, isn't it?

It's a really sweet chair. Even if I don't make much on it, it's a nice object for the show.

I'll take that as well. Thank you, Stephen.

Oh, dear! Could this all lead to our first Road Trip tiff?

-Where are you going?

-I'm not telling you.

-You're in the car?

-You can't leave me here, Charlie!

-I can!

-I'm left high and dry.

-And that's where you're staying.

What a scoundrel!

Frankly, I'm so far behind, I'm somewhere on the back straight.

This dealing lark!

It's not as easy as you think!

Poor old Charlie. He's ventured just outside Newcastle Emlyn

to another antique shop. But will it change his fortunes?

-Hello!

-Hello, there.

Cameron Bennett is more collector than dealer,

so he won't be parting with any beloved pieces for a song.

"Peter Pan Bodices"!

That really is a statement of the times, isn't it?

Is that something that's for sale?

It is for sale.

-How much is that?

-I'd like to see 120 on that.

I'm not surprised. It's a nice thing.

Back to the drawing board. It's way out of your price range.

In town, Mark's reaching for his comfort blanket.

Staffordshire figurines.

-It's the signing of the Magna Carta.

-I thought it might be. I was just going to say.

Obviously it's King John signing the Magna Carta.

Two colourful assistants. I love this.

I love these bright, naive colours.

Last episode, Mark made a killing on two Staffordshires.

Sold at 90.

-£72 profit.

-I'm pleased with that.

Is he about to pull it out of the bag again?

-There's a crack, look.

-A chip in the bottom.

-A big chip there.

No wonder he's looking so cross!

-And I think he's lost his nib on the pen.

-On the pen, yeah.

And I do like his garters, don't you?

He's got lovely suntanned legs!

Steady!

Created about 1860, this Staffordshire figure

may be based on a version of Shakespeare's The Life and Death of King John.

An actor called Charles Keen played the king, and this could be him.

This piece is so rare, there's one in the Victoria and Albert Museum,

but even so, another one only sold for £120 at a recent auction.

That would still give Mark a profit if he slashes down the price

from its considerable £130 price tag.

But there's a problem. Stephen is not the owner.

How negotiable is it? Do you know?

-Make an offer.

-For a fellow Welshman!

-Can we speak to him on the phone?

-I can try.

Mark's spotted something else.

Oh, yes. But that one's very damaged.

One of them. And the price? It's free!

I'm always looking for a Mark memento, but I don't think I'll get this for nothing!

Don't start that lark again, Mark Stacey! Freebie? I don't know. It's just not cricket!

Again, maybe around about 1860 or so.

I love the head of this prancing horse. It's so camp!

-Do you know how much it is, by chance?

-A tenner.

-£10?

That's far too much!

For such a damaged figure!

Here comes the sob story!

I always try and get a little memento of each visit I make.

-The dealers always warm to me, rather than Charlie Ross!

-Cos you're Welsh.

They always say, "We must let you have something to be sure you get more profit."

They normally give me something around about the £10 mark.

We'll keep that out for now, because I have a feeling, with the right persuasion...

We might have found the Mark memento!

-CLATTERING Oh, mind that door!

-You deserve that!

Mark knows the King John is priced at 130,

while the princess is £10.

He now has to be patient while the dealer phones the owner

to see if they will negotiate. So it's a waiting game.

Charlie's still shopping, and Cameron has found him a little treasure.

This I could sell.

It's an electrotype copy of a French medal issued in 1815.

An electrotype is a quasi-mechanical process reproducing objects in metal

so meticulously that they could be mistaken for an original.

This one depicts Napoleon Bonaparte, his second wife Marie-Louise and their infant son.

There's a spot of intrigue, too.

A letter from a museum to a London dealer, written in 1947,

attempting to find out the medal's value.

I love the letter! From Hertfordshire County Museum.

It says it's an electrotype copy, not contemporary with the medal,

because electrotypes were not made until about 1840.

I'd better ask the price in case it's a fiver!

-I would say £30.

-Would you?

-So if I offered you a tenner, you'd probably say, "That would do nicely."

-No!

No. Tough man, this man.

Tell you what, I'll meet you halfway and give you 20 quid for it.

-I'll take a chance and pray!

-Sounds good to me.

I like that, sir, very much indeed.

All the best. Cheers.

As Charlie clocks off for the day,

Mark's hoofing it to the nearby home of one of the earliest boats known to man,

the coracle. These were created by civilisations across the world

from as early as 10,000 years ago.

-Martin, hello.

-Hello.

-How are you?

-All right, thanks.

Martin Fowler will give Mark the low-down on these historic watercraft,

still used today in West Wales.

The museum is here because this is the only place in Britain

where coracle fishing still takes place.

-The animal you had would have decided the size and shape of it.

-OK.

So this is a cow hide covering a willow basket.

Tibet, for instance, uses yak hide.

-So a basic one-man boat using whatever local ingredients you had.

-That's right.

Have a look at this one. This is from Vietnam.

-This is quite large.

-Yes, but this particular one

was last used to take a family of people 500 miles across the South China sea

from Vietnam to Hong Kong with refugees in.

-Good Lord!

-So it's...

-It's quite a sturdy craft, then!

It is, yes.

Here's hoping this one is just as sturdy, as Mark's about to get in it!

-So I'm on the bank of the river.

-Put your paddle in the mud.

-Then I come in like that.

-Yes.

Then you turn and sit on the seat.

I sit on the seat with this in the middle.

-Make sure your feet are in the corner.

-Each corner.

-Yes.

-And I'm quite safe in here?

-Oh, yes.

Put your hand over the top and your hand here.

Now turn it like this.

-Oh, right.

-You're doing a figure of eight.

-OK.

-And that actually pulls you forwards down the river.

-Really?

-Yes.

They're also ideal craft for fishing

because the paddle hardly disturbs the water, making it easier to net a catch.

And you can carry your coracle home afterwards.

-Lift towards me?

-Yeah.

Over your head.

-And then slide it on like that.

-Perfect!

I think that's quite impressive.

Now, how do we get it off?

Now Mark's up-to-speed with his coracle-handling skills,

it's time to see a man about a couple of Staffordshire figures.

The owner has confirmed his lowest price, so negotiations can begin.

-I managed to get hold of Keith.

-Yes?

With the flatback. And...80.

That's £50 down from £130 for King John.

But what about the princess?

I'm thinking, because this is so damaged, and you said a tenner.

-Yes.

-Is that the best price?

That depends on whether you're still quandering over that one.

-If you're quandering on that one, then I'll throw that one in.

-That is tempting!

Because then that's two for one, as it were. BOGOF!

That's Bought One, Got One Free!

Quick. Let's do this now before I change my mind again.

Because then, you just won't get any money out of me.

Goodbye!

I'll gather up my purchases and depart.

-A very happy man. Thanks again, Steve. Good to see you.

-You, too.

But who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Early morning, the sun is shining, and the top is finally down on the Roadster.

And it's one last shopping spree before the auction.

-I'm hoping at some stage you might actually consider buying an antique!

-If I saw one, I'd buy one!

Our cheeky chappies are motoring 25 miles south to Narberth,

home to one of the largest antiques emporiums in Wales.

Despite bagging three lots in one shop,

Mark suffered indecision over his Staffordshire figures.

He spent £124, giving him £231.55 to play with.

Goodbye!

Charlie, however, has lost his confidence, thanks to depleted profits.

He's bought just two items at £50,

leaving him £165.34.

Let's hope Narberth cheers him up. It's a pretty town,

proud of its medieval heritage.

It's also home to the famous Narberth sausage, a heady mix

of pork, tomato, leek and basil.

Definitely not an antique. Which brings us back to Mark and Charlie.

Are we there, Charlie?

-I think we are. Back Lane.

-That's the one we want.

I can see you buying a load of old artefacts, can't you?

I'll be leaving all the antiques to you, as always!

Because you can't spot any, Charlie!

-I'm impervious to antiques.

-After you. You need to buy more than I do!

There's so much to see.

Here...

there...

and everywhere!

Charlie's found something.

Just get a bit of a clue.

Maybe not!

A little silver rose bowl has attracted Mark, but only just.

It's this that I was slightly interested in.

It's quite light-weight, isn't it?

-A nice clear mark.

-Sheffield.

-What price have we got on this?

-75.

-75.

-75.

-75.

Maybe we can do something.

OK. One thing you have to look at if you're buying something like this

which is normally a trophy of some sort, they're often engraved.

You can have that removed, but by removing it, you are taking some of the silver away.

If you actually press, and I've been pressing here,

and there's a bit of give there,

that could just be a dent,

but on the other hand, it could be where there's been an inscription removed.

That weakens the silver.

Which isn't necessarily a bad thing - if the price is right.

-50.

-50. OK.

I would have wanted it nearer, unfortunately, nearer the £30 mark.

I'll pop it back and lock up.

And on that note, Mark is calling it a day.

I can't find anything really in my price or anything I want to buy.

So I'm going to head off.

Charlie's still in the buying mood, and he's picking up from where Mark left off, with the rose bowl.

-No engraving on it.

-No engraving. And the double crown Jubilee mark.

-Nice crisp marks.

-It is, isn't it?

The double crown jubilee mark is in commemoration of King George V

and Queen Mary's silver jubilee in 1935.

Charlie is in luck, because Karen Wilson owns this piece.

Is 40 going to tickle you?

Well, it might tickle you, but will it...

I will do 50 for you.

Karen, we're very nearly there, I think.

If I begged you to do 45, could that be done?

-48.

-Ooh, 48!

-48.

-You're licking your fingers on 48.

46?

-46. My last offer.

-45.

-My last offer.

-Oh, you will do 45! You've come below... No!

I've got that now!

Hang on, Karen! You're selling, not buying!

I nearly scuppered you there!

-Tell you what, at 47?

-Yes.

-Mwa!

Karen's got something else up her sleeve.

A Victorian warning sign for a telegraph pole!

"Persons throwing stones at the telegraphs will be prosecuted."

-That's before telephones, but in the days when you sent Morse code.

-The wires, yes.

I think it's going to make 40 or £50 at auction. It's a great thing.

-I'd have to buy it for £30 really, to go anywhere.

-35?

You're...

You know how to do a deal, don't you?

£35.

Oh... Go for it!

Ross, go for it!

I'm so thrilled Karen pointed that out.

I have never, ever seen anything like that.

As Mark's sticking with what he bought yesterday,

he's now off to prepare for that all-important show and tell.

-Do you want any money?

-That would be nice, Charlie!

Charlie is settling up for his two items, then he's taking a little detour.

Off to the seaside!

He's on his way to Laugharne,

15 miles east of Narberth.

He's visiting a boathouse, but it's no ordinary boathouse.

This was once the home of Welsh bard Dylan Thomas.

What a fantastic view! What an inspirational place

to write poetry. Fabulous!

Dylan Thomas's poetry is loved the world over.

But he's probably most famous for his play Under Milk Wood

which was written while he lived here in the '50s.

Charlie is meeting John Tregenna,

the curator of the boathouse.

-John?

-Hello, Charlie.

-Hi!

-Lovely to see you.

-You, too. Welcome to the Dylan Thomas boathouse.

Dylan Thomas's poetry writing began while at school.

His father was the headmaster.

There's a story where Dylan Thomas is leaving school early, playing truant.

There's a voice from behind, and the voice is the headmaster.

The headmaster says to Dylan, "Where are you going, boy?"

And he says, "Home to write poetry."

And the headmaster, his father, says, "Well, don't get caught!"

His poetry and radio plays reached the masses on the BBC.

He also found fame in America,

and it was there he died in 1953, aged only 39, from alcoholism.

He just loved pub life. He loved gossip, he loved stories.

-Yeah.

-And, you know, so he was a very heavy drinker.

He was famous, he was coming off-stage, he was mobbed, people wanted to buy him a drink.

There's only so much beer a man can take.

But most of the last four years of his life

were spent in Laugharne.

He wrote some of his best-loved poems here, in "the writing shed".

Gosh.

Come in.

If he had a deadline, his wife would lock him in the shed!

She'd march him up here at two o'clock, lock him in,

and at seven o'clock come along, unlock the door and let him go to the pub!

He wrote five of his greatest poems at that table.

One of them specifically is about the hill in the distance.

-Yes?

-Sir John's Hill. And he used to write about the estuary.

-Do you think I could sit down?

-Course you can.

-I'm a hopeless poet.

But I could pretend.

If you can't get inspiration looking out of this window, you can't get inspiration anywhere!

This is absolutely amazing.

I am sitting in Dylan Thomas's chair, at his desk,

looking out of the very same window. Magic!

"And blithely they squawk To fiery tyburn over the wrestle of elms until

"The flash the noosed hawk

"Crashes, and slowly the fishing holy stalking heron

"In the river Towy below bows his tilted headstone."

Unfortunately, we can't read poetry all day

as it's show and tell time at Laugharne Castle.

Fortifications have stood here since the 12th century.

But now to the latest battle.

Whose items will win out for our two rivals?

What kept you?

Let's start with the Edwardian chair

surreptitiously whisked from under Charlie's nose.

-Kick off. What did you pay for it?

-40.

You didn't get it for 40?

You are such a dog!

I'd have given him 50! Ring him up and tell him!

Tell you what, get the 50 quid out, Charlie. I'll make a quick tenner!

Now, the silver rose bowl.

Mark considered it at 50 but Charlie won out at £47.

-I thought there was a bit of give.

-Well, I did test the gauge.

I ran my fingers round it and I thought it hadn't.

-A difference of opinion again.

-Absolutely. And you'll be right!

-We're divided.

-Yes, and you make the profit!

-She offered it to me for 25!

Oh, did she? Yes.

I bought it for 15!

-You liar!

-No, I didn't!

Next, Mark's creamware custard set.

I'm not going a bundle on that. I might be disappointing you.

I'm looking at 40 to £60.

-You're not disappointing me cos I paid four!

-£4?!

£4!

One, two, three...

-Oh!

-What else have you got to shock me?

-I think I've bought something that's pre-1900.

-No!

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

-Be still, me beating heart.

-It's sacred!

Be warned, Mark.

This Victorian telegraph sign at £35 could prove a nice little earner.

Charlie.

-Have you ever seen one like that?

-No, and never wanted to!

-Come on, Mark.

-It's great fun.

-It's fantastic. Telegraph.

-It's meant to go on the pole, which is why it's cast...

-Right.

-I love it.

-They had a nice old wooden pole.

-"V.R."

-Yes. Veronica Rex!

Well done.

Seriously. I really do like it. I'm not just saying that.

Oh, stop doing that!

Roll on Mark's Staffordshire figures.

King John at £80 and the princess thrown in for free.

I love the whole thing. I love the colours.

I love that in Victorian times, this would have been an educative tool as much as anything.

-I think it's quite rare.

-Very nice. I've not seen that one.

-I haven't.

And I love this one also. This is even earlier, I think.

-It is sadly damaged.

-But that's why it was free.

But what will Mr Critical think of Charlie's £30 cigar cutter?

-Oh, Charlie!

-You can actually cut a Havana cigar with that.

-It's plated.

-Yes.

But it has silver mounts. Those cut-engraved plates on either side are silver.

-It's a working profit again. I like that expression. A working profit.

-Yes.

-Though I'm used to a working loss.

-I know!

-May I put this down?

-I think so.

-Actually, no, I'll leave it up!

-You rotter!

And finally, the Napoleonic Star medal. As ever,

with old Rossy, there's a story.

This comes with a letter.

And a caveat at the end. "Dear Mr Quelch,

"this is an electrotype copy of the medal issues in about 1815.

"It's French. I have no idea of its value.

"But B.A.Ceeby of Great Portland Street is the most reliable dealer I know of."

There's nothing else. I folded it up, put it in my pocket.

This morning, when I got up, I thought of my bit of paper.

I noticed some scribble on the back. It reads as follows,

"This was submitted to Mr Ceeby of 65, Great Portland Street,

"who stated that it was of no value at all...

"..as it was only a copy of the original."

Another cracker!

But I'm not going to give them the letter with it. Somebody might think it's valuable!

I actually quite like it.

It's not bad. But this was my lost moment, as always.

In fairness, Charlie, the letter would have summed up most of your purchases!

-But not that one.

-Not this one or this one.

So I think, all in all, we've got a bit of a chase on our hands.

-We've got a competition, this time.

-We really have.

-Well done.

-And you.

-Good fun!

Could the tables really be turning?

Let's see what our rivals think.

Well done, Mr Stacey, again.

We know he bought the chair, but I can't believe he got it for £40!

The cast iron telegraph sign is absolutely charming.

I've never seen one, nor has Charlie. The dealer hasn't.

Typical of the old rascal to come up with that. 35 quid, though.

He'll be lucky to get a profit on it.

If that bombs, "Good night, Sooty"!

It's much more of an even match. Between you and me, I'm a little bit scared!

Round Four of this week-long road trip

has seen our dazzling duo whizz round South Wales in a search for antique treasures.

They began in Newcastle Emlyn,

then on to Narberth and Laugharne

and now it's a bee-line east to Carmarthen.

This could be the most critical battle of the week, right here,

as auction day commences.

Carmarthen lays claim to being the oldest town in Wales.

It began life as a Roman fort.

It's also home to the Arthurian legend that Merlin was born just outside the town.

Today, the magic will happen at Peter Francis' Auctions, in business for over a century.

-You haven't cut the mustard so far, Mr Ross.

-No, I've been left in your wake, as always.

-Can you smell profits in there?

-Yes, quite a big one!

For me, I hope!

It's a general sale, where unusual collectibles do well.

Good news for Mark, where his Staffordshire King John is concerned, you'd think.

Except it's been damaged on its way to the auction rooms.

Auctioneer Nigel Hobson will break the bad news to Mark. I wonder if he'll cry?

-I've got a problem with one object.

-Oh, yes?

-Which is why it's sitting here.

-Yes.

It's had the top ear broken off.

-Oh, yes.

-We've reinstalled it.

-Oh, dear.

-It wasn't us - honest. It was damaged when it came out.

-That's going to make quite a difference.

-A big difference.

When breakages happen like this,

the Antiques Road Trip likes to play fair.

So Nigel will value the lot and we'll honour that amount.

The King John one would have probably been worth 100 to £120.

The other one's only worth 15 or £20. We won't get that sort of money now, I don't think.

So, whatever the two pieces make in the auction,

we'll stump up enough money to make up the auctioneer's full estimate of £140.

I'm naturally very disappointed, really.

I'm guaranteed £60 profit. Having said that, of course,

I don't know quite how we address it if it makes 200!

Steady, Mark!

You never know what might happen in an auction, but that's very optimistic.

Charlie began this leg battered and bruised by losses from the last auction. Despite this,

he still spent £132 on four items.

Front runner Mark's played it canny.

He's only bought three lots, spending £124.

But it's still all to play for, so let the bidding begin.

-Now, Charlie, here we go.

-Le moment critique!

For you, Charlie, it is.

So let's hope your warning sign does the business!

I've got four phone bids. One from my mother!

One from Auntie Flo!

-What's it worth? £30 away on that little sign.

-Certainly not.

20 to get on, then, surely?

-Ten.

-Surely at 20? 20 I'm bid.

25 I've got with me. 30, the lady's bid, seated now at 30.

At £30 I'm bid. 35 may I say?

-Don't be ridiculous!

-At 30, the lady's bid. 35 is next door.

40, madam?

-40. At 40.

-It's only washing its face.

-£40. Any more?

-Still so cheap.

Selling at £40.

-Somebody's overpaid!

-It's nothing!

That's a £5 profit. But after commission, that will turn another loss for Charlie.

I've only lost a pound!

Next up, the Staffordshire figures. The damaged princess Mark got free,

and the cracked King John

that suffered an even bigger breakage en route to the auction.

50 on the two. There they are. Surely?

20 to go, then? Surely. Ten is all I'm bid. 15, may I say?

At ten. 15. 20.

-Here we go.

-25.

Against you, sir. 25, the lady's bid. They sell. 30.

-At 30. 35, may I say?

-Can I bid?

At £30. Any more? All done at £30.

So, that's made a £50 loss,

but as we guaranteed the auctioneer's estimate of £140,

Mark will make a £60 profit.

I was hoping that was actually going to make more than the 140.

-I was still hopeful they might make 160 to 180.

-Not without reason.

Perhaps that custard set will put a smile on Mark's face,

particularly now the auctioneer has confirmed it's definitely Wedgwood.

Now, do hold it up nicely.

Drop it, preferably!

-What do you say?

-£50?

-£30 away for the Wedgwood.

-30.

-Don't be ridiculous! Don't be silly!

15 is here with me. At 15.

15 with him?!

15 is all I'm bid. 20, the lady on the back row. At 20,

the lady on the back row. 25, may I say?

-At 20, lady in the room.

-Bring the hammer down!

-£20.

-Thank you.

That's about right.

That's a healthy profit before commission.

Mark's toys can stay firmly in the pram.

Congratulations.

£16 profit there, Charlie.

The condition was too good, really.

Nothing like an old cracked record, is there?

Now for Charlie's cigar cutter.

-At 20 I'm bid. 25, may I say?

-That's something.

At £20 I'm bid. At 20. Two. 25.

-At 25 on the books.

-On the book?

-28 at the back of the room. 28.

-We're nearly there.

-30. 30 I've got here with me at 30.

Two do you want? 32. At 32 at the back of the room.

In the room at 32.

Away at £32. Number ten.

-You were lucky with that.

-You think I'm lucky with everything.

That small profit will turn another loss for Charlie after commission.

He needs Lady Luck to shine on him.

-I'm improving.

-You've been worse.

-If we do this for another six months, I might make a profit!

Mark pooh-poohed Charlie's silver rose bowl.

Will the bidders do the same?

Charles Hampshire is the next auctioneer to take the podium.

What shall we say? £90 to start me away for the bowl?

-I shouldn't think so.

-90 it is. 100.

And ten. 110.

120.

120, gentleman's bid in the aisle. Selling away.

£120.

I'm amazed with that, Charlie.

I can't believe somebody paid 120 for that. I should have bought it.

That's a £73 profit before commission.

No wonder it's sour grapes for Mark.

Congratulations, Charlie. A profit for a change.

Ooh, you're so catty!

Charlie's copy of a Napoleonic medal

takes its turn minus that letter! Naughty boy!

A 19th-century French electrotype medal,

depicting Napoleon I, Marie-Louise and the infant King of Rome.

-Shown behind me.

-Honestly!

Bit of interest again. Conflicting bids.

I can start it away at £25. £30 with me.

35, fresh bidder.

40. 45 clears the book. In the room at 45

-on my left.

-Let's see 50.

-50, fresh bidder. And five. 55.

60, sir? 55 seated on my left.

-I'll sell at £55.

-What's going on?

-Number 872.

I really don't like this at all!

Not happy you're getting beaten, I suppose!

A £35 profit. Charlie's back in the game, much to Mark's dismay!

This is not on, Charlie.

-Where's the congratulations?

-Sorry, but it's just so uncool.

It's unheard of!

Can Mark claw back his winnings with this Edwardian cellist's chair,

stolen from Charlie?

Cellist's chair. Nice music chair. Some musicians here.

-Are there?

-I've got a few bidders here. Some interest with me.

Start this at 30. 35, 38 with me.

Getting there.

£38. 40, straight in. 42 with me.

-And five. 48. 50 in the room.

-More attention.

-£50. Any advance now?

£50 seated.

-Ooh!

-That's a profit of a couple of quid, I suppose.

Bit less, maybe.

It's a £10 profit before commission,

keeping Mark out of the red. Just.

-It's not a loss.

-No, it isn't. I am king of the losses!

With the stress of the broken Staffordshire figure, it's been a tough auction for Mark.

He began this leg with £355.55,

and has made a profit after commission of £48.99,

giving him £404.54 to go on with.

But it's Charlie who reigns as champion today.

He started out with a depleted £215.34,

but after paying the auction costs,

has amassed a fantastic profit of £71.46

giving him £286.80 for the next leg.

This is Charlie's first sniff of glory this week

so it's definitely a chance to rub it in.

Profit! Profit!

And victory!

One out of four, Charlie.

I could come out every time and say victory.

I've won three times! You've won once.

-You did.

-It's not over yet.

Allow me, sir!

Thank you.

You just strap in. Happy?

-Happy.

-..as a loser can be!

You're allowed to win once in your life.

-After all, I'm not used to it.

-You're always a winner to me, Charlie!

Next, the final day,

and Charlie attempts to blow that £117 profit gap away.

Sorry!

And Mark is blowing the trumpet for Wales

as this competition hits its nail-biting finale.

We're fighting for the land of our fathers!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd