Episode 5 Antiques Road Trip

The nation's favourite antiques experts, £200 each and one big challenge.

-I'm here to declare war.

-Why?

Who can make the most money buying and selling antiques,

as they scour the UK?

This is hard.

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

-Come on!

But it's not as easy as you might think

-and things don't always go to plan.

-Push!

So, will they race off with a huge profit or come to a grinding halt?

-Whose side are you on?

-This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Experts Philip Serrell and Catherine Southon may be rivals

-but they're also getting on rather well.

-Philip, shut up!

Ooh!

-That is my knee you just tried to put into third!

-Sorry!

Whoops! So far in this contest, it's the silver fox out in front.

So, Mr Moneybags, take some risks.

I'm taking one at the moment, sitting here!

Surprising us, and himself, Philip has

turned his original £200 stake into a staggering £493.50.

-What am I going to spend my money on?

-Look at the goats!

-They're sheep, dear.

-They're not, they're goats.

You're from London, aren't you?

Catherine is also struggling to spot good investments,

with auction disappointments now three days in a row.

That is just a joke, that's a joke.

That IS a joke.

So, she's only boasted her coffers by a mere £61.10, sadly.

Now, tired of playing second fiddle, today, she's a woman on a mission.

The thing is, I just haven't had my lucky break yet.

This Road Trip is taking us from Aboyne in the north-east of Scotland,

through the Lake District and on to Liverpool.

On this leg, we're en route to the market town of Sedbergh,

before an auction face off in Leeds.

-Ace bit of parking.

-No, it's not. That was dreadful.

Well, we stopped.

Philip's first stop is a walk down Memory Lane,

which Susan has filled with typical 19th-century kitchen gadgets.

I love this.

This is a sycamore dairy bowl that would have been turned on a lathe,

and if you can imagine... the grain is not circular

on a piece of wood. It goes that way.

So when you turn it, part of it is across the grain

and that is why these bowls often become oval or they split.

Are they always out of sycamore?

Anything to do with food was made out of sycamore

because it has a natural antiseptic in it.

You often find butcher's blocks made out of it.

-Is 55 any good?

-60.

-And that's it.

-Is it?

-Yeah.

-It is such a fair price, am I being mean?

-Isn't he just?

Though there is no denying Philip has the eye for the unusual.

It's a real fun thing.

This is a meat tenderiser.

If you've got some ropey old rump, you give it a bash with that side,

which is really...

And if was a bit of tender fillet, you'd hit it with that side.

-Sue, would this be, like, probably 1880-ish?

-Yes, Victorian.

-Can I give you 70 quid for the two now, and I'll take them?

-Go on.

-You're an angel! Come here.

Oh, you're an angel! That's the best bit ever.

While Philip's using his animal magnetism to save a few pounds -

lord help us - a few doors down,

it's Catherine's turn to charm the locals.

-Hello.

-Avril.

-Hi, Avril, good to meet you. Is it OK if I have a little look?

Two rooms, loads of corners, just...

But now, it's the antiques which are charming our Catherine.

That's lovely, isn't it?

It's probably an over mantle mirror

and I like the hammered copper over wood.

Do you think Arts and Crafts?

I think so.

The Arts and Crafts period used a lot of worked copper.

The Arts and Crafts movement flourished between 1860 and 1910,

a creative rebellion against mass production, where

traditional craftsmanship and often medieval decoration were favoured.

Unlike this stamped-out, hammered copper frame.

It's simple, but it's quite charming.

What could you do on that, Avril?

-Haggle a bit, if you want.

-What's the ticket price?

-65 on it now.

I'll be perfectly honest with you, I'd be looking at about 20.

Ooh, tkka, tkka, tkka!

No, I can't do that. Our absolute rock bottom on that would be 35.

-OK, 32, that's my last offer.

-35, got to be.

Oh, go on, 32.

-Just can't do it. Sorry.

-You're not going to move, are you?

-I'm not!

OK, 35, I'm going to go for it. 35, because I like it.

Good for you, Avril, sticking to your old guns.

-How are you?

-I'm all right.

-You're looking very sheepish.

-I bought a sheep.

-Did you spend lots of money?

-For me, I spent a load.

-See you in a bit.

-Bye.

Now it's time for a bit of shop swapsies.

Blimey, you've got some stuff in a small space here.

-Let me know if you need any help.

-I'm going to have a look at the nightwear accessories first.

-OK.

You've got a beautiful shop.

Everywhere I see gorgeous things that I know are way over my price range.

Though, being an expert in all things scientific,

how can she possibly resist a military telescope?

This looks quite late, I'd say about 1940. There we are, yes.

Stamped 1940. Broadhurst, Clarkson and Co, good maker.

£20.

To be honest, it's not great. Very dusty.

Gosh, where did you get this from?

13.

I'm thinking of all the bad things about it,

i.e. the dust, it's very dusty and you can't really see out of it.

Therefore, I think my top would actually be eight on that.

I'll go to 10. From 12 to 10,

I really can't do any better than that.

Also, there is a whacking great dent in the side of it, in the brass.

-Go on, then.

-Eight, shall we say eight?

Great, OK, thank you very much.

I haven't got £2, I don't think.

That's fine, I can give you five!

As for the competition,

he's decided to spend his money somewhere else.

-Catherine! I've got some lakes to see.

-Bye!

You don't mind if I drive, do you?

Give me a chance to get in the door!

I'm in a rush, I want to see the Lakes.

As we venture deeper into the Lake District,

our next stop is the lovely town of Windermere.

This is terribly exciting for me,

because I have never been to the Lakes before.

Mind this water!

I think I might be strapped for cash round here.

-Can I borrow some of your £500?

-Let me think about it. No.

So, with just over £200 in hand, Catherine has headed here,

to Courtyard Cottage Antiques.

This looks nice. Whoop! Mine the flowers.

OK, have fun.

In this lovely shop, I'm sure Catherine will be tempted to

spend every penny of it.

That's jolly nice, that skeleton clock.

The name skeleton comes from the fact that

you can actually see the workings, the mechanics of the clock.

We've got the signature,

Rofsi of Norwich, on the dial there.

It's going to be completely out of my price range but I'll ask anyway.

-How much is on that, just out of interest?

-£2,000.

Just take off a few noughts and I might be just about there.

It's beautiful.

Back within budget, Catherine is intrigued by a copper cake stand,

which, despite Jean and Barry's best efforts,

has been sitting in this spot for a very long time.

The reason people don't like buying copper

is because they've got to clean it all the time.

But you're probably quite glad to see it go, are you?

After five years, yes.

Five years!

God, maybe I don't want it after all!

It's got cobwebs on it, so, look.

-Tempted.

-I can do you a good deal on that.

-How good is good?

-45 quid.

But I'm tempted at more the sort of 25, 30 mark.

You're giving me really scary looks!

25, and we'll go for it.

-OK.

-Oh, a friend!

He's giving you not very nice looks.

It doesn't matter.

-I'm going to live dangerously.

-Are you?

-Yes.

-I'm going to buy it for 25.

-Not 30?

-No.

-Don't hate me, will you?

-Absolutely not.

And with that, another day on the antique trail comes to a close.

-What did you buy? Tell me, tell me.

-I'm not telling you.

-Tell me, tell me, tell me!

-No, I'm not telling you what I bought.

-Tell me, tell me!

Day two delivers our experts some grey skies,

but also the rugged beauty of the Lake District.

-You're very chirpy today.

-I like being here, it's lovely.

-Oh, look!

-Goats! Look, goats, everywhere.

-They're not goats!

Are they not?!

So far, Philip has spent £70 on two auction lots and,

thanks to his animal magnetism,

he still has £420 in the kitty.

I'm going to spend £5 in each shop.

Don't be boring, live a little.

Catherine, meanwhile, has parted with £68 for three auction lots,

and plans to bring down her competition big time.

I want you to spend, spend, spend today.

Our first stop today is Ulverston,

the birthplace of comedian Stan Laurel.

In a break from her comedy sidekick,

Catherine is here to see Ulverston's very own Laurel and Hardy Museum.

I can't wait to go, it'll be fantastic.

Which one am I, then, Stan or Ollie?

Bye.

This local landmark is the work of passionate collector Bill Cubin,

the former Mayor of Ulverston.

Whilst sadly he's passed away,

his legacy lives on, thanks to his grandson, Mark.

This is him here. That's me and my little brother.

From the age of very young

we were dressed up with bowlers and spiky hair.

My brother being the youngest ended up with a cushion

shoved up his jumper to be Ollie.

I always got to be Stan.

Bill's collection began almost by accident, in the early '70s,

when he discovered Stan's childhood home was being modernised.

Some of the stuff that came from Stan's grandparents' house was

this stuff here, the mangle and the old washing machine.

I'm sure Stan's smalls would have gone through there at one point!

Maybe they did!

So he took it and just started collecting pictures

and news clippings and anything he ever saw about Laurel and Hardy.

This is what I love, all this lovely memorabilia. It's wonderful.

Stan and Ollie's partnership lasted more than 30 years

and involved a staggering 106 films.

Stan had a great deal of creative control over everything.

Off-screen, he was the brains, which you wouldn't expect.

Of course not, because obviously on the films, we see him as the...

Stan would edit, write, direct, do a huge amount of work.

To Ollie, it was a job, he wanted to finish the day and go and have a round of golf.

Really? So, he did his job and went home.

While museum founder Bill passed away more than a decade ago,

his collection is in safe hands, though a visit here wouldn't be complete

without a look at its crowning glory, Stan Laurel's hat.

That is very, very special,

I feel very privileged to touch that.

-You can try it on, if you like.

-Can I?

Wow! Actually, he did have a very small head, didn't he?

What do you think?

Meanwhile, in nearby Cartmel, Philip is about to get himself into another fine mess.

When you look over there at the countryside and the scenery,

why do people go abroad?

I suppose if look up there, that's why they go abroad.

Cartmel is home to Simon Starkey Antiques,

which, I think, it's fair to say Philip thinks is quite fantastic.

You have got a fantastic shop here.

That's a fantastic dresser, that's a fantastic Windsor chair.

You've got some fantastic things in here and my pockets are too deep.

And they're empty, that's another problem.

And if you believe that, you will believe anything.

But Jane does have something strangely appealing to Philip.

Oh, yeah.

How much is your Jonathan Livingston Seagull? Would it be expensive?

I don't think so. I think that could be within budget.

-Do you know who painted it?

-Simon Starkey.

-The guy who owns the shop.

-He is the man of many talents, isn't it?

-He is.

He did actually train as a fine artist.

-He's got this to look like it's sort of 1870, hasn't he?

-Yes.

He's a clever man.

-How much is that?

-I could do this one for you for £85.

Can I ask you to do me a real favour?

Could you ring Simon up? I'd love to buy it off him for £50.

Hello, Simon. The Seagull. Would £50 be agreeable?

OK. OK.

-It's like waiting for your exam results, this.

-Bye.

-Do I need to sit down?

-You probably might need to sit down.

What, he's put the price up to £95?

Well, the very best we can do, for you, £55.

-I'm going to buy it.

-You're going to have it?

-I do, I do, I do.

I love it.

And after that interesting purchase,

our experts are now headed east, in the rain.

And in case you're wondering if the Triumph is waterproof,

the answer is...

It's not so much a roof, it's more of a sieve.

CATHERINE LAUGHS

It is, isn't it?

Our next port of call is Kirkby Lonsdale, which sits,

rather attractively, on the River Lune.

I like that name, Kirkby Lonsdale.

Sounds like he should be in the lower fourth at school.

"I'm just going to have a game of rugger with Kirkby Lonsdale."

Time's moving on and our experts need to spend now

or forever hold their purse.

This is our last chance, isn't it?

I feel an enormous amount of pressure at the moment.

-I feel an enormous amount of rain.

-Well, this is my last chance.

-Bye.

-Oh, bye!

I guess I'm going this way.

Lacking sympathy, Catherine heads for the town's ex-police station.

Now an antique shop,

which Amanda has crammed full of gorgeous propositions.

I'm going to be extremely difficult and ask

if you could open this cabinet straightaway.

Put it a bit that way and then I've just got to move this table.

I'll move this to here.

-Now, you can get in.

-Well, I can't, actually!

No, you can't! You can't!

-No, you can't, right.

-It's really clever, I've hemmed myself in.

-There you go.

-Lovely.

What's this Punch?

Punch and Judy nutcrackers.

We've got little Judy on one side, Punch on the other.

There certainly looks a nice bit of wear to them,

nice sort of verdigris inside.

-I think they're properly about 1900.

-What could you do on this?

-The best would be 50.

-I do like them,

but I think 40 would be my limit.

Can we have a little think about this?

Just put anything on one side and then have a think about it.

That's a rather nice card case that looks to be in beautiful condition.

It's Argentyn silver. Your card goes in there and it snaps closed.

-And it's flat, to go in a man's pocket.

-I quite like that.

-You can imagine a businessman today in London...

-For business cards, yeah.

-"Would you like one of my cards?"

-It's 140.

-What could you come down to on that one?

-100.

I really couldn't possibly go...90.

I'm struggling beyond belief.

Could you go for 60 on that?

I'd have lost money on it,

I'd have lost £30 on it at 60.

Choices, choices.

Across town, though, Philip is rummaging around Dale's Antiques,

under the watchful eye of the very dapper Leonard.

Oh, I do love a bowtie!

This is a great bit of Worcester. This has probably come up the M6.

This is called blushed ivory, painted with flowers.

This is part of a much larger service and there would probably have been 12 plates.

The man who did these was a guy called Edward Raby

and because they weren't allowed to sign these, Edward Raby,

he had a bit of an ego, and he used to work his signature, a little ER,

into the foliage.

You can have a look at these for ever and a day

and sometimes you can see the little ER, and sometimes you can't.

Well, Philip, I'm looking but I'm definitely not seeing.

What I'm going to do is, if I put a couple of things together,

can I try and bid you for two things in one go.

You can try and bid me, yes, and I'll know where my figures are.

It's the emphasis on the word "try" that I'm a bit anxious of.

Having made her way through a cup of tea, and three digestives -

but who's counting - Catherine is ready to renegotiate.

So we said 70 and 40.

Can you do both of them together for 90?

I'm losing more and more money every time you speak!

I'm losing more and more money.

-I'm so desperate, you can't blame me for trying.

-100, and final.

-Shall we say 95 for both of them?

-OK, fine, that's it.

Are we going to stop there, or are you going to look at it again?

Do you know what, Amanda, I feel I could just sit here and chat to you all day.

Oh, really?

This could cost Amanda a fortune.

As for Philip, something else has caught his fancy.

I love little boxes.

And these are fantastic, these are Tunbridge ware.

Produced in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells joined the 19th Century,

this mosaic art form was achieved

by using a mix of local and foreign timbers.

And it boasted quite the colour range.

Even green.

But will one of these boxes be the perfect companion to

Philip's Royal Worcester?

The best I could probably do on that, realistically,

is going to be £75, on its own.

Ouch! And what about this little Tunbridge ware box?

It's a fabulous thing, fabulous colour. On its own, it would be 85.

-So you're talking in terms of about 100 and what for the two?

-150.

I just don't think I can do that.

I'm going to get all the money I've got in my pocket.

This is 100 of the finest pound notes of the realm, this is.

-Will that buy them?

-No, it won't, actually.

As I say, I had to say 150.

I tell you what I'll do.

-How about 110?

-120.

-110 and I'll have a deal with you.

-120.

I think you'll do another 10.

There you are, look, £115, that's job done.

-All right, that'll be fine.

-You're a gentleman, thank you.

-All right, thank you very much.

I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted,

and we've still got a crunch auction to prepare for.

Catherine began with £261.10

and blew £163 on five auction lots.

The Punch and Judy nutcrackers.

The silver gentleman's card case.

The 1940s telescope.

The copper cake stand.

And the copper mirror.

Philip, meanwhile, took his £493.50 and spent a whopping £240,

also on five lots.

The inlaid cotton reel box.

Sycamore meat tenderiser.

The Royal Worcester cabinet plate.

The patinated dairy bowl

and the seagull study painting.

So, how do you like them apples?

I'm not sure about her mirror.

I don't think it's quite good enough and her cake stand and falls into the same boat.

I don't know if I'm looking forward to the auction.

I've bought with my heart and not with my head, so...

She could be catching me up here.

After starting off in Sedbergh, Philip and Catherine

and this leg of their road trip in the fair city of Leeds.

I think you're going to come out on top.

You're so predictable, because every one so far,

you've said, "You're going to do really well,"

and every one, I haven't.

But for once, Philip has bought with his heart, not with his head.

So, our visit to Gary Don auctioneers could be very interesting indeed.

I tell you what, if your seagull flies away,

I am going completely crackers.

All in at £3,500, number five.

The man running the show is Gary Don himself.

So, how does he rate the chances of our experts?

Telescope's quite a nice one. It's a bit cloudy, the glass.

If you want three quarters of the picture, it's the thing to buy.

We had a couple of people looking at the seagull.

I'm sure they'll come up with some sort of name for that sort of art in the future.

Loads of interesting items there.

I've no idea what they given for them but I just hope it's not a lot!

It's a full house, but given the calibre of what's on offer,

our resident king of the daft and the different is starting to worry.

Normally, you're secretly confident, but I don't think you are today.

No, I'm not at all, far from it. This is crash and burn.

In that case, let the auction begin!

First up are Catherine's nutcrackers.

-Bit of a special item, this.

-Special.

It's a good piece, 12, 14, 16, 18,

20, 22, 24.

£22, selling at 22, on the front.

Oh, dear. Not exactly an encouraging start.

Gutted. I think were doomed.

And on that positive note, Catherine,

let's move swiftly on to Philip's Tunbridge ware cotton reel box,

which, for him, cost a small fortune.

30, and 5, 40, and 5. 50, 5.

I don't think you'll find another one.

Absolutely flabbergasted.

Selling at £60.

Despite all that angst, after auction costs,

Philip's just about broken even.

I just think your jammy with a capital J.

Catherine, too, has splashed out quite a tidy sum

on this gentleman's card case.

Do you know that your card case and I are the same age?

Which do you think's worn better?

Has to be the card case, I'm afraid. It's in perfect condition.

Oh, how sharper than a serpent's tooth! Shakespeare, by the way.

£20, and 5 anywhere? 25, 30.

Come on, you rotten lot.

35, 40, 55 here.

-Come on!

-58, 60? 60.

-61?

-Oh, come on, 61!

No? OK, I think that's what it's going to fetch, £60.

Don't say anything. Just don't say anything.

Even though nothing else has, perhaps Catherine's

military telescope can excite the good burghers of Leeds.

-Are you ready for this?

-I just don't know any more, Phil.

30, 5, I don't think you'll find another one.

-40.

-Oh, dear, come on!

-I'm giving this away.

-Giving it away!

Are you absolutely positive? 45, thank you.

-45.

-Come on, it's cheap.

-46, 47, 48.

-Pound increments, this is painful.

All done.

Finally, Catherine has made some money, though she's still frowning.

Just painful. Oh! It's like...

Next, it's Philip's meat tenderiser.

-A fantastic piece.

-Fantastic piece.

You should all have your hands up.

10 bid, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28.

32. 31. Sir?

31. Selling at £31.

That's the silver fox's first profit of the day.

The last time it was up for sale, this copper cake stand took

five years to sell.

Should we be worried?

I'm starting off with a big bid on my sheet, of £5. 5 here.

12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 24, 26.

-It's a steal, are you going to let him have this?

-It is a steal.

At £30, I'll go another pound. Anybody? Go on, 31, 32.

Why are my things going up in pound increments? It's painful.

Selling at 32 on the front, thank you very much.

A surprise result there, and quite a relief for Catherine.

That's good, isn't it, for me?

Having gone a bit mad on this leg,

this Royal Worcester dish is the second of Philip's big purchases.

30 bid, 40, 45.

It's got to be worth more than that, surely.

46? Selling at 45.

Now, that's disappointing.

Ooh, they're a tough lot here in Leeds!

You got to live with it,

-turn the page.

-Shan't ever come to Leeds again, but that's neither here nor there, really.

Before you go, Philip, it's your third big purchase,

the sycamore dairy bowl, for £55.

This is going to be really interesting.

Starting this at £24, 26, 28, 30,

32, 34, 36, 38, 40,

and 5, 50, and 5, 60.

-That's a relief.

-No? I've 60 there. £60.

Not bad, not bad, especially at today's auction.

Next item, Catherine's so-called Arts and Crafts mirror.

-This isn't going to be good, Catherine.

-Thanks.

I've 10 bid, 15 anywhere on the mirror?

15, 20, 25, I've 20 here, and 2 anywhere?

22. 24, thank you. 26, 28.

Selling at 26 at the back.

Adding insult to injury, I'm afraid that's another loss.

Moving from collectables to fine arts now, seagull.

-What shall we say, £50 to start this?

-Ouch.

-30, then.

I've 30 bid. Any other bids on this? I've £30 here.

35 there, 40? It's a cheap picture, this.

45, sir? 45. 50? 50.

-And 5, I'll even take 2. We need the money.

-Don't we just.

No, at £50 on the right-hand side.

And so it flutters off with a little more of Philip's money.

-I've had a really bad day here.

-We both have.

I think I'm going to quietly go out and start the car. Are you coming?

Catherine began with £261.10, and, after auction costs,

made a sad £9.66 pounds loss.

The Southon fighting fund is now a mere £251.44.

Big Phil, meanwhile, had £493.50

and made a much bigger loss of £38.28.

But with £455.22 left in the kitty, he's still firmly in the lead.

It's like an emotional rollercoaster, this.

Charge.

-Do you think you've finally lost it, Phil?

-I lost it years ago.

We're Liverpool bound, for Philip and Catherine's final auction.

For the first time, every single item is going to make a profit.

You heard it here first.

This time, they aren't pulling any punches.

I mean, it's about taking part.

The hell it is! It's about winning, isn't it?

For in the contest, there can only be one winner.

That's all coming up later.

But let's get back to now,

and join the boy and the girl in the breathtaking North,

because Philip Serrell and Catherine Southon are about to go head-to-head.

Part of me thinks I'm going to go and blow a load.

I'm going to go and blow a load and let's just see what happens in the last auction.

But at the previous auction, it was losses all round.

I've had a really bad day here.

It was just painful.

Oh!

So, on their final trip together, Philip and Catherine

are both desperate to take first place.

You will not blow all your money.

-There is absolutely no way you would blow all your money.

-I might do. I might do. I might do.

I know you very well, and there's no way.

Philip's strategy has been to buy the daft and the different,

and for the most part, it's worked a treat,

transforming his original £200 into a rather tasty £455.22.

-You're getting competitive, aren't you?

-Me, competitive?

I couldn't spell it. Is that with a K or a C?

Catherine, on the other hand, has been having a terrible time of things.

As well as struggling at auction...

That's a joke. That IS a joke.

..she's languishing far behind her competitor,

with just £251.44 to her name.

But one final auction could change everything.

Come on then, Catherine, what's the plan?

Tell me what your plan is, spill the beans.

-Do you really think that I would tell you my plan?

-Yes.

-Because you love me.

-No chance.

Catherine and Philip's road trip from Aboyne has meandered

through Scotland, skipped through the Lake District

and leapt into Leeds.

Today were headed to Skipton, in North Yorkshire,

with a final auction, and final destination, Liverpool.

Catherine's kicking off in Wash House Antiques, a small shop with big potential.

What a lovely shop. Add a fiver on, all right? Thank you. Ow!

-Go away.

-Bad luck.

Hello, good morning.

-Hi, Samantha.

-Hi, Samantha, how are you doing?

To finally outfox the silver fox, Catherine's got to play tough.

This is my last chance to beat Phil Serrell.

And Catherine's favourite tactic - go in incredibly low.

Could that be £10?

-Ooh, heck.

-Ooh, heck.

-That's quite a drop.

Very low, for a Georgian leather hatbox. Well done, Catherine.

Because it's the damaged on the top, that's going to put some people off.

-I think I probably could, at a push, let you have that for 10.

-OK.

Can I think about that?

What would like to do is probably pick out a few items

and then sort of put them together and we can see what we can do.

Meanwhile, Philip's enjoying the fabulous combo that is

a classic car and summer in West Yorkshire.

Absolutely soaked.

It leaks like a sieve,

and it's diverting everything like a drain pipe into my lap.

Either that or I've got a problem I hadn't realised.

Shouldn't have had that second cup of tea!

However, in nearby Cullingworth, Philip finds the enormous Antiques At The Mill,

to turn this shopping trickle into a flood.

Blimey! Is it Paul? How many items of antiques have you got in here?

-Oh, I dread to think.

-Thousands.

-On this floor, I don't know, maybe 600.

-This is a place where I can start looking.

-Help yourself.

So, amongst the many, many objects here,

what's really tempting our Phil?

I've got a real weakness for chimney pots, you see.

What sort of bloke has a weakness for chimney pots? This bloke.

If you like that, you'll love this.

That is a mother of a chimney pot, isn't it?

I would think it's got to be Edwardian, it's got to be 100 years old.

That is a belter.

Whilst Philip smokes out some bargains, Catherine

puts her keen eye to some auction prospects.

-Next, it's field binoculars, priced at £15.

-Nice leather case.

I'm hoping I find a little name around the piece

but there doesn't seem to be anything.

They're actually from Watson and Son, the Rolls-Royce

of binocular makers in their heyday, in the early 20th Century.

You could have them for £5.

I think at that they would stand a good chance.

I've got my hard head on today.

Because I've really got to be strict with myself.

I'm having kittens at the moment, I really am.

I'm probably doing the wrong thing, but there we are,

I'm going to give this a go, because I think it's got a great look.

Can this be eight?

And stay with the five for the binoculars.

I like this new, tough dealing Catherine Southon,

but can she make her mind up?

How about, the real bottom line, 12 for the two?

I think that's very kind.

There we are. £20. Wonderful.

-Isn't that a lovely shape?

-Quite quirky.

-We like a bit of quirky on this programme.

-Absolutely.

Although no-one really does quirky quite like this guy.

That is a mother of a chimney pot.

-The Long Tom.

-The what?

-The long Tom, made in Burmantofts in Leeds.

So that's a Bermantofts chimney pot? Is it stamped Bermantofts?

It probably won't be, no. They were mass manufacturing them,

so they weren't always stamped.

You can find them with stamps, but probably not.

-What's the price ticket on it?

-£85.

Can we just get it out? And while you're

doing that, can I go and have a look, because you got some stone troughs in there, haven't you?

-Can have a look at those, as well?

-Of course you can.

They are actually Yorkshire stone, but they are new.

When you say new, that's a million years old

-what you mean is...

-They've been newly cut,

newly cut out to make a trough.

-This is a pump trough, isn't it?

-It is.

You'd have gone into the rear yard of your house and you'd have had

your pump, wrought iron hand pump, that goes down to the well.

-And you pumped it, and it pumped water up into a stone pump trough.

-Pump trough.

See, I'd like to buy the two, for, like, just under 100 quid.

I don't think you're taking my 16 children into consideration.

Well, that, Paul, is your problem, not mine!

What could you do the two for?

-If you can do £100, I think we can have a deal.

-On the two?

-On the two.

Catherine told me to spend money, I'm going to.

I just love them both so much.

Here you are, there's 20.

I'll just check.

Yorkshire stone to auction in Merseyside? I'm not sure Philip's thought that through.

# She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes

Whoo, whoo!

# She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes. #

Why are you slapping my thigh?

Less of that, thank you, and get yourselves off to Todmorden,

surrounded by the glorious Pennines.

-One minute, it's glorious sunshine.

-It's really nice now.

Then it's pouring down with rain, it's just unreal.

Picture House Antiques can give Philip and Catherine

the next patch to fight over.

-Hold on, hold on!

-No, no, I wouldn't ever

steal a march on you and rush ahead.

You are rushing ahead. Wait for me! Oi! Oi!

Well, the early bird gets the...sun?

I think this is really cool.

And the thing about it, I know Catherine teases me about

me turning everything into a table,

and I'm not going to turn this into a table.

But it's not always traditional antiques that make the money,

so you've got to think out of the box a little bit.

For me, that is really out of the box. I think it's cool.

I'm going to try and buy it for 15 or 20 quid.

I love that, I really love that.

Just one problem, the ticket price is £34.

Let's hope Tim, here, is in a giving mood. Great name.

I'd like to buy it, in an ideal world, at 15 quid.

I think you'll have to be a little bit up from that.

I think the guy who owns it, I think he'd take about 25 for it.

-I'm not arguing over a fiver, go on.

-Really? You're a gentleman.

Thank you. Let me put that there.

Clearly, Phil's off to a great start,

and Catherine's got her eye on something, too.

I said that I didn't like Tunbridge ware,

when old Serrell produced his at the sale yesterday, but that is

a far superior piece in my eyes, and it's a thermometer,

which has been set onto this.

These little geometric shapes, the inlay, is really pretty.

Let's just have a look at the price.

150.

I don't think I'm going to go anywhere near there,

so I shall pop it down.

And when Catherine makes up her mind, nothing can change it.

-Tim.

-Yes.

-Hiya.

Your Tunbridge ware, what could you do on that one?

-How does 125 sound?

-Honestly, that sounds too high.

-Does it?

-Next move.

-I've got someone who wants to talk to you about the Tunbridge ware.

Catherine's got a price in mind, but can she stick to it?

Can we say 60?

I prefer 60.

I'm on my hands and knees, I'm on my knees here. Yeah?

Are you happy with that? OK. Thank you very much.

So, 60 it is. Now, can Philip back another quirky winner?

-What's that thing up there?

-The horse's head?

It's an interesting thing, that, it's off a fairground.

It's original.

What does that say?

"Sonny Bright Eyes." Must be the name of the ride.

Oh, my life!

Do you know the first thing that worries me about that,

you see so much of this cast-iron stuff that is restored.

You bury this for 12 months

and no-one's ever going to know the difference.

All the screws and nuts and bolts are going to rust together.

-You know, it just bothers me that it's repro.

-Is not repro, that.

The source it came from, it's not repro.

-What's the very best you can do that for?

-£70.

-How much?

-£70.

I think that's too much of a gamble for me.

Only one way to settle this, phone the dealer.

What's the death on this horse's head, absolute death.

-I've got a poor auctioneer here.

-Really poor, mega poor.

'50 dabs, and it's cheap at that.'

-50 quid, 50 dabs, he says.

-45 dabs.

-Can you not split it with him?

-£47.50?

-£47.50.

It'll make the numbers interesting, go on, 47.50.

-You got a deal there.

-Thank you.

I hope I get past the winning post with this. See you later. Cheers.

Well, the bidders will decide soon enough.

But right now, that's us done for the day.

Do you know what I think about this little car?

I'm not convinced it's going to last.

When you drive it, bits fall off.

-What, me, or the car?

-Yeah, both of you, actually!

On this, their final shopping day, our experts are determined,

if a little sad.

So, this is it, Batman, this is the last shop of the entire trip.

-I'm quite sad, really.

-You are.

So far, Philip has just spent under £170 on four auction lots

and still has £287 hiding in the darkest recesses of his wallet.

I've absolutely loved this trip, it's been wonderful.

It's been enormous fun. And sharing it with you.

Ah, thanks, honey, same with you.

Catherine has parted with £72 for three auction lots

and has another £180 at her disposal.

Today, you know, I'm going to buy something that is going to blow you away.

-Do you know, I've heard this before somewhere.

-So have I!

-Like, every day I've heard this, every day.

-Oh, Philip!

Today's first stop is handsome Ramsbottom,

famous for its black pudding throwing contests.

This is it. I'm going to surprise you.

This is the Southon revenge, is it?

I'm going to open a bag of surprises.

-Oh, my God...

-Ooh!

-That's never happened before.

-You are rubbish!

The local antique centre is our next destination, where,

once again, there are several floors and multiple dealers.

I think there's going to be lots of treats in here.

-The end of Philip Serrell as we know it.

-As we know it.

-Good morning, hello.

-Morning. Is it all right if I have a look around?

-Certainly.

Thank you.

But Catherine's eye is drawn to the small, twinkly items in the cabinet.

I quite like this necklace.

I never, ever, ever, ever go for jewellery,

but you've got some beautiful pieces.

The sparkling stone in this necklace is marcasite,

a mineral that's been used in jewellery since the days

of the ancient Greeks,

and it was also very popular with the Victorians,

but can Gina give Catherine the price she really wants?

Put it on, let's see what it looks like.

Sometimes when I sell on eBay, I put the piece on my neck,

and then take a photograph in the mirror, and you get the reflection.

How much could you do that for?

I'll do that for £35 for you.

Could you come a lot lower on that, though? Because I'm going to be selling it at auction.

-I'm looking at 20, really.

-Really?

My goodness, she's persistent.

I'll do 25, but that would be my best.

Could you do 20 for me?

-Yes, go on, I will.

-Will you, are you happy at that?

-I'll do that for you.

-20.

-Thank you.

While Catherine continues to browse for victory,

Philip's already on the road.

His next stop is Bolton, on the high street,

and, no, he's not shopping, he's going to the pub, again.

Ye Olde Man & Scythe is one of the oldest pubs in Britain

and it also has one very colourful history.

Hi, what can I do for you?

Well, you're not the scythe. You must be old man.

-I am the old man, that's right.

-I'm Philip, how you doing?

I'm very well, I'm John.

Not far from here, the Bolton Massacre took place.

A bloody episode of the English Civil War, where,

in a battle of Parliamentarians versus Royalists,

1,500 people were killed.

-It's a proper boozer, isn't it?

-Absolutely.

Must've seen some real activity out there, I don't know,

from rampaging Royalists to marauding pop groups, hasn't it?

-That's right, we've had both.

-Really?

-Oh, yes.

And I can even show you some of the evidence of it, as well.

-Where's that?

-It's all in my museum room here.

-Is that it?

-Yes.

-Go on, lead on.

-Right, on we go.

More than 400 years after this pub's first pint was poured,

the owner, the Earl of Derby, led the Royalists' charge against

the Parliamentarians, but needless to say, it didn't go very well.

So, we had our massacre outside the front door

and then, bizarrely, seven years later,

Derby is executed outside the front door, and before he's executed...

-He spent the last couple of hours in the pub.

-On this chair.

So who actually said that Derby sat in this chair?

A guy called Tom Donovan, who was the licensee here in the early 1800s.

What he wanted to do was improve the trade in the pub by attracting

tourists in.

So he found the chair,

and he put the brass label on it, that you can see there,

and says that Derby sat on it.

So the probability is that that's a complete and utter load of bunkum.

-Correct.

-Fantastic.

Now, I got to tell you, this is a bit like me,

it's seen better days, because it's got a new splice on the back leg,

a new splice on the front leg

and a new splice on front leg there.

It reminds me very much of me granddad's broom.

It's had 14 new heads and 15 new handles.

Why is it all so battered?

Actually, I can answer that question.

It all kicked off in 1964, and it involves rock legend The Who.

-THE Who?

-Yes.

-What, Daltrey, Townsend and Moon the loon?

That's right.

One of them climbed up on the wall to sit on it, but because it

was hung against the wall like that, that back leg broke off completely.

So, that chair has actually seen... It's been through the mill, hasn't it?

Oh, yes.

But even so, this famous chair, in this famous pub,

is still pulling in the punters.

And in keeping with more than 800 years of tradition,

Phil is finishing this tour with a cheeky glass of beer.

John, that's really lovely.

But if I stop here any longer,

I'm going to get completely caned

with all this.

Lovely to meet you.

If ever I come here again, this will be the first port of call.

You take care, God bless, goodbye.

Back in Ramsbottom, Catherine set her sights on this,

a tortoiseshell ring box, circa 1919,

with a rather lovely silver inlay.

Not everyone's cup of tea, but perfectly legal,

since it was made pre-1947.

What's the lowest you could go on that?

I would go to £50 for it.

-Could you go lower than that, because of the scratches?

-I can't, really.

I'm worried about the scratching and I'm worried about that

because it's going to put people off.

-It's a shame because it's beautiful.

-It is, yes.

Can we say 30?

Yes, because I want you to win.

-Ah, you're my best friend!

-That's OK.

And as Catherine seals the deal with her latest best friend,

she's feeling quietly confident about that final auction.

I actually think I've bought really well.

All my items of the last day or so, I think I've bought really well.

I'm happy with everything and I'm confident, for the first time,

that every single item is going to make a profit.

You heard it here first.

For one last time,

Catherine and dear old Philip must take themselves to auction.

Philip stopped short of blowing the lot,

but did spend £167.50 on four auction lots.

The Yorkshire stone trough.

The Long Tom chimney pot - why not?

The vintage deck chair.

And the iron fairground horse head. No comment.

Catherine got tough and got stuck in, spending £122 on five lots.

The Georgian hatbox.

The field binoculars.

The Tunbridge ware desk thermometer.

The marcasite necklace.

And the silver jewellery box.

-Ah, you're my best friend!

-That's OK.

After starting off in Skipton, Philip and Catherine end this,

their final leg, in the glorious city of Liverpool.

-Do you know, you're my Liver Bird.

-Am I?

THEY HUM THE LIVER BIRDS THEME TUNE

So, today is my day, Philip.

Today is the day that I make £200 profit and catch you out.

-What about me Long Tom?

-You what?

-I don't say that to many girls.

-Me Long Tom.

-What was your Long Tom?

-The big chimney pot.

-Oh, that thing!

-What do you mean, "Oh, that thing"?

Our final auction of the week takes place at Cato Crane,

though before auctioneer John Crane gets things under way,

what does he really think about our experts' choices?

I think it's a very interesting little collection of stuff, actually.

They've bought really nicely.

The trough worries me a little bit.

It wouldn't really fit into gardens here,

because it's Yorkshire stone.

The hatbox, who wants a Georgian hatbox?

The chimney pot is a great thing. It's tall, it's got presence.

Perhaps of all the things, that's the thing I would probably go for.

Time to find out who out of this duo will take first place.

We've now got three members of our team.

Vera is with me, two against one.

As long as you divide your profit by two, I don't mind.

Welcome aboard, Vera.

Now, let the auction begin.

First up, it's Catherine's leather hatbox.

Probably a military one, a nice object, ladies and gentlemen.

50. 30, if you like. Any bid at all?

-Oh, come on.

-I know you could have a special use for it.

Nobody whatsoever.

-No!

-30 is bid.

35, 40 with you, Trevor, please.

40 with you, is bid.

I've got a bid of 40 here, and I'm going to sell it.

Despite the lack of bidders, that's a good start.

Catherine is £30 up before commission.

£22 profit, isn't it?

And she said it's not worth it.

-It isn't.

-I'm with you. Rubbish, isn't it?

You ever thought of going on television, my love. Have you?

Next, it's Philip's Yorkshire stone pump trough,

but will it excite the bidders of Liverpool?

-Silly item.

-30 is bid.

35 is bid. 35, you're in.

I've got 40 here, 45.

45, is 50 with me, commission bid.

50, 55, come on, one more. 55, 60.

65 with you. 65, got to be that.

65, £65.

£70 over there. I'm selling at 70. You want 75?

75.

Not bad, but perhaps it might have done better in, let's see,

Yorkshire?

-That's roughly just broken even.

-You probably have.

Oh, well, on to Catherine's field binoculars,

bought for just £2.

Surely there's a profit in this.

Who'll give me 20? 10 if you like.

Just little lot. £10, ten is bid, 12, 14,

16, 16, 18 is bid.

20 now, 22. £22, I'm selling at £22.

-That will do me.

-All done at £22.

That's £20 up before commission

but I'm afraid young Vera here is not impressed.

Watson and Sons is a very good optical maker.

This not as well-known as other makers, is it?

That's put you in your place, hasn't it? Well done, Vera, I like you.

You let her have it.

Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder,

but even so, Philip's chimney pot is quite something.

On this basis, I shall be happy with 50 quid.

It might just make that, actually.

Really, really nice object, ladies and gentlemen.

-What's it going to make? £150 for it.

-I hope it does.

I'll bid 60 here on a commission bid, 60.

What about 70? I've got 80, 90.

Well done.

85, if you like. OK, I've got 80 here.

£90, I'm going to sell now.

-Get excited, Philip.

-I don't do excited.

-Sold, thank you.

-Wow, look at that! One smoking pot.

-90.

-So £90 is...

-A good profit.

It's about buying the right thing for the right auction.

-That's what I think. Don't you think?

-OK.

Let's hope Catherine has done just that

with her tortoiseshell and silver jewellery box.

There is good news, we have a phone bidder.

Fully hallmarked. 70, 5.

Yes? 75 is bid. 80, madam. 90. And 5, sir, all right with you?

95, 100 on the phone. 105, 110. £110 now.

110 it was, on the phone. Any further bid, for the last time now.

Ooh, another bid.

I'll go back to the gentleman over here.

130 is bid. Another bidder, standing here.

130 here, for the very, very last time. £130. Your bid.

All done?

-Sold, thank you.

-My goodness!

All of Catherine's Christmases have come at once.

Watch out, Philip, it's game on.

Well done, my love.

130, that's £100 more than I paid for it.

Continuing Philip's al fresco theme,

next it's his vintage deckchair complete with canopy and stool.

We just need a bit of sunshine.

-Yes. Lots of sunshine.

-That's what we'll get out of this.

40, 45 is bid, 50, 50 is bid.

I'm selling at £50, it's a nice thing.

I told you 50, didn't I?

You're a better judge than me.

All done at £50, now. Come on.

Something tells me it's going to sell for 50.

At 50, all done at £50 now.

Not bad, Philip, but so far this is definitely Catherine's auction.

Let's see if she can come up trumps with her Tunbridge ware thermometer.

-It is in good condition.

-I haven't said a word.

I'll take £40 is bid, 40 is bid here.

-45, 55.

-It's on the telephone.

-But I need it to go a lot higher.

-60 in the room now.

65. 65, have to hurry you, 65 is bid.

70, 70 is bid now, 75.

Are you going to bid at 85, sir? Yes, £85.

95.

Not quite the runaway profit Catherine was hoping for

but a healthy margin nonetheless.

If I was you, I'd sort of feel that was a bit cheap.

Yes, it was cheap.

Philip's last auction lot is the one he's pinning all his hopes on.

So, for this fairground horse's head, he's looking for up to £200.

-It's a good thing for the garden.

-I hope so.

I've got 45 is bid now, 45, 50. 50 is bid.

60, if you like.

60, 65 anyone? £60 is bid.

-All done at 65.

-Not sounding good.

Oh, dear, Philip's dream of a big profit

has fallen at the last hurdle.

-What do you reckon, Vera?

-A fair price.

-22.

A fair price.

So far, Katherine's auction curse is lifted, and then some.

Now it all comes down to this, her Art Nouveau marcasite necklace.

Look at it, it's beautiful.

What do we say, £10 for it, 10, 12, 12 over there.

14, 16, 16 is bid over there. Thank you.

18, £18. 20, make it 22, and I'll sell. 22.

It's a good price for marcasite.

I think it's a world record price for marcasite, isn't it?

All done at 22.

Oh, dear, it seems the bidders of Liverpool

aren't great wearers of marcasite.

-Didn't have a name, you see.

-No, I'll give it a name, Vera.

Catherine started this leg with £251.44

and made a fabulous profit of £131.38.

So, she ends on £382.82.

However, that silver fox took his £455.22,

made a modest profit of £62.10

and ended up with a grand total of £517.32.

Big Phil Serrell is the winner.

What a trip it's been!

# Cuddle up a little closer

# Love in mind... #

-From Philip's love of the daft and the different...

-Have you got bunions?

I thought it was for doing unmentionable things to sheep or cattle.

..to Catherine's desire to hug everyone she meets...

So lovely. She's so lovely.

I felt the nod there.

..this was a road trip filled with bad driving...

How do you get it into first gear?

SHE LAUGHS

..and plenty of friendship.

-And you're sharing it with me.

-I know, the love of my life.

-But our story ends here.

-Didn't we say the winner buys dinner?

The winner of this auction buys dinner? No, loser buys dinner, that's you.

How about loser phones a tow truck?

Tatty bye.

-Your rubbish. See, I told you. Do you want me to drive?

-No.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd