Episode 9 Antiques Road Trip

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

-War!

-Why?

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

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

-but it's not as easy as you might think and things don't always go to plan.

-Push!

-Will they race off with a huge profit or come to a grinding halt?

-I'll thrash you!

This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Yeah!

We're out on the road again with a pair of troublemakers.

Auctioneers Charlie Ross and Charles Hanson.

There was a young vicar of Prings, who professed to despise earthly things, but his secret desire...

That's quite enough, thank you! Charlie Ross is a leaner senior

who struggles to part with his cash.

-I wish I had spent more money.

-So do I.

And this is Charles Hanson, the Young Pretender,

keeping his chin up despite a cruel, bruising loss on the last leg of the trip.

I'm going to set sail and hit those high seas.

-60 quid.

-Add £25.

-85?

-Yes.

27.50.

Aww!

Charlie Ross, meanwhile, had a fairly good first outing with a few more sober purchases.

From his original £200,

Charlie now has £234.56 to flash about.

Not a lot, but considerably more than Hanson's got.

Sadly, yes.

Poor Charles's losses mean his £200 has shrunk

to a worrying £132.65 to fight back with.

As the chaps launch into the next leg,

their vintage 1960s Ford Corsa is still serving them well.

# Heigh ho!

# Heigh ho! #

Don't join the choir. They will travel over 300 miles down the gorgeous east of England,

all the way to Rye in East Sussex.

And on this leg they're leaving Doncaster, heading for Grantham.

First stop is North Lincolnshire's glittering jewel, Scunthorpe.

-I see old Fagin in you!

-You think I'm a mean buyer?

You pick a pocket or two in your dealings!

Today Scunthorpe offers Charlie Ross his first antiques emporium.

Now...I've found something here that could well be relevant to where we're going to auction.

We're going to be very near Lincoln

and here we've got the Arnold and Company, Lincoln, Limited.

Actually, Charlie, the auction is 25 miles south from Lincoln in Grantham,

but I'm sure it will have its own lovers of old lemonade bottles. There, there, dear.

-Hi, there.

-Hello.

-Are you the boss?

-I am, yeah. Dave.

-I'm Charlie, hi.

-Nice to meet you.

-There you go.

-Is that a tape measure of some sort?

-It is. An old Chesterman's one.

-A Chesterman's.

What a fascinating bit of kit. Would that be used by a surveyor?

The asking price for this early model is £45.

Look at that.

Victorian doll's crib.

And as far as I can see,

it's absolutely 100%.

Victorian toys and dolls are highly collectable, but this ain't either

and at £58 it isn't cheap. I can feel a negotiation coming on.

What about £30 for the crib?

If I could tempt you at 40, that's where I'd be with it.

-What about the tape measure?

-It's been with us a bit longer.

-Has it?

-It's more specialist.

-Quite.

I think we could probably take that down to 30.

-You can't do the two for 50?

-I can't. That's too low.

-I'll do the pair for 65.

-There are two glass Lincoln lemonade bottles.

One is priced at £4 and one is priced at £3.

-I'll do the two for a fiver.

-70 quid for the lot.

-That's right.

I'll get my cash out. Thank you for looking after me.

That's what I call a fine start, Charlie.

And it looks like you could hold your lead for Day 2.

Meanwhile, first-time hitchhiker Charles Hanson has gone on ahead. Quite far ahead, actually.

34 miles south from sunny Scunny

finds our poor second-place expert about to land in Lincoln.

The wind's blowing an almost Force 14 gale here in Lincolnshire

and Hanson is, at the moment, heading downhill, almost treading water, but I'm not concerned.

I'm in my lucky waistcoat.

Come on, Hanson! And off you go!

That's the spirit. You can't keep a good man down,

-although I wonder quite where is he going.

-This way!

Hello, madam.

-Your name is...?

-Suzy.

-Hi, I'm Charles.

Wow. Look at this.

It's like Aladdin's cave.

There's everything in here. You can barely walk around, there's so much crammed in.

-Is there anything a bit quirky?

-Oh, here you are. For a fisherman.

-What is it?

-A wine thing.

-Of course, yeah.

-That's £10.

-I mean, for £10...

-That's quirky.

-It's not very old, but it's a collectable.

Today's market is so governed by quirkiness.

Suzy, what's your best price?

-Eight.

-£8?

-Yeah.

-I'll probably go for him. I can't make a big loss. I've had a disaster already.

I've lost £80 already and I'm down to barely £100.

-Will you take £5 for him?

-No.

-Meet me halfway - six.

-OK.

£6. Suzy, we're going and I'm going. I'm going.

-Nice to meet you.

-And gone. Thanks, Suzy, ever so much.

Reputation intact, Charles Hanson is just getting going,

as the road trip takes him 10 miles south to the lovely village of Navenby.

-Good morning. How are you?

-Very well.

-I'm Charles Hanson.

-Laura Conway.

What I do like is this one here. Birmingham, 1907.

-Martha, David and Morris Davis. It's a sugar sifter.

-Yes.

With your lidded cover.

This would fetch between £60 and £100. What's your retail price?

-It's quite a lot more than that.

-Yeah.

-We've got that on at 225.

-Yeah.

-But it has been here for a year and a half.

-Don't tell him it's languishing!

-I can let you have it at 100.

-Oh, crikey.

Laura, £100 is a really, really good offer for me to buy it at,

so I'll think about it.

That's sweet.

This tiny oval box reads "A trifle from Bath"

and what we've got here is something which was a lady's patch box.

Ladies back in the 1760s, 1780s, had warts on their faces

or they may have had scars and blisters. It was a very unhygienic time.

This you would have kept your cream in to cover patches on your face.

-The asking price is 145.

-145?

-It is, yes.

-For you, Charles, I think we could do that at £50.

-Commercially, am I being savvy? Maybe not,

but when you handle history that tells a great story...

Sounds like someone needs a moment of "me time" to weigh up the pros and cons.

They will want about £100 for the sifter.

If I can go in at 70 and buy it,

buy the oval box at 25, that's 95...

It gives Hands On Hanson still £35 to play with.

I'd like to offer you... 25 plus 70.

That makes £95.

And I'm asking your hand... for a sale.

-Oh, for you, Charles.

-Are you sure?

-Go on, then. For you.

£95. Laura, thanks ever so much.

Charlie Ross, watch out. I'm coming to get you.

Well, always nice to end the day with a threat! It's been a good hunt so far, though.

Now Navenby must give our road trippers a bed for the night. Sleep tight.

Dawn breaks across Lincolnshire and our chaps are straight back at it.

You know, the word's on the street that a) you're back and b) you were a Dick Turpin yesterday!

-Ha ha!

-I'm going to call you Dick Hanson! You were wearing a mask yesterday!

So far, Charlie's spent £70 on three lots.

The surveyor's tape, the Victorian crib and the Lincolnshire pop bottles,

leaving £164.56 for the day ahead.

Charles, meanwhile, hit the first day's shopping running, literally,

spending £101 also on three items.

# You've got to pick a pocket or two, boys

# You've got to pick a pocket or two. #

So our angelic, sooty-faced street urchins continue on.

36 miles east from Navenby to the market town of Alford.

Here we go.

-Good morning, sir. I'm Charles Hanson.

-Hi.

-Your name is...?

-Mel.

-The brass bed...is that for sale?

-I can do that for 20, 30 quid.

And we are missing the slats? Here's your headboard.

-It would have been a nice bed, probably from, oh, about 1900.

-Yeah, I would say so.

Nice. But it's no time for a lie down just yet.

Now these are fairly crude Japanese earthenware Satsuma-esque vases, aren't they?

From the 1920s, made for export, really quite crude.

Really quite ugly. But people do collect them.

I've had a very difficult time. I've got to be a bit more... sombre in my purchases

rather than going so gung-ho. Could I call this lot 25?

And give you 6 for the brass bed?

-Go on.

-Sure?

-Yeah, go on.

Gone. Thanks, Mel. Good man.

Hats off to the Young Pretender. He's got just 65p left in his pocket

and a whole lot of wares to take to auction.

-I just hope Charles can remember where he parked. Oh, dear.

-I'll let you go that way.

# Here I go again My, my, how can I resist you?

# Blue since the day we started... #

And here we go again.

We fondly wave Alford goodbye and continue on,

journeying 25 miles south-west to Boston.

As the shopping hours draw to an end,

Bismark Antiques offers Mr Ross a last stab at victory.

Sylvia and son Matthew run this fine den of antiquity.

Pair of silver sauce boats.

No price. I love things without a price. It always gives you a chance.

I think they're going to be about 1920. They're in an earlier style.

They're in an 18th-century style, but they have got a good weight to them.

How much are the pair of sauce boats?

They can be 180.

The main problem I have is that I've only got 160 quid.

There's no point in me trying to steal them off you. Or is there?

You wouldn't take 160 quid for those, would you?

-I would take 160.

-Would you?

-To help you out.

I can't think of any reason why I shouldn't buy those, other than...

..it will spend me out completely against that Hanson.

I wouldn't worry. There's no way you've bought anything as ridiculous and risky as Charles Hanson.

Have you got anything for £4.56?

-Cos if you have, I will buy it.

-I'll find you this.

If you can find me something for £4.56, I will spend every penny I have in life.

But what is it exactly?

-It would have been for your sugar, then to hang your snips...

-You hang your snips over the edge.

I think that's fantastic.

-Matthew...

-Great.

-Congratulations.

-I now have absolutely...

-Penniless.

-..nothing!

I am penniless.

This is ridiculous.

You've spent your entire budget, beating Mr Hanson by a full 65p.

Thanks a lot. I can't even afford a sandwich!

Cash or no cash, Charles has decided that lovely Boston can offer him one final treat today.

Windmills have existed in Britain for an awfully long time.

And these vertical models became particularly iconic in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire

from the 13th century onwards.

Maud Foster Mill is a working business once more,

though its historical fortunes have changed with the winds.

-James Waterfield.

-Good to see you. Charles Hanson.

-Pleased to meet you.

As a young boy, I always wanted to wander into a windmill

and it's great to be here in Boston and to see it. It's a wonderful building.

Hmm. 192 this year as well.

The mill was built for brothers Thomas and Isaac Reckitt,

paying a princely sum of 1,826 pounds, ten shillings and sixpence.

From 1819, grain arrived by canal, was winched to the top floor

and squeezed through millstones, grinding into fine flour.

After changing owners, Maud Foster Mill closed for business in the 1940s

and was saved as a landmark by the Reckitt Family Charitable Trust in 1953.

-Shall we go outside?

-Yes, yes, feel free.

It's a bit high, isn't it? Gee whizz!

-What's this big chain for?

-We've got the control chains for the sails to stop and start the mill.

The sails seems to be going quite slowly.

-Do you want a bit of raw muscle to give you a hand?

-Yes, go on then.

If you pull that down, that will put a bit more cloth on, that will close up the sails more.

-If I pull it too hard, it won't break?

-No, it'd need to be a better man than you to break it.

-Derbyshire men, strong in the arm!

-Strong in the arm, thick in the head.

-Thanks(!)

-Just steady and hard.

You don't need to yank it. Just pull it.

-That's it. You've gone as far as it will go.

-Look, can you see?

-That's full cloth, so it should go a bit better.

-I've given a windmill full cloth. I feel so proud.

-Yeah.

-Watch your head.

-Sorry.

-Gee whizz! Fantastic, isn't it?

Careful, Hanson. These amazing machines are as dangerous as they are beautiful.

One of the millers was killed in the 1920s.

He climbed over the balcony rails to retrieve his cigarettes and got hit on the head as he climbed back up.

The last miller in the '40s would go round on the sails for a shilling.

-He wouldn't?

-Yeah. I won't, but he would.

# And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space

# Like the circles that you find

# In the windmills of your mind... #

This is wholemeal, just milled today, fresh out of the finest windmill in Lincolnshire.

We need to stitch it up. Shall I stitch one and show you?

You can have a go if you want.

-You wouldn't want to make a suit with that.

-And that's hand-stitched, ready for off?

Yeah, hand-stitched by a machine!

Hanson, you stupid boy!

James and his father have restored this marvellous building

and created a successful business.

In 1988, Basil Reckitt, great-grandson of Isaac Reckitt,

proudly performed the re-opening ceremony.

-Thanks ever so much, James. I really enjoyed it.

-Right.

I'm covered in flour. I'm completely covered in flour.

Unbelievable! Time to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and prepare for auction.

Charlie Ross started today's show with £234.56

and spent exactly £234.56

on five auction lots.

The Lincolnshire lemonade bottles, the Victorian doll's crib,

the Chesterman's surveyor's tape,

the silver sauce boats and the plated sugar bowl for £4.56.

Charles Hanson began with £132.65

and spent £132 also on five lots.

The lovely enamelled trifle from Bath,

the gorgeous Edwardian bayonet sugar sifter,

the, er, plentiful Japanese Satsuma-ware,

the Victorian brass bed ends and...

the bottle thing.

But who's the favourite for this upcoming auction?

Let's just forget that repulsive bottle holder, but he's done well.

I think Team Hanson is feeling fine, is feeling merry.

It's been a long day, but a great one.

The gap will narrow. He might even overtake me.

Stranger things have happened.

It's been a spectacular second leg from Scunthorpe via Lincoln,

Navenby, Alford and Boston

with the final destination of Grantham in their sights.

It's auction day as our couple of Charlies arrive in town.

-Are you coming or not?

-Anyone would think you've something worth selling!

Welcome to the Theatre of Dreams.

George W Golding, one-time Mayor of Grantham,

opened Golding's auction house in 1900, becoming Golding Young in 1994.

Town crier Colin Young is our auctioneer for the day

and has kindly cast his eye over our experts' purchases.

What stands out is obviously the enamel. That's the best of the bunch, a true antique item.

With the fisherman's bottle, it's just something brand new. There's millions of them out there.

Charles Hanson's got the speculatively good item

and the spectacularly bad item.

Now eyes front, mouth shut, the auction is about to begin.

First up, Charlie's local pop duo, the Lincolnshire lemonade bottles.

-Who's going to start me at £10 for them? 10?

-Down.

-£5, anybody?

-I don't believe it.

-6 now surely? 6 now do I see?

6. 8. £8 bid. 10. 10 bid. 12 now? At 10 bid.

12? Your bid of 10, sir. I'll take 11 because we're desperate.

At 10. 11 anywhere else?

It's your bid, sir, selling at £10...

-Well done.

-And a nice double bubble to get us going.

Even after commission, it's profit!

Next we have Charles's Satsuma vase combo.

High in quantity, if not quality.

£20 in the room. 25.

28 now? 28 bid. At £30.

I know they're dreadful, but Mr Hanson is a lovely person. 32 now?

-32 in the front then, going at £32...

-Thank you very much.

So despite everyone's attempt to queer the pitch,

the Satsumas did rather well.

Now the silver sauce boats offer a dollop of profit for Charlie.

Straight in, 120. 125. 130.

And 5. 140. 145.

150. 155?

Yes? I've got 155 on the book anyway. 160 if you like? 160. 5.

170? 170. 175. 180. 5.

190. 5. 200. 210.

215 if it helps? We're selling this time, all done and finished at 210...

A very wise investment, Charlie.

And now... Well, I don't know.

Good luck, Carlos.

-Look at it, it's lovely.

-It's awful.

-Come on, Mr Young.

Start me at £20 for it? 20?

-10 to go then?

-Have a go.

10? Thank you, £10 bid. 10.

12 anywhere else now? At 10 bid. 12 bid. 15 do I see?

Have another one. 15. 18 there. 20 bid. 22 bid.

25 bid. 28 bid? I have 25 in the front row. 28 now?

-Was that a bid? You look like you're about to expire, sir.

-I am!

-28 bid.

30 or not now then? Selling at £28...

Hanson, you are the man!

Excellent.

I don't think anyone ever doubted the chance of a profit there(!)

How on earth did you do that?

Charlie spent his last £4.56 in the world on this prospect.

Fingers crossed.

Who's going to start me at £10? 10. 12 now?

12 bid. 15 surely? 15. 18. And 20? £20 bid, sir.

22 bid. Surely 25?

23? 23. £23 bid.

Last call then. We're selling in the middle at £23...

A very good profit from a speculative purchase.

Now I think I need a little lie-down.

Who's going to start me for the single bed ends? £80 for them? 80?

-50?

-Come on.

-50?

-Come on.

-£30?

A tenner, anybody? Surely £10?

A fiver? Thank you, £5 bid at the back. 6 now do I see?

This one certainly isn't the sleeper. 5 bid. 6 now do I see?

6. Late surge in the bidding! 6 bid. 7.

-Can we contain our excitement? 8 bid, sir.

-8 bid.

-8 bid.

9 bid. 10. Late surge in the bidding. Fresh bidder.

-At £10 bid. We go this time then at £10... No-one can say I don't try.

-Hear, hear!

A little disappointing then on the life-sized bed.

How about this sweet Victorian resting place for a child's toy?

Very good-looking piece. 30? 20 to go then surely?

£20 bid. I'll take 5? 22 on the net.

22. 25. 28 now? 28.

28 bid. 30. 32. 35.

38 bid. 40? 38 bid. 40? £40 bid. 42. 45? 45.

48 now? 48 bid. 50 bid. 5. 60. At 60 bid.

-65.

-Well done.

-68.

Bid 70.

72 now? 72. At 72.

75? 75. 78 now? 78 bid. At 78 bid.

80 bid. 2 now. 82. 85. 88 now?

At £85 we go this time. Selling to Australia at £85...

It's going Down Under, Charlie. Well done.

-AUSTRALIAN ACCENT:

-I don't mind if I do, you know?

A Staffordshire Bilston enamel box, oval design with green base.

-We have to start the bidding on this one at £25.

-Oh, no.

25. 30. At 30 bid. 35 bid. 40 bid.

45. 50. 55. 60. 65.

70. 5. 80.

5. 90. 5. 100.

110. 120. 120 bid.

-120 with me on the book.

-The internet bids are coming in thick and fast.

No wonder Charles looks pleased!

-130.

-Yes!

-40.

-I'm back!

150 now. Thank you, 150 with you.

160 with me.

It's your last chance. All done and finished then, we'll sell...

Somebody hovering on the net. Are you going to bid 170?

-Suspense, but we're sold at 160.

-Yes!

-Well done.

Hats well and truly off, Mr Hanson.

You are certainly back in the game.

Give me a kiss, give me a kiss. Give me a kiss.

Only just. Now...

No more kissing, boys. Not on my road trip!

Now it's Charlie's last stab at a big profit.

Is there a surveyor in the house?

Who's going to start me at £30? 20 to go? 10 to go then?

£10 bid. At 10 bid. 12 now surely?

At £10 bid. Nobody else got a handle on this one?

And selling at £10...

Ouch!

Bad timing for a loss, Mr Ross.

It's so important to buy right and play to the crowd at auction.

Like Hanson's lovely sugar dredger, for example, today's final lot.

Cracking-looking piece. Start me at 100 for it? 50 to go?

50 bid. 60. And 70 now? 70.

80. 90. At 90. 100. 110.

120. 120 bid. 130 do I see now?

-120 bid. Any more now?

-Come on!

-125?

-Come on, one more.

-Selling at £120...

He speculated and he accumulated, and then some!

Mr Hanson wins the day.

-How are you feeling?

-Much, much worse than I felt earlier.

-You've nearly caught me up.

-Can I say one thing? Thanks for coming.

-It's been an immense pleasure.

-Not!

Charlie started today's show in the lead with £234.56

and after paying auction costs, today made a small profit of £42.60.

Charlie has a curmudgeonly £277.16 to carry forward.

Charles, meanwhile, started down with £132.65

and made a bumper profit of £155.

Mr Hanson has a whopping £287.65 to carry forward.

Well done, Carlos.

-A privilege to be your chauffeur, sir.

-We say farewell to a very fine saleroom.

You would say that! Later on The Antiques Road Trip, our pair of Charlies head for Norfolk.

-Charlie takes a spin on his own.

-You have to rely on your nose and where the sun is.

Charles takes a spin with someone else.

Go carefully. I'm only young.

HORN TOOTS

A-ha! That's all coming up later,

but without any more fuss, we're out on the road again with a pair of very cheeky chappies -

auctioneers Charlie Ross and Charles Hanson.

-I'm in a mood now.

-Turn round!

-I'm in a mood now.

The experienced Charlie Ross really has nothing to prove,

but he still keeps an eye on his reputation.

-I don't want you walking out that door and thinking that man Ross is a bounder!

-Is he?

As if he would!

And as both sidekick and competitor, we have Charles Hanson.

He always knows exactly what he wants.

The other one I quite liked was the...

Well, despite the occasional dither, Charles made a large, if unlikely profit on the last leg.

So what you've got is a bottle stand with this fisherman smiling, smoking his pipe.

That is the worst thing I have seen in my life!

And of course, he is...

I paid £6.

Selling at £28.

How on earth did you do that?

Charlie Ross also did very well, but not quite well enough.

From his original £200,

Charlie now has £277.16 weighing down his wallet.

Ugh! I simply can't lift it up! It's that heavy.

But brand-new front-runner Charles Hanson has home-grown his £200

to a wonderful £287.65.

It's full steam ahead in their stylish, if slightly unreliable 1960s Ford Corsair.

This car, Charlie, is playing up, I'm sure. It's going to give us problems in due course.

It's making some funny noises, I must say.

Charlie and Charles are travelling down the exotic east of England

from Bridlington all the way to Rye in East Sussex.

And on this leg, they're leaving Grantham, heading for their next auction in Beccles,

alighting first in Norfolk's most regal King's Lynn.

Our boys are ready to spend, spend, spend, but the car is struggling with the final 100 yards.

There's something wrong.

-You want a push?

-Yeah.

-Please!

-Come on!

-Madam, your name is...?

-Denise.

-Denise, you drive.

-I've just suggested that. Denise, get in the seat.

-Come on.

-This is lovely.

-You show us how, Denise.

Three, two, one. Let's go, Charlie. Come on.

# Oh, Denise, Denise

# I've got a crush on you

# Denise, Denise

# Da-da-da-da-da-da

BOTH: # Denise, Denise

# I'm so in love with you-ou-ou... #

-Can I tell you something?

-Yeah.

-This car's dead.

-There we are.

-Denise, you've been a sport. Have a lovely day.

-Charlie, what do we do now then?

-I'm going shopping.

-Let's go together.

-No, no. I don't trust you.

-There's £10 in it, Charlie.

-Come on, old bean.

Where are we going?

Toss a coin to see who goes where?

-That seems fair.

-Heads or tails?

-Heads.

-Sure?

-Yeah.

Tails. Right, I think...

-Quick!

-Hold on.

-Too late. I've made up my mind.

-Hold on.

If you're not fast, then you're last and Charlie Ross is wasting no time at all.

-Charlie is the name.

-Welcome.

-And you are Ian?

-Yeah.

Ah! And it looks like Ian could have just the thing.

-I've got the 1946 and 1947 Rupert Annuals.

-Yeah, yeah.

Nice condition. I always look for the front.

-Nice colours.

-Yeah, nice colours. The spine is important, isn't it?

-The price?

-Three shillings and sixpence!

-Yeah, absolutely.

The annual is now worth considerably more.

It has become highly collectable.

-I see the price here is £105.

-Yeah, yeah. And that in itself is a good price.

Oh, you're a salesman, you are!

I'd like to pay 40 quid for it.

-I would really want a little bit more than that.

-Yeah, yeah.

45?

Cheeky Charlie!

-I'm a bit doubtful, but I'm going to let you have it for £50.

-I'm going to shake on that.

Charlie, the Ross, everyone knows his name.

And he's on a roll.

Old-fashioned, but rather lovely.

That's the silver he's talking about

and Charlie's trying to bundle up a job lot here -

a tea strainer, grape scissors and a set of nutcrackers. Oh, ouch!

-I think 25 is where I'm at.

-OK.

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

-If they make £100, I'll take you for a night out on the tiles.

-Thank you.

-But don't hold your breath.

-Right.

Charlie's off to a flyer this morning, but someone is not quite feeling it just yet.

So far, I'm quite happy. I might call the auctioneer. Hello!

Blimey, Denise is back on two wheels!

-You can get on the back.

-On the back?

-Yes, come on. I'll give you a lift home.

-Where are we going? Antique finds?

-Yes, absolutely.

# I'm in love with you

# Denis, Denis

# Oh, with your eyes so blue Denis, Denis

# I've got a crush on you Denis, Denis

# I'm so in love with you Oh, oh... #

I was told Hanson has gone off on a motorbike. What is that all about?

He doesn't know that I have had a call from the mechanic and the car is ready and I'm going shopping.

# I'm so in love with you... #

And he's not the only one. Just down the road, there's a special delivery at the Old Curiosity Shop.

-Oh, Denise!

-There we are, look at that.

-You're a life-saver.

-Collectable antiques.

-Wonderful.

-I hope you do well today.

Denise, thank you so much. You saved me from Mr Ross.

-Thanks for the helmet.

-Thank you.

-I'm shaken, but not stirred.

-Shaken, but not stirred!

Antiques shop? Antiques shop. She was right.

HORN TOOTS

I'm alive still. Just about.

-And your name is?

-Ruth.

-I'm Charles.

-How do you do?

-Charles Hanson from Derbyshire.

There are some really nice objects here.

What we have is a pen wipe and you'd have it on your desk with your ink well and quill pen or fountain pen.

And after you'd written a letter or you'd got a slight blockage of ink,

you would use this wipe to keep your pen in good order.

-What's the absolute best price?

-That could be 45.

What we've got here is a very nice set of six silver pierced buttons

which, in their original morocco case,

hopefully are all original and in good condition.

-Ruth, they're very much in what we call the Arts and Crafts style.

-Yes.

They're priced at 125.

Right, um...

I suppose I could go down to 100 on them.

Ruth, I do... This is quite garish.

-It is.

-It's not to everyone's taste. Has it been here a long time?

-No, I've only had it recently.

-Hanson, you've got to start making some decisions

because my time is running out.

The first thing I saw was a duck and I love him because they say small is beautiful. Mr Ross, watch out!

So I'll say yes to him at £45.

We have a sale. He's going, going, gone!

The Moroccan light will be my gamble

and I'll speculate at £15.

-I'll say yes to him at £15.

-Right, OK.

Charles is really driving the deals here,

but will his luck hold when it comes to these buttons?

The ticket's price is 125, but I can do those for 90.

-Maybe £70?

-I couldn't possibly do that. They would have to be 80 on the buttons, all right?

-OK.

I'm going, I'm going...

-They're gone. Sold.

-Thank you.

-To Hanson. Three in a row, Ruth.

Thanks ever so much.

After a bit of focus and a little savvy, Charles is back in the buying game.

Am I happy? Yeah. Am I happy I'll make a profit? Yeah.

Am I happy Charlie Ross is going to be going down? Yeah.

But whilst Charles is content, Charlie is itching for more treasure.

Leaving King's Lynn behind, he rejoins the antiques trail,

crossing the border from Norfolk into Cambridgeshire.

16 miles down the road, we arrive in Wisbech.

-Good afternoon.

-Oh, hello.

-Charlie.

-Richard.

-Hello, Richard.

This feels as if I've died and gone to heaven.

Here is a late Georgian,

almost Victorian, I suppose, might be William IV,

mahogany bureau, cross-banded in mahogany.

And people say these things are unsaleable now.

Well, everything's got a price at some stage.

I mean, that in a saleroom

20 years ago would have been 540, 560.

-Richard! I don't suppose you'd like 50 quid for it, would you?

-No.

-Not really.

-I didn't think you would.

-It could be yours for 100.

-That's really kind.

Charlie seems convinced that he can turn a profit on the unfashionable bureau,

but it could well come back to bite him on the bottom.

-I've spotted a bit of Sorrento there, olive wood.

-Yeah.

-It's the land of olives, isn't it?

-It is.

-I like a nice olive. Could that be 20 quid?

-No.

-You're very rapid with your responses. It's very good.

-With these offers, you have to be.

CHARLIE LAUGHS I'll do you £30 on the mirror.

I'm going to give you 30 quid for it.

And he's not finished yet.

And I bought some things this morning of no great consequence,

some bits of silver, silver plate, well, mostly silver plate.

I thought I could bump up my job lot.

That is a sugar basin, silver plate, don't worry, no hallmark.

-How much for the lot?

-35.

What?! A tenner.

You'd be lucky. 30.

-15.

-20.

Oh, go on! 20 quid. Pure heaven!

Having secured another three lots for auction,

Charlie is a very happy bunny as the first day of shopping comes to an end.

Early morning and our experts are up with the lark.

-But you know my old strategy - try and get it bought early.

-Yeah, exactly.

Now they're heading 55 miles east

towards the administrative centre of Norfolk and the historic city of Norwich.

Isn't it magnificent?

-Fabulous.

-I'm getting out now and I'll see you later, Charlie.

-Bye!

"Anything old and interesting." That sounds like Charlie Ross to me!

-I'm Charles Hanson.

-Hi, Charles.

-Your name is?

-Paul Murawski.

The painting over there is quite nice. Is it an oil painting?

-It's oil and I think it's dated 1887.

-Is it for sale?

-It is for sale.

He's a typical Victorian gent. Here's his fob chain.

-And your best price is...?

-£200.

-And with discounts?

-£200.

-And between friends?

-£200.

I've been told it's £200 and there's no discounts. I think, Paul, I'm out. Thanks.

How much was that again?

Oh, wow!

As a young boy, I always wanted one of these.

It's actually a coin cabinet.

If you want somewhere to house your collection of crowns or guineas, you would acquire one of these.

-You can have it for £10.

-£10... What's £10?

-Firewood would cost you that, wouldn't it?

-I'll take it.

-OK.

-£10, Paul. Excellent.

Case closed.

If you were in my shoes now, what would you buy?

-I'd buy the oil painting for £100.

-£100?

-Yes.

-As it's a display painting, you can have it for £100.

-You're giving me a headache now. Did you hear that?

At that price, the painting is certainly on the money.

-That's the absolute best?

-That's the very best.

-If I said 80, would you possibly say, "Yes, Charles"?

OK, Charles, we'll do a deal at 80.

That portrait has to be one of the best buys ever. From £200 to £80?

Unless, of course, they saw him coming.

Yes! We got rid of it at last.

Ever get the feeling you've just been had?

Whilst Charles ponders that decision,

Charlie has gone on ahead, south-west to Bury St Edmunds.

Ho-ho!

This is the life, Hanson.

Profits, sunshine

and Bury St Edmunds!

Don't worry, he's perfectly safe behind the wheel,

but possibly not for long

as our rough diamond heads for the smallest pub in Britain.

It looks like I've broken into a private party here.

-This is wonderful. Hello!

-Hello.

-Greetings.

-Are you the owner, landlord?

-I'm the manager.

-Nice to meet you. I'm Charlie.

-I'm Jack.

I've come to learn all about your pub. Is it really the smallest pub in the UK?

-It is the smallest pub by drinking area, yeah.

-By drinking area?

-Mm-hm.

-How many people can you get in here?

-The record was set in '84 when they got in 102.

-102?

-Yeah, just in this room.

-Good grief! What about the history of the pub?

-Has this been in one ownership for...?

-No, it became a pub in 1873.

Next door was a pawnbroker's who owned this little side building.

They noticed most of their trade was alcoholics, pawning their possessions to go and buy booze with.

-I know the feeling!

-They turned their side building into a little pub

-to catch them on the way out.

-How extraordinary!

Is it just me or is this place a little strange?

-This creature here, what is that? That's not a cat?

-It is a cat.

-But it was found bricked up here and it's supposed to be very lucky to brick a cat up.

-Really?

Yes, in a chimney. Not very lucky for the cat, but it keeps the witches away.

-There's a three-legged chick in the glass bowl up on the wall.

-Nice(!)

A human lower leg hanging from the ceiling.

-There's a little creature at the bottom. What is that?

-That's a shed tarantula skin.

-A tarantula skin?

-I didn't realise this until I was given that.

They shed their skins like snakes. That's the husk of a tarantula.

-I might have to give you something to hang up.

-That would be great.

-A photo of Charles Hanson probably.

-Thank you very much.

-A pleasure.

-Wonderful.

It's almost time to call last orders on today's spending spree

and our two Charlies are reunited with just minutes to spare.

-We haven't got much time, have we?

-No. What's the plan?

My plan is to run over there where you can see "Past And Present" and spend my money.

-And let me go to the more idyllic, picturesque Hanson type?

-Yeah, it's more your sort of place.

-Go on.

And for the final time today, let's get shopping.

20 minutes. I don't think I should be looking at furniture.

With time ticking away, Charles spies a silver cigar-cutter.

Your best price?

36, we start at...

I'd be looking for, say, 25?

-I would buy it for 20.

-Go on. Special offer today.

-In the shop next door...

-What's that little object?

-I don't know.

It's not a swizzle stick. I don't know what it's for. It's not a toothpick, is it?

It's a silver thingamabob, Charlie.

-20 quid?

-Yes.

-I shall shake on that at 20 quid.

There's a stool down there. It's marked at 35 quid. Would you take 20 quid for it?

I'll take 25 for it.

25 quid and I've done my shopping in no time at all.

Our boys are all spent up and can delay their moment of auction truth no longer.

Charlie started this leg with £277.16

and spent £270 on five auction lots.

The upholstered French stool,

the 1946 Rupert Annual,

the Edwardian hand mirror,

the big mahogany bureau

and the big bundle of silver items.

Charles began with £287.65

and spent £250 on six lots.

The Moorish hanging light,

the Art Nouveau silver buttons,

the silver duck pen wipe,

the George V cigar-cutter,

the oak collector's cabinet

and the fine oil painting,

although maybe they just saw him coming.

But what do our chaps think of each other's wares?

His star lot by far is going back to his golden age of auctioneering -

it's that wonderful bureau, mahogany, it's circa 1830 and I truly thought it cost him 250.

To have bought that for £100 was a bargain.

His painting could be a bit of a sleeper. 80 quid? I think it'll make £140.

But, do you know, it could make a couple of hundred and that would spell difficulty for old Rossco.

Only one way to find out - get back on the road.

It's been a competitive third leg from Grantham via King's Lynn,

Wisbech, Norwich and Bury St Edmunds

with the final destination of Beccles on the horizon.

It's auction day and our experts can smell victory in the air.

-They're going to do really well for me today.

-It's packed.

-Is the car OK here?

-I shall be back in my rightful place at the top.

-Is the car OK here?

-It's fine, fine.

-Sure?

Durrants have been conducting auction sales since 1853

and Rebecca Mayhew is today's auctioneer.

She has agreed to give her opinion on some of our featured lots.

My absolute favourite piece is probably the Rupert Bear Annual

because of its rareness and its lovely, bright colours inside.

I'm hoping it will appeal to quite a wide audience.

My least favourite item is Mr Hanson's collector's case.

Its modern construction will limit its saleability and attractiveness to the market.

The mahogany bureau is a good, solid piece, but the brown furniture market is still fairly poor.

It's an auction, anything can happen and that's part of the fun.

Now then, are we sitting comfortably? Then let the auction commence.

First up, Charles is firmly in the spotlight

with his garish glass lampshade.

Yeuch!

Interesting piece. Where are you going to start me? Start me at 40?

-Come on.

-Nice piece. 20?

-Thank you, I'm bid.

-The woman next to you is bidding for it!

25. 28. 30. At £30. Now don't put her off.

-It could be yours, madam.

-32, fresh bidder. 35. 38.

-40. 42.

-Oh, no!

-The gentleman's bid now at £42.

I'm going to sell on my right at 42...

Great start.

Charles is off to a flying start. Next up, everyone's favourite bear,

or at least Charlie is hoping that that's the case.

Got to be £50 to start it, surely? 50?

You're all quiet. 30?

-Oh, dear. 10 to start it, surely?

-Come on, Charlie.

10. 12. 15. 18.

20. 22. 25.

28? 28. Your turn, sir.

30. 32. 35.

38. 40.

45. 50.

55. Anyone else then?

I will sell at £55...

It's early days, but Charlie is finding the disappointment

a little hard to BEAR.

My big hope... My big hope down the drain.

Next up is the oil painting

and Charles is hoping this Victorian gentleman will leave him quids in.

-Got to be 100 for it. 100 then to get it going, surely?

-Come on.

You're all quiet. Where's 50 to start it? I'm bid £50.

-55 now.

-It's going.

-60 if you like?

At 60 now. 65. 70.

75. 80. 85.

-90.

-Here you go.

-At £90. Are you sure?

-Oh, nearly.

At £90...

Not a huge profit, but a profit nonetheless.

Hopefully, there's a larger sum to be made

on this next charming little item.

Nice lot, an upholstered French stool on carved cabriole legs.

10 to start, surely? Thank you, I'm bid. At 12 now. At 12.

15. 18. £18, lady's bid in front.

20 now in the second row.

22 if you like, madam? Yes, 22. 25.

Are you sure? No, 28, completely fresh bidder.

At 28 now. 30. 32. 35.

-Lady's bid at 35...

-Getting better.

-Is that the lady behind us bidding?

-At 38. 40 if you like, madam?

-It's the lady behind us.

-One more, sir? No, selling this time at 40...

-Well done.

-May I say, madam, you have impeccable taste!

I won't be able to sell it.

Charles was against the clock when he bought this silver cigar-cutter,

but at £20, he got it for a snip.

Ooh!

I have three commission bids and I must start at £40.

-Oh!

-I can take 2.

-40!

-At £40. With me at £40.

42 on the back wall. 45 with me. One more if you like?

At 48, I'm out. On the back wall at 48. Do I see any more?

Anyone else, surely, at 48...?

Another success.

Not bad for a last-minute purchase. Well done, Charles.

This pretty Sorrento mirror could be one of Charlie's better buys.

At 35. At 35. At 38.

40. At £40.

-Come on, Charlie. Keep going.

-42, fresh bidder. At 42.

45. Still my commission at 45 then...

A nice little mark-up on the mirror.

It's not all doom and gloom for Charlie.

He's still in with a chance.

This handy little cabinet is perfect for displaying coins,

but will there be any cash in it for Charles?

-I have commission interest.

-Great.

And I've got to start at £40.

-Oh, yes!

-45. 50.

5. 60. 5. 70.

One more if you like, sir? At 70, commission bid. 75 in the corner.

I think that's done it. We're selling now at 75...

Charles streaks ahead with that low-risk purchase -

a fantastic profit of £65.

# Hanson is the man

# He is the kiddie today... #

I wonder if Charlie can catch up with his beloved bureau?

He's banking on this lot to make a fat profit.

£100 anywhere to get going?

-Nice piece. For 50 surely?

-Come on.

-No-one for 50?

-You're all quiet. No-one wants it for 50?

-Come on.

I'm going to get tears in a minute. No-one wants it even for 20?

-Come on, Charlie.

-I'll give you 20.

-Good man, Bruce.

At 20. At £20 I have. There's a plea for help. 25. Thank you, sir.

Would you give me 30 now, Bruce? No, he's quiet.

30 I have close to me. Would you like 35, sir?

40. It's a super piece for 40.

-At £40, at £40, at £40. I will sell it...

-Oh, dear.

..at only £40.

-Number 10.

-Thank you.

-That is a disastrous result for Charlie.

The next lot are those pretty little silver buttons.

At 70 with me. I'll take 5 if it helps? At 75 on the back wall.

80 with me. One more if you like?

85, commission is out. It's in the room now at £85.

90 with Bruce. At £90 close to me.

95. Your turn if you like?

100. Completely fresh bidder, 100. Where's 10?

Back again with Bruce at 110.

No, a shake of the head. With Bruce at 110. Any more do I see? At 110...

Another success story for Carlos

with an Arts and Crafty profit of £30.

Charlie's last hope lies with the job lot of silver,

bought from three different shops.

-I've got commission interest as well.

-If I could pull out now, I would.

At 25. I can take 8. At 28. 30. 32, commission's out. Your turn.

32. 35 here. 40.

42, fresh bidder. 45.

-I'm thrilled with this(!)

-£48. 50.

Do I see any more? 55, fresh bidder again. At 55. Your turn.

-60.

-I'm nearly getting my money back.

65? Seated bid I have at 65.

-Any more?

-65. I've nearly got my money back.

70. At £70 now.

I'm going to sell this time at 70...

-Well done.

-I've never been so excited about breaking even!

He might be happy to make his cash back,

but the silver gives Charlie a lacklustre finish to the auction.

-Charlie, do you know why I've been losing money?

-Why?

-My jacket.

-What's up with it?

-I bet if you put my jacket on, you won't make a profit.

-I think my duck will make a profit.

-Put my jacket on and see.

I bet it doesn't.

Are you sure?

It's time to put Charlie's lucky jacket theory to the test

with the final lot of the day - Charles's duck pen wipe.

If I'd been in this jacket, I'd have made a hell of a profit.

-It's a good jacket.

-It goes nicely with the tie.

-Shall I get you one?

I need to start to clear the sheets at £80. I'll take 5.

-At £80, at £80. At 5. 90. At £90.

-Come on, keep going.

Commission still. 95 just in time. 100 still with me.

At £100. Anyone else? Going to sell, fair warning, at 100...

A quacking success

which means that today's victor is Charles Hanson!

And the jacket is not unlucky, Charlie. The jacket is built with pedigree and pride.

-Well done, old bean.

-Thanks, buddy.

-Until next...

-I have had a thrashing.

-Until next time, Charlie. Thanks for the memories.

Charlie started with £277.16

and, after paying auction costs,

actually made a loss of £65.

Charlie has just £212.16 to carry forward.

Charles, meanwhile, started with £287.65

and made a bumper profit of £131.30.

He has a whopping £418.95 to take forward.

Charlie, I think it's been my day today. Suffolk has been so prosperous for me.

I think we'll stay round here with your blessing.

-Let's try Sudbury. Let's try Lavenham.

-Long Melford, sir?

-Indeed.

-Let's stay local.

-If you insist, sir. I'll show you out.

-Thank you, Charlie.

Next time on the Antiques Road Trip, the chaps' fancy car plays up again

and it all seems like child's play.

Come on, Charlie. Come on, let's go!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd