Episode 14 Antiques Road Trip

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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?

-Can we make it...

-No!

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

-Ouch!

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?

We're doomed!

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

It's the penultimate day for our dashing duo,

Thomas Plant and Paul Laidlaw, and it's all to play for.

I think my modus operandi is to buy tat again!

And turn it into gold!

It's clearly working for you! You've got the junk Midas touch!

Thomas Plant is an auctioneer and jewel expert,

but when it comes to decisions, well, it can take some time.

I need something to come out and grab me.

-Hmm...

-Our proud Scottish expert, Mr Laidlaw, is a lifelong collector

with a passion for all things military.

He loves a bargain and seldom backs down.

I think my estimate in an auction is £30-60 on that.

Can we do it? Thank you very much indeed!

1387, it's a hallmarked silver-cased trench watch.

At yesterday's auction, Paul was playing it safe

and stuck with what he knows best, militaria.

Well done, a big well done, that's a really good profit.

And it certainly worked.

Show me the money, more money!

After a disappointing start, he's now on the up with £255.88.

But can he catch his fearsome competitor?

Thomas is keeping his chin up,

despite a gut-wrenching loss at the last auction.

Where do we see it? Who's going to start me, £30?

£30 online, at £30...

Ouch!

Sadly, two of his lots didn't impress,

leaving him with £305.20. He's still on top,

but he definitely needs to up his game.

But it's a new day,

and keeping them on track is their sporty Alfa Romeo Spider.

Lovely day, isn't it? You know, it's just...

Laidlaw and Plant in their little Italian hairdryer.

Starting in Skipton,

Thomas and Paul will travel over 400 miles south

through the beautiful Yorkshire Dales,

the Home Counties of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire,

before arriving in Pewsey for the final auction.

It's the penultimate trip, and they're leaving Towcester behind

heading for auction four in Watlington.

First stop is the beautiful market town of Olney.

Olney is known for its pancake race,

which has been run in the town every Pancake Day since 1445.

But it's perhaps best known

as the place where the Olney Hymns were written.

# Amazing grace

# How sweet the sound... #

John Newton, the author of the hymn Amazing Grace,

was curate of Olney and is buried here.

No pancakes on the menu today, and, as the boys go their separate ways,

Mr Laidlaw's first shop of the day is Dodo Antiques,

where he's meeting proprietor Owen.

Do you own this material,

or are you representing lots of different sellers?

A bit of a combination. Most of the furniture is mine.

There's a cabinet in each room pretty much rented out.

My word, what a lovely offering!

It just feels lovely in here.

And it just gets better and better for Paul.

Look at these fabulous Art Deco cloud chairs round there.

Fabulous burr veneer table.

But, between you and me, price is my problem at the moment.

Not choice, price.

You've got £200 to spend - surely there's something you can afford.

It's a dinner gong.

It's missing a chord at the moment, but let's do the business, shall we?

-GONG RINGS

-Lovely tone, very Oriental.

That's a shell case.

You really are drawn to all things military, aren't you, Paul?

It's a British naval shell

and from the markings looks to date to January 1898.

This was kept as a souvenir and actually re-used,

but don't they make a handsome gong? Now, what's it on?

Rather architectural, rather classy.

Some of these are junk, but this absolutely is not.

Whopping great big piece of mahogany.

So far as they go, it's a superior example.

It's a pretty unique item,

and I'm sensing Paul has fallen for its charm.

I can't see a price on it to start with.

We could do that for £45 for you.

-Can you think harder about that?

-I'm thinking pretty hard!

-I think that's not expensive.

-It's not.

-But it's not a bargain yet.

-So what is a bargain?

-20 quid's a bargain.

-20 quid's scrap!

-PAUL LAUGHS

-That's it!

We'll see if we can find a few things and do a deal.

Why don't we? I like that.

While Paul hunts for potential bargains,

Thomas is across the road in Leo's Place, and feeling the pressure.

Oh, it's difficult, isn't it?

You see, Paul's got this vision of me just buying tat.

The thing is, I just know what sells, especially in that jewellery world.

I mean, he knows about his military thing. Oh, more military stuff!

It might be draining, Thomas,

but it's the military stuff that's keeping him hot on your tail.

With a bit of help from shop manager Di,

Thomas starts to make progress.

Is it all right if I just pick out things I'm interested in?

-Not at all, Martin.

-Thomas.

-Thomas!

-Where does Martin come from?

-I don't know, is that ridiculous?

I've never been called a Martin.

Robert I get a lot of, because of Robert Plant.

But Martin...

I think you might have to enlighten Di on that one.

The singer, Led Zeppelin singer.

# And as we wind on down the road... #

Glad you cleared that up, Martin. Now, back to business, Thomas.

You see, I am drawn to this.

But this looks like it's been in there a long time.

It could be an old friend.

I've put these two to one side, 38 and 9.50.

It's German, 1920s, 1930s,

that sort of fashion for that Egyptian-style jewellery.

I don't even think it's silver... I mean, it's too rich for me at £38.

-Would you be interested in it?

-I would, but it's a real low figure.

-Real low figure.

-How low?

I mean, it's so low I don't expect people to accept it.

-20?

-No, it's too much, I'm afraid.

-How much too much?

-If it was a tenner, I'd have it.

A tenner?! Thomas, I think you could be pushing your luck here, boy.

And then there's this brooch, which I'm interested in.

I like these from the point of view that these are smoky quartz.

-Yes.

-Not the greatest stone ever to walk this earth,

but still, it's smoky quartz.

You know the interesting thing about it? The backing on it,

so it's foil-backed, so it dates it to 19th century.

I tell you what... You see, I've got this £20 sitting here.

I'd give you that for those two, so that makes that 15 and that five.

Because it's you, Tom...

..I'll accept 20.

-Oh! Brilliant.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

Well done, Thomas, that's a great buy.

Time for Mr Laidlaw to show us what he's got.

All, some or none of these could end up worth buying,

but let's see what we've got.

Lovely little pocket notepad, nice!

Pocket fruit knife.

This is a bit of decadence for you.

Cocktail swizzle stick, because isn't it so tiresome

when one's champagne is just a tad too effervescent?

Like those.

He's also found an English silver cigar cutter,

a silver penknife, as well as a lorgnette.

I say! Isn't Mrs Smith's behaviour

scandalous in the village at the moment?

It's a great collection of silver,

but at £171 it would only leave him with £84.88 to spend.

-How are you getting on?

-If there's any way you can look at

what can be squeezed on... all of that, potentially.

OK. I'll go and give the dealer a ring, see what I can do.

Be warned, Owen, our Mr Laidlaw loves a good haggle.

Is that the best?

Thank you, see you later.

She's saying really the best she could do would be 145 on the lot.

And what did we start at? I never even added them up.

-You've got 15% off there.

-15?! She's not even trying, is she?

OK. I could throw something else in to try and sweeten it for you.

-Liking the sound of that.

-I've got something over here.

This kind of negotiation is right up Paul's street.

We've had this a little while.

-For a while!

-PAUL LAUGHS

Owen has two classic mirrors.

They're priced at £80 and £95.

Last time, Paul's mirror did well, much to Thomas's disappointment.

You've made steady profits on all of them.

So we've a reproduction, late Georgian style.

Oval framed, satinwood stringing to the edges.

There's nothing the matter with it apart from nobody wants it

and the Victorian one is like a tombstone, isn't it?

Mr Laidlaw, I'm shocked. I thought you'd be snapping them up.

I can do them for a tenner each.

What a bargain! How can you refuse?

My fear at the moment is I'm shooting all my bolts.

But I'm still talking to you.

Where were we with the gong, was it 40?

I'll go to 30 on the gong.

Now we're talking about a gong, couple of mirrors

and a handful of silver and plate.

-Give me the last price on the lot then.

-Best price is 190.

Give me a wee bit off it.

20 quid off that, 170 quid, cash, job done, I'm out of here.

-Everybody wins.

-I'll drop it to 180.

170.

-You want to do it.

-All right then.

What a result. How do you manage it, Paul?

One shop down and already he's bought four lots.

The pressure's back on you, Thomas.

After a great buy with the brooches, Thomas is hoping for another bargain.

He's met Alan, one of the dealers.

-Ooh, we've got the same watch.

-There's good taste for you.

Alan rents space in the shop for his collection of clocks and watches.

That's a lovely Albert, isn't it.

Gorgeous fob as well. A lot of gold.

Beautifully enamelled centre.

Named after Queen Victoria's beloved consort Albert,

it consists of a T bar and two complete chains.

Basically you'd wear this in your waistcoat here,

so your watch would have been clipped on.

Here it is look, being clipped on like this.

Clip it on. You've got a watch on there.

That would have gone in to your waistcoat pocket in there,

and this would have gone into the button hole of your waistcoat.

That's rather handsome.

So is that something you're willing to sort of sell to me, at a deal?

I'd always be willing to sell you something.

Well, I know you would, but, you know...

-You mean at the right price.

-At a good price.

Would you consider £90 a reasonable price?

Well, that's OK.

I had another figure in mind.

A bit less.

But I know that I'm being sort of pushing.

I'll take another five off - 85 - which is very reasonable.

-You wouldn't go as low as 70?

-No.

You said you'd take a fiver, would you take a bit more off?

-Not really.

-Really? Go on.

-No.

-No?

I'll do it for 80, but that's it.

£80.

-Yes, that's it.

-Well, I like you. I'm going to say yes.

-OK.

You've got a deal. Thank you very much. It's a very nice thing.

I hope it's not the undoing of me!

Now all that's left is for Thomas to dish the dosh to Di,

but not before he's had one last try.

We agreed on 80. He wasn't going down any more, was he? That was it.

A bit of profit. By the time he's paid commission...

-How much commission is he going to pay?

-Well...

-Could you give me the commission off?

-I can't. I'm so sorry.

I had to ask!

Meanwhile, after a mammoth shopping spree, Paul drives 14 miles south

to Bletchley Park.

This looks promising.

"Welcome to Bletchley Park National Code Centre."

Bletchley Park is the historic site

of secret British code breaking activities during World War Two.

The museum reveals the incredibly complex processes needed to

break the German codes that proved so important in winning the war.

Hello, is it John ?

Being a military enthusiast, Paul is extremely excited

to be shown round by volunteer John Jackson.

-Shall we go in?

-Thank you very much. Expensive technology.

Yes.

Enigma is perhaps the best-known cipher machine of all time,

and Bletchley Park has the largest collection of these machines

on public display in Europe.

What we have here is the standard three-wheel Enigma machine

used by the German armed forces throughout the Second World War.

This machine was used under battlefield conditions.

Wherever the German military machine went

during the Second World War,

around 50,000 of these machines went with them.

The Enigma machines were designed and used by the Germans

to send each other encrypted messages.

It was these messages that were picked up

and sent to Bletchley Park for the code breakers to crack.

So I'm sitting here and I have a secret message to get back to HQ,

and here is the message, and for every letter I put in

-I get a different and encrypted or enciphered letter out.

-Yes.

If Bletchley Park had broken a particular code during the day,

they had to start all over again, as every night at midnight

the German operators changed the settings on their Enigma machines.

When that key was set up for the day,

the odds against finding it were one in 158 million million million.

And when you consider that getting the winning ticket in the Lottery

is only one in 14 million, you understand why the Germans were

so confident about the security of this machine.

In order to decipher the German Enigma messages,

the British designed a machine called the bombe, and this became

the primary tool used at Bletchley Park to crack the Enigma messages.

This is the bombe rebuild.

This is Helen, one of the bombe demonstration team.

It took the team 12 years to rebuild.

It has got 12 miles of wiring in it.

It has got 17,000 screws keeping it together,

and during the course of the Second World War, these machines broke

2.5 million messages enciphered on the Enigma machine.

Astonishing!

It is said that Bletchley Park probably shortened the war

by as much as two years.

And the great tragedy of these machines is that, the day

after the war ended, they began breaking them up.

It wasn't until 1974 that anybody outside of Bletchley Park

even knew that they had existed.

1,600 Wrens worked on the bombes at Bletchley Park,

eight-hour shifts, 24/7, right up until 8th May 1945.

Conditions were hard, they were in bombproof buildings with no windows

and the need for speed and accuracy made the work relentless.

The crucial thing about the job they did

was all the clever interception and all the genius of the code breakers

would have fallen down if the Wrens had not been 100% accurate

when they plugged up the bombe.

If they got it wrong, everything went wrong.

But they were wonderful young women and they did an outstanding job.

Churchill called the work at Bletchley Park his ultra secret

and at one time thanked the Wrens for laying the golden eggs without clucking.

What a fascinating place,

and who would have thought that just six miles down the road in Woburn

another great piece of history took place.

This was the venue for my wedding. Woburn Abbey.

A few years down the line, here I am back again,

and it brings back very, very happy memories.

So what a lucky boy!

Hopefully your luck will continue as you head to the old Town Hall,

aptly named Town Hall Antiques,

where owner Alvin is on hand to help.

Well, I wouldn't mind looking in your friend's cabinet.

-Let me get the key.

-Thank you very much. Thanks.

I haven't seen that. She's only just put that in.

-Looks like a nice object.

-A Viennese bronze of a swallow.

It's well done.

Just tap it with your ring.

Obviously, if it's another metal, it doesn't ring as well as bronze.

That's got a really nice ring to it.

That's got 125 on it.

What's she like? Good or bad?

-She's mean as anything.

-Really?

-Really hard, yes.

-Really hard.

I should say 115.

Really?

-But I could squeeze to 110.

-Really?

I love that swallow.

She wouldn't come down any more on that if you gave her a call?

I'll take another five, but not a penny less.

105. I think that's quite a good buy.

So I think you're being very mean if you're not happy to pay 105.

What about 100?

No. No. Not at all.

105.

I just think it's slightly out of fashion.

Well, start a new fashion.

-Me be the trend setter?

-Yeah. You've got the auction to do it.

Oh dear, has the Plant charm lost its sparkle?

I don't know. I'm in two minds.

I'm about to spend £105 on a bronze figure,

but it is just not fashionable?

Alvin, he's a nice guy, he knows his stuff.

I don't think I can push him that much further. I might get thrown out if I do.

Time for a change of tactics.

Thomas is looking for something to pair with the swallow

in the hope that Alvin will do him a deal.

These are cultured pearls

so the beads have been implanted inside the oyster.

They're quite nice though.

They've got this creamy colour to them -

but look how they change colour.

Creamy colour against my skin - you see that?

But put pearls against white and look what happens.

They come alive. Isn't that amazing?

Do you think...

you would do me a deal on these two items?

On that and the swallow?

We got these at 59 and I've got the swallow at 125.

That's 184.

If I say 150 for the two items.

Could I sneak a little bit more?

I really don't think so, no.

Are you sure?

I'm sure.

150 for the two items.

-And are you really positive...

-I'm absolutely...

-..you couldn't do 140?

Woah, woah, no, no, definitely not.

-Definitely?

-150 is my absolute death.

-You're sure not 140?

-No, definitely not.

-150.

-Meet me halfway?

No. 150 is the deal.

-Just do it for 145.

-No.

-150. But I will toss a coin for it.

-All right!

-Call.

-Heads.

Tails it is.

That means I would've spent 250 in my first day.

Go on. Well done.

Who'd have thought it?

Thomas has bought five lots in the first day.

The competition's heating up

but for now our antique hunters need their beauty sleep.

It's a new day and our chaps on the road again.

What are you going to buy? More things? You've bought four already.

Yeah, look, I'm on a roll. I can't help myself.

One expensive item. Go on!

So far you haven't bought one item over three figures yet, have you?

# No, you haven't. No, you haven't. Not a single item. #

LAUGHTER

So far Paul's spent £170 on four lots.

The dinner gong, a Victorian dressing mirror,

a Sheraton string inlaid mirror as well as a collection of silver delights,

leaving £85.88 for the day ahead.

Thomas, meanwhile, hit the first day's shopping hard,

spending a colossal £250 on five lots -

an Egyptian brooch, a smoky quartz brooch,

a double Albert watch chain,

a figurine of a swallow and a pearl necklace.

He has just £55.20 left to spend.

-Pretty good fun, huh!

-Yeah.

They're leaving Woburn behind

and chauffeur Paul is dropping Thomas in Shuttleworth,

where he's in for a treat.

-Chocks away!

-Chocks away for me!

I feel like a very lucky spoilt boy!

With all his shopping done in the first day, Mr Plant is off to a flying start

so he's come to the Shuttleworth aerodrome.

Good luck! Spend all your money!

Yeah(!) Enjoy!

The Shuttleworth Collection is an assortment of working aircraft and automobiles

founded by the young aviator, Richard Shuttleworth.

Showing Thomas around is Tony Podmore.

Come on in.

I'm fascinated by the collection and how it came to be.

Obviously there was a Mr Shuttleworth.

Richard Shuttleworth was born in 1909.

He had inherited his grandfather and father's flair for all things mechanical.

Richard Shuttleworth was passionate about cars

and became a motor racing driver,

taking part in the first ever British Grand Prix in 1935.

But after a nasty accident, his career was cut short.

He decided, however, to take an interest in flying

because he thought it was so much safer!

This "never give up" attitude, this "never die" attitude.

It's terribly British.

And Richard's gung-ho attitude didn't stop there.

When war broke out, he volunteered as a pilot for the Royal Air Force.

It was during, very sadly, a night-flying sortie

at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire that he suffered a fatal crash.

He was only 31.

In 1944, Richard's mother set up a trust in his memory

and today the collection houses some of Richard's most prized possessions.

There she is!

The world's oldest air-worthy aeroplane.

The 1909 Bleriot.

1909!

-Isn't she amazing?

-It is amazing.

Richard believed that the very best form of preservation

was to keep everything in working order.

Has this ever been up?

-Oh, yes.

-Really?

Absolutely. Yes.

It goes up in the air?

Yes.

In view of the rarity value of this aeroplane,

it is the only one of its kind in the world,

we restrict it to what we affectionately call hops.

-Oh, right!

-This is where it goes down our runway,

the aircraft comes off the ground and just hops along.

It looks like one of those model aero engines I sell at actions!

There's no chance we can hop with this one today?

No, but I tell you what we can do.

We can actually fly one for real for you.

Not one of these though?

Not the Bleriot. Vintage 1931 de Havilland Tiger Moth.

Yes!

This way.

While Thomas gets kitted out,

Paul's taking his £80.55 south to Hemel Hempstead.

After World War II, Hemel Hempstead was designated a new town

for people displaced by the London Blitz.

Interesting wee neck of the woods.

The original part of Hemel Hempstead is still known as the old town

and it's where Paul is on the hunt.

That looks the part, doesn't it!

Off The Wall.

Eccentric European collectables.

That's got Laidlaw written all over it. But closed.

Never one to be defeated, he's on the phone to track the owner down.

Why not?

In for a penny. Give it a try.

Where are you?

When I need you?

'Can't answer your call right now.'

As he patiently waits for news, Thomas is ready for action.

That's fabulous. You look great. How do you feel?

I feel ready to do it.

Up, up and away!

Hold on tight, Biggles!

The de Havilland Tiger Moth is a 1930s byplane,

designed by Geoffrey de Havilland

and was operated by the Royal Air Force as a primary trainer.

The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until 1952.

Thomas, it looks as if you're having a ball!

That was just awesome.

Absolutely awesome.

Absolutely wonderful.

Very honoured and as you can tell by my big smile,

it's been a wonderful trip up.

Mmm. Awesome(!)

While Thomas is on cloud nine, Paul's prayers have been answered.

Shop owner Michelle opened up

but in order to get in, he needs to help move stuff out.

This is like the auction room again!

Michelle has owned the shop for 11 years

and it's bursting at the seams.

Good luck, Paul!

This place is like an antiques Tardis!

Have you seen round here?

Look at this!

You know what I need?

One of those big long poles, that's what I need. Tightrope.

That is a Georgian cribbage board.

I love cribbage - my favourite card game.

I played too much of this in 6th form.

So how does one use a cribbage board for playing crib?

Well, you get points for certain card combinations

and I start at this end and you may start at the other

and we race one another round the board.

This is just a score-keeping board.

People played crib round this, maybe 150, maybe even 200 years ago

in a tavern, smoking a clay pipe.

I think it's charming.

It is £3.

Now, what have you spotted?

It is a Chinese armchair.

A striking piece of furniture.

You have to come and have a look.

I don't know if there's any tremendous age to it.

Never mind the quality, feel the weight.

I'd like it to be 18th or 19th century,

brought back in some tea clipper or in someone's military baggage train.

What I don't want is it to have been brought over 30 years ago

in a shipping container with a whole lot of other looky-likies.

After his antique assault course, it's time to talk numbers.

I think I paid about £90 for it about 15 years ago.

Wow. Wow. Ouch.

How about 50 for the chair and you've got a deal?

OK.

You might see me looking at the cribbage board.

Am I feeling a buy one get one free moment coming on?

Oh! You could read minds as well!

I'm psychic.

I'm sticking my neck out with the chair. That is a gamble.

It could go the other way, it could work for me.

If you give me the chair for 45, throw that in as a wee freebie,

I'll take a punt at the chair.

OK.

The chair takes up more room in this very overcrowded shop.

LAUGHTER

It's empty!

True.

With his last two lots secured, it's time for Mr Laidlaw to show Mr Plant his treasures.

Did you spend all your money?

I spent a goodly sum.

-Come on, show me.

-Prepare to be underwhelmed.

Come on, just get on with it!

LAUGHTER

I'm so bored!

When you're gifted, you find it difficult to walk past mirrors.

LAUGHTER

-A tenner.

-No!

-Get in!

-A tenner?!

That's amazing. Well done you.

So, this...

Oh my word.

Nine carat silver.

With a lovely enamel and silver...

With gold on it. But I paid 80.

If you want one, try and find me better. I defy you.

-Gorgeous quality.

-Speaking of gorgeousness...

Oh, for God's...

No! Not another one!

Why did you buy an Edwardian one?

That was cheap so that one was 70.

No, it wasn't 70. Don't be so ridiculous!

A tenner.

Is there a pattern here?

The pattern is - Laidlaw bought a good thing at a killer price again!

-There we are.

-Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

King Tut, is it 1920s Egyptian revival?

1920s Egyptian revival.

OK, but it's not...

No, but it's £15!

How can you go wrong with that?

£15, you can't.

If you're lucky, double your money?

£20 or £30 if it goes.

It's gonna make more than 15. It's a good-looking thing.

Close your eyes. Trust me.

Can I open them?

GONG SOUNDS

-Oh, God.

-You're weeping at the splendour of my dinner gong.

So a shell in a fire iron set, attached to it with a bit of string.

It's fun but did you spend more than £35 on it?

Would that be a bad thing if I had?

Personally, yes.

Paid £30 for it.

So I think it's a silver, bronze.

It cost me 100.

-I'm loving that.

-It's a good thing.

-What a great thing.

-Lovely thing.

So, come on.

Gone to the microscopic now.

Onto this titchy-witchy, lovely silver fruit knife.

£20. 18? Oh no, come on.

I know when he's pleased with himself.

So this is a little Laidlaw lot? These are nice, gold lorgnettes

Well, I don't know. I did not buy them as gold.

-That's just part of it.

-Oh no! Oh, and another one.

-Oh yes, sweet.

-That's better by far.

-Let's be sensible.

-Yeah. You're not gonna get that cheap.

I would say that lot cost you £65.

-120.

-120, no, that's fine.

It's a nice lot and it's gonna make that.

-But that's not the lot. I got that.

-And something else, come on.

Tripping over it.

Oh, and a cigar cutter.

-And, er, what's this?

-No.

-What's this then?

-A swizzle stick?

-Yeah.

120 all of that? That's a very, very good lot.

OK, it's smokey quartz, nine carat.

Yeah, it is gold. 19th century setting.

-Obviously it would have been part of a brooch.

-OK.

-You got that dirt cheap, you paid £15 for that.

-I paid a fiver.

-Oh!

-£5.

-You're romping home with that. That's not a problem.

OK, Chinese chair.

Yeah. All the hallmarks of authenticity.

Yeah, yeah.

-What did you pay for it?

-45.

That was cheap.

I would have to be unlucky to lose on that.

The thing is I was so disappointed with these, but they were only a tenner each.

You're not walking past those, are you?

-I'm walking past those.

-A tenner?

-I'm not interested.

Oh, you're interested in diamante, I forgot.

I've got a string of pearls. They're lovely, creamy pearls.

-Very sutterly graded.

-Yeah, they're not bad.

And a wee sterling clasp. I've seen these picking up.

Did you buy these for £80 under the hammer?

-Yeah, they were 50 to me.

-Yeah.

-Are we done?

-Wait a minute, wait a minute.

I got a freebie.

Why did you get that free? You shouldn't be getting free things.

-If I was you I'd put it with that lot.

-Can somebody pick up Tom's dummy.

He spat it over there.

-No, it is quite nice. It's gonna make 20 or 30 quid.

-Absolutely!

I don't mind saying you've done really well.

Well, it's all sounding very nice, isn't it? Time to hear what they really think.

I am really nervous what's gonna happen at the auction because he's bought really well.

Although I've bought well,

that silver lot is gonna eclipse everything!

As soon as that came out I went, "Oh!"

I think this is the auction where it turns in my favour.

Well, maybe.

It's been a fabulous jaunt, though, delightful Olney,

via Woburn and Hemel Hempstead

with the auction house in Watlington firmly in their sights.

I feel pretty confident, Paul. You've got some great lots coming up.

I've played a good hand.

Reputedly England's smallest town, nestling in the shadows of the Chiltern Hills,

Watlington offers a traditional market town welcome.

Just what our cheeky chaps need on auction day.

Kicking things off today is auctioneer, Simon Jones.

But first, what does he think of their choices?

There's a good cross-section. The bronze bird will do well

because it's a pretty little thing.

My favourite item will be the chair,

simply because you don't see many of them and it's a lovely object.

Paul began this leg with £255.88

and has since spent £215 on six auction lots.

As for Thomas, he started with £305.20

and threw caution to the wind spending £250 on five auction lots.

It's the moment of truth. Let the auction begin.

First up it's Paul's dressing mirror.

What can we say for that? 50, £60 for it?

40 then to start me for the toilet mirror.

40 I'm bid, 42 anywhere?

All done then at 40.

Excellent start, but will the dinner gong strike the right note?

50 or £60 for it?

£50? 50 I'm bid.

55 before I go to the phone. Coming to you at 55, Kay.

55 I'm bid. 60 anywhere?

At 55 then, 60.

65, 70.

70 I'm bid. 75.

Come to daddy.

75, 80? 80 I'm bid, 85?

At £80 then, it's in the room at £80.

Well done.

We did it, we planned.

Well done, Paul. You're off to a flying start

and it can only get better as your next lot was the freebie!

Lot 110 is the Treen cribbage board. Sweet, little chap this.

What can we say for that? 40, £50 for it?

That will do.

20 to start me. 15 to go.

Weird that.

Anyone want a cribbage board? Ten?

-Ten I'm bid.

-Dirt cheap, dirt cheap.

I would give you more than that for it.

At £10 then, all done at ten.

Oh, well, it was a tenner.

It cost you nothing, it owes you nothing. It's £10.

Three lots down and Paul's hot on your heels, Thomas.

Let's hope your figurine pays off.

Lot 116 is the bronze figurine of a swallow.

Silver plated on a little circular base there. £100 for it?

-He's asking big money.

-80 to start.

50 then?

50 I'm bid, 55 anywhere? At £50.

55? Yes, 55.

60, 65?

At £60, right at the back of the room. At 60.

Somebody got a bargain, Thomas. You were unlucky there.

-Somebody got a bargain.

-Oh dear!

It was always going to be risky. Now for Paul's second mirror.

128 is the Sheraton string in-laid dressing mirror.

40 or £50 for this.

30 then to start me.

20 for the dressing mirror.

A little Sheraton one, shield shape.

£20 I'm bid.

All done at 20.

-I can thank the auctioneer.

-£10 profit.

Back to Thomas for his pearls. Fingers crossed.

Lot 330 is a string of graduated culture pearls with a silver

and Marquisette clasp.

40, £50 for it?

30 to start me then.

Don't tell me pearls are out of fashion.

£20 I'm bid. 22 anywhere? At £20, all done at 20.

Ouch!

Oh, go on, give him a hug.

-Well.

-A hug?

-No.

-You want a hug?

-No.

-Later?

-No hugs later.

Surely his silver double chain and fob will get him back in the game.

What are you going to start me? 40 I'm bid. 42, 44?

£42 seated, 44 anywhere?

At £42 then all done. At 42.

Do you want me to start bidding on your stuff because I've a lot of money to burn.

Keep positive, Thomas. Things can only get better.

350 is an enamel 1930s Egyptian brooch.

In a little box there. 30, £40 for this?

It's what it should do.

20 then to start me.

£20 I'm bid, 22 anywhere for the brooch?

22, 24, 26, 28.

30, 32, 34, 36.

38, 40, 42?

At £40 all done at 40?

-Sweet.

-That's more like it!

Now for Thomas's last stab, the double smokey courts brooch.

£30 for it?

25 I'm bid. 28?

£25 then for the smokey quartz.

£25, are you all done at 25? With Alan.

Fair enough.

The brooches were your saving grace.

Now for Paul's collection of silver.

I'm nervous about this, here it comes.

£100 to start me. £100 I'm bid.

110 anywhere? 110, 120, 130, 140.

150? 140 then standing at the back of the room.

140. 150 anywhere?

-Cheap for all that stuff.

-140, all done.

It's Paul's last stab at a big profit.

A Chinese chair. What can we say for that?

£100 to start me for it. £100 I'm bid.

110? At £100, are you all happy at £100.

A maiden bid of £100, are you all done?

Can you lend me some money?

Can you lend me some money?

In spectacular fashion, Mr Laidlaw wins the day.

Thomas started today's show victorious with £305.20.

After commission he's made a hideous loss of £96.66, giving him

a meagre £208.54 to spend tomorrow.

Paul, meanwhile, started with £255.88.

He made a fabulous profit of £104.80,

so with a whopping £360.68 in the kitty he's firmly in the lead.

-What a roller-coaster!

-Tell me.

I feel like I've been on the helter-skelter, you know.

It's going to make for an interesting shop in the last leg.

-All to play for, for me.

-Yeah.

-I'm going for it.

We've heard that before! Next time on the Antiques Road Trip it's the grand finale.

Thomas is playing catch-up.

My shop closes in three-quarters of an hour, time is against me.

I'm going to have the devil chasing me on my back.

And has Mr Laidlaw met his match?

Make it £28 and I will buy it.

I can't!

You're good!

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