Episode 6 Antiques Road Trip

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

-I'm going 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.

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

-Whose side are you on?

-This is Antiques Road Trip.

In a week that promises glorious weather, stunning scenery

and some of the most eccentric characters you'll ever meet,

let me just start by saying welcome to Scotland.

CATHERINE: You're now in the Highlands.

It's beautiful countryside

that Philip Serrell and Catherine Southon are about to compete.

I love the thought we're now in the Highlands

-and you're sharing it with me.

-I know, the love of my life.

Right now they're getting on like a house on fire.

Stick with me, Phil. You'll be fine.

Philip Serrell began his career mucking out the sheep pens for a livestock auctioneer.

Whilst some say he had found his calling then and there,

he's since become a consummate antiques auctioneer.

-What's your cheapest price?

-It's usually 50p.

I'll remember that.

Meanwhile, Catherine Southon is the new girl who brings a touch of class to proceedings.

Bet Lynch, eat your heart out.

Formerly the head of scientific instruments at Sotheby's,

she's also an expert in maritime art, though don't be fooled by her abundance of charm.

When it comes to striking a deal, she's a wolf in designer clothing.

-Are you sure you don't want to sell?

-Positive.

Philip and Catherine are starting the week with £200 each.

Hoping to turn a very tidy profit at auction.

-I'll be even more excited if I win.

-Don't get too competitive on me.

Along with their shiny red Triumph convertible

they're travelling from the North East of Scotland

on to Glasgow and across the border to Carlisle,

passing through the Lake District

and ending their journey in Liverpool.

Today we're starting in Aboyne and ending with an auction in Dundee.

-What gear are you in?

-I'm in caught in my jacket.

HE LAUGHS

On the edge of the River Dee you'll find the picturesque village

eof Aboyne, famous for both its proximity to Balmoral

and its own Highland games which have been drawing crowds since 1837.

It's in this ideal setting that Philip and Catherine are on the hunt for antiques.

-What are we doing?

-There's an antique fair here.

-Antique fair?

-An antique, car boot thing.

-There's only five cars.

-It's still a car boot.

Stick with me, you'll be all right. Come on.

In fairness, this doesn't seem an obvious place to find a cheeky collectible.

But it's not without its charm.

We're looking to see if we've got any little gems here.

-I like the look of the chutneys.

-They look like dog treats.

SHE LAUGHS: You look like Frank Spencer.

Before you can say, "Ooh, Betty," something's caught Philip's eye next door to the doggy treats.

-Is that R2 thingy?

-Yes, it's R2D2 and Darth Vader and C3PO.

Don't you think you're a bit old to play with this?

-It's actually my son's.

-That's a relief.

I'm more of a Star Trek man myself.

I tell you what I'll do because I'm feeling generous,

-all the toys I'll give you 50 pence for.

-That sounds...

We're going to have to deal here, but I've only got 40p in change.

-I feel I'm being swindled.

-I'm actually sure you're being swindled.

This is worth 40p on its own.

-You're mad, Philip.

-How can I lose money on 40p?

-Come on, give this man some more money.

-Whose side are you on?

-Not on yours!

-I'm going to go now.

-Sir, you're a gentleman.

So says the last of the big spenders.

You'll be pleased to hear our next stop is actually a bona fide antiques shop.

With not a car boot in sight.

Mind you, despite its Aboyne address it feels a tad remote.

I've to go left here. I'll drop you out just here.

-Don't forget me.

-I won't, go on, off you go.

-I've got to get out first.

-Off you go!

I can't get out. I can't get out!

I'm having a blonde moment.

-OK, here we are, I've done it.

-Dear me, honestly.

-Ciao, arrivederci.

-It'll be fine, don't worry.

Knowing her, she'll come out

smelling of roses with a Chippendale chair clenched between her teeth.

Funny you should say that because as it happens

the aptly-named "Refined" is a family business

packed with gorgeous things.

Hi, Alex, this is a wonderful shop you've got here.

-Are you going to do me a good deal today?

-Of course I am.

I'm very interested in these straight away. I love apothecary jars.

Carboys, very nice.

Carboys have been used as symbols for pharmacists for yonks.

Although it's thought they originate from the Middle East when coloured medicines were often stored.

They're also has something that could do very well at auction.

How much are they?

-You'd be looking at about 150.

-For the two?

-For the two.

-I think that might be a bit too much.

I'd really need to be under 100.

Ah, well, worth a try.

We've got some nice, Scottish stuff as well over here...

Crikey, I'm going through your floorboards.

Stilettos?

In the neighbouring town, the gateway to the Highlands,

Philip's discovered his own treasure trove - Naughty Nighties.

We've got some excellent stuff here.

It's the Auld Alliance, a rather unusual shop we've been to before.

It's owned by Dave whose compulsive collecting began in France

where he lived in a hut, or in French, "un cabin".

-How are you?

-Fine, how are you?

-Good to see you.

Is the extent of your shop the ground floor?

It's basically that, but there's loads of junk elsewhere.

I'm into loads of junk elsewhere.

As you can see, Dave never met a collectible he didn't like.

So the shop, the pavement outside,

the backroom, the stockroom and the attic are completely overflowing.

Dave, I think with a bit more effort you could get more stuff up here.

That's silver. The only thing is the face is missing on the movement.

Yeah, which is fairly crucial to a clock.

But amongst all the thousands of objects in the shop,

which one do you think Philip is most likely to go for?

Give yourself 10 points if you said a wind-up bird.

Isn't that just fantastic?

-In technical terms it's an automaton.

-Yes.

It's a clockwork-driven toy that does something.

In this case it pecks.

But you can have grand ones that play musical instruments.

With eyes that roll round and that sort of thing.

It would be early 1900s.

-They were adults toys, they weren't children's.

-That's why a lot survive.

Toy, "kerching". It would go straight past you.

-I think that's lovely. How much is he, Dave?

-£25.

Is this the exchange rate between Sassenachs and the Scots?

It'll be about 20, then.

Dave, you fulfil my goal because my quest is to buy quirky things.

And if you take the birdie, you're off to a flying start.

You should be quacking.

Now Catherine is moving in on Alex's dad, Alan

-hoping he'll be a softer touch.

-Tell me about your apothecary.

This actually came off a chemist who'd retired

and these were out of his old shops.

Fabulous. Well, I love this kind of thing.

Especially this, which is a lovely, ceramic,

apothecary jar with the name of the contents.

The profession of apothecary dates back to the 11th century.

It's the precursor to the pharmacist.

As for the words on the jar and the contents, they're abbreviated

and in Latin and apparently for skin complaints.

-It still smells a bit.

-It does.

Actually we probably shouldn't do that. That's lovely.

How much do you want for that?

Um, I think the best I can do on that is 85.

-85?

-85.

-They're very desirable things.

-I'm not going to make any profit on 85.

I'm trying hard, I'll do 70.

I think that's the best I can do,

otherwise I'd be cutting my own throat.

-How much do you want for those two?

-I was looking at about £50 each.

50 pounds each? I couldn't do that.

-Are they in perfect condition?

-I think they are.

That's cracked. See, I'm finding faults now.

Just to make it easier for you, I'll do the three... Three at 140.

Where's your daughter? Does she give better prices?

LAUGHTER

I think the new girl's beginning to get the hang of this larky.

Philip, meanwhile, is looking for the perfect companion piece

to his wind-up bird, which has inspired Dave to ask...

-Have you got bunions?

-Bunions?

If you've got bunions, you put that in your shoe,

and that makes a dent so it doesn't hurt your foot.

-That's got Sarah written all over. I thought it was to do unmentionable things to sheep or cattle.

-Exactly.

-How many of these have you sold?

-Never.

-How do you know its worth?

I gave him quite a lot for it.

"I gave him quite a lot for it." Softening the blow for me. Go on?

-20 quid.

-That's a massive amount of money for it.

-I know it is.

While the bunion clipper is certainly tempting,

Philip's much more taken with a couple of Matchbox classics.

These just remind me of my childhood.

Do you know why I like that one?

-My grandmother bought me one of these.

-They're great.

-Yeah.

Needless to say, packaging is all-important here

and a mint condition Matchbox car can be worth up to twice as much

if it comes with the original box.

-Fiver each.

-At £5 each, there's room for negotiation, isn't there?

-Ooh!

You heard it here first.

If you don't, I'm going to grab you with your bunion nipper.

Threatening violence is an interesting negotiating tactic

but Catherine's opting for divide and rule.

-So for this and these, what's Alex's best price?

-140.

You're supposed to be the one that gives me better prices.

He said 140. I love the way he's disappeared and left me on my own.

130, done.

-130?

-130.

-OK. Thing is, I haven't got enough money.

-How much are the carboys?

-They'd have to be 130 the pair.

-Yeah.

-I think if you had to choose between the three here,

and the two there...

SHOPKEEPER LAUGHS

-I'm going to take you with me the whole way, actually.

-Yes!

Can we do 110 on those?

-You're bullying.

-She's so lovely.

-I felt a nod there. I'm sure it was a nod.

-115.

Can we do 110? Definite.

Go on. Oh, please, Alex. Go on, 110.

What's a fiver? 110 and they're yours.

-You are the best.

-And I'm paying the other fiver.

Thus far, Philip's search for the daft and different has found him

one wind-up bird, two Matchbox cars

and now what might be a wool winder, though there is some debate.

That's got a metal base, which means it's stronger.

You could use these for drying fishing line.

Fishing line, socks.

I think there's probably more potential for salmon fishing line than dirty socks, personally.

All Philip needs to complete the set is...

It's a stag horn three-piece carving set.

-Is it silver or plated?

-It could very well be silver.

-I like that.

The thing I love about this is if you want to go to a cookshop

and buy a modern knife, it's going to cost you £30 or £40, isn't it?

-Yet you can come to Dave and buy something like this for £15.

-Pardon?

You can come to Dave and buy something like this for £15.

I've lost my hearing.

If I bought that, that was 25, and those were five each,

and if I bought those two together they would be?

-30.

-30.

-And that was 25?

-Yes.

-And that was 25?

-Yes.

-If I bought those two together, how much would they be?

-40.

-40. And if I bought the whole lot together?

-60.

Double figures, eh? That's a lot of money for our Phil.

Go on, I'll have it all, Dave. £50, wasn't it?

-Pardon?

-50 quid.

-What was that?

-50 quid.

-50? 60.

I tell you what, a fool and his money are soon parted, aren't they?

-It's sticking in your hand.

-Get out of here!

With Philip's rather eclectic shopping spree now over

and Catherine in need of a cup of tea and a lie-down

after one very intense negotiation, our next stop is Aberdeen.

Now, this is a city with 8,000 years of history.

It's been ruled by the English. It's been set ablaze and rebuilt,

and it's even helped defeat Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.

That's because Aberdeen is home to the Gordon Highlanders,

a Scottish regiment formed in the 18th century to help fight the French.

And this museum celebrates their two centuries of history.

What does it for me on these trips is what I'm going to see.

Today it's going to be VCs, tartan and mess silver.

I hope someone's in.

-How are you doing?

-Phil, good to see you.

Don't you worry, Philip. Jesper's the man to show you round.

From firearms to silverware, this regiment has quite a story to tell

and in 1794 it all started with a kiss.

This is the bonnet of Duchess Jean,

the wife of Alexander Duke of Gordon who raised the Gordon Highlanders.

The legend is that new recruits to the Gordons

received not only the King's shilling but a kiss from the fair Duchess.

-Really?

-Absolutely.

She was a society beauty so how could any man resist such a wonderful...?

-So she was like the best recruiting machine that you had?

-Absolutely.

How many did she get in? How many did she kiss?

When the Gordon Highlanders paraded for the first time

in Aberdeen in June, 1794, there were over 1,000 recruits.

I tell you what, there's mileage in this. They should do this today.

LAUGHING: Definitely!

The collection includes some rather impressive silverware.

But this isn't the only precious material in the museum.

It's also home to 11 of one of the rarest medals in existence.

-That's a VC.

-Yes, it is.

Victoria Cross.

The most important, emblematic bravery medal there is to be won.

It is an absolute icon.

These were made from the bronze of a cannon

from the Battle of Sebastopol in the Crimean War, weren't they?

That's right.

It's captured Russian cannon that the medals are still cast from.

This particular VC belonged to a legendary member

of the Gordon Highlanders, Piper George.

He fought on the Northwest Frontier, present-day Pakistan, in 1897.

Gordon charged forward over this open piece of ground

with their pipers playing, urging the men on over the ground.

Five pipers stood up and started playing when the charge began.

Only one of the pipers made it across that open piece of ground unscathed.

One of the wounded was Piper George Findlater.

He was wounded in both ankles

but despite the fact that he was in a great deal of pain,

he had blood seeping into the ground from his ankles,

and he was under constant, murderous fire from the heights above,

he propped himself up against a rock and carried on playing his pipes,

urging his fellow Gordons on, up the heights, and to eventual victory.

There are things that you do in your life

that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end,

and this does because it's just like...

It's just... That's a moment, isn't it, really?

To have in your hands a Victoria Cross.

Needless to say, a Victoria Cross isn't that easy to come by

and at auction you can expect to pay upwards of a quarter of a million.

Here I am with a VC in my hand. That's a bit special, that.

Whilst it's a moment Philip doesn't want to and,

I'm afraid there's a contest still to decide

and a fellow competitor very much in need of a lift.

-Hello!

-Hello. You all right?

Can I drive?

That's better.

Have to check my insurance first.

-How do you get this into first gear?

-Oh, Lord.

-OK, Ready?

ENGINE STALLS

THEY LAUGH

Woo! Ha ha!

Legs apart, lift together.

-Left down?

-Straight on.

-But what indicator?

Catherine, you're doing 22 mph.

Shall we ring the next shop and tell them we'll be there in three days?

Well, they're making their way, slowly, to our next port of call,

the Aberdeen Antiques Centre.

-Here we are.

-Let's go.

-Be happy. Come on!

Despite Catherine's perky demeanour,

she's a little worried about only having £90 still in the kitty.

As I've eaten into a huge chunk of my money already,

I don't really want to spend much here.

I can only really afford to spend 30, top whack.

So what I'm looking for is something cheap and cheerful

that's going to make me a big profit.

I've got to beat that Serrell, you see.

To add to the pressure, it's almost closing time, so don't dilly dally.

145. That's quite a lot of money.

Could I have a look at that little thing down there, please?

Oh look, Philip's found something

and he's about to dig Doug out for a deal.

This is a shooting butt marker.

These little pegs are ivorine,

They're numbered.

What you would do is arrive at your shoot early in the morning

and mix all those up. There's normally eight guns at a shoot.

The first gun would normally be a guest. You'd offer him one of these

and he'd pick one of these out. His stand is number five.

Then you'd go on to the next gun

until all eight guns have pulled out a number which would give them

their position in the line on the first drive.

It's basically allocating your day for the whole of the shoot by luck.

I just think that's a really nice thing.

I'd need to be brutal on that price.

It's £42, it's marked as.

I was hoping it might be 24 and it was the wrong way round.

-I'll do it for £30 for you.

-You're a hard man.

-Can I just take them outside to the light a minute?

-Sure

Don't worry, Philip hasn't taken to shoplifting yet.

Natural light really is the best way to view some objects.

I think this is lovely. I really think this is lovely,

but you get them in this light and they look really plasticky.

-£20 for them?

-You're a gentleman. Thank you very much.

Let me give you some money.

Here we have it.

Another rare appearance of Philip Serrell's wallet.

-Come on.

-Are we going?

-Yeah, I've bought something.

Fortunately, Catherine's used her time wisely

and has discovered a matching pair of silver toast racks.

I love the pair of toast racks. They're very cute.

-They're sort of 1930s or something?

-I would say so.

-I like those.

Now did you happen to know that toast

was invented by the Egyptians 5,000 years ago?

Believe that, you'll believe anything.

You'd have to have a very small piece of toast for these.

I'm not so keen on that price though. What's that? £70.

-I could let them go for 50 for you.

-50?

-If that helps you.

I really don't think I can go beyond 30 on these.

I don't think I could go lower.

I'm not sure if I'd make a profit on that.

-What if we were to say 35?

-35, now you're talking.

-I'll split the difference.

-I've got to take them at £35, haven't I?

-It's a deal.

You're a lovely, lovely man. Thank you.

If not they make a great pair of earrings!

-Wouldn't they?

-Absolutely.

-Bet Lynch eat your heart out.

And with the last exchange of cash, so ended day one

of Serrell versus Southon.

Come on, home James. Woo!

As the sun rises on another glory day in Scotland,

our dynamic duo are once again hitting the road,

leaving Aberdeen behind and heading for bonnie Dundee,

where they'll go head-to-head at auction.

-Toads on road.

-Eh?

Don't run over any toads, Philip.

So far Philip's quest for the daft and different

has seen him part with £80 for everything from Star Wars figures

to a wind-up bird, leaving him £120 still to play with.

You go out and buy the goodies and I'm left looking like a Lulu.

-I'm going for the sympathy vote.

-Oh, come on, Philip.

Catherine, meanwhile, has boldly splashed out £145

on two carboys

and her rather lovely toast racks, which leaves her just £55.

Your strength is playing this 'I don't know' trick

-and you do so well.

-Shut up.

-You do so well.

Before more shopping and arguing,

Catherine first has a date with royalty

at the fabulous Glamis Castle in the fertile valley of Strathmore.

Oh, my word.

Oh, I just feel like I'm in a dream.

This is going to be magical.

For more than 600 years,

this has been the ancestral home of the Earls of Strathmore.

But what really stands this beautiful castle apart

is the fact that it was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

-Good morning.

-Good morning, Catherine. Welcome to Glamis.

And Hamish here is giving us the grand tour.

There's a great deal of history here at Glamis.

What you're looking at here is the original tower house

that was built by the family when they first came here in the 1370s.

-So this is the oldest part.

-This, we believe, is the oldest part.

Basically, the family were given the land here by King Robert II

in the 1370s and they've been adding to it ever since.

-Shall we go inside?

-Really lovely building.

Oh, this is definitely feeling like a castle.

At age three, the Queen Mother officially took up residence

here at Glamis when her father became the 14th Earl of Strathmore,

so beginning a love affair with this castle that lasted her entire life.

This little staircase here leads to the Queen Mother's sitting-room.

We'll go up.

At age 21, the Queen Mother received a marriage proposal

from George, the then Duke of York.

Though not wishing to live in the public eye,

she turned him down, not once but twice.

Then after a third proposal, two years on, she finally said yes,

and the happy couple spent much of their honeymoon here at Glamis

in a specially designed royal suite.

I can't believe that this is actually the Queen Mother's sitting room.

This is incredible.

It is very much as it always was from the time of their marriage.

In fact there's a photograph on that little table taken in 1935.

It's almost exactly the same then as it is today.

That's not the only photograph you'll find here.

Very nice little one here of their two daughters.

Margaret on the right, aged four.

The Queen has signed her own pet name at the bottom, Lilibet.

Ah, that's lovely, isn't?

Hamish, I love this little enclosed booth

where presumably the Queen Mother would have sat down.

-I presume so. Can you see above the desk?

-I can see the phone.

Isn't that wonderful?

I found a piece of headed paper here a few years ago

which said the phone number here was Glamis 4.

-So I wonder who 1, 2 and 3 were.

-Yes, exactly!

Needless to say, the Queen Mother's life changed forever

when in 1936 her husband was crowned king,

but along with their daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret,

they never stopped coming to Glamis.

These little chairs here?

We think they were used by the princesses

when they were here on holiday.

For me, that's wonderful.

To think that the then Princess Elizabeth

and Princess Margaret sat on those chairs,

I mean, that's wonderful, isn't it?

-Isn't it?

-I just want to stay here.

Sorry, Catherine, but the road trip waits for no man or woman.

As we head down Scotland's eastern coast, our next stop is Montrose,

which sits between the mouths of the North and South Esk Rivers.

-Oh, stop! Stop. Can I take a picture?

-Go on.

That is quite amazing, isn't it?

There's a fishing boat, look.

Come on, baby. Get in my car.

As well as boasting uninterrupted views of the North Sea,

Montrose is also home to our most unusual antiques dealer yet.

On a remote farm that seems to be a million miles from anything,

our duo are on the outlook for - wait for it - Steptoe's Yard!

MUSIC: Theme from "Steptoe and Son"

-We could find anything here - some real treasure.

-We could find nothing.

-You're always so negative, aren't you?

-No, no. My pint glass is just half empty.

Lord above!

Oh, my word!

I think I've died and gone to heaven.

Incredibly, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

While everything you see is permanently displayed outside,

it's just a fraction of Peter's somewhat eclectic collection.

Hi, Peter! I can't believe this place. It's really quite something. Something else, actually.

-It is slightly different.

-Can I have a look inside?

Indoors, there's row after row after row of furniture,

glass, china, brassware and seemingly non-stop knickknacks.

Oh, my word!

I'm just completely lost for words. You've got so much here.

It's just vast!

A farmer by trade, it was mad cow disease that inspired Peter to diversify

and he's managed to gather all of this stuff in just six years. Oh, dear!

-Does it ever stop?

-It stops when you get to the end!

-SHE LAUGHS

Doesn't feel like there is an end.

Peter! Which do you reckon is the best place for me to work?

I'm just completely overwhelmed here.

There are a few things in here.

-I think that's an electric cardiograph in here.

-Electric cardiograph?

Call me picky if you like,

but I think the mould on there just puts me off using that a bit.

-We would clean that off for you.

-Peter, I'm beginning to worry about you.

Sadly, a cardiograph is too daft and different, even for Philip.

But this 19th-century cartwheel? Just right.

-Make me a sensible offer.

-In my eyes, it's 30, 35 quid's worth. That's what I think.

I would disagree a little bit.

Who's going to buy that off me? A bloke with a three-wheeled cart?

-If you were to give me somewhere in the region of 55...

-No!

-I'll maybe do a deal with you.

-55 quid for a foreign cartwheel?

Someone said to me that they thought it had been used for driving

-possibly ropes are something like that.

-Do you know what I think you use it for?

I think you use it for kippering poor Englishmen.

Surprisingly, this is a very sound choice as cartwheels are extremely popular in garden makeovers

and thus go very well at auction.

But Peter's playing hard to get.

This has got to be, what, turn of the last century? 1890, 1900.

-I would reckon so.

-And I think it's continental.

As such, it's not worth anything like the amount of money that an English one would be.

-35 quid is my best deal there.

-No, come on. A little bit more.

You've got to think of the poor Scotsman.

Unable to strike a deal, the search continues. Though I do believe that amongst all of this,

Catherine's finally found something.

It's got a big split down it.

-Come on...

-That adds to the character. I've not seen one that didn't have a split.

Whilst it's seen better days, what does make this trunk interesting

is that it's pine painted to look like oak -

a paint technique that's called scumbling.

But will the bidders of Dundee appreciate the quirk?

How much could that be, before we even think about getting it out?

-You'd be looking round about the 50.

-Could it be 20?

No. Not quite!

-25 then?

-No, 30.

-25, come on. Final offer.

-I was giving you a rock bottom price.

-25 or we'll push it back in.

-Go on, Peter. Put it there.

-I'll do it for 28 for you.

-25! Come on.

-28! Come on.

28. There you go. You'll get a big profit off that one.

I haven't even seen the other side of that. So, I'm hoping that's OK.

Well, you've bought it now.

Now, it may look as if Philip's moved on from that cartwheel,

but nothing could be further from the truth.

-Peter, we're going to have to have a deal on that cartwheel.

-I need a little bit more than 35.

-How much is a little?

-If you give me 45...

-That's not a little, that's a lot!

-That's halfway between...

-No, get out of here!

You see, I thought "a little" was 36.

The only reason I would even think about selling it is because it's to a needy case.

-You haven't got any violins around here?

-I could start...

-I think there is one, but it's not in very good order!

-HE LAUGHS

-This is all I've got.

-£40? You've got to admire his cheek.

I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll sell you at for that,

provided I don't half to help you tie it on the roof of your car.

Thank you very much indeed.

Ha ha! Having begged the best deals they can out of old Steptoe,

the moment has finally arrived when Philip and Catherine must reveal all.

MUSIC: Theme from "Steptoe and Son"

I don't know about you, but it's been a fairly hectic two days.

-You can say that again.

-Shall I start?

-Go on, then.

Well, the first thing, look.

I'm guessing some sort of clamp of some description. Oh!

-Oh, that's not what I thought at all. I like that.

-Do you?

I reckon you probably paid about 30/40 quid for it.

-I paid £20 for it, so it's all right, isn't it?

-Cheapskate!

-That's a steal.

-Do you want another one?

-Go on, then.

I thought this was lovely. This is just a little butt marker.

Yeah. I thought they were ivory, but they're not. They're plastic.

-If it was ivory, it's £100.

-How much did you pay for those?

There's a recurring theme to this.

-£20!?

-£20.

-You're a joke, you are.

-OK, your turn.

-All right.

-Look!

-Oh, wow!

-Actually, that's fantastic.

-I've got a pair of these.

Isn't that lovely? The shape of that?

And they are in absolutely tiptop super condition.

-What did you pay for the pair?

-I paid 110.

-If you can't get £50 each for those...

-£50 each?

I don't think they're worth £50 each.

Who knows, Philip? Time will tell.

-Do you want to see why next one?

-Come on, then. Oh, it's a swift.

-What's a swift?

-This is a swift.

-A swift is a type of...

-Ow, my fingers in it!

-Sorry, Philip.

-Ouch.

That's not very nice, is it?

All right! A swift is a type of wool-winder. So, spinning wool.

-And you're going to wind your wool...

-A skein of wool goes around there, doesn't it?

There's different types of winders. This one is called an umbrella swift.

What a girl. Don't you just love her? What's it worth? Got to be worth my 20 quid.

-40/50 quid.

-Cos I was hoping, you see...

-Don't tell me you paid 20 again?

-Yeah.

-I told you there was a recurring theme to this.

-You are... What's next?

Aren't these the dinkiest pair of earrings? Would do you think, Phil?

Absolutely, Bette.

-Birmingham hallmarked.

-Yeah. Mappin & Webb.

And they cost you 60 quid?

-35.

-For the pair?

-I think you absolutely robbed those. Next thing?

-Go on, then.

-Now, there is a recurring theme to this.

-Oh, no!

-That's... I don't know what that is.

-I'm not sure either.

-And that's a Matchbox Yesteryear Blower Bentley, four and a half litre.

-I'll take your word on that.

-That's a model of Burrell Showmans' engine.

-OK.

-This is just the business, look.

-Oh, sweet!

-Little clockwork...

-Yeah.

-Isn't he just the business, look?

-That is amazing.

-I love it.

-£20...

and 40 pence.

Well, I'd give you at least £30 just for him.

-This is the star of the show.

-Have you got another one? Let me guess.

You've bought a thimble!

Actually, it's a lot better box than it looks because it's a pine box, isn't it?

-Yeah, it is.

-But it's scumbled.

-That was 28 quid.

-I think that's absolutely fine.

-Do you?

-I do, honestly.

-I hope you're right cos I can't shut it now.

-Do you want to see my last thing?

-Go on, then.

Well, this wasn't 20,

-but it was two times 20.

-Oh, wow!

-Why have I bought that?

-I don't know, but that's impressive, Philip.

-You paid £40 for that?

-Yeah. Why?

It's just one of those things that actually could do very well.

What comes around goes around. And wheels go round.

SHE LAUGHS You're right, Philip!

Oh, very droll.

In a contest of the old hand versus the new girl, what do they really think about each other's purchases?

His first item that he showed me was the fork knife set.

It's nice cos it's got Aberdeen on but I don't think it's going to get people particularly excited.

I think her chemist jars, if she can get a London prize for them,

she might get a couple of hundred pounds profit.

I think the danger is we're in Dundee selling these things.

The cartwheel that really had his name written all over it,

nobody else would give it a second glance.

The trunk is undoubtedly her worst item.

She probably panic-bought that at the 11th hour.

I don't know if he was just being kind

or whether he's a sly, old fox and thinks they're going to bomb.

I'm going to have to watch my pocket is a bit over the next five days

cos she's going to be hard to beat.

After kicking off in the village of Aboyne,

the first leg of this road trip comes to an end in sunny Dundee,

the city that's famous for

jam, Jute and journalism.

That's got to be the footy club.

East Fife, four - Forfar, five.

Currently pulling up outside the auction rooms of Curr & Dewar,

Philip and Catherine will soon discover who's in the money

and who's in trouble.

Our first auction. Ooh! Handbrake on!

I'll live in hope that somebody'll nick it.

You're so miserable!

Me, miserable? How could you say such a thing?

-Oh, Philip!

-Come on, my lovely.

Already, many a frugal Scot has gathered.

But before auctioneer Steven Dewar raises his gavel,

let's see how he rates the chances of our two competitors.

Quite like the butt markers. They're a quirky lot - not something you see very often.

The trunk, not so should about that one, unfortunately. Condition's a little bit against it.

The cartwheel might show a little bit of interest.

Whoever bought the cartwheel might get a little surprise.

Our experts began this journey with £200 each

and over the past two days Philip has spent

a total of £120.40 on five auction lots.

As for Catherine, our Road Trip newbie,

she spent £173 on just three auction lots.

Time to see who's really in the money. Let the auction begin!

First to go under the hammer are Catherine's fabulous glass vessels.

And to show them off to best effect,

she's even splashed out 68p on cordial.

If they sell for £50, Philip, I'm just going to cry.

-They won't sell for £50. I'll have a wager with you.

-Do you promise?

-No.

Bonnie looking pieces.

-"Bonnie looking pieces!"

-Start me off at £50.

At £50, 60,

80, 100, and 20.

Notional tenner profit, isn't it?

This isn't looking good. Come on, Dundee! Dig deep!

-All done?

-Bit more.

-Thank you.

Why did I buy those?

Only a £10 profit there and that's before commission.

Next, it's Philip's wool winder -

just one of his many £20 bargains.

I liked it initially.

Now I've looked at it again, I'm really not that keen.

It's horrible, isn't it? Yeah...

Interest starts the offer at £15.

At £15, a bit of vintage-ware there.

-18, 20...

-No!

-22...

£22.

-I'm sort of pleased to see the back of that.

-£2 profit.

-Well done, Philip.

-Yeah.

So far, Catherine's ever so slightly in the lead.

But let's see if Philip's Victorian carving set can cut things up.

At £35 it is for the set of carvers. At £35...

40, five, 50, five, 60.

£60.

Five. £65, are you all done? At 65 then...

I'm really really pleased with that.

And so you should be, Philip. So you should, all boy.

Next, Catherine's Victorian trunk.

Let's hope the good people of Dundee are mad keen for a bit of scumbling.

Rare rustic piece there. Interest on it. £10 bid.

At £10, it is - the Victorian trunk. At £10...

Oh, come on!

12. £12. 15.

-£15, any advance on 15?

-Come on.

Come on!

Oh, dear. This ain't looking good.

Nobody? Is that our lot?

-At £15, we're all done.

-Oh!

£15 it is.

Oh, Catherine! Welcome to the unpredictable world

of the Road Trip.

Moving right along, it's Philip's toy collection next,

including the wind-up bird,

most of which he picked up on the "cheep!"

£30. 35, 40, five,

-50...

-Oh, Philip, how do you do this?

-A bit of luck, really.

-At £60, are you bidding?

-60.

-Jammy old devil!

-If they'd have taken

-those Star Wars figures out, it might have had a bit more.

-SHE LAUGHS

That's a £40 profit.

But how will the bidders feel about his butt markers in faux ivory,

that's plastic to you and me.

Unusual little lot. 20 bid.

22, 25, 28, 30,

32, 35. 38, 40.

Are you all done at 40? £40.

I have to hand it to you, Philip.

The man's unstoppable.

So let's see what this feisty crowd of Scots make of

his continental car wheel.

I've got a horrible feeling that you might double your money on that.

Vintage metal-rimmed wooden cartwheel. Unusual item. I am bid

£60 for it. At £60 for the cartwheel. At £60...

Are you bidding, sir? 70, 80, 90, 100...

-I don't know. I don't get that.

-120, 130.

At 130 now. Any advance at 130?

I don't get that, Philip!

That is a staggering £90 profit. Wow!

I just can't believe that.

Thankfully Catherine has one last ace up her sleeve.

Pair of small silver five bar toast racks,

Birmingham, 1938. Mappin & Webb.

Interest on these starts me off at £40.

At £40, pair of toast racks there. At £40...

Five, 50. 50 bid. Five, 60.

60 bid.

At £60, commission bidder at £60...

It's a good price, Catherine, but unfortunately not good enough.

-Oh, I'm sorry.

-No, you're not.

-I am because I feel guilty now.

There is no justice in this world.

True. Philip started this leg with £200

and after auction costs made a profit of £139.54,

which means he ends round one with £339.54.

Catherine also started with £200 but made a loss of £13.10,

leaving her with a total of just £186.90.

But don't worry, my girl, it's only day one and it still anybody's game.

-I haven't liked today, Philip.

-Well...

-It's been a bad day.

-Has it?

-But hats off to you.

-It's not going to be a painful journey home, is it?

No.

-Do you know what my plan is next time?

-What?

Next place we go to, I'm going to buy five cartwheels.

-Really?

-And nothing else. And I'll make a loss!

And we could call them Catherine Wheels!

Next time, we're off to Glasgow where Catherine turns up the charm to maximum...

You'd would make me so happy because I just absolutely love this.

-Philip puts his reputation on the line...

-There's a chance people'll think I'm stark raving bonkers.

-What can I say?

-Right.

-Gone.

And there's tears before bedtime.

You are horrid to me.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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