Episode 9 Antiques Road Trip

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

-It's war!

-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 to turn a profit.

-Come on!

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

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

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Holding up traffic from the Highlands to England's glorious north,

Philip Serrell and Catherine Southon may be rivals, but they're also becoming the best of friends.

There's loads of traffic behind us. Philip, shut up a minute. Ooh!

-That was my knee.

-Sorry!

Whoops! So far in this contest, it's the Silver Fox out in front.

-So, Mr Moneybags, take some risks!

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

Surprising us and himself, Philip has turned his original £200 stake

into a staggering £493.50

-What am I going to spend it on?

-Goats!

-They're sheep.

-No, they're goats.

-You're from London, aren't you?

Catherine's boosted the coffers by just £61.10,

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

-Despite disappointment at the auction house for three crushing days in a row...

-That's just a joke.

That's a joke. That IS a joke.

..on this fourth leg she's determined to come out on top.

Yes, she'll fight, she'll negotiate and she'll hug her way to the top.

Oh, you're so lovely.

-But will it be enough to beat the Silvery Fox?

-I just haven't had my lucky break yet.

Certainly haven't. This week's road trip is taking us from the north-east of Scotland,

through the Lake District to Liverpool. Today we're en route to the market town of Sedbergh

and we'll end this leg with an auction in Leeds.

Whilst it's in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Sedbergh's officially part of the Lake District.

What really puts it on the map is its boarding school, renowned for producing world-class sportsmen

including three English rugby captains, but now the real competition is on the high street.

-Oh, ace bit of parking.

-It's not! That was dreadful.

-Well, we stopped.

-Which one do you want to go to?

-I'm going to the chip shop.

-I'm going that way.

-Get out of here.

Philip's first stop is a walk down Memory Lane, a shop that Susan's filled with the kitchen gadgets

-you'd typically find in the 19th century.

-I love this here.

I would guess it's a press. It's not for weighing things. It's to force something down.

-Farmers' wives did everything with the offal.

-They did.

-They'd press tongue.

Or cheese or something like that.

If you think about it, that is completely and utterly useless.

-What an earth would you do with that?

-A door stop!

-Well, I don't know.

-It's a fun good-looking thing.

-A bit like you! And there's plenty more.

A sycamore dairy bowl. It would be turned on a lathe.

The grain is not circular on a piece of wood. It goes that way.

So when you turn it, part of it is across the grain. That's why these bowls often become oval or split.

-Anything to do with food was made out of sycamore. It's got a natural antiseptic in it.

-Really?

Butchers' blocks are made of it.

-What's the bottom line for that and that?

-25 for the weight.

And 65 for the bowl.

I'm going to forget that because it is utterly useless.

-OK.

-Is 55 any good?

60.

-And that's it.

-Is it?

-Yeah.

-It's such a fair price and I'm being mean.

-Isn't he?

Though there's no denying Philip has the eye for the unusual.

It's a real fun thing. This is a meat tenderiser.

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

and if it was a bit of tender fillet, you'd use that side.

Sue, would this be like 1880-ish?

-yeah, late Victorian.

-Can I give you 70 quid for the two?

-Go on.

-Oh, you're an angel!

Come here. Oh, you're an angel.

That's the best bit ever. I'm going to get some money out now.

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

a few doors down it's Catherine's turn to charm the locals.

Hello.

-Avril.

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

-Two rooms, a lot of corners...

In this slightly chaotic assortment of books, collectables and vintage clothing,

Catherine's searching for one object that'll blow the bidders away.

After quite a search, finally she likes what she sees.

That's lovely, isn't it? Probably an over mantel mirror.

I like the hammered copper over wood. Arts and Crafts?

I think so. The Arts and Crafts used a lot of worked copper.

The Arts and Crafts movement flourished between 1860 and 1910.

At its heart was a rebellion against mass production.

Instead, traditional craftsmanship was favoured, often using medieval forms of decoration.

It's simple, but quite charming.

-What could you do on that, Avril?

-Haggle a bit.

-What's the ticket price?

-65 on it now.

I'd be looking at about 20.

Ooh!

No, I can't do that.

Our absolute rock bottom on that would be 35.

-I'm going to ponder and wander.

-Ponder and wander.

-Is it all right?

As Catherine ponders and wanders, Avril wonders if she might be interested in this,

The Prints of Sir Edwin Landseer, Queen Victoria's favourite painter.

I do like Landseer. All the deer and cats and dogs.

-Very sentimental.

-Oh, totally, yes.

Look at that very naughty boy!

There he is in the naughty corner.

That could be a very young Phil Serrell!

Ssh! Don't tell him. If he comes in, don't mention that.

-Does he pout like that?

-No, but he's got chubby chops, just like that.

-What did you say you wanted on this?

-We'd had 75 on it, but we're open to offers on this one.

Are you? Low offers?

Naturally, coming from you it would be!

-Could I just take the mirror for 30?

-No.

No, it's too little.

OK, 32. That's my last offer.

35, gotta be.

Oh, go on. 32.

I just can't do it. Sorry.

-You are not going to move, are you?

-I'm not.

-OK, 35.

I'm going to go for it. 35.

Good for you, Avril!

-How are you?

-I'm all right. You look very sheepish.

-I bought a sheep.

-Did you spend lots of money?

-For me, I spent a load.

-Bye!

You naughty boy. Now let's see what he thinks of Avril's very unusual shop.

-Blimey! You've got some stuff in a small space.

-Let me know if you need any help.

-I'll look at the nightwear.

Sadly, there's nothing in women's nightwear close to Philip's taste.

-Millinery is a different story.

-The Boy George of the auction world?

I think that suits you, sir, but I'd have a different colour. Doesn't go with your complexion.

Something in mauve, perhaps? Catherine is now spoiled for choice.

You've got a beautiful shop. All gorgeous things over my price range!

Though being an expert in all things scientific, how can she possibly resist a military telescope?

This looks quite late. Say about 1940...

There we are. Stamped 1940. Broadhurst Clarkson and Co. Good maker.

-How much?

-Make me an offer on that.

10?

-£20.

-It's lost its little cover there.

To be honest, it's not great.

-Very dirty, isn't it?

-Very dirty.

-Yeah.

Very dusty. Gosh! Where did you get this from?!

13.

I'm thinking of all the bad things about it, i.e. the dust. You can't really see out of it.

It would need to be bought on its looks rather than its use.

At the moment it's not brilliant.

Therefore I think my top would actually be 8 on that.

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

I really can't do any better.

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

-Eight would be my maximum on that.

-Go on, then.

-Eight? Shall we say eight?

-Mm-hm.

-Great. Thank you very much.

-I haven't got £2, I don't think.

-That's fine. I can give you five.

-No...

-I can give you five.

-No, no.

As for the competition, he's decided to spend his money somewhere else.

I've got some lakes to see. You don't mind if I drive, do you?

-Give me a chance to get the door closed!

-I'm in a rush. I want to see the lakes.

As we venture deeper into the Lake District, our next stop is the town of Windermere.

This is terribly exciting for me.

I've never been to the Lakes before. Ohhh! Water!

Sitting just half a mile from Lake Windermere, England's largest natural lake,

the town was once three separate hamlets called Birthwaite, Applethwaite and Heathwaite,

but the arrival of the railway in 1857, along with a keen interest in attracting tourists,

led to the three becoming one, taking the new name of Windermere.

I might be strapped for cash here.

Can I borrow some of your 500?

Let me think about it. No.

With just over £200 in hand, Catherine's headed here to Courtyard Cottage Antiques.

Mind the flowers! OK, have fun!

In this lovely shop, I'm sure Catherine will be tempted to spend every penny of it.

It seems really tranquil with the sound of the clocks.

It's just...

ALL THE CLOCKS CHIME

Pardon?! What was that?!

Now that I love.

I'm not going to buy glass, but isn't that wonderful?

It's so retro. If you sold that down in London, I'm sure you'd do rather well.

That's a fab thing, but I'm not going to look at it. It's glass.

-How about something that's only 50% glass?

-That's jolly nice. A skeleton clock.

The name skeleton comes from you seeing the workings,

the mechanics of the clock.

We've got a signature on the dial there.

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

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

-£2,000.

Just take off a few noughts and we'll be there.

It's beautiful.

After a hard day's shopping, Philip's rushing off to the pub.

Well, a former pub in the nearby village of Grasmere, famous as a former residence

of Britain's most-loved poet, William Wordsworth.

Giving our man the guided tour is Paul.

-Ah, you must be Paul.

-I am. How are you?

-Really good.

-This is fantastic.

-Very peaceful.

Except in 10 minutes the cuckoo clock will go off!

Born and bred in the Lake District, Wordsworth studied at Cambridge

and travelled Revolutionary France before taking up residence at Dove Cottage with his wife Mary.

It's here his life as a true poet began, going on to write The Prelude, Tintern Abbey

and his most famous poem, I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud.

-Is this the room where it all happened?

-Yes. This is where he committed his thoughts to paper.

-He looked out of here and got inspiration.

-It'd be a lovely view.

So this is his writing room and there's no desk or no bureau or no...

-What did he write on?

-He hated desks. He called them instruments of torture.

We're told this is the very chair that he sat in.

-How prolific was he?

-He was very prolific here. In eight years he wrote the vast bulk of his work.

Wordsworth also went on to have five children, which brings us to the nursery, wallpapered with The Times

for the sake of some much-needed insulation.

But the story goes there was one other child.

While he was down in France, he met a lady who was slightly older than him, maybe more experienced.

-In what?

-Well, let's just say that shortly after he left a child was born, Caroline.

And in 1802, before he came and collected his wife to be,

he met her and it's very possible that he settled an amount of money on her to bring up the child.

-I'll say no more.

-I think I'll take up poetry.

Also a resident at Dove Cottage was Wordsworth's sister, Dorothy,

who in fact inspired that famous poem we all know.

This is one of Dorothy's diaries. She kept detailed, daily diaries.

This is a record of a walk they went on on 15th April, 1802.

They walked over to Ullswater and while they walked by the lake,

they came across a host of daffodils.

What she writes here is about the experience of seeing them. William will have remembered it.

-And the poem is about remembering the experience.

-And that prompted...

-CLEARS THROAT

"I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills..."

-Go on.

-No, you see I never paid much attention in English Lit!

In that case, allow me to enlighten you.

"When all at once I saw a crowd A host of golden daffodils..."

What's lovely about it is you've got the inspiration for probably

-the best-known verse, in a way, and it's just a humble notebook.

-It is.

-No glitz or glamour to it.

Speaking of no glitz, no glamour, Catherine's thinking about buying this copper cake stand,

which despite Jean and Barry's best efforts has been sitting here for a very long time.

People don't like buying copper because they've got to clean it.

You'd be quite glad to see it go?

-After five years, yes.

-Five years?!

Maybe I don't want it after all!

It's got cobwebs on it. Look.

-I'm tempted.

-I can do you a good deal on that.

-How good is good?

-45 quid.

It's just I'm having a really bad time at the moment.

-I'm having a bad time because Philip Serrell is stealing the limelight.

-We don't want Philip to win!

-No, we don't want Philip to win.

-I feel really mean saying this cos I'm not a mean person,

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

- Oh, dear. - That wasn't a serious bid.

I'm being completely serious. Twenty-five.

Oh, you're giving me really scary looks. I feel like I'm going to be told off by my headmaster!

25 and we'll go for it.

OK.

Oh! How kind.

-Oh, he's giving you not very nice looks.

-It don't matter.

-I'm going to live dangerously.

-Are you?

-Yes. I'm going to buy it for 25.

-Not 30?

-No.

-Don't hate me, will you?

-Absolutely not!

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

-What did you buy? Tell me.

-No, I'm not telling you!

-Tell me, tell me, tell me!

Day Two and despite the grey, grey skies, our experts can't help but admire

-the rugged beauty of the Lake District as they dash to the next shop.

-You're very chirpy today!

-I like being here. It's lovely.

-Oh, look!

-Goats, everywhere(!)

-They're not goats.

-Are they not?

The only goat's you, Phil. So far, you have spent £70 on two auction lots

and thanks to your animal magnetism have £420 in the kitty.

-I'm going to spend £5 in each shop.

-Don't be boring. Live a little!

Catherine, on the other hand, has parted with £68 for three lots.

With £192 up her sleeve, she plans to bring down her competition.

I want you to spend, spend, spend today.

Our first stop today is Ulverston, the birthplace of comedian Stan Laurel.

After visiting the Glasgow music hall where Stan's career began on the second leg of this road trip,

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

-I can't wait. It'll be fantastic.

-Which one am I, then?

-Am I Stan or Ollie?

-Bye!

This local landmark is the work of passionate collector Bill Cubin, the former Mayor of Ulverston.

Sadly, he's passed away, but his legacy lives on, thanks to his grandson Mark.

-That's him here.

-Oh, wow.

-That's me and my little brother and from the age of very young

we were dressed up in bowlers and spiky hair. My brother had a cushion shoved up his jumper.

I always got to be Stan.

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

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

Stuff from Stan's grandparents' house is here.

The mangle and the old washing machine. Stan's smalls would have gone through there at one point.

-Maybe they did!

-So he took it and started collecting pictures

and news clippings and anything he ever saw about them.

Eventually, it turned into this huge hoard of stuff.

From tea pots to waxworks, movie posters and production stills,

even Laurel and Hardy bars of soap, there wasn't anything that Bill wouldn't collect.

You've got everything here. Every possible type of statue.

Any time he saw or heard about Laurel and Hardy, he grabbed it.

I love all this lovely memorabilia.

Ulverston's other local hero went on to be one half

of the world's most famous comedy dup, a partnership that lasted more than 30 years

and involved a staggering 106 films.

Stan had a great deal of creative control over everything.

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

-No. On the films, we see him as the...

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

To Ollie it was a job. He wanted to have a round of golf.

-Really? He did his job and went home?

-Yeah.

While museum founder Bill passed away more than a decade ago, his collection is in safe hands,

although a visit here wouldn't be complete without a look at its crowning glory - Stan Laurel's hat.

Incredible. That is very special.

You're stroking it like a pet!

That is very, very special. I feel very privileged to touch that.

-You can try it on if you like.

-Can I?

Wow!

He did have a very small head.

What do you think?

20 minutes down the road, Phil is en route to the nearby town of Cartmel.

When you look over there at the scenery, why do people go abroad?

I suppose if you look up there, that's why.

Famous for both its 12th-century priory and sticky toffee pudding,

first created here in the village shop, it's also home to Simon Starkie Antiques,

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

You have got a fantastic shop here. That's a fantastic dresser.

That's a fantastic Windsor chair. You've got some fantastic things and my pockets are too deep.

-And they're empty. That's another problem.

-And if you believe that, you'll believe anything.

Though Jane does have something else Philip considers to be...well, fantastic.

# Fly away... #

How much is your Jonathan Livingston Seagull?

-Would it be expensive?

-I don't think so. It could be within budget.

I'm not sure I'm any the wiser at the minute.

Do you know who painted it?

-Simon Starkie.

-The guy who owns this shop?

-Yeah.

-He is a man of many talents.

-He is.

-He did train as a fine artist.

-He's got this to look like it's 1870.

-Yes.

He's a clever man. How much is that?

I could do this one for you for £85.

-Can you do me a real favour?

-I'll try.

-Could you ring Simon?

-OK.

-I'd love to buy it off him for £50.

Hello, Simon... The seagull.

Would £50 be agreeable?

OK.

-It's like waiting for your exam results.

-Bye.

He'll go to 65. That is his best price on that one.

-Could you just find out what is the very, very...

-Bottom line?

-Yeah.

-Fingers crossed for a deal.

-OK, yeah...

-Do I need to sit down?

-You probably might need to sit down.

He's put the price up to £95?

-Well, the very best we can do...

-Yeah?

For you, £55.

-I'm going to buy it.

-You'll have it?

-I love it.

And after that interesting purchase,

our experts are now headed east in the rain.

If you're wondering if the Triumph is waterproof, the answer is...

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

-CATHERINE LAUGHS

-It is, isn't it?

Our next port of call is Kirkby Lonsdale

which sits, rather attractively, on the River Lune.

I like that name - Kirkby Lonsdale.

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

"I'm going for a game of rugger with Kirkby Lonsdale."

Having gained its market charter almost 800 years ago,

Kirkby Lonsdale has been a bustling centre for trade ever since.

And at one point, during the 19th century, it boasted 29 pubs.

Now there is no time to imbibe because there's shopping to do.

-I think this is our last chance.

-I feel an enormous amount of pressure at the moment.

-I feel an enormous amount of rain.

-This is my last chance...

-Bye.

Oh, bye. I guess I'm going this way.

With no sympathy on offer, Catherine is headed for the former police station,

now one very cramped antiques store which Amanda has filled with many a gorgeous thing.

I'm going to be extremely difficult and ask if you could open this cabinet straight away.

-I'll just put it a bit that way.

-Right.

Then I've just got to move this table.

I'll move this to here.

-Now you can get in.

-Well, I can't actually.

-No, you can't.

LAUGHTER No, you can't. Right...

-This is really clever. I've hemmed myself in.

-There you go.

-Lovely.

-What's this? Punch?

-They're Punch and Judy nutcrackers.

So we've got a little Judy on one side and Punch on the other.

There's a nice bit of wear to them.

-Nice sort of verdigris inside.

-I think they're probably about 1900.

-What could you do on those?

-The best would be 50.

I do like them, but I think 40 would be my limit.

-Can we have a think about those?

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

Despite being trapped in this corner, Catherine soon finds something else she rather likes.

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

-It's more of a man's thing.

-Is it silver?

-It's engine-turned silver.

Your card goes in there and it snaps closed.

-It's flat to go in a man's pocket.

-I quite like that.

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

-Yeah.

-"Do you want one of my cards?"

I like the little cartouche there, so you can put your initials on.

How much is this?

-It's 140.

-What could you come down to on that one?

-100.

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

I'm struggling beyond belief.

Could you go for 60 on that?

I'd have lost money on it. I'd have lost £30 on it at 60.

Oh, dear. What's a woman on a mission meant to do?

Oh, yes, that's right. Have a nice cup of tea.

On the other side of town, Philip is having a quick poke around Dales Antiques

under the watchful eye of Leonard

who is looking very dapper indeed.

I do like a nice bow tie!

This is a great bit of Worcester. Probably came up the M6 with me.

This is called Blush Ivory, painted with flowers.

This is part of a much larger service.

There probably would have been 12 plates, two comports and two tazzas.

Comports are plates on a stand and tazzas are plates on a lower stand.

The man who did these was a guy called Edward Raby.

Because they weren't allowed to sign these,

Edward Raby had a bit of an ego

and he used to work his signature, a little "ER", into the foliage.

You can look at these for ever and a day and sometimes see the little ER and sometimes you can't.

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

If I put a couple of things together, can I try and bid you for two things in one go?

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

The emphasis on the word "try" I'm a bit anxious of.

Having made her way through a cup of tea and three digestives, but who's counting,

Catherine is ready to re-negotiate.

So we talked... We said 70

-and 40.

-Hmm.

Can you do both of them together for 90?

No. I'm losing more and more money every time you speak.

I'm losing more and more money!

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

-100. 100, final.

-Shall we say 95 for both of them?

-OK, fine. That's it.

Are we going to stop there or are you going to look at it again, point out the hallmarks and say...?

No, I do really like it. I think it's jolly nice.

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

Oh, really? This could cost Amanda a fortune.

As for Philip, something else has caught his fancy.

I love little boxes. These are fantastic. These are Tunbridge Ware.

Produced in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells during the 19th century,

this mosaic art form was achieved by using a mix of local and foreign timbers.

And it boasted quite the colour range.

Even green.

But will one of these boxes be the perfect companion to Philip's Royal Worcester?

The best I could probably do on that, realistically, is going to be £75 on its own.

Ouch! Really?

-What about this Tunbridge Ware box?

-That's a fabulous little box.

Again, because it's just a fabulous thing and a fabulous colour,

on its own, it would be 85.

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

-150.

I just don't think I can do that.

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

-100.

Look at the quality. It's a lovely colour.

Look at the quality of it. Look at the colour.

-This is 100 of the finest pound notes of the realm.

-Yes.

-Will that buy them?

-No, it won't, actually.

-I did say 150 and I've come down to 130.

-You've done me proud.

-I'm kind of trying.

I tell you what I'll do.

How about 110?

-120.

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

-120.

-I think you can do another ten.

-I tell you what I'll do.

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

-That'll be fine.

-You're a gentleman.

-Thank you very much.

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

Time to cross the town square, so that Philip and Catherine can reveal to each other what they've bought.

-Here we go. This is weighty!

-I like that.

-It's got an Arts and Crafts look.

-Hopefully. I bought it as an Arts and Crafts mirror.

-What did you pay for that?

-£35.

-Why did you go...?

-Well, it's not my sort of thing, really, but I can see why you bought it.

I should do all right with that.

-I bought that.

-I'm not a huge Worcester fan,

but I can appreciate that that is rather beautiful.

Quite a nice cabinet plate. 60 quid.

-How much is it worth?

-I think it'll knock the door of £80 to £100.

-I thought that was a chip, but it's not.

-No.

-That's cool.

-This is a refracting telescope. It's military.

It needs a bit of TLC, but I paid £8 for it.

-Eight quid?

-It hasn't got a lens cap here and at the end here, it hasn't got its little cover.

-£8 for that is nothing. A little Tunbridge Ware box.

-Ah!

It's a cotton reel holder, isn't it?

-You look visibly moved.

-No.

-Really moved.

The object itself is not terribly exciting,

but in terms of Tunbridge Ware, it's actually quite a nice example.

All the little pieces look completely perfect.

-I paid £55 for it.

-I don't think you'll make a loss.

-I hope not.

Now, this one, I bought it, then I regretted it.

It's worrying that you start making excuses for it before I've seen it.

-It's a little copper cake stand.

-I've seen worse. What did you pay?

-25.

-You're fine and dandy with that, aren't you?

Now, if you don't behave...

..I'm going to tenderise you.

-I just love that.

-A meat tenderiser!

-That's lovely.

-I really like that.

As meat tenderisers go, that's a nice one.

These novelty Punch and Judy things are pretty cool now, aren't they?

That's absolutely fine and dandy.

I don't want things to be fine and dandy, Phil. I want them to be good.

I wouldn't be surprised if that made you £40 or £50.

-I bought it for 35.

-No, £40 or £50 on top of that.

-Oh, OK.

-But it's a cool thing.

-It's nice.

I sort of couldn't resist that, really.

Sycamore dairy bowl, 19th century.

That's lovely. That's got Phil Serrell all over it.

-That was £55.

-I love that.

-That could make close to 100.

-Yeah.

-Let me see your last item. I really am anxious about my last one.

-I've never seen you worried before.

Oh, a little card case. That's really beautiful.

-Silver?

-Absolutely, and hallmarked on every single panel.

Silver's not what it was, in truth. Is that £65-worth?

I paid £60 for it.

I thought it was very special and I actually really love it.

-I think you're mean about this.

-Do you want to get your own back?

-Yeah.

# Fly away... #

-The guy...

-I hate seagulls!

-Really?

-I really hate seagulls, but that's quite nice.

I've taken a gamble. On a bad day, that could make £20 or £25.

And on a good day, it might make 100.

As the competition intensifies between these two,

both parties are feeling nervous about the auction.

I was a bit disappointed about the card case.

I thought he was going to say, "That'll probably make £100."

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

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

-I've bought with my heart and not with my head.

She could be catching me up here.

Oh!

After starting off in Sedbergh,

Philip and Catherine end this, the fourth leg of their road trip,

in the fair city of Leeds.

-What's Leeds famous for? Is Leeds famous for anything?

-No.

This vibrant city has more than 1,000 years of history under its belt,

from a small Saxon village to an industrial giant,

and it has one of the largest groups of listed buildings in Britain,

but how will it affect the fortunes of our competitors?

-I think you'll come out on top.

-You are so predictable.

Every one so far, you've said, "You're going to do really well," and every one I haven't!

Yes, but on this leg, Philip has bought with his heart, not his head,

so our visit to Gary Don Auctioneers could be very interesting indeed.

Here we are!

-I tell you what, if your seagull flies away...

-Yeah.

..I am going completely crackers.

Going under the hammer today, there is everything from vintage cars

to this De Vries painting,

expected to fetch in excess of £10,000.

What better place to tempt potential bidders with the likes of Philip's meat tenderiser?

All done at £3,500... Number 5.

The man running the show is Gary Don himself,

so how does he rate the chances of our experts?

The glass on the telescope is a bit cloudy, so if you want three-quarters of the picture, you should buy it.

A couple of people have looked at the seagull. I don't know if that's because they want to buy it

or they're thinking, "Wow, I don't like the way that was drawn."

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

My favourite is the meat pounder.

I'd use that as a hammer when things were quiet in the auction.

Loads of interesting items. I've no idea what they've given for them.

I just hope it's not a lot.

Philip started this leg with £493.50

-and has gone on to spend £240 on five auction lots.

-That'll be fine.

-You're a gentleman.

Catherine, meanwhile, began with £261.10

and has parted with £163, also for five auction lots.

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

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

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

-No, far from it. This is crash and burn.

Well, in that case, let the auction begin.

First up are Catherine's nutcrackers.

-Bit of a special item, this.

-Special.

It's a good piece, this. 12. 14.

16. 18. 20. 22.

24? £22. I'm selling at 22 on the front...

-Oh, dear. Not exactly an encouraging start.

-I'm gutted.

-I think we're doomed for everything.

-On that positive note, Catherine,

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

-which, for him, cost a small fortune.

-30. And 5. 40.

And 5. 50. 5.

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

-I'm flabbergasted.

-Selling at £60...

-Despite all that angst, after auction costs,

Philip has just about broken even.

I just think you're jammy with a capital J.

Catherine, too, has splashed out quite a tidy sum

on this gentleman's card case.

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

-What has worn better?

-It has to be the card case.

-It's in perfect condition.

-Oh, how sharper than a serpent's tooth!

That's Shakespeare, by the way.

-£20. And 5 anywhere? 25. 30...

-Come on, you rotten lot.

35. 40...

-I have 55 here. 58. 60?

-Come on.

-60.

-61.

-Oh, come on. 61, come on!

No? That's what it's going to fetch - £60.

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

Even though nothing else has,

Catherine's military telescope may excite the good burghers of Leeds.

-Are you ready for this?

-I don't know any more, Phil.

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

-40. 45 anywhere?

-Come on.

-I'm giving this away.

-Giving it away!

Are you absolutely positive that you don't want... 45.

-Thank you. 45. 46?

-Come on, it's cheap.

-46. 47. 48?

-We're going in pound increments. This is painful.

-At £47, all done...?

-Finally, Catherine's made some money,

though she's still frowning.

It's just painful. Oh!

It's like...

Next, it's Philip's meat tenderiser.

-It's a fantastic piece.

-Fantastic piece.

You should all have your hands up. I've 10 bid. 12. 16.

20. 24. 28.

32? 31...sir?

31.

Selling at £31...

That's the Silver Fox's first profit of the day.

Last time it was up for sale,

this copper cake stand took five years to sell.

Should we be worried?

If it gets any hotter in here... Are you going to fan me?

-Are you bidding, madam?

-No, I'm fanning.

-Are you sure?

I'm fanning my fellow contestant.

-As for the real bidders...

-I'm starting with a big bid on my sheet

of £5. I have 5 here.

12. 14. 16. 18. 20.

24. 26.

-It's a steal.

-It is a steal.

-Are you going to let him have this at £30?

Another pound? Anybody? Go on.

-31. 32...

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

Selling at 32 on the front. Thank you very much.

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

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

Having gone a bit mad on this leg,

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

30 bid. 40.

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

46? I'm selling at 45. No?

Now, that's disappointing. Oh, they're a tough lot here in Leeds!

You've got to live with it. Turn the page.

I shan't ever come to Leeds again.

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

the sycamore dairy bowl for £55.

Now, this is going to be really interesting.

I'm starting this at £24.

26. 28. 30.

32. 34. 36. 38.

40. And 5.

50. And 5.

-60...

-That's a relief!

-No? 60 there.

£60...

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

The next item is Catherine's so-called Arts and Crafts mirror.

-This isn't going to be good.

-Oh, thanks(!)

-10 bid. 15 anywhere?

15. 20? 20.

25? I've 20 here. 2 anywhere?

-Come on.

-22. 24, thank you.

26. 28?

Selling at 26 at the back...

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

Moving from collectables to fine arts now

and it looks as if the De Vries painting is going great guns.

I'm starting this at 13,000 on this phone. 13,500.

£14,500.

Selling on this telephone...

So does this bode well for Philip's seagull?

So what shall we say? £50 to start this?

-Ouch!

-£50 to start this off? 30 then?

I have 30 bid.

Any other bids? I have £30 here.

I've 35 there. Thank you, sir.

40. It's a cheap picture, this. 45, sir?

45. 50? 50.

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

-Don't we just!

-At £50 on the right-hand side...

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

-I've had a really bad day here.

-We both have.

I'll quietly go out and start the car. Are you coming?

Catherine started this leg with £261.10.

After auction costs, today she's made a loss of £9.66,

leaving her with just £251.44 to spend tomorrow.

Philip, meanwhile, started with £493.50

and has made an even bigger loss of £38.28.

Mark you, with £455.22 left in the kitty,

he's still firmly in the lead.

-How are you feeling?

-I'm feeling absolutely beaten. It's like an emotional roller-coaster.

Charge!

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

-I've lost it years ago.

Next time, we're Liverpool-bound for Philip and Catherine's final auction.

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

You heard it here first.

-This time, they aren't pulling any punches.

-I mean, it's about taking part.

The hell it is! It's about winning!

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

Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd 2011

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