Episode 5 Antiques Road Trip

The nation's favourite antiques experts,

-£200 each and one big challenge.

-Do I buy you?

Who can make the most money buying and selling antiques across the UK?

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

-Oh!

-But it's not as easy as it looks and dreams can end in tatters.

-60.

-Get out of here!

-So will it be the fast lane to success or the slow road to bankruptcy?

-I want to go cry!

This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Yeah!

We're on the road again in a cool 1965 Triumph TR4

with a fine pair of auctioneers - Philip Serrell and Jonathan Pratt.

Philip Serrell is an old hand at this antiques road tripping. He won't mind me saying that.

A man who's never afraid to say it like it is.

-I'd like to give you 10 quid for that. 70 for the two.

-How much?!

Ha ha! But Philip doesn't like to travel alone, so he's brought his best man with him,

bright young spark Jonathan Pratt.

You're mad! Absolutely mad.

But sadly Jonathan has not shined on the auction field.

In fact, he's lost lots and lots of money.

And from his original £200,

Jonathan has a mere £126.72 to stage a fightback with.

So, in finer fettle, Philip has home-grown his £200

to a blossoming £366.62 to take out on the road once more.

Well, JP, how do you reckon it's gone so far?

-Do you really want me to answer that question honestly?

-No. Some things in life don't need asking.

Our chaps are journeying all the way from Cockermouth to Wilmslow.

On this leg, they're sadly leaving gorgeous Donny, heading to a crunch auction in Lincoln.

Pretty, painterly Gainsborough is the first pin in our map.

Gainsborough's been here for a bit, with a market held every Tuesday

for about 800 years or so, give or take a century.

-Is this it?

-Squeeze in.

-That looks fabulous.

We could have some fun in here.

-Almost got very excited then.

-I did.

-But that's been the story of my life for a long while.

Cheer up. You lucky chaps have safely landed in Gainsborough's wonderful Pilgrim Antiques

with Michael and...Michael here to help.

-If there's no price, does it mean it's free?

-It does.

So these would have been produced round about what?

-18...80? 1890?

-I would think so, yes.

They're Chinese and on rice paper.

-That is such a good subject. I know it's macabre.

-Macabre they are, but fascinating for it.

Possibly from the Chinese Boxer Rebellion at the turn of the 20th century.

-£75 the lot.

-Are your prices negotiable at all?

-Within reason.

-OK.

-Michael, you're about to live to regret those words, old fruit.

I think that's fantastic. I'm going to take a closer look.

Oh, lord. I've kicked the stand out of the way now.

-How much is that? The ticket price?

-50 quid.

-50 quid?

-Yeah.

It's a bargain!

My geography's never been that special,

but it says Toulouse. I think we'll find that's in France.

Oui. C'est vrai, Philip.

This handsome instrument dates from the late 19th or early 20th century, but is it a euphonium,

a tuba or a vase?

I'm interested in that and the macabre Chinese things.

-Is it one deal for the two?

-No, no. Two separate deals.

-How's that going to work?

-Well, try us.

-Really? Right, you ready for this, then?

-OK, that's the barter table, that is.

-Yes.

Would that buy each of them?

-No.

-He's not said no yet.

-I certainly will.

-Oh, he's just said no.

-Well, there we are, then. How's that? 30 quid apiece.

-Nearly there. Better keep going.

-Forty quid apiece. That's the best I can do.

-That's OK for that.

-Because it's a special event and we don't see you very often...

-You don't want to, either!

A double-headed triumph for Philip.

£40 for the torture pictures and another £40 for the big brass... instrument.

Jonathan must be wondering what he's missed. Time, though, for him to make his own sweet music.

It's a little engraving from the early part of the 20th century.

Pencil signed, You can see the plate mark here. Nice and original.

It's quite a skill to do this. It looks like an east coast harbour. Kind of touristy.

And it's only £7.50. Nice and cheap.

Certainly an attractive, reasonably priced picture.

And you need all the inexpensive help you can get today.

I was going past the engraving to get to this little chap.

It's quite fun. A sort of 1930s watercolour of a cartoon character

who's... I forget the name of the dog, but it's a character you see.

It's Bonzo! Dreamt up in the 1920s by British artist George E Studdy.

He's listening to an old valve radio, singing his little heart out.

They're only asking a tenner for that. I'm going to try to get them both, I think.

But en route to the counter, Jonathan spots something dishy.

It's majolica. Late 19th century.

But that mark there, which is that little patch,

I believe is...is, um... What's his name?

-His name is...

-George Jones?

-Oh, blimey. I've forgotten it.

George Jones and Sons were famous Stoke-on-Trent potters from the 1860s to the 1950s.

And this unusual dish has a ticket price of £75, but possibly something missing.

Out of interest, how much is this?

It's... Well, it has problems.

-Yeah.

-Yes.

-But don't we all?

-That's true.

-So it would have had a rack or something inside it?

-Handles.

-Handles there. So they've gone. What's the best price on it?

-65?

-Not something you'd do for 40.

-No.

-Am I close?

-No.

LAUGHTER

Interesting new tactic here - pretending to browse.

-I like it.

-45?

-You're closer.

-Closer to 65, yeah!

-£55?

-Yeah, go on.

Go on, yes.

-I'll say thank you on that one.

-Right. You're welcome.

There's two other things.

-That little chap there. Could you take a fiver for it?

-No problem.

-Brilliant.

-No problem. Would you take a fiver for the other one?

-How much is on it?

-Slightly cheeky.

-You are.

-You're asking a tenner.

-Seven.

-I'm going to take that as well.

JP, you are a buying machine this morning. Shame you're nearly out of money.

And now, well, the road ahead beckons.

I'm pilot, you're navigator. Have you got us lost again?

Opened in the 1980s, the Astra Antiques Centre became one of the largest in Europe.

However, its former life was RAF Bomber Command in WWII, home to the massive Lancaster Bombers,

hence the size. Today with the many, many dealers stationed here,

heroic Barry is on hand to help.

So...we've got an artist's little easel. That's fantastic.

And this would have been an oil paint box. It is old.

-Just old.

-I'm old.

-1900, 1920.

-Yeah, and this is... You have little compartments here

for all your different paints. Winsor and Newton label, which I love.

Winsor and Newton have made artists' materials since 1832,

even during the Second World War when many paint colours were requisitioned by the RAF

for map and reconnaissance work. This set is much earlier with a current asking price of just £28.

I could become Pablo Serrell, couldn't I?

-What'll you paint?

-I can do walls and ceilings.

-This is a powder compact.

-It is.

-I could do with some of that.

Well, you could blush when your eye catches the £95 price tag.

Fortunately, today tortoiseshell trading is regulated by international treaty,

but it's been used for veneering all sorts of objects for over 400 years.

-We've got the hallmarks there. Where would that be? 1920s?

-'20s.

-We've got a whomping great crack there.

-There it is.

-In my eyes, I'd like to buy the two for 30, 35 quid.

-We're not going to get that low I don't think.

-No?

Bold offer, Phil, but maybe try something else, eh?

-Let me see what happens. There's 30 quid. How does that look?

-Well, keep them coming...

-What?!

-..and we'll get somewhere near!

-Let's both have a day out.

-45 quid.

-Go on.

-You're a gentleman.

Another fine pair of items skilfully secured by Squadron Leader Serrell

as he heads heroically on to his next mission.

Philip and Jonathan regroup and set off for the important market town of Grantham.

# Here we are again Happy as can be... #

Oi! Oi!

Indeed! Watch out for falling fruit and bombs overhead.

Grantham provided schooling for the young Sir Isaac Newton, the bloke with the apple and gravitas,

and later housed the Bomber Command centre for those rather famous Dambuster raids during WWII.

Thank you, Philip. Nicely driven.

But the only thing being dropped off today is Jonathan Pratt outside the fine Belvoir Antiques.

As I say, Philip,

I'm here... I'm in it to win it.

-Morning!

-Morning!

The lovely, lovely Jessica is just longing to hear JP's sad, sad story.

I've had a little bit of bad luck

-and I'm now sitting down with nearly half of what I started, which is not very good.

-OK.

-But it does mean I have to be shrewd.

-I'm sure we'll be able to find something.

-Good.

-What about a tea set?

-A tea service.

Yes!

Perhaps Jonathan could turn his attention to the modernist silver-plated five-piece tea set,

made by Viners of Sheffield with a ticket price of £45. It looks more or less 1930s.

And shiny.

I know it's exactly 1930s because that little finial there, that sort of step shape,

is Art Deco. If you had a strong Art Deco tea service, it would be worth £1,000 in silver plate.

But this is just a nice little pretty border on the top.

-How much is the tea service?

-Well, as a really special deal I could do it for £25.

But that's just for you.

Well, that's an offer that's hard to resist. Right, Jonathan?

-So this is a five-piece? Is there a sugar bowl?

-Yes.

-I'm looking a gift horse in the mouth!

Thank you very much! £25.

-Is the tray with it?

-Yes.

-Yay! That's great.

Well, that's tres, tres bon and so is the next stop for Philip Serrell.

Veteran collector Richard is waiting to share his unusual enthusiasm -

over 1,500 dearly owned vintage beer trays

from the 1870s to the 1970s and sourced over the last 28 years. Sorry, Philip -

this isn't actually a pub.

There's a lot of breweriana collectors,

so they collect jugs and show cards and match strikers and mirrors,

but I was the first person to specifically collect trays. Lots of people collect beer bottles.

For them, it's their passion, the greatest thing on God's earth,

but for me, beer bottles, you can't actually see the colouring and the beauty. With trays,

-you can see the splendid colours.

-When did they start making beer trays?

-The earliest beer trays,

in my opinion, are probably around 1870. So these are all the oldest, the old enamel trays, brass, copper.

You think now of all the television advertising and newspaper advertising.

I suppose in the heyday of these trays, this was the only source of advertising your wares.

Indeed it was. And the same design flair went into designing beer trays as into packaging and sign making.

Breweries large and small employed design teams, taking inspiration from Art Nouveau

and propaganda posters to persuade us Brits to drink more beer,

as if we needed any persuading.

They're officially called waiter trays. You'd order your beer and they'd take your tray with the beer

to you as a customer, and you'd take your beer off and there it was.

-Is that like an ashtray?

-No, actually it's the only tray that I have with a little change tray

actually on the tray. If there's any change, they put it in here.

These handsome examples of great British design heritage are, sadly, today hard to come by

so Richard's fine, rare collection has been hard won in time and money.

If that one came on the market today and it was one I hadn't got, I'd probably pay 500 quid.

-£500 for a beer tray.

-£500. But that's exceptional.

-Holy shamola!

Something like that from Blackford, near Perth in Scotland, about 1920.

-Very small brewery.

-Nearly 100 years old.

-Extremely rare.

-So how many pubs might they have had?

-I'd say a handful, at most.

-What interests me, then, is

why would they go to the trouble? These trays must cost more than the beer cost to make.

I think it was just the pride of having some advertising.

If the big boys do it, you do it.

Amazingly, there used to be thousands of independent breweries,

some supplying a mere handful of pubs. Most went out of business in the 1950s and '60s,

either closed or engulfed by the big, corporate brewers.

But these promotional trays once played an important role in keeping bespoke beers popular,

hence the one-upmanship in design and beauty. No wonder passionate collectors can't resist them.

Could you?

What's the most recent tray you've bought?

Well, I tell you, that's an amazing question.

I've been after a local brewery in Grantham for 20-odd years.

I've written newspaper articles, magazine articles and never come across the tray, but this week

-I've managed to purchase a tray that I've been looking for. This one here.

-This is Mowbray's.

Yeah. Mowbray's went out in 1952, so this is a pre-war tray,

about 1938, '39.

-I've had a fabulous time. Thanks very much.

-Cheers.

Time you reunited with your rival.

-What time do you call this, eh?!

-It's WET time, that's what! I'm getting soaked!

This thing's got its own foot spa.

Do you know, sometimes it's just nicer to shop together, isn't it?

You take the low road, I'll take the high road.

The Notions Antiques Centre plays host to their final frantic search,

with Sharon on hand to help with antiques and soft furnishings and things.

-What would you use this for? A very posh picnic.

-A bedspread or a nice throw.

I like this, Sharon.

Crewelwork is a type of chunky, decorative wool embroidery,

dating back centuries.

It was extremely popular in the 17th century and revived in the late 1960s.

-My guess is there's not much age to this. 30, 40 years?

-Yeah.

-But it's trying to look 19th century.

-Yeah.

It's very decorative.

-You've got £2.40 on here.

-I have not!

-Oh, £24. Sorry, my mistake.

-Very reasonably priced.

-It is. I'm going to make you one offer and that's it, my love.

-Do you want to sit down?

-Oh, is it that bad?

-No, it's fair. I'd like to give you 15 quid.

-Go on, then.

-You're an angel. I think that's really nice.

-Yeah.

An unusual purchase for Philip.

He never ceases to surprise us. But whilst Phil bags a blanket,

could someone be about to throw in the towel?

Maybe I'm just going to keep it to the four objects I've got. I've got four good objects.

We'll see about that!

Philip started today's show with £366.62 and spent £140

on five auction lots...

..a set of Chinese torture paintings, an artist's palette,

a powder box, possibly tortoiseshell,

a euphonium, which is actually a tuba,

and a crewelwork embroidered blanket.

Jonathan looked at his meagre £126.72

and spent a thoroughly heroic £92 on four auction lots,

an engraving of a fishing port,

a handle-less strawberry dish,

an Art Deco tea service

and a Bonzo the dog watercolour.

Now be honest, Philip, what do you really think of Jonathan's chances?

I think his silver tea set is probably later than he thinks it is.

But he's so right because it's surely got to make him a profit.

If that's the case, I'm moving back to £200, where my reputation is hanging by a thin thread.

It certainly is, Jonathan. So let's get you to auction,

without hesitation, repetition or deviation.

The road trip gets moving once more, leading our chaps away.

Next stop is big, handsome Lincoln.

They call Lincoln the uphill, downhill town, built as it is in a gap in the Lincoln Cliff,

all centred on magnificent Lincoln cathedral, first built in 1092, don't you know?

Today is, you guessed it, auction day.

Our would-be winners arrive feeling fresh and frisky. Well, fresh at least.

Well, Philip...

Well, I wish us both the best, JP.

Lincoln's Unique Auctions have been selling antiques and all sorts since 2006.

Today's gavel-basher is Terry Woodcock.

So we can safely say that Jonathan

really needs his items to fly this day.

Time to sit uncomfortably.

The auction is about to begin.

First to face the bidders is Philip's artist's palette.

Who'll start me at £20? 10, then.

Thank you. 10 I've got there.

12. 14. At 16.

And 18. Fresh bid there.

And 20. And 2.

No at 22. I can come to you now. 24.

26. 28. And 30.

No? Shakes the head. At £30. And I'm selling it at £30.

-That's a good result!

-Staggered.

Don't act so surprised. It's a very nice item.

Now Jonathan's first hopeful. His fishing port engraving awaits the bidders.

£8. Low figure. I'm looking for 10. 10. And 12. At 12.

And 14. At £14. 16, fresh bid. At 18. At £18.

-And 20. At £20.

-Go on, go on, go on.

Who's shouting at me? It's yours at 20. At 20, it's yours.

And from high five to low quality.

Philip's unfortunate powder box is up next. Let's hope nobody notices it's not tortoiseshell.

It's in the catalogue as tortoiseshell, but it's not.

-Oh, dear.

-Celluloid?

-And it's cracked. £10 there.

12. 14. 16.

18. 20.

22. No, at 22 I've got there.

22 it is. Have you all done? 22.

A rather sad loss for Philip, but let's move swiftly on.

Jonathan's striking strawberry dish is just waiting to bear fruit.

Let's hope no one spots the missing handles.

Lacking the handles. Not really noticeable, though.

-Thank you.

-There it is.

And I've got to start it with me at a low start of £20.

-Ouch.

-At 20. I'm looking for 22. At £20.

22. 24. 26.

28. And 30. And 2.

32, he shakes his head. At 32. 34, fresh bid.

36. 38. And 40. And 2.

44. 46. 46, standing in the doorway.

-I thought it would make a little more.

-So did I!

-Me, too, actually.

-At £46. Sold at 46.

-I do think you're unlucky there.

I do.

Jonathan's just speechless after that.

Next is Philip's euphonium. Or is it?

Ah, we've got the tuba now! There it is.

We checked the French manufacturers and they were one of the best.

-You buy it, then.

-It's a tuba.

-Is it?

-Not a euphonium. Who'll start me at £30?

Thank you. £30. I'm looking for 35.

And 5 at the back. And 40.

And 5. No?

-At 45 I've got at the back there. I thought it'd make a lot more.

-I hoped it would!

At £45, going in the back corner. 45 it is.

-At least we know it's a tuba now!

-That's the spirit.

Now let's try Jonathan's Art Deco tea service. Good luck...

Start me at 20. Thank you. 20.

At 20. I'm looking for 22. 22, thank you. 24. 26.

28. And 30. And 2.

-Don't stop.

-34.

-Thank you.

36, fresh bid. At 36. 38.

And 40.

-Are you sure?

-One more.

-Go on, one more.

I'll take it. 41. 42.

And for your cheek, I'll take 43 now. 43, thank you.

44. I'll give you the pound if you go 45.

I've got 44 at the back. Back in at 45. I won't give YOU the pound!

-He's working the room now.

-46.

-Will it go above £46?

-47, thank you.

-Yes!

-48 I've got, right at the back. And selling at 48.

-Yours at 48.

-Thank you very much.

Whose was it?

Well done, Jonathan. Now let's get all cosy, eh?

Nice crewel throw. I'm starting it with me at £25.

I'm hoping it makes a lot more. At £25 I have. 25. 30.

5. 40.

5. No, it's still 45 with my commission buyer.

At 45. Have you all done? It's going at 45. All out. 45.

-Very good, Philip.

-Very good, indeed.

Now let's see what Bonzo can do for Jonathan.

22. 24. 26.

What do you mean, no?

-What do you mean, no?

-All right, settle down.

-28, fresh bid.

And 30. At 30. Have you all done at £30? And selling.

The boy is back.

He certainly is. And how nice, finally, this week to see Jonathan actually making some profits.

So as today's final lot is offered,

who will be victorious and who's for the chop...chop?

There they are. Very unusual. They could be worth quite a lot.

Who'll start me at £100? 30 to get on, surely. 30 I have.

At £30. I'm looking for 5. 35. 40.

At £40. That's not £10 each. At £40.

42, thank you. At £42. I think they should be a lot more money than this.

Fresh bid. 44.

6.

-48, back in.

-Oh, God.

-At 48. At 48.

Have you all finished? At the back at 48. A bargain of the day.

At £48.

A paltry profit for Philip, but how is that sitting with Jonathan?

-I've won an auction! Yes!

-And you heard it first here, folks.

-I think so.

After paying auction costs, Philip's stake of £366.62

made a profit of £15.80.

And so his wallet has further inflated

to a big, bouncy, bulging total of £382.42. Keep smiling, Phil.

Jonathan began with a sow's ear of £126.72,

but he made a fine silk purse of his day -

a princely profit of £26.08.

Jonathan faces the world refreshed with £152.80.

-Yes!

-And, better still, he wins the day.

-# I'm in the money! # I'm on the up, Phil.

-We've done 140 miles, spent 40 hours shopping,

-and between us we've made about 40 quid. It's a pound an hour.

-You ain't seen nothing yet.

Ha ha! And that's fighting talk.

So far, Philip's the undisputed champion of this road trip,

which means this is Jonathan Pratt's last chance.

But just one purchase can change everything.

I'm still under my budget, but I'm going to come back now.

Oh, here we go again! Here we go again!

Our chaps have journeyed all the way from Cockermouth in Cumbria

and their road trip ends with one last auction in Wilmslow,

but, today's first shop, big, bad Sheffield.

Like Rome, built on seven hills.

I suppose we ought to find lots of cutlery in Sheffield.

-We've got two footy teams.

-Uh-huh.

-We've got The Full Monty.

-Uh-huh.

-What else have we got?

Antique shops, Philip!

Antique shops - the first of which is Langtons.

Come on, then, matey. Let's go and have a look.

And there's plenty to see, for this family business has been going since 1870

and displays the wares of more than 50 different dealers.

-Wow, this place is massive, isn't it?

-I've got my mojo back, Philip.

Well, Jonathan, I'm glad to hear it,

because the Silver Fox has already spotted something that tickles his fancy.

I love me cricket.

This is the days - 1954.

These are interesting, these -

they're little facsimile cricket bats

and if you went to Lord's, Trent Bridge, the Oval, Headingley, or wherever,

you bought one of these from the shop.

This is by Gunn & Moore in Nottingham, so there's every chance it's from Trent Bridge.

And you might have paid ten shillings, as a souvenir.

There's some fantastic names here.

There's Len Hutton, Peter May, Bill Edrich.

I like those. An auctioneer would estimate those at £30 to £50,

which means I have to buy it for about 20 quid.

Watch out, Ian. The Fox is one very sly negotiator.

I'm looking for £50 on the pair.

I can't get close to that.

I want to buy them off you, but I can't get close to that.

-I really can't.

-You're offering me...?

-Like...20 quid for the two.

And I can tell just by the way you're scrunching your face there,

-you know it's low.

-Oh, it is!

£40. £40, we have a deal.

I can't do that. I'll meet you halfway.

-30 quid, that's my best shout. Really is my best shout.

-£30...

-£30 the two and I'll shake your hand now.

-I'll shake on that.

-You're a gentleman.

So, we're one purchase in.

Like that. Straight bat, left elbow up.

I think Jonathan might just get ready to make another,

but can he persuade Pauline to drop her prices?

I like these little leather hatboxes. There's no hat inside, but...

you've got a nice little liner, which is all padded.

These are actually original and nice condition.

What would be the best price on that, for you?

What have I got on it?

-I think you're asking 50-something.

-58.

Um...48?

It needs a bit of work. Um...

I was thinking more along the lines of £35.

All right, 35.

Goodness me, that was easy! Peanut butter legs!

But it's the kind of item that will propel you into the lead, won't it, Jonathan?

-I think, I...

-Well, is it?

I think... Yes, I'm going to go for that. I think that's a nice object.

Mm, decisive(!)

And just a few feet away, Philip's exploring his musical side.

So, cover your ears...

round about...now.

DISCORDANT MUSIC

I haven't got a clue what that's worth. Not the first idea.

Not a clue! Can we go and put it down...?

That's a good idea. Now, it may interest you to know

that whilst the accordion was invented in Berlin in 1822,

it actually originates from a Chinese instrument called a sheng,

which is, in fact, 4,000 years old.

-Richard, I think that's £50 to £80. What could buy that?

-80 quid?

You're getting closer to it.

70.

I'll give you 50 quid for it.

Split the difference. 60.

The only reason I'm doing it is I bought a concertina before and it did me proud.

I'll give you £55 and that's my best shot.

-That's fine.

-You're a gentleman, Richard. What on Earth have I done?!

Well, you are the king of quirk, Philip.

Why have I...? What have you done, selling me that?

Mind you, if you think the accordion's an unusual choice,

look at what Jonathan wants to buy -

one 1950s mannequin, being sold by young Jill.

-You've ripped her arms off!

-I'm sorry, they fell off.

I wasn't so much manhandling her, I was lifting her up to see what the chair was like.

That's my excuse anyway. Anyway, then her arms fell off.

-I think there is a price on her...

-There is. It was here.

It was £45.

Seriously, he's not going to buy that, is he?!

-Um...

-40 quid.

30?

I'll be happy with 30.

32.

Crikey. Er, 32?

Oh...I'm not going to haggle. Yes, that's fine.

-32.

-£32, brilliant.

Now, does she have a name?

Does she have a name? Um, no.

-No, but you can name her.

-I was going to.

I thought we could give her a name. Maybe something French, exotic.

-I don't know why, but I thought she was a Clarissa.

-Then it's Clarissa.

Just one problem here...

pretty frock not included.

So, Jonathan needs to buy something for Clarissa to wear.

The exact thing for you. This little number.

1960s, baby doll, Marks & Spencer's.

A fiver.

-My word.

-She'll look a smart girl in that.

-She'll look great.

What do you know about frocks, Jonathan?

Anyway, £37 all in and I just hope he knows what he's doing.

# Just the two of us... #

Ooh, Philip's changed(!)

It's nicer having you sitting next to me than Phil. You're much better-looking.

Yeah, that's cos she's a dummy.

Our next stop is Chesterfield,

a destination that began life as a Roman fort, circa 70 AD,

and eventually blossomed into a market town.

Chesterfield is also renowned for its crooked church spire,

a 14th-century addition which, according to one folklore,

is crooked because a local blacksmith mis-shoed the Devil,

who then leaped over the spire in pain and knocked it out of shape.

Ha! If you believe that, you'll believe anything.

A few miles down the road, young Pratt still has £80 burning a hole in his pocket

and is thinking of giving it, at least some of it, to our Marlene, in her shop.

-What a lovely shop!

-I try and pack it with a lot of things that people could be interested in.

-Yeah.

And I like to let them have a look round and a rummage.

Mm. And, after Jonathan's had a bit of a rummage...

..he's happy to report he has several candidates for his next purchase.

I quite like this little chap here. It kind of looks out of place, but...

Little children's food bowl, your A-B-C around the outside.

They can eat all their food and get to the bottom and say, "I can see the doggy, Mummy!"

Oh, yeah? More importantly, it's 1930s and in excellent condition,

so it joins the maybe list, along with one pen and ink drawing

of the Northern locomotive, circa 1920.

Well, maybe.

P'raps?

The only doubt is they haven't signed it.

And, last, but not least, miniature golf, anyone?

I like this. This is Chad Valley.

Chad Valley is one of the big names for making toys

in the early part of the 20th century.

So, you've got nine holes, two putters,

a driver, as well.

I like that a lot, actually.

This and the locomotive and the children's bowl,

I might just buy the lot today.

Well, someone's living dangerously,

though what large sums might we be talking about here?

Um, I think the very best on that would be seven.

-I bought it with other items.

-OK.

-I think that would be a fair price.

-There's a little way to go in that.

-I'm happy with that. £7 is brilliant.

Thank you very much. The next is the Chad Valley miniature golf set.

-Tatty little box, but, um...

-Crikey, it's amazing it's still in the box.

-I think I'd like to see £10 for that.

-That's brilliant. OK.

Do you know, I can't haggle, cos ten is generous. And seven's good.

-We like to be fair.

-Thank you.

Oh, yes. In that case, there's just one more item in the window.

-This one?

-Yes, that chap there.

-Right. Nice little item.

-What would you do that for?

-I'd like to probably realise ten for that.

I really like it and I think £10 is a fair price.

So, in all, I'm going to buy three objects and they'll cost me £27.

-Right.

-Which is very good, so thank you.

-You haven't broke the bank.

-No, I haven't!

Mm. We're en route to Matlock, which was once not one but four small villages,

where not very much tended to happen.

But then in 1698, with the discovery of thermal springs,

suddenly Matlock was a spa town.

The population boomed and 20 hydros opened their doors, using mere water to treat many an ailment.

Although today, the only therapy Phil Serrell's after is retail,

so, currently, he's headed down the high street

and on to Matlock Antiques,

where he's discovered something even before he goes into the shop.

You know, you look at something like that...

..and I can hear you asking, "Who's going to buy that?"

You'd want to try and buy that for £20 to £25, really.

I have seen them at £60, £70.

They're a bit bigger, with much bigger wooden blocks here.

I'm going to go in, see what else I can find.

Well, you say that, but we all know what you really want is...

-The mangle?

-Yeah.

It's just a bit hot price-wise, isn't it?

-What price is on it?

-I'll tell you what I can get for it at auction.

In a saleroom, that's going to make 30 to 50 quid, cos it's bust,

which means I have to buy it, after commission, between £20 and £25.

I'm sure 30 to 35 would be a lot better.

Who for?!

-Us, of course!

-Let's have a think on that. Let me see what else...

-We might be able to block package it.

-OK. That's lovely.

Let me see what else I can find.

I quite like that little trophy there,

which is not a snooker trophy.

It's a billiards trophy, cos there's two white balls, one of which has got a spot on.

By the way, billiards was once a game played outdoors,

similar to croquet, and the green felt of a billiards table is supposed to represent the lawn.

I think it's a really cool little trophy.

In that case, it's back to the negotiation table.

Could you do a deal on that and the mangle?

Can you do me £25 the two?

Not really, no. I think if we say 30 for the two,

-that'd be good.

-What about if I toss and if it's heads,

it's £25 and if it's tails, it's £30? How does that sound?

-A coin, yes.

-Oh, this is good, then.

This man's a chancer and, ladies, I'd check that coin, if I were you.

-If it's a head, it's £30.

-It's mine, yes.

-And if it's a tail, it's 25.

Get in there!

-I think that's...

-Double-headed...

-It's double-tailed!

-You said double-headed, you can't have it both ways!

I was fibbing!

THEY LAUGH

-The Silver Fox has done it again.

-Thank you.

Now, as for Jonathan, he's motoring on.

His next stop is Stoke-On-Trent,

considered to be the spiritual home of Britain's pottery industry.

Mark you, that's not why we're here.

Oh, no. We're here to see Heath House, a grand, Gothic mansion

with a fascinating past,

one which tells the story of an ambitious young wife,

a family divided,

and the house that used to stand here being completely demolished.

-Good afternoon.

-Hi, Jonathan, very nice to see you. Come on in.

Today, the estate is owned by Ben Philips,

the great-great-great grandson of the people who had it built,

John Burton Philips and his flamboyant wife, Joanna.

This is the inner hall and I think my ancestor, Joanna Philips,

when she built the house, she wanted to create an impression for her guests when they walked through,

and here it is!

Now, Joanna was an Essex girl,

who quite fancied having the biggest and grandest home money could buy,

so shortly after her pa-in-law passed away,

she took what was his rather fine Georgian home and demolished it.

In its place, she built this Victorian showpiece,

-with more than 60 rooms.

-She was very ahead of her time.

-The old Georgian house was pulled down in 1835.

-She didn't like that?

No, she absolutely didn't.

Having been brought up in a Georgian house herself,

she was sick to death of it and she just wanted the most modern,

most fashionable, most avant-garde that she could get hold of.

The tragedy was that most of the furniture and pictures in the old Georgian house,

I think she either gave away or sold.

Though allowing Joanna to raze the family home to the ground proved controversial, to say the least.

The old man died in 1834.

He was scarcely cold in his grave

when Joanna commissioned the other one...

Her sisters-in-law were so furious at what she'd done

-that they never came to the new house, never spoke to her.

-Really?!

It caused a real rift in the family, yeah.

-What a lady!

-Yes! She knew what she wanted.

The house took four years to complete,

and in the 170 years that have passed since then,

many of the rooms have barely changed,

though each generation has added to its interesting history.

For example, it was a military hospital in World War II,

it's been visited by Florence Nightingale and there's even a connection to Queen Victoria.

-Can I have a look at some of this?

-Yes.

-So that's Victoria and Albert in the middle there?

-Yes.

There's a photograph of Albert on the back there.

"To the Countess Blucher,

"in remembrance of the best and greatest of princes,

-"from his broken-hearted widow, Victoria. December 1861."

-Wow.

According to Ben, a visit to this grand old girl isn't complete

without climbing the 80-foot tower that Joanna Philips insisted

be incorporated into the design of the house,

an experience which is breathtaking, in all senses of the word.

I think every house should have one of these. I'd love one at home.

I don't think the neighbours would approve.

I should go for a pergola instead.

Anyway, let's talk about Philip. He's off to his next shop,

where, again, he's found something he likes right on the doorstep.

I like that.

The jammy old devil.

-Morning.

-Morning.

-How are you, all right?

-Not too bad, you?

-Philip, good to see you.

-Nice to meet you.

Magpie...

Don't be fooled by this lovable charm. He's only after a discount.

-I found this outside.

-Yep.

-What do you reckon that is?

-I think it's an old pub sign, made out of aluminium.

-Yeah.

-And painted up.

-Age?

30, 40 years, maybe? Little bit different.

-Where's the price ticket on it?

-Just there. Round the eye.

-Let's look.

How much?!

-I like it.

-Mm-hm.

-But what I want to do is have a look round,

-and perhaps do a bit of a bulk buy off you.

-OK.

Oh, not that old chestnut!

Then again, there are some nice pieces in this shop.

And what makes it different is there's a mix of old and new.

We've got a lock-up, as well, twice as big as the shop, full of stuff we haven't even been through yet.

-Really?

-Really!

-Is it that way or that way?

-Turn right, sir.

I've said it before and I'll say it again -

Philip Serrell, you jammy old devil.

Just a few miles away, Jonathan's headed for Cromford,

a town famous for its connection to Richard Arkwright,

one of the forefathers of the Industrial Revolution.

Remarkably, Arkwright's cotton mill,

which, in 1771, was the first to be successfully powered by water,

is still standing and, today, amongst other things,

it's home to Heritage Antiques.

I do have a genuine pair of mill worker's clogs.

what would be your best price, if you're saying £45?

I will do those for £30.

I'm going to buy those, if you were to agree to £25.

I don't mean to make you cry, but this is helping me.

Yes, I can understand that.

-OK.

-Right, OK. Thank you. I'll show him!

Back in Matlock, though...

Where's he taking me?!

Welcome to the lock-up.

Cor, he loves it, the old codger.

Philip, poking around all this...stuff.

You ever thought about stocktaking?

No. I don't think we'd have the time.

I wouldn't know where to start.

That's got a few lenses with it. There's no box or anything.

That's exactly how it's come.

-Right.

-I don't know anything about it whatsoever.

-You're in good company(!)

-Yeah!

Pur-leeze! Allow me.

This is what is called a monocular bench microscope,

and it's designed for studying all manner of natural history specimens.

At auction...I think...

I would see that making...

£20 to £40, £30 to £50 - that sort of region.

If it's 20 to 40 quid, I've got to try and buy it for 15 quid,

which is nicking it off you.

-I think I could get more...

-I'm sure you could.

-..in scrap for the brass.

-Yeah.

That part's brass. That isn't.

-Can we take it back to the shop with us?

-Sure.

-Cos I've got that lion, as well.

-OK.

And, maybe, Mr Moneybags, you could also rethink that offer.

Do you know what, Matt?

Like a lot of things in life, it looks a lot better in the dark.

Now, that is really cheeky.

-Right.

-Right, sir.

I was being mean when I bid 15 quid for that. Too mean.

I'd love to buy it for 20 quid, really.

I'm sure you would. And I'd like to sell it for 20, but I think if you could come a little bit more...

Um...and you did quite like the lion?

I think if you come a bit more, I'll chuck the lion in.

OK, I'll tell you what, I'll give you 25 quid for that and the lion.

-Nah.

-That's a little bit more.

-I was going to say 40 for that...

-How much?!

-40, for that and the lion.

-No, I couldn't do that. Honestly.

I don't think there's great age to that and I just think it's fun.

-This is my best shot, right - me finished after this.

-OK.

I'll give you 30 quid for the two.

-You wouldn't stretch to 35?

-No, that's me finished.

-I don't mind if you say no.

-Well, I like you

and I want you to win, so £30.

-Oh, you're a good man! Really?

-Yeah.

And, with that, this shopping trip is at an end.

Philip started this leg with £382.42

and has gone on to spend £140 on five auction lots,

buying two miniature cricket bats, an accordion,

a pub sign and billiards trophy,

a cast-iron mangle and a petrological microscope.

Jonathan, meanwhile, began with just £152.80,

and has spent £124, also on five auction lots,

all of which he's hoping - nay, praying! -

will bring about a reversal of his fortunes -

a mannequin, Clarissa, a Victorian hat box,

a locomotive sketch, a child's alphabet bowl

with a Chad Valley golf set and a pair of old clogs.

Well, it's quite an eclectic mix,

but what do our experts really think?

Go on, put the boot in.

He's put a lot of money under one object,

which is the accordion, to be honest.

The microscope could be his little...the thing to run away,

so he could have done well with that.

I think the child's bowl is absolutely lovely,

and I can see that doing really quite well.

And as for Clarissa...

I think he's been spending too much time on his own.

After starting this road trip in Sheffield,

the lads end their journey in Wilmslow,

one of the most affluent areas in Britain.

And not surprisingly, then, it's home to Premiership footballers,

WAGs, actors and multi-millionaires,

which could bode well at today's auction at Maxwell's of Wilmslow.

JP, this is the beginning of the end, isn't it?

It is, yeah, absolutely.

-Or is it the end of the beginning?

-It's the end...

-OK, fine.

Yes. And now we've got that sorted, let the auction start.

First up, it's Philip's rather grand accordion.

I can start this at, um,

at £15.

-Ouch.

-That's £15 with me.

At £15.

At 20, at 25. At 30.

At £30, commission's out. At 35.

40, 45.

50.

£50.

I think it's a sort of result.

55, we're selling to the 'net.

Anybody else? £55, it is, then.

I've come all that way to not break even!

It could've been a lot, lot worse!

Indeed it could, though, as Philip so rightly points out,

after commission, I'm afraid, it's a loss.

Next, it's Clarissa, the woman who's stolen Jonathan's heart

and, perhaps, his marbles.

-I like that.

-What?

"A mannequin, 'Clarissa',

approximately 5'10", GSOH" -

good sense of humour!

WLTM - would like to meet - a young Pratt!

But what the good people of Wilmslow feel?

Start me off, £40 for Clarissa there.

£40. £30.

Come on.

Oh, come on, someone!

-£20?

-Oh, dear! Perhaps she'll go home with Jonathan.

His missus will be pleased(!)

Start me at £10. £10 bid, we're off now. £10.

I'll go in twos!

12, 14.

16.

You're together. 18.

20, 22, 25, 28.

We've got a bidding war going on.

Yep, maybe there's some hope yet.

30. 35.

35, in the orange there, at £35, it's the lady's bid.

£35 and we're going, all done and selling...

GAVEL BANGS

-I redeemed myself a little.

-I think you got out of jail, mate.

I just knew Clarissa would break Jonathan's heart.

Next, something completely batty.

Well, two of them. And they're Philip's 1950s jobbies.

Let's start at 15, shall we? 15 bid.

20, 25, 30,

35. £35.

Further bids now? At £35.

All done at £35, then.

On commission...

So, it's all going wonderfully well at the moment, isn't it(?)

This is very unlike you, Philip.

But looking on the bright side, it is our first profit of the day.

And the only way, as they say, is up.

So, let's see what the rather cautious bidders

make of Jonathan's top-hat box.

It does look absolutely knackered, though, doesn't it?!

20 bid, at £20. 30.

-35, seated. At £35.

-Keep going. Keep going.

-At £35. Any further bids now?

-Come on, come on!

It's in the room and selling.

-40 bid.

-Ooh, there we go.

45. £45. Seated at 45 and selling this time.

Hooray!

-I've never seen anyone get so excited.

-£5 profit, that.

You've gone a bit squeaky, JP.

Actually, it's a £10 profit before commission,

but who's counting?

Up next, the Philip Serrell pub collection.

After all,

who wouldn't want their own lion masthead and billiards trophy(?)

30? 25? Come on, start me somewhere.

20? 20 bid in the front row. Thank you very much. £20.

At £20. Any further bids now? The billiard trophy and the pub sign.

Any further bids?

In the front row, selling then, for £20.

-It's a profit.

-Yeah, well, it's a 100% profit.

Yes, well done, Philip. That's big money. Especially for you two.

Perhaps Jonathan's locomotive sketch can finally stir some excitement.

Start me somewhere, then. 10, if you like. Start me at 10?

10 bid, with the lady. At £10.

Further bids now at 10.

-Any further bids? £10, I have.

-Oh, come on!

-All done.

You are racing away now, aren't you?

JONATHAN SIGHS

Yep, I won't lie to you. It's not looking good.

But let's see if Philip's mangle from Matlock can make some moolah.

Start me off for it. £30. What about this one, then?

£30 for the mangle?

20. Start me at 10, then. £10 for a cast-iron mangle.

-Go for a fiver.

-This is going wonderfully well, isn't it(?)

Sell it for a pound.

-£5, then.

-He's getting lower!

-Please.

We're in trouble now.

-5 bid.

-Yay!

There's no interest on the 'net, apparently.

£5 in the room.

I think that's a result, really, isn't it?

You know, I think we're going to have to lock the doors

and shake the money from the bidders' pockets.

All right, then. Moving on. This one's for the kids.

It's Jonathan's alphabet bowl and Chad Valley golf set.

For the children's items, 12.

15, 18, 20.

£20 with me. Somebody over here. We're up to fives now. 25.

£25. We're in fives. Commission's out.

Your bid of 25, madam.

Further bids now for the little child's bowl and game.

Surely worth more.

Any further bids? Up to 25. No interest on the 'net.

It's to the room, then...

I think that was cheap.

-LANCASHIRE ACCENT:

-Ah, well, mustn't grumble, eh?

So, Philip's last hope for this auction,

his petrological microscope.

But just quietly, I almost can't bear to look.

£80.

No interest at 80? It must be worth that.

Oh! This is a travesty.

50 bid. At £50.

55, 60, 65, 70.

Ah, that's a bit more like it.

75 now. It's cheap at £75.

Further bids now? At £75.

I'm sort of OK with that,

but I wouldn't know that it was cheap or dear.

It's 50... "I'm OK with a £50 profit."

Yes, come on, Philip, this is cause for celebration.

Anyone care for a sweet sherry, vicar?

Though before we pop the cork, attention, bidders,

there's one last item to go. Yes, Jonathan's fate in this contest

ultimately comes down to a pair of old clogs.

I have a bid of 20. Any further bids now?

At £20. We're up to 25 on the' net.

-£30.

-Get in there, JP.

They were so cheap that everybody threw them out,

so you don't see them any more.

We're in the room at 30, it's against the 'net.

-Come on, 'net.

-Selling to the room. Any further bids?

Well, I tickled a fiver out of that one.

-You did.

-I feel like I can... I'm at peace with myself now.

That's good, because, after commission, it's another loss.

I tell you what, though, it's time for me to buy you a drink.

-Let's go and count our "earnings".

-Come on, mate.

Our ill-gotten losses.

Jonathan started this final leg with £152.80

and, despite it being his last hurrah,

he went on to make yet another loss, this time £5.10,

which mean he ends on just £147.70.

Philip, meanwhile, hit the ground running, with £382.42,

and despite a modest profit of £15.80,

he ends up with a fabulous £398.22, making him grand winner.

JP, that's the end, there is no more.

-I know, Philip.

-What are we going to do now?

I don't know. I'll have to go back to my family and my life again.

You know, it's been an emotional and financial rollercoaster.

So, where did Jonathan go wrong?

Let's have a review, shall we?

-I'm going to beat you by hundreds of pounds.

-Ha! Really?

I'm going to go...

Shouldn't have done that.

I buy whatever I see.

Big mistake.

Oh, no!

And then there's...Clarissa!

You've got beautiful eyes. Yes.

But most of all, I think he underestimated The Silver Fox.

Congratulations, Phil. You played a blinder!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd