Episode 26 Antiques Road Trip

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

Well, duck, do I buy you or don't I?

Who can make the most money

buying and selling antiques as they scour the UK?

What's my wife up to?

The aim is trade up and hope each antique earns a profit.

But it's not as easy as it looks,

and dreams of glory can end in tatters.

Do I hear 1,500?

So will it need the fast lane to success

or the slow road to bankruptcy?

I can't keep this posture up for much longer.

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

It's an exciting new week.

And we are with a pair of highly professional Road Trip veterans.

Antique experts Charlie Ross and James Braxton.

I can't see where we are going!

Charlie Ross is the daddy of auctioneering.

He ran his own auction house for over 25 years

and has conducted auctions around the world.

As such, has become a pillar of professionalism and stature.

-As you can see.

-I was going to be very rude but I'd better not be.

I was going to ask you to knock the 10 off.

-And this is James Braxton.

-Lovely feeling of calm.

A seasoned auctioneer and qualified surveyor, I'll have you know.

I think I might have another idiot check.

James is a cool, calm and collected kind of guy.

HE LAUGHS HEARTILY

Don't worry, nobody will know.

Our chaps begin their antique adventure with £200 each

and a rather nice set of wheels.

Do you know,

there is no finer place on earth than the Highlands of Scotland.

It's just gorgeous.

Their sporty 1954 open-top Sunbeam Alpine is the perfect car

for our dashing duo,

but perhaps not the best choice considering their location.

Never had a better view of the Highlands!

James and Charlie will travel over 300 miles down the stunning

east coast of Scotland, before zipping over to the west

and finishing in the seaside town of Ayr.

Today we are kicking things off in the Highlands,

driving from Cromarty, along the Moray Firth coastline

and finishing up with an auction extraordinaire in Buckie.

I knew I was going to enjoy this trip!

Poised on the tip of the Black Isle,

a peninsular in the Scottish Highlands,

is Cromarty - the Highlands' best-preserved historic town.

-And it's within the county of Ross and Cromarty.

-Where are we, Charlie?

-Cromarty. And what's my name?

-Ross.

-Ross and Cromarty.

-From here on in, you are Cromarty.

-Sounds like the shipping forecast.

-And we are here to spend £200.

-£200.

-What on?

-Hopefully antiques.

I'm looking around lovely Ross and Cromarty and I ain't seeing a lot of antique shops.

It's not rich in antique shops

but I don't suppose there's anybody to buy antiques up here.

Other than you and me!

Fear not, Charlie boy,

there's an antique emporium close by that is right up your street.

Sounds gorgeous!

If I can't buy in here, Mr Braxton, I can't buy anywhere.

It's not long before our haggling maestro tries his luck with

owner Helen.

Are you hugely negotiable...?

I suppose it depends what things have cost?

It depends what I think it's worth.

If it's something that I regret buying...

If you regret buying it, I don't want it Helen, do I?

-Come on, be reasonable.

-This one, you can have very cheaply.

-Can I?

Yeah.

-May I be rude, Helen? I'm not surprised!

-Charming!

This Wedgwood mug was made to commemorate the investiture

of his Royal Highness Prince Charles as Prince of Wales in 1969.

You've got an original Monet here. Oh, no, it's Mitchell.

-Doesn't that look like a Monet scene?

-I think that's...

It's got that colouring. "An October afternoon (Scotland)."

This beautiful oil painting is by artist Mary Mitchell, from Aberdeen.

And you got that for nothing, didn't you?

-Not exactly nothing.

-But very nearly.

-I didn't pay an awful lot for that.

-Is that a 20 pounder?

No, I'm afraid it's not a 20 pounder.

Do you know, you took that remarkably well.

Charlie, you cheeky so-and-so. It's priced at £85.

-I'd love to buy that but...

-Since I've taken a fancy to you,

you can have that for £65. That's the death.

Oh, Helen, don't tell him that.

Who knows what he'll come out with next!

-Would 30 be any good, Helen?

-No, I'm not interested, no.

Glad you've come to your senses, Helen.

Give Charlie an inch and he'll take a mile. And probably kiss you!

-Could you do 40 quid?

-No.

-Are you sure you couldn't do it?

-I'd give you two crisp £20 notes for that.

-No.

But since you've been such good fun, 50 quid. But that's it.

-You are what they call a temptress.

-50 quid and it's yours.

My heart tells me buy, my heid tells me put it back on the chair.

But I'm not a head man, I'm a heart man.

So, Charlie, make-your-mind-up time!

IN BAD SCOTTISH ACCENT: Frankly, gae with my heart and not my head.

50 notes, now take me out of here. Come on.

What a terrible, terrible Scottish accent.

I thought it was really good.

No, Charlie, it really, really wasn't!

Meanwhile, James is a man on a mission.

Travelling ten miles south,

James has arrived in the Highland town of Fortrose.

Located on the Moray Firth,

Fortrose is known for its ruined 13th century cathedral.

In the Middle Ages, it was the seat of the Bishopric of Ross.

Fortunately, we don't have to see Mr Ross in his robes,

as this is Mr Braxton's shopping debut.

Straight to work, and James has taken a fancy to Patricia's Pakistani rug.

Ethnic again.

-Bukhara.

-Yes.

Turkmen in design.

Has it been loved or mothed?

Well spotted, James.

These rugs are beautifully made, with many patterns and colours,

but the most typical is that of the octagonal elephant's footprint

with red background.

That is a nice style.

It's nice to see something I like.

I'll put that down there.

It is Chinese rosewood.

It's got this stylised cloud thing,

but it's just a nice item.

Yes, James, there are lots of nice items.

Meanwhile, back in Cromarty,

Charlie's drawn to a lovely pair of silver salts.

Are those salts English hallmark?

I think they are.

They are. Absolutely English.

And they are Victorian.

-Have you dated them?

-I haven't.

-They have the Victoria head on them.

-I haven't even cleaned them.

They have to be between 1837 and 1891.

In the late 17th century, small individual salt cellars

were created and used by the wealthy to hold their salt.

Get away!

Aren't they sweet?

The good news is they don't have a price on them.

-So if I sell you these for...

-60 quid.

-No.

-No? 50 quid then.

-No.

You're doing yourself down.

-60 quid, they're yours.

-60 quid, they're mine?

There's a bargain. 60 quid.

-Could you not really take 50 quid?

-No.

You said no so quickly, I couldn't believe it.

I like them.

-Have we got a deal?

-Ross likes them. 60 quid.

Thank you very much indeed. I've spent money.

Another great buy, Charlie.

I hope James is making progress.

It's rather nice, it's pressed glass.

It's this diamond cutting here. But it's not cut, it's pressed.

Pressed glass is made using a plunger

to press molten glass into a mould.

Its introduction revolutionised the way in which glass was mass-produced.

It's a celery vase. You'd stick sticks of celery in it.

During the 19th century, celery became incredibly popular.

One problem was retaining freshness,

and immersion in water was the best method before refrigeration.

I love a bit myself with cheese. Talking of which...

I quite like that, a malting shovel.

This malting spade would have been used to turn the malting barley

to release any pockets of heat.

But it has been split and that has been re-glued. Chipped there a bit.

But it's a lovely piece, isn't it? That's fun.

Yes, James, there's lots of nice items.

And while you decide if you're buying today,

back in Cromarty, Charlie's set Helen a bit of an antiques challenge.

Have you got something of any age for a fiver?

-Can I find you something?

-Yeah, something for a fiver.

Because you've been such good fun, you can have that for a fiver!

Now, you'll probably make money on that. Perfect.

-To commemorate the investiture.

-I'll tell you what, you are such a sport.

-Do I get the two for a fiver?

-No, a fiver each.

Oh, well, worth a try!

-Three items bought.

-Thank you.

-Job done.

£115 lighter, Charlie is off to a great start.

-But what's become of James?

-I'd like to make you an offer.

-OK.

-So I'd like to buy...

-The Chinese table.

The Chinese table, the rug and the shovel.

I'll give you £100 for it.

-You want to give me £100 for...?

-For the three.

-The shovel, the table and the rug?

-Correct.

-Let me go and get the shovel and bring it. How about that?

-Thank you, thank you, thank you.

-And we'll talk about it.

-OK.

That sounds ominous.

I have 68 on the shovel.

-I never look at a price tag, Patricia.

-Well, I have to.

-It's one of my rules.

-OK.

-My own personal rules.

-And I've got 68.

-68.

Funny enough, there seems to be a running theme in this shop, 68.

-And I said 80 to start with on this.

-And I said 30, didn't I?

-Well...

-Now, what could you do?

-Well, if I took that down to...68.

If I took that down to 45 and 45, that's 90.

Then you're only saying £10 for my rug which I think that's just a little bit...

Light, Patricia?

-Well, what are you thinking for the three?

-About 140.

I don't like 140.

You don't like 140?

OK, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll do it for 120.

-And that really is...

-120, 120.

I would very happily do it for 120 if you throw in that.

Cheeky monkey!

-Throw in the celery vase?

-So that's the four items for 120.

-OK.

That's a great buy, James.

While James recovers from his somewhat prolonged shopping spree,

Charlie is on a historical exploration.

He has come to East Church,

where local historian David Alston has kindly offered to enlighten Charlie

on local man Hugh Miller, who put Cromarty on the map.

Born in Cromarty in 1802, Hugh Miller had a troubled childhood.

His father was drowned at sea when Hugh was just five years old.

He became a rebellious schoolboy and eventually was thrown out.

So he left school and became a stonemason.

Worked as a journeyman mason, but developed lung disease,

so then turned to stone carving, in memorial carving,

as a way of making a living.

We're lucky a number of his stones are in the churchyard here.

Hugh Miller was a self-educated and passionate man.

Above all, his evangelical beliefs were the cornerstone of his life.

He was a stonemason, he collected folklore, he was a journalist, a geologist.

He was also a key figure in Scottish church history in the 19th century.

He became the editor of The Witness, which was a church newspaper,

and it became the newspaper of the Free Church of Scotland.

Hugh Miller fiercely believed in the Free Church movement,

which was established to do away with pew rents

and allow the church to be separate from government.

The Free Church broke away because people wanted the right to appoint

their own ministers, rather than having them appointed by landowners.

It was in some ways the biggest, not just religious,

but political division in Scotland in the mid-19th century.

So in Cromarty, the majority of people left the established church

to form the Free Church.

There's a little rhyme that is used

to sum up the disruption, which is,

The wee kirk, the Free kirk,

The kirk without the steeple,

The old kirk, the cold kirk,

The kirk without the people.

The Free Church, they couldn't build fancy churches with steeples,

but they had the people.

From difficult beginnings, Hugh Miller transformed his life

to become an honest and hugely industrious man,

who left behind a true legacy.

It's been a busy day on the Black Isle for both our experts,

and it's time for some much-needed R & R.

Nighty-Night.

Och aye.

As dawn breaks on another dreich day in Scotland,

our dynamic duo aren't letting it dampen their spirits.

Tell you what, Brackers, my hands are getting cold.

This is more the Scotland I'm used to.

So far, Charlie's spent £115 on three lots.

A pair of silver salts.

The Mary Mitchell painting.

And the Wedgwood tankard, leaving a comfortable £85 at his disposal.

James has jumped straight into the first day's shopping,

spending £120 on four items.

The bakhara rug,

the Chinese stand,

the ash malting spade

and the celery vase.

James has £80 for the day ahead.

James and Charlie are hopefully heading 40 miles southeast

to the village of Auldearn.

East of the River Nairn,

this charming village has a population of only 560.

No wonder they're struggling to find it!

Where are we? We're in the middle of nowhere.

I haven't a clue where we are.

CAR SPUTTERS

Oh, beg your pardon, vicar! This is it.

Look at this. What have we got here?

-What have we got?

-Ooh.

-Doors.

-A bit of architectural...

Auldearn Antiques has been a family run business for more than 30 years.

They have a church and three rooms that are filled with a wide variety of stock,

from architectural antiques,

ceramics, glass, furniture and general bric-a-brac.

There's something for everyone.

-Your sort of thing.

-I'm getting warm feelings about this place.

-It looks like there are two distinct areas here.

-Are they?

-Are you on the lower rate?

-I think so. You go in the chapel.

-I'll go in the chapel.

-I'll go in the shop.

# And, I'll be in profit before ye... #

Tip number one, always look up as well as down.

Where to begin?

Be logical, start as far away from the door and work outwards.

While Charlie attempts logical, James has gone

from Pakistan to India.

These are very kind to me, these lovely Indian peacock chairs.

You sit in them. There's a lovely feeling of calm in these.

Oh... I feel nicely cocooned.

It's lovely. Lovely.

They're always quite cheap, they're quite fun.

What is it priced at?

£20, that's tempting.

Let's see if I can secure it for slightly less.

This could be a winner.

Really, James?

Well, we'll see at the auction.

I see Braxton lurking outside the door.

You stay out, Braccer's, old boy.

This is Roscoe's domain in here.

Where is that Rossco? Let's hide it around here.

James, while you play hide and seek,

Charlie's found a rather unique looking elephant.

I like that.

I just like Staffordshire.

And, I've never seen anything quite like that.

Staffordshire is a generic modern term for humble earthenware figures

made in the county of Staffordshire in the 18th and 19th centuries.

They often recalled Victorian histories,

scenes of everyday life, from pets to politicians,

to circus performers and their exotic animals.

Some being very much rarer than others.

MUSIC: Nellie The Elephant

It's not a reproduction.

It's definitely 19th century.

It's got damage.

But, you know, Staffordshire is...

..crude anyway. I don't think the damage matters too much.

After all, they're only asking £12.

Oh! He's looking at me.

JAMES LAUGHS

What an earth has he got?

What am I picking up?

I'm picking up it's got damage.

CHARLIE LAUGHS

Tips, splits and cracks, has that what it's got?

You haven't beaten me yet, Braccers. We're on day two, old boy.

Can I show you something?

This is the item I found, I quite like the look of.

Can I offer you ten?

-I'm afraid not...

-Oh, hello.

THEY LAUGH

Oh, it's still intact, that's all right.

That's all right. That's all right.

I thought it was going to be 20, then.

HE LAUGHS

-I could help and meet you in the middle at 15.

-15?

What about £12.50? My offer, your offer.

My offer, your price, sorry.

I think I'm pretty tight on the £15.

I think there's still money in that.

-I can't squeeze you?

-No.

-Are you sure, Roger?

-No.

Go on, put your hand there. Put your hand there.

I'm going to give you 15, don't worry.

Thank you very much, indeed.

Deal done!

Do you know, the trouble is when someone's rude about your purchases,

it puts your off, but...

Oh, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Very true, Charlie.

And, at £12, it's not exactly breaking the bank, is it?

-Roger...

-Yes?

-Could I borrow you for a second, sir?

-Of course.

May we go in here because Mr Braxton is spying on me today.

HE LAUGHS

There's not much left of it.

I can't find many bits that aren't broken.

-I love the simple... It has to be 19th century.

-Yep.

-And it's English and it's Staffordshire.

-Mm-hm.

-I'm not sure I've ever seen the like, really.

-No.

I mean, Staffordshire clock figures are really quite common

but I've never seen a Staffordshire clock, in the form of a howdah,

on top of an elephant before!

I mean, he's missing his tusk and everything.

It's £12. Presumably it came in a clearance in a box full of something?

Exactly! I'm afraid the back of a cupboard.

Sadly, sadly misused...

I know, but it's got a certain charm.

It's got £12 on it, presumably it cost nothing?

I'd be willing to help you a little bit on it.

Really, it's...

it's only a few pounds.

I was going to be very rude, but I better not be very rude,

I was going to ask you to knock the ten off.

-I could do it for £8 for you.

-£8, sir?

-Thank you.

-Consider it bought.

I like that. Mr Braxton will be extremely rude about it,

but I think we'll have the last laugh.

I think that could make some money at auction.

Back on their merry way,

Charlie wants to sample just one more shop,

so James is dropping him off

while he gives himself a well-earned treat in Elgin.

All right for some, eh?

# Raindrops keep falling on my head They keep falling.

# But there's one thing I know... #

The remainder of my shopping will be done here.

Thank you, good man.

Drive on, you'll pick me up later?

I'll pick you up later.

Don't get too wet.

Open-top motoring in the rain is all great fun

for about 5-10 minutes.

Then, funnily enough, it wears you down.

It's a hard life, James.

He's heading for the famous Johnstons of Elgin,

who manufacture the finest cashmere cloth, knitwear and accessories.

Established in 1797, Johnstons of Elgin

is the UK's last remaining vertical woollen Mill

and the only one still to carry out all the processes

from raw material to finished garment.

As far back as 1851,

the company had pioneered the weaving of cashmere in Scotland

and the lucky James gets to see the process first-hand.

Over the years, we've evolved...

Showing him round is Jenny.

Oh, look at the trousers! One tomato, one plum.

It's not just tweeds, it's not just kilts...

Long the world's most coveted fibre,

cashmere comes from the underbelly of cashmere goats.

Our fabric comes from Inner and Outer Mongolia.

It comes direct to Johnstons

and this is the first stage of the process

that we're going to see this afternoon.

I don't know if you want to feel...

Yes, I do. Is that soft? Oh!

From the bale, we take the un-dyed cashmere

and what we need to do is to dye it.

So we have a vast array of colours that we need to...

Show me some colours.

We're going to go to the dye house.

Before the end of the 19th century,

dyeing was carried out using natural materials such as bark,

berries, seaweed and even insects.

So you're going to see the raw fibre gets transported into these vats.

They are then lifted into the big stock dyeing pots

and the dyes are then mixed together

to create the vast array of colours that we offer.

Once dyed, the fibre is put on to yarn cones

and it is the physical properties of cashmere

that explain its desirability.

Here is the yarn, look how fine it is.

This is very fine.

The threads are then vertically put on to the mill.

-So that is the bones of the garment?

-It is, exactly.

Then the threads are inserted horizontally,

so you've got your warp and weft that creates plane weaves,

whatever we want to create.

Weaving has been a part of daily life here for centuries

and was originally a manual craft.

Nowadays, the majority of commercial fabrics

are woven on computer-controlled looms.

From the warp, you don't see much of a pattern, do you?

You don't, you see stripes.

Then suddenly, when you start inserting the weft,

suddenly it all becomes clear.

You see the pattern, correct.

It's rather like the bones of the garment and the flesh of the garment.

Steady, James.

Once woven, the cloth is washed to soften

and give it that beautiful cashmere touch

that's loved by people around the world.

What a treat, James, you've been thoroughly indulged.

Quite right. Unlike Charlie,

who's back at Logie, trying to find his last item.

I saw the monocular there, it doesn't look a theatrical piece, does it?

It looks more military.

Prior to long-distance specs, if you keep it in your breast pocket,

then if you saw someone you might recognise across the road,

"Good Lord, is that Audrey over there?

"By jingo, it is!"

Can I see if Audrey is there?

You're right, Giles, it is Audrey.

Audrey, come here!

It's a sweet object.

I have to confess, I was a bit put off by the price.

I think it's a charming thing.

£85.

What do I think that would make at auction?

Well, I'd take £40.

Can you take £30 for it?

Crispy, Scottish notes?

I'll meet you halfway, £35.

You're talking to the original cheapskate, Charles.

I will pay £30.

-Oh, all right, go on then.

-Are you sure?

I don't want to walk out of here and you say,

"That miserable Charlie bought my fine object for £30."

-That's fine.

-Are you sure?

Great final purchase, Charlie.

With your shopping done, it's time for you and James to reveal all.

I'm afraid you've seen the first lot because you cheated and walked in on me.

-Did I?

-You did, you bounder.

I just thought it was absolutely charming.

-Isn't that lovely?

-I've never seen anything quite like it.

I think it's a nice item

and I think it's very much early 19th century, wouldn't you?

Well, I'd like to think it was, it's certainly not earlier

but it's 19th century.

What do you think it'll make at auction?

-I think it's somewhere between £50 and £100.

-It cost £8.

£8!

Oh, the pressure is on! That's a very good buy.

This is my first item, Charlie, this is from Fort-Rose.

Oh, well done!

Or Fortrose, if you live there.

Bukhara? It's 20th century.

They're always a bit strange at auction but I like the size

-and the colours and the patterns are easy, aren't they?

-They are.

Profit? Well done.

Roll it up and if that car doesn't start, you can use it as transport!

Right, now for your silver salts, Charlie.

I have been polishing these all night.

They were black and do you know what I used to clean them? Toothpaste.

Toothpaste? They look superb. They are well cast, aren't they?

Good feet to them, not bent.

They're a nice clean present for somebody.

Going off to the Far East.

You've gone off to China? You have.

-Is it early 20th?

-I think it's got a bit of age.

Oh, yes it has, good thing.

A very decorative thing, I like it, actually.

-£35.

-Well bought!

-I'm afraid this is a gamble.

-Oh, very nice.

But it's a gamble, you know what auctions can be like with a picture.

I would buy that, definitely.

I just had visions of this making £20 at auction

-and you quietly giggling in the corner.

-No, no, no.

Time for your malting spade, James.

Oh, isn't that superb? Fabulous.

It's a lovely weight, feel it.

Beautiful.

That is difficult to date, presumably,

because I don't suppose they would have changed.

IN BAD SCOTTISH ACCENT: You're turning that £200 ever higher!

What is your fourth?

It is a little Georgian monocular.

That's very sweet. Oh, and it works!

-Yes, it does.

-Very smart.

Here you are, a nice celery vase.

Yes, a celery vase!

-May I handle it?

-Yes.

-It is cut and not pressed, I take it?

-No, it's pressed glass.

-Is it?

-Does it come with something else?

-No. It wasn't hugely cheap.

-This pineapple pressing is nice, isn't it?

-It is nice.

-It's a pleasing looking object but I just hope it was cheap.

-£10.

You can't go wrong, can you?

Wedgwood, good box.

But not something to be buying in Scotland.

An investiture mug of His Royal Highness, Charles, Prince of Wales.

-I think there's beauty in that object.

-Oh, come on.

-But for a fiver, it's all right.

-A boxed thing, I could live with that.

I was wondering whether you'd bought the chair...

Oh my goodness me! For the conservatory, darling!

Another conservatory item, a lovely Indian chair.

I wouldn't sit in there too long.

You've got a built-in halo there. Is it blooming comfortable?

It is, it's lovely. It's just like being cuddled.

That's one reason for buying it. Did you buy it off a lady?

That was all rather jolly, but what did they really think?

I think the peacock chair, frankly, is hugely cheap.

The one item that might fly a bit is the Chinese hardwood stand,

I think it's a nice item and Chinese things sell well at the moment.

His elephant, I think, is superb.

I was being very rude at Roger's place, teasing him,

but it's a lovely item, it's very well painted and should do well.

It's been a cracking first leg.

The Road Trip has brought us from Cromarty

along the beautiful Moray coastline to Buckie.

I can tell you nothing about Buckie at all,

other than there is an auction room here.

Allow me to enlighten you.

Being by the sea,

it's no surprise that Buckie's principal industry is fishing.

Cluny harbour was completed in 1880

and was, in its time,

one of the finest harbours in the northeast of Scotland.

It's auction day and our experts are cruising to Cluny auction house,

hoping their catch makes their fortune.

-Very smooth!

-Are you nervous?

No, I'm looking forward to it. Are you?

-I'm mildly nervous.

-You shouldn't be.

-We bought well, at the right prices.

-You think we have?

-Definitely.

-And are we going to sell at the right price?

-Well, I hope so.

That's the million dollar question.

The auction house is fit to burst with many a thrifty Scot,

but before the gavel is raised,

auctioneer John meets our anxious experts.

-Charlie.

-Nice to see you.

-What do you think of our things?

-I quite like the elephant.

That's going to do well.

-Is it? What's well?

-I think it could make 200 or 300.

-What?

-No, Charlie!

-What about James's things? Any interest in the rug?

-Yeah.

-We've got a couple of bids on that.

-A couple of bids on it?!

-What, 10 and 15?

-THEY LAUGH

You might just have to wait and see for that one.

-The Indian chair?

-The Indian chair, yeah.

I'm surprised you let that into your room, John.

-It's only because it was you, James.

-Being kind.

Our experts began this journey with £200 each.

Over the last two days,

Charlie has spent a total of £153 on five auction lots.

As for James, he took his £200 allowance

and spent a little bit less, £135, on five lots.

Strap yourselves in and hold on tight,

the auction is about to begin.

Are you going to give me a mincing today?

No. I think it's quite the reverse.

First up, it's James's Chinese rosewood stand.

-Oh, that's nice.

-I can feel a twitter in the room.

We'll start at £40. 40. £10, then.

Let's get going.

10, bid. 12 bid, at 12 bid. At 12. 15. 18, 18, now.

20. At 22.

22, at 22. Five, 25, I'm bid. 28.

-40.

-Profit, Braccers.

-Phew.

At £48. One more? £48.

GAVEL FALLS

-I think it was 48.

-48, I'm happy with that.

£13 profit, James.

That's not a bad start.

Now it's bottoms-up for one of Charlie's more unusual purchases.

-A tankard.

-£10, then. Must be worth 10.

I'll take a bid of five, if you must. Five, I'm bid. Thank you, sir.

Eight online, now. Eight. 10, in the room, now. £12, the lady.

-Well done, madam!

-At 12. 15 is online, 18 is in the room.

-18. All done?

-Put it down! GAVEL FALLS

-200. Now, now, James.

-18. Very good.

Do you know what, for an investment of five, that's a bit of a spanker.

That's very good.

You're both off to a fighting start.

Next up is James's malting spade.

-Ah!

-10, I'm bid. 12, bid.

At 15, at 15. 18.

Rush of hands, rush of hands.

32, bid. 35. 38.

42, 45.

-Here you are, he's bidding.

-New bidder. 50, I'm bid, now.

-At 50, at £50. All done at 50?

-You won't go five?

GAVEL FALLS Well done. Well done, that man.

Good work. Very happy with that.

Great result, James.

Now for your peacock chair.

I think they saw you coming, to be honest.

What was the ticket price? 10?

£20 for a peacock chair. 20, I'll take 10.

-Well done, that man. Phew!

-Saved your bacon.

I'm bid 12.

12, I'm bid. 15. Now at 15.

-At 15. 18, I'm bid.

-Profit, Braccers!

£18, at 18. Are we all finished?

-Done at £18?

-GAVEL FALLS

£18. I think, to coin a phrase, that's washed its face.

It's washed its face.

Great expression, but after commission,

that £3 profit isn't going very far.

Three selling opportunities and they've been, I think,

slightly squandered.

-Next up it's Charlie's big gamble, the Mary Mitchell painting.

-£20.

-20, surely.

-HE LAUGHS

-They can't see it.

-I have you online.

-LAUGHTER

Saved online.

LAUGHTER

Sit down, Charlie. That's not auction etiquette and you know it.

LAUGHTER Thank you, sir.

Naughty. Dear, oh dear.

-That should've killed it.

-LAUGHTER

Online, at 30. £30, online.

-Are we all done at £30, then?

-There's another one.

-32.

-Oh! LAUGHTER

32. 35. 38, the lady.

-This man deserves an OBE.

-50 is online. 50. At 50.

Don't lose it for a few pounds.

-55. 55.

-55!

-At 55.

-All finished, now?

-GAVEL FALLS

-There we are, 300.

-APPLAUSE

Well done, 55.

Sorry, Charlie, after commission, that's not much of a profit.

165 is a small George III brass telescope monocular.

I'll take £10 to start. £10.

12. Online at 15. At 15.

18, now. 18. 20.

There we are. It's warming up, the lady over there, she's loving it.

Do I see 45?

45, now. 48. At 55, then.

Are you all finished and done online at £55?

60, just in time.

-Oh!

-£60, just in time. Is that a bid? 65.

The room's my bidder at 65, for the last time, then.

GAVEL FALLS

-Well done. Really pleased with that, James.

-I would be.

I think it's a good price.

Well done, Charlie. That's a £35 profit.

Now for your silver salts.

£60. At 60. £60. At 60. At 60.

-Do I see five?

-I think you said they were about on the money, didn't you?

65 online, now, at 65.

At 65. And 70.

-That's better.

-At 70.

Now at 70. At £70. 75, a new bidder. At 75.

-And 80.

-£80. 80!

You are into profit now, Charlie.

£80. 85. Lady is my bid at 85.

-And 90.

-It's a good day, this.

-At 90. Are we all done, then?

-GAVEL FALLS

Another great profit, Charlie.

Ross has come home, hasn't he?

James, it's over to you and your magic carpet.

-Oh!

-Oh!

I can start the bidding at 40, £42. With me at £42.

£45 with me, 45. At 45. 48, now.

48. 50. 52. 55.

58. 60. 60's with me.

-Against you. One more? 65? And 70.

-Not bad!

I will take another wee nibble, if you like. £70. At 70.

-And five's with me.

-75!

-At 75.

He says it's a flying carpet but I've no guarantee with it.

-It's currently grounded.

-LAUGHTER

Bid's with me at £75, then.

And 80. £80.

What can I do? £80.

Do I see five? 85. At 85.

At 85, £85.

-Thank you very much, sir.

-Result.

-At £85.

-GAVEL FALLS

-331.

-Very good result. Excellent.

-Thank you.

Well done, James. That's a profit of £45.

With one lot each still to go, Charlie is only £7 ahead.

Next up is his Staffordshire elephant

and the auctioneer thinks it could go for a couple of hundred.

£80 is online. Thank you, online.

-80.

-Crikey, Charlie!

That's 10 times what you paid for it.

130 online. That's OK.

-At 130.

-It's jumped to 130, John!

-140 is on the phone.

This is getting really interesting. There are no more bids in the room

but the phone and internet bids are really picking up.

-380. 400. 420.

-Sorry? LAUGHTER

-600.

-HE GASPS

-Are you hearing this?

-I am!

It's quite exciting, isn't it?

-On the phones!

-850.

-LAUGHTER

This is ridiculous.

-1,000.

-1,000! GASPS

1,200, online.

-1,200, Braccers!

-It's all over!

This is unbelievable.

-1,800.

-1,800!

-1,900.

-1,900!

-2,000.

A bit ridiculous, now.

At 2,100.

Unheard of on the Road Trip.

2,100, Barbara.

He's going to have a heart attack.

-2,200, 2,300, on the phone.

-I'm crying!

2,300. On the phone at 2,300.

Look at this, the magic of the auction.

Who would ever have thought this?

Are we all done online at 2,500?

-Yes?

-He told me, this could make a few hundred quid.

-2,600.

-I am speechless.

I fear my Road Trip is already over.

2,700.

For the last time, £2,700.

The bid is on the phone at £2,700, then.

Are we all finished online at 2,700? For the last time?

GAVEL FALLS

APPLAUSE

Take a bow, take a bow.

Never in the history of the Road Trip

have we ever had a sale like that.

What an amazing result, Charlie!

I'm leaving. I think my Road Trip is over.

LAUGHTER

Thank you. Thank you, bye!

Please don't go, James, you never know,

your celery vase might just swing it for you.

Shame it was damaged, really!

LAUGHTER

-That's absolutely extraordinary.

-That is extraordinary.

There we are, the celery vase, there. £40, for it?

30. £10, then.

£10 for a celery vase. £10.

-Do I hear 1,500? Sorry.

-LAUGHTER

Marvellous!

-10, I'm bid. 12. 12 bid, at 12 bid.

-We're away.

Come on, Buckie. Dig deep and help James out.

He needs it.

-At 32 for the last time, then.

-GAVEL FALLS

-The lady down here.

-Well done.

-Well done, Braccers.

-On a normal day James, £22 is a good profit.

But today is not a normal day.

That was a good result, that.

You've made a good, working profit today, haven't you? No, you have.

I've made an obscene one but you have made...

You certainly did, Charlie.

# The head of the herd was calling Far, far away... #

No-one was expecting that.

Your Staffordshire elephant was bought

by a passionate collector from America.

It just goes to show that all you need is some courage,

the right buyer at the right time, and you, too, can be a winner.

It's all a bit surreal, really, isn't it?

I should be excited but I, I just keep wondering what happened.

£8 to £2,700.

Rossco's Staffordshire steamed ahead, making many thousands.

If only I'd gone in that room before.

Would I have chosen it? I don't know.

After paying auction costs, James has made a healthy profit of £56.06.

He has a respectable £256.06 to carry forward.

Charlie, on the other hand,

we can hardly get his profit to fit in the piggy!

He's had a mighty win.

He has a whopping £2,447.96 to start the next show.

I think my tactic now should be to put Mr Ross into some very

large-ticketed items,

that's the only way he's going to make some substantial losses.

Anyway, Road Trip history has been made. Well done, Mr Ross.

-Bye-bye, Buckie.

-Bye-bye, Buckie!

-Love you, Buckie!

Love you, Clunie! Love you Staffordshire!

Next time on the Antiques Road Trip, the boys take their winnings east.

-I've got no money.

-Surely you should be carrying a briefcase.

Charlie turns to witchcraft. James knuckles down.

-I see that as £25.

-I see it at £55!

And they both get a wee bit chilly.

Are you with me?

-I can't keep this posture up for much longer.

-I'm breathing in.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd