Episode 5 Antiques Road Trip

The nation's favourite antiques experts, £200 each, 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?

The aim is trade up, and hope that each antique turns a profit.

But it's not as easy as it looks, and dreams of glory can end in tatters.

I'm a loser! I'm a loser.

So, will it be the fast lane to success,

or the slow road to bankruptcy?

Oh! There's a mouse! There's a mouse!

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

We're still out there,

fighting the elements and hurtling along the antiques highway.

But it's our last trip for this fine pair of experts -

David Barby and Charles Hanson.

This is it, this is the big one.

-You've got such a lead on me, how on earth am I going to make it up?

-I'm a lap ahead.

-But, you know, you've got some legs on you, I'm sure.

-Not at my age!

THEY LAUGH

Known simply as the Master, a man with serious, intimidating depth of antiques knowledge,

yet strangely, David Barby just loves to shop.

I'm going in.

Can't resist a bargain.

And giving "the Master" a run for his money,

the young pretender himself, Bonnie Prince Charles Hanson.

An all-action auctioneer from Derbyshire.

With the commission to pay as well, It'd need 30 to break even for me.

Are you OK?

Yeah, sorry, Charles, yeah, I've just lost the will to live.

Well, he can go on a bit.

LAUGHTER

But that's not stopped Charles from making lots and lots of money this week.

-GAVEL BANGS

-Oh, that is marvellous, Charles.

So, from his original £200, Charles is standing proud with a robust £400.96.

That's brought a smile to his face.

And the finishing line is in sight.

David, meanwhile, has struggled, despite his great skill, turning tiny profits through the week.

Do you know, you're the most irritating person I absolutely... I'm going outside.

So David languishes behind, his £200 barely swollen to £261.68.

All he needs now is the luck of the road trip.

But the super-cool 1959 Hillman Minx is taking him dangerously close to Charles's home patch.

You know, I know people.

What I'm concerned about is you going to these dealers' shops,

and they'll know you, they'll greet you like a long-lost friend.

-"Charles! How wonderful to see you!"

-Get out of here. THEY LAUGH

This week's road trip is a huge 300-mile sprint -

Lichfield, south to Frome, back up north to the Wirral Peninsula,

and ending in Nottingham for the final showdown.

On this leg, they're leaving Congleton, heading through Derbyshire,

and ending up at auction in Nottingham.

Handsome, historical Stafford is the first port of call.

-Awful cold.

-Oh!

-Do you want a kiss?

-No.

THEY LAUGH

Just keep wiping the windscreen with that snotty tissue.

Preparations are already under way for an 1100th year anniversary of Stafford's foundation.

Kind Alfred the Great's daughter, Ethelfleda, is no longer with us,

but established the Borough of Stafford way back in AD 913.

CAR DOOR SLAMS Come on, David, get eager!

This is our last trip together. It's our last feeding frenzy of antiques.

-Why do you use such language?

-Because this is it!

-The...

-Charles, do not touch me. You go down there, I'm going here.

David, if you want to play hard, I'll play hard.

David, it's only a game. David!

A game to you, Charles.

But David begins this final shopping trip £139.28 down,

and he needs a plan.

My word, the pressure is on, so I've got my work cut out.

My ploy - spend the lot.

Church Lane Antiques offers two floors of intriguing prospects,

with lovely assistant Maureen to help.

-Hello. Can I call you Maureen?

-Please do.

-Oh, good.

-Now.

-Hmm?

-Is there anything that you personally think is absolutely a knock-out?

Well, where do I begin?

I do like that.

-Might make problems that it has no mark on it whatsoever.

-Mm-hmm.

And that's 120, so I'll be quite honest, I'm losing at the moment.

I'm £150 down on Charles Hanson.

And this is why I hesitate at that price of 120.

Well, complaining isn't going to help.

Keep looking, David.

Gosh, there's another shop up here!

This is beautiful, beautiful decoration.

All of that is hand-painted.

And the sides are emulating basketwork.

The mark on the back is Spode. Spode started bone china.

There was a factory called New Hall that produced hard-paste porcelain,

and they sold the clay to other manufacturers.

And Spode used that base of clay and put bone ash with it,

hence the term bone china.

The asking price for the Spode dish is £100,

but now something else at £110 has caught David's eye.

-Masonic cufflinks.

-Enamelled on one side.

That's a very acquired subject, isn't it?

I wonder how many Masons would go into a general sale?

Masonic lodges have ancient traditions,

founded by the Master Stonemasons who built Britain's castles and cathedrals,

but many original members were unable to read,

so trade symbols like the compass and set square were used in ceremonial items.

Like cufflinks.

110, I think I said.

-So what would they be priced at?

-80.

I'll give it to you for 60.

So, with his familiar hurt expression on display, David is wanting three items.

The £100 Spode dish, the £110 Masonic cufflinks,

and the £120 Arts and Crafts box.

But he wants them all at £60 each.

I'll make a call.

Hi, Stuart. No, he would like all three at £60 each.

Sharp intake of breath.

All three at 200.

-Can we split the difference?

-Hang on a sec. Have a word, it's Stuart.

I think 180 is the price I'd like to offer for these.

That is a difference, 190, God, that leaves me nothing.

All right, 190.

OK, I'm metaphorically shaking your hands.

Ha ha! And now Stuart might be wise to, metaphorically speaking, check his wallet and his watch.

-Thank you very much.

-It's been a pleasure.

Really?

Oh, well.

And whilst David's growing in confidence, Charles appears to be shrinking.

Ian, I've never come across such a big copper kettle in my life.

You've got the biggest kettle I've ever seen.

It was a shop sign, Charles, that used to hang outside Dale's Shop in Stafford in 1828.

It would have watched dandies and ladies of the day walk past.

-Charles Dickens stayed opposite.

-Really?

-At the Swan Hotel.

-And they say that he wrote The Old Curiosity Shop based on this genuine shop.

-Really?

That's amazing, Ian. And if it could talk, what could it tell us?

-Well, one thing it would tell us...

-Yeah.

-..is it's got pellet holes here.

-Oh, yes?

-And they were put in by the delivery boy for Dale.

-Really?

-He didn't like working for Dale, so he decided to shoot the side.

-Really?

As far as provenance goes, this enormous antique has just about the best you can get.

HE SIGHS

But can proud Ian let it leave the safety of his shop?

Ian, I've got £400 in my kitty really, and I don't mind paying a bit for it.

What's your best price?

-(It's not for sale.)

-Is it not for sale?

Ian, I think it's great, and it's great to see.

And whilst Charles goes off the boil, happy shopper David's gone for a rummage.

Strangely choosing a rather lovely charity shop,

providing funds for the local Katharine House Hospice.

Liz and Alex lend their time here, but have they got time for Barby's business?

Aren't these so stylish? These were produced in 1978, limited edition.

This is by Royal Doulton.

So we've got Pierrot and Punchinello, oh, this is Columbine.

But aren't they absolutely superb? For £6.50 each.

Mais oui.

Tease!

I'm going to buy these.

You are going to buy these?

I'm letting my heart rule my head, I think.

-£6.50 each, then.

-Ah!

For goodness's sake! Please don't haggle, David, it's a charity shop.

-£19.50.

-Yes.

-Will you take £20 for me?

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you very much.

-That's very kind of you.

50p?

Yet how delightful to see David actually paying more than the asking price.

And shopping-wise, he's putting the young pretender to shame.

Bit concerned, frantic shopping, but I'll get there.

But where Hanson refused to purchase, Barby now dares to tread.

Stand by, Ian.

-Hello.

-Hello, how are you?

-David Barby, we've met before, haven't we?

-Nice to meet you. Somewhere along the line.

-Your face is so familiar.

-Is it?

-Perhaps you've met me in a...

-Don't say anything else.

-No.

-No.

THEY LAUGH

Well, quite. Actually, I think there are rather too many familiar faces here in Stafford today.

Oh, my goodness me!

I know neither of us are fans of these items,

but we need to make a profit.

-Do I like them?

-No.

-Do I like them?

-No.

Well, you don't have to like them.

Royal Doulton's talented designer, Harry Simeon,

reinvented the classic Toby jug in the 1920s,

creating full head, full colour character jugs of famous British heroes and villains.

But can this motley crew turn David a profit?

Because you're knocking the stuff, you can have one, two, three,

four, five, six pieces for £50.

-What about 40?

-40?!

-You want to get rid of them.

-Not that desperately. £50.

I like 40. Give me a chance at 40.

-I'll tell you what, 45 quid.

-Split the difference. 42.

Oh, you're a hard man. He's a hard man, isn't he?

Yeah, go on then.

Very wise, Ian. Back down before the sob story starts.

-Three. Did we say 40?

-We said 42.

You don't want to split into a tenner, do you?

-Do you want to flick?

-Yeah.

-Have you got a coin?

-No.

-You can have it for 40 quid, go on.

-Thank you very much.

-That's all right.

-Thank you.

Well, what's £2 if it gets David out of the shop?

Some would say cheap at the price.

Now, he could be stealing a shopping lead on his young tormentor.

I really, really, really enjoy winding David up.

Because David's very easy to wind up.

David just seems to be rambling around, whilst with me,

I'm fairly focussed. That's why I'm winning

But I'm still nervous because David's the sort of expert

who can suddenly pull a real find out the bag.

With a fair wind behind him,

the Road Trip is lurching hard of starboard

to take Charles on a historical maritime adventure in Milford.

Not quite Hanson country,

Charles is headed to the former home of the Anson family.

From 1624, Shugborough Estate was home to local lawyer William Anson.

A century later, great-grandson Admiral George Anson

would make the family very rich and famous.

# We'll set sail again

# Heading for the Spanish Main. #

Oh, look at this. Wowee!

Well, you're right there, Charles.

That is one entrance, isn't it?

Charles is about to meet with project development manager Coreen Caddy.

-Not an Anson?

-No, not an Anson.

I am a Hanson, you see.

So it almost feels, drop the H, I'm coming home.

Well, I have to say you'd be following in some very fine footsteps if you were an Anson,

because we have some very grand heritage.

-What are you trying to say?

-I'm saying nothing.

George Anson became 18th century Britain's most successful and celebrated naval hero,

though strangely not that well known today,

taking historical second place to that Admiral Horatio fellow.

When I think of naval heroes,

I think of Nelson, Trafalgar, the Egyptian campaign and all of that.

Everybody knows about Nelson, but nobody talks about Anson.

And yet we would argue strongly

that he's the biggest naval hero of all time.

So how did he suddenly acquire all of this money and new found wealth?

Twice a year there was a large Spanish treasure ship

that crossed the Pacific.

It was loaded with Spanish treasure from the South Americas.

-Everything you can imagine. Gold, jewels.

-Precious stones.

-Absolutely.

George, being very ambitious, went to King George

and said, "I think I can capture that treasure galleon for you."

In 1739, Admiral Anson requested 1,000 fit men on ships

for a daring escapade to capture the treasure.

He did get his 1,000 men, but he had 170 people from hospitals,

so sick and injured soldiers,

265 Chelsea pensioners with an average age of 70.

I'm afraid to say that all the pensioners were dead before they got to Madeira.

As they rounded the tip of South America, several ships broke up.

One crew mutinied.

They ended up in the San Francisco area with just 100 men left and the flagship.

-And the flagship which was?

-The Centurion.

-The Centurion.

Last remaining ship, the Centurion finally had a piece of good luck

whilst hunting the Spanish galleon.

Would you believe, they actually happened on it by accident?

They spent months seeking it and failed. They stumbled across it and thought, "Shall we have a go?"

And they captured it. It was absolutely loaded with treasures.

In the 18th century, for naval ships' crews,

the capture of every enemy ship and cargo was called prize money,

part of which was passed back to every sailor, no matter how junior.

So I think of myself as a bit of a treasure hunter.

Now I'm trying to gather these antiques to make a small profit at auction.

Not really for Queen and Country today but just more for my competition.

But I'm thinking of gold coins and real treasure, you know?

Big chests of jewels, falling out. Any of that here?

Well, you say you're the treasure hunter,

it's up to you to hunt them out.

OK. I'll follow you.

Coreen, is there any treasure around here?

Well, perhaps not the treasure you're quite looking for.

However I would say this lump of wood is perhaps my favourite treasure.

-It looks like a piece of driftwood.

-It's far more important than that.

This is the last remaining piece of the figurehead of HMS Centurion,

the ship that captured all of the Spanish treasure.

Amazingly, this fine relic of our maritime history spent many years

as both a pub sign and then garden furniture at Chelsea Hospital

before its incredible value to Britain was rediscovered in the 1920s.

A national treasure indeed

and surely enough to satisfy our Charles.

The cabinet marks the spot.

Wow! So, Coreen, this is what I've been waiting for. This is it.

-There's not much here, is there?

-No, there's not much.

-No.

Most of it was reminted for the King.

Charles must sadly make do with the few remaining spoils of George Anson's historic voyage.

The captured Spanish captain's compass

and a few gold doubloons that escaped the minting furnace.

-Ms Caddy, thank you very, very much.

-Bye-bye.

-Bye-bye.

Goodbye, Miss Caddy, indeed.

Now, Charles and David head for their hammocks as the day draws to an end.

Sweet dreams, shipmates!

Day two begins suddenly with great expectations for the final shopping showdown.

-Why do you have to fiddle? Do you have to keep your hands occupied all the time?

-Sorry!

I can't believe it!

So far, Charles has spent...

well, nothing. Not a sausage.

A red-hot £400.96 is still burning a hole in his pocket.

I ought to buy all three but the problem is, they're quite boring.

David, meanwhile, got cracking spending £250 on five items.

The Arts and Crafts box, the Spode serving dish,

the Masonic cufflinks, the Dolton plates and a bevy of character jugs.

David has only £11.68 to his name, but no regrets so far.

For once, I have let my head rule my heart.

But, oh dear! I do dislike them.

Hi, mum. Hi, dad.

I'm with Dave!

Milford now joins the list

of wonderful English places in David and Charles's past.

The road trip pushes on once more 34 miles east to Derby.

-Our last waltz together.

-I used to do the Charleston.

-You didn't!

-I did.

-You didn't?

I loved doing the Charleston.

Seven! Huh!

So, our light-footed experts trip their way into Charles Hanson's local town.

On 4th December 1745,

Derby played host to that other young pretender,

Bonnie Prince Charlie.

He set up his council of war here.

This is a massive day today.

We're in Derbyshire, my homeland.

It's an iconic day for me because I've got to buy all my items in Derbyshire.

To round off my road would be to beat David Barby. Will it happen? I really hope so.

-Good morning.

-Good morning. How nice to see you, old fellow!

Luckily, Colin and Julie are here to help if Charles can maintain his fear of influence.

Colin, the little decanter set. Look at that colour. It' radiant, gaudy, it is very art deco.

-At auction, it might make £25. It might make 30. And you're only asking £25 for it.

-Cheaper than charity!

-Well, I'm a charitable case here.

-Don't knock me down, Charles, on £25.

-Do you know what?

If I was to come to your saleroom, it'd be 45.

Ooh! Suddenly the local connections are not in Charles's favour.

-What does affect value, Colin, is this corroding here.

-It's not corrosion, it's muck.

Is it? Colin, where there's muck, there's brass.

It just wants cleaning.

I'd be happy to pay £25 for it with a caveat, OK.

-And my caveat is this. If Julie, Julie?

-Yes.

-Yes, it's Julie.

-Sorry, Julie.

-If Julie can take this muck off, I'll pay £25 for it.

-If she can't, I'll only pay £15 for it.

-OK. Silvo.

Let's get the Silvo out and start rubbing then.

-All right, we are in business.

-I'm rubbing as hard as I can.

-It is coming off actually.

-I don't believe it!

-Look at that shine.

-Wow!

It actually looks like Charles Hanson will have two pay a full ticket price for an antique.

-Colin.

-Shake it, shake it, shake it.

-Exactly.

He's got me as well.

Colin, you shook me, you rattled me.

-I shook you.

-At £25, you've got me. It's a deal. Thank you, Julie. Well done!

Well done, Colin, and hats off to the lovely hard-working Julie, eh?

This derby chancer might wish he'd stayed in Staffordshire perhaps.

This is a county map of Stafford, made in the years 1818 and 1819.

What I like about this map is, if you look carefully, you can see it's done in little rectangles

because the map was pasted on to a canvas

and there are little gaps between each section to allow the canvas to be folded.

So this was a map that you would use on a journey. You would travel, rather like the road trip.

These days, it's sat nav but those were the days of coach.

I love maps.

They're not only ingenious, a cartographer's art, but also, they are wonderful to look at.

This is our history in detail

I've spotted this little green Street glass bowl.

It's hand-blown. There's a ground pontil mark on the base

where the rod has been blown and snapped off to create this wonderful design.

But the way it sits is very evocative of the arts and crafts, evocative of a return to nature

and very much of the art nouveau.

The swirl of the air bubbles and the way this base has been blown shows a certain honesty.

Mm. The posy bowl is certainly very beautiful.

Those bubbles were hypnotic but at £15, can it turn a profit?

-I quite like this little bowl here.

-There's not a lot of money in it.

-You're not going to make any money buying a cheap thing like that.

-I've got to beat David Barbie.

If you double its price, what's £8 in a competition? You want to be making £80.

-You think my game plan is all wrong?

-You've got to change the style and go upmarket.

I never thought I'd see the day(!) Charles? Exposed as a bit cheap(?)

Any bit of help. £5 for it?

£8, Charles, it's yours. That's almost half price.

£6? Going once! Come on, Colin!

-Go on then.

-It's gone!

Well done, Charles, but is this all you want from your beloved Derbyshire today?

I ought to be really buoyant by the fact I'm in Derby, but, in fact, I'm not. Something is going wrong.

I've got to somehow pull the cat out of the bag.

Luckily, fellow dandy, Dennis, is just waiting to help down at Ashbourne Road antiques.

Hop to it, Charles!

Hi! Good to see you. Charles Hanson.

I feel underdressed compared to you.

The cravat, you know, this look.

-It's fantastic!

-You're really kind.

-I'm looking for things that are a bit quirky, a bit different.

-You've come to the right place.

Is that silver in this little loving cup?

-You know your stuff.

-Get out of here!

-You didn't say, is that silver, which is plated,

you went straight to that.

I like this decoration. It's beautifully cast and gilded also.

On the base, it says,

"The Royal Christening, August 1982."

Which royal was christened in 82?

MUMBLES

-You've got all this information. I'm hoping you would tell me.

-William! Will's! Will's!

-Prince William who got married recently.

-I'm not an historian like you.

-Get out of here!

The reason I like it is it's quite a modern design.

I wonder who the maker is. Do we know?

-It's a lovely little piece.

-It's Stuart Devlin.

Charles, you wanted a great find, you've got one.

Stuart Devlin is one of the best contemporary silversmiths,

designer of Australia's decimal coinage and Olympic medals as well as his famous decorative eggs.

Dennis, I'm a local man. I'm always at your disposal, OK?

-Boys stick together in Derby, don't we?

-That's right.

Exactly! I quite like that because it's a decorative object. What's the best price on it?

Well, I'm in your expert hands.

-Well, Dennis, you know.

-Whatever you say is gospel.

-Oh, Dennis, I can't do that!

It's got £99 on it. Give us 100 for cash.

100? Euros, pounds, sterling?

We're talking pounds.

-What's your absolute best price?

-£75.

Oh, Dennis. We're getting close now.

-Getting really close.

-£70 because I like you.

-Get out of here!

-You're a wonderful guy.

Dennis, I'll pay £70 for it.

-Brother?

-I think you're being fair.

-Give me a high five.

-Are we in?

-Yes, I think you're being fair.

-Sold for £70! Dennis, what have I done?

Dennis, I do love your style.

-We're a similar size. I'm going to start wearing cravats. I'm serious.

-OK.

-If that's the case, there you go.

-You know what? I love cravats. I've never worn a cravats before.

-So you do it up like that?

-Look at that!

-Dennis, I kid you not.

-I will start wearing cravats. Can I borrow this?

-You can have that one.

-Are you serious?

-You can have it.

It's worth almost as much as my silver loving cup. I love it.

Hats off again to that Derbyshire dandy and his new sartorial friend.

This weeks shopping is now heading for a crunch photo finish.

Back with David and he's decided to play it safe with no further investment. Bless him!

I'm probably an old fuddy-duddy. I think I am.

If I was Charles, I'd be very, very cautious and not risk that £150 lead he's made.

Of course, it's too late to worry about that.

From a coalface of antique shopping, David is breaking free with literary abandon.

Heading briefly out of town where a very important house awaits his arrival.

Number 8a Victoria Street, Eastwood.

On 11 September 1885, Arthur and Lydia Lawrence had their fourth child, David Herbert.

Best known today as the romantic novelist, DH Lawrence.

-Please come in to see Mrs Lawrence's home.

-Thank you very much indeed. Gosh!

In the late 19th century, employment in this part of the world centred on the culprits.

Young DH Lawrence grew up with a strong coal miner father

and an educated mother who inspired his passion for words.

Today, local heritage assistant, Jackie Greaves, has the pleasure of educating David.

Where did he achieve his scholastic ability? I notice the bookcase over there.

Mrs Lawrence was an uncertified teacher. This is DH Lawrence's mother.

All through his life, he really had quite a lot of illness

so he spent a lot of time at home with his mother who sort of home tutored him here.

She used to encourage her children to read, particularly the eldest, Emily.

She used to read to the younger children quite a lot. Swiss Family Robinson was a favourite.

Success as a writer would come many years later.

Lawrence's greatest novels, The Rainbow, Women in Love and, of course, Lady Chatterley's Lover,

all drew on the frustration and aspiration of the educated working class man.

This museum has been lovingly recreated to resemble the home of a 19th-century coalminer's son.

Arthur Lawrence, DH Lawrence's father, was actually a coal miner.

In those days they had the tin loaf which was designed to bake the bread in the right shape

and the ladies make their own.

-A very thick sandwich?

-Yes.

-What would have been in it?

-Cheese and pickle?

-Well, they weren't, unfortunately, able to take cheese.

-Arthur Lawrence worked about 750 feet underground so it was too hot for cheese.

-It would just melt.

But the ladies made my favourite, which was home-made jam or bread and dripping,

an old-fashioned favourite at the time.

-That helped keep the bread nice and moist.

-Oh! That is wonderful history!

Published in 1913, DH Lawrence's third novel, Sons and Lovers,

is often regarded as his first masterpiece.

The realistic tale of a stifled miner's son trying to rise up from his background,

the novel also deals explicitly with sexual awakening and was heavily edited before publication.

Amazingly, the full racy version was not available until 1992.

All this creativity came from humble, cash-strapped origins.

Jackie has just one last item to make our David feel humble.

-Here, we have a coal carving.

-Sorry, what?

-Carving made of coal.

-Right.

-It was quite commonplace in this area

because people didn't really have surplus money to buy gifts.

So, a lot of people made their own presents. DH Lawrence made this for a friend. It is a pen stand.

-It's so light, isn't it?

-Yes.

So there would have been a little ink bottle there so that hole is to secure it in place

so it wouldn't slide.

-And the pens rested there.

-Yes.

-That is incredible. And he carved this?

He carved it for his friend and, writing a note along with that,

he said if he didn't like it, he could put it in the fire for fuel.

-How wonderful!

-So it wasn't a wasted gift.

-I feel quite privileged to handle this actually.

-You are.

You really, really are, David. You lucky chap.

David sets out to rejoin his competitor.

With tales of Derbyshire drudgery and shopping struggles, let's hope he's dressed appropriately.

-Could you let me into a secret?

-Yes, David.

-Why are you wearing that pink and blue cravat?

-I am wearing it for you.

-That's lovely. I am so impressed and quite touched.

-Thanks, David.

Oh, do get on with it!

-Here's my first item.

-Oh! I like it, David.

-If you look very closely at this little stem here, you can even see little hairs.

-I know!

You buy quality. You by a big capital "A" for antique.

David, I've gone for that little shake, rattle and roll.

-Crikey me! Look at that!

-First of all, I love the colour. Date wise, it's got to be 40s or 50s.

Yes, I was hoping it might be earlier but I think you're right. I think it's stylish.

-It is complete. I love this cracked effect.

-So do I. I like that immensely.

And now David can impress with a thing of beauty.

-Hello! It's a lovely copper cigar box.

-You've got this lovely seaweed motif and then the shell detail.

-Does it have legs, Charles?

-Oh, David, it has long legs.

I'm feeling a bit sick at the moment because I'm panicking. I bought that.

Something about it gave me a lift, David.

I love the fact that it's handmade, it's spun.

-The whole thing is full of handcrafted work.

-What's it worth?

-20?

-Mmm. I thought maybe about 30, but I'm wrong.

But £6, David, I can't go wrong, can I?

-These are wonderful, David.

-They're nine-carat gold.

They're not gold?!

They are beautifully enamelled, in good condition.

-I suspect they cost you about...

-Quite a lot.

-Were they a lot?

-£70.

I think they have got legs.

This is my star lot. Ooh. Feel it!

-That is lovely.

-Oh, David! That's poetry in my ears. Who's it by?

-I hope I'm right. SD.

-Stuart Devlin.

-Yes! Do you think it is?

Yeah. Regardless of the weight of the silver, Stuart Devlin,

-he's going through the roof.

-Yes.

That is so good. Stuart Devlin.

But it's also 1980s.

Could we get something a little bit older perhaps?

-Oh, my...

-Don't say anything at all.

-Muy bueno, senor. Are they Spanish?

These are all subject matter taken from the Italian comedy, and

all of the designs are by an artist from the '70s called LeRoy Neiman.

-They are like jewels on the wall. I paid £19.50.

-You didn't.

-I did.

-£19 and 50 pence?

-Yes, for the three.

And a 50p donation to the hospice. So £20, really.

-Come on.

-That and that.

-Oh. Beswick Micawber.

-I paid £40.

-You didn't!

-I did.

-So maybe you paid a bit too much.

-Oh, dear, Charles.

-But it doesn't matter.

Because I paid £40 to include that one.

David Barby, you're beginning to play like me now.

David, you've got Charles on the ropes. Can you go for the knockout?

Good condition. Oh, hello.

-I'm not quite sure what's going on here, David.

-There we are.

I'm sweating now. I'm beginning to feel a tension

-and a goose pimple approaching, because...

-And...

-Oh, come on.

-No, no, no more!

-David Barby, I don't believe it.

-It's good, isn't it?

-That's too good.

But is it really TOO good?

What do you chaps really, really think?

I'm very disappointed in Charles's objects

because he didn't spend all his money.

We're about to freefall into our finale. I'm very nervous.

He's brought a really, really good, varied mix.

The star object is his Stuart Devlin commemorative cup.

But hopefully Hanson's silver cup will be hoisted up

and that will be my crowning glory.

That's the spirit.

Always good to aim high, no matter how ridiculously unrealistic.

First of all, let's get our chaps to auction.

-What will you miss most about us being together?

-You driving, Charles.

You drive me to distraction.

The road trip gets a wriggle on, heading 15 miles east,

across Brian Clough Way, and over the county line.

Last stop for the week is Nottingham.

Today is, finally, an auction day,

so our road trip renegades arrive in fresh attire, raring to go.

Well, Charles, here we are, the final curtain. My goodness me.

It's the end of the romance between you and I.

-You used to work here, didn't you?

-10 years ago.

-Bring back happy memories?

-So much so.

Opened in 1993, Mellors and Kirk are well known for fine art sales,

antiques and today's general sale.

Our Charles cut his teeth here as a young sales porter

and fledgling auctioneer,

and the prodigal son returns.

But what does auctioneer Nigel Kirk

think of the mixed offerings from both our experts?

Well, I'm afraid the glass objects are of minimal value

and, frankly, I'd be grateful for any sum that we got bid.

David's bought a selection of character jugs,

so I think he's gone for quantity, not quality.

The three plates are very modern

but really they would be better consigned to a charity shop

rather than a fine art auctioneer.

Funny you should say that.

So David started today's show with just £261.68

and spent a daring £250 of it on five auction lots.

Charles started slowly and, well, ended up slowly too,

spending just £101 from his healthy £400.96 balance

on a mere three auction lots.

Our experts straighten their ties and take their seats.

How does it feel that this young pretender has taken a mantle

over the might of David Barby?

Every dog has to have his day.

Down, boy! And hush now.

The sale's about to start.

David's corking Spode dish is first up for grabs.

£30 for it, please. 30? 20?

20 I'm bid.

Thank you, sir. 20, 30, 40.

£40. Any more?

Selling at 40, 50, 60. £60. Second row, selling at £60.

A disappointing start for David, especially on such a lovely item.

-Will you catch me up?

-I don't know. One lives in hope.

Stranger things have happened.

Could the gold Masonic cufflinks turn the tide for David?

-£20 for them, please.

-Take it steady.

-Oh, Charles.

-Let's get them sold.

-40?

£30 it is. 40. 50. 60.

-£70.

-Come on.

-Commission bid. I'll sell.

-That's OK.

-It's not.

-You broke even.

-Don't try and console me.

It's best to say nothing, actually.

And now the young pretender's first lot seeks some decisive bidding.

£20 for it, please. 20?

-£10.

-Come on.

-Do we have a bid? Five I'm bid, thank you.

At five. 10, may I say?

Oh, dear me.

£5 only, and I shall sell it at £5.

That's all I thought it was worth.

Quite possibly.

But a shame for Charles. I think that £1 loss really hurt.

I can't believe it.

So, let's have something bright and cheerful to lift our spirits.

£20 for them, may I see?

10 I'm bid. Thank you. At 10. 15, 20.

25? At £20. On my right, I'm selling at 20.

-Broke even.

-What happened?

The auctioneer is speedy.

And that means David's chances are fading fast.

David, it's never over until the last gavel falls on your very last lot.

True enough, but first Charles's startling cocktail set

wants to dazzle the room.

-20? £10.

-Oh, no.

-10 I'm bid. Thank you, at £10.

-15 for it?

-One more.

-15.

Charles, dear friend, you're going to need more than just one more.

£15, I shall sell it.

£15.

No great shakes there, then, Charles,

but you are still ahead on the week.

What can David do with this motley crew of hopefuls?

-We're nearly there, Charles.

-Will we keep in touch afterwards?

I doubt we will.

Ooh. Let's just get on with the sale, shall we?

20?

20 I'm bid, thank you, sir. At 20, 30, 40.

£40. No more? Selling at 40.

Whoo! Was that it?

David Barby's mugs were mugged. So cruelly and, well, quickly.

I think this auction will hang on one thing, OK, and it's coming up next.

And here it is. Charles's prize sterling-silver commemorative cup.

The style of it is so neat for that decade. I love it.

£30. 40. 50.

60. 70.

80. 90. 100.

-Keep going.

-At £100 on my left. 120.

130?

At 120. I will sell.

That's good. My dream is about to crack open. Champagne?

Maybe a bit early, Charles.

Though I have to say, you look unbeatable now.

David must pray the lovely Art Nouveau box

can turn copper into cash.

You could hear a pin drop in here.

50. Any interest? 50, 30.

Nobody want it? 30, 40.

50, 60, 70, 80 with me.

90 to you. 100. 110. 120 here.

-130? At 120.

-Good price, David.

-Selling with me at £120.

-All done?

-That's amazing.

I commend you for finding an antique.

I think we all commend David Barby today.

But sadly that double-your-money sale is just not enough

to beat Charles.

-Come on, David, congratulations.

-No.

You're the one that has congratulations. Well done, Charles.

Brave words in the face of defeat. What a nice chap.

Sadly, after paying auction costs,

David's £261.68 grew by a mere £4.20.

David ends his road trip with £265.88,

but he can hold his head high.

The local hero began with £400.96

and turned another modest profit of £13.80.

Charles ends the week with £414.76. Well done, boy.

The chaps' combined profits will go to Children in Need.

Congratulations to that victorious young pretender,

and, David, no sweat. It's Hanson-town.

Give me a high five, David. It's been a great day.

David, this great business, there is so much luck involved, and all the romance, long may it continue.

-You've taught me so much.

-I hope so, David.

I do wish David would stop mentioning romance,

but then, this pair have had quite a week together. No, not like that.

# It takes two, baby

# It takes two, baby... #

David Barby, what's happened?!

-I tripped last night.

-You didn't!

-This is a sympathy vote.

-Shall we shop as a couple?

-I'd rather not.

-Why not?

We're not married. Thank God!

Oh, sugars.

David! Come on! David!

-Who are you up against?

-Charles Hanson.

-Oh, no contest.

And may the best man...win.

Oh, no.

-Can't believe it.

-This is hard work today.

-Selling now, 150.

-You've well and truly nailed me today.

Well, let's hope they both learn from each other.

-Come on.

-I've got to calm down. It's been such an exciting day.

THEY LAUGH

Next time on the Antiques Road Trip, it's out with the old

and in with the new,

as we hook up with antiques experts Mark Stacey and Margie Cooper.

Farewell till then.

You are a sort of Road Trip virgin, if you like. MARGIE LAUGHS

-You know my biggest problem?

-What?

-My hair blowing about in this car.

-Oh, right.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd