Episode 10 Antiques Road Trip

It's the nation's favourite antiques experts, with £200 each,

a classic car and a goal - to scour Britain for antiques.

That hurts.

I'm going to go for it.

The aim - to make the biggest profit at auction.

But it's no mean feat.

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

Goodness gracious me.

Will it be the high road to glory or slow road to disaster?

It's not nice to gloat.

This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Yeah!

The sun is out in Wiltshire, and our lovable antiques experts -

Charlie Ross and Catherine Southon - are jostling along famously.

Oh, look at these animals! The little baby sheep!

-Oh, sheep!

-Oh, look at the lamb!

-I could do with a rack of lamb for supper.

-That's awful!

Young Catherine has taken up the gavel,

starting her own auctioneering business.

And she's no slouch when it comes to driving a bargain, either.

-40.

-Oh, come on!

Old dog Charlie travels the world auctioneering fine vintage cars,

and he's not too short on the old vroom-vroom-vroom himself!

Mwah! This is the most golden day of my life!

Both experts started their road trip with £200 each,

but Charlie's profits have been poor,

so he starts this leg with a rather ephemeral £103.04.

Catherine's doing better and has a tangible £216.56 to play with.

Our gorgeous couple are cosying up

in a classic 1966 Austin-Healey Sprite.

It has no roof...at all,

but on a day like today, who cares?

(BOTH) # I can see clearly now

# The rain has gone

# I can see all obstacles in my way. #

And there's a few of those!

-# It's going to be a bright

-# Bright

# Bright sun-shiny day. #

On this road trip our couple are heading eastwards,

starting in the Wiltshire countryside,

skirting along the south coast and ending up in Rye, East Sussex.

On this leg we're kicking off in Marlborough,

criss-crossing through Wiltshire and Berkshire,

and ending up at an auction in Wareham, Dorset.

Our experts are starting off in Marlborough,

which was granted market-town status in 1204 by King John,

he of Robin Hood fame.

Although I'm sure Robin Hood wore green tights, didn't he?!

This large antiques centre is a treasure trove of a place,

with the wares of over 30 dealers.

Surely there'll be something here for our competitive duo.

Although Charlie's feeling the pressure...

Alas, it's tough at the bottom!

Come along, now, I'm sure you'll find something to get your teeth into.

Eurgh!

Gosh, what an extraordinary thing. It's a hammerhead shark!

Or is it Miss Southon?! Ha! It looks rather like her!

THEME FROM JAWS

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into an antiques shop...

MUSIC BUILDS

Ooh.

-You know what this is, don't you?

-I don't.

-It's a wool winder.

You pull that out...

-1800s this was made. Isn't that...?

-That's lovely.

Look how beautiful that's been made.

So a wool winder, for winding your wool in and out.

It's known as a swift. I think there's probably a little bit missing off the top.

How much would you do on that? It's got 43 on it.

-The best we would do on that would be 38.

-Right.

-I can't push it to 35?

-36.

36. Right. Yes, I might have a go on that one.

That's not a bad price. But Catherine's pulling out all the stops.

£30 for the swift and we're done.

-You said 35. £30 for the swift.

-I can't.

-I can't do that.

-Can you not?

-No, I can't.

-It's no good doing that!

-Look into my eyes!

-I've been done with that before.

-You've got lovely eyes!

-Thank you. I hope that's not being recorded!

Catherine, you are completely shameless!

-I'm rubbish at making decisions!

-Go on, buy it. It's worth a go.

-It's unusual.

-Oh, go on, then.

-Yes?

-32? 33.

-35!

-33.

-36.

-Come on, give me 33.

-35.

-(33.)

-35.

-(33.)

-35.

Thank you!

All that eye-fluttering got you absolutely nowhere.

Well resisted, Gary!

There was no negotiation there whatsoever!

-There was.

-No, there wasn't!

-I'll give you a pound.

-Oh, pfft!

Uh-oh, someone's earwigging in the next aisle.

-Gary!

-Yes?

-Is she trying the female charms with you?

-She's trying.

-You promised me they wouldn't work.

-She's fluttering her eyelids.

-No, I'm not!

-I'm just merely making friends!

-Miss Southon, how dare you?

I haven't tried that with Bob yet.

There's a nice little brooch there. I don't normally buy jewellery.

It's a lady and a gentleman, arm in arm. A bit like Charlie and I, actually.

The gentleman's tall and slender.

Not quite like Charlie, but... you get the idea.

Oh, you meanie!

This Art Deco-style brooch is £48, but the dealer's not in

so there won't be much room for manoeuvre.

He probably would do 40 on that.

So 40... 48 to 40.

I might take a bit of a punt on that one.

So Catherine's made up her mind.

That's the wool winder and the silver-plated brooch for £75.

Charlie still hasn't parted with any of his money, though.

Maybe because he hasn't got very much.

Dig deep, Charlie. Dig deep.

Oh, beer bottles.

"Royal Wedding Ale.

"Specially brewed in celebration of the marriage of HRH Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.

"29th July 1981."

I think that's really rather good. How much is that?

Two pounds. So in my budget!

-Bob, this is your happy moment.

-It is, sir.

I think that's all I can really afford in my budget.

Seeing as you're such a nice chap, you can have a free gift, sir.

-What, Royal Wedding ale?

-Absolutely.

-I've got to pay you something. Could I find a coin?

-You can find a coin, yes.

I hope I can find a small coin!

Oh, no! I think that's five...

-I think it's 5p!

-That'll do fine, sir.

-Would you take five?

-Very well.

-You're a gentleman!

BOTH: Thank you very much.

Our experts are leaving Marlborough in the dust

and heading ten miles east to Hungerford in Berkshire.

Hungerford! Twinned with Ligueil!

Both our experts head to Hungerford Arcade Antiques Centre.

It's one of the oldest antiques centres in the country

and houses the goodies of over 100 dealers.

Now, it's just a case of finding a super helpful one, like our Rita here.

Have you got something that you managed to buy for very little that you could let me have?

I've got a beautiful Orifice crystal bowl.

Orrefors, I think! Not orifice, darling!

That would never do! I can't have an orifice bowl!

That wouldn't be allowed!

Ooh, how lovely!

-It's called A Thousand Windows.

-Is that the pattern?

-Because of the cut.

-How interesting.

The ticket price on this one is £150,

way over your meagre budget, Charlie.

-Look, listen to this...

-PING ECHOES

-It's that glorious sound!

-Isn't that fabulous?

-PING!

-# Mmmmm! I don't like the price!

# I'd like it to be So much cheaperrrrr! #

What sort of money is that to me?

-You know, on a wet day...

-A wet day.

-..with me putting my arm around you?

-And you've only got £100.

Well, I've got to buy about five things with £100, darling.

If you bought this for 75,

I can find four things for you elsewhere for the 25.

That's quite good. Let's put that on one side. I'm in such a...

Oh, I'm in such a quandary, darling!

While Charlie thinks about that one,

Catherine has found a rather attractive German game skewer. As you do.

This is silver-plated. It's stamped with the letter "O"

and telling us that it's silver-plated.

-It's a letter opener.

-Are you sure about that, Catherine?

But it's got a lovely little bird on the top, a game bird.

-I'm guessing it's a...

-A grouse.

-Yes.

It's priced at 59, Adrian.

If you could get that for me at a reasonable price...

25 would be delicious, but...

-Well, she's a delicious lady, but I'm not sure. We can try.

-OK!

Antiques centre manager Adrian just needs to track down the dealer Sharon.

Can we say 30?

Shall we meet in the middle, then, on that and say 35?

38. OK, Sharon, I think you've got yourself a deal on that one. £38.

Thank you very much indeed.

Catherine's up and running. Now, what about cash-strapped Charlie?

I'm in a real muddle here, financially.

Can you do your bowl for £50, or does that really...?

-Why not?

-Why not?!

-Because it's not a lot of money, really!

-I know!

That's the real reason!

£100 off? I'd snap that up, Charlie!

I'll have the bowl, and I'll have a bit of silver, as well.

The little bottle, which I love the shape...

-Yes.

-It's shaped rather like you, if I may say so, Rita!

-Oh, I wish!

-I wish!

-It's got those rather nice curvaceous lines!

Dirty beast! It's £55, but Charlie would like it cheaper.

Could I have that little thing for £20? That would be £70 for two.

You couldn't do 75?

For you, darling, I'd do absolutely anything. I'd stand on my head if you like. 75.

-Is that all right?

-Can you do that?

-Yes.

-God, I do love you.

Melt into my arms and tell me I'm the only one for you.

You're gorgeous! You are gorgeous!

Charlie's charm has got him an Orrefors bowl and a perfume jar,

as he heads off to the next shop.

Can Catherine work some of her magic on the lovely Rita?

That's what I like.

-So, what it is is a travelling barometer thermometer...

-It is.

..in a little gentleman's case.

-Is it working, Rita?

-Complete working order, yes.

-It's lovely, that is.

-Yes.

-What have you got on that?

-95.

-95. What could you do on that, Rita?

-Erm, what about 50?

-Any chance of a little bit more?

-45?

-I tell you what, if you let me have that for 40, I'll have it.

-40!

-Is that cheeky?

-I don't know if I can do it for 40!

-You can't do 45?

-I suppose I could, but I'd love to do 40.

-I would do it for 40 for you.

-Ah, will you?

Oh, go on, then. Definitely 40. I'm definitely having that at 40.

Ooh, she drives a hard bargain, that one.

Charlie has arrived at Dairy House Antiques in Semley with less than £30 in his pocket.

Dear old thing!

-I would like a bit of silver.

-A silver thimble?

-What sort of silver thimble? Who are they by?

-A couple of Charles Horner.

-Charles Horner, the hatpin man.

-Yes.

-He's a good maker, isn't he?

-Not bad.

-Not bad at all.

Oh, aren't they pretty?

-What prices have we got on these?

-Erm...

20 quid on that one and 20 quid... That's 40 quid.

Are these buyable for half price?

-20 quid?

-No. Can't do half price. No!

-No!

-I can't do half price.

It looks like one Charles Horner and one cheaper thimble is the way forward.

-You can do better on that one.

-I could do that and one of...

-What, for 20 quid?

-For 25. Come along!

Well, why don't I do those two?

Top work, Charlie. And with £25 agreed for the thimbles,

it's time to hit the road.

Catherine and Charlie are heading southwest

towards the city of Salisbury in Wiltshire.

At last. I feel disgusting.

You look gorgeous.

Remember the challenge - buy something decent.

Something really nice with three pounds and fourpence.

Er, actually, Charlie, you've only got £2.99.

And a bath hat.

It's cold and it's wet,

-I've got £3.04...

-No, you don't!

..Miss Southon's winning, I'm losing,

-and I want to go home.

-You've got £2.99, you old codger.

A-ha, it's seems that Charlie's made a bit of a mistake here.

He appears to have forgotten he bought a bottle of old ale for 5p,

so now his budget is actually even smaller than he thinks.

I found something for £5 downstairs

and I'm really hoping that they'll take £3.04.

£22. I don't think that's going to come down to £3.04.

Excuse me. I'm afraid it's £10. £3.04 wouldn't do it?

No, it wouldn't, but nice try.

Being an auctioneer of vintage cars,

these should be up Charlie's street, and they look cheap.

These are old motor racing programmes

from meetings in the '50s and '60s.

The programmes are quite collectable and they're very well priced here - £5.

There's one of Silverstone, which is my local race track,

The trouble is, it's priced at £5,

-and I only have £3.04.

-Oh, my gawd, I give up!

Peter! I wonder if I may borrow you for a moment.

There's a programme down here for £5.

-Do you want to have a look?

-May I?

Now, I have, in the world,

£3.04!

HE CHUCKLES

Would it be too rude to offer you £3.04?

-I'm sure that will be fine.

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

£3.04 - Silverstone catalogue.

Worth?

£3.04.

Hmm. In paying for the catalogue,

Charlie has muddled up 5p of his own money - oh, Lordy! -

so he's officially in the red.

With his shopping definitely over, Charlie only has a short trip

across Salisbury to visit the former home of a prime minister.

Arundells is the house Sir Edward Heath lived in for the last 20 years of his life,

and curator and long-time employee Stuart Craven is going to show Charlie around.

-Ah!

-Hello. Charlie Ross.

-Stuart Craven. Pleased to meet you.

-Lovely to meet you.

Leader of the Conservative Party,

Ted Heath became prime minister in 1970

for less than four years,

at one of the most difficult periods of recent British history.

The most extraordinary collection of photographs I think I've ever seen.

Yes, it is. It's a little document of history, in fact,

on all his peers of the time,

whether they be religious leaders or royalty.

Gandhi, Chairman Mao, Khrushchev, Castro...

-Never-ending!

-It's an element of history, isn't it?

Ted Heath collected works of art

and the house is a showcase for many famous artists, such as Lowry.

But he also has a painting by a more unexpected artist.

WSC - initials I recognise.

-Absolutely. Winston Spencer Churchill.

-Yes.

-I love that. I love the colours.

-This is interesting,

because Sir Edward was concerned that Winston never signed his paintings.

Sir Edward was concerned that the value of this might depreciate,

so he said, "Sir, could you sign the painting?"

He took it back to Winston Churchill,

and there you see the signature on the bottom right, WSC.

-He was very delighted with that.

-Yes.

Got it home and discovered the original signature on the bottom left.

-Double signed!

-He was very pleased with that.

Proud of the fact that it was the only double-signature Churchill.

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

But there was far more to Ted Heath

than a life on the international stage.

He conducted between 50 or 60 of the world's leading orchestras - an amazing feat -

including all the orchestras in Europe and the Americas.

You've got to be an amazingly accomplished musician to conduct.

Playing an instrument is one thing,

but being in control of four or five different facets at the same time...

Absolutely. I think he was quite accomplished.

He said that if politics hadn't shaped his life, he might've gone into the music industry,

and I think he probably would've been very good.

As well as an accomplished musician, Heath also wrote several books

and was a world-class sailor.

He came from a humble background.

-His mother was a lady's maid and his father a carpenter.

-Yes.

So to achieve that level of greatness,

-I think, is a wonderful achievement.

-I mean, huge drive.

To take up sailing at 50

and then within a few years, win things like the Admiral's Cup -

-quite remarkable!

-I wish I could achieve one thing as great as that, let alone three.

It's been the most wonderful trip.

I'd like to have been here for a week, really.

Well, sadly, you can't do that, Charlie.

But you can go and put your feet up for a while.

Back in the city centre,

Catherine's following in Charlie's footsteps

by heading into the Salisbury Antique and Collectors Market.

Unlike Charlie, however, she has over £60 to spend,

and owner Peter's going to help her spend it.

What about that cayenne pepper with the devil?

-Is that silver on the top?

-Yes. That's Birmingham 1913.

Now, that is lovely. I like that.

You've got a little devil on the top of a spoon.

You'd use your spoon, that would go in your jar,

and pull out your little bit of pepper.

It's actually marked up at £78. That's a bit punchy.

I'd really need to get that down to 50 in order for me to buy it.

But will the dealer be willing to let it go for that?

That's very nice. It's nice when people say they'd like me to beat Charlie!

Thank you very much for your time.

Bye-bye.

Lovely man.

£50 - what a good deal. But not good enough for Catherine.

Peter, I am very tempted by the devil.

Can I do £48?

Oh, come on, Peter! 48.

-She's got a nerve.

-49.

49? You won't go to 48?

Go on, then, 49! One pound!

That's a very limp handshake there, Peter.

-Do you not mean this?

-Naughty!

Well, that's both our experts' shopping over. Thank goodness.

Catherine began with £216.56 and spent £202 on a swift wool winder,

a 1950s silver brooch, a silver-plated game skewer,

an Art Deco barometer and thermometer and a 1913 pepper pot.

There's my hand. All you need now is the cash.

Charlie started this leg with £103.04

and spent a grand total of £103.09 - ha! -

on a Greene King Royal Wedding Ale bottle,

an Art Deco bowl, a perfume bottle,

two silver thimbles, and a 1961 Silverstone programme.

I have absolutely nothing in the world.

Right, it's time to hear what our experts think

about each other's lots.

I'm not mad keen on her wool winder. Frankly, who wants a wool winder?

I'm happy with what I bought. I think it's going to be an interesting competition,

but I may slightly have the edge. Who knows?

Catherine and Charlie's this leg started in Marlborough, Wiltshire,

then weaved through several counties

before arriving in Wareham, Dorset, for the auction finale.

Here we are. Oh-ho!

-Wonderful.

-Wareham is where it's at!

Right, in we go.

Er, in YOU go. I've got a phone call to make.

-Hm... I'll see you in a minute.

-I'll see you later.

What's that rascal Charlie up to?

This lovely auction house began its life auctioneering off livestock.

Nowadays, you can find all manner of antiques and collectables

poised to go under the hammer.

And I think our Charlie has finally twigged his mistake.

Time to call an old friend.

Ah! Is that the delicious Rita? I've got a confession to make.

I spent too much money, Rita! Do you know why I'm phoning you?

I want a reduction!

I've spent 5p too much!

Would you be prepared to do that? You really are the best.

Now I'll be able to go forth into the auction and beat that Miss Southon.

Oh, for goodness' sake, Charlie, you'll give us all a bad name!

First up is Catherine's Art Deco travelling weather station.

£30 for it. £30 bid, straight in.

-£30. 35. 40.

-You're holding my arm very tight!

45. 50. 55.

60. £60 in the middle.

-Bit more!

-£60. 65 anywhere?

-OK.

-Well done!

-That's all right.

-Profit!

The sun was shining on that barometer.

A decent profit for Catherine.

-Don't be disappointed.

-No, I'm happy with that.

It's Charlie's perfume bottle next,

£15, I saw here first. 15, 18 now.

20. 22.

22, gentleman in the middle.

-25.

-That's better!

-25 now.

25, close to me? 25?

-£25, then.

-GAVEL BANGS

-Not bad.

-Too right, Catherine, it could've been worse.

But technically, it's a loss.

I've got £25 to go shopping with. Oh, no, less commission!

Catherine's wool winder is next.

-£0 bid.

-He's opened it up. 22. 25. 28. 30.

-Here we go.

-£30 bid. 32, sir. 32. 35.

-Come on!

-38.

-40 bid. 40.

-It's nearly a profit!

-42. 45.

-Yes!

-48.

-I'm glad I bought that now!

Gentleman in the middle at 48. £50. The lady there at 50.

-Very good.

-I'm glad I bought that.

It wasn't just the gorgeous man that I bought it from! There was a reason!

This wool winder has spun Catherine a decent profit,

so she should be pleased.

-It's all right, Miss Southon!

-BOTH: Come on!

Next up, Charlie's bottle of ale,

bought with a whole 5p he didn't actually have.

-Rare item.

-Very rare, sir!

-£10 for it.

-Don't make me break the barrier.

-No, do. Bring it down!

£5, then.

-Ohh! £5!

-We've got a £5 bid.

£5, I'm bid. Five. Six. Seven. Eight.

-Ooh!

-Nine.

Ten. 11.

-12. £12 bid.

-12 pounds!

Expensive beer here in Dorset. £12 on the bottle of beer.

-I'm going to sell it.

-£12! Charlie!

Yay! Well done! LAUGHTER

Thank you, sir!

Cheers. That bottle of ale has made Charlie a decent profit

and put him right back in the game.

You've got to drink it now.

I'm never buying anything for more than 5p again!

It's Catherine's game skewer next. Will she get skewered?

This is probably one of my best items, actually.

I've got an opening bid of £10.

Oh. That's not very exciting!

-£12, anybody else? 12 here.

-Oh, no!

-Come on, Miss Southon.

-15, sir?

-15. 18.

-It's WMF! Did he say that?

-20.

-£20, I'm going to sell it.

-That's just not on.

-I have to say, Catherine...

-I don't believe that at all.

That's the one thing that I really don't understand.

Yes, that's a blow, and the first loss of the day.

-Chin up, darling.

-Charlie's silver thimbles are up next.

-£40 for the two. 30, then. Thank you. £30 bid.

-Ooh! Well done.

30. £30. 35, anyone else?

I'm going to sell them, then, if no-one else comes in.

Ohh!

The thimbles have sold for more than Charlie paid,

-But...

-It's a loss, isn't it?

-It is.

-Once you take the commission...

It's Catherine's Art Deco-style brooch up next.

We've got a couple of bids already. I'll start at 15,

20, 25, 30.

-Come on! Keep going!

-£35 in the room.

-40. 45.

-Come on. It's a good thing, this is.

-£45 bid.

-50.

-New bid!

-£55.

-Go on!

55 and selling...

It's a profit!

Well, it's £15, which is not to be sniffed at.

I feel like I'm scraping every single penny.

It's hard work to get your money back in this game.

Yep, it's not easy.

So here comes Charlie's big gamble, with the 5p reduction.

£50 for the Orrefors.

-Oh, dear.

-40, then.

-Charlie!

-£40 bid. Thank you very much.

-40. 45. 50.

-Ooh, Charlie!

-Hold on, hold on.

-55. 60.

-Ooh.

£60. 65.

-Come on, madam!

-65. 70.

-Ooh!

Five now. 75. 75.

-Madam, you know it makes sense!

-75. 80 bid there. £80.

-She doesn't know if she wants it now.

-She does.

-£80.

-Madam, I'm eternally gratefully!

-Roscoe still lives!

-And the gamble paid off.

-That was a bit of excitement.

-There is a Lord, isn't there?

And now, onto Catherine's devilish cayenne pepper pot.

£50 for it?

-Come on.

-50.

-Oh, come on.

-£40, then.

-Come on!

-£30?

-Please! Desperation here!

20. £20. 25?

-Yes.

-30.

-Oh.

-30 here.

-Don't get me excited.

-Come on.

-35 now. 35.

-Ooh, Miss Southon.

-£35 bid. 35.

-35. I'm going to sell it.

-Dear, oh, dear!

I thought you lot in Wareham were going to go for these things!

Another blow for Catherine, sadly.

It's the last lot of the day - Charlie's Silverstone programme.

£10 bid. Thank you very much. £10.

Where are all these people for my lots?

-£12, anybody else?

-£12?!

-£12 here. 15, sir?

-15. 18, sir?

-Well...

-18 bid now. 18.

-Unbelievable!

-20, anybody else?

-Charlie, you are amazing.

-Charlie...

-I didn't imagine that!

Hats off to you today because you have done brilliantly.

With nearly £15 profit on that programme,

I'm inclined to agree.

Considering you had a pile of old rubbish,

you have turned it into gold!

And what an auction it's been.

Catherine started this leg with £216.56

and has made a loss of £21.60, after auction costs. Bad luck.

That leaves her with a grand total of £194.96 to carry forward.

Don't look so stern.

Charlie, on the other hand, has bought wisely, making him today's winner.

He kicked off the day with £103.04,

but managed to make a profit of £32.26, after costs,

bumping his total up to £135.30 to spend next time.

Great!

-Don't you love Wareham?

-I do. And the sun is shining!

Charlie is happy and he is back in the game.

All is right with my world, Miss Southon.

Yee-ha!

BOTH: Bye, Wareham!

Still on the road in their sprightly little 1966 Austin-Healey

and holding up the buses in Sussex,

Charlie and Catherine are being thoroughly sensible.

-Charlie, what are you wearing on your head?

-A fez.

-You look completely stupid.

Well, one of them is, anyway.

This week's road trip takes us eastwards

across the south of sunny England,

starting in Corsham, Wiltshire,

and culminating in Rye, East Sussex.

On this leg, we're kicking off in Birdham, West Sussex,

and gently wending our way along the coast

to an auction showdown in Lewes, East Sussex.

-Oh, oh!

-Antiques, left!

-Right, left, left!

-Whitestone Farm Antiques.

Oh, this looks just my sort of... Oh, yes.

Oh, yes, this fantastic emporium is, you've guessed it, situated on a farm

and is overflowing with rustic charm. I only hope owner Joe knows what's about to hit him!

-Hello.

-And straightaway, Catherine spots something she likes.

We've got fleur-de-lys.

A Scottish emblem with the thistle.

I like those.

Joe, could I ask you a question, please, about these down here? I'd love to know what these are.

I believe they're more than likely out of a chimney

and they were the sort of decorative pieces in it.

How much are they, just out of interest?

Well, they vary between £45 each and £65.

What sort of deal could you do on sort of six of them?

180.

Catherine, that's nearly your entire budget, of £194.96, darling!

I shall think...

Charlie's only got £135,

but here's something he's had success with at a previous auction.

A Silver Jubilee...bottle of beer!

I've got a very, very good track record with buying old booze at the moment.

We've turned 5p into 12 quid already.

-Here is 5p.

-That'll do fine, sir.

£12 on the bottle of beer...

We can do that again.

Silver Jubilee Ale. How much is it? Might as well ask.

-£4.

-£4?

We have got a torn label here which is very, very important when you're buying rare...

£3, then. LAUGHTER

Quick, find the chip in the bottle!

Will £2 buy it?

Well...

You are a one, Joe. Thank you.

Catherine, meanwhile, just can't get those bricks out of her mind.

If I bought two of them, what would you do for that?

-They would have to be 60.

-Right. You couldn't do 55 on those?

-She's a hard lady.

-Oh, I'm not! I'm just merely...

But I like the fact that you're stroking my hand.

Will she stop at nothing?

She never strokes MY hand!

-It's against the rules?

-No, no, I like it.

-Oh, right.

I'm at a hell of a disadvantage being male here!

I think I'll probably go for two because I think three is a big part of my budget.

Miss Southon, may I have a little bit of Joe again?

I saw you stroking his hand.

I thought, "Will you stop at nothing when you're trying to buy antiques?"

I just touched his hand and I didn't mean to stroke it like that.

But he was quite all right about it, so I might carry on.

-You're shameless.

-Am I?

-You are shameless, but I quite like your style.

Hello, what's this with £45 on the ticket?

I was wondering how to play this?

-DULL THRUM

-It doesn't make a great sound.

I would never look at one of those... It's like a zither, isn't it?

I never know the difference. It calls itself a mandolin harp.

What particularly attracted me was all the decoration, the transfer printing, and we've got George V.

This German-made mandolin harp

was designed to commemorate the coronation of George V

whose family originated from Saxony.

However, the outbreak of World War One led the King to change his name to Windsor

in an attempt to distance himself from his origins and the enemy.

-I can do a very good price on that.

-What, a tenner?

A fiver you were going to say?

Not quite that good, Charlie.

-Ssh, no, no. What...?

-45.

Does 30 quid get you out of trouble?

I'm hurting you. What's it going to make at auction?

-I really don't know.

-I honestly don't know any more than you do.

35?

I want to buy it and my heart tells me to buy it.

My heid, of course, tells me, "You're a plonker, Rossco,"

but on the other hand, I'm going to buy it.

Two purchases down for Charlie,

but Catherine's still wrestling with her chimney bricks.

If I buy three, I've got to spend £85 and I think that's too much to spend,

but I think to buy two of them for 55...

Sensible decision. Go for two.

-Still thinking?

-Yes, I am still thinking.

-I would like to buy all of them.

-That's two, four, six of them.

Hang on, Catherine. Didn't you say two just a minute ago?

What would 120 be?

-Too low.

-Too low?

-Hmm.

-150.

-Hmm.

Can we say 130, Joe?

140.

Right.

130...

130... I'm going to go for it, Joe.

I think Joe just said 140, didn't he?

-130.

-Whoa, whoa, whoa!

-I think I am going to go for them.

-Was I on 130 or was I on 140? You've got me confused.

-Where were we? Sorry.

-140.

-I thought we said 130.

-Nice try, Catherine.

-Go on, 130.

-OK. Sorry. I honestly couldn't...

-Oh, yeah(!)

-I'm not sure I can stand the indecision any more.

-Thank you. I'm not sure I can stand it any more.

Now, out of the frying pan, into the fire!

This may be a shout too much, but could you possibly take a tenner for your fireman's helmet?

I will drive along in it then.

Just to see you wearing that driving along, I think you can have that for a tenner.

You are a gentleman, sir!

I am going to wear that wherever we go now. I feel very at home with this on.

Boy!

So, just to recap, Catherine has bought six chimney bricks for 130

and Charlie snaffled up a bottle of beer, a mandolin harp and a fireman's helmet for 47.

Gosh!

Our experts are leaving Birdham behind

and heading 4.5 miles north to Chichester.

Chichester is a beautiful and bustling market city.

It's towered over by its impressive cathedral,

the spire of which once fell down during restoration works.

That's builders for you!

Thankfully, Charlie has his helmet on, though, just in case

as our pair pull up at the next shop.

-Can I come?

-No, you can't come. This is all for old Rossco.

May I take my old mac off and reveal my rather outrageous jacket?

Oh, please don't! Wow!

There is something I'll pull out here because it looks rather interesting.

I do like things relating to booze and that's a champagne bottle.

Ah! It's got a serrated edge on it. It's a vesta.

So you put your matches in there

and strike 'em there.

Oh, that's fab. It's also a cigar-cutter.

Isn't that a rare object?

I've priced it at 50, which I have to get.

Lesley, you're such a temptress.

The only drop I would do would be, just being nice, to 48. And that's it.

-And I bet you don't lose on it.

-How much do you bet me? 48 quid?

The two extra I'm taking off.

Charlie, don't forget you've got to make money.

I'm going to spend £48 of my hard-earned money

and I'm going to have your voice ringing in my ears, Lesley,

"You won't lose money on that, Charlie."

Whilst Charlie guilt-trips dealer Lesley,

Catherine has headed to Peter Hancock Antiques

with only £70 left to spend.

Hello there. I'm looking for something special.

I'm looking at your perfume bottles because they seem to be quite reasonably priced.

Cor! Catherine's picked up a thing of quality.

This perfume bottle was made by celebrated silversmiths William Comyns & Sons

-who even made coronets for coronations.

-It's very nice.

What can you do that for?

I could do that for 40.

I like, in particular, the bird

and then at the front it's got a place there where the lady would have put her initials.

Luckily, there's no initials there, which is quite nice.

I'll take it from you if that can be 30.

OK.

This one here... I'm so sorry that I'm doing this to you.

-That one could be 20.

-Do you want to do 15 on this?

I'll do £45 the two.

45...

-Let's go for them.

-Is that the real deal?

-That's the real deal.

We'll shake on that, then. Thank you very much.

-20.

-20.

-40.

-40.

-50.

-50.

Peter, thank you so much for dealing with me. Wonderful.

£5 change. Thank you.

-Anything for a fiver?

-Anything for a fiver...

While Peter, no doubt, has a well-earned lie-down...

Do you want that little one for a fiver?

..junior assistant Paul wraps up the deal.

That's lovely. A fantastic little perfume bottle.

And I can have this for a fiver?

-I'll wrap it for you.

-Fantastic.

Yeah, quick. He won't mind, will he? I don't want you to get fired!

You're a lucky girl, Miss Southon.

Charlie and Catherine are leaving Chichester behind,

popping into Hampshire and the village of Emsworth.

Emsworth sits at the north end of Chichester harbour.

Back in the 19th century, it was a thriving fishing village,

famed for its oysters, and was home to no less than 30 pubs and beer houses.

Nowadays, there are merely nine pubs

and a rather delightful antiques shop run by the equally delightful Hilary. Look out!

-Good afternoon.

-Good afternoon.

-Charlie Ross.

-Hilary Bolt.

-Hilary, nice to meet you.

-And you.

-May I have a look round?

-Please do.

-There is something I saw in the window which is fantastic.

-It's the Silver Jubilee train.

-Yes.

-Don't bother to get it out.

-Are you sure?

-No. It's just not in my range.

-Talking about the Silver Jubilee, we do have a chair from the coronation.

-Do you?

I believe, after the coronation, you could respond to a newspaper advert

and put your name down for one or more of the chairs or the stools

after the person who had sat on them

had had the option of buying it themselves,

so earls and countesses went away with their high-backed chairs

-and choristers could or could not have their stools according to the whim...

-Yeah, isn't that fantastic?

And there we are, look - "coronation". I think they're great.

They're such a piece of history, aren't they? Is this yours?

-No. But what have they got on it?

-85.

This stool belongs to one of the dealers who sell their wares here.

I daren't be around when this call is made.

Oh, hello. It's Hilary here from the antiques shop.

We've got somebody who's interested in the coronation stool.

Could you do it, by any chance, for, say, £35?

£50 off. That's not bad.

Uh... They say yes, but only if it's cash.

Oh, it'll be cash. Really?

-You're an absolute angel.

-Thank you.

-That's really splendid.

Charming Charlie does it again. Meanwhile, just up the road,

Catherine's pulling up to somewhere rather special.

Behind the facade of this unassuming bungalow lies a treat for the ears and eyes.

-Hi.

-Hello.

-Lester Jones collects and restores Victorian, mechanical music boxes.

Wow!

This is brilliant. So how did you get interested in musical boxes?

It started as a family collection, my grandfather and father,

then the restoration side of it was something that I took on seriously about 25 years ago.

We've got a lovely selection here, as well, of cylinder boxes.

Can we have a little listen to see how it sounds? I'd love to hear it.

CREAKING AND CRANKING

SOFT CHIME OF CAN-CAN MUSIC

We know this, don't we?

SHE SINGS ALONG

Developed from 18th century musical snuff boxes,

the very first Victorian mechanical music boxes feature

a metal cylinder covered in pins.

When rotated, the pins catch the teeth of a comb

in a specific sequence,

thereby creating the lovely sound exactly as the Victorians would have heard it.

I buy them in an unrestored condition.

And you like to do it yourself.

The movements and the cases are then all fully restored,

so they look and play like they did when they were new.

-What's over here?

-That's a musical chair.

-These are quite rare, aren't they?

They're very spindly, so not too many have survived. There's a small cylinder music box under the seat.

When you sit on it, it allows the governor to run.

It's not going to work now.

-TUNE PLAYS

-There we are.

I suppose they used to find this quite hilarious, didn't they?

It was a bit of a novelty and a bit of fun,

but I'm not sure I feel terribly comfortable on a chair

where music is being played underneath my bottom.

I think I'll get up.

They were truly into novelties. The Victorians put musical boxes into fruit bowls, steins and chairs.

You name it, you can find a musical version of any household item that they had at the time.

Eventually, the cylinders were replaced by discs

which enabled tunes to be changed quickly and easily.

TUNE PLAYS This is a typical instrument

that would have been in English pubs and cafes just prior to 1900.

So people would have thought these were quite cool things to have at the time.

Today, we have our jukebox, something where we put the money in and we get our selected music.

-That's what they were doing in the 1900s.

-In 1900, this was cutting-edge technology.

And now these beautiful machines have become very desirable and valuable.

I'm looking over here at this beautiful automaton. Can I have a look at this?

So by automaton, we're meaning...?

A mechanical, moving figure or a picture, often with a musical movement as well.

Let's see what it does. I'm intrigued to see.

-TUNE PLAYS

-Oh, look at that. Oh, look at that!

That is absolutely delightful.

We've got a little train going past.

We've got this little figure walking around the turret

and this rocking ship.

Even that just by itself...

It's so sophisticated. There's so much going on there,

to go up and down on this simulated sea, plus the clock movement.

That is very exciting, I think.

-Thank you very much, Lester. It's been a real privilege and a pleasure.

-I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Thank you very much indeed.

Back on the road and, oh dear, with no car roof,

our experts have resorted to shower caps again.

Charlie Ross, remind me what we're doing.

Because I feel that I have lost the plot slightly.

I must say, the Lord has blessed us with the most unbelievable weather on this trip.

But thankfully, our experts have both been blessed with a "glass half-full" take on life.

# Always look on the bright side of life

# Do-doo, do-doo, do-doo, do-doo

# Always look on the bright side of life... #

-I just got dripped on by that tree!

-'Come on, Brian, cheer up!'

Our competitive pair are leaving Emsworth behind

and heading to Arundel in West Sussex.

And they're both nearly broke.

Catherine has £14.96 left, whilst Charlie has £5.30,

so an expensive antiques shop is a no-no.

-Aerodrome!

-Look, car boot sale!

Ah, just the ticket!

Come hither.

This huge car boot sale is held on an airfield

and is normally teeming with buyers and sellers,

but Catherine and Charlie have arrived a little late.

I rather like this.

I rather expect it's quite a lot of money. It's got a super wheel.

And it's just suitably distressed.

-A bit like me!

-Get in and I'll wheel you around.

-I'm not sure the gentleman will give us permission.

-You're lighter than I am. You should be in the barrow.

-No, I'm not getting my jeans dirty.

-I'm not getting my trousers dirty.

-In you get.

-No!

How much would you pay for that barrow?

-About a fiver.

-Yeah.

It's 50 quid.

Catherine is on her local patch here, but any insider knowledge doesn't help

when nearly everyone has gone home. Huh!

It's normally completely full right down to the end here.

Hello! Got anything left?

Charlie has stumbled across a friendly Dutchman - Harry Oolders.

I love your hat. Is that for sale?

-Is that your wife in the car?

-Yes.

-Hello, my dear!

-Morning, Charlie?

-How very... "Charlie" - you know my name!

-How very sensible to stay in the dry...

-Yeah.

-..while the old man does the business.

I will come straight to the point.

-I am left with £5 in my pocket.

-No! No more?

Oh, look, that must be a Dutch oil painting.

-Wempe.

-Wempe, yes.

Pieter Wempe - he's a very famous artist(!) Oh, yes, he is.

Charlie, what are you doing? That painting is total tat!

-It's a lovely signature. Is that £5?

-£5 for you.

I think for a fiver...

It's probably worth two quid, but you're such a lovely man,

I'm going to buy it because I want to buy it. Here we go.

Five of the best, sir.

Charlie's final item, but Catherine can't find anything she wants to buy,

apart from... Remember this?

-How much is your wheelbarrow?

-I've got 50 on it.

-Oh!

-£50.

-But I can move a little bit.

-Can you move a lot?

Something like that would look great in a garden filled with...

-Absolutely.

-Filled with nice, blooming flowers, it would look wonderful in the summer.

I tell you what. £30, you can buy it.

I would buy it at that, but I promise you, I haven't got that left.

Can I buy it for £14.96?

I could have a lot of fun with that.

I'd love to sell it, make a lot of money and shove Charlie in it and wheel off to success.

-Go on, shake my hand.

-Shall I do it?

-I've never sold one as cheap.

-Have you not?

-Never.

-Do you think I should do it?

-Shake my hand.

-Yeah!

That's a first - a deal done on sheer exuberance!

You've got to hand it to her.

-This is literally it down to the last drop.

-I believe you.

So that leaves our experts virtually spent up.

Charlie started this leg with £135.30

spent exactly £135 on a George V coronation mandolin harp,

a Hampshire fire service helmet,

a rare combined Vesta cigar cutter,

a 1953 coronation stool from Westminster Abbey,

a Silver Jubilee commemorative beer,

and a painting by F J Wempe.

Oh, it'll be cash!

Catherine began with £194.96 and spent every penny she had on

six rare and unusual chimney bricks,

three perfume bottles, that she'll sell as two separate lots,

and a 1950s wheelbarrow. So what do our experts think of each other's lots?

Wheelbarrow, quoted to Rossco, £60.

Catherine buys for £14 and a few pence.

She's bought three wonderful silver-top jars,

one by William Comyns, a great maker, which I think is worth 100 quid on its own.

The beer, the picture, the helmet - it's just Charlie, really, isn't it?

Silly Charlie.

But I think there is a tad of seriousness coming in there

and there's a couple of things there that I'm a little bit jealous of.

The stool, I think is actually rather good.

But between you and me, I do hope that the bricks sink.

Ooh! Well, let the battle commence, eh?

Catherine and Charlie began in Birdham, West Sussex,

had a little detour into Hampshire, then continued eastwards.

They will now conclude at an auction in Lewes, East Sussex.

This is where it's at.

How was that, Miss Southon? Perfectly driven as always.

Gorringes made its name by selling the collections of large country houses

and now has a reputation for auctioning fine antiques and collectables.

So does auctioneer Philip Taylor think our experts' choices make the grade? Philip?

Charlie and Catherine have brought some interesting things for us to look at,

but unfortunately, maybe they didn't realise the day we're offering it is a silver sale.

I'm not sure we're going to have too many buyers for their wheelbarrow on a silver sale

or for the chimney bricks. We'll see. Hopefully, we'll do OK.

Oh dear, a silver sale. This could be disastrous.

First up is Charlie's coronation stool.

£20 for somebody to start it? The coronation stool? 20 I'm bid.

25. 25. 30 bid. 35.

£35 only. 40 bid now. At £40.

I need to sell it at 40. Are you all done? Then at £40 it goes...

That's a loss after the auction house

takes its well-earned commission.

Ah, here we are. This is my lot, everybody.

Yes, it's Catherine's big gamble next - her chimney bricks.

£20 to get them started? £10, surely?

-£10?!

-The chimney bricks at £10?

-Oh, no!

-I'll give you 10.

-What a man!

-£10 bid. At 10. £10 only. 15 now.

-Come along now. At 15.

-I don't believe it.

-20 in front.

At 25 now. They're unusual, aren't they, at 25, you must say?

Are you all done? At £25 they sell, then.

Oh, dear, she's dropped a brick there. Six, actually. Poor girl.

-Are you all right?

-No, I'm absolutely heartbroken.

Will Charlie's helmet set the house on fire?

£10 bid me on it? Any bids at 10? 5, will someone say?

Any bids at £5? Thank you, 5 I'm bid. Brave lady at £5.

Thank goodness for the brave lady!

10 I'm bid now at the back. 15, madam? Make it 12 if you wish?

12 I'm bid. Thank you. At £12 only.

-£12 only...

-Yes.

It looks like a profit, but sadly, that's a loss after costs.

Next up, Catherine's two perfume bottles.

£30 to get them started? 25 then? 25 I'm bid. The two together now.

-25 only.

-I need a bit more than 25, Charlie.

-£30 bid. £30. 35.

-Ssh!

-35. At 40.

Come on. Come on. They're really good.

-45. 50.

-Come on.

-At 50.

-At £50 bid.

-Come on.

-At £50. 55. At 55. 60.

-The two together now at £60.

-Please keep going. Please keep going.

-65. At 65. Still yours at 65.

-Come on, keep going.

-Keep going.

-Last time, then, lady's bid in front. At £65 they go...

Look at that! An excellent profit for Catherine. She's edging back.

-To hell with the bricks! Forget the bricks.

-No, Charlie, I can't ever forget the bricks.

We'll all have to move on now. It's Charlie's oil painting next.

Anyone seen it? 20? Start me at £20? £10 to get me started, someone?

-Something would be good.

-Yes, something would do. £5.

-The gentleman's seen it. £5 only.

-Congratulations, sir.

You don't need to see it at this price. At £5.

I'll have to sell it at 5. It goes at £5 only...

And that's broken even. Charlie is struggling to make profits today.

We're not having a good day.

What you both need is a bit of music to your ears. Will the harp sing?

What shall we say? £20 for the zither?

£10 for the zither to get it started? 10 I'm bid.

-Result, frankly!

-15 bid. 20 now. 25. £25 for the zither.

-30.

-This is a world record for a zither.

In the corner now at 30. You're going to get it, I think, at 30.

-Finished at £30...

-You're a wonderful man.

It's another loss. Oh, dear.

Chuffed?

Over the moon(!)

Next, Catherine's rustic wheelbarrow.

£20 I'm bid. At 20 here. Only at £20. 25, I should think so too. At 25.

£30 now, sir. At 30. 35, will you?

At 35, I have. It's on the back wall now at £35.

-Oh!

-At £40. At 40.

-On the internet.

-At £40 on the desk.

-Oh!

-£45.

At 45. 50, I have.

-Beside me now at 50.

-Thank you.

-Sells at £50 on the desk...

Thank you, everybody.

Excellent profit on the wheelbarrow, considering it's a silver sale!

You've got to laugh or you cry.

Next, Charlie's only silver of the auction. Silver Jubilee, that is.

Any bids at £5? Get me started, surely? £2 if you wish?

-£2 on my right. The bid is at £2.

-Somebody's bid £2.

-Somebody's bid on the internet. Marvellous.

-At £2 only...

Oh, that bottle sank!

I've got to pay a commission on that, Miss Southon.

I've got to pay about 35p commission.

Hopefully, Charlie's champagne plated vesta picks up his profits.

£20 to get it started? £10 if you wish? Thank you, 10 I'm bid.

-15 bid now. Thank you, sir. At £20.

-I'm surprised, actually.

-Very cheap, isn't it?

-I'm very surprised. That's not on.

25, thank you, sir. At £25.

-35.

-It deserves to do well, this, Charlie.

-The bid now is at 35.

-Not quite what I expected.

-I'm letting it go then at £35...

That really surprises me.

Champagne Charlie loved it, but sadly, no-one else seemed to.

I would have bought that, definitely.

Now it's the last lot of the day - Catherine's embossed perfume bottle.

She sure needs it to make a profit.

Straight in at £50 to start it.

55. 60 now. 65.

£65 bid. At 65... 70 bid.

Are we all done? Any further bidders then? At £70. It sells at 70...

Well done, Catherine.

A great profit for Catherine,

but has it made a dent in her bruising loss on the bricks?

Charlie started this leg with £135.30

and has made a loss of £33.32 after auction costs.

That leaves him with a rather meagre total of £101.98 to carry forward.

Don't look so sad!

Catherine had a disaster with her bricks,

but her other profits mean that she's the winner.

She began this leg with £194.96

and made a loss of £22.76,

bringing her total to £172.20 to spend next time.

Right, Miss Southon, allow me, oh, most prestigious brick-buyer.

You're not allowed to mention that word!

-Although I just bumped into the buyer who bought the bricks.

-Yeah.

-£25?

-He did.

He's just sold them for 50.

CHARLIE LAUGHS

-Thank you, Lord!

-I cannot believe it.

-Onwards and upwards.

-Off we go!