Episode 2 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!

Is it the right way up?

The aim, to make the biggest profit at auction. But it's no mean feat.

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

I look like the mad hatter!

So will it be the high road to glory

or slow road to disaster?

I'm only in this programme to be Anita Manning's chauffeur!

This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Yeah!

We're out enjoying the open road with Anita Manning and Philip Serrell

in a '65 sky-blue Sunbeam Alpine.

I love it because it goes with my boots.

There are times in your life when you wish you'd got a bloke as your partner!

Phil is an auctioneer from Worcester whose gruff exterior

conceals the heart of a true romantic.

Does that give me a certain look?

Phil, I love you because you're daft and dangerous!

Anita is also an auctioneer and even though she hails from Glasgow,

the two do have something else in common.

This is going to surprise the nation here,

-but you and I are both ex PE teachers!

-That's right!

I specialised in dance, not rugby!

-Did you do the Bump, or whatever it was?

-The Bump?

-Wasn't that a dance craze?

Come on, Anita. Who could forget the Bump?

Both our road trippers have £200 each spending money.

Their Road Trip starts in Ford, in the far north of England,

then ventures into Scotland before winding its way southwards

and concluding in Yorkshire at Harrogate.

On this leg, we kick off in Northumberland at Ford

and head over the border to an auction in Edinburgh.

The sleepy village of Ford

takes its name from a crossing of the River Till

which in Anglo-Saxon times

was apparently popular with nuns and monks

travelling between the holy places of Iona and Lindisfarne.

Once a humble dairy, this place is now THE destination

for those seeking the unusual, the eclectic and the bizarre.

You'll find just about anything here.

I suppose these would have been the - what do you call them? -

the pens that the cows are kept in.

Do they keep cows in a dairy?

Have you ever seen an actual farm, Anita?

Bread sauce! Bread sauce!

He doesn't like me at all.

What's Anita spotted?

I'm quite interested in these prints.

They are the fashion plates of the 1860s.

They show us the type of dress that women wore at that time.

It's a very sort of girlie thing to buy

and I know that Phil will hate them and think I'm totally mad.

They're only £9.50.

I think it's £9.50 for one, so it's pretty cheap.

Time to consult Lynne.

Is it 9.50 for the pair?

-Nice try, Anita!

-9.50 each.

-They're 9.50 each.

-But I could do the two for 15.

Could you do them for 12? Could you come to 12 on them?

Why not?

-Will we do it?

-We'll do it.

-That's lovely. Thanks again.

So, Anita has two pictures in the bag.

Looks like Phil's getting with the farmyard idea.

I quite like these two.

There's a sort of a chicken theme recurring here.

Not exactly antiques, though, are they, Phil?

The thing is, will my plans come home to roost? Ha-ha!

Dear me, that was a really bad "yolk"!

Oh, please! What does Keith think?

We've got them up at 20 each.

Yeah. Can you do £18 for the two?

Call it 20. Then you've got one for nothing.

Go on, then. Is that the way it works?

-Hark at this! But I like them, anyway.

-All right.

Ah, I wonder what that was used for?

-Can you tell me anything about this?

-I know about that. Can you guess what it is?

I thought it was the stretcher that they used to carry the drunks to jail on a Saturday night!

-It's a coffin carrier.

-Is it a coffin carrier?

-A coffin carrier.

How macabre!

It's the type of thing you could take a chance on

if it was, you know, a low price.

I think it's quite a low price. Let me check.

Lynne's gone off to consult Keith,

leaving Anita to ponder.

I'd pay 20 quid for that.

Just to see the expression on Phil Serrell's face!

Could this be bought for 20 quid?

I mean, I'm playing a wild card here.

It could go to auction and get a pound and I could lose 19 quid!

I think we could let it go at 30.

But that would be absolutely my bottom price.

Could you come to 25? Could you come halfway down?

Well, since it's you!

Oh, thank you so much!

Could it be a moment of madness?

Now, that is unusual.

Is Anita's strategy to beat Phil at his own game?

I'm sure he'll rise to the challenge, though!

Keith, I love all this architectural stuff.

What's that?

That's a ridge tile.

-Ridge tile?

-A hump-back ridge tile.

What would be the point of that?

Just, I think, for decoration. Something different on a roof.

-That's glazed stoneware.

-It is.

What on earth would you do with that? How much is that?

20 quid.

Do you, know, I think that's cheap. But...

-I just don't know who would buy it?

-Mm.

Yeah. Who?

And 20 quid is the absolute finito?

-I might tweak it a little bit.

-Right.

-I could manage a tenner for it.

Is he really going to buy that?

He is, you know!

Keith, thank you very much.

-I'll put this in the back of the car before she sees me!

-Thank you.

-Thank you. Bye!

-Bye!

With some, er, unusual buys on board,

Anita and Phil must now hurry up and motor

from Ford to Berwick Upon Tweed.

Although it's been English since 1482,

a recent poll suggested that 80% of residents

would rather be under Scottish rule.

And there are enough ramparts around here to remind us

that you can never say never!

Knowing Phil, he'll probably pick up a battlement going cheap!

This place looks like a real mixed bag.

Part antique, part charity shop. But the man from Worcester

is quick to spot something.

Hell's bells! 250?!

Is that £2.50?

I'm joking, man. I just wanted to see your face when you saw 250!

I thought I did the jokes round here, Tom!

If you pull that off, there's a proper price underneath.

Really. Is that your... 40 quid?

-Cheap, isn't it?

-Is that your shop price?

-Too cheap.

It's a piece of Royal Worcester.

G 161.

-That's the pattern number of it.

-Right.

If you look in the pattern book, it will tell you that 161 is a small, squat fluted vase

and the G will tell you that originally it came from the Granges Factory.

And then it's got there a little square.

As if by magic, if you look just there,

a square tells you that it was made in 1928.

Genius.

I think he's done this before, you know.

So, we know how old it is.

Who's it by, that's the question.

-Do you know who it's by?

-There's a name on it.

James Stinton.

The Stinton dynasty dates back as far as the early 19th century.

For four generations, the various family members painted china

with each specialising in particular scenes.

For James, it was pheasants.

Their work is massively collectable.

£40, I presume, is your best price.

Yes!

-I'm going to ask, because...

-I thought it was cheap at 40.

35.

I'm going to buy it off you.

Let me tell you, I think that's worth between £200 to £300.

I think Tom might need to sit down, now.

I'm really, really pleased. Thank you very much.

So I'm going to buy that off you. That's 35.

You've been so kind, it's not true.

I love this, as well.

This angling guide is by the Hardy family who started as gunsmiths

in nearby Alnwick in 1872,

but later made their name with fishing equipment.

I think that's fantastic. What's the best you can do on that?

Bearing in mind that you've just got a really cheap vase...

-I have, I have, I have.

-40 quid.

Can I give you 35 quid for that?

-Go on.

-You're a gentleman.

That was quick work. I think he's rather pleased with those.

Back on road, the mood in the Sunbeam is best described as "mixed"!

You're not giving me this smiley, cheery person the whole week, are you?

-I can't help it!

-It's going to wear me out! Absolutely wear me out.

Please don't be this happy all the time.

-My face isn't made for miserable.

-True. And mine is!

Our two are now in Scotland

veering towards the auction in Edinburgh,

with a few stops along the way and Innerleithen is one of them...

-Cheers, Anita.

-Bye-bye, darling.

..where Phil's about to put shopping aside and take a trip back in time.

Behind this unassuming shop front is a unique piece of industrial heritage.

-Hi.

-Hello!

-I'm Philip. How are you?

-I'm Jen. Nice to meet you.

This is a fantastic building. This is Robert Smail's print works?

-Yes, here in Innerleithen.

-They set up in the 19th century?

-1866.

-Never had much of a clear-out, did they?

That's the lovely thing about the Smails. They never modernised, and never threw anything away.

When, after 120 years, the family finally gave up the unequal struggle against new technology,

the National Trust stepped in to create a working museum of printing.

-This is the type room, is it?

-The case room.

It's called that because it's where you store your cases of type.

We've got 400 cases of type.

-A case is a literal wooden case that contains letters of the alphabet.

-Absolutely right.

For each alphabet, you'd have two cases. The upper case, which sits on the upper part of the rack,

that's for capital letters.

-Your lower case...

-It's as simple as that.

-It is.

It was really important that you put them back in the right case.

The type, when it's cast, is cast in mirror image

and apprentices were told to mind their p's and q's

because a p would look like a q, and a q would look like a p.

-So you'd have to put it in the right place.

-I love expressions like that.

So your p's and q's come from... There's a q.

-Yep.

-I have to remember where I got this. There's a p.

So if it looks like a p, it must be a q.

Tell you what, that is confusing!

Downstairs in the machine room, Smails continues to print

on ancient letter-press machines like the Arab clamshell platen,

the Wharfedale Reliance and the original Heidelberg.

Miller and Richards in nearby Edinburgh were a major type foundry

supplying type to the world.

The archives of Smails reflects the importance of printing.

They're a fascinating social history of the first industrial age.

This one is quite interesting.

It's a poster, again 1912, the coming of women's suffrage

-to the town.

-Really?

They once printed a newspaper on these premises

and acted as a shipping agency, booking passages to the New World.

Responsible work and the letter-press type setter

was at the centre of it all.

No wonder it took a seven-year apprenticeship. I wonder what Phil can learn in an hour?

It's left to right. So you're setting it exactly the same way as you'd write it,

but as the letters are a mirror image, you have to set them upside-down.

I'm going to do my name, right?

Wherever the little label is, it's the space below.

That's the first mistake, then.

I was just about to be "Hilip" Serrell, was I?

-Yeah.

-So that goes there.

-Yes.

Each letter has a little nick or groove on them.

That helps you get them up the right way. So if you see...

-You're a natural! Well done!

-I know.

But the only way to find out if it's right is to take a proof of it.

Apply the ink, grab some paper,

get a hold of the mighty Eagle press

and pull!

Is that you, sir?

Good Lord above! It is, as well!

-I'm going to keep that!

-Excellent.

Well done, Phil. And to cap it all, you successfully spelt your own name!

Meanwhile, Anita has, with equal aplomb,

made her way from Innerleithen to Melrose.

Several well-known rugby players hail from Melrose.

This looks like a very nice little shop.

There's a real mix of glitz and glamour in here.

Although it's Anita's bag, she only has £163.

Hello, dog.

But, as well as that puppy, it seems there's an elephant in this room.

Can I lift this up and have a good wee look at it?

And another!

I like those. It would be nice to get them at a reasonable price.

-Are they the type of thing that the posh Edinburgh folk will buy?

-Yes.

Yes, actually.

Are they as sophisticated as the Glasgow crowd?

Differently!

-Good answer, Sue!

-What I'm doing here is

I'm trying to avoid coming straight out and saying, "What sort of price?"

It could be a way out of my price, and it might not.

Um...

£90 the pair.

Hmm. Not exactly jumbo. But worth thinking about.

Is there anything in here that you think is a good buy, or is it all too expensive for me?

What I like is that lovely Art Deco ring there.

That will be outwith my price range.

-It's not diamonds, Anita.

-It's not diamonds?

-No.

It looks the part, doesn't it?

But it's got to be £75.

The design is lovely, isn't it?

A good sparkle, as well!

-When she showed me, I was, "Ooh!"

-"£75? Yes, I'll take it right away!"

Now, I think I've got to have a go at these elephant tables.

I'd also like to have a go at the ring.

-Is there no negotiation on the ring at all?

-No.

-On the tables, I was thinking round about 50. Is that...

-No.

-No, they'd have to be more than 50.

-Have to be more than 50?

Can we come anywhere near that?

65?

Is 60 out of it altogether?

-All right, 60.

-Will we go to 60, uh-huh?

That's great. That's lovely. Thank you very much.

I'm so pleased, because I just fell in love with them.

So, Anita's changed her mind and bought the ring

as well as the elephant tables for £135.

Back together, Phil and Anita motor further north

from Melrose to Danderhall.

Well, they started out in a dairy

and now they've arrived at a couple of industrial units,

ready to get their hands dirty and have a rummage.

These are called Codd bottles and they're great fun.

In the 19th century, you used to have a little wooden tool

that you put on top and you bashed it and then it knocked that marble

down to the bottom so you could drink out of it.

Then kids used to smash these bottles and play marbles with the marble inside.

They can be massively collectable,

depending upon what it says on the front.

This has got Manchester on it,

which won't be a great deal of help in Edinburgh, I don't think!

Now, they might appeal.

Murano glass. From the 1960s.

They have bags of style.

Murano glass, famous for its colour,

is from the Venetian island of the same name.

The glass-makers were allegedly encouraged to move there from nearby Venice

because of the fire hazards involved with their trade.

One is marked up at £15, and the other is marked up at 25.

So that's 40 quid for both of them.

Now, I don't want to pay £40 for both of them.

I haven't got £40 to spend.

Actually, Anita, you've only got £28, so you can't afford the asking price for that, either.

It's a little oak table.

Art Deco in style.

There's not a lot to it,

but the simplicity is what people like today.

It's solid oak. It's not veneered. It's a nice little thing.

While Anita ponders spending her last few pounds,

cash-rich Phil, who has £100 left,

is busy once more with architectural salvage.

That's going to be a mother to move, that is!

But what on earth is it?

What do you reckon it was? Was it like the keystone off a bridge?

-Apparently.

-Sort of set into the middle of the bridge.

But while Phil wrestles with metal, Anita's moved on to the bargaining stage.

It's lovely. It's a wee gem.

You're looking in the region of £18?

-That would be too little for me.

-Does it come anywhere near that?

It would have to be around 25.

-Around 25?

-Couldn't be any less than 25.

What about on the glass?

If I wanted to go on the glass?

I could do the two for 30.

Could you come to 25 on the two glasses?

27 is the best on them.

-OK, we'll take a chance and go on it. Thank you very much.

-Thanks.

So, two pieces of glass for £27.

Just one pound left, then.

Back to Phil and he's definitely plumped for the bit of bridge,

but the dealer seems a bit shy!

Can I give you 30 quid for it?

Get it out your way?

There's another way of looking it. It can sit there forever.

But this is a shop, not a museum!

I'll give you 35 quid for that.

Are you going to lift it?

Well, I'll get it lifted.

-When?

-Soon.

-I'll give you 35 quid.

-Have it for 30 quid if you lift it today.

OK, you're on.

Away off these premises today.

-You're on.

-40 quid if you dinnae.

30 quid, done deal. Got a tenner?

Give us the 40 quid and I'll give you the tenner back when you lift it.

-It'll be moved today, I promise.

-Then you'll get the tenner back.

-30 quid if it's moved today.

-A tenner back if you move it today.

Thank you very much.

Well done, Phil... I think!

Plus a £10 discount if he can only shift it quick.

Phil's got some wheels already and his £10 change, too.

I don't think I should have bought this.

How far's he going to get with that, though? Not in the Sunbeam!

Ah. Well done, Phil.

If I'd have known that, I'd have bought the whole bridge!

Huh, our experts are definitely shopped out.

Anita began with £200. She's spent a total of £199

on an early 20th-century coffin carrier,

a pair of side tables, an Art Deco ring,

two pieces of 1960s Murano glass

and a pair of framed prints.

-I owe you some change.

-For a cup of tea?

Phil also started out with £200. He spent £130 on a large, wrought-iron metal plaque,

a 1920s Royal Worcester vase,

a late 19th-century tile,

two art pottery bowls,

and a 1920s Hardy's Angler's Guide.

Now it's time to hear what our experts think of each other's shopping.

I think Anita's done really well

and I think her real ace is that ring

cos if those are diamonds, that's surely going to be worth £300.

This group of things that Philip has bought is so Philip Serrell.

Wonderful, delicate piece of Worcester

and that big...cast-iron bridge thingy!

The elephants, well, you know,

I can't quite see those at all.

At 60 quid, that seems like a pile of money.

It's the day of the auction and they haven't got far to go.

Which way is north?

That way.

-Is that just a...?

-It's that way or that way.

-Where's the sun?

-This is not... The sun?!

We're in Scotland, what sun?!

There's no sun at all, you silly woman! What sun?

-It's raining, it's grey, there's no sun anywhere!

-If we know where the sun is...

After starting out in Ford,

our experts are finally heading for lovely Edinburgh.

Ah, as capital city and heart of the Scottish Enlightenment,

dominated by the castle,

Edinburgh has many famous and infamous buildings,

like the expensive Parliament.

Anyone seen any salmon rising?

I'm quite excited.

I love the thrill of anticipation of a new auction.

-Well, it looks like a shop as well, doesn't it?

-Yeah.

This is Shapes Auctioneers, where they recently sold

a pair of Sir Walter Scott's slippers for £3,000.

OK.

Almost ready.

Oh, dear! Something's happened to Phil's ridged tile.

It really doesn't help when one of your own crew go and drop it!

Oh, dear!

So now it's up to auctioneer Gavin

to estimate what it would have sold for.

We had a 30 to 40 estimate, and the insurance will cover that.

So I would say about £35 for something that's been damaged.

It could be a good day for them!

I've made 20 quid by breaking something. How cool is that?

-Where's the sledgehammer?

-I'm going to rip into everything now!

Quick, let's get started before anything else gets bust!

Lindsay Brown is in the rostrum.

-Ooh, I'm getting the wobbles.

-I didn't know you were the nervous type.

I'm like a coiled spring.

First up, the Worcester vase.

Phil has high hopes for this one.

50? I'll take 50.

55. 60.

65. 70.

75. It's our bid.

On my right at 75.

I'll be surprised if that's all it sells for. It's ridiculously cheap.

£80 online.

£80 and he's out.

It's £80 on the net, then.

-Still for nothing.

-£80.

-Ouch!

Selling at £80. £80.

GROANS

That was way short of the £200 he wanted.

But with that and the broken tile,

the wily old fox is off to a solid start.

What can his chickens do?

Anyone interested at 20 for the two items?

Thank you, madam, I see you.

-£20 seated.

-I'm just losing money.

-Looking for 25.

Selling, then, to the maiden bid at £20

to the lady seated. Last chance.

-All out at £20.

-That just cost me three quid.

Yes, a loss after commission.

But you're still in the lead here.

You haven't sold anything yet!

OK. Anita's first lot.

The Murano glass.

£10. Is there 15 going on? 15, I see you.

20? Got to be worth it. You're getting two.

Go for it. £20. Do you want to bid?

I have 20 online, so you're too late! There you go.

20 online, and the lady is out also.

Selling online at £20.

25. I see you. Thank you. 25 we have.

Seated in the middle at 25. Someone with some taste!

There we go. 25. 25.

It's good value for money.

But I've still made a loss.

Don't fret. It's Anita's ring next.

They're definitely not diamonds.

But will it sparkle?

-Where shall we say, ladies? £20 to start?

-£20? For heaven's sake!

Any interest at ten? Ten, I see you. I have 15 here. 20.

25 with me.

£30. £30 seated in the room.

35. 40. 45.

50. 55. It's very twinkly. You won't regret it.

Last call at 55. 55 and selling, then. At 55.

-It could have been worse.

-Another loss. What's next, Anita?

So, we've got a coffin carrier!

I love that.

-A fun thing. I hope it doesn't bury you!

-Fun?

Yeah, he just wished he'd spotted it! OK.

Shift change. Gavin's now at the helm.

30 we have, straight in. £30.

Anyone else? 30. 35.

40. 45. 50.

-It's going to make 80 quid, this.

-55.

60.

-65.

-Come on!

-70.

-Good girl.

70 still, standing.

£70. Anybody else? £70, this unusual lot. £70.

Maybe it was the type of item that Edinburgh would love.

It wasn't a dead loss, was it?

No, it carried off a few pounds instead!

Philip, we're approaching the moment of truth.

OK, Edinburgh. Are you ready for this?

Hope you've got a strong boot and good muscles to move this one out!

Who'll start me off at 20?

I'll sell this for 20. 20 we have. £20

against you all. 20, still seated.

Last chance. 25. New bidder.

25. 30.

35.

£35. I will sell then.

£35. Any last chance?

35.

So, someone actually wants the middle of a bridge!

-It's your lot now, darling.

-Sh, sh!

Concentrate. It's in wonderful condition, isn't it?

Wonderful condition.

What will Phil's dog-eared book make?

A copy of Hardy's Anglers' Guide.

48th edition. Slightly used condition.

-Whose side are you on?

-We'll start it off at £20. £20 we have.

£20 in the room.

-£20 we have standing at the back.

-Can I bid on this?

-Anybody else?

-Oh, no!

£20. Still standing. I'm going to sell this at £20.

On the maiden bid. First come, first served.

That's just cost me 20 quid.

-Oh, darling.

-I've spent...

Do you know, you're so insincere!

Another one gets away!

Watch out, heffalump's about!

Go on, somebody! £30. Liven up your life.

You can see someone's keen to move these! £20. Just £10 each.

Oh, no!

That's what we've got. £20 in the room. Come on, somebody!

Bring the hammer down! Sell 'em!

-25.

-Yes!

25. 30.

35.

40. 45.

-Anybody else?

-The woman is deranged!

-Against the internet.

In the room. At £45. Last chance. Fair warning.

Can I just get this right?

You are Glasgow's leading fine art and antique auctioneer,

-and you've put your name to those?

-Yeah, they're lovely!

No stampede into profits, though!

Finally, Anita's pictures. Bought cheaply, so there must be a profit here.

£10?

£10, surely?

£10, anyone? A fiver for the two? Surely?

Come on! £5. You can see it means something to somebody.

£5 I have! £5. Anybody else?

-£5. (Ten!)

-£10 I have.

-Yes!

£10 there on the right. 15, thank you. £15.

-There's just no justice at all!

-15 I have.

-15. Thank you.

-Yes!

£20 here. £20. £20.

Ready? It's yours at £20.

They were robbed!

Absolutely robbed!

Oh, dear. Another measly profit after commission.

That means Phil's our winner.

He, at least, has more than he started out with.

After paying auction costs,

Anita's only got £177.30p to spend next time.

Phil, on the other hand, made a tiny profit,

leaving £225.80p in his pocket.

Cor, blimey! That didn't quite go according to plan, did it?

We'll let the winner drive the limo.

I'm only in this programme to be Anita Manning's chauffeur!

Ha! So Jeeves - I mean Phil - is the designated driver, whilst Anita

can sit back and relax in the delightful 1965 Sunbeam Alpine.

Groovy!

It's a Sunday morning.

-We should be going to church, shouldn't we, really?

-Yes.

-Especially you. Confess your sins.

-We haven't got long enough!

This road trip started out at Ford in Northumberland,

and ventures into Scotland before winding its way southwards

once more, concluding at Harrogate, in Yorkshire.

On this leg, we kick off at Haltwhistle in Northumberland,

and make for County Durham, with an auction at Barnard Castle.

This is Hadrian's Wall,

and nearby, the charming village of Haltwhistle claims to be

the geographic centre of Britain.

Although it does have rivals to that title. Speaking of rivals...

Us Sassenachs don't realise it is almost as far from Edinburgh

to the north of Scotland as it is from London to Edinburgh.

That's right.

-There we are.

-OK, darling. Well, have fun.

-You take care.

I'm going to enjoy the peace and quiet.

While Phil tootles off, Anita gets shopping.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-I'm Anita.

-Lovely to meet you! I'm Susan.

OK, Anita.

You've got a decent £177.30 for this leg,

but it needs to be spent wisely.

Perhaps Susan can recommend something she's had for a while.

I've got a nice, quirky, very quirky I call it, 1930s duck down here.

-Oh, right. Uh-huh.

-It appeals to me because I'm a bit zany.

-Oh, right.

Oh, yeah. That's good.

The Beswick Pottery in Stoke on Trent

became famous for their animal figurines in the 1930s.

But things really took off in 1948 when they secured

the rights to reproduce several Beatrix Potter characters.

-The first being Jemima Puddleduck.

-Look at the expression on his face!

-I know.

-He's quite coy.

-He is, yes.

No sale on the duck, but can she resist something sparkly?

I have some gold clip earrings, just very small ones.

They are 1970s London.

Ticket price £25.

These are nine carat. And they're rather pretty.

They are cultured pearls, not real pearls.

So, they wouldn't have been terrifically expensive

when they were bought.

What I'd be looking to pay on these is about £10.

Ooh! Let me have a little look.

Mmm.

-I'll do them for 12.

-You'd do them for 12. Let's go for 12, then.

-That's absolutely fine. Thank you very much.

-Great.

She's off to a solid start. Phil, meanwhile, is hoping to cope alone.

But it is awfully quiet in this car without her.

I'm sort of missing her in the same way that you miss earache.

Phil's motored just a few short miles along the A69,

from Haltwhistle to Brampton.

And there's that Hadrian again.

I wonder if he ever came through here.

Bonnie Prince Charlie certainly did, and now Phil Serrell,

in his sky-blue chariot.

This antiques centre in a fine hall, just next to the church,

is really something.

This is just a wicked shop.

I haven't even got in yet.

The auction in Barnard Castle is a general sale,

so Phil needs to keep that in mind when dishing out his £225.80

spending money, and not get too carried away.

Maybe take advice from Steve.

This is your shop. Which is the best bit?

Point me in the direction of something I'll make a profit on.

There's a little bargain for you. £14. The hinges are a bit loose.

The feet are missing but it's a good £10 lot for you.

-OK. I like that.

-Rosewood tea caddy. 19th century.

Isn't it a sarcophagus shape tea caddy?

This is from the days when they locked tea up, because the servants used to pinch it, wasn't it?

That's fantastic. I like that. Really? Is that a tenner?

You can have it for ten. It just came in yesterday.

-Fresh off the press.

-That's bought.

-Well, that paid off.

-Now, how about a bigger box?

-This is a trunk.

It probably dates to about 1890, 1910.

This is a real servants' trunk.

I think it's a really good thing.

I like that. You know what?

This place, it's like waking up on Christmas morning,

there's presents everywhere.

He's quite giddy, isn't he? Only £10 splashed so far.

But I sense he's not finished yet.

What's the best you can do it for?

-£85.

-Right.

Let me just have a wander round.

Then I'll give you a shout in a second.

Meanwhile, back in Haltwhistle, centre of Britain...

ENGLISHMAN SINGS VERY SLOWLY

I can't understand this language.

That's cos, girls, you're not playing it at the right speed.

Enough, Anita! You're here to shop.

I noticed this little set here, Susan.

-Yes. The pewter.

-Ah, that's more like it.

These were doing not too badly a wee while ago

-but they've gone off the boil a wee bit.

-I know they have - a little bit.

-This is quite a nice one.

-I've had it in quite a while.

-You've had it a wee while?

-Yeah.

-A-ha.

-I can do something on the price. Yes, it's 40.

It's Arts and Crafts.

-It has a slight medieval look about it.

-It has.

Probably 1920s, 1930s. Round about that period.

Hand-hammered with all these little dimples.

Somebody sat with a little hammer and tap, tap, tap.

If that was coming in for sale,

I would put an estimate of...

in the region of 20.

I know you've had it for quite a long time,

so I was wondering if you'd maybe be able to do a deal on it.

-I'm looking to pay round about £18 for it.

-Yes.

-So, we could go for that on that.

-Yeah.

-OK. That's wonderful.

-That's wonderful, Susan. That's absolutely terrific.

-You're very welcome.

At last, Anita's finally splashed £30 on some keen bargains.

Now, has Phil made his mind up yet?

-Hang about. He's spotted even more stuff.

-It's a cotton-reel holder.

A lady would have used that for her sewing.

There's little drawer underneath for perhaps needles, pins, all that sort of thing.

-May I just have a look?

-You certainly can.

I just think that's a really lovely thing. Country made thing.

It's a fabulous little thing. Really is nice.

So, what's the very best on that?

It's got £70 on the ticket but you can have it for 55,

you can have it for.

I love that! I love that! Let's have another look round.

This could turn into an epic. Steve now says

he has some Sheffield plate silver that Phil must see.

-If these were period, they'd be what?

-Fabulous!

They'd be 1690, 1710, 1715.

-And a few thousand pounds as well.

-Yeah, lots of thousands of pounds.

-They're Walker & Hall.

-Walker & Hall were like Rolls-Royce, weren't they?

Sheffield plate has thin layers of silver laid onto copper,

enabling Sheffield manufacturers like Walker & Hall to make items

looking like solid silver at a fraction of the cost.

What's the best you can do on those?

They are £75, you can have them for £65.

-I think I've made my mind up.

-Smashing.

Really, Phil, are you sure?

-That was 55, wasn't it?

-That was.

-That was 65, I believe those were.

-So that's 120 quid.

-And that's a massive total of £10.

You're a star. I'll pay for those now.

You've been really, really kind to me, thank you.

So, £130 for the candlesticks, the bobbin stand and the caddy.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you very much.

It may have taken some time, but Phil's amassed quite a pile.

Together again, Anita and Phil

must now make their way from Brampton to Carlisle.

The county town of Cumberland has been here

since before the Romans, but as you might have guessed,

Hadrian did have quite an influence hereabouts.

Hi, hello, I'm Anita.

-Lovely to be here.

-Delighted to meet you.

This place looks a bit like a film set

designed to resemble a Victorian street.

The only difference being that

it's made up of stuff from a real bit of old Carlisle,

one that was knocked down in the '80s

to make way for a shopping centre. Oh, well, that's progress!

The lovely Wendy has her own place here,

as well as looking after the shops of other dealers.

That's an interesting, a nice... I like that singing blue.

-The ticket price is £45.

-It's a nice thing, isn't it?

-It's very pretty.

-Is it a wee stamp box?

-Yes.

-Not silver?

No.

It's tempting, and I love its wee... It's glass, isn't it?

Yes, it's pretty. Well, that can be very cheap.

-Can that be very, very cheap?

-Very, very cheap.

I mean, how very, very, the bargain of the century could this be?

-One offer,

-10. Done.

-Right.

So, with another one in the old bag,

it's not long before Anita finds something a little more earthy.

This one is from 1923.

Now, 1923, the world was quite a different place

and collectors of globes

liked to see how the world was at that particular time.

Yup, we'd only just got the USSR back then,

plus Sri Lanka was Ceylon

and belonged to something called the British Empire.

-£145.

-Oh, my!

Step back, Anita, step back.

Might able to do a deal, but should I be spending all that money?

No. That is costing the Earth!

This caught my eye. I have a weakness for a terrestrial globe.

How much sort of movement could there be on that?

Well, it's got 145 on that. Normally, around about the 10% mark,

so you're talking about probably 120.

I'm tempted, I'm tempted!

Luckily, the dealer is having a cup of tea next door, so Anita should get an answer soon.

How about 115?

115, it's becoming tempting.

Could you ask if they would sell that terrestrial globe for £80?

Well, I hope he doesn't choke on a custard cream

when he hears Anita's latest cheeky offer.

Right, well, he was shocked!

But he would like to do a deal, that's what it's all about.

-So, 90 is his price, 90, that's coming down a lot.

-It is.

How about a compromise between the two,

and I won't even ask him, I'll just tell him £85, it's a deal.

-Let's try it. Let's go for it, let's go for it.

-Well done, Anita.

Oh, I've done it again! I've done it again!

Back together, the pair are heading to the little Cumbrian hamlet

of Temple Sowerby.

There's a castle over there, look.

-Where? Oh, right.

-On the right, over there. Is that a castle?

I think it's a ruin, a bit like yourself.

Where Phil's about to find himself in a strangely clean farmyard.

-Have a good day.

-Right, remember, Philip - no big lumps of iron.

The bigger the better. See you later, bye.

Unlikely.

This quirky place has been nominated one of Britain's best antique shops.

It may only be a barn,

but the shrewd mix of antiques and vintage is enough to inspire.

However, Phil's only got about £100 on him.

This market's really a retail environment, you know.

I'm going to struggle to buy anything here

Time for a word with Andy.

Is your storeroom, is it through there?

It's my workshop usually,

but we've just had a bric-a-brac clear-out sale this weekend.

-Can I go and have a look?

-Yeah, sure.

-Thank you.

Now this is much more Chez Phil.

I like it when a man says, "This is the stuff I want to get rid of."

What we might find out in a minute is

how badly he wants to get rid of it.

-That's a bit traditional for you, isn't it?

-Yeah, to be honest...

-What will you do with that?

-I've put a really low price on.

If somebody wants a cheap chest of drawers, that's it?

What's your best price on that?

Er, make me an offer.

I'd want to buy it for 40 or 50 quid,

-because I tell you why, I think the top needs sorting.

-Oh, yeah.

It needs all this cock-beading doing down here.

I'm going to give you 40 quid for it.

-40 quid?

-I know I'm being really cheeky.

No, you're not, because I use them for scrap, so it's a balance of what we can get.

There's an element, the escutcheons and the locks are worth more to me

-than it is as a piece of furniture. Are you going to take it now?

-Yeah.

-Give us 40 quid.

-Oh, you're a gentleman, thank you.

Thank you very much indeed.

Meanwhile, Anita has made her way

from Temple Sowerby to Kirby Stephen.

BELL

Anita still wants to find one more item, but while downstairs

a perfectly respectable selection of bric-a-brac awaits.

Upstairs are hats, and Anita certainly does like a hat.

# Mirror, mirror, mon amour

# Send me what I'm waiting for

# Pick me up an image so fine So fine... #

Now I look like a dowager duck.

A dowager duck! SHE LAUGHS

I think it's terribly chic.

Now, just calm down, Anita, and apply yourself.

What about that clock?

It has the look,

it's got that Art Deco 1930s geometric shape and I like it.

Whoops! You only have about £50 left.

What I was looking at was this clock, Penny.

It's Art Deco style, it's not from the 1930s,

it's maybe a bit later than that, '50s.

I know it had some pieces with it.

That's right, yes, it would have had two side ornaments

and the little back plate is missing.

What I'd be looking to pay would be in the region of 30 to 35.

I would have thought more £50.

-It might be a wee bit dear for me at 50.

-Right.

Is there another wee bit of movement, maybe in the region of 40?

-How's 45 sounding?

-45?

-I think that really is the best.

45, it's not a bad price and I probably have got a chance with that.

-It's a deal.

-Thank you very much.

-I'll get that wrapped for you.

-OK, thank you.

With Anita now almost penniless, let's see what her rival can do.

Because having grabbed the Sunbeam,

and trundled north along to Appleby-in-Westmorland,

Phil's looking for one more buy.

It would be quite nice just to find

one thing that I can go off piste on.

I shudder to think what that might mean.

Appleby's famous annual horse fair

was first held as long ago as the 12th century.

That does look an intriguing sign!

Davina, meet Phil. He may not be your easiest customer.

Has that label been on there a long time?

Not that long, or else it would have smudged.

-That's a blow. I was hoping...

-It would smudged in the rain.

SHE LAUGHS

What would be the very, very best on that?

-Very best.

-15.

OK. Thank you. Put that one back.

Hm, he's in a funny mood today.

Just a touch out of my price range, unfortunately.

Will I need my hanky box as I'm coming round with you?

No, I might need mine.

Ha! Now, have a proper look around, Phil.

Actually, I've just seen something else. What's that?

Sewing clamps, are they? That's a sewing clamp, isn't it?

It sort of just slides onto there like that,

and you just tighten him up and...

That goes on there as well, you just tighten that up.

That one, it's basically like a little pincushion.

I think they're probably ivory.

Under the 1947 CITES agreement, it's illegal to buy or sell

any ivory objects unless they were made before June of that year.

But as these are late Victorian or Edwardian, they'll be fine.

What's your best on these? Your very, very best.

35. You really are going to make a profit on that, I'm certain.

I'm going to buy these two off you, my love.

£35 sews up that little deal.

Back in the lovely old town of Kirby Stephen, Anita's stopped shopping.

In one of the town's many fine buildings,

Anita's come to see an historic collection

of one of her favourite things - frocks.

Hello, Lynn. I have been so looking forward to coming here.

I am a dedicated follower of fashion. How did it all start?

I bought a blanket box full of linen, tablecloths and stuff

and in the bottom of the box was a cape and that really set me off.

That was over 30 years ago.

Since then, Lynn has acquired

over 400 vintage dresses of various ages and styles,

many accessories too, but it all started with one little cape.

It's 1870s, and we know that

because it's got nice what we call "pagoda" sleeves

and she would have had white ruff sleeves underneath

that came up to the elbow.

I just love it. It's responsible for me spending an awful lot of money.

I would think my collection's worth over £100,000, if not more,

but I don't care, I just love it.

For many years, Lynn kept her amazing collection at home

using it for fashion shows and talks.

But now the public can view it every weekend for free.

-Is this a ball dress or an evening dress?

-It is a ball gown.

Because of all the lace,

this depicts that this lady had a lot of money.

I mean, it's gorgeous.

-They were prestige dressing. There were power dressing.

-They were.

For most modern women,

the only equivalent of those fine frocks is their wedding dress

and Lynn has over 100 of these.

There's lace ones, there's satin ones,

velvet ones and as you can see, they're all different.

So everyone's got a story, everyone's had a happy bride?

Most of them, yes, except this one.

Now this one, it's had three owners.

The person who originally made it was jilted,

so she passed it on to a cousin.

And unfortunately, she died, so she didn't wear it.

And then the third owner is the lady I got it from,

she was a missionary out in Africa somewhere

and she put it on to get married

and when she turned round just for the finishing touches,

it was absolutely covered in creepy crawlies,

so she took it off and got married

in a little white frock belonging to one of the servant girls.

Oh, that's so sad. Poor wee dress, it's never had a bride.

-Do you think it might have in the future?

-No.

It's a little bit unlucky, isn't it, really?

And who could resist a dress with such a tale?

Certainly not our Anita.

What do you think?

Well, I think I've found myself another model for future shows.

Great.

All I need now is a man.

Oh, no, it can't be.

The curse strikes again. Not Blakey from On The Buses?!

Don't do it!

We'll leave Anita playing Mr and Mrs.

Now, she began with £177.30 and spent £170

on an early 20th century pewter tea and coffee service,

a 1900s 12-inch globe, a marble mantel clock

in the Art Deco taste, a 1900s stamp box

and nine-carat gold earrings.

Let's go for it.

Phil started out with £225.80

and spent £205 on a pair of 1900s silver-plated candlesticks,

a bobbins stand, a 1900 tea caddy,

two ivory sewing clamps

and an early 19th century mahogany chest of drawers.

Great buys.

But let's find out what our experts really think of each other's lots.

I can't see anywhere where there's a potential for big losses.

I think the pewter service, that's profit,

the earrings, profit,

the dog... you can't lose too much there.

I think they're a lovely little group of items.

They're proper, regular antiques. I like them all,

but I particularly like the little ivory sewing implements.

I think they're beautiful.

The globe, that's my real bit of green-eyed jealousy creeping in,

because it's a really nice thing. I think she could do well with that.

After starting out at Haltwhistle,

Anita and Phil are now motoring to the auction at Barnard Castle,

which locals fondly call Barney.

Do you know what?

I think these auctioneers will look after us well today.

You're optimistic, then?

No, I've sent them threatening letters if they don't!

This is the auction house where they don't just sell the usual sort of thing.

In fact, they once included a five-door family hatchback

alongside antique furniture.

This place is packed, and we're about to start.

OK, Anita's dog and clock.

Not a pub, but an Art Deco-style timepiece.

With commission interest, I'll start straight in at 50.

50 I'm bid, I'll take five next.

£50 I'm bid...

Five anywhere? 55... 60...

Five in the room, 65 in the room.

Let's see 70. 65. Can I see 70 anywhere?

All done at 65.

BANGS GAVEL

-Well done you!

-I'm happy with that. I'm happy.

Quite right too. A very good start.

More Anita. Hand-hammered and under the hammer.

-Who'll start me at £50?

-Come on...

20 I'll go.

20 bid. At 20. I'll take two.

£20 I'm bid. 22 anywhere?

22... 25...

28, 30, 32,

bid at 32...

35 anywhere? 35...

-35 bid. 35.

-38... Yes!

-Would you just stop?!

-At 40 in front.

-All done at 40...

BANGS GAVEL Yes!

Good!

More profits. Anita's catching up.

Just leave me alone!

I don't want to leave you alone!

Oh, God...

Aww! Phil's turn.

He loves those candlesticks.

Set me away for these. 50 for them.

Worth all of that. £50?

30 then?

£30 I'm bid.

Back of the room at £30. 32? 32 on the net.

32. 35. Two bidders on the net. 38.

40. 40 bid. 42. 42 bid.

42. 45.

45 bid. 48 in the room.

48 in the room. 50.

50 bid. At 50 bid. £50 in the room.

Across the room, 55.

-55.

-60. 60 bid.

At £60 in the back then. All done at 60?

BANGS GAVEL

That's just cost me 15 quid.

Yup, it'll be a much bigger loss after commission.

-Now we're almost equal, as we speak.

-Are you an auctioneer or a mathematician?

You've got to be both. You know that.

Next, Anita's globe.

Will she be sitting on top of the world? Ha!

-Nice thing. We have a telephone line.

-Oh!

-I'm at 38 bid.

38 I'm bid. I'll take 40.

42. 45. 48. 50.

Five. 60. 60 bid. 60 bid. I'll take five.

65. 70.

75. 75 bid.

-God.

-80. 80 bid.

85. 90. 90 bid in the room.

95 on the phone.

95 on the phone. Let's see 100.

-100 now. 100 in the room.

-Yes!

-100 bid.

110 on the floor. 120 in the room.

120 in the room. I'll take 130.

-I love phone booths.

-Yeah.

130 on the phone. 140 if you like, sir.

130 on the telephone.

All done at 130? Selling at 130...

BANGS GAVEL

-Yes!

-Well done you.

-Come on!

Everyone loved it.

Another fine profit for Anita.

Your little tea caddy.

If that doesn't make a profit, I will pack up.

Time for Phil to fight back

with this battered caddy.

With interest, I'll start you with 25 bid.

That's a relief.

28. 30. 32. 35.

At 35 bid. 38 on the net. 38 on the net.

40 with me.

£40 to see 42. £40. 42.

-Happy?

-Yeah, I am, actually.

At 48 bid. At 48. 50. I'm 50 bid now.

At £50. All done at 50...

BANGS GAVEL

So good, are you happy? Let's see a wee smile.

Steady on, Phil! Things are looking up, though.

It's my lot next.

He's right, you know.

The cotton reel stand. Worth a packet or what?

And with interest, I'm bid 35. 35 I'm bid.

38. 40. 42.

45. 48. 50.

50 bid. Five. It's only another five pounds.

Five. 60.

Five anywhere? 65.

70, madam. 75.

Come on. 80.

Five. 90? Round it up.

I like zeroes. £85 in front of me.

All done at £85.

BANGS GAVEL

-Tell you what, he worked really hard.

-He worked hard, yeah.

More profits for the man from Worcester.

Next up, Anita's bargain stamp box.

A continental white-metal mounted blue-banded agate stamp box.

About 1900.

With interest I'm at 38 bid.

I thought it would do well.

£38 I'm bid. 38. 40. 42. 45. 48.

48 bid.

At £48 bid. Do I see 50 anywhere?

Internet's in at 50. At 50 bid on the net.

All done at 50...

BANGS GAVEL

-£50.

-I think it's a cracking thing.

-Can't complain at that.

Yup, we definitely approve of that one.

What do you think your earrings will make?

They should make in excess of £20.

We'll see, Anita. You've certainly done well so far, darling.

-Should kind of double up my money.

-Yeah.

With interest I'm at 18.

There you are. You were spot on.

20 bid. At £20 in the room. Do I see 22?

22. 25. 28.

At £28 bid. 30. 30 bid.

At £30 in the corner then. All done at 30...

BANGS GAVEL

-That was a short and sweet 15 quid profit.

-But that's spot on.

They're neck and neck now.

My profit's going to come out of my chest of drawers.

How did you get that for 40 quid?

Well, we can probably rule out charm!

Nice chest of drawers. Good proportions.

I'm bid £90 on it. 90 I'm bid.

That's all right.

95. 100.

100 bid. 110. 120.

120 bid. Don't leave it for ten.

120 with me. 130 on the net.

Let's see 140.

It's an internet bid at 130.

You're out still. Selling at 130...

-BANGS GAVEL

-130.

But I'm pleased, that's given me a leg up, hasn't it?

A huge profit, actually, from a chest that was destined for scrap.

Next lot's the old sewing bits then.

-Internet's in at 38.

-Are you getting excited?

I think he is, Anita.

Who'll start me at 50?

40 then?

40 I'm bid. £40 I'm bid.

£40. At 40 bid. 42.

45.

48. 50. 50 bid.

Five. 55. 60. 60 bid.

At £60 then. 65.

65. 70.

At 70 bid then.

At £70. All done at 70...

BANGS GAVEL

I've completely lost the plot of what I've done and haven't done.

-Will I count it all up for you?

-You count the money.

Another good profit

and Anita's adding up proves that Phil carries the day.

-And as I'm in profit, I'll buy you a cup of tea.

-You're a darling.

After paying auction costs, Anita now has:

Phil, on the other hand, is still way out in the lead with:

Well done, boy!

-That really wasn't too bad, was it?

-It was absolutely great.

-He did a good job, didn't he?

-Yes!

On to the next!