Episode 5 Antiques Road Trip

It's the nation's favourite antiques experts,

with ?200 each... I love that!

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

Yippee! I've got pieces that could fly.

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

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers. Hello, ladies.

So, will it be the high road to glory or the slow road to disaster?

But there's nobody bidding! This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

Today, we're out and about with antiques supremos Mark Stacey

and Paul Laidlaw.

Their approach is somewhat disciplined.

Stacey, Private Stacey! I might have to lie down.

To the fore! Show me those antiques! Yes, sir. Stacey! Yes, sir!

That's not an antique, boy!

Oh, I love it when you're all commanding, Paul!

Antiques dealer Mark Stacey

is extremely complementary of his road trip companion.

I wonder if that's Mr Laidlaw when he first wakes up in the morning.

This is Paul Laidlaw.

He's an auctioneer that drives a hard bargain.

How low can you go?

Much lower.

And for a big man, he's in touch with his feminine side.

I've got to show the pinkie. Doesn't that work?

I'm not so sure, Paul!

From his original ?200, Mark has made a rather slow rise upwards.

He has ?335.06 to burn.

But three-times-lucky Laidlaw has made an impressive wadge of cash.

From his original ?200, he has a wondrous ?619.60 to splurge.

Getting the boys from A to B is the Sunbeam Alpine GT.

This seat is horizontal, I'm that laid-back today. Really?

Paul, I know your face.

You're lying to me. You're lying to me, Paul!

Mark and Paul are journeying over 300 miles from Sabden

in Lancashire, all the way south to Bridgwater in Somerset.

First stop is the Herefordshire town of Leominster.

And they will auction in the spa town of Cheltenham.

The history of Leominster dates back as far as the 7th century,

but it really boomed with the wool trade in the Middle Ages.

Come on, let's go and have some fun. THEY LAUGH

Muchas gracias! De nada!

I think I'm going to go this way, Paul.

In that case, I'm going that way. See you later. See you, then.

To begin the day's shopping, the boys are going to scour

the Secondhand Warehouse Antiques Centre.

What's this?

That's quite sweet, isn't it? Very simply made.

Obviously, it's a representation of Christ on the cross.

But this is a sort of rosewood here - maybe coromandel or rosewood.

And then this is chrome. Very angular shape.

That screams one period for me - Art Deco. 1920s, '30s.

I think that's quite fun.

The other fun thing about it is it's only marked up at ?15.

You see, that's got to double its money, really.

Chris... Sorry, I found a really silly little thing.

That's quite all right. Well, not silly - it's just a bit of fun.

I mean, I really like it. It's very Art Deco. It is Art Deco, yes.

You know, with the chrome, and the rosewood. Yes.

But I need to get it for ten quid. You need to get it for ten quid?

Well, I'm sure we could do that. Could we do that ten quid?

You can do that for ten quid. No problem. Oh, lovely. Look. I'll give you...

That was easy peasy, Mark. Right, how's Paul faring?

Right, right, right, right.

I need to start finding things, that's what I need to be doing.

Oh, dear! Paul doesn't seem to have had his porridge this morning.

Mark, on the other hand, is firing on all cylinders.

He's already moved onto his next shop just down the road

in Leominster Antiques Centre.

Just getting a bit hot in here again.

It's funny, the temperature keeps changing today. I'm going to ditch my coat for a minute.

Oh, diddums! He's such a sensitive soul.

Oh, good Lord! There was a well-known designer in the 1930s

called Mabel Lucie Attwell, who produced lots of prints

and lots of printed China for Shelley and things like this.

And I've just spotted here... three bars of soap

with Mabel Lucie Attwell prints on them.

Mabel Lucie Attwell was a British illustratoress and based

her famous drawings of cute children on her daughter Peggy.

They're unbelievable. "If you want to be loved, be loving", it said.

Jeremy!

Owner Jeremy responds to the yell.

I've found something absolutely ridiculous which...

you will think I'm barking mad. Right.

Ah! These are my mother's.

Never! They are.

I mean...

You can still smell the carbolic or something in them.

I think they're absolutely amazing.

"Best 'posh up' as folks all say - this may be a LUCKY day!"

Well, hope springs eternal, Mark!

How amazing is that! British Legion Industries. And they're five quid?

I have to have them, Jeremy.

I just have to have them, and do you know, I won't even ask for a discount.

That's very kind. You could clean up, actually, couldn't you?

Do you know, I normally do the funny lines, Jeremy. Thanks - you've stolen that.

No, that's my job!

With two items in the bag,

that should hopefully stop Mark getting in a lather.

Ha-ha!

Back to Paul.

He hasn't found any antiques.

Paul's taking a breather from shopping

and driving 30 miles away to Highley in Bridgnorth.

Paul is stepping back in time to the world of whistles and steam.

The Severn Valley Railway was in the transport business

for 101 years from 1862 to 1963.

A group of railway enthusiasts formed the Severn Valley Railway Society at Kidderminster

in 1965 to safeguard the heritage of this once-great industry.

Paul is meeting with visitor manager Nicky Vale.

I've got to wave!

HE LAUGHS

Holy Moses, they are beasts, are they not?

Yes, so you tend to get the real scale for size

when you're sort of at ground level,

because when you're on the platform, you do see them from platform level.

You don't actually get to appreciate how big they are. Of course.

And how many can I see here?

Well, we've got eight locomotives here

and we've also got the royal saloon, which I'll take you round.

Ah! Shall we? Yes. I'm loving this!

One of the star exhibits here is the royal saloon carriage,

used by King George VI during the Second World War.

This carriage enabled the King to travel to bombed areas within

the UK and also to help raise the morale of the troops.

Well, here you have, Paul, the King's personal bathroom. My word.

And I'll take you through now to the King's bedroom.

So, yes, as you can see, it was very ahead of its time with the air conditioning

and the central heating that was in here, and you can actually

appreciate the craftsmanship of the panelling in here as well. Indeed.

It's very smart, isn't it? It absolutely is.

But even by today's standards,

there is just a touch of modernity about it. Very clean, very elegant.

Dare I say minimal, spartan? Yes.

Well, as I say, it was still austerity,

so it's not... It was very much a functional saloon. Yeah.

And what about his safety, if we're during wartime?

What happens if the bad guys show up or whatever? Absolutely.

Well, with that in mind, they built these effectively bombproof.

This carriage was pretty extraordinary.

The protection of the King was crucial, therefore

the steel armour and plated shutters made it weigh 20 tonnes more than

the standard carriage.

OK, Paul. So here we have the living room,

where many an important conversation went on with various

heads of state and Churchill, the King, the Queen, Montgomery -

they would have all been in here during the wartime. My word.

So, in the middle of the war, there's business at hand,

he's got his red telephone there.

You know, "I need to speak to..." Sitting at his desk,

replying to letters, making decisions,

a wee nerve centre on the move. That's it, yes.

It's way more than just a royal carriage.

It's the time frame, the historical context that flavours it. Yes.

It's time to blow the whistle, wave goodbye to Paul,

and find that cheeky Mark Stacey.

Mark is still in Leominster.

He's found another shop, and it's owned by Sally.

Feel free to have a wander.

Lovely, I'll start at the top and work my way down. Of course.

OK, if you need any help, give us a holler. Lovely. Mine is normally quite strong tea. OK! Any sugar?

One sugar, please. One sugar - right.

Get your priorities right, Mark.

The first thing I want to do is start stripping off.

Now, don't get excited. It's only the jacket.

For now, but it depends how much I'll have to take off to get the right item.

That'll be one of your famous funny lines, I suppose, Mark.

That's quite funky, isn't it, that chair?

It's really funky! It's very 1960s.

Oops-a-daisy! Smarten up, Mark.

It's obviously structurally sound, as it's taken my weight.

I think that's rather fun. It's quite comfy, actually.

And this sort of elastic wicker. And it all looks OK.

No maker's name, as far as I can see.

I think that's rather funky.

"Bucket seat, flower-shaped," it says. ?72. I've never seen one.

It's quite visual, though, isn't it?

Sally? Yes, Mark. Could you pop up, dear?

Now, listen, I love this chair.

I don't suppose the dealer's here for that. No, but 65?

Oh...

72 to 65?

That is a very fair discount if I was buying it privately.

I've got to think about what it would make at auction, you see.

While Mark is pondering, he spots something else.

You've got a sundial here.

In bronze.

Gosh, it looks 1930s, doesn't it?

With that sort of square sunburst-type design.

But it's actually got some Roman numerals here.

MCM and XX. VIII.

No, that's much later. 1978 or something.

Oh, someone knows their Roman numerals. 1978, it is.

It's not bad. It's priced at ?42.

I think sundials are quite commercial items, you know.

And, also, I like this.

This is a really cute little garden ornament.

Nothing special - reconstituted concrete, really -

but it's modelled as a SylvaC bunny rabbit.

This bunny is in the style of SylvaC pottery bunnies,

which were very popular in the 1930s.

I think that's rather fun.

Priced at 15 quid.

That's nothing, is it, really?

I can carry these down and show Sally and see if we can get a bit off.

Sally has phoned the dealer who owns all the items.

?45 is the very best for the bunny and the sundial.

But Sally has been asked to close the deal on the capsule chair.

I think I'll go for these two at 45 because I think they are quite nice.

They are quite commercial.

What do you think the lowest would be if I took the chair?

It's marked at 72. 45. 45.

Could we get it for 40?

Go on, then. Are you sure? You only live once, don't you?

Come on, have a hug. Oh, it's worth it. Thank you. You've been so kind.

Mark might be doing rather well,

but it's a different story for his rival,

Paul.

He's travelling to Evesham in Worcestershire

and, as usual, he's in high spirits.

It will be all right. It will be good. It will be good.

With zero antiques in his pocket,

Paul really needs to get into gear and start buying.

Paul? Right. I'm Andy. Pleased to meet you, Andy.

Are you the antiques manager? I am indeed.

Whose is the big plaster cat?

That is one that Michael has had here for a while now.

Don't tell him that, Andy! Dealer Michael won't be at all pleased.

I like that. It's plaster. And very nicely patinated.

This is just paint,

but they've given it an almost verdigris...green patination

and then they have put highlights in gilding to lend the feel

of patinated bronze rubbed at the highlights, showing the core metal.

That's cleverly...

It's very nicely sculpted and it's cleverly finished.

And Paul's spotted another attractive female.

Yes. Terracotta body. Green painted.

Art Deco-inspired.

Um, quite sexy.

I think that's been overpainted. It has.

It's been repainted, but it was green to start with.

It was that malachite green.

And we've got a price tag of ?88.

And then something a bit bonkers catches his eye.

What on earth is going on there? I'm winging it here.

We've got a donkey with wicker panniers filled with fayre.

Here's the key element.

Holly and the donkey is crying out, "A merry Christmas."

These insane barrels and bottles jumping, chasing, running.

Utterly grotesque. What does it say on the back?

Nothing. Is it damaged? No.

I absolutely love that.

Oh, Lordy!

?55 is a lot of money for a Victorian plate.

Make no bones about it. Is it a lot of money for this?

Get me another one!

Paul decides on a figure of ?120 for all three.

The question is, will the dealer agree?

A quick phone call later and Andy has the answer.

You must be a very persuasive man. He's actually agreed. 120.

It's a deal, then? He has. It's a deal. Thanks for your help.

Good man. No problem at all. Spot on.

Blimey! This combination buy gives Paul a total of ?243

off the original ticket prices.

Gee-whiz! Paul's antiques prowess reigns supreme today.

And it doesn't take him long to find his next shop,

where Judith is holding the fort for the owner.

Hello there. How are you doing? Fine, thank you. And you? Very well, thanks.

I see here what appears to be a 19th-century ladies' fan.

In painted silk.

The problem is, it's priced up, as far as I can see, at ?85.

The origins of the decorative fan vary.

The most interesting being inspired by a bat's wing

spread across a lantern from 7th-century Japan.

No breaks to the sticks. Structurally good.

I don't think there's much to worry about there.

Judith makes a quick call to the owner to get the very best price.

Mrs Laporta has agreed ?30 is the bottom price. ?30.

I'll take a punt at that. Excellent. Thanks very much. Thank you. I'll give you some money.

I think he's back on a roll.

That makes a nice four lots for Paul's bag of antiques goodies.

And with Paul still in shopping mode,

he's travelling 12 miles away to Dodwell in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Stratford Antiques and Interiors have been established for over 12 years.

Can Paul find his fifth lot in here?

And very quickly, he bumps into David, one of the owners.

He has a fancy little Art-Deco number that might just tempt him.

Thank you. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

These are rather nice. Almost butterfly-like.

It's got to be French, hasn't it? I think so, yes. Gallia metal.

And the cockerel. All the clues and indicators are there.

Sweet.

It's purely a decorative object, but it should be something

that you could at least envisage using on occasion.

How ambitious are you on price, though? Is this an expensive object?

It has 175 on it. But we can negotiate.

Can we come to an arrangement? Yeah.

Give me an option on that at 50 quid on the way out of the door. OK.

Good man. Thank you very much.

I suppose that means you bought it, then. Well done, Paul.

With all the shopping completed, let's just have a quick look back

at everything our experts have bought.

Mark Stacey started out with ?335.06

and has spent ?100 on five lots - the Art-Deco wooden plaque,

the Mabel Lucie Attwell soaps, the retro capsule chair,

the bronze sundial and the concrete bunny.

Paul Laidlaw, on the other hand, started out with ?619.60

and has spent ?200, also on five lots.

He bought the plaster statue of the roaring lioness,

the donkey platter, a silk fan,

the Art-Deco liqueur set and the Art-Deco dancing figurine.

All very well, though, but what do they make of each other's buys?

Totally at ease with this. I mean, he's going to win.

Well done.

The concrete rabbit.

I'm sorry, what?! The Antiques Road Trip!

This isn't the I Was Drunk And I Stole A Piece From Somebody's Garden For A Laugh Trip!

It's been an ambitious fourth leg,

with the boys battling it out from Leominster,

via Highley, Evesham, Dodwell

and, finally, full steam ahead to the spa town of Cheltenham.

Cheltenham is the birthplace of former Olympic ski jumper

Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards.

And, as our experts arrive in town,

it's time to find out who will be crowned champion of today's auction.

The Cotswold Auction Company dates back to the late 1800s.

Settle down, everyone! Auctioneer Lindsey Braune is about to begin.

The internet's watching us, remember.

This is always a good thing. There's always somebody watching us, Paul.

Right, it's Mark's Art-Deco plaque to start us off.

It'll take divine intervention, Mark. ?20 to start. ?10, then.

Come on, then. ?10. ?10 bid online. 10 online. At ?10 only.

Maiden bid online. 12. Going up online. At 12, 15. At 15, now.

Bid's online at 15. At 15. 18 anywhere?

At ?15, I'm selling, bid's online.

Well, there's ?5 profit.

?10 more than I thought!

It's not really the big-money profit he was looking for.

Next, it's Paul's turn, with the roaring lioness.

Start me at ?50 for this one. ?50. ?30, then.

Start me off, someone. Help me here! Very dramatic. 30 bid, thank you.

At 30. Who's going on? At ?30. 5. 40.

At 40. 45.

50. At 50.

At 50. In the deep at 50.

Are we all done? At 50 and selling.

Well, well, well, Paul!

Can I just say one thing to you?

Welcome to my world.

HE SNORTS

Oh, dear! what an unfortunate noise!

You don't need to be so nervous Paul, or nasal!

It was only the first lot.

I'm really gutted and upset.

You're so sincere, Mark!

Right, it's your capsule chair next!

Start me off at 20. 20. Who's going on? At 20 bid.

At 20. At 22. 25. At 25.

At 25. Are we all done at 25, then?

Oh, dear! Not so high and mighty now, Mark, eh?

I think somebody had a good buy.

Sometimes you need that at an auction.

That's why we come. They'll come back again.

Next, it's Paul's wacky donkey platter.

?20. Start me off, someone. ?20.

To be honest, I wish I'd seen it, Paul.

A very unusual plate. ?10. Start me off, someone.

It's in freefall. No, it's not. It must make a lot more than that.

Where's the 12? At ?10. This isn't much. At ?10. 12 here. At 12.

15, is it? At ?12.

Ah, it's...

At ?12. Are we all sure? I can't believe it, Paul.

Oh, dear, Paul!

The bidders weren't impressed by little donkey.

I'll miss that. I would have taken that home myself.

It's Paul again.

Perhaps the delicious Art-Deco dancer will perk up the profits.

Start me at ?30. ?30 bid, thank you. 5 here.

There we are. It's starting well, Paul.

60. At 60. Bid's in the room at 60.

At 65, 70, 5, 80, 5, 90, 5.

100. 110. At 110. The lady seated at 110. Against you all online.

At 120, 130. At 130 in the room.

Bid's in the room at 130. 140, 150, 160 online.

170.

Lady's bid seated at 170.

I'm selling, then, against you all online, in the room at 170.

Oh, 180.

Just in time. Sorry about this! 190 for you in the room.

At 190 in the room and selling.

Wow! She really has raised Paul's profit margin.

Oh, my...!

What? I'm not upset, Paul. I'm nowhere near upset.

Oh, dear! I think someone IS upset.

While Mark stews... I mean, patiently waits his turn,

it's Paul's beautiful silk fan next.

30 for this one. Painted silk. ?30.

?20, then. Start me off, someone.

?20 bid, thank you. At 20. Who's going on?

At ?20. At 22.

25, 28, 30.

At 30. Lady's bid seated at 30.

At ?30. Anyone online? At ?30, then, all done.

?30, Paul. Fair enough! I'll take that.

Not as exciting as your last lot,

but be thankful it wasn't a gasping loss, Paul.

It is Paul yet again, with the Art-Deco liqueur set.

Lots of bids in the book. I must start at...

er, 75, 80...

Ooh, Paul! 85. At 85. With me at 85.

Who's going on? At 85.

90, 95. That's online, Paul. At 95. 100.

Bid's online at 100 now. At 100.

At 100.

110. Still going up online. 120.

130, 140. At 140.

At 150, at 160.

At 160. Anyone joining in in the room? At 160.

Bid's online at 160. Are you all sure?

Be quick if you're still in, otherwise I'm selling at 160 online.

Well, Paul, another huge profit for you.

Once more with feeling, Mark!

Well done, Paul.

Finally, it's Mark's turn with a bronze sundial. Go on, sunshine!

Show them what you're made of.

35 here. At 35.

40, 5, 50, 5.

At 55. Still with me at 55. 60 anywhere?

At 55. 60 online now.

Surely going to come again. Yes. At 65, then, and selling.

That's all right. ?25. Good buy.

There you go, Mark. Hopefully that will cheer you up.

Aw! It's Mark's little bunny next.

Will she hop away with some juicy profit?

Start me off ?20. Very handsome. At 10 bid here. Who's going on?

At 10, 12, 15, 18, 20. That's flying. It's a flying bunny!

25, 28, 30, 5.

At 35, right in the deep now.

At 35.

Jenny's bid right at the back, then, at 35. 40 anywhere?

I'm pleased with that.

What a result! God bless Jenny.

There's a kiss coming Jenny's way, I can tell you!

Quick, Jenny, run while you can!

Nice little profit, though, Mark.

Finally, it's our last lot of the day

with Mark's Mabel Lucie Atwell soaps.

Very unusual. Can't be many of these left.

?20, start me. ?20?

Internet? Coming at any time. There it is! 20 online.

At 20. Who's going? At ?20.

At ?20. Bid's online. 2, is it? It's all going my way(!)

I can't believe it! At 20. And selling.

I'll have to be grateful with a ?15 profit, but I must admit,

I thought there'd be a bit more interest online.

I thought it would be all internet.

Look on the bright side, Mark. It wasn't a thumping loss.

Well done to you. Cheers. Let's get out of here, shall we? Let's do it.

Mark started today's show with ?335.06

and, after paying auction costs, made a teeny-weeny profit of ?31.20.

Mark has just ?366.26 to carry forward.

It'll get better.

Paul, meanwhile, started with ?619.60

and made a respectable profit of ?162.44.

Paul has a mighty ?782.04 to take forward.

Enough to make you smile.

Congratulations. Another victory, Paul. Well done!

Profits across the board. Yes, ups and downs.

Which means it's all to play for

as our boys set out on the deciding leg of the road trip.

Is there life after this week, Mark? How will I cope without you?

I'm not sure. I think I will try and cope without you, Paul.

Mark and Paul are journeying over 300 miles from Sabden,

in Lancashire, all the way south to Bridgwater, in Somerset.

First stop is the former seafaring city of Bristol,

and they'll auction in the Somerset town of Bridgwater.

Bristol is the birthplace of Archie Leach,

otherwise known as Hollywood darling Cary Grant.

Paul is dropping Mark off in this fair city for a date with

an exceptional maritime landmark.

We'll catch up with Mark later.

See you later! Go away from my ship!

PAUL LAUGHS

But first, Paul is motoring 24 miles south

to Pylle, near Shepton Mallet,

to begin his shopping mission.

And Pylle Emporium Gallery is Paul's first shop of the day.

Good morning. Are you Tony? I am Tony. I'm Paul, good to see you.

That Paul has a mighty ?782.04 to play with

and it looks like he may just have found his first item.

Wristwatch.

Enamelled face, silver case. Why am I looking at it?

It's all pretty dull, isn't it?

Well... The label tells me that it is 1917.

These were sold to Army personnel

serving in the trenches during the First World War.

And these have attracted, over the last few years,

the term "trench watch".

Asking price, ?40.

To be quite honest with you, on occasion, I wear such watches.

I think they are really super cool.

Never mind your big, blingy sports watches.

That is a gentleman's wristwatch.

What do you think? I love it!

And something else comes under the Laidlaw radar.

I'm looking at something that is way above average.

You have got a mahogany turned and carved column

of no mean quality

on four little cabriole legs, we'll call them.

But I am loving the fact that it purports to be a late Victorian

standard oil lamp converted to electricity who knows when,

whether it was done in 1910, '20, or whether it was done recently,

I have no idea. I don't think it is a made-up piece.

The price tag is not offensive.

To be quite honest with you, if I were looking for it, at ?95,

I wouldn't be quibbling.

So, firstly, Paul asks Tony, the owner, for a price on the watch.

The best I could do would be 35. OK. And then a price for the lamp.

Tony, that's it there, in the corner. We could do it for 70.

70, is it? 70 it is. Nothing in the middle, no more?

You can squeeze me for ?5 more, that's all.

Well, if 65 is the best you can do on that,

is 35 the best you can do on the watch? Yes.

Not another fiver I can squeeze off that and sweeten the whole thing

and I'll buy two things?

I don't know.

Uh... Well, I'd like a sale, I suppose.

Do you want to do it? Yep. Thank you very much. Good man, Tony. OK.

Phew! That was a big tricky, Paul. But your perseverance paid off.

Excellent start to the day.

While Paul has been getting his sleeves rolled up shopping,

Mark is stepping aboard Bristol's nautical jewel,

the SS Great Britain.

This revolutionary ship was the brainchild of 19th-century

engineering giant Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

At the time of her launch in 1843,

the SS Great Britain was the largest ship in the world.

She was the first screw-propelled,

ocean-going, iron-hulled steam vessel.

She became the model of modern ocean liners.

With a capacity of 252 passengers and 130 crew,

she was full of innovation and marked the dawning

of international passenger travel and world communications.

Now a museum and open to the public, Mark is meeting with Matthew Tanner,

the director of the SS Great Britain.

The SS Great Britain is Brunel's masterpiece.

It is really the world's first great ocean steamship.

She's been called the great-great-great-grandmother

of virtually every ship afloat today.

This is the first big one.

She was by far the biggest thing ever built in 1843,

and she was built in this very dock in Bristol. Oh, wow!

So, a really strong connection to Bristol? Absolutely.

The dock was made to build this ship.

In 1852, the SS Great Britain set sail to Australia

for the first time,

carrying hundreds of emigrants and gold-seekers.

With this great ship on the route to Melbourne from Liverpool,

you could get there in about 60 days.

Which is very fast. Very fast.

Sailing ships could take about 100 days.

And you were probably going to be alive when you got there,

which is something we completely take for granted today. Yes.

Accommodation was split into first, second and third class.

This is the first class promenade deck from the 1840s. Wow.

So, they would have socialised here?

Would they have played games, talked to each other? Yes.

It's one big central room with cabins off each side.

It is illuminated by these great skylights.

And the luggage would have been stacked here?

Yes, a lot of luggage would be in the hold. Right.

But you need some luggage on a day-to-day basis.

Of course you do. And cabins off each side. Come and have a look.

So, these are the first class cabins.

Each cabin has two bunks in it. They are very tight, Matthew.

That's partly so you don't fall out of them. You are wedged in tightly.

And often they would sleep on deck if it was hot.

This is a double cabin.

Oh, so this is for a family? That's right.

But that's actually quite nice, you have little seats you can sit on

and play with the children.

If you can manage the mal de mer, seasickness, of course.

Oh, yes. A major issue.

Here's the bathroom. Oh, wow.

So, everyone from first class would use this one bath?

That's right, but this is luxury. It is luxury, I suppose,

at that time, wasn't it?

From the Spartan luxury of first class,

what about the poor folks in third class?

The diaries and letters of the passengers that sailed out

to Australia in this space are full

of the wonders of all the people around them,

but also the fighting and the flirting and the gambling.

And families would be packed in here too.

We have some great diaries which actually sketch all of this area.

Oh, really? Who was in which bunk.

So, a really good insight on how it was laid out.

We recreated this space precisely according to that.

Fantastic, isn't it?

Sadly, we must leave Mark and the world of ocean liners.

And now, what's that Paul Laidlaw up to?

Well, he is travelling from Pylle

to Somerton, for his next shopping expedition.

And it is a glorious day of sunshine as Paul arrives.

After a scout about, he's found something he rather fancies.

As far as I'm concerned, that is an early 19th-century...

I hope silver, but that remains to be seen,

cream jug. The form is termed a helmet form.

And you're thinking to yourself, "It looks nothing like a tin hat".

But if you picture it like that, it bears a resemblance to

certainly cavalry helmets that were worn

in the early 19th century. This is 1820, 1830.

Andrew, it's priced at ?36. Mm-hm. Um...

Does it have to be ?36? No.

I can do you a good bit of trade on that. How does 25 sound?

No point in beating about the bush with a price like that.

It's a deal, man. You've got a deal. Thank you.

And, again, he is never content with finding one thing.

The search for the next goodie continues.

That is a handsome piece of wood.

It is a press.

Books, certainly an option, but I daresay

it could also have been used in a domestic setting

for pressing textiles.

That's George III. That is 200 years old, if it is a day.

The density of the timber, the richness of that colour

and the workmanship,

and then this hand-cut thread here.

Andrew comes over for Paul's second stab at negotiation.

Go on, then, what are you trying...? I'm trying to get that slaughtered.

I want that for 10 or 20 quid. 10 or 20 quid?

Crikey, he doesn't mince his words, does he?

I can do that for 30 quid.

?30, sweet as a nut. Thanks, Andrew. Excellent.

Paul's on top form today. That is four for the swag bag.

Meanwhile, Mark is still in sunny Bristol

and, with ?366.26 to play with, he has found his first antique shop.

Well, well, well.

Michael, what are those in the cabinet over there?

Are they polar bears? They are polar bears.

And they are from the days of the showgrounds, from the '40s, '50s.

They were given as prizes.

But you had to win a lot of prizes to get one of those.

I don't ever remember, and I worked on the shows, ever one being given.

Oh, what a weird thing.

If you lift the glass out, you slide the glass out,

it's the correct one.

Oh, yes, that's always been in there, hasn't it? Yes.

God, what an amazing item.

Well, you can imagine it with the fish in that, floating.

Little goldfish in there. That's right. And this little...

I mean, you've got a family group.

She's sitting rather aloof, the mother, upstairs.

It is always a mother with the cubs.

And then he is climbing up to see her

and this one is looking down at the goldfish swimming in it.

What a cracker! What else does Michael have to offer?

So, what have we got here?

I'm not going to open it, cos it's unlucky to open an umbrella inside.

Or a parasol. Cos this must be a lady's version.

The Edwardian lady loved a decorative parasol and it was

the ultimate accessory when taking a stroll along the promenade.

I am convinced it is a swan.

And you've got the little bill there, as well,

which has got the little marks on it.

Nicely chased.

I love the way the little eyebrow's in there, as well.

And then when we come to the side, we see a nice clear mark for London.

I'm guessing, Mike, I don't know the dates off the top of my head,

1905, 1908.

Now, what about a deal for the two items?

The starting price for the polar bears was ?165

and for the parasol, ?160.

Seeing as you have had such a hard day, or week,

we are going to make it a little bit easier for you.

Do I need to sit down? I don't want to see you crying on the television.

What I will do, then, I'm going to sell you that for 85

and I am going to sell you this for 80.

It's 150 for the two.

150 for the two? I should think that would... You knew that I knew that.

Cor! No hesitation there!

Mark sure knows a good deal when he sees one.

Reunited, our boys are back on the road,

and the sunshine seems to have gone to Paul's head.

It might be many a moon till I'm next in a classic car

having as much fun as this... Oh! ..with a buddy like you. Oh!

Oh, please, where is the bucket?

THEY LAUGH

The boys are making their way to glorious Glastonbury.

Did you know that the renowned Glastonbury Festival actually

takes place in the village of Pilton, over six miles away?

Paul is dropping Mark off at his next shop, Glastonbury Reclamation.

The beauty of searching for antiques is that you never know

what you might come across.

And Mark has certainly found something very unusual.

I think what we've got here is part of a Victorian carriage.

Because these wheels, obviously, are joined by this axle.

And I... You don't often see them joined like this.

Um... But I think, in the hands of the right person,

these would make a fantastic garden seat.

The ticket price on the carriage wheels is ?175.

Mark finds owner James for a bout of negotiation.

I need to get them lower than that. Now, what about 70?

We can toss a coin between 80 and 85.

OK, then. Do I call, or do you? No, you call in the air. OK.

Tails.

Ah! It is tails.

Are you sure? You're happy with that? That's fine, absolutely.

?80, thank you.

Great gamble, Mark, but will they be lucky for you at auction?

Paul has travelled 18 miles away to Blackford, near Wedmore.

With an already bulging collection of antiques,

he is happy to try and add some more. Paul...

Lemon Tree Antiques is owned by the quick-witted Les.

There's no messing about with hawk-eye Laidlaw, though,

he's straight in there.

I adore Georgian wine glasses. There's great interest in such.

But interest falls off rapidly when we get into the 19th century.

What a colour!

Price tag - ?55.

That is a lot of money for one wine glass, yeah?

But it's a gift for eight!

I think he likes them!

Paul finds Les to talk money.

So, you said I can retire, sir, after this deal.

PAUL LAUGHS

They were in there. Eight wine glasses.

One has got a chip and one has had a chip that has been ground out. Yeah.

There are up at 55, which I don't think is expensive.

Oh, she forgot the one in the front!

Oh! You can't get the staff, can you?

Oh, dear. 48 quid. It's a deal. Done.

You're not a difficult man to do business with.

Well, Paul is certainly delighted with that buy.

Meanwhile, Mark has travelled from Glastonbury to Somerton.

Ah, Paul visited this shop, but has he left anything for Mark?

Oh, now, that's quite interesting.

Copper, of course.

A little tray, I suppose it is, for the hallway or something like that.

Maybe for handing out...

Your maid would come in with a calling card on a tray.

But you can see instantly by this hand-beaten design

and this sort of hand-scalloped edge that it is going to be

from the Arts and Crafts period.

So maybe 1890 to 1900, 1905.

And Mark finds Andrew to start negotiation.

Make me an offer. I need to get it for about 20 quid.

Yeah, I can do that for you. 20 quid? Yeah, go on, then.

Thank you.

Not bad for ?20, Mark.

Hot on the heels of his competitor,

Mark travels from Somerton to Blackford,

where it's his turn to visit Lemon Tree Antiques.

He's really under a bit of pressure

and he needs a little help from lovely Les.

I would hate to go home empty-handed.

You're not going home empty-handed. You'll buy something.

Magpie Mark finds a sparkly little gem.

It is a pretty little Victorian brooch,

and they've got a safety chain on it.

Yeah, it's no money. A tenner, say.

Pretty enough thing, but...

It looks gold to me, but we can't find a mark.

Looks like Les is keen to sell.

Just to sweeten the deal, I will give you that, as well.

I told everybody in creation, "You'll get no freebies here,"

and here I am doling it out to you.

Ha, ha! This snooker marker board would have been used to keep score

during the game.

And he has found something else.

That was an etui or something originally.

I would think so. An etui case.

Victorian ladies would carry an etui,

which would hold small items like scissors and tweezers.

I would say it is a period one. 1850s, '60s? Yeah.

It is a nice shape. Yeah. The shagreen is in good condition.

It is. Nice greeny colour. You can have that.

Now, you picked that up in a job lot. I did not.

Tell me you picked that up... How much have I got on it? 40 quid.

My memory ain't bad, is it?

You said you had 116 quid? That's all I've got.

Give us your money and you've got the two pieces.

And the snooker board and the brooch.

Now, don't take the mickey, man. Come on, shake my hand.

Shake my hand. Yes! Done.

With all the shopping completed, let's refresh our memory

of what our experts have gathered on the final forage of this road trip.

Mark Stacey started out with ?366.26 and spent the whole lot on six lots.

A swan head parasol and brooch,

a copper tray and miniature watering can,

a snooker marker board,

a pair of carriage wheels,

an etui case

and not forgetting the polar bear fishbowl.

Paul Laidlaw started out with ?782.04

and spent a total of ?198 on five lots.

A silver jug, a trench watch,

a mahogany press, a standard lamp

and a set of antique wine glasses.

It's quite an impressive haul,

but what do they make of each other's buys?

I'm a little disappointed, really,

that Paul couldn't spend a bit more money.

The bears, I think that's a magic lot. I think it is a magical lot.

It's lovely.

Let's hit the road and head to auction for the last time.

It has been an exhilarating finale

with the boys battling it out from Bristol, Pylle,

Somerton, Glastonbury, Blackford

and, finally, the Somerset town of Bridgwater.

Look at us, an old married couple, 20 years later.

"You know, I can't stand the way you drink your soup." Come here.

Hee-hee! Tamlyns at Bridgwater have been established

from the late 19th century.

Taking to the rostrum is auctioneer Claire Rawle.

First up, it's Paul's little cream jug.

Although it doesn't have a hallmark, it's tested positive for silver.

?20 anywhere for it? 20 straight in. It weighs four ounces. ?20?

Thank you, 20 on the net. The internet's bidding.

Do I see 2 anywhere? Bid's at 20. At 20.

22. 25. 28. It's going up online, Paul.

But there is no-one in the room that would buy

a little Georgian silver cream jug?

At ?35, it's a net bid, you're all done in the room.

You are joking! At ?35, then. All done... At 38.

At 38. Now 40. At ?38 on the net. Want to come back again?

My other bidder. At 38 it is, then.

You all done? Selling to the net, then, at ?38.

It's a wee profit.

It's a profit, but I think you wanted more than that, didn't you?

Of course he did, Mark! He's not usually a stranger to profits.

Next, it is Mark's combined lot of the swan-headed parasol

and the brooch.

55 on the internet.

That's a good start. At 55. At 55.

Now 60 anywhere? At 60. 60 in the room.

70 on the internet. 75 in the room. At 75. 80.

85. At 85.

Now 90 if you want it out there.

At 85. 90. 95 in the room. At 95.

Now 100. 95 I've got in the room.

At 95. 100, thank you.

110. Good. It's creeping up. Yeah. Could be a good one, this.

120. 130 in the room. 140 on the net. At 140. 150.

At 150. Now 160. 170 in the room.

At 170. Now 180. 180.

190. This is it. 200.

Your swan is in flight.

At 220 in the room. 250.

Oh, 250! 280. At 280.

280! Jesu...!

At 280. Go on! Fill it up. Fill it up to 300.

Now 300! Don't drop out now, fill it up to 300.

Yeah, fill it up to 300! I like that expression.

At 280...

Congratulations, Mark! Well done.

I am very pleased with that, actually.

I'm coming back, Paul.

Heaven help us!

Can Mark keep the profits high with his dainty etui case?

?50 to get it going, please, anywhere. 50?

50? Well, start me away.

?20, then. It's for nothing. 20. 2. 5.

8. 30.

2. 5. 8. 40.

2. 5. 8. 50.

5. 60. 5.

65. Lady's bid at 65.

It's going to sell in the room at ?65. Oh, no!

Oh. That's a shame. Bargain.

Oh, dear. Just when we thought your luck was changing, Mark.

Back to Paul and his World War I trench watch next.

?20 anywhere for it, please? ?20.

Thank you. I've got, at the back, ?20. At ?20. At 20.

I've got 22 on the net. At 22.

25 in the room. At 25. 28.

At 28. 30 I've got here. Do you want to go 2? 32.

35. Now 8. 38. In the room at 38.

At 38. 40. 42 in the room.

45. 48 in the room. Now 50. 50 I have.

At ?50. 5. I knew he was hatching another. At 55.

Back of the room at 55. At ?60, absolutely sure?

Last chance. 60 it is, then. At ?60.

Did a good job. It was a good result for the watch. Yeah, yeah, sweet.

Sweet indeed, Paul,

but it's not the usual high-flying profits, though.

What about Paul's George III mahogany press?

20? Thank you, 20 I have. At ?20. At 20. Back of the room at 20.

At 22 on the net. At 22. Oh, gosh, getting excited on the net, 28.

At 28. Do you want to come back? 30 I have.

In the room at 30. At ?30. 32.

35. 38. At 38. Now 40. 40 I have.

At 40. At 40. 45 on the net. 48 in the room.

At ?48. 50 here. At 55 in the room.

At 55. Now 60. 60 I have. 65 in the room.

Gone a bit quiet out here now. At 65. 70, back again.

At 70. 75. 80 I have.

At 85. At 85.

Somebody sees potential in it.

90 I have. 95 in the room.

At 95. Now 100.

100 I have. 110 in the room.

At 110. Room bid at 110. At ?110. It's a room bid, then.

You all done?

Well, Mark is flabbergasted at Paul's mighty result.

I just can't believe it. You take it so badly! Bottle it up!

Show some grace!

It is another combined lot from Mark.

The copper tray and the, um... miniature watering can next.

And this one I have to start straight in at ?30. At ?30.

At 30. Do I see 2 anywhere? 32 on the net.

At 32. Clears me now. At 35 at the back.

At ?35. Now 8.

At 35. It's in the room now. 38. Do you want to go 40?

?40 I have in the room. At ?40. At 40. 42. Now 5?

45 at the back of the room.

At 45. Now 8 here.

At 45, back of the room at 45. You are out, internet.

At ?45, then. If you are all done...

Well done, Mark. That result should perk you up a bit.

It is Mark again with his snooker marker board.

I have got ?20 on it.

At 22. 25 with me. 28 at the back of the room.

Clears me now. 28. 30. 32 on the net. 35.

Fresh bidder in the room. At ?35. At 35. Now 8.

38, he says.

40 in the room. 42. No? You sure? At ?42, all done?

Selling to the net, then, at ?42.

You scored a whopper on that one, Mark.

That's what I call potting the black.

PAUL LAUGHS

Perhaps the usual polar bear fishbowl will help you inch nearer

to first place.

?20 anywhere for him? ?20?

20? ?10, then.

Ah, everyone wants it now, you see.

10. 12. 15. 18. 20.

22. 25.

No. At 25. We got a little way.

At ?25. Right at the back of the room at ?25. You all sure?

It is going to sell, then, at ?25. It can't, surely.

No!

Peeved for you, mate.

What a jaw-dropper of a result for Mark. An unexpected, sore loss.

That's auctions. That's auctions.

My chances of catching up are slipping away, Paul.

It's Paul's turn with the carved mahogany and brass standard lamp.

Start me away, ?30 anywhere for it. Thank you. 30 I have.

35 at the back. At 35. Now 8 out here.

At 35 in the room. No! Get real! At 38. ?40.

42. 45. At 45.

Back of the room at 45.

At 45, then. The bid's in the room.

You all sure? It's going to sell, then, at ?45. Sure is.

Well... Ouch!

Ouch indeed.

Another disappointing result for the boys.

I'm becoming quite unhinged.

You are just becoming, or it's just dawning on you now?

Cheeky Paul.

Right, it's Mark's pair of carriage wheels.

?20 anywhere? Thank you, 20 I have.

At ?20. At 20.

Must be somebody else here who fancies a pair of carriage wheels.

At ?20. Going to go for a maiden bid of ?20.

You all sure? All done.

There is someone hovering on the internet, this is exciting.

Build up. Come on. 22, I knew there was someone out there. 25. At 25.

Do you want to go 28? Yeah, 28. 30 at the back. Come back with 2.

At 32. We'll help you carry them onto your lorry. At ?30.

There you are, did the trick. 32. At 32.

35 it is. At ?35. Don't go quiet on me now.

At ?35, it is a room bid. You sure out there? 38.

At 38. 40. Yeah, I knew he'd go again. At ?40. Now 2.

At 42. At 42. You sure this time?

All done, selling to the net buyer at ?42.

Certainly an exciting play between bidders,

but just not enough to help Mark.

I can relax now, it's down to your last lot.

It's the final lot of the day - Paul's stunning set of wine glasses.

?20? 20? All those glasses, 20?

?10, then. You see? Everyone wants it now.

10. 12. 15. Go on. 18.

18. 22 I've got on the internet now.

They're galloping off now, 28, 30.

At 32. 35. 38. 40. That's better.

42. 45. 48. 50. 5. At 55. 60. 70.

80. 90. 100. Excellent, ?100.

At ?100. On the internet at 100. Oh, he's back again at 110.

120. 120 it's going to be.

We'll take that. Well done.

Another stonker of a profit from Paul.

So, for the fifth time, he is the reigning supremo at auction.

You fancy a wee cruise in a classic car, maybe a pint at the end?

Oh, go on, then, if we have to. Can I tempt you? If we have to.

Shall we? Come on.

Mark started this leg with ?366.26

and, after paying auction costs, made a small profit of ?42.92,

bringing his final earnings to ?409.18.

Wow!

Paul started with a mighty ?782.04

and, after costs, made another whopping profit of ?107.86,

giving him a wondrous ?889.90 to finish on.

And that means he is crowned jubilant winner.

All profits our experts make will go to Children In Need.

That's it, over for another year.

Man alive! Belter, though. Oh, it was fabulous.

All you've got to do now, Paul, is drive me into the sunset.

Come on, then, amigo, let's do it. This way.