Episode 9 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.

Yipee! My heart's slightly racing.

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

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

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

Johnny, are we going to end up in a dead end?

This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Yeah!

It's the second leg of our trip in a little 1964 MG

with Jonathan Pratt and Anita Manning.

I think we're both going to the same shop. Are we?

What, shopping at the same time in the same shop? I think so.

Jonathan is an auctioneer and a former porter.

He grew up watching Lovejoy and likes to live dangerously.

If he could just make his mind up.

Anita turned her childhood love of art and antiques into a career as an auctioneer.

She also has a fondness for puppetry.

Isn't that great fun?

Anita had Jonathan in the palm of her hand at the auction in Glasgow.

Yes!

But today, in the beautiful Scottish Borders, her rival's finding his feet.

Ecclefechan? Ecclefechan.

SCOTS ACCENT: Ecclefechan. Oh, that's a great accent!

Eh! We've just come past Ecclefechan.

Jonathan started out with ?200.

And he's, so far, managed to turn that into ?235.34. Well done, boy!

Anita, who also began with ?200,

now has ?317.74.

Great!

Oh!

Whoa! Oh, hope that's not a sign of things to come.

Oh! LAUGHTER

Anita and Jonathan are travelling over 400 miles,

through Scotland, England and Wales,

from Glasgow, all the way to Llangefni on the island of Anglesey.

Today, we're starting out in the south-west of Scotland at Lockerbie,

and heading over the border to an auction in Darlington, County Durham.

Lockerbie is a Norse name, apparently, and the town has a long and venerable history,

especially since Thomas Telford supplied the Carlisle-Glasgow road

in the early 19th century.

Ah, just outside there. Wonderful!

Jonathan, look at that! What...? JONATHAN LAUGHS

Well, how about that?

Anita already has something.

Looks like you've got there a bit too late, Jonathan.

I was looking at this wee vintage watch.

I think it's probably from the 1950s, '60s.

Anita's found Irene to strike a deal with.

It's at ?20. I'm looking to buy it for less, if I can.

What's the very, very, very best that you can do on that?

Erm, what about 12? 12?

Well, she said that 20 was cheap.

Let's go for 12. That's lovely.

Thank you. Thank you very much. That is smashing. I'm pleased with that.

It looks a lot better than mine. It does.

On that note, let's see what Jonathan's been up to.

DING!

Quite like that. Chinese porcelain bowl.

You've got a firing crack in the star crack in the bottom.

It's not a break. It's the body drying out and cracking in the kiln.

This enamel decoration painted over the glaze is a little worn in places.

It's in remarkably good condition when you consider it's between 150 and 180 years old.

You have ?60 on it.

And you might take an offer of...?

35. Oh, OK.

OK, we're moving in the right direction. That's a very busy bowl!

Crikey!

That's rather a smart thing.

There's a dragon, picked out in gilt, with four toes.

The four-clawed dragon on porcelain

was usually for imperial nobility and high-ranking officials.

Those items with five-clawed dragons were reserved for the Emperor himself.

Improper use of claw numbers was punishable by execution, once upon a time.

Very nice decoration though, but what about the damage?

What a shame! What a shame!

It's still a very nice piece though.

How much is he? ?15. ?15? Yes.

Go on, Jonathan, get your wallet out!

Er...

And the other one would be 35? Yes.

You can do it.

?35... You wouldn't do the two for ?40?

Erm... Yes, go on. I will.

The two bowls for ?40? Yes. I'll have those.

Thank you very much. Lovely.

At last, JP! Well done.

Now, I think Anita might have designs on the tableware.

These are highly collectable.

They're Homemaker plates. 20th-century design.

And I love 20th-century design.

Homemaker was created by Enid Seeney.

It was once very popular in Woolworth's.

People were getting away from pre-war styles. They wanted something modern.

They wanted something new. 20, 30, 40.

?70. In an auction in London, that's not dear,

but they're going to an auction in Darlington.

I'm going to have a think about those. Definitely have a think.

Well, these two experts do seem to have uncannily similar tastes today.

Gent's Longines automatic.

Now he's after a watch!

From about the '60s. I quite like that.

It's a nice watch. It's quite wearable today still.

The market for gentlemen's automatics, and certainly mechanical watches,

is reasonably buoyant, you know?

It's gold-plated... Yes, it's gold-plated.

I think that one would have 60 on it, so I would take 35.

ANITA IN THE DISTANCE: It's a nice thing, a nice thing.

I was looking at the Homemaker plates here. Oh, yes.

I'm interested in those.

Give you 30.

Hello. Hello.

I'm kind of looking for a price around about ?25.

30 would be fine. 30?

I think I'll go for that and just take the chance on it.

BEEP-BEEP!

And Jonathan's certainly sounding pleased with himself.

BEEP-BEEP!

Oh, do calm down!

Patience! Patience, Jonathan. Patience.

Do you like what you bought? Well, I... Who knows, who knows?

You don't want to tell me anything! Drive on, Macduff!

It's "Jonathan" actually!

They are travelling to the outskirts of Dumfries.

Anita wants to shop by herself

so she's commandeered the car to get there as soon as possible.

Hello! Hi. I'm Anita. I'm Douglas. Pleased to meet you.

It's lovely to be here. Is it "Dougie"? I was just being polite though!

OK!

Well, those two seem to have hit it off straight away.

I was looking at this little stool here.

It's not old. It's all dressed up and pretending to be

something older and something more luxurious than it actually is.

There is a French look about that.

A sort of hint of luxury there, which I do like.

?65. It's got the look. Yeah.

And I don't mind the fact that it's metal.

Can I make you an offer of ?24?

You know, I might get away with it at 24. Make it 25. 25?

I've got to take it. OK, thanks. Great.

But Anita's not putting her feet up just yet. Oh, no!

Time to step out into the garden.

Look at that one.

That is absolutely beautiful.

And that's the type of cast-iron fire place

that you would find in a Glasgow tenement building.

Glasgow loved Art Nouveau.

Mmm. But is it the right thing for a general sale in Darlington?

Look at these sinuous tendrils

which are coming up to this heart-shaped affair here.

This is just absolutely lovely.

It's odd to think that in the days before central heating,

fireplaces were functional items,

rather than a decorative focal point.

This one's priced at just ?30.

Now, who's going to make the first offer this time?

I'd like to be paying ?20.

Give me 25 and it's yours. 25? 25.

Are you dying to get rid of that? No.

Just a sense of... No, I'll give you it for 25.

You'll give me it for 25. Dougie, it's a deal.

That is a popular figure. I wonder if these two would always, somehow,

arrive at ?25?

Back in the car, our pair are trying to find England.

This is someone's driveway we're going down. Someone's driveway.

Somehow they've found the border

and they're heading to Carlisle in Cumbria.

Do they know where they are?

Eden Bridge. Was it Eden Bridge it says? I thought that was in Kent!

No, definitely Carlisle.

There's the Antiques Centre for a start.

Now that looks interesting. Can smell the bargains already! Oh, excellent! That's my boy!

Have a great morning. OK, bye-bye.

Hello! Crikey! What a place this is! Hello, Jonathan.

Nice to see you. And welcome to Carlisle. Thank you!

Do I need a map? I could get lost quite easily in here. Maybe start in the first one.

I know what you mean, Jonathan. This place does seem like a whole street full of antique shops,

tastefully rearranged.

We could be here some time.

HE WHISTLES

This is kind of fun, little transfer-printed plate from the middle part of the 19th century.

"Yorkshire Relish" on there, which is quite cool.

I think the auction's in Yorkshire. Darlington's in Yorkshire, isn't it?

Well, County Durham, actually.

Anyway, I think that's rather fun, actually.

It's not chipped. It's not cracked. They're only asking ?7!

HE LAUGHS

If I'm going to be frugal... ?7 is frugal, isn't it?

I think Anita would approve of that, too, but where's she got to?

One of the oldest parts of Carlisle, apparently, and, surely, one of the town's smallest shops.

Hi, folks. Hello. I'm Anita. Pleased to meet you.

I'm John. This is Julie. Ah, John and Julie!

It's very small here, you know. Well, I'm only small as well.

ANITA LAUGHS

Just about everything in this shop is on the trim side, too, especially their coins.

I wonder if you can show me that piece there, please?

And there's a piece of amethyst at the top.

There you are.

I suppose they are antiques, in a way,

but she seems determined to break new ground here. Huh!

I know what that is, but I don't know what that is. Tell me about that.

This is a fossil and it's an early form of squid.

Squid? Yes. And it's called an orthoceras.

And... And it swam along through the water.

Are you following this, Anita?

Eventually, they curled up and we ended up with a fully curled ammonite.

Has that come out of the sea then? Well, millions of years ago.

It's been fossilised, become part of the rock. Right.

And all that's happened, it's been cut in half and polished.

I was just thinking...

These would make a great pair of earrings!

LAUGHTER

So while Anita grapples with the coming together of jewellery and natural selection,

what's Jonathan unearthed? Not Whistler's are they?

Oh, they're nice as well.

You've got sort of a flower seller and this lady here who has a...

I suppose she's the same really. Almost Romanian, or that sort of area.

Pretty girls always sell, that's the thing.

Ideally, with as little clothing on as possible, but you know...

Beggars can't be choosers.

1881. It's a German name.

"A H Weigall". W-E-I-G-A-L-L.

Arthur Howe Weigall, 1836-1894, was an English painter,

about whom very little is known.

But the somewhat tatty condition of these two only adds to their authenticity in a way.

A picture dealer won't complain about that too much. They know they can get it restored.

I've sold pictures where they've made silly money with holes in,

because it makes it feel like it's fresh to the market.

There's no price on these, but they almost certainly won't be cheap.

I don't really want to go blowing over ?100 on one item.

And if those pictures come in at that, then I'll...

then I'll stand around staring at them for 20 minutes, thinking about it!

Time for some decisive action.

Are you open to offers?

The pair - and it might be a nice surprise for you - 125.

The figure in my mind was... Crikey! ..even at the most was ?100.

So how about 110?

Er, come back to that in a second. Yes. This is not a big, big buy. This little chap here. Oh, yes.

You've got ?7 on it. Actually, it's not great leverage on a pair of pictures like that, is it?

Not quite, but it all helps.

So we'll knock a pound off, how about that? For good measure.

Get on with it, boy!

I'll go ?7 on that and pay the full asking price,

and you give me those for 100. Oh, it's just a bit tight that.

HE LAUGHS

I'll do that at six and I'll do those at 105, how about that?

105? That's 111. Er...

TICK-TOCK, TICK-TOCK

I'm not a fan of odd numbers. Shall we knock the one off then?

So we're looking at 110 for the two. 110. Fiver for this, 105 for those two. Yes.

And I hope you do well with them. It's real gamble.

Hand on brow. Could we be close?

No.

TICK-TOCK, TICK...

OK. OK?

Well done. Thank you. I'll go for those two.

At last!

My heart's slightly racing.

More of a heart ache for us!

..Four, five...

Well, he did end up spending over ?100, but those things could fly.

Now, what about Anita? She has been busy.

So the citrine, the amethyst and the agate,

and this little chap here... A geode. Geode.

These are all natural minerals and I have my ammonite.

And my... Orthoceras. Orthoceras.

And if I put these together... They come to 53.50.

I would like to be paying something in the region of ?20, ?25.

Have you been thrown out of many antique shops?

ANITA LAUGHS

I would be happy at 30.

Yeah, I think, as you've shown so much appreciation of them. Thank you very much, Julie.

Ah, well! Time for our two to get motoring.

Leaving Carlisle and heading east to the nearby market town of Brampton.

I'll drop you off here, Jonathan. Ah, lovely.

So last shop, darling.

Well, he's got just ?55.34 to play with here,

so he'll certainly have to choose wisely.

Hiya. Hi. Steve. Hi. Jonathan. Hi, Jonathan. It's like a Tardis, isn't it?

Yes! But it's a bit more comfy, actually, and stuffed with nice

and, very possibly, expensive things.

It might be simpler if I just asked you what you can sell me for what I've got!

Not a bad plan, Jonathan.

Ah, a letter seal.

What do you think? It's a fabulous piece of amber.

It's a big lump of amber. It's lovely, isn't it?

It's continental, so it's probably... 800, possibly German or something.

Amber is a type of sappy tree resin often from the Baltic

thanks to the many forests that surround that region.

The price though is a bit beyond his budget.

I've got 55 quid. That's all I have. That's fine. That is all I, isn't it?

Yeah, that's all you've got, mate.

We'll turn you upside-down and shake you! So that for 55? That'll be fine. Fair enough. Deal.

That little deal nicely wraps up Jonathan's purchases and empties his pockets of all but 34p.

We're done! Cheers! All the best.

So much for saving money then, eh?

Unlike Anita, who's still sitting on almost ?200.

She's finished shopping, too, and is heading back north

from Brampton across the Scottish border to the village of Gretna Green.

Is she going to marry?

# I'm on my way to Gretna Green

# Where the prettiest gal you've ever seen... #

Gretna's been firmly on the runway marriage map since the middle of the 18th century -

the very word spelling "ruin" from Jane Austen right up to EastEnders.

But Anita's here to find out exactly why.

Hello, Anita. Welcome to Gretna Green and the famous blacksmith's shop.

Oh, Gretna Green! One of the most romantic destinations in the world!

Would you like to come through and see a little more of it? I'd love to. Lead on, Jim!

# I've got to get to Gretna Green

# Cos the Pa is mad and the Ma is mean... #

It was a change in English law, plus Gretna's location,

slap bang on the border, that transformed the village into a sort of Scottish Las Vegas,

at the centre of which has always been the unlikely figure of the blacksmith.

So this is the actual blacksmith's shop. This is where it all took place? Yes.

This building would have been the first building those young couples

running away from angry parents down in England would have found.

Why did they come to Scotland? Young ladies, like yourself and others,

were marrying the wrong sort of people. They might have been marrying beneath themselves,

or someone the family didn't approve of.

The English passed a law saying no longer will you be allowed to marry in England

if you were under 21, unless your parents agree with your choice of husband or wife.

The Scots, when asked by the English to pass the same law, declined.

They said, "We don't need a law like that. We have our own customs and conventions,

"and one of those conventions is that you may marry at 15.

"You need no-one's permission. On your own head be it if you get it wrong." That was your business.

I love that!

Because the blacksmith on the border was a highly respectable craftsman,

he landed the part-time job of conducting irregular marriages.

Gretna became synonymous with anvil priests and angry parents.

ANITA LAUGHS Complete... I love this, here.

"Filial affection or a trip to Gretna Green".

And this was an effect of the new Marriage Act.

Filial affection doesn't usually extend to whips and guns, but...

ANITA LAUGHS

Long before the Scottish and English laws harmonised,

the village was one of the marriage capitals of the world.

Nowadays, they come for the romance alone

and there are over 5,000 weddings in the area every year.

Anvils are usually involved.

Anita, you and your hus... LAUGHTER

I strike the anvil, symbolic of joining two hearts,

just as I join two pieces of iron and steel with the heat of the fire in the anvil

never to be separated. So now, you two, are joined.

I'm feeling quite emotional now! Does that mean that we're married?

Whatever you want to think, dear. Come on!

It will never last, you know.

Here's a quick catch-up of just how many pennies they spent.

Anita started out with ?317.74 and she spent

just ?122 of it on five auction lots.

Jonathan began with ?235.34 and he spent everything,

apart from the pennies, on his five auction lots.

What are their thoughts on their bags of antiques?

The little amber seal.

I'm not sure how old it is and I'm not sure it is amber.

I think he might have slipped up on that, but you never know.

Very clever lot of purchases. Guaranteed profit with the watch.

Guaranteed profit with the Homemaker, but I've bought a great pair of paintings,

and I honestly think I could make losses on the rest and still thrash her at this auction.

Well, after starting out in the Scottish Borders at Lockerbie, this leg of our trip

will conclude at an auction in Darlington.

Although it's very far north, should we call it your stomping ground, Jonathan?

Yes, I suppose the North and the Midlands is very much where the Pratts came from.

Really? Yes. Here. Only there are Pratts everywhere, I know that!

Looking forward to this, dear boy. Me, too! Me, too!

Thomas Watson's have been holding auctions at this very saleroom since 1840.

So I'm sure they can shift whatever Anita and Jonathan have bought.

Well, we hope so! Peter Robinson is our auctioneer commanding today's sale.

Are you nervous? Are you worried? I am nervous. I am always nervous before the sale.

And I start to feel jittery. That's the coffee. Yeah!

Oh, dear! Relax. It's Anita's tableware first.

Here we are.

?30 bid. To start at ?30. I have 5. 40. 5.

50. 5. ?55 on my right. I'm happy.

?55. Selling... I have 60! 5. Up in the Gods.

70, sir? Seven pieces? ?65 downstairs on my right.

?65! Being sold now at ?65 for the lot.

Yes! Very good! Yes! I'm happy with that.

So is that ?35 profit? Yeah!

Yes, it's a good start, Anita!

Oh, game on! Game on! Game on!

This could be interesting.

I've got some of this at home. I can't stand it!

Clare's grandmother had it.

?15. At ?15. 20 for the collection. 20 I'm bid.

25 can I have? 25. 30. 5.

40. Yes! 5. 50.

5. 60. What?! Yes! Yes, sir.

60, gentleman to my right. At ?60.

Selling now to my right at ?60. All finished? ?60 for the lot? All done?

Yes! Ah! That's amazing! I know, it is.

You've doubled your money already. I know.

Bodes well for the day. Next, the Chinese porcelain, with crack.

Can we start at ?20? For the two pieces together. 20 I'd bid.

Thank you. 5. 30. 5. 40. ?35.

Lady's bid. 40. 5. Internet's going. 60. 5.

70. ?65. 70.

5. ?70 to my... 5. 80.

85 I'm bid on the net now. 85. 100.

At ?95. The bid's up with the net. Keep going! Round it up!

You're all out in the room. At ?95. Being sold now at ?95. All done.

Get in there. Well done, darling. That's a good start. A great start.

Are you ecstatic? Yes! Relieved.

I think it could be one of those days.

Now, is Jonathan's amber a gamble?

Can I have ?25 bid? ?25 for it, little seal. At ?25.

30 on the net. 35. 40.

At ?35. It's in the book at ?35.

40 in the room, on my right. ?40. 45. 50.

55. Here we go! 60. 65.

70. 75. 80. I think you've being lucky here, Johnny boy! 90.

95. ?90 and shaking the head on the left.

At ?90. On my right then at ?90. 95 anywhere else?

At ?90. The bid's to my right at ?90 for the lot.

Aw, I think you were a bit lucky there. A BIT lucky?

But that was good.

Yes, it almost got a bit stuck.

Now it's time for Anita's foot stool.

Louis quinze... Style! Style. THEY LAUGH

At ?50 bid. At ?50. 55 I have.

60. 65. 70.

?70 that I'm bid. ?70. Are we all finished? At ?70.

All done? Bid's in the book. ?70 for this lot.

75. 75! In the balcony. ?75 now. In the balcony.

At ?75. All finished at ?75? All done?

GAVEL BANGS DOWN

Yes! Anita, you are amazing!

Well, it's worth its weight in...cast iron.

More of Anita's metal and Art Nouveau this time.

Isn't that beautiful?

?20, can I say to start me off? 20 I have.

?20. Nearly there. 25. There you go.

At ?20. 25. Here we go! 30. 35.

35. 40. Profit. ?40 for the lot.

GAVEL BANGS DOWN

I would have liked it to get more.

Someone's got a bit of a bargain.

So far, no losses. All right. Fingers crossed, Johnny.

Next up, Jonathan's cheapest purchase yet.

This is my favourite object. Is it?

?20 bid. At ?20.

Really? At ?20. 25 can I say? Yeah!

At ?20. Get in there! 5 can I say?

25, front row. 30. 35, madam?

35. 40. 45, madam?

At ?40. The bid's with me at ?40. Sure?

45. ?40 then. The bid's with me at ?40. One more!

It's being sold at ?40. All done?

Very good. I'm very pleased.

I'm happier about that than anything else so far. Ah!

Ha! And we're not even in Yorkshire.

It's the battle of the watches. That's right!

What can Anita's little gold bargain job do?

30 bid. 35 on the internet.

40. At ?35.

At ?35 on the net. 40.

5.

45 in the room. 18-carat gold. 18-carat gold.

?40. The room bid I have at ?40. 45.

50, sir? Yep. 50. 55. 60?

Yep? 60.

65. Gosh! On my left at ?60.

Gentleman on my left under the balcony. 65! 70, sir?

No. At ?65.

A great find, Anita and a solid golden profit!

JONATHAN SIGHS

A hard act for Jonathan's watch to follow. Watch out!

?35 to start. 40. At ?40. 45.

45 in the balcony. 50.

The bidding's coming in quickly.

60 now. At ?55.

The bid's in the balcony at ?55. Don't stop! 60 anywhere. Being sold.

At ?55. Top left-hand side of the balcony. ?55.

There we go!

A bit disappointing that. Anita's won the watch fight.

But this frantic adding up shows that Jonathan's still in with a chance.

Now for his paintings. If they live up to Jonathan's expectations,

he might just pip Anita today.

This is your important lot. This is your important lot!

We have ?50 bid for the pair of paintings.

At ?50. At ?50. 5.

60. 5. 70. 5. 80. 5. 90.

5. ?95 bid. 100. And 10.

20. 130. You've got a phone bid. ..150. 160.

Phone bid. 150 I'm bid. At 160.

170. 180. There's a lot of interest in the room. 200.

220. 240. No?

220 in the doorway. Keep going! It's got to be worth more.

At ?220. No? Shaking our heads here. We have 240.

260. No? 240 then.

Another bidder. You'll have it now at ?240.

Lady seated to my right at ?240. Are we all finished at 240?

You've doubled your money, so well spotted.

And well done, my darling. Thank you very much. Good!

So with that mighty profit, Jonathan is crowned

this leg's winner!

He began with ?235.34.

And after paying auction costs, made a profit of ?191.40,

leaving him with a respectable ?426.74.

However, Anita started out with ?317.74

and, although she made a smaller profit of ?128.10 after costs,

her overall booty of ?445.84

gives her a narrow lead on her rival overall.

Well, Johnny, one auction each. Mm!

So it's really all to play for, darling. It is all to play for.

So, what's going to happen next? We'll see.

And off we go again on the next leg,

with Anita, Jonathan and their 1964 MG.

It's chucking it down now! Yes!

You stupid boy! You should put on your coat!

You tell him, Anita!

Our experts are travelling over 400 miles

from the city of Glasgow all the way to Llangefni,

on the island of Anglesey.

They're beginning in the Yorkshire town of Middleham

and will auction in Luddenden Foot, in Halifax.

We continue our shopping expedition with the scurrying Anita.

She has a whopping ?445.84.

As a veteran Road Tripper,

Anita has met many antiques dealers.

Angela? Yes?

Owner Angela is one of them.

Hello?

Hello, it's lovely to see you again.

It's lovely to see you. And you.

I've been before, but you've got tons of new stock.

Absolutely lovely.

Now, I love these prints.

They're beautiful and decorative.

The images are so appealing.

The frames are new, so they've been recently done.

I'm hoping the prints are old, but they're not of high quality.

But they're just so lovely to look at.

I think these will be really appealing to the buyers.

They're lovely.

Anita wants them for ?40.

Angela calls the owner of the prints to see if a deal can be done.

Angela, how are we doing?

She will let them go. Oh, she'll let them go!

She's reluctant because now I've got to find another pair!

Oh!

I'll see what I can find.

So 40 quid? Yes.

And onwards we go.

Anita's still in the mood for buying.

I love this wee room, Angela.

There's always wee treasures in here.

Work in progress! Work in progress!

I was looking at these fans here.

It pulls out. Let's look at that one first of all.

It's got little roses on it.

That's very frou-frou. It is very, isn't it?

Do I suit it?

In a certain setting, perhaps. In a certain setting!

Oh, look. One of its legs is a bit loose.

These lovely fluffy feathers on this fan, in a rather shi-shi style,

were commonly used by Burlesque dancers and showgirls to cover up their bits.

Now you're talking!

What sort of age is that?

It's a bit difficult to define, really.

I could say 1920s, I would think. Something like that. Or maybe a bit earlier.

And these are more modern.

I don't know.

They do make a nice collection.

And, of course, it looks so nice with your kid gloves.

Yes, they are French kid gloves.

They feel like the height of elegance.

Make you feel good, don't they? Uh-huh.

Anita decides she wants to go for a combo buy,

consisting of the kid gloves, some glove stretchers

and the selection of four fans.

The original ticket price for the lot is ?70.

What I would like to pay on that is probably ?30.

Oh, no, no. No.

45.

Could you possibly come to 35? No.

No? No. 45, and that's it.

45?

Could you go 40?

Two.

It's a deal!

Oh, you're a great woman!

You bargain like hell!

So canny Scotswoman meets canny Yorkshire woman! Great deal, Anita!

She's definitely on a shopping spree and she's found something else

that's, well, unusual, I think you'll agree!

Angela, this is one mad bird here

talking to another mad bird about an absolutely mad bird! Absolutely!

Er, I'm not saying a word!

Will you sell that to me for a fiver?

Will you sell it to me? I can't do it at a fiver. Sorry, I can't.

I paid more for it. You did? Are you mad paying more than a fiver for that?

No, cos I love it!

It's a coconut. No, it would have to be a tenner.

Hmm. I don't think this is what you'd call an antique, Anita.

Springy, though!

Give me a better price on it. Give me it for a fiver!

No, it would have to be eight, so I can wipe my face.

Let's go for eight quid. Thank you very much.

We're probably mad!

Yes... That's a packed bag of antiques for Anita's first shop.

Now, where's that young whipper-snapper, Jonathan?

He's got ?426.74 to splurge.

He's braved the lashing rain to travel to the beautiful village of West Burton

within the Yorkshire Dales.

Right in the middle of the village lies the old smithy,

an antique shop owned by the delectable Elaine.

It's just stopped raining. Hello, there. This is the old smithy? Yes.

This is quite cute.

This is rather unusual. It's a decorative version of a child's potty!

What I find alarming is you'd put a child on a pot, and it rocks! It had a seat on there as well.

There we go!

There was a seat on there at some time as well.

It would have had a restraining bar as well.

So you could sit them on it. It's a copy of Daddy's lambing chair.

So Dad would have one. Often they had a drawer at the front as well.

Would you take ?40 for it?

Ooh, you're a hard man!

I'm just going in on... Dearie me! I know, I know.

It probably is 19th century.

But elements are slightly more modern.

Could I squeeze another tenner out of you?

Come on, Jonathan. It's not that difficult!

Make a decision. A number one or a number two?

How about ?50?

45?

OK!

Yeah, OK!

I think Elaine wants you out of the shop, mate!

But from a ticket price of ?75 to ?45,

well done, Jonathan!

And I'll tell you something.

Jonathan is a thoroughly polite chap.

He's picked Anita up to keep the wheels moving on our Road Trip adventure.

# You are my sunshine

# My little sunshine

# You make me happy

# When skies are grey... #

Turn the volume down, Anita!

Ooh!

Oh, Jonny!

What a scamp!

Jonathan's travelled to Masham, North Yorkshire.

He's continuing his shopping quest in Aura Antiques.

It's always worth looking on the floor in a place like this,

because sometimes the carpets are used as furnishing.

They can sometimes have carpets which might be more valuable, one would hope.

This is an Afghan. It's an Osari pattern.

Oh, yeah? Maybe we should club together to get Jonathan a new pair of shoes, eh?

Because it's this golden colour,

they call it a golden Afghan.

It's a nice colour.

You've got a hint of red in there, which is washed-out slightly. But that would be quite fun.

I don't know. I'll ask about it.

The Afghan rug comes in many shapes and sizes,

but the most typical is that with the octagonal elephant's footprint,

which is what we see here in the design in the centre.

I quite like these, because they're different,

and there's loads of decanters, clear decanters and cut-glass ones,

but it's just got that sort of hint of lime in it,

which I suppose you could say is quite fashionable.

And they are late 19th century.

Bit of fun.

OK.

Well, he's certainly got his eye on a few things.

And now he's found an 18th-century plate rack.

As you do!

There's no price on this, which is always a good start.

He's obviously waiting for a dresser to go with it.

Or maybe the dresser's being restored.

But these are sort of popular. Useful in the kitchen.

Hmm.

Oh, no! I was doing so well!

Jonathan, get a grip, and go and strike a deal with owner Robert.

The total asking price for the rug, the decanters and the plate rack

is ?135.

Go, boy, go!

Would you take 100 quid?

115.

105?

110!

Was that where I was aiming?

110 quid. That would be...

In your own time, Jonathan, eh?

Go on, then.

That's three items bought. I can go home now.

Thank you very much.

I can stop now!

Finally, we make a decision

and managed to shave a little off the ticket prices.

Back together again, Anita and Jonathan

are ready for more shopping.

Anita and Jonathan have travelled to the ancient walled city of York.

And even though it's raining, our antiques duo are in high spirits.

BOTH: # I'm just singing in the rain

# What a glorious feeling

# I'm ha-ha-happy again. #

Oh, look, York Minster! Oh, is it really?

Founded by the Romans in 71 AD, the city has a rich heritage,

and also Dame Judi Dench was born here, dontcha know.

Blimey, Anita's got her hands full with young Jonathan, look.

Ah...

Oh, Lordy!

You were trying to shove me in the puddle. You're a bad boy!

Thankfully, Anita has escaped the clutches of Jonathan and she's found her next shop.

# She's a lady

# Wo-oh-oh, she's a lady

# Talkin' about a little lady

# And the lady is mine. #

Anita simply lovely jewellery, you know, and has asked owner Clare about a sparkly brooch.

It's not gold. I was hoping that it was gold!

Right. Yes. But I knew it wouldn't be at ?12. Yes.

But it is gold-plated.

But I can see a wee bit of quality at the back. It's not a cheap piece.

Purple's always a popular colour, isn't it?

Yeah. For amethyst glass.

What I'd like to be paying for that is about ?8.

Can that be done?

What was it, 12 on the ticket?

If I could meet you somewhere in between. Maybe 9, would that be OK?

We'll go for that. Yeah. Let's go for it. That's smashing.

Splendid work, Anita. It's enough to make you sing, girl.

# Gloria! #

Jonathan is visiting one of the most spectacular buildings in Britain.

# Gloria!

# Gloria! Gloria!

# Gloria! #

The iconic York Minster

is the second-largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe.

Approximately two million individual pieces of glass

make up the cathedral's 128 stained glass windows.

Due to the age and sheer magnitude of York Minster,

there are over 50 people working on restoration projects connected with this wonderful building.

Jonathan is meeting with Rebecca Thompson, the lady in charge of them.

26 stonemasons are employed to carry out careful restoration work.

They train for four years to hone this exquisite craft.

The restoration work on the Minster's Great East Window

is the largest project and began in 2008.

The masonry is painstakingly cleaned

and, where needed, restored or replaced.

I hope Jonathan has a head for heights!

Well, Jonathan, this is the tracery of the Great East Window.

We've cleaned the stone and identified where we need new stone putting in.

That will all start to be fixed in the next week or two.

And then we are conserving and consolidating these original carvings

around the window, the stones round the window,

and we've had to put new stones in,

the weathering stones that you can see to the side,

and they actually keep the water, weather, moisture, off the stones

but give it a fine balance.

It's quite amazing that where we are, 30 metres in the air,

that they were doing the same thing,

600, 700 years ago,

and they'd have a wooden scaffold

and they'd have to hand-lift everything up here.

Well, no, they didn't. They did actually have lifting mechanisms.

They had like a hamster wheel mechanism, medieval masons.

With people running inside it? Yes, people running inside it!

They must have been very intelligent to build a building like this.

It's incredible, the engineering.

So this is where our stonemasons work, in the stonemasons' lodge.

You can see Nolan and Jamie masoning some tracery stones

at the moment. OK.

And this is a reproduction of a sort of medieval... Yes.

They would have worked in places like this

very close to the site of the restoration they were doing

or the new-build works they were doing at the time.

These are old tracery stones they're working on.

We'll start fixing the tracery stones next week.

You can see here a stone that's nearly finished, this piece.

And next to it, we've got a piece of shaft stone from the north quire restoration works.

Part of these big pillars? Yes. That's right.

You can see the moulding. That's a slice through from the outside of the windows.

And what we'd like to do is give this to you

to auction it off.

We have got a certificate of authenticity to show it comes from the Minster.

Oh, right! Wonderful.

It's a tempting thought,

but the good lad wants to make an offer.

If I give you a tenner, that'll be OK, will it?

Absolutely fine. Brilliant. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks.

A tenner well spent, young man.

Interesting to see how it fares at auction.

Now, where's Anita?

She's made her way to the village of Huntingdon,

just a few miles from the city of York.

She's a chip off the old block.

She's on a mission to find some more antiques

in the French House.

As you can guess, the wares have a distinct Gallic flavour.

C'est magnifique!

Stephen points Anita in the right direction.

That would fit in the corner of any room or hallway

to take a vase, a lamp or whatever, if you like them.

I do like them. This sort of leaf shape here and a little bead.

They're all carved. Uh-huh.

And the marble's in good condition as well.

All depends on the price, though, Stephen.

Absolute best would be ?40 for the two.

I like those, Stephen. I think those are great.

I think that at ?40, you've got a deal. Good.

Thank you so much. Pleasure.

That's the shopping over.

Let's have a quick reminder of how they've been spending their cash.

Jonathan Pratt started this leg with ?426.74

and spent ?165 on five auction lots.

Anita Manning began with ?445.84

and spent ?139 also on five lots.

Go on, tell us what you're thinking about one another's buys, then.

My favourite piece is that big lump of York Minster.

And I think the certificate is worth even more than ?10.

Anita's lots are barking mad, aren't they?

She came up with a coconut with a spring for a head!

But cheap.

Let's get back on the road and head to auction.

It's been a competitive third leg,

starting in Middleham via West Burton, Masham, Ripon,

York, Huntingdon, with the final destination in Luddenden Foot

in Halifax on the horizon.

Calder Valley auctioneers has been established here since 1996.

Ian Peace is our auctioneer for today.

Not only do we have a packed saleroom,

but we also have an audience live on the web.

All eyes to the front now.

First up, it's Anita's matching pair of prints.

You've got to make some money today, cos I'm snapping at your heels!

?10. 10?

The pair. 10.

10 I'm bid. 12.50 anywhere?

12.50. 15.

17.50. ?20.

22.50.

?22.50. Oh, come on, come on! Come on!

25, you're back in. 25. 7.50.

?30.

At 30. We're selling at ?30.

All finished? And at 2.50 there.

Yes! Yes!

32.50, then. Back of the room.

Are we all finished at 32.50?

SHE GROANS

Oh, dear.

I think Anita finds that result more than a little painful!

Very disappointing. That was my star lot.

Next up it's Jonathan's hulking big plate rack.

?20.

?20?

Oh, dear.

It's 18th century. I know it's 18th century!

Don't believe a word he says!

Come on. ?15, that plate rack there.

?15.

Ooh, my word.

?10. This could cause disappointment. 10 I'm bid.

?10. At 10. 12.50 anywhere?

At 10. 12.50.

15, sir. 15. We're going in the right direction. 15.

Slowly!

At ?15. 17.50.

?20.

At 20.

At ?20 I'm bid. 2.50.

Well done. You're helping the cause.

22.50 At 22.50.

Anybody else now?

At ?22.50.

That's even worse than my prints!

Yeah, exactly.

Nothing like rubbing it in, Anita!

Not a good start for either of our experts.

Next it's Anita's intriguing ladies' lot.

Lot 75.

The French kid gloves, gloves stretchers,

ostrich feather, et cetera!

Where are you going to start me? ?20?

15.

15? 10 anywhere? 10 I'm bid.

At 10. Wow!

And 12. 14. 16.

16 in the third row.

At 16. Anybody else, now?

?16. (Come on! Come on!)

We've come to a grinding halt at 16.

Here we go. Chuck 'em over there.

Just goes to show that modelling the fans didn't help.

Another crushing loss, Anita.

We're not doing very well here, are we?

Just a loss on that one.

Never a truer word, Anita.

It's Jonathan's Afghan rug next.

?50? 40?

30? It's a lovely rug.

Good size. 20, anywhere? ?20?

Come on, ladies and gentlemen. ?20.

It'll roll up and go in the car no problem.

20 I'm bid there. 5 do I see?

The Afghan rug at ?20. Put the dog on it.

I'm selling at 20.

Hard luck, darling.

It's a tough crowd, isn't it?

A tough crowd today.

Oh, Lordy. Surely things have got to pick up?

Uh-oh! I don't think I can look!

It's Anita's coconut bird with the springy neck next.

Jonathan, this bird is going to fly!

That's confidence. Yes!

Now, then, the star lot of the sale!

Star lot! It's beautiful!

It's been sculpted out of metal and a coconut.

Right. 20 anywhere? 20? Yes!

10?

?10? Surely not.

5? Surely not. Come on!

Don't be embarrassed!

Thank you!

Find a carrier bag! ?5 I'm bid.

5. 7.50 anywhere?

?5. 7.50.

7.50. A wonderful conversation piece at dinner parties.

7.50. 10 anywhere?

10. Yes! 12.50.

Yes! 12.50. Come on. 12.50.

It's worth more. 15.

?15.

15. Don't lose it. You won't see another one!

You won't want to!

Ever. 16!

No, we're going in 2.50's. All right, 16, then.

16. 16, when I'm desperate.

17.

18. 19.

19. Yes!

Keep it nodding.

?20. 21.

21. 22. Keep it nodding.

Anybody else now? Has it run out of steam?

At ?22.

Yes!

?22,

Jonny-boy!

Well, who would have thought our first profit of the day

would belong to the nodding bird?

Yes, yes. Make it go away now!

Boing!

That bird flew!

And it wasn't cheap!

Excuse me, that's MY joke, Anita.

Now it's Anita's brooch next.

Can she get another splurge of profit?

15 to open. ?15. ?15.

Yes, come on.

12?

12 I'm bid. At 12.

14. Thank you. 16.

18. 20.

22. 24. 26.

28. 30.

Oh, yes! 32. 34.

36. 38.

40. 42. What?!

44. 46.

48. 50.

At ?50 in the front row.

Anybody else now? ?50. We're selling at 50.

First and last time.

Lot 85.

Anita certainly knows her jewellery.

What an excellent profit.

She's well and truly back in the game.

Gee whizz!

You're in overall profit at the moment.

It's Jonathan's turn next, with the pair of decanters.

Show us what you're made of, boy.

Opening at ?15, then. 15 I'm bid.

At 15. 17.50.

20. 2.50.

25?

At ?22.50 in the middle there.

Anybody else now? 25 back in.

27.50?

The pair. At 27.50.

27.50.

At... ?30, madam.

Yes!

30. 32.50.

At ?32.50.

They're flying! At ?32.50 for the pair.

32.50, then.

I can barely contain myself. Well done, Jonathan. Well done.

Ah, bless him.

Jonathan has finally managed some profit.

I'm flying backwards at the moment.

You made a good profit there.

And you've got two other items to go.

Don't be downhearted, darling.

Have you ever thought of taking up counselling? You're very good!

Very good. Just call me Auntie!

Auntie Anita is very supportive.

But will he need more counselling after this little number,

the child's potty chair, sends you potty?

50. 40. 30. Opening at ?20.

?20. Got to be more than 20.

20 I'm bid. Yes. At 20.

Anybody else now? 22.50.

25. 7.50.

?30.

32.50. 35.

Keep going. Keep going. Keep going.

Any further bids? ?35, then.

First and last time.

That's another tenner down the old Swanee.

It's not a good day for Jonathan.

It could have been worse, Jonny. It could have been worse.

Not much! Anyway, now it's Anita,

with her pair of marble corner shelves.

10 for the two. ?10.

10 I'm bid. Thank you. ?10.

12 anywhere? At 10. It's not going to go there.

Any further hands? 12, madam. 12.

14. 16.

18. ?18.

All finished? At ?18, then.

That's a bit disappointing, that.

Disappointing, indeed, Anita.

I thought you were on a roll, there.

Now for the final lot of the day.

Jonathan's lump of stone

from his visit to York Minster.

You're going to have to get about 300 quid

for this big dod of York Minster!

?20.

15. ?15.

Start me at 10. ?10. Thank you.

Yes. I've got ?10 in.

At ?10.

12.50.

12.50. 15.

17.50.

20. 2.50.

Yes! ?22.50.

At 22.50. Any further bids? At 22.50.

Well, I don't think he can believe it.

Lovely York Minster has served up a respectable profit.

Shall we go away and try and work out quite what the losses are?

Jonathan started this leg with ?426.74

and, after paying auction costs,

made a loss of ?56.35,

giving him ?370.39 to carry forward.

Anita, meanwhile, started with ?445.84

and, after auction costs, also made a loss, of ?25.43.

Despite this,

Anita is this leg's winner

and has ?420.41 to take forward.

Well done, girl!

Ah, well. Better luck next time, Jonny.

Still two auctions to go.

Yeah, well. Who knows? Who knows? It's a funny old game, this.

There's only ?50 between their totals,

so it's all to play for.