Episode 24 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.

Yippee!

-I've just done a terrible thing.

-The aim is to make the biggest profit at auction,

-but there will be worthy winners and valiant losers.

-Flip a coin?

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

We're rubbish!

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

It's the fourth leg of our trip in a 1980s Mini with David Harper and Catherine Southon.

-This time they're desperate!

-I can't remember what it's like to make money!

-We must make something

-somewhere along the line.

-Do you think we'll ever make profit again?

I know these two have done it before, but you wouldn't think so from their performance.

-We're rubbish!

-In fact, it got so bad last time that Catherine's shabby chic cabinet

-didn't even fetch a single bid.

-Nobody?

There you go.

Shabby, indeed. You'll be seeing more of this at today's auction!

Catherine started out with £200 and she's managed to reduce it to a mere £168.10.

While David's even worse,

transforming his starter pack of £200 into just £164. Ha!

-I'm actually winning!

-You are!

-I should be driving. I drive when I win.

-You should.

You're in front by four quid.

Our trip begins at Eccleston in Lancashire and heads south for about 350 miles

through Wales and the West Country to Seaton on the south coast of England.

Today we're starting out at Merthyr Tydfil in Wales

and heading for an auction in England at Wotton-under-Edge.

Although just a few miles south of the Brecon Beacons National Park,

-the countryside around Merthyr is very different.

-I imagine in the '60s and the '70s

this would be buzzing with real industry. My gosh!

Merthyr was once a boom town, built on coal and iron.

When those industries went into decline, it fell on hard times, but Merthyr's on the way back,

-a bit like our two road trippers, we hope.

-Nice little move.

-What do you think about that?

-What a parker!

-Well done!

You're very fast at running, David!

-Shall I go up?

-Go on, then. I'll start down here.

-I'm Kelly.

-Nice to meet you.

Looks like first strike to Catherine. She'll get help from Kelly while David's upstairs

-with several rolls of carpet.

-I'm looking for some nice silver. Have you got any nice pieces?

So we've got a little vesta.

-I'm not sure that is silver.

-David's had much the same idea.

We are desperate for silver. Is there any in there? And the answer is...not.

It's all either pewter or silver-plated.

Perhaps having burned their fingers on more than one occasion, they're playing safe,

but if Catherine has her way, there might not be any left!

I'm finding a couple of bits of silver and hiding them from him. I'll have a proper look later.

-I'm Kelly. Nice to meet you.

-Hello. Any nice bits of silver?

-He's back. Could be interesting.

-I don't like it when he's so close to me.

-Looks like David might go for gold if he can afford it.

Oh.

Oh...

-You can have a little look.

-Oh, how much is that?

-Oh, you're probably looking at £250 for that.

-That's without the watch.

-But is it the real thing?

-I'm trying desperately to find a hallmark that I can read.

-Even scrap value would be pricey.

But it's a risky buy.

So we're not actually 100% sure whether it's actually gold.

-No, you can make an offer if you want.

-Ooh, Kelly.

There is the maker, which is RG, I believe.

-RG could stand for rolled gold, do you think?

-Gosh, gosh, gosh.

-Could be.

-It is rolled gold.

I can see it. Well spotted. I think it's rolled gold.

That was a lucky escape. Rolled gold is a layer of gold bonded onto a base metal such as brass.

It's also known as gold fill and worth very little.

Meanwhile, the magpie's retired to her nest.

-Nickel-plated.

-Tricky business, though, working out what's really precious.

You would expect it to be silver, but it's just silvered brass. You can see the brass coming through.

The only thing I'm possibly interested in, if it is dirt cheap, is the little decanter.

1929.

It's marked on the collar.

Can you see how the pattern on top matches on the bottom, so we know the stopper is absolutely crisp?

That's a sweet little thing. It'll probably sell for about £30.

Actually, that's the ticket price.

-Can I have a quick look? Is that a picnic set?

-David's found something else that's shiny.

-It's a lighter.

-And an ashtray, by the looks of it.

-Yeah, or a cigarette box.

-Yeah.

A flask. It looks like a 1920s-1940s novelty picnic set.

I think.

-That's an ice bucket.

-They were the days of proper motoring,

-when any self-respecting road tripper had to be prepared to pack a heavyweight picnic.

-Really odd.

-And it's quirky. How much is it?

-55?

-Ouch! Kelly...it would need to be 20 quid.

-Let's say 25.

-You're just too nice. Give us a kiss.

-First deal to David. Now what's Catherine got there?

A cricket bat used during this particular match between Gloucestershire and Yorkshire.

-And seemingly autographed by both sides.

-Go away!

-She's spotted the item I wanted to look at.

Now, now, David. The auction just happens to be in the famous cricket county of Gloucestershire.

That's very bad for me.

-Gloucester's first captain was the legendary WG Grace.

-First one to touch it gets it!

-Howzat!

Looks like David might have to retire to the pavilion. Catherine opens the batting against Kelly.

-£70.

-Oh!

-How much were you thinking of?

-About 20.

-45?

-30 I'd really like to pay.

-I think that's what they call playing a straight bat.

-35.

Come on. 30, please.

-Go on. We'll have a deal at 30.

-Thank you. You're very kind.

-Just before you go, your little oil decanter upstairs. What could you do on that?

-15.

-Would you do 10 on that?

-Oh, go on, then. 10.

So £30 for the bat, but having suggested £10 for the decanter,

-Catherine's had second thoughts.

-If it was a perfume bottle, I could see people getting excited about it.

-How much do you want to pay?

-I'll give you £5 for it.

-Go on.

-Thank you so much.

-Remember David's picnic set?

He may have found just the right thing to go with it.

Look at that.

A Steiff bear. Isn't he just sweet?

Steiff are a German company famed for their top quality teddies since 1902.

Each Steiff bear has distinctive features.

A very long snout, glass eyes,

of course, a nice earring.

Moveable limbs.

Patches on the paws.

-And these things can be worth fortunes. Can he be worth 20 quid?

-Oh, no.

-Oh...

-Is that horrible?

-Yeah.

-He doesn't think so.

-Let's say 30.

-30's fantastic.

Thank you very much, Kelly.

# Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic... #

So after that shopping spree time for our two to head south

to the Taff Valley. From Merthyr to Cardiff.

The Welsh capital became the principality's largest city during the 19th century

when the docks began exporting Welsh coal to the world.

Nowadays, Cardiff is all about regeneration, with huge building projects throughout the city,

-but there are still plenty of Victorian gems.

-Look at these!

-A tiger.

-That is impressive.

-Isn't that wonderful? This is lovely.

-I'd love to jump on the tour bus.

-We'd have a great time.

-I know!

Sorry, chaps. No time for fun. How about some different Victoriana

at a Grade 2-listed former pumping station on the outskirts of the city, eh?

-I've been here before.

-Have you?

-This will take you hours to cover!

-See you later.

-See you later.

-Big, isn't it? All that pumping room can now be used to stow antiques.

No David around either to cramp Catherine's style.

This place is massive and I've got hardly any time.

Still looking for some silver, I see.

That's quite nice, isn't it? ..Oh, it's expensive.

£120.

-Dealer Helen's got some bargain silver, though.

-Oh. What is it?

-Pencil.

-A pencil, yeah.

That's quite nice with the original pencil. Nicely hallmarked, nicely engraved with the flowers.

I'm guessing it's late Victorian. It's £25.

-How much did you want for that?

-I could do 10.

-Could you do a bit less? Five? Eight?

-Eight.

-OK, I'll have that from you. Lovely. For eight, thank you.

-What a deal!

It seems Catherine's really sticking to silver and things with a bit of quality.

-Anything else?

-I think this is really striking.

It's Edwardian, I would say, in date. Maybe slightly later.

So around 1910.

I love the simplicity of the three pearls and then you've got these semi-precious stones

set in silver. I've got no idea on the price.

We really need to get hold of the owner. I just think it's really classy. Perfect for Gloucestershire.

The ticket price is £48. Time to call the dealer and turn on the charm.

I do like this little brooch. I think it's quite sweet.

Do you want to do this for £15? ..Yeah.

Sounds like it's going well.

Ahh.

Are you sure you won't do it for 10? You just said you liked me.

Go on!

-Even better.

-Thank you very much. Thank you. Bye-bye.

So £10 for the brooch! And £8 for the pencil.

Catherine's quality collection is really coming along.

But what about that old rogue David? Well, he's headed for Cardiff Bay.

Viewers of a sensitive nature may wish to hide behind their sofas for his trip to the future!

After several hundred episodes over nearly 50 years,

Doctor Who is one of the most famous British sci-fi series of them all

and there's a museum to celebrate the achievement. David's meeting Andrew, the Artefacts Manager.

-Good afternoon.

-Hi, there.

-Welcome to the Doctor Who Experience.

-I assume it's much bigger inside than it looks outside?

-Of course.

The Doctor Who Experience includes a fascinating collection of props, old and new.

From the iconic sets to the ghastly villains, it's amazing quite how much has survived.

The current incumbent is young Matt Smith, but the Doctor's been regenerating for years

-and they've got all his costumes here.

-I'm loving the fashions!

Aren't these just absolutely spectacular? We all have our favourite Doctors

or the ones we remember from childhood, but of all the Doctors,

Tom Baker, with that massive scarf and his booming voice was just fantastic.

Tom's silhouette with the scarf and floppy hat and big, toothy grin

-is the image everybody remembers.

-Fantastic outfit.

But where would any Doctor be without his TARDIS?

A police telephone was a common enough sight in 1963, I suppose,

but the programme makers have bravely resisted the temptation to upgrade the old box.

This is the oldest surviving police box prop in the BBC's possession.

In the classic series, there were only four and this is the third.

-What does TARDIS stand for?

-Time And Relative Dimension In Space.

-Am I the only one not to know that?

You might very well be.

Doctor Who's been scaring us silly for almost half a century.

Mary Whitehouse hated it, you'll be glad to hear.

Much credit for that goes to the long list of grisly foes the Doctor has faced.

From the Cybermen all the way up to the Silence.

But there's nothing quite so unimaginably evil as the daddy of them all, the Daleks.

-Exterminate!

-Oh, lordy!

-They are the ultimate Doctor Who villain. They're always destroyed,

but end up coming back. From the earliest one in 1963 to the most recent one here.

Just like the TARDIS, the Daleks haven't really changed much.

-Still nasty, still a tad impractical.

-People have said all it has is a sink plunger.

-How can it be dominant...?

-The egg whisk is to tickle you into submission.

-No, that's a ruby laser

which will fry you in about 3 seconds flat.

Always dreaming of global domination, but never managing it, does he remind you of anyone?

I am a Dalek!

I am a Dalek!

Exterminate!

-With my egg whisk!

-Now, now!

-Sorry. Sorry.

-We'll have to let you know.

-I'm sorry. You said it would be an experience and it has been.

-Thank you very much.

-You're very welcome.

-I'll never forget it.

I wonder if Catherine knows about David's interest in evil aliens?

Nighty night.

-Next morning finds Catherine in the driving seat, eager to forge ahead.

-GEARS GRIND

-Good God!

-Whoops!

Yesterday, David bought a chrome picnic set and a Steiff bear for £55,

leaving him with £109 to spend today.

While Catherine bought a silver pencil, a brooch, an oil decanter and a signed cricket bat for £53.

-This is going to make the difference.

-Leaving her with £115.10 at her disposal.

They'll soon wind up at auction in Wotton-under-Edge. Next stop, though, is Newport.

Once the site of a huge armed rebellion by the Chartists,

they descended in their thousands on the town in 1839.

But David's come here alone to do a little shopping.

Ah, bric-a-brac.

Now David doesn't have potfuls of money, but there's a fair old mix of stuff in this place.

I'm sure something will fire his imagination.

God, that's amazing. From late '60s, early '70s. Dinky Toys.

So well made. Incredibly well made.

Look at that. Goodness sake, it works.

Look. You roll your cars on,

your cars are on the top, you roll your second car. It's fantastic.

-A bit tatty, though, isn't it?

-I would want that.

-What?!

-Right. I've got an idea.

I walked past these earlier. We've got some vintage cars.

So what do we have here?

-A really well-used AC sports car.

-I think the expression is play-worn or clapped out.

-British sports car. Beautiful shape.

-Dinky cars first went on sale in the '30s

and the rival Corgis appeared in 1956. They do say they should be boxed and in mint condition

-to make real money.

-Fabulous.

-But David doesn't seem too fussed about the condition of these old bangers.

Gorgeous. We'll put that on our circa 1970 car transporter.

-John? Have you got any more cars for my transporter?

-There's a few in the cupboard.

-He's only just starting!

-Let me have a root round that box. Let's put a collection together.

What have we got? Oh! I like that.

It's a Ford Zephyr. Motorway patrol car. Come on!

I like that, John, but hang on...

Look at that. A late 1960s, early 1970s tour bus. Look at it!

And it's made of metal. It's just beautifully constructed.

That works and so we have a nice little collection there.

-How much, John?

-60 quid, the lot.

-40 quid.

-50's a deal.

45.

-Deal.

-Good man.

Fantastic!

-Of course, that's the bus they used in... What's the film?

-The Italian Job? Never!

Even better. It's the Italian Job bus.

# The Self-Preservation Society

# This is the Self-Preservation Society... #

Meanwhile, Catherine has made her way from Cardiff into England and Ross-on-Wye.

This area with its beautiful river scenery was in many ways the first British tourist destination.

Trips began in the 18th century and several early tour guides followed. It's still popular with tourists,

although Catherine, of course, isn't here on holiday.

-Good morning. I'm Catherine. Very nice to meet you.

-Penny.

-Hello, Penny.

-I'm sure we'll have no complaints about this place.

There's some quality here. Nicely laid out, too.

-Silver. I thought she might end up at that cabinet.

-I like that at the back.

-It's hard to find this sort of quality at the moment.

-Yes.

-There's so much silver plate.

But that's quite nice. An aide memoire. You'd write notes on here in pencil.

And you'd very gently rub it off. It's got 195 on it, Penny. Is there any movement in that?

-How big a movement do you think?

-I think my movement might have to be a little too...

-It would have to be very big.

-I couldn't really come down more than, say, 25%.

-Right, OK.

-Oh, dear. What else has Penny got in there?

-A sugar caster.

-That's more like it. Yeah, that's more like it.

It's quite elegant, isn't it? It's Edwardian in date. 1918.

You've got 55 on it. What could you do on that?

-Em...45.

-Oh, gosh. Really?

-I was looking more like 30, to be honest.

-My rock bottom would be 40.

I'm not sure I would make much on that. I think probably not.

Sounds like Catherine needs to add a little something to sweeten the deal.

-What about the opera glasses? Do they belong to you?

-Yes.

-You see these all the time.

-Yes.

Mother of pearl. The thing is they're nice, crisp and in lovely condition.

You've got £26 on that. Is there...? What can you do on that?

-20?

-Could you come down a bit more than that? Maybe 15?

-18?

-15?

-15, yeah.

-I think we might be getting focused!

15 on the binoculars and 40 on that, so the two together... that's 55.

-Can we do the two together for 50?

-OK.

-Thank you very much, Penny.

You're very kind. Lovely.

At least it's not a load of old toy cars, but I suppose they may just appeal to someone.

Meanwhile, David's motored over from Newport to Chepstow.

A little bit further down the River Wye, Chepstow was once the largest port in Wales,

then a major shipbuilding centre.

This town has been on the English border for nearly 500 years.

-Hello.

-Hello. Good afternoon.

-I'm David Harper.

-Hello. I'm Lesley.

-Hello, Lesley. Lovely to meet you.

-Can I look around?

-Please do.

David has only got £64 left, so although he's looking at some of the nicer items here, he may struggle.

-I bet that wouldn't be 20 quid or something, would it?

-No.

-Really?

-Really, it wouldn't.

-So I was right then?

-You were right. Absolutely right.

I like him.

I do like him.

-The monkey.

-No.

-What do you mean?

-He will never, ever be for sale.

-Why not?

-He's my lucky mascot.

-He's gorgeous.

-I think Lesley feels a bit guilty about that.

But luckily, she does have something strangely similar in stock.

You said "quirky"!

-Aw!

-Quirky.

-So they're plant pots of some sort.

-I would think so. Do you think so?

-They could be brush pots.

-Could be.

-For artists? Probably Staffordshire.

Let's say 1930s.

-Fun item.

-I quite like them. They've got a bit of a cheek to them.

-Yes.

-They put a smile on your face.

-Definitely, yes.

How cheeky cheap could they be?

Go on, just give me an idea.

To you, 45.

45...

How about 15 each, 30, cash?

-That's pushing me a bit, actually.

-Go on.

-Try and guess what they're trying to tell you.

-They'd be slightly offended to go that cheaply.

-No, they want to go for 30.

-They think they're worth 40.

-I can't do that.

-35.

-Well, I couldn't say no. How could I say no? Thank you so much.

I'm not sure about the quality of what David's bought,

but he's certainly making his money go a very, very, very long way.

-Fantastic.

-Thank you very much.

While David's been monkeying about,

Catherine's made her way from Ross-on-Wye to the Forest of Dean and the little village of Churcham,

deep in the Gloucestershire countryside,

and wearing some extremely inappropriate footwear, I might say.

MOOING

Catherine is here to see a farm where they're keeping a unique form of cheese-making alive

because thanks to the milk from a rare breed,

their Single Gloucester cheese is as highly prized and protected as Parma ham or champagne.

Oh!

Squelch!

-Hello there. I'm Catherine.

-Hello, Catherine. I'm Diana.

-Very nice to meet you. Hello, Diana.

-Is this where it all happens?

-It's all happening in there at the moment.

85-year-old Diana Smart started making cheese as a retirement hobby 25 years ago...

Meet the rest of the team.

..becoming one of just a handful of small producers making Single Gloucester.

There's only five or six makers of it in the world.

It must be made in Gloucestershire.

It must be made to a traditional recipe

and the farm that makes it must have Gloucester cattle.

Gloucester cattle have always been prized for their fine cheese-making milk,

but perhaps the real secret of Diana's Single Gloucester lies in the old-fashioned machinery

she's inherited like the ancient curd press...

..and the venerable curd mill.

-It looks like a piece of late Victorian machinery.

-Well, yes.

It's at least 100 years old.

-Probably more like 120 or 130 years old.

-Right.

OK... I'm worried about your fingers. You said you haven't had an accident yet.

-This is hard work.

-It pays off though.

Last year, their Single Gloucester was declared the best traditional cheese at the British Cheese Awards.

I think they called it Sweet Smell of Success.

It's quite ripe, isn't it?

Wow!

Diana's cheese matures in here for several months and gathers quite a bit of mould...

They're almost black, aren't they?

..before it's scrubbed out and ready to eat.

Let's try.

Oh, that's lovely!

Now make your exit fast, Catherine. These cows need milking.

MOOING

Back in Chepstow, not content with his already huge amount of stuff, David's been shopping.

Well, he does still have £29 to spend and he's a devil for it.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-Hi. I'm David Harper.

-Good afternoon. My name is Dawn.

-Nice to see you.

-There's lots of different things to look at here.

-OK.

Dawn seems nice. I wonder how she'll take the news about David's limited funds though?

-Doulton vases. I bet they couldn't be £29 for the pair?

-150.

-I've only got 29.

29? Is that all you've got left?

-It's a bit rubbish, isn't it?

-That's a bit unfair. Why didn't you come to me first?

Dawn's not easily discouraged though.

That could be £20.

Not bad. Down from £38, Dawn.

So it's a lady's nail manicure set in its original box, which is nice.

"By appointment to His Majesty the King."

Good sign. So what do we have? We've got a nail buffer.

-They're all silver.

-They are all silver.

-It's about 1908, 1910.

-1908, 1910, yeah.

-So it's Edwardian.

-Yes.

So circa very early 20th century.

Let me bear that in mind. You might want to sell me that with another something.

OK. What can they come up with?

-They look a bit Indian.

-How about a silver condiment set?

I could do that lot for 25 if you wanted this set instead.

-I want to spend 29.

-You like being difficult, don't you?

-I do.

I'm sure Dawn's had easier customers than this bloke.

-Tea caddy?

-Tea caddy...

Oh! A little, lacquered Chinese tea caddy.

-Not in bad condition, considering a lot of them get chipped, don't they?

-Is that £9?

-Yeah, I could do that for £9 for you.

-Could you?

OK, let's have a look. Oh, hello.

I didn't say it was perfect.

There are three other tea caddies as well. Are they part of it?

I think that manicure set is a dead cert though. It's just a question of what else?

-So the deal is £29 for this and the Indian...

-Silver.

-..silver?

-Mm-hm.

You couldn't chuck the tea caddies in as well, could you?

You're definitely going to come and work for me! Goodness me!

-£29?

-For that wildest collection...

That's a hard choice, isn't it?

So...

That, the Indian silver, but you know, it is what it is.

And then the tea caddy is just as a bit of a sweetener.

-OK.

-Yes?

-Mm-hm.

-There we are.

-Thank you...so much.

That's quite a collection, actually, for £29.

Don't tell everybody.

Are you sure, David?

That's a pile!

Twenty...five.

-And look...

-Oh, the pain! Look at this!

-The pain.

-Is that the lot?

-Every penny. You have been wonderful. Thank you so much.

-Thank you.

Who knows how he's going to arrange all that into some sensible lots for the auction?

But while David has been buying everything he can get his hands on,

Catherine has returned to the River Wye...

Why? I don't know.

..travelling from Churcham to Chepstow.

Here we are. Foxgloves. Ha-ha!

-That looks familiar.

-Hello, Lesley. Lovely to meet you. I love the trousers! Very nice.

OK, I'll have a little look around.

Hot on David's trail. He was keen on that cabinet too.

-You've got some nice silver bits.

-Yes.

Not going for the gravy boat, are we?

I need one more special item, I think,

that's going to get me out of a bit of trouble.

Now, what's this little...

-This certainly feels like it's silver to me.

-Yes.

1964.

It's chainmail.

And it's a little purse. Isn't that cute?

It looks like it's missing a little ball off here.

The ticket price is £38, but you'll struggle to get the price down.

Would you take £20 for that?

-30.

-Oh, dear.

20 would be better.

-I would be losing money on it.

-At 20?

-Yes.

Shall we say 25 and that's sort of fair?

Is it?

Can't you stretch to 30?

-Um...

-Go on.

But I'd rather pay 25 just because I'm really struggling, Lesley.

-What about 28?

-Why not? 28.

-We'll shake on 28.

She's now got just £37.01 left to spend.

I think we know what David would recommend, apart from buying a monkey, that is.

I'd like to spend all my money.

I wonder what she'll plump for now?

A nice pair of silver tongs. They've got the initial of the person who probably owned them.

Imagine having a pair of silver tongs and putting your initial on! You must be terribly posh.

1901... Lesley, can we say 25?

-Go on, 25.

-Wonderful.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you.

-So I owe you 28 and 25.

Well done, Catherine. She wanted quality items and stuck to her guns.

Thanks ever so much. Bye-bye.

Let's get down to the river and look at their enormous piles of stuff.

Mind the cat!

-Are you ready?

-Yes.

-Objets d'art.

-Oh, my gosh! You've bought an entire shop!

-Just about.

Mid-20th century, chrome, novelty gentleman's picnic type set.

Yeah, I like that. It's quite nice, isn't it? Yeah, I like that.

I bought a little collection of tea caddies and I'm putting that lot as one lot.

-All of this?

-All of that.

-Job lot.

Yes, it's unusual, but I couldn't resist getting the caddies.

-You couldn't resist getting that bit of old, manky Chinese again.

-Manky Chinese? How dare you!

That was brand-spanking, compared to this lot.

My favourite purchase of all...

The first thing that strikes me is the condition.

When you're buying cars like this, collectors want them to be absolutely mint, in their box.

-I don't want to hear it.

-Or they don't want to know.

-They're not mint or in their boxes.

But what about another one of David's more interesting lot creations?

Indian condiment set here and I put that with a lady's manicure set.

-Oh...

-I know, but I couldn't help buying.

-That's a bit risky, David.

-Yes, but I had to spend every penny.

-Your Steiff...

-Yeah.

-I love Steiff bears.

-I love Steiff bears.

Aw, everybody does! Those cheeky chappies can divide opinion though.

Absolutely horrible. What are they?

-Oh, David!

-They're cute.

How can you possibly say that is cute?

Right, David's turn to be full and frank.

-You remember one of the items?

-I certainly do.

I think that's really good.

-And it says 1988.

-Yeah.

Apparently, Gloucestershire were in the county semi-finals in that year.

Uh-oh, not cricket experts!

-It's interesting, isn't it?

-Yes.

-I think there's a profit there.

-OK.

-So all of this here...

-We've got three items here, all solid silver.

-Yeah, good.

-This is so sweet.

-I know. It is a little beauty.

-It's really lovely.

-Then I've got a pencil.

-Oh, sweet. This is you, a bit of jewellery?

-That's lovely. It's Belle Epoque.

-Three little seed pearls. That's one of my favourite items.

-I think it's very pretty.

But, Catherine, what will he see in these?

-Mother-of-pearl, brass...

-Perfect though.

-Perfect, yes.

Yeah.

They just don't excite me. That's all.

Not very exciting, but I was trying to spend all my money.

-And you did do it.

-I didn't, David.

I didn't quite make it, but you can see I really tried.

-That is trying.

-That's perhaps tried too hard.

Don't be catty, but let's find out what they really think.

I really didn't like the monkeys. I thought they were nasty.

They belong in the bin.

She goes along and buys really nice, refined-looking stuff, making mine look like a car boot display!

I think he's almost tried too hard. He's bought so much stuff

that there's nothing really of any great quality.

Oh, dear!

After starting out in the Welsh valleys at Merthyr Tydfil,

our two are now ready for an auction in Gloucestershire at Wotton-under-Edge.

Here we are! "Monster boot sale."

That is where your stuff belongs.

Oh, the Cotswolds.

The Edge in the town's name refers to an escarpment in the hills which flank Wotton,

but just how edgy will today's events be?

-Oh, I have been here before.

-Here we go.

-What?

-I knew it.

-What?

-I knew it. You always say that.

Don't tell me. They specialise in Steiff bears...

-And toy cars.

-And rubbish cars.

-Rubbish cars?

-Yes.

-I'm feeling very confident about my items, not so much about yours.

-Here we go.

-Very confident indeed.

-Good luck in the penultimate auction.

-First one in wins!

Welcome to Wotton Auction Rooms in the fabulous old Tabernacle.

Remember that old cabinet of Catherine's that didn't sell the last time?

Well, here it is again.

What does auctioneer Philip Taubenheim think of it and their other lots?

If we get a bid, I'll be delighted. I can say no more than that.

The monkeys... You can always sell a monkey. I think they're quite fun.

They're only a fairly cheap plaster, but they're 1920s or '30s and they're just quite amusing.

The cricket bats are horribly difficult to estimate correctly.

The best time to sell those is at a charity event in the evening

when everybody has had too much to drink and you can't fail then.

David started out with just £164 and, as usual, he spent it all

on a huge pile of stuff that he somehow crammed into five auction lots.

Catherine began with £168.10 and she spent £156 of it - good on her -

on a much more refined five lots.

Plus, she's still got that cabinet to shift. Good luck, Philip.

For your delight, we have a 1930s glazed and painted, wooden display cabinet.

I love that. The first time I saw it, I just fell in love.

£10 to start? 10. £10, we're in.

12 I'm bid. 14 I'm bid.

£14 we're bid. At £14. 16 I'm bid.

18 I'm bid. 20 I'm bid. 22.

-£22 takes it...

-Yeah!

I can't believe she's gone.

What a start! Well, if that can sell, anything can.

Ey-up, it's David's monkeys.

15 I'm bid. £15. 16 I'm bid. At 16. At 18.

20 I'm bid. 22 I'm bid.

24 I'm bid. 26 I'm bid.

-28 I'm bid. 30 I'm bid.

-Come on.

-At £30.

34 anywhere now? Are you happy with that at £32 then...?

Oh, my goodness me!

Maybe they were a bit nutty.

Of all the objects, I thought they had a chance of surprising.

-Did you?

-I genuinely did.

Now it's David's motoring picnic set and tea caddies?

At 10. At 12 I'm bid.

At 14 I'm bid. At 16 I'm bid. At 18 I'm bid. 20 now.

22. 25. 28. Bid 30.

-Oh, oh...

-At £30. At £30 for everything in it.

A cheap enough lot, surely, at £30.

-No, no!

-All finished and happy with that at £30 then?

Oh, dear, an even bigger loss after costs!

I'm fed up.

Catherine's silver and glass lot is next.

At 30 I'm bid. 35 I'm bid. 38. Bid 40.

At 40 I'm bid. 42, is it? 42. 45.

46. 48. At 48, the lot, I'm bid. At 48.

The bid's on the book here. All done at 48...

Oh, dear, and it started so well!

-Why does that only make £48?

-I don't know, I'm utterly devastated(!)

-Oh, shut up!

-It's your rubbish car collection next.

-This is my big hope.

It's been a while since these saw the showroom. Good runners though!

At £10 I'm bid. 12 I'm bid. Is that 14 I'm bid? 16 I'm bid.

18 I'm bid. 20 I'm bid. 22.

25. At £25 I'm bid.

£25 this time then... 306 on the book.

Well, that's second-hand cars for you, isn't it?

-I honestly would have laid money that they would have made 80 quid.

-No?

-I would. But there you go.

Now, how much does Wotton love Steiff bears?

40 I'm bid. 45 I'm bid. 48.

Bid 50. £50 and it's sold at 50...

-I've made money.

-Yes, that's what's supposed to happen!

-I've made some money.

-Well done.

Next, Catherine's brooch, got very cheaply. Real pearls, they think.

35 I'm bid. At 35. Who wants it now? 40 I'm bid.

At £40. I'm bid £40. 45.

50 I'm bid. The bid's there. At £50 I'm bid. At £50, the brooch.

Any advance there? 50...

50!

-Well done.

-Thank you very much.

The best profit so far for Catherine.

Now, how on earth do you describe this lot, David?

20 I'm bid. 22. 25.

28. Bid 30.

32. 35.

38. Bid 40.

42. 42. Lady's bid.

At £42 then... 45, another lady. At 45 I'm bid.

All finished at 45 then...

Like I say, an inspired pairing!

So I'm just out of the hole... of despair.

Catherine now. Are we looking at a profit for these?

£20 I'm bid. 25 I'm bid. 25. 28 I'm bid.

At 28. 30 I'm bid. 32.

At £32 this time then. 990.

Catherine's quality drive is paying off.

Well done. £12 profit.

-You're stomping away.

-Not really. After commission, how much is that?

-You're definitely stomping away.

Now for her silver pencil and not very practical purse.

£20 I'm bid, thank you. Right in the middle. 342A.

At £20 I'm bid. 5 anywhere now for the two pieces? At £20 I'm bid.

All done? At £20 I'm bid. Maiden bid. Happy to let that go?

£20 and it's sold at £20 then...? You've got it.

-I'm really shocked.

-I'm genuinely amazed at that. Genuinely.

Oh, dear. Silver doesn't always pay, it seems.

-Isn't that strange?

-Very strange.

Finally, Catherine's willow wand.

Cricket bat next.

-That's the worry.

-Yeah.

-This is the big worry for me, yeah.

Anyone want to give me £20 for the cricket bat? £20 I'm bid.

He lives in Belgium! £20 bid. Don't let it leave the country.

At £20. At £20.

25 I'm bid. 30 I'm bid.

At £30 I'm bid. The cricket bat at £30.

At £30. Who moves it now? At £30 bid. 35 I'm bid. At 35.

40 I'm bid. At £40 I'm bid. The bat at £40.

Is that the best we can manage in Gloucestershire?

Any advance? It goes to Belgium.

Are you all done and are you sure at £40? It's sold at 40...

You did exactly the right thing. Right object, right sale.

You made a profit and that's what it's about.

It didn't quite reach the half century, but it's not been too bad a day for Catherine.

David started out with £164

and after auction costs, he made a loss of £14.76,

so he now has just £149.24.

Catherine began with £168.10

and after paying auction costs, she lost 16 pence,

leaving her with the lead and £185.94 to spend tomorrow.

Well, you are the winner, Miss Southon.

-And it means one thing.

-All to play for.

-You are driving.

-Come on. You're my chauffeur-ess.

-Which key? That key?

-Big one.

-All to play for now.

-It is. I know. How terribly exciting!

-This is very exciting.

-Oh!

-Put the clutch in.

-Next on the Antiques Road Trip...

-Oh, arr!

-Pirates?

-# Wondering in the night... #

-And dancing.

-# What were the chances... #

-No, no, no.

-And how not to take "no" for an answer!

-No.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd