Episode 1 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.

-Going, going...gone.

-Yes!

-I think I've fallen in love with a brick.

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

-Yes!

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

-I feel antiqued out.

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

-Charlie!

-Sorry about that.

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

It's the start of a brand-new Road Trip with a brand-new expert.

# Pretty woman, walking down the street... #

Christina Trevanion may be a Road Trip rookie,

but this shrewd Shrewsbury lady is the head of the jewellery department in a long-established auction house.

That looks a bit painful.

With plenty of antiques experience, she isn't afraid to use her female charms to get what she wants.

I'll give you a second kiss.

She's friendly.

Her competitive companion is Road Trip stalwart Charles Hanson,

a fully-fledged auctioneer from Derbyshire.

# Cos every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man... #

With a passion for the traditional, an eye for detail

and the memory of a goldfish.

I've bought a really, really... What did I buy? What did I buy? Sorry.

Good grief! With a starting budget of £200 each,

young Christina and old hand Hanson are hoping to shake things up a bit. This is going to be fun.

You are a young lady. Maybe you can galvanise the antiques market to go hip.

-Hip?

-Go happening.

Oh, lordy!

In this battle of the sexes, Charles and Christina will go the distance

in their beautiful, vintage 1969 Morris Minor

if they survive the delightful spring weather and the gear changes, that is.

CRUNCHING OF GEARS

-Charlie!

-Sorry about that.

The route for the week takes our intrepid road trippers from Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire

over peak and dale to their final destination of Cobridge in Staffordshire,

covering approximately 600 miles.

But on this leg, our experts will start in Whaley Bridge

and end up at auction in Liverpool.

Situated in the High Peak, Whaley Bridge is a small, but vibrant town nestling in the hills

of the Goyt Valley.

I feel we might get lucky round here. This is a good place to start.

-Something in your waters?

-Yeah, there is.

Hardly surprising seeing as you are on Hanson territory, but will it give him the upper hand?

-We're here?

-You've got one small shop on the left-hand side.

-Have you been here before?

-No, I've got no idea.

-Are you sure?

-Positive.

-There's also one big shop over there.

-Right.

This is where you do this and you begin to feel the energy and the desire.

-They say small is beautiful. Do you want the small shop?

-I think I'll go small.

-I'll go big.

-I'll start small...

-OK, on your marks, get set, go!

Stop bossing the new girl about and get along to your first shop.

-This is my first shop.

-Yes, we know that, Charles. It's called Finders Keepers... Losers, weepers!

-Hello, sir.

-Good morning.

-Is it your shop?

-It is.

-I'm Charles Hanson.

-Hi, Charles. My name's Paul.

-Paul, is that your clock?

-Yes.

-Is it for sale?

-It is for sale.

-Made in China?

-It's made in China in the 1960s, I presume.

-Yeah, it's quite stylish.

You've got this wonderful, chrome outer ring which has had some tarnishing and rust.

I do like the way the numbers are almost in plastic,

the Arabic numerals. They've got a real '60s feel.

And what appears to almost be a Bakelite case, but it is a wooden, ebonised case.

Could our chap have fallen in love with this timeless timepiece?

-I don't like it.

-Oh, no.

-How much, Paul, is it?

-£45.

-Look at me. Paul, look at me.

-That's cheap.

-Eh?

-I think that's really cheap.

-It's a real gamble.

It's just so...awful. Not being cruel, Paul, but it is.

-It's just got that look.

-If you hear it chime, you'll buy it.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-Would you take £30 for it?

How about we do this? If I get it to chime, it's 35. If I don't, it's 30.

So the money's on the bell.

-Has that overwound it?

-No, it hasn't. It does that. It's fine.

-So if it chimes at five o'clock, it's £35?

-Yeah.

-Going, going...

-CLOCK CHIMES

-Sold, Paul.

-Excellent.

-£35. Thanks ever so much.

Ding-dong! And with that, it's time to head to his next shop on foot,

making the most of Britain in springtime.

Oblivious to the blizzard, Christina is getting stuck in at Whaley Bridge Antiques with owner Damien.

Have we got anything new and exciting?

-Cat badges?

-I've just had... I've got cat badges.

There's a little box of dogs that came out of an old lady's house.

-Are you wanting something you can make a few quid on?

-Hmm...

They're not old, but there are loads of them.

This hodge-podge of hounds even includes an egg-cup collie. Hardly pedigree, do you think?

-These are all resin, really.

-They are, but they're very cheap.

-Are they?

-You're after a profit.

-What are we talking, "cheap"?

-The box, 20 quid.

For a load of dogs?

-For a load of dogs.

-That does sound cheap, but they are resin.

But I do like that box behind you.

-# Hallelujah! #

-Not convinced by a box of plastic dogs, Christina has a vision.

-This came from a local church.

-So this would have been an alms box.

The 19th century alms box was used to collect cash for the poor.

There's a lovely groove on the top where the people have put the money in.

Yeah, it just looks worn and tactile. It's lovely. I like that.

-Yeah.

-How much is that?

-90 quid.

-£90? That sounds like a lot of money.

-I know.

That's almost half of her budget.

-At auction, I see that at maybe £40 to £60.

-Right.

-Yeah.

-So what can you do me that's quite close to that?

She's a trier all right, but then so is he.

Well, it might cost you a kiss, but you can have it for £60.

-Cheeky!

-A kiss for £60?

-Go on, 40.

-No, 60.

-That's what it cost me.

-Is it?

-Yeah.

Well, surely, I should be paying 40 and then you get £20 for a kiss.

Surely! I'm not selling my kisses cheap.

A peck on the cheek is all I ask for. My wife will be watching.

I think your wife needs to watch you a bit closer, Damien.

I love it, but I think it's a bit rich. I don't think I'll make any money out of it.

-What can we throw in for £60?

-60 and take the box of resin dogs.

-They don't...

-You'll make something out of those.

-Yeah, like a bonfire, eh? Woof!

-50.

-I can't take 50...

50 and the dogs. Go on, go on.

Go on. And you're my first one.

You're my first, first one.

-Go on. £50?

-£50.

-Sure?

-The box and a kiss.

-If we said £49 on the box and £1 for the dogs...

-Absolutely fine.

-Is that all right?

-Yes.

-I'll give you a second kiss.

-Good luck.

-Fresh!

-Thank you very much. You're a star. My first one down!

With Christina up and running, Charles can now try his luck with the dashing Damien.

Pucker up, Carlos!

-Good morning.

-Good morning.

-How are you? Charles Hanson.

-Damien Wylde.

-Good to see you.

You've got some really good things. You've got some coins, some nice flatware. There's everything here.

-Where do I start?

-Have a look round and shout out if you want anything. We'll see what we can do.

-Thanks, Chris.

-Chris? Who's Chris?

-Damien.

-Sorry, Damien.

He never was one for names, old Charles.

-What you've got here is a silkwork.

-It's silkwork.

It's probably been done in the 1880s.

What is so nice, you've got battles going back to the Peninsula, the Waterloo, Inkerman...

-What a nice thing!

-The silkwork is for the Royal Lancastrian Regiment

and commemorates the battles they've taken part in, but it looks like it's been through the wars itself.

This, I love. What really puts me off is this condition.

-How much is it?

-I've got 60 on it.

-Yeah.

However, as it's you, how about 25 quid?

-You can't? Crikey me!

-Temptress.

-Crikey me!

It's your lucky day, Carlos. Quick, kiss him!

-They say, amongst Derbyshire people, you can do a deal. That is one good deal.

-You'll make money at that.

It might well make money, Damien, but young Charles has been distracted by a George III chest.

And he does love his drawers.

-The chest of drawers...

-You like the chest of drawers?

-I do.

Three short and three long drawers on this blade feet.

-This is 1790, 1800, lovely colour.

-The boards are good on the back.

Yeah. The scars of a patina which has been there for two centuries.

These handles aren't original. They don't look the most attractive.

-It should have little, round, wooden handles.

-I like the chest because it's period.

-I also like the...

-The silkwork, the colours.

-But I think the silkwork is too ropey in its condition.

-Yes.

-Which leaves me with one big chest.

-Yeah.

-It's here, Chris.

Damien!

What's the best price?

Well, you see, I've got 320 on it.

-For this?

-Yeah.

I'm going to charge you £180 and I'm going to throw the Lancaster colours in. Now shake my hand.

I'd love to buy the chest, Chris.

Damien!

Sorry, Damien. Damien, I'd love to buy the chest.

I think the chest is worth 100 to 150.

I'd like to pay you 20, 40, 60, 80... £100.

Another 20 and we've got a deal.

-Which is 20 for the chest and for the picture?

-Just for the chest.

I feel, Chris...

Damien! Crikey!

Damien, sorry. I feel it's a chest, Damien, which at auction is worth 100 to 150, so I'll leave it.

-I tell you what we'll do.

-Yes?

-Take the chest of drawers for 100.

-Don't say that to me now.

-Yeah, take it.

-The roller-coaster of the romance of the Road Trip.

If you had remembered his name and offered him a kiss, you might have got there a bit quicker, Carlos.

And if I said for Queen and country, here's an extra £20...

-Yes.

-And I'll take the picture as well.

-Yes, you can.

-We've got a deal. So that's £120 all in.

-All in.

For the picture and the chest. Are you happy?

The chest is brilliant.

I think that'll do two easy.

It's a wonderful Georgian chest and if you can't buy history for history's sake

-with a passion for what you enjoy, when can you?

-It's shabby chic. Enjoy, my friend.

-Thanks, Damien.

-There's your 120.

-Thank you.

Blimey, that's half his budget on the chest alone! He's bold, that boy!

At last, spring has sprung and just down the road, Christina has wasted no time at all in the shop

where Charles bought his swinging '60s clock from Paul. Stand by.

I do like the Schweppes box.

Everybody wants to buy the Schweppes box, but I like to keep them in the shop just to contain things.

-Obviously, they're in keeping.

-I like that a lot.

-You want to keep it?

-I do.

-There's a challenge.

-Uh-oh!

-No price would tempt you?

-Maybe. Everything's got a price.

But if I had to let it go, £25.

-And the contents?

-No, I don't think so.

-Go on, the contents and the box for £25.

-I don't think so. Charles said I had to watch out for you.

-I can see why now.

-Cheeky monkey!

Word travels fast in Whaley Bridge. Go easy on him, girl.

Would you let it go for any less?

-The bottom price would be 20.

-I'm not going to make any money on it at 20 quid.

-She's a terrier.

-A fiver?

-LAUGHTER

-Please.

-No.

Would you take any less?

Would you buy it at 15?

Over to you now, isn't it?

I'd give you ten quid now for it.

-What about the other fiver?

-No. I don't think I've got another fiver.

£150 at the last count, actually.

-Go on, a tenner. It's fun.

-Not for Paul, it isn't.

A tenner. Go on.

He's crumbling. Leave the shirt on his back, girl.

-Go on.

-OK, but...

-But?

-Deal.

-Yeah?

-Is it a deal?

Is it a deal? There was a "but" there somewhere.

There is a "but". I'd just like to apologise to all my customers that have tried to buy the crate.

-Has it been very popular?

-Yeah, absolutely.

-They can come to the auction.

-Absolutely.

-It's a deal.

-It's a deal.

-Thank you, Paul. You're a legend.

-Do I get the contents?

-No, sorry.

-It was worth a try.

Quit while you're ahead, young lady.

With three lots already under his belt, young Charles has made tracks

to Manchester for an arresting experience.

The Greater Manchester Police Museum is housed

in one of the city's earliest police stations, painstakingly restored

to reflect the realities of policing at the turn of the 19th century.

An offshoot of the town council, Greater Manchester Police Force was formed in 1839,

ten years after the Peelers of London.

One of the earliest forces, it was met with suspicion and resistance.

Punishments were harsh and often outweighed the crimes.

Charles is meeting curator Duncan Broady to find out more.

-Nice to meet you.

-Charles Hanson. I feel like saying, "It wasn't me."

It's quite daunting. I can see some handcuffs over there.

And clearly, it's all in keeping to what was then,

back in the 1870s, real punishment.

The tricky part was once you made the arrest, you had to walk through the streets with your prisoner.

You had no van or car to collect you, so handcuffs were vital to make sure that the person couldn't escape.

So here I am at the desk back in 1879

and I could be brought in for some probably quite minor crimes.

Yes, indeed.

-It could be "drunk and incapable".

-Yes.

-Or "drunk and disorderly".

-It wasn't me.

-Or there was even one that the Manchester Police had

which was "drunk and refusing to fight".

This was somebody in such a state of intoxication

that they couldn't even summon the strength to fight the officer before they were arrested.

I'm quite a coward, so maybe that's me in that regard. But I'm no drunk. Can you tell?

Of course not, Carlos. But if you did tipple too much,

there's one place where you could've ended up - in the chokey.

In these cells, you would spend the night before going to court the next day to the magistrates.

-So that's why there's only four cells?

-Four cells, but as many as 12 people per cell on a busy night.

-12 per cell?

-Yes.

-And I can see my name is up there as well, Duncan.

-Yes, we have it on the board there.

-It wasn't me.

-I think you need to go inside, Charles.

Charles Samuel Hanson, you are hereby charged and will be suitably detained at Her Majesty's pleasure.

It's actually quite comfortable.

It's like almost being on a plastic sun lounger.

But I think, after a while, you would become slightly uncomfortable.

-I do hope someone remembers to free the Road Trip One.

-Let me out.

-Ah!

After playing his "get out of jail" card,

Charles and Christina are back together and heading to Southport.

Founded in 1792, Southport was originally sparsely populated

and dominated by sand dunes,

but that all changed at the turn of the 19th century with the onset of the Industrial Revolution

and the influx of day-trippers who came to enjoy the seaside in the sunshine. No time to paddle today.

Christina may be the new kid on the block

but she sure knows how to haggle.

With £140 in her pocket, she's now at the Royal Arcade.

Oh, my goodness!

-Hello.

-Hello.

-Hi, I'm Christina. Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you too. Welcome to Southport.

-Thank you very much. It's Caroline?

-Caroline.

-Caroline and Christina. Goodness me!

-Where do I start?

-Help yourself.

-Browse away, OK.

With 60 different dealers under one roof, there's plenty to choose from.

There's so much.

You'd be moaning if there wasn't. Come on, Christina. Chop-chop!

This is really quite unusual with this yellow glazing.

I've not seen one with that bright colour before and, to a collector, that could be quite interesting.

Christina has spotted a limited edition piece of Prattware,

issued as a souvenir from the British Empire Exhibition of 1924, courtesy of stall-owner Roy.

That's quite fun and unusual with the yellow, really unusual.

-It is, yeah.

-I quite like that.

-That little crack in there worries me slightly.

-Probably just a firing crack.

Yeah, we've got a crack in there.

It's been extended there. What's your price on that one?

The very bottom figure would be 66.

£66?

-Here she goes.

-Could you do it for 60?

-No.

-Go on.

-I can't.

-Go on.

£60 would be brilliant. I'd be happy at 60.

-65 would be... That would be it.

-65?

It looks like she's met her match.

65... Go on then.

-Let's go £65. I'll shake on that with you. £65 and wish me lots of luck.

-All the best.

-I'll need it.

And once she starts, there's no stopping her.

-"Very rare piece, Art Deco at its best." I like that.

-It's quite different.

-Yeah.

It's quite fun. I like that.

The Art Deco cigarette or cheroot holder has a price tag of £36,

but Christina is hoping she can get the price down to £15 with a phone call to the absentee stall-owner.

-Will you do 20?

-I just don't see it at a profit at 20.

She doesn't think she'll make the profit. He'll meet you halfway at 18.

-Halfway?

-Halfway?

-15, please, would be brilliant.

-She's begging now. She's on her knees. 15?

-OK, it's a winner.

-Yay! Brilliant.

All right. Bye, Paul. Bye.

-Fantastic.

-There we go. How was that?

-Art Deco at its best.

Well done. Fantastic. You're a lady of negotiation skills. Can I take her with me? She's brilliant.

No, you cannot. Leave her alone.

Lovely. Thank you.

Meanwhile, just down the road, her rival Carlos is in John Nolan Antiques -

where he is really up against it.

John, I might need your help. I've got £45 to spend.

-Time is the essence.

-You want me to choose something for you?

-I love these, but these are too much, aren't they?

-There's a pair of those.

They're lead-glazed earthenware and they're quite nice.

-Are they drug jars?

-They are, yes. They come from a chemist.

-They're almost like a Whieldon glaze.

-They're beautiful.

Whieldon glaze, after the 18th century potter Thomas Whieldon,

is a brown earthenware effect, usually achieved with manganese oxide,

but with a price tag of £90 for the pair, they might not turn out to be best-sellers.

-I bought them in about 1980 in Liverpool.

-Yeah.

-And I've still got these...

-Really?

-..in 2013.

-So you've had these in your shop...

-I've had those in my shop for the best part of...

-33 years? Oh, my!

That means one thing to me - cash them in, get them sold.

-I'll tell you what. I'll keep one.

-Yes.

-It'll be a remembrance of your visit.

-Yeah.

And you have one. £45 and we've done a deal.

But you know, John, sometimes in life, in love, you don't want to break up. You want to stay together.

You don't want to get divorced. They've been together here in your shop since 1980.

Wouldn't you want to say goodbye to them both and say,

"Goodbye, missus, goodbye, mister, let's wave them both off together?"

-John, look at me.

-At £45, they're a good buy.

-For the pair?

-Goodbye. They're yours.

-Are you being serious?

-Yes.

-You've bought them.

Ha! BOGOF, eh? Buy one, get one free.

For £45, let's take them on.

-OK, you'll be known as the man who sold these.

-Who bought something which maybe was a big mistake.

And with that, Charles has spent every penny of his £200 budget

and the shopping is all wrapped up for our experts.

Christina started out with £200 and has spent £140 on five lots,

consisting of a pine alms box, a selection of dog ornaments,

a soft drinks advertising crate,

a Pratt pot lid and base and an Art Deco cigarette holder.

Ooh, a thrifty little cash reserve of £60 to boot.

Charles also started with £200 but he's blown the lot on four lots -

a risky strategy, but will it pay off?

He bought a retro clock, a chest of drawers,

a Victorian military silkwork and a pair of pottery jug jars.

Now, this is the bit where you tell us what you really think of each other's items.

I love how Charlie's antiques are a complete reflection of him.

He's gone completely wacky with his clock, which is Charlie through and through.

He has spent a lot of money, so we'll see what happens on the day.

The dogs, I know, are a girl's best friend and also a man's best friend.

They are a nice pack of dogs, but they're not Beswick, they're not Doulton. They're just ornamental.

Next time, Christina, put a bit more oomph into the whole aspect of buying collectable.

I think they're so cheap, even I would have said "no".

Really? There's only one way to find out who's bought best,

as they head off to auction 18 miles south in the city of Liverpool.

# Pigeons, widgeons, seagulls, sparrows

# All the birds come here to nest... #

Liverpool may be famed for its Liver Birds, but it's the Liver Dogs that are bothering Charles.

How much is that doggy in the window?

-Those dogs are so cheap and I know they're going to woof away.

-I don't know about that.

That's giving me a bit of a worry.

Our experts go head-to-head at Adam Partridge Auctioneers & Valuers.

Today's sale is an antiques, collectors' items and specialist maritime auction.

How exciting! It's very nerve-racking, isn't it?

It's my nervous energy.

Over to today's auctioneer, Adam Partridge.

First up for Charles, it's the George III chest,

but will it be a drawer for both the saleroom and the online bidders?

-Handsome-looking chest...

-Handsome-looking chest.

-Give me 60? 50, I have. At £50. 55 now?

-Come on.

-At £50. Where's 5? Online at 55.

-Online. It's going to Jamaica!

-70? 70 bid.

-Keep going.

-At 5. 80? 80 bid. At 5 now?

-85 online.

-Keep going.

-Worth more. 90 bid. At £90.

-Keep going.

-At 5 online, 95.

-Good.

-At 95, it's still cheap.

-Come on, it's cheap.

-At 95. Give me 100?

-Come on.

-100.

-Keep going.

-110, sir? 100 only.

-Go on.

-110's online.

-Yes!

-Well done.

-It needs one more to break even.

-It is cheap.

-Is there any more? At £110.

110. Come on. At £110. Any advance now?

At £110. Anyone else?

I'm off and running, going, going, going...

-Gone! 110.

-Well done.

-Which means I've lost a fiver. Happy days(!)

It might be a £10 profit, but that will be wiped out

once the commission is paid.

First up for Christina, it's the 19th century pine alms box

with religious inscription. Let us pray!

I'm starting at 25. I'll take 30. And 5. And 40.

And 5. And 50. Lady's bid, 50. 5 behind.

60 now. 65.

70. 75. 80.

-Keep going. Keep going. Go on.

-75. I'll take 80 somewhere?

Final chance. We're selling at the back of the room at £75 in white...

You are on the road and you've just blown away the master. Well done.

A handsome mark-up. Christina proves she's not green about the gills.

Back to Charles now and his next timely offering.

-£20, the clock. It must be worth that.

-It must be worth that.

-It's got the style, it's got the look. It swings.

-Very stylish.

-Sir, do you like it?

-£20?

-No.

-Give me 10 then.

Let's see some bidding. 10. And 15, sir. And 20. Have another one.

-It's 20 in the cap. At £20.

-I'm in trouble.

It's in the middle at £20. Anyone else? At 20.

-Are you all done?

-It swings.

-At £20, the clock at 20. Any more?

-It's fine.

-When you hear that bang,

it's like nailing a nail into a coffin.

For whom the bell tolls, Carlos. The clock fails to strike a note with the bidders.

It didn't swing so much as... Swung.

They say swing high, swing low and that swung low.

The drinks will be on Christina if she can repeat her success

-with the pine advertising crate.

-£20, the crate?

-£20?

-He's got £20.

-No, he hasn't...

-I've got 10 bid. I'll take 15.

At 15 here. £15, the crate here.

-At £15. Any more? At £15.

-Well done.

-At £15...

-Come on, Adam.

-You've done it.

-Anyone else?

-You haven't made a loss yet.

-20 at the back there. 5 now?

25. And 30? 25 down here in the cap.

-£25. Last chance?

-I like it.

-At £25 in the cap then...

-What a man!

-I don't believe it!

-Schweet!

Next up for Charles, it's the Victorian military silkwork,

but will it help win the battle?

-There we go.

-It's started. I've come alive.

-At £20.

-Come on, come on, come on.

-It's surely worth a bit more. 25.

-Yes!

-30 bid. 5?

-One for the road!

-£30. Anyone else now?

-At 30... Thanks for coming.

-Quite right. Hey, that's my line!

Anyone else? It's not expensive at £30. We'll sell at £30 then...

Brilliant. That's £10 profit. I'm back in business.

Not a storming victory, but a profit nonetheless.

Next up for Christina is that rather unusual Pratt pot lid and base.

I'm bid £30. I'll take 5 now. 30 bid. 5. 40.

40 with me here. At £40. Any more now?

-At £40, it's my bid.

-Come on!

-I'll take 5 in the room.

-Are you all done then?

-No!

-He's trying.

We're selling at £40 for the lid with base...

Ouch!

Christina's luck runs out as she makes her first loss

which means Charles could be in with a shout.

Come on, Carlos, time to play catch-up with your next lot,

the pair of Whieldon-style pottery jars.

-Give me £100 for them?

-Come on.

-£100 for these?

-Come on.

-80?

-Come on.

-Come on.

£80? 60? Someone give me £50 to start off? £50?

-50.

-You've got a bid.

-I'm off and running.

-And in profit at your first bid.

-I'm delighted.

-£50. Where's 5 now? Online or in the room?

-There's got to be another bid.

-Come on, online. They are cheap.

-At 50.

-I think they're cheap.

-Anyone?

If they make 50, I'm making a big loss.

-I have to pay commission.

-We're selling at £50...

Oh, oh... I've been shot, I've been shot. The gavel's down.

Young Carlos takes another blow in the battle of the sexes

as once again, the tiny profit will be wiped out by commission.

Some might think Christina is barking mad

with this next little lot.

Always popular. Bid me £10 for this canine collection?

-£10 online. At £10. I'll take 15?

-£10!

-10 is bid, internet.

At £10. At £10.

-Come on!

-Anyone else for these, surely?

-Sell them.

-More, more, more!

-We're selling online then at...

-15 seated. 15 on the sofa.

-15.

-At £15 then.

£15. Selling at... 20 online.

-Oh, no!

-£20. 5 in the room. 25 in the room this time.

-25?!

-At £25. You're all out. It's this side now.

-At £25...

-It's slightly embarrassing.

-That's fantastic.

I don't believe it. £25. Put it there. Put it there.

A tail-wagging profit

as newbie Christina teaches old dog Hanson some new tricks.

You are in... What are you in? You're in the money.

-Not hugely yet.

-You're in the money.

One lot to go.

Christina's final lot is the Art Deco cigarette holder,

but will it leave her with a smoking profit?

Bid me £10?

Oh, it's all gone quiet. Come on, come on, come on.

-Yes, sir.

-10 is bid.

-10 online.

-At £10.

-Well done.

-Thank God!

-At £10. Anyone else?

-Come on, one more, one more.

-On a cheroot holder modelled with a crouching cat.

-Keep it there.

-Selling online at a tenner...

-There goes the cat.

-Is that good?

It might be.

-At £10...

-One more, one more.

Well done. Well done, partner. Well done.

You can't win 'em all, Christina,

a lesson that you'll learn well here on the Road Trip. Just ask Charles.

All I know is that you won today and I'm playing catch-up.

-The first and last time, don't worry.

-Hanson is playing catch-up.

-When the going gets tough...

-Go and have a cup of tea.

-Yeah.

Charles Hanson started this leg with £200 and after auction costs,

he has made a loss of £27.80,

sending him through to the next round with a less than satisfying £172.20.

Newcomer Christina Trevanion also started with £200.

After costs, she has made a profit of £3.50... Wow!

..taking her total to £203.50 and she claims the first victory of this Road Trip.

-On to...

-Manchester.

-You know, if I can't make money in Manchester...

-Yeah?

-..when can I?

-Yeah, baby.

-Yes, baby.

'On this leg, they'll travel from Manchester,

'making their way to auction in Birkenhead, on the Wirral.'

'The world's first industrialised city,

'Manchester is today famed for its music, sport and culture.

'But it's shopping for antiques that brings our experts here.'

-CAR DOOR SLAMS

-OK, I'll race you in.

'Well, with just £172.20 to your name, you do have some catching up to do, Charles.'

'The Levenshulme antiques village has 20 individual shops to explore,

'so happy hunting!'

Wow.

-Must stay focused. Not here to shop.

-'No, you're not, Christina.'

What do you think? Does suit me?

'Oh, smokin'! I'm happy to see she's not taking this competition sitting down.'

That's really nice. I like that.

That's quite fun.

'Ticket price is £25. She's smitten

'but even with £203.50 in her mittens,

'can Christina persuade shop owner Sally to do a deal?'

I saw this chair. It caught my eye. I really quite liked it.

-Do you know anything about it?

-I think it's an artist's chair,

because it's got this little seat where you'd keep your paintbrushes.

Is there any flexibility on the price?

I was thinking, at auction, it'll make maybe £15.

And I need to make a profit against that pesky Charlie Hanson.

-Righty-ho.

-What's your thoughts?

-Um, well...

-I could do it for 15.

-It's a deal. Thank you, Sally, you're a star!

'Christina's off the mark, but Charles needs help

'and puts in a sneaky call to the auctioneer.'

My great passion, James, is often buy big, buy monumental, buy furniture.

And, um, I like buying it.

Don't buy furniture? OK. Don't touch it. Thanks very much.

See you in Birkenhead.

'The auctioneer's top tip - don't buy furniture.'

'That's easy advice to follow, Charles.'

'Or maybe not.'

'Having already bought furniture, Christina seeks something different

'and Barry's shop might be just the place.'

My goodness, there's a lot of stuff here.

'Yeah, I'll say. Clever Christina's spotted some silverware.'

I'm trying to put together a lot of silver plate that will do well at the auction.

And, um, I think Barry might be my man.

'While Christina gathers her riches,

'Charles has decided to ditch the furniture

'and follow Christina's lead. That sneaky boy!'

-Don't you dare... Keep...

-Is it for sale?

Keep...

Go away! Go away!

No, this is... Barry's my mate now.

Yeah? How are you, mate? How are you, mate?

All falling apart very, very swiftly.

Ladies first. I'm sorry, Barry. I'll let you do a deal with Christina.

-Like the plate, by the way.

-Get out!

'Barry's got them fighting over him, now.'

'Well, he is a man with some bright ideas.'

I'm thinking, that's quite cool at the moment, isn't it?

'Christina's interest has been sparked by a pair of enamelled industrial downlighters.

'But can she get them for the right price?'

-So, they were marked up at...

-50.

-For the pair?

-No.

-Yeah.

-That's each.

-Oh, go on, Barry.

-You can have them for 30 each.

But we would sell them as a pair. I'd want to put them in as a pair.

-Give me 50 quid the pair.

-50 quid the pair. Go on, Barry.

Thank you very much. I like those. Let's look at the silver plate.

'Can he do her another deal with a silver lining?'

20 pound for that one.

-20 for that one.

-Oh, Barry! What?

-Fiver each for those.

-What's that one got on it?

-Three pound.

-Three pounds on it.

I think the bowl is probably more saleable than the basket.

What about...

20 for that?

'Ooh, he's happy with that. I think.'

-OK.

-20 quid?

-Yeah.

-Thank you ever so much.

-Thankin' you.

-You're a star. Off I trot.

There you go.

'She's one happy customer, walking away with a job lot.'

'The silver-plated pedestal rose bowl, a pair of trumpet vases,

'nut dishes,

'and Barry's thrown in an early 20thC silver napkin ring.'

'All for £20.'

'Good going, Christina. Right, Charles! You're up.'

Barry, is this all for sale outside here, as well?

-Yeah.

-Everything.

I quite like this man, down here. He's tired, he's a bit discoloured..

'He's a gnome, Charles.'

Where did he come from? Did your father make him, you say?

-Father-in-law made him, yeah.

-Really? Back to what, the 1930s?

-No, probably '50s.

-There's also one more down there, Barry, as well.

Another garden gnome. If I bought the two, what's your best price?

-£10 the pair.

-£10 the pair. If I said a fiver for the two together?

-No. No, you've got to pay a tenner the pair.

-Meet me halfway. Eight.

-I'm not meeting anywhere. Tenner the pair.

-Get out of here!

'Hm! Stalemate. And after some consultation,...

-Charles can see it now.

-'..Charles buys one gnome for £5.'

OK, Chris. Yeah, I know. You and me now, mate. We'll ditch Christina.

OK, Chris. Happy? Yeah.

We're off. See you later.

'A talking gnome called Chris? I think he's losing it, that boy.'

'With that, he's off to his next shop.'

'Meanwhile, Christina's heading for a history lesson, by foot.'

'The Manchester Jewish Museum is the only one of its kind outside London

'and can be found in a former synagogue.'

'The museum tells the story of Manchester's Jewish community.'

'Having been popular with traders since the 1740s,

'the city's cotton trade soon attracted Jewish entrepreneurs,

'who left a lasting legacy in Manchester and further afield.'

'Christina's come to hear all about it from curator Alexandra Grime.'

-This is beautiful.

-It is.

-It's breathtaking.

-It was built in 1874, the building.

-1874?

-It was originally a synagogue, as you can probably tell.

-Yeah.

-The community moved out in 1982 and it became this museum.

'The synagogue would've been a place of worship for the Sephardi Jews

'and is built in the style of their Spanish and Portuguese ancestors.'

'At the end of the 18th century,

'families from places like Corfu and Syria settled in the city.'

'As the population grew, they built up communities, places of worship

'and their businesses, particularly in the clothing industry,

'and they went from strength to strength.'

One really interesting guy is called Benjamin Hyam.

What he's doing is selling ready-made garments, proper suits,

people can afford the suits and it really catches on,

-these ready-made, rather than tailored items.

-OK, gosh, wow.

-So this is the start of the high street shop.

-Absolutely.

-By 1851, he opens a shop like this.

-Is this his shop?

-This is.

Charles Dickens mentions this shop as does Benjamin Disraeli. They visit when they're in town.

I never would have had Disraeli as a man with a suit off the rack. Wow.

'In the decades preceding World War One,

'the population in Manchester increased, as Jews fled persecution.

'Fearing a backlash, the established community tried to Anglicise the new arrivals,

'opening schools to teach English and introducing them to some good old British staples.'

They had clubs aimed at organising their recreation,

-so they had brass bands and played cricket and things like that.

-Brass bands!

-Good old Lancashire tradition.

-I love it!

Which is why this item is fantastic. This is actually a washboard,

brought over in 1910.

You can see it's very worn. That's because it was never used as a washboard.

Leon actually used it as a cricket bat. I think it's such a great story

-He's come from Eastern Europe and made his washboard into a cricket bat.

-Very resourceful.

No better example of Anglicisation than that.

'With only a gnome called Chris to his name,

'Charles hits the shops again.'

'This time, in Sale.'

'A thriving commuter town in Greater Manchester,

'Sale boasts the 250-year-old Bridgewater Canal.'

'At its peak, the canal carried more than three million tons of traffic,

'much of it fuelling the Industrial Revolution.'

'Today, it carries a lighter load, of ducks and leisure barges.'

'Charles is pinning his hopes on the Manchester Antiques Company, and owner John Long.'

-Hello.

-How are you?

Good to see you. I'll go for a wander.

Thanks, John.

'This could spell disaster for Charles. He's in a room full of furniture,

'but can he resist?'

The fact is I've been told in no uncertain terms, by James, the auctioneer,

"Don't buy furniture."

So, maybe you wave it goodbye.

-So long.

-'By Jove, I think he's got it at last.'

That's a very nice, unframed oil on canvas.

-True.

-A portrait of a gentleman with his telescope,

with a sailing vessel in the background.

How much would that be, if I asked you a price?

-£75.

-God.

OK, I'll give it some thought.

'With his nemesis Christina in the lead, Charles has a fight on his hands

'and spots the perfect piece to take into battle.'

Maybe if I turned up to reveal my wares, wearing this,...

..she might take note of me.

'Oh, yeah? This replica 15thC suit of armour

'would have been made in the early 20thC

'for educational or theatrical purposes.'

'Crikey. Is Charles arming himself for war? He looks the part.'

Christina, I'm ready for Birkenhead.

'Or perhaps pistols at dawn.'

This is the time of William the Fourth, it's George the Fourth.

It's a duelling type pistol.

And, um, it's 180 years old.

And you can see that because this handle is just about to fall off.

But in a... Oops! It has fallen off, actually.

-'Silly boy!'

-Might have to buy it now, regardless.

It is pretty tired, but I like it as it's in its original condition.

It could never be fired now and it's purely a relic.

And it could be cheap.

'He's gone GUN-HO in this place, with three items in his sights.'

'The canvas, circa 1820,

'the coaching pistol and the armour

'all belong to John's son Wayne.'

'Can our Carlos cut a deal over the phone with our John... Wayne's son.'

Wayne, it's Charles Hanson. If you don't make an offer, you never know.

And I've got £167.20.

There's no way you could do me a deal for all three, is there?

Wayne wants you. I'm hoping son and fatherly love can do me a deal.

-You better win, he said.

-Huh?

-You'd better win.

-Is that a deal?

-It's a deal, yeah.

'It's victory for chancer Charles.'

-I've got 167 and 20 pence.

-Yes.

Could you leave me a pound? Make you 166.20?

I've got to go into Cheshire tomorrow with a pound.

'Now, that's pushing it.'

I'll pay you my entire budget for a pound change.

-OK.

-Going...

-Going...

-Going.

-Gone.

-Sold!

Thanks, John. Come 'ere, John. Thanks, John!

'It's enough to melt a heart of steel, this.'

'But wait, there's more.'

-Crikey. These aren't part of the armour, John?

-Yes.

Well, that's a bonus.

As you say, en garde!

Oh, my goodness.

That's bigger than mine.

'Boys will be boys.' I think you'd best be off.'

'Our experts' next stop is the market town of Knutsford.'

'Recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086,

'Knutsford is perhaps best known

'as the home of 19thC Cranford novelist Elizabeth Gaskell.'

'Christina is heading to the aptly named Knutsford Antiques Centre.'

'With three floors to explore, can this jewellery expert find a hidden diamond in the rough?'

'But soon her cup runneth over.'

Oh, that's lovely. It's Charlie, look, Charlie dancing.

'This 19thC Staffordshire polychrome mug is decorated with couples dancing a jig.'

'Ticket price, £35.'

There's a little crack there which would be a bit of a concern.

'A cracking piece indeed.'

It's never going to make me a fortune, but it's a great print.

You can really sense that you're in the middle of the dance,

that enthusiasm and vibrance...

They're having a great time, aren't they? Proper shindig there.

'If you're buying that mug, best seek out manager Gordon.'

-These little chappies caught my eye.

-Yeah.

-I thought they were fun.

-Now, Gordon,...

-Yeah?

-Bearing in mind it's cracked,...

'Oh, I see what she did there.'

What's your thoughts on...? It's marked up at £35.

'Here she goes.'

I need to be able to make a profit on it at auction

and at auction, I can see it fetching about 20 quid.

-So what d'you want to pay for it?

-10.

-No way. No way, I'm sorry.

-'Don't take him for a mug.'

-What's your absolute best price?

-About 30.

-30? Can you come down any more?

-Perhaps 28. That's your limit.

-Is absolutely that it?

-Yeah.

-What about 25?

-I couldn't take that much off.

-Go on.

-Cash, then.

-Cash? Oh, yes, of course.

-All right, I'll do it for 25.

-You're a legend. Thank you very much, sir.

'She's good at this bargaining lark'

'Now, with four lots, she's catching up with Charles and hitting the road.'

'But this time, our delightful duo are heading to nearby Congleton.'

'Sitting at the foothills of the Pennines,

'surrounded by beautiful countryside,

'this is a popular, historic market town.'

'Clutching his last pound, Charles is dropped off...

-Bye.

-Bye.

'..to fend for himself, at the Victoria Mill Arts Centre.'

Sounds better - 100 pence.

It's not a pound. 100 pence.

'Hm! What a cunning bit of PR, eh?'

'But will it be enough to convince store owner Geoff?'

-That's quite nice.

-It is nice.

It's garish. To some people, it's unsightly.

But it catches the age, doesn't it?

'This stylish Art Deco vase is circa 1930.'

'Problem is, it's also circa £15.'

-That's 1,500 pence, isn't it?

-That's £15.

-£15.

-To you, Charles, it's a tenner.

-£10, yeah, well, we're close.

No blemishes. No chips.

And I love it.

But it's priced at £15 and all I have is that.

One solid pound.

And it's in good condition.

Would you, sir, actually take one pound for it?

Normally, no, of course. But this is exceptional, so I will.

You're happy for me to have that vase for a pound? Really?

It's a no-brainer. I'm going to flip you the pound, shake your hand.

-Here's that pound, up it goes, that's yours.

-Thank you.

-That's mine.

-Pleasure.

-And I'm absolutely overjoyed.

'Thrilling, eh? It has "great deal" written all over it.'

'With Charles now penniless, it's over to Christina.'

'And she's making her way from Congleton to Wheelock.'

Named after the River Wheelock,

'this little village is surrounded by countryside.'

'Can Christina up her game and charm Richard, in Hidden Treasures,

'into giving her a bargain?'

Hi. I'm Christina. Nice to meet you.

What have we got that's a bit fresh, that will make me a fortune,

that I can beat Charlie Hanson with? Come on! Hit me with it.

'Careful, Christina. There's a brick in there.'

Hey, what's the brick?

The Royal Wedding of Charles and Diana. It's one of a run of bricks

that was used for a prison that they actually laid the foundations for.

A Royal Wedding prison brick!

-How much is on that?

-Er, £22.

I think that might be a little bit risky.

'The brick's no building block for profit.'

'But can Christina see money in this early 20thC till?'

'Ticket price, £25.'

This is quite a sophisticated one.

The ones I've seen before haven't got a till roll with them.

You would've just had your cashier's drawer.

And it's still got the workings in the top of it as well.

So I'm quite pleased. I think it's quite fun.

-'She likes it!'

-As it's my first Road Trip...

'Can Richard resist her persuasive charms?'

-£25 sounds like an awful lot of money.

-Does it? Oh.

Go on, what's your best price?

-20.

-For a newbie? Any less?

-I'll do it for 15.

-Will you?

-Yeah.

-£15.

-Go on, you've got yourself a deal.

-Great.

-Brilliant.

'Ker-ching! A deal at £15 for the pine till.'

'Right, Christina, are we off?'

I think I've fallen in love with a brick!

-'You've done what?'

-No, I can't buy a brick. That's stupid.

-£5 and it's yours.

A pound. I'll give you a pound for the brick.

I'm going to lose money on it.

-Go on, then.

-Really?

-I'll do a pound.

I can't believe I've just bought a brick!

'She's only gone and bought a brick'

Thanks very much. Oh, God. I'm never going to live this down.

'Let's hope she's laying some foundations for a decent profit with that purchase!'

'With everyone shopped out, let's get a measure of what they bought.'

Charles spent £113 and is offering up five lots,

featuring a stone gnome called Chris,

a 19th-century twin-barrel pistol,

an oil-on-canvas with maritime interest,

an Art Deco vase and a suit of armour, complete with swords.

Christina is also presenting five lots, but at a cost of £126.

A pair of enamel downlighters, a job lot of silverware,

a commemorative brick for the wedding

of His Royal Highness Charles and Diana,

and an artist's chair paired with a pine till.

But what do they think of each other's offerings?

Christina's bought some really steady items

and Christina is my steady Eddy.

I'm convinced, with her £1 brick and other items, she'll make profits

But I'm not in to just be steady.

I'm in to really impress Christina and go all out

or to say to Christina, "At least I tried."

I'm surprised at how mediocre Charlie's stuff was.

I thought he'd go a bit wacky. And then...

he revealed his literally knight in shining armour,

which I think will absolutely annihilate me.

'Well, there's only one way to find out,

'so onwards and upwards to the auction in Birkenhead.'

If you saw me, dressed in the saleroom in that suit of armour,

what would you think that body is worth?

I would think it's got to be better than how you're dressed currently.

Oh, thanks(!)

'The town of Birkenhead runs along the bank of the River Mersey

'and has boasted a ferry service for over 800 years,

'when Benedictine monks would have gone back and forth to Liverpool,

'rowing.'

-Good luck, partner.

-Good luck.

-Auction number two.

Auction number two. Let's go.

'Our daring duo are going into battle in today's general sale at Kruger Gibbon.'

'Over to the first of today's two auctioneers -

'moustachioed James Gibbon.'

'Let battle commence!'

'First up is Christina, but will it be treasure or travesty?'

I'll start at 10. £10? 10 I have.

12 I have. 14.

-16.

-My heart.

-16, new bidder at the back.

-Come on!

-18. The lady's back in.

-1,800 pence.

-20 by the door.

-Good price.

She's back again. 22.

I'm selling it, ladies and gentlemen. £22.

-It's a rollercoaster.

-'Ow!'

'More of a travesty, actually, as that £2 profit will be wiped out

'after auction-house costs.'

'Another one now for Christina, the 19thC Staffordshire mug.'

'Can auctioneer Adrian Kruger help JIG her into a profit?

Start me on this, please, at £15.

-Come on!

-10 to start, thank you.

-You've got 1,000 pence.

-12 I have.

14 I have. 16. 18.

-20.

-Ooh!

-22.

20 I have. £20 it is.

Breaking even.

-Well done.

-Darling, I paid £25 for it.

-Did you? I thought it was 20.

-'Oh, do pay attention, Charles.'

'It's going downhill for our girl with her second loss of the day.'

'Can Charles do any better? He's certainly all fired up.'

-£10 I have.

-Come on.

-I have 12.

14.

16. 18. 20.

-22.

-Excellent.

-24. 28.30.

32. 34.

-36. 38.

-Buy history and you live the dream.

-Do they realise the handle's falling off?

-Sh!

-44.

-£44 I have.

-Well done, Charles. Brilliant.

I'm selling at 44.

-Thank you very much.

-How much did you give for it?

-A tenner.

-Oh, well, very good.

-Thanks, mate.

'Even he's impressed. And with that, Charles is off!'

'Can trusted friend Chris do any better for him?'

Start me off at £10 on the gnome.

Tenner. Thank you. A lady with class and distinction. 12, thank you.

12. Are we going 14? 14.

16.

18. 20.

-They're all over each other.

-Like a rash.

-22.

24. 26.

-Keep going, Chris.

-28.

30.

32. £32.

I'm selling at 32.

-Sold to you, madam.

-Well done, you.

'£27 profit there, Charles. Now, that's GNOME joke!'

'Back to Christina. She's trying to build up profits, brick by brick.'

Who'll start me on this one at £10?

-Come on.

-Five to start, thank you.

-I'll take it at five.

-Six I have.

-How could you do that?

-Seven I have. Eight pounds.

Nine pounds. 10.

-£11 I have. 12?

-Deal.

-£12 I have to the lady on my left.

All finished, then, at 12.

'Who'd have guessed that, eh? Profit at last.'

'And from an old brick, no less.'

'Now for Charles's £1 offering - the Art Deco vase.'

Very, very stylish. Lovely piece.

-Why didn't they do this with my last piece?

-I'll start the bid at £10.

£10 I have. 12 I have. 14 I have.

16. 16 I have with the gentleman in the middle.

16 I have. Do I see 18? 18 I have.

-20? 20. It's selling at 20.

-Man!

-22 I have.

All finished, then, at £22.

'I say, Charles, that's a flowery profit.'

'Christina's combined her swivel chair and pine till,

'hoping it'll make her a pretty packet.'

And I'm straight in with a commission bid at £30.

-Yes!

-You've done it.

-32.

-Yeah!

-I'm going to go 34.

36 I'm at. It's in the room at £36.

I'm selling at 36. Are we all done?

36, ladies and gentlemen.

'So close, but her profit will again be eaten up by costs.'

'Can Charles do any better with his maritime canvas? Anchors aweigh!'

A lot of interest in this on commission.

'Commission bids, eh? This could get interesting.'

I can go 30, 35, 40, 50, 60...

-Here we go.

-70, 80,...

-Hanson, you're rolling.

-90, 100,...

-'I say, it's flying.'

-140. £160 I have.

-Oh, Hanson!

-£160 I have.

-Oh, my God.

Are we all gone at £160?

Looks like we are.

£120 profit.

-I'm just going to go home now.

-Put it there.

'So childish. So that's plain sailing into hefty profits, Charles'

'Full steam ahead, old boy.'

'Christina's got one lot left.'

'But can they light up her life?'

-I have commission bids on these.

-Oh!

I can start them with me at 50, 52, 55, 60.

-65, 70, 75, 80...

-Well done.

85, £90 I have on commission.

Brilliant.

£90 I have on commission. All done at £95 on commission?

-Ah, thank you, darling.

-No, well done.

'It's good, but with Charles already in the lead and with one lot to go,

'looks like she's lost this battle.'

'So, is Charles charging towards victory?

Commission bids again I have on this. I can start it 100, 110,...

-Great, we're off.

-See? Perfect.

120 I have. 125. I go 130.

135 and it's in the room.

-140 I have.

-Keep going.

-150 I have.

160, 170, 180, 190.

-Brilliant.

-200.

-Oh, God.

-Come on!

-Are we all finished and done at 220?

-We are.

-Well done, Charlie. APPLAUSE

Thank you!

Thank you. Thank you very much!

'Soak up that applause, Charles. You deserve it.'

'And with that, the new girl loses her lead.'

'Christina Trevanion started this leg with £203.50.'

'After auction costs, she's made a profit of £25.70,

'which makes her total for the next round £229.20.'

'But with everything to prove, Charles Hanson began with a reduced £172.20,

'and has made a magnificent profit of £219.76 after costs.'

'This gives him a head start with a whopping £391.96 to spend next time'

-I really can't believe it.

-No, quite seriously, I can't either.

-And now you drive me home, don't you?

-No, you can drive.

-Why?

-Because I'll let you.

-Really? Are you sure?

-Just this once.

-Great.

The day gets better and better and better. Honestly.