Episode 14 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'm loving that bird.

-The aim -

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

-Yes!

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

Don't I look handsome?

So, will it be the high road to glory

or the slow road to disaster?

I'm going now.

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

They may be zipping along the beautiful roads of Somerset

but there's a whiff of competition emanating from antiques experts

Charlie Ross and Thomas Plant.

Are you going to be gentle with me today?

I'm going to be so gentle with you, Thomas,

you won't even notice I'm here.

Charlie Ross is no slouch wielding the gavel.

He ran his own auction house for 25 years

and knows the business like the back of his hand.

One thing I can say is I'm now completely lost.

Thomas Plant is a Road Trip veteran.

With 20 years in the trade, he's a supreme judge of style and taste.

Could look like a pirate now, couldn't I?

Our experts started the week with £200 each

but one auction later, it's all change.

Are you all done? 100 falling.

# I'm in the money. #

Thomas made a small profit, so starts this leg with £225.08.

Charlie, however, had an exceptionally good sale,

giving him a healthy £295.20 to spend, spend, spend.

Our dapper chappies are heading off on the second leg of their voyage

in their trusty friend, a natty little 1971 Triumph Spitfire.

-Don't they look dashing, eh?

This week's Road Trip takes us over 400 miles from deepest Somerset

right up to Shropshire via North Wales, before looping back

down to finish at an auction and showdown in Bedford, Bedfordshire.

Today, we're starting our journey in Bath, Somerset,

then heading north via Kingswood in Bristol to the charming Cotswolds,

and finally onto an auction in Stroud, Gloucestershire.

And we're firmly on Thomas' patch.

He's cut his teeth in the antiques trade in Bath

and members of his family are still in the business here.

So, today, we're going into Bath, you're going to meet Caroline,

my aunt. She's lovely. It will be an experience.

Not long before we find out.

Ah! The beautiful Georgian city of Bath and the jewel in its crown,

the world-famous Royal Crescent, built in the late 1760s.

I can't wait to meet your aunt.

If she's anything like you, I'm in trouble.

I hope she doesn't give you a good deal. Come on.

Auntie Caroline runs her shop in an old grocery store which is

now home to cats Heidi and Siki and a smorgasbord of antiques,

and this must be... Caroline the kisser.

Lovely to see you, Caroline.

-This is my good friend, Charlie.

-Caroline, lovely to meet you. Mwah!

-Charmer.

-Look after him.

-I will.

Please, don't give him too much of a good deal.

-Look, I'm running a business here.

-I know you are, I know you are.

-Oh, that means everything must go.

-Including you, Thomas. Off you pop.

Now, what's this Caroline is slipping out of the cabinet?

I bet you've never seen one of these.

It's a bar of soap!

-1937.

-Mmm.

-It's a Coronation bar of soap.

-Yes.

-And it's never been used.

-Yes.

Isn't that extraordinary? What a priceless object.

-That's what I thought.

-Yes.

Marvellous. How much is it?

-I could do it for £12.

-Could you?

Not sure Charlie's in a lather over that one yet. Still, moving on.

Hang on, hold on. Hold...on.

That's a little bit damaged.

It's not damaged, it's completely and utterly knackered.

SHE LAUGHS

Well, that bit...

I think to say this is damaged is the understatement of the year.

This Regency desk stand would have been made in the early 19th century

when George IV was acting as Prince Regent.

It would once have held two glass inkwells

and a space for wafers, but sadly, this one is now showing its age.

It's clapped out.

I notice there's no price on this either.

Well, I didn't really want to sell it.

-Oh, didn't you?

-Cos it's so nice.

Didn't want to sell it because it's so nice.

Caroline, look me in the eye and say that again.

I could do it for £40.

I think that is the nicest thing in your shop,

without a shadow of a doubt. It's absolutely beautiful workmanship.

Caroline, I'm going to ask you a straightforward question here.

-You can say yes or no.

-No!

-Right, let's move on. No, no, no.

-You've said no.

-Go on.

-I was going to say would you take £20 for that?

-No.

-No, fine. You've just got to try.

I think at £20 it might make 25 at auction.

I'm sure.

But I can't do it for 20, Charlie, I'm sorry.

Charlie, I knew you were in for trouble here.

So that's still no deal for either the soap or the desk stand.

I would never be forgiven by Thomas

if I walked out of here without buying something, so...

I wonder how he's getting on down at the other place.

Probably famously.

Yes, how is the incorrigible nephew getting on?

He's down the road at the Old Bank Antiques Centre, where,

-of course, he knows the owner Alex.

-So nice to see you again.

-Nice to see you, too.

-We go back some way.

-Yes, a very long way.

Now, surely there must be something sweet here to tempt our expert?

That's just fabulous, isn't it? Isn't that wonderful?

Sadly, we do not have the key for it.

So what would you do? You'd put your bubble gum in there?

-Put your coin in there.

-Coin in there.

-And you never see either again.

-And it's an original one, isn't it?

-Yes, a lovely thing.

-1950s. Can that be very cheap?

-What's on it?

-55.

-How about 35?

-I was more thinking 20!

-But...

-Well, I'll ask about that.

-Do you mind?

-Yes.

-That's a great fun thing.

It's a great fun thing, but as you say,

-you can't get into it!

-Can't get it open!

Alex needs to check the price with his partner.

Just every schoolboy

and schoolgirl's absolute dream to be able to come home,

put their little penny in,

turn the knob and out comes a load of sweeties.

It's just fantastic.

-He wasn't all that pleased at £20.

-No, I bet he wasn't.

-How about 25?

Perfect. That is a deal. I would very much like to buy that.

Well done, Thomas. First purchase of the day. Now the boy's on a roll.

Look at that. This is a piece of Art Nouveau.

Just going to move it over here because,

you know, my strength is slightly going.

So an Art Nouveau copper coal or log bin.

It will come up beautifully.

Look at these fantastic stylised flower heads here.

You've got these pretty, pretty hearts on the domed lid,

and it's been planished, which is hammer beaten.

-It's a good thing.

-Ah, you've found our hidden treasure.

-Yes.

It's got 85 on it.

-D'you think they'd take 60?

-Probably not, actually.

-No.

-Probably not.

-Five, 65?

-Go on then, 65.

-Yeah?

-Yes.

-Is that all right? You won't get in too much trouble?

Oh, I'm sure I'll get my arm broken.

-Shake my hand before my arm gets broken.

-Don't want that to happen.

Nice work from the nifty nephew.

One coal bin and one bubble gum dispensing machine for a smart £90.

But still no deal for Charlie over at Auntie Caroline's,

unless she can tempt him with something else. Stand-by.

How about this little collection of napkin rings? Knives and forks.

-What absurd things! Aren't they rather jolly?

-Mm.

-How much are those?

-They're £40.

They're polishing up a treat.

-Would you do those for 20 quid?

-I...

-Give you 20 quid for those.

-Watch my eyes...

-25.

-25?

-Yup.

-Sold.

-Good job you caught... Oh!

-I'm disappointed you don't need the soap.

-How much was the soap?

-12.

-What were they? 25?

-Mm.

Can I chuck that in there, make it 35?

-All right then.

-Thank you.

Crikey, A deal at last, but he's determined

not to give up on that desk stand.

You're not going to sell me the stand for 25?

-I can try one last time.

-We could toss for either 25 or 30.

So, if Charlie wins, he gets the desk stand for £25.

If Caroline wins, it's £30. Stand by your beds now.

-Right.

-Right.

-Tails.

-You know what they say - tails never fails.

-Really?

-But on this occasion it has.

-Oh!

-Ha-ha!

-Zounds!

-Get me that dish.

Ooh! Lady Luck is on your side today, Charlie.

So he gets his wicked way with the desk stand,

along with a 1937 bar of soap

and a set of napkin rings from the lovely Caroline, all for £60.

-How's that?

-There we are.

On the quest for even more lucky finds, Sir Roscoe

has travelled 11 miles north-west to Kingswood in Bristol.

He's come to Odds And Todds to see if he can sniff out a deal.

On hand to assist is Jay. Watch out.

-Hi, nice to see you. Charlie's the name.

-OK.

What an enormous emporium you have here.

-Any antiques amongst this lot?

-There is probably a few here and there.

Right, eyes peeled, Charlie.

Surely you can find your way through this lot.

Crikey! It's like a maze.

I've been there.

The front's this way. Ah!

Downstairs.

I need something old or quirky.

Yes, I can spot one right there.

-God!

-Steady.

Mind the step.

This isn't easy. This is not easy.

Ah. There IS a way out. Ooh, God.

Oops-a-daisy! Now, talking of Daisy...

-Oh, look. Love your farm set. Isn't that fantastic?

-Yeah.

-Gosh!

-There's a lot there for the money as well.

-A huge amount.

Isn't that lovely? Turkeys. Swans.

Now, I can see the price is 150 quid. I can't refuse asking.

-Is there an unforgettable price on this lot?

-An unforgettable price?

-The death would be £100 for me on that.

-It would?

-That would be the death.

-Would you take £90 cash?

-Oh, my God, that is hard!

-Or is that too hard?

That is a little bit too hard for me.

-I mean... I do see it £100 all day long.

-Do you?

-I'll split the difference with you.

-Would you? Are you sure?

-Yeah.

-I don't want to...

-That's all right.

95, just psychologically a bit of a barrier.

Gives you a bit more to play with.

-Happy with that?

-I'm happy with that.

-The farmyard is mine.

-No problem.

-That's really kind of you. Thank you.

I'm really pleased with that.

Now, Charlie, all you have to do, old love,

is to reconvene with Thomas...

to travel the 52 miles north-east

to the pretty town of Burford in Oxfordshire.

Right. I think you're down there.

-I'm down there.

-I'm up by the roundabout.

In fact -

-SCOTTISH ACCENT:

-# I'll take the high road and you'll take the low road

# And I'll be in profit before you! #

No, you won't! You'll struggle up that hill, Roscoe!

-Lordy!

-I need a walking stick.

So, while Charlie marches off to his shop,

Thomas is distinctly ambling to his.

So, what will Bygones have in store for you?

-Morning.

-Hello.

-I'm Thomas.

-Hello, Thomas. I'm Bryda.

-Bryda?

-Yes.

-Where's that from?

-Wales.

-From Wales?

-Yes.

-So you're Welsh.

Clever boy, Thomas(!)

So, this is a piece of...

It's silver plate. It's a model I've seen a lot of.

It's by a German manufacturer.

It's called WMF and it's got a very small mark there.

It's not the oldest thing ever to walk this Earth.

But it's still quite iconic. And it's only 20 quid.

That's what I would call a TP backup if I don't find anything else.

But it still might be worth buying.

WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY For sure.

Not bad, not bad.

So, how's Roscoe getting on? Steady on, old boy.

You'll do yourself a mischief. Look at that. He's so agile.

Heading for the large Antiques Centre, and this is not

the first time Charlie's been in here, so watch out.

-You must be Giovanni.

-I am, yes.

-How are you?

-Nice to see you.

-I don't think we've met, have we?

-No, we haven't.

-How long have you been here?

-Ooh, 25 years.

-I know who was here before you.

-Back in the Dark Ages...

Now, this place is huge!

-I've seen about four things I like so far.

-Oh, God!

-And I'm going to go upstairs.

-That's encouraging.

Now, what about these?

Aren't they lovely?

Yes, it says £250 but there's a word after that I don't like - "each".

You don't like the "each", I understand, yes.

-We can work it out...something. We can do something.

-They're gorgeous.

They're very good decorator's items.

-Very nice, very nice, yes, yes, yes.

-But you have to have two, don't you?

The fact that there's a pair of them either side of a fireplace,

and if they were of a period, erm,

they would be hugely valuable. But I like those, and I think if

the saleroom show them off well, I think they could do well.

Very nice. You probably do a BOGOF offer here, don't you?

-Do you know what a BOGOF is?

-No.

-Buy one, get one free.

Erm, perhaps, perhaps. If we get to the right money, yes.

The right money...

Er, even as a BOGOF,

that's still £110 more than you've got in your wallet, Charlie.

But, someone's not letting go of the idea.

-Well, you know what I want to do, but I...

-Let's sit down and relax.

-Yes?

-I want to buy your two candelabra.

-Two...

-But I've got £140.20.

-That's too little. You can keep the 20p.

Well, I'm very happy to give you everything I have in life but...

-No, it's all right.

-For an old man?

-Well, not very old but OK, yes.

We can do a deal, I think, yes. Yes. Yes. All right?

-Are you really happy?

-Yes, I am.

You've made an old man extremely happy.

With a reduction of £360, I don't blame you.

-Thank you very much.

-That's really, really... I appreciate that, hugely.

I think they're absolutely delightful.

Well, let's hope the buyers think so, too, eh?

Now, with Charlie spent out, bar 20p, let's rejoin Thomas

and see if he's any closer to spending some cash.

And, like a mythological dragon,

he's been attracted by a piece of gold.

This little ring here, can I have a quick look at that little ring?

Little ring?

The ring and the earrings, actually. That little box, the whole thing.

So, what I'm looking for is any semblance of a mark

of any...nature. There's one there.

And these little emeralds.

So, what I'm looking for is whether these are a gold

or whether they're a silver-gilt. I'm pretty sure...

-I'm pretty sure they're gold.

-I'm pretty sure that they are gold.

I do like them.

Could you do them for 80?

Could I ask for 95?

Erm...can I meet you halfway at 85?

-90?

-I'd prefer 85 and...well, I...

I could buy something else. I've seen something else I'd like to buy.

Ah, the Thomas Plant back-up item, the WMF vase, marked at £20.

Could we do 90 for the lot?

I had thought of 95.

-95 for the lot.

-95 for the lot.

So, that would cost a tenner and these would cost 85.

-So, are you sure you can't do 90?

-I'd rather not.

You'd rather not. Well that's fine. That's fine, I get that.

I think we'll do that.

Nicely done, Thomas.

Our chaps are leaving Burford in the dust

and motoring on to the charming Cotswold town

of Bourton-on-the-Water, in Gloucestershire.

-Charlie's dropping Thomas off for his next shop.

-Right, out you get.

-Looking glass.

-Looking glass.

Do you think I'll find something to eat me, that'll make me grow big?

It can't make you any bigger!

THEY LAUGH

While Thomas finds his way inside, Charlie has an appointment to keep.

He's heading north, to the village of Stow-on-the-Wold,

where there's a museum dedicated to one of his greatest passions -

cricket.

-He's come to meet the man who set up the museum, Andy Collier.

-A-ha!

-Nice to meet you.

-Andy, is it?

-Welcome to Cotswold Cricket Museum.

Thank you very much indeed. Lovely to see you.

Andy gave up his life as an electrician to devote himself

to his favourite sport

and has spent the last 20 years collecting cricket memorabilia,

some of which tells the story of the game from its earliest beginnings.

Luckily, Charlie appears to have come prepared.

Let's hope he's not wearing his box.

-But actually...

-Now, I'm going to make myself more appropriate.

I hope you'll approve.

Ooh, look...member of the MCC. I'm impressed!

So, competitive cricket really began to get going

in the 19th century, with one particular player changing

the uniform for ever due to a terrible accident.

Alfred Mynn was reputed to be the first man to wear pads in cricket.

-When he...

-Really?!

-He had his leg severely bruised

-by Samuel Redgate from Nottingham...

-Yeah.

..and nearly had his leg amputated.

And then after two years convalescence,

he started wearing a pad inside his sock.

Early bats and stumps were quite different to those

we all know today.

Bowling, too, would not be recognisable in today's game.

Watch out! I think Roscoe's determined to demonstrate.

-How did they first start?

-Underarm.

-Really?

Underarm, yeah, a little bit like bowls now, really.

People have got much bigger and therefore taller,

and therefore the ball must be coming faster.

If a tall, for example, West Indian is coming along and bowling at you,

between him letting go of the ball and me hitting the ball,

how much time have I got?

Between half a second and three quarters of a second.

Half a second! It's extraordinary, isn't it?

Andy's museum pays tribute to the two greatest cricketers of all time.

He has WG Grace's actual bat and a wall dedicated to Donald Bradman.

This man, Bradman, who was Australian - how good was he?

He was the best ever.

Can you put that into statistics?

Average of 99.94.

Which means every time he went out to bat,

the chances are he was going to score 100.

-Every third innings, he got 100.

-That's amazing.

Whereas a good batsman today would average 50 if they're really good.

You're a good player if you get 45.

So, he was twice as good as any other player that ever lived!

Donald Bradman epitomised the enduring cricketing rivalry

between Australia and England,

one that continues today with the greatest battle of all, The Ashes.

That's a replica Ashes.

That's a replica of The Ashes.

It's always surprising to see how tiny it is.

The Ashes were so named after a satirical obituary

was printed in The Times after Australia beat England

for the first time on English soil.

Inside the original urn are reputedly the ashes of a burnt bale.

-I raise my cap to you.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you so much for having me.

-Absolute pleasure, Charlie.

Now, let's catch up with Thomas.

I hope he's not going to be stumped for what to buy in his

last shop of the day.

Well, I've got £40...£40!

Which isn't a great deal.

But I could buy a little knick-knack.

What's new? And there's plenty to feast your eyes on in this shop,

especially if you have magpie eyes like our Thomas.

So this is a vesta case, so you put your matches in there

and you strike them on the bottom,

but it's got die in here.

It's quite a fun thing.

It's quite unusual that's it got this gaming set in it, isn't it?

Time to call over shop owner Norman.

-What can that be? Please, please?

-30.

30, thank you.

-Can you do that for 25?

-I'll go 28.

-OK.

But that's a bit fun, that, isn't it?

-That's unusual.

-It's a fun thing. It's different.

-It is different.

-Do you know, 25 and you've got a deal.

-I'll do it.

-Yeah?

-Cheers.

-Thank you very much.

-God bless.

Hope you strike it lucky with that one.

-So, Thomas is all shopped out.

-It's been a pleasure, thanks.

-I've enjoyed myself.

-Great to see you.

-I hope I do well with it.

Charlie began with £295.20 and spent exactly £295 on five auction lots.

A Regency desk stand, a set of eight serviette rings,

a pair of ornate wall lights, a 1937 Coronation bar of soap

and a 130-piece farmyard set.

As you do. Thomas started this leg with £225.08

and spent a grand total of £210 on five auction lots.

A 1950 sweet dispenser, an Art Nouveau copper coal bin,

a WMF vase, a vesta case with three gaming dies

and an emerald dress ring with gold earrings.

Let's find out what they thought of each other's lots, eh?

Thank you very much.

Thomas Plant!

Your gold is, frankly, stolen,

and will make you a huge profit.

I do not like the girandoles, those lights.

They could make a lot of money but I don't think they're going to.

It's really on a knife edge, this one. Really on a knife edge.

The race is on! Watch this space.

We're on the edge of our seats, you know (!)

Thomas and Charlie's second day began in Bath, Somerset,

travelled north to Kingswood in Bristol,

then onto the Cotswolds and now we'll conclude at an

auction showdown in Stroud, in Gloucestershire.

-Here we are. Well driven, sir.

-Marvellous, thank you.

The boys' battle ground for today is Stroud Auction Rooms,

a large, busy auction house with all manner of antiques

and collectables, poised to go under the hammer.

First up is Thomas' bubble gum dispenser, don't you know!

Straight in at £38, 40. At £38 bid with me, now 40.

42, still with me. Is there five?

At £42, the bid's still with me. 45, 48. Is there 50?

At £48, it's still on the book, now looking for 50.

-Wow! Fantastic.

-It's in there.

That's phenomenal.

You said it, Roscoe. A sweet profit for Thomas.

Thomas Plant...

I'm going now!

It's Charlie's favourite next, his Regency desk stand.

Straight in at £18, is there 20? £18, the bid's with me. Looking for 20.

I thought it was going to be 80.

At £18, 20, takes me straight out on the internet. Is there two?

At 22 on the net, is there five?

At £22 on the internet, 25 on the net, now is there eight?

-At £25, the bid's on the internet.

-Doing well, doing well.

-It's not.

I'm not into a profit yet.

Caroline's done me over good.

Don't blame the auntie, Charlie.

The right buyer just wasn't out there today. Bad luck.

Thomas' copper coal bin is next. Will his luck continue?

-At £55, is there 60? At £55, the bid's with me.

-You're a genius.

-There's somebody on the phone!

-70. And five's with me. 80.

80 takes me out on the telephone now, is there five?

At £80, the bid's on the phone. Now it's for five. 85's on the net, 90.

They're on the net! Go on.

90, at £85 on the internet now, is there 90?

-At £85, I'm selling.

-I don't like to gloat, but that's a £20 profit.

Well, you are gloating, Thomas, and it's not pretty. Well done, though.

Another excellent profit.

Thomas, if I may say so,

it is a privilege merely to be in the same room with a man who...

Now, will Charlie make up some lost ground with his

-novelty napkin rings?

-And what can we say? £20 to get started?

No bid at all.

-£20, surely? £10, then, to get them on the move.

-Ten.

-Ten quid for them.

-Roscoe.

-AUCTIONEER DROWNS OUT SPEECH

-Calm down!

18 now on the net. Is there 20? At £18, I'm selling. To the net now, 18.

Whoops!

A loss to add to Charlie's woes.

-I'm not downhearted.

-Don't be down in the mouth.

-I'm British.

Thomas' WMF vase is up next.

Bid's straight in with me at £20. Is there two?

At £20, the bid's with me. Now looking for two.

At 22 on the net, 25 still with me, is there eight?

At £25, the bid's 28. 30 is still with me, is there two?

At £30, it's still on commission.

-Now looking for two.

-Wow!

32 on the net takes me out. Is there five? At £32, 35 on the net.

Now, is there eight? At 35, 38 on the net, now, is there 40?

At £38 on the internet, looking for 40.

40's on the net now, looking for two.

At £42 on the internet, looking for five. At £42, I'm selling.

All online. All online. Probably bought by a man in Bangkok.

Yeah, all right! Doesn't matter if it is.

Whoever bought it, they've given Thomas yet another profit.

-You are on fire...

-This is not...

Now it's Charlie's big purchase.

His gilt metal wall lights. Could they light up his day?

-Can we say £40 to get me started? £40 for someone?

-Uh-oh!

£30, then, to get them on the move...

-Oh, no, Roscoe, Roscoe.

-They only cost £140.

-Oh, lordy.

-30's bid on the internet. Thank you. Is there two?

-A £30 bid on the net now, looking for two.

-Oh, Roscoe!

At £30 on the internet, now looking for two. At £30, selling away...

Our Father who art in heaven!

-Hallowed be thy name...

-Oh!

-Thy kingdom come...

Roscoe, I feel your pain.

-..Thy will be done.

-And so do I!

A shuddering, earth-crashing loss of £110 for Roscoe.

Do you know, it's not pain, Thomas. It's agony!

Next up is the little vesta case.

At £55, the bid's with me, now looking for 60.

At £60 on the internet, looking for five. 65? 65's bid in the room.

Thank you. Is there 70? At £65, it's in the room. Now looking for 70.

At 65, 70's on the internet, 75. £75 bid in the room, now, is there 80?

-At £75, the bid's in the room. Now looking for 80.

-Wow, wow.

At £75, I'm selling to the room now. At 75...

-That's fantastic.

-Brilliant.

Brilliant indeed. Thomas is most definitely on a roll today.

£25 to get us all started. £25, surely?

Do you know, I hate to say it's coming down to Roscoe's bar of soap,

but it is.

I have £8 to start it off. Is there ten?

At £8... Ten takes me out of the room now. Is there 12? At £10.

The bid's in the room now. Looking for 12. 14, sir? 14 in the room.

Is there 16? At £14 in the room, 16 on the net. 18, sir?

At £18, already jumped on the internet, now is there 20?

-Could make 100.

-Is there five? At £22. 25 in the room?

25's bid in the room. Is there eight? At £25. I'm selling.

In the room, at 25...

-# Sweet Caroline...

-Bam-bam... #

At last! Who'd have thought it? A shining profit for Charlie.

Talk about coming up smelling of roses! It's not over yet.

True. But Thomas' next lot would have to crash quite badly to help

you out, old boy. It's the gold ring and earrings.

Straight in at £200. Is there 220?

At £200, the bid's with me, now looking for 220. At £200...

-What did they cost?

-85.

At £200, on commission now, looking for 220. 230, still with me.

Is there 240?

-At 230, still on commission. Looking for 240.

-Wow.

-At £240, I sell.

-Wow.

-£240! Thomas...you've had a cracker of a day.

He certainly has. Great profit there, Thomas.

There's a spring in your step, isn't there?

Not really cos I've hurt my ankle but there is a slight spring.

It's the last lot of the day, Charlie's farmyard animals.

They need to make at least £382 for him - ha! - to triumph on this leg.

Still, you never know.

-At £95, the bid's with me now...

-That's what it cost.

At 95, 100 on the net, 110 still with me.

Is there 120? At 120... 120, 130. Still with me.

-Is there 140?

-Up to 500!

-Bid's with me now. Looking for 140.

140 on the phone.

On the phone!

-140 takes me out the telephone now. Is there 150?

-Ooh!

-At £140, the bid's on the phone.

-I want to bid 150!

-At £140,

I'm selling away to the telephone now at 140...

Yes!

So excited for you, Roscoe.

OK, so, not the stonking profit he needed

but it is a profit nevertheless, so well done!

-Well done.

-I needed that. I needed that so badly.

Cor! How the tables have turned.

Charlie started this leg with a robust £295.20

and has made a loss of £99.84 after auction costs.

That leaves him with a rather depleted total of £195.36

to carry forward.

Gloomy. Thomas, on the other hand, has had a bumper day.

He kicked off this leg with £225.08

and made a handsome profit of £191.80 after costs.

Meaning he ends up with £416.88 to spend next time.

Well done, old fruit.

-Are you going to drive?

-I'm going to drive.

Surely you can afford a chauffeur now!

-Come on. You drove when you won last time.

-Oh, all right.

-So it's my turn to drive now.

-You're a rotter.

-I'm not a rotter.

-You are.

I'm not! Brilliant!

And modest. On this third leg,

we're kicking off in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire,

then heading for Worcestershire,

before motoring north for an auction

in Wrexham, North Wales.

Sitting near the River Severn is the town of Tewkesbury -

a little piece of the Middle Ages preserved in time -

although some parts are better preserved than others.

HE LAUGHS

-What a splendid establishment.

-Oh, look at that!

BOTH: Oh!

-Good luck, old bean.

-Good luck to you.

I'm off. Bye-bye. Find yourself a shop.

Be careful with your £400.

Shh!

Look at him go!

Charlie's shop du jour is Coach House Antiques.

He has £195.36 to spend on an eclectic mix of pieces.

And after a good old sniff about...

I'm inexorably drawn back to this cabinet.

Which is owned by dealer John, who, luckily, is here today.

These are fabulous pot lids.

The Duke of Wellington's funeral.

-Framed, ready to go.

-Yeah.

-How much is that one?

-195.

-Yeah.

But it is quite a rare one.

That's a rare lid. That's such a wonderful thing, isn't it?

Yeah.

Blow your money on one thing, Roscoe...

Uh-oh... In the mid-19th century,

new printing technology allowed multicoloured transfers

to be printed on pot lids and other everyday wares.

Pot lids like these are now highly sought after

for their technical excellence, variety,

and their value as social and historical records.

This one depicts the funeral of the Duke of Wellington

and has a ticket price of £195.

-How much is that?

-To you?

-To me. Well, 600 to me!

CHARLIE LAUGHS

-I'll give that to you for £100.

-Would you really?

-I will.

That is a good buy.

I'm going to ask one question from a psychological point of view,

not really a financial one.

Could it be £95?

Only in so much that it's psychologically better than 100.

-Yes.

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

That's just under half your entire budget, Charlie!

You are a brave man.

A wonderful man, sir. Thank you.

WOMAN CLAPS

A round of applause!

A round of applause.

Charlie's not finished yet.

There's something else tempting in John's cabinet -

a very old-looking bottle, possibly Roman.

Extraordinary condition, isn't it?

"Riga Balsam."

-That's quite a rare thing, isn't it?

-Yeah.

I don't know that it's Roman. So I'd be taking...

They are very hard to...

I'd be taking a complete gamble.

It's in extraordinary condition if it is Roman, isn't it?

It is, yeah.

The ticket price on the bottle is £35.

Can John do another deal?

-It can be yours for £20.

-Could it really?

-There's no downside, is there, at 20 quid?

-That's right.

Oh, what the heck. I like this.

No downside at all.

So, Charlie's raid on John's cabinet

has resulted in a Victorian pot lid and possibly Roman bottle

both for £115.

Now, let's see if Thomas is as flash with his cash in Attica.

He's got £416.88 to spend.

Hello, I'm Thomas, Thomas Plant.

-What's your name?

-Mark Turner.

Mark, nice to meet you.

Get browsing, Thomas.

Ooh, I think something's caught his eye,

with a ticket price of £20.

Solid pair of field glasses.

But what's interesting about them

is they've got the broad arrow mark for military issue.

"11089" - that's interesting.

So these are probably First World War.

So those, you've got 20 on.

What can be the best on the binoculars, please?

-15.

-15...OK, cool.

Could I offer you 12?

MARK SIGHS

-Make it 14.

-Make it 14.

-Yeah.

-And it's a deal.

-Yeah.

All right, OK. I'll have those.

First World War binoculars at 14 can't be bad.

I'll have those, thank you very much.

Not bad at all - in fact, quite an eye opener.

Ha!

Is it me, or does our Thomas remind you of a teddy bear?

Now, here's something Winnie the Pooh

would definitely like.

I do love that.

It's for drizzling honey.

Honey pourer/drizzler.

The honey goes in there and you drizzle it out.

You can see, it's almost like a honeycomb

but the construction of that is just beautiful.

That has been made on a wheel.

I think it's incredibly stylish, actually...

It is so stylish.

What can that be?

I wouldn't want to go lower than 12.

It's something quite quirky, quite unusual,

it's got a real charm about it.

It has got a charm. It has got a charm.

West Country, Bristolian charm.

All right, all right...

You're pressing my buttons. You know you are, Mark.

So, what's the best on that?

12 on that. I couldn't go any lower.

-So that makes those two 26...

-14 and 12, 26.

Can we do the two for 25?

-Um...yes.

-Keeps it...

No, that's fine, I'm happy with that.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you very much.

Well done, Thomas! Two items in the old bag.

Thomas is travelling to the small town of Upton-Upon-Severn

for a spot more shopping.

Now, what does this rather fetching establishment have in store?

-Hello.

-Hello, how are you?

-I'm Thomas.

-Hi, Thomas. I'm Lee.

-Lee, nice to meet you.

-You too.

Everything in Croome Antiques has been chosen by owner Lee

and there's all kind of quirky things lurking about.

And now, anyone for the races?

There's more to this horse and rider than meets the eye.

This is a spelter table light.

So what you do, there's meant to be a little...

This is the post where the horse is tethered to the jockey

and there's meant to be a little striker in there

and it's filled with, uh...paraffin.

And you can take it out and you can strike it on there

and you can hand the lighter round to your colleagues after supper

to light one's cigars or cigarettes with.

So it's a Deco table light.

I quite like that.

It's missing its striker and there's some damage to the base,

so the ticket price on this table lighter is £98.

One to think about.

What a fabulous, fabulous spirit kettle on a stand.

Look at that!

Straight out of the Art Nouveau period, by WMF.

Wow!

What a thing.

Oh, look at that cane handle.

What a thing of beauty.

Ho! Ho!

What a fabulous thing.

I think he likes it.

Oh, and it's the early mark, as well.

Oh...!

Right, so this is a really early mark for WMF.

It's the ostrich in the diamond, there.

Badly bashed.

From its early days in the late 19th century

through to the First World War,

German manufacturing company WMF

became one of the most prolific producers of elegant designs

formed in metal and glass.

This piece is stamped with the rare ostrich mark,

which was replaced in 1907 by a simple WMF.

What a thing of absolute...beauty.

What a thing. But it has seen slightly better days.

I like that. I'm going to ask about that,

see what can be done.

That's two items to consider. Could this be a third?

That's lovely, isn't it?

It's Art Nouveau. It's in pewter.

You've got the two flower heads. You've got the sinuous stem.

It would have been a drinks...

It would have been a tray for drinks.

But it is very attractive and that pewter look is good-looking.

And it's so cheap - £18.

I think that's quite a good thing. I think that could make money.

So, there's the pewter plate, the WMF kettle

and the jockey table lighter.

-What can you do?

-OK, well, the horse, um...we've got 98 on,

so we'll do that for 80.

-OK.

-OK?

The WMF, um...

I haven't got a lot of manoeuvrability with that,

I'll be honest with you. We've got 110 on it.

-Mm, you like it, though, don't you?

-I do, I love it. Yeah.

I could hear the noise and the commotion when you...

Yeah, it's very nice, it's a nice thing.

-So, £100.

-Oh...!

LEE LAUGHS

Yeah.

-And the Art Nouveau tray is 18.

-Yeah.

We'll do that for 15, of course.

Um...

Cos that's damaged, I was thinking that should be...a bit less. 60.

60?!

I was hoping for 70 for the kettle and stand.

-For the tray, I get it.

-Yes.

-That's fine.

How do those figures grab you?

60, 70, get the tray.

OK - tray at 15, that one...uh...

-I'll accept 60 on that.

-OK.

I'll go to 90 on that, but no less.

And I think that's a very good buy at 90.

Make it...150 for the lot, and you've got a deal.

THOMAS LAUGHS

-155.

-Oh!

LEE LAUGHS

And that's a good price.

(Oh, 155...)

So that's one, two, three...

OK...

-We're splitting hairs, really, aren't we?

-We are.

-Come on.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you, Thomas. Appreciate it.

Lee's done you proud there, Thomas.

Now, this should be interesting.

Our sparring partners are heading for Malvern

and their shops are right next door to one another.

-Roscoe.

-Do your worst, Planters.

Oh!

Come on, Roscoe! Bounce out!

-You're remarkably lithe, aren't you?

-I'm fit, aren't I?

Fit for shopping, I hope.

Thomas has bagged Foley House Antiques Centre.

-Hello, Thomas. I'm Bridget.

-Bridget. Very nice to meet you.

-Well, I'll have a good look around, if that's all right?

-Please do.

Thank you very much.

Have a good scoot...

Bridget, there's stuff everywhere.

Yes, Thomas - it's a shop, don't you know?

I haven't even looked in these cabinets here.

It's extraordinary.

Um...

Oh, Bridget, I feel your pain.

It's a no. It's a no. God, I'm being a pain.

I give up. Quick, let's go and look next door.

Charlie's making himself at home in Promenade Antiques,

watched by friendly owner Mark.

-Anyway, may I have a look round?

-You're more than welcome.

See what I can find.

As long as you do more than just look, Charlie.

That is an enormous dinner service.

That's a real gamble lot, something like that, isn't it?

If you went to buy that, it would cost you...

..£3,000?

-Each plate's £30-£40.

-And there's 12 of those.

£50. There's 12 - 5, 12, 60...

I bet there's £3,000 worth of stuff there.

Not sure I've got quite enough money for that.

Yeah, the dinner service has £170 on the ticket.

Best aim for something more suited to your budget,

like this.

-I like your toffee hammer.

-Memories of childhood.

Memories of childhood - isn't that wonderful?

Look at that - toffee hammer.

But you have a slab of toffee,

and the retailer would smash up the toffee and sell it in chunks.

That's a wonderful thing, and it says "for toffee".

Isn't that delightful? What a wonderful memory.

That's well worth considering, that is.

I might as well ask a question - um...

That's not something I would normally buy,

that dinner service, as you know - there's so much of it.

And it would be a complete gamble at auction, but...um...

I've got just under 100 quid, it's not going to buy that, is it?

How much just under?

Started with £195 and I've got 80 quid left,

so I don't know whether...

That's probably not going to do the trick, is it?

-I did have some breakfast cups that went with it.

-Yes.

-And I sold those yesterday to a lady.

-Did you?

To match her own service, presumably?

-And she gave me a good price for them.

-Yeah.

So...as that happened, in that case,

I could do that for the money that you're offering.

Could you?

I think that's a phenomenal offer, I have to say.

Heart over head, isn't it?

The thing I like best of all is your toffee...

Yeah. It's good fun.

That's a great thing.

So Charlie's hoping to snaffle up the toffee hammer

AND the dinner service for his remaining cash.

If I gave you £80.36 - and that is my total wipe-out -

could I have that and the toffee hammer?

Seeing as you like the toffee hammer, I'll do that.

Are you sure? That's really kind of you.

And just like that, Charlie's spent out.

Now, how's Thomas getting on?

I've been perusing. I've been perusing.

And because I have an Art Nouveau pewter plate,

-it would fit quite nicely with this mirror.

-Oh, right.

-Because that's Arts and Crafts as well.

-Yes, yes.

Um...well, Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts.

For goodness' sake, for 32,

-you're not going to ask for discount?

-I am.

-I am! Come on!

-Oh!

Come on. See, they would fit well together.

A plate and a mirror.

Ah, so Thomas wants to put the mirror in the same lot

as the pewter plate he bought earlier - cunning.

-It's quite cheap.

-I know it's cheap. So you don't need discount, do you?

-£20 would be buying it.

-25 would be buying it.

20 and you've got a deal.

-Go on, then. Go on.

-Superb.

You're very sweet. Thank you very much.

Phew! He's bought something at last,

putting us all out of our misery.

Eh? Ha!

The chaps are leaving Malvern behind

and are heading nine-and-a-half miles north

to the city of Worcester.

Worcester is most famous for its well-known sauce -

uh, I mean cathedral,

the earliest parts of which date back to the 11th century.

-Look at the cathedral.

-Oh, yes, look at that.

But it's not the cathedral Thomas is here to explore.

He has an appointment with something altogether more grisly.

He's heading to the George Marshall Medical Museum

to meet curator Frank Crompton.

-So, you've got some interesting things to show me.

-Absolutely.

-Ah, well, lead on then, Frank.

-Right.

Most of the artefacts in this museum

were collected by one man, George Marshall.

He was a consultant surgeon at the Worcester Infirmary

from the 1940s to the 1960s and an enthusiastic collector

of old medical and surgical equipment.

Over the course of 50 years, he amassed several thousand objects,

each telling its own story of the history of medicine -

and some of them are rather macabre.

So, Frank, what are these here?

These are death masks of prisoners

who were hanged at the jail in Worcester.

As soon as the criminal was taken off the rope, so to speak,

-they did a plaster cast of his face.

-Yes.

In the 19th century, death masks of criminals were taken

because it was believed they could be used

to predict criminal behaviour.

Whilst studying the workings of the mind was still in its infancy,

so too was 19th-century surgery.

I'll show you the operating chair here.

This was made between 1840 and 1850

and, basically, if you wanted to do an operation without anaesthetics,

they were actually strapped to this chair.

And so these little holes here would take straps...

Leather straps or webbing straps, we're not sure.

..to strap the poor person down.

There were various techniques which were used to try and dull the pain -

sometimes alcohol was used, the person consumed some alcohol,

which would desensitise them.

But normally, they were simply strapped in there

and there would be some fairly hefty people around

to make sure they didn't squirm about too much.

Doesn't bear thinking about, does it?

Ugh!

The instruments used by surgeons were no less brutal.

-It's actually a surgeon's kit.

-Right.

It was in use in the Crimean War and we've got a number of items in here.

You've got the saw for going through bones.

The saw for going through bone, yes.

-Is this...is this a catheter, here?

-That's a catheter there.

Oh, my God, that fills me with utter horror.

Before that, you would actually use one of these flesh knives.

You actually cut through the flesh, down to the bone.

Somewhat horrific.

-How far we are removed from it.

-Absolutely.

-And thank God.

When people say to you, "Do you know what?

"I'd love to live in the 19th century,

"it would have been - or the 18th century"...

I wouldn't even want to have been born in the 1950s, for God's sake.

I was born in the 1940s.

-Yes - I wouldn't even want that!

-Primitive.

I'm going to go away feeling, um...a little bit nauseous,

but I think I'll survive.

But, also, I've had my knowledge increased.

-Yeah.

-It's been a pleasure.

What a fascinating - albeit rather gruesome -

visit for Thomas.

So, Charlie started this leg with £195.36

and spent it all on four auction lots.

101-piece Royal Doulton dinner service, a Victorian toffee

mallet, a 19th century Prattware pot lid and a Roman glass bottle.

Thomas began with a whopping £416.88 and spent less than half

- £200 to be precise - on five auction lots.

A terracotta honey drizzler, World War I military binoculars,

an Arts and Crafts oval mirror with an Art Nouveau floral tray,

an early Art Nouveau brass spirit kettle

and an Art Deco spelter table light modelled as a jockey and horse.

The WMF - I thought it might have been Benson or someone like that,

not WMF, but it's very stylish.

But who buys them nowadays? That's the point.

Oh, God, you know...it is awkward, really, isn't it?

Cos I don't really like two of the items he's bought -

the pot lid and the dinner service.

Oh, Roscoe, please make some money, please -

I feel sorry for you.

Crumbs! Is that dinner service a gamble too far?

Will there be tears at tea-time?

Let's get to the auction and find out.

Thomas and Charlie's third leg began in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire,

continued northwards into the lovely county of Worcestershire,

and now, they're finishing up at an auction in Wrexham, North Wales.

-Blimey!

-God, I never realised Wrexham was so busy.

-It's because you're here, Thomas.

-No, it's because YOU'RE here, Roscoe.

After you...

All our chaps' items will be going under the hammer here

at Wingetts Auction House,

an establishment which has been selling off goods

for almost 50 years.

In charge of today's proceedings is auctioneer Richard Hughes.

First up is Thomas's honey drizzler.

£10 to start, then - got to be that, surely.

£5, only bid - standing with you, sir, now.

That's the main - but eight in front, if you want it?

At £5, I'm only bid, standing - eight bid. Ten.

Nearly into a profit.

Lady's bid in front. Only bid now.

Is there ten in the room? You're out?

Your bid, madam.

Oh.

But the great thing about only spending £11 -

-you haven't lost a lot.

-No.

True, although it will be more than £1

once the auction house takes its well-earned commission.

Apiarists should stay at home and look after their bees.

It's the first of Charlie's big purchases up next -

his pot lid, bought for £95.

Give me £100 for it.

Got to be that, surely.

£50 to start, then.

-All gone quiet...

-Oh...

I'm only bid by the doorway there, £20. Now 25...

You'll be fine, it's OK.

£25, the bid, standing at the back of the room.

30 in front, sir. Five, sir. 40.

-And five. 50...

-Halfway...

60. And five, sir. 70.

-£65.

-Go on...

-More!

65 bid standing.

Goes with you, sir.

Thank you.

-Oh-ho-ho...

-Oh, shut up, Roscoe.

THOMAS LAUGHS

Ouch! Charlie really needed to make a profit there.

Got any tissues, Thomas?

I'm crying.

There's always the dinner service.

But now it's time for Thomas's binoculars.

£5 to start, then. Five, I'm bid eight. Ten, sir.

There's a man next to me, bidding.

15. 18. 20.

And two. 25.

-28.

-Oh...

-30.

-Ooh!

30 - fresh bidder, two.

£30, your bid, sir, in the room, in the centre at 30 bid.

32, lady's bid. 35, sir.

If you like?

Sold in front.

-Thomas...

-35.

First handshake of the day.

Well done, Thomas. A solid gain.

There's a difference between you and me, isn't there?

What do you mean?

One of us makes a profit.

Now, don't give up, Charlie.

It's your toffee mallet, bought for 36p.

£5 - £5, I've got. Bid eight.

Bid ten, sir? 12. 15. 18...

Roscoe!

20...

£18, now, I'm only bid with you, madam.

Should have bought five of these.

Sold at 18.

Well done, sir. 36p to £18.

Yep, that's the way to do it, boy.

A well-needed sweetener for Charlie.

50 times what it cost.

CHARLIE LAUGHS

Now, what about Thomas's pairing of the pewter dish and the mirror?

£20, then - mirror and the dish for £20.

Got to be that, surely.

£20, I've got - thank you, madam.

We're away now...

Thomas, we're away.

And five. 40. And five.

50. And five.

60. And five.

70...

Good night, Road Trip.

-Shut up, Roscoe!

-And seated...

I'm not very good at this, Roscoe. I'm not good at this.

False modesty is most unbecoming, Thomas.

But well done all the same.

-Do you know, Thomas?

-What?

I couldn't be thrashed by a nicer person.

Shut up, please. You're not being thrashed.

It's Thomas up again now, this time with his early WMF spirit kettle.

£50.

£20, I've got five bid. 30. Five, sir.

40. And five.

50. Five.

60. Five.

Five bid, 60.

70. 80.

I'll take 75, if you want, then.

At £70, the bid's on the left. £75, madam. 80.

And five.

£80, standing.

All done and finished...

-Ooh...

-Well done. Washed your face.

-Mm.

-Just a tad...

Certainly not what Thomas expected. That's a loss after commission.

Oh, God, that was quite...

-You're quite pleased, actually, aren't you?

-I am.

I am really pleased.

Glad YOU are.

Now it's Charlie's big gamble. He needs to make up a lot of ground

and it all comes down to his enormous dinner service.

£20 - all right, I'm bid, standing on my right with you, sir.

Maiden bid at 20. Now five bid. 30, if you like, sir.

-At £25...

-Oh, dear. It's not looking good.

35 bid. 40. And five, sir.

50. 50 at the back. And five.

It's quite a big chunk -

bit of lifting there.

You'd think if someone wants it for...oh.

At 60 bid, seated with you, sir.

We need a little bit more.

You need a LOT more!

CHARLIE SIGHS

I have to say, that's a lot for the money, isn't it?

It certainly is - someone got themselves a bargain.

Stop laughing! I've started with a modest loss.

Now, will Thomas's table lighter make it out of the starter's block?

£20, I've got, then - thank you, madam, at the back.

Five bid. 30.

Five, sir. 40. Five.

45. 50. Five.

55, sir.

60.

Five. 70.

Five. 80.

-Five...

-This is a masterclass in dealing.

I'm bid 85. 90.

-Ooh!

-Get in there!

100.

110. 110, sir?

Jumping over there. Go on, 105!

105. Ten...

Break the seal.

120. And five.

130. And five.

140. And five.

Selling and going at 140...

Oh!

Roscoe, Roscoe!

A stonking profit for Thomas

as his table lighter streaks across the finishing line.

-Have you ever seen me sulk?

-No, and you don't sulk.

-You're about to see me sulk.

-You don't sulk. You don't sulk.

I'm going to sulk now. I'm not speaking again today.

Don't be moody.

Now, Charlie, it's the last lot of the day

and it's your Roman bottle.

Nice antiquity there.

Give me £50 for it.

-2,000 years old.

-Yeah.

-£20 to start...

-Nearly as old as me.

In the corner, now, and I'll take five.

Maiden bid. 25 bid. 30.

Five, sir. 40.

And five. 50.

And five, sir.

-60...

-Do you think it's going to make a million?

-£65...

-This is at £65,000.

60, back in. Five.

70.

Oh, brilliant.

Go on!

Sold at 65.

That's a very good return on my money.

Well done, Roscoe.

Hurrah! At last, an extremely respectable profit for Roscoe.

This is the nadir of my existence.

You're going to turn a corner and you're going to nail me -

nail me, from now on in.

Well, that remains to be seen.

So, Charlie started off this leg on the back foot

with £195.36

and has - oh, dear - made a loss of £24.80 after auction costs.

That leaves him with a depleted £170.56 to carry forward.

Don't cry, Charlie, please. It's humiliating.

Thomas's winning streak, though, continues unabated.

He began this leg with £416.88

and has made a profit of £68.96.

That means his total soars again.

He has £485.84 to spend next time.

Well done.

Right - there's only one way I'm going to win this competition.

Scaring you.

Goodbye, Wrexham. Hope I never see you again!

It wasn't that bad!