Episode 4 Antiques Road Trip

-NARRATOR:

-It's the nation's favourite antique experts...

-All right, viewers?

..with £200 each, a classic car

and a goal to scour Britain for antiques.

I'm on fire! Yes!

Sold. Going, going, gone.

The aim? To make the biggest profit at auction. But it's no mean feat.

50p!

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

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

Ooh! Ooh!

Ow!

This is the Antique Road Trip!

Yeah.

This week we're on the road with the dashing duo.

PHILIP SERRELL: Charlie, it's a lovely day and I'm in the lead.

HE LAUGHS

-CHARLES HANSON:

-How's it feel?

Well, it just feels like the natural order's been resumed really, Charlie.

I've got it in me to come back.

That's worrying, that is.

Hyperactive auctioneer Charles Hanson

lost his lead at the last auction.

Well done.

So now he's falling over himself to claw it back.

That's exciting.

I'm the older one who buys this sort of stuff, stupid things.

His rival auctioneer, Philip Serrell...

..who's trying hard not to let success cloud his judgment.

What the hell have I done?

They've been together now in a small car for three days

and Charles's little quirks...

Woof! Woof!

HE HOWLS

-Good morning!

-Absolutely bonkers.

CHARLES LAUGHS

..are starting to light Phil's very short fuse.

-Do you sleep in pyjamas?

-Oh, for God's sake, Charlie!

How many more days have we got of this?

Well, Phil, you're over halfway through the trip.

And after three outings at auction,

Charles has turned a starting budget of £200 into £284.54.

Phil, though, has pulled ahead, turning £200 into £327.56.

-Phil, although I'm losing...

-What was that?

-I'm losing...

-What was that, sorry?

-I am losing.

These squabbling gents are cavorting round the country

in a 1969 Triumph GT6 convertible

and they're covering some distance.

Beginning in Southport in Merseyside,

they're clocking up over 800 miles,

weaving towards their final destination in Cirencester

in the Cotswolds.

On this leg, they're starting in the county town of Cambridge

before ambling towards auction in Glemsford, Suffolk.

Sitting on the River Cam with some exquisite architecture,

Cambridge is celebrated for its 780-year-old university.

Phil, don't you feel like Harry Potter?

-What?

-Of that magical presence of academia.

Don't you feel high intellectual when you walk right down here?

Actually, I've never felt high intellectual in my life.

Enough of your nonsense, Hanson. It's time to get serious.

This morning you've got two shops side by side to get you started.

-Snap.

-Which one do you want, Charlie?

That one or that one?

Hanson's on a mission here. He's off.

-Phil, I'm quite happy to go in this one first of all.

-In there?

You know, I'm playing catch-up now.

Well, don't try and steal the march on me, will you? I mean, don't...

What's going on?

You just got left behind, Phil.

Charles has buzzed off into the hive.

I'm thinking about Suffolk and what I'm doing in Suffolk

and the fact Suffolk is just...well...

..it's quite oaky and, also, it's not far from Holland.

There are about 200 miles and the North Sea separating them, Charles.

He's on another planet sometimes, that boy.

Shake, rattle and roll, Phil. I'm coming to get you, OK?

Lordy. Bang any harder and Phil will hear you next door.

-> MAN:

-Morning, Mr Serrell.

-So how are you? All right?

-I'm well, thank you. What about you?

Yeah, really, really good.

What have you got for me?

Oh, I've got some bits and bobs out in the car

that I haven't brought in yet today, so...

Oh, well, you go and get those bits and bobs

and let me have a look around.

-Bits and bobs.

-Oh, this is what we like.

Might find something of interest. Haven't unloaded them today yet.

Ah, new box filled with old treasures.

Bits and bobs, bits and bobs.

Will something in here tempt Phil to part with his £327?

Well, that's nice, isn't it?

I like that.

That's got Charlie's name written all over it. It's masons.

-And how old is that?

-I don't know.

I can't even read the mark on the back. Can you see it?

How much is that?

That's got to be £35, best.

This is Sunderland Lustre

and it's called Sunderland Lustre cos it was made up there.

And the lustre is this sort of pink, almost like luminescent, colour here.

He's after this masonic plaque. Owner Stephen wants £35 for it.

-I think that I might have a go at that for you.

-OK.

-But I was going to offer you 15 quid.

-£20 and we'll deal.

-I think it probably is old, isn't it?

-£30.

-Although it might be new.

No, I'll give you 20 quid for it.

And I think, genuinely, I think it's got a chance of being an old one.

He may not know its age, but he's taking a punt on the plate

and now the world's his oyster.

How old do you think this globe is, Stephen?

I think it's got the old Russian states on it, hasn't it?

-It's the USSR, isn't it?

-USSR, yeah.

It also boasts a double axis with a ticket price of £39.

-I can go a bit lower, Phil.

-Could you do 20 quid for me?

Uh... Yeah, of course I can.

-Can I ask you to do me a favour? Can you keep it by for me?

-OK.

-Until about four o'clock this afternoon?

-Yep.

-Could you do that?

-By all means.

Phil's almost bought two items, but Charles is still empty handed.

I'm going next door now.

Phil, you're still here. Isn't it changeover time now?

-It's a good shop, Charlie.

-I know it is, I know it is.

-You mean you're throwing me out?

-I might do, yes.

-If that's OK with you.

-Oh, you.

Phil, the going is getting tough, OK?

And when the going gets tough...

-The tough gets going.

-See you, Charlie.

-See you, Phil. Good luck.

Get cracking, Charles.

You've got the shop to yourself and over £280 to spend.

I want to acquire objects which impress me,

which I take to auction, like my yellow and red chairs,

which just give me a heartbeat.

And, Philip, that's one thing which you must get away from -

don't buy knobbly knick-knacks - buy to impress, buy real antiques, Phil.

That's the way forward.

Actually, Charles, Phil's not doing too badly.

That's quite nice, the little compass. That's silver, isn't it?

-Oh, it is. It's got a hallmark.

-1898. That's quite sweet.

Could this late-Victorian silver compass

help Charles get back on track?

What would the Suffolk line compass have to be?

Between two English lions.

-You were the bigger roar.

-Welsh.

Oh, I'm sorry, you're Welsh. I'm sorry.

He sure knows how to turn on the charm, eh?

-Tenner.

-Tenner? That's not...

-You've got to buy it for a tenner.

-Yeah.

-That's quite nice, isn't it?

-It's nice, yes.

-That came in with the same lot this morning.

-Really?

-Yeah.

I think what gives it a certain attraction is the fact that this man

appears to be dressed in military costume,

so I can almost put that unknown, unidentified sitter,

who probably fought for the great cause 1914-18,

put it with the compass

to almost give a life to the compass about where it's travelled.

If I bought the two together, what's your best price?

£20. Best price. No arguments. You've got a bargain.

You know you've got a bargain. Show me the money.

-Meet me halfway at £15.

-Oh, please.

My final offer - and this is so I do get a profit - is £16.

For 1,600 pence, I'll say 'sold'. Do you do change?

-Uh... We can change it into a fiver for you.

-Thank you very much.

-There you go.

-Oh, really?!

-Thank you very much.

-That's great.

-So into a fiver.

-Yeah.

-That means it's £15.

Stephen's a very generous chap.

-Are you sure?

-Well...

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

-But you said £16 to me.

You've got such a sad look on your face sometimes, Charles,

how can I possibly not?

Those boyish good looks land him another £1 discount.

One thing I perhaps ought to have picked up - I've left behind

and sometimes you think they ought to belong together -

is the actual fob watch chain.

-I forgot about it.

-You want to put them together?

-I forgot.

-This is hallmarked.

-Yeah, it is solid silver.

-Final offer...

-Yes.

-OK?

-Yeah.

-£15.

£15 plus £15 means this would owe me £30 pounds at auction,

which means I would owe you an extra £15 now.

-You're good at sums, aren't you?

-Thanks.

Indeed, there's no end to his talents.

That's quite a haul for £30.

I wonder if Philip's having as much success next door.

How much is the death plaque?

What's he spotted?

So, basically, this is a plaque, isn't it, that's, um...

-It's known as a death penny, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Given to the family of each soldier that passed in World War I.

Commonly known as 'dead man's penny'

because it looks similar to the coin.

They were issued to the families of fallen British soldiers.

This one has a price tag of £85 on it.

Not much for a life.

-See, I think...I think it IS going to make £40 to £60.

-Yeah.

-I've got to try and buy it off you for £30.

-Yeah.

That's the bottom line for me.

If you can go £35, I'll have it.

-Since it's you, yeah.

-All right. You're a gentleman.

-Thank you very, very much, indeed.

-No problem.

Another item and a generous discount of £50.

Ooh! This shopping lark does look exhausting.

Charlie, what are you doing?

-Sorry. It's the heat. It's lovely. Sorry.

-The heat?

-The heat.

You see, mental exhaustion...

-We're in England in September, Charlie.

-I know. It's wonderful.

-Go in the car. What have you bought?

-Um...

Easy, Phil, that's Charles's little secret.

Now play nice in the car, boys.

-Phil, if you saw me now on a bike...

-I wouldn't love you.

..would you think I was a Cambridge student?

No. Cos most of them have got hair.

A bit harsh, Phil. But fear not, Charles.

You may not fit in at King's College, but whilst Phil's shopping,

there's another Cambridge tradition you'd be perfect for.

Look out.

You must be Philip.

-I am Phil.

-Charles Hanson.

-Charles, very good to meet you.

-Good to see you.

-My father is a Philip.

-He is?

-He was at Cambridge.

-Yep.

And he always told me how enjoyable it was to go punting.

I'm very glad you've come.

And I can't believe I'm following in his footsteps. It's wonderful.

Dreams CAN come true, Charles.

As a way of navigating these shallow waterways,

punting's been around for centuries.

But in 1903,

local man and boat maker Jack Scudamore helped transform

punting from the practical to the pleasure pastime we know today.

Clearly it took off under Scudamore,

this art and passion for punting in Cambridge.

Was he a marketeer or was he just...

Steady there, Charles!

-Almost went then. Was it something that just took off?

-I think it did.

He started off with rowing boats and things

and realised that the punt was a very peculiar mode of transport that

was particular to this part of the world,

so he sort of made it an image which is always associated with Cambridge.

Yes.

Like strawberries and Wimbledon, punting's become synonymous with

Cambridge, although it's definitely more dangerous.

-Now duck, do we?

-We should probably duck here. Adjust very quickly.

-OK.

You get used to this with all the bridges.

-I feel like Indiana Jones. It's good, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Indiana Jones? More Frank Spencer, I'd say.

Sorry. Right, yes.

Oh, Charles...

Oh, I think late 19th century.

..you and water were made to go together.

Yeah, Phil, I think the landscape now suggests I ought to have a go.

-Are you feeling ready?

-Yeah, I think so. I'm a fairly strong guy.

-OK.

-Let's go for it then.

-Yeah, I've got big arms, so...

-All right.

-Yeah, OK.

-Should we swap places?

-Sure thing. So here's the pole.

-OK.

I don't think I'd like to be on board much.

-So, Phil, all I do, I hold it like that.

-Yep.

-In the ground it goes.

Drop it through your hands, let it slide through your hands.

-And push straight back.

-I've got you.

And this is the tricky part now - leave it in the water behind you...

-Yeah?

-..and if you want to turn right slightly,

drag the pole towards the right bank.

There you go - perfect.

Now. Oh, dear.

To the left a bit.

Would you travel with Charles Hanson in a punt?

I feel almost...

Phil, if I sort of do that and then almost hold on to it

and hold on to it, I'm a pole-vaulter.

Charles! Get a grip!

I think you've got the basic principles.

Sorry.

Look out! Oh, my God! You've hit somebody, Charles!

Sorry, sir.

Oh, no, he's hit the bank.

Oh, Charles.

HE LAUGHS

What a shambles.

HE MOCK-LAUGHS

-Over to you. Thank you.

-Thank you. Congratulations.

It's been immense. And do you know what?

Philip Serrell, if you were here - I wish you were here...but not really,

because this, Phil, is the life.

Ah, the sun has just come out.

It's a miracle you're still dry, Charles.

Time for a little lie-down, old fruit. I think you've earned it.

How's rival Phil getting on?

He's off taking his next punt on a purchase.

-Hi. You must be Warren. < MAN:

-Yeah.

-Warren, I'm Philip. How are you?

-Welcome, Philip.

-You've got a bit of everything in here.

-Yeah.

I don't want to be picky at all, but I think your choice of model actually

doesn't sell that too much, really.

It's sure as hell not Drew Barrymore, is it?

Right, let's go have a look at something.

That's enough flattery, Phil.

What about checking out some antiques, eh?

I do like that one. What's that? It looks like half a drainpipe.

Came from a local garage. It took four of us to lift it in here.

I can sort of feel myself warming to the task, yeah.

Mmm - a large yard of antiques and Phil's attracted to this great lump.

Oh, I love that.

It appears to be a water feature

but may have had some kind of commercial or industrial use.

Warren wants £250 for it.

So it's probably 1960s, isn't it?

It's made of reconstituted concrete but it looks a bit like granite.

I think it will make a fun garden feature.

What do I think that's going to make at auction?

I think that's likely to make 120-180 quid, that's what I think.

-I think that's optimistic.

-What's the best you could do it for?

-£150?

Tell you what, just hold your hand out, Warren,

let's just see if this makes it feel better.

-There's 20. There's 40...

-Got some mind tricks on the go here, Philip?

There's 80.

There's 100 and there's 20 quid and I've got my train fare home.

What about another 10?

I'm gonna give you that cos I just think it's a fun, fun thing.

What the hell have I done?

You've paid £130 for half a ton of concrete

and some plants, as far as I can tell.

And he's not done yet.

He's decided to head back to Cam's Antiques to have another

-look at that globe.

-Do you know, I used to teach geography...

-I think I did know that.

-..albeit not very well.

Well, sir, does it look any better on a second viewing?

-I think I'm gonna have that off you. It's 20, wasn't it?

-It was 20, yeah.

-That's what we agreed.

-You're a gentleman.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you very much, yeah.

-That's fun, isn't it?

-Just like that, he's four items up and £205 down.

As day one draws to a close,

he rejoins Charles in the Triumph to relax for the night.

HE SINGS GRUFFLY # I want to be a part of it. #

If Charles ever calms down, that is.

It's a beautiful morning, perfect to enjoy with some good company.

-Let's play a game. I spy...

-Charlie wants to play a game.

-..with my little eye, something beginning with G.

-Gooseberries.

-Close. Not quite.

-Give up.

-Green.

-Charlie, you can't...

-I saw green.

-What sort of idiot are you?

-It's green!

-You can't say, "Oh, there's a green."

-"Oh, look. That's not the sky up there, it's a blue!"

-It is blue.

-You worry me sometimes.

-Why?

-You do. You worry me.

Come on, Phil. Who doesn't like a classic game of I-spy?

When you were a youngster back in Worcestershire

did they have the old shire horses working the fields?

When I was young, they did not have shire horses.

But Worcestershire is a very traditional county.

-You kept the agricultural...

-It's not backward, Charlie.

-Poor Charles.

-Phil's fuse seems even shorter today.

-You know what, Charlie?

It's 9.15 and you've worn me out already.

Well, he did have a good day yesterday, spending £205

on the 19th-century masonic plaque, the First World War memorial plaque,

the large concrete water feature and the 20th-century double axis globe,

leaving him with £122.56 to spend today.

Charles parted with just £30,

picking up a Victorian fob and silver chain

and the photo frame with the image of a First World War soldier.

-He has £254.54 to play with today.

-Bye.

On the horizon over there somewhere is the big one that will make us

-thousands of pounds.

-Do you ever stop to draw breath?

-I want to dream, Phil.

-Really?

-I had a dream.

-Really?

I had a dream that in this car you and I found the big one.

Will Charles's dreams come true?

They're starting in the small town

of Oundle in Northamptonshire.

With a history going back over 1,000 years,

this pretty market town boasts many ancient buildings.

So it's perhaps the perfect place to find your treasure, Charles.

-Today, Phil, I feel really fertile.

-Pardon?

-The sap is rising.

-I'm glad I'm getting out of the car.

-The sap is rising, Phil.

What is he on about?

Because if I'm not fertile today and I don't bring back the goods,

I'm in trouble.

Let me tell you, if you're fertile and the sap's rising,

you go to the antique shop,

I'm going to have a wander around Oundle cos I think it's lovely here.

-OK.

-That alright?

-Yeah, fine.

-Good luck, mate. See you later.

-See ya, Phil.

-So as Phil soaks in the sights, Charles hits Harpers.

-Good morning.

-Good morning, Charles. How are you?

A family business of antiques and jewellery run by jeweller Nigel.

I'm on a mission today. I'm behind in the Antique Road Trip stakes.

Philip's taken the lead and he's pretty confident today.

He's having a wander around town.

He said, "Hanson, you take the first shop.

"I'm quite content just wading around this great market town."

I'm looking for something that will be of memory at auction which might

be a wow factor for Phil to say, "Good man, Charles.

-"You've done quite well today."

-OK.

-Let's hope we can find you something.

-Brilliant.

-No pressure, then, Nigel.

-Well, coming down in price is a good sign.

Sweet fan.

-I think this fan dates to about 1810.

-Ah.

With an image of George III's coronation,

it may be even earlier than that. Priced at £50.

-It's an interesting lot, isn't it?

-I've got lots.

-Lots of?

-Fans.

-Have you got any more out the back, then?

-Yeah.

-Can I have a look at some?

-Yeah.

-I'll come look at them with you. Thanks.

Charles is sticking with traditional antique shops,

but not for the first time, Phil's taken an unconventional turn.

Are you after flowers or is it just the old crates?

-Hi there. How are you? I'm Phil.

-I'm Phil.

-I'm Phil.

-Nice to meet you.

-That's a good omen, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Well, it's not an unusual name, boys.

The other Phil owns the greengrocers

but what does our Phil want from the other Phil?

I saw those there, those fruit boxes. They're quite trendy, aren't they?

-Yeah.

-And these are yours as well?

-These are mine.

-Would you be interested in selling these?

-Oh, yeah.

-How old are these?

So these date back from the 1950s and 1960s.

Well, I suppose they do have some age to them.

If I gave you £20, would that be a deal, do you reckon?

-25 and we've got a deal.

-Go on. Thank you very much.

-No, thank you.

Seven vintage fruit crates for £25.

As ever, our Phil's gathering an eclectic mix of items,

but back in Harpers, Charles is still playing catch-up

and he's very interested in Nigel's box of fans.

How much is the collection worth?

The collection for the boxful, I want £250 for.

Well, Charles, you HAVE still got £254.

The box contains many more,

possibly dating to the Victorian period or earlier.

Some are made from mother-of-pearl.

There's even a Chinese carved ivory fan.

Not everyone's choice of material but potentially valuable.

They're decorative. It's just what knocks them is their condition.

Absolutely.

-Oh, dear. What a shame. What's your best price on those fans?

-200.

-You won't take £100? What's your best price, Nigel? Last price?

-Last price.

-I can close my hand...

-I know you're gonna do the deal with me.

-Go on, do it.

-Including the fan you found over there.

-Which fan?

-Oh, yes.

-150 quid, the lot.

If you don't buy them for that, what can I say?

-Do you know, Nigel, I said 100. Would you meet me at 125?

-Go on.

-Sold.

I'll take them. Thanks, Nigel. Good man.

-Charles may well have struck gold with this find.

-Thanks, Nigel.

-Many thanks.

-It's a pleasure.

I'm really excited because it's a private collection.

They could make 50 at the wrong sale.

They could make 400 at the right sale. That's exciting.

This lot may give Phil something to really worry about,

but right now I don't think he's got a care in the world.

HE WHISTLES

He's steering the Triumph

towards Peterborough,

the largest city in Cambridgeshire.

It's so peaceful without that boy in the car, singing, talking,

asking questions all the time.

It's actually really quite nice.

With the car finally to himself, Phil's getting into holiday mode,

fitting as he's visiting the Thomas Cook archives

at the company's headquarters.

He's here to find out how the modern holiday evolved

with archivist Paul Smith as his guide.

Hi. Pleased to meet you.

Every year, we spend over £30 billion

taking around 65 million holidays.

But this is a modern luxury.

Even 160 years ago, you were unlikely to travel far,

let alone to another country, unless you belonged to the upper classes.

But one man changed that forever

-and his name is still synonymous with travel.

-Is that the man?

-That's the man himself. That is Thomas Cook.

-Thomas Cook.

-So when was he born?

-Born in 1808.

-What was his...

-How did he come to travel?

-He wasn't a great traveller himself.

He became a temperance supporter

and that was what really changed his life. That was in the 1830s.

And for temperance supporters, alcohol was the root of all evil

and they believed that if people did more worthwhile things with

their time and money, other than drink, then society would improve.

And Thomas's idea was,

"Why don't we make use of these newfangled railways

"to somehow promote temperance?"

This selfless social enterprise soon became a commercial one.

Thomas became the world's first travel agent,

negotiating discounted tickets with different rail companies,

offering customers a package deal at a knocked down price.

He even published a handbook to their journey,

the precursor to the modern holiday brochure.

This is actually Thomas Cook's first travel-related publication

-and this was a handbook of his trip to Liverpool.

-So what year's this?

-That's 1845.

-1845.

-That was Thomas Cook's first commercial venture.

It's almost quite visionary in a way,

-because was anyone else doing this in the 1840s and '50s?

-No.

This actually involved three different railway companies.

Thomas had to go to them each individually

and negotiate a fare for that whole trip.

Thomas's business increasingly targeted the middle

and upper classes with trips firstly to Europe then further afield.

Striking deals with local companies, including hotels,

Thomas made international travel more accessible,

revolutionising the way we explore the globe.

But things really took off when Thomas's business-minded son John

joined the family firm.

He helped grow a business that dominated world travel

during the early 20th century.

When did it cease to be a family business?

The family business stops in 1928.

What you've got is Thomas, then John. John has three sons.

They go into the business,

-and the two surviving sons actually sell the business in 1928.

-OK.

Really mercenary question here. How much did they sell it for?

They sold it for just over £3.5 million in 1928.

-In today's terms, that's...

-The best part of 120 million.

Right. On that note, come let me plan a holiday.

I wouldn't put your feet up yet, Phil,

because Charles's collection of potentially valuable fans may well

end your time basking in the top spot.

Charles is hoping that by splitting them up,

he can really maximise his profits.

What I've done is I've split the collection into four lots.

The reason I've done that is

they'll be collectors of different periods, different styles.

Let's go oriental flavour firstly. This is Chinese/Cantonese, 1880s.

Beautifully carved. It's ivory

and of course we know that legislation, it's pre-'47.

We can sell it. I'm really excited about that one.

This is my regency collection here. Late 18th century, early 19th.

That's a great collection.

This is my great collection of Victoriana fans from the period 1850,

1890. They're pretty big and not overly valuable.

And then finally my fourth lot is the collection I've been able to box

together, and these are fans made by the leading London, Parisian

retailers and manufacturers.

Philip, I was behind but now with these fans

and these two lovebirds, I could be back in business.

With Charles's stroke of genius fan the flames of Phil's demise?

Brace yourselves, boys, for the big reveal.

Well, I seem to be quite nervous now.

Having fallen behind,

this is the first reveal where actually I've fallen behind.

-So I'm all set.

-You're twitching, aren't you?

Yeah, I am, but it's to get myself hopefully pumped up for the auction

to come, and I hope you like my wares.

-You going to show me your wares?

-Shall I go first?

-Yeah, why not?

Hopefully fantastic.

-Get it? Fan-tastic in my opinion.

-Getting excited, aren't you?

-I'm just wafting. Sorry. OK.

-Do me a favour.

-Yes.

-Put your hands in your pockets.

-OK.

-Right. Now leave 'em there.

Hands in pockets. I got really excited because a while ago,

I sold a collection of fans and...like scent bottles,

fans tell a great story about the history of France

and Paris in the 1740s.

-And also, Phil, my best fan is that one there.

-Ah!

-HE LAUGHS

-You got 'em out!

-That's my best fan.

That's my best fan. I love it, Phil - because the craftsmanship.

And I think, Phil, at the moment, these are quite hot. Are you nervous?

-Yeah.

-Do you feel that... Why are you nervous?

I'll tell you why I'm nervous, because I think that's a good thing.

If you pick up on the net, that could make...

-Why are you looking like that?

-I'm waiting for your answer, Phil.

-Right.

-Will you just mind...?

-Sorry.

-Give me my space. I think...

-You're doing it again.

-OK, sorry.

-That could be £200 to £300.

-Being serious?

-Yeah, I do.

-The whole lot cost me £225.

-For all the fans.

-No, it didn't.

-No, it didn't. £125.

-That's all right.

-That's really, really good. Shall I show you mine now?

-I can't wait.

-Confused, Charles?

-What are they? They're crates, aren't they?

-Fruit and veg crates.

-So what would you use them for?

-Bananas, apples, pears?

-Yeah. The clue was when I said fruit and veg.

They're not my sort of thing. You know...they're dry, aren't they?

-So if someone didn't want them, they could...burn them.

-Yeah.

-Absolutely right.

-Watch yourself, Charles.

-Right.

-This, Charlie, is my favourite thing.

-Yeah.

I wasn't sure if it was a new one or an old one.

But having got it outside...it's an old one. By Dixon and Co.

Tell me it cost you three figures.

-HE SIGHS

-20 quid.

-That's a really, really good buy, Phil.

-That's how much it was.

-£20?

Yeah.

That was the sensible purchase, but there's one more, Charles,

and it's so big he couldn't even get it in the door.

Is that a toilet seat there?

-HE LAUGHS

-I didn't buy a toilet seat, Charlie.

It weighs about half a ton, and I would think that it was used

in a factory to...as almost like a degreaser, something like that.

-How much?

-It was 130 quid.

Do you know, Phil, if there's a saving grace for me,

it's these are all fantastic, but that could be your Achilles heel.

Charles is sounding more and more confident.

I know Philip's really keen to win.

He's determined to outgun me, and I think his plaque will.

But his other objects, no way.

I think Charlie's done really, really well.

Those fans, they really are fan-tastic.

I think the ivory one, which is Cantonese, could do really,

really well for him. That's the winner.

Well, his one big hang-up that really might win the day for me

is that really big, robust concrete planter.

Don't quite understand the mentality of Phil buying that.

I think that £130 buy could suddenly turn into a huge loss.

I don't know what I was doing, really, but...£130?

You know, I could lose 70 quid on that.

This could be a really interesting little auction.

If I was a gambling man, who's my money on? Me.

Well, Phil, your lead is under threat,

and now you've got to get back in the car with Charles.

I think, and I suspect, knowing you, it's unwittingly...

-Charlie, what you doing?

-Sorry. Go on. Yeah?

I think you've been quite clever, and I suspect that's unwittingly, knowing you, Charlie...

-Would you just concentrate while I'm talking to you?

-Sorry.

-Go on.

-I think you've been quite clever.

-Yeah?

-Unwittingly, I think you've been quite clever.

-What, about...?

Well, what you've done is you've managed to get a collection of fans,

right? So...

-Charlie, will you just concentrate while I'm talking to you?!

-Sorry. Go on.

-I'm trying to give you the benefit of my pearls, you're looking at the hedge.

-Sorry, sorry!

He's being driven round the bend - ha -

en route to their final destination

in the village of Glemsford.

Surrounded by the beautiful Suffolk countryside,

Glemsford still shows signs of its medieval past,

with the picture-postcard Church of St Mary dating back to

the early 14th century.

But today, our chaps are only concerned with

activities at Mander Auctioneers.

-That's my pot.

-It's not.

-It is!

How cool is that?

I mean, that is fantastic,

Phil - it's almost like a fixture of the auction house.

-There we are, Charlie. Door-to-door service.

-Oh, wonderful.

-Look at that.

-Serrell's Taxis at your pleasure.

-Wow.

Phil, remember - never have regrets, Phil, just dream.

Dream a thousand things, Phil.

Nightmare, not dreaming.

So, as Phil steals some quiet time,

we find out what auctioneer James Mander thinks of their lots.

I do actually rather like the Canton ivory fan,

which is one of the lots in the sale.

And...uh, the carving's really nice and the condition's good,

which is important with fans.

On the concrete, it was a bit of an effort for us to get it in.

Four of us had to try and lift it, and we failed,

and some people have asked us about delivery,

I think, after the auction, so, um...I'm not sure how we'll manage that,

but, uh...if you can move it, I guess it'll look really nice

in the garden, or a nice feature, so I'm sure it'll sell for that reason.

On this leg, Phil's hoping to stay in the lead with the help of five

lots that cost him £230.

Challenging for the top spot is Charles,

who's also offering up five lots at a total cost of £155.

So, with the auction in the room, on commission and online,

it's crunch time, boys.

-Try and sit there. Put your hands down.

-£35. In the room.

-What were you like at school?

-I used to fidget a lot.

-Really?

-Pretty much nerves.

-Just sit there.

-It's like an exam.

It's like...the results will be spoken shortly by the auctioneer.

Right. Will you just sit...sit still?

Put your hands on your lap and just sit there just for a minute, all right? Try and behave.

You'd never guess Phil used to be a teacher, would you?

Right, first up are Phil's fruitcakes...I mean, crates. Ha.

-Maybe they can lighten his mood.

-Boxes up.

-Well spotted.

-You're sharp, aren't you?

-Lot 101.

Collection of seven vintage wooden fruit crates.

Showing outside...well, they were this morning.

I hope they're still there. AND, uh...£40 is bid.

I'll take £2 anywhere. That's £42. £45. £48. £50. £55. £60. £65. £70.

£75. £80. £85. In the doorway, and selling at £85.

Pretty good start, Phil, eh?

-Especially for something you picked up in a grocery shop.

-That's good.

I'm pleased with that.

Oh, my. He's actually happy.

But will Charles's first lot wipe that smile off his face?

There's interest here at £30. I'll take £2 anywhere. £32.

Back of the room. My bid's out. £35. £38. £40. £42. £45. £48. £48.

-It's the gentleman's bid. £50, a new place.

-One more.

-£55, a new place.

-No, it's £55. Gentleman's bid. Next door. And selling at £55.

-Pounds.

It's a good start for Charles with that £25 profit.

-Give me high five.

-No.

-Don't push it, Charles.

-His globe's about to go under the hammer.

-Terrestrial globe.

There it is, as described. And there's interest here.

-We start straight in with bids at £20.

-Great.

-I'll take £2 anywhere.

-Is that profit?

-Not yet it isn't, no.

-On commission, and selling for £20.

-Is that profit?

-No.

-£22. £25.

-Now profit.

-Yeah.

-£28. £30. £30 is bid.

-And selling.

-Well done.

-Shut up.

-HE LAUGHS

Charlie, I'm going to punch you.

Bit by bit, the money's mounting up here, Philip.

It's a small profit, isn't it? It's, like, um...it's like a fiver.

-It's like go round the world.

-Oh, Charlie...

-For £5 worth.

Pay attention, chaps. The first few fans are up now.

These are Regency and Coronation fans

around the end of the 18th and early part of the 19th century.

We have interest here at £20.

And I'll take £2. £22. £25. £28. £30. £32. £35. £38. £40. £42. £45.

-They're proving popular online.

-It's going on its own on the internet.

£55. £60, I'm afraid. Still on the internet at £60. £65. £70. £75.

Your bid at the back. £80 on the internet. £85. £90. £95. £100.

-I think I'll pack my car, Charlie.

-£120. £130. £140.

-On the internet here.

-Keep going.

-£140.

Crikey, Charles - with just one lot, you've taken the lead.

It's not bad, is it?

-It's really disappointing, as it's only 100-quid profit for you.

-HE LAUGHS

Don't fret, Phil - your masonic plaque could turn things round.

There's bids here. So we have to open the bidding at £60.

I'll take £5. £60 is bid for the plaque. £65. £70.

-It's going to roll, Phil.

-£75. £80.

-Going well.

-£85, £90.

-Another online hit.

-£110. £120. We all done with the plaque? It's £120.

A cool £100 profit puts them neck-and-neck.

-That's a £100 profit.

-Yeah, that's all right.

Phil's risky buy is up next.

Is he going to regret spotting this large lump?

-£40 is bid.

-Ouch.

-I'll take £2 anywhere. £40 is bid. £42. £45. £48.

£50. It's my bid here. And selling on the sheets at £50.

I don't think that was a surprise to anyone, Phil,

and it's given Charles the upper hand.

-Have you ever heard the expression "bad loser"?

-Yeah.

-How do you do?

Lovely to see you.

This could be a long auction for Phil as the rest of Charles's fans

come up. This time, it's the 19th-century collection.

There's lots of interest here.

I have to open the bidding...straight in at £60.

And I'll take £5 anywhere. £60 is bid. £65. £70. £75. £80. £85. £90.

-£95. £100.

-Well done, Charlie.

-£110. £120. £130.

-They're flying.

You're off to the races, mate.

-£150. £160.

-Happy days, Phil.

-Yeah.

-£170. £180.

-Depends on your perspective, Charlie.

-Happy days.

-£190. £200.

-Rock'n'roll, baby.

-And £10. £220. £230. £240.

-This is brilliant, Charles!

-Done on the internet.

It's a commission bid now at £240.

Charles is away! A massive £210 profit.

I think I'm just going to pack my car and go, Charlie.

I'll see you later.

Do stay, Phil. You've got one more lot left.

We have the World War I bronze memorial plaque,

as described in your catalogue there, at £20 to start, please.

At £20... Nobody wants it. £20. Right in the back. £22.

-Going round now, Phil.

-£25. £28. £30. £32. £32 in the corner.

-We all done at £32?

-I'm absolutely flabbergasted by that - are you?

It's got a lot of sentimental value, but no profit for Phil.

Just two lots left, and they're both fans.

This next collection are particularly good quality,

and many are even boxed.

F-A-N-S. What does it spell?

Ah, it's like a recurring nightmare, Charles.

I'm afraid we have to open the bidding straight in at £180.

-Fantastic.

-Ouch, Charlie.

-£190 is bid. £200.

-Online bidders are out in force again.

-£220.

-Charlie, you've had a hell of a day.

-HE LAUGHS

-£230. £240.

-Keep going.

-£250.

-Keep going.

£260. £270. £280.

-£290. £300. And £20. £340. £360. £380.

-Come on, let's keep going.

-£400.

-Let's go.

-And £20.

-Let's go.

-£440. £460. £480 now.

-You've hit the jackpot here, Charles.

On the internet. We're selling at £480 for the fans.

His tactic of separating the fans has really paid off.

This is a profit to be proud of.

Start looking for other opportunities in television, I think.

THEY LAUGH

But last, not least, is the Chinese ivory fan.

-We have to open the bidding at £100.

-Let's go.

And I'll take £110 anywhere. £100. £110. £120. £130. £140. £150. £160.

-£170. £180. £190. £200. And £10.

-Good work, Charles.

-£230. £240.

£250 now. On the internet and selling. We're at £250. £260.

-Hello, China.

-£270.

-Hello, China. Come on. One more for the road.

LAUGHTER Thank you. It's been a great day.

-HE LAUGHS

-He seems all right, strangely.

-It's been a great day.

-£280.

-One more.

-£290.

-£300.

-£300. Great. Put it there.

-Haven't finished yet, Charlie.

On the telephone at £320. It's £340 if you want to bid on the internet.

-£340. £360.

-Yes.

-I want him to bid.

-Even Phil's excited.

Done on the telephone, we're done in the room at £380.

He wanted a comeback, and he got it! Yet another massive profit.

-Top job, Charlie.

-Thank you, Phil. Been a wonderful, wonderful day.

This has been a wonderful road trip memory, Phil.

If it's profit or loss, it doesn't matter. It's just a fun time, Phil.

So you've made the thick end of £1,000 out of those.

-Get out of here.

-You have.

What an amazing auction.

Phil started with £327.56,

and made profits of £29.94 after auction costs were deducted.

So, he's taking £357.50 on to the last leg.

But our new leader is the triumphant Charles Hanson,

who began with £284.54

and made an incredible profit of £906.90 after costs,

and so takes forward a whopping £1,191.44.

Come on.

All this success has done wonders for this blusterous relationship.

So let me open the door for you, Charles.

HE LAUGHS

I can't believe it, Phil! I can't believe it.

-I'm trying hard not to, Charlie.

-HE LAUGHS

Phil, I'm lost for words.

-Let me put the belt around you.

-Thank you very much.

Don't get it too tight round your neck, Charlie, will you?

Don't even mention it. Not a word.

But one more time I will say it's been a fantastic day, hasn't it?

Yeah, I've really enjoyed it, Charlie.

Phil, it's never over, though, until the fat lady sings.

-I told you earlier. There's still one more auction to go.

-Fantastic.

HE LAUGHS

Funny things can happen... Or fonny things, if you're from Derbyshire.

-Fonny? Funny?

-Brace yourself, Phil. Here he goes again.

Are there any treasure songs we can sing together?

Next time on Antiques Road Trip -

high roller Charles is living the high life.

Any interesting bits that might cost me £400. I can afford it.

-So the gloves are off for Phil.

-Charge him more. He's got plenty.

Add some on.

HE LAUGHS