Episode 1 Antiques Road Trip

It's the nations favourite antiques experts.

-With £200 each, a classic car...

-We're goin' roond!

..and a goal - to scour Britain for antiques.

-I want to spend lots of money.

-The aim?

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

-Oh, no!

-There'll be worthy winners...

-We've done it!

-..and valiant losers.

-You are kidding me on...

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

-What am I doing?

-You've got a deal.

-This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Yeah!

Today sees the start of a brand-new Road Trip with Charlie Ross,

a campervan and...

Hang on, we're missing someone.

SHE LAUGHS

Ah, welcome aboard!

Ah, yes, his antique adversary for this adventure

is Christina Trevanion.

Come on the trip of a lifetime with your old uncle Ross-co.

-Ah. That van's going down a treat.

-We are in ultimate luxury.

-We can sleep in it.

-Yeah.

-When we pull up to a shop...

-We can eat in it.

-..we can blow the horn

and ask the chap to bring the items out on a tray.

SHE LAUGHS

-Do you like that idea?

-I don't think...

-'Your antiques, sir!'

-Sounds like an adventure.

Hold on to your bonnets, folks. We're in Bonnie Scotland.

We're right up in the Highlands now.

-Are you a real Scotsman, Charles Ross?

-Well...

Let's say, when the wind blows...

-I'll find out?

-You'll find out.

Oh, crikey...

Road Trip veteran Charlie Ross is a flamboyant auctioneer

who knows no fear.

Will they kill me?

-No. No.

-They've got big horns on them.

But of course they have. And he aims to please.

-Do you like the tea bag to dangle?

-Yes, please.

-Oh, yes.

His competition is Christina Trevanion.

She's an auctioneer embarking on her second Road Trip

and she loves a spot of dressing up.

Ooh, it fits. What do you think?

-And she hobnobs with celebs, don't you know?

-You must be Madonna.

Hello. Hi, lovely to meet you.

Our handsome duo begin their awfully big adventure

with £200 each.

And their trusty 1977 VW campervan

called Geoffrey II.

Hawd on tae yer pants. We're goin' roond!

-Good Lord, this old gearbox is a bit sporting.

-What's going on? Ooh!

-You enjoying that? Now I think we're in 2nd.

-You think?

-Well, we're going uphill.

-Oh, my. Come on, Geoffrey...

Come on, Geoffrey II!

Geoffrey II...

HORN TOOTS Oh, my goodness.

This is going to be a trip and a half.

It certainly seems that way so far.

Charlie and Christina will travel over 500 miles

from Inverness in the Scottish Highlands

all the way to the port town of Boston in Lincolnshire.

Today, they start in Inverness

and will head towards their first auction in Bo'ness, near Falkirk.

Boasting a 19th-century castle and sitting on the River Ness,

Inverness is regarded as the capital of the Scottish Highlands.

-I say. What a guy.

-It's a little windy in the Trossachs.

SHE LAUGHS

-Have a good buying day.

-Happy shopping.

-And I'll see you later.

-I'll see you later.

-Bye.

-Bye.

Whoops! Nearly got an eyeful there.

Charlie's charged up as he gets stuck in to his first shop.

-Watch out, girls.

-Good morning!

-Morning.

-It's Moira, is it not?

-It is.

-Charlie.

-How do you do?

-Nice to meet you.

-You too.

-May I be that forward?

-Of course.

-Steady on...

-How long have you been here?

-Just since the end of last year.

Oh, really?

Did you come from another shop or is this a new project?

This is a new project. My husband's a collector as well.

-Do all the good things that you buy end up at home?

-Yes.

-Where do you live?

-I'm not telling you.

-THEY LAUGH

-Nice try, Charlie.

Bother! That one didn't work.

-So all the things your husband doesn't like end up in the shop?

-Yes.

-Oh, well, thank you very much.

-That's why I'm here!

-I'm sure that's not true, Moira.

-How dare you!

-May I have a look round?

-Of course.

-And he's not hanging about.

A pair of Cantonese vases.

Famille rose.

Famille rose is the style of 18th-century Chinese wares

typified by shades of pink and green.

-Someone's been having a bashing time, haven't they?

-Yes.

Having said that, you've got one perfect one.

£90 the pair.

While he has a think, he's got a fancy for something else.

I like your quill basket.

Anglo-Indian?

-Do you think?

-Spot on, Charlie.

-I think so.

This 19th-century porcupine quill basket

was very popular during the British Empire

when it was the fashion to show off wares from far-flung travels.

You do have an easel clock there.

-I know nothing about that.

-Charlie certainly does.

Well, I think it's French. It's on a French porcelain plaque.

In terms of date, I would imagine 1890-1900. I imagine it's...

Well, it's got an enamel chapter ring here.

Is it buyable for 50 quid?

-Yeah.

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

Well, I think that's fabulous and I'm going to have it. And thank you.

-Perfect.

-I say. Christina's going to be jealous of that.

And I'm going to win, ha-ha!

Gosh, he's got his tail up today.

What about Christina, poor girl?

She's just down the road and, as a relative newcomer,

she's got her work cut out today against the old hand, Charlie.

She's off to meet Madonna - no, not the Grammy Award winner,

but the lovely lady who owns this antiques emporium.

Stand by.

-Hello. Hi, you must be Madonna.

-I'm Madonna, yes.

-You're Madonna.

Brilliant, hi. I'm Christina. Lovely to meet you, how are you?

-I'm fine, thank you.

-With £200 in her purse, what will take her fancy?

Those are quite impressive. There isn't a huge amount of age to them.

Nice. Nice little bit of Moorcroft.

And we've got a lovely sticker on the back here.

-Is it what they call, erm...a luckenbooth brooch?

-It is, yes.

Just be grand if it would have a little mark on there, but...

You can't have everything, can you? I'm asking for everything.

Greedy!

This traditional brooch became popular in 18th-century Edinburgh

and were sold in luckenbooths,

tiny, lockable shops along the Royal Mile.

We've got £40 on that.

-What's your thoughts, Madonna?

-Aye...

You should make a profit on it at 30, if I come down to 30.

Lovely. OK, all right, that's definitely a possibility.

Back to Charlie. How's he getting on?

What about the ebony and quill basket from earlier?

I think that would make, at auction, between £20 and £30.

Which would have to be bought... I think you've got it priced up at 35.

I think I would have to pay, sort of, 18 quid for it.

Something like that, I don't know.

-Is that any good?

-Yeah... That should be fine.

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

You're not just saying yes, because I'm wearing a kilt, are you?

-And if you are...

-No. Even though, very nice.

-..it's worked! THEY LAUGH

Well, I'll have that as well.

Well, for his first shop, he's definitely splashing the cash.

I'm going to have one last look aroond...

This is like a shopping spree, this is. Once I'm on a roll...

Quote me a price on those. Try me.

I could probably do 50 for the pair.

If 40 quid shows you a profit, I'll have those as well.

-I think that's quite fair.

-That's fab.

Jeepers creepers, Charlie's going for it.

All in all, he's spent £40 on the pair of vases, 50 on the easel clock

and 18 on the quill basket, a whopping total of £108.

-Now, look out...

-I'll dip into my sporran.

Oh, so that's what you keep in there...

And with a swirl of his kilt, he's off.

Meanwhile, Christina's a busy little bee.

What have you got over there?

This is a little piece of Swarovski crystal.

-Thought you might be interested in.

-Pretty...

Gosh, where did that come from?

That's actually a friend's of mine. That's who I'm selling it for.

-Are you?

-On her behalf, yes.

That's beautiful. Nice mark on the back as well.

-Because Swarovski is a really big, really luxury name, isn't it?

-Yes.

So probably, to buy, that would have cost an absolute fortune.

It would have, yes.

-I like the little lovebirds.

-Is that me and Charlie Ross?

-SHE LAUGHS

-It could be.

Although, we'd probably be pecking each other and falling out.

"I'm driving! No, you're driving, no, I'm driving..."

Aw... And what have we got on that? That's £25 on that. OK.

What would your friend feel about an offer on that, do you think?

Was that her absolute limit on that?

-No, I think she would be happy with 20.

-Be happy with 20?

-Yes. Yes.

What about 40 on the two?

-How would you feel about that?

-Since it's you...

-Really?!

-Yes.

-Really?!

-Yes.

Thank you very much. Brilliant. Thank you.

Cor, Christina's not messing about. Two bits of jewellery for £40, eh?

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you. Take care now. Bye-bye.

Both our Road Trip chums are making a confident start.

Her partner in crime, Charlie Ross, is back in the van,

making his way 15 miles to the village of Drumnadrochit -

try and say that quickly - on the shores of Loch Ness.

So, it's a good, solid start, Ross.

I like building an innings through the week, you know.

And as the week goes on, expand the stroke play.

Buy things for £100. £200.

Towards that £1,000 target.

That's it, Ross-co. Dream big, boy.

Look at this sun shining off Loch Ness.

It's glorious!

Hear, hear.

The magnificent Loch Ness

is the largest body of freshwater in Britain.

It's claimed there's more water here

than in all the lakes in England and Wales put together. How's that?

So much so, that anything could be lurking under the surface.

SNARLING

The myths of a Loch Ness monster are legendary.

Nessie, as she's more fondly known, is world-famous

and has become an icon of Scotland.

But does such a creature really exist?

Charlie's looking for answers

from a man who's spent his life hunting for the truth.

-Adrian, it must be.

-Hello.

-Hello. Lovely to see you.

Adrian Shine is a naturalist

and project leader of the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition.

When did it all start?

Well, there was always the tradition of the waterhorse.

Which is not a nice, fluffy, benign thing,

it was something that would spoil your whole day.

Something deep in Highland folklore.

Yes. These ancient legends took a turn in 1933

when a local woman claimed to have seen a more reptilian creature

and word spread quickly.

Later that year, a national newspaper

sent a renowned big game hunter, Marmaduke Wetherell,

up to the loch to gather evidence.

-He came to the lochside and he found, on the bank...

-Yeah.

-..footprints.

-Oh, no!

-And...

Plaster casts were taken, very similar to this one.

-And with due ceremony, they are sent to the natural history museum.

-Yep.

-In London.

-Yep.

And they have a look at it and it gives them

some perplexity to start with but, as you see...

..they think, in the end, that it's from a stuffed hippopotamus.

Now, what is a hippopotamus doing by Loch Ness?

-A stuffed one?

-Particularly a stuffed one.

-Well, a stuffed one couldn't move, for a start.

-And there we have it.

But if it's an ashtray, it fits the purpose extremely well.

And that is where Marmaduke Wetherell

committed his first hoax at Loch Ness.

Amazingly, it took 60 years

to finally solve the hippo print mystery.

During this time, sightings continued and the legend grew.

In 1934, Nessie was finally caught on camera,

in a now famous image.

Now, Marmaduke Wetherell had a step-son.

And his name was Christian Spurling.

-And he was a model maker of some repute.

-Aha...

And he made the model

-that sat on a toy submarine...

-No!

..in April of 1934.

-Oh!

-Our reconstruction of the picture.

-It's like a swan!

-Exactly.

-You've spent your whole life round here with this project.

-Yes.

Though my interests are more diverse than monsters.

In his now 40-year quest for the truth,

Adrian has gone to great lengths to explore what lies beneath the loch.

One of his early, ingenious inventions

was this self-built submarine.

My strategy was to look upward, against the surface brightness.

-Because anything relevant would be coming to the surface.

-Exactly.

To this end, Adrian squeezed himself into his home-made submarine

and boldly went into the loch.

To go down, he let water in.

To go up, he had to hand-pump the water back out.

And you had to do huge calculations before you built this.

-Well, I did a few sums, but I wasn't very good at sums.

-CHARLIE LAUGHS

Adrian spent hours in his submarine,

then conducted the largest ever search of the loch using sonar,

but both were inconclusive.

Yet Adrian remains philosophical

about the chance of one day meeting Nessie.

So I'm going to have to pop the question now.

After all these years...

Is there a monster?

Certainly, generically speaking,

in the human psyche, there is a monster and there always have been.

I don't believe Loch Ness is Jurassic Park,

so is Loch Ness a veil which we can penetrate?

Or is it a mirror to our imagination?

And we may, in the end,

learn more about human perception than we do about natural history.

What a wonderfully broad way of looking at it. And thank you.

Thank you for letting me in on your wonderful, wonderful experience.

That is quite a profound view.

One thing's for certain, Adrian has taken a true shine to these waters

and will always be vigilant in his search for the truth.

Now, while Charlie has been searching for Nessie,

the delectable Christina has travelled half an hour away

to the village of Auldearn, just outside the town of Nairn.

Christina's going for a mooch about Auldearn Antiques,

a family-run business owned by Roger.

This is just brilliant, isn't it?

-Yes, it is.

-I mean, it's just what you want from an antiques shop.

It's full of character, it's stuffed to the brim and you just know

that in here somewhere, there's something just a little bit magical.

It's brilliant.

Here's hoping, Christina.

And before you can say abracadabra, she's found a couple of birds.

So we've got a glazed case here,

containing what looks to be a rather magnificent cock pheasant and a...

Is that a grouse? Is that a grouse? Or a capercaillie?

Look, I'm no David Attenborough, but I think it's a hen pheasant...

hen.

Now, taxidermy isn't really everyone's cup of tea.

It is a bit of a controversial area.

But I'm certainly finding at the moment that it does seem

to be quite fashionable.

The Victorians loved taxidermy.

It was a fashionable feature within many a parlour.

-Ah, here's owner Roger for a chat.

-Tell me about...

-Because obviously, this is a cock pheasant.

-Yes.

-This is a grouse?

This is male and female.

-Oh, this is a pheasant?

-Told you so.

-The man is decked out in full finery.

-Yeah, he looks...

But I wouldn't have put that as a female. Ooh, blimey. Very nice.

-Watch out. Here comes the Christina charm.

-Roger...

-Yes?

-I hate haggling...

-Fibber!

-You've got 125 on it.

-You're in the wrong business.

-I know. I am. I'm hopeless.

It's 125 on it, what could be your best price on it?

I could come close to £100

but it has to be probably the wrong side of £100 for you.

-Probably 105, I could sell it for.

-105?

-Yeah.

-OK. All right.

What I'll do is, I'll see if I can find anything else,

but if we can stick a red dot on that for me for the moment,

that would be great. Grand. I'll see you in five.

There are more antiques in the outbuildings.

Christina's off to explore.

-Ooh. This is quite pretty, isn't it?

-Lovely.

-What have we got?

-We've got the Fifty Pence Shop. Which sounds good.

-Sounds cheap.

50p...

Ooh.

-That's rather lovely, isn't it, for 50p?

-If you say so.

Somebody might want that.

Though I'm not sure you'd be able to fit many letters through it.

I mean, given a bit of a paint strip,

it would be rather lovely.

And for 50p? That can't be bad, surely.

Surely. So, it's back to Roger to talk business.

I like my 50p letter rack. Very sweet.

And I also like the taxidermy very much.

-And you're going to try and beat me down even further.

-Oh, but no.

That's not very civilised, is it? No, give me something, Roger.

All I can do is...

-bring it to a round figure for the two items of £100.

-£100.

Hopefully you'll do well with that.

OK. £100.

-For the pheasants and for my letter box?

-Yep.

-£100 is it.

-Good.

-Thank you very much.

-Good luck.

-Brilliant.

-Thank you.

-Cor, she's bold. That's half of her budget gone.

£100 on a pair of stuffed birds and a letter flap. Huh.

Back together again,

it's time for Charlie and Christina to have a rest.

The thrilling adventure continues tomorrow.

Nightie night, you two birds.

# There's a chookin a-clookin it here... #

It's the start of a brand-new day,

and Charlie and Christina are in a musical mood.

Well. Charlie is, mainly.

# And there's a cow a-mooing it here

# and a cow a-mooing it there

# They were mooing it here mooing it there every... #

Is that like the grown-up version of Old MacDonald?

# There's a pig a-SNORT there and a pig a-SNORT there

# Here a SNORT, there a SNORT, everywhere a SNORT SNORT... #

Oh, dear. What did he have for breakfast?

So far, Charlie has spent £108 on three items.

The pair of Cantonese famille rose lidded vases,

the ebony and porcupine quill basket

and the 19th-century French easel clock.

Leaving him £92 for the day ahead.

Christina has also been rather industrious.

She's spent £140 pounds on four items.

The luckenbooth brooch,

the crystal necklace,

the taxidermy study of a cock and hen pheasant

and the little letters flap.

She only had £60 to spend today.

With Christina at the helm of the campervan,

our duo are snaking their way to Glass, near Huntly in Aberdeenshire.

So what have you bought? How many things have you bought? Come on.

-Tell me.

-Oh, don't do that. Your knees are distracting me!

Oh, stop it. Get your hand...

# Keep your hands on your wheel

# Get your hands off my knee...

-# Put... #

-It's quite racy, isn't it? Wearing a kilt?

It is quite racy when you're sitting down. THEY LAUGH

Lordy. They're quite fruity, this pair, aren't they?

Look, there's a lay-by here.

I'll tell you what.

You pull over there. And I'll give you a treat.

Ooh.

Brace yourself, Christina.

-I know how to treat a girl.

-Don't you just?

-Make yourself at home, darling.

-I feel very special.

What are you up to, Charlie?

-Kettle on.

-Yep. Charlie, are you an English Breakfast man?

Oh, they're jolly good to themselves.

I might get some biscuits. Ho-ho!

You're going to have the best cup of tea you've ever had in your life.

No expenses spared on this Road Trip.

-Do your own dangling.

-Blimey!

Cheers.

-Can I tempt you?

-Ooh, thank you.

-It's not a hard life. It's not a bad life, is it?

-No.

Beats shopping, doesn't it?

Fab.

I hate to spoil your moment, but this is the Antiques Road Trip,

so perhaps you should get back on the road and look for some antiques.

So, come on, you two. Charlie's got some shopping to do.

This is sensational!

Well, I think this has to be the antique shop

that wins the best view.

Can you believe that there are antiques here?

-SHE LAUGHS

-Yes.

-We're getting antiques here.

-I'm looking at one.

-Cheeky!

-Goodbye, dear.

-Bye-bye, love. See you later.

-Have a lovely day.

-Will do, you too. Have fun.

Antiques At Glass is a rural hideaway

where Charlie's hoping to add some more jewels to his antiques booty.

-Hello?

-Hello.

-Hi! The sun's coming out.

-Lovely.

-You do get sun up here.

-We do, yeah.

-Hi, I'm Charlie.

-Tim.

-Hello, Tim.

-This is Lyn.

-Hello, Lyn. Nice to see you.

-Hello.

Thank you for allowing me in.

Hope they know what they're letting themselves in for.

-It's a nice bit of brass, isn't it?

-I thought it was a tapestry.

Christina's mode of transport!

Naughty. What's he found here, though?

There we go.

That's a really pleasing object. I think that's nice.

It's an inkwell, old boy, in the shape of a miniature curling stone.

The full-sized ones make quite a lot of money.

-You see them in shops, don't you?

-Oh, yes.

-Make a few hundred pounds.

£200, £300, quite easily.

I suppose they must cost that to make, or probably more.

Look at that. I think that's delightful. Has it...

got any age? Don't suppose it's Victorian, is it?

-No, I think it's 20th-century.

-Is it?

The ticket price on this little curio is £45.

It's not that much money.

I'd do that for 20.

If you're really happy with that, I think it's a sweet, sweet object.

Um... Fab.

-OK.

-I think it's really, really lovely. I'll dip into my sporran.

Uh-oh.

But £20, that's less than half price. Well done.

Now THAT'S what you call a whopper.

A wooden pitchfork. Isn't that fabulous?

It's certainly big enough.

And that is, actually... That's something you'd put on a wall

and you're never going to use that as a pitchfork, are you?

But isn't it fantastic? It's got some age too.

Yeah. With the old farm houses, it's the sort of thing...

Yeah, you can stick that on a farmhouse wall.

Isn't that a super thing?

Could that come through the door for very little?

It's got £28 on it.

-Can that be ever so...?

-I'd do that for 20.

-Could you?

But that would be the best offer.

My, would I be bonkers buying something like that? I don't know.

Quite possibly, Ross-co.

So, as Charlie has a ponder about whether to have a pitch or not,

Christina has travelled east to Newmachar in Aberdeenshire.

-Christina's keen to get shopping, but she only has £60 left.

-Hello.

Hi, Brian? Nice to meet you, I'm Christina, hi. Oh, my goodness.

This is a little treasure trove, isn't it?

Collecting The World has recently opened,

so there may be some fresh goodies on the go.

This is an odd thing. I don't know if you know about...

fossils or gem relics.

-Someone thought it might be a lead ore.

-Well, I don't...

-This is basically a...stone specimen, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Yeah, I think so.

But it's interesting, how it's got

the almost geographical lines through it.

Do you think that might be a, erm...

-See, it might be a meteorite or something.

-You think?

Then it's probably worth a fortune, eh?

That would be quite fun, wouldn't it? It's jolly heavy, isn't it?

-Feel.

-Yeah, I know. Someone thought it was lead ore

but I don't know. Bit of a...quirky one.

What have you got on that?

-You can have that for £10.

-I mean, it's just a paperweight, isn't it?

-Effectively.

-Quirky, cute thing.

-Bit of fun, bit of a paperweight.

It would certainly keep your paper on your desk, wouldn't it?

It's actually a piece of crystallised rock.

So that's one for the back burner. What's she going for next?

-Brian, that's nice.

-Oh, I know. It's a super box.

It's an egg box. "Dated 1930s-1940s egg box for 48 eggs.

"Has nice decals and also railway stickers from the 1940s.

-"Would look good in a kitchen and useful."

-Yeah.

More than can be said for your sparkly rock thingy.

Now, cue the Christina charm.

Brian, my negotiating skills are horrendous. That's £100.

Brian, I've got £60 left in my budget and I love this egg box.

And I also love that meteorite thing. Would you do both for £60?

Erm...

-Yes, I think I will.

-Would you?!

-Yes.

-Ooh, Brian!

Thank you!

Ooooh! I think she's happy.

That's £50 for the egg box and £10 for the lump of rock.

She's blown every single penny of her £200. Good girl.

Back to Charlie and that pitchfork.

It seems owner Tim has come up with a rather original discount offer.

I'm always up for a challenge, you see.

I mean, frankly, a fiver off this...

It involves putting that pitchfork to good use.

SHE CALLS THE GOATS Oh, look!

Oh, fantastic!

-Come on!

-Look at their beards!

How fantastic. So, where's the work to be done?

-Up there.

-In there?

What happens if I walk? Will they kill me?

What, you, you old goat? Are you a lion or a mouse?

-They've got big horns on them.

-Huh.

-I do hope you can run faster than them.

-Am I safe?

Hello.

Because the winter's been so bad, we haven't been able to clear it out.

-Right.

-For quite some time.

How deep is that?

It's probably about that deep.

Well, that's a stinky task

in a kilt.

I think, on balance, I'll give you 20 quid for this. THEY LAUGH

Farm work obviously gets your goat!

Nice try at getting the price lowered though.

So, £20 for the little curling stone and £20 for the pitchfork.

With her shopping all done,

Christina's heading ten miles south to the city of Aberdeen.

Sitting on the coast,

Aberdeen is Scotland's third-most populated city,

famed for its harbour

and locally-quarried granite architecture.

Christina's here to visit the Aberdeen Maritime Museum

and find out how a major discovery 40 years ago

changed the city's fortunes and put it on the global energy map.

-Hello.

-Hi.

You must be Meredith, hi. Nice to meet you. Goodness me.

This is pretty exciting, isn't it?

-It looks like I've come to some sort of space museum.

-Well, nearly.

Welcome. It's Aberdeen Maritime Museum.

The main part of the building that we're looking at here,

-we talk about the history of oil and gas.

-Oh, how exciting.

So, I can tell you a bit more about that, if you like.

Please, that would be wonderful.

I'm just going to take my coat off. It's jolly warm.

But let's go on up. Fantastic.

In the 1960s, Aberdeen relied on more traditional industries,

like fishing and agriculture, but a top secret discovery

was about to transform the city into the energy capital of Europe.

The discovery of oil off the coast of southern Norway

kick-started a modern-day gold rush in the North Sea

and the industry drafted in experts to help harvest this liquid gold.

This came in the form of Stetson-wearing Texans,

who flooded into Aberdeen with their families.

So, I love the idea of these Texans coming over from the States

and coming to Aberdeen. It must have been...

really very different for them.

Quite rugged and wild, I would imagine. Am I right?

I think it was probably quite a culture shock for them

and their families. And still today, there is

a lot of traffic of personnel between Aberdeen and Houston, Texas

and actually all around the oil-producing world.

With the huge global demand for oil, came the need for rigs

that could withstand the rugged conditions of the North Sea.

These huge structures, built here in Aberdeen, were engineering marvels.

How do you get that into the sea?

Well, this was one structure, and it's built on its side

-and it's launched like a ship.

-OK.

-And towed out to sea.

And then it's sunk, very carefully.

So they then, if you like, semi-capsize it

so that this bit sinks and it turns. I mean, that's clever.

We're used to seeing photographs of oil platforms at sea

and the bit that you can see above the water is huge,

but actually, what's going on below the water is massive.

-It's just literally the tip of the iceberg.

-Absolutely.

-Yeah.

Throughout the 1970s, exploration continued.

To date, over 40 billion barrels of oil

have been extracted from the North Sea

and the industry has been largely responsible

for Aberdeen's economic boom over the last three decades.

What did the oil industry do to Aberdeen?

Well, it's had a massive impact on Aberdeen.

It's a very cosmopolitan city, it's a very wealthy city.

-Because of the wealth the oil industry has brought in?

-Exactly.

Well, Meredith, it's been absolutely fascinating.

Something that I knew nothing about, so thank you so much.

-It's been lovely to meet you.

-You're welcome. Nice to meet you too.

With our experts nearing the end of the first leg,

here's a reminder of their antique gems.

Charlie has indulged in five lots.

A pair of 19th-century Cantonese vases,

a porcupine quill basket,

a French easel clock,

a miniature curling stone

and the giant sized wooden pitchfork.

This bumper haul cost a total of £148.

Christina also has five lots. The crystal necklace,

the luckenbooth style brooch,

the taxidermy study of pheasants,

the 1940s egg crate

and she's coupled the letters flap and the crystal paperweight

as one lot.

All in all, she's blown every single penny of her £200 budget.

So, let's hear what they think of one another's treasures.

Why do you buy an egg box? Because it looks fun, doesn't it?

And it's quite original, but it's not really what I would call an antique.

What's he doing with a pitchfork? Why has he got a pitchfork?

It's because I LIKE it. No other reason.

I can tell you absolutely now, that he will hate my Swarovski necklace.

He will hate it with a passion.

The Swarovski...lovebirds?

Something or other? That's...ghastly!

It's going to be interesting. I feel a bit like

going into the unknown.

Or, with Charlie, it's a bit like the blind leading the blind.

SHE LAUGHS

That doesn't bode well.

Our intrepid adventurers are heading for an auction showdown

at their final destination of Bo'ness, near Falkirk.

Originally, the town was called Borrowstouness

but in the late 17th century, it was shortened to Bo'ness.

Thankfully.

-Oh.

-Where are we?

-Yeah, we're near Bo'ness.

-Bo'ness?

-Look at this!

-Yeah. Is this the sea?

-Is that near Loch Ness?

-Erm...

-It's in Scotland.

-SHE LAUGHS

Let's hope you're better at making profits than you are at geography.

-This is it!

-Can I park across everybody?

-Loving it.

-Here we go.

-Grosvenor's. Right.

-Here we go.

-OK, Christina. The moment of truth.

-Oh, goodness me!

If the auction is half as good as the weather, it'll be a stormer.

Let's hope so.

The auction will take place at Grosvenor's,

a family-run business for the last 35 years.

Charles Grosvenor is today's auctioneer

and he has a few thoughts on Charlie and Christina's lots.

The taxidermy should do OK. I mean, it's always been popular.

In the past, it was popular.

I don't know how it is in today's market but, erm...

Yeah, usually the taxidermy should do quite well.

The pitchfork. I like the pitchfork. It's a desirable item.

Ideal decorator's piece, but...

No' a great value in it, unfortunately.

-Ah.

-Now, just keep your skirt down, OK?

All quiet, please. The auction is about to begin.

First up, it's Christina's 1940s egg crate.

-And with commission bids...

-BOTH: Ooh!

Believe it or not, there's two bids exactly the same.

So I can start the bidding at £32.

-Result!

-Any advance on £32? £35 puts all my bids out.

-Any advance on 35...

-I'm still losing money, but it's fine.

-Come on, look.

-42...

-Nope?

-Oh, come on, go on.

-Any advance? 44, a new bidder.

I take my hat off to you.

46. 48. 50. Any advance on 50.

-Unbelievable.

-To the left at 50.

Are you all finished at 50?

Well done! Do you know, you haven't lost a lot.

That's the most expensive thing in the sale.

This little cracker didn't whip up a big profit,

but at least you get a kiss from Charlie.

Next, it's the taxidermy pheasants.

-The taxidermy study of the cock and hen pheasant.

-Ooh, ooh, ooh!

Again, with commission bids on this. We've a bit of interest.

-Only a bit of interest.

-I can start the bidding at £80.

-Any advance on 80?

-You are a... You're a genius!

85. 90.

-Still with the commission bids at £90.

-Come on!

Yes? 95, puts my bids out. Any advance on £95? To the left at 95?

-You're absolutely superb.

-I'm still losing money.

-Are you all finished?

At £95.

-Oh!

-You are a genius at this game.

Never have I seen someone lose money so beautifully... SHE LAUGHS

Huh. True, but it's only a small loss for Christina

and it's early days.

-It proves that there's money in the room, doesn't it?

-Yep.

Yeah, but the question is, will you get any of it, Charlie?

Now it's Charlie's first lot. The porcupine quill basket.

I'm going to remember this moment.

-This is the beginning of Ross-co's Road Trip.

-£20, start it?

£20? 20 bid, thank you.

-See!

-Any advance on £20?

-Brilliant.

-The porcupine quill basket.

-Ba-ba bup ba-da bup...

-22? 24.

-It's going up!

-26.

-I'm amazed.

-28.

-Any advance on £28? To my left.

-Thank you very much...

-30, a new bidder.

-Brilliant.

-32, 34, 36, 38.

-40. Any advance on £40? Back with the original bidder.

-I am amazed.

Are you all finished at 40?

-Well done!

-That's what they call a solid start.

-It is.

-You doubled your money.

-Doubling your money from the off, eh?

Certainly a strong start.

-What was it? £40?

-Oh...

-Less commission though.

-I haven't made a lot.

-Not much(!)

-THEY LAUGH

Can he keep the old profits going, though?

It's Charlie's pair of Cantonese vases.

For the pair, we've commission bids.

With two bids exactly the same, I can start the bidding at £80.

Brilliant, well done.

Any advance on £80 for the famille rose Canton vases? With me at 80.

Make your minds up quickly because I'm going to sell them at 80.

-Oh, more. More, more.

-Somebody go 85?

-Go on.

-Not bad, though. Not bad.

-Well done, that's fantastic.

Another juicy profit. Things are looking good, Charlie boy.

It's Christina's turn next with the combo lot

of the crystal paperweight and the letters flap. Good luck.

-£10 to get it started, surely?

-It's gold.

-£5 then?

-What do you mean, it's gold?

-Someone's bid a fiver.

-Six? Seven?

-Eight? Nine?

-Here we go, see? See, see?

-12? Any advance on £12?

-In the centre of the hall at 12.

-Come on, one more.

Are you all finished at £12?

-Did I make any money?

-No, you lost a little bit. THEY LAUGH

Oh, dear. Well, nothing to get in a flap about.

-You're a good sport, aren't you?

-Well, I'm used to losing.

Over to Charlie. It's the French easel clock next.

-Lovely.

-Hold my hand.

-And with commission bids, I can start the bidding at... £80.

-Good.

Any advance on £80? It's with me at 80. Make your minds up. 85, 90?

-95, puts my bids out.

-Charlie, well done.

Any advance on £95 for the French easel clock?

At 95, are you all finished? At £95.

-Well done.

-Solid. Solid.

-You are doubling your money on everything.

SHE LAUGHS

Cor, he's pleased as punch with that result.

Good, steady profits, Ross-co.

It's Charlie's giant pitchfork next.

With commission bids, I can start the bidding at...

-..£14.

-Not quite.

-15, 16.

18, puts my bids out. 20. 2. 24.

-26.

-Profit!

-28. 30. 2.

35, 38.

40. 2.

-45.

-Oh!

-48.

-Oh!

I could make you one for this...

50. 5. Any advance on £55?

-This is sheer heaven.

-At 55. Last call.

At 55.

How do you do it?

I'm not really sure. SHE LAUGHS

I don't think anyone is, but another sizable profit for Charlie.

Can Christina fight back with the luckenbooth brooch?

Again, with interest and commission bids, I can start the bidding at 30.

-You're at 30, right now.

-And advance on £30?

-32. Go on.

-32, 34. 36, 38.

-Any advance on £38?

-I've made some money!

-Making your minds up?

-You're making a profit.

-At 38. Last call at £38.

-£38! I've made some money!

-A profit.

It's been a long time coming, and you're lagging behind, Christina.

Now for her last lot. The little Lovebird necklace.

Can it help up the ante?

-100, 80, 50, 40...£20 to start them?

-Go on.

20 bid, thank you.

Any advance on £20? For the lot at 20.

Be quick in making your minds up.

I'm going to sell it at one, only bid, at 20.

-That's all right. You've doubled your money.

-That's not bad, is it?

Finally, you've doubled your money, Christina,

It's their last lot of the day.

Can Charlie score another lovely profit

with his little curling stone?

-With commission bids...

-Ooh!

-I can start the bidding at £20.

-Be quick.

-Jolly good.

-Making your minds up. Yes? 22, puts my bids out.

-Any advance on 24...

-Ooh, now, we're going.

-26, 28. Any advance on £28?

Are you all finished at 28?

Well done.

Well, it's not a biggie, but a good run of profits, Charlie.

Right, come on. Cup of tea. It's all got too exciting.

-I'll buy you something stronger than a cup of tea.

-Really?

-You deserve it.

-Come on.

-Hey. Almost a bit of an eyeful.

Sharon Stone, eat your heart out.

Our team started with £200 each

and it's been a mixed bag of results, but who's today's winner?

After paying auction costs,

Christina made a small loss of £23.70.

Ms Trevanion has £176.30 to carry forward.

Charlie, meanwhile, is storming ahead with a profit of £96.36.

Mr Ross claims victory, with £296.36 to start the next leg.

-Well, well, well, well, well!

-I am...

-Give me the keys!

..super-duper-duperly impressed.

-I think, next time, I am donning a kilt.

-Give me the keys.

-Why?

I'm going to drive you away because I'm feeling...

-rather smug.

-I bet you are!

-THEY LAUGH

-It's dark.

-Well done.

-It is.

-It's dark.

-And it's got cold.

-Come on.

Let's go, go, go.

-Oh!

-Here we go.

-Off into the glooming we go.

-Onwards and upwards.

Next time on Antiques Road Trip,

Christina suspects something fishy is going on...

-Are you a den of iniquities?

-I am not.

-THEY LAUGH

-But Charlie is one step ahead.

-Hello!

I've bought a pufferfish!