Episode 5 Antiques Road Trip

It's the nation's favourite antiques experts with £200 each,

a classic car...

-IN SCOTTISH ACCENT:

-We're going roon'!

..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...

-Yes!

-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?

-Got a deal.

-This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Yeah...

On this trip, we've been on an antique adventure,

from the Highlands to the flatlands

and it's all to play for on this final leg,

with experts Christina Trevanion and Charlie Ross.

Will you miss me?

Will I miss you?!

I don't intend to miss you, because I'm going to stay with you.

Wild horses will not remove me from you!

Christina's been attending auctions since she was a child,

not very long ago,

and can spot a bargain from miles away.

I spy...

huge profits.

Veteran Road Tripper and all-round entertainer Charlie

is on a song this week.

# Am I a fool without a mind? #

Our pair kicked off with £200 each.

Over the week, Charlie got a scent for victory...

-I love it.

-..winning the first two auctions,

but since then, Christina has come up smelling of roses,

so it's all to play for.

Oh, my...!

After a disappointing start,

Christina has managed to get herself into profit

and has £232.06 to spend.

But she's got a lot of catching up to do -

despite losing the last two auctions,

Charlie still has the much healthier sum of £346.68

to splash out today.

You've got your work cut out, honey.

I've seriously got my work cut out.

I think you're the sort of girl that could handle that sort of challenge.

I do love a challenge.

Oh, yes, they've been clocking up the miles

in a 1977 Volkswagen camper van called Geoffrey II.

I think we ought to buy Geoffrey a present.

I know! Fluffy dice!

SHE GASPS

-Fluffy dice!

-Fluffy dice?

-He's kitsch, isn't he?

-Yeah.

Christina and Charlie are travelling over 500 miles

from Inverness in the Scottish Highlands

to the coastal town of Boston in Lincolnshire.

Today they're starting the last leg of the trip

in the Norfolk sea port of King's Lynn

and heading to the final auction in Boston.

How do they "tork" in Norfolk?

They "tork" like "thart" in Norfolk.

-They "tork" like "thart"?

-They do.

I say, chaps, I'd work on the accents.

Last time I checked, Norfolk wasn't in the West Country.

Anyway, King's Lynn was one of England's most important ports

from as early as the 12th century

and this maritime past is still very much in evidence today.

Whoa-ho-ho-ho!

-Fantastic!

-A grandfather clock!

-Can I come too?

-Well out of your price range, dear. Goodbye.

-Mwah!

-Have fun.

This looks just up your street.

I think it does.

Even I might not have enough money!

Charlie's starting off his shopping at Jubilee Antiques,

which specialises in furniture.

English Victorian furniture,

Georgian furniture,

Georgian three-tier dumbwaiter...

Urgh!

Nothing that I can see anywhere near my miserable £340-whatever.

But if I keep looking, there might be something.

Time to get owner Arthur involved.

-I need to find something out of your sphere, don't I?

-You certainly...

Nothing I can teach you about Georgian furniture, I can tell that.

That's rather splendid.

That's not really you, is it?

-This bit of bamboo?

-No, no, not really me.

What are you doing with a bit of bamboo?

Well, it's not a bad bit, is it?

It's lovely!

It might not be Arthur's style,

but this early 20th century bamboo overmantel

seems to be in Charlie's taste.

What a magnificent thing!

You know what this is?

It's a love it or hate it.

At the £200 asking price,

this would be a huge gamble.

The bad news is, Arthur, I don't really want to pay £200 for it.

Oh, don't be like that!

Would you take £100 off an old man for it?

-No, no, no, no.

-What about a young man?

-Not even an old man.

-What about me?

Not even a young man.

Not even you!

What?! Not even to our Charlie?!

Looks like you'll have to keep looking, Rossco.

Arthur, may I borrow you again?

Right...

-I've seen something at long range, here.

-Oh, right.

Bit of chinoise with the stool, how much is that?

50 quid.

Oh, it's cheap, Arthur!

Got him excited!

Steady on, you'll do yourself a mischief.

I thought I'd ask the question before I clambered over there

and had a look at it. Chinese Chippendale.

-It's quite nice.

-Isn't it?

-Yeah.

I think, what, erm...

..what Christina would call "Chinese Chippendale effect".

Or style, for you, Christina, cos it isn't period.

You're right, it isn't, I'd say 20th century,

so it could be a real gamble.

Well, it's cheap enough, innit?

I must say, Arthur, your starting price was almost...reasonable.

No, it's not the starting price.

-That's the death of it, that is.

-That's the death, is it, 50 quid?

Hmm, you're not dancing now, though, are you?

I suppose the only thing about that at auction is who would buy it?

I suppose it could make 20 quid and it could make 70 quid.

It'd be a complete gamble.

So while Charlie mulls over a risky overmantel and stool,

Christina has made her way 28 miles west to Spalding

to see what John has to offer in Spalding Antiques.

In an effort to claw back Charlie's lead,

Christina's headed straight for what she knows best -

jewellery.

Little knick-knacks in here.

A pearl missing out of that one, but a little diamond, OK.

He looks a bit of a skew-whiff spider, doesn't he?

Yeah, it does a bit, yeah.

-Not climbing the drainpipe.

-But it's nine-carat, I think.

-It...

is, yes.

How much are on your brooches, John?

They can be...

-..40 each.

-40 each?

Christina, however,

is eyeing up a better price on this 15-carat golden diamond bar brooch

and nine-carat gold spider brooch.

-What's best, best price on that?

-If I said...

..60 for those two...?

That, really, I'm not particularly interested in.

Yes, it's gold, but unfortunately

it's got a stone missing, it's a bit damaged.

That one has got a little old-cut diamond in it and it's nice,

so your main value obviously is in that one,

but, really, I would be wanting to pay £30 for the two.

I would do them at 40.

-£40?

-Yes.

-For the two?

-For the two.

And the box.

-And the box?

-And the box.

You are generosity personified, sir. Thank you very much.

That's half of John's original asking price. Nice work, girl.

Back in King's Lynn, how's Charlie doing?

Now, going back to your bamboo...

-Right.

-..I don't suppose you want to go back to your bamboo, but...

..I think if I'm going to pay £200 for that,

I would lose money at auction.

How much did the stool cost? We might do a deal.

Could you do two for the price of one, do you think?

What, £200 for the two?

-£200 for the two.

-Yep.

That's the very best, isn't it?

There's not a penny to be had off that, is there?

-No.

-But if I gave you £200 for the two,

-you would find that acceptable, would you?

-Just about.

Put it there. I'm going to give you £200 for those two.

£200 on two very chancy pieces -

let's hope your luck's returned, Charlie.

Meanwhile, Christina's made her way across Spalding

to learn about an ancient and traditional way of life.

"Museum entrance."

Hello, pony!

The Romany people have a rich and varied travelling history

dating back thousands of years

and are said to have reached these shores about 1500,

but one man of Romany descent has laid down his roots here in Spalding

to document their fascinating past at the Gordon Boswell Romany Museum.

-Hello!

-Hello.

-Is it Gordon?

-Nice to meet you. Yes, Gordon.

-Christina, lovely to meet you.

-And you.

Gordon began the museum with his own family's caravans back in 1995.

He has since built up a large collection

in memory of his father, Silvester.

-The proper word for these is "vardo".

-"Vardo"?

Yes. You would call them, as you were saying,

a caravan, something like that, but the proper word is "vardo".

Can I have a look in one?

-You can do.

-Would you mind?

-No.

Oh, wow!

Oh, my goodness.

If you're a Romany man,

did you...

did you start out in one of these?

-I was born in a tent at the side of one of these.

-No, you weren't!

-Were you?!

-Yes.

And then I was like that until I was eight,

and then we progressed on to trailer caravans,

so this is how I've started my life off.

That explains to me why you collect these, then.

This is nostalgia for you.

People say, "How did they live in here?"

You've got to compare this

-to the average working man's house...

-At the time.

-..at the same period.

-So what date would this have been?

This is about 1920,

so go back to houses of 1920.

-Tiny little terraces.

-Yes.

And four or five children in one bed,

-a tin bath, one bath a week.

-Yeah.

-So you've got to compare them to them days.

-Yeah.

The Romany people was living probably more comfortable,

more warmth,

than the average house - people who lived in houses.

One particular vardo in the collection takes pride of place.

So whose vardo was this?

This one, my father actually built this when he was 70...

-Really?

-..just to prove to his family that he knew how to do it

and to keep his hand in.

How many brothers and sisters did you have?

There's five boys and two girls, seven of us.

-So seven, plus your mother?

-Plus my mother was nine.

-And your father.

-There was nine.

-Nine of you?

-Yes.

-In one of these?

-Yes.

Was it a way of life that you enjoyed?

Was it a way of life that you have fond memories of?

That fond memories, you'll never forget them.

Some people in the Romany world who were brought up in wagons

couldn't wait to get out of them.

So why do you cherish it so much?

Why do I cherish it?

Well, if I didn't cherish it, what would happen to all this?

You wouldn't be coming to a Romany museum, would you?

It'd be lost, wouldn't it?

How wonderful Gordon is keeping history alive for future generations

and a visit to the museum wouldn't be complete

without Christina hitching a ride.

Giddy-up.

-It's a wonderful, peaceful way of travelling, isn't it?

-Isn't it, yeah.

You're in a country lane and you've got no worries.

Yeah, absolutely.

It's time for our little antique traveller

to vamoose from the vardo and carry on shopping.

Which is exactly what Charlie's doing.

He has £196.68 left as he heads for The Old Granary Antique Centre.

Look out.

With a number of independent antiques dealers to choose from,

a familiar face is on hand to help.

-Hello!

-Hello.

-It's Ruth, isn't it?

-It is, yes.

-We've met before.

Pleased to meet you.

And Charlie wastes no time in pursuit of his third item.

Oh-ho-ho-ho!

Where did this trip start?

-IN SCOTTISH ACCENT:

-North of Inverness.

And what was I wearing?

A kilt. Not this kilt.

I think this kilt must be a...

..Stewart tartan, probably.

It's certainly not a Ross tartan.

Stewart tartan, but it's got the jacket as well.

Just hold on a moment.

RAUNCHY MUSIC

Oh, lordy. I thought this was a family show.

Uh-oh.

Looks like Charlie's going back to his roots again.

Look at that - it's not a Ross tartan, but it's not bad.

Ruth!

What do you reckon?

Yes!

Yes? I started my tour wearing my kilt, my Ross kilt,

up north of Inverness, you see, so soon as I left Scotland,

I came out of my kilt,

and ever since I took my kilt off, I've started losing,

whereas I was winning when I was wearing my kilt,

so if I go back into a kilt,

-I could start winning again.

-Ah, that sounds logical.

The outfit belongs to Rachel, who isn't in today.

It's priced at £164,

so Charlie gives her a bell.

Um, it's got to go to auction.

I don't see the whole ensemble making more than £60-£70 at auction.

Rachel's sticking at £70,

but that leaves no profit for Charlie,

so he's back on the prowl.

There's nothing as appealing as a kilt here, to be perfectly honest.

Ooh, this is rather fun.

HE CHUCKLES

A weathervane, but not just a weather vane -

a weather vane with Christina on the top.

Look at her go! Look at Christina go.

Charming. This weather vane also belongs to Rachel.

Could I be really cheeky and say,

"At 70 quid, would you chuck in the weather vane?"

Huh! Nothing ventured, nothing gained,

so Charlie makes another call.

Are you sure you're all right with that?

-You're an angel!

-And you're a lucky devil.

The money is going on the table.

Perhaps Rossco's luck has changed.

Rachel's happy to do a deal on the lot - £65 for the outfit

-and £5 for the weather vane.

-How good is that?

-Brilliant.

-That's a celebration, girls, come on. Mwah! Mwah!

Come here, darling!

Mwah! Mwah!

Oh!

I'll do a little fling.

And so a busy day wraps up for our intrepid travellers.

What's he on?

Night-night.

Rise and shine!

It's an early start for our duo, though it seems their mood

is as overcast as the weather - look at her face.

Charlie, this is our last day.

Oh, don't!

I can't bear it!

Can we make this day last for ever?

Oh, bless...

Charlie's been taking big risks so far,

forking out £270 of his budget on a bamboo overmantel,

a chinoiserie stool,

a weather vane and a Scottish national outfit.

That leaves him with £76.68 still to spend.

Christina, in contrast, is playing safe, buying what she knows best -

two gold brooches.

She's got some catching up to do,

but a healthy £192.06 to do it with.

I've got some serious work to do before we part, though.

I tell you what, you've got some buying to do today, my girl.

You have got some buying to do.

Rossco and Trevanion are making their way 48 miles southwest

to Oundle in Northamptonshire,

where Christina has an appointment to browse.

The market town of Oundle

was originally a trading place for farmers and craftsmen,

but Christina's been on the hunt for all things sparkly.

And Vicky's standing by.

Hello, Vicky.

-This is my last leg.

-Right, OK.

-This is my last chance to make an impact.

You've got some really beautiful things.

Is there anything, anything that you might think...

Well, something did come in

that I haven't actually had a chance to get out yet,

-which you can have a look...

-Oh, let me see.

Rather a job lot.

That's what we like. Ooh, OK!

Little bits of silver and...

..a few novelty pieces.

OK, so we've got a little paste...

..and opaline brooch, that's quite nice.

OK, we've got a little sovereign case there with nice spring action.

-No hallmarks and feels plated as well.

-Yeah.

Then we've got a little... That's silver.

OK, so silver shell butter dish there.

Oh, very sweet locket.

And again, that looks plate, doesn't it? But that's rather nice.

-It's sweet.

-OK, and then what looks to be...

That feels... OK, that's stamped "sterling". I like a job lot.

I do like a job lot. What have you got on that?

25?

25. I will happily give you 25 for that.

Not finished yet,

eagle-eyed Christina has spotted some beads behind the counter,

but there could be a problem.

These haven't been priced up because I'm not sure what they are.

They might be jade, but one of them is a bit light.

-Oh, it is, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Time for our expert to decide - jade or glass?

I agree with you that they could and they couldn't be.

Oh, yeah? Well, that's cleared that one up, then.

What's on those?

They're £40 each.

-Each?!

-Each.

I like them, but I like them at £40 for the two.

£40 each is, if they're glass,

a heck of a risk.

Seeing as you're taking a risk on them, I can do that.

Jade is extremely popular at the moment,

but finally Christina's taking a risk to get back in the game.

I like a risk, I like to take a chance,

and frankly, at this stage of the competition,

I need to, so at £40 and did we say £20?

-25, I believe.

-25.

-Yep.

-Can we do £60 for the lot?

-Yep, we can do that.

-Yeah?

-Yep.

-Happy?

-Yep.

-£60, thank you very much.

-You're very welcome.

-Bye-bye.

-Bye!

-LOUDLY:

-Bye-ee!

Charlie, meanwhile, has made his way to Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire

to visit the former schoolhouse of Oliver Cromwell,

a man who dominated politics

at a very unique time in the country's past -

the time that saw the monarch executed

and England became a republic.

To find out more, Charlie's meeting museum curator John Goldsmith.

Hello, John. Nice to meet you.

An ordinary local lad, Cromwell entered politics aged 29

and rose through the political ranks in 17th century England

during the reign of Charles I.

At this time, the king held absolute power

over the people and the Parliament.

But this was about to be challenged

and Cromwell was about to play a significant role.

Did he form his own opinions of the king in a detrimental way?

Cromwell didn't certainly start off, I think, being opposed to the king.

What he would have been in favour of

-was greater power for Parliament.

-Yeah.

It was that tension between the king and Parliament

which, of course, led to the outbreak of the Civil War.

STEEL CLANGS

The English Civil War pitted Parliamentarians against Royalists

in bloody conflicts across the country.

Taking up the fight against the monarchy, Cromwell joined the army,

and within three years, he'd been promoted to lieutenant general.

Cromwell is a senior figure in the army

and, of course, he still has his role as an MP,

so that's Cromwell's great strength -

he manages to have both a political and military role.

War raged for nine years and Cromwell became ever more powerful.

Then, in 1649, the Royalists were defeated.

Charles I was captured, put on trial and beheaded.

His son Charles went into exile in France

and the country was left without a leader.

The monarch had gone. What happened next?

-What Parliament did was to declare itself a Commonwealth.

-Yeah.

It's the only time in this country's history when we've had a Republic.

For four years, Cromwell is part of a republican parliament.

But he is also head of the country's armed forces,

and in a bid for more power, and partly driven by his Puritan beliefs,

he committed heinous atrocities in Ireland and Scotland.

And then, in 1653,

Cromwell becomes very frustrated with Parliament's lack of progress.

Parliament really weren't doing what he wanted them to do, were they?

They're not doing what he believed they ought to be doing.

Cromwell dismissed Parliament and took complete control.

The image of him from this time in his black hat is now iconic,

and the museum holds the very hat believed to have been worn

by the man himself at the dissolution.

Is there any significance to the size of the rim?

-It might have been an odd statement of wealth...

-Ah!

..because the bigger the hat, the costlier it would have been.

An imposing figure, Cromwell was now effectively ruling the country

with much the same powers as the monarch he had fought against.

Cromwell ends up as Lord Protector, the head of state,

living in royal palaces, and he continues in this role

until he dies peacefully in his bed.

At Cromwell's death, a death mask was taken.

You can see the imperfections,

-and you can see clearly above the right eye a big wart.

-Yeah.

And Cromwell is said to have said, "paint me warts and all."

Oh, "warts and all"? Is that where the expression warts and all comes from?

-That's where the expression comes from.

-Well, well!

Following Cromwell's death, support for the republic soon wavered.

Within two years, Charles II returned from France to reign

and settle a score with an old foe.

It was decided that those who'd been...

who were held responsible for the death of the King were to be pursued.

-But, of course, Cromwell was dead.

-Yeah.

To what they did with Cromwell, his body,

was to dig him up from Westminster

and then the head was detached from the body with an executioner's axe.

So he was posthumously executed.

The head was gibbeted, put on a spike on Westminster Hall

where it stayed for the next 20 years.

-It's an extraordinary story.

-Pleasure.

-Absolutely fascinating.

-Pleasure.

-Thank you very much for coming, Charlie.

-If I may, I'll spend a little more time

-looking round your wonderful museum.

-Please do. Thank you.

-Thank you.

So, while Charlie indulges himself further,

Christina's made her own way to the university town of Cambridge.

According to research in 2009, residents of Cambridge spend

more per head on takeaway meals than any other town or city in Britain.

Huh! Let's hope Christina can take away a bargain.

Her next stop is Hope Street Yard Antiques,

which houses a row of lock-up units and shops

selling an array of vintage and antique goods,

though it doesn't look like Christina will find any bling in here.

In fact, she seems to have changed tack entirely.

I quite like those, they're quite impressive, aren't they?

-Let's see if we can find somebody... Somebody. Hello, sir!

-Hi.

-Hello, I'm Christina.

-I'm Warren.

-Nice to meet you, Warren. How are you? Are you well?

-I'm very well, thank you.

-Good.

Owner Warren has been trading here since the early 1970s,

so he should be the man to help turn these planters into winning pieces.

I quite like your urns, they're just quite impressive.

There's no serious age to them, is there?

No, but they're not, sort of, precast concrete.

-Do they come as a pair?

-They come as a pair, they're a matching pair.

-I'm assuming that we don't have the...

-You don't have to have them.

-Slugs. And spiders.

-But there isn't a discount if you DON'T have them.

CHRISTINA LAUGHS

-Are you sure?

-Positive.

-What's your absolute death on them?

-I suppose that...

Well, to move them on, I've had good use out of them,

-they could be £20 a pair.

-I'd be happy with that.

-Good.

I'll give you £20 for those. I will shake your hand, and I will give you some cold, hard cash.

Can the planters make Christina a cold, hard profit? Green fingers crossed.

And a 20. Perfect.

Meanwhile, Charlie's also making

the 19-mile journey down to Cambridge with Geoffrey.

Geoffrey, it's rather lonely being just alone with you.

-Geoffrey...

-HE TOOTS HORN

..are you enjoying your day, although Christina's not here?

SAD TOOT SOUND

-Oh, no, you're not! No. You like it when Christina's here, don't you?

-RAPID TOOTS

(Oh, lordy.) Charlie's off to meet another old acquaintance -

Stephen, owner of Cambs Antiques.

Shop! Shop!

-Hi, Charlie, how are you?

-How are you? Nice to see you.

I've got a couple of silver bits down the front you might be interested in.

-Hallmarked silver bits?

-Yes. Hallmarked.

-Lead on. Come on, come on!

Well, this could be a stroke of good fortune.

You've got a little bit of a sort of corner of excitement here, haven't you?

-You've been polishing.

-I have been cleaning, yes.

-A pair of rouge pots.

Or trinket jars. Rouge pots, aren't they?

These silver-topped rouge pots are hallmarked Birmingham 1919.

Nice little item.

That's pretty. Little vesta, look at that.

-Isn't it gorgeous?

-Isn't that sweet?

-Original little matchboxes.

-Oh, I know.

-And even better, this one's from Chester, dated 1907.

You're going up in the world, Charlie boy!

-Look - and a vacant cartouche.

-Absolutely.

-You could give that to somebody.

-You could get your initials on there backwards.

-You could.

That's interesting. It's a birthday book.

-I thought that was a Bible.

-No.

You don't have any other small pieces of silver, do you, anywhere?

Try the front, Charlie, that's normally where the good stuff's kept.

-Ah, a vesta.

-A little vesta. 1904.

That's sweet. Jolly nice, crisp marks again, Stephen.

-Love your scent bottle. Has it got any age?

-Oh, yes.

-Has it?

-Yes.

What a gorgeous neck. Look at that enamel.

-The key here is to find that the enamel is perfect.

-Perfect, absolutely perfect.

This scent bottle is made by the prestigious Birmingham silversmith

Levi and Salaman, dated 1926.

That's the most gorgeous thing.

-That's one of the most gorgeous things in your shop.

-Thank you.

-How much is that?

-Apart from me.

Well, you're absolutely priceless, not gorgeous.

Let's go and have a look, Charlie.

(Nice thing!)

Cos I think you could make a nice little parcel of silver...

-That's fabulous.

-..that would have very wide appeal.

This has got lovely bright cut decoration on it.

-It has.

-Don't know where we're going on pricewise, here.

Well, we've now got a lovely Art Deco scent bottle,

a couple of pretty vestas, a pair of rouge pots

and a charming silver-covered birthday book.

Have you got one last little bit of nonsense?

-I could go £76.68 if you had something else.

-OK.

Something else?

You'll have the blood out of the stone next, Charlie.

But just for luck, Stephen's managed to add

a horseshoe brooch to the bundle.

It can be yours for the aforementioned sum,

cos it says "best wishes".

CHARLIE LAUGHS

Wonderful!

And for more luck, Stephen's forgoing the 68p,

so Charlie gets the whole lot for £76 exactly.

Shake the man's hand, Rossco!

Fingers crossed, old bean.

Well, Charlie's all spent out, but can Christina catch up?

She's going next door for her last shop of the trip - The Hive.

Owner, Bill, specialises in ceramic tiles,

but has a number of silver items, too.

And there's one piece in particular that has already caught Christina's eye.

I have got £72.06,

and I'm prepared to give you every single last one of my pennies.

-I don't think that will buy that, though.

-Oh!

Wait a minute - £72? I think you need to have a recount, Christina.

60, 70...

Hang on a minute.

80.

I'm not used to having so much money.

There's more money here than I thought there was going...

And I've got change.

OK. So...

-That's £112.06.

-That's more like it.

I might be able to afford it.

Let's go and see. Go and see Bill again, see what he says.

-Bill?

-Yes?

-Got a little bit of a confession to make.

It's great news - I've got more than I thought I had!

-Oh, right.

-Happy days!

-Happy days.

That'll be the mirror back in play.

It's Edwardian style, but it's got no age to it. Impressive, though.

What else do you want to have a look at if you've got slightly more money?

Well, I quite like the idea of doing a frame and a mirror

-cos I only want to buy one more lot.

-Right.

So, to make a lot out of...

-That's nice, isn't it?

-This is very elegant.

Oh, that's beautiful!

-Again, not terribly old, but it's got the look.

-It has, hasn't it?

I've got left £112.06.

The 6p is still there.

6p is going to make all the difference, isn't it(?)

-Erm...

-What's your thoughts about the two of those for £112.06?

Yes, go on. Definitely, now.

CHRISTINA LAUGHS

Thank you very, very much. I will give you everything that's left.

I've finished! That's it, I'm done!

SHE LAUGHS

Ha ha! Good on you, girl. Shopping's done, but what did they buy?

Charlie chalked up a weathervane, a Scottish national costume,

a chinoiserie stool, a bamboo overmantel,

and a selection of silver items, riskily spending

all but the small change from the £346.68p he started with,

while Christina has spent steadily on a pair of brooches,

what she hopes are jade necklaces,

a selection of silver and jewellery,

a mirror and frame, and two garden planters,

spending, in all, £232.06.

But what do Charlie and Christina think of each other's buys?

Charlie's buys this time are very much

reflective of his character.

Very wacky. What was he thinking with that overmantel thing?

She's going to make a profit, quite a good profit, I think.

And I've bought one or two safe things.

The kilt? Anybody's guess.

It's all going to boil down to that enormous,

wonderful bamboo monstrosity.

After starting out in King's Lynn and heading through four counties,

this final leg of our trip concludes at an auction show down in Boston.

Boston is a small port in the flatlands of Lincolnshire.

The town was used by filmmakers during the Second World War

to represent the Netherlands when they couldn't get the real thing.

CHARLIE SOBS

Are you OK, Charlie?

-SOBBING:

-I don't want it to end!

CHRISTINA LAUGHS

Pull yourself together, Rossco!

Having won two auctions each,

it's all down to the final showdown, with everything to play for at

Boston Auctions, a family business offering weekly general sales.

They also auction over the phone and online.

-Superb!

-I'm nervous.

-Are you?

-I'm shaking like a leaf.

-Right, come on!

-Come on, then.

-Come on, Miss Trevanion.

-Let's face the music.

-Forward to battle. Oh, it's freezing! Come on!

CHRISTINA SHIVERS

Putting our pair under the hammer at today's auction is Graham Summerfield.

The two silver lots, the groups of silver items,

I think those'll do very well.

The chair. The chair, the stool, it isn't particularly a good example.

You might get £10, £15 on a good day.

I'm hoping I'm wrong, but that's what I think you'll get.

Christina's got a lot of catching up to do,

nearly £115 behind in the trip, but she'll be happy with that news.

Let the auction begin!

-I feel like the condemned man.

-CHRISTINA LAUGHS

First up, Charlie's weathervane.

I've got a cheeky bid of £8, but it's a start. Have I got a ten?

It's more than you paid for it. £8?! Internet, 12. 12.

Look, the Internet's going. 15, 18, 20.

20 on the internet, is there 22?

£20 on Internet, is there 22?

22 in the room. Have I got 25?

-22 in the room, is there 25?

-25?!

25 I've got, is there 28? It's a nice example, have I got 28?

-Try another!

-Your last and final...

-GAVEL FALLS

That turned a profit at a breeze!

-I've made a profit!

-Well done!

-I've made a profit, I've made a profit!

CHRISTINA LAUGHS

Now for Charlie's Scottish national dress ensemble.

It brought him luck in Scotland, but will it in Boston?

I will start at £20. Is there a little bit more?

Have I got 22? 25, is there 28?

28 I've got, 30 in the room, 32 on a commission. Have I got 35?

35 on the internet, have I got 38? 38 there is, is there 40?

40 on the internet. 42? 42. Have I got 45?

-This... I'm losing money.

-No, you're not.

45 with the lady, have I got 48?

45 sitting on my left there, is there 48?

48 anywhere?

GAVEL FALLS

Dress it up any way you like, that's a loss.

-SCOTTISH ACCENT:

-It's all gone pear shaped.

It's fine, it's fine. Think positive.

It's Christina's first chance to close the gap on Rossco.

-It's her garden planters.

-I've got a cheeky bid of a tenner.

I've got to start somewhere, I'll start there. Have I got 12?

-Bells for 50.

-12 on the internet. 15.

-Listen to that Internet.

-Oh, look at this!

-18, 22.

-22.

28, 30. 30, 32.

£30 on my left, have I got 32?

-Come on!

-32 I've got at the back. 35. Is there 38?

38 right behind you. 40 on the internet. 42?

42 sitting down. Have I got 45?

45 standing up.

I've got 48 on the internet.

-# Good night Rossco, good night. #

-£50?!

55 there is, is there 60? 55 on the internet once.

-£60 sitting down.

-£60!

Have got 65? 65 I've got. Is there 70?

65 on the internet, is there £70?

-Your last and final... 70 I've got. Is there 75.

-£70!

£70 with the gent in the centre there. Is there 75?

-I don't know why I'm excited, they're yours!

-I've actually made some money!

Final chance, I'm going to let them go at 70.

-GAVEL FALLS

-A cracking profit to start with.

That's taken a large bite out of Charlie's lead already.

SHE SQUEALS

-Hang on.

-Thank you!

-CHARLIE SIGHS Thank you!

-Boo!

Worst news for Charlie,

the auctioneer things his next lot, the chinoiserie stool, will flop.

I've got a very low bid of £7.

Have I got eight?

Eight on the internet. Have I got a tenner?

-Oh, eight!

-Ten at the back. Have I got 12?

-Ten!

-Come on, folks.

We'll be paying you to take it.

12, I've got. 15, I've got. Is there 18?

Surely it's worth 18.

Nope, sold for £15, I'm afraid.

An even bigger loss for Charlie. Oh, dear.

It's going well this, isn't it?

This is going crackingly well.

Christina's next up with her silver and jewellery lot.

She'll be confident that this should go down well here.

Start the bidding at 45, 48.

Have I got £50?

50 on the phone first.

Have I got 55? £55 anywhere?

55. I've got 60 in the room.

60 with the lady. 65 I've got.

-Is there 70?

-I give in.

-Anybody at 70?

-Oh, no.

Your last and final at £70.

It's going to be sold.

On a commission bid at 65.

Anybody anywhere?

That commission bid has put Christina in the lead. How exciting.

That's really good, isn't it?

Fab(!) Cracking(!)

Christina's up again with her most expensive purchase,

the mirror and frame.

I can start the bidding straight in at 48. Have I got 50?

50 bid.

55, I've got.

Have I got 60?

Anybody at 60?

Your last and final at 60.

I've got stand in. Have I got 65?

60 in the room first.

£65 anywhere? Anybody at 65?

65 I've got.

Is there 70? £70, I've got.

You're getting there.

-Have I got 75?

-Milk it.

-The last and final.

-Come on.

Ouch. Christina's first loss of the day, but it's a big one.

£70. £42 lost, Charlie.

-Ouch.

-Less commission.

-Yes, see, that's all my profits.

More like a £50 off, Christina.

Cheeky.

But that loss has Charlie back in front and his silver lot

and scent jar are a bit of quality.

Straight in at 65.

Have I got £70?

-MAN: 80!

-80 straight in.

-I'm nearly into a profit.

-See.

Five. 90.

95 right at the back. £100.

Synchronised porters.

Have I got 110?

I've got £100 with the lady in the centre.

-Need a bit more.

-She's bidding.

Is there 110 anywhere?

MAN: 110!

110 on the left.

-Is she bidding again?

-120 with the lady.

Have I got 130?

130 anywhere?

Anybody at 130?

It's not all doom and gloom.

Well done, Charlie. Quality items will always sell.

-Good boy.

-Well done, Charlie.

-Good boy.

-Well done.

-Well done, lady.

-It's not all over yet, madam.

Christina did well in the last auction with her brooches.

How will these compare?

Straight in at £50.

Have I got 55?

55. 60 I've got on a commission. Have I got 65?

£65 anywhere?

Anybody at 65?

You are bidding on two, folks, not one.

There's two in the lot.

You're absolutely right.

Your last and final at 65.

-60.

-Oh.

Not quite the profit you need to get back in front, I'm afraid.

It's Christina's last chance to catch Charlie.

The auctioneer thinks her beads are jade.

But will the bidders?

We'll start at 35.

Have I got 38?

38, I've got. It's your bid. Have I got £40?

They are genuine jade, folks,

you should be paying double that for one of them.

What?!

Don't you start saying things like that!

I've got 42. 45?

Keep going.

45. Have I got 48? 48. 50?

She's a bit excitable today.

£50. Have I got 55?

£50 standing right at the back by the heater there. Have I got 55?

Your last and final.

A small profit I suppose,

but it's all down to their last lot of the day.

That was very cheap.

If Charlie can avoid a heavy loss he'll be the Road Trip victor,

but his bamboo overmantle is a risky choice.

I've got a cheeky bid at £70.

-That's not enough.

-Got to start somewhere.

I'm going to start there. Have I got 75?

Is there 75?

75, I've got. Is there 80?

It's worth a lot more, folks.

-Have I got £80?

-Internet please go down.

Your last and final at £80.

It will be sold at 75.

SHE SCREAMS

HE GROANS

-Oh!

-Blimey.

I think you can tell what that stonking great loss means.

What a turnaround.

Come on, then. You're driving.

I'm sitting in the back, my lady of leisure moment.

Oh, go on, then.

Bah humbug.

So, after that exciting decider Charlie has slid into second place.

He started this leg with £346.68 and took a risk too many.

Making a loss of £116.40 after auction costs.

And so ends the trip with £230.28.

Christina started this final leg with £232.06.

And made a steady profit of £26.24 after auction costs.

Making her not only today's winner

but also the winner of this week's Road Trip.

She's finished with a grand total of £258.30. Well done, Christina.

All profits go to Children In Need.

And now the end is near, but what a trip it's been.

From Inverness to Boston,

we've witnessed an entertaining expedition for antique glory.

# I've loved

# I've laughed and cried

# I've had my fill

# My share of losing... #

Oh.

# And now as tears subside

# I find it all so amusing

CAR HORN BLARES

# To think I did all that... #

Cheers.

# And may I say

# Not in a shy way... #

Oh, dear! Showing a bit of thigh there.

# Oh, no

# Oh, no, not me

# I did it my way. #

Next week on Antiques Road Trip,

Margie Cooper, all-round entertainer...

-Hey.

-..versus Paul Laidlaw, antique inspector.

My mind will be with me in just a second.

Oh, thank you.