0:00:02 > 0:00:07Welcome to Cash In The Celebrity Attic, where we look around the homes of the well-known
0:00:07 > 0:00:11and find items to take to auction to raise funds for charity.
0:00:11 > 0:00:16Today I'm meeting a writer, actor and TV presenter.
0:00:16 > 0:00:22He started out as a stunt man working on films and then ended up treading the boards himself.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26In 1975 his genius created a fantastic musical
0:00:26 > 0:00:32that also became a film from which there was the most amazing dance craze.
0:00:32 > 0:00:37And if you're ever trapped in a Crystal Maze, he's your man.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Have you figured out who it is yet?
0:00:59 > 0:01:03Today I'm in South London to meet the creator of the Rocky Horror Show
0:01:03 > 0:01:06and presenter of The Crystal Maze.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08He is, of course, Richard O'Brien.
0:01:08 > 0:01:13'Richard is the man who introduced the world to the Time Warp,
0:01:13 > 0:01:17'the popular dance craze that sprang from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
0:01:17 > 0:01:23'Two decades later, he was the MC of the cult Channel 4 quiz The Crystal Maze.
0:01:23 > 0:01:28'Twice married, he has three grown-up children to whom he is very close.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33'Coming up, Richard jokes about the clutter in his home.'
0:01:33 > 0:01:37Miss Havisham said the place was a tip!
0:01:37 > 0:01:39'He's soon pulling Paul's leg.'
0:01:39 > 0:01:45- You're not just a pretty face. - Well, I'm not that either, but I know a bike when I see one!
0:01:45 > 0:01:49'We find ourselves at one of the most exciting sales ever.'
0:01:49 > 0:01:521,800. There we are at 1,800. 1,900.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55At 1,900. 2,000 the bid.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59'It's an emotional ride right up until the hammer falls.
0:01:59 > 0:02:05'Antiques expert Paul Hayes is with me today. We can't help wondering what's in store.'
0:02:07 > 0:02:12- Be off with you!- I hope you don't mean that!- ..Hello!
0:02:12 > 0:02:16- It's us, Lorne and Paul.- Hello. Gosh, you're good-looking. Come in.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19He's talking about you, not me.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21Nice to meet you.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29'Richard's lived in this elegant townhouse in South London for years
0:02:29 > 0:02:35'and today helping him look through his mementoes is his good friend, Rebecca Hardy.'
0:02:35 > 0:02:41- Here's Rebecca.- Hello!- Hi! - Helping out for the day?- Yes.
0:02:41 > 0:02:46- How long have you two known each other?- Yonks.- Ages. - She's my special squeeze.
0:02:46 > 0:02:52- Is she? Oh, right! What did you do to qualify for that role? - I really don't know!
0:02:52 > 0:02:57She's got this big house. She's a woman of substance.
0:02:57 > 0:03:04- He tries to educate me.- Does he? - And the pupil is better than the master.- Cryptic crosswords.
0:03:04 > 0:03:11- Is that what you're into? - "Lady in waiting - expectant mother."- Oh, yes!
0:03:11 > 0:03:17You've got a really lovely house and it's full of things. So much more interesting than minimalism.
0:03:17 > 0:03:23- Would you describe yourself as a collector?- Miss Havisham came round and said the place was a tip!
0:03:23 > 0:03:29Well, it's a nice tip. There's loads to look at. Who are we raising money for?
0:03:29 > 0:03:34The Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. They're in new premises
0:03:34 > 0:03:38and this money will go directly towards the scanner.
0:03:38 > 0:03:44- Have you got a figure in mind? - I would like us to raise at least five grand
0:03:44 > 0:03:49and hopefully get up somewhere near eight or ten. That'd be cool.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54- Over to you, Paul.- No pressure(!) That sounds great.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56Have you been to an auction before?
0:03:56 > 0:04:03- Yeah, I've got a house in the Cotswolds, so we go to auctions to get furniture for that.- OK.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07So it's open-ended, but several thousand.
0:04:07 > 0:04:14- Are you happy to carry on looking down here?- Yeah, I will. There's quite a bit of stuff!
0:04:14 > 0:04:20- There certainly is. Richard, where will we start? - Come on upstairs with me.- OK.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24'Almost all the rooms reflect his many and varied tastes.
0:04:24 > 0:04:31'His musical loo is decorated from floor to ceiling with everything from ukuleles to violins.
0:04:31 > 0:04:36'And let's not forget his beautiful Mercedes car.
0:04:36 > 0:04:42'He's used to travelling in style, although I don't expect this will be heading to auction.'
0:04:44 > 0:04:46This is my humble abode.
0:04:46 > 0:04:52- Wow! I love the way this is decorated!- It's hardly decorated. Thrown together.
0:04:52 > 0:04:59- It's thrown together beautifully. - We should find something. I do have this guitar.
0:04:59 > 0:05:06I bought this guitar because Elvis Presley played a guitar this shape
0:05:06 > 0:05:12in Loving You. I don't know if you remember it. He was dressed in cream and scarlet,
0:05:12 > 0:05:16cowboy suits and silk shirts. He looked gorgeous.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20I always remembered that and thought, "I want a guitar like that."
0:05:20 > 0:05:24This is about 1980, I guess.
0:05:24 > 0:05:30- Right.- Flat top, Epiphone Jumbo. - Well, you mentioned the key word there - Jumbo.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32It's an over-sized guitar.
0:05:32 > 0:05:37Elvis's nearly covered his body - possibly for censorship reasons!
0:05:37 > 0:05:43But the idea is that the structure actually takes the steel strings and so it's a good resonance,
0:05:43 > 0:05:47a good loud sound. This looks like satinwood, inlaid.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51Epiphone, very famous name. It's a beautifully-made guitar.
0:05:51 > 0:05:57Looking at the origins of bluegrass, rock'n'roll, this is the sort of guitar people started out with.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01- Almost a busking guitar. - So what about value, Paul?
0:06:01 > 0:06:07If it was a general auction, I'd have said around the £150 mark,
0:06:07 > 0:06:13- but with your sort of provenance... - I would like to see that go for £1,000 or £1,500.
0:06:13 > 0:06:18- That's what I'd like to see! I would expect we start at 300 quid. - OK.- Fine.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20- Shall we say that?- We should.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23I'm happy with that as well.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25'Richard has so much packed in here
0:06:25 > 0:06:32'that we'd need more than a day for it. Luckily, he's already put a lot of thought into this
0:06:32 > 0:06:36'in aid of a good cause.'
0:06:36 > 0:06:42- So there it is.- Wow.- Gosh. - That is amazing. How long have you had this for?
0:06:42 > 0:06:46I have had that probably for about 12 years, I think.
0:06:46 > 0:06:52I bought it at Christie's, but if it can save a child's life, I'll let that go.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56- Do you remember what you paid for it, roughly?- Oooh.
0:06:56 > 0:07:02- I think I paid £500 for it. I think. - I think that was a bargain, don't you?
0:07:02 > 0:07:08Absolutely, but there was a time when you could buy big Victorian paintings relatively cheaply.
0:07:08 > 0:07:13- People needed a large space. Do you know where it is?- Mont Saint Michel,
0:07:13 > 0:07:18- which is a tidal island off the coast of Normandy. - Do you know the artist?
0:07:18 > 0:07:25Well, it says down here George Clarkson Stanfield. He was obviously very capable.
0:07:25 > 0:07:31The draughtsmanship is good, all the vanishing points are good, the application of paint.
0:07:31 > 0:07:37I love the way you get all these different kinds of directions going on. They all work.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40What I like about it, actually,
0:07:40 > 0:07:47is the top of the church, the windows, are faded out. It gives that wonderful perspective.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51It looks a lot further away. That's a clever artist.
0:07:51 > 0:07:58They were a family of artists. The father was the most famous, a north-east marine painter.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02This is the son, George, late Victorian. A household name.
0:08:02 > 0:08:07- A very famous artist. It could do very well.- What sort of price?
0:08:07 > 0:08:14- I'd like to say a couple of thousand.- Oh, wow. If we doubled it and got a grand, I'd be happy.
0:08:14 > 0:08:21- Excellent.- If you're happy with £1,000, we could put it in with the lowest estimate of £1,000.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25- Generally speaking, that helps the bidding.- It attracts buyers
0:08:25 > 0:08:31and if two people take a shine to it, it can go for a lot more. Let's see how it goes.
0:08:31 > 0:08:36- Shall we see if Rebecca's found anything?- Yeah.- Come on.- Great.
0:08:36 > 0:08:42'Rebecca is carefully sorting through the many and varied ornaments in the lounge.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46'Could this small wooden trinket box be suitable for sale?
0:08:46 > 0:08:52'It's Art Nouveau, decorated with mother of pearl shell and a pewter lid.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56'An Australian film director presented it to Richard
0:08:56 > 0:09:01'and at £30-£50 he's happy for it go to auction.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04'Richard has another trinket box he'd like to put forward.
0:09:04 > 0:09:10'This one's Mexican, in the shape of a cross, and made of metal and glass.
0:09:10 > 0:09:15'He bought it in Malibu 10 years ago and filled it with dried flowers.'
0:09:15 > 0:09:22I had fresh roses and when they went a bit droopy, I turned them upside down and dried them!
0:09:22 > 0:09:28'Along with the cross, there's also a Mexican book. Richard has said he'll sign them both
0:09:28 > 0:09:32'and Paul reckons they'll fetch £30-£50.
0:09:32 > 0:09:39'But at the sale, the auctioneer forgets to mention the signature and it affects the value.'
0:09:39 > 0:09:43I kill these people! I take them with my bare hands!
0:09:43 > 0:09:48'It looks tense. I hope our star keeps his cool.
0:09:50 > 0:09:56'The treasure hunt is still going strong. Going by Paul's lowest estimates,
0:09:56 > 0:10:01'he stands to make £1,360 when the items go before the bidders.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05'If only I could see into the future I could find out if he makes it.
0:10:05 > 0:10:10'Pity, but we haven't found a crystal ball yet.'
0:10:10 > 0:10:15Now we know you from The Crystal Maze and Rocky Horror Show,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18but where did you start?
0:10:18 > 0:10:22I got a job riding horses in movies in 1965.
0:10:22 > 0:10:27I was born in Cheltenham during the war. 1942 I was born.
0:10:27 > 0:10:32And my family emigrated in 1952. I was 10. And I was so pleased
0:10:32 > 0:10:38to get away from the grey totalitarian kind of... And post-war rationing,
0:10:38 > 0:10:45and all the rest of it, to New Zealand where the air was fresh and you ran around in shorts
0:10:45 > 0:10:50and bare feet. You know, it was wonderful.
0:10:50 > 0:10:55Then in '64, I got on a boat and came back to England for a year's working holiday.
0:10:55 > 0:11:02And I found myself riding in Carry On Cowboy, The Fighting Prince of Donegal
0:11:02 > 0:11:05and the original Casino Royale movie in 1965.
0:11:05 > 0:11:12And I looked at the people on the set and thought, "I don't want to be a stunt man. I want to be an actor."
0:11:12 > 0:11:20- So where did you make that break? - Er, I suppose being cast in Gulliver's Travels.
0:11:20 > 0:11:25I got into Hair, from Hair to Jesus Christ Superstar.
0:11:25 > 0:11:33- Then I wrote Rocky Horror. - But the whole concept of the Rocky Horror Show, the story, the music,
0:11:33 > 0:11:39- how does that all come together? - I love populist themes and Rocky is full of them - advertising,
0:11:39 > 0:11:44rock and roll, B movies, science fiction movies, romance comics.
0:11:44 > 0:11:49It's just a collection of all that kind of stuff that I grew up with.
0:11:49 > 0:11:55So when you actually wrote this, did you want it to become what it did become?
0:11:55 > 0:11:59No, we thought we'd have three weeks' fun and then do something else.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03The weird thing is that nobody had to sell the idea.
0:12:03 > 0:12:09We were allowed to make the movie about 18 months after we opened at a fringe theatre event.
0:12:09 > 0:12:15We had 1.25 million given to us to go and make a movie which could star all of us!
0:12:15 > 0:12:20And the director of the fringe theatre event could direct the movie. So unusual.
0:12:20 > 0:12:28It's kept me alive in many ways. I don't have to apologise for it, don't have to explain myself.
0:12:28 > 0:12:35It's allowed me to be my tranny self as well, which is very nice.
0:12:35 > 0:12:41I was brought up in a much more repressed society than people are today.
0:12:41 > 0:12:46I hope I've made the world a little warmer for people like myself.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49What do your children make of it?
0:12:49 > 0:12:52They just put up with me, frankly.
0:12:52 > 0:12:59- I bet they're very proud of their dad.- Well, they love me and I love them to distraction
0:12:59 > 0:13:01and that's all that matters.
0:13:01 > 0:13:08- I've very keen to find out what the others are up to. Shall we check it out?- Let's go and see.
0:13:08 > 0:13:13'Over the years, Richard has described himself in many ways,
0:13:13 > 0:13:17'but I'd say he's one of the most generous celebrities we've ever met.
0:13:17 > 0:13:23'There's no stopping the flow of precious mementoes he seems willing to part with.
0:13:23 > 0:13:30'He knows exactly what's what and goes straight to this brooch with the monogram of Butler and Wilson.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34'This company designs flamboyant costume jewellery and accessories.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37'Paul gives it an estimated £30-£50.
0:13:40 > 0:13:47'Confronted with all his years of keepsakes, it's difficult to decide what should go to auction.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52'Rebecca spots the next object worthy of consideration.'
0:13:55 > 0:13:56Paul?
0:13:56 > 0:13:59- What about this?- Oh, wow. Great.
0:13:59 > 0:14:07- So where's this been hiding? - This was in his sitting room upstairs.- Do you know what it is?
0:14:07 > 0:14:12- I think it's a tobacco jar. - Exactly. It keeps your tobacco moist and damp,
0:14:12 > 0:14:18away from the strong sunlight. It kept it at its best. Do you know who made it?
0:14:18 > 0:14:23- Royal Doulton?- Exactly. Well done. - There's a mark on the bottom! - Oh, right!
0:14:23 > 0:14:29Doulton are famous for their porcelain figures, toby jugs, that sort of thing.
0:14:29 > 0:14:34But in the Victorian period they were more famous for unglazed pottery.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38They supplied lots of drainpipes, utilitarian stuff.
0:14:38 > 0:14:45Then about 1880 they were approached by Lambeth School of Art and started to encourage local artists
0:14:45 > 0:14:51and produced wonderful art pottery. So you got some fantastic, well-executed items
0:14:51 > 0:14:55that were relatively cheap, so there's masses around.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59- Is it unusual, the raised-ness of this?- No.
0:14:59 > 0:15:05It's done in relief, almost like Wedgwood does. Each section is placed on by hand afterwards.
0:15:05 > 0:15:10- Very clever, very intricate. The end result is beautiful.- Yeah.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14It's one of my favourite pieces that we've found. I just like it.
0:15:14 > 0:15:19- Really? Has he collected Doulton? - He's got a few tobacco jars.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23- I think this is the most beautiful. - Right. Will he let it go?
0:15:23 > 0:15:30- He's given it the nod. - Great. He's generous. Remind me again of how much he paid for it.
0:15:30 > 0:15:35- He paid £18. 18 quid, he said. - Wow. An absolute bargain.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39You have to check it's in good condition. If I said now
0:15:39 > 0:15:44between £70 and £100, I think that's a bargain.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46Do you think that's all right?
0:15:46 > 0:15:50- I hope we get more for it, though! It's beautiful.- Let's hope so.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54Let's hope two people like it and it goes for more.
0:15:54 > 0:16:00'Thankfully, the busy air traffic over Richard's South London home isn't spoiling our day here.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04'I've decided to take a good look through a cabinet in the lounge
0:16:04 > 0:16:11'and in the kitchen Richard has come across two small vases in the shape of hunting dogs.
0:16:11 > 0:16:18'They're Victorian and he bought them about 15 years ago. They're estimated at £40-£60.
0:16:18 > 0:16:23'Our host is really getting into the swing of sorting things now.'
0:16:23 > 0:16:26Not Kissinger.
0:16:26 > 0:16:31- Right!- But this one here. - Oh, right.- That's interesting.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35You've got quite a lot of ecclesiastical things.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40I get a lot of comfort and pleasure from ecclesiastical works.
0:16:40 > 0:16:46I bought him in a big cardboard box with lots of wooden saints.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48He was the only one with paint on.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52- Right, OK. - And it's interesting, isn't it?
0:16:52 > 0:16:59- He's got jug ears. Taxi door ears they call them in Australia. - Right, OK.- Which is interesting.
0:16:59 > 0:17:07- But I do like the fact that he's still got all this rather garish paint on.- It's polychrome paint.
0:17:07 > 0:17:13A lot was done in the 18th century. I think this dates from that period.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17The whole thing is carved from wood, hand carved. A naive charm to it.
0:17:17 > 0:17:23Then the surface is a very thin plaster and that gives a good base for the paint.
0:17:23 > 0:17:29It can look like a very thick sort of cloudy image. It's not too precise.
0:17:29 > 0:17:34- Lots were done throughout Europe. My gut feeling is it's Italian.- OK.
0:17:34 > 0:17:39In Italy, this mustard yellow colour is quite prominent, on the tunic and robes.
0:17:39 > 0:17:44- Do you know if it represents any particular saint?- No idea.
0:17:44 > 0:17:51- It would help if it was Francis of Assisi.- He'd be in a brown habit because he was Franciscan.- Exactly.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53Hence the name.
0:17:53 > 0:17:58Aptly, the society was named after him.
0:17:58 > 0:18:04There is definitely a collectors' area. Usually a little bit smaller. This is quite large.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08But they do turn up quite regularly. If I said £60-£100,
0:18:08 > 0:18:14- we'll see how it goes.- OK. - Does that sound right?- Cool. - Very generous of you.
0:18:14 > 0:18:22'I don't think I've ever seen a home that reflects the personality of its owner quite as much as Richard's.'
0:18:22 > 0:18:26We were talking earlier about the Rocky Horror Show,
0:18:26 > 0:18:32but you had then a completely separate career with The Crystal Maze, a cult in its own right.
0:18:32 > 0:18:38It became very popular, didn't it? Strangely, it was doing that show that got me interested
0:18:38 > 0:18:43in raising funds for children with cancer. I had the shaved head
0:18:43 > 0:18:49and I was getting letters from nurses and families whose children were undergoing chemotherapy
0:18:49 > 0:18:56and they'd say, "We like the guy on The Crystal Maze," so would I send them a card?
0:18:56 > 0:19:02You were quite unique. At the time, there weren't any people who had the character you had
0:19:02 > 0:19:04and the unique bald head.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08When I first shaved my head, in 1975, 1976,
0:19:08 > 0:19:13the only two people in the world that we knew were Yul Brynner and Telly Savalas.
0:19:13 > 0:19:18And I used to get jip in the streets. People would kind of avoid me.
0:19:18 > 0:19:25I liked it. Getting in the shower and feeling water drumming on your head
0:19:25 > 0:19:28is wonderful. Brrrrr!
0:19:28 > 0:19:32So what was it like meeting these children and their families?
0:19:32 > 0:19:39It's the strength of the parents. They have to sit on the bed and hope that their child will get better.
0:19:39 > 0:19:45And they can't show how scared they are or how emotionally upset they are.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48They have to be absolutely resolute.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52And they've got other children who need their love and affection.
0:19:52 > 0:19:58The whole balance in the family is pulled apart by this
0:19:58 > 0:20:05and if we can send a child back to the loving embrace of its family, I can't think of anything better.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Tell me what this money is towards.
0:20:08 > 0:20:16They built a new hospital and the charity I was with decided we were going to donate a scanner.
0:20:16 > 0:20:22- So any contribution goes towards this?- Anything we make from what I sell
0:20:22 > 0:20:26will go directly to help pay for that scanner.
0:20:26 > 0:20:31'Clearly Richard is incredibly passionate about his charities,
0:20:31 > 0:20:37'so it's vital we keep up the good work. Now then, what has he found in the wardrobe?'
0:20:37 > 0:20:42That's from the Kings Road. 1968, '69. Something like that.
0:20:42 > 0:20:47- It should be in the V&A, actually. - I think it's fantastic.
0:20:47 > 0:20:53Girls would like it as well, with some leggings and long boots. It would look quite stunning.
0:20:53 > 0:21:00'He bought it for £40 from a famous Kings Road boutique called Granny Takes A Trip.
0:21:00 > 0:21:05'Paul thinks it could bring in £100-£150 from the bidders.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09'Ever the showman, our host has saved the best item for last.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12'And he's parked it outside.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16'Surely he's not had a change of heart about the Mercedes?'
0:21:16 > 0:21:19Come on. The piece de resistance.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23- Wow!- Look.- Goodness.
0:21:23 > 0:21:28I bought this when I was doing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to get me to the theatre.
0:21:28 > 0:21:33I'd be in the West End in 10 minutes. It's only eight years old.
0:21:33 > 0:21:40It cost me £3,500, it's a Honda limited edition, dual exhaust pipes,
0:21:40 > 0:21:43cafe racer style petrol tank,
0:21:43 > 0:21:49little bucket seat, stubby handlebars. It's a beautiful little motorcycle.
0:21:49 > 0:21:54- I reckon if we get £2,000 I'll be very happy. - You bought it new. It looks old.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Retro styling.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01I used to get stopped by the police to ask me about the bike.
0:22:01 > 0:22:06- It does look like a racing bike. - It's fab.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08It's a fab little bike.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10I could start it up.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13ENGINE REVS
0:22:13 > 0:22:16I think that's worth about...
0:22:16 > 0:22:19Well, three and a half grand when I bought it new.
0:22:19 > 0:22:24- OK.- It's only had one owner and who was that? Oh! Me!
0:22:24 > 0:22:29- Why do you want to part with it? - Because I can save a child's life.
0:22:29 > 0:22:34What would I give if it was my child? My life. I think it's beautiful.
0:22:34 > 0:22:41I can imagine there will be a demand for it because it is a limited edition, the racing history,
0:22:41 > 0:22:43Honda are associated with racing.
0:22:43 > 0:22:51Their main emphasis was power to weight ratio. They made small engines to be light and powerful.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55- You're not just a pretty face. - Well, not that either!
0:22:55 > 0:23:01- So, Paul, what are we going to do with this one?- It's quite difficult.
0:23:01 > 0:23:08We wouldn't do it justice in a general sale. We need to do our homework, find a specialist auction.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11Someone that really appreciates bikes.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14Reserve of two grand, I think.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Otherwise it's silly, isn't it?
0:23:17 > 0:23:24So a £2,000 reserve. You'll be delighted to know then that totting up all the items,
0:23:24 > 0:23:29all the bottom line figures, it comes to £3,660.
0:23:29 > 0:23:35- At the bottom end?- Yes. - We're going to do better than that, aren't we?
0:23:35 > 0:23:42- Before, we've doubled the amount. - We're going to triple it!- We are. - I love your enthusiasm!
0:23:42 > 0:23:48'Thanks to Richard's generosity, we're looking forward to some delightful times ahead.
0:23:48 > 0:23:53'There's the Jumbo Epiphone guitar which he signed specially.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57'We hope it'll make something to the tune of £300.
0:23:57 > 0:24:03'And what about the Victorian oil painting by George Clarkson Stanfield?
0:24:03 > 0:24:07'That's got to be worth at least £1,000, surely?
0:24:07 > 0:24:11'And Richard's limited edition Honda motorcycle.
0:24:11 > 0:24:18'That's going to a specialist sale where, all being well, it should make £2,000 or a bit more.
0:24:19 > 0:24:24'Still to come, Paul asks Richard for tips on some fancy footwork.'
0:24:24 > 0:24:29- Can you teach me that Time Warp? - I don't think I could, actually.
0:24:29 > 0:24:35'Who can blame him? Will it be a Rocky Horror Picture Show or one of the most exciting auctions yet?'
0:24:35 > 0:24:381,800. At 1,800. 1,900.
0:24:38 > 0:24:402,000 the bid.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44- 'Find out when the hammer falls.' - Your bike, sir.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52It's just over a month since we visited Richard O'Brien
0:24:52 > 0:24:56and he had some fantastic items for auction.
0:24:56 > 0:25:02He's looking to raise £5,000 for the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.
0:25:02 > 0:25:09His limited edition Dream 50 motorbike has been brought here to Bonham's for a specialist sale.
0:25:09 > 0:25:16We're here in Oxfordshire and it really looks at home among all these beautiful bikes.
0:25:16 > 0:25:21All of Richard's other items were sent to John Nicholson, Auctioneer, in Surrey.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25Paul was there to help Richard sell them.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33- Good morning, Richard.- Hello, Paul! - Good to see you.- We're selling this.
0:25:33 > 0:25:40- Exactly, yes.- We want big biccies for this.- I was hoping that you would auction that one yourself.
0:25:40 > 0:25:45I was a born entertainer. I love talking about myself and singing!
0:25:45 > 0:25:50If I can squeeze another five quid out of anybody, I'll be happy.
0:25:50 > 0:25:56- You're looking amazing. - Am I cool?- Amazing, but where's Rebecca?- She's in the United States.
0:25:56 > 0:26:01- She flew out and left me a Dear John letter.- Just the two us today.
0:26:01 > 0:26:07- Yes.- Well, it's all looking good. The auction starts any minute. - My heart is pounding.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09- Shall we take our places?- Yes.
0:26:09 > 0:26:15'All auction houses make charges such as commission, so if you're thinking of buying or selling,
0:26:15 > 0:26:19'check the small print to avoid any unexpected surprises.'
0:26:22 > 0:26:27- So here we are, Richard. In the garden of tranquillity. - Oh, yes!
0:26:27 > 0:26:33- The auction's already started. Quite exciting, isn't it? - It is, relatively so, yes.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36- Can you feel the tension?- Er...
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Well, yes. Yes, yes.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44- I think it's very much like going onstage.- Well, no, not really.
0:26:44 > 0:26:49I don't have to learn any lines today, so it's a lot easier.
0:26:49 > 0:26:56But we need to learn what we're selling. The first item is the carved wooden figure of a saint.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00It's in at £60-£100. Where did this come from?
0:27:00 > 0:27:05I bought a job lot, a big cardboard box full of saints, wooden saints.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07That happened to be amongst them.
0:27:07 > 0:27:13The others weren't as interesting as that. This one has still got all the paint on.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17- The auctioneer likes it and he, like you, thinks it's Spanish.- OK.
0:27:17 > 0:27:23- I like his thinking. - I like his thinking, too. Let's hope the buyers agree.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26We'll start here at £60 bid.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29- £60 already.- Goodness.
0:27:29 > 0:27:34It's for a really good cause. £60 bid. 70 anywhere? 70.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36Here we go.
0:27:36 > 0:27:43Do I see 80 now? At £70 at the back of the room. A little below estimate. 80 anywhere?
0:27:43 > 0:27:46- Selling at £70.- It's gone for £70.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50- That's excellent. - Pleased?- Yes, very pleased.
0:27:50 > 0:27:55- It's in the ballpark.- Yeah. Between £60 and £100. Excellent.
0:27:55 > 0:28:00'That's a great start. Richard's an imposing figure in those glasses.
0:28:00 > 0:28:06'Let's hope the bidders aren't daunted - we want them to part with stacks of cash!'
0:28:06 > 0:28:13OK, we have a very unusual Mexican cross now, with the dried flowers. And a book of Mexican girls!
0:28:13 > 0:28:18Yes, calendar girls. I bought it in Malibu, Los Angeles.
0:28:18 > 0:28:23I put the book with it just to jolly the idea of having it.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26I've signed inside the book and on the cross.
0:28:26 > 0:28:31That gives it a provenance, a little bit more interest.
0:28:31 > 0:28:35Start me. 10 bid. 15. 20. 5 anywhere?
0:28:35 > 0:28:39At £20. 5. 30. And 5.
0:28:39 > 0:28:4235. 40 anywhere? Remember, this is a charity lot.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46At £35. 40 anywhere now?
0:28:46 > 0:28:48At 35.
0:28:48 > 0:28:5240 anywhere? Selling at 35.
0:28:52 > 0:28:58- There you go. All right? - Fine. £5 over. He should have mentioned they were both signed.
0:28:58 > 0:29:05- Right. We did say they were property of yourself. - But he should have said it.
0:29:05 > 0:29:11- That's essential information, isn't it?- OK.- Was. Too late now. - Too late.
0:29:11 > 0:29:15I kill these people! I take them with my bare hands!
0:29:15 > 0:29:21'I'm not sure Paul's used to dealing with larger-than-life theatricals!
0:29:21 > 0:29:23'I could have held his hand.
0:29:23 > 0:29:28'Two reasonable results. Let's hope the next sale pleases us, too.
0:29:28 > 0:29:33'It's the Art Nouveau-style trinket box with a pewter lid.'
0:29:36 > 0:29:41I can start here at 10 bid. 15. 20. 5.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44At £25. 30. 5 anywhere now?
0:29:44 > 0:29:47At £30. Nice little Art Nouveau box. At £30.
0:29:47 > 0:29:505 anywhere?
0:29:50 > 0:29:5335. 40. At 40.
0:29:53 > 0:29:565 anywhere else? Selling, then, at £40.
0:29:56 > 0:30:01- That's good!- 40 quid, yeah. It's worth £40.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03A lovely little box.
0:30:03 > 0:30:08'That's another good sale. Richard must be quite happy so far.
0:30:08 > 0:30:13'I can tell because he hasn't turned into a creature of the night, yet.'
0:30:13 > 0:30:20Now I do remember this was one of Rebecca's favourite items. It's that Doulton Lambeth piece.
0:30:20 > 0:30:25We said it was a tobacco jar. It could be a biscuit barrel.
0:30:25 > 0:30:31I was collecting tobacco jars at the time. It was one area
0:30:31 > 0:30:35where they wouldn't cost very much. I kind of like that, a bargain.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38Start here at £20. 25.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42- 30. 35. 40. At £40. - 40, we're in.
0:30:42 > 0:30:465 anywhere else? At £40. Do I see 5 now?
0:30:46 > 0:30:50At £40. 45. 50 with me. One more?
0:30:50 > 0:30:54At 50. 5 anywhere else? It's had its time. On commission.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57Selling at £50.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01- £50. There we go. Is that all right?- Excellent.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04- There were no biscuits left in there?- No.- No, OK.
0:31:04 > 0:31:11'Richard does like a bargain, but he draws the line at Custard Creams.
0:31:11 > 0:31:16'Next, a small pair of posy vases in the shape of hunting dogs. They were in his kitchen.
0:31:16 > 0:31:21'Now we're all hoping they'll sell for between £40 and £60.'
0:31:21 > 0:31:2515 bid. 20. 5.
0:31:25 > 0:31:2830 anywhere? At £25.
0:31:28 > 0:31:3130 anywhere now? 30. 5 anywhere?
0:31:31 > 0:31:34Selling, then, at £30.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36There we go. £30.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38- Phew! Just.- That a relief?
0:31:38 > 0:31:42I thought they were going to go for 25!
0:31:42 > 0:31:48'They didn't quite reach their estimate, but Richard's pleased.
0:31:49 > 0:31:54'Next for sale is a fantastic brooch by the makers Butler and Wilson.'
0:31:54 > 0:32:00I knew Butler and Wilson, the two chaps, when they first started out in the early '70s.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04They were finally allowed to open a little stall in Harrods.
0:32:04 > 0:32:09And they sent this brooch out with the invitation.
0:32:09 > 0:32:16So they're very unique, a very limited edition. I think it's rather beautiful.
0:32:16 > 0:32:18I can start here at £10. 15. 20.
0:32:18 > 0:32:225 anywhere? At £20. A rare little thing.
0:32:22 > 0:32:24At £20. 5. 30.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27And 5, madam. At £35.
0:32:27 > 0:32:3140 anywhere? At 35. 40 anywhere?
0:32:31 > 0:32:34It's the lady's bid. I'm selling at £35.
0:32:34 > 0:32:38- There we go. £35. Is that...? - A bargain.
0:32:38 > 0:32:42'Oh, dear. Richard clearly wanted that piece to have gone for more.
0:32:42 > 0:32:49'We have another one-off next. The jacket he bought in a chi-chi London boutique in the late 1960s.'
0:32:52 > 0:32:59- I know Rebecca's in America.- Yes. - But this jacket is called Granny Takes A Trip?- Yes, it is.
0:32:59 > 0:33:06- That's the manufacturer? - It was a very important store at the bottom of the Kings Road.
0:33:06 > 0:33:10It was very hip and groovy to have clothes from Granny's.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14This jacket dates back to that period.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18It really is a vintage collector's item. Should be in the V&A.
0:33:18 > 0:33:22'To give it its best chance, Richard has stuck to his word.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25'He's now available for modelling.'
0:33:25 > 0:33:31Let's see what we can get. This lovely jacket, as modelled by Richard there.
0:33:31 > 0:33:35Who'll start me at £100 for it? I'll start at 50, then.
0:33:35 > 0:33:3760. 70. Do I see 80?
0:33:37 > 0:33:41Start at 50? The cheapskates!
0:33:41 > 0:33:43Do I see 80 anywhere?
0:33:43 > 0:33:47At £70. I thought this would make a lot more. All for a good cause.
0:33:47 > 0:33:5080 anywhere? It's had its time.
0:33:50 > 0:33:56Unfortunately, it didn't sell. It didn't realise its potential today, so the auctioneer has withdrawn it.
0:33:56 > 0:34:01Oh, I didn't know. I wish Zandra Rhodes had been here. She'd buy it.
0:34:01 > 0:34:07'At least Richard can take it home. Who knows? Maybe we'll see him wearing it on another day.'
0:34:07 > 0:34:14I think maybe we'll take it down to the motorbike fair and see if we can sell it there.
0:34:14 > 0:34:19Motorcycle enthusiasts do like a little bit of rock and roll.
0:34:19 > 0:34:26'Well, we'll find out soon and so we come to the final lot of this particular sale.
0:34:26 > 0:34:31'A real trouper, Richard is going to have another crack at wowing the people.'
0:34:31 > 0:34:37Ladies and gentlemen, a flat-top Jumbo Epiphone acoustic guitar.
0:34:37 > 0:34:41I bought it because it was pretty. And this is the guitar.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45# Let's do the Time warp again
0:34:46 > 0:34:52# Let's do the Time Warp again Doo-da-dooby-doo-doop! #
0:34:52 > 0:34:59'I bet those bidders never thought they'd be entertained by a rendition of the Time Warp today.'
0:34:59 > 0:35:04Please, dig deep because whoever buys this
0:35:04 > 0:35:11you'll be responsible for sending a child home to their loving family. Back to you, sir.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14I can start bidding here at £100.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17Do I see 120? 120. 140.
0:35:17 > 0:35:21160. 180. 200. At £200, then.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25- £200.- Remember, it's for a really good cause. £200.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28Do I see £220 for the signed guitar?
0:35:28 > 0:35:31At £200. Do I see 220?
0:35:31 > 0:35:34- 220!- At 220. 240.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36Can I say 260? 260.
0:35:36 > 0:35:42And 280. And 300, sir? At £280. Well done. You've bid well.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45At 280. Do I see 300? Going to sell.
0:35:45 > 0:35:50First time, second time. At £280. Well done, sir.
0:35:50 > 0:35:56- Wow.- Excellent.- That's great. Congratulations, Richard. Are you pleased with that?- I am.
0:35:56 > 0:35:58I think your rendition helped.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01It does need new strings!
0:36:01 > 0:36:03I didn't tell them that!
0:36:03 > 0:36:10'I'm sure whoever bought it won't mind replacing a few strings. They should be delighted. Now, Paul,
0:36:10 > 0:36:15'time to check up on our guest's running total so far.'
0:36:15 > 0:36:21- OK, Richard, that's all our items today. That was the general sale. - It was, that's true.
0:36:21 > 0:36:25One item's going back with you, which is the jacket.
0:36:25 > 0:36:31- That, unfortunately, didn't have the audience today.- Weird. - You keep that for another day.
0:36:31 > 0:36:38But I can tell you that all the other items today have sold for a total of £540.
0:36:38 > 0:36:44Oh, that's cool. It didn't seem as much as that. There were 30s and 20s and 40s, you know.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48- But it's all mounted up. - That's a very reasonable target.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51And the motorcycle yet to come.
0:36:51 > 0:36:57- Can you teach me that Time Warp? - I don't think I could, actually.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01All right. Let's get a cup of tea.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04'I'll teach you one day!
0:37:04 > 0:37:07'We mustn't forget the painting.
0:37:07 > 0:37:11'The auction house suggested it should go in their fine art sale.
0:37:11 > 0:37:16'Their expert, Aubrey, reminded Paul why it is so special.'
0:37:16 > 0:37:23Victorian oils in general are struggling, but quality shines through. It's all about the detail.
0:37:23 > 0:37:25You see nice groups of figures,
0:37:25 > 0:37:30the lovely towers, just a really nice quality picture.
0:37:30 > 0:37:35When I originally saw it, I put it at £1,000-£1,500. About right?
0:37:35 > 0:37:39- That's fair to start with. Hopefully more.- Excellent.
0:37:39 > 0:37:43'And when it went under the hammer...'
0:37:43 > 0:37:46Selling at £1,600.
0:37:47 > 0:37:53'It made a tremendous price. Along with the £540 from the general sale, that brings Richard's tally
0:37:53 > 0:37:58'to £2,140. And still we've got his motorbike to sell.'
0:38:04 > 0:38:08'Time for the specialist auction we've all been waiting for.
0:38:08 > 0:38:12'200 different bikes are under the hammer.
0:38:12 > 0:38:19'Richard's retro-style Honda model from 2002 could be about to make a breathtaking sale here.'
0:38:19 > 0:38:23- What have the auction house told you?- They really like it.
0:38:23 > 0:38:29There's only a few around, it belongs to Richard O'Brien. They're quite excited.
0:38:29 > 0:38:34They've done a lot of press advertising. And it's among friends.
0:38:34 > 0:38:39It's a great place here. We've done the best we can.
0:38:39 > 0:38:44OK, let's go and see how Richard feels about it selling, shall we?
0:38:48 > 0:38:53- Morning, Richard.- Hello! - Have you found one you want to buy?
0:38:53 > 0:38:56The Sunbeam, yes. Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.
0:38:56 > 0:39:02- It looks very nice, my bike.- It's very nice in the catalogue.- Wow!
0:39:02 > 0:39:04- That's impressive.- It looks nice.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07Well, it's time to sell it Come on.
0:39:07 > 0:39:13'If we're to make Richard's target of £5,000, it'll need to make a good deal more than that.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17'We're keeping everything crossed.'
0:39:17 > 0:39:19£1,200 for an opening bid.
0:39:19 > 0:39:241,300. 1,400. 1,500. 1,600. 1,700.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28The bid's at 1,700 against you in the back row.
0:39:28 > 0:39:311,800. There we are.
0:39:31 > 0:39:341,900. At 1,900. 2,000, the bid.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37At 2,000, the bid. 2,200.
0:39:37 > 0:39:412,400. 2,600.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46Any more? 2,800. Thank you, sir.
0:39:46 > 0:39:51Most generous. 3,000, the bid. At 3,000.
0:39:51 > 0:39:55At 3,000. The bid is at £3,000.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59I'll take 100 if it helps. You will? 3,100. Sir?
0:39:59 > 0:40:043,100. The bid is on my right. At £3,100 are you all done?
0:40:04 > 0:40:10Fair warning. At £3,100. Last call. Your bike, sir.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13Thank you very much indeed.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16Thank you!
0:40:17 > 0:40:23- Thank you very much. - Richard had to take a little break. As he said when we met him at home,
0:40:23 > 0:40:27this charity is particularly close to his heart. He's off now!
0:40:27 > 0:40:30Get the tissues!
0:40:30 > 0:40:37'It's not often that we see such enthusiastic bidding and we all feel a little emotional.
0:40:37 > 0:40:39'I'll see if Richard's all right.'
0:40:39 > 0:40:42Once it went past the two grand,
0:40:42 > 0:40:45I was absolutely thrilled.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49When it hit three, you know, I was over the moon.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51Would you like to know the total?
0:40:51 > 0:40:57- Altogether, yes, please. - You wanted £5,000, didn't you? - I was looking in that area.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00£5,240.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03- Ain't that cool?- That's really good!
0:41:03 > 0:41:07And, be fair, be honest, you never thought we'd do that.
0:41:07 > 0:41:12- No, I didn't.- It did seem quite a lot.- Oh, ye of little faith.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14I think it's outstanding!
0:41:15 > 0:41:20- It's fantastic. And I've been entertaining.- You have.
0:41:20 > 0:41:27- Gorgeous, glamorous. It's a win/win/win situation! - Modest is the key word.- Above all!
0:41:31 > 0:41:39The Royal Manchester Children's Hospital charity is the beneficiary of Richard's auction earnings.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42£5,000 is always welcome.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46I don't think there's many people who are not aware of how upsetting it is
0:41:46 > 0:41:51when a loved one or a friend gets a death-threatening illness.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54I'm so pleased we raised this much.
0:41:54 > 0:41:59'This new children's hospital is one of the biggest in the country and helps 150,000 children a year.
0:41:59 > 0:42:05'David Kane is its director of charities and is delighted.'
0:42:05 > 0:42:10Richard's money is really important to us. It's contributed to the cost of our new MRI scanner.
0:42:10 > 0:42:15It will be used for 12-14 patients a day in our hospital.
0:42:15 > 0:42:22To be a parent and have a child on a cancer ward is one of the most terrifying things in the world.
0:42:22 > 0:42:27And one of the greatest things we can do is provide hope.
0:42:27 > 0:42:34And if we can go further than that and send children back home, then we're really winning.
0:42:39 > 0:42:45If you've got antiques and collectables you'd like to sell to raise money for good causes,
0:42:45 > 0:42:51or for a project, why not apply to come on the show. You'll find more details and an application form
0:42:51 > 0:42:53at our website:
0:42:53 > 0:42:56I'll see you again next time.
0:43:10 > 0:43:14Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2010
0:43:15 > 0:43:17Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk