Episode 3 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip

-TIM WONNACOTT:

-Some of the nation's favourite celebrities...

What if we said 150 for the two? Then you've got yourself a deal.

..one antiques expert each...

Thank you, baby!

Da da da-da da-da da-da da!

..and one big challenge - who can seek out

and buy the best antiques at the very best prices...

I can feel something.

THEY LAUGH

..and auction for a big profit further down the road?

Who will spot the good investments? Who will listen to advice?

What you've just come out with there, I cannot believe that!

And who will be the first to say, "Don't you know who I am?!"

Time to put your pedal to the metal -

this is Celebrity Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

Welcome to West Yorkshire -

2,029 square kilometres of gorgeous Britain.

Whee...!

And now a haven for two light-footed celebrities

with £400 each and antiques in their sights.

That's not their back view, by the way. Ha!

From the world of dance, we have both sides of the judging arena.

Mirror, signal, manoeuvre.

Watch that man!

All right. Oh, my God!

Oh, my God!

She is the girl who changed choreography

and who outraged the censors with Hot Gossip

and helped a nation to dance better.

Now here for your viewing pleasure, it's Arlene Phillips.

And Arlene's glamorous partner is this fine young specimen.

A stalwart of the ballroom, a veteran of Strictly

and a man who faces adversity with grace and poise.

He's the outgoing rear of the year - he's Anton du Beke.

Are you looking forward to two days of this?

I'm very much looking forward to two days of this.

I can't think of anything I'd rather do.

And while our celebrities savour their affable 1969 Ford Cortina,

they simply cannot find auction prospects all on their lonesome.

-Do you know who the experts are?

-No, not a clue.

-I hope he's a good expert.

-Yeah, I hope he's an expert!

-I hope he's knowledgeable. An expert expert.

-An expert expert.

-I'd like an expert.

-Not just any old expert.

-Not any old jobby.

-God, no.

Oh, no! In an ideal world,

the finest expert minds would be at Arlene and Anton's disposal.

But today...

There you go. Very good for the buttocks.

If we build up a sweat for you,

Arlene will see your real credentials for dancing.

HE LAUGHS

Oh. Right, take it away. Take it away.

Hmm.

A surveyor and auctioneer,

he's done 25 years' hard antiques labour.

He loves fine furniture and great British design.

Don't do it, madam. Don't do it.

He's James Braxton.

What should I do, James?

And I know what you're thinking -

school's out early, and that chap needs a haircut.

However, he's a successful auctioneer,

he's a shrewd businessman, he's a bit of a charmer.

He's Charles Hanson. And he's cool. Well, he thinks so.

Following in their almost reliable 1982 Citroen 2CV,

our experts are dressed to impress.

I always wanted to be a dancer.

Did you? Really? You've got the figure for it, Charles.

I'm often told I'm a very good dancer.

I am the total opposite of you, Charles.

HE LAUGHS

When the music starts, I think

I can cut some shapes on the dancefloor,

but everybody around me tells me I can't.

-My old singing teacher went to see you in Oh! Calcutta!

-Oh, my gosh!

-Where you were dancing with your kit off.

-Yeah, I was.

-I tried to get Ann Widdecombe to do that but she wasn't having it.

-Yay!

I know, you said we'd never make it!

-I used to be called Twinkletoes.

-Did you?

-Twinkletoes Hanson.

Well, he may be light on his feet, but he's also late.

Hello!

-Hello!

-Perfect, perfect.

-Well done, Charles.

Take it easy, take it easy.

Dancing feet.

Exactly, exactly.

Come on, give us a shuffle!

THEY LAUGH

I am the most wooden man ever!

-Look at this!

-How are you?

Good to see you.

-I'm James, how are you?

-I'm Arlene.

-Nice to see you, Arlene, good to see you.

-Nice to meet you.

-How are you?

-I'm good, I'm really good. So, what happens now?

Antiques.

-And you're an expert?

-I'm an expert.

-And you're an expert.

-Absolutely.

And I'm a bit more of a mover. This man needs some practice.

Give me your hand.

THEY LAUGH

Very good.

Good moves, good moves. Come on, Eileen. Arlene.

-Come on, Arlene.

-Arlene!

Come on, Arlene.

It's Arlene, by the way!

Nice one, James, get the name right(!)

So our celebrities now have a sort of expert and £400 each.

Bring on the rummaging.

They will take in the best of the west of Yorkshire

before hopping over borders to Lancashire and Merseyside

for an imminent, decisive Liverpudlian auction

in just two days' time.

First, glorious Cullingworth opens its doors,

and the local antiques fair here on the third Sunday of every month

will need to give everyone a good start.

-Anton, this is it.

-Ah!

-This is it, this is what you call antiques.

-Is it?

Are you a collector?

I do like old sort of...um...things.

Well, that sounds... sort of like antiques.

Maybe Arlene can throw herself in more sort of wholeheartedly, maybe.

"The Yorkshire Stone Castle". Ruined castle, 1860s, watercolour.

Someone's framed them in rather ugly frames.

Don't say that, it's probably the lady here!

It's a matter of opinion, isn't it?

-Quite.

-Yeah, I suppose so.

I was just about to say how beautifully framed they were.

Anton, I'll test you. What is an antique?

Something aged, would it be?

Yeah. Aged, it must be 100 years old. 100.

So think pre-Titanic, think Edwardian and earlier,

and all these objects here, they're collectable.

We have £400 to spend.

I think we can get lunch out of that, don't you?

Not really the spirit!

If Anton can't offer Charles enthusiasm, then, well,

what can he offer?

I want to walk round the antiques fair today with a swagger,

almost to follow your lead,

and to see how I can evolve myself as a dancer.

-Really?

-Yeah, I do, yeah.

Well, it will start from the floor up.

Oh, look, it's a stalking party. 1895.

So when Queen Victoria made the Highlands so fashionable

with the purchase of Balmoral

and society moved for the 12th of August

up to the Highlands for grouse shooting and then stalking.

-This is the beautiful 12th, or whatever it was called.

-Yeah.

-Glorious twelfth.

-Glorious 12th.

If it wasn't antiques, it'd be dancing. I really mean it.

Yes, yes. I think you have a natural talent.

You have something in there that we can work on.

You're going to walk properly. So stand tall,

and you're going to walk naturally,

because if you can't walk, as Josephine Bradley said -

-you would have liked her - you can't possibly dance.

-OK, OK.

So I'm going to walk, see? My feet, natural swinging leg action here.

Natural, natural, natural. I do a little turn and I walk back.

Don't turn on your heels, dear. Keep walking.

This doesn't look much like shopping, does it?

-Do a turn. On your toes.

-Oh!

Whilst Charles works on his new career,

Arlene is expanding her horizons in the field of antiques appraisal.

What could you do this for?

-45.

-45. I think that's a great price

and I think it would be churlish...

-So, £45...

-£45.

..is on our very, very, very first purchase.

-Well done. That's great.

-Well done!

Arlene's got straight down to some serious antiques business already.

This girl certainly knows what she wants,

and I'm sure the boys are busy shopping too. Right?

-Now walk.

-Maybe not.

-Yes?

-Yeah, walk. Keep the body up.

Roll through your feet. Don't go up and down.

-Turn. Good turn!

-Really good turn.

Grip. You must grip both buttocks.

Never mind about buttocks, how about gripping some shopping?

I love this.

She is glam, isn't she? Very glam.

I love this.

Marilyn Monroe.

Oh, my God, look at the bathing belle and her ball.

Now, which one do you like out of the both or do you like them both?

Well, OK. I love the Marilyn because of the pose,

because of the look, I love the colours,

but this one feels to me that if you put her up in auction,

people would be going bump, bump, bump.

I'd like to take it off your hands.

What do you really think I could get this bathing belle for?

It's 75, and that's it.

Could we do it for 70?

-No.

-75.

-Lovely, thank you very much.

-Should we leave here?

Let's move on out of here, let's go!

Yeah, let's go to another antiques shop. Come on.

That's two in the bag for Team Arlene.

Feels like Anton and Charles are just...

dragging their feet, frankly.

There's a plethora of history on this table.

Of an antique history.

And where are you swaying to?

Well, a nice scent bottle over there I saw earlier. Look at that.

-It's blue enamelled on top.

-Yeah. What do we think about that?

It says made by Adie Brothers of Birmingham, 1902.

So this was made, let's say, 10 years before Titanic sank.

Is it collectable?

Oh, absolutely. Silver hallmark, look, that's all-important...

-that lion there confirms it's solid silver.

-Keep going.

That's nostalgia, OK?

And then you sort of throw your arms out, can't you,

and you can believe in it.

Oh. Hey, can you feel it?

I think Anton's beginning to feel something. Oh, Lord.

Could a £90 perfume bottle awake his senses?

-Anton, you know, I'm here to serve you.

-Are you?

-I'm here to...

-Advise me.

..advise you and I would like to buy

a good scent bottle for about £60.

What do you think, £70?

-£70.

-What do you think?

We'll give you 70 of our best pounds for it.

OK. For you. Just for you.

Should have said 65. I told you!

Let's hope we've awoken Anton's inner antique shopping sense

with that long-awaited purchase.

Right. Well, I'm very happy with that.

One down.

However, the competition are hot-footing it and are on the move.

When I actually go looking for antique bargains,

I'm up at 5am and I'm hitting the markets with the traders

and I'm getting worried that it's getting a little bit late.

-We're a bit casual about this, aren't we?

-Yeah.

So you are an early bird?

I am an early bird when I decide to go hunting.

And now the Road Trip leads Arlene and James due north

by a whopping nine miles to Keighley on the outskirts of Bradford.

Keighley has been home to the greats.

Former residents include Mollie Sugden,

aka Mrs Slocombe of Are You Being Served?,

and actor Peter Mayhew,

better known as Chewbacca from the once-popular Star Wars films.

Were you ever in Hot Gossip?

No, I wasn't IN Hot Gossip - I created Hot Gossip.

You created it. So have you always been sort of more choreographer?

I fell into choreography by accident.

I was babysitting for Ridley Scott.

Really?!

HE LAUGHS

No, I know. This is a true story.

And he was offered the job of creating a commercial

for Lyons Maid ice cream with a dancing cow and a milk maid,

and he said to me, "Could you do a few steps?"

And it went on from there.

So that was...Ridley Scott?

That was my start.

That is quite a start.

A very good start.

Right, Arlene, here we are.

Fabulous.

A lady of your calibre, to the front door, I think, with you.

Thank you.

Arlene and James have begun well,

and Keighley's tantalising Heathcoat Antiques

could help them stay ahead of the game. Owner Michael is here to help

and has a selection of silver items to tempt them with.

Now, what is this? What are they?

So that looks like...

Are they studs or buttons?

Yeah, a dress set. 14-carat fronts.

And these are 14 quid, are they?

No, they're 14 carat.

14 c... Sorry.

-TIM LAUGHS

-Keep up, James!

But clearly, Team Arlene has set their sights on buying

a number of quality items.

Keen searching unearthed a gold, dress stud set,

a silver-topped jar,

a Georgian silver tablespoon,

a pair of napkin rings, all for a bargain £20.

That's a gift. Oh, and an enamel box, priced at 68.

What's your best price on that?

-40.

-40.

I think you'll make a profit on that.

You know what, Michael, I'm trusting you.

HE LAUGHS

Don't let me down, because I'll be back. OK.

So we're going to have that?

I think we should have this. I definitely think we should have...

Those for 20?

-Yes. That's a no-brainer.

-Well done. We've bought four lots.

So that's a cool £40 for the enamel box

and £20 for the silver and gold collection. Great!

-Money, James.

-There you are.

Thank you, baby.

Talking of infants,

the day's shopping triumphs are feeling a little one-sided.

As a young boy, when did you realise you had...

twinkletoes?

When I looked down and I had princess slippers on!

THEY LAUGH

I started dancing when I was about 13 or 14.

And pretty soon after that, I thought,

"This is something I'd really like to do."

Doubling back from Keighley,

Anton and Charles are heading for an indulgence.

Four miles southwest lies the very pretty village of Haworth,

world-famous birthplace of the literary Bronte sisters

and, interestingly, twinned with

the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu in Peru.

That's bonkers.

But I feel as though

we are making chemistry together, aren't we?

The dancing and the antiques are coming together.

-I can take that lady...

-..who's a powerhouse...

I would use other words than powerhouse.

-Perhaps I'll give you the terminology.

-Yes, please.

Beautiful, words like that. They appreciate that, words like that.

-Magnificent, they love that word.

-All the dancers?

Heavyweight, not so keen.

Charles may have a lot to learn about ballroom etiquette,

but he does know how to show a celebrity a good time.

Local artisan Robin is waiting to meet our boys and show them

his rather unique business, run from his back garden workshop.

-Hello, sir.

-Good to meet you. I'm Robin.

-Hi, Robin.

-Have you come to do some clog-making?

The exact origin of clogs is obscure,

but they are possibly the oldest form of footwear in the world.

These are not the familiar hollowed-out Dutch clog

but a wooden-soled leather-uppered shoe.

Traditionally associated with Yorkshire and Lancashire,

the Industrial Revolution saw clogs worn all over Britain,

from northern textile mills to London fish docks.

During the Victorian period,

clogs were worn mainly by the working class,

and a pair could've set you back between two and three shillings.

Robin bought Greenwood Clogs in 2005

to preserve the local craft

and continue supplying local farmers. Oo-arr!

This is the workshop.

Let's see if we can all fit in.

I've seen lots of workshops but never a workshop full of clogs.

This is a farmer's clog.

It's got a leather upper, chrome leather,

which is quite hard-wearing.

It's machine-stitched, this type of upper, on a treadle sewing machine.

-Unbelievable.

-Then it's nailed to the sole.

I think that's one advantage for farmers,

because walking in all that manure and fertiliser,

the stitching can rot,

whereas nails are pretty hard-wearing.

When making a pair of clogs,

the first thing you start with is a drawing of the person's foot.

We make some measurements across the foot, just to check the size.

Some people have higher arches than others.

Any sensitive areas, like bunions or bony bits...

-What size feet are you?

-I am about eight and a half. What are you?

-Any bunions?

-No bunions. No ingrown toenails or anything unpleasant.

-Any bony bits?

-No, only the bits which should be bony.

I suppose being a dancer... I have flat arches. Are yours quite high?

Have you got dropped arches?

-I'm afraid I have.

-You will never make a dancer.

You can slip that in

and just ease the leather out, like that.

Every street had one at one time.

-So you just push the leather out?

-Yes. I love these old tools.

There are so many different tools with different purposes.

That looks a bit alarming at first sight, doesn't it?

It looks like a torture instrument.

How many people today are carrying on this tradition of clog-making?

-Maybe a dozen...

-Really?

-..I can think of.

In some areas, clog-making is a lost art.

But the small group who carry on the tradition are passionate

about the product and the skills involved in their construction.

Robin uses the soft wood alder to fashion the soles,

as the timber is water-resistant.

So you hold this in your right hand

and wedge the wood in place like that.

-Then you can just shave off little bits like that.

-Oh, wow.

So you do a lot of curling?

It is the leverage that makes it easier to carve the wood.

It's like slicing through butter. Would you like to have a go?

Could I have a go? Would you mind terribly?

Yeah. Hold that in your left hand.

-Shall I hold it for you?

-No, don't get involved.

Just... The main thing to remember...

-Look at that. How's that?

-Great. A natural, I think.

-It's a nice feeling, actually, isn't it?

-It is. It is quite therapeutic.

-Oh, it's a little...

-Fantastic.

-I like that word. Fantastic.

He's bitten off a little more than he can chew there.

-He is fairly hacking at it now.

-This is pretty much hacking.

-An old hack.

-He's an old hack.

When you see people like us coming in here, or him to be specific,

hacking away at your traditional skill,

does it make your heart sink very slightly?

Does a little bit of your soul die away?

No, it's nice to see people interested and having a go.

Whilst there are many skills and much care involved in constructing

a pair of clogs, it is their simplicity that makes them

so durable and, so some say, very comfortable shoes.

With Charles and Anton wearing a brand-new pair each,

what's the next best thing to do?

Have a dance, I suppose.

-How do they feel?

-They feel very comfortable, actually,

in a sort of cloggy kind of way.

This is my friend, Harry. He's going to show you how to dance.

Hello, Harry.

-Good luck with him.

-Hi, Harry.

I'm going to show you what we use them for.

Show us a basic move, just the first sort of start off move.

The first step is step, shuffle, step, shuffle.

Step, shuffle, step, shuffle, step, step, step.

Obviously a lot faster than that.

-So have a go. Good luck.

-Yes, thank you.

After four. Three, four. Step, shuffle, step, shuffle...

Gosh! Harry is a skilled dancer and musician,

performing with the clog-wearing Lancashire Wallopers.

Harry's outfit is authentic to a 19th-century bargeman.

But the more contemporarily clad Charles

is simply trying his best.

I'm sorry about her at the end there. I do apologise.

The next one is really, really easy.

Step, drop, step, drop, step.

For some reason, they call this the Wurzel step. I've no idea why.

Now, here's a thing.

If you want a pair of dancing clogs,

then the wood ash is used,

as, apparently, it produces a better tone.

ACCORDION MUSIC

-Go!

-Now.

All together.

-Look up.

-I'm trying!

-Oh, bravo!

-Well done.

That was very good. Charles, brilliant!

-Was that quite good?

-No. Good effort.

-Thank you very much indeed. Great to see you.

-You're welcome.

What a wonderful day. Our fortunate celebrity dancer

has a new pair of dandy clogs and has learned a fantastic new dance.

And our expert did...

well, really very well too.

One, two, three, four.

ACCORDION MUSIC

Time to hang up those dancing clogs and bed down now for the night.

There's a full day's shopping ahead,

and everyone will need to feel fresh and happy.

Night-night!

The sun's up, and West Yorkshire is ready for us.

But is everyone ready for the day?

-This car...

-It's a beauty, isn't it?

-It's a beauty.

-It's like if you turn the wheel...

-It goes eventually.

It has a mind of its own. I like that.

That reminds me of some of the women I've danced with.

Yeah, minds of their own. Trying to lead instead of follow.

-Sorry, Jim. I can't find reverse. Can you give me a push?

-Come on.

The Citroen has a mind of its own too.

More buttock work.

Jim, it's good to stretch. You know what they say about dancing.

-Always keep straight hands.

-Is it straight hands?

-It's all of this.

-Is it?

-Yes.

So far, Arlene Phillips and her suave companion

have spent £180 on four auction hopefuls.

The 1895 watercolour,

the 1920s figurine with beachball,

the silver and gold job lot,

and the pretty enamel box.

Arlene and James have £220 left to tango with.

-I don't think you would do very well with that, I'm afraid.

-OK, fine.

Well, you know. You're the expert.

Don't keep saying that. The pressure's on.

Meanwhile, Anton Du Beck and his willing accomplice

have spent just £70 on one solitary item.

They've done a lot of dancing about.

The silver and enamel perfume bottle.

With great resolve, new shoes and £330,

Anton and Charles must launch themselves

into a solid day's rummaging.

-They call it...

-A bygone?

-No.

-A '70s object?

No, shut your face! You're not helping at all.

Shops are open, and the teams are back together

to go their separate ways.

-'80s has now become vintage.

-That's my era.

-That's your era.

I was doing the early days

of the creation of videos for MTV.

Go on, name some names.

Well, I was in New York with Whitney Houston,

in Detroit with Aretha Franklin,

I worked with Diana Ross, I worked with Elton John, The Bee Gees...

It wasn't like working with a Michael Jackson or a Madonna.

Well, just be glad you not working with Charles.

Anton, one of my great hobbies is metal-detecting.

Have you heard of it?

And your wife, how does she feel about you doing that?

Well, she understands my needs.

Well, I'm glad somebody does, Charles.

Our treasure hunters are off now

to pastures new.

Leaving Haworth behind,

the Road Trip heads 10 miles south

to the handsome village of Mytholmroyd.

-Ready to go?

-Ready to go.

Are you in that antique-focused mood today?

-I feel very focused on antiques today.

-What are you after?

I'm after a bargain that we can sell on for a profit.

Come on.

I know exactly what I'm doing!

Mytholmroyd is more famous as the birthplace

of Sylvia Plath's husband, the poet laureate Ted Hughes.

But today, it is the Caldene Antiques Centre

which brings our shoppers to town.

Owner Paul is on hand for kindly advice.

Aren't you feeling at home here? Look above you. A glitterball.

-Glitterball!

-I could feel something.

I wasn't quite sure what it was. I thought it was the damp in my knees.

-But it's a glitterball, it's calling.

-Exactly.

Do you think they sell the glitterball?

Yes. Everything is for sale.

-Tell me how much it is.

-A mere £38, Anton.

We as sellers, and with your pedigree,

maybe that would be associated with you in the auction room.

-Do you think?

-It might generate a public interest in it.

Have you got a plinth I could put it on?

I could turn it into a trophy and present it to myself.

-Did you not win it three years ago?

-No, let's not talk about it.

-Four years ago?

-It was no years ago. I don't want to talk about it.

Just leave it, Charles!

Whilst Anton licks his wounds,

Arlene and James are hot-footing it to Hebden Bridge

for more antiques. Hebden Bridge is a small market town.

It was an ideal location for water-powered weaving mills.

During the 19th and 20th centuries,

it became a centre for the clothing industry.

So much so that it became known as Trouser Town.

Let's hope James has got his on

as they head for Hebden Bridge Antiques.

After all, we don't want him being debagged.

-What's our strategy here?

-Market fresh.

Market fresh?

Oh, I like the sound of that.

Our experts and celebrities want those special items,

literally just in the door.

Here at Hebden Bridge Antiques,

could Jude be the girl to help? Hey, Jude!

I'm looking round here,

and you've got masses of the most glorious stuff.

But what we need is something we can make money on, and I wonder

if you have anything hidden away in that back room that's market fresh.

Something special.

Here's something we only put out yesterday,

which I particularly like.

-It's that pink vase.

-That pink Vasart?

-Yes, the Scotland glass.

-Oh, it's beautiful.

I don't really know a lot about this Vasart vase,

but I know it was only new in on Sunday.

Sunday, eh? Well, that sounds market fresh to me. Yum-yum!

The nutty problem, the price.

It's a very reasonable price of £40.

What would that be to us?

Don't say 50!

You're challenging me.

-Think low, think low.

-Your lowest price so we don't have to keep bidding.

-OK, 30, I think is quite...

-Have we got 30?

-We're quite close to the edge now, aren't we?

-We are close to the edge.

-You want to pay 25, don't you?

-Yeah.

Of course, Arlene and James have plenty of money.

But it's a good tactic, although the acting was a bit wooden.

-Hello!

-Look at this. Do you like it?

It's an antique Black Forest desk tidy inkwell.

And inkwell?

It was made in the Black Forest in around 1890.

It's got this purpose of being a practical object on a desk

and is also very decorative.

It has a certain Hungarian feel, because it's German.

-Is Hungary near Germany?

-I think it probably might be.

-It's missing the ink bottle.

-It is.

-That could be a bit of a blow.

What's the best price, out of interest?

-That would be £40.

-But no less?

-I think...we'd have to stick at that, yeah.

-OK.

-Food for thought, mental note.

-Mental note.

In fact, Charles is playing the long game here.

And Anton, well, he doesn't seem to be playing any sort of game.

I mean, who's making the decisions here?

He's very funny, Charles. He makes me laugh. He's very enthusiastic.

I don't think we have the same tastes, but when we do

come together on something, it's obviously going to be a winner.

It's just coming together on something,

that's the problem at the moment.

Have you ever flown Concorde?

No, I have not. Have you?

-Look at that, a silver Concorde frame. Isn't that wonderful?

-Lovely.

Solid silver and only £55.

-Do you like it?

-Well, I like it.

It just says silver frame.

Well, it IS a silver frame

but one that you would have bought onboard Concorde as a souvenir.

So it is a bit special.

It's a modern collectable.

A collectable is all about the theme.

And this Concorde theme is like the Titanic.

It's something we will remember with great nostalgia,

because it was such a queen of the sky, wasn't it?

It really was the ultimate in that flying machine.

So it's the ultimate in-flight souvenir,

the ultimate disco accessory,

and the ultimate meeting of German and Hungarian culture...possibly.

But does Anton really like any of them?

-Sometimes you buy tactically with your mate in mind.

-OK.

-I'm thinking of you.

-You take full responsibility for that disaster?

-I will take full responsibility. Would you take 90 for all three?

-We will.

You've bought...

..a - no disrespect, lads - rotten glitterball.

You've bought a broken table thing and a silver frame.

Yes.

-Because I'm determined... to make us money.

-All right.

And with that, we're going to say, "Going..." - look at me -

"Going, going...

"Gone." We'll take them, sir. Thank you very, very much.

Charles has done it and dragged poor Anton kicking and screaming towards a rather uncertain fate.

20, 40, 60, 80, 90.

-Keep the faith in me, OK?

-I've got the faith.

-I need coffee.

-Let's have coffee.

-And a lie down!

And whilst Anton loses control,

Arlene has fallen under the spell of three Scottish witches.

Sorry, vases.

Two made by Vasart and one by Strathearn,

but all 20th-century Scottish studio glass.

This is the other Vasart one.

This has got a price tag of 45.

I'm tempted to bulk up if we go and get the right price.

Could be get that at a similar price to that one - 25?

Hmm, go on, then.

-What about the Strathearn?

-50?

100 for the three.

If you're asking me, James, I'm going, "Let's do it."

Well, let's do it. Come on.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you very much.

-I'll take two, you take one.

-OK.

-We're off.

-Let go!

And with that, our happy shoppers depart Hebden Bridge,

heading for pastures new

-just as the competition are arriving in town.

-Right on down.

No harm done.

With Hebden Bridge Antiques still recovering from its last celebrity encounter,

the wonderfully "market fresh" Peter clocks in for his shift.

Let's hope he's ready for action.

Look, Anton, look at this down here.

Languishing away. Do you like her?

She is quite sweet. Yes. Less than she was when she started, I fear.

-I quite like her.

-Really?

-Yes, I do.

-She's got a hand missing.

You know what, she's got a hand missing here

and a hand missing on the back here.

-So she has got both hands missing?

-Absolutely.

-You've made it sound like there were more to come.

-Exactly.

(But I quite like her.)

-Really? It's broken.

-It's broken, I know.

It's broken, it's tired, it's worn out.

-On the floor down here.

-Kicked about.

-Kicked about.

Because she's after a Romanian sculptor who was called Dimitri Chiparus.

I sold an original by him of almost this exact pose,

which was bronze and ivory, which made about £17,000.

-Did she have both hands?

-She had one hand missing.

But this one isn't ivory, it's actually resin.

(But it's period.)

Pick it up. Let's take it.

Well, maybe not "take", but some negotiation with market fresh Peter would be

the best course of action right now.

-What's the best price we could have her for?

-Let me have a look.

It's broken, by the way.

Got a lovely, you know, Anton feeling about her.

-How does £50 sound?

-Would you take £30 for her?

-Go on, then, let's make it 30.

-Anton, what do you think, £30?

-Yes.

Really? Yes, we'll take her.

-Yes, we will take her.

-Yes, we'll take her.

Anton is finally getting the hang of this. Could he be about to take the antiques shopping bull by the horns?

I quite like this. What do you think of this?

You'll be pleased with this - it's got a stamp.

-It's got a stamp! It's got a lion.

-Yes.

-It's got a lion.

-Which means it's...?

-Real.

-Silver, yes.

-Genuine silver. K - 1920s?

And the good thing is there's no monogram or crest,

it hasn't been personalised, so it's really fresh to the market.

Well, how about getting fresh with some haggling?

-We'd like to offer you £100.

-Cash.

-In cash. In cash.

-We don't have to worry about receipts.

-Cash in hand, cash in hand.

In your hands. Cold cash.

-Why don't we say...

-Why don't we say yes?

-..130?

Honestly, we're putting all our eggs into this silver basket.

-I like it. No, we are.

-The margin will be very tight.

But as a special one-off, just for you, let's call it 100.

-Thank you very much.

-That completes our famous five objects. I'm really confident.

-Good.

-Thank you, Peter.

-Thank you.

The dirty dancer has done it.

Finally, Anton takes the responsibility for his own shot at Road Trip glory.

Not before time, as the hour of auction showdown draws near.

Oblivious to recent purchases, Arlene and James are taking

themselves off for a nostalgic seaside treat.

Road Trip is taking Arlene back to her adolescence.

56 miles east from Hebden Bridge,

way out on the Lancashire coast, sits a very special place.

Look, there's the North Pier! Blackpool North was posh.

My auntie lived in Blackpool South which wasn't posh.

But I thought of this as very grand.

Women that would sit on deck chairs and have their jewellery on and their best frocks.

And as a teenager, my sister and I, we used to come here,

and I would wear my stilettos

and dress up to go walking down the North Pier.

What a stunner!

Blackpool began putting itself on the map in the late 1870s,

becoming the first town in the world to get electric street lighting.

In 1889, Blackpool's mayor, John Bickerstaffe,

attended the Great Exhibition in Paris and fell in love with a big iron tower.

British seaside history would never be the same again.

-Does this bring back memories?

-Yeah, memories of the circus.

-Really?

-Yes.

-Did you start in this circus?

-No!

JAMES LAUGHS

I used to come to Blackpool when I was small, cos we lived in Manchester.

-And we came to visit the circus.

-Oh, fabulous.

Amazingly, the entire Tower and ballroom took just three years to complete,

using 2,500 tonnes of steel and 5 million Accrington bricks.

On opening day, 14th of May, 1894,

thousands of people took the inaugural tour.

-Hello.

-Hello.

Current general manager Kate Shane is here to give Arlene and James their turn.

-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

-Welcome to Blackpool Tower.

-Thank you.

So, our beautiful ballroom.

-It is absolutely exquisite.

-It is stunning, isn't it?

It's rather like walking into a German or Austrian church.

-It's sort of baroque, isn't it?

-Yes, it is.

-It's amazing.

-It must be Grade I listed?

-The whole building is Grade I listed, yes.

So, yes, we're very proud, very proud of Blackpool Tower,

but this is the icing on the cake for us, the beautiful ballroom.

This spring in this floor is incredible.

To dancers, this is the piece de resistance in terms of dancing,

the springing in the floor, yeah, they love it.

-A quick step on this floor means that you really can fly.

-Really?

Arlene, is this the mecca of dancing, Blackpool?

Blackpool Tower ballroom is where every ballroom and Latin dancer wants to dance.

-It's the most desirable ballroom possibly on earth.

-Really?

Most definitely. I would say that.

Nowhere else in the world do you ever see the words

"Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear."

Yes, a Shakespearean quote from Venus And Adonis,

and yes, it is the only place that you can dance under that.

People use the phrase, "if walls could talk," but if a floor could talk...

-Oh, yeah.

-Can you imagine how many people met the love of their life here and married?

Blackpool, the resort, was formed as somewhere for the working classes

to go and enjoy themselves.

And there is a quote that when they created this beautiful opulent ballroom,

that a factory girl could be a duchess for a day.

And that just makes you feel warm inside that something like that happened.

You're quite right. The ballroom was created by designer Frank Matcham,

one of the most successful of his time.

Blackpool was the first place to offer such opulence to ordinary working people.

Our dancing legend, Arlene Phillips, spent formative summers here

and finds another bright emblem of her past.

-So our beautiful Wurlitzer organ.

-Aww. It's fantastic!

Can I be Reginald Dixon?

The beloved, world-famous Reginald Dixon, the man who popularised

I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside, had this amazing organ

built for himself, and the Tower ballroom, way back in 1935.

He drew enormous daily crowds here for 40 years

and was knighted for his services to music in 1968.

Very, very, very complicated to play,

but the most exciting thing was standing waiting.

And I'm going to show you what happens.

ORGAN PLAYS

-It's great, isn't it?

-It is.

-I think it deserves a round of applause, do you not think?

-Yeah.

Absolutely. Yeah!

Blackpool Tower is a triumph of ambition and design,

conceived with good heart, and built with a love of ordinary people.

Now, if you didn't think THAT was enough to get you on your feet,

how about this?

Beneath the Tower, Frank Matcham created another stunning arena

also dear to Arlene's heart.

It feels so tiny, but it felt so enormous,

-and there were elephants in here!

-Yeah.

And one feature that is worth pointing out... you can see the archways?

Those are the archways of the Tower and the four corners of the legs.

So the embellished plasterwork is actually on the steel structure.

So when you're in the middle of the ring,

you're actually stood right underneath the centre of the Tower.

It's a complete circus arena,

with traditional circus big-top features,

and as a part of the routines...there's this.

-Oh, look! Dancing waters.

-Yeah, dancing waters.

All the waters are choreographed to the music.

-It is stunning, isn't it?

-Stunning.

-Have you done any water acts like this?

-No, I haven't.

This must be magical.

It's magical for me, and I'm a stately age, but as a child...

It's magical.

What inspired Arlene's childhood dreams,

and many young people before her,

will inspire future generations for many, many years to come.

Leaving nostalgia behind, it's time to head for the show and tell,

and find out what they really think of each other's items. And look - more water!

-Oh, hello!

-Oh...!

This is more you, Anton.

-A man of style, a man of dapper attire.

-Oh!

-A little dress stud set.

-Darling set!

-14-carat gold.

-Are they 14 carat?

They're for an elegant gentleman,

but if you think you're only getting that, you're not.

That's one big lot, Anton, and I'm trembling a bit, because it's a really good lot.

-How much is it worth?

-I reckon...about £65.

-I'm going to say more.

-Really?

-I don't know about those studs.

If they are 14-carat gold, that lot is worth £150-plus.

We paid 20.

What, for each piece?

No - Arlene and James

actually got the whole BUNDLE for just £20. Scary, isn't it?

-These are our piece de resistance.

-They are?

-Yeah, they are.

Are they Scottish?

-Do you know that they are?

-I thought they might be Scottish.

-Look at the colour, Anton. They are alive, aren't they?

-They are.

-I can't stand 'em.

-All right, Anton!

The Road Trip is a competition, but it's usually a friendly one.

-No, they're revolting.

-Why?

-Cos we didn't pick 'em.

Well, perhaps we should move on.

Three, two, one...

Oh...!

Disco ball!

Look at this, Arlene.

That... I love this, this is my favourite lot.

-Look at that bear.

-Oh, I'm not attracted to this at all.

I didn't like it either.

Don't tell me you paid more than £20 for that?

-It's not attractive.

-Anton, sell it.

"How does your bear smell?" "Terrible! It's got no nose."

-I think it's novel and quirky, and it cost...?

-£30.

-Good.

I think you'll find some man that will come along

and think, "That would be attractive on my desk." I hope you do.

Me too - poor Bavarian/Hungarian snoutless fellow.

We began with a fine sniff of a scent bottle. And it's here.

-JAMES:

-I like that.

Art deco, blue enamel...

Blue and silver. Solid silver.

-It has a wonderful whiff...

-£128.

-What did you pay for it?

-What do you think?

I probably think that you got it down to somewhere like 70?

60?

£27.

-£27. Is this label false?

-Plus 43 - it cost us £70.

-And didn't I just say £70?

-You were spot-on.

I hate it when you're right.

It's beautiful, and I would not have paid more than £70,

because if you HAD paid more, forget it.

Great. But what do they really think?

I think it's not bad.

I think they paid pretty good prices.

But it just depends on what people like.

I hate the bear, and he could go for a fortune.

-They've got one really good star lot, you know.

-The picture?

No, it's those dress studs. And the bits of silver they bought.

-I think our items, they're looking good.

-They're looking good!

I had a real burst of confidence about our items,

and I'm so glad we got the three vases.

Because Charles likes the vases.

So it's going to be a real helter-skelter, hurdy-gurdy,

rollercoaster ride for you and me tomorrow, but keep the faith.

I think we've bought well together.

Let's keep the faith!

-And bring on tomorrow, and let them fight!

-Come on, let's go.

Yeah. Let's go. Let's get to auction.

It's been a monumental journey -

a three-county race-around of heated shopping

and inspirational encounters.

Hebden Bridge and Blackpool become a memory,

as our two teams head 56 miles to the fab city of Liverpool.

Home to the Albert Docks.

Birthplace of the Beatles - yeah, yeah, yeah.

And shameless purveyor of all things Scouse, including the brow.

Your driving needs no explanation, chief.

-James?

-He's terribly keen...

I'm afraid James has gone inside. But good luck.

-And to you.

-He's very keen!

Best of luck to you.

James can't wait to see inside Cato Crane Auctioneers,

open to keen bidders and careful browsers since 1985.

28. 30. 32. 34...

Today's gavel-basher, John Crane,

has taken a long, hard look at our celebrities' investments.

The gold stud set is nice. It's in a box, but it's only gold-plated.

It looks gold, does the trick, no problem whatsoever.

Don't think it's 14 carat, though.

The glitterball...

someone might be opening a dance hall somewhere, who knows? Lovely.

What's it worth? I don't know, whatever it brings. £10, £20, £30...

Would I have it in the kitchen? Yes, maybe. Bit of fun.

Both teams started with £400 each.

Arlene and James spent £280 on five auction lots.

Money, James. Thank you, baby.

It's a vase.

But Anton and Charles went one better...

spending £290 on six auction lots.

Take possession, show it's yours.

-Really?

-Puff his chest out.

-Do you want to touch? It's not bad, is it?

-It's not bad. It's not perfect.

Chests out and nice big smiles - the auction is about to begin.

First up - Anton's first reluctant purchase,

the silver and enamel scent bottle.

£30 if you like, somebody.

30? £30 is bid.

35 now. 35, 35.

40. 45 at the back, 45. 50.

£45...

One more. Come on...

It's enamel. Did he mention that?

70. 75 now.

75. 80. One more?

£80? I'm selling...

£80, I'm selling at 80 now.

-It's going...

-It has a smell.

Quiet, please. £80...

Not a terrible start, by any means,

but auction costs will eat into that hard-won tenner profit.

-You only made £10.

-Oh, yeah, but we're up.

-It all helps.

Have you seen the room? We're happy with a tenner, let me tell you.

And facing the music next, Arlene's enamel offering. This round box.

£20 is bid. £20 is bid.

Oh...!

All done at £20, best we can do is 20.

No!

25 there. 25, 30.

35.

40. 45 with you?

40 over there, then.

It's going to be sold. It's got to go...

£40.

Ouch! I'm afraid that's a loss in real terms.

James! This is not fun any more.

Well, it's fun for us.

So let's see if Anton and Charles's Concorde silver frame

can take to the skies.

£30 is bid. And 35 with you.

40. 45.

Come on, it's worth every single penny. 50...

55. 60. It's very worth it.

65?

-Sir, you'll be sorry afterwards...

-One more.

65. 70, one more from you.

It's worth more, they fly!

70.

£70 is bid.

Any more anywhere? Come on.

One more... Come on.

75 anywhere...

70 is your bid, sir. All done and finished?

Sold. £70.

A supersonic result. Great.

Perhaps Anton should have shown Charles's choice more respect.

-Put it there, Arlene.

-You'll make a killing on that.

Well done, Charles! Although no-one really likes a show-off.

£70!

Now...Arlene and James's bargain, the group of silver and gold.

What will happen?

-14-carat...France...

-I beg your pardon?

Allegedly!

10. 15 at the back.

20, 25, 30.

35.

40, 45.

£50 is bid. 55?

Where's John at the back? 52?

52. 54. 56.

58. 60, John?

58, the gentleman in blue here. At £58...

60, a new bidder down by the rostrum.

62, sir. 64.

66, 68...

70. 72.

£70 is bid now. OK, all done at 70...

Sold. At 70. Really?

£70.

Hats off to Arlene.

An excellent profit - although your expert kind of steered you there.

We can breathe, we can breathe, we can breathe.

-You've made 50 quid there.

-Yeah. And you've made an old bird very happy!

Next up, Charles's broken-nosed Bavarian bear.

Anton failed to love it. But will the saleroom?

25? 25 right behind you.

30. 35, sir.

40. 45.

One more? 50.

Someone like you, £50...?

£50 is bid. 52?

52, sir. 54.

It's a beauty. Hand-carved.

56. 58.

Come on, one more?

58. Round it up to 60.

-Go on!

-Yes?

One more. 60. 62.

£60 is bid...

All done at 60. Done and finished. A nice lot...

Stanhope's from Stanhope Street. There we go.

They've done it again! Anton will be sorry he ever doubted Charles.

And Arlene...she'll just be sorry.

-Made £30.

-If it's any consolation, I'm shocked and stunned.

Now a shot at auction glory for Arlene and James.

Their hunting watercolour prepares to go ballistic.

30 is bid. 30.

40... 50 the gent. 60.

£60 is bid.

65, OK.

I'm going to sell at £65...

It's going.

£65? Your bid.

Sold!

£20 in the bag, and this auction tango is looking pretty close.

That is amazing, that we are neck and neck. That is amazing.

That is incredible.

I saw your lots, that IS amazing, I couldn't be any more surprised.

You're a fine one to talk about quality, Anton.

Let's see if we can D-I-S-C-O

at the A-U-C-T... Oh, well, you get the idea.

10. Can we get 12?

Thank you. 12.

14. 16. 18. We're nearly there.

20. 22.

Come on, DJ. One more.

22, thank you.

You'll be sorry afterwards.

When you're sitting at home tonight.

It's your bid, sir. £22...

Sold.

Slim. But that's the shiniest £2 made here today.

Next up, she's 1920s, she's a beauty, she's Arlene's favourite.

But she's also mass produced. Let's hope she catches the bidders' eyes.

£20 to start me off. Anybody? ..£20 is bid.

I'll take 25 now, somebody.

30. Come on. 30.

35. 40.

45. 50, it's against you.

55, 60.

60 is one bid.

-£60. All done at £60...?

-No, no...

At the back...

60. I've got to sell, ladies and gentlemen. It's going...

£60...

-60.

-Well, maybe you just can't sell 1920s figurines in Liverpool.

Maybe it's not 1920s.

The 1930s, however... that remains to be seen.

Can Anton triumph where Arlene floundered?

-Quite an oldish one...

-Oldish!

Onyx. Mention the onyx.

20 is bid there. 20.

25 over there now. 30, yes.

35, the gent.

40. Don't worry about the hand - you can put a glove on it.

It's a good thing. It's a nice thing.

35. 40 with you.

40 is bid, 42... 42 anywhere?

-I'm going to sell it at 40...

-Go on, one more.

£40, last time...

Anton and Charles are carrying the torch for slim victories today.

But are those small profits starting to add up?

Well done. Blimey, you could sell snow to the Eskimos, you.

Arlene fell in love with these delightful glass vases.

Can Liverpool be smitten by their charms too?

30? All done at £30? 35.

40. £40.

45 anywhere?

45, 50. 55.

All done at £55?

I'm going to have to sell at £55...

Is that the best we can do, at £55 now?

It's going... That all right?

£55...

It's your bid over there, £55...

-Sure you don't want to spend more on it?

-Disaster.

-Can't get any more on it...?

-Go on.

Tough crowd.

Long way from Scotland.

I'm useless!

-Oh, no...

-< That's a lovely item.

-Now, they have got to make a loss of about 35...

-45.

It's close, but no cigar, for Arlene.

Thank goodness for Anton's sensitivity.

I'm sure there's a casino - we'll try and make your money up somewhere.

(CHUCKLES) Anton and Charles have one last lot to sell.

So let's hold on the celebrating for a moment or two.

35 is bid. 40...

45. 50, 55.

60.

55 is bid. 60...

65. 70, 75.

80... It's worth a lot of money.

-85...

-One for the road!

85. 95...

-CHARLES:

-Come on. The magical three figures.

£90. All done at 90?

95 anywhere?

95, the gentleman.

100...?

£95 is bid. 100 anywhere?

It's £95...

£95, then, it's going to be sold at 95...

Your bid, right through there.

-£95.

-A sad little loss to end on.

But, happily, small enough to keep

our gracious front-runners in the lead.

-She's giving you the shoulder, she's turned her back on you.

-I am shocked.

-You've got the real chill, you have.

-I'm shocked.

Come on. I'm leaving!

Oh, she's out of the door.

She'll get over it.

Our celebrities began with £400 each.

Despite Arlene's and James's enthusiasm

and gung-ho approach, they made a wounding loss,

after auction costs, of £42.20.

So that means they end their Road Trip with £357.80.

On the other hand, Anton's blase, carefree

and, frankly, at all times doubting attitude

made a small profit of £10.94.

A profit, nevertheless.

Our gracious winners end their Road Trip with £410.94.

All the funds generated by our celebrity teams

will go to Children in Need.

Arlene, are you going to forgive me?

-I shall try, James, I shall try very hard...

-ANTON LAUGHS

Stop crowing!

-You didn't make THAT much money.

-Oh, listen, the key is we made SOME.

This is it. Sweet sorrow, hey? But we took it.

-Sweet sorrow indeed.

-Well done, Arlene.

-That's enough, James.

-I forgive you!

Bye... Where's our honk?

HORN HONKS

-My mate...a fellow antique buff.

-Yeah.

Rather...being pedantic, because Anton's a great guy,

but in terms of steering him, James, into the antique world...

it's been hard work.

ANTON: I was hoping that Charles would have given me a bit more of a steer,

-but he was very good at getting a bargain.

-Is he?

-I think he wanted to learn to dance. I think he's a frustrated dancer.

-Oh, he is...

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd