0:00:02 > 0:00:05- The nation's favourite celebrities... - We've got some proper bling here!
0:00:05 > 0:00:07..paired up with an expert...
0:00:07 > 0:00:08- Oh, now!- What? What?
0:00:08 > 0:00:10..and a classic car.
0:00:10 > 0:00:11- BOTH:- Hello, girls!
0:00:11 > 0:00:14Their mission? To scour Britain for antiques.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16All breakages must be paid for.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18This is a good find, is it not?
0:00:18 > 0:00:21The aim? To make the biggest profit at auction.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23But it's no easy ride.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25Who will find a hidden gem?
0:00:25 > 0:00:28Who will take the biggest risks?
0:00:28 > 0:00:30Putting my "antiques head" on.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32Will anybody follow expert advice?
0:00:32 > 0:00:34I think it's horrible!
0:00:34 > 0:00:36There will be worthy winners...
0:00:36 > 0:00:37This is better than Christmas!
0:00:37 > 0:00:40..and valiant losers.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Time to put your pedal to the metal...
0:00:42 > 0:00:43Whoo!
0:00:43 > 0:00:45..this is Celebrity Antiques Road Trip.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Yeah!
0:00:49 > 0:00:51On this Road Trip,
0:00:51 > 0:00:55we're going snooker loopy with two superstars of the old green baize.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Dennis Taylor and Willie Thorne.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02You know, I was thinking the other night when I was at home,
0:01:02 > 0:01:05knowing we were going to do this programme,
0:01:05 > 0:01:06I've known you since I was 19.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09They do look young, don't they?
0:01:09 > 0:01:11This game comes from group four and features Dennis Taylor
0:01:11 > 0:01:14who has been runner-up in Pot Black on two occasions.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18He meets the youngest of our players, Willie Thorne, who's in his second season.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21We've remained firm friends ever since that, and...
0:01:21 > 0:01:24I think in our day, Dennis, everybody stayed friends, didn't they?
0:01:24 > 0:01:25Well, the way you travel together...
0:01:25 > 0:01:28Do you remember we shared a room in Toronto?
0:01:28 > 0:01:30The socks! The socks.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32The socks? Hmm.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35In the 1970s and 1980s, Willie Thorne was amongst the most celebrated
0:01:35 > 0:01:38stars of the booming snooker scene.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40- COMMENTATOR:- Making his first appearance this year...
0:01:40 > 0:01:45Nicknamed "Mr Maximum", he was one of the world's top-ranking players.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49Since retiring, he's become a snooker commentator
0:01:49 > 0:01:51and occasional twinkle-toes.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53As has his pal, Dennis.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56Well, Den, I'm honestly looking forward to this
0:01:56 > 0:01:59Antiques Road Trip, because we have a battle, don't we, over the years?
0:01:59 > 0:02:03Now, you were better than me at Strictly, you won the World Championship, I never did...
0:02:03 > 0:02:05It's now beginning to really get on my nerves.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Sounds like the game is on!
0:02:08 > 0:02:11A towering titan of the snooker table,
0:02:11 > 0:02:15Dennis Taylor was known in the '80s for his arresting eyewear.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19But there's one seismic British sporting moment for which
0:02:19 > 0:02:20he'll always be remembered.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24Listen, Den, while we're on this trip, I know you don't like to mention it,
0:02:24 > 0:02:27- but the 1985 World Championship... - THEY LAUGH
0:02:28 > 0:02:33Dennis won the 1985 Snooker World Championship,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37beating Steve Davis in a dramatic black ball final that
0:02:37 > 0:02:41ranks as one of the most thrilling in all of British sport.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44- You never mention it now, Den, do you?- No, I never mention it.
0:02:44 > 0:02:45THEY LAUGH
0:02:45 > 0:02:50Yeah, we had lots of fun taking the mickey out of '85, but trust me, we all wished we were there, mate.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53We all wished we'd done the same thing.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57Today, they're driving a delightful 1960s Jaguar E-type Coupe,
0:02:57 > 0:02:59the colour of the summer sun.
0:02:59 > 0:03:04There'll be a bit more room in the car when you're not in it!
0:03:04 > 0:03:07Listen, I'm on a diet! I bought that Jane Fonda video to help me.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09You know, On Golden Pond?
0:03:09 > 0:03:12I never understand why I never lost any weight!
0:03:12 > 0:03:13THEY LAUGH
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Joining them on this jolly jaunt are two elegant auctioneers
0:03:17 > 0:03:19at the top of their game.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23Catherine Southon and Christina Trevanion.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25So, we've never road tripped together, have we?
0:03:25 > 0:03:27- We have not!- It's pretty exciting, girls on tour.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31This morning, the girls are driving a dashing 1965 Rover P5.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38Catherine's remembering her girlhood as a 1980s snooker fan.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41There's was a crazy song, once upon a time,
0:03:41 > 0:03:45# Snooker loopy nuts are we, we're all snooker...loopy! #
0:03:45 > 0:03:47There was, too.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49# Snooker loopy nuts are we... #
0:03:49 > 0:03:52In 1986, Dennis and Willie starred in a Chas & Dave
0:03:52 > 0:03:56hit single that went to number six in the charts, Snooker Loopy.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58How it never got to number one, I'll never know.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00Can you remember your verse?
0:04:00 > 0:04:02# But them long pots, he never ever got,
0:04:02 > 0:04:04# Why? The old mind boggles
0:04:04 > 0:04:08# But nowadays, he pots the lot, because I wear these goggles! #
0:04:08 > 0:04:11# Snooker loopy nuts are we
0:04:11 > 0:04:13# Me and him and them and me... #
0:04:13 > 0:04:17With £400 to spend, our two teams will travel through
0:04:17 > 0:04:19England's heartlands, beginning in the Hertfordshire town
0:04:19 > 0:04:23of Sawbridgeworth and aiming for auction in Leicester.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25# Snooker loopy nuts are we... #
0:04:25 > 0:04:28It's time for celebrities to meet experts.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Wow, look at that! That's a bit special, isn't it?
0:04:31 > 0:04:34- Hello!- What is that? That's a Jag, isn't it?
0:04:34 > 0:04:37- Brilliant.- Let's go and grab them out of the car.- I love it.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40They've already decided that Christina will pair with Willie
0:04:40 > 0:04:41and Catherine with Dennis.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43- Lovely to meet you.- Nice to see you.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46- I'm Catherine, lovely to meet you. - How are you? Are you well?
0:04:46 > 0:04:49- We must win, by the way. - Now, I wouldn't say I'm competitive.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51I don't mind losing, but I can't stand getting beat.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53THEY LAUGH
0:04:53 > 0:04:55- Catherine!- We'll be fine, Catherine, yeah.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57I think we're up for it.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Then it's time to hit the road!
0:04:59 > 0:05:02They're driving off in their newly minted teams
0:05:02 > 0:05:05and Christina's quizzing Willie on his recent career.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09- So from super-duper, international snooker player...- Mmm.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12- ..to commentator?- Yes, absolutely.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15You can talk about things they do well, things they do bad,
0:05:15 > 0:05:18so you've got to be careful today, because if you start doing things bad...
0:05:18 > 0:05:22Oh, no! You're going to give me a running commentary! Oh, good lord!
0:05:22 > 0:05:25"What a terrible buy this is from Christina. She should have known better!
0:05:25 > 0:05:27"She should've played safe and gone with something else!"
0:05:27 > 0:05:29Straight from the left field.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32You have been warned, Christina!
0:05:32 > 0:05:37Meanwhile, Catherine's remembering Dennis's World Championship victory.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40I remember we all went to school the next day and when we had
0:05:40 > 0:05:45the science classes, you know when you wear the goggles for science?
0:05:45 > 0:05:49We all turned our glasses upside down, saying, "Oh, we are Dennis Taylor!"
0:05:49 > 0:05:51Eddie Charlton said when he saw me, he said,
0:05:51 > 0:05:55"Dennis, you look like the front-end of a Ford Cortina!"
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Now that's an old car!
0:05:59 > 0:06:02They're approaching Sawbridgeworth, a very pretty
0:06:02 > 0:06:06little Hertfordshire town through which flows through the River Stort.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11Dennis and Catherine are heading into their first shop of the day.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Herts and Essex Antiques Centre.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16- Ah!- Here we go.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18This is it!
0:06:18 > 0:06:21Dealer Nick is ready to greet them.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Hmmm, I recognise this place.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26- Hello!- Hello, welcome, welcome to Herts and Essex again.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29- Thank you!- Lovely to see you. - Nick. Nice to see you.- Welcome!
0:06:29 > 0:06:32This is a sprawling place with goods belonging to many dealers.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42- If we go through every cabinet... - We'll be here for a month.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44We will be here for a month.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- You're used to long tournaments, though, aren't you?- Oh, yeah.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49When, who should he spot...?
0:06:49 > 0:06:50Who does that remind you of?
0:06:52 > 0:06:54SHE LAUGHS
0:06:54 > 0:06:59- Oh, you're horrible! It does look like...Willie!- Willie Thorne!
0:06:59 > 0:07:02But nearby is yet another legend of the game.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06Oh, here you are. What's this? Billiards. Billiards.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09- Can we take that down? - We can take it down.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12In fact, that is Joe Davis, the legendary Joe
0:07:12 > 0:07:14really got snooker going.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16Joe Davis was a world-beating billiards player
0:07:16 > 0:07:18in the mid-20th century.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21He was a pioneer of World Champion Snooker, too.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23- Did you know him?- Yeah.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26He had retired, but I went to Canada with Joe.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29Without him, I wouldn't have made a living playing snooker.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33- Was he sort of a hero of yours, then?- He was the man, Joe Davis was.
0:07:33 > 0:07:3520 years undefeated world champion.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37He WAS.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40But they're not sure they can turn a profit on the picture.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44So Catherine's seen something else which might kick off their buying.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46Changing the subject, what do you think about those?
0:07:46 > 0:07:51- I just spotted those.- They're little boots.- They are wooden little boots.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55And they are...some sort of sewing accessory.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Never seen anything like that.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01I think they're very unusual. I've never seen anything like that before.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03It says on them, "cotton winders".
0:08:03 > 0:08:06The cotton winders are sewing accessories
0:08:06 > 0:08:09shaped as Victorian ladies' boots.
0:08:09 > 0:08:10£85 on the ticket.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12How good are you at haggling?
0:08:12 > 0:08:13I can haggle, yeah.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16Here you go then. Dennis, over to you.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Nick, Catherine spotted these lovely little boots.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Do you know anything more about the boots at all?
0:08:21 > 0:08:24- I've not seen them, so... - There we go.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26- Have they just come in?- Yes.
0:08:26 > 0:08:27The belong to another dealer.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30I'm sure he would accept 75.
0:08:30 > 0:08:3275, that's... What...
0:08:32 > 0:08:35He's a very tough cookie.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37- I'll tell you what he would do. - What?
0:08:37 > 0:08:41He would do a deal on 68, wouldn't he?
0:08:41 > 0:08:43He's got to do a deal on 68.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46I can try.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Nick will call the dealer in question.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Perhaps Dennis can sweet talk the chap.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54Dennis, would you like to have a quick word with the dealer...
0:08:54 > 0:08:57- Oh, Dennis.- What's his name? - His name is Ray.- Ray...
0:08:57 > 0:08:58Ray, how are you doing?
0:09:01 > 0:09:02Oh, you like the old snooker, do you?
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Dennis is getting stuck into the haggle.
0:09:05 > 0:09:06Good man.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Right, can you do it for 68 for us?
0:09:11 > 0:09:13He says definitely.
0:09:13 > 0:09:14Fantastic!
0:09:14 > 0:09:17- Well done!- Bye-bye. - That's wonderful.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19A lovely fella, he sounded so friendly.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Dennis makes a hard haggle look as easy a pie.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24He's one to watch, that boy.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26These boots were made for walking
0:09:26 > 0:09:28and that's just what we'll do.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33One of these days, these boots are gonna walk all over you.
0:09:33 > 0:09:34THEY CHUCKLE
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Lordy!
0:09:37 > 0:09:41Meanwhile, Willie and Christina are near moments away
0:09:41 > 0:09:44and arriving at another Sawbridgeworth shop.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46- Shall we get out? - Absolutely, eventually.
0:09:50 > 0:09:51Oh, this is service.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54- Service with a smile.- I never got this in the snooker world.
0:09:54 > 0:09:55There we go.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57This is my antiques jacket.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00Let's go, go, go.
0:10:00 > 0:10:01Good, good, go on, then.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04- Have you been here before? - No, never before in my life.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07They're heading into Cromwell's antiques centre.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09- Oh, wow!- Wow, goodness me.
0:10:09 > 0:10:10Oh, I love this place already.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Hello, hi, I'm Christina.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15- Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Eleanor. - Eleanor, lovely to meet you.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18And I'm Willie Thorne. You're far too young to know who I am.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20You charmer, Willie!
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Now, time for a good, old browse, eh?
0:10:26 > 0:10:27A black and white spaniel.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30So is this the sort of antique shop you'd generally come into, Willie?
0:10:30 > 0:10:32I love going to antique fairs and things like that
0:10:32 > 0:10:35and picking up little bargains and that. We always buy something.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38This chap's got form.
0:10:38 > 0:10:39Good to know.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42So what's our tactic? Are you thinking...
0:10:42 > 0:10:43- We've got £400.- Yeah.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46- Do you want to spend small or do you want to spend...- Large.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48- Really.- As in we're getting rid of all of it.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50As I've told you, we've got to win.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53With that championship level of ambition,
0:10:53 > 0:10:54anything could happen.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56That is fabulous.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59Silver-plated late Victorian dinner gong on horn mounts and oak base.
0:10:59 > 0:11:00Here's a question.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03When was the last time you used a dinner gong?
0:11:04 > 0:11:09- Can you remember?- You couldn't ask me a question on sport, could you? - CHRISTINA LAUGHS
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Willie's keen to spot a bargain but Christina doesn't think
0:11:12 > 0:11:16the gong will turn a profit but she's soon spotted something else.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19That's really interesting? Rare, original Clarice Cliff artwork.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22- Have you heard of Clarice Cliff? - Clarice Cliff, very much so.
0:11:22 > 0:11:23That's what goes on the pottery?
0:11:23 > 0:11:27Yeah, that would have been a design for a piece of pottery for Clarice Cliff.
0:11:27 > 0:11:32Early 20th-century ceramics designer Clarice Cliff is hugely popular.
0:11:32 > 0:11:37The ticket says this is an original design for one of her pieces
0:11:37 > 0:11:40but they'll need to check that provenance.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42The ticket price is £250.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45- Hi, Eleanor.- Hi.- Hello, my love.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48Do you know if there's any provenance behind this?
0:11:48 > 0:11:52Do you know if there's any history behind it, who got it from where?
0:11:52 > 0:11:54There's nothing I know personally.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56- I can give the dealer a call for you.- Would you mind?
0:11:56 > 0:11:59Would it be possible to take it out of its frame?
0:11:59 > 0:12:02- Would that be all right? - Yeah.- Great. Thank you ever so much.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Ah, that's nice, that's promising.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06OK.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09OK, we have some information.
0:12:09 > 0:12:10Ah-ha! Well done, Eleanor.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13It used to belong to an old lady
0:12:13 > 0:12:15- who used to work there for Clarice Cliff.- Oh, really.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17- So...- Gosh, that's interesting.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19- They got it from her.- Brilliant.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22They don't have any address or proof of it, however.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24The dealer said their best price will be 180.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27There's no paperwork to authenticate its provenance
0:12:27 > 0:12:30but Christina thinks it's worth taking a chance on.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33Over to Willie for their first haggle.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36So what do you think is the very best you could do, then?
0:12:36 > 0:12:38The very best...
0:12:38 > 0:12:41Um, we will help you out, we will do it for 100.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43- You're kidding!- Really?
0:12:43 > 0:12:45Am I allowed to give you a little...
0:12:45 > 0:12:48That's a very generous deal.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52But without provenance, it is a risk and Christina is going to have
0:12:52 > 0:12:56to make some calls to research the item before the auction.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58- Have we just bought something? - We have bought an item.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01They sure have.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03But their big break's not over yet.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Is there anything else?
0:13:06 > 0:13:08You see, that's interesting.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11So stamped sterling, 95 Denmark, Danish jewellery is really,
0:13:11 > 0:13:13- really popular right now.- Mm-hm.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15- Really, really popular.- Why?
0:13:15 > 0:13:18Because it is, it's just becoming...
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Sort of 1930s, 1940s Scandinavian jewellery.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25There's been quite a few auctions recently, featuring a lot of it.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27Would Mrs Thorne like something like that?
0:13:27 > 0:13:29Um, on her jacket, yeah.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33Ticket price is £14.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35Back to the lovely Eleanor.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37- Eleanor...- Yes.
0:13:37 > 0:13:38Is it possible...
0:13:38 > 0:13:40- That was marked off at 14, wasn't it?- Yes, it was.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Can we say £5?
0:13:43 > 0:13:46I'm afraid, unfortunately, we don't normally do discounts
0:13:46 > 0:13:48for anything less than £20.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50We tend to have a £20 cut-off point.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53- Eleanor...- I'm very sorry.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Goodness me. Can you meet us halfway and say a tenner, Eleanor?
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Go on, then, I'll do it for a tenner. Just this time.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03- A tenner from Eleanor. - A tenner from Eleanor.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Brilliant, you're an angel. Thank you, you've been really kind.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08Have you got the readies?
0:14:08 > 0:14:11Great teamwork in that shop. What a pair of charmers.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14And 20, thank you very much for your time. Lovely to meet you.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16Thank you very much. Take care now.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18And off they go.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26Now Dennis and Catherine are taking a breather from buying.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29I never dreamt I'd be sitting in an E-Type Jag.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31- An E-Type Jag.- Out in the middle of the country
0:14:31 > 0:14:34with a gorgeous blonde girl.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Oh! Thank you, Dennis, you say the right things.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39He's a charming fellow.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42They're heading deep into the Hertfordshire countryside
0:14:42 > 0:14:44and to stately home Knebworth House.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51Dennis has come to learn the story of one of Knebworth's most
0:14:51 > 0:14:54celebrated sons who, in the 1920s,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57was himself a pioneering sporting hero.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01They're meeting the current resident,
0:15:01 > 0:15:04the Honourable Henry Lytton-Cobbold.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07- How are you?- Nice to see you, welcome to Knebworth.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10- Hello.- Hello, Catherine, welcome to Knebworth.- Nice to meet you.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12- This is wonderful. - Thank you very much. Come on in.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14- Beautiful. - Thank you very much, indeed.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19Henry, I think this room was made to have a snooker table.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21I think you're right, Dennis.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23- Wouldn't it be perfect? - Perfect portions.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25It would be absolutely perfect.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27- The poshest snooker room in the world.- Yeah.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29So here we are in the banqueting hall
0:15:29 > 0:15:31and this is the oldest room in the house.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34The Lytton family moved here in 1490
0:15:34 > 0:15:37and I'm the 19th generation of the Lytton family to live in this house.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41Today we're going to go back to the 16th generation and their family
0:15:41 > 0:15:44and talk about the son of, the eldest son of that time,
0:15:44 > 0:15:46a young man called Antony,
0:15:46 > 0:15:50who was really the great sportsman of the Lytton family.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54A really remarkable young man, a very much of a high achiever,
0:15:54 > 0:15:59a great, great, great early 20th century character.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02When you say sport, did he excel in any particular sport?
0:16:02 > 0:16:05He played a big part in the introduction of skiing
0:16:05 > 0:16:07and we can come and see some of the examples, if you follow me.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Love to, thank you.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13So come on in here to the nursery.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16- Look at this.- This is a lovely.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Sir Antony and his brothers and two sisters grew up
0:16:19 > 0:16:23in Knebworth House and these are all the things that they loved.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Antony Bulwer-Lytton, Viscount Knebworth,
0:16:28 > 0:16:33was born in 1903 and a great record of his adventuresome life survives.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37How did you know so much about him?
0:16:37 > 0:16:39He was a fantastic letter writer.
0:16:39 > 0:16:44He was sent away to boarding school and he wrote endless letters,
0:16:44 > 0:16:47wonderful letters, which we have in our archive.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49One, he was a beautiful letter writer and, two,
0:16:49 > 0:16:53they tell of all of his enthusiasm and his zest and love for life.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56The also tell of his passion for sporting adventures,
0:16:56 > 0:16:58which his family encouraged.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01His father used to take his children up to the
0:17:01 > 0:17:03Alps before the First World War
0:17:03 > 0:17:07to sort of do healthy Alpine things.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11- This was a sort of a new thing, really.- Totally new.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14He was associated with this chap called Sir Henry Lunn
0:17:14 > 0:17:16and his son Arnold Lunn.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18On their trips to the Alps,
0:17:18 > 0:17:22the Bulwer-Lytton family became friendly with the Lunns.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Young chums Antony Bulwer-Lytton
0:17:25 > 0:17:30and Arnold Lunn were both devoted to Alpine thrill-seeking.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34Together they became early pioneers of a whole new sport,
0:17:34 > 0:17:35downhill skiing.
0:17:35 > 0:17:40Antony and Arnold Lunn created the first downhill race.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43Prior to that, I think
0:17:43 > 0:17:47the Swedes and the Swiss had done competitions with cross-country
0:17:47 > 0:17:50skiing but it was the British who were the first to institute
0:17:50 > 0:17:52- downhill racing.- That's amazing.
0:17:52 > 0:17:57They created the downhill and slalom races that began in the early 1920s.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59What sort of clothing would they have been wearing
0:17:59 > 0:18:01when they were on the skis?
0:18:01 > 0:18:05I'm really pleased you asked that, Dennis, because we've got the clothing that they used to wear.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07Come and have a look at it.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12So here we've got Antony's ski jumper and his wonderful old skis.
0:18:12 > 0:18:17I mean, these beautiful, old wooden skis and bamboo pole ski poles.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20They're amazing. How good was he?
0:18:20 > 0:18:22He was extremely good.
0:18:22 > 0:18:27As I say, he won the downhill cup, I think the second time they run it.
0:18:27 > 0:18:301924, I think he won.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33He was a great speed king and he and his friend Arnold Lunn
0:18:33 > 0:18:37loved the concept of speed and slaloming and downhill racing.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41There are a couple of shots of him jumping, it's incredible.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43He has got a tweed jacket on.
0:18:43 > 0:18:44HENRY CHUCKLES
0:18:44 > 0:18:46No going to Lillywhites back then...
0:18:46 > 0:18:49He basically...
0:18:49 > 0:18:51They were improvising with their clothes
0:18:51 > 0:18:55because they were the pioneers of taking Alpine holidays.
0:18:55 > 0:19:00Antony's passion for speed soon led him into another pioneering
0:19:00 > 0:19:02and dangerous pursuit -
0:19:02 > 0:19:03early aviation.
0:19:03 > 0:19:08Flying then became his big passion at the end of the 1920s
0:19:08 > 0:19:12and his sort of need for speed moved from slopes
0:19:12 > 0:19:13up into the air.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16He was a very fine pilot.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19He joined the RAF reserves.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22Antony flew many trips from right here at Knebworth.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26And flying was what caused the end of his life
0:19:26 > 0:19:29because he was killed in a flying accident
0:19:29 > 0:19:33just ten days before his 30th birthday.
0:19:33 > 0:19:34That's tragic.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36That's really sad, isn't it?
0:19:36 > 0:19:39He wasn't quite 30, but what a life he had lived.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42- He really lived life to the full. - Absolutely.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44- And, um...- So passionate.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46But his father very beautifully collected
0:19:46 > 0:19:50a lot of his letters into this book which he called
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Antony, A Record Of Youth,
0:19:52 > 0:19:55which became a great bestseller in the 1930s.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59And the famous author of Peter Pan paid moving tribute to this
0:19:59 > 0:20:01lost adventurer of the age.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05JM Barrie of Peter Pan did a wonderful foreword to it.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07You know, celebrating him as one of the,
0:20:07 > 0:20:10so to speak, the lost boys of that generation,
0:20:10 > 0:20:12that Peter Pan generation.
0:20:12 > 0:20:17And, um, it was very widely read and he became a real symbol
0:20:17 > 0:20:22for this sort of character who was really one step ahead of himself.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26Antony was a great example of his buccaneering 1920s generation,
0:20:26 > 0:20:31who pioneered the venturous Alpine sports we still enjoy today.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35To me he's very much that sort of Bulldog Drummond type character.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38We've talked about him in his tweed jacket and his tie
0:20:38 > 0:20:41but the sort of man who can win the downhill slalom, you know,
0:20:41 > 0:20:43save the world and finish the London to Brighton
0:20:43 > 0:20:44and still be home in time for tea.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47- Thank you so much. - Thanks for popping by.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49- We really enjoyed being in Knebworth.- Great fun.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53- Thank you very much, indeed. - Thank you so much, Henry. Thank you.
0:20:53 > 0:20:58Now Willie and Christina are back in the car and enjoying the ride.
0:20:58 > 0:20:59Dennis is in the E-Type.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02I got to be perfectly honest, I'm pretty pleased we're in a big car.
0:21:02 > 0:21:03Oh, really?!
0:21:03 > 0:21:06- Because you may have noticed, I've ripped my shirt...- You haven't!
0:21:06 > 0:21:08And that was getting in and out of the E-Type.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Hey, I tell you what, you're going to get me a reputation,
0:21:10 > 0:21:12ripping shirts off gentleman.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Hmm... Huh!
0:21:14 > 0:21:18They're moving on to the village of Finchingfield in Essex.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21A very pretty little place where they'll be ducking
0:21:21 > 0:21:24and diving off into their next shop.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26- Swing her round.- Whee!- Perfect.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30You do seem to be enjoying ourselves, with poise and purpose.
0:21:30 > 0:21:31Let's go!
0:21:31 > 0:21:34They're off into Finchingfield Antiques, where dealers
0:21:34 > 0:21:36Peter and Mary are waiting to greet them.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38- Hello!- Hello.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41- Hello, nice to meet you. I'm Christina.- Willie Thorne.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44Mary, how nice to see you. How are you? All right?
0:21:44 > 0:21:45And they're off.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Now they've bagged a couple of items,
0:21:52 > 0:21:56it's time for a bit of a mid-match commentary from Mr Thorne.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59Christina's very much a safety player, in the terms of snooker.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01I put her in the mould of a Cliff Thorburn or a Dennis Taylor,
0:22:01 > 0:22:02who's doing today.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05I'm sure he's going to be taking his time to buy things.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08I'm a little bit more impulsive, like a Jimmy White or something.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11Here's hoping this pair's trademarked combination
0:22:11 > 0:22:14of impulse and caution pays off.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Ooh. I want this!
0:22:17 > 0:22:19- It's only 1,100. - SHE LAUGHS
0:22:21 > 0:22:27- Only?- Mm. You may need to take him in hand, Christina.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32- Oh, look, golf!- Exactly. I was just looking at that
0:22:32 > 0:22:34but I don't know whether they'd sell. Do they?
0:22:34 > 0:22:37That's completely you, isn't it? You're a big golfer.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41- I'm just big.- No! - HE LAUGHS
0:22:41 > 0:22:45The sound of clocks ticking is just lovely. It's a lovely sound.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49But the clock is ticking, chaps. Enough tomfoolery!
0:22:51 > 0:22:53What's Willie got there?
0:22:53 > 0:22:55What's that? Is that a hatpin or a tie...?
0:22:55 > 0:22:59A little stock pin or something, yes. That's quite sweet, isn't it?
0:22:59 > 0:23:03A little coral-set, what looks like gold, stock pin.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06It's a pin to secure a necktie.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11Just the thing for a sharp dresser like Willie. Ticket price - £39.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17- It's quite sharp. Look.- Oh, thanks. Sticking pins in me now.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19- I thought you liked me.- I do.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23- At auction, we're probably looking at maybe 20 or £30 for that.- OK.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27So if you can work your Mr Maximum magic, that would be good.
0:23:29 > 0:23:30That would be very good.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35- What, you mean we need to get it for about £15 or something?- Well...
0:23:36 > 0:23:40- Is he standing close enough to hear that?- WHISPERS:- Yeah, I think he might be. He's just there.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42Does he have a smile on his face at the moment?
0:23:42 > 0:23:45- No, not really. - So 15 doesn't sound very good?
0:23:45 > 0:23:48- He's looking a little bit grumpy. - Let me walk a bit closer to him.- OK.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53Obligingly, Peter will call the dealer who owns it.
0:23:53 > 0:23:54It's up at 39.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58- What would be the very best for Willie?- The very, very, very best.
0:23:58 > 0:23:5925?
0:24:00 > 0:24:0220 and you've got a deal.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04- 20, you've got a deal, apparently. - Did you hear that?
0:24:07 > 0:24:08OK, thanks very much.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11- You've got a deal there. - Oh, bless you, sir.
0:24:11 > 0:24:16Some cunning teamwork secures them the prize. Good show.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20And with that, it's the end of the first day of this trip.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22Nighty-night, you lovely lot.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28But the morning greets Dennis and Willie back in the car
0:24:28 > 0:24:29and getting competitive.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31Well, Den, second day.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34We had a super first day. Tell me about your first day.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36It was fantastic. Absolutely. Catherine was great.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38Taught me an awful lot about antiques
0:24:38 > 0:24:43and I think I might have learned enough to maybe beat the great WT.
0:24:43 > 0:24:44WILLIE SCOFFS
0:24:44 > 0:24:47We've only got to get two more things, Dennis,
0:24:47 > 0:24:49so you've got a little bit of catching up to do.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51But I've heard you're good from behind, aren't you?
0:24:51 > 0:24:54Well, that's what Steve Davis told me, all those years ago.
0:24:54 > 0:24:578-0 behind and still managed to beat him.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59Why would I bring that up again, the 1985 World tournament?
0:24:59 > 0:25:02You see, people say I bring it up, but there you go, it was you.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04I never even mentioned it.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07You didn't, Dennis. It's true.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10So, our boys are learning the antiques lark,
0:25:10 > 0:25:12but have girls gone snooker loopy yet?
0:25:12 > 0:25:14I did learn quite a lot.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17- They don't have teams.- No.
0:25:17 > 0:25:22Oh, God, Christina! Really.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26- They take it in turns.- You'll be winning tournaments in no time.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28Have you learnt any more lyrics of the song?
0:25:28 > 0:25:32Please tell me you've learnt some lyrics. You've learnt the second line, at least.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34Yes, I do know a bit more now.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36- OK.- So, it's snooker loopy nuts are we.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38We're all snooker...loopy.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41And I've forgotten it.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43Honestly.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46Time to meet the boys and get hunting.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49- Ah-ha! The girlies.- The other car.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53- Hello!- How are you?- Good morning.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55- CATHERINE:- Hello, how are you?
0:25:55 > 0:25:58- I hope you finish second. Yeah, I'm fine.- He's competitive again.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01- He is rather, isn't he? - Well, have fun, guys.- Enjoy.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04- See you later.- Bye!- Bye!
0:26:04 > 0:26:08So far, Willie and Christina have spent £130 on three lots.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11The Clarice Cliff watercolour,
0:26:11 > 0:26:13a Danish brooch,
0:26:13 > 0:26:15the coral stickpin.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18They still have £270 for today.
0:26:18 > 0:26:23Dennis and Catherine have spent only £68 on one item...
0:26:23 > 0:26:25Fantastic! Well done!
0:26:25 > 0:26:27..the little boot bobbins,
0:26:27 > 0:26:32leaving them with £332 begging to be spent.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36But it sounds like Willie's joshing has spurred on Dennis.
0:26:36 > 0:26:41- Today is all about... All-out attack today.- Oh, yes.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Well, if you compare it to snooker, Steve Davis.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46We did our Steve Davis yesterday.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48- We were cautious, didn't rush in... - We were cautious.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51..and now today it's going to be Ronnie O'Sullivan - all-out attack.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54- We're going for the old maximum break today.- Bang, bang, bang.- Yep.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56Blimey.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59They've motored on to Bletchley in Buckinghamshire.
0:26:59 > 0:27:05- This must be us here.- And to Fenny Antique Centre to greet dealer Mags.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09- I think we're on a winner here. - I think we are. Hello!- Welcome.- Hi.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11- Mags, how are you? - Catherine, nice to meet you.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13- Oh, he's going in for the kiss. - Absolutely. Why not?
0:27:13 > 0:27:15He's going in for the kiss already.
0:27:15 > 0:27:16- Let me ring... Oh! - BELL RINGS
0:27:16 > 0:27:20Well, Dennis certainly seems determined to lay on the charm today.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22Who's a pretty boy, then?
0:27:25 > 0:27:28That's quite a nice little domino set there, believe it or not.
0:27:28 > 0:27:33I remember there was a very famous club, a very wealthy club,
0:27:33 > 0:27:36in fact, they had diamond-studded dominoes,
0:27:36 > 0:27:40and one of my uncles got arrested for stealing a double blank.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45- HE LAUGHS - That's terrible.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47It's the way you tell them, Dennis.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51But he's doing some independent browsing this morning
0:27:51 > 0:27:53and doing rather well.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55- And that's quite collectable, you think?- Yeah.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57Have you had this one in a very long?
0:27:57 > 0:28:00- No, that just came in yesterday, believe it or not.- Did it?
0:28:00 > 0:28:04It's a 19th-century Japanese inkwell priced at £120.
0:28:06 > 0:28:07One to think about, eh?
0:28:09 > 0:28:13He just came in and...choom! Like lightning.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15He really was going for it.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17Quite, Catherine.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20Anything caught your eye, girl?
0:28:20 > 0:28:22Excuse me, sir, is this your unicycle?
0:28:22 > 0:28:24Oh, it is, yeah, yeah. That's mine, yes.
0:28:24 > 0:28:31It is indeed a 1970s unicycle, which hasn't yet been ticketed.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34I think as it's just up, what we'll do,
0:28:34 > 0:28:37- as long as I make a little bit of profit, I don't mind.- Right.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40I think we could do it probably for about 15.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43Catherine will have to consult the joker in chief.
0:28:43 > 0:28:44BELL RINGS
0:28:46 > 0:28:48I think I'm being summoned.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51- Dennis! - HE LAUGHS
0:28:51 > 0:28:54It's like my head teacher used to be at school, with the bell.
0:28:54 > 0:28:59- You're being summoned.- Oh.- OK. Well, I have found something.- Right.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01Would you like to follow me and have a look?
0:29:01 > 0:29:04It's not this little thing hidden away in the corner behind the plant?
0:29:04 > 0:29:06People are into all these at the moment.
0:29:06 > 0:29:07People are really into their cycling.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10I might buy that myself if there was another wheel on it.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12Could you open that door? I'm coming through!
0:29:12 > 0:29:14Dennis seems happy to run away with it,
0:29:14 > 0:29:18but in the spirit of ruthless competition...
0:29:18 > 0:29:21Could you just tell us your rock-bottom price?
0:29:21 > 0:29:23I think probably the best price I could do,
0:29:23 > 0:29:26to save me having to price it up and everything else, a tenner.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29A steal. So they're taking that. Deal done decisively.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34There was something else that I...looked at.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36It's in this area.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39Going back to your heritage, going back to where you came from.
0:29:39 > 0:29:43Something from Ireland. Let's have a look. A Belfast sink?
0:29:43 > 0:29:45- People use those to put their plants in in the garden.- Oh, do they?
0:29:45 > 0:29:49- Yeah.- They do. It's ticketed at £25.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51But what sort of money do they go for?
0:29:51 > 0:29:54I think what we'd be looking at with that is again probably buying it,
0:29:54 > 0:29:59- if possible, for £10 or something. - Well, we'll have a go.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02And then hopefully selling it for 30, 35.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05So, that's another possibility, but Dennis is still keen
0:30:05 > 0:30:08to show Catherine the inkwell he liked earlier.
0:30:08 > 0:30:11It looks very unusual but, Mags, would you be able to get that...?
0:30:11 > 0:30:15- It's a Japanese... An inkwell. - This is all lovely.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17I think it is attractive, I must admit.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19Good instincts, Dennis.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23But at 120 on the ticket, you'll need to turn on the charm.
0:30:23 > 0:30:27- Mags, do you like snooker? - I love it, yeah.
0:30:27 > 0:30:31- Oh.- Do you love it?
0:30:31 > 0:30:35- Do you like Irishmen that play snooker?- I do.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38Mags, if you'd do us your best price on that,
0:30:38 > 0:30:40to see if we can beat Willie Thorne..
0:30:40 > 0:30:45- For you, and it's the best price, it's £80, Dennis.- £80.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47- I've got to have a go. - You've got to have a go?
0:30:47 > 0:30:50No, listen, £80, that's fantastic.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53- I'm going to give Mags another kiss here, by the looks of things.- Oh!
0:30:53 > 0:30:57- Where's that bell?- Where's the bell? - Ring the bell again. Mwah.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00Lovely. But aren't you forgetting something?
0:31:00 > 0:31:02Oh, of course, the Belfast sink.
0:31:02 > 0:31:07Well, it was 25. What would be your best price on that?
0:31:07 > 0:31:11- It could go for 18.- 18.
0:31:11 > 0:31:16Do you know, I think we could have a deal if Mags would do it for 14.
0:31:16 > 0:31:20We would have a deal. It might cost another kiss again for 14.
0:31:20 > 0:31:24Well, I'll do 14 with another kiss. Go on.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26- Go on, Mags. Mwah.- Thank you.
0:31:26 > 0:31:30- Thank you very much indeed. Thank you.- Thanks again. Thank you.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33Madness. Complete madness. I can't believe what we've bought.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36I never dreamt in my wildest dreams that I'd be coming out of here
0:31:36 > 0:31:39- having bought a unicycle and a Belfast sink.- I know, I'm sorry.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42No-one would have expected that, Dennis.
0:31:42 > 0:31:47- And one more for luck. - They spent £104 on the three items.
0:31:47 > 0:31:51That blitz of buying has put them back in the game. Bravo.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55Now, Willie and Christina are back on the road.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57# Snooker loopy nuts are we
0:31:57 > 0:31:59- # We're all snooker... - BOTH:- Loopy! #
0:31:59 > 0:32:01Now you're in the swing, Christina.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03# We'll show you what we can do
0:32:03 > 0:32:04# With a load of balls and a snooker cue
0:32:04 > 0:32:06# Pot the reds and screw back
0:32:06 > 0:32:08# For the yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black. #
0:32:08 > 0:32:10Yellow... Whoa, hang on a second.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12- Yellow, green, brown. - Yellow, green, brown.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14- Blue, pink and black.- ..and black.
0:32:14 > 0:32:15Keep working on it though.
0:32:15 > 0:32:20Now, while Dennis and Willie were a big hit in the '80s music scene,
0:32:20 > 0:32:24this morning Willie and Christina are taking a break from buying
0:32:24 > 0:32:28to hear about a bestselling musician of an earlier era.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31They're driving to the outskirts of Bedford in Bedfordshire.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34They're aiming for RAF Twinwood Farm
0:32:34 > 0:32:36and meeting John Miller,
0:32:36 > 0:32:41an American chap who leads a swinging big band here in the UK,
0:32:41 > 0:32:45and he has a famous family connection to this airbase.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49- Hello!- Howdy.- How are you? - Christina!- Yes, indeed.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51- Ooh, lot of kisses.- Mr Thorne. - Willie Thorne, how nice to see you.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54- Are we having...? Oh, I don't mind a kiss.- Nice to see you.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57- Oh, very continental. - Welcome to Twinwood.
0:32:57 > 0:33:02John is the nephew of Glenn Miller, probably the US musician
0:33:02 > 0:33:07most famously associated with World War II, and with good reason.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09Miller led a hugely successful big band,
0:33:09 > 0:33:15whose swing sound earned him success around the world, even in Hollywood.
0:33:15 > 0:33:19In 1942, Miller patriotically enlisted in the US military
0:33:19 > 0:33:22and served as a military band leader
0:33:22 > 0:33:25and official entertainer to the Allied forces.
0:33:25 > 0:33:30He brought his famous Army Air Force Band to Britain in 1944.
0:33:32 > 0:33:35- You'll like it in here.- Oh, wow, look at that!- Oh, well, it's a...
0:33:35 > 0:33:37What was your uncle's connection with the base?
0:33:37 > 0:33:42Ah, well, he was billeted not far from here, as was the band.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45His band actually played out here at one point,
0:33:45 > 0:33:49as well as so many other places in the UK.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52- He was a serving serviceman? - Yeah. He had a band.
0:33:52 > 0:33:57Glenn had a band and he came over here because he was a patriotic guy
0:33:57 > 0:34:00and he wanted to bring a little bit of home to all the fellows.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03It's interesting to note that they wouldn't have drafted him.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06He wanted to come in and he wanted to entertain the troops.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08Miller's band toured,
0:34:08 > 0:34:12and their concerts broadcast to millions of listeners.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14How big was his band when he first...?
0:34:14 > 0:34:16Did he bring everybody over? Was it a massive band?
0:34:16 > 0:34:19- He had about 60 guys.- Wow.
0:34:19 > 0:34:2254, 60, with tertiary people.
0:34:22 > 0:34:26And Miller's band brought a new swing sound to military music.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31It was the way they played marches and things like that.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34St Louis Blues March is the one that everybody looks at
0:34:34 > 0:34:38because it was a swinging march.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41You could walk down the street and strut your stuff
0:34:41 > 0:34:43while you were marching.
0:34:43 > 0:34:44- Puff your chest out?- Yeah.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47I would imagine that the band and he were very important
0:34:47 > 0:34:50for keeping morale up amongst the troops.
0:34:50 > 0:34:55Amongst the troops AND the civilians. He played for everybody.
0:34:55 > 0:34:57I've met hundreds of people that have seen his shows.
0:34:57 > 0:35:02I'm constantly amazed that he could leave such an indelible impression
0:35:02 > 0:35:06upon this country in under six months.
0:35:06 > 0:35:11In the later years of the war, visiting US superstars like Miller
0:35:11 > 0:35:15made a huge contribution to boosting morale in war-torn Allied Europe.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17So, what happened to your uncle?
0:35:17 > 0:35:20Well, he got on a plane right down there.
0:35:20 > 0:35:24He was going to Paris to make billeting for the band.
0:35:24 > 0:35:29In December 1944, Glenn Miller took off from here at Twinwood.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31Two days later his band followed.
0:35:32 > 0:35:34He wasn't there to meet them. That was unusual
0:35:34 > 0:35:36because he always met them.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38They thought, "Maybe he's at the hotel."
0:35:38 > 0:35:40They go to the hotel and he's not there.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43They had to call around all of the other bases
0:35:43 > 0:35:45that they might have diverted to.
0:35:45 > 0:35:49- Yeah, cos of the weather, or whatever.- The weather wasn't particularly good over there.
0:35:49 > 0:35:53By the time the powers that be could call all the alternate airports,
0:35:53 > 0:35:57finally it dawns on them - he's not here. He's gone.
0:35:57 > 0:36:01Tragically, Miller's aircraft had disappeared over the English Channel
0:36:01 > 0:36:05two days earlier. The plane was never recovered
0:36:05 > 0:36:08and the cause of the crash remains a mystery to this day.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11His band was devastated.
0:36:11 > 0:36:16He was the driving force and they cancelled two concerts.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18But the Christmas show, the December 25th,
0:36:18 > 0:36:20was going to be broadcast to the States,
0:36:20 > 0:36:24and they felt that they couldn't pull that one.
0:36:24 > 0:36:28And somebody came out to our house and saw my father,
0:36:28 > 0:36:32who was in Fort Ord and told them
0:36:32 > 0:36:36so they wouldn't find out over the radio.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38So...he's gone.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40Big shocker. Big shock.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44Eerily, John's father received a letter from Glenn
0:36:44 > 0:36:46that foreshadowed his sad fate.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48He wrote my father a letter that said...
0:36:48 > 0:36:50It was one of his last.
0:36:50 > 0:36:54It said, "I'm going to Paris to make billeting for the band,
0:36:54 > 0:36:57"barring a nosedive into the Channel."
0:36:57 > 0:36:59- You're kidding.- It's true.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01Despite their tragic loss,
0:37:01 > 0:37:04Miller's band continued to perform and raise the spirits
0:37:04 > 0:37:08of the Allied nations until the end of the war in Europe.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11Miller's legacy in popular rising swing music
0:37:11 > 0:37:14throughout the Western world was enormous.
0:37:14 > 0:37:18He had 70 top ten US hits in only four years.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22Many big bands still perform Glenn's music today.
0:37:22 > 0:37:26He had one of the finest big bands of all time.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30He set the mark for everyone that followed.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33He could have stayed home and made a lot of money,
0:37:33 > 0:37:38but, no, he wanted to be over here helping people and morale.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40He'll be missed.
0:37:40 > 0:37:41Very much so.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48Right now, Dennis and Catherine are driving towards
0:37:48 > 0:37:51the Buckinghamshire village of Olney,
0:37:51 > 0:37:56all too aware this game is entering its crucial stage.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58- This is where the concentration comes in.- Right.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01Like when you're playing snooker, you've got to keep fully focused.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03Don't let anybody put you off.
0:38:03 > 0:38:07- And we've just got to take the final black and...- Oh, I like it.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09- Final black. I'm all for a final black.- And then we've won.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12And then we've won.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15And if we do, you can raise that imaginary cue above your head
0:38:15 > 0:38:17and wag your finger.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20Crikey. We're in for a nail-biting finish.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26They seem very confident, so let's hope they don't slip
0:38:26 > 0:38:31at the final hurdle, their last shop - The Antique Centre At Olney.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35- Oh, mind the step. - Crikey.- Careful now.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38I wouldn't pay that amount for it.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41I was just about to pour you a little glass of champagne.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44No, we'll save that for afterwards to celebrate.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48- When you lift the trophy. - When we lift our trophy at the end.
0:38:48 > 0:38:50Toby jugs are not really...
0:38:50 > 0:38:53Every time I see a Toby jug, it reminds me of my grandmother.
0:38:53 > 0:38:56- We used to spend a lot of time in her house.- And she had lots?
0:38:56 > 0:38:58- They always had Toby jugs.- Yeah.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01They used to be so fashionable but now they're not.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03But something else has caught Dennis' eye.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09- Oh-ho! The old golf clubs. - This is quite an old club, this.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12I'm just looking at it. The home of golf, St Andrews.
0:39:12 > 0:39:17This is made by Anderson & Blyth from St Andrews,
0:39:17 > 0:39:22and they reckon between 1890 and 1920.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26- Is that a good name, Anderson & Blyth?- Any...
0:39:26 > 0:39:28- The home of golf, anybody that made clubs.- It's St Andrews.
0:39:28 > 0:39:33It's a hickory golf club, indeed manufactured in St Andrews
0:39:33 > 0:39:36and ticketed at £22.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38Come on then, show me it in action.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41Up to there and then...
0:39:41 > 0:39:43- You can wreck the place in one. - Yeah, no. Try not to do that.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46- We haven't got enough money. - Back like that.- You don't.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49But the golf club is cheaper than the inkwell Dennis picked up earlier.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52- So, we've gone from one extreme to the other.- I know. Yeah.
0:39:52 > 0:39:56That's good. You prefer cheap, don't you?
0:39:56 > 0:39:58You're a cheap date.
0:39:58 > 0:40:02They'll ask dealer Audrey what can be done on the £22 ticket price
0:40:02 > 0:40:04- but first... - Now remember where you put this.
0:40:04 > 0:40:08- Oh, no, no, it's like that.- No, no. - What's wrong with that?
0:40:08 > 0:40:10- Oh, like that.- That's it. There you go. Perfect.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13Now if you open that finger slightly,
0:40:13 > 0:40:17- you've got the perfect bridge hand. - Have I?- A natural.- Bridge hand?
0:40:17 > 0:40:19That's called a bridge hand, yeah.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22We're getting our sports confused, rather.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25Time to see if Dennis can sweet talk another dealer.
0:40:25 > 0:40:30- £22 is a little bit much for that one.- A bit steep.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32What can you do to that for us, Audrey?
0:40:32 > 0:40:35I'll have a word with the manager and see what we can do.
0:40:35 > 0:40:37- Thank you very much, Audrey. Thank you.- OK.
0:40:39 > 0:40:44- He will take 15.- He'll take 15 for it?- Yeah. He can't go to ten.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47- Shall we go for that then?- Yeah, why not? Let's go for it.- Why not?- OK.
0:40:47 > 0:40:50- Audrey, thank you very much indeed.- Thank you.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52- Thank you very much indeed, Audrey. - Thank you. You're welcome.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55- Fantastic.- Well done.- Hole in one.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58- Let's hope.- Let's hope.- Let's hope.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01But what of their rivals, Willie and Christina?
0:41:03 > 0:41:08Why, they're now in this very same shop, as well.
0:41:10 > 0:41:11And look what he's found.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14I'm just trying to work out who that snooker player would be.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16It's certainly not me with that hairstyle.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18HE LAUGHS
0:41:18 > 0:41:23"£20. A snooker player." I think I might buy that for...
0:41:25 > 0:41:28..Christina as a memory of the day.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30Or for someone else?
0:41:30 > 0:41:32To remind you of your loss today.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38- Cheeky. - WILLIE LAUGHS
0:41:38 > 0:41:41That's quite handsome by the look of it.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44Eh, no. But great minds do think alike.
0:41:45 > 0:41:46Ooh!
0:41:51 > 0:41:53Careful with that, Willie!
0:41:55 > 0:41:57That's a good old one.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00Though it's perhaps no surprise that golf clubs caught
0:42:00 > 0:42:01both our celebrities' eyes.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03Dennis and I play lots of golf together.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07- Really?- Loads of golf.- Oh, wow. - Charity events and all that.
0:42:07 > 0:42:11- Who wins?- Oh, Dennis is a better golfer than me, unfortunately.
0:42:11 > 0:42:15But who'll be better at this old game remains to be seen.
0:42:15 > 0:42:16Has Willie spotted a winner then?
0:42:16 > 0:42:18Well, actually I've seen this lovely...
0:42:18 > 0:42:21I think it's a tie press and it's also a tie holder.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24Cos I wear lots of ties and things, that definitely appeals to me.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28I don't know if Christina will think it's an antique or not so I'll give her a shout.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30Christina? I've spotted this lovely tie...
0:42:30 > 0:42:33I don't know whether it's a tie press or a tie holder, or both.
0:42:33 > 0:42:39It's both, probably dating from the 1940s and ticketed at £48.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42Oh, that's fab! I love that.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46- I've never seen one before. Have you?- No. Let's have a little look.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51Oh, it is the whole box.
0:42:51 > 0:42:55So, you'd press your tie in there so that it was ready
0:42:55 > 0:42:57for your snooker match,
0:42:57 > 0:43:00and then you'd keep your tie selection in there.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02- And they'd be all rolled up. - Oh, fab, look!
0:43:02 > 0:43:04This is from a gentleman's outfitters.
0:43:04 > 0:43:06You're a bit of a snazzy dresser.
0:43:06 > 0:43:08My son actually is a gentlemen's outfitter.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11- He works at Dege & Skinner on Savile Row.- Ooh!
0:43:11 > 0:43:15- And I'm sure he's never seen one of these either.- OK, good spot.
0:43:15 > 0:43:17They're taking a note of that and browsing on.
0:43:17 > 0:43:19And soon Christina's seen something too.
0:43:19 > 0:43:23Silver photograph frames are always, always popular at auction
0:43:23 > 0:43:24because you can still use them today,
0:43:24 > 0:43:27and that one is particularly nice,
0:43:27 > 0:43:31- and it looks like it's solid silver as well.- Willie will be summoned.
0:43:31 > 0:43:34- Come and have a look at this. - What have you found?- Look.
0:43:34 > 0:43:37- What have you found? - Just looking in this cabinet here...
0:43:37 > 0:43:39- CABINET DOOR CLINKS - Ooh!
0:43:39 > 0:43:41- ..and what you think about that? - Oh, lovely picture frame.
0:43:41 > 0:43:43Isn't it gorgeous? Look at that.
0:43:46 > 0:43:51- What a lovely wedding. - £85 is on the ticket.
0:43:51 > 0:43:54- So what age would this be, do you think?- I think it's from 1930s, 1940s.
0:43:54 > 0:43:57So, they're keen on the frame and tie box,
0:43:57 > 0:44:01a combined ticket price of £133.
0:44:01 > 0:44:04- Time to chat to dealer Sheila. - How did you get on, Sheila?
0:44:04 > 0:44:10- Right. Well, the very best is 38 on the tie press box.- Right.
0:44:10 > 0:44:12- And what's on that?- And 72.
0:44:12 > 0:44:15- 72 and 38.- 110.
0:44:15 > 0:44:18If we could say £100, what do you think, for the two?
0:44:18 > 0:44:20I'm happy to do that if you are?
0:44:20 > 0:44:22Cash. Cold, hard cash.
0:44:22 > 0:44:26- OK, we'll say yes. - Thank you very much.
0:44:26 > 0:44:30- Well done, Sheila. Thank you very much.- We've now got all our items.
0:44:30 > 0:44:32- We have.- Off we jolly well... - Indeed.
0:44:36 > 0:44:40Shopping's done. It's time to reveal their purchases to each other.
0:44:41 > 0:44:44What do you think, Catherine? Look at the smile on this face.
0:44:44 > 0:44:46Like a Cheshire Cat, as usual. As usual.
0:44:46 > 0:44:49That doesn't mean anything. We're not worried about that.
0:44:49 > 0:44:53- Come on. Let's have a little look then.- Reveal all, guys.
0:44:53 > 0:44:55- Oh, a golf club.- Willie will like that.- Oh, a bike!
0:44:55 > 0:44:58- DENNIS LAUGHS - What about this?
0:44:58 > 0:45:02- What is that?- A mono-cycle. - A unicycle. Is it a unicycle?
0:45:02 > 0:45:04- Unicycle. That's what it is. - A unicycle.
0:45:04 > 0:45:08- Dennis, just show me how it works. - No, I'm not going to touch it.
0:45:08 > 0:45:10Oh, what's that thing at the end?
0:45:10 > 0:45:14- A sink!- It's a Belfast sink. Not any ordinary sink.- Not any old sink.
0:45:14 > 0:45:16- It a Northern Ireland sink. - CHRISTINA:- Ah, of course.
0:45:16 > 0:45:20- Let things sink in now. Come on. - Hey! I do the jokes, thank you.
0:45:20 > 0:45:23- Christina. I think Christina will like these.- Yeah, love those.
0:45:23 > 0:45:24- Little treen shoes.- I think so.
0:45:24 > 0:45:27- I also think Willie will like this here.- What is that?
0:45:27 > 0:45:30- Is it a jewellery box?- No, that is...- Oh, it's an inkwell.
0:45:30 > 0:45:34He liked snooker, the dealer, and I had a word with him.
0:45:34 > 0:45:36- I suppose he liked golf as well, did he?- No, no, no.
0:45:36 > 0:45:39- That was a different shop.- I thought you would ask about that, Willie.
0:45:39 > 0:45:42- This was made in St Andrews. - How much was that?
0:45:42 > 0:45:46- We got that for £15. - Oh, you'll get a profit on that.
0:45:46 > 0:45:47Well, that's impressive.
0:45:47 > 0:45:49That's the fruits of your labours for the last two days.
0:45:49 > 0:45:52- You don't mean that, do you? - THEY LAUGH
0:45:52 > 0:45:54I am slightly flabbergasted, I have to say.
0:45:54 > 0:45:56There's no sincerity there, is there?
0:45:56 > 0:46:00Now, now. Time for Willie and Christina's haul.
0:46:00 > 0:46:02- Let's have a little look. - Are you ready?
0:46:02 > 0:46:04Oh, look at the way they're revealing. Very dainty.
0:46:04 > 0:46:06- Oh, now then.- Oh!
0:46:06 > 0:46:07Look at those little monkeys.
0:46:07 > 0:46:10- Let's see. One, two, three, four, five. Five pieces.- OK.
0:46:10 > 0:46:12- WILLIE:- Come on, then. - Talk us through.
0:46:12 > 0:46:16Well, listen, Dennis will love this, even though you don't know what it is.
0:46:16 > 0:46:18I've no idea what it is. Not a clue.
0:46:18 > 0:46:21This is a storage box with a tie press on top.
0:46:21 > 0:46:24A gentlemen's outfitters piece because you always look so dapper.
0:46:24 > 0:46:26He does.
0:46:26 > 0:46:27And the Danish brooch?
0:46:27 > 0:46:31We then had a little Scandinavian piece of silver jewellery there...
0:46:31 > 0:46:34Which your wife would love, which we only paid £10 for.
0:46:34 > 0:46:37- That's very cheap. - And then, le piece de resistance.
0:46:37 > 0:46:38It is a silver frame.
0:46:38 > 0:46:41- Hallmarked.- Hallmarked.
0:46:41 > 0:46:43I think you've bought some lovely things, actually.
0:46:43 > 0:46:48And as for the Clarice Cliff design, its provenance is still unresolved,
0:46:48 > 0:46:51but Christina has some research calls to do
0:46:51 > 0:46:53and should know more before the auction.
0:46:53 > 0:46:56- So, everyone here is very cordial. - Best of luck, Willie.
0:46:56 > 0:47:00- Always a pleasure battling with you, my friend.- Good luck, good luck.
0:47:00 > 0:47:03- Good luck, Willie. - We'll see you at the auction.
0:47:03 > 0:47:05- We'll look forward to it.- Ah-ha!
0:47:05 > 0:47:06But what do they have to say
0:47:06 > 0:47:09when the other team's backs are turned, eh?
0:47:09 > 0:47:12Now I've seen his items, I'm absolutely delighted.
0:47:12 > 0:47:15I take back everything I've said about you. I think you're all right.
0:47:15 > 0:47:17I think it's going to be quite close.
0:47:17 > 0:47:20Well, he's so competitive, isn't he? He just wants that edge.
0:47:20 > 0:47:23- Well, we shall see.- We shall see.
0:47:23 > 0:47:25- But, listen, it's not over until it's over.- No.
0:47:25 > 0:47:29- See you at the auction.- Aw. - Bless. Come on.
0:47:31 > 0:47:35I say. On this Road Trip, they've journeyed from Sawbridgeworth
0:47:35 > 0:47:39in the heart of Hertfordshire to Leicester in the East Midlands.
0:47:39 > 0:47:42There, they're heading for auction.
0:47:42 > 0:47:45Leicester hit the headlines when the remains of King Richard III
0:47:45 > 0:47:47were found buried in a car park,
0:47:47 > 0:47:53so let's hope our teams have made some similarly surprising finds.
0:47:53 > 0:47:55Well, Den, it's auction day. How are you feeling?
0:47:55 > 0:47:56Are you going to beat me?
0:47:56 > 0:47:59You know, Willie, you can't be overconfident. It's like our game.
0:47:59 > 0:48:01- If you're overconfident... - You get beat.- ..you get beat.
0:48:01 > 0:48:04I'm really looking forward to this because it's going to be
0:48:04 > 0:48:08quite exciting sitting there as each item comes up.
0:48:08 > 0:48:10The chaps are just arriving at the saleroom,
0:48:10 > 0:48:14Gilding's Auctioneers, where the girls are ready to greet them.
0:48:14 > 0:48:17Ooh, the big yellow banana machine is arriving.
0:48:17 > 0:48:20Look at this. Arriving in style.
0:48:20 > 0:48:21SHE HUMS FANFARE
0:48:22 > 0:48:25- Very good. Oh, they look happy! - They do.
0:48:25 > 0:48:28We got all the best places, parking outside a tea van.
0:48:30 > 0:48:34- Can we get out? That's the question. - That's the thing. Can you get out?
0:48:34 > 0:48:37Look at that. No problem. We're really looking forward to this.
0:48:37 > 0:48:39- Very excited about it.- Raring to go?
0:48:39 > 0:48:41- Shall we go in?- Let's go. Show me the way.
0:48:41 > 0:48:43- Lead the way.- Come on, girls.
0:48:43 > 0:48:46But before we begin, Christina's been doing some digging
0:48:46 > 0:48:50and it's bad news about the so-called Clarice Cliff design.
0:48:50 > 0:48:54- You know our Clarice Cliff drawing? - Yeah.- I got very excited about it
0:48:54 > 0:48:56and I spoke to a very good friend of mine
0:48:56 > 0:48:57who owns the Clarice Cliff Collectors Club
0:48:57 > 0:49:00and I said, "I've bought this Clarice Cliff drawing.
0:49:00 > 0:49:01"It's really exciting,"
0:49:01 > 0:49:05and he said, "Darling, I'm ever so sorry to tell you, but it's a fake."
0:49:05 > 0:49:08They are very rare but somebody is reproducing them,
0:49:08 > 0:49:12so very, very sadly, we are not going to be able to sell it,
0:49:12 > 0:49:14because technically it's a fake.
0:49:14 > 0:49:18Christina's Clarice Cliff contact is a leading authority on the subject.
0:49:18 > 0:49:22He knows this is a forgery as it's not a Clarice Cliff design
0:49:22 > 0:49:26and because it bears similarities to known forgeries
0:49:26 > 0:49:28currently circulating in the market.
0:49:28 > 0:49:31The shop they bought it from traded it in good faith
0:49:31 > 0:49:34but the only way to deal with fake items like this
0:49:34 > 0:49:37is to remove them from the market, so it will be destroyed.
0:49:37 > 0:49:39So what happens then about us...?
0:49:39 > 0:49:42Well, they have very kindly refunded our money.
0:49:42 > 0:49:44It just shows the importance of concrete provenance...
0:49:44 > 0:49:49- Absolutely.- But we've got £100 still in the slush,
0:49:49 > 0:49:51and we're going forward with our four further items.
0:49:51 > 0:49:53OK.
0:49:53 > 0:49:56With that bit of drama out of the way,
0:49:56 > 0:49:58auctioneer Mark Gilding will be taking the sale.
0:49:58 > 0:50:00GAVEL BANGS But before the off,
0:50:00 > 0:50:02what does he think of our teams' lots?
0:50:02 > 0:50:05Yeah, nice tie press and box, this one.
0:50:05 > 0:50:07It's in pretty good condition.
0:50:07 > 0:50:09All the action works and good name of Austin Reed,
0:50:09 > 0:50:11the retailers, inside.
0:50:11 > 0:50:14The cotton winds - I think these are probably the best lot
0:50:14 > 0:50:16that's been brought in today.
0:50:16 > 0:50:18I think they're nice Victorian things.
0:50:18 > 0:50:23Good, interesting Victoriana collectables and should do well.
0:50:23 > 0:50:24Intriguing.
0:50:24 > 0:50:27So, Willie and Christina started this trip with £400.
0:50:27 > 0:50:33After one lot was refunded, they spent £130 exactly,
0:50:33 > 0:50:36and now have four lots in today's sale.
0:50:37 > 0:50:40While Dennis and Catherine also started with £400,
0:50:40 > 0:50:46they spent £187 exactly and have five lots up for grabs.
0:50:46 > 0:50:50- The auction is about to begin. - Best of luck, guys.- Thank you.
0:50:50 > 0:50:52- I think we might need it. - Did you mean that?
0:50:55 > 0:51:00First up, it's Dennis and Catherine's little bobbin boots.
0:51:00 > 0:51:03The auctioneer liked them. Will the crowd?
0:51:03 > 0:51:05Lots of interest in these presale. Bidding opens at £20 only.
0:51:05 > 0:51:09- I'm bid at 20.- Lots of interest but £20.- 32 I'm bid now. 32.
0:51:09 > 0:51:12At 32 is the bidding online at 32.
0:51:12 > 0:51:1442.
0:51:14 > 0:51:16- 48.- 48.- All internet activity then at £48.
0:51:16 > 0:51:18The internet's going on but...
0:51:18 > 0:51:2150 now. Online at £50. I'm bid at 50.
0:51:21 > 0:51:24- 60...- Ooh!- ..5, 70... - THEY GASP
0:51:24 > 0:51:27- It's climbing.- ..75, 80.
0:51:27 > 0:51:29£80. I'm bid now at 80.
0:51:29 > 0:51:32All out in the room. That's £80. 5, do I see? It's £80.
0:51:32 > 0:51:34- Is that it, internet? - Oh, no, come on. A bit more.
0:51:34 > 0:51:37- Online at £80.- Well done, guys! - GAVEL BANGS
0:51:37 > 0:51:39- It's a profit.- Yeah.- That's OK.
0:51:39 > 0:51:43A tidy little profit sees them off to a good start.
0:51:43 > 0:51:47Next, it's Willie and Christina's first lot - the Danish brooch.
0:51:47 > 0:51:50Best of luck, best of luck.
0:51:50 > 0:51:52Why did you say that with gritted teeth?
0:51:52 > 0:51:54Cos I meant, best of luck.
0:51:57 > 0:51:59£50, do I see?
0:51:59 > 0:52:01£18, bidding with me then at 18.
0:52:01 > 0:52:04- Oh, profit, profit.- It's doing well.
0:52:04 > 0:52:06It's 20 on the internet. At £20, I'm bid at 20.
0:52:06 > 0:52:10We're here to sell, it's on the internet and away at £20.
0:52:10 > 0:52:13- Well, there you go.- £10. It's a profit. What was your first profit?
0:52:13 > 0:52:16- Similar.- Similar, so we're drawing at the minute.
0:52:16 > 0:52:18We're about even-stevens.
0:52:18 > 0:52:20A nice little earner there.
0:52:20 > 0:52:24Now, Dennis and Catherine's hickory golf club,
0:52:24 > 0:52:27reflecting Dennis' love of golf.
0:52:27 > 0:52:30I think this will go online because just looking around,
0:52:30 > 0:52:33I can't see any swingers in the room
0:52:33 > 0:52:38- so online with the golf club, I think.- Online.- I think so.- OK.
0:52:38 > 0:52:40And the bidding opens at £10. 10 I'm bid then, at 10.
0:52:40 > 0:52:43- We've bid £10. - AUCTIONEER:- £10, I'm here at 10.
0:52:43 > 0:52:46£12 online, at 12. Unfortunately, my bids are out
0:52:46 > 0:52:47so we're at the internet at £12.
0:52:47 > 0:52:49At 12, looking for you all in the room.
0:52:49 > 0:52:53£12 is the bid. We're on the internet and selling now at £12.
0:52:53 > 0:52:54GAVEL BANGS
0:52:54 > 0:52:56- Devastated.- Are you upset? - CHRISTINA:- Oh, no, why?
0:52:56 > 0:52:59I would've paid 13 for it.
0:53:01 > 0:53:05An unlucky loss but not an awfully big one.
0:53:07 > 0:53:10Next, Willie's little stick pin.
0:53:10 > 0:53:13Best of luck, I hope you get 15 for it.
0:53:13 > 0:53:16No, I'm only joking, only joking.
0:53:16 > 0:53:19And bidding here, £10 only I'm bid for this coral set pin at 10.
0:53:19 > 0:53:22- Got to be more than that. - £10, I'm bid. £12. £15.- Come on.
0:53:22 > 0:53:23£15, I'm bid. And you're out at 15,
0:53:23 > 0:53:26the bid's with me at 15. Internet, are you bidding?
0:53:26 > 0:53:28- They should be.- You're all out at well. 15 is the bid...
0:53:28 > 0:53:31£18 I'm bid, last-minute bidding online at 18.
0:53:31 > 0:53:34- Fair warning, we're here to sell. - Come on! More, more, more.- £18.
0:53:34 > 0:53:36- BANGS GAVEL - Oh.- Dennis is drawing around.
0:53:36 > 0:53:40He might be, Willie, but there's everything still to play for.
0:53:40 > 0:53:43Up now it's Willie's and Christina's Belfast sink,
0:53:43 > 0:53:48bought in honour of Dennis' Northern Irish roots.
0:53:48 > 0:53:52- Can you pick it up?- Yeah, can we see it, please?- Can we see it?
0:53:52 > 0:53:54- Can you call an ambulance? - THEY LAUGH
0:53:54 > 0:53:57So I think we all know what they look like, the Belfast sink.
0:53:57 > 0:53:59But good order this one, I think.
0:53:59 > 0:54:01£20 is the bid, at 22, 25.
0:54:01 > 0:54:0328 in the middle now.
0:54:03 > 0:54:04At 28, I'm out at 28.
0:54:04 > 0:54:07At 28, fair warning then, I will sell.
0:54:07 > 0:54:08- BANGS GAVEL - It's doubled your money.
0:54:08 > 0:54:11And one bidder has picked up the lot,
0:54:11 > 0:54:14even if the porter sensibly declined to.
0:54:14 > 0:54:15Are you pleased with that?
0:54:15 > 0:54:18Yes, we've doubled our money again. We still haven't lost any.
0:54:18 > 0:54:19We're in trouble. We're in trouble.
0:54:19 > 0:54:24One for Willie and Christina now, the tie press and box.
0:54:24 > 0:54:26But you're a dickey bow man, aren't you?
0:54:26 > 0:54:28I'm a dickey bow man, but I do like a tie.
0:54:28 > 0:54:29- I do wear lots of ties.- You used to.
0:54:29 > 0:54:31I'm a bit of TIE-coon, to be fair.
0:54:31 > 0:54:33£10 opening bid, then. At 10.
0:54:33 > 0:54:35- Come on!- Tenner, I'm bid, at £10 only, here at 10.
0:54:35 > 0:54:39£12, I'm bid at 12. £15. £18. 20.
0:54:39 > 0:54:43The man without a tie as well. At £20, I'm bid then at 20. On my left.
0:54:43 > 0:54:46Is that it, ladies and gentlemen? We're selling away now at £20.
0:54:46 > 0:54:48BANGS GAVEL TELEPHONE RINGS
0:54:48 > 0:54:50- Too late. There's somebody on the phone.- There's my...
0:54:50 > 0:54:52- They've missed it.- Was going to give you 200 for it.
0:54:52 > 0:54:56- Didn't accept it.- They were going to make a telephone bid!- Aw.
0:54:56 > 0:55:00Ooh, unlucky. It didn't quite find its market on the phone or elsewhere.
0:55:00 > 0:55:03- I've just gone 4-1 behind then, 4-1 behind.- No, we're all right,
0:55:03 > 0:55:06- we're all right.- Are we? - Keep the faith, keep the faith.
0:55:06 > 0:55:10Chin up, Willie. It's not over until the last gavel comes down.
0:55:11 > 0:55:15It's Dennis and Catherine's '70s unicycle now.
0:55:15 > 0:55:17A first time for me on the unicycle and...
0:55:19 > 0:55:22- ..I do have some bids here actually on my book.- Yay!
0:55:22 > 0:55:26£5, £8, 10, 12, 15, 18, £20 I'm bid.
0:55:26 > 0:55:29- No!- £20 bid for the unicycle. At 20. 22.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32It's at the room at 22, internet. Lots of bidding now. Take 25,
0:55:32 > 0:55:3522's bid over there, at 22.
0:55:35 > 0:55:38At 22. 25. 28.
0:55:38 > 0:55:40- 28 I'm bid now. 28. - It's not an antique.
0:55:40 > 0:55:44- Your turn, online. The bidding's in the room.- It's a collectable.
0:55:44 > 0:55:47Fair warning then at 28. It's a very brave bidder at 28.
0:55:47 > 0:55:50There we go!
0:55:50 > 0:55:53I can't believe it.
0:55:53 > 0:55:56With that bit of clowning around, a resounding success.
0:55:58 > 0:56:01Willie and Christina need their silver frame to do well.
0:56:01 > 0:56:04Bidding with me starts at 15, 18, 20,
0:56:04 > 0:56:0722, 25, 28, £30 I'm bid now, at 30.
0:56:07 > 0:56:10- We're in trouble.- Oh, my... - 32, 35, 38, 40.
0:56:10 > 0:56:1345, 50. 55 seated.
0:56:13 > 0:56:16- More, more, more. - You're out in this corner.
0:56:16 > 0:56:18At 55. I can't see you now, you've walked away.
0:56:18 > 0:56:20- It's 55 right at the back.- Oh, no.
0:56:20 > 0:56:23Fair warning, then. Seated at the back at £55.
0:56:23 > 0:56:25BANGS GAVEL
0:56:25 > 0:56:27- I'm devastated.- Aww.
0:56:27 > 0:56:29It climbs but not far enough.
0:56:29 > 0:56:31They might be snookered.
0:56:31 > 0:56:34- I'm devastated.- I think our inkwell would have to go
0:56:34 > 0:56:37- for about 15 quid for you to win this.- Is that what it is?
0:56:37 > 0:56:39Oh, don't rub it in.
0:56:39 > 0:56:41Dennis and Catherine's Japanese inkwell next.
0:56:43 > 0:56:47A gamble buy, it cost a lot but will it win them the game?
0:56:47 > 0:56:52- When you get down to the colours, go for everything.- Ooh!
0:56:52 > 0:56:53Nice little Japanese inkwell,
0:56:53 > 0:56:56this one, and bids on my book.
0:56:56 > 0:56:58£15 only. I'm bid at 15.
0:56:58 > 0:57:0115 for the inkwell, at £15.
0:57:01 > 0:57:03£50. Thank you, internet. At £50, that's more like it, isn't it?
0:57:03 > 0:57:06- What did he say - 50? - DENNIS:- 50 on the internet, you see.
0:57:06 > 0:57:08Well, all my bids lost and looks like you're out in the room
0:57:08 > 0:57:10as well at the minute. We're £50 with the internet.
0:57:10 > 0:57:12One bid only at £50.
0:57:12 > 0:57:13BANGS GAVEL
0:57:13 > 0:57:16Oh, we lost on the last one. That's going to make things pretty close.
0:57:16 > 0:57:20- You had four profits in there. - £50, it went from £15 to £50.
0:57:20 > 0:57:25That final lot means it might just be a black ball finish after all.
0:57:25 > 0:57:28- It was very close.- It was close, it's going to be close.
0:57:28 > 0:57:31- Shall we go outside?- Yeah, let's go and have a look.- Have a check.
0:57:31 > 0:57:34Both teams started this trip with £400.
0:57:34 > 0:57:35After paying auction costs,
0:57:35 > 0:57:41Willie and Christina made a loss of £37.34,
0:57:41 > 0:57:45leaving them with £362.66.
0:57:46 > 0:57:50Dennis and Catherine made a smaller loss of £24.64
0:57:50 > 0:57:55and so end up with £375.36
0:57:55 > 0:57:58and this road trip's laurel!
0:57:58 > 0:58:01- You pipped us to the post by... - Oh, you're kidding, by how much?
0:58:01 > 0:58:03- Go on.- ..£12. Oh, no!
0:58:05 > 0:58:07- Well played.- Well done.- Well played. - Well done, well done.
0:58:07 > 0:58:11- CHRISTINA:- It was very close. It was the unicycle that did it for us.
0:58:11 > 0:58:13- CATHERINE:- I think absolutely it was.
0:58:13 > 0:58:18Well, what they lack in cash, they seem to have made up in affection.
0:58:18 > 0:58:20Right, we will see you off in Bananarama, guys.
0:58:20 > 0:58:23It's been an absolute pleasure. Thank you so much.
0:58:23 > 0:58:25More kisses, golly.
0:58:25 > 0:58:27I'll never forget you. Never.
0:58:27 > 0:58:30Thank you, chaps. It's been a ball...
0:58:30 > 0:58:32a snooker ball.
0:58:32 > 0:58:35I've thoroughly enjoyed it and hopefully you have too.
0:58:35 > 0:58:38Well, it was great fun. What an experience
0:58:38 > 0:58:41- and I've enjoyed every single second of it.- It's been great.