Episode 18 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip

CAR HORN BEEPS The nation's favourite celebrities...

-Oh!

-Just want to touch base.

-..paired up with an expert...

-Boo!

..and a classic car.

No hands!

Their mission - to scour Britain for antiques.

My office, now!

The aim - to make the biggest profit at auction.

But it's no easy ride.

-CAR ENGINE STUTTERS

-Oh!

Who will find a hidden gem?

-HORN BEEPS

-I like that.

Who will take the biggest risk?

This could end in disaster.

Will anybody follow expert advice?

-But I love this.

-Why would you buy something you're not going to use?

There will be worthy winners and valiant losers.

No, I don't want to shake hands.

Put your pedal to the metal.

Let me get out of first gear.

This is the Celebrity Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah.

MUSIC: I Can't Help Myself by The Four Tops

Woo!

You'd better be on your best behaviour.

We've got the Blue Peter gals -

the vivacious Valerie Singleton

and the dynamic Diane-Louise Jordan,

and her little pooch, Bella.

We're enjoying the countryside, but let's just get down to business.

How are you with antiques?

-Do you like them?

-Oh, yes, I'm always doing courses on things

and I did a course on antiques, and I've had loads of books on antiques.

-Oh, my gosh, I've got real competition, have I?

-No, no.

Watch out, Diane.

MUSIC: Blue Peter Theme

First aired in 1958, Blue Peter is the longest running

children's programme in the world.

Valerie started presenting the show in 1962,

and with a stint of ten years

she's one of the longest-running presenters.

Love the pullover.

I wasn't certain yet whether I was going to be allowed

to take him inside, but although lots of shops have signs up outside

saying, "No dogs allowed",

I couldn't recollect ever seen one saying, "No lions."

Crikey!

Diane joined Blue Peter in 1990,

when the show was bang up-to-date with cutting-edge technology.

So you can not only send messages,

but you can also receive them instantly,

providing your friends are at the other side.

So just let's finish this off.

D-I-A-N-E.

There, I hope Stuart and Katie are there.

Did she get a reply, I wonder?

On this road trip, they each have £400 to spend.

Bella, I love the fact that you've got a friend.

Because do you know what Valerie said to me before we got in?

She said, "I hope she doesn't bark," so no barking today

then she'll like you. So far.

Don't show me up, all right?

What a cute little dog dog.

MUSIC: Heroes by Davie Bowie

Another couple of dogs are antiques heroes,

Paul Laidlaw and Phil Serrell.

Both barking.

I remember the tail end of the Singleton, Purves, Noakes...

Do not come that tail end stuff with me.

I was one.

-No, you were not.

-But I've got a great memory.

-You were there at the beginning.

-I wasn't.

-Yeah.

I would be... What, they were early '70s,

so I'd be five, six years old.

You'd be about 40.

My maths...

Oh. Tumbleweed moment.

The fellows have the supercool 1975 BMW 2002.

Back when I was a wee laddie watching Peter Purves,

my old man drove a 2002.

Did he have the turbo?

-Oh.

-They used to race the 2002.

That was a great car.

-The front spoiler...

-Yeah.

-..2002 turbo in reverse,

first time it had been done so that you knew to get out of its way when

you saw it in the rear-view mirror.

I think Paul likes the car.

And the girls have the nippy MGBT from 1970.

I used to have one of those.

This, it looks like it should be... In the '60s, '70s,

when these cars were out, these were the sports cars of the day.

They were really cool to drive and all that sort of stuff.

Oh, my gosh!

-Sorry, was that a pothole?

-I think so.

No, standard British road surface.

My MG was white.

Look out, our marauding antiquers will be let loose

in beautiful middle England.

Beginning in Olney in Buckinghamshire,

our gang will hunt around Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

before plumping for an auction in glorious Stratford-upon-Avon

in Warwickshire.

We haven't decided who is working with who, have we?

This is a fight, Phil. You got any thoughts or preferences?

Well, I kind of think that Valerie and I are a similar era.

You're from the past, aren't you?

Watch it, Paul.

There are our experts, looking suitably attired.

Hello there, both of you.

-Three of you!

-Hello! Go on, out you get, fella.

BELLA BARKS

-Hello.

-How are you? Good to see you.

-Who's this?

-Come here. This is Bella. Bella, say hello.

Paul, you've got a friend.

Hey, for a little dog, Bella's got a big bark.

Good luck, Paul.

-Have fun, we'll see you later.

-Yeah, and you, my darling.

-Right, seat belts.

-Yeah, done.

Oh, it's gorgeous.

-Good luck!

-This is divine.

Let's get those big wheels moving.

I tell you why I'm also really so thrilled that you're my partner,

is because you know everything.

-No, no!

-Yeah, you do!

-Don't set me up on that pedestal, you'll jinx it!

-All right. You know nothing!

-That's right.

Now the nation wants to know the answer to this.

-Are you ready for this?

-Yeah.

-Have you still got a Blue Peter badge?

I've got a gold Blue Peter badge.

-You've got a gold one?

-Yeah.

-Would you sell it?

-No, I'm going to keep it.

It's mine, it's my own badge.

You tell him, Val.

This pair is headed for the Buckinghamshire town of Olney.

And the antiques centre is Valerie's first shopping destination.

Well, here we are, Valerie.

I think I've put too many coats on for today.

And a scarf, too.

Gosh.

With around 100 dealers showcasing their wares in here,

what will tickle Valerie's fancy?

Oh, where does one start?

Is this you let loose in a sweet shop?

A little bit. My instinct would be to go for what I like,

but that's not necessarily what's going to sell.

So you are competitive, then, really?

Um, no. It would be nice to have things that sell.

I say!

TIM LAUGHS You've watched the show, then.

-PHIL WHISPERS:

-I've got it.

-What have you found?

It's the 11th book.

You have to find the first book,

that's the one that's worth something.

Yes, but what we can do, we can add value.

-We can add value here.

-What's it going for? £2. Wow.

Wait a minute, is it signed?

-It will be.

-Shall I buy it for you and sign it?

Get out of here!

TIM LAUGHS He's so naughty, Val!

The elephant's quite fun. I mean, it looks sort of Lalique, doesn't it?

You kind of hope it is Lalique,

-but as it's priced at £29, I don't think it is.

-It's not Lalique!

-No.

-It's quite nice, though, isn't it?

-It's Goebels.

-Who's Goebels?

G-O-E-B-E-L-S.

They're a European factory.

Do you know those little sort of...

-'60s and '70s figures of little boys and girls?

-Yeah, yeah. Yes, yes.

Oh, yeah. Goebel were renowned for their Hummel figurines,

but they introduced glass animals, like this one, in the 1980s.

Blowing his own trunk trumpet.

Trump? No, thanks.

Oh, look, she's gone Sandie Shaw.

I smell Gorgonzola.

Oh, there's lots of nice silver pieces in here.

I like that, Val.

Yeah, that's very nice.

It's a little oil bottle. Perhaps have oil and vinegar.

With just a little bit of silver bits at the top.

-Yes, there's some silver colours.

-Can you see the price?

It is £58. It's hallmarked London, 1929.

We're building a bit of a shopping list here, aren't we?

Well, that's the idea.

Yeah, keep up, Philip.

Meanwhile, Diane, Bella and Paul have galloped to

the Bedfordshire village of Lidlington

for their first antiquing adventure.

Funky Farmhouse is run by Lindsay.

Flying Lindsay.

Um, I'm extremely sorry, I've bought my pooch.

Lindsay has pooches of her own.

Don't fight!

-Come on, Bella.

-Ready?

-Do you want to come and see your friends?

Would you like to see your friends?

Oh, don't. No, be friendly, be friendly.

Good girl.

Come on, then, shall we go and play?

THEY BARK AND GROWL

See what I mean?

They're all saying hello, I'm sure.

Having a good smell.

Anyway, you tell them, Bella, she's the feisty one.

Right, doggie in daycare, let's go for a mooch.

I've decided that I'm going to win today.

OK, I second that.

Oh, a confident duo.

Bull's-eye.

I've got a penchant for mirrors.

-OK.

-Lamps and mirrors.

I don't think that's in. That's George V, inter-war.

-That...

-Is out.

-..something your granny would have liked.

-Yeah.

OK, let's leave them to it and nip back to Valerie and Phil, in Olney.

Oh, another very full little cabinet.

What have we got in here?

-Lots of pink glass.

-Can't see for the look of it.

Oh, there's a silhouette. They're very popular, aren't they?

Yeah, yeah. You homed straight in on that.

That's rather unusual, what's that?

It looks like a little, miniature sort of...

Funny little... Do you think it all goes together?

Miniature clogs, there's a miniature spade with a sieve.

Which are your two favourite bits in here?

Well, silhouettes are usually quite collected, aren't they?

-Yeah, yeah.

-It looks quite good.

The frame looks nice. You can see it looks like a genuine frame.

I don't really know about that, but it does look quite fun.

-They're just fun, aren't they?

-Yeah.

So shall we ask him if we can look at the silhouette, then,

and this little group with the clogs, the sieve and the spade?

The little clogs and garden tool samples are priced at £35

and the silhouette for £55.

Nick is in charge today.

Prepare yourself, young man, for battle.

Nick, we've had a good look round.

There is so much to see,

but we've finally found a few things we'd like to look at, so...

-OK.

-..do you want to...

-We've narrowed it down, haven't we?

-Yes.

You say what it is so we can have a look.

Well, there's the little glass elephant in the cabinet over yonder,

the glass and silver oil and vinegar bottle...

-Yep.

-..and there's the...

I saw a silhouette which I rather liked.

This is like The Generation Game - cuddly toy?

-The silhouette.

-And a rather strange little sort of...

Yeah, it was a conglomerate group of a little sieve,

a pair of clogs and a spade.

-OK.

-Could we have a look at all those, do you think, please?

You can. I'll go and get them.

And as quick as a flash,

Nick returns. Wow.

Right. There we go. Mm.

Right, now, we haven't actually looked at any of these, have we?

So what we've got is a little...

-..oil bottle.

-I like the simplicity of the silver on this.

This is just a paperweight.

-You can just see just there...

-Mm.

-..just there.

The total price for all the items is £177,

but Phil's got a 100 watt idea.

What about if we bought the lot off you and made you a one-off special

deal offer? The whole lot strikes me as being £120.

We'd like to offer you £40 for that.

Which is your second favourite?

-People who collect...

-We'd like to offer you £25 for that.

Let's offer you £40 for that. OK?

So that's 100 quid. Do you know, this is going to work just like

-magic, this?

-And then what's...

£20 for that, that's 120 quid.

I mean, I don't want to put any pressure on you,

but you've got in front of you an icon of British television.

I know.

-I know.

-And she's got money as well!

-And she's got money, too.

-But...

-Yes.

-So shall we sort of hang on while you make a few phone calls?

Blooming heck, this is epic!

While Nick calls the dealers,

let's go back to Diane and Paul in Lidlington.

It's a vintage child's swivel desk chair with a box seat, we think.

See if it... Is that hinged?

-Oh!

-Aw, come on,

-I like this.

-Ooh! Me too.

-I see some repairs...

-Yeah.

-..but I also see a transfer decal,

so we know who made it.

And what does that say? "L-E..." something "England,"

so made at Leicester.

Age, because age is key.

So if I was to guess this age, I'm just going to guess, I would say,

because it's quite sort of...

..it's a cross between being ingenious and primitive,

so I would say later than Victorian.

-A lot later.

-All right, '60s.

-SHE LAUGHS

-'50s, '60s.

-Do you love...?

-The price?

Um, yeah, I'd love it at a third of what it is there, yeah,

-that'd be great.

-I love your ambition.

-Your vision.

-Let's get Lindsay over.

The maximum we'll do is £22.50.

LINDSAY GASPS

-I'm doing you a favour.

-Where did that come from?!

Maths...two, five?

Let's round it up, 25.

You know what, you're a nice lady.

You want to shake my hand, don't you?

You're a nice lady.

Wow, Diane.

-It's yours.

-£25?

-Yes, congratulations.

-Right.

Thank you so much.

-That's for you.

-Thank you, my love.

-And that's for me.

-Thank you, oh, bless you.

That's my first buy, I'm a very, very happy lady.

Thank you.

Diane's a good negotiator.

Congratulations on your first purchase of the trip.

Now, Team Val in Olney, have they actually bought anything yet?

-So how are we doing?

-OK, well, the oil and vinegar

bottles, they were 58,

we can do that for 48.

Right, so that's ten off.

The vintage collection of clogs and spade, that was 35,

we can do that for 25.

The silhouette, which was 55, you offered 40,

and that is accepted as well, and the elephant,

the very best we can do is 22, which makes 135 altogether.

OK.

Oh, let's be mad and have all four.

Crikey, Val. You're a one!

You say 135, Nick.

If you could come to 130...

Wonderful, I agree.

You're a whizz, Valerie.

Four items in the first shop.

The elephant paperweight for 20, the oil and vinegar bottle for 40,

the little clogs and garden samples for 25,

and the Georgian silhouette for £45.

Wow! Crackeranda.

What about Diane, Bella and Paul in the beamer?

I don't know where you're taking me.

Come on, spill the beans, we're nearly there.

Look, if there's one thing I'm renowned for,

it's my passion for military history.

-And do you know what...

-Gosh, my eyes are glazing over!

The kids'll tell you, I've also a passion for big country houses.

Prepare yourself, Diane!

You are in for one heck of a treat.

Our pair and little Bella have travelled to the village of

Silsoe in Bedfordshire.

The magnificent Wrest Park lays claim to an incredible story of

one family's mission to help save the dying and wounded soldiers

of World War I.

It was the first country home in Britain to become a convalescent

home, and then a highly respected military hospital,

seeing nearly 1,600 men pass through its doors between 1914 and 1916.

-This looks like the welcoming committee.

-Hello.

Historian Dr Andrew Hann has all the answers.

Oh. Oh, my gosh! Look at that view.

-Got complete and utter house envy!

-THEY LAUGH

SHE SIGHS

Was it just a country home, privately owned?

It was owned by the Lucas family but they actually didn't live here,

they'd rented it out to the American ambassador, Whitelaw Reid,

who'd been here until 1912 and then when he died,

the house had just been sitting empty because

they preferred living in London.

In the first week of August 1914,

preparations were made for the transformation

into a convalescent home.

In 1914, war broke out at the beginning of August

and 23rd of August, I think,

was the Battle of Mons

and two weeks after that, on the 7th of September,

the first convalescents arrived here, having been patched up in

London, in one of the London hospitals.

66 of them came here, but this is entirely privately funded,

which is why it was able to get off the ground so early.

Owner Lord Lucas was a Liberal politician and fighter pilot.

His sister, Nan Herbert,

was the dynamic force behind converting the house

from private residence to convalescent home.

She basically... They moved all the furniture out and stored it

in the basement, covered over all the fine interiors with canvas cloth

and they bagged up the chandeliers in sort of bags so they could be

protected. And all the books were taken out of the libraries.

And then they rigged up a rudimentary system of electricity

cos there was no electricity in the house,

so they built a generator and then ran sort of wires over the top of

door ends and just sort of had pendant lights hanging down,

which you can see in a lot of the photographs.

You can actually see this sort of hospital taking shape.

Nan achieved this huge transformation with the help

of staff within just one week.

And was there segregation of ranks?

I take it it's other ranks here and officers elsewhere?

Yeah, it's just other ranks here.

Lord Lucas was very egalitarian,

he was a radical Liberal in background

and he was very clear he didn't want officers here.

The War Office substantially underestimated the number

of casualties. Only 50,000 hospital beds were made available.

But by the end of 1914,

a total of 73,000 soldiers had been evacuated from the front line.

Do you know, I'm just thinking,

it must have been some sort of culture shock. First of all,

leaving their normal everyday life to go off to the war and what that

meant, coming to this beautiful, opulent house,

seeing that view every day

and looking at that and knowing that they have to go back to

the horrors of the war. I just can't really comprehend how they could

have actually taken all that in.

Difficult.

Casualties were mounting on the Western Front

and the types of injuries were becoming far more severe.

In November 1914, Nan set about transforming Wrest Park again,

this time into a military base hospital.

100 patients were immediately transported here

by rail and ambulance.

This area here was part of A Ward,

which was where the most serious cases were treated.

It was on the ground floor.

At this point now you had people potentially with amputees

and you'd have people who suffered from gas, gangrene,

people with serious illnesses as well.

Nan ensured this miraculous transition happened

in less than a fortnight.

And it was still privately funded.

It involved introducing an operating theatre upstairs,

along with a room for the medical officer

and an X-ray room as well

and they had to buy all the equipment for that.

And then the introduction of much more beds,

they had enough accommodation for 150 to almost 200 patients at times.

And the setting up of additional wards, so that other parts of

the house, parts of the service wing,

were also converted into wards.

Nan Herbert trained as a matron and ensured that the seriously injured

soldiers were given the best care and attention they could be offered.

The selfless generosity of the Lucas family is an example of the support

offered by so many during one of the most catastrophic wars of the 20th

-century.

-What would you say is the legacy of this place?

I think the legacy is really of having set the groundwork for

country house hospitals. I mean, this place was the first place to be

a convalescent home, and then became a country house hospital.

But, by the end of the war,

there were something like 1,400 hospitals, and they had something

like 800,000 hospital beds being provided,

all through charitable donations.

Thank you so much. It's incredible.

It's been a pleasure to have you.

Back to Valerie and Phil.

I've met people who've become painters because of Blue Peter, or

designers. And it was black and white when I first started.

-Shall I tell you something?

-Yeah.

It was black and white when I first watched it as well.

-Oh, wow!

-But we won't tell anybody how old either of us are, shall we?

-All right, we'll keep that one...

-We'll keep that just between you and I.

We're off to the town of Fenny Stratford in Buckinghamshire.

MUSIC: Baby Elephant Walk by Henry Mancini

I think we did really well this morning, you know.

It'll be interesting to see how they did.

Sellwell's Fenny Antiques Centre is

next on their list of shopping emporiums.

-So, have you got a plan?

-No.

-No? Well, that's not good.

-I thought it might be sort of fun to buy something a bit chunkier.

-And here I am!

-LAUGHTER

You said it, Phil!

After their earlier spending spree, they have £270 left.

It's not right.

Look at the look on her face. Doesn't that just speak volumes?

Well, I could do with a new stepladder. Mine is a bit old.

I think these are really cool.

"Wonderful set of old quality stepladders, 1940s."

What does it say? "Named?"

It's got...they've got Slingsby here. "Slingsby. In England,

"they made tracks, ladders, stackers and casters.

"They're in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham and Leeds."

And they're priced at £85.

I don't want you shouting at me if this all goes wrong, you know.

-We have to take our chance, don't we?

-We?

-Let's get dealer Mags over.

-Mags?

-We want to give you 40 quid for it.

-Oh!

-Step up to the mark! Crikey.

Can you not do a little bit more?

-41?

-Oh! More, come on. Stretch to 50?

No, honestly, 45 would be us done, I think.

I tell you what, I can do it at that price for you.

-Just for you.

-It's a one-off.

Oh, that's so nice of you. Thank you very much indeed.

Well, I never did.

The silver fox Serrell has somehow managed to convince Valerie to

add a set of stepladders to their bulging bag of goodies.

-Thank you.

-Thank you. Bye-bye.

-They're a couple of sports!

What a delightful day, eh?

But it's time now for a lovely rest, so nighty-night.

Morning has broken!

And our lovely ladies and little Bella are up and at 'em.

Let's have a sniff, eh?

Did you haggle?

Well, my haggling went something like this...

-"That's rubbish, I can take it off your hands."

-LAUGHTER

I don't think it really worked too well.

I think you were pretty good, Diane.

What about the boys in the BM?

You and I aren't competitive, but we know full well that I want to beat

-you and you want to beat me. So let's just...

-LAUGHTER

..Let's get rid of the niceties here, yeah? Correct?

They're definitely all in it to win it.

Yesterday, our ladies entered the antiques arena

with plenty of vra-vra-vroom!

Valerie's spending spree gave her five items -

the elephant paperweight, the oil and vinegar bottle,

the little clogs and garden tool samples,

the Georgian silhouette, and the big chunky stepladders.

And she still has £225 for the day ahead.

-Is this you let loose in a sweet shop?

-A little bit.

Diane is having a whale of a time, but only has one item -

the 1950s child's swivel chair.

She's absolutely swimming in spondoodles, with a mighty £375 left

-to splash.

-I've decided that I'm going to win today.

Do you think that our performance today is going to be reflected in

-the weather?

-As always.

-LAUGHTER

-Bright and sunny or cloudy and wet?

-LAUGHTER

-Look at this.

-Hey, they're still smiling.

-Watch your legs, fellas!

-Morning, morning, morning.

-Here, Bella.

-The A-Team are here.

-How are you doing?

-Fine!

-How's Bella?

Obviously happy to see you!

-Good to see you.

-And you, too.

-You too, lovely.

-Not even on her radar.

-LAUGHTER

-Hey, good to see you.

-Aw, I've missed you!

-LAUGHTER

-Diane, we'll look forward to seeing you later.

-OK, my darling.

And we're off. We're going to steal a march.

Have a good one, as they say. Your turn in the driving seat.

-Happy shopping. Come on.

-Come on, Bella, baby-face. Come on.

-That's it.

-Hey!

Let's get a move on, you lot!

I think what we really need is a really good, big tin bath.

-OK.

-Yeah.

-That's enough, Phil.

-If you'd like to stop and let me out of the car.

-Are you poorly?

-No.

-I just can't bear the thought of a tin bath.

-Oh, Valerie!

Honestly!

Diane, your clicker's on.

So, yeah, how are you and my little friend bonding today?

I give good tickle. That's just one of those things.

You like that, don't you, Bella-boo? Shall we bring Paul home with us

-so he can give you lots of tickles?

-LAUGHTER

Never mind the tickles!

Serious shopping is the order of the day for you lot.

We're headed for Letchworth Garden City. Never been there.

There you go, then.

The antiques hunt continues at the Greenhouse Market.

Good girl. Let's go shopping.

I'm already excited.

FUNKY MUSIC PLAYS

-So, how do you do this?

-It's overwhelming, isn't it?

-LAUGHTER

Start somewhere, follow your nose,

and when you get back to where you started,

you've either seen it or you've not.

What a guy! He's just full of pearls of wisdom.

That is just beautiful!

-Oh, I am so with you. You get that?

-Oh, gosh!

Good! I thought you were going to...

I walked past it on the way in, and in the side of my eye, I went "Oh, lovely."

-But look at that silly price.

-Never mind that, what's the problem?

-What's the bigger problem with it?

-There's no bowl.

-That's right.

There's no pan for the weight.

So what do we have? We have a late 19th, maybe early 20th-century,

shop counter scales.

These are commercial. So you walk into your grocers and you say,

"May I have a pound of butter, please?"

Onto the earthenware pan with that delicious transfer print.

From 1914 Birmingham company Day and Millward,

and they were renowned as a manufacturer of all kinds of

weighing machines, it's priced at £120.

What's next? Bacon, anyone?

-I love that.

-This?

-This.

Oh, that!

How did I not see that?!

-So, look at this, what is it? It is..

-Gorgeous, that's what it is.

-Come here, Bella-boo.

-That could be 200 years old.

It's certainly early 19th-century, OK? So late Georgian, mahogany.

And here in, you put your cutlery.

Ticket price? £85.

-Seems a lot, though.

-You could also use that for all your condiments.

-Oh, yes.

-Or your little spices. I'm just going to cook!

-LAUGHTER

It's great! It's great.

The price is from the past, in my opinion.

Today, there is not the popular demand.

-Right.

-£20 to £40. It's, it's not a lavish...

it's not a rich example, it is what it is.

But it's worth £20 to £40, and I think that will sit here a while

-with that price tag.

-I agree. OK. What else, then?

Ugly.

I wouldn't take it home, but I see merit in it.

What do we have? Late 19th, early 20th century.

It's of coopered construction,

as far as it's made of staves, like a barrel,

and it's well done. That's a difficult operation.

This wasn't cheap in its day.

It was highly skilled, the manufacturing thereof.

It's in oak and then brass-mounted.

Touch of the Arts and Crafts.

They're not trying to hide the constructional techniques.

This was used for storing coal.

It's priced at £55.

We've got another Georgian cutlery tray, two-compartment this time,

arguably less austere, because of the fret carving there.

-If you had to pick...

-Oh, I'd go for the other one.

-Oh, really?!

-Personally...

-I thought that would be too austere for you.

No. I like things that are solid.

Like Paul! Ha-ha! What's next?

What about this? Nice and simple.

-Oh!

-Beautiful.

-I adore this.

-Oh!

-So, what is it? It's a waiter.

It's... Our silver teaware could be on here,

or whatever. Date-wise, we're still firmly George III.

We're mahogany. But, commonly, these would have

-handles...

-Oh, that's right.

-..be they brass or fretted within.

We have three very harmonious pieces here, have we not?

Yeah. If I saw this as a set, I would buy it.

I think this would be a nice little...

I don't want it to go to auction.

Now...back on mission, come on.

-Back from personal shopping.

-This is really nice.

All three total £240.

Good girl, Bella!

So far, we're interested in the Victorian grocers' shop scales,

the brass-mounted oak coal box

and the two George III cutlery trays and the waiter tray.

Dealer, Jenny, we need you!

Stand by to be buttered up.

The Oval...

Georgian oval waiter.

-I know the one. Yeah, without handles.

-And the two cutlery trays.

We're interested in buying those and combining them as a lot.

Frankly, we both adore them.

We think they're fantastic.

But I know, in my heart of hearts,

they're yesterday's news at auction.

-OK.

-£50 for the three pieces.

-Get out of here!

-That is...

-No, that is too...

-What could it be?

Um...

-Nearly double that.

-That's too much.

If we went up a small step and said...

60?

Is that too small a step?

I think we should say 70.

I think that's reasonable.

I could do 75. I'll say yes. That is a big drop for me.

I wouldn't quibble over a fiver.

It's only because of you. I do like you.

I'm saying yes before he says no.

OK? 75.

Wonderful, thank you.

-That is reasonable.

-Phew!

Phew, indeed.

What about the Victorian grocers' shop scales?

The thing is, it's incomplete

and that's where we're going to struggle

because we don't have that lovely brass bowl.

We don't have the lovely old-fashioned weights.

I think... You're going to just hate me.

In the meantime, can I just buy that for £60?

-Yes. I can do that.

-Thank you. Thank you.

-I'm happy to do that.

-Wonderful.

-Now I'm thinking I should have said 50!

Oh, Diane!

What about the brass-mounted coal box priced at £55?

Looks tatty.

And this is my final price.

-Yes?

-35.

-That's fantastic. Job done.

-It's a lovely piece.

-That's wonderful.

-Can't we say...?

-Do you know what...

-40?

We've been... I've created a monster.

Give her a little bit more.

-She was so sweet.

-Oh, you want to go the other way?!

No, I want to give her 40.

-Oh, really?

-We'll give you 40.

Oh, crikey!

Just pay the lovely and very patient Jenny.

I need to give you a hug, you're so lovely.

My mother-in-law's called Jenny.

So, all Jennys are really nice.

-We were on a winner right from the beginning.

-Exactly.

Jenny, thank you. Hugs all round. Thank you.

What a joy of a shop.

So, it's a pleasure to pay.

-There's 100 there.

-Lovely.

-80 there. I think it's £5 change?

-£5 change.

£175 for three luverly lots.

Well done. Meanwhile, Valerie and Philip have taken a detour

and have made their way to the Hertfordshire town of Letchworth.

Never been there either.

As a keen photographer,

Valerie is going to find out about a key development

in photographic history.

Photographer Christian Trampenau is going to enlighten us

on a technique that was pivotal

in the progress of modern-day photography. How lovely!

Valerie, this is Christian.

-Hi, thank you.

-Marvellous studio.

I wonder what you're going to show us.

Oh, yes. The first photograph was taken in the late 1820s

and British scientist Fox Talbot

had invented durable camera negatives on paper by 1835.

But 14 years later, British sculptor Frederick Scott Archer

invented the wet plate collodion process

and produced stills such as this one.

He would radicalise the world of photography.

Why did Frederick Scott Archer come up with this particular process?

He wanted to decrease the amount of exposure time that he needed

and increase the amount of detail and clarity

that he could get to his images.

The old Fox Talbot process didn't give much detail.

It was very slow and very flat.

Whereas the wet plate collodion process

gave him an image that had an increased depth of contrast

and of clarity,

so that he could really see the details of his sculptures.

Archer wanted to photograph his subjects

so he could sculpt them better.

The imperfections in Fox Talbot's process

spurred on his spirit of invention.

And how quick is it?

Let's say we took Phil's picture today.

If we take Phil's picture today,

we can do the process from start to finish in about ten minutes.

The older processes would mean that the subject would have to sit still

for anything up to an hour,

which made portraiture virtually impossible.

So with collodion photography,

it meant that the subject was able to be captured instantly.

Gentleman scientist Archer had his eureka moment

when he used collodion,

a chemical solution used in medical dressings.

For the first time,

Archer could combine fine detail with mass production

and that is crisp, that image.

So, do you think that this is a chance

for the photographer to really express his art

and perhaps, you know, going back to the mid-19th century,

were those photographers really using this

-to express their art then?

-Absolutely, they were.

And this is one of the reasons that I've got back into it.

It slows down the whole of the photographic process.

It means you focus on composition, on lighting,

on all of the techniques that were important to photography,

rather than this simplistic point and press.

This is a way of stopping and thinking about how a process works.

Could we have a go and see you doing it?

-Do you fancy having your picture taken?

-What?!

Be a shame not to capture such beauty, Philip!

So, first thing we need is a nice, clean sheet of glass.

So I've prepared this previously.

That sounds familiar.

Hey, Valerie? Ha!

So this is the collodion.

I pour this on the plate.

The idea is to get a nice, clean...

..pour, across the whole plate.

So I flow it to each side.

The plate is then dipped in a silver nitrate bath,

which mixes with the chemicals in collodion to make it light-sensitive

and because of this, the first stage of the process ends in the dark.

Phil, we'll turn on this top light,

so it's going to be nice and bright.

Phil, you've got to keep very, very quiet and very,

very still for a whole three minutes.

We now open the back of the camera and we are going to then drop in

the plate holder.

The plate holder's in position,

I'm then removing the dark slide.

-Gosh!

-OK?

That now means that the glass plate is ready to receive the light.

So I'm going to turn the main light out again.

I'm going to remove the face.

There's going to be a flash, three, two, one.

And after a period of developing in the processing area...

It's just a simple develop like that,

you can see he's appearing here.

Which is fantastic.

All the highlights have come through.

That's probably enough processing time,

so I'm just using tap water here now to stop the development.

It's a fascinating process.

If you're nervous, turn away now.

Look, Dirk Bogarde.

Phil, come and look.

I think you'll be delighted with this. Look.

-As we hold it up to the white background...

-Who's the old bloke?

-..we can see him in negative form.

-You.

-Get out of here!

It's true. Frederick Scott Archer devoted his life to his new art

but he didn't patent the technique and died impoverished in 1857.

Archer's breakthrough process led to a rapid expansion

in all forms of photography.

Oh, Lord! Some would say the old ones are the best ones.

Let's return to Diane, Bella and Paul.

What vibe were you getting from Val this morning?

That she's not on the winning team. No, I'm just teasing!

THEY LAUGH

Cheeky! We're bound for the Bedfordshire town of Dunstable.

This feisty trio are making their way

to Mannuccis.

I really hope we get there first.

-That's a good thing, right?

-Well...

You don't want them walking out with big smiles and things under their arms.

Don't worry, if they do, we'll take it off them.

Gosh! But, yes, to end this trip, both teams will be shopping here.

Diane, Paul and Bella are first to arrive with their 200 smackers.

Would you look in something like this?

If I came in here, I'd be confused by this.

Try and stop me looking in a cabinet like this.

This is good, is it?

Right, I'm going to do what you do.

HE LAUGHS

Nothing.

And about time too.

Look who's finally arrived!

You're OK, Valerie, the coast is clear.

Take your shoes off.

Look at that. This is my heritage, Val.

Do you know what that is?

Oh, I've got a smaller one than that at home.

Which I use for pushing my windows open and closed.

-No.

-I have no idea what it is.

-It's a bull pole.

-A bull pole?

For holding a bull by the nose?

Absolutely right. So if I had a ring through my nose, Val,

you could then...

-OK, right. On you go.

-Thanks.

Moo!

Anything of interest to you here?

Well, Bella's not interested.

What do you think of the desk set?

Let's take a closer look.

Tell us more, Paul.

That's a blotter.

What does that...

This is in the day of the fountain pen, or dip pen, no ballpoint...

Yeah.

-Write your letter...

-Ah...

And then to make sure that it doesn't smudge?

Oh, yes. It has a £24 price tag.

Holy Moses!

Oh, my days!

That's lovely!

Right.

That is the pot...

-It swivels, it doesn't hinge!

-Go on, go on.

I know, Bella. Just humour him, girl.

Because if you drop this, it shatters and it chips and...

HE WHISPERS INAUDIBLY

We're having a Laidlaw moment.

Let's find dealer Richard.

Richard?

So, Richard...

-Yes.

-We'd like to know what the price could be for these?

What have we got here? We've got £24.

OK. So, it's not mine, but what can I do?

I can do £20 on that for you.

18?

-I think...

-18 would be great.

Really at 20 for me.

-Gosh, it's two quid.

-Otherwise I'll get in trouble.

I would say, oh, gosh, it's two quid.

What on earth? Give the man the two quid.

Can I just say, I think 20 quid is good as well,

I was trying to negotiate!

I keep getting it wrong.

-Can I give you that?

-They've got lots of money!

Honestly. They've got so much money.

-Really?

-I think you need to leave.

Diane said she wasn't very good at bargaining in the car this morning.

So I was wondering how she was going.

I'd say you are lethal.

I second that. Now, scram, Serrell!

-Thank you.

-Lovely, that's great.

-Thank you very much.

-No, thank you, Richard.

-What a pleasure.

-More than welcome.

I would shake your hand but you've got your hands full.

You can give me a kiss instead.

-Why not?

-Very happy, thank you so much.

-You're welcome.

-Yeah, we hope we get a good price at the auction for this.

-Good luck.

-Thank you.

-I hope you double your money.

£20 for the Art Deco brass and marble desk set.

Not much, is it?

I'm so happy...!

I feel we're going to win!

Now, what on earth are Valerie and Phil going to buy?

I'm just looking. What you could do...

You could buy another one of those and put it with the elephant,

because that's the match to it.

-Oh, wow!

-Isn't that bizarre?

Yeah, that would be fun.

Yeah, this glass eagle is also from the Goebels factory.

It's priced at £22.

Oh, Richard?

We reckon because it's only a little trinkety thing,

£10 note would buy that?

-What have we got there?

-22 quid.

22...

Would a tenner buy that?

Richard phones the dealer to get the best price.

OK. Bye-bye.

What's the answer, Richard?

He said, "Yeah, that's OK." He'll do that.

Good-o. That breezy little buy for £10

signals the end of the shopping of this glorious road trip.

I do love this next bit.

We'll reunite the gang

and see what they think of each other's purchases.

-Ready?

-OK.

-One, two, three.

-Reveal.

-PHILIP: Oh, hello!

Oh, wow!

How much did you pay for the dog?

You are priceless.

I really love the cutlery trays because they would make...

That one in particular would make a great wine carrier.

-Georgian?

-Yes.

Georgian mahogany.

Bit of a country version.

And what is this? Has this got a little lid...?

Oh!

-Little school chair.

-School chair.

Do you know, I have to confess,

I had nightmares after I bought that.

-I'll be interested to see what happens!

-I can see why.

-I can see why.

-What are you going to do with this?

Put it back in the skip that it came from, I would have thought.

You do know we've got some stylish pieces.

Yes, you have got your own style, I'll give you that.

And it's always good style, I'll give YOU that.

-Really?

-Good.

This little exercise is all about making profits.

So, hit me with the prices.

-How much was that lot?

-75.

I absolutely hate you!

-What, for the three pieces?

-Yeah, you're a ratbag.

-I'm just doing a happy dance.

-Absolute ratbag!

-How much?

-25.

-Do you know,

I thought you said 25 quid for that!

-40.

-It just gets better!

I am very, very envious of your little bit of period mahogany.

-Yeah.

-Do you want to see a bit of quality?

It had better be after that!

We're already looking at quality, it's fine.

Let's have a look. What's going on here?

-Really?

-Yeah.

Is there something up that tree that you're going to show us?

Wimbledon's coming soon.

You've... This...

-So, silver collared.

-1920...

Delightful. A delight. Numbers?

-£40.

-I think it's a good buy at that.

-Yeah.

-It may or may not be. I think it's there or thereabouts.

-The silhouette?

-£45.

Again, I'd give you that for it.

-I'd take it home.

-The funny thing is, Val thought it looked like you.

The two little paperweights.

They're going to have to be Steuben or Lalique or...

-They are not Lalique.

-They're Goebels.

-German!

Strangely, Paul, bought in two different shops.

-No!

-£30 the two.

-What are the odds?

But the tin bath.

Well, come on!

Do you know, I have Serrelled Valerie Singleton.

-Yeah, but what about the ladders?

-He thought I wouldn't like them.

He thought he was finding me a tin bath.

And I said, I like them.

-They're gorgeous.

-What would you do with it? I'd put them in the garden

-with pots all the way down them.

-Yeah, that as well. I mean...

Everything's nice about those.

-45 quid.

-In the right quarter,

-that...

-Don't you start "In the right quarter"-ing me!

-But in the wrong quarter...

-Don't you start that!

Clapped-out stepladders.

You what?!

Lovely to see you.

-Thanks for coming.

-See you at the auction.

-We will!

-Step this way.

TIM: What a lovely bunch, eh?

So, spill the beans on what you really think, please.

-Which is our banker?

-Um...

I don't know. I mean, maybe the steps, just for fun.

Those ornaments.

-The bird and the elephant?

-You don't like the glass?

-I don't get it. Do you get it?

-They're not me.

I like the fact that theirs are quite large and noticeable.

And ours are all... Almost thinking, is anybody going to see that

at the back of the auction?

We are a delicate couple, aren't we?

-We're very delicate.

-Yes.

-Delicate.

-Yes.

That little chair, that's our little mystery missile.

Watch this space.

We will, Diane!

Now, would you believe it?

It's auction time!

It will be really interesting to see how we do today.

I agree with you, actually.

It... It truly isn't about the winning.

Ha-ha, unless I win! But I would be gutted if we have minus numbers.

Best of luck, girls.

We're headed for Shakespeare's home, Stratford-upon-Avon,

in Warwickshire.

The auction showdown will take place at Bigwood Fine Art Auctioneers.

The fellas are already here.

This is quite appropriate. We're at the old schoolhouse,

-two Blue Peter... Here they are!

-Makes sense.

-Look at that.

I'm hoping I get a Blue Peter badge out of this.

-Yeah. Absolutely right.

-Hello, there!

I can't get out.

-Look at this.

-Open the door for young ladies.

-Come and help us out.

-OK.

-I think this is a childlock.

-How are you, lovely?

-I'm all right.

There's an entrance.

TIM: And there is the beautiful Bella.

-Auction day.

-Here, have a go. Winners! Winners! Winners!

-Hi, darling, how are you?

-Hi, good to see you.

-Hello, losers!

-Nice to see you again.

Get in there!

Fingers crossed.

We don't really mind. After...

No, after Bella.

Pure unadulterated chaos with this lot.

Valerie and Phil spent a frugal £185 on five auction lots.

I don't want you shouting at me if this all goes wrong.

We have to take our chance, don't we?

While Diane and Paul spent £220, also on five lots.

I don't want it to go to auction.

Christopher Ironmonger is the man in charge of today's proceedings.

What does he think of their antique offerings?

The sample garden tools, Clarington Brook, Wigan, toolmakers, 1780.

Very pretty little lot.

Clogs, incidental.

We've estimated 30 but deep down, think they'll probably do better.

The desk set, very much Art Deco,

in its time would have been very desirable.

We've put £50.

Nice little lot, that.

Thanks, Christopher.

It's a busy room and there's online bidding too.

Here come our beautifully turned-out gang.

And let's not forget Bella, eh?

Paul, if that dog barks, we're not friends.

BELLA YAPS

Kill, kill!

Not me, you fool, them!

Come here, Bella.

Bella likes you, Phil.

First to go is Diane's marble desk set, which will do well, I predict.

Look, look, there it is!

What am I bid for this?

Who's going to go in? I don't know, £50 for it?

It's a nice thought.

30. 30, somebody?

Grace anybody's desk, this would.

Dutch auction so far.

Go on, get it started.

-Oh, dear.

-What about 20?

Did you see that tumbleweed?

20 in the room, I'll take five from anybody.

At 25, would you like?

You're going to break even on this.

30, sir? 25 it is.

Gentleman centre of the room.

Are we all done?

You see, that's auctions, isn't it?

Because I thought that was going to make £50-80.

-So did the auctioneer.

-Yeah.

So did I. Plenty more to go, though, and it's still a bit of a profit.

I bet that sells for a good price in the shop.

There'll be a customer for that.

There certainly will be, Diane.

Valerie is next with the oil and vinegar bottle.

Who's got £30? Pretty little item.

£30 for it.

30, I'm bid. 30 and five, do I hear?

At 30, on the maiden bid of 30 and five, is it?

At £30. Am I going to sell it down here at 30?

Five, surely. Pretty little item.

Are you done? £30, 200.

Rubbish. Sorry, did I say that too loud?

Yes. I don't think Valerie was too pleased. That's cheap.

-I'm actually gutted...

-That's the truth of it.

I am gutted on your behalf.

But we could win!

Cheeky! Oh, stand lively.

Diane's collection of George III cutlery trays and tray are next.

And we've got interest on the net and we are in at 120.

At 120 on the net.

I didn't see that. That's strong.

130 in the room, perhaps.

130 in the room.

130, I've got a room bid.

Are you nervous now?

Well done. Well done.

-I'm so excited.

-140 now.

-Wow!

-It's a room bid.

Gentleman here at 130.

-Thank you.

-I'm just living in the moment.

That is a stonker of a result.

You're in the lead, Diane.

Valerie, can I just say I much prefer you on television to her?

Honestly. I think you're lovely.

Val's garden tool samples and the little clogs are next.

Sweet.

Really enchanting little item.

And the net's in at 35.

-At 40.

-It's off and running.

-£40.

At 45. At 50.

60. 60.

60 here. Got 60 in the room.

60, this gentleman here.

70 on the net. 80, sir?

At 70, 80 at the back.

This is exciting.

80 I've got in the room, at 80.

At 80. Internet, 90, if you want to.

It's 80 with the lady, in the room at 80 and I'm going to sell at 80.

Is there any further advance on £80?

-307.

-That was justice!

It certainly was.

That takes you closer to Diane's lead, Valerie.

That's brought a smile back, hasn't it? Yeah.

Diane's grocer shop scales are next.

And I've got 30 straight off.

OK, that's a start, keep going.

-He's saying the right thing.

-He said awfully cheap.

He's saying the right thing.

At £30, we've got five.

-Where's the competition?

-35 in the room.

Come again in the net, net wants them.

35 in the room, bid. And I'm going to sell in the room.

At 40 on the net.

You want five, sir? 45.

-45.

-Come on, keep going, keep going.

45, 50 surely on the net?

At 50 on the net.

45 we have in the room.

Come on, come on, come on, come on!

At 45 it is.

I'll take that. That could have been worse.

Let's not dwell on that, but more than that.

-So you've lost about 20 quid, haven't you?

-Yeah.

15, actually.

And that result brings you both almost neck and neck.

-So what's next, then?

-That's what it feels like to lose?

Our steps must be coming up soon.

Some people fail on a regular basis.

Don't rub it in, Laidlaw.

Val's Goebels paperweights are next.

They'll do all right.

Who's got £30 for them?

Nice little decorative... 30 I've got, 30.

Looking for five now.

-£30 I have.

-Humble pie.

-Yeah.

-I will sell at 30, then, if you're all done at 30.

Are you sure? Is it five now?

At £30, all done.

I did think they would break even.

I thought they would, I thought they would.

Me too. Oh, dear.

This is a close competition, though.

Plenty more to go, Val.

That's what we paid for them.

-Yeah, so we...

-We haven't made anything on that.

We've actually lost a little bit cos we've got to pay commission.

Diane's brass mounted coal box now.

I predict a disaster.

Who's got £20 to get me going?

£20? Come on, the cold weather's coming back.

You'll need your coal out! £20.

A nice coopered barrel. £20 I'm bid.

On the net at 20. Who's got five?

25. 25 in the room, 25 in the room.

VALERIE MUTTERS

At £25 down here in the room and it's going to be sold at £25.

-Oh, my gosh.

-Are you all done?

There you are.

I wish you could say we ended on a high there, Diane.

Told you so. That result's just nudged Team Val a bit more ahead.

I can tell you, your grace and humility are winning all the way.

Why do I do this?

Val's Georgian silhouette is next.

Oh, doesn't he look a bit like Paul?

I've got 10 on the net, at 10 I've got on the net, at 10.

-That's very low.

-15 now. At £10 only, at 10, 15 we've got.

At 15 on the net, at 15. Is it 20 in the room?

20 as the room bid? I have.

-There's three players.

-At 20 in the room, at 20, do I hear five?

It's in the room at £20 and it's going to be sold at 20.

The bid's there. Are you all done?

I thought it was older than 19th century.

Well, I think it's probably about 1810, 1820.

Oh, that's terrible.

But you're still in the lead, just.

Do you know what? I think that's not bad.

I work on, if you break even, hey, that's good enough.

Profit, bonus.

Loss, nah, it happens.

Yep, Diane's child's swivel desk chair is next.

And I've got the internet straight in at 20.

At 20. Looking for five now.