Morecambe 13 Flog It!


Morecambe 13

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Today, we are in the seaside town of Morecambe.

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It's bright and breezy and very cold - not the ideal weather

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to get the bucket and spade out, but that doesn't bother us.

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Welcome to Flog It!

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Morecambe Bay, it's a vast area of stunning views.

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It's this natural beauty that attracted the first tourists

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in the 1850s, when the railways arrived and our venue, the Platform,

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was part of that holiday boom.

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Built in 1907, it started life as a railway station,

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when millions of people came to Morecambe for their holidays.

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These days, the station has become an elegant venue for shows

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and events like our Flog It! valuation day.

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Our crowd's already starting to gather and somewhere in all of these

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bags and boxes, there's some real treasure for our experts to find.

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The lucky ones will be going off to auction and going home with a small fortune.

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Who is it going to be?

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Well, stay tuned and you'll find out.

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It could be you, you, you or you.

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And to help us find those antiques to flog are our dogged experts,

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Catherine Southon.

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-Are you selling her?

-No.

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I don't blame you. I don't blame you.

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And Charles Hanson.

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I'm going to give you one of my green stickers,

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and say I would like to identify these later.

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Inside, our dedicated team of cameramen, researchers, stewards,

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are doing their final check,

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making sure everything is where it needs to be,

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and that we have a great valuation day.

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There's not a minute to spare.

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-Are you ready to go in? ALL:

-Yes!

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Come on then, let's get on with it!

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CHEERS

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While everyone gets seated and comfortable,

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let's see what's coming up later on in the programme.

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Charles shares one of his top tips for buying antiques.

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I think it is always right place, right time.

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Well, yes. Yes.

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Catherine's find brings plenty of smiles at the auction.

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That's cheered you up, hasn't it?

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-Oh, yes.

-Brilliant.

-I'll come and see you again.

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You should have bought more of them at the time.

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And I discover the rags to riches story of Eric Morecambe,

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the town's most famous son.

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-HORN TOOTS

-Look at that, eh. Remember that?

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Oh, do I remember? We used to use that as part of the act.

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-Of course we did.

-Come on, do the gag.

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-What's the difference between...

-SINGLE TOOT

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-And...?

-DOUBLE TOOT

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I don't know, what is the difference?

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SINGLE TOOT

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Well, as you can see, everybody is now safely seated inside,

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so it's time to get on with our first valuation

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and it's over to Catherine Southon.

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Jenny, it's lovely to see you here on Flog It!, thank you very much

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for coming along and thank you for bringing along your collection

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-of World War I postcards.

-Yes.

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So, first of all, we've got some nice little embroidered postcards

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and these are the sort of things that soldiers would have sent back

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to their sweethearts.

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-Yes.

-But who did these come from?

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Have these come through the family to you?

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No, they haven't. When I got married in 1971,

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I came up from Oxford and went into an unfurnished flat

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on Morecambe promenade, this is 1971.

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The estate agent said if there's any stuff you don't want,

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clear it out, but these two volumes I didn't have the heart to,

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because it was obviously a love story between Gordon Atkinson

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to a Miss Gladys Barker.

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So, these two albums, am I right in saying, that they were just left

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in this house that you moved into?

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-Yeah, just left.

-I mean, you've got a huge collection here.

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-Yes, all from him.

-All from him?

-Yeah, yeah.

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-But we know nothing about him?

-No.

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So, is he writing these postcards throughout the First World War?

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Is it just for a year or so?

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No, this goes from 1915 right through to 1919, after the war.

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-After the war.

-So he stayed in France.

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So we have no idea whether he ended up with Gladys?

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No, I'd like to think he did.

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I'd like to think he did.

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My goodness me. Let's have a little flick through.

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I'm amazed that each one is written on.

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Turn up any, it'll say, "Fondest love, Gordon."

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Wouldn't it have been lovely to know what happened to them?

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I'd like to have known what he looked like, to be honest. Or her.

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Yes, but we shall never know.

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But it wasn't just these postcards that were sent,

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it was these as well.

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We've got some which had sort of humorous scenes.

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Yes, a classic, English, ironic humour.

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It sounds to me, Jenny, like you've had a couple of really good evenings

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sitting in front of the fire and going through the whole lot

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-and having a really good read.

-Yes, yes.

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And I'm so pleased that someone who hasn't been connected with these,

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yet you have kept them.

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This one is quite interesting.

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A photograph here, well, a postcard really, of all these soldiers,

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and it says there on the back, "A few of our fellows."

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And that's dated 1917.

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-Yes.

-I've only known of these for five minutes and

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I feel quite attached to them. I mean, you've had them even longer

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-but you are happy to get rid of them now?

-Yeah. I think they can go now.

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Well, I think it would be nice to put an estimate on of, sort of,

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-£60 to £100.

-Really?

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-£50 reserve.

-Yes.

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I hope that there's a couple of old romantics at the auction

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who feel the same way as us and that they make good money.

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-Thank you so much. Thank you, Jenny.

-OK, thanks.

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Time now for Charles to catch up with Len, who he met earlier.

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Now, you've brought along two walking sticks.

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-I have, yes.

-Are you a collector?

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Well, just starting sort of thing.

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Where do you find your walking canes? Do you go to antique fairs?

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Auction houses?

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-Car boots.

-Car boots?

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Car boots, charity shops.

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I don't go to pay top dollar for them.

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These weren't from charity or car boots, were they?

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They were from charity shops.

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-They weren't?!

-They were, yes.

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May I have a look at one?

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-Yes.

-What's this made of, Len?

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I'm not quite sure about that.

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-Malacca.

-Malacca.

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-Malacca, malacca.

-Malacca, malacca.

-And it's a cracker.

-Yeah.

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Where does malacca come from?

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-The Orient?

-Sumatra.

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-Yeah.

-And they've been making canes from malacca for over 300 years.

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We then look at this handle to the cane and what's really lovely is,

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first of all, we've got these quite obvious Japanese or Chinese figures,

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-which are repousse - or embossed - in relief.

-Yes, yeah.

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And here we've got this Japanese elder with what appears

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-to be Japanese script as well.

-Yeah, yeah.

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And what's lovely is a very indistinct monogram.

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And I think it reads HRT.

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And that would have been the owner's initials, and that Gothic type

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-of script would date this to around 1885.

-Yeah.

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OK. Shall we do a swap?

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We can, yes.

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This one also is beautifully made in what appears to be

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blackthorn of some type, an oriental hardwood, very dense.

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And what I like so much is that wonderful colour,

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which has been built up over the oily retreat of sweat

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that's created that wonderful colour, and I love that collar,

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there, as well. Not silver, but that...

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It's got a nice finish to it.

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That serpent just gives it that exotic feel and that would certainly

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indicate to me a date of around 1885.

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-Were they expensive when you bought them?

-No, no.

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So, how much was this one?

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Oh...250, that one.

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-£2.50?

-£2.50.

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-You're joking?

-Yeah.

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It's amazing, and this one must have been more.

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No. £2.

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I like your style. I think it's always, right place, right time.

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Well, yes. Yeah, yeah.

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I wouldn't dream of paying £100 or anything like that..

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Amazing. I admire you.

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-What are they worth?

-I don't know. Tell me.

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Well, I would say your £4.50,

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you could multiply it by 20.

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-And a bit more.

-Ah!

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And I'd be very happy to put these into an auction

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with a guide price of £100 to £150.

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That sounds good to me.

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-Are you happy?

-Yeah.

-I bet you are. No, well done, you.

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And I would probably put a reserve on, at the bottom estimate,

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at £100 and, hopefully, they might just walk away.

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I should have brought more. I've got more at home.

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-Have you really?

-Yeah.

-I can't believe it.

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It sounds like Len could have an auction all to himself.

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Meanwhile, has Catherine found a collection with Eastern promise?

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Richard, Gail,

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this is a very colourful collection of accessories that you have brought

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to Flog It! today. Where did you get them from?

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Well, I inherited them from my father and aunt,

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both of whom were the children of missionaries in China

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at the turn of the century, through to the 1930s.

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And this has all been then handed down to you?

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It has, yes.

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And where do you think they got all these from?

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Do you think they got them from the locals?

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Yes, almost certainly they were given by the locals,

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who didn't have two pennies to rub together.

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So, these were love gifts to them.

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You've got some really lovely Chinese accessories.

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The first thing one may think when you see shoes like this, indeed,

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is that they were used for children - but they weren't.

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They were more for adults and their feet would have been bound...

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Yes, to restrain them.

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-..as young children, to get into...

-To get into those.

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..something like that.

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So, these shoes have all been... They came back, when, in the '30s?

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They came back in the '30s from China with a box full of things like this.

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And this has just been sat in the same box...

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-I mean, have you looked through it as the years have gone by?

-Yes, yes.

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Yes, we've had Chinese folk look at it and, of course,

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it comes from their history, so they've been very interested.

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Very interesting to see.

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Now, this waistcoat here, this interests me,

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because it's beautiful, a lovely colour blue.

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Again, it's just so finely done.

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We've got the butterfly there, and the beautiful flower,

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-right in the middle.

-Mm.

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Who did this belong to?

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Probably my father, and we think that and the doll was probably his.

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-The doll as well?

-They were kept for sentimental reasons.

-Absolutely.

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-And you've got a spectacle case here as well.

-Yeah.

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-What's your favourite piece?

-I love the waistcoat.

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-And you, Richard?

-And mine as well, for sentimental reasons.

-Yes, yeah.

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Well, I think, looking through it, one of my favourite pieces

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are these little shoes.

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-I think they're wonderful.

-Yes.

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And I'm especially interested in these because of the little

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-cat motifs at the front.

-They are lovely, aren't they?

-Yes.

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Now, do you know why cat motif?

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-No, we don't.

-No.

-Well, the cat is known in Chinese culture

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to bring good fortune, so perhaps that's why you would have the cat

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on the front of the shoes,

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but I just think it gives them such great character, I really do.

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Well, I think, overall, this is a really interesting collection.

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I think a lot of Chinese buyers would be interested in it.

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Now, it's something that you want to sell?

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-It's been in your family a long time.

-Mm-hm.

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It has, but I'm not sure the next generation,

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who live in a different world now, would be interested in having it.

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-Right.

-We feel that some people will be interested enough

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-to want to buy them.

-Absolutely.

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I think, let's put it together as a nice little collection,

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a nice group, selling it all together.

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I wouldn't put a particularly high estimate on first of all,

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but I would put say 80 to 120

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as a nice sort of come-and-get-me estimate.

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-Right.

-I suggest that we do protect these

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-with a reserve of £70 at least.

-Yes.

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I think let's put 80 to 120, 70 reserve on,

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-and I think we could well be surprised.

-I'd be happy with that.

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Thank you very much indeed for bringing them along and thank you

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for sharing your family history.

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-Thank you, Catherine.

-Thank you.

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Well, there you are, our experts have now found their first three items to take off to auction.

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We're having a fabulous time here in Morecambe, but right now,

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we've got some business to do in the sale room.

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Here's a quick recap of all the items

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that are going under the hammer.

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Will those albums from the bottom of the basement

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get top price in the saleroom?

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Let's hope the two walking canes from the boot sale

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run at the auction.

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And those Chinese shoes may be small,

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but we'd love them to be a big hit.

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We're heading east but only to the other side of Lancashire for our

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auction, in the town of Clitheroe.

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Our lots will be going under the hammer at Silverwoods,

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where Wilf Mould is in charge.

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The saleroom is filling up.

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I'm going to catch up with our owners. Any minute now,

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the auctioneer's going to be on the rostrum.

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Let's get on with our first lot.

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Remember, there's commission to pay in auction and here today,

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the rate is 10% plus VAT.

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Going under the hammer right now

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we've got two fabulous postcard albums belonging to Jenny,

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and we normally have good surprises with these.

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-But I like the story that you found them in a dry cellar.

-Yes.

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Did you want to do any detective work and try and trace families?

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It's typical, it's something you think to do tomorrow...

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You know, tomorrow and tomorrow...

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And put it off and you never do.

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..and put it off. And then, at the end of the day, I thought,

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"Someone will be collecting these."

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I think they're going to sell at £60-odd.

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-There's a reserve of 50, isn't there?

-There is.

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They're going to sell. Let's find out what the bidders think.

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It's going under the hammer now.

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This album of 292 postcards

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and then you've got an album of 180 souvenir postcards.

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And we'll start these again on interest at £38.

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38, looking for 40.

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I have 38, 40.

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Two, five, eight, 50.

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Five, 60. Five, £70.

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75. 80, five, 90.

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95, 100.

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And ten. 120.

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130.

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At £120 on the front.

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130. 140.

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-Oh, my goodness me!

-140 now, if you like.

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I have 130 bid on screen.

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140 is bid.

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150 now. 160, if you like.

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At 150 then.

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Are you all quite sure?

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At £150.

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It's going at 150...

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-Well done. 150, I think that's the right value.

-I'm surprised!

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That's the right value.

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That's fantastic.

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There's local history there. There's so much history in those albums.

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Yeah, that was amazing though.

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Well done, and thank you for bringing them in - and if you've got

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anything like that, we would like to sell it for you.

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Bring it along to one of our Flog It! valuation days.

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You can pick up details on our BBC website or on our BBC Facebook page.

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If not, check the details in your local press.

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Dust them down, bring them in - we'll flog them.

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That's a great start to our auction.

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Can we keep up the pace with those walking sticks?

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I've just been joined by Len and in a moment, we're putting those

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two walking canes under the hammer.

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Bought for a total of - Charles, do you know this...?

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-£4.50.

-Yeah, £4.50.

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-Could you do that?

-No way.

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Do you do a lot of this, sort of buying and selling?

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Well, I look around shops and see what's going in car boots, yeah.

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-And you're always learning and that's the main thing.

-Oh, yes, yes.

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-We find that, don't we?

-Absolutely.

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Len's got very discerning eyes so we've gone in quite strong

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with the reserves. I'm hoping we can just hit the 100.

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Look, let's find out what the bidders think,

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because I think you're on the money here, I really do.

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Good luck, this is it.

0:14:220:14:23

You've got the two items in this lot.

0:14:230:14:26

You've got a very nice root stock walking cane

0:14:260:14:29

and you've got the Chinese malacca walking cane

0:14:290:14:31

with a white metal, decorative pommel.

0:14:310:14:33

And again, interest on the pad.

0:14:330:14:36

I shall start these at £65.

0:14:360:14:37

-Come on.

-65, 70.

0:14:370:14:40

-Five, 80.

-Here we go.

0:14:400:14:41

Five, 90. Five, 100.

0:14:410:14:43

-They're walking out.

-100 is bid in the room.

0:14:440:14:46

110 from anybody else?

0:14:460:14:48

I have £100, two good sticks here.

0:14:480:14:50

110, 120.

0:14:500:14:52

130.

0:14:520:14:53

At £120 then...

0:14:530:14:55

All finished at 120.

0:14:550:14:57

£120. Well done, Len!

0:14:570:14:59

Will you reinvest that in some boot fairs

0:15:010:15:03

and some antique markets and some antiques shops?

0:15:030:15:06

-I don't think so.

-Probably go towards a holiday.

0:15:060:15:08

Oh, good. OK. Well, all right. Look after yourself, then.

0:15:080:15:10

Yeah, thank you very much.

0:15:100:15:12

No doubt, you'll be back out at the car boots.

0:15:120:15:14

Oh, definitely, yeah.

0:15:140:15:15

When the weather picks up.

0:15:150:15:17

Auctioneer Wilf has delivered two great results.

0:15:170:15:19

Can he make it a hat-trick with that Chinese collection?

0:15:190:15:23

Richard and Gail, it's great to see you again.

0:15:230:15:26

Fingers crossed, OK? It's a mixed lot, this one.

0:15:260:15:29

It really is. I mean, you've got something for everybody,

0:15:290:15:31

Chinese collectors, cos we've got spectacle cases, we've got little watches, as well...

0:15:310:15:35

-Shoes.

-But everything's Chinese, and we've got a really nice selection, so...

0:15:350:15:39

Yeah, and I'm pleased you didn't decide to split them up,

0:15:390:15:41

-and I think the auction has agreed with you, because otherwise they would've done it anyway.

-Yes.

0:15:410:15:45

And we're looking at 80 to £120.

0:15:450:15:48

-Good luck, both of you.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Going under the hammer now.

0:15:480:15:51

Let's find out what the bidders think.

0:15:510:15:53

This collection of Chinese curios,

0:15:530:15:55

which are mainly silk embroidered shoes for bound feet.

0:15:550:15:59

Nice little mixed lot for you there.

0:15:590:16:02

And we shall start this straight on at £48.

0:16:020:16:06

48, 48 and 50 now.

0:16:060:16:08

50 is online.

0:16:080:16:09

-Halfway.

-55, 60 now. 65.

0:16:090:16:12

Looking for 70.

0:16:120:16:14

£70 is on the screen.

0:16:140:16:15

75 now. 80 is bid now.

0:16:150:16:17

£80 - and five from anywhere else?

0:16:170:16:20

85. 90, all online at the moment.

0:16:200:16:22

-£90...

-That's what we need.

0:16:220:16:25

95. I'll take 100.

0:16:250:16:27

-And 100 is bid. 100...

-Good.

-110 now.

0:16:270:16:29

110, 120.

0:16:290:16:31

130. 130.

0:16:310:16:33

-Ooh, it's going up!

-130, 140 now.

0:16:330:16:36

140. Anybody else?

0:16:360:16:37

-150...

-Internet's in on it.

0:16:370:16:40

-Brilliant.

-That's good.

-160.

0:16:400:16:41

I'll take 170. At £160...

0:16:410:16:43

-It's a steady climb, but it's going in the right direction.

-It is...

0:16:430:16:47

Anybody in the room? All done at 160. Online, then.

0:16:470:16:50

At 160...

0:16:500:16:51

Fabulous. Fabulous.

0:16:530:16:54

Well over the top there. Well done, Catherine.

0:16:540:16:56

That's a hard one to put a value on.

0:16:560:16:58

-It was a hard one.

-Yes, cos it's such a...

0:16:580:16:59

-Yeah.

-But I'm pleased for you. I think that was a good result.

0:16:590:17:02

-Yes.

-And thank you for bringing such gems in, as well.

0:17:020:17:05

-OK.

-Yeah, they really were good.

-Mm.

0:17:050:17:08

All done at 170.

0:17:080:17:10

Well, there you are.

0:17:100:17:12

That's our first three lots under the hammer, done and dusted.

0:17:120:17:14

We're coming back here later on in the show, so do not go away.

0:17:140:17:18

Before we return to the valuation day to find some more treasures,

0:17:180:17:21

I want to find out more about one of Britain's biggest comedians,

0:17:210:17:24

who was a Morecambe boy in every sense of the word.

0:17:240:17:27

This modest house in Morecambe

0:17:330:17:35

was the birthplace of John Eric Bartholomew. He was born in 1926

0:17:350:17:39

and he went on to form the greatest comedy duo on British television.

0:17:390:17:44

He was also regarded as the funniest Brit of the 20th century.

0:17:440:17:47

You may know him better by his stage name, Eric Morecambe.

0:17:470:17:51

He took his surname from his beloved hometown

0:17:510:17:54

and he went on to become the funny bloke of Morecambe and Wise.

0:17:540:17:57

How you teamed up first, whose idea was it?

0:17:570:18:00

-Shall I answer that?

-Please do.

0:18:000:18:01

-His mother, actually.

-Yes.

0:18:010:18:03

-His mother?

-His mother, Eric's mother.

-Could take a long time, this.

-Yes.

0:18:030:18:06

LAUGHTER

0:18:060:18:08

Tell him the story. And let me interrupt and get a few laughs.

0:18:080:18:11

LAUGHTER

0:18:110:18:13

Like so many people,

0:18:130:18:15

I grew up laughing at the antics of Eric Morecambe.

0:18:150:18:18

The Morecambe and Wise Show

0:18:180:18:19

became one of the most watched programmes on British television.

0:18:190:18:23

But how did the boy from such humble beginnings in Morecambe go on to be

0:18:230:18:27

one of the biggest names in comedy?

0:18:270:18:30

Morecambe was a thriving resort,

0:18:300:18:32

attracting millions of holiday-makers,

0:18:320:18:34

who flocked to the theatres dotted around the town,

0:18:340:18:37

the largest of which was the Winter Gardens.

0:18:370:18:39

It was the ideal place for Eric's talent to be spotted

0:18:390:18:42

at a very early age.

0:18:420:18:44

Eric's eldest son Gary

0:18:440:18:46

has documented his father with several books

0:18:460:18:49

dedicated to his life and career,

0:18:490:18:51

including how Eric's mother played a pivotal role in shaping his future.

0:18:510:18:56

She'd seen her husband work for the council all his life and it was

0:18:570:19:00

literally down the mines, or digging roads,

0:19:000:19:02

and she wanted more than just that for her son.

0:19:020:19:06

And noticing that he had some kind of talent, it was worth pushing.

0:19:060:19:09

That's how she felt.

0:19:090:19:10

And that began with talent competitions, locally,

0:19:100:19:12

and he went from there.

0:19:120:19:14

By the time he was 13,

0:19:180:19:20

Eric was regularly performing in theatres around Morecambe,

0:19:200:19:23

like this one, in fact. He performed on this stage many times.

0:19:230:19:28

He won so many times that he actually was barred from taking part

0:19:280:19:32

for a short while to give the holiday-makers a chance of winning.

0:19:320:19:36

His natural comic genius soon caught the eye of scouts and agents

0:19:360:19:40

and he was booked on a big show to tour the country,

0:19:400:19:42

and that's where he met, in 1940, Ernest Wiseman,

0:19:420:19:46

who we know as Ernie Wise, another comic genius,

0:19:460:19:50

a child prodigy.

0:19:500:19:52

Both men were conscripted into military service during World War II,

0:19:520:19:56

but joined forces soon after

0:19:560:19:58

and started performing as a double act,

0:19:580:20:00

touring the country and becoming known as Morecambe and Wise.

0:20:000:20:04

Thank you, thank you. Who's come on?

0:20:050:20:07

-Oh, it's us.

-LAUGHTER

0:20:070:20:09

-Good evening.

-All right, darling? Working?

0:20:090:20:11

Oh, you're up there, are you?

0:20:110:20:13

Oh, where have I gone? That's the wife.

0:20:130:20:15

Eric and Ernie weren't just talented comedians,

0:20:150:20:19

they were bright young men with vision and forward-thinking.

0:20:190:20:22

They realised variety theatre was on its way out

0:20:220:20:25

and television was the future,

0:20:250:20:27

and that's where they wanted to be.

0:20:270:20:29

Eventually, in 1954, they got their big break,

0:20:310:20:34

their very own TV series, Running Wild, on the BBC.

0:20:340:20:38

Sadly, it was broadcast live, so no footage survives.

0:20:380:20:42

Unfortunately, it didn't go down very well.

0:20:420:20:45

I remember all the write-ups, all of them...

0:20:460:20:49

Psychologically damaged...

0:20:490:20:51

How dare they put such mediocre talent on television.

0:20:510:20:53

First man, "Is that a television in the corner?"

0:20:530:20:56

Second man, "No, that's the box they buried Morecambe and Wise in last night."

0:20:560:20:59

-Did you feel very depressed afterwards?

-Oh, yes.

-What happened?

0:20:590:21:02

We said, "That's it, we're not going on television again."

0:21:020:21:04

Our career, we said, is in ruins. We didn't even have a career then.

0:21:040:21:08

But they weren't deterred.

0:21:080:21:10

They went back to the stage

0:21:100:21:11

and carried on doing what they knew best,

0:21:110:21:14

biding their time, honing their skills, refining their act,

0:21:140:21:17

and rebuilding their reputation.

0:21:170:21:20

Within weeks, they were billed to appear at Manchester,

0:21:200:21:23

and they went down a storm there,

0:21:230:21:25

and that sort of gave them their confidence back.

0:21:250:21:29

And they realised for the very first time

0:21:290:21:31

that TV always plays into your favour.

0:21:310:21:33

You can't go wrong with TV.

0:21:330:21:35

Because they were billed as these

0:21:350:21:36

great comics of television, type of thing. So it was wonderful, yeah.

0:21:360:21:40

The hard work and talent shone through.

0:21:400:21:42

Eventually, they got another shot at television, and this time,

0:21:420:21:45

they grabbed hold of it and didn't let go.

0:21:450:21:48

From then on, Eric and Ernie really took off.

0:21:480:21:51

And with success and fame came wealth,

0:21:510:21:53

and Eric splashed out on the car he always dreamed of, a Rolls-Royce,

0:21:530:21:56

and this is the model, a 1971 Silver Shadow.

0:21:560:22:00

Mike, pleased to meet you. You were his chauffeur.

0:22:000:22:02

-I certainly was.

-Mike drove Eric around in this very car,

0:22:020:22:05

still in pristine condition today.

0:22:050:22:08

So, how did you get to be Eric's chauffeur?

0:22:080:22:11

I got to be Eric's chauffeur when he was at the BBC,

0:22:110:22:14

and when the contract was finished,

0:22:140:22:16

Eric came to me and asked me to be his full-time chauffeur.

0:22:160:22:19

-And you just jumped at the chance?

-Almost, yes.

0:22:190:22:22

After about two or three seconds, I said, "Yes, please."

0:22:220:22:25

And then I was Eric Morecambe's chauffeur.

0:22:250:22:27

-Can we go for a spin?

-Of course.

-Along the seafront? Come on, then.

-Yeah, yeah.

0:22:270:22:31

-Let me do it, sir.

-Oh, thank you very much.

-There we are.

0:22:310:22:34

-Oh, it smells good, doesn't it? Oh, the leather.

-You can smell... still smell the leather.

0:22:350:22:40

Ah!

0:22:400:22:42

Ah, this is fantastic.

0:22:420:22:43

What does it feel like, driving the car now?

0:22:480:22:50

I know Eric's not here, but do you sometimes think Eric's in the back still,

0:22:500:22:53

whenever you're in this car?

0:22:530:22:55

Yeah. When you drive it, all those memories come back from years ago.

0:22:550:22:59

Sure. Every time I saw Eric on TV, especially in interviews,

0:22:590:23:02

he was really jolly and happy and he always had a smile on his face.

0:23:020:23:05

But you must have known the real Eric.

0:23:050:23:07

-What was he like?

-He always worried about how it was going to come out when it came out on television.

0:23:070:23:11

That was the first thing he asked me and asked everybody else was,

0:23:110:23:15

"Is it OK? Was it better than last time?"

0:23:150:23:18

And that was the pressure, really, of being on TV.

0:23:180:23:20

-Yeah, forever the perfectionist.

-Yeah, absolutely.

0:23:200:23:23

Oh, yeah, he was his own critic, as I say.

0:23:230:23:25

Everything had to be absolutely right.

0:23:250:23:28

Eric and Ernie worked incredibly hard

0:23:320:23:34

to make their comedy seem effortless and natural.

0:23:340:23:37

And the hard work and the stress of it all, staying at the top,

0:23:370:23:40

took its toll on Eric.

0:23:400:23:42

In 1968, aged just 42, he suffered his first heart attack.

0:23:420:23:47

It was obviously a massive blow,

0:23:480:23:50

but Eric wasn't going to let it affect him.

0:23:500:23:53

Eric and Ernie were now established stars on television,

0:23:530:23:56

and after Eric's health was back on track,

0:23:560:23:59

they recorded some of the greatest comedy ever,

0:23:590:24:02

with the stars of the day queueing up to be guests on their show.

0:24:020:24:07

Now I'd like to introduce to you the greatest star

0:24:070:24:09

we've ever had on the show. The one and only Sir Lawrence...

0:24:090:24:13

-Can't come.

-LAUGHTER

0:24:130:24:15

# Yeah, yeah, yeah... #

0:24:200:24:22

I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order.

0:24:220:24:27

At the height of their success in the 1970s,

0:24:270:24:30

the Morecambe and Wise Christmas show

0:24:300:24:32

was about the biggest thing on TV.

0:24:320:24:34

An incredible 28 million people, including me, tuned in to watch it.

0:24:340:24:39

That's about half the population of the UK.

0:24:390:24:42

It was no longer a TV show, it was a cultural event

0:24:420:24:45

that certainly proved the critics wrong.

0:24:450:24:48

When you're getting in the 20 millions of viewers, you know, it's a big thing.

0:24:490:24:53

People were literally defining their Christmas Day

0:24:530:24:56

on the quality of the show,

0:24:560:24:57

and when you do a great Christmas show, next year, what do you do?

0:24:570:25:01

It has to be at least another great show, if not better.

0:25:010:25:04

That was a lot of stress,

0:25:040:25:05

particularly on my father, because he was the renowned funny man,

0:25:050:25:08

the glue for the show, and he was carrying that burden,

0:25:080:25:11

and that was a real strain on his health.

0:25:110:25:14

In 1979, Eric suffered another heart attack

0:25:140:25:17

and needed a seven-hour bypass operation.

0:25:170:25:20

-Seriously, how are you feeling?

-Great.

0:25:200:25:22

What's the doctor's verdict though, you've got to...?

0:25:220:25:24

Very good. Very good. I'm not really here at the moment, I am a recording.

0:25:240:25:28

LAUGHTER

0:25:280:25:29

-He's going to rest.

-I've got to rest.

0:25:290:25:31

-For several weeks.

-For a couple of weeks, is it?

0:25:310:25:33

-Several.

-You've obviously got to take it easy for a bit though, presumably?

0:25:330:25:36

Well, if I can get a bit, I'll take it easy, yes.

0:25:360:25:38

LAUGHTER

0:25:380:25:39

Intensive care unit, please.

0:25:390:25:40

See you. Bye-bye.

0:25:400:25:43

Eric and Ernie continued to make their TV series

0:25:450:25:48

for the next few years,

0:25:480:25:49

but obviously at a much reduced rate.

0:25:490:25:51

Eric finally slowed down

0:25:510:25:53

and took time out to write a couple of novels,

0:25:530:25:56

but sadly, in 1984,

0:25:560:25:58

Eric Morecambe passed away after suffering another heart attack.

0:25:580:26:02

He was only 58.

0:26:020:26:04

His funeral was attended by the biggest names of the day.

0:26:060:26:10

Ernie Wise, Eric's partner for 43 years,

0:26:100:26:13

described his death as the final curtain.

0:26:130:26:16

Even at his own funeral,

0:26:180:26:19

Eric had the last laugh, when Dickie Henderson,

0:26:190:26:22

a friend from their music hall days, read a few words from Eric.

0:26:220:26:25

"I would just like to say

0:26:260:26:28

"that your tribute to Arthur reminded us all

0:26:280:26:30

"what a great comedian Arthur was.

0:26:300:26:32

"And I should like to book you for mine,

0:26:320:26:34

"just to remind everybody what a great comic I was.

0:26:340:26:36

LAUGHTER "Love, Eric.

0:26:360:26:39

"PS - I will pay you when I see you down there."

0:26:390:26:43

LAUGHTER

0:26:430:26:44

And I can remember that day well.

0:26:470:26:49

It was a terrible loss to the nation.

0:26:490:26:51

There was a real sombre mood in our house.

0:26:530:26:55

My mum and dad were really upset. They never missed an episode.

0:26:550:26:59

It was like losing a relative, really, because he was always on our TV sets.

0:26:590:27:03

This statue of Eric was unveiled by Her Majesty The Queen

0:27:030:27:07

as a mark of respect to a comic genius.

0:27:070:27:10

People from all over the country come here

0:27:100:27:12

to have their photograph taken with Eric in the classic pose.

0:27:120:27:16

There's his binoculars, cos he was a keen twitcher,

0:27:160:27:19

looking at all the birdlife out there in Morecambe Bay.

0:27:190:27:22

And for me, Eric Morecambe was very much like his comedy.

0:27:220:27:25

He was clean, he was innocent, he was intelligent.

0:27:250:27:27

He never upset anybody.

0:27:270:27:30

He just wanted to make people laugh.

0:27:300:27:32

And do you know what? For me, Eric Morecambe is still doing it.

0:27:320:27:36

In the lyrics of that song that played out on the credits at the end of the show,

0:27:360:27:40

he's bringing me sunshine, he's bringing me laughter,

0:27:400:27:42

and he's bringing me love.

0:27:420:27:44

Well done, mate.

0:27:440:27:46

# Bring me sunshine

0:27:460:27:48

# In your smile

0:27:480:27:50

# Bring me laughter... #

0:27:520:27:53

Time now to get back on with our valuations at the Platform.

0:27:530:27:56

There's still plenty of bags and boxes full of treasures,

0:27:560:27:59

and hoping to bring some laughter and sunshine to one lucky owner

0:27:590:28:03

is Catherine Southon.

0:28:030:28:05

John, good to meet you.

0:28:050:28:07

-Thank you.

-You've brought along a rather nice diamond cluster ring.

0:28:070:28:12

Can you tell me a little bit about it, please?

0:28:120:28:14

I got it from a shop, it was about 30 years ago.

0:28:140:28:17

And I bought it for my wife.

0:28:170:28:18

And was it for an important time in your marriage?

0:28:180:28:22

Not really. It was close to 25 years,

0:28:220:28:24

-but I was working away and she wanted a pressie...

-Right.

0:28:240:28:27

..so I took her out to the diamond shop.

0:28:270:28:30

And this is what she chose.

0:28:300:28:31

-That's correct.

-Was it the biggest, shiniest ring in the shop?

0:28:310:28:34

-I think it was, yes.

-So, where did you meet your wife?

0:28:340:28:36

-At school.

-At school.

0:28:360:28:39

-Yeah.

-Gosh, so you've been together all that time?

0:28:390:28:41

-Yeah.

-So, 30-odd years ago, this is sort of early '90s, about that sort of time?

0:28:410:28:45

Diamond cluster rings were very fashionable.

0:28:450:28:48

Cluster rings today aren't so fashionable, but nevertheless,

0:28:480:28:51

this is still a jolly nice example.

0:28:510:28:53

Do you know how many diamonds you've got there?

0:28:530:28:55

Not the number of, but I know I've got 2.19 total carats.

0:28:550:29:00

Right, OK. And do you remember what you paid for it,

0:29:000:29:03

-if you don't mind me asking? Back then?

-£1,100.

0:29:030:29:06

Right, so that was a significant investment, then.

0:29:060:29:09

-That was a lot of money.

-A lot of money then.

0:29:090:29:12

Let's just have a look at this ring. I'll take it off the little cushion.

0:29:120:29:15

-The diamonds are still sparkling...

-Yeah.

-..and still look good.

0:29:170:29:20

And you've got here an 18-carat gold shank.

0:29:200:29:23

Now, the price that you paid, which was over £1,000,

0:29:230:29:26

you were buying retail...

0:29:260:29:28

-Yes.

-So you are spending, sort of quite high value, really.

0:29:280:29:31

And buying from a diamond shop, so you were really paying top dollar.

0:29:310:29:35

We are now talking about sending this off to auction

0:29:350:29:38

and you've got to think that the price will be reflected in that.

0:29:380:29:41

So you wouldn't be looking at £1,000, you'd be looking at lower than that.

0:29:410:29:44

Also, thinking about the fact that, as I said before,

0:29:440:29:47

cluster rings aren't as fashionable as they once were,

0:29:470:29:50

I think value on this, you're looking at about 600 to £800.

0:29:500:29:54

-Ah-ha.

-How does that sound to you?

-That's fine.

0:29:540:29:57

-Are you happy to sell at 600 to 800?

-Yes, that's fine.

0:29:570:29:59

We can put a £600 reserve on.

0:29:590:30:01

-That would be ideal.

-You'd be happy with that?

0:30:010:30:04

-That would be ideal, yeah.

-But this has been with you,

0:30:040:30:06

or with your wife, for such a long time.

0:30:060:30:08

Why is it now the time to sell it?

0:30:080:30:10

Well, it's time for myself...

0:30:100:30:12

I've got two sons, but that's...

0:30:120:30:15

It gives me a problem, maybe, what son will get the ring.

0:30:150:30:20

-Right, OK.

-And so on, so I'd rather move on now

0:30:200:30:23

-rather than after I've passed away.

-Right.

0:30:230:30:26

Your wife is no longer with us.

0:30:260:30:28

-No, she's passed away, almost six years ago.

-Right.

0:30:280:30:31

Right, OK. So let's try and sell this ring

0:30:310:30:34

and perhaps, you know, enjoy the time with your sons, as well.

0:30:340:30:37

And hope that it does very well at auction.

0:30:370:30:40

Thank you so much for coming along.

0:30:400:30:41

-Thank you. Thank you very much.

-Good luck.

-Cheers.

0:30:410:30:44

-RADIO JINGLE:

-Loving the Red Rose county.

0:30:440:30:46

BBC Radio Lancashire.

0:30:460:30:48

Earlier on this morning, I was interviewed by Sally

0:30:490:30:52

from BBC Radio Lancashire.

0:30:520:30:53

We rely on the local radio stations to flag up publicity for us.

0:30:530:30:58

It's part of the big machine that the BBC have here.

0:30:580:31:00

-And, hello, Sally...

-Hello.

-I talked to you earlier on.

0:31:000:31:03

We're trying to get more people to come down.

0:31:030:31:05

-I want to talk to you about Eric Morecambe, because you've met him, haven't you?

-I have, I have.

0:31:050:31:09

It was very exciting. I used to be a Tiller girl.

0:31:090:31:12

-OK.

-Have you heard of the Tiller girls?

-No, I haven't.

0:31:120:31:14

Well, the Tiller girls were a high-kicking group of girls,

0:31:140:31:17

we were top of the bill wherever we were as dancers.

0:31:170:31:19

And I appeared at the theatre just down the road here,

0:31:190:31:22

-the Winter Gardens...

-Yes.

0:31:220:31:23

And we're talking the early '70s here.

0:31:230:31:26

And I can remember being on stage as one of the Tiller girls,

0:31:260:31:29

doing our routine, and suddenly the word spread along the line,

0:31:290:31:32

"Eric Morecambe's in the wings." "Eric Morecambe..." "He's not."

0:31:320:31:35

"Eric Morecambe..." So as the word passed along,

0:31:350:31:37

we all kept our feet going, doing the routine,

0:31:370:31:40

we did the final bar, looked up and then everybody gazed into the wings

0:31:400:31:43

and there was Eric Morecambe, giving us a big round of applause.

0:31:430:31:46

He met every single girl. He was absolutely fantastic.

0:31:460:31:49

I think it was the time he turned the lights on here.

0:31:490:31:52

-But, yeah, what a memory to have.

-And can you still do the high kicks?

0:31:520:31:55

-Do you want to see?

-Come on!

-Go for it...

-Ready?

0:31:550:31:57

HE LAUGHS AND CHEERS

0:31:590:32:01

THEY LAUGH

0:32:010:32:02

-You can still do it!

-Thank you!

0:32:040:32:06

-Well done. Thank you, Sally.

-You're welcome.

0:32:060:32:08

I think I pulled a muscle just watching those high kicks.

0:32:080:32:11

Let's move inside to a more sedate setting,

0:32:110:32:14

where it looks like Charles

0:32:140:32:15

has found some Eric Morecambe memorabilia.

0:32:150:32:18

Ann, I was hoping today

0:32:180:32:20

-to come across something which would bring me sunshine...

-Yes.

0:32:200:32:24

And to come across this 1963 season Show Time pamphlet

0:32:240:32:30

signed by the great men themselves, Morecambe and Wise.

0:32:300:32:34

Tell me how you acquired it.

0:32:340:32:35

I was on holiday with my parents in Blackpool,

0:32:350:32:38

we were staying at my auntie's, and we always went to the pier show.

0:32:380:32:41

And that year, it was Morecambe and Wise.

0:32:410:32:43

How famous were they back in '63?

0:32:430:32:45

Not as famous as they became.

0:32:450:32:48

I suppose for me, when the great Mr Morecambe died in '84,

0:32:480:32:53

I was only eight.

0:32:530:32:55

-Wow!

-So I never got a chance to really see...

0:32:550:32:57

-No.

-..him and his great wingman.

0:32:570:33:00

-How good were they?

-They were brilliant.

-Why?

0:33:000:33:02

Because they had the ability to make you laugh

0:33:020:33:05

without having to tell a joke.

0:33:050:33:08

They were funny.

0:33:080:33:10

-It was the way...

-Yes.

-..they just interacted, I suppose.

0:33:100:33:12

-Yes.

-So, this was Blackpool.

0:33:120:33:14

What I can see straight away is here we've got the autograph

0:33:140:33:17

of Eric Morecambe just here, there here is, looking very youthful.

0:33:170:33:20

-Yes.

-And beside him, the great Mr Wise.

0:33:200:33:24

Show Time, a show of the stars.

0:33:240:33:27

It's just wonderful. And is it complete?

0:33:270:33:29

-Yes.

-What do you remember about the show?

0:33:290:33:31

I remember standing outside, waiting for them to come out.

0:33:310:33:34

It was so thrilling that we could actually speak to them.

0:33:340:33:37

-A bit like yourself, you know.

-Get out of here.

0:33:370:33:39

I'm a humble man. When they came out, what did you say to them?

0:33:390:33:42

Just "Hello" and "Did you like the show?"

0:33:420:33:44

We said yes. That was more or less it,

0:33:440:33:46

because there were lots of us around wanting autographs.

0:33:460:33:49

-But they were quite polite...

-Oh, yes. Yes.

0:33:490:33:52

-They were lovely.

-Wonderful.

0:33:520:33:54

-So you saw them once...

-Yes.

-You acquired their autographs.

0:33:540:33:57

And do you feel it's now time to say au revoir to this little...?

0:33:570:34:01

-Yes.

-Why?

-Because it was in my autograph book in a dark trunk

0:34:010:34:06

and I know there are collectors that will appreciate it.

0:34:060:34:09

There really are. What's this autograph here?

0:34:090:34:12

It's Matt Munro's. He was also on the programme.

0:34:120:34:14

He was really well known.

0:34:140:34:16

-Was he?

-He was a really well-known ballader. Yes.

-Was he?

-Singer, yeah.

0:34:160:34:19

-And that's him here?

-Yes.

-Matt Munro. Wow.

0:34:190:34:22

But did Morecambe and Wise really stand out for you?

0:34:220:34:24

-Yes.

-As a talent?

0:34:240:34:26

-Oh, yes.

-And of course, what's lovely,

0:34:260:34:27

we've also got here the running order of that programme,

0:34:270:34:31

on that evening.

0:34:310:34:32

Oh, it's tremendous. I think it's wonderful condition.

0:34:320:34:34

-Apart from the back...

-Yes.

-..which obviously was stuck down.

0:34:340:34:37

That will affect value somewhat. But the autographs, particularly, are nice and clear.

0:34:370:34:41

-Yes.

-And the fact that you were there on that very night...

0:34:410:34:45

-Yes.

-That's provenance.

0:34:450:34:46

-Yes.

-And pedigree is so important to say, Ann, as a 14-year-old,

0:34:460:34:51

saw the hands that signed the pamphlet.

0:34:510:34:55

What's it worth? Well, its auction market value today

0:34:550:34:58

is between 60 and £90.

0:34:580:35:01

-Goodness me.

-So, it will be a real pleasure...

0:35:010:35:03

-Yes.

-..to give it a send-off.

0:35:030:35:05

-Yes.

-And with your blessing, we can put a reserve on, maybe at £50...

0:35:050:35:09

-Yes, that's fine.

-If that meets your approval?

-Yes.

-Happy, Ann?

-Yes.

0:35:090:35:12

-On that note, thanks a lot.

-Thank you.

-Thank you. Pleasure.

0:35:120:35:15

And finally, it's time now to tick off

0:35:150:35:17

Catherine's last find of the day.

0:35:170:35:19

Michael, welcome to Flog It!

0:35:190:35:21

-Thank you.

-And what have you brought with you today?

0:35:210:35:23

What I've brought is this Rolex watch,

0:35:230:35:26

which I've had since the 1950s.

0:35:260:35:29

So you bought this back in the '50s.

0:35:290:35:31

Where did you buy it from in the '50s?

0:35:310:35:33

I bought it from a shop in Kuala Lumpur.

0:35:330:35:35

And what were you doing in Kuala Lumpur may I ask in the '50s?

0:35:350:35:38

I was in the RAF.

0:35:380:35:39

And I was posted to Kuala Lumpur and I ended up being an instructor

0:35:390:35:45

at Malayan Auxiliary Air Force.

0:35:450:35:47

How old were you, if you don't mind me asking in the '50s?

0:35:470:35:50

Well, in 1956, I'd be 20.

0:35:500:35:52

So this then was a bit of a special thing to then go out and buy.

0:35:520:35:55

Yes, I mean, Rolex watches have always been a status symbol.

0:35:550:35:59

Yes, absolutely.

0:35:590:36:00

So, erm, that's why I bought it.

0:36:000:36:02

You're clutching something there. What's in the envelope, sir?

0:36:020:36:05

That's the receipt from the watch dealers,

0:36:050:36:09

which tells you that I paid 200 Malayan dollars.

0:36:090:36:12

Do you know how much that was then?

0:36:120:36:14

About £25.

0:36:140:36:15

Was that a lot of money for you back then?

0:36:150:36:17

It was when you were on RAF pay, yes.

0:36:170:36:19

-Right.

-It took a bit of saving up, yes.

0:36:190:36:21

A bit of saving up. Can I hand that back to you for one second?

0:36:210:36:24

-Thank you.

-And what's the other piece of paper

0:36:240:36:26

-that you've got there?

-This is the Rolex guarantee,

0:36:260:36:28

which has the number of the watch on it.

0:36:280:36:30

Now, that's quite crucial, to have the number on the watch

0:36:300:36:33

because as soon as we see Rolex watches,

0:36:330:36:36

alarm bells start ringing straightaway and we think,

0:36:360:36:39

it's going to be a fake.

0:36:390:36:40

But the main sort of period that they started faking Rolex watches

0:36:400:36:44

was in the '70s and the '80s.

0:36:440:36:45

But looking at this, and looking at it quite closely,

0:36:450:36:48

I can see that there's numbers between the lugs here.

0:36:480:36:52

-Yes.

-And these numbers here equate to the numbers that you've got...

0:36:520:36:57

-On the watch...

-Written, not only on the guarantee there but also...

0:36:570:37:02

-Also on the receipt.

-On the receipt there, so that all does match up,

0:37:020:37:05

which is a nice sign.

0:37:050:37:07

It looks like it's been through the wars a little bit.

0:37:070:37:09

-But I'm guessing you've worn it a lot.

-Well, I did, yes.

0:37:090:37:12

It was the only watch I had and it got knocked about a bit

0:37:120:37:15

and eventually, when it stopped working,

0:37:150:37:17

I decided that rather than send it back to London again

0:37:170:37:20

to have it serviced, I'd just buy myself a cheap watch.

0:37:200:37:23

Right, OK. The fact that you bought it in the '50s and looking at it,

0:37:230:37:27

the fact that you've got the numerals here,

0:37:270:37:29

and it all seems to match up, is good enough for me.

0:37:290:37:31

So, why are you thinking of selling it

0:37:310:37:33

because this is so important to you?

0:37:330:37:35

It's got a lot of history behind it.

0:37:350:37:36

Well, yes, it has, but as I said,

0:37:360:37:38

I eventually bought another watch and it hasn't worked

0:37:380:37:41

since about, erm... 1965 or something like that.

0:37:410:37:45

-Gosh, right, so quite a long time.

-So it's 50 years since it worked.

0:37:450:37:49

If you are willing to sell it, my feeling is,

0:37:490:37:51

put a reasonable estimate on of £200 to £300, with a £200 reserve.

0:37:510:37:57

I hope it will do very well indeed because it's got Rolex on the watch,

0:37:570:38:01

it's got Rolex on the guarantee, it's got Rolex on the receipt,

0:38:010:38:06

and even on the envelope.

0:38:060:38:08

-Yes.

-So I'm thinking this will probably do well.

0:38:080:38:11

We've just got to get it to work again.

0:38:110:38:13

-Very good.

-Michael, are you happy with that?

0:38:130:38:15

Yes, I'm very happy with that.

0:38:150:38:17

Well, it's been a pleasure to meet you

0:38:170:38:19

and sharing your stories and let's hope we do well

0:38:190:38:21

with this little gem. Thank you very much indeed.

0:38:210:38:23

Thanks very much indeed.

0:38:230:38:25

Well, you've just seen our experts have now found their final items

0:38:280:38:31

to take off to auction, which means sadly we have to say goodbye

0:38:310:38:35

from the Platform here in Morecambe. It's time to say goodbye, everybody.

0:38:350:38:38

Give that camera a big wave.

0:38:380:38:40

We have some unfinished business to do in the auction room.

0:38:410:38:43

That's where we're going right now,

0:38:430:38:45

to put those valuations to the test

0:38:450:38:47

and here's a quick recap of what's going under the hammer.

0:38:470:38:51

We're hoping the bidders simply fall in love

0:38:510:38:53

with all the diamonds in that wonderful ring.

0:38:530:38:55

Will the comedy duo of Morecambe and Wise's signatures

0:38:580:39:01

raise some serious money at auction?

0:39:010:39:03

And surely the time is right to be selling that Rolex.

0:39:050:39:08

Keep watching and you'll find soon.

0:39:080:39:12

Back at Silverwoods saleroom,

0:39:120:39:13

Wilf Mould is in full flow on the rostrum.

0:39:130:39:16

And it's show time, as Ann's musical programme

0:39:160:39:18

is about to go under the hammer.

0:39:180:39:21

Now, since the valuation day, you've decided to cancel the £50 reserve.

0:39:210:39:24

-OK.

-So there's no reserve, it's going. It's definitely going.

0:39:240:39:27

-Yes.

-Good on you, because we wanted Morecambe and Wise memorabilia,

0:39:270:39:30

we really did. It sums up the whole area, doesn't it?

0:39:300:39:33

-Yes.

-And you were 14 years old when you met them.

-Yes.

0:39:330:39:36

Well, look, fingers crossed, these go to a good home

0:39:360:39:38

and they're going under the hammer right now.

0:39:380:39:40

We have the North Pier Pavilion programme, signed, more importantly,

0:39:400:39:45

by Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise.

0:39:450:39:47

Now, who will start me at £80 for this one?

0:39:470:39:49

-80 from any of you?

-Come on.

-50 then. 30, if you like.

0:39:490:39:52

-Come on.

-At £20.

0:39:520:39:55

22, anybody else?

0:39:550:39:57

With the two autographs on it.

0:39:570:39:59

At 22 and 25 from anybody else then?

0:39:590:40:01

-Come on.

-At 22 and 25.

0:40:010:40:03

It's got that local pedigree.

0:40:030:40:05

£22 now, I'm going to sell.

0:40:050:40:07

-It's gone.

-Make no mistake at £22...

0:40:070:40:11

Well done for reducing the reserve.

0:40:110:40:12

-Yes.

-That means we got it away.

0:40:120:40:14

Quite right. It is the right place, Paul, to sell it.

0:40:140:40:16

-It definitely is.

-But the market didn't call it.

0:40:160:40:18

Thank you for bringing that in because it made our show.

0:40:180:40:21

We needed something like that, Morecambe and Wise memorabilia.

0:40:210:40:24

It didn't make as much as we'd hoped but it was the memories of meeting

0:40:240:40:27

Morecambe and Wise that were priceless for Ann.

0:40:270:40:30

John, good luck. Let's hope this next item

0:40:300:40:32

sparkles in the saleroom and lights it up.

0:40:320:40:35

It's that diamond cluster ring.

0:40:350:40:36

I know you bought it in the '80s,

0:40:360:40:38

you paid the proper retail price for it. Just over £1,000.

0:40:380:40:41

The problem that we have today is they are just not fashionable.

0:40:410:40:44

But would this be bought and split up then?

0:40:440:40:46

-For earrings and...

-It could possibly be bought and split up.

0:40:460:40:49

-That's the thing.

-Yeah. We need top money.

0:40:490:40:50

Let's hope it sparkles. Here we go.

0:40:500:40:52

Lady's 18-carat gold and diamond cluster ring.

0:40:520:40:56

Who will start me at what, £700 for this ring?

0:40:560:40:58

-700...

-700 would be nice.

0:40:580:41:00

600 quickly. Five.

0:41:000:41:02

400. 400. 420 now.

0:41:020:41:05

At £400. 420 from any of you?

0:41:050:41:07

At £400 and 420, I'd take, 420

0:41:070:41:09

for this ring.

0:41:090:41:11

-Where's 420 for it?

-It's struggling.

0:41:110:41:13

It is really struggling.

0:41:130:41:14

-Yeah, yeah. It is.

-Are you all quite sure at 400?

0:41:140:41:17

Well, I'm very sorry, folks, but...

0:41:170:41:19

We are not selling it. I'm very sorry, John.

0:41:190:41:21

You're right, it is the fashion.

0:41:210:41:22

Fair enough. What would you advise?

0:41:220:41:25

I would suggest just keeping hold of it and probably not doing anything

0:41:250:41:28

with it for a while because the thing is, you never know,

0:41:280:41:30

something like that may well come back into fashion

0:41:300:41:32

but there's a lot of diamonds there.

0:41:320:41:34

And you shouldn't just let it go for £400,

0:41:340:41:36

-which is what they were asking.

-Right.

-It's a nice ring

0:41:360:41:39

and you paid a lot of money for it so I would keep hold of it.

0:41:390:41:41

It was a shame about John's diamond ring

0:41:410:41:44

but that's sage advice from Catherine.

0:41:440:41:46

And now, time for the final item,

0:41:460:41:48

will Michael's stopped Rolex make the auction tick?

0:41:480:41:52

Well, I'm a big fan of our next lot.

0:41:520:41:54

I like my watches.

0:41:540:41:56

-Why are you selling this one?

-Partly because it doesn't go.

0:41:560:41:58

But I got tired of it.

0:41:580:41:59

Look, it's a good watch. It is a man's watch,

0:41:590:42:02

but the fashion for women nowadays is to wear bigger watches.

0:42:020:42:06

So there's a big market,

0:42:060:42:08

so I think this is going to sell

0:42:080:42:09

and I think 200-300 is a great pitch.

0:42:090:42:11

The important thing is all the numbers matched up...

0:42:110:42:13

-They correspond.

-Yes.

-And that's what people like.

-Yeah.

0:42:130:42:16

So, fingers crossed we get the top end plus.

0:42:160:42:18

-Hopefully.

-Yes, that's what we want.

0:42:180:42:20

Time is definitely up now.

0:42:200:42:21

It's going under the hammer and this is it.

0:42:210:42:23

It's the Rolex Oyster perpetual gentlemen's wristwatch.

0:42:230:42:26

Has its original receipt.

0:42:260:42:28

It also has its original guarantee card.

0:42:280:42:30

And I shall start at £600.

0:42:300:42:33

£600, straight in.

0:42:330:42:35

700 online.

0:42:350:42:37

-800 now.

-Oh, my goodness me.

0:42:370:42:40

1,000 on the internet.

0:42:400:42:41

£1,000. 1,200 now, jumping up.

0:42:410:42:44

£1,400.

0:42:440:42:46

Wow!

0:42:460:42:48

1,400. 1,500, I'll take.

0:42:480:42:51

This is a come and buy me, isn't it?

0:42:510:42:52

It was a bit of one.

0:42:520:42:54

And they are on the phones and they are going up.

0:42:540:42:56

£1,500, on the telephone.

0:42:560:42:59

All done at £1,500...

0:42:590:43:02

Yes! Hammer down. £1,500!

0:43:020:43:06

-Put it there, Michael.

-Well... £1,500.

0:43:060:43:09

Thank you so much for bringing that in.

0:43:090:43:11

That's cheered you up, hasn't it?

0:43:110:43:13

-Oh, yes.

-Brilliant.

-We'll have to do this again.

0:43:130:43:15

You should have bought more of them at the time.

0:43:150:43:18

Look, it's a great way to end a show.

0:43:180:43:19

We needed a big surprise and we certainly got one today.

0:43:190:43:22

-Oh, yes.

-200 to 300?

0:43:220:43:23

No! £1,500.

0:43:230:43:25

I hope you enjoyed that

0:43:250:43:26

and come back for many more surprises, but until then,

0:43:260:43:29

it's goodbye from all of us.

0:43:290:43:31

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