Jonty Hearnden vs Mark Stacey: Auction Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is,

the show that pitches TV's best-loved antiques experts against each other

in an all-out battle for profit, and gives you the inside view on the secrets of the trade.

Coming up, our experts show you how secrecy is the key when it comes to big-money deals.

(£200 - 300, I like it. Don't tell Mark.)

How, in the world of dealing, success breeds more success.

You've always managed to get money off me, Mark,

so I'm dreading that part already!

And how the thrill of the chase can mean serious squabbles.

Any advance on 38? Are we all done? 38, 40, 42!

Today's auction room blow-out pitches two dealers

with completely contrasting areas of expertise against one another,

as our favourite furniture fancier, Jonty 'The Hitman' Hearnden,

takes on our porcelain powerhouse, Mark 'The Maverick' Stacey,

to see who can make the most profit from buying and selling antiques.

The stakes in this competition couldn't be higher.

It's the hero of the Home Counties...

Only 30-50 quid, but where's my profit?

..Versus the saviour of the south coast.

I'm tingling with excitement. I love these general sales. You just don't know what to expect.

Risking their reputations and their own hard-earned cash

in a battle that will test their knowledge and their contact books to the absolute limit.

Our tussling twosome have up to £1,000 of their own money to spend today

and their quest, over a week of challenges, is to make the most profit

which will go to charity.

Today's battleground is in the Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate,

where there are over 800 lots on offer.

In the battle for profit, there can be only one winner.

Jonty Hearnden, Mark Stacey, it's time to put your money where your mouth is.

-Well, Mark, here we are in North Yorkshire, Harrogate.

-Lovely.

-A beautiful sunny day.

I love the smell of the countryside. I love the smell of an auction and we're about to step in!

What's your strategy?

I used to be an auctioneer and I still do a lot of auctions

so I know it from that side and from the potential buying side,

and my strategy really is to get in there

and look through all the job-lots because sometimes, lurking amongst the kitchen pots, is a little gem

so I am going to have a good ferret in there. And yours?

I need to have a look at the furniture because I'm a furniture man.

The problem I have is that furniture is at the end of the sale normally,

which means that I've got to look at that and then consider how much money to save for the end of the sale.

-We'd better get in.

-I think so.

In their quest for victory, our duo have each concocted what they think will be the winning strategy.

The master plan of The Maverick is to leave no stone unturned

as he rifles his way through the lots in pursuit of the best money-makers.

He's a man in his element today.

There's a buzz, there's a sense in the air.

I can sniff some of those bargains.

My strategy is to try and rummage through all these job-lots and see if there's a potential gem there.

Now, Jonty is a furniture fanatic, but those lots won't be going under the hammer

until the end of today's auction.

So his mission is to play the long game

and leave himself with enough cash to buy the pieces he wants.

It's small beer, small margins for me.

It's a question of where do I put my toe into the water?

The starting pistol has fired on today's race,

and our fearsome dealers come haring off the blocks.

Ceramics supremo Mark is chomping at the bit to sink his teeth into some juicy antiques.

Here is a very nice little conical sugar caster.

What I like about this is it's very typically 1930s.

The shape tells you it's Clarice Cliff immediately.

Always check for restoration. Particularly on the tips of these.

What I normally do is just put them...

..like that. Now, I'm not nibbling like a mouse would nibble cheese.

What I'm actually doing there is you can tell on your teeth

there's no restoration there. It's all nice and crisp, and it's very gritty.

Oh, now, underneath, it's different.

I think around here there's been a little bit of restoration.

So you've got to check, because that makes a big difference, actually.

This is an estimate of £250-£350.

If that has been restored, that's too much money.

Well, the Maverick certainly knows his stuff and, as you can see,

he has a sweet tooth for a bargain.

Hot on his opponent's tail,

the Hitman has found a bite-sized treat of his own.

This is a very pretty little table.

This table here is an apprentice's piece,

so, often designers would allow their apprentices to make smaller bits of furniture

before they were allowed on the real McCoy,

the bigger items, because, remember, timber in the 19th century and 18th century

was very, very expensive, and they used the finest, finest timbers.

The other reason for small bits of furniture like this to be made

was to give a client some sense of what their grand table

would look like as well.

Well, if Jonty's plan to leave here with a bulging boot full of profitable furniture pays off,

at least he'll still have room in the glove compartment for that one.

# You ain't nothing but a hound dog... #

The Maverick has sniffed out his next lot

but is man's best friend a dealer's best buy?

Now, there's a little object that'll get all the dog lovers at home

panting for this.

What do you think it is, there, a little model of a dog in a kennel?

It's for all the gentleman out there, who, after dinner,

like to puff away on a cigar.

Because this is a cigar humidor.

And these would be kept in here, locked away, of course.

You don't want anybody pilfering your King Edwards, do you?

I just think this is a wonderful object.

In London, you could see that easily selling for £800-£1000, if not more.

So, if I can get it at around £300, there's a profit there, isn't it?

Or do you think I'm just barking mad?

Woof woof.

With that seriously smoking price tag,

Mark better be sure of a big profit

if he's to risk so much of his kitty on such a little doggie.

And it's onwards and upwards for the Maverick

who's spied this 1930s book about London's renowned royal residence.

Now, I think I know a couple of people in Brighton who would love to get hold of that.

So if I can get it for about £30-£50, I'll be very well pleased,

and I might be able to turn a profit on that.

There are just moments to go until today's auction kicks off

and the temperature is rising.

Both our dealers know that victory will go to the ones who buys

the most profitable pieces.

It's a dog-eat-dog world,

especially as both our boys could be heading for a saleroom clash over our four-legged friend.

Look, even a little chain for the dog on the inside there. It's all there.

All the detail. Now that is really sweet.

It looks like we could have two dogs after the same bone.

With his hammer at the ready and the atmosphere tense,

the auctioneer gets today's buying battle underway.

Lot number one is the framed tapestry dated 1884...

Our boys each have £1,000 to spend.

But, remember, the auction house fees and taxes

must be added onto the price of every item they buy.

I'm terrified. I'm quite terrified. I've never been this nervous at an auction.

-Anyway, good luck, sir.

-Happy hunting.

Good luck? Happy hunting? We'll see how long that lasts.

One of the first lots up is the Buckingham Palace book

that Mark spotted earlier.

Nice one this. Full leather bound. Start the bidding at £18. 20 anywhere? 20,

22, 25, 28, 30, 32, 35. In the room at £35. 38, new bidder.

40, 42, 45, 48, 50.

50? 55. 55?

55, new bidder. 60?

Oh, he's got a battle on his hands.

-60?

-Yes.

-65? No, 60 with you, sir. At £60.

Are we all done, then? Selling at £60.

Get in!

The Maverick wins his first duel of the day and bags the Royal book.

With the auctioneers fees and taxes added,

he's paid a total of just over £74 for it,

so his chances of making a king-sized profit look radically reduced.

I really wanted to pay £30 or £40 for it and I've ended up paying 60.

I think I'm mad.

-Took the words out of my mouth!

-I got carried away!

Right, now someone get security on standby

because today's rumble could be about to turn nasty.

Our deal-hungry boys are both salivating over these cast-iron garden edgings.

With a top estimate of £50 it's their first face-off of the day

and they both mean business.

I'm ready to bid.

-And me. You're not bidding on those garden things?

-Might be.

So, oh, Jonty, this is going to be trouble.

We're bidding on the same lots.

A garden edging, have to start bidding here with me at £30.

32 anywhere?

The bid is with me at 30. 32, 35, 38.

38. In the room at £38, at 38, any advance on 38? Are we all done?

38, 40, 42.

45, 48, 50, 55. 55?

55, 60. No, 55 on my right, at £55.

At 55, any advance on 55? 9777.

Well, despite all him harrumphing, the Maverick floors the Hitman -

I bet he enjoyed that!

But, yet again, his potential profit margin has taken a bruising.

Jonty's bidding has pushed the price above the estimate,

so Mark's paid a total of just under £68.

With two items in the bag,

it's the Maverick's game plan getting results.

Yet to register,

the Hitman is hoping this 9ct gold bracelet can break his duck.

Right, this is it here. I'm just going to see what it sells for.

..approximately 28g, there we go. Start the bidding here at £100, 110 anywhere?

The bid is with me at 100. 110, 120, 130, 140, 150,

160, 170, 180, 190.

In the room now at 190. New bid at 200.

210. 200 on my right, at £200. At 200, are we all done?

We're selling then, on my right... Back in at 210.

220? No, 210 with you, sir.

At £210, at 210, are we all done? Selling then at 210.

Ooh, the Hitman has it, BUT it's cost him just under £260!

I will make very little on that. Very, very little.

-What is that plus the commission?

-Er, a lot.

-Yeah.

JONTY LAUGHS

I'm feeling much better about the book!

So, poor old Jonty thinks he got carried away

and paid over the odds for the bracelet.

Going back to his strategy,

that £260 is money he now no longer has to buy furniture later on.

Next under the hammer is a ruby and diamond ring,

which catches the eye of the Maverick.

-60? No, 55...

-Still sounds quite cheap.

At 55, you going to bid up to 60? 60 with you, sir.

At £60, at 60, are we all done?

What am I doing? I don't know about jewellery!

That's going to suit you. THAT would really suit you!

I've just bought something for £60 and I don't even know what it is.

It's going to be a good day at this rate, isn't it?

A bold move by Mark, snapping up a ring he's not even clapped eyes on.

Total cost, just over £74.

With three items now in his swag bag

the Maverick is in danger of racing away with this

and he's quick to line up a possible buy.

Put the hammer down, put it down!

Mark wins again,

picking up an antique ivory page turner for just under £52.

By law you can only trade ivory pieces made prior to 1947.

Mark's page turner dates between 1910 and 1920,

so it's a perfectly legal purchase.

I like that lot, actually.

It's well carved and I think I can find a buyer for that AND make a profit.

Right, it's now crunch time for our super-charged rivals.

The Victorian dog kennel humidor is about to go under the hammer

and both our auction room gladiators have it earmarked as their must-have lot of the day.

With a whopping great estimate of between £300 and £400,

the outcome of this one could turn the entire competition.

The price quickly reaches £200.

220...240, 260.

Are we all done at 260?...

The Hitman's in.

..280, 290, sir? 290.

In the room at £290...

-The Maverick cold as ice.

-..At 290, are we all done? Be sound then.

-290...

-And the Maverick's in.

..I'll take 10. No, 300 on my right.

-Ooh, the Hitman's out!

-Oh, you rotter!

-Any advance on £300?

I don't like this game any more, can I go home?

So, Mark's won the humidor for just over £370.

It was close, but no cigar for the Hitman.

Our fearless warrior has stormed into the lead,

but there's a long way to go in today's competition.

Our dealing duo started the day

with a budget of up to £1,000 of their own money.

Mark has made five deals for a total spend of just over £638,

which means there's just under £362 left in his kitty.

Jonty has just a single buy to his name,

but he spent just over £259 on it,

leaving him with just under £741 still to spend.

Earlier in the day, before any bidding began,

our rival dealers cast their eyes over the items on offer.

With profit margins the key to victory,

telling the gems from the junk at this stage is absolutely crucial.

From the get-go, Jonty's strategy was to make sure

he bags an item or two of quality furniture -

it's his area of expertise,

so this will be his chance to get a step ahead of his rival

by picking out the real profit turners.

Er, this is all made up of segments of different pieces of wood.

So, here we've got the burr walnut and we've got the maple.

So, you've got the contrasting colours to make up a picture.

Panels like this would've been made between the wars,

between the First World War and the Second World War.

It says, "An Art Deco marquetry panel."

(£200 to £300 - I like it...don't tell Mark!)

(Our lips are sealed, sir!)

Besides, the Maverick is fully engaged in hunting down items

from the realm that he knows best - china.

Oh, this is quite fun.

It's not great quality, it's a 1920s Art Deco coffee set.

It's made by the Phoenix Porcelain Factory in Czechoslovakia.

It's not great quality, but I like the design,

I like the boldness of the use of pink against the white.

People do sometimes like them for their china cabinets

and if it's going to go the bargain basement price of a tenner,

then I'm going for it.

That's the spirit, Mark!

Now, there's no coffee break for the Hitman,

he's spied a lot that certainly looks like a wise buy,

but with a hefty price tag of between £100 and £200,

he's keen to get a closer look.

"134, Pendragon Barn Owls, Two's company!"

And it says on the plaque, "Number 20 of 450," so it's a limited addition.

£100 to £200, I might just have a little flutter on that.

One thing's for certain, it'll be a HOOT trying to find a buyer.

So, the Hitman fancies making a swoop for the owls

and as we return to the auction his feathery friends are about to go under the hammer.

So far today the Hitman has chalked up just one item.

So, if he's going to knock Mark off his perch,

he needs to start buying and quick.

Pendragon Barn Owls, Two's Company, a limited edition. Nice little lot.

-Start the bidding here at £75.

-Good lord!

The bid is with me at 75, do I see 80?

At £75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100.

-In the room at £100, at 100...

-Mark is agog!

..selling then at 100.

9776, thank you.

But the Hitman becomes the Hootman -

he's picked up the owl sculpture for a total cost of just under £124,

but it might have cost him the respect of his rival.

Well, I don't know what he's just bought there, but it's a modern figure.

Unless he knows someone who's got barn owls, he's in trouble.

Yes, never underestimate a quiet man.

That purchase has put Jonty well and truly back in the game

and as the lots keep coming, our dealers keep dealing.

Jonty tees up a potential profit

-by bagging a set of seven golfing prints...

-Selling at £30.

..for a total of just over £37.

And Mark grabs a mirror...

and it's Jonty's turn to be unimpressed.

-How long have we been in the business?

-Ha! 20 odd years.

20 years in the business and he buys a mirror like that!

But at a total cost of just under £10,

all Mark's interested in is profit potential.

With the bids flying left right and centre,

our duelling duo are determined to keep close tabs on each other.

Jonty, now you're a bit of a veteran of this lark.

How do you think your strategy's going?

-Completely and utterly disastrously!

-Keep going, I'm liking this, Jonty!

Erm, I made a miscalculation on my gold, I got completely carried away.

I put in a bid when I shouldn't have done

and as a consequence, if I get my money back I'm going to be lucky!

Well, it happens to us all!

The star item, which was that beautiful humidor...

And I think you were a bit mean, dropping out at 290.

Well, I didn't want to pay a penny more than the 300.

I have to say, my strategy is I've kept my powder dry for the furniture,

-I hope you've noticed?

-I have noticed.

So, he may have yielded the cigar humidor to his opponent,

but Jonty is not giving up on his strategy of buying furniture.

The game is stepping up a gear

and our boys jump right back into it.

OK, I've got a little mirror coming up now.

I'm just going to see what it sells for

cos I don't want to pay too much money for it.

..I'm 15 bid, 18 now.

With me here at 15, do I see 18?

Selling now, with me at 15, 18, 20, 22.

In the room at 22. Selling now, gentleman's bid at 22.

-Last of the big spenders.

-You might have reflected glory in that!

Another conquest to the Hitman,

snapping up a circular hall mirror for a total of just over £27.

Throughout today's bidding battle, Jonty's plan has been to hold back plenty of cash to buy furniture

and now, at last, the furniture lots are finally coming under the hammer.

But if Jonty thinks he's going to go unchallenged,

he might have another think coming.

I'll get 20 quid for that, it's a bargain.

Yes, it's the Maverick who's first to bag some furniture,

netting this bedroom chair for just over £6.

Next up is the Art Deco marquetry panel

that Jonty spotted in the viewing room.

With an estimate of up to £300,

it's got to be now or never for the Hitman and his strategy.

Start the bidding here at 100, 110 now.

With me here at 100, 110, 120,

130, 140, 150, 160,

170, 180.

In the room now at 190. Are we finished selling now at £190?

BANGS GAVEL

£190 the hammer price, lots of money.

But it's a genuine quality item.

I reckon if we got the right buyer, could be big profits.

What a breakthrough for Jonty.

He takes the panel for a total of just under £235

Leaving him with just over £318 still in his kitty.

With today's auction approaching its climax,

the Maverick's heading off for a well-earned tea break.

But the Hitman is still after one last deal,

and this Victorian ottoman could be it.

Blanket box, 613, I'm 10-bid, 12 now.

With me here at 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 22.

In the room at 22, 25 now.

In the room at 22. Selling now, gentleman's bid at 22.

9776.

Oh, yes. He's happy.

Jonty's furniture quest has paid off.

And he's added two sizeable items to his inventory.

But as he heads off to catch up with his arch-rival, who has spent the most?

Remember, both Mark and Jonty each had up to £1,000

of their own money to spend at the start of the day.

Mark made a total of seven purchases

and with auction room fees added,

spent a grand total of just under £655.

Whilst Jonty bought six items for a grand total of just under £709.

Today's mighty battle has been a hard-fought affair.

And all that's now left is for our dashing dealers to compare their wares.

Talk me through your highs and lows.

Well, I think you know my low. In fact...

-I thought I could do a quick deal now.

-What?

Do you fancy doing a swap with my gold bracelet for the humidor?

Now, let me think about it for a second. I've thought. No.

I thought you might say that!

THEY LAUGH

-Your lovely screen, Jonty. You must be delighted with that.

-I'm really delighted.

I've got to find the right buyer. But in the right situation, right dealer...

Maybe somebody with a contemporary home that wants something quite different.

-I'm still taken by the humidor, I hope you do well with that.

-Fingers crossed.

I knew that you would have your eye on that, as well.

We have some interesting items which is great,

apart from my one item which is a wonderful mistake.

The difficulty now, of course, is finding buyers.

It certainly is.

-But I've got every confidence in you. Good luck.

-Good luck, sir.

It's now down to Jonty and Mark to sell their items

and make as much profit as possible to donate to the charity of their choice.

As well as his gold chain and his Art Deco panel,

Jonty will also be selling

a limited edition sculpture of two barn owls,

a set of seven golfing prints,

a circular hall mirror,

and a Victorian blanket box.

Mark will be selling a Buckingham Palace book from the 1930s...

..some cast iron garden edgings,

a rose gold ruby and diamond ring,

an ivory page turner,

a bevel-edged mirror

and a bedroom chair.

For Jonty and Mark, buying their items

was just the start of this epic challenge.

Now they must sell them with the aim of making as much profit as they possibly can,

and all of that money will be going to their chosen charities.

They'll both be pulling out all the stops to find buyers,

rifling through their little black books and setting up deals left, right and centre.

But until they've shaken on it and money has changed hands,

no deal is truly sealed.

First off the blocks it's the Hitman and our debonair dealer is going for gold.

Well, I've got my bracelet in my pocket

and remember it stood me in at about £260

which I know at the time

was quite a bit of money.

So I've come here to the jewellers in Wallingford,

just to see if I get my money back... and some.

Hello.

-Oh, hello, Jonty.

-How are you?

-Very well, thank you. How are you?

-Nice to see you.

Now, I've got the most beautiful bracelet on the planet, 9 carat gold.

Erm, I'm hoping to get 350 quid for it.

Yellow gold is not in fashion at the moment.

-Right.

-The problem you have is everybody wants white gold.

-OK.

-Erm, you're very lucky though,

-because you've come to the right place.

-Oh-ho-ho!

Our clientele are a bit more discerning and a little bit older.

-Yeah.

-And this sort of thing would sell very easily in our shop.

-You want £350?

-I certainly do.

-I could probably go to 320.

-320?

-Yeah. That would allow me to get a reasonable profit on it.

-OK.

-So, erm...

-Could you do an extra fiver?

-Yes, I could.

-Yeah?

-Are you happy with that?

-I'm very happy with that.

-That's a deal.

-Thank you very much, indeed.

-You're welcome.

-I'm a very relieved man!

-Good!

-Thank you very much.

-You're welcome.

-That's great.

What a result for the Hitman! He had major doubts from the moment he bought his bracelet,

but he knew the right place to go to try for a sale

and he's netted himself a nice little profit of just over £65.

Now, down on the sunny south coast in Brighton,

Mark "The Maverick" Stacey

is setting off to hawk his wares round his myriad of dealer contacts.

He's hoping a nicely turned pair of chair legs might turn him a nice profit.

It only cost me a shade under £6. How much do you reckon I'll get for it?

It's quite a sexy little chair so I might be sitting on quite a tasty profit.

This is the chair?

It's quite a simple chair. It's got a cane seat.

-I quite like the carvings, the Acanthus carvings.

-Yeah.

Initially, I think it looks a bit plain, but actually I do think it's nice...

-What age would you say it was? Sort of 1920s, wouldn't you?

-Yeah.

-It's that sort of revival piece.

But I think 20 quid is fair to...

-I think if I bought it I would actually keep it.

-You're going to keep it?

-That's what I had in mind.

-If you're going to keep it I'll have to put the price up.

-Ah!

Well, I might just go back to your original idea of 20 quid!

HE LAUGHS

Would you be happy to pay 20?

-Yes, I would.

-Right, 20 quid.

Nicely done, Mark. That's a profit of just over £13,

and you're off and running.

So, Jonty, you're not the only one who knows about furniture,

and I'm getting the hang now of why you keep buying chairs.

But the pressure's still on and I've got a lot more deals to do.

That's the spirit, Mark. Onwards and upwards.

Both our boys are in profit from their first deals, but there's still a long way to go.

At Hearnden HQ, the debonair Jonty is laying on the charm

as he tries to sell his circular mirror to Amanda,

a dealing contact of his.

You like buying mirrors, don't you?

I love mirrors, yeah. It's very much something I do.

I have a lot of them.

And these nice pieces with the pink glass around the outside are a nice touch.

-So price for this.

-Right.

-75 quid.

Come on, we always need to have a little haggle.

I know you always like to give me a hard time, don't you?

-Maybe something more like 50 quid?

-What about 60?

-OK. Yeah, 60's cool.

-Yeah? Cos I know you'll make a profit.

Definitely. It's a nice piece. I'm very pleased.

The Hitman's notched up just over £32 profit.

So mirror, mirror on the wall,

who's the canniest dealer of them all?

Because down in Brighton, Mark's armed with HIS mirror

and he's about to enter a whole new world of wonder.

I've come to a rather non-descript building in Brighton

but I can assure you, that behind the doors of this building,

there's nothing non-descript.

There's something flamboyant, cosmopolitan,

and very, very Brighton-by-the-sea.

Come and take a look with me.

Mark's arranged to meet up with his old friend Jason

who has a miraculous alter ego.

Well, 'ere you are, my dear, look!

Look at this! This is where I do my work.

-It is?

-In our lovely old cottage here. In the village of Goosesgreen.

-I want to show you my natural habitat.

-I've been waiting for this.

I sent you some photographs of this, Jason.

-You did.

-And I know you quite liked it. This is the mirror I sent you.

-Oh!

-Now, it's Art Deco. 1930s.

With a nice bevelled edge. I bought this in an auction in Harrogate -

-quite different from Brighton.

-Right.

And I thought it was very nice. What do you think?

Every pantomime dame needs a mirror.

Absolutely. I'm just not keen on the reflection.

Look, isn't it rough?!

-Oh, no there's a pair of them!

-Oh, look!

-We almost look like twins.

-Very nearly.

-How much do you want, then?

-Well, I was hoping to get about £50.

HE LAUGHS

£50?! See, even you're laughing at that!

-£50?!

-Well, surely...

You've not even dusted it, dear!

It's original.

That's original dirt, is it? Yeah, I bet it is.

After 30 years the dust doesn't get any more.

What would you pay for it?

I think I'd go back to Harrogate, dear, and have a look for another one!

What's the best you can do for me?

35.

-Well!

-You can't say no to that!

-No, I can't!

Darling, 35 - going, going, gone.

Oh! But before Mark gets gone, he can't resist getting in on the act.

OK. 1, 2, 3, action!

Cooee! Hello, boys and girls, I'm Racy Stacey!

-Perfect, my friend. You've got the job.

-Oh!

-Mwah.

HE LAUGHS

-I'm stuck for words, my dear.

-Thank you so much for showing us your world.

Although it might appear that the smell of grease paint has gone to Mark's head,

I'll put your money Widow Twankey has just bagged a profit

of just over £25.

Goodness me, after all that excitement,

I think Maverick might need a good lie down.

So far, our boys have both sold two pieces each and Jonty's desperate to get ahead.

He's come to London looking to find a buyer for his Art Deco wood panel.

-Hello?

-Hello there.

-Are you Tony?

-I am.

-Jonty, nice to see you.

-Nice to meet you.

And here's our friendly panel. What do you think?

It's very nice. Fairly pretty.

-Do you like it?

-Yeah, yeah.

Date-wise, we're looking at a pre-war panel,

so it's 70/80 years old, this panel.

So we're looking at something that's Art Deco.

Now, tell me about this restaurant. Explain the concept.

My partner is a farmer in Devon and our produce comes directly from him,

in an effort to make everything we're doing a lot more sustainable,

so we thought the interior should reflect that.

-And therefore everything we've got in here is all reclaimed.

-Really?

-Yeah.

So this fits in with your theme. You don't want to buy anything new.

-It is.

-We've got the panel here that has obviously been on someone else's wall. I'm looking for...

-£330 for this panel.

-330. What about 280?

Could we meet in the middle there somewhere and say 300?

300? OK.

-OK. You've got a deal.

-Wonderful.

Well, that was an excellent result. One sale in the bag, which was very good news indeed.

And a really tidy profit on that.

I'm very, very pleased with that, cos that was the kind of money I was hoping for.

Antiques? They're all green, you know.

Indeed they are. Wise words from our antiques eco-warrior,

who's recycled his panel into profit,

netting himself just over £65.

Who'll come out on top in today's epic battle?

It's the halfway stage in the search for those all-important profits.

And it's time to check who's the master craftsman

and who's the lowly apprentice.

So far, the Hitman has sold a whopping

£685 worth of top-quality gear.

And netted himself just under £164 of profit.

The Maverick has sold just £55 worth of goods

and has turned profits of just under £39.

Mark still has time to make a comeback,

but he needs to snap into action, because his nemesis

is showing no signs of taking his foot off the pedal.

He's hotwheeled it round to a dealer contact of his,

who he's hoping might be interested in his Victorian ottoman.

There, the finest Victorian ottoman you've ever seen in your life.

Well, it needs a little TLC...

Well, I think quite a lot!

THEY LAUGH

Let's have a look inside.

You can see here you've got the old lining

which will need to be completely stripped back.

-Yes.

-Is this the sort of thing you would deal in and sell?

Yes, it would be great for a decorating job. We would probably

recover it in something and place it at the foot of a bed.

So, Jonty, what are you asking for it?

I'm aiming for £200. But it's a trade sale,

so I'm happy to do a little deal here, so looking for £180.

We would probably only want to give you 150 for it. In order for us

to make something on it, we would need to come down a bit.

That's how the world goes round.

You need to make a profit as well. £150?

OK, that's a deal. Fine.

Thank you.

So just in excess of £20 in the auction sale,

£150, but yes, that's what the box was always worth.

Mark, it's not a manky old smelly box. This is a Victorian ottoman

that one day will look absolutely brilliant again.

Take that, Mr Stacey! Jonty's his name, and furniture is most certainly his game.

He's made a whopping profit of just over £122 from the ottoman.

Which extends his lead still further.

Now the pressure really is piling on the maverick.

But he's not the kind of man to crack under the strain.

Oh, no! He's thinking fast and lines up a sale

of his carved ivory page turner to Gina, an old contact of his.

-Would you be happy with that?

-I would.

-I think we can compromise.

-Excellent stuff, Mark!

Thank you. That's brilliant.

Mark earns a profit of just over £38 - he's back in the game

and back on the road. He's hoping

his Buckingham Palace book will yield a princely sum and help him close the gap on Jonty.

He's meeting up with his old friend Philip, a well-dressed young fellow

with a cut-glass accent and a passion for the royals.

And as the manager of a care home, an audience who will love a trip down memory lane.

-Do come out, Mark.

-Thank you, Philip.

-Nice day outside, isn't it?

-It is lovely. Please have a seat.

Thank you.

Now, my friend, you know why I've come, don't you?

-Yes.

-It's this wonderful bound book on Buckingham Palace by Clifford Smith. It really is wonderful.

It's all handmade paper and I think it's really rather a splendid thing.

It's stunning. I love it.

You've always managed to get money off me, Mark. You've never struggled

in that department. I'm dreading that part already!

I think I said a very modest...

wasn't it £140 or something?

But you know me, I always like to drive a bargain.

HE SIGHS

What are you thinking of?

-120?

-120?! Gosh!

-Oh, Mark.

-Could we compromise a little higher, do you think?

So I need to move and you're not going to?

What about 130?

I think 130 is a good fair price, because as you say,

it's an investment - a book that you'll have for life, and it's quite a substantive book.

-Well, there's only one thing I've got to say.

-Yes.

Get that cheque written quick.

Well done, Mark! That's a profit of over £55, and our Brighton boy

is clawing his way back into today's competition.

With just three of his purchases left to sell,

including his cigar humidor,

Mark's got to make each and every one of them count.

Jonty is on the move through the capital, with a plan in mind

and a couple of birds in the back.

I bought the barn owls, but found them really difficult to find a buyer for,

but I managed to find the right person, because I'm about to hopefully sell it to somebody

who is a massive conservationist. He's a very big name. His name is

Will Travers and he's very well-known for conservation of animals.

He's very keen to have a look at them,

but will we make a sale? Don't know.

Well, Jonty's certainly picked a perfect target. Will Travers

is the chief executive of a charity dedicated to animal conservation.

And he's a collector of animal-themed objets d'art.

Ah, Will, good to see you. How are you?

Not bad at all. Can't wait to see.

-I've got my owls.

-Let's sit over here. You go first.

-This way?

-Yep.

-What do you think?

-Spectacular.

Have you got a collection of barn owls at home?

Well, it's just starting. No, I've got a collection of elephants.

I have about 50 elephants. Nothing quite of this quality.

They're all little elephants that I've collected all over the world.

I take them home and point them all at the door,

which is a sign of good luck. But I feel an owl collection coming on.

-Beautiful animal.

-Well, here we have the certificate to say

it is a limited edition as well.

Made by the Pendragon Factory that is not in operation at the moment.

The business of making ceramics in the UK at the moment is going through a massive transition period,

simple because people have stopped manufacturing in this country.

And a lot of ceramics are now being made in the Far East

and not in the glorified old factories of time gone by.

Cos I'm looking for my £180 for my pair of barn owls.

Hmm...well...

I was thinking sort of 150.

Were you now? OK.

Can we meet somewhere in the middle - 160ish?

-Split it in too-woo?

-160ish?

-Ye-es.

-160?

-160.

-160, it's a deal.

-Yeah?

-That's a very fine pair of owls for 160.

-Brilliant. Excellent. They're yours, then, sir.

-Thank you very much!

Yes, what a result! Jonty bought the owls with absolutely no idea who he'd sell them to.

He paid just over £120 for them and has turned a profit

of just over £36. That is dealing at its very best.

More profit means Jonty extends his lead.

But Mark is snapping at his heels.

He's hoping that an old friend would like his garden edgings, which he shelled out just under £70 for.

£90, it's not a bad deal, you know. If you hated them, I've got to carry them back to the car...

I'd give you a hand, but I think I'd be fighting you at the door to prevent them going.

Wonderful. You've made my day.

Really? I was a pushover, wasn't I?

No, no, you're not.

Gosh, that was such a relief, I really thought I might have to carry them back to the car.

Yes, good work, Mark, that's a profit of just over £22.

He's chipping away at Jonty's lead, but will it be enough?

Remember, Mark still has the ruby and diamond ring and the cigar humidor left to sell.

He's quick to line up a buyer for the ring. Supposedly, diamonds

are a girl's best friend, but will Mark's dealing contact Susan agree?

I want to make a small profit on it.

-Right.

-And I'd be very happy to let it go for, say, £80.

-No, that doesn't sound too bad.

-Can you make a profit on that?

I think I could. Not a lot, but just a bit. Enough. OK?

Well, he's chalked up a sale,

but a profit of just over £5 isn't going to turn this game around.

The Maverick now has just the cigar humidor left to sell.

So he's got to make it count.

Jonty also has one last sale to tee up, his set of seven golfing prints.

And he's brought them to Nick, an old contact of his.

We've got a set of seven golfing prints.

How long have you played golf for?

Just over 50 years, amazingly.

-OK.

-I took it up when I was 12

and have been playing one way or another ever since.

Now, I know you're into antiques, but what about golfing memorabilia?

Well, I've always been a collector and certainly, I've collected maps and fishing prints over the years,

so why not add some golf prints to the collection?

It's sounding promising! But will Jonty sell the prints and will he turn a profit?

We'll find out shortly, because right now,

it's time to remind ourselves of who has spent what.

Our experts arrived at the auction

with up to £1,000 of their own money to spend.

The Hitman spent a total of just under £710.

Whilst the maverick spent a total of just under £655.

All the profit our dealers make over a week of challenges will be donated to a charity of their choice.

So without further ado, let's find out how much our brave boys have made.

How was it for you?

I've been on a long journey, that's all I can say.

How did you get on with that humidor? Which I bid on!

I've been dying to say this - it's all your fault! It's all your fault, Jonty.

Because I loved it, you loved it. I couldn't find a buyer for it, Jonty, in the time.

I ended up putting it into auction.

-No, really?

-With a very small reserve. And between you and I,

-I still don't know what it made. So I'm terrified, Jonty!

-Shall we find out?

OK, I'm going to say 1, 2, 3.

1, 2, 3, go.

HE GASPS

Oh, my word, look at that!

-I wasn't too bad for you, Jonty.

-Oh, dear. That must have been a big loss on that.

-It must have been.

-Oh, dear, Mark. Drinks are on me.

-A large one.

Aw, poor Mark, he looks shell-shocked.

So Jonty storms today's competition, but he still

has the good grace to buy his old pal a drink in commiseration.

So just how did the Hitman seal victory?

Shall we say 140? How about that?

That's fine, yeah. Let's go for that.

Yes, the sale of the prints

gave Jonty a whopping profit of just over £100.

It's been a gallant effort from Mark, who unfortunately made

a crushing loss of just under £260

on his most expensive purchase, the cigar humidor.

He failed to find a suitable buyer and decided to place the humidor into auction.

I suppose, in hindsight, I'm very glad I didn't buy that humidor.

Of course, I went and hunched on that humidor and it didn't really

pan out as I planned, but never mind. I had great fun with Jonty,

and secretly, I thought I was going to make less.

That'll take a chunk from Mark's week-long profit tally.

With more challenges to come,

he'll get a shot at revenge tomorrow at an antiques market.

This is my own happy hunting ground.

I told Jonty that I was going to be putting him under pressure,

and that's exactly what I'm doing. Look out, Jonty!

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