Kate Bateman v Mark Stacey - Showdown Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

This is Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.

The show that takes the titans of the antiques trade

-and pitches them against each other...

-Mwah!

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

It's amazing, truly amazing.

Get ready for a rip-roaring rollercoaster ride.

It's the Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Showdown,

the greatest challenge our experts have faced yet.

Our sparring Spartans of the antiques trade

will be tested to the absolute limit as they're challenged to scour

the length and breadth of the country and Continent

to find antiques and collectables to sell on for profit.

Coming up - our experts use every trick in the book to secure victory.

140 euros and cost me a kiss.

That's not the kind of deal Mark Stacey can do.

And they keep their minds focused on the prize.

The auctioneer among us has said I will make a profit on this.

But who will take centre stage when it comes to winning?

Take a bow, dear.

It promises to be a fight of mammoth proportions

as our experts go head-to-head for the title

of this week's Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Showdown.

This is the Showdown, where two of our finely honed antiques gladiators

compete for the biggest profit margin

and ultimate victory over their opponent.

It's a battle of the Titans between dealer and auctioneer today

as the bulging biceps of Brighton, Mark "the Maverick" Stacey,

takes on Lincolnshire's rock hard ice queen, Kate "the Diamond" Bateman.

# Are you a Gladiator? #

This will be a challenge unlike any other.

A true test of their antiques know-how, saleroom stamina

and collectables contacts.

Time to find out what's in store.

-Kate, this is the nerve-wracking bit.

-Yeah.

-The Showdown.

-I'm a little worried. Shall we open the envelopes?

-Shall I start?

-Go on.

-Uh-oh.

-Kate and Mark, welcome to your finest and biggest challenge yet.

The Showdown.

You must each buy eight items during your Put Your Money challenges.

-You have to buy two items at each event.

-Right.

You can spend up to £1,000 of your own money.

You can each sell up to four items wherever you want.

The remaining items will go into an auction.

Your auction will be in Cambridge in approximately eight weeks from now

in competition with your opponent.

Choose your items wisely

because the winner will be the one who makes the most profit.

You might have the advantage, being the auctioneer.

You can sell four other items any other way, so half of it

-you can sell it to your dealer friends and contacts.

-I'm very happy.

-I think I'm going to go the other way.

-The other way?

-Very good luck, Kate.

-Good luck.

The game is on.

Both our antiques gladiators have £1,000 of their own money to spend

and that must include any restoration repairs and buying fees.

It promises to be a cut-throat competition

and there can only be one winner - the one who bags the most profit!

Our mighty contenders must buy two items in each of the buying locations

they visit during their week of Put Your Money challenges.

A foreign market,

an auction,

a car boot sale and an antiques fair in the UK.

The first battleground in today's epic challenge

is an antiques market in fashion-centric Paris.

With 380 stalls, they need to take the bull by the horns

and dig straight in.

This has caught my eye.

I know what you're thinking, it's only half a table.

You're right, it is only half a table because it's missing its glass top

but that's cool, it's a console table so you'd put it up against the wall.

It's only got its front two legs. I think a dealer would see the potential

and it's not very expensive to get glass cut.

I reckon that's something we might be able to haggle over with the price

because it's obviously a bit damaged. So, see how we go.

Get your haggle on, Kate, as across the market

your arch rival is lining up a sucker punch of his own.

Now, I've just found a very interesting piece of glass.

It's from the 1930s,

it's acid-etched, which means the design's been burned out with acid.

It's lovely. It's a nice big glass charger.

There are one or two little air bubbles in that

but it's signed and I've just looked at it through my eye glass

and it's signed Daum Nancy, a very, very good name.

It's priced 240 euros, which is not a bad price.

I'd like to get it for maybe 150 euros. We can ask.

Maverick moves in for the kill.

-I was hoping we might get it for 140 euros.

-150.

-You said 150...

-I did, I did. Could I push you another five euros?

-Could we say 145?

-What?

-Please!

-It's a...

And I... Possible or not?

-Yeah.

-Are you sure?

-Cash.

-Cash.

The Maverick's tough negotiating clearly hasn't put the vendor off his breakfast

and savvy Stacey bags an almighty purchase at nearly £132.

Across the market, his rival is trying out a favourite bargaining technique

on the half table vendor.

-Cafe noir sans sucre, sans lait.

-OK, 48 and a black coffee. Fini.

Merci, monsieur.

With the coffee included, that's nearly £45.

Mark isn't about to be outdone though.

I've found something quite interesting here.

It's a little enamel panel.

Limoges in France produced a lot of ceramic factories

but also a lot of enamelling.

-Is it possible we can do it for 50 euros?

-The best I can do is 60.

-Merci, I'll take it.

-You'll take it?

-60 euros. Thank you.

That's got a potential of making a profit at auction.

Mr Stacey, what have you been buying? Show and tell!

-No, I'm not showing you.

-Really?

-I'm going to cover the price.

-All right.

I've just found a lovely Limoges enamel plaque.

If that came into your saleroom what would you put on it as an auction estimate?

-£60-£100, I suppose.

-I think you're being a bit mean.

I've just bought it off the gentleman for 60 euros.

-That's all right, you'll make a profit.

-I think so.

-That's about a tenner a naked lady.

You've heard it from the horse's mouth, so to speak!

The auctioneer amongst us has said I will make a profit on this.

Never trust the opposition, Stacey.

He bags his second item for just under £55

and he's home and dry in this first round.

The debonair Diamond knows her couture

and her flair for French chic draws her to a slightly saucy item.

These are really interesting. What they are, are costume designs.

They are by this guy here, Be'tout.

The one that's caught my eye is this racy lady up here.

She is so 1930s, it's ridiculous.

Think of all those Chiparus figures, all these Art Deco dancers.

I really like her but it's at 190 euros.

I need to bring the price down,

so let's see what we can do with the dealer.

-Monsieur, un moment?

-Oui, je vous ecoute.

-J'adore ca. J'adore ca.

-C'est combien, le absolument meilleur prix?

-Alors, donnez-moi 140.

-140 euros.

-Plus...un baiser.

And a kiss!

-Le baiser, c'est livre!

-C'est typiquement francais!

I can't say no. The kiss is free so we've agreed on 140 euros and a kiss.

Absolument. Le baiser? Merci, monsieur.

# A man eater, make you work hard, make you spend hard

# Make you want all of her love. #

I'm so pleased with that. 140 euros and it cost me a kiss.

Not the kind of deal Mark Stacey could do.

They don't call her the Diamond Diva for nothing.

With just over £127 and a sweet kiss, she's sealed the deal.

As if we ever doubted her.

At the end of the foreign market round,

our gladiators are neck and neck.

Both our dealers started out with £1,000 of their own money.

Mark spent just over £186,

leaving him with a little under £814 for the next three rounds.

His rival, Kate, has spent just under £172,

leaving her with a tad over £828 in her kitty.

Battle scarred but with fire in their bellies,

our antiques gladiators are back in Blighty and chomping at the bit for round two.

Their buying bonanza continues at Thompsons Auctions in Harrogate.

It's a general sale so our warriors will need to flex all their treasure-hunting muscles

to root out the two hidden gems they need.

They've got plenty of cash burning holes in their pockets

but our duo have to factor in saleroom fees

on top of every purchase, so the pressure is sky high!

Five, I have.

Our gladiators have only had a short time to suss out potential profit

before the sale gets under way.

Now the moment has come and the hammer begins to fall.

First into the fray is Mark and he's decided to bid on a job-lot of,

well, everything but the kitchen sink by the looks of it.

Fiver, fiver away. Five pounds, eight, ten, 12, 15.

No, 12 on my left, at £12.

-So tempted to raise my paddle right now!

-12.

-What's in there, then?

-Spill the beans.

-No, no.

It's a brave and some may say risky move for the Maverick.

But for five boxes of, erm, stuff for just under £15 with fees,

it's a bargain buy.

Later in the day our hammer hero discovers

exactly what he's got for his money.

One, two, three, four, five boxes of mixed household china and books.

There's a '50s vase there. We've got a carriage clock.

There's a decanter. We've got a vase that goes with the vase over there.

We've got a lovely little duck. Nothing much in there.

It's a saltpipe. There we are. I have no idea what a saltpipe is.

Maverick Mark decides to pick out a few pieces as potentials for selling

and donates the rest to charity.

That's one buy in the bag.

Now, his opponent is poised and ready for her first move.

469 - two Persian rugs. I have a ten bid. 12 now.

-£12.

-12, lady's bid. 15 now. In the room at £12.

-Two for 12.

-Selling at 12.

-Magic carpet!

-You're looking very confident there.

-I'm looking smug!

I just think that's cheap. £6 each for a hand-knotted woollen rug?!

A triumphant Kate bags the rugs for just under £15 with fees

and later in the day she gets up close and personal.

Hello, down there. I'm so pleased with these.

Can you see how the colour changes here?

You've got a light grey background here and this one's darker.

This is called a brash and it's really sought-after in older rugs

because it shows that it's been hand-dyed with vegetable dyes.

If these were in my auction,

I'd be estimating the two together at maybe £100 to £150.

I can't believe I'm not going to get £50 for these.

Yes, fighting talk from our Lincolnshire lady.

Has Kate's saleroom experience given her the edge over her opponent?

She thinks it's all over, but Maverick's coming out fighting.

Oak cupboard, 713.

60, five, five, 70, five, and one more, 80 in the room.

In the room now at £80. Selling at 80.

-You got that.

-I rather like that. It's very decorative.

A weighty win for Stacey,

netting an Edwardian cabinet for just over £99 with fees.

Mark's got his two items in the bag but, with the auction over,

the Diamond is refusing to say die.

What I was after is, there are some costume beads, 95 down here.

-They have a £20 reserve.

-Yeah, he said you could do it for 18.

-That's fine.

-Brilliant! I will have those.

A last-minute deal by saleroom-savvy Kate.

Just over £22 for the box of necklaces.

And with that, it's time to ring the time-out bell on the auction round.

Mark has bought items great and small today

and Kate has kept it cheap and cheerful.

But which tactic will be the winning one when it comes to selling?

Time for a quick look at the bank balances.

Our duo each went into battle with £1,000 of their own money.

Mark has spent just over £300,

leaving him with nearly £700 to spend in the next two rounds.

His opponent, Kate, has spent a touch over £209 so far,

leaving her with just under £791.

Buckle up for round three of this epic bargain bonanza

as our warriors prepare to unleash car boot carnage

at a sale in Leicestershire.

Rooting out potential profit amongst car boot clutter will push our duo to the limit

and it's our dark-haired Diamond who packs the first punch.

-What's this, then? What do you know about this?

-It's a paperweight.

It was made by Gaunt. I'm assuming it was from London.

Here we go. JR Gaunt. What do they do?

-They make car badges, Masonic medals.

-Like car mascots and stuff.

-I quite like it. How much do you want for it?

-£10.

-I can't really say no.

I'm not even going to haggle with that. I like that.

That'll be a punch in the eye for Stacey as well.

The gloves are well and truly off.

It's 1-0 to canny Kate, but the Maverick won't take that lying down.

-Can we get anywhere near £10, sir?

-I'll go £12.50.

-£12 and you've got a deal.

-£12, then.

-That's very kind of you.

Thank you very much.

Wham! That's 1-1. A Victorian box for just £12.

Watch your back, though, as our Diamond Diva is taking this car boot by storm.

I've got these three items and I'm really pleased. This one's not very much.

It's just a little coin holder called Magic Pocket, made of brass.

This one is really cute.

This is a tape measure but it's in the form of a fishing reel,

which is quite cool.

I think a fishing enthusiast would really like that.

But this is what I really wanted. This is an actual antique.

Hooray, we found one today!

This is Meiji period, so 1910, 1912, something like that.

A Japanese little brass snuff box.

It's a little bit battered and it's not signed, but I think that's a really nice piece.

I'm sure a collector is going to love that.

So, for £10, I'm thrilled with that.

Our Lincolnshire lady can sniff out an antique a mile off

and that's Kate bought up for round three already.

But Maverick's hot on her heels.

I spotted this a bit earlier on. It's a 19th-century pot lid.

Generally referred to as Prattware because of these types of colours.

This would have gone on, originally, a little pot underneath,

within which would have been housed some gentlemen's relish.

It's got a little bit of damage and it's priced up at £45,

but the dealer kindly offered it to me earlier on for £20.

Sir, is there any chance you could let me have it for £15? Please?

-I'm just thinking about my children! Yes, that's fine.

-Oh, you're kind.

Thank you very much. Yes! An antique!

Mark proves he too can root out treasures from the trash.

The Diamond and the Maverick spent a measly £20 and £27 respectively.

So, at the end of the car boot round, how are our duo faring?

They both started this challenge with a budget of £1,000.

After round three, Mark has spent over £327

so has just under £673 to spend in the final round.

Kate has spent over £229, leaving her nearly £771 for round four.

We're into the final furlong of this epic race

and this last round takes place at Swinderby Antiques Fair in Lincolnshire.

The sun may not be shining, but there are plenty of dealers selling here today

and the pressure is one for our duo to pack some final killer punches.

I think we've got to buy something bigger because we need bigger profits.

I know, and we've not had that much choice. I think here should be easier.

You need that buzz. You need something to speak to you.

I have two items that need to talk to me and I want them to talk to me and not you!

-So I'm going to go.

-Not a chance!

Steady on, Mark!

Both our bargain bloodhounds are desperate to sniff out the best treasures.

I'm hoping that something screams, "Buy me!"

The finishing line is in sight

and Maverick is determined to reach for the stars.

-Could I just ask you how much these pair of stars are?

-£85 each, sir.

-85 each?

-I know.

-Why are they so expensive?

-They're stainless steal.

If I took the pair, what would be the very least you could take for them?

-About £150.

-£75 each.

I'm going to think about these, because it's quite a lot of money.

You could almost say, it's up in the heavens, that price!

Mark is being cautious.

A risky strategy, as his opponent shows no such restraint.

She's resorted to her trusted old trick of throwing in a cuppa as part payment.

-Your cup of tea.

-Are you taking it now?

-I'll take it now.

-That's marvellous. Enjoy your tea.

-Thank you very much.

-Stay dry.

Thanks very much.

Right, well, I've just bought this clock

and I'm really pleased with that.

It's a four-glass clock, meaning basically it's got four sides.

It's Victorian and it's a really nice quality. £300 and a cup of tea. I'm really happy with that buy.

1-0 to the Diamond Dealer. With the tea, that's £301.50.

A mighty purchase, and quick as lightening

canny Kate makes it two in a row.

-90. Go on. 90 and we shake hands.

-Go on.

-90 quid.

-Shall we shake hands?

-You may kiss my hand, if you wish?!

-May I?

-There we are! Thank you.

Our Lincolnshire lovely is on a charm offensive,

bagging the Victorian silver-plated cruet set for £90.

That's Kate over the finishing line

in today's epic showdown extravaganza.

But her steely-willed opponent is never far behind.

What have I bought here? I don't know, but I've spent £15 on it.

It's actually, I think, in rosewood, which is a really expensive wood.

We've got nice cabriole legs in the front

which indicate it's Victorian, around about 1860.

I think, for 15 quid, I'm sitting on a jolly good profit here.

Another buy in the bag for the Brighton Basher.

With the clock ticking down on today's antiques adventure,

Mark knows exactly where he's headed for his final showdown purchase.

At the end of the day, you don't really want to take them home with you.

-That depends how much you offer me!

-I was thinking of 100, but is that pushing you too far?

-130 would be better.

-Oh.

-I know.

-I've come down from 175.

-You have.

-130. 110?

-We'll split the difference.

-115.

-We've got a deal. Thank you so much.

-Thank you very much indeed.

That's a colossal final purchase for our star-gazing supremo

and heralds the finale of the showdown buying.

It's been a battle of epic proportions as our duelling duo

fought across the country and Continent in pursuit of profit.

But what have they both spent?

Our resilient rivals started this ultimate challenge

with £1,000 of their own cash.

Maverick Mark has kept his spending low.

At just over £457, he's used less than half his budget.

Diamond Kate Bateman built up to a spending spree finale

and her total stands at just under £621.

Time for the bit we all love. Our duo to size up the enemy's goods.

-We've finally got all eight of our items.

-I know.

-It's been a struggle, hasn't it?

-To get all eight, it's been harsh.

I'm impressed with your two little purchases there.

They're small but beautiful. The clock is gorgeous.

The stars are going to come out for me when I sell these.

-The star of the show, are they?

-Absolutely.

It's going to be hard to choose which items to put into the auction and which to sell privately.

Very hard. We're going to have to think and play canny on that one.

The buying bonanza was just the start of this ferocious battle of the sexes.

Back home, our feisty fighters now focus everything they have

on selling their wares for maximum profit.

As well as securing sales, they'll also face an evil twist - the auction,

where they could stand to lose everything they've fought for

if their strategies aren't planned to perfection.

They must now decide which of their items they'll risk under the hammer,

with only the auctioneer as an ally.

In Northamptonshire, auctioneer Kate, who's no stranger to salerooms,

has thought long and hard about her choices.

I've finally decided which items I'm going to put into the auction.

The rugs, which I got from the auction.

But they were so cheap, I can't imagine I'm not going to make a profit.

My silver-plated cruet set. The three items I got from the car boot sale.

The costume jewellery and the table.

I thought I had a private buyer for this

but it's given me nothing but headaches.

I paid about £45 for it in the French market

and I had to have the glass cut, which cost me £20,

which is quite a lot more than I was expecting.

I have to put at least four into the auction, so let's see.

The Diamond is feeling the pressure.

In Brighton, veteran dealer Mark has also bravely chosen the items he'll risk at auction.

I've decided to place five items into the auction.

Firstly, the beautiful vases from that job lot, remember?

I like these because they're nice, honest antique items.

19th-century. And being a pair,

it might appeal to both the trade and the private buyer.

The lovely Victorian box I purchased in the car boot sale.

The oak chest I've looked at a lot.

I think it might appeal to the type of buyer

that's going to the Cambridgeshire auction.

The lovely Limoges panel from Paris I've chosen

because it's got St George on horseback

surrounded by rather nice maidens.

It just might appeal to the odd academic or two.

The chair came from the antiques fair. I've decided to put this in, again, largely because of the price

and because it's ripe for someone to buy for redoing.

Kate, you may well be the auctioneer, but trust me,

when the gavel falls, these are the winning lots.

Our warriors have selected their auction artillery and they must now

turn their attention to finding buyers for all their other items.

The Diamond still needs to sell a Punch and Judy paperweight,

a Victorian clock, and her French drawing of a lady.

The Maverick has to find homes for a glass dome Nancy dish,

a pair of steel stars, and his 19th-century pot lid.

Both our heavyweight hustlers hit their phones,

raid their contacts books and toil all hours to secure those sales.

They'll do anything for profit but, until they've shaken on it

and the money has changed hands, no deal is truly sealed.

In Brighton, Maverick Mark gets swiftly down to business

with the French glass dish that cost him over £131.

He's meeting Paul, who's acting on behalf of a friend.

Lovely quality. There are quite a few marks on it, I have to say.

I think those are air bubbles, to be honest with you.

-You know, it is hand-made.

-Yes. Absolutely, yes.

-It's not machine-made.

-I can appreciate that.

Well, we have to get to the crunch of the problem now, don't we?

-Which is...

-Which is price.

-Absolutely.

I think we could go to 220,

but I don't really want to put much more of a higher price on it than that.

Right. I wouldn't want to go below £250.

-I really wouldn't want to sell it for below that.

-OK, we've got a deal.

An outstanding start for tough negotiator Maverick.

He waltzes off with an incredible profit of just over £118.

In Northamptonshire, his rival has high hopes for her Punch paperweight

after contacting local Punch and Judy performer Chris.

One, two, three.

Will it make him pleased as Punch

and will it make her a profit on the tenner it cost?

That's the way to do it!

-This is my item that I bought. What do you think?

-Very interesting.

-Price-wise, I was looking for about £100 for it.

-100 is an awful lot.

I could go down a bit. How about 80? Something like that.

All I can think is, if my other half at home,

when I go home and tell her I've spent £80 on a paperweight,

she'll go ballistic.

-She might. What would keep her happy, do you think?

-Erm, 65-ish.

-Something around that region.

-How about 70? That's a round number.

-How about 70? Something like that.

-Go on, then. You're a hard sell.

-You'd better shake HIS hand for it.

-What do you say, Mr Punch?

That's the way to do it!

Yes, that is the way to do it, and that give canny Kate a cracking £60 profit.

Our Judy is off to a flying start.

And in Brighton her Mr Punch is also calling on showbiz friends.

He's brought his pair of stars to another pair of stars who are rehearsing their show.

The glamorous Miss Jason and Maisy Trott.

They cost the Maverick a steep £115.

He'd better hope the ladies are feeling generous.

Come on, girls!

-How are you?

-Very well.

I was hoping to get about £250 for the pair.

-250 quid?!

-For the pair. I thought they were so you.

-They are, but not for £250!

-You can have them engraved with your names.

-Do they light up?

-For that money, you can have them engraved with our names!

So if we pay the full price, what do we have engraved on there?

-Your stage name, of course.

-Let's shake hands.

Mark snares his £250 asking price and, after the £17 engraving costs,

there's still a show-stopping £118 profit.

Deal done, there's no dragging showgirl Stacey off the stage!

Look at that. A face only a mother could love!

# Let's go on with the show

Face front!

# Show. #

Take a bow, dear.

He's an antiques hero.

No, dear. Mark Stacey is an antique!

From one old antique to another.

In Oundle, young Kate has brought her Victorian four-glass clock

to expert dealer Joanne.

It cost her a whopping £300 plus a cup of tea.

Can the Diamond still make a profit?

-How about 340?

-340?

-350.

-Oh, dear!

-Come on!

-You're the only person that can bring this clock to life.

-I'll pay you 350.

350, brilliant. I'm glad it's gone to a good home. Thanks ever so much.

The Diamond Diva is mightily relieved to wind up

with just over £48 in the bank.

She's on a roll and the sparkly one's next stop is Cambridgeshire.

I'm here at Ely with its beautiful cathedral to see a friend of mine.

He's David Palmer and he's a freelance auctioneer and sometimes does auctioneering for my saleroom.

I'm here in his capacity as dealer

because he loves this kind of thing, racy ladies.

This ravishing female cost me about £130.

I'm hoping to get any profit over that

but I'm sure once he sees her he's going to fall in love.

Let's see what he thinks.

Because David is such a keen collector of erotica,

surely he is the perfect man to sell to?

But Kate knows all too well,

haggling with an auctioneer makes for a very tough sale.

Isn't she gorgeous? She's come all the way from France.

-What do you think?

-Yes, I like her.

-What sort of money do you see her at?

-Ooh, 80 to 100.

-80 to 100! Come on, 200 at the very least.

-200!

-She's amazing, look at her. She's gorgeous.

-It's just a sketch.

David, take me home!

-We'll have a deal at 140.

-150.

-So, you'll get 140, then.

-No, 150!

-I've got to make some kind of profit.

-140.

-Oh, you're a tough nut.

-So you mean I've over-bid again.

-Go on, 140.

-140.

-Done at 140.

-Look at that.

Our rock-hard Diamond holds out for a cheeky profit of just under £13.

Hardly the deal of the day but every little helps that charity pot.

On Brighton's beautiful seafront, the Maverick

is trawling for his own profit with his fishy antique pot lid.

He's come to the oldest fish restaurant in town to see manager Roberto

and he's looking to reel in more than the £15 he paid for it.

This was made in the 19th century, about 1830, 1840.

-Very nice, very nice.

-I'm not asking an awful lot for it, I don't think.

I'm hoping to get between £30-£40 for it.

OK. You start on 40, shall we start on 30?

How is that?

Well, I think in that case we're going to meet in the middle and say 35.

-35...

-Or are you going to batter me down?

-I tell you what, as you've got a nice face...

-Thanks!

-Flattery gets me everywhere...

-So have you.

-Thank you very much.

-You see, it works. £32.

-OK.

-32.

-32, I think.

-Wonderful.

Roberto took the bait and Mark nets himself a tasty profit.

-But our hungry hustler has bigger fish to fry.

-I love fish and chips.

-OK.

-But I'd love to know how you do all that battering.

-Is it possible you can show me?

-Yes, we can arrange that for you.

-Pull it out gently.

-Pull it out...

Don't do this at home. Don't do this at home.

Just leave it slowly like that. That's it. It's in.

I think I've found a new career.

So, at the halfway stage of our mammoth selling contest,

how are our duelling dealers holding up?

Diamond Kate's steely resolve has netted her three sales

and make her just over £121 profit.

Maverick Mark's daring endeavour has also given him three sales

but he has the edge, with just over £253 profit so far.

Mercenary Mark may have nosed ahead but it means nothing at this stage.

Every one of our duo's remaining items will be sold at auction,

where our gladiators will have to stand and watch as their fate unfolds before them.

At this final battleground tensions are high as our contenders

prepare to face their fears.

Kate, the auction showdown. Are you nervous?

-I'm excited, but no reserves.

-I know. It's worrying, isn't it?

The potential for disaster is massive.

I really do hope you make a profit. No, I really do. No, I do, honestly.

-I don't think he means that.

-I really do, I really do mean profit.

And so the brawling begins.

Our feisty pair part to prowl the saleroom, surveying their own treasures

and sussing out the competition's.

I decided to out this lovely pair of vases back in to auction.

I'd bought them at the job lot.

I paid just under £15 for them, which is not bad.

I thought they might be worth £30-£50,

which is a jolly good profit if I can sell them for that.

But imagine my delight when I saw in the catalogue

the estimate is £80-£120.

If it makes anywhere near that, there'll be smiles all round for me.

I'm not sure about Diamond Kate though.

He's put a cheeky estimate of £80-£120.

There is only one word for that - wildly optimistic. That's two words!

Incredibly optimistic.

I don't think he's going to get that but he might because he's a jammy so-and-so.

Let's just hope he fails miserably, shall we?

Here are my rugs.

Mark was very rude about these when we bought them in the other auction

but they look good here surrounded by this nice furniture.

It cost me just under £15 and I'd be amazed if there isn't a profit here.

I think he's going to have to eat his words.

I thought the rug and carpet market was on the floor at the moment

but she swears by them.

The estimate is £60-£80. You make your mind up.

The auctioneer doesn't think they're old either.

But if they are and they make a lot of money I'll be eating my words.

It's all-out war today.

Our pair are in position but the usually composed auctioneer's nerves

are getting the better of her.

I normally love auctions but this is just horrible actually.

-That's because you're not up there.

-I'm on the wrong side of the paddle.

First into the fray are the Diamond's controversial rugs,

which cost her just under £15.

You were really rude about these but they might make real profit.

I wasn't rude about them, Kate. I was just giving a frank assessment.

-It's the sleeper of the sales!

-Yes. Of course it is.

Oh, here we go.

-Starting at £20...

-£20.

-I've made a profit!

25, 30.

-25, anywhere? I've sold at £30.

-30 quid!

That's brilliant! I'm really pleased with that.

If they're paying 30 quid for those I haven't got a chance with my quality items.

Wiping the smile from the Maverick's face, Kate's rugs do the business.

That's her first profit, just over £9 after saleroom fees.

She's immediately in the firing line again.

This time it's the table and glass top she paid just under £65 for.

But a distressed Diamond has suddenly lost her nerve.

-I don't want to listen.

-I'm nervous for you!

-At £30 commission here.

-30.

-Come on.

35 a table, at 35 anyone? Anyone with a £35 bid?

This one goes at once, twice and officially at £35.

Ooh! The hammer falls at £35.

With costs that makes the Diamond a loss of just over £36.

But she refuses to lose her sparkle.

-I will take that loss, actually, on the chin.

-That's the spirit, Kate.

Things could improve with her next item, the silver-plated cruet set.

But our experienced auctioneer has some regrets.

I've probably paid a bit much. I paid £90 for these.

65, 70. 75, 80...

-Keep going.

-85 bid. On bid at 85. I shall sell at £85.

Maverick barely disguises his joy at his rival's misfortune.

After fees, it puts the suddenly rocky Diamond

just under £21 in the red.

The Lincolnshire lady desperately needs a result with her box of necklaces.

# I gave you diamonds and pearls...#

-£40 on this.

-40.

# Give you the world...#

-50 bid.

-Keep going!

-They all want it at 55.

-That's brilliant.

-Final. Thank you.

What did we sell it at? A profit!

Little dance of happiness!

-Come on, Mr Grumpy.

-I'm really pleased for you actually.

THROUGH GRITTED TEETH: "I'm really pleased for you!"

Yes, the Maverick couldn't be more pleased for his rival.

Our Little Miss Sunshine gets her sparkle back

with a profit of just over £22.

She can afford to be nice about old Mr Grumpy's first lot.

How you can fail to make a profit on the French chair?

-If you like it, and look at the items you bought, I haven't got a chance.

-Isn't he mean?

55. 55, an absentee bid.

55 there, 60 the lady's bid, at 60. £60 the chair, selling at £60.

-Once, twice and we're done at £60.

-That's not bad, is it?

There you go. See how happy it makes you!

Come on, Mark, it won't kill you to celebrate.

The chair provides his first profit of the day,

just under £43 with fees, and he's off to a flying start,

as the £12 Victorian box from the car boot...

£60, then it goes. Once, twice...

Jammy devil.

..sells for a whopping £60,

giving him a profit of just under £37 including costs.

It's an incredible start for the Brighton bruiser

but his next lot, the oak chest,

has the seasoned performer's nerves jangling.

I paid just over £99 for it. They have estimated it at £200-£300.

Generous! I think you might scrape a profit, might be all right.

Just like all my other lots, so far, you mean?

£110, £120, £130, £140, £150, £160.

-Come on! Yes!

-£180 in the room.

190 on the web, sir. £190 bid. Is everyone done online at £190?

Sold.

Wow! I need some fresh air after that! Three profits so far!

I rather like this. I think I might come back.

Mr Grumpy is suddenly Mr Happy

and can't resist gloating over his £56 profit after fees.

It's the Diamond's final lot.

After a tough day, she needs her brass car-boot collection

of snuff box, tape measure and coin holder

to reap her a glittering profit. Her nemesis is typically begrudging.

It's a very interesting little lot. Meiji period, just.

-Isn't he kind?

-£20 bid in the lot now.

-That's not enough. Come on.

-£20 on the lot. £25, £30, £45.

Wow! Kate, that's incredible.

Selling, then, at £45.

-Well done, Kate.

-Dance with happiness.

-Oh, gosh!

-That's great.

-I only wish you the same success now!

-Of course you do!

Sniping aside, it's an ecstatic end for Kate.

After costs, she nets just over £26 profit.

Now it's Maverick Mark who's biting his nails over his penultimate lot.

He needs an advance on his £54.55 investment.

This is the panel I bought in Paris.

Maybe there's a Cambridge don out there who's studied Arthurian legend.

Somebody away with the fairies?

Oh, I do like people who are away with the fairies!

Bidding in at £140 on this one.

-No!

-It's a whopping starting bid.

Mark can't believe it.

160. 170.

-Stop bidding.

-180.

-Come on!

-I shall sell, then, at £180.

Wow!

-Well done, sir.

-There's gloating coming this way, isn't there?

I call that a jolly good profit, don't you?

At just over £92 after fees, it's a huge profit,

and the Brighton boy knows it.

We're into the final bout of this brutal combat,

and it's Mark who's bracing himself for one last blow.

I've got those little vases I bought from the job lot at the auction.

-That you didn't know you'd got! They were under the table!

-I only paid just under £15.

1492, the vases there.

45, 50. 55, 60.

70. 75. 80...

In a shock turn of events,

the bargain vases are taking the room by storm!

120.

I shall sell, then, at £120.

Well, I don't know, Kate.

I quit!

There is no justice in this world!

I really do like this auction room!

# What a feeling! #

You bet he does!

Those vases net him a staggering profit of just under £83 after fees.

It's a dramatic finale,

as the ultimate saleroom showdown comes to a close.

Both our brave contenders started their mission with £1,000

of their own money to spend at four different antiques events.

Kate spent just under £641, including restoration.

But Mark was more frugal, spending a little over £474, including costs.

All of the money that Mark and Kate have made from today's challenge goes to their chosen charity.

So, without further ado,

it's time to find out who is today's Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is champion.

Kate, Kate, Kate!

-Oh, Mark, it's the big one!

-The showdown! What's your highlight?

My rugs did all right. You pooh-poohed my rugs, but they got me a profit.

You had some amazing results.

I had some very good results. I picked exactly what the auction wanted, I think.

And all my items at the auction did extremely well, even after commission.

-Are you ready?

-Go on.

-One, two, three.

-Oh!

-Oh, Kate.

-£400 off!

Oh, no!

I think that's quite a win.

Yes, a convincing victory for the Maverick today.

But our experts have been building up their profit pots over a week of challenges,

so it's now time to find out how much they made in total.

-Shall we?

-I can barely stand the suspense. Go on, then.

-Ready?

-Oh!

-Well, it wasn't too bad.

-That's not too bad.

I think I was very lucky with one or two items,

but I thoroughly enjoyed working with you.

I really, really have smiled a lot.

The least you can do is buy me a drink!

And it's a mighty overall victory for the Maverick.

Both our experts have delivered outstanding profits

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

I've got two children of my own and I wanted to choose a children's charity to help.

I've chosen Cerebra. They help children with neurological problems.

My chosen charity is Diema's Dream.

I was thrilled to help Russian orphanages create a safe,

healthy and stimulating environment for children.

It's been a week of gruelling battle.

Mark and Kate have both put their money where their mouths are

and proved they can make convincing profits when their own money is on the line.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]