Catherine Southon v Mark Stacey - Showdown Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

'This 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 insider's view of the trade.'

I'm on the case.

'Each week, one pair of duelling dealers

'will face a different daily challenge...'

-I'm a cheeky chancer!

-'Lovely!

'..putting their reputations on the line and giving you top tips

'and savvy secrets on how to make most money from buying and selling.'

-Let's go and spend some money!

-Get in there!

'Make sure you're belted in and holding tight,

'as you're about to witness two Colossi of the antiques trade

'go head-to-head in the ultimate challenge -

'the Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Showdown.

'Our eminent experts will be pushed to the very limit,

'stretching every sinew of their bodies

'as they try to buy the greatest items for the best price,

'before driving themselves to near exhaustion

'as they go on missions to sell their purchases for premium profit.

'Coming up, Mark teaches Catherine a valuable lesson...'

This is how you play the game!

You find the items, source the buyer, get it at the price you want and you know you've got a profit.

'..Catherine goes supersonic...'

-How much are you asking for it?

-I'd like 195 for it.

-195?

'..and a colourful buyer is lost for words.'

-What can you say?

-I don't know, dear.

'It's going to be an almighty war!

'This is Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is!'

'This is the Showdown, where our first-rate antiques experts

'have to show their mettle as they go head-to-head in an Olympic bid

'to maximise their profit margins and conquer their opponent.

'Our colliding couple consists of two of the country's most impressive experts.

'First up, the battling boy from Brighton

'brimming with bucketloads of bargain-buying brilliance...'

Quality, quality, quality - as you would expect from me.

'He's up against a rival who is as ruthless as she is stunning.

'Controlled and steady, clever and savvy,

'stop the clocks, it's...'

If you don't gamble, you don't win.

'This will be their toughest trial to date,

'covering locations throughout the country and abroad,

'as their buying abilities and selling skills are put to the test

'until finally, a winner is revealed.

'It's time to cry havoc! Let slip the dogs of war!'

-Showdown time!

-Snap!

-Oh, what IS it all about?

-Do you know what I'm concerned about?

-Tell me.

-You and I go back a long way.

I'm worried that this might be the end of a beautiful relationship. A long time.

BOTH: # Sisters, sisters... #

-All right, Catherine. Get on with it. Read, then.

-All right!

-You're so bossy!

-Oh, get on with it.

"Welcome to the mighty Showdown. The rules are simple.

"You must each buy two items at every one of your regular Put Your Money Challenges.

"You have £1,000 to spend.

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

"The rest will be sold at auction in Dorset, in direct competition with your opponent.

"The winner is the dealer who makes the most profit."

-Good luck.

-Any ideas what you're going to buy?

-If I had, I wouldn't tell you.

-I don't want to know.

'Our experts know that the £1,000 of their own money to spend

'must include any restoration, repairs and buying fees,

'and all the profits go to their chosen charities.

'They'll be buying from their usual hunting haunts -

'a foreign antiques market,

'an auction,

'a car boot sale

'and a UK antiques market.

'It's going to be a fierce fight, but who will end up with the biggest profit?

'Our purchasing players prepare for Round 1.

'Their first battle takes place on Belgian soil.

'It's a tale of two markets in Brussels.

'Catherine and Mark need to move fast and rummage deep

'if they want to slip off with the best bargains.

'Both of our intrepid explorers need to acquire two items.

'It's Mark who's first to pounce, spotting a divine picture

'that he thinks has profit potential.'

Now, the sun is shining and it only shines on the righteous, doesn't it?

Which leads us very nicely into this picture,

where the central character's a cardinal.

He's sitting there, along with some very noble-looking gentlemen.

These type of pictures were very popular in the late 19th century.

This is either a copy or a rendition of that type of picture,

probably painted in the 1950s.

It is signed indistinctly. I don't know the artist.

I think it might be worth a punt, depending on the price.

'Mark pays £128.21 for the painting,

'but will it be the answer to his prayers?'

I don't think it'll make hundreds and hundreds, but with a bit of luck

and intervention from above, we might make 100 quid on it, fingers crossed.

Anyway, it's too late now! I bought it and I'm off to get a cup of tea.

'Well, it's thirsty work, buying.

'Mark hopes his first purchase will offer ascension to victory.

'However, Catherine catches up when she buys a vanity case...

'..which she hopes will provide a "Vanity Fair" profit

'when it comes to the selling.'

It's not leather, sadly, but it's leatherette.

It's got the maker's mark on the front - Victor Luggage.

You open it up with these clasps.

This one, the spring's gone, but you can lift it up.

Inside, it is a little tatty and a little worn,

but nothing that a little super glue won't sort out.

And for eight euros, I think it's fabulous.

It's got the initials on it.

Do I know anyone with the initials EB? No!

Will I find someone with the initials EB?

Definitely. Watch this!

I'm going to make myself some serious money.

'Catherine's made up with her vanity case,

'but Mark has decided the perfect partner to his holy painting

'would be a devil-handled cane.'

Canes are very big business. There's a lot of collectors.

It's got a little silver collar and a simple bamboo shaft

with a little bit of silver plate on the bottom.

What I particularly like is that rather cheeky devil.

You can see his horns back there and his open mouth.

He's looking rather scary.

So what would be your very best price on that?

-200. ..Yeah, I know.

-MARK GASPS

Surely you can let me have it for 180.

-Cash.

-185.

-No, come on!

-185!

STALL HOLDERS LAUGH 180. 180. Well done.

'The Maverick's devilish negotiating gets the cane for...

'..and he's praying it'll deliver a demon of a profit.'

I always say the devil's in the detail.

Please, let me be right.

'With round one almost over, Catherine bags her second item,

'snapping up an ivory monocular for...

'..What exactly did she see in it?'

It's got these lovely sections and it closes down,

so it can easily be slipped into a handbag.

It's by Hawks and Grice.

I would say first quarter 19th century.

It's got this lovely ivory band around it.

It's pre-1947, so we don't have to worry about the whole ivory issue.

And for 150 euros?

I'm sure it'll make someone - and me - very happy.

'Catherine concludes round one,

'adding her monocular to her vanity case.

'Mark hedged his bets,

'picking up the religious painting and the demon-headed cane.

'How much have they spent so far?

'Our battling buyers started with £1,000 of their own money...

'..Our duelling duo arrive at Stacey auction rooms in Essex

'with a mission to acquire two impressive pieces to add to their collections.

'Catherine is the first to get going when she decides to bid

'on a pair of watercolours of Cornish views

'signed by the artist, Sydney James Beer.

'Carry on bidding!'

£30. 32, straight in. 32.

35 is now bid...

'The guide price is £40 to £60.

'Catherine's keen not to pay over the odds.'

And five. At £55 with the lady.

-Are you all done?

-BANGS GAVEL

'Catherine keeps her cool and wins the watercolours

'for £66 after costs.

'The Maverick, on the other hand, is finding the going tough.'

No, 65? That's too much.

Too much!

'No such problem for Catherine, who is set on getting her second item,

'a cast iron door knocker she hopes might open the door to a profit.'

That's quite nice.

Regency style.

Door knocker.

It's iron and I think that's all right, actually.

I could sell that to a salvage yard and make a bit of money.

'The door knocker is estimated between £30 to £50

'and Catherine's keen to knock out the competition.'

22. 25. £25 now. 28, new bidder.

Against you, sir. 28. 30 now bid. Against you, madam. 32.

At £32. Lady seated. Are you all done?

At £32...

'..Meaning she's bought-up for this round.

'But as the auction draws to an end, Mark has failed to buy a single lot for his Showdown.

'The rules say that he must leave the auction with two items.

'The Maverick is left to trawl the auction's unsold list.

'Thankfully for him, he finds a pair of items to buy.'

We all know luxury,

and Asprey's is right at the top of the tree for luxury.

We've got a solid nine-carat gold cigar puncturer.

If you wind this down, out comes the little piece.

In its original box. Not an antique.

Matching that is the gentleman's cigar case.

Nine-carat gold mounted, perfect condition, beautiful quality.

Again, in its fitted box. A lovely object.

'Is he pleased with his purchases?'

I'm thrilled with it because I've bought something

that is quality, quality, quality -

as you would expect from me.

'Mark's bold move brings us to the end of Round 2.

'While cunning Catherine was calm and self-assured in this round,

'Maverick Mark was the total opposite,

'almost failing to fulfil the required buys.

'Luckily, his last-minute buying spree saved his bacon.

'Let's see where we are at this stage...

'..They've now bought four items each...

'Tensions are sky high.

'Our purchasing pilots have landed at the Ford Airfield car boot sale in West Sussex,

'where they'll scour the stalls for items they can scoop up and sell on.

'But before they do, there's a chance to compare notes.'

-Are you nervous about this?

-Always, Mark.

-I'm actually quietly confident.

-Really?

-No!

-BOTH LAUGH

-You don't know what I bought from the auction.

-That's a good point.

-I did a sneaky after-sale.

-Mm! And?

-Quality, good name, gold.

-Did you spend a lot of money on them?

Quite a bit, actually, but I think they were worth every penny.

This is getting hard.

-Why are we doing it again?

-I don't know, actually.

-BOTH LAUGH

-Good luck.

-Good luck.

'Catherine is keen to get going and quickly finds an arresting diversion

'in the form of an Edwardian silver police whistle.'

Give me a quick demonstration.

-If it doesn't work, I'm not buying it!

-Can someone run off with something?

WHISTLE BLOWS

There's not a policeman in sight!

'She buys the whistle for £90.

'Will it help take down the particulars of a profit?'

It's got on the front, "The Metropolitan Patent".

Normally, policemen's whistles are nickel-plated.

This one is solid silver

and it's got the punched date of 30th March 1905.

Perhaps it was a presentation piece, which is why it's silver.

£90 I paid for it.

If you don't gamble, you don't win.

Let's just hope I win on this one.

WOLF WHISTLE

'On the other side of the car boot, Mark has spotted a Chinese porcelain panel.'

It's quite a nice panel painted in typical famille rose colours.

These are those delicate pinks you see around it.

It's very decorative, but if we look at the faces,

they're not 18th or 19th century, so we're into the 20th century.

But it is still a very decorative panel.

'Mark buys the panel for £90,

'keeping the pressure on his opponent.

'Catherine looks like she's hitting the bottle as she buys a wine rack.'

Can I say five? Please?

-Go on, then.

-Thank you very much indeed.

Date-wise, 20 years old, something like that?

For £5, there's got to be something there, hasn't there?

Any offers?

'Mark is running out of time when he sets his sights on an antique telescope.'

It's a four-drawer telescope.

It's signed, I think, J Hirsch Dallmeyer.

London. London's always quite a good place for a maker

of these scientific instruments.

There's one big problem with it, though. The lens is broken.

We need to replace that.

'Mark buys the telescope for £35, bringing Round 3 to an end.

'But will Mark's purchase magnify his chances of success,

'or has Catherine blown hers with her policeman's whistle?

'With one round left, let's find out who's galloping ahead

'and who is lagging behind...

'..And so the bell rings for Round 4,

'in this stunning showdown between Stacey and Southon,

'taking them to a UK antiques fair.

'This bargain battle of the sexes arrives at Newark International Antiques and Collectors' fair

'in search of must-have memorabilia.

'It's Catherine who goes full steam ahead, as she spots an antique railway sign.'

That's cool. I like that very much.

This is a sign that you'd find at the end of the station

as the train is going out, so they can...whistle.

It's probably not that rare, but it's a good statement piece.

How many of them do you see?

-How much are you asking for it?

-Um...

-I'd like 195 for it.

-195?!

That's ridiculously expensive!

-Er...

-I was hoping you were going to say 50 quid.

I think 120 is the really best on it.

115, and then I will run away.

-Go on, 115.

-Thank you very much. You're a very lovely man.

'Catherine thinks she's on the right track with the railway sign.

'Will she be whistling into the wind when it comes to selling it?'

How rare these are, I just don't know,

so it is a huge gamble for me, but one that might just pay off.

# Whistle while you work... #

WHISTLES

'Mark spies and buys an Edwardian simulated tortoiseshell paperclip for £30.'

It's got that lucky wishbone motif in solid silver.

The important thing when you're looking at hallmarks,

particularly on things that have moving parts or removable parts,

is that there should be a full hallmark on the main piece of silver

and then anything attached to it should have a partial mark,

like we have here.

It's about 1910-ish, so it's Edwardian.

It looks like it's on tortoiseshell.

A lovely thing and a quality item to grace anybody's desk.

Oh, I can't wait to see Catherine's face when she sees this!

'Mark's pleased with the paper holder.

'With his final purchase looming, he reveals his secret weapon.

'He has a buyer in mind.'

I have someone who's redoing their little garden.

They did ask if I'd find something suitable for them.

This is rather fun. You've got cherubs climbing up here.

Now, it's not terribly old. It's a sundial.

Something spurious written on it.

We're not buying a quality antique.

What we might be buying is something that makes a profit.

'The Maverick decides to sun-dial his buyer's number

'and sound them out about his potential purchase.'

I think I might have found something interesting. I think you'll love it.

'Having got his buyer interested,

'Mark tries to get the lowest price to maximise his profits.'

95, but that's the best.

-I can't go less than that.

-We can do a 90, can't we, for cash?

-Go on, then.

-You're an angel.

The deal is done. Catherine, this is how you play the game.

You find the items. You source the buyer.

You talk nicely to the dealer, get it at the price you want

and you know you've got a profit - that's how you do it, dear.

'Very wily, Mr Stacey, but Catherine has a few tricks up her sleeve

'and moves in on an antique apothecary chest.'

It's a lovely, lovely chest. I love the drawers beneath.

Sometimes, you'd find scales or tablets.

Here we've got the glass bottles. All original bottles.

It's Edwardian in style, slightly later than others I have seen.

It's a bit iffy, though.

The locks, I think, are later. That's been put on later.

The hinges are new, though, as well.

'On closer inspection, Catherine is less sure that the box is the remedy she's after.'

Did it start out life as an apothecary chest?

Could you call it that? It hasn't quite got the interior.

In essence, it could just be a box with a load of bottles thrown in.

'Catherine is umming and ah-ing, but decides to swallow the bitter pill and make an offer.'

115 and that's it. Go on.

-I'm shaking on 120.

-All right.

-Good girl. She's a good'un.

Yeah, she's a fool!

'Catherine's acquisition brings us to the end of the final round.

'Our ultimate fighters battled it out to the bitter end.

'Catherine has the railway sign and the apothecary medicine box.

'Mark has the paper holder and sundial.

'It's time to find out who's reaching for the sky

'and who is lost at sea.

'Our battling buyers each started out with £1,000 of their own money.

'Catherine has kept a tight rein on her purchases and spent only...

'Mark Stacey let his hair down and splashed out...

'Before the exhaustion of our esteemed experts' exertions kicks in

'it's time for them to get together and compare purchases.'

-How are you feeling?

-Not too bad. I'm a bit...

-One item I think is a real pain.

-Oh. go on, then.

-Come on. You know what.

-No, I don't.

-That hideous picture.

From Brussels. I haven't even unpacked it.

I don't want to look at it again! What about you?

I bought a whistle, a silver whistle. That was almost £100.

I bought a lovely "whistle" sign. So I'm going for a whistle theme!

You are getting a bit repetitive, Catherine!

-Can't you think OUT of a box?

-For God's sake! It's all good fun.

I'm going to put four or five items in the auction and cross my fingers.

-Cross everything. We'll be all right.

-Shall we get a cuppa?

I think we deserve it.

'Our contesting couple need to up their game and power on through

'as this sensational showdown is about to sort the wheat from the chaff.

'Having carefully obtained eight items from four locations,

'Catherine and Mark need to use every ounce of their trading knowhow

'to sell on their wares.

'But the Showdown sell-off has a twist - the auction.

'Southon and Stacey must each put at least half their items under the hammer,

'where they'll be unable to control whether their profits soar

'or come crashing down to Earth.

'There's immense pressure on both experts, so how is Catherine feeling

'as she prepares for the approaching onslaught?'

I found it quite tough to buy these items.

The watercolours, I'm hoping that I sell both of those to hotels

or restaurants down in Cornwall, as they depict Cornish scenes.

The leather vanity case, that should be easy to sell.

That rack is not particularly exciting.

The monocular, that is beautiful. There is definitely a large profit.

The item that I'm not happy with... is this box.

It was sold to me as an apothecary box,

but I knew that it wasn't.

The whistle I bought at the boot fair, I love that piece.

The Regency door knocker I bought at auction.

I'll probably end up taking it back to auction.

The "whistle" sign! I think that has got to go to auction.

So this one, the box, the whistle and the knocker.

They're all going off to auction. A few problem areas there.

But Mark Stacey, I know you've got a few problem areas, too.

I'll see you at the auction.

'So, Catherine foresees trouble ahead for her and Mark.

'Down on the south coast, is the Maverick also experiencing pre-fight nerves?'

This is a mad old game, isn't it?

I love the walking cane. I quite like the telescope,

even though it's broken and I think it's early to mid-19th century.

I love the sundial. These I've found private buyers for.

Particularly the sundial. I think that's going to give me a ray of profit.

The other items I'll put into the Showdown auction.

A little bit risky. I'm putting the large oil painting from Brussels,

the Asprey's cigar-related items,

the little paper holder and the Chinese panel.

I'm just hoping that lots of people at the auction will love them.

But who knows?

'It won't be long before we find out.

'Before our experts head to the Showdown auction,

'they must get to work selling their other items.

'Both know that no deal is done until they get that all-important handshake.

'It's Mr Stacey who's first to make a move.

'He's headed to Hove, hoping for a sale of the skull walking cane

'he bought at the market in Brussels for £153.85.

'But will it impress walking cane collector Enrico?'

I've never seen one with that sort of top on it.

Well, that little top, he's actually a satyr.

It's obviously a lady's cane and the height is high.

You'd be a very tall lady to walk with that.

-You'd never be able to put weight on it.

-No, you wouldn't.

-Because of the flexibility.

I was hoping for around 300.

I'll tell you what. I would go 200.

If I said to you around 250, and you pushed me down a pound or two?

-My last and final offer...

-Oh!

-..will be 230.

Can I just squeeze you up £5 more and say 235?

-Yeah...

-That's a good discount.

-Oh, what the heck?

-Are you sure?

-What the heck?

'After some tough negotiating from Enrico, Mark makes a profit of...

'..and walks away happy.

'It's a strong start from the Maverick,

'but Catherine is on the move, too.

'For starters, she sells the wine rack to antiques seller, Joe,

'for a modest £5 profit.

'There's a southerly wind prevailing for Miss Southon.

'She heads to Lizard, Cornwall,

'the most southern village in the country.

'She's hoping to sell one of her watercolours

'by Cornish artist Sydney James Beer,

'to local hotel owner, Alfred.

'Together, the two paintings cost Catherine £66,

'so will she now be able to brush up a profit?'

There we are. It's a watercolour.

I would probably date this to, I would say, probably the '30s.

Sydney James Beer is famous

for painting scenes around the Cornish coastline.

-What's your feeling?

-Yeah, yeah. I think... it's nice.

It'd be nice to add on to our collection which we already have.

I'm looking for around, somewhere between... £80, £100?

-Mm-hm.

-That sort of price. Shall we go in the middle? 90.

-Yeah.

-Would you be happy with £90?

-I'm happy with that. Beautiful.

Let's have a shake on 90. Thank you very much indeed.

'While in Cornwall, Catherine travels up the coast

'to the setting of the other picture, Mevagissey.

'The sale of the first painting means she's already made her money.

'So anything hotel owner John pays is pure profit.'

The problem is, and I'll be completely honest with you...

-Can you see that there?

-Yeah.

It looks like, to me, that once upon a time,

before it was put into this frame,

there would have been a newspaper or something.

-Oh, it's type, isn't it?

-Yeah.

It says something like "Drop it flat".

-Considerably reduces the value, I would have thought.

-I know!

-You name a price and we'll go from there.

-45?

That's very reasonable, considering there is a bit of damage.

-I should have said 30, then.

-No!

-BOTH LAUGH

-Let's stick to 45.

'Catherine's delighted with...

'Mark isn't dragging his feet.

'When he bought the sundial for £90,

'he had a buyer, Jason, in mind, and checked if he was interested.

'Now, he's taken the sundial to his flamboyant friend's garden,

'to finalise that deal.'

Welcome to my little oasis in Brighton, darling.

-The weather has turned in our favour.

-The good Lord is on our side!

-I hope he'll be on my side with the price of this.

-I have to say...

-it's SO you! Are you ready?

-I'm ready.

Oh!

LAUGHS

-What can you say?

-I don't know, dear.

-What do you think, Jason? Don't you love it?

-Well, I do!

-I really like it.

-I thought, you know...

-Mm.

-..a very modest £200.

CHOKES

I think it's 30 or 40 years old.

Darling, I can't quite go to £200.

-What could you go to?

-I tell you what, I'll give you 199.

-MARK LAUGHS

-Is that all right, dear?

I'm going to go for that. It's only £1 between friends.

-Is that all right, dear?

-I love it. Thank you.

How lovely! Could you get the polish out?

I've got to clean this tatty old thing!

'Hm, Jason prepares to polish his sundial

'and Mark has a profit of £109, meaning the Maverick is beaming.'

Well, Miss Southon. How's the sun shining on you?

I can't wait to find out.

'As it happens, Catherine's in fine fettle.

'She's taken the brass and ivory monocular that cost her £128.21

'to Hungerford, where she's hoping to spy a profit from Rita,

'who deals in scientific equipment.'

-I've got something to show you. There you go.

-Isn't that gorgeous?

I hadn't heard of Grice before.

I looked them up, and Hawks Grice was working in Bond Street

from 1818 to 1823.

-So we can date this almost exactly to, say, circa 1820.

-Yes.

He made microscopes and other optical instruments,

but for such a short period of time, I think this is quite a rare piece.

I don't think you'll find many instruments by this maker.

I know what I would like. I'd like around 200, 250.

But I know you've got to have a little profit on it. You've got to sell it.

-I can't go any higher than 200.

-Are you happy with £200?

-Yes. I love it.

Shall we shake on 200?

'Catherine makes a magnificent...

'..and has now just one item left to sell before the Showdown auction.

'Mark is also down to his final item before the auction,

'the telescope, but he can't seem to spy a buyer anywhere.'

I tried everywhere to sell this.

I've tried opticians, astronomy shops, yacht clubs.

Nothing.

So I found a friend who runs a lovely seaside hotel in Eastbourne

who might use it as a bar prop.

'Mark paid £35 for the telescope.

'Will hotelier Neil help him see his way to a profit?'

-This is it.

-OK, looks...

-It extends.

-It's about 1860.

-It's a big one, isn't it?

Lovely by the sea. I can look out my bedroom.

-Mm, there's a slight problem.

-Oh.

Have a look out of it.

-You can't see a thing, can you?

-No.

-Cos the lens is broken!

So I was rather hoping that we could get

sort of nearer to a nice round figure like 50.

-50 it is. It's a deal.

-Thank you very much, Neil.

'Catherine takes the vanity case that cost her £6.84

'to Lynn and Kit, who run a vintage clothes shop in Greenwich Market.'

I have something to show you, ladies, something that I bought in a market in Belgium.

A foreign market, so tell me what you think about that.

-I've sent you photos, haven't I?

-Yes. That is nice.

Sadly, it's not leather. If it was, that would be quite nice.

I haven't done anything to it. It's as I bought it.

-So have a look.

-That's nice. That's lovely.

I would like 35, how does that sound to you?

Maybe 30, cos we might have a bit of a job getting somebody with E.B.

-30. So, are we happy with that? £30.

-We are, indeed.

-I think so.

Thank you very much. Let me shake your hand, too.

Thank you very much, ladies.

'So, Catherine makes a profit of...

'proving that she's dressed for success.'

Beat that, Mark Stacey!

'We're halfway through this race for profit.

'It's time to see who'll be going into the auction on top,

'and who'll be the underdog.

'Catherine has sold four items...

'Mark has only made three deals...

'Our experts have worked tirelessly to fill their profit pots.

'Now, they must face the ups and downs of auction

'and surrender control to an auctioneer and his customers in Dorset,

'as their remaining items go under the hammer.'

-Good morning, darling.

-My darling!

-How are you?

-I'm fine, thank you.

-And yourself?

-Very well. The sun is shining on us.

-This is our showdown.

-I know! Showdown time!

-Are you nervous?

-I am absolutely petrified of this.

-I've got a few howlers here, Mark.

-YOU've got a few howlers, Catherine?

-This could be our Titanic moment.

-We will go on, Mark. And on.

-And on.

-And on.

And you do.

'As former auctioneers themselves, Catherine and Mark know just how much can be won or lost.

'Before the bidding gets under way, our duelling duo

'check out each other's lots.'

It's a pretty box, but when you open it up,

it's meant to be an apothecary box.

I don't think it's an apothecary box.

Catherine doesn't think it's an apothecary box.

It has been catalogued as an apothecary box but I think it's made up.

These two items are fantastic.

Lovely cigar case and cigar piercer. Nine-carat gold.

Pure gold, Stacey. Pure gold.

'First under the hammer is Mark's Chinese porcelain panel.

'It cost him £90. Mark is concerned it won't fetch as much at auction.'

If I'm being realistic, I would put that in at £50 to £80.

-But you never know with the internet.

-It might take off.

Lot number 594, the Chinese porcelain panel

in the famille rose colours.

£20 is bid here. At 20. 30. 40. 50.

60. 70. £70 I have, now.

-80. 90 on the net. 100.

-Ooh, well done.

-110. 120. At £120.

-Ooh, that's better.

-Come on!

-I sell at £120. Selling at 120...

You cheeky devil!

'To Mark's relief, the picture paints a profit of...

'Next up is Catherine's "whistle" sign.

'She paid a mighty £115 for it at the antiques fair.

'She'll need to get a piercing price here if she's to turn any profit after fees.'

Straight in here at £45. At 45. 50. 60.

70. 80. 90. 100. That's £100 I have and away now.

-Come on! Bit more.

-Selling and away at 100...

To be honest, I thought that might crash at £50 so I'm quite relieved.

Can we have a smile, then? Stop all this blustering.

'Catherine remains positive after losing...

'But could things be about to get worse as her next lot comes up?

'It's the cabinet she bought for £120 from the antiques fair.

'Miss Southon is still unsure about what exactly it is.'

Is it an apothecary cabinet? I don't think it is.

It's the 19th century apothecary's or medicine cabinet.

Straight in here at £60. Away now at 60. 70. 80.

90. 100. At £100 and away now.

-Selling away at 100...

-BANGS GAVEL

'The hammer goes down at £100, meaning, after auction fees,

'Catherine swallows a £41.66 loss.

'The auction hasn't gone well so far for Catherine, but she's hoping that the rural setting

'might help her chances with her next lot -

'the knocker.'

There are some beautiful houses around here.

-Let's hope someone needs a knocker.

-It could ring somebody's bell.

The cast iron door knocker, a nice one. Straight in at £20.

-Oh, 20 in.

-A bit more.

-20. Five. 30. Five. 40.

-Come on cos I'm not in profit now.

-Last chance. Fair warning.

I'm selling away at 40, at 40...

BANGS GAVEL

'Ouch! It's another loss...

'..further knocking Catherine's dreams of victory.'

-I'm quite pleased cos my two biggies are out the way.

-Yes.

It's good to get the biggies out the way, isn't it?

'Yes, it is. Now it's Mark's turn to worry,

'as his cardinal painting goes under the hammer.

'A very concerned Mark paid £128.21 at the Belgian market

'and is praying for divine inspiration.'

Why did I buy this painting?

-Oh, Mark, I'm trying to be nice about it.

-Try harder.

-I'm straight in here at £70.

-Oh, 70.

-Good luck.

-80. 90. 100. 110. 120.

-There you go!

130. 140. 150. 160, new bidder.

At £160. It's Ken's bid at £160...

-You jammy...

-A bit more!

-"A bit more!"

-Bit more.

"A bit more!"

-# Hallelujah! #

-'Hallelujah indeed!

'Mark's prayers are sort of answered but he still has to make do

'with a small loss of 67p.

'Mark's two gold items are up next.

'He picked up the cigar case and piercer for £125 each

'when they failed to sell at the auction house in Essex.

'Will they now sell at this auction and will they make a profit?

'The cigar case is first up.'

This is the Asprey black simulated crocodile skin cigar case...

-The cigar case.

-They have split them for some reason.

-I'd put them in as one lot.

-Start me at £100 and away. 100.

50 to start it. £50 and away now.

-Oh, no!

-No bids at £50.

30 to start it. 30 bid on the internet.

-Five. At £35 now. 40. Five. At 45.

-It's going up.

-This is terrible.

50. At £50 on the internet. At 50. 60 in the room.

Are you all sure? If not, it goes and sells at £60.

Fair warning. Selling away at 60...

'It seems like Mark's dreams of winning might be going up in smoke

'when the case sells for £60

'and he loses a catastrophic...

'He's hoping the cigar piercer will do better.'

£50 and away for this one here? 30 to start it?

-Come on! It's got to be worth it.

-I can't look!

At £30 I have. Take a fiver where? £35 on the internet. At 35. 40.

-£40 I have. 45.

-That's terribly cheap.

-That's cheap.

At £45 I have now. 50. Paul's bid at £50 I have now.

Fair warning.

-Selling and away at 50...

-BANGS GAVEL

'What a mighty blow! The piercer loses even more.

'Mark is left licking his wounds, having lost a devastating...'

I'll survive!

Ooh! Darling!

'All Mark's hopes are pinned on his last item,

'the Edwardian simulated tortoiseshell paperclip

'which cost him £30 at the antiques fair.'

Straight in here at £25.

-25.

-Come on.

-30. Five.

40. Five. £45. My bid at 45...

-Oh, come on!

-Any internet interest?

-On the internet, 60 there...

-What did I say? 60?

-You did. You were right, Catherine.

-Selling and away at 60...

Absolutely lovely.

'Hurrah! After costs, Mark makes a profit of...'

Clawed back a little bit!

'Catherine's hoping to do the same with her final piece.

'Can the silver police whistle she paid £90 for

'sound her very first profit at the auction?'

30 bid, thank you. At 30. £30 I have now. 30. Five. 40. Five.

50. 60. £60 I have now.

-I need more than that. 70.

-70.

The room is out. It's an internet bid. It's going to be sold.

Away... 80. New bidder. Fresh blood at 80. 90.

-£90 I have. Still on the net, £90.

-That's what I paid!

'The whistle goes for the same amount Catherine bought it for,

'meaning that, after costs, she makes a loss of...

'With that, the Showdown auction is done.

'Our duelling dealers each started with £1,000 of their own money...

'But the only thing that matters now is who has made the most profit?

'All the money will go to our dealers' chosen charities.

'Let's find out who is today's Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is champion.'

-# Showdown! #

-Show time, darling!

-How are you feeling?

-All right, yeah...

-Well, no.

-It's been tricky. Come on, it's been tricky.

-You must have had one or two good sales!

-Yes, I did.

The monocular, that was very good. The others were mediocre.

What about you?

The walking stick. And the sundial really shone on me, I can tell you!

-I don't think you're worried about big profits, Catherine.

-I'm not.

-I'm not hoping for much.

-Ready?

-One, two...three!

GASPS

CATHERINE LAUGHS

'Catherine pips Mark at the post, but there's more.

'Over the week, our experts have been building up their profit pots.

'It's time to find out who's won overall.'

You ready? One, two, three...

-Oh, we're so close, Catherine!

-Oooh!

-It's always the best ones that win.

-Oh!

Fluke!

'It's been a fiercely fought war, but Catherine comes out on top.

'Both she and Mark have made fantastic profits.

'All that money will be going to their chosen charities.'

I'm delighted to be able to give over £700 to my chosen charity,

the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society.

I'm sure they'll put that money to very good use.

I'm absolutely thrilled to have made just under £800 for the charity Brainwave.

This is a charity that works with children with disabilities

and helps them to reach their maximum potential.

'What a week it's been!

'Mark and Catherine have both put their money where their mouths are

'and proved that they're more than capable of generating profits from collectables

'when their own money is on the line.'

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]