Christina Trevanion and Philip Serrell - 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.

'One pair of duelling dealers face a different daily challenge...'

I'm a cheeky chancer!

'..putting their reputations on the line

'and giving you top tips and savvy secrets

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

-Let's go and spend some money!

-Get in there!

'Brace yourselves. We're about to witness a whopping battle

'between two colossal experts,

'as they face the ultimate antiques test -

'the Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Showdown!

'Our eminent experts will bolster their buying skills

'with incredible attention to detail

'before engaging their extensive experience to sell their purchases for premium profit!

'Coming up, Phil's pin-point plan comes tumbling down...'

You should have a wealth warning. What to do with those I do not know.

'..Christina shows it's possible to ask for too much...'

Can you wrap each one individually for me, please?

'..and she finds a major flaw with one of Phil's antiques.'

-This is signed 1986.

-Yeah, late quality.

-That's younger than me!

'The public has been queuing to get front-row seats for this epic encounter.

'Hold tight, everyone.

'It's time to put your money where your mouth is.'

'The Showdown puts two of the best bargain buccaneers in the business

'head-to-head as they duck and dive to pack a profit punch.

'But with only one possible winner,

'this is also the decisive battle of the sexes.

'First up, for the ladies, it's...

'..a classy and captivating bird, but don't be deceived.

'Her talons are razor sharp and she always collars her prey.

'For the gents, it's...

'..Behind those glasses there's an unsettling glint of viciousness in those wily eyes.

'This will be their toughest challenge yet

'across four major antiques events.

'Only one will triumph, so buckle up.

'Philip Serrell and Christina Trevanion, it's time to put your money where your mouth is.'

-This is it, isn't it?

-Yeah. Big Showdown.

-What have we got to do?

-Let's have a look.

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

-They'll need to be! LAUGHING:

-They will.

"You must each buy two items

"at every one of your regular Put Your Money challenges."

-And we've got £1,000 to spend.

-That's good, isn't it? Right.

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

-Four. OK.

"The rest will be sold at auction in Dorset,

-"in direct competition with your opponent."

-Oooh!

-"The winner is the person who makes the most profit."

-Sounds good.

-We need a bit of luck here!

-We do.

-Come on.

'Both our dazzling dealers are using their own money

'and all the profit goes to their chosen charities.

'They'll be racing around their usual hunting grounds -

'an auction,

'a car boot sale,

'an antiques fair

'and a foreign antiques market.

'It's going to be a terrific tussle,

'but who will end up with the biggest profit?

'Both our aces are auctioneers,

'so should be in comfortable territory for...

'They're at the Moore, Allen & Innocent saleroom near Cirencester,

'where they must each find their first Showdown items.

'They have plenty to choose from.

'More than 600 lots are going under the hammer.

'The viewing starts and almost immediately Christina is smitten.'

I fell in love with this Arts & Crafts chair.

It's absolutely beautiful. You can almost see how it's been made.

Typical Arts & Crafts. Great curves all along the back.

Unfortunately, someone hasn't loved it quite as much.

It's had an attack of the mice.

Beautiful chair and, surprisingly,

it's actually really rather comfy.

I might have found my bidding spot from here!

'Best not get too comfy, until you've bought it.

'And a bit of a bonus, it comes with another Arts & Crafts chair.

'Phil, meanwhile, has spotted something he thinks will sell well.'

There are things that are flavour of the month and this is one of them.

This is an oil painting on board by a lady called Cora Harrington.

You've got these typical Irish cottages.

This is an Irish subject.

It's probably Donegal,

somewhere on the west coast of Ireland, early 20th century.

This is estimated at £100 to £150.

I think I might give top side of £150 for that,

cos I just happen to like it.

'Both have their eyes on the prize.

'It's Phil's oil painting that goes under the gavel first.'

I'm starting here at £55 on the book. 60. Five.

70. Five. 80. Five.

90. I'm out. All done? And selling now at 90...

'And Phil snaps up the landscape for less than its estimate.

'The auction fees add on a bit...

'..He's in the swing of it and waves his paddle again!'

All sure at 130...?

'It's a double strike, as he buys a circa 1900 satinwood table

'with gilded floral decoration for...'

If that isn't cheap for a table that would grace anyone's front room,

well...

I'm really pleased with that.

'As always, you look elated, Foxy(!)

'He's got his two purchases sorted, so the pressure's on Christina.

'But she's not fazed. The late 19th-century Arts & Crafts chairs,

'with an estimate of £80 to £100, soon go under the hammer.'

At £80 I'm bid here. At £80 for it. Five if you like now.

At £80. I'm selling, make no mistake. At 85. 90.

Five. 100. 110, and the book's out at 110.

At 110. 120 now? At £110, right in front of me...

'The Magpie is flying high, as she lands the chairs for...'

Absolutely chuffed to bits. I think that's a bargain.

'And she follows that up

'by bidding on a 20th-century Arts & Crafts oak bookcase

'with a guide price of £40 to £60.'

At £65. Are you all sure at 65...?

'Christina makes it a one-two by buying the bookcase for...'

I love pieces of furniture that are functional as well as quite pretty.

This is perfect. We've got a nice book slide, or book rest, on top.

And a nice little reading table that comes out.

You can sit and read your book. Very Liberty's style.

I am pleased as punch with that.

'Our tough competitors have traded heavy punches,

'but who will reap the most reward?

'Each warrior started the Showdown with £1,000 in their war chest.

'Courageous Christina Trevanion has spent...

'..Fearless Phil Serrell has splashed a bit more cash...

'..The bell's gone for Round 2.

'Our daredevil duo are at a sale in Battersea in south London.

'The sun is shining and the crowd is thronging

'as they get ready to fight it out.

'Christina is straight in there.'

Look at those! I love them!

-How much are the marbles?

-You want the entire lot?

-It depends how much they are.

-A fiver for the whole lid.

A fiver for a whole lid. Will you take a couple of quid?

-Four.

-Go on. You've got to get rid of them.

-Four.

Three! Go on!

-3.50.

-All right, then. £3.50. It's a deal. I like those.

-Have you got a bag?

-No! How am I going to get them home?

Can you wrap each one individually for me, please?

'Individually wrapped? Have you lost your marbles?

'If you have, no need to worry. There's plenty more on offer.'

-We've got some more, if you want them.

-Marbles?

-Yeah.

-Where?

-Do you know what? I'll tell you what we'll do.

-Are you serious?

-RATTLING

-Oh, my God! Keep the change.

-I'll have those.

-You want the whole box?

-Yeah! That'd be brilliant.

-Thank you very much! Oh, my God!

-STALL HOLDERS LAUGH

I need serious muscles for those!

£5. A whole box of marbles. Just got to find a marble collector.

'Well, good luck, Christina.

'Across the market, Phil buys both his items in one deal -

'a fountain pen and a French vase for a total of £50.'

You're an angel.

'Phew! Light work, Mr Fox.'

I'm really, really pleased.

I bought these two bits as a bulk-buy for my Showdown.

This is a French 1980s art glass vase.

It's signed just here, look.

1986.

I think that's a really cool thing. Needs a bit of a clean-up.

And this Parker Duofold 1940s pen.

It's got a nine-carat gold nib. You can melt the nib if you need to!

£25 each. £50 the two.

I hope I'm on a winner. I've got big hopes for this.

I'm going to put this into auction.

I think.

'No room for indecision, Phil, as the Magpie, true to her nature,

'spots some silver lids glinting on a pair of 1960s glass bottles.'

-How much are those?

-I'm asking 45.

-Because they are silver hallmarked tops.

-Right.

-Do you think they're storage jars?

-No. They're too nice for that.

They could be on a man's, not dressing table, whatever men have.

Yeah. I quite like those.

-I think they're lovely.

-You want 45?

I'd take 40 but I can't do any less.

-£40. £20 a bottle?

-Mm.

I think that's a fair price.

-We'll shake at 40 on it.

-Thank you very much.

'She's done it. The sparks are really flying.

'As they reach the midway point of our bargain bust-up,

'let's see where they stand.

'From her starting purse of £1,000,

'Christina Trevanion has trod carefully...

'..Phil has forked out a little bit more...

'..The antiques fair!

'Our dealers are about to be unleashed in the freezing winds

'of Malvern's flea and antiques market.

'It's Phil's own stomping ground, so will he have an advantage?

'Under ominous skies, there's a veritable cornucopia

'of collectables for our ruthless rivals to rummage through.

'Fantastic Mr Fox gets tooled-up for the fight straight away.

'He buys a 19th-century truncheon for £60.'

It's a little different to the norm.

Normal truncheons are, strangely enough, truncheon shaped.

This, with its lantern head, it has just got a bit of a different look.

'Phil sticks with weaponry,

'as he batters his way to his second potential purchase -

'four leather ammunition bags.'

-You reckon these are First World War...

-That's what I...

You put a Bren gun magazine in there. Do you know? I like these.

The thing is, they are completely and utterly useless, aren't they?

-How much for the lot?

-110 for the four.

-What about 100 quid cash, here and now?

-Yeah. Go on.

What am I going to do with these?

-I'm sure you'll find a use for them.

-You should have a wealth warning.

-What I'm going to do with those, I do not know.

-They're so different.

I have to pay you £100. What have I bought these for?

'He doesn't seem sure, but could the cases give Phil the ammunition he needs to vanquish his enemy?

'Not to be outdone, the Magpie is in glittery heaven,

'as she snaps up an 18th-century

'imitation diamond shoe buckle for £30.'

Thank you very much.

I'm really pleased with this buckle. I have taken a gamble.

This replaced stone will put people off.

But it's lovely. It's George III, 1790, 1800,

with this beautiful paste set surround.

Each of the stones has been especially cut to fit in an oval.

And intricate work on the gold, on the interior there.

Sadly, there's only one. There would have been two originally.

I know a buckle collector

who'll, hopefully, give me a profit on that. Very pleased.

'All sounds good, but the real sparkler is her next purchase.

'More diamonds - this time, real ones on an Art Deco pendant.

'But she had to splash the cash to get it.'

Up until today, I hadn't spent much money on my Showdown pieces

at the auction and car boot sale.

Until I saw this little dazzler.

It was £1,000, which was way over budget.

I managed to knock him down to 700

and then 600 and then 575.

It's a beautiful, beautiful Art Deco

two-stone diamond pendant.

We've got this large diamond at the bottom, claw set,

suspended from a knife-edge bar, then a further collet set diamond.

All from an 18-carat white gold chain.

Absolutely beautiful. Very commercial.

I think it's absolutely gorgeous.

I'm sure I'll be able to sell it for a profit.

The only thing is, I don't particularly want to!

'Could the pendant be the jewel in Christina's victory crown?

'Our valiant warriors are done with Blighty.

'It's time to head abroad.

'Let's catch up with who has spent what.

'Well, it's all-change for Christina...

'..Phil has been much more cautious...

'..It's the last chance to stockpile their armouries,

'as they say "bonjour" to Paris

'and the 400 stall holders at the Porte de Vanves flea market.

'C'est magnifique! But all that matters to our traders is who will end the day triumphant?

'The Worcestershire warrior spots a Chinese vase.

'However, the Fox doesn't speak French.

'He won't let his lack of lingo get in the way of a good haggle.'

-How much?

-Deux cents.

200 euro?

-Can that be 100 euro?

-No. It is not possible.

-What is possible?

-Cent cinquante.

-Is that 150 euro?

-Yes, yes.

'Phil's gearing up for some serious sign language.'

120 euro. One...20 euro.

Merci, monsieur. Merci.

130 euros.

'Some fine fingerwork from the Fox.

'Converting that to sterling, the Chinese vase cost...

'..Phil's hoping the pottery is full of eastern promise!'

I really like this. It's a Chinese vase decorated with a celadin ground.

The stall holder said it's around 1900. I'm hoping he's right.

Sometimes, these black marks can indicate that they're later.

They reproduced some of these and they would have that mark.

But he says he got this from a house clearance.

I've no reason to disbelieve him. He was asking 200 euros.

I think it's too nice to convert into a dreaded Serrell lamp!

'That leaves him just one Showdown item to shop for.

'To avoid antiques annihilation,

'Christina must hit back boldly - and she does.'

-Rolling cigars to put them in a mould?

-Mm.

'She buys a piece of smoking ephemera for 35 euros...'

I'm now the proud owner of a cigar mould.

Probably a bizarre purchase, but there we go.

I quite like the fact that it's got its original labels.

It's pine, 1950s, so he tells me. 1960s.

We've got some German print on here.

And the nice labels. It's a bit of fun, isn't it? Smoking ephemera.

Yeah. Maybe one of my more wacky purchases.

'If it provides profit, it'll seem a sensible decision.

'Spurred on, the Magpie spots her next target - a pastel sketch.'

Do you know who the artist is? Oui. C'est Eugene Deshayes.

Do you know where it was painted?

-Barbizon.

-Barbizon, in France. OK.

-Would you take 130?

-Hundred...?

-Cent trente?

-OK.

Yeah? Excellent. Merci, monsieur.

'Christina's pretty as a picture, as she cuts a deal for...'

I'm very taken with this picture.

To me, it's very Impressionist.

The fact that it's pastel rather than a watercolour is quite unusual.

It's more like a hasty sketch and the light on it is beautiful.

I love the way that it's still got its label on the back.

Really lovely. Nice signature at the bottom.

Very pleased with that. Very, very pleased. Merci, monsieur.

'Christina's all bought-up, but Phil matches her blow for blow,

'as he serves up his final buy.'

It's a metal tray that's been painted to look like it's in the Chinoiserie style.

These originally were made out of papier-mache in the Regency period.

So they dated to about 1810, 1820.

This is probably 1910, 1920.

It's not going to be a tray when I've finished it - I hope.

Depending upon cost.

It's going to make a lovely little low table on some turned legs.

They want to be quite contemporary.

If I could buy some perspex rods to drop it on, that would be ideal.

I've either got to sell the idea to someone else,

or I've got to do it myself.

I paid 95 euros and, hopefully, there should be a profit in that.

'So, in the final move of this colossal clash, Phil spends...

'..And that's it. Time is up.

'The epic expedition is over.

'Our heavyweight hagglers have dug deep at four giant events

'and pushed themselves to the limit of human endeavour.

'But has it all been worth it?

'Our bartering battlers started out with £1,000 of their own money.

'Christina's gone all-out and has spent almost everything she had...

'..Phil has been much more modest...

'..Outlay is one thing. Now it's all about selling and profit.

'With a temporary truce to the hostilities, our warriors agree to meet, but Phil is waiting.'

She'll be shopping. This is what blokes do, sit down and wait...

-Oi! I can hear you.

-Oh, sorry. How are you?

-Hello.

-Well, done isn't it, eh?

-Yeah. Showdown!

-Shutdown!

-LAUGHS

-Feels a bit that way.

-Have you had a good day?

-I've loved every single minute.

-Overall, what's your best Showdown bit?

-Ooh, goodness me!

I do love the diamond necklace.

-Worst bit?

-Possibly my cigar mould.

I haven't got a clue what it is! How about you?

I really love my leather Bren gun cartridge cases.

-We'd better get home.

-We've got the journey to think about it.

-Come on.

'Our brazen beauties beat their way back to Britain

'to beaver away at finding new homes for all their prized purchases.

'Because this is the ultimate thrill-seeking antiques challenge,

'our hardened hagglers must choose which four items

'they enter into the very special Showdown auction.

'In the Magpie's nest in rural Shropshire,

'Christina has it all figured out - almost.'

There are things that I'm sure are going to go to auction.

We're going to send the chairs.

Love this chair. It was "buy one get one free".

To complement that, I'm going to put the Arts & Crafts bookcase in.

The marbles, they are such a diverse age range.

They've got to make more than a fiver. I'll let the market dictate.

Slightly undecided whether to put the cigar mould

or my pastel sketch which I bought in Paris into the auction.

We'll see what happens.

'She must also find buyers for the 1960s glass bottles,

'the Art Deco diamond pendant and the 18th-century buckle.

'At the Fox's den in Worcestershire, Phil is all of a lather.'

This is what it boils down to!

I'm going to sell my satinwood table privately.

I think I've got a buyer for that type of furniture.

The Chinese market's quite volatile. Very good things make very good money.

I think that's an average 1900 vase.

It should do OK,

but it's better to sell it privately.

As for the rest of it, it's an open book for me.

The tray, I might speak with a friend who's got a base for that.

One of us is going to have a better thing at the end of the day.

The painting, Irish market, Cora Harrington, hot at the moment.

Which leaves us with one thing - or rather four things.

Win or lose? Who knows?

'Phil must also decide about the 1940s fountain pen,

'the 19th-century police truncheon

'and the 1980s French glass vase.

'Our gold diggers gather their contact books and grab their phones,

'because there's no time to waste finding buyers.

'Until they've shaken on it and the money's changed hands, no deal is truly sealed.

'It's our golden girl who strikes first.

'Christina races to Shrewsbury, to meet Derek, who works in the same auction house as her.

'She knows he's an avid collector of antique shoe buckles.

'The one she bought cost £30.'

What is it about buckles that attracts you?

They're just wonderful, aren't they? They're in different materials.

We've got brass, steel, silver.

-And gold.

-Ooh, nice!

As they went through the 18th century,

the buckles gradually got larger.

So we finish up with this sort of size.

-And then this.

-That's huge!

They were considered a necessity,

-rather than a luxury.

-They didn't have shoe laces.

-This was the only way of keeping your shoes on.

-Yeah.

-That one looks very similar to this one!

-Ah!

I bought it because I knew you had an interest in buckles.

-I'd be interested to know what you think.

-Right.

Well, it's about 1780.

It's got, probably, gold. Yeah. Very nice.

-There's one been replaced there.

-Yeah.

-Which detracts from the price.

-It's a shame, isn't it?

-Mmm.

I was really hoping to get in the region of, maybe, £60 for it.

I'm thinking more...£40.

-What about 50? Cos it's very lovely.

-It is.

-Look how sparkly it is!

-I know.

-And it's gold.

I know.

-Yes.

-Really?

-Yes.

-Thank you very much. That's fantastic.

-£50. It's a deal. A deal. Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

'First item sold. The buckle fastens a profit of £20.

'Phil is not far behind.

'There was never any doubt about selling the Chinese vase privately.

'He's brought it to Upton-upon-Severn to see buyer Lee, who owns an antiques shop.

'The vase cost just over £111.'

Do you want to have a quick inspect before you go any further?

Yeah. It's a nice big fellow.

I would think it's, what? 1900? 1910? Something like that?

Yeah. It's hard to tell with these vases.

Obviously, the same methods are still used, but it's got a bit of age.

I'd like to try and get as close to £200 as I can for it.

-Hm.

-I think it's worth that.

The market is not as strong for this, decoratively, as it once was.

Subsequently, the prices are slightly affected.

-About £100?

-Noo. No, no, no.

-Try again, sir.

-I think...

120. That would be my best shot, and it'd be a gamble, from my part.

180.

No. I think we're worlds apart.

My best shot, and it is my best shot, is 150.

-I'm not going to say no.

-You're a gentleman. Thank you.

'Lee didn't make it easy, but our wily Fox survived

'and stalked off with a profit of...

'..Phil goes off to line up more buyers and Christina, still in Shrewsbury, is at a jeweller's.

'She's hoping to find a buyer for her Art Deco diamond pendant,

'which cost over half her total budget - £575.

'So, this is the big one. Will Nigel like it? Deep breath, Christina.'

-It's very sparkly. Let's have a look.

-Really beautiful.

Nice old cut on the bottom. Another one on the top there.

I think that's probably a platinum bar with a claw setting

and a rub over set on the top.

-Somebody's probably put a new chain on it.

-What do you think of the diamonds? What's your thoughts?

Nice colour. A few inclusions in the stones.

-You mean little black speckles that form?

-Yeah.

Natural little bits of carbon - diamonds are formed from carbon -

are left in the stone and that affects the price.

-That's how we grade them.

-Absolutely.

I was hoping somewhere in the region of the £1,000 mark.

Mm. Yeah. Little bit top-heavy. A little bit top-heavy.

I think about £800, possibly.

-Could you bump it up slightly?

-A little bit more.

£850? Do you think?

Can we strike a deal on that?

That sounds like a deal. I'd be happy with that. Yeah. 850.

I'm happy with that. Brilliant.

'The diamonds dazzle and Christina sparkles a whacking profit of...

'Has our marvellous Magpie taken all the glory in one fell swoop?

'Not if Phil has anything to do with it. He's bought a base from a furniture restorer

'for his tray with the Chinese style decoration,

'which he thinks will improve the item.'

That's fantastic. There's my £80, £85 tray.

There is my £40 butler's tray base.

But put the two together and you've now got

a really good serviceable, useful table and I'm really pleased.

'But is the base worth the extra investment?

'Foxy takes his newly created table to an antiques centre in Chipping Norton to meet Carol.'

-The tray!

-Ah!

I felt so proud of myself.

You saw this at the saleroom in less salubrious surroundings.

-That's right.

-I thought it was a nice tray.

-It's trying to be Regency, but it isn't.

-No.

It's trying to be 1800, 1820 and I think it's probably...

-70 or 80 years later than that.

-You're probably right with the age.

But...not sure about this stand. It doesn't go with it, does it?

It does now. It didn't then.

-Right.

-Get a nice country house colour.

-One of those greens or greys they use.

-Ah. Yes.

-Yeah.

-And paint it, and then put this on there.

Yes. It is useful, I'll grant you that.

Yes, OK. I'm interested - but at a price.

I'd like to get a tickle over £200, if I could, for it.

Oooh! I'd like to pay nearer 150 for it.

-I'll split it down the middle. £175. LAUGHING:

-170.

I've got to get a bit more than that.

I'll tell you what. £172.50, how's that?

-Shall we forget the 50? 172.

-You're an angel. Thank you.

'The table creation stands Phil a decent profit of...

'..His leather magazine cases from World War I do him proud as well.

'He sells them for £150 to a farmer near Tewkesbury

'who loves his country pursuits, and pops in a profit of £50.

'Christina decides not to send her pastel sketch to auction

'when she finds a private buyer -

'the owner of an antiques shop in Shrewsbury. He pays £142.50...'

-Perfect.

-We'll do the deal. Lovely.

'..and she draws a profit of...

'She goes all-out for her fourth item,

'the £40 glass bottles with silver lids that date from 1968.

'She travels to the swanky Burlington Arcade

'in London's Mayfair to meet silver dealer Daniel.

'And he solves the puzzle of their origin.'

They would have been for communion wine for a travelling priest.

The long thread!

You'd get really frustrated if that was on your dressing table.

-You would do.

-I would like to get...

-Yeah.

-..£100 for them.

I was thinking £30, £35 a bottle.

-OK. So that's 70.

-That's 70. How about 80? Split the difference.

That's a fair price for them. £80, I'm very happy with that.

-Christina, that's fantastic.

-Thank you.

'Well worth the journey. Christina doubles her money.

'Christina heads back to Shropshire with four items sold.

'She's in the lead and can only wait for the Showdown auction.

'All that remains for Phil is his satinwood table.

'He has a plan involving a trip to Herefordshire.'

At £150-odd, this was my most expensive buy for the Showdown.

I really believe in it. You've got to if you want to make a profit.

'Phil paid over £153 for the table.

'He's meeting Nick, a furniture dealer based just outside Bromyard.'

I just think this is a really good thing.

It's satinwood. Probably dates to 1900?

There or thereabouts.

It's got a lovely little French label on the back, or on the bottom.

-Oh, yeah.

-That's probably a Parisian retailer rather than a maker.

-Yeah.

Imagine if this had got a London retailer,

-it would make it a good table, wouldn't it?

-It's lovely quality.

I would like to get as close to 250 quid as I can.

I'd be happier nearer the two.

If you can give me £230 and that's the finish of it, I'll be happy.

-Go on, then.

-You're a gentleman. Thank you very much.

'The table polishes off the private sales and provides a profit of...

'..Is it enough to catch up with the Magpie?

'Both our sparring Spartans have sold four items privately.

'Christina "the Magpie" Trevanion's diamond pendant

'has put her in sterling position...

'..That puts her miles ahead of Phil "the Fox" Serrell...

'..And that is where our hardened heroes hang up their haggling hats.

'This is the point where they lose all control.

'It's time for the supreme sell-off, the Showdown auction,

'at the Charterhouse saleroom in Sherbourne in Dorset.

'Our pair of awesome auctioneers are anxious.'

-How are you?

-You look very well. Are you OK?

-Lovely day in Dorset.

How could you fail to be nervous on a day like today!

What's your big worry?

Oh, gosh! My chairs, I think.

My chairs, my cigar mould, my marbles...

I'm only worried about the four bits I put in!

'To add to the tension, there are no reserve prices on our experts' lots.

'Before it all kicks off, Phil and Christina check out their items.'

I've been chatting to the auctioneer about my chairs.

Yesterday, someone sat on this one and nearly went through the seat.

I'm not feeling overly confident.

Irish art at the moment really is collectable.

If it gets picked up by the internet it could make £200 to £400.

If it doesn't, that's another story.

I loved this when I bought it and I still love it today.

It's useful. It would fit into a modern home. What can go wrong?

This was £25 and I think it's a funky modern object.

It's 1980s.

Not the retro vintage market, but I think that's a cool thing.

Phil paid £25 for this, which I don't think was a bad buy.

It's not a rare example of a Parker Duofold,

but there is an active pen collectors' market.

It's a little bit scuffed and worn, but it was a good buy.

Christina paid £30 for this cigar mould and I'm not sure I would have.

I'm not sure I can pass comment on Phil's truncheon.

Sadly, the colours have gone.

You can't distinguish which force it's from.

It's still a collector's item, isn't it?

One of the ways I think I can beat Christina

is by reducing her lot.

If I just keep...

taking these out of here... I'm going to be here some time!

'Rest assured, he put them all back and just in time.

'The marble collection is the first lot to go under the hammer.'

-I think they'll do well.

-They might be the only thing I make a profit on!

They're just really good fun things. What are you ever going to do with a box of marbles?

'Christina paid £5 for the marbles at the car boot.'

Straight in here at £25.

30. Five. At £35 and away now.

At 35. At £35 now.

Done, going, are you all sure? Selling away at 35...

-That's really good.

-It's not too bad.

-Well done, you.

-I've got commission to come off that.

-INSINCERELY: I'm pleased for you. LAUGHING:

-Thanks.

'Our Magpie is already flying high.

'After auction costs, the marbles make a profit of...'

We've got your art glass vase.

I always think it's good if you can try and buy a bit of quality...

-Phil, this is signed, 1986.

-Yeah. Late quality, vintage...

That's younger than me. Vintage?

-Would you say I was vintage?

-You're retro.

-Probably right.

-Straight in at £10...

-Ouch.

-No.

..30. £30 and away now. Last chance against the internet at £30. 30...

'That's not enough. Once fees are deducted, the French vase goes into the red.

'It's catching. Christina's cigar moulds also make a loss.'

Selling away at 20...

'And leave her £20.77 out of pocket,

'wiping out the money she made on the marbles.

'Next, it's Phil's Irish landscape by Cora Harrington.

'It cost him over £106. His nerves are starting to show.'

-How many picture dealers are in this room?

-But it's internet bidding.

-Internet bidding.

-What happens if there's a power cut in Ireland?

-Have confidence, Phil.

-I'm straight in here at £60.

60. 70. 80. 90. 100. At £100 I have and away now.

-At £100...

-Come on!

Selling. Going away at £100...

That's another little loss! BOTH LAUGH

'Phil's second of the day.

'Will the auction destroy our antiques ace?

'It's really not going well.'

MUSIC: "Holding Out For A Hero" by Bonnie Tyler.

'Redemption isn't anywhere in sight.

'Phil's 19th-century truncheon is another miss.

'It makes £50 and batters the Fox with his third loss...

'..He has just one chance left and he's really feeling the heat.'

I'm getting really anxious because my pen is coming up.

I won't let you be gloomy.

I've had three out of three...

-And I just...

-You paid 25 quid for it.

-£25.

-It's got that magic name. Parker, Duofold, it's got gold!

-The Duofold fountain pen.

-Oh, look at this.

Straight in at £15. 20. Five. I have £25. At £25.

Someone come in to fill it up. If not, it sells away at £25.

Fair warning at 25...

-LAUGHING:

-Again, your valuation was perfect!

'So, that's a clean sweep of losses.

'The 1940s fountain pen writes off Phil's auction...'

You're not very nice sometimes.

I'm here to support you, Phil.

If you can support me without laughing I'd find it a whole load more supportive.

'Our laughing lass now has the chance to capitalise on Phil's fall from grace.

'She's got two items left to maximise her profit,

'but her next lot is the mouse-eaten late 19th-century chairs.

'She spent the best part of £130 on them and can't bear to look.'

£100 and away, the two chairs? 100? 50, then, to start them?

50 bid, thank you. At 50. £50 and away now. £50 I have now.

50. 60. 70. 80 on the internet. At 80.

Last chance. Fair warning. Last chance at 80...

Crunch.

'This is one of the worst days in Put Your Money history.

'Not only is that another loss, but it's the biggest of the day...'

-Shall I go and start the car?

-Say consoling things, please.

I'll tell you one thing. You've no idea...

how relieved I am that they only made that!

'But it's not over yet. It all comes down to one last lot.

'It has a book trough,

'a sliding reading stand

'and a cupboard below.

'It's early 20th-century oak. It cost almost £77.

'It IS Christina's bookcase!'

Basically, it all comes down to this bookcase.

Straight in here at £50 I have. 50.

-60. 70.

-Bid, bid, bid.

£70 and away. Try another ten. If not, it goes and sells.

Going away at 70...

That's a bit of a disappointment, isn't it?

-Cos I was hoping...

-It's no surprise.

It's a big disappointment. I was hoping it'd make 15 quid.

Rats!

'Christina ends the day on a low.

'It's her third loss.'

-So we put eight lots in.

-Yes.

-And £5 of marbles have shown a profit.

-That's it. Yup.

Time to go. It's been lovely. Thank you so much.

'That's the Showdown done and dusted.

'They've given it their all,

'but after that disastrous auction, did either of them come up trumps?

'Both our experts started with £1,000...

'All money that Christina and Phil made from our colossal contest will go to a charity of their choice.

'So, it's time to find out who is today's Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Showdown champion!'

-How are you?

-Yeah, good. This is the big one.

-How did you find the Showdown?

-I quite enjoyed it.

Apart from the auction which, the less said the better.

-But you bought a really good lot for this, didn't you?

-Well, Yeah.

My old adage, buy what you know.

That beautiful diamond pendant. I did quite well on that.

-How did you...?

-I just found it tough. I really found it tough.

-The satinwood table, I liked that. I thought it was cheap.

-Mm.

I thought I'd get 250, 300 for it.

I didn't quite do that, but it was OK.

-Are we going to have a look-see?

-OK. Good luck.

Count to three. One, two, three, bang!

-Ooh!

-Well, I sort of thought that.

CHRISTINA LAUGHS That is a complete whopping.

That's quite satisfying.

'It's a hard-fought victory for Christina,

'but our experts have been building up their profit stash over a week.

'Let's find out how much they've made in total.'

On the count of three. One, two, three!

-Look at that!

-Well done!

The thing is, there's two charities that have got over £2,000.

-That's the real winner.

-That's the main thing.

-I need a real stiff drink now.

-I need a rest.

-I suppose I'd better go and have a baby.

-Take it steady!

'It's an overall win for the wily Fox.

'So, where is the money going?'

My chosen charity is a Worcestershire based charity called PUPS.

It looks after unwanted and abandoned puppies.

I'm really hopeful that £1,200 is going to make a massive difference.

My chosen charity is Hope House Children's Hospice. It's great to be able to give them this money.

'It's been a week of no-holds barred combat.

'Our excellent experts have put their money where their mouths are

'and showed they can make convincing profits from buying and selling antiques

'when their own money is on the line.'

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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