VOICEOVER (VO): It's the nation's favorite antiques experts... Alright viewers?

VO: ..with £200 each, a classic car, and a goal to scour Britain for antiques.

I'm on fire!

Yes!

Sold!

Going, going, gone.

VO: The aim - to make the biggest profit at auction.

But it's no mean feat.

50p!

VO: There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

You've had it a while, haven't you?

VO: So, will it be the high road to glory, or the slow road to disaster?

Ooh!

Oh, no!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Yeah!

Today sees the start of a brand new road trip, and a battle of the sexes with some familiar faces.

# I'm such a bad, bad girl # Who's a bad girl now?

# VO: Glaswegian Anita Manning was one of the first female auctioneers in the country, and her auction house is the largest non-specialist seller of paintings in Great Britain.

She is well known for her good taste in art, but how about in men?

He's lovely.

He reminds me of one of my old boyfriends.

VO: (LAUGHS) That dashing road trip veteran, Lewis - James Lewis, started collecting antiques as a child of just five.

He specializes in wooden objects and tribal art, and can often come up with another clever use for his purchases.

Do you know what this is?

(METAL SHEET WOWS) This is... (WOWS CONTINUE) ..a really rare Indian musical instrument.

VO: Both experts have £200 to spend as they journey in this beautiful 1969 Volkswagen Beetle.

James takes first turn in the driving seat, while Anita quizzes him on tactics for the trip.

Tell me all your secrets.

There aren't any.

I haven't got... Have you not got a secret from me?

There is no secrets from Anita.

Will you have a theme, James?

A theme?

No.

VO: Our experts will wind their way almost 800 miles from rural Oxfordshire, to London, across to the West Country and the South Coast, before returning to London again.

Wow!

On this first leg our team are starting out in Deddington, continuing through Oxfordshire, before crossing into Hertfordshire for their auction in St Albans.

VO: Deddington is a pretty village on the edge of the Cotswolds.

The market square was once home to the Pudding Pie Fair, when a plum pudding was especially baked, and pigs, sheep and horses were all on sale.

The first chance to buy in this battle of the sexes, and Anita has a warning for James.

We're going into the same shop.

Right?

And I don't want you following me about, copying me.

Really?

No following you?

And blagging my bargains.

Go on, I'm just following you!

Shall we just enjoy ourselves?

Why not?

I should be carrying you across the threshold, shouldn't I?

VO: Really, James?

Come here.

No!

You'll drop me on my head!

No, I won't.

Come on.

Come on.

VO: Oh, lordy!

Huh!

Hello, Brenda.

Hello, Anita.

I'm Anita.

Who's your boyfriend?!

This is my big pal, Jamesie.

Your big pal, brilliant.

Oh, it's a bit warm, doing that.

VO: With four floors of goodies, Deddington Antiques Centre is owner Brenda's treasure trove.

James is first off the buying blocks.

Do you see that little pin cushion?

OK.

Cheers.

Something's happened, hasn't it?

Fiddled about.

Oh, it's been... Yeah.

..had a bash.

VO: This George V pin cushion has a ticket price of £33.

What could that be?

This is somebody else's.

OK.

Erm...I will do... ..25.

I think it would make 20 to 25.

Right.

Erm...

I was gonna offer you a cheeky 15.

VO: Oh, cheeky indeed.

Erm...

I should've started at 10.

No.

I would've walked away.

I know!

I know you would!

I would've walked away.

I was just thinking that that's what I was gonna... Give me 20.

It's gonna go for more than 20.

It's hallmarked silver.

Give me 20 and I'll be happy.

Split the difference, you've got a deal.

What's the difference?

17.50.

That's ridiculous!

I know.

Yeah... VO: James has quite a competitor in Brenda here.

19.

Oh, that's even more ridiculous!

Well, you're being ridiculous, so I might as well be.

18?

£18.50.

Go on.

BRENDA: Well done.

JAMES: You've got a deal.

VO: Now can Anita battle Brenda as well as James has?

Brenda, could I see this green...

The big tray?

Oh, the tray?

Yeah, look at that.

BRENDA: Yeah.

That is so... ANITA: That's quite pretty.

Very pretty.

I like mermaids.

I think I've got a thing about mermaids.

I think they're gorgeous.

Well, they're supposed to be magical, aren't they?

Yeah.

I wonder if this would be magical for me.

BOTH: (LAUGH) What have we got on it?

You've got 55.

I tell you what I'd like to be paying for it, 22.

Would you?

Erm...

I'd like you to pay... 32.

32?

Could you let it go for 25?

Erm... 28.

28?

28?

It's a deal.

That's lovely.

Thank you so much.

VO: But Anita's not finished with Brenda yet.

Her sparkly stock is beckoning.

These orange art deco beads have a ticket price of £18.

These are kind of fun.

They're nice.

They're not amber, obviously.

No.

But they've got some age to them.

OK, and they're not too dear.

Can you give me a deal on that?

I can give you a deal.

Can you give me it for 10 quid?

Give you it for 10 quid.

Deal.

You are a star.

VO: Very nicely done, Anita.

Will these two art deco items of the necklace and tray garner high profits for her, do you think?

VO: James is playing catch up.

Has anything else taken his fancy?

Do you have anything Chinese?

It seems to be what's doing well at auction at the moment.

What about the brush pot?

Yeah, let's have a look at that.

Yeah?

I mean, it's, erm... Obviously this has been turned after, but it's an old brush pot.

Erm...

Wooden with mother-of-pearl.

It's got a few of the bits of mother-of-pearl, but somebody who wants a little restoration project, again, there's not much to do, but... A big split up there, but... BRENDA: Yeah, but that's... JAMES: It's on the back.

..all part of the charm of the item.

It is.

I'd put sort of 40 to 60 on that.

Would you really?

Yeah.

What could it be?

Yeah.

It's a fairly expensive piece, but for a restoration project, if you gave me a £50 note... OK.

I could live with that, only just, but I could live with it.

VO: James isn't sure and now he's spotted something else.

The other thing I saw earlier...

He's quite heavy.

I'm not sure whether he's a base metal.

Oh, yes he is, isn't he?

He's a base metal, isn't he?

He's a base metal.

VO: This 19th century bronzed desk figure of St Peter has a ticket price of £28.50.

What could he be?

He could be... Make me an offer.

I'd say about a tenner.

(BRENDA GROANS) What about if I do it for 20?

Mm.

I'd put 40 to 60 on the brush pot.

Mm.

If you have them both...

I'll do... £60 for them both.

I wanna try and make a profit.

Mm-hm.

If it made 40, I'd make a loss.

If it made 60, I'd make a small profit, but not much.

So if I gave you 40 for that, and a tenner for that - 50 the two, how about that?

Give me 55 and we've got a deal.

Oh..!

Fine, OK. See how we go.

You'll be alright.

You've got a religious one on your side.

VO: Hallelujah!

But will St Alban of the auction house look more kindly on James' mixed lot or Anita's deco buys?

You better track down the competition and head out on the road again, James.

VO: Leaving Deddington, our duo are heading north to Banbury.

VO: In the nursery rhyme, Banbury Cross was where one could spot a fine lady on a white horse.

This particular cross was erected in 1859, to commemorate the marriage of Queen Victoria's daughter, Victoria, don't you know?

Could Frogabilia be the shop where Anita will find rings for her fingers and bells for her toes?

Hello, I'm Anita.

Hi, nice to meet you, welcome.

This is absolutely gorgeous, it's beautiful.

It's like an exotic tent.

VO: Nancy Mavroudi's shop is packed full of unusual items that might just take Anita ahead of James in the shopping stakes.

Lordy!

Nancy, is it alright to have a look at the brass planter behind there?

Of course, of course.

There you are.

OK. Nice arts and crafts piece.

Ah, right, that's lovely.

That's lovely.

Let's take it over to the counter.

OK.

I like arts and crafts.

I like this.

Erm...

It has a northern look about it, Nancy.

Mm.

We've got Chinese scrolls there.

This was a motif that was often used in the northern regions, where we have this...

It's almost like a... a Viking long ship.

VO: The ticket price on this solid brass jardiniere is £60.

Anita has spotted some objects that tribal art expert James might be interested in.

And you can see through the eyes.

That's right.

Does my bum look big in this?

VO: Now, I really wouldn't like to comment there, Anita!

Maybe leave the tribal art to James and back to what you know, eh?

This caught my eye.

It's a little oil.

Mm-hm.

And it was done in 1866 by a J Gordon, who apparently lived in Edinburgh.

Ah-ha.

Let's have a wee look at it out in the light, shall we?

VO: It's always a good idea to look at items in the best light available, especially if it's a painting like this, that could really do with a good clean.

It's...

It's quite well done.

The subject is sort of a charming, you know, with the house here and the little duck pond.

It has a little je ne sais quoi.

Right, I'm going to put that on the counter as well.

VO: This landscape by little known Scottish painter James Gordon has a ticket price of £20.

Has Anita found an undiscovered masterpiece here?

Maybe a bargain?

On the pot, what sort of price could you do for me on the pot, or can I make an offer on it?

Yes, let's see what your offer will be.

Yeah?

What I'd like to pay for it is probably in the region of £30.

Right.

In that region.

Can you come anywhere near that?

45?

45.

If you give me 45 for that, I will make you a very good deal for that.

OK, how much will you give me on that?

I'm going to give you this for £5.

That is a great deal.

OK.

I think you can't lose there.

ANITA: Thank you very much, yes.

NANCY: You can't lose.

VO: Well done, Anita.

I wonder if either of those will leave James' chances of victory scuttled.

Back in the beautiful blue Beetle, James is on his way to the home of Margaret and Peter Crumpton, who have a massive collection of Bodley ceramics.

Hello there.

VO: They've been collecting the items for almost a decade, after completing a book on their previous collection of toast racks.

They have filled every room in their home with an impressive array of over 700 pieces, which may well be the world's largest collection of this particular maker.

Bodley was a father and son team who operated three separate factories in the Potteries area of Stoke-on-Trent between 1862 and 1892.

James is a fan of fine porcelain, but doesn't know so much about Bodley, so Margaret mentions a name that surprises him.

Thomas Moorcroft designed a welcome home... Moorcroft?

What's Moorcroft got to do with it?

Thomas Moorcroft was the father of the very much more famous William.

He was the art director of... JAMES: Of Bodley?

MARGARET: ..of Bodley.

And I think he was what made Bodley famous, personally.

So, when was Thomas Moorcroft working at Bodley?

He was working for Hill Pottery... Yeah?

..before Bodley took over, so he was working straight the way through from 1870, or previously, 1860s, until he died in '85.

So you have one of the most famous ceramic factories in the world, one of the big names... PETER: Yes.

..designing for this factory?

That's right, and one of the registered designs is this swan handled cup.

Oh, now that, that pink.

That is so Minton, isn't it, that pink?

I think it's so Bodley.

So Bodley.

But look at that.

What an amazing design.

VO: Although they moved into fine porcelains, the company originally made earthenware and supplied 32 shipping lines with their tableware.

Oh, it's very different, isn't it?

This is probably for us the most important... Cunard Steam Ship.

So I mean, something like that...

I mean, OK, I know you guys are interested in it because of the factory, but it can't have been cheap to buy.

This is thought to be the very first ware that actually featured the Cunard lion, the Bodley.

Interesting.

Yes, fascinating.

This was the predecessor of the shipping, erm...

So what's that?

The British and North American Royal Mail Company.

Mm.

And in Boston harbor, where the Cunard ships docked, there is...

When they dredged it, they found the equivalent of something like 300 dinner services.

And something that I would say is typically Victorian is, is that.

Oh, isn't that just the most ingenious idea, to stop your moustache getting in your cup of tea?

I think...

It is a bit weird, drinking from one of these.

VO: Yeah, but they can be handy for those of us with a 'tache.

You just wouldn't, would you?

It's a typical Bodley pattern with the applied flowers.

Yeah, even James recognized that.

That is the one...

It's the one pattern I knew was Bodley!

It's just the most incredible collection.

I mean, look at these, I mean just look at this.

And I'm sorry, but you do not get better painting... ..on any porcelain than that.

Do you know, one of the first questions I was gonna ask you guys is... Bodley, what on earth would you wanna... Why on earth would you wanna collect Bodley?

I have to say, I take the question back.

I can see exactly why you'd want to collect Bodley.

I've learnt a lot, thank you very much.

MARGARET: Good.

JAMES: Thank you.

VO: A new convert to Bodley, James collects Anita and they head off for some shuteye before battle recommences.

VO: Night-night.

VO: It's the second day of their road trip round the Shires, and Anita is hoping to uncover how James is getting on.

So you've had one shop yesterday, that... Yeah.

..one that I was in with you... Yeah.

The one where you hogged her completely.

Did you buy, did you buy?

Well, only after you'd finished!

ANITA: (LAUGHS) James, all is fair in love and war and the Antiques Road Trip!

VO: Yesterday James spent £73.50 on a Japanese brush pot, a silver pin cushion and a small bronze effect figure of St Peter.

That leaves him £126.50 to spend today.

VO: Anita bought a molded deco glass tray, a set of beads, a pretty landscape in oils and a brass arts and crafts jardiniere.

She spent £88 in total, leaving her £112 to spend today.

VO: Later they'll head east to St Albans for the auction, but first stop of the day is Woodstock, where they'll swap driving seats before Anita heads off to Oxford.

We're going to drop you off at Woodstock.

Yeah.

Is that where they play the music, James?

I suppose you'd find Charlie Brown!

He was at Woodstock, wasn't he?

VO: The lovely Woodstock, in rural Oxfordshire, was established as a market town in the late 12th century.

Once famous for glove making, it now hosts visitors en route to Blenheim Palace.

Isn't this the loveliest little town?

This is gorgeous.

Have a lovely time.

You've got three antique shops here.

JAMES: I know.

ANITA: And loads of money?

Loads of money.

But hopefully not as much as I'll have by the time I've finished.

Bye bye.

JAMES: Look after yourself.

ANITA: Have a lovely time.

Oh!

VO: Oh, blimey!

Careful with the old girl.

Car, I mean.

James heads into Woodstock Antiques, hoping to unearth that winning item.

Hi, Michael, how are you?

Hello, James.

Good to see you.

Good to see you again.

Nice day.

Welcome to Woodstock.

Thank you very much.

I hope there's something there for you.

VO: James has already bought three good items.

Will he run true to form and buy quite a few more from Michael's cornucopia?

He's spotted a commemorative tin, bearing a portrait of the present Queen's grandmother, Queen Mary.

These tins were given to all of the troops in the First World War, and she sent this tin, which was wrapped up.

And inside the tin, as you open it, the first thing was a Christmas card.

Take the Christmas card out, and there were two packages.

VO: The tins contained a small block of chocolate, tobacco and a tiny pencil.

It's got a few bits of tarnish marks, but...

It's 100 years old... JAMES: Yeah.

MICHAEL: ..next year.

VO: Yeah, I think we'd all be a bit tarnished after 100 years, don't you?

VO: Oop!

Mind your head there, sir!

Now, what on earth is this doing here?

Indian cheroot advertising.

Mm.

I mean, 1950s, so yeah, in those days, I guess, you know, the dangers of smoking were not as, erm... ..known as they are today.

And of course you don't get big smoking adverts any more.

For obvious reasons, for the right reasons.

I've no idea what that's worth.

Absolutely no idea.

VO: We'll see if Michael does.

But first that brass tin.

How about a tenner for the brass tin?

Oh, yeah, that's alright.

JAMES: Is it?

MICHAEL: That's straight up.

Yeah?

Alright.

I got it for 50p, so that's fine.

Fif... That's no problem.

I was straight up, honestly.

JAMES: That's great.

MICHAEL: No problem at all.

JAMES: I'm happy with that.

MICHAEL: No problem.

VO: 50p!

I think maybe Michael should be an expert on road trip if he can make profits like that!

OK, I'll make you a second cheeky offer.

Oh, here we go!

Yeah.

Your sign that you said could be 30 quid...

I didn't say it could be 30, I said it could be 40.

Oh, did you?

OK. VO: Oh, cheeky!

How about 20 then?

30'll do it.

How about 25?

You're a good bloke, you're a good bloke.

Cheers.

Thank you.

That's alright.

OK. VO: A tin sign and a brass tin.

I think James should go and look for a scarecrow and a lion, don't you?

VO: Meanwhile Anita is "beetling" along to Oxford, at the wheel for the first time.

VO: The City Of Dreaming Spires, Oxford is home to 38 colleges.

Anita arrives in the very heart of Oxford, to meet Stephen Johnston at the stunning Museum of the History of Science.

Originally built in the 17th century to house the vast collection of Elias Ashmole, it was one of the first purpose-built museums in the world.

Containing over 20,000 objects it encompasses all branches of science from astronomy to chemistry and early photography.

Hello, I'm Anita.

Hello, Anita, I'm Stephen.

Stephen, it's very, very exciting to be here.

The exhibits, they are a feast for the eyes.

They look like pieces of sculpture.

Yeah, many of them are sculptural, because many of them come from a period when our conventional distinction between the arts and the sciences didn't exist.

So if someone commissioned an object for astronomy or anything else, and they expected not just functional and smart, it was beautiful.

VO: This conjunction of art and science is perfectly illustrated by the museum's fine collection of early plate and box cameras.

This is a genuine black box, and a box full of glass vessels and bottles which were all used for early photography.

All used by one person we now know of as Lewis Carroll.

Who wrote of course the wonderful adventures of Alice In Wonderland.

Absolutely, yes, and people often don't realize now that there was a real Alice.

She was a real person - Alice Liddell.

There was a family in Oxford.

He would use this set to do photography and he did photography with the Liddell family and Alice Liddell herself.

And he was so good at children's portrait photography, because when he told them a story, they were captured.

They were enraptured.

They would stay still during the long... STEPHEN: They wouldn't fidget.

ANITA: ..exposure.

Yeah, yeah.

VO: The museum also contains the world's largest collection of astrolabes.

These were instruments used for many purposes, including locating the positions of celestial objects, telling the time and even to write horoscopes.

This astrolabe was originally bought for Queen Elizabeth I, by a supposed suitor from the court, Robert Dudley, the future Earl Of Leicester.

This is the sky, and what it has on it...

It's all cut out, and when you look up at night, you see the stars moving.

STEPHEN: As I do that... ANITA: I see.

..that is the stars turning around us.

You can measure time by the stars.

You can measure time by the Sun, because the stars are in one place here, and as you turn that round, you see the track that the sun would make for that particular day.

VO: The museum also has objects that come right up to the 20th and 21st centuries, and this unprepossessing piece of slate has quite a tale.

Tell me about this.

A blackboard.

Why on earth would you keep a blackboard in a museum?

We've kept it because it's Albert Einstein's blackboard, the one he used in Oxford lecturing, so that's his writing up there.

Right.

And those are his equations?

Those are his equations, yes.

Now obviously I can explain that to you at great length, but maybe I'll leave that with you to interpret by yourself, and shall I come back and test you later?

I'll work it out, Stephen, don't worry.

Great, I'll leave that with you.

Now I know that E=mc2 but I don't get that one.

VO: I think we'll just say it's all relative and leave it at that, shall we, Anita?

VO: While Anita is left stumped, James has also arrived in scholarly Oxford for his final stop.

Will Norah Brook's sparkling shop be an education for this road trip stalwart?

Hello there.

Hello.

Hi, I'm James.

Nice to see you.

How do you do?

I'm Norah.

Hi, Norah.

What a shop.

Yeah.

It's a... Pandora's box.

Gosh, yes.

I've got to try and find something that's going to give me a chance of making a profit at auction.

Right... Erm...

So any...

If I have a browse around, but if there's anything you think "I've had it for ages", feel free just to point out... OK. ..and that will be great as well.

What about the wonderful college oar, do you think you might be able to, erm, make a big profit with that?

It's certainly not your sort of normal stock, is it?

It's not my normal stock.

How much could that be?

I could take £25 for it.

It is original, all of it's original.

Yes... That big chunk out the top.

I know, there is a chunk out of the top.

Oh, dear.

VO: An old oar with a chunk missing?

I don't know how well that would do in the boat race.

How about these?

Oh, well, they're wonderful, aren't they?

Silver gilt.

VO: These pretty grape scissors catch James' eye.

I suppose I could take 75 for those.

75?

They're a lovely weight aren't they?

Mm.

Quite late though.

I think they're '30s.

Yeah.

I think they're '30s.

Not too bad.

This cabinet looks interesting.

That cabinet has always got interesting things.

Ah.

That's a whole set of stuff.

It was all together in a box, all of those bits were together in one box, and the little velvet bag.

Funny thing that is.

17th century.

Yes, cloak.

Or cape... Yeah, they're interesting.

Yeah, they are.

Blimey.

See, that looks as though it might have gone on top of a pole.

That I think is the finial from a Chinese hat.

Ah, right, and so might that have been on the shoulder of a robe?

JAMES: Perhaps.

NORAH: Oh, right.

And how much are these?

I suppose I want £30 for them.

30 quid.

The lot.

Yeah.

And those are..?

Well, I thought 75.

75.

Mm-hm.

That's the thing of the best quality.

NORAH: Yes.

JAMES: Isn't it?

It's the finest.

Yeah.

Will you take 80 for the three lots?

How about 90?

I can't quite remember how much I've got.

VO: Oh, do keep track, James!

You've got £91.50.

Well, shall we say 85?

That's absolutely my very, very, very best.

I'm not going to...

It's very fair.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

VO: Well, James has done it again and bought quite a few items.

I do wonder how he'll put his five lots together though.

JAMES: Thank you.

NORAH: Thank you, good luck.

Bye bye.

VO: Now that Anita has escaped Einstein's head scratcher, maybe she'll come top of the class with her last shop of the trip, Antiques On High.

Hi, I'm Anita.

Oh, lovely to meet you.

I'm Caroline.

Welcome.

Ah, it's lovely to be here.

VO: I'm sure Anita can score high marks here, with Caroline Henney helping her through the 25 dealers' wares.

Caroline, there's interesting things in this cabinet and there's something that's caught my eye.

OK. And I wonder if I could have a look at those... ..chrome paws.

Oh... Ha-ha!

OK!

VO: These 19th century polished steel castors probably came off a table, and have a ticket price of £55.

Well, what have we got here?

We've got four bits of furniture.

Yes.

I think you need a settee!

I need a settee!

Do you have the settee to go with it?

Well, I don't think so, any more.

They're unusual.

They are.

They're unusual.

But I would like to buy them fairly cheaply.

Erm, I can have a word with the dealer.

What...

I can let you know where I am.

Where you think your... Oh, do I..?

Shall I sit down for this bit?

I think you'll need to lie down!

I would like to be paying in the region of about £10 for those.

Oh, gosh.

Erm, let me have a quick word and I'll see how the land lies for you.

OK. VO: Caroline has a chat with the camera shy dealer, but she's not sure Anita will like the news.

Anita, I think really the best we can do on them is 30.

I mean, that's under a tenner each.

That's right.

But I really want to get four feet ahead of James.

Ten's obviously too low.

It's much too low.

Ah-ha.

Do you think there would be the slightest possibility of, say, £20?

I tell you what, Anita, if you beat James, yeah, we'll do them for 20.

20's absolutely great.

OK. Four feet ahead.

I like that.

You'll "paws" for profit!

Oh, no!

I hope you win or you won't have a leg to stand on!

The jokes are terrible, aren't they?

I know!

VO: Just as well this isn't the Joke Road Trip!

Bye bye, then.

Bye bye.

Thank you.

VO: That's the shopping over.

It's time for our experts to find out what each other have bought.

Who will get the A grades and who'll be sent to detention?

Here we go.

VO: Mr Lewis first.

Here we go.

Oh!

An interesting wee lot, James.

Tell me about that.

That looks rather nice.

It's just basically a brush pot, a bamboo brush pot, but mother-of-pearl all over the place.

JAMES: But look.

ANITA: That's intriguing.

Tell me about it, James.

Chinese.

Turn-of-the-century, about 1880.

That little piece has got a collector's label on it, er, probably from the same period.

And you've got two Oriental items.

Yeah.

You're a clever boy.

I think that little lot there, out of everything that I've bought, I think that's the best lot.

Tell me how much you paid for that.

20 quid.

Oh, James!

Yeah.

VO: But James isn't finished!

Now, we're in Oxford...

Right.

JAMES: Boat race.

ANITA: Ah-ha.

Oh, I love these.

I love these.

And this is 1883?

Yeah.

How much did you pay for that?

A tenner.

Oh, no!

It was in a jeweler's shop, and she hated it.

But anyway, there we are.

It's, a... Oh, you've...you've bought a lot of stuff here, James.

VO: Indeed.

But what will he make of Anita's goodies?

Oh... Tell me about the picture.

The picture is...

It's rather a nice oil.

A lovely dealer, Nancy, had bought it at a boot sale for a pound.

I can just predict what you're going to say next.

What am I going to say next?

"And because she bought it from a car boot sale for a pound, "I so generously offered her two".

Ah, no, no.

Three?

Well, she didn't tell me she only paid a pound for it until after I'd bought it.

Oh, right, OK. What did that cost?

I paid £5 for that.

Oh, I wasn't far off was I?!

I tell you what it's got a wee bit of.

What?

Profit.

Ah, now that's what we're looking for.

Alright, what next?

This I like.

This is a piece that will appeal to Glasgow.

We've got our Viking ship there.

I paid £45 for it.

Oh, so that wasn't a gift then?

That wasn't gift.

But it was re...

But it's a reasonable buy, isn't it, at that?

Yeah.

And I liked it.

I think there is one lot for you that I think is going to do way better than all the others.

That's your profit, isn't it?

But there we go.

All down to the auction.

Yeah.

Do you think we deserve a wee cup of tea now?

I think so.

VO: Never mind a friendly cuppa, what did they really think?

James Lewis has bought hundreds of things.

He cannot help himself, and he spent all his money, because that's what he loves doing, but he's got all these items and he's grouped them together in quite a...well, not a very logical way.

He's so generous and he's so nice.

He said that he thought my things were lovely.

Whether I believe him or not is another thing.

By far Anita's best purchase and the best item is the oil painting.

I think that's really quite good.

You know, it's going to be touch and go.

I think I might have blown a few chances by buying too much.

But...we'll see.

VO: We will indeed.

VO: After starting out in Deddington, our intrepid duo have wound their way through Oxfordshire, crossing over into Hertfordshire for the auction in St Albans.

VO: Just 22 miles from London, St Albans is a stunning cathedral city.

The shrine of St Alban, the first Christian martyr in Britain, sits within the great cathedral and is a site for pilgrimage.

Anita and James are heading for Hertfordshire Auctions, to see who will get today's gold star.

How are you feeling?

James, I'm feeling wonderful.

I'm sure we're going to make lots and lots of profit.

(LAUGHS) Come on.

Well, one of us might.

BOTH: (LAUGH) VO: Auctioneer Chris Small got hooked on auctions when he was a young boy of 12, and has lots of fresh faces in the auction house, including his son.

But what does he think of the experts' items?

I think it's an interesting mix of items.

I like the painting.

I think that could make anything, absolutely anything.

I think the oar and the advertising sign, erm, we certainly wouldn't normally put two items like that together, but the oar, a lot more interesting.

Erm, so, yes, I like the oar.

VO: Anita Manning started today's leg with £200, and spent £108 on five lots.

VO: James Lewis also started with £200, and he has spent £193.50, also on five lots.

VO: This first auction of the road trip is also being held online, so might attract extra bidders.

But who will come top of the class in St Albans?

First up it's James' bizarre lot of that tin sign and the oar.

Will it leave him up the creek?

Start me at £20, who's in?

20 got, 20 I'm bid, and two on the net, 22.

25 and 30.

Do you want five?

35's in the room, and 40, and five, 45, and 50, and five.

JAMES: Oh, come on.

CHRIS: At 55 on those two items.

At £55 I've got.

Going to sell 'em.

£55 I'm bid.

Last chance, are you done with them?

VO: Not bad, James.

A small profit on that strange combination.

That's sort of alright for a daft lot.

VO: Next it's Anita's first lot of that hidden masterpiece, bought for a measly fiver.

20, I'm bid, and five, and 25 I've got.

At £30 I'm bid.

Do you think this is cheap?

CHRIS: I do.

ANITA: (LAUGHS) £30 I'm bid.

Going once.

£30, and five bid.

Yes!

In the room at 35, and 40, straight back in.

At 40 got.

One more, go on!

At 40 got, and five he says.

Yes!

45 got, 45, and 50 on the net.

At 50 got.

At 50 I'm bid, this one, it's up to you.

You're nodding the wrong way.

Have a think about it.

It's an oil on board at £50.

Yes!

Oh, give us a hug.

Well done.

Well done.

VO: £50, eh?

But I don't know if James and Anita can handle the excitement!

Next, James' St Peter figure and the World War I Christmas tin.

Start me at 20, who's in?

(WHISPERS) 20.

JAMES: Oh, come on!

CHRIS: 20 I've got, thank you.

(LAUGHTER) Don't worry, James, they're there.

I've seen it.

£20 I've got, and five, and 30, and five, and 35, got to hurry you, 40, and five on the net.

£45, going once.

£45 twice, third, final... And 50, goodness me!

The hammer nearly went down then, didn't it?

VO: Now James, no manhandling the bidders now!

And five, on the net.

Are we sure we're done now?

At £55 I sell it.

Yes!

Well done.

Hurray!

VO: Heavens above!

Things are hotting up already.

That was £30 on the purchase price there.

James' turn again.

It's the sharp little lot of the pin cushion and the grape scissors.

Start me at 20, who's in?

20, and five, and 30, and five.

and 70 on the net.

At £70 I've got, and five.

At 75 I'm bid, and 80 on the net bidder, at £80... Come on!

..I'm bid now, and five I'm bid.

At 85, still with the net bidder at 85.

Are we done?

Going once.

It's on the net.

£85 then.

Going twice.

Third, final time at £85.

VO: Oh, dear.

After costs, that's actually a small loss.

Now James isn't happy at all.

They could've made double that.

ANITA: Double that.

JAMES: Double that.

VO: Well, he would say that, wouldn't he?

Now, let's see whether Anita's castors will do any better.

Tell me your bids.

What do you want to pay for them?

Five I've got.

Do you want eight?

Eight I've got.

At eight I'm bid now, 10 I've got, at 10, 12 I've got, and 15, got 15.

In the yellow at 15, got 15 I'm bid now.

Is that you bidding?

No.

I'm just getting excited.

He said "in the yellow".

15 I'm bid.

15.

18, got 18.

20.

JAMES: No!

ANITA: Yes!

Got 20, I'm bid, £20 I've got, £20, and 22 with a net bid.

Yes!

Now they're joining in now.

£22 I've got.

£22 I've got now.

At £22, up to you.

And 25 in the room.

I can't believe this.

£25 I've got.

Going once, going twice, got 'em at 25.

Yes!

No wonder you're laughing!

Yes!

Yes!

VO: But after costs, that's not much of a profit.

But Anita's delighted, which is great.

They were a good set of castors.

VO: Well, it's time for his bamboo pot.

Can this lot give James a brush with victory?

Start me at £20.

Who's in?

£20 I've got, 25 got.

30, 32 bid.

£35 I've got.

All these bids are on the net.

At 35 I've got, 38 in the room, and 40, 45 got, 50.

55, 60.

Come on!

And five.

And 70, and five.

It's up to you, and 80.

At £80 for the Japanese.

£85 is on the net, at £85 I'm bid.

One more?

Once then... Go on.

£85.

90, thought you would.

90's in the room now.

At £90 then.

Third and final time, it's yours.

Oh, that was a sweat.

That was quite exciting.

VO: Phew!

Well done.

James is storming ahead of Anita now.

VO: It's her favorite lot, the brass art and crafts jardiniere.

Start me at £20.

Who's in?

20, thank you, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30, 32, 35, 38, 40, 42, 45.

45, got 48, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80.

£80.

CHRIS: And five.

ANITA: He's back in again.

At £90.

Do you want five?

£90.

And five, and 100.

You're out?

£100 then.

I'll take five if it helps.

Go on!

105.

110, 110, I say, 110 I'm bid.

£110.

Going once.

Are you sure?

Going twice.

VO: Marvelous, Anita!

Another lot more than doubling its purchase price and she's just snuck into the lead!

It all hangs on James' final lot.

He's sure this gilt metal hat finial, clasps and bag were a good buy.

Start me at 20. Who's in?

20 got.

And five, and 30, and five.

JAMES: Times it by 10.

CHRIS: And 40, and five.

Come on!

And 45, it's to my right.

JAMES: No way!

CHRIS: At £45 I'm bid.

JAMES: Come on.

CHRIS: At £45 I'm bid.

And 50, and five, and 60, and five.

£65 I'm bid.

Oh, no way.

Keep going.

No way!

You're out, madam?

It's there once... Oh, that is just criminal.

65 going twice.

Third, final time then.

VO: Oh, James isn't a happy bunny.

Even though he more than tripled the £20 purchase price, he thought he had a valuable lot there.

Clearly not.

If you found the crown jewels in the lake and it made a tenner, and it was a tenner profit, you wouldn't be happy, would you?

VO: Aw.

Anita's molded glass tray with the mermaid next.

Will the bidders be wooed?

£20, got 20 I'm bid.

Straight in, £20 I got.

You what?

And two, and five, and eight.

Any more?

And 30.

And 32, and 35?

35, and 38?

38.

Got 38 and 40.

42, 45, 48.

50.

It's pretty.

It's appealing.

It's useful.

55.

60?

55 I've got.

You are pulling my thing!

Fresh bidder.

She's beaten both of you.

£55 I'm bid.

Coming right at the end there, at £55 then, are you done with it?

Do you know, you're crowned queen of the castle.

Do you know something?

I'm going for a beer.

JAMES: Come on.

ANITA: We've got one more to go.

I don't care!

I've given up.

You're all mad!

VO: Well, it takes one to know one.

And he's off!

I think it's just too much excitement for the poor boy.

But you're winning, James!

He's away in a huff!

VO: But Anita still has one lot to go.

Can the amber effect beads be her crown jewels?

Er, £30 for those?

How can he start those at £30?

Give me a tenner, who's in?

At 10, 10 I'm bid.

Yes!

50p!

VO: Oh, do behave, James!

James Lewis!

At 18, 22, 25, 28, 30, 32, 35, 38, 40.

40.

£40.

Lady's bid, £40.

VO: £40!

I think she's done it!

£40 is in the chair, at £40.

Are you done with them?

Yes!

Well done.

James Lewis, did you see that?

Yeah.

VO: By George, on the very last lot, Anita has taken the lead and won the auction.

VO: That's better.

Kiss and make up like good boys and girls now.

Well done.

Right, let's go!

VO: James began this first leg with £200.

After paying auction costs, he made a respectable profit of £93.50, giving him £293.50 to take into the next leg.

Anita also began with £200, but she has stormed ahead of James, with an impressive profit of £121.60, winning this leg and giving her £321.60 to play with on the next.

Well done, girl.

Well...

I am the champion!

You almost knocked me out!

Blimey!

What's it like to be a loser?

Anita, it's been my life story.

Drive on, James, drive on.

VO: So, off to London.

On the next Antiques Road Trip, James "cannot be serious!"

Now I'm in here, you're not getting me out!

I've waited too long for this.

VO: While Anita has a strong backhand of her own.

That was good!

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