VO: The nation's favorite antiques experts, £200 each and one big challenge.

Well, duck, do I buy you or don't I?

VO: Who can make the most money, buying and selling antiques, as they scour the UK?

Sold.

VO: The aim is, trade up and hope that each antique turns a profit.

But it's not as easy as it looks, and dreams of glory can end in tatters.

VO: So will it be the fast lane to success or the slow road to bankruptcy?

That's the sweat over.

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

VO: Today, ladies and gentlemen, auctioneers James Lewis and Anita Manning are going head to head in Norfolk, and it seems someone's getting a wee bit competitive.

JAMES (JL): How much have you got to spend?

ANITA (AM): I've got... JL: Not as much as me, JL: if I remember!

AM: Oh!

(THEY LAUGH) AM: Yet, James, yet!

VO: James's overwhelming confidence perhaps stems from the fact he's cleaned up at auction two days now in a row.

James, that's the excitement of the auction.

Yeah.

That is brilliant.

VO: But don't underestimate our girl Anita - she's as canny as canny can be.

But don't rest on your laurels.

Oh, I'm not going to!

You never know, this wee woman might sort of creep up behind you.

VO: So far James has turned his original £200 stake into a marvelous £428.20.

VO: As for Anita, she's currently sitting on £306.84, which makes James the undisputed champion so far.

VO: Although, as our experts take their 1970s VW Beetle on the third leg of their road trip, anything is possible.

AM: The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft a-gley.

JL: Gang what?

AM: It's Robert Burns.

JL: Robert who?

AM: (LAUGHS) VO: Oh, James.

VO: Our journey this week is taking us from Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, and heading south, via East Anglia and on to the West Country, ending up - we hope - in Cirencester.

But today, we're kicking off in Fakenham, and we'll end this leg with an auction in Aylsham.

Situated on the River Wensum, Fakenham owes much of its good fortune to Henry VIII, because when he abolished the monastery in the neighboring town of Heston, suddenly this market town became the stopover of choice for weary pilgrims.

VO: So where better place for our experts to park the VW, and conduct a little commerce?

20 dealers, James.

Alright.

That's 10 each.

VO: Though one shop, two experts - things can get messy.

There's only £100 between James and I, and that is possible to catch up and go forward.

That would be fun.

But James is a formidable opponent.

Oh, he's a cracker!

He's a hard guy to beat.

VO: I'll say.

Already he's found something he likes.

It's probably French, it's art deco.

VO: And a snip at £35.

The inkwell is typically art deco.

They're straight lines, very architectural in style, and inside, a little glass liner.

My problem is, again, I think my heart might be ruling my head.

I'd like to have that on my desk.

Ah, James is still at that cabinet down there.

I'm just waiting for him to go away.

I heard that!

Hello, darling.

VO: Not much longer, Anita.

He's called Mandy over.

It's got a bit of something about it, but it's got a breakage on the top there.

Yes.

It's sad that so many thing are damaged, isn't it?

Yeah.

That would need to be about 20.

25?

I was thinking 15, but 20 would be my max.

Can I split it with you?

22.50.

I can't, I can't.

That's... That would be... if I was going to go for it, it would have to be that.

OK, go on, 20.

JL: Yeah?

OK. DEALER: I'll do that.

VO: With the deal done...

Thanks very much.

VO: ..and the cabinet finally vacated, it's Anita's chance to find something gorgeous, and she's thinking Murano.

Not one piece, but two.

There's another piece here.

It's got that nice weight on it, a nice polished base, and that's rather pretty.

Together, a nice wee lot, but it all depends on the price that I can get it for.

VO: Together they're priced at £20, but naturally, Anita's motto is "never pay retail".

I'd be looking to buy the two of them for 10 - would that be possible?

OK, let me go and make a phone call.

Yeah?

OK. VO: Not exactly high-stakes negotiation, but every penny counts.

He says the best on those would be 14.

AM: 14?

DEALER: Yes.

Could you ask him if he'd go to 12?

I could do that for you.

Do it.

Thank you, Mandy, thank you.

DEALER: I know he will cuz he already told me.

He said, "Try 14 and if they won't do it, I'll take 12."

VO: Oh, Mandy!

Right, here we go.

VO: Our next stop on this road trip is Holt, a small market town with rather a colorful history.

Yeah, from the plague of 1348, which saw the surprising demise of 23 priests, to the great fire of 1708, which destroyed the entire town, Holt is no stranger to drama or antique shops.

James.

Nice to see you.

What a fantastic shop!

Just how they used to be 20 years ago.

The prices are going down, but... Good.

I'll have a wander.

VO: Now that's a little mercenary, James.

Although considering you love the old school nature of the shop, I'm surprised - I have to say delighted - that you're ultimately drawn to this collection.

Richard, tell me about these, they don't seem to fit your policy of glass and ceramics.

My son has joined the business and they're to do with him.

These are mammoth teeth... JL: Yeah.

DEALER: ..with the roots here.

JL: That's a wonderful thing.

DEALER: This is a mammoth tusk.

VO: Now, bones can be highly salable IF they have the right provenance, and Richard says this collection's from the late 19th century and was purchased from a Norfolk country house, so, given they're new to the market, they might stir a bit of interest.

My son's bought 480 on the collection.

JL: Right, OK. DEALER: Yes.

VO: Good heavens.

That is a lot of interest.

Would you be able to do it for 200?

Would you be able to phone him and ask?

I'll phone my son, shall I?

Thank you, that would be great.

Just see what he says.

DEALER: Yes.

Right.

JL: Well...

I don't know.

Maybe I'm mad offering £200.

It's a collection of old bones, at the end of the day.

It's...

But it's different.

In a way I hope I get the answer, "No, they won't take £200," because I think to offer £200 for that lot might be slightly bonkers.

I've, um, been in touch with my son again.

JL: Yes.

DEALER: And, um... ..he said... 250 would be the very best.

JL: Oof!

It's too much.

It's...

It's too much for me, I think.

VO: So, the sensible thing to do here is walk away, right James?

My right hand is just waiting to come out.

An extra 10, would it make any difference to him?

220.

Oh blimey!

And the more you hesitate, the more it'll go up.

215 and you've got a deal.

DEALER: Right.

JL: And I am completely insane!

DEALER: Well I think you are... JL: Insane!

I think you're making a bad mistake, really.

JL: Do you?!

DEALER: Yes!

VO: Well, that IS encouraging!

Ha!

VO: Anyway, going in the opposite direction of this particular road trip is Anita, who couldn't resist a visit to Houghton Hall, the very stately home of Sir Robert Walpole who, in 1721, became Britain's first ever prime minister.

Look at those wonderful domes.

Look!

They have cricket on the green!

VO: And there's plenty more to see with John, the curator.

AM: John, hello, I'm Anita.

JOHN: Hello Anita.

JOHN: Very pleased to meet you.

AM: Are you my guide for today?

Welcome to Houghton Hall.

VO: Sir Robert was also the first head of government to occupy 10 Downing Street, which George II bought for him as a gift, but our man had much grander ideas, going on to spend, in today's terms, about £50 million on a house that celebrates and encourages excess.

Though this tour begins in one of the more modest rooms, the study, where the portraits on the wall begin to tell his somewhat egotistical story.

The most important one is Sir Robert Walpole over there.

He is in the uniform of a ranger of Richmond Park, which was an honorary position, which carried with it a grace and favor lodge in the grounds, into which he popped his mistress, who's in the center picture.

That was his girlfriend?

That's right.

That's Maria Skerritt.

And the lady in the blue headdress is his wife Catherine.

When Catherine died in 1737, Sir Robert married his mistress Maria.

AM: I love this room.

There's a feeling of coziness.

Now, this leads us through then to the Stone Hall.

VO: And it's in this breathtaking room that Sir Robert's guests would first arrive.

Its only function - to leave you in no doubt as to the status of your host.

If we move over here, we come to the focal point of the room, which is the bust of Sir Robert, dressed as a Roman senator.

AM: (LAUGHS) Which epitomizes his position of power and authority in this country, and you notice that he's surrounded, either side and all the way around the room, by genuine second century AD busts of Romans, and he's higher than all of them.

I was going to say that - he's above them all!

He had a fine opinion of himself.

Nothing is by accident in this house.

I know!

VO: Sir Robert's guests would then be received in the official state rooms and invited to dine underneath the grand ceiling of the principal dining room, which is a tribute to Dionysus, the god of wine, feasting and having a great time.

And in this room, important guests would come.

Alliances, political alliances, would be made.

In fact, at this table... and this is the original table?

That's right.

Some people call it a political table cuz it'll split into four parts.

So if you wanted to have different factions, you could separate them, but if you wanted to keep an eye on what everybody was talking about, you had them all together.

A diarist of the time described feasting here, guests were up to their chins in venison, beef and lamb, and over their chins in claret and white wine.

So many a good story will have been told in this very room.

VO: Such a decadent life was rather costly, and eventually the family had to raise substantial funds, which they did by selling the largest group of pictures from a single country house ever, and the buyer was Catherine the Great of Russia.

..see the view to the west.

Wow!

It's two miles, or just a bit over, from here to the far horizon.

The Houghton estate now is about 4,500 acres, but in Sir Robert Walpole's time it was nearer 20,000.

I've had a lovely time with you, looking round that house, looking out onto that.

Do you think we could have time for a wee glass of wine?

What a good idea.

James has certainly drawn the short straw today, hasn't he?

Stuff him!

I'll go along with that!

VO: Well, speaking of our good friend James, he's still in Holt.

Though he has moved on to Mews Antiques, where Peter is proving to be quite the salesman.

Now, if you could find the name on it, you've got a hell of a piece.

Yeah, it's...

I've been looking at that for what...

I wish.

Yeah, I mean, it ought to say something like "Glasgow School" or something like that, don't it?

Yeah.

But... ..it doesn't.

It doesn't, no.

Oh, it's got a great big hole as well.

DEALER: It's been repaired.

That's as I got it on the bottom there.

VO: And just in case you're wondering, it's an arts-and-crafts log bin, embossed rather nicely with Viking galleons in choppy seas, circa 1890.

JL: What could that be?

75's the very best on that.

75, yeah... That's, you know...

It's worth that all day long.

See, for me, I'd be looking at about 45.

Can't do.

No.

You know, I don't mind giving you a fighting chance, but I'm not gonna cut me throat!

I don't blame you, I wouldn't want you to.

Yeah, I'd be looking at 50, 55, but... Oh, you're not going to toss a coin for it!

Oh no!

If you're game, I'm game.

65 upper, 50 lower.

45 lower.

No.

Too far out.

You've got to leave me something in it.

You've got to leave me a chance, too!

Too right!

60-50 then.

Done.

Go on.

I'll have heads.

Tails, my son.

Tails, oh!

You've got a deal.

60 quid.

Done.

I didn't even want it!

Nobody comes in here for anything they want.

They certainly don't come here for anything they need.

VO: Like a haircut.

And something else James doesn't need is...

This weird thing here.

DEALER: Oh, that marvelous device.

JL: Oh.

Handle him tenderly.

VO: Now, the gong is an ancient Chinese custom, used to signal peasant workers in from the fields.

This one, however, is more ornamental, probably English and dating back to the 1920s.

Ticket price £42.

20 quid it needs to be.

Oh, I really don't know.

We'd have to ask, if we can get in touch with the guy, whether he's remotely going to consider that, because it's a long way short.

See if you can make him feel sorry for me.

Right.

I'll go and ask.

Thank you.

20 quid is the absolute limit, and I'm not budging, I'm not tossing a coin.

VO: Just as well, when the dealer's answer is "yes".

Deal.

Deal.

Deal.

VO: Leaving James and Anita to end the day's shopping with a game of 20 Questions.

Is it some weird and wonderful, obscure thing?

JL: Yes!

AM: Is it?!

Yes!

Is it lovely to look at?

No!

No!

Am I going to love it or hate it?

JL: Hate it.

AM: Am I?

Yeah.

VO: Day two, and our experts are back on the road, once again hoping to relieve the antique dealers of Norfolk of many a bargain.

JL: I have to tell you, I did not buy the most sensible of objects yesterday.

A fool.

No!

A fool parts with his money very easily.

No.

Who dares wins.

VO: Yes that's the spirit.

And so far, James has dared to spend £315 on four rather unusual auction lots.

I think you're making a bad mistake, really.

Do you?!

VO: Anita on the other hand is off to a very slow start, having bought just one auction lot for £12.

AM: The tortoise and the hare, James.

JL: I know, I know.

You don't have to remind me.

VO: Today we're once again going back from whence we came, in order to drop James off in the village of Thursford.

It's here you'll find the Thursford Collection, something that started as a hobby for the late George Cushing, and has ended up becoming one of the world's most important steam and fairground museums.

Though these days, the man in charge is his son John.

JL: John, great to see you.

JOHN: And you.

I've heard so much about this place!

Let me show you around.

Love to.

VO: The tradition of fairs dates back at least 800 years, and was a chance for traders to sell their wares.

Over time, acrobats, musicians and performers also joined the mix, but what really revolutionized the experience was steam, providing everything from the rides to the music.

Oh, look at that!

So when was this made?

Well, this would have been made before the war.

This is actually a German organ.

It was overhauled and Father bought it in '62 or '63 I think.

Just because he loved the sound.

It brought back his childhood memories when he went to the fair and heard nothing but fairground organs.

JL: And does it still play?

JOHN: Indeed it does.

JOHN: We'll crank it up, yes.

JL: Come on then!

(ORGAN PLAYS) That is absolutely incredible!

JL: It's so loud, isn't it?

JOHN: Yeah.

But I suppose in the hustle and bustle of a fairground it needed that volume to get any attraction.

It did, and of course there were many other fairground organs in the fair at that time, including inside the rides.

VO: In the 1860s, the arrival of the steam-powered merry-go-round had some people fearing for their children's lives.

But despite their concerns of injury and explosion, the ride went on to become a classic.

I've never seen one of those.

Well, you wouldn't have done because, erm... this is the only one in the world.

Is it really?!

It's really an antique, yes.

At the time, I mean, people would stand 50 deep to watch this... JL: Really?

JOHN: Yeah, just going round.

VO: Not only is this penny ride the only one of its kind - ha!

- it's also a local, produced in the Norfolk factory of Frederick Savage.

JOHN: It was always rumored that when the showmen paid for these things, they would take sacks of pennies... JL: Of pennies!

JOHN: ..to pay for them, yes.

And the... And the people who built them obviously had to count all those pennies up.

Yeah.

And does this still work?

Indeed it does, yes.

We run this every day.

Would you like a ride?

I was hoping you were going to say that!

Come on, lead the way.

JL: Of course the organ would be playing.

I never went to sea cuz I got seasick.

The feeling's coming back to me!

VO: Oh James, you big old girl's blouse.

You just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Meanwhile ,we'll check on Anita.

Her next stop - the seaside town of Sheringham, a community built firmly and squarely on the fishing industry.

That is, until the locals discovered they could earn more in the summer from renting out their cottages to middle-class Londoners than they could from an entire year of fishing.

And for Anita, currently she's fishing for a bargain.

This looks promising.

(CHUCKLES) Could be an interesting shop!

AM: Love your Dalek.

DEALER: He's gorgeous, isn't he?

Is he for sale?

No.

No, no, no!

VO: Perhaps just as well.

Best we see what else Glenda has to offer - there's certainly a diverse range.

You never know what I might find up here, Glenda.

Lots of spiders, lots of dust.

VO: And after the most thorough of searches, Anita's rather keen on this.

Good quality, no name.

Probably Italian.

Probably Murano glass.

(WHISPERS) I quite like that.

VO: While Murano glass dates back to the 10th century, this piece practically screams the early '70s, but not to worry - in the world of antiques and collectables, glass is hot right now, which could explain why there's no price tag.

Or it's fallen off.

Could I make an offer?

Yeah.

Yeah.

£20.

That's what I'd like to pay on him.

DEALER: OK. AM: Shall we go for it?

Yeah, we'll go for 20 quid.

VO: But Anita's not done yet.

Something curious has caught her eye.

No, not that.

This.

AM: This is a shortbread mold.

DEALER: Yeah.

And it's probably - I don't know - late 19th, early 20th century.

DEALER: Think so?

Yeah?

AM: Yeah.

It's a country piece.

DEALER: Mm, it is, yes.

AM: It's a country piece.

VO: Actually, I think that country might be Scandinavia, and given the size of the mold, it was probably used by a high street baker.

But £45 - really?!

If I was buying this...

..I would be looking to buy it in the region of £12 to £18.

Right.

I would have liked it as close to 20 as possible.

AM: How about 15?

DEALER: OK. AM: Can we do 15?

DEALER: OK, we'll do 15.

AM: That's wonderful.

BOTH: Thank you very much.

DEALER: Thank you.

VO: After a slow start yesterday, Anita now has three auction lots up her sleeve, and she's got her determined stride on.

Though things aren't going nearly as well for James, as I'm afraid there's bad news about the fossil collection.

PHONE: 'I think that yesterday when you were in the shop, 'you asked my dad if they came from a local auction 'or if they came from a country house.'

Yeah.

'And he... 'got muddled up - they actually came from both.

'They came from a local country house, 'but I bought them at auction.'

Oh, right.

Where did you buy them from?

'Well I bought them from Keys Auction, 'from their antiques sale, which is in Aylsham.'

I know exactly where it is.

That's where... That's where I'm taking them to!

'Ah!

OK...' OK. VO: Even worse, at that auction they sold for £70.

Oh jeez!

VO: Though the good news is, Luke's prepared to refund two thirds of the £215 James gave him.

Wow!

If I gave you a fiver profit, and took them to Keys, and just... Just because they're the most wacky things I've ever seen, what would you say?

'Actually, yes.

Let's do it.

Let's do it.'

Will you?

'I would be happy to do that, 'because I think, you know, this is a... 'This is a mess that I've made.'

VO: Ah yes!

So that we're all clear here, as the fossils have recently been bought from the auction house we're going to, Luke is kindly dropping the price from £215 down to £75.

Ha!

Which hopefully means all parties are happy.

A very honest mistake made by his dad, who's been an antiques dealer there for over 40 years.

And to actually still take a much reduced profit, but at least he's made a fiver.

It's a couple of pints in the local pub.

VO: Oh good!

A happy ending, I think.

Particularly for James.

VO: Our next stop - Cromer, a popular resort town often referred to as "the gem of the Norfolk coast".

Its popularity dates back to the 19th century when some of the wealthy Norwich banking families decided to make it their summer home.

AM: Oh, lovely.

Lovely!

VO: Even Edward VII once popped down for a spot of golf.

VO: Anita, meanwhile, is popping in to Brisbane Antiques.

Hi, Anita.

Hello, it's lovely to meet you and be in this fabulous wee town.

Yeah, excellent.

AM: This looks nice.

DEALER: Nice.

VO: Yes, very nice.

And before long, our canny Scot is finding herself quite excited by Philip's knickknacks.

This is rather sweet.

It's a little ivory box, and this little cartouche here is probably gold.

I think this is probably Georgian.

It's a period piece.

VO: And because it's pre-1947, as far as the ivory goes, it's legal and above board.

Inside is a little toothpick.

This is the type of thing that a fine Georgian gentleman would have in his pocket, and after lunch, would take his little ivory box out, take his little silver toothpick out and... ..make himself lovely again.

VO: And for the ladies, Anita's thinking this gold brooch.

Edwardian, and fabulous.

It has a lovely turquoise and a little row of seed pearls.

Now, this is in the shape of a wishbone.

Maybe if I buy this brooch, I might get my wish to make a profit.

VO: Well, if anyone can twist Philip's arm, it's you, Anita.

Watch out.

AM: I quite like the wee ivory box.

Could it be sold, say, for £45-50?

Do a straight 50 on that.

That'd give you a chance on that.

And 60 on that.

I'll tell you what - what I'd like to buy the two for is 100 quid.

That's what I'd like to buy the two for.

DEALER: I'll do you 100 on that.

AM: Will you do 100 on them?

Yeah, that'll give you a chance.

AM: Oh, you're a darling!

DEALER: Give you a chance.

Ah, thank you so much.

VO: Don't you just love her?

VO: As for James, well, he's alright - he's in Aldborough.

This charming town centers around one very well kept village green, and what was the grocer's store is now selling antiques and collectables.

My word, what a collection of stained beer bottles!

I know.

Is this your collection as well as your... Well, I've gone down-market, so this is mainly to make the shop look a bit more interesting.

Ah, OK. You'll find more junk in here than the whole of Norfolk.

VO: Ha-ha!

Obviously, Terry has a dry sense of humor, to say the least, but a stroll through his shop soon reveals a cornucopia of treasures.

That's the first piece of Charles and Camilla commemorative I've ever seen.

How much is that, just for interest?

I should think a fiver.

It's worth it, it's Wedgwood's, er, and I've never, ever seen one before.

I think that's quite good, but it's not for me today, though.

VO: And so, a wee bit of strolling and much chin rubbing later, James quite likes the look of this.

As you'd expect for an arts-and-crafts-style clock, it's carved in oak, and at the top here we have these very stylized flag irises.

The whole shape is typical of the arts-and-crafts period, 1870, 1890.

The very plain dial, and the screws are prominent, not hidden, because the idea of the arts-and-crafts was you show how it's made.

It is, however, not as early as it looks.

It's 20th century, probably around 1930, maybe even later, but in the arts-and-crafts style.

How much is it?

That can be 30 quid.

I don't think it would make... By the time commission gets taken off... Yeah.

Well, this is the problem.

25.

I think there's a profit in that one.

OK, well, that's something to think about.

What is this one, this little chap here?

It's not as nice, is it?

No.

I'll do the two for 30 quid.

There must be a profit.

30... Would 20 buy them?

See, by the time they take the commission off...

I know.

Hold on, I'll get my handkerchief out in a minute.

Go on.

25.

How's that?

Thank you very much.

JL: That's a deal.

Alright.

DEALER: OK, right.

VO: That's James done and dusted, and just moments after his departure, guess who's also in the neighborhood.

Hi!

Are you Terry?

I am.

Lovely to meet you.

And what are you doing here?

I've just seen a friend of yours a little while ago.

Has that big besom AM: James Lewis been here?

DEALER: Yes, he certainly has.

Has he bought all the bargains?

Well, he may have done, but, er... AM: Oh no!

Oh no!

DEALER: I'm not 100% sure.

VO: Don't you worry, Anita.

Terry has something that might be right up your veg and meat.

As in street.

Now there is a bargain that he did turn down.

You have a look at this.

Have you ever seen one of those before?

I have never seen one in my life.

Aw!

(CHUCKLES) It's lovely, Terry, but it's not for me.

DEALER: Every home should have one.

Now there's something that I looked at.

I don't have a lot of time, so I'm sort of pushed, I'm under pressure.

DEALER: Right.

AM: But this wee thing here...

It's not a thing of any great significance, not going to make a lot of money, but I've got another two items which I thought I might put this with my other items to make a wee lot.

Well, you're going to tell me you're hard up and you need to make a profit, so what about three quid?

How's that?

Well, it's a very...

It's a very generous sort of price, but... Oh.

I thought there might be.

What?

I'm looking to put it with another item, and it's just to bulk up the item, and I was wondering if you could give me it for a pound!

Oh, take the damn thing!

God!

VO: Well, that's us then.

Thanks very much.

I'm late, I'm late!

But I bought one thing!

VO: That's right.

It's time to bring our experts back together for a little show and tell.

Ding-dong.

There we go.

You ready?

Lift one corner.

And... VO: Ooh, the collection of fossils.

Which, as it turns out, have already been to auction not long ago, selling for just £70.

And what would be the worst auction in the world... ..a week ago that these could have been seen in?

The one we're going to next week.

Exactly.

They cost me £75.

Erm, and I think under almost any circumstance, that would show...

I think I'd have a good chance of a profit.

You might get away with it, there might be a collector there who's entranced by it, and I think it's a very interesting lot.

There we are.

Should we slide this back?

Yeah.

We'll see what happens, James.

JL: Yeah, exactly.

AM: You might be lucky.

Well, I need a lot of luck on my side if I'm going to do anything with those.

VO: Yes.

Talk about being between a rock and a hard place, James.

What I've bought is a shortbread mold.

Is that what that is?!

AM: (LAUGHS) JL: How interesting.

So tell me, what did you pay?

Erm, I paid £15 for it.

Oh blimey, that's cheap.

Yeah.

I can see that making 45.

AM: Yeah.

You like it?

JL: 45, 50.

I do.

Good, James.

Super.

There we are.

Oh yes.

It's, er... my little elephant family inkwell.

I like the shape of the inkwell.

It has that geometric art deco look about it, and that's putting a date on it.

AM: It's a nice little thing.

JL: Yeah.

VO: And continuing today's animal theme... That is fantastic!

AM: It's a lovely pussycat.

Isn't that wonderful!

So how much was he?

He was £20.

Well... Murano glass in my opinion is very underrated, and also the quality - it's even got gold dust, hasn't it, in the collar here.

Well, let's hope we get gold dust in the price, James.

Yeah, a few sovereigns would be nice.

How about that?!

He's great!

AM: (LAUGHS) He's looking at me in a very strange way, James!

What do you think he's worth?

Erm...

I don't know.

He's maybe worth 40, 45, £50?

That's what I thought.

I paid 20.

A good buy.

Yeah.

I thought it was alright.

My next item is a sweet little ivory box.

Ah!

A toothpick box, Georgian one.

That's right.

Oh, how lovely.

1780, 1785?

Yeah, about that period.

Wonderful.

How much was it?

£60.

Well, I think there's a profit there.

You can imagine that making 100, 120, can't you?

Yeah.

VO: Now, that WOULD be nice.

What d'you think of that?

That's a big beastie.

I think that's lovely.

I like that.

I had to toss a coin for it.

AM: (LAUGHS) JL: I lost.

AM: You lost.

JL: And I had to pay £60.

AM: I know.

But I think that I would have paid £60 any day of the week for that.

I like it.

I've gone back to my jewelry again.

And I bought this little Edwardian brooch.

One of the things I liked about it is the wishbone shape... Has been broken.

..but the wishbone has been broken, and the best end has been left there.

Yeah, it's the winning brooch, isn't it?

AM: It's the winning brooch.

JL: It's the winning end.

What do you think to that little clock?

His face is a wee bit squee-gee, James.

Squeegee?

Squeegee?

Not squeegee, squee-gee.

Oh!

(THEY CHUCKLE) That is better, that's better.

How about that one?

(LAUGHS) I like that one.

Yeah.

It's good as well.

Probably together maybe £50-80.

Hm, I paid 25.

Oh, that's a good lot for 25, James.

Well there we go.

That is my last lot.

That's your last lot?

VO: As for Anita's, it's a rather eclectic mix of glass and pottery.

That's my favorite.

That's a nice one, I like that as well.

What did you pay for... Accumulatively £13.

I paid £12 for this lot and a pound for that.

Should make a couple of quid on that.

Should do, shouldn't it?

Yeah.

Good, well... what a mixed bag, eh?

Yeah, but viva la difference.

Hm?

Let's celebrate the difference in taste.

It wasn't...

It was the Scottish-French accent, it threw me completely.

(THEY LAUGH) VO: Very diplomatic.

But what do our experts really think?

James's two clocks might struggle.

They are standard auction fare.

And this type of item has gone down in price.

But... the little clock with the enameled face deserves £25, but maybe only in a retail situation.

I think he might be lucky to get out of that one.

I don't think Anita's got anything that's going to make big money.

Erm...

But then again, I don't think she's got anything there where she's going to lose either.

She's been very canny in the way she's spent, hasn't spent very much money at all, whereas I've spent loads more money.

Loads more.

VO: After teeing off in Fakenham, Anita and James end this leg with an auction showdown in the country village of Aylsham.

This picturesque spot was once renowned for its linen, which Edward II and Edward III couldn't get enough of, and the markets there have been going strong now for 700 years.

But the reason we're here - Aylsham also has a weekly auction, so what does Roy Murphy of Keys Auctioneers have to say about James and Anita's booty?

I think James has got the edge on today's showing.

His Newlyn piece is a nice thing.

The fossils, I think, yes, they're going to do well.

On the other hand, Anita's got two pieces of jewelry.

She's got a little wishbone brooch and also a toothpick case, which could do well.

The smaller items, bijouterie, tend to do well here.

VO: James started this leg with a very solid £428.20, and after paying a reduced price on that fossil collection - ha!

- his total spend comes to £200 for five auction lots.

Anita, meanwhile, began with £306.84, and has been as frugal as ever, spending £148, also for five auction lots.

So, without further ado, let the auction begin!

First up, Anita's 1960s Murano glass pussy.

Ha!

Meow.

£30 I'm bid.

At 30 in the middle of the room now, at £30.

32 at the back, 32.

35?

35.

38?

38.

40.

No encouragement from the front please.

40 there.

At 40.

42?

42 now.

Will take it, then, at £42.

42 goes to... VO: We're off to an exciting start.

That's a pre-commission profit of £22.

Well done, well done.

VO: Let's see if James's arts and crafts log bin can do better.

£50 start.

£30 start.

JL: Whoa!

ROY: £30 I'm bid, at 30.

32 I have in the middle of the room now.

32.

32.

Fresh bidder at 35.

35.

38.

At 38, the hammer is up.

I shall sell, then, at £38.

ROY: 3136 gets that.

JL: Well... Is that a bit disappointing?

I thought it would do more than that.

My...

I mean, really.

Huge loss.

VO: £22 to be exact, old bean.

Although on a happier note, if you'd like to make the world's biggest shortbread biscuit, then look no further than Anita's next lot.

Look at that.

How striking!

£30 is the opening bid beside me here at 30.

You're all out in the room, at £30, I have.

At 30.

At £30, maiden bidder is going to have it.

32.

32.

35.

35.

38.

38.

40.

40.

40.

42.

Right hand side, takes it, then, at 42.

VO: So far, our canny Anita is in the money.

That's another profit of £27.

Hooray!

Time for James's collection of early 20th century clocks, which even he is beginning to doubt.

I like the stylized irises on the arts-and-crafts one.

It's a good, heavy, solid oak clock.

The other one is an also-ran, isn't it?

£50 is the opening bid, it's beside me here now at 50.

50, the opening bid.

ROY: 55.

60.

JL: Five, 60.

Go on.

JL: Go on.

AM: He's got a bid on the book.

70.

75.

80.

85.

90.

Right beside me here at 90.

All done then at 90.

£90 goes to commissions.

VO: Bravo James.

That's a sensational profit of £65.

That was good.

That was...

I'm stunned into complete silence.

VO: On to Anita's mixed lot now, which, from Murano glass to Scandinavian pottery, has it all.

£10.

Five for it.

Can I have a £5 anywhere for it?

JL: Oh, it's worth more than that!

ROY: Five, eight, eight, eight.

JL: Go on!

Do you want 10, madam?

10 it is.

Now at 10.

10.

12 in the middle of the room.

At 15, fresh bidder.

At 15, 15, 15.

At 15, then, and selling.

I thought he was going to sell it at five for a minute!

I know, I know.

Maybe you should have taken that plaque for nothing!

VO: Yep, a poor showing there.

But moving on.

It's James's art-deco desk stand, finely adorned with a family of heffalumps.

Start me what, £50 on this lot here.

50.

30.

£20 start.

20 I'm bid in the middle of the room, thank you.

20, 20.

Two, 22.

25.

28.

30.

32.

35.

38.

40.

42.

45.

48.

50.

Five.

60.

Five.

70.

Five.

No?

75.

At 75.

75, all done, hammer's up and away then at 75.

VO: Well blow me down, that's a result and a half - not to mention a £55 profit, pre-commission.

Something to trumpet about.

VO: Yep.

Here's hoping the bidders are just as passionate when it comes to Anita's Edwardian gold brooch.

I think we both liked that.

Yeah, the wishbone.

AM: Yeah.

JL: Very nice.

£40 is the bid beside me here, I have a bid of £40.

40, straight in at what you paid.

At 40.

42.

45.

48.

50.

No?

50 beside me here, at 50.

55, fresh bidder.

55.

60.

60 beside me here.

Still at 60, you're out in the room.

60.

£60 goes to commission.

VO: Not a bad result, but we were hoping for better.

Next, it's James's rather amusing table gong.

And we'll start at, what, £50 on this lot here.

50.

30.

£30 is the bid, at 30.

32 I have now.

32.

35.

38.

38.

38.

40.

£40 now.

At 40.

40.

42 now.

42.

42.

45.

45.

48 at the back now.

At 48.

48.

48.

The hammer's up.

I will sell, then, at £48.

£48.

That's a good profit.

It is.

I'm happy with that.

AM: Yeah.

JL: So... VO: And so you should be, James.

£28.

That's not to be sniffed at.

VO: One of my favorites now - Anita's Georgian ivory toothpick box, complete with silver toothpick.

That is a lovely little, classic little Georgian antique.

£46 is the opening bid, right beside me here now, at 46.

46.

46.

46.

48.

48.

Fresh bidder at 50.

55 now.

At 55.

It's at 55 now.

Hammer's up, will sell then at 55.

Oh, bit disappointed at that.

VO: I'll say.

That was VERY surprising.

VO: But the drama isn't over yet.

We're ending with a lot that's no stranger to this auction house.

It's James's infamous fossil collection.

Anybody start me here at £100 on this lot here?

Starting at 100.

£100 is the bid, it is right beside me here, and we have an opening bid of £100 now.

Are you all done?

The hammer is up then at £100, and selling.

£100 goes to commission.

Never mind.

You made a profit, James.

VO: Yes, against the odds, too.

The story of James's fossils has a happy ending - for James.

VO: Anita, though, started this leg with £306.84, and has made a modest profit of £27.48, giving her a grand total of £334.32 to spend tomorrow, bless her.

VO: James, meanwhile, began with £428.20, and after another cracking auction, he's made a profit of £87.82, which means the lead is still his, with £516.02 in the kitty.

Cheer up.

What a day.

D'you know, I will never, ever try and predict an auction again.

The things that we thought were going to do well didn't, and other things that we weren't too sure about went up in price.

Yeah, completely crazy.

Where are we going, James?

Suffolk.

That sounds nice.

JL: I've never been to Suffolk.

AM: Neither have I. JL: Adventure!

AM: Adventure!

VO: Next time on the Antiques Road Trip: Anita finds what she's looking for.

There are a couple of Scottish items on this desk.

VO: And James finds time for a new hobby.

The arm straight out.

JL: Oh, look at that!

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