NARRATOR: It's the nation's favorite antiques experts, with 200 pounds each.

I want something shiny.

NARRATOR: A classic car, and a goal to scour Britain for antiques.

I like a rummage.

I can't resist.

NARRATOR: The aim, to make the biggest profit at auction, but it's no mean feat.

Why do I always do this to myself?

NARRATOR: There'll be worthy winners-- Give us a kiss.

NARRATOR: --and valiant losers.

Come on, stick them up.

NARRATOR: So will it be the high road to glory?

Onwards and outwards.

NARRATOR: Or the slow road to disaster?

Take me home.

NARRATOR: This is "Antiques Road Trip!"

Yeah!

On this third leg of the road trip, we're in some Tudor towns in Warwickshire with the king and queen of the antiques trade, Catherine Southon and Charles Hanson.

He's the king.

She's the queen.

We are in middle England.

Welcome to what I would call the home of heritage.

It is beautiful around here.

NARRATOR: Catherine started her career at one of London's top auction houses and still deals with a straight talking logic and acumen, as you would expect.

CHARLES HANSON: BMW.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: BMW.

Black and white.

Black and white timber frame cottages.

I love the way-- Charles, you talk in riddles.

You make absolutely no sense, whatsoever.

NARRATOR: Quite.

While Charles runs a Derbyshire cell room, with his trademark passion for all things antiquated, and archaic, and chaotic, and really rather lovely.

This area is renowned for black and white timber frame cottages.

Ah!

Anne Hathaway's.

Shakespeare's.

NARRATOR: Ah, to be or not to be?

With our bards of buying starting off with 200 pounds, Catherine now has 207 pounds and 30 pence.

While Charles has proved himself a true titan of trading, having accumulated 660 pounds and 98 P. He learned everything from me.

How much have you got?

You've got thousands.

No, get out of here.

I've got tens of pounds.

NARRATOR: Today, they're driving a Green Goddess.

This 1981 MGB GT, which they're calling Meg, as you do.

Are you with us, Meg?

She's with us.

NARRATOR: Well, you wouldn't be going very far if she wasn't, would you?

Ha!

On this whole road trip, Catherine and Charles began in Southern England before winding their way up the country, journeying several hundred miles.

They'll finally finish up in Congleton in Cheshire.

On this leg, they start off in a Warwickshire village of Long Marston and aim for auction in Newport Shropshire.

But what might be their dream buys on this leg, eh?

See, I don't have sweet dreams anymore on the road trip.

I have nightmares-- Get out of here.

--wondering what else you're gonna find.

Well, it's treasure hunting.

It's like my hobby of metal detecting.

You can't guarantee-- You don't do metal detecting.

As a young boy, what got me into treasure hunting was metal-- oh, I love it.

What's so funny?

[IMITATING METAL DETECTOR SOUND] NARRATOR: Let's hope they can both find something that glitters as they head for their first shops.

And having dropped Charles off, Catherine's striding towards her first destination.

Ooh!

Hello.

Come on in.

Hi, I'm Catherine.

Very nice to meet you.

NARRATOR: Pleasantries over.

Time to shop.

But what's this chapeau then?

That is amazing.

It's a beautiful dancer's headdress.

I have to try this on.

It's actually not as heavy as I thought it was going to be.

NARRATOR: Oh, you are the queen, indeed.

The pearly queen!

What's the price?

I don't even want to look.

395.

I'm nowhere near this.

NARRATOR: Well, that's clear out of your budget, then.

But, uh, this little joker looks cheaper and interesting.

Oh, now that's cute.

Look at that.

It's in terrible condition.

Wow!

I love that.

NARRATOR: I love it.

It's a miniature model of a sedan chair, a type of box in which a small seat or cabin would be carried by serpents or horses.

This one might have been used as a display case and probably dates from the 19th century.

Dealer Laura owns this little curiosity.

And obviously, we've got a stain on the top.

What is your very, very best on that?

You've got 88 on it.

I could do it for 50.

I don't think I'd spend any more than 40, to be honest.

Would you be willing to-- or maybe-- You can't go to 45?

45?

45, yeah, that's a possibility.

Yeah.

Can I put that on the back burner?

NARRATOR: Well, I wouldn't burn it, exactly.

Anything else?

This, I'm kind of drawn towards.

Copper letter rack, yes.

It does have a maker's mark on it.

NARRATOR: This copper and brass letter rack also hails from France, where Laura sources a lot of her stock.

The ticket price on that is 55 pounds.

What could that be?

I could do that one for 30.

I think I want to be more around 20 on that, to be honest.

Could we meet in the middle?

25?

Should we see again?

Because we've got this with the sedan chair.

NARRATOR: With two items reserved, time for a peek outside.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: How much is the Belfast sink?

Oh, I don't remember.

I think it's 40 something, but that can be cheap.

NARRATOR: Cheap, you say, Laura?

That's music to road trippers ears.

But let's not rush to a decision, eh, Catherine?

Have a tea, love.

Meanwhile, Charles has raced onwards to the multi-storied town of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Stratford was Shakespeare's old stomping ground.

Here, Charles is aiming towards Stratford Antiques Centre and dealer Raymond.

To be or not to be, Ray?

Good morning!

Hi there.

Good morning.

How are you, sir?

OK, good morning.

Your name is?

Raymond.

It is great to be here in Stratford.

NARRATOR: Indeed, it is.

And just as Charles has come through the door, Raymondo already has a little item he's keen to show him.

Raymond's got all these wonderful jades, all these wonderful Chinese porcelains.

But this is not Chinese.

But Raymond's got a fairly interesting bohemian continental, could be German.

Oh!

Could be a French porcelain plaque.

Let's get it out, Raymond.

Have a look.

Pretty, isn't it?

Is it on porcelain?

Yes.

Are you sure about that?

Yeah, because they have some marks at the back.

So what we've got here, it appears to be what-- Madonna and child?

It's a religious scene, isn't it?

Yes.

NARRATOR: This little plaque appears to bear the mark of the German ceramics firm Meissen, the very first European manufacturer to create porcelain in 1708, a skill previously only held in East Asia.

But Charles thinks something about this is a bit suspicious, and I think he's right.

It carries a mock Meissen mark.

Oh, OK.

So it's almost the imitation of Meissen.

And this was made in Germany probably around 1880.

Oh, OK.

I like it.

Mhm.

I like it a lot.

NARRATOR: That will need further investigation, but it's still an attractive 19th century lump.

What's your best price on that?

50.

15?

50.

15 pounds sounds good to me.

Not 15, 50.

- Oh, say again?

- 50.

- 15?

- Five, zero.

Oh, five, zero?

Sorry, sorry, sorry.

NARRATOR: Put him down, Charles.

I'm tempted.

OK. OK. What will be your best price?

- 30.

- 30?

For you.

You wouldn't do a bit more at all, would you?

No.

Because, I mean, to me, it's probably worth between 20 and 40 pounds.

OK. 25's rock bottom.

OK. God, it's so early.

You know, I'm not even sparked up yet.

But for 25 pounds, I'm going to say, well, life is too short.

I'll take it.

NARRATOR: Deal done at 25 pounds.

Thank you, Raymondo.

Back in Long Marston, Catherine's been busy negotiating for the miniature sedan chair, French letter rack, and Belfast sink.

What a mixture.

Dealer Laura's suggesting 85 pounds for the three.

Catherine!

Could we do 75 for the three rather than 85?

No, but I could go to 80.

OK, OK. Should we do that?

- Yeah.

Are you happy with that?

I am.

- We'll go on that.

- Thank you.

Right.

NARRATOR: Magnifique, eh?

Catherine has bagged the sedan chair for 35 pounds, the letter rack for 30, and the sink for 15.

Lovely - To meet you.

Nice to meet you, too.

And carry on buying in en France.

We will.

- Au revoir.

- Thank you.

Au revoir.

NARRATOR: (MOCKING) Au revoir!

In Stratford, Charles is still on the hunt and helped by dealer Raymond.

And what's this he's stumbled upon?

An early footman.

NARRATOR: A footman was used for keeping plates, or food, or wine warm in front of a dining room fire.

Handy.

Raymond.

Hello, yeah?

What's your best price on this footman?

Oh, the price tag is 58.

That's a lot.

I think I can do 38.

Oh, you can't.

NARRATOR: Oh, we can do anything.

The really important thing is to determine its age.

Mm.

So I'm hoping this might just be late 18th century because I say so, but I might be-- I might be wrong.

NARRATOR: He's keen, but what about the price?

Would you take 30 for it?

OK, 30, then.

Done!

Thank you very much.

That's great.

NARRATOR: Cool, things are hotting up.

Another deal in the bag.

Thank you, Raymondo.

See you.

NARRATOR: Now, Catherine's enjoying the quiet of a drive, without Charles in the car.

When he's here driving, he's just-- [FRANTIC NOISES] he's so on all the time and talking.

It doesn't stop.

NARRATOR: She's motoring on to the ancient town of Warwick.

Being a lover of historical intrigue, she's keen to spend a tranquil afternoon exploring one of the area's best kept secrets.

She's heading for the Lord Leycester Hospital and meeting its master, Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Lesinski.

- Hello there.

- How do you do?

Catherine.

Hi.

Nice to meet you.

And you.

This is quite a spectacular building, isn't it?

It is.

NARRATOR: These medieval structures has an ancient charitable institution.

But although it's a hospital, you won't find any doctors or nurses here.

The world "hospital" is used in its ancient sense where it meant a shelter, a refuge.

We became a hospital, a shelter, a refuge, a retirement home for old soldiers, old warriors 445 years ago.

NARRATOR: And the hospital is still a home for retired service people to this very day.

It owes its centuries of existence to a nobleman of the 16th century Elizabethan period, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester.

GERALD LESINSKI: He was a friend of Queen Elizabeth, a close friend of Queen Elizabeth.

Oh.

A very, very close friend of Queen Elizabeth.

Say no more.

Lived up the road in Kenilworth.

Right.

And at the time, there was a problem with people like me.

I was a soldier for 35 years.

Back in those days, if you were disabled in the service of the queen, there was no pension or resettlement scheme.

So old warriors often became beggars, or vagrants, and a general pain in the backside to normal law-abiding citizens, who complained to the queen.

And she let it be known she expected her noblemen to do something about it.

And Sir Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, one of her close associates decided that he would.

So in 1571, he took over these old guild buildings and here, he established his shelter, his refuge.

NARRATOR: The hospital was first established to house 12 retired soldiers known as brothers, presided over by one master, the role that the lieutenant colonel takes today.

It might not be the most famous British institution for ex-service pensioners, but it's certainly one of its most venerable.

Nowadays, of course, we've got the Royal Hospital of Chelsea, which, of course, is much younger than us.

But we have married brothers, unlike, again, Chelsea, which we know very well.

We have married couples here.

So our little community here is about, I don't know, 20 strong.

And each of the brothers has a self-contained flat.

So has that always been the case?

Yes, we've always had married couples.

NARRATOR: And Robert Dudley set down more rules for life at the hospital, which are still followed today.

This is the chapel.

Beautiful.

Built in the 12th century, 1126.

Was it?

And one of the rules that Robert Dudley laid down when he found the place was that the master and the brothers should meet for prayers in the chapel every morning.

But the other thing about this chapel is there's no heating in here.

So you can probably imagine walking through that door in the winter.

Absolutely freezing.

It's like walking into a deep freeze.

And if you were watching, you'd see me shivering.

Is it a very quick prayer service?

Very quick.

You'll hear me leading the prayers like a machine gun.

Ba-da, ba-da, ba-da, ba!

To get through it as quickly as possible before we get hypothermia.

Amen.

NARRATOR: The brothers wear these traditional uniforms for high days and ceremonial events.

And it's they who staff and maintain these beautiful buildings and tend to visitors.

Brother Bill-- do I call you Brother Bill or is it Bill?

- Just Bill.

- Just Bill.

Bill, good to meet you.

So you're ex-- is it ex-Navy?

Navy.

Coming here, it's a fantastic place to live and work.

It keeps the gray matter going.

And what's your name, sir?

Albert.

How long have you been here for, Albert?

Uh, I'd say 21st year.

Just starting.

Brother John, what attracted you to be in the hospital?

I think the main single reason is I felt that it allowed us, my wife and I, to take a step closer to history, because this place is steeped in history.

NARRATOR: It certainly is.

But it's time for Sister Catherine to be on her way.

It's been lovely to meet you all.

So thank you very much, indeed.

You're very welcome.

Nice to see you.

And thank you for sharing your stories.

Yes.

NARRATOR: Now, Charles has traveled on to the town of Henley-in-Arden, where he's about to trip off into Henley Vintage and Interiors.

Always on the run, Charles.

Hello, ladies.

How are you?

- Hello.

Hi.

- Charles Hanson.

- Hi.

Christine.

- Hi, Christine.

And?

- Julie.

Hi.

Good to see you.

What a lovely shop.

Thank you.

And walking through Henley, there's such style.

And, again, you have great style.

You know, I almost feel-- Thank you.

I almost feel slightly alien being from Derbyshire that I'm not quite dressed the occasion.

You look lovely.

Well, thank you very much.

NARRATOR: I say.

Are you quite finished fishing for compliments, Charles?

You'd better pull your socks up and get on the hunt.

All I can see in here, already, is a nice array of silver.

Um, is it your-- It isn't, but I'm more than happy to open it up for you.

Oh, thank very much.

And are you always open to some degree of negotiation?

As long as you're kind.

Oh, I'm-- NARRATOR: Always, Christine, always.

[INAUDIBLE] old pails.

Yes.

Are they silver?

I believe they are.

Let's just open up and have a look.

But these are lovely, Christine.

Oh, god, they're really nice.

NARRATOR: That's a set of four silver seasoning dishes, or salts, bearing a Victorian hallmark, and the monogram of their original owner, and are very sweet.

Here, we've got W Hound Esquire.

And we've got the hallmarks on there for London.

It's a young sovereign head, so we know they're about 1884.

Have they been here a while?

- No.

They're lovely.

So four of those-- Yes?

--how much could they be?

You had-- 50 pounds on them.

What's your offer, Charles?

Well, I was going to say to you, Christine, whether I could buy them at 10 pounds apiece and go in at 40 pounds?

42?

I'll happily buy them-- Lovely.

--for 42 pounds.

Thank you.

- Thank you very-- - I've just bought-- Oh!

Let's spread them around.

- There we go.

I caught one.

I almost caught it.

I was in the slips and, um-- right, there we go.

It's OK.

I used to play cricket, you know, so I just caught it as it came off the foot.

NARRATOR: Well done, Charles.

We'll make a wicket-keeper of you yet.

Bye.

Bye.

NARRATOR: And with that, we're quite hit for six at the end of a jam-packed first day on the trip, so nighty night, you two.

But the morning finds these two back in the MG and getting along as swimmingly as ever.

- Hi there.

- Get off.

- How are you?

- Get off!

Let's stay together.

You're a bit closer for my liking.

Well, thanks a lot!

This is my impression of you, Charles.

What is that?

You're kind of like a little-- Mutt?

I don't know what you are.

You're like a little-- - Weasel?

Yeah.

Thank you very much.

NARRATOR: So far, Charles has squirreled away three lots, the little porcelain plaque, the polished steel footman, and the set of four salts.

He still has 563 pounds and 98 pence for the day ahead.

- Bye bye.

- Thank you.

Bye bye.

NARRATOR: Which is a lot of dough.

While Catherine also has three lots, the miniature sedan chair, the letter rack, and the Belfast sink.

She still has 127 pounds and 30 P in her coin purse.

Do you feel in our week thus far we've grown quite close together?

No.

NARRATOR: Don't quarrel, now.

Yeah, of course, we have.

NARRATOR: That's better.

This morning, Catherine's beginning her buying in the pretty Cotswold town of Chipping Campden.

You are going to be chipping away.

I am chipping away at Chipping Campden.

Now, you can't get a better England than this.

Good luck.

And don't miss me too much, OK?

Don't what?

Don't miss me too much.

Oh, gosh, I won't miss you.

Oh, thanks.

I thought you, like, miss me.

No, I am not going to miss you, Charles.

You're an uptown girl in Chipping Campden.

See you later.

Ah, this doesn't look promising.

This is not good.

It's closed.

And there is no sign of life, so I'm going to get coffee.

NARRATOR: While Catherine has some well-deserved quiet time, Charles is driving onwards, and hopefully upwards.

I just found-- I think Catherine has left some sandals in the car.

And actually, they are quite stylish.

They've got a certain vintage retro look.

I reckon based on the fact-- I mean, they are a bit outdated, but I'm sure they'll make between 10 and 15 pounds at auction.

And if I get a bit stuck later, I might even put them to the sale myself.

NARRATOR: Let's hope it doesn't come to that for Catherine's sake, at least.

Gorgeous.

In Chipping Campden, we're now open for business.

And Catherine has her coffee, and is just about to stroll into Stuart House Antiques to meet Rachel.

Where's Stuart, love?

Come in.

We are open.

Good morning!

Good morning!

Welcome to Chipping Campden.

Thank you.

And you are?

I'm Rachel.

Nice to meet you.

Rachel, lovely to meet you.

NARRATOR: Catherine will scour this jam-packed place for buys, and she will, you know.

I get this.

I've never seen so many ceramics.

Plate, plates, plates, plates.

Cups, cups, cups.

NARRATOR: Crikey.

But upstairs, there's a collection of ceramics that might just signal the hunt's over.

Rachel?

Yeah?

Can I just ask you, you've got a lot more of this hunting, uh, the hunting china here.

Yeah.

The Crown Staffordshire.

Crown Staffordshire was a ceramic maker whose origins date back to the mid-1800s.

The set Catherine has alighted on hails from the 1930s, decorated with hunting scenes.

Rather jolly.

It's quite fun, isn't it?

- It is quite fun.

- Yeah.

I wouldn't buy the whole lot.

I haven't got the money to buy the whole lot.

But something like the sugar bowl and the jug, would you sell those two?

Yes.

NARRATOR: Combined ticket price on those is 66 pounds.

But what might Rachel accept?

I'd let you have for 25.

For the two?

For the two.

Should I go for a cup and saucer as well and do a whole kind of-- Nice little set, wouldn't it?

NARRATOR: Catherine's adding a cup saucer and tea plate set to the bundle.

But what could Rachel do on those and the cream jug and sugar bowl?

I'd be able to have one, two, and three for 30 pounds.

What about 35?

- I'm going to shake your hand-- - Good.

Thanks, Catherine.

--at 35 because I really like that.

And I hope you do like really well on that.

Yeah.

NARRATOR: So Catherine has her quarry, and she's cantering off.

[MUSIC - ELVIS PRESLEY, "HOUND DOG"] SONG: (SINGING) You ain't nothing but a hound dog.

NARRATOR: Meanwhile, Charles is heading for the environs of the town of Moreton-in-Marsh.

This morning, dog lover Charles has come here to learn the fascinating story of some of the nation's favorite dog breeds.

He's meeting breeder, Gay Robertson.

- Good morning.

- How are you?

I'm fine.

Nice to meet you.

Good to see you.

I'm Charles Hanson.

And who is your friend beside you?

- This is Fickle.

- Hello, Fickle.

Good to see you, Fickle.

Hello.

I won't bite.

NARRATOR: I should hope not, Charles.

Gay breeds, shows, and races whippets, like Fickle, and is something of an authority on the fascinating history of racing dogs like whippets and greyhounds.

These sighthounds were bred over centuries to chase small prey like hare by sight rather than by smell, as breeds like foxhounds and beagles.

Sighthounds have been raised in Britain for many centuries.

Really, in this country, we started with the Romans.

Right.

And the Romans, who used them for sport.

The sport entailed the dogs chasing the hare not to catch it, but to see which dog was the fastest.

And that's been true ever since.

NARRATOR: This sport was known as hare coursing, and was popular in Britain down the ages.

It found particular favor with the aristocracy of the 16th century when Queen Elizabeth I took an interest.

GAY ROBERTSON: The Duke of Norfolk was told by Queen Elizabeth I to draw up a complete set of rules for the sport.

And it's because betting figured very, very heavily, and you don't want somebody saying it's not fair, you know.

[LAUGHS] No, you don't, do you?

It had to be absolutely which dog could run fastest, turn the hare most often, and score the most points.

NARRATOR: This made for a great spectator sport, popular for centuries and regularly drew large crowds to coursing events.

In the 19th century, the banks closed for the Waterloo Cup, for instance.

Wow.

Such was the popularity of greyhound?

The whole thing was very popular.

NARRATOR: Although today, we might most associate the Greyhound breed with dog racing, the similar but smaller whippet was also very popular, particularly in working-class mining areas of the 19th century.

In the north, animals in Wales, as you know, mining was a big thing, and whippets were more user-friendly than greyhounds.

I mean, you can have a whippet or two in your house and there's room.

They did take great care of them because to win a race with a whippet could earn you more than you earned in a week.

[MUSIC - FLORENCE + THE MACHINE, "DOG DAYS ARE OVER"] NARRATOR: Nowadays, of course, dogs don't chase a live hare but rather a mechanized lure, as all of Gay's whippets have been trained to do.

This taps into the dog's instinct to pursue with no risks to wildlife.

I think the hooligan, he's the quickest, almost quick as me.

Come on.

So this activity is all part of their training.

It keeps them in good shape, then?

It keeps them in good shape and they just love to do it.

It's all about looking at antiques, and always look at the bottom shelf first.

Keep your head down.

Just stay with the object.

And then towards the finishing line, if it's worth buying, get it bought and hit that finish line.

OK?

Frank, pack it in.

Whoops!

NARRATOR: Charles is done!

Oh, lord.

I was taken down by a whippet.

Go!

Go on, go!

Come on, faster!

SONG: (SINGING) Run for children, for your sisters and brothers!

NARRATOR: Look at them go!

Oh!

SONG: (SINGING) You can't carry it with you if you want to survive.

Oh, the dog days are over.

The dog days are done.

Can you hear the horses?

Come on, Morgan.

Bring it home.

Imagine that's Catherine Southon, OK?

NARRATOR: Oh, Charles.

Get set, go!

He's off, he's off!

Look at their speed.

Incredible!

It's like lightning across a field.

Come on!

Oh, uh, I've lost my dog now.

NARRATOR: Once Charles catches up, it's time to hit the road.

CHARLES HANSON: I've been delighted to be here, so thank you so much, Gay.

It's been such a revelation, and I shall not forget today.

NARRATOR: In the meantime, Catherine's moved on to the town of Burford, where she's still on the hunt for another item with her remaining 92 pounds and 30 pence.

That's 325 pounds, so I'm not buying it.

My goodness.

1920s French grape-pickers bins.

So this is going to come around like this.

You put your grapes in there.

That's incredible.

NARRATOR: But this grape bin is ticketed at around 200 pounds, more than double what Catherine has remaining.

Let's leave her to look for lower hanging fruit.

Meanwhile, Charles has trodded off to the town of Evesham, where he's wandered into his next shop.

Time for antiquing.

NARRATOR: And it's a familiar sort of place.

I've been here before.

Good to see you.

- Hi.

Hello, Charles.

Yes, you have been here before.

- I forgot your name.

- Andy.

Good to see you.

It was about two years ago?

Yup.

I came to [INAUDIBLE] antique center and bought quite well.

You did.

NARRATOR: Well, that sounds dandy, Andy.

Let's hope Charles can repeat that success.

What a chair.

I've been looking out for a chair.

NARRATOR: Oh, lord, Charles.

This might be interesting.

It's in one piece.

The only reason this jumped out at me is it's a survivor.

It's made of timber, which can be easily burnt.

And on many great bonfires of stately homes in the 20th century, this sort of tire chair would have been, I suppose, put to that bonfire.

But you'll see it has this beautiful shaped apron back with these scrolls.

This beautiful tired rush back.

These wonderful arms.

And when you just rest your arms on these rests, you almost close your eyes and you're in a time warp.

Don't you?

Yeah.

NARRATOR: This chair's certainly seen its fair share of life.

It's been extensively repaired over the years, but its bones look true and ancient.

I'm fairly confident in saying it would date to around 1700.

Yep.

Oh.

Would you agree?

I would agree, yep.

It's somewhere, uh, give or take, a couple of years.

NARRATOR: Ticket price on the armchair is a hefty 240 pounds.

Be careful, Charles.

What could it be?

We could take that down to half price.

Dear me.

That's it.

It goes in eventually.

Has it been here a long time?

Yes, it has.

Um.

So that's often a bad sign, isn't it?

So your very, very best price would be?

100.

I can't go any lower.

May I give it some thought?

Yeah.

NARRATOR: So Charles will ponder that offer at a cool 100 pounds and browse on.

Back in Burford, though, Catherine has just about exhausted her options.

There is an awful lot to see and there's some beautiful pieces, but it's just not for me.

The prices are just way, way over what I have.

NARRATOR: It's lovely stock, but for another day.

Back in Evesham, Charles has spotted something else with an intriguing past.

Just down here.

What I'm looking at now is just a very, very nice microscope.

NARRATOR: This Victorian brass example was made by Bryson of Edinburgh, a quality maker of clocks and instruments from the very heyday of the gentleman scientist.

What's attractive is this microscope comes in its original fitted box, there we are, with its divisions and original slides.

NARRATOR: There's no ticket price on it, but there is another smaller microscope here, too.

This one isn't so good.

Another fairly simple microscope.

Andy, how much could the two be together?

Can I get 25 for the pair?

Golly.

Tempting.

I mean-- Very tempting.

NARRATOR: And his beloved ancient chair is still offered at around 100.

It's "make your mind up" time, [INAUDIBLE]..

I'm going to take him with me, and hopefully impress Catherine by what will be the earliest item I bought so far, mind you.

It's just a wonderful chair.

NARRATOR: And the microscopes?

Anyway, I think for 25 pounds, I'll take them.

- Yeah.

- Thanks a lot.

Right.

And I'm delighted with those two purchases.

I really feel I'm spent.

NARRATOR: Spent out or spent up?

We all are, Charles.

We all are.

As well as the chair and the microscopes, Charles has the porcelain plaque, the polished steel footman, and the set of four salts.

He spent 222 pounds exactly.

While Catherine has the miniature sedan chair, the French letter rack, the Belfast sink, and the collection of Crown Staffordshire.

She spent a total of 115 pounds.

But what do they make of each other's hauls?

I do love that miniature sedan chair.

It's a really good object, Catherine.

I think for 35 pounds, it could make 100 pounds.

So good job.

I cannot tell you how devastated I am that Charles has bought those four salts in the shape of pails for 42 pounds.

It pains me to even think about them.

They are amazing.

Catherine is a very decorative lady.

She's quite calculating.

She has a scientific mind.

And almost, she is my Queen Catherine.

I'm King Charles.

And hopefully the next auction won't be off with my head.

NARRATOR: On this leg of the trip, they began in Long Marston and now aiming for auction in the Shropshire town of Newport, a handsome market town that seems just the place to hawk their wares.

But sad news.

Things have taken an unexpected turn this morning.

Unfortunately, Charles has been detained on urgent family business, so he can't make the auction today.

Catherine is driving solo.

I know I do moan about him.

I actually quite miss Charles.

It's not the same without him.

It's kind of-- what can I say-- quiet.

It's too peaceful.

NARRATOR: But we wouldn't want things to get too quiet, so an old pal will step into the breach to rally Charles's lots along.

Hello there, legendary road-tripper.

It's Phil Serrell.

- Hello!

- Hello.

How are you?

I'm good.

Do you think my parking has improved?

Oh, it's unbelievably good.

Thank you for stepping in.

They wanted someone with Charlie's disposition.

You know, happy, smiley, effervescent, bubbly.

Here I am.

[LAUGHS] Come on.

How are you?

NARRATOR: Catherine and Philip are strolling into Brettells Auctioneers, where appropriately presides auctioneer David Brettell.

Before the off, what does he make of our lot?

Starting at 48.

The copper and brass French letter-holder, that's got a good look.

It's quirky.

It's interesting.

It's useful.

Of all of the things, that's one that I would think will attract most interest.

The chair's certainly an early chair.

Do I think if it's 16th, 17th century?

I wouldn't go that far.

It's been a good chair, don't get me wrong.

It's been a good chair, but it needs a lot a lot of work.

And age doesn't mean value.

NARRATOR: But Philip's now had a chance to scout out Charles's items too.

Well, your little plaque here, and that's cost Charles Hanson 25 pounds.

That'll do really well.

NARRATOR: Well, that's very promising.

As the sale kicks off, and with internet bidding as well.

Excited?

I'm very excited.

I guess I'm totally clueless because I haven't done this before.

[LAUGHS] NARRATOR: Come, come now, Philip, you're a seasoned veteran.

Charles couldn't have anyone better in his corner.

First off, it's Charles' and Philip's two microscopes.

Can they scope out some cash?

30 on the net.

30 pounds bid.

See, I'm into profit straight away, aren't I?

- All right.

- Aren't I?

All right.

We've got 37 on the net now.

37.

42 on the net.

Five on the net.

45 bid.

45.

48.

48.

Nobody in the room.

I sell this time at 48.

NARRATOR: That scores an enlarged profit for team Charles and Phil.

We're all pleased for Charlie.

Charlie who?

Charlie/Phil.

Charlie?

He had no input on those.

I bought those.

NARRATOR: Hey, I'm sure you bought them in spirit, Philip.

Next, it's one for Catherine, as her Belfast sink meets the room.

We go 10, 12, 15, 18, 20 pound bid.

Two, five, eight.

30 pound bid.

30 pound bid.

30 pounds.

We got 32.

- Keep going.

Five.

Eight.

40 pound bid.

Rubbish thing?

I knew this would make money.

Didn't I say it all the time?

It made a good profit.

Just shush.

NARRATOR: Can't say I heard you, Philip.

It will be sold.

Hammers up.

Anybody else going?

At 40 pounds.

Yes!

NARRATOR: No sinking feeling for Catherine as that earns her a nice little bundle.

I learned from you.

I learnt it all from you.

Oh!

I don't know about that.

NARRATOR: Lordy, they are getting on well.

Now, it's Charles's big gamble, the chair with some real age, but needs a lot of restoration.

30 pounds?

20 pounds?

[INAUDIBLE] for nothing.

10 pounds?

NARRATOR: Oh, dear.

Should I put my hand up?

No.

NARRATOR: No, you can't.

10 pounds on the net.

12.

15.

15.

20 bid.

22.

22.

22, going to be sold.

Hammers up.

Show me now.

Charlie will be really upset.

Fair warning.

You know, I've never bought that.

Never ever, never bought that.

I don't know what on earth-- You changed your tune.

I don't know what possessed him to buy.

NARRATOR: Despite some 20-20 hindsight from Phillip, that's a stinging loss on a chair Charles loves.

Bad luck.

I feel sad for him because he really believed in that, really believed in that.

Let me tell you, it's a much better chair than 20 quid.

NARRATOR: Now, it's another for Catherine, as her collection of Crown Staffordshire goes hunting for profit.

Giddy up.

10 pounds here for the hunting.

Come on.

[INAUDIBLE] 10, 12, 15.

This is ridiculously cheap, you know.

It's ridiculously cheap.

Selling them.

I'm not selling them.

I'm giving it away, then.

He is giving it away.

At 15.

That is really, really cheap.

NARRATOR: Oh, chance for profit gallops off there.

Oh, well.

Here we go.

What's next?

NARRATOR: Glad you asked, Catherine.

It's Charles's set of four silver salts.

Can his seasoned stand-in, Philip, will them to a profit?

50 pounds for those?

[INAUDIBLE] They've got to make 100.

Well, 40, then?

It's only a tenner each.

40.

Thank you, Bill.

40 pound bid.

40 pounds I got.

[INAUDIBLE] 100.

45.

50.

50 pounds bid.

50 pounds I got.

Five.

WOMAN: 60.

DAVID BRETTELL: 60.

60 pounds.

Five.

Hammers up.

70.

70 pounds right there.

Five.

75.

No, he says.

75 bid.

I think these are for nothing.

DAVID BRETTELL: 75 bid on the internet.

Me too.

Quickly round at 75.

NARRATOR: It's a decent profit, but our experts hoped for more.

To be honest, they should have made 100 pounds.

They're really nice.

Yeah.

NARRATOR: I agree.

Another chance to give Catherine a bit of a lift now, as her miniature sedan chair is up.

Nice little display for 50.

Good thing.

Come on.

[INAUDIBLE] 60.

Yes!

Five in the room.

65 bid.

65.

Oh, this is my only chance.

70.

Five.

Come on, this is a good thing.

I'm setting at 75.

80 on the net.

85.

85 bid.

85.

90.

Yes!

100.

Yes!

100 pounds in the room.

I'm selling in the room at 100.

All done at 100.

I still don't think that was that dear.

Oh, just shush.

I'm happy for that.

I don't NARRATOR: As well you might be, Catherine.

Another splendid profit, darling.

Thanks.

You bring good luck, good luck.

My little leprechaun.

NARRATOR: We should get him a hat!

Another for team Charles and Philip now, as the 19th century polish steel footman will try to ignite some interest.

Bid.

10 pounds at bid.

10.

12.

15.

18.

20 on my left.

Sat down here, 20 pounds.

You're right, 20 pounds bid.

20 pounds I got.

20 pounds to you on the net.

- On the internet.

22.

Five on the net.

25 bid on the net now.

28 on the net.

Hammers up, then.

All done.

Round we go.

Quickly round at 28.

Little-- a little loss.

A smidge.

NARRATOR: Sadly, that lights no fires for Charles.

I'm quite happy for you to come on again.

I'm just thinking that I can rent myself out to all the other road trippers, couldn't I?

You know.

If anybody's having a really bad day or a good day, get Phil in.

Yeah.

NARRATOR: Now, it's the little French letter rack that Catherine felt had some je ne sais quoi.

[INAUDIBLE] bid.

50 pounds on the net.

50 pounds I got.

No.

50 pounds I got.

Five.

55 bid.

55 I got.

55, lovely thing.

60 on the net.

- 60?

Yeah.

Where did that come from?

NARRATOR: A bidder, Catherine.

--bid now.

[INAUDIBLE] 65 bid.

We've got the two internets playing each other here.

70.

At 70 pounds bid.

70 pounds up to you.

Five for UK auctioneers.

Ooh!

At 75 bid.

70.

80.

Back to sale room at 80 pounds bid.

80 pounds.

Five.

85 bid.

85.

I wish Charles was here to see this, because I always lose money when I'm with Charles.

100 on the net.

100 pounds bid.

100 pounds got.

10.

110 bid.

110.

110 [INAUDIBLE]?

Is he on the same lot [INAUDIBLE]??

120 bid.

120 got.

120 [INAUDIBLE].

Selling at 120.

Yes!

Thank you so much.

NARRATOR: That really was something to write home about.

I do really like you, Phil.

DAVID BRETTELL: 60 on the net.

NARRATOR: Now, it's Charles' and, indeed, Philip's very last shot at a profit.

The little porcelain plaque.

100 pounds for it.

100 bid on the net.

100 pounds bid.

[INAUDIBLE] DAVID BRETTELL: 100 pounds got.

110.

There may be trouble.

[HUMMING] Shh!

30.

40.

140 on the net.

Well, at least he's kind of making it up for the chair.

140 on the net now.

Nobody in the room.

140 bid.

140.

Going to be sold this time.

140 pounds, then, bid.

140.

Hammer is up.

At 140 pounds.

Anybody on the UK auctioneer one?

At 140 pounds.

Hammers up.

Going to be sold.

All done.

Anybody else?

140.

He's done brilliantly on that.

He'll be happy.

[INAUDIBLE] make money.

Yeah.

And you would have bought that, wouldn't you?

Yeah, yeah, I would've.

NARRATOR: Oh, yeah, yeah.

Well, that's a winner that's almost heaven-sent to help the absent Charles on his last lot.

Philip was right about that.

So let's do the math.

Charles, ably-assisted by Philip, started this leg with 660 pounds and 98 pence.

He made a profit of 34 pounds and 66 pence, meaning he has 695 pounds and 64 Pence to carry forward.

While Catherine put a little bit of a dent in his lead in this sale.

She started with 270 pounds and 30 P. She made a profit, though, of 110 pounds and 50 pence, which is magnificent!

So she has 317 pounds and 80 pence in her coffers, and is today's winner!

So all that remains is to pass on the good news to Charles.

This is exciting.

CHARLES HANSON (ON VOICEMAIL): You've reached the voicemail for Charles Hanson.

[BEEP] NARRATOR: [LAUGHS] I'm sure they'll catch him before the next leg.

[MUSIC PLAYING]