Voiceover (VO): It's the nation's favorite antiques experts... What about that!

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

Can I buy everything here?

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

But it's no mean feat.

Feeling a little saw!

This is going to be an epic battle.

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

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

The honeymoon is over.

I'm sorry!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

VO: It's the last day of the Road Trip for our two antiques aficionados.

It's been great fun.

We've had our highs and lows.

I don't know what I'm going to do without you Charles.

Ditto, ditto.

VO: Auctioneer Mark Stacey has learnt that to beat his opposition he needs to change tactics.

Right get up those stairs.

Get up...

Sorry!

VO: His rival, auctioneer Charles Hanson, makes sure he's always ready for the battle ahead.

Sometimes, Mark, you've got to be strong-armed in the auction.

VO: Both experts began their week with £200.

On their final day, there is well over £200 between them.

Despite Mark gaining ground at the last auction, he's still only on £232.08.

Although Charles only earned a small profit, when added to his previous totals, he's still way ahead on £470.08.

They began the week with a mission - to put the A into antiques.

Mark's largely stuck to that aim, but Charles, as usual has done his own thing.

Charles, of course, the burning question on the nation's lips is - who has put the A in antiques?

I think, Mark... You're right.

It's Mark.

You're absolutely right.

CHARLES: If I were to be really honest, it's you.

I know that, Charles.

VO: Not that that's got him very far!

The fellas have been touring the country in a 1973 convertible VW Beetle, but like all good things, the road trip must come to an end.

So what's the plan for the grand finale?

The last buy day, for me, is always the most ferocious and the most nervewracking.

Is it?

My tactics are to not hold back.

VO: We've heard that one before, where Charles is going for broke then spends less than a third of his budget.

My tactics are actually to try and maintain the very modest profit I've made so far.

So I will still be trying to look for that one thing that might just make a spectacular profit.

VO: Aren't we all!

The chaps are nearing the end of their extraordinary expedition from the north of England, down through the east with a lot of wiggling up and down and round the country in a giant loop the loop, finishing in Flintshire in Wales.

The final leg starts in Weston Heath in Shropshire and ends at auction in Mold, Flintshire.

To me, Shropshire is fashionably quite cultured but also completely unspoiled and I think untapped.

VO: Which could be good news for Mark as his first shopping stop is in the midst of Shropshire's stunning countryside.

Here we are, Charles.

Excellent, Mark.

VO: This family-run business based in converted farm buildings specializes in antique clocks, barometers and furniture.

Tim Dams runs the 12 showrooms containing about 2,000 items.

Wow.

Let the challenge begin.

VO: Pressure's on for Mark today to stand a chance of even nearing Charles' total.

It's a fabulous shop.

I mean, I haven't been in a shop like this for years.

I have actually found a pair of candlesticks here.

They're very simple.

They're reeded column form, with stepped bases and stepped tops.

They've got a sort of arts and crafts look about them.

And I think they're quite fun, but the interesting thing is they're marked up at £18.

VO: Not exactly breaking the bank but something with potential for profit so time to get Tim involved... Hi again Tim.

Great name!

I think I've probably found the most boring thing in your shop.

Right.

And they don't fit in with your stock at all.

No.

You know where I'm going with this.

Pair of candlesticks.

You know where I'm going here, don't you?

That's probably the best £10 you'll ever spend.

Do you know, I think we've got a deal already.

They're just different and...

They're different and for £10 I really can't go wrong.

Big round of applause I think.

VO: He's pleased with himself and has bagged the pair of oak reeded and stepped candlesticks.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

VO: Meanwhile Charles has headed east to Cannock in Staffordshire.

And he's decided to call the auction house to see if they can give him a steer on what to buy.

So, metal wares, brass wares, silver, then China, then furniture.

So really anything for this next auction goes.

VO: A somewhat blank canvas for your first shop then Charles.

Thank you.

Hi!

VO: Grandad's Loft is a rather quirky affair - specializing in taxidermy, antique dolls and bears and gothic skulls and jewelry.

It's manned today by Nathan Barry who's been collecting for several years.

What a wonderful shop you've got.

Thank you.

My name's Charles.

Nathan.

Hi Nathan.

Goodness me, you sell all sorts, do you?

Bit of everything, yeah.

Can I leave my hat...

I'll leave my hat on him, OK?

Thanks a lot.

OK, I'll see you in a second.

Goodness me that's quite frightening isn't it?

VO: It's just a slit of the tongue - ha!

It's not your average antiques shop, but then Charles isn't your average antiques expert.

And 'unusual' can sell well at auction.

Nathan, I do quite like this, the melodist record player over here.

Is it in working order?

Yes.

Can we play a record?

VO: Out of the way little fella!

OK. Let's wind it up.

(JAZZ MUSIC) VO: My God, as an ex-Strictly Come Dancer, I know they wouldn't be getting ten from Len!

I'll let you take it off for me.

Sorry!

There we go.

As an object it's complete, it's 1930s... NATHAN: Yes.

It's got a good square sarcophagus topping, in good condition, what would be your very best price?

100.

If I said to you, here's 40, is there a profit in it for you?

Not at that, no.

I was thinking more towards say 60.

I like it but I don't think it will make much money.

I'm going to make a mental note of that, have a walk round, see if I see anything else.

VO: While Charles has been eyeing up the weird and wonderful, Mark has been careering towards Cosford, an area known for its RAF base for over three quarters of a century.

Mark's here to find out about MI9 - a top secret unit set up at the start of the Second World War.

It addressed the increasing need to expand Britain's military intelligence services.

MI9 specialized in helping to prevent capture and in aiding the escape of our servicemen in enemy occupied territory.

Using innovative techniques we'd associate with James Bond, they helped save the lives of around 35,000 service personnel.

Mark's come to hear more from the museum's aviation historian.

Hello Ross!

ROSS: Hi Mark.

MARK: Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

VO: Around 170,000 British servicemen were incarcerated in prisoner of war camps by German and Italian forces during World War II.

Although camp conditions were difficult, detainees were allowed to carry out activities and receive packages.

This gave MI9 the opportunity to send in contraband.

I've heard of MI5, but not MI9.

What is it?

MI9 is essentially the organization set up in December 1939 to aid captured airmen, but also captured army personnel and naval personnel.

MARK: So all our armed forces were trained by MI9, is that right?

Yeah.

So you get a process whereby principally what MI9 do is they go and provide lectures to the services.

Some of the methods are very basic.

The descriptions given to officers in 1940 and 1941 are like, "Try to look German".

Yes.

But then as the war goes on it becomes more detailed.

They are given intelligence on best routes out.

And the maps they are providing of which we have an example here are very detailed.

And I suppose as the war went on the boffins created these little ways of concealing items and developing what you needed to help you escape.

Yeah, absolutely.

VO: MI9 produced around one million maps.

They were made from lightweight cloth so it was silent when unfolded to avoid detection.

They not only needed inventive ways to hide the maps like secret pockets, soles of shoes, or even sports equipment, but they also needed to get them to the men.

So these were sent in to the camps?

Yeah.

Things like table tennis.

Yeah.

So you'd get gifts being sent into the camps.

MARK: Via the Red Cross?

ROSS: No.

Not usually.

They'd create something so for example the Authors' Society doesn't exist, but goes in.

And the Germans are searching about one in three packages by 1944 that are going into the camps.

But of course it's a numbers game so if enough is being sent in, this material is being used by the escape committee.

These compasses are rather ingenious.

Those were in the actual RAF buttons.

Yes.

The compass is the most vital bit of the kit, alongside food.

VO: Once the men had managed to escape, they needed to fit in within enemy territory.

And the boots here.

I mean, obviously these come in sections.

Why is this here?

Obviously civilians do not wear boots like this in general, so you need a pair of shoes.

So the escape aid here is that there's a knife inside here and you can cut off the suede and fur lining section which actually together form a waistcoat.

It certainly wouldn't fit my svelte waist.

No.

Nor mine.

I mean these little ingenious gadgets I suppose you'd call them are very sort of James Bond-ish aren't they?

Yeah.

VO: MI9 was a made up of a small team of staff, initially based in London.

One of their main tricks of getting contraband through the rigorous German camp security was to hide it amongst everyday items, and in only around a third of the parcels sent in.

So we've got a bog standard comb here, but actually hidden inside it is a razor saw.

So you break it open and once you have escaped, you can use the saw for cutting wood, keeping fire and so forth.

MARK: The record again I'm guessing must open and reveal something inside that would be useful to them?

Yeah, there's a little section inside that holds monies.

Which of course is vital if you want to get through the country, if you want to buy food, or if you buy a train ticket, whatever it is.

ROSS: Absolutely.

VO: This small, dedicated and resourceful unit made a huge contribution to the Allies' war effort.

They not only helped thousands of men return home safely, but also equipped many more with training and tools to prevent capture.

MI9 was disbanded after the war, but many of their techniques became a vital part of intelligence training, some of which are still being used by the armed services today.

It's been fascinating for me Ross, and thank you so much for showing me around.

Thank you.

VO: Back in Cannock, Charles has been busy perusing the curious curios on offer.

What I find do do quite well at auction are top hats.

NATHAN: I have actually got the case for the one... Oh, have you?

Oh, brilliant.

Wowee!

Sometimes, Nathan, what I find at auction is the cases really help in value.

Yeah.

Where'd did it come from?

It was actually someone who brought it into the shop and... Wow!

Just having a bit of a clear out.

Wonderful.

So there's the case and it's marked 'RFW'.

That may have been the owner's initials.

It's a beautiful tooled leather case.

It's a bit tired but it's all there.

What we're looking at is a late Victorian, probably circa 1895/1900 child's top hat.

NATHAN: How does £30 sound for you?

Could you get any lower, or not?

I could do 25.

Yeah, I'll take it.

£25.

Give me a high five.

Thanks a lot.

Job done.

Now, the gramophone player, your best on that would be?

Would you meet me halfway at £50?

I would want to pay maximum about £45.

And if that's not quite there, it doesn't matter.

It can stay here.

But that's where I am.

NATHAN: I'll take you up on that, yeah.

I think for £45 it's not a bad price I'll take it, thanks a lot.

VO: He certainly drives a hard bargain!

Charles has managed to get a very charitable £60 discount, snapping up the art deco gramophone for £45 and the Victorian top hat for £25.

So, don't forget your hat, Charles!

Thanks a lot.

All the best to you.

NATHAN: Thank you.

CHARLES: Take care.

Ta ra!

Bye!

VO: And that's the fellas' penultimate shopping day over so off to beddy byes both of you!

The chaps are up with the larks and Charles is back behind the wheel of the 1973 VW Beetle.

The end is nigh.

Charles, the show is over now.

The curtain's falling.

VO: And Mark's suffered enough losses, for a while anyway.

I'm still convinced that you've been the most unluckiest man ever on the Road Trip.

But that's the highs and lows.

We took the blows didn't we Charles?

Yeah, yeah.

And we've enjoyed ourselves.

VO: Well that's the main thing!

Yesterday Charles took a walk on the wild side, spending £70 on an art deco gramophone and a Victorian top hat, leaving him with a whopping £400.08 still to spend.

Mark only spent a tenner on a pair of reeded candlesticks, so he's also got a fair whack left - £222.08 to be precise.

There once was a man called Mark, who got up every day with the lark, he went for a bargain, and got into trouble, got into a muddle, and made losses.

That's possibly the worse limerick I've ever heard in my life.

VO: I'd have to agree After kicking off their route in Weston Heath in Shropshire, they're now progressing towards Leek in Staffordshire.

It's been a market town since King John granted rights to hold the weekly event in the early 13th century.

Now it also boasts a number of antiques shops.

Oh, Charles!

See you, Mark.

Take care.

Good luck.

Bye.

VO: Mark's come to a place specializing in English and European country furniture, decorative items and unique objects, run by dealer of 20 years, Jo Johnson.

Hi Jo.

Hello, we've met before, haven't we?

We have, definitely.

How are you?

I'm very well, thank you.

And you?

Nice to see you again VO: With his auction in north Wales in mind, Mark is still trying to continue his aim of putting the A into antiques.

JO: You're not looking for furniture, though, that's a nice box.

It's quite pretty isn't it actually?

JO: It actually came from Wales.

This is a tea caddy.

When you open it up it's unfortunately lost the interior side of it and you would have had your little compartments for green and black tea or whatever flavors you wanted.

And I suppose it dates to, I dunno, 1840, 1850, something like that.

It's a little bit distressed, a little bit tired.

Now, there's no price on that.

It's £45.

Oooh!

And you're going to go, Oooh-oooh!

Right, that's what I just did.

You know me so well, you know me so well.

So...now you're going to have to go, oooh!

Am I?

I don't want to hurt you too much.

(WHISPERS) I so do!

VO: But he's not committing just yet, with a huge showroom still to explore.... All Mark's got for auction so far is a pair of wooden candlesticks.

These are quite rustic, but we've bought candlesticks already haven't we?

VO: Quite.

How about branching out a bit Mark?

Don't put all your eggs in one basket and all that.

What about that tea caddy?

What would be your very best price on the box?

JO: 25.

And that'll mean a divorce.

Yeah, but I'll always be here for you.

JO: Will you?

MARK: Yes.

Oh, that's so nice.

I'll always be here for you, particularly if we could do it for 20.

OK. Can we?

Thank you.

VO: Mark's innate charm has managed to snatch him a great discount, having to plump up just £20 for the early Victorian marquetry tea caddy.

Thank you so much.

You're very welcome.

VO: Meanwhile Charles has taken the Beetle for a spin to Hanley in the heart of Stoke on Trent, an area affectionately known as the Potteries.

It was in the 18th century that it became the center of the English ceramics trade, and the region was changed forever.

Its massive impact is still felt today and is now known worldwide as the capital of ceramics.

Charles is here to meet curator of the Potteries Museum, Miranda Goodby.

CHARLES: Good morning.

MIRANDA: Good morning.

Great to see you.

I can't wait to come inside.

Lovely.

Come on.

Thank you.

That's very kind.

VO: In the once rural landscape of the 17th century, local farmers made pots to store their butter.

But as soil was poor and farming unprofitable, they began making pottery full time, using the wealth of natural resources at their fingertips.

What, Miranda, did Stoke offer to the potters?

What Stoke-on-Trent had got was clay and coal.

Right.

To turn that one tonne of clay into a tonne of pottery you need about seven tonnes of coal.

Right.

In the 17th century the potters were using local clay.

It's red and yellow.

Yeah.

The slipware was the main products at the time.

But it's in demand, they are well-made pots, well priced and they are being distributed across the country.

VO: The pots made were functional earthenware, but in the early 18th century, demand came for white ceramics, imitating Chinese porcelain.

White clay was shipped from southwest England to the Potteries - the center for the skills, with a workforce, distribution network, and more importantly the coal needed to produce white wares.

By that period what potters are doing is that they are aiming their wares firmly at middle-class, genteel households.

And of course, Miranda, back in the mid 18th century, the spark ignited in Stoke-on-Trent and there is one man really responsible for what the potteries became.

MIRANDA: Josiah Wedgwood.

He manages to draw together the technical improvements, the commercial and the marketing improvements, even the layout of his factory and the workforce.

And really that's the foundation of the industry as you find it from then on.

He was quite a savvy man, wasn't he?

Incredibly.

VO: Josiah Wedgwood was born into a family of potters in 1730, the youngest of 12 children.

After getting experience of the craft, he set up his own business in 1759.

He was a pioneer who transformed English pottery from a cottage industry into a successful global business producing works of art.

What made Josiah that man we all bow to today?

He was able to see the whole picture.

He wasn't just a potter.

He realized that what he needed to do was to get his wares to the right market.

One of his brothers was a merchant in London and Josiah asks him to go to the palace and present a set of Josiah's creamware to the new Queen Charlotte.

And Queen Charlotte allows Josiah to call himself potter to Her Majesty.

CHARLES: And of course it became known as Queen's Ware.

MIRANDA: Absolutely.

VO: By the 1760s, Wedgwood was employing - both directly and indirectly - a couple of hundred people, housing some in new terraces on site.

One of the things he is very keen on is getting people to start at the right time, whether that is by ringing a bell, or blowing a horn.

Fascinating.

So what we have here is a horn that was blown to Wedgwood's workers to come back from play, to come back into work.

Yes.

That's wonderful.

What an object.

VO: There seemed to be no limits to his talent, and in 1773 Josiah Wedgwood even invented a new type of pottery made from barium sulphate.

CHARLES: And of course later on his other important innovation was Jasper Ware.

Yes.

It's a fine white stoneware usually dyed to a pale blue.

Initially he starts producing little medallions, and imitations of antique cameos, but before long he is making vases, busts, tea wares.

Yes, and you have got this almost cameo oval here.

Yes.

Beautiful little piece, isn't it?

What's your best price?

Look at me Miranda, what's your best price?

VO: Don't even think about it!

Wedgwood was not only known as the 'Father of English potters' but he used his influence and connections to campaign against slavery along with his friend William Wilberforce.

He died in 1795, leaving his thriving business and vast fortune to his children, descendants of which are still involved in the family business today.

Miranda, it has been wonderful.

Thank you so much.

MIRANDA: It's been a pleasure.

I really, really enjoyed it.

Thanks a lot.

VO: In the meantime Mark has joined Charles in the Potteries, in the community of Cobridge.

The Potteries Antiques Centre is 25 years old, stocking a large collection of ceramics, jewelry, antiques and collectables.

Katy Buckley is holding the fort today.

MARK: Hello.

KATY: Hello.

I am Mark.

Hi Mark, I'm Katy.

Lovely to meet you, Katy.

And you.

I think we can tell we're in Stoke-On-Trent.

VO: The shop's extensive collection includes, of course, a huge amount of local pottery.

You know, I do want to buy a piece of pottery, because we are in the home of the British pottery industry.

VO: So what will he pick - Wedgwood, Minton, Moorcroft... Er...

Mark?!

Well, of course I said I was going to buy something pottery, and what could be more appropriate than a Victorian child's balloon back chair?!

VO: At least it's not a pair of candlesticks.

It's I mean basically a shrunken version of a balloon back chair.

It dates to around about 1890, but it was actually made for a child to sit on.

And I think that's quite quirky.

And, it is an antique.

But I need it to be a bit cheaper.

I mean, it is marked up at £75.

MARK: Kate?

KATY: Yes?

I have stumbled on something which is absolutely delightful but I need it to be terribly cheap.

Well, we have got £75 on it.

You have.

Make me an offer.

What would you...?

Well, I, it is going to be very mean though, Kate.

25.

Ooh, that is cheap, Mark.

Em... Would you say 30?

Would that be a fair...?

Could I put it to one side?

Certainly.

I think £30 is certainly a fair price.

OK. Fine... and then... Yeah, I'll put it down there.

You carry on.

And then we can come back to it alright?

VO: Perhaps a bit of pottery this time hey Mark?

This is em... ..Victorian garden seat, as we call it.

These would have been in a conservatory area.

This is certainly an antique, it was made around 1890.

It has got this nasty crack running right up the body here.

And the difficulty with a big crack is that it might actually carry on running.

And that is the only disappointment with this, really.

Otherwise I love the shape.

It's a very oriental shape.

VO: It's definitely ticking the pottery box and is made by local company Minton, but with a very dusty, faded ticket of £125 Mark's going to have to have lady luck on his side, well Katy anyway!

I do like the chair, and I like the garden seat.

Right.

What I am hoping for is to buy the two of them.

OK. Is there any way I can just twist you a little bit more and say 60 for the two?

Right.

MARK: Because of that crack, that is the only thing that is putting me off.

KATY: Yes, there is a crack...

But if you could do that I would be, I'd be really happy to take both of them.

OK. Let's have a deal then.

Are you sure?

Yep.

£60 then for the two.

Thank you so much, you're such a nice lady to me.

VO: And Mark's managed to lure himself another very kind discount, getting the Victorian child's chair and Minton garden seat for just £60.

Now let me give you some money before you change your mind.

There we are, £60.

Thank you.

Thank you again, Kate.

Thank you for having a deal.

I'm really grateful.

Thank you, Mark.

See you again.

VO: Charles has made his way half an hour west, to Nantwich in Cheshire.

The Tudor look of this lively market town is down to the kind donation of both money and timber from Queen Elizabeth I, after the great fire of 1583 destroyed many of the town's buildings.

With a little over £400 left to spend, it could be a very lucky day for Jeff Neve, owner of Timeless Treasures.

Good afternoon, sir.

How are you?

I am OK, how are you Charles?

That is a very dapper jacket you are wearing.

I don't know, what about this?

VO: Speaking of things that are hard to miss, Charles has found one out of the back of the shop.

You've got a pretty impressive lawnmower down here, haven't you?

Yeah.

In the actual compartment here, we've got the old Atco motor mower details.

I reckon this must date to about... ..what would it be, 1920s?

30s?

I would say so.

Jeff, it is quite light isn't it?

It is maneuverable.

Isn't that fantastic, Jeff?

Yeah.

How much is it?

It's 135.

Yeah.

What's your best?

95?

95.

May I just reserve this?

Yeah.

And then let me just think about it... Yeah.

..next door as I wander around further.

Yeah.

VO: Soon Charles spies another unusual lot.

What is down here is a very nice art deco lounge suite.

It comes with two armchairs and it is a real north/south divide.

In London a suite like this might make 450.

Here it says £95.

And it has got real style.

But then, is it the right thing for Flintshire?

VO: Well it's certainly a long way from London!

Ooh careful Charles.

Dear.

What a lovely clock.

This clock firstly is quite exotic because we have a rosewood veneer.

We have also got pewter stringing and at intervals we have little mother-of-pearl dots.

It may have had some degree of restoration.

It is also missing its glass cover.

But this is a true antique.

VO: And that will make Mark happy.

And it would date to around 1830, 1840.

I'm going to find Jeff.

Sorry.

VO: Watch out!

Jeff?

Hi.

There are two things I quite like.

Yeah.

I quite like the three piece suite, because it has style.

OK. Yeah, it does.

The other thing I quite like is, I have moved it over there, the little clock.

Yeah.

On the armchair.

It's tired, it needs a lot of restoration to it.

Nice mother-of-pearl inlay, I like it.

Exactly.

What would be your best number one on the settee?

75 quid.

What would be your best on the clock?

95.

Oh, God.

Really?

It's a lot for what it is.

JEFF: Nice clock.

Yeah, it is.

The suite, the lawnmower, and clock.

What will be your price for all three?

I tell you what I will do with you, I'll take one and a half hundred pound.

CHARLES: Would you come in at 135?

I am going to match your offer, 145.

Meet me at 140 and I will gamble.

Hold your hand out.

Oh my goodness me.

Sold.

Yes I'll take them.

140, thanks Jeff.

VO: Wow tense stuff, eh?

That's an extremely generous discount for the three-part deal.

That's the 1920s lawnmower for £90, the art deco three piece suite for £30, the so-called William IV wall clock for £20.

Back in Staffordshire, Mark is hitting one last shop, in Broad Eye, in a final attempt to find something to help him try and catch up Charles.

Windmill Antiques is run by Ian Kettlewell and is another familiar pit stop for Mark.

Hello again.

Hi, how are you?

How are you?

Nice to meet you again, yeah.

You're still here.

I know.

Don't I know.

VO: With over 20 years in the business, Ian should have a few items in his collection to catch Mark's eye.

MARK: Look at these, look at that.

Look a corkscrew.

Modeled as a Westie, isn't it?

I think.

And that's quite fun.

I bet that's an inkwell.

I mean, I suppose you'd call it Black Forest, so Austrian, German.

But it's modeled as a little tramp's boot.

And that's quite fun as well, actually.

Ian did you... Are these fresh in?

Just in today.

Just in today.

Wow.

Could be my lucky day, then.

Because I quite like that, cuz it's novel.

It fits into the antique range.

I mean, it's probably 1900, 1910, but I think that's got a quirky charm about it.

And this is an old corkscrew, obviously.

And you've got a sort of bone bit at the top with a... You're wondering why this is... You think it's for shaving.

It's not.

That's for clearing off the dust from the top of the bottle once you've opened it.

But I think that's got some age.

It's certainly antique, which fits in with my theme.

What have you got on the boo...the boot inkwell?

You can have the boot for £10, Mark.

Gosh.

What about the thingy?

The best on that is, to you, with the boot, £20.

Gosh.

I think those are quite interesting.

VO: Mark seems to be on a roll with this little cabinet.

I just wonder whether or not we could put maybe a couple of these other ones as a little package with the other one.

Those ones are again quite interesting.

Let's see what we can do, shall we?

So, you said 10 and 20 for that?

Yep.

I am tempted to say maybe make a little job lot of the corkscrews.

Yeah.

Does that make sense, do you think?

I think that's a good idea.

What could you do if I bought those as a little package?

£35.

I couldn't push you to 40 for the two?

For the two lots?

Yeah, 30 and 10.

Yeah.

Then we've got a deal.

Where's that red wine?

VO: It's a bit early for that old mate, but nicely done!

£10 for a Black Forest carved inkwell and £30 for a selection of corkscrews.

Thank you, Mark.

Thank you again, I really appreciate it.

Thank you very much.

Thanks.

VO: And that's his lot.

With all shopping over, let's check out what each of the chaps has bought.

Along with Mark's corkscrews and inkwell, he found a pair of oak candlesticks, an early Victorian tea caddy, a Victorian child's chair and a Minton garden seat, costing £130 altogether.

Charles bought a Victorian top hat and leather case, an art deco gramophone, an art deco three piece suite, a 1920s lawnmower and a so-called William IV rosewood wall clock.

All for £210.

So, there are a fair number of genuine antiques in this lot so will that be enough to impress one another?

I do feel Mark on our last shopping excursion has bought really well.

My biggest concern is his corkscrew.

That could be the final screw for me.

His Victorian chair is nice, but neat, but not overly exciting.

May the best man win in our last auction.

Charles.

A lawnmower.

Vintage or otherwise, please!

A top hat on its own is worth £25, so to get the lovely leather box with it is a real terrific buy.

The clock is charming.

They're a little bit out of fashion, but I can't see a loss on £20, Charles.

Well done.

VO: Now our experts can do no more.

Starting in Weston Heath in Shropshire, the chaps are now drawing their journey to a close in Mold, Flintshire.

# Morning has broken... # I love these autumn mornings, don't you?

# Like a first morning.

# VO: They're certainly in the swing of things this morning!

# You've gotta be big and strong, enough to turn me on.

# VO: Now they're facing the fifth and final auction.

We've had a good journey, haven't we?

Yeah.

Very.

11 counties in all, Charles.

I think I've had a little bit of bad luck, but it has been very, very enjoyable.

VO: Good to hear that!

Their last stop of the week is Dodds auction.

MARK: Well, this is it, Charles.

CHARLES: This is it.

It's an interesting showroom isn't it?

After you, get in there.

VO: Auctioneer Anthony Parry has been tasked with the job of weighing up the fellas' wares.

They could have done with putting their glasses on when they bought some of these things.

The three piece suite, it's in appalling condition.

We'll be lucky to get a bid for it.

A nice little child's chair at first glance.

The lawnmower, certainly it is a collector's piece.

The corkscrews, not a bad collection.

There's been a bit of interest in those.

VO: It may be mixed reviews from Anthony, but the experts are now in the hands of the buying public of Mold.

First it's Mark's collection of corkscrews.

So, it should make £80-100.

So, fingers crossed.

Yeah.

That I can crack open a bottle of wine and celebrate.

Nice collection of corkscrews.

55, center back.

Keep going, keep going.

55, you're looking at 60's a hand in the corner.

65.

All done at 65 then?

Well done, chief.

Well it's a profit, isn't it?

Yeah.

VO: He's more than doubled his money with that nice profit.

It's a good start to the day for us.

Yeah.

It is a good start, Mark, yeah.

We're riding home together, hey.

VO: Next it's Mark's pair of oak reeded candlesticks.

10 I've got, £10, 10.

We'll take that.

14, 16, 18, 20, two, 24, 24.

Not bad, actually.

That is good, actually.

28, 30, 32, four is there?

£32 is down at the front, at 32.

That is awesome.

No, that's good.

That is three times what I paid for them.

You are doing really well.

VO: Another great profit for Mark.

This could be the day that he finally manages to win a leg.

Next it's Charles' 1930s gramophone.

Aren't you going to play us a record, Michael?

It's playing now.

It is playing?

It is playing.

Shh!

(FAINT MUSIC) 10, dear me, £10.

10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50... Well, you are in profit.

Better.

£60, 65 at the back.

70, five, 80.

Anybody else?

All done at 80, then?

That's good.

That's alright.

£35 profit.

It plays sweet music.

VO: That £35 profit will be music to Charles' ears.

# Do-do-do-do!

# VO: The Victorian child's top hat is Charles' next lot.

10, 12, 14, 16, 18, £18, 18, 20, £20.

Keep going.

Keep going.

That's cheap.

That's cheap.

24, 26, 28, 30, 30 there.

It's cheap, did you hear that everyone, it's cheap.

It's cheap.

It's cheap.

34...

Thanks, Mark.

It is, thank you.

40, two, four, 44, 44, anyone else?

Cheap, cheap.

£44.

It cost me £25.

Right?

It made 44.

Yes?

So, I've made how much?

I'm sure you can work it out, Charles.

CHARLES: £19?

MARK: That's right.

VO: You got there in the end Charles and it's his second profit of the day.

We're doing well here today.

We are, yeah.

We are rolling.

VO: Will Mark's luck continue with his Black Forest inkwell?

This is it now.

Good luck, Mark.

You'll go marching on now.

10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, two, 24, 26, 28, 30 is there?

30.

Two is there?

£30.

I'm happy with that.

30.

Well done chief, you are flying high.

Well, I'm happy with that, Charles.

VO: Cor, Mark's tripled his money again.

Stick with it, Mark.

It's now his early Victorian tea caddy.

10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, two, 24, right at the back, 26, 28... That's it, come on.

32, 34... Well done, sir.

It's quality this.

Yeah.

40, two, 44, 46, 48, 50, thank you.

52.

You are flying, Mark.

I'm happy with this.

All done at 52 then?

Wow.

No, that's good.

VO: You're blooming right it is - another strong profit of £32 - go Mark!

Now it's over to Charles' three piece suite - not a favorite of the auctioneer.

I heard whispers the auctioneer was going to bin it until he realized it was mine!

VO: I can't see why!

I don't really think there'll be a bid for it.

I think there will be.

No, no, no, no, no.

I have heard so many awful comments about it.

What shall we say for it?

Put me a bid in, please.

MAN: Fiver.

In coins, right.

£5 in coins.

Who is going to make it 10?

£5 note I have got.

Put the gavel down!

(LAUGHTER) CHARLES: Surely one more.

It is only worth a fiver.

Have a go.

He's over there, he's over there.

Anyone have 10?

We have a tenner.

Good man.

Right.

15.

One more!

Oh, for goodness sake!

Are you happy?

20?

£20.

£20, over here.

25.

I've got you.

One more.

Oh.

30 Yes!

There we go.

30.

Are you all done at £30 then?

Thank you very much, thank you, auctioneer, well done.

VO: At least it's managed to wipe its face, even if there's no profit and he should probably be grateful at that.

We're now back to the real antique, with Mark's Victorian child's chair.

10, 12, 14, 16, £18, 20.

It's moving.

Come on.

32, 34, 36.

Oh, good.

New place, good luck, Mark.

36.

Is it 38 at the back?

Oh, one more.

Yes, 40.

It is down by me at £40.

Give me a high five.

Good work.

VO: Mark's certainly on a roll, better late than never!

Now it's Charles' so-called William IV wall clock, which is missing the glass cover.

It's another antique, Charles.

You're getting better.

Exactly.

20, five... You're in profit now.

25, 30, 35, 40, five... That is a decent profit.

Oh, 50, in a new place.

60, 65, 70.

Well done, Charles.

£75.

It's gone.

VO: Another fabulous £55 profit.

Charles seems to be having a comeback.

It's going to be a close auction!

I am pleased, Mark, with that.

VO: Now it's Mark's final item - the Victorian, Minton garden seat, which is also in need of some TLC.

20 I've got, £20, 20, £25.

£25.

30 up there?

£25.

It is not much money, is it?

No, it's not.

All done at £25?

No, don't.

That's cheap.

VO: Don't get too down Mark, it's just a £5 loss.

Charles spent big on his final lot, the lawnmower, so if it doesn't do well, Mark's in with a chance of winning this leg!

Who is going to kick it off at £50?

Well somebody's got to kick it off.

MAN: 20!

CHARLES: Oh, no.

Yes, that's what it's worth.

20, alright it's a start.

£30?

No, it's not.

Yes.

£40, £50, £60, £70, 75, he's getting tight now.

80.

85, 90.

£90.

95.

One for the road.

All done at £95?

Going... Oh, just put the gavel down.

Going... Oh.

VO: It was a gamble that didn't really pay off, but it's still a fiver in the bank.

Thank you for a wonderful road trip, Mark.

I think it has been fantastic.

Let's get out first.

Have you got everything?

My hat.

VO: The final figures are in and after beginning today's road trip with £232.08, Mark's triumphantly taken the last leg with a profit of £70.08 after auction costs, giving him a very tidy total of £302.16.

Charles had a strong start with £470.08.

Despite losing this auction, with a profit of just £55.68 after costs, he's clocked up a rather magnificent £525.76 overall.

So he's walking away victorious at the end of the week with a £200 lead!

All profits go to Children in Need.

I can't believe it, I have actually won an auction.

But you have won overall.

No, Mark it has been a wonderful week.

No surprise.

It has been great, hasn't it?

I'm driving, yeah?

Yeah, you're driving.

VO: Sadly that's the end of what's been a fabulous week.

Give me a high five.

Yeah, exactly.

VO: With the weird and wonderful.

I didn't realize, I thought it had three legs for a second.

VO: And begging galore.

Please, please, please.

VO: It's been difficult getting from A to B though.

I'm not on the brake!

My car won't start.

VO: But there's been singing.

# It's raining men... # # Riding along in my automobile... # VO: And a lot of fun.

Mark, may the best man win at auction.

VO: On the next Antiques Road Trip it's the start of a whole new adventure with experts Paul Laidlaw and Anita Manning.

Paul believes fate might be on his side.

Money spider.

Omen.

VO: But Anita knows the game's not over till the last hammer comes down.

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