antiques experts... Let the Road Trip begin!

VO: ..behind the wheel of a classic car.

IZZIE: Ooh!

DAVID: You hit the roof then!

VO: And a goal - to scour Britain for antiques.

Pump yourself up... with antiques.

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

But it's no mean feat.

That's a top job, isn't it?

VO: There'll be worthy winners... AUCTIONEER: £400.

RAJ: Fantastic!

VO: ..and valiant losers.

I'm screaming on the inside.

VO: Will it be the high road to glory...

The gloves are off.

VO: ..or the slow road to disaster?

The gearbox has gone!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Oh yes.

Good morning.

It's time for more antiques shenanigans with Charles Hanson and Raj Bisram.

What a day, mate.

I know, it's so sad.

This is the last leg, Charles.

I don't know about you but I've had a brilliant time.

You and I, what a great week we've had.

Oh, it's been great.

VO: Hey, don't worry boyos, it's not over yet.

We've got one final Welsh shopping spree to enjoy first.

I've been trying to learn a little bit of Welsh.

Oh yeah?

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrn drobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

I won't dare try and repeat that, Raj.

That was... That was really impressive.

What does that mean?

Well, I think it's the name of a railway station and a church.

VO: It actually translates to "St Mary's church "in the hollow of white hazel near a rapid whirlpool, "and the church of St Tysilio near the red cave".

Still a mouthful.

We've had our ups and downs though, haven't we?

I mean, goodness gracious.

You've ruined me, you've... Get out of here.

I will carry you over the line if that's what it takes.

We do it together.

Charles, I wouldn't want anybody else to carry me over the line, to be honest.

Thanks my friend.

VO: It's been a bromance for the ages in their boogie bus, the 1971 VW camper.

Last time out, they even dined al fresco.

I kid you not.

Oh no.

Not a sausage on the floor.

I've dropped a banger.

I'm not eating that.

VO: But it wasn't all a dog's dinner.

Both experts spent wisely... We have a deal.

Going here on the net.

VO: ..and reaped the rewards at auction.

Happy days, Raj.

VO: So now, having both started out with a £200 stake and after four trips to the saleroom, Raj has topped his piggy up to £232.82.

But after that last auction, Charles is still firmly in the lead and now has £577.16 in his piggy.

Well Charles, you've done remarkably well so far.

You've bought astutely, you've bought some lovely things.

Let's now make a memory.

Let's really have a go, Kent versus Derbyshire.

They think it's all over.

It's not yet.

VO: After setting off from southwest Wales, the gents have meandered down the valleys, through the mountains, and are now finishing up on the Welsh north coast.

We've almost walked 500 miles, Raj.

Up and down the valley and look, actually it has come at a cost.

It...

It has come at a cost.

It's come at a cost, but I tell you what, it was worth it.

VO: The last bend of the road on this antiques adventure is an auction in Stroud.

But first up, the seaside town of Rhyl... ..where Raj has been dropped off at his first shop.

Hello.

VO: Old Rhyl Antiques and Collectables.

He has £232 to shop with in here.

Let the rummaging commence.

You know, I'm always looking for something that's a little bit unusual.

This is a Second World War tank periscope.

I'll be honest, I don't really know which tank it's off, but I do know that there are military collectors.

So, you know, it's a little bit unusual.

I'm going to put it on the counter and it's a possibility.

VO: That's one for later.

Surely there's more in here.

We've got a really nice pair of copper art nouveau firedogs here.

Unfortunately, this one is missing its back leg.

Now, it is its back leg, so it wouldn't really be seen, so it could be repaired.

But art nouveau is really in at the moment and they're a really nice pattern.

If these were cleaned up, I think they'd be...

They'd look really attractive in the hearth of a fire.

So if these were the right price, they're a definite contender.

VO: While Raj searches on, Charles has traveled just five miles down the coast to Abergele.

He's heading to Aladdin's Cave, owned and run by dealer Keith.

It does what it says on the tin in here, five rooms of collectables for Charles to explore.

It's always important, there's always treasures in shops.

You've got to look hard and... And look really well.

That's sweet, look at that.

An old suitcase.

Look at that, it's got old labels on.

When it comes to vintage luggage, it's always wonderful to see early labels, reflecting provenance of where a trunk or case has been carried, and this one would appear to have been on board the Marittima Italiana in Geneva, the Hotel Milan and then also the Bertolini Palace Hotel in Naples.

It's quite nice and, again, as decorative objects in shop windows or in your home, that nice old suitcase, as described, "nice old suitcase", could be yours for £24.

I'd rather be in Milan, I think, or maybe stuck in Naples than the case.

VO: I'd rather be in Rhyl - ha-ha!

- where Raj has still got some shopping to do.

Now, I know that Charles loves his ceramics and this is a majolica dish.

I wish it had a stamp on it, but it has absolutely no stamps on it.

But it's in good condition and, you know, it's got a nice pattern, the flower pattern here.

These look like they're lilies, but I'm not a flower expert.

VO: (CHUCKLES) That makes two of us!

That, again, could be a possibility.

VO: That's three items you've put aside, Raj.

Time to speak with shop owner Mark.

Mark, I found a few things.

It's all going to come down to the price.

If I were to buy all three items... Alright?

..would you take £80?

I'd do the three for 80.

And if... You better win.

I can't guarantee that, but we have a deal.

£80.

MARK: Lovely.

That's great.

RAJ: Fantastic.

Nicely done, Raj.

That leaves just over £150 in the kitty.

It's been a Rhyl pleasure.

VO: Oi, I'm the comic Rhyl-ief round here!

Back in Abergele, has anything caught Charles's eye?

I quite... ..like these.

What you've got on this nice panel of a veneered square landscape is this very arts and crafts style of scene.

Here's this bridge with this really lurid landscape reflecting on this black water.

You've got stained harewood, you've got sycamore and ebony here, mahogany.

And what drew me to the pair of pictures was this wonderful chip carved outer border design.

They've got a gorgeous label on the back.

Look at that label.

AJ Rowley, the Rowley gallery of Kensington.

AJ Rowley began his production works in 1898, and by 1915 he'd moved into Kensington.

And this piper type of silhouette is typical of William Chase's work.

So, I would say circa 1915, and they're quite good.

They might run.

That's quite exciting.

VO: Steady on Charles.

You don't know what they cost yet.

Better call Keith over.

Keith?

I quite like these pictures down here.

They're decorative, I think they're very arts and crafts.

How much are they?

Ooh, tenner each?

Keith, I'm really grateful.

I'll buy the two pictures.

So for the pair, that makes... 20 quid.

Correct.

Keith, thank you so much.

I owe you some money.

VO: He's still got £557 left.

They could be a good thing.

Cheers Keith.

See you later.

VO: Meanwhile, several miles down the road, Raj has hobbled on to Colwyn Bay, the setting for a forgotten story both tragic and inspiring.

Hello.

Well, welcome to Colwyn Bay.

It's lovely to see you.

It's Marian, isn't it?

That's right.

Well, I'm Raj.

VO: Raj is meeting local historian Dr Marian Gwyn to learn more.

I absolutely love Colwyn Bay and I love the history of the place, but there's one very special history I'd like to tell you about today.

And that's the story of the African Institute.

Shall we take a seat over here?

Absolutely.

VO: The Reverend William Hughes was a missionary to the Congo in 1882.

As a proud Welshman he had seen firsthand how his language, culture and traditions had been eroded by the English.

He worried the same would happen in Africa.

So when poor health forced him to return to Wales in 1885, he brought with him his two young Congolese students and an idea.

He was very concerned about the influence of Europeans on African culture.

So what he did was a bit of a role reversal thing.

He brought Africans, young, talented Africans, to north Wales, to the institute, where they could train in all sorts of skills, experiences, could go back to Africa with the skills that they've learnt.

So that way it would be Africans influencing Africans.

It's so forward thinking.

VO: By 1903, the institute had more than 20 students from nations including Cameroon, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia and the United States.

And by the time it closed, over 100 would have passed through its halls.

How long did the institute run for, because when did it eventually close?

It actually came to rather a sad end, and that was because of racism by a very particular journalist.

He was a man called Horatio Bottomley, and Horatio Bottomley ran a magazine called the John Bull.

It was quite a right-wing focused magazine.

Basically, it started exaggerating stories of the relationships between the students and local women, generating people's heightened emotions.

And as the institute was so dependent on public funding, that public funding dwindled as people were unsure of what was going on, what the truth actually was.

He wasn't able to keep the institute going after that, and sadly it closed.

VO: Hughes attempted to sue Bottomley for libel in 1912, but the case was thrown out and the reverend was declared bankrupt.

The institute closed its doors and the students disbanded.

Hughes died in a workhouse in 1924.

Well, here we actually have the gravestone of the Reverend William Hughes himself.

Where did the students go and what did they do after they left the school?

One of the most famous students, well, maybe not him himself, but certainly the person he taught was a young man called Davidson Don Tengo Jabavu.

And what's important about Davidson Don Tengo Jabavu, is the fact that when he returned to South Africa, he set up Fort Hare College as the first higher education institute for Black students, and one of the first students they had there, and the one that he mentored was Nelson Mandela.

I just can't think of a better legacy.

What a superb legacy than that.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

Yeah, what an incredible story.

VO: William Hughes was a visionary.

Many of his students would go on to become lawyers, doctors, politicians and teachers.

The institute may have come to a sad end, but its place in history is assured.

VO: Back on the road, Charles and the campervan are en route to Rhos on Sea.

VO: This charming seaside town is home to Bygone Days, a collector's emporium jam-packed with curiosities.

Several dealers display here, but Ann is the lady at the till today.

Charles arrives with over £550 burning a hole in his pocket.

It's like Raj and I. Hammering away.

That's pretty quick.

Slow down, guys, slow down.

That's better.

Just take it steady.

Quite taken.

There's a cabinet here with some nice silver.

You've got a very, what you might call, esthetic teapot with this style of angular handle, pretty, with a lid.

Then look, you've got the strainer to strain the tea leaves before it goes through here.

Turn it round.

"Hello.

How are you?"

Sweet, isn't it?

Sweet.

That is a teapot.

OK.

There's also in the cabinet... You've also got...

It's not a loving cup, because it's got two handles, this is a sugar bowl.

VO: None for me, I'm sweet enough.

Ha!

Matches the teapot because you've got the angular handles like that, very esthetic.

This is, I think, is around 1875, 1880.

That is the sugar bowl.

There's also in the cabinet the jug that goes with it for your milk or your cream, and again, that lovely lip.

Turn it round, this nice stylized handle.

I love the fact it's got a coat of arms, so it's quite regal in some respects, a coat of arms on each object.

Matches up.

And you'll see on here you've got this nice shield cartouche.

You can't go wrong, particularly when also the interior is gilded like that.

And every interior lid of that, and also the sugar bowl is beautifully gilt, which again, is a sure sign of quality.

CHARLES: Hello.

ANN: Hello.

Hello.

Hi, your name is?

ANN: Ann.

CHARLES: Hello, Ann.

ANN: Hello.

CHARLES: Great shop, by the way.

Good.

Thank you.

What's also very nice is this really attractive three-piece tea set in the cabinet down here.

ANN: Yeah.

CHARLES: How much is it?

There's no price tag on it at all.

ANN: £10 for the three of them.

CHARLES: I won't negotiate.

That's a good price I feel for what it is.

I owe you £10.

OK, no problem.

VO: No need to haggle.

For gilt silver, that's a great price.

That little purchase leaves a walloping £540-odd in the kitty.

Take care.

ANN: Thank you.

CHARLES: Bye-bye.

ANN: Bye-bye.

CHARLES: Bye.

VO: Bye!

VO: Reunited in the camper, it's time for our experts to wind down for the day.

Which way here, Raj, shall we go?

Shall we go right?

It says Ruth... Oh...

Sorry Raj, it's....

Sorry.

RAJ: It's alright.

CHARLES: It's the valley.

I've got one...

I've got one good leg left.

That's alright.

CHARLES: Sorry Raj.

RAJ: OK.

There we go.

It's just a valley.

Come on, car.

RAJ: It's alright.

CHARLES: Take us home.

Are you really trying to break me here?

Sorry about that.

VO: Go easy on that clutch, Charles.

Nighty-night.

VO: Good morning one and all.

Another day of antiquing is in store.

A funny noise in the back, can you hear that?

RAJ: I can hear that noise.

CHARLES: I think the car is saying, "Stay with us".

Thump, thump, thump.

What is that noise?

VO: Uh-oh.

Tempting fate, maybe.

(ENGINE REVS) (RUMBLING) That's the gearbox I think.

RAJ: That's gone.

CHARLES: Hold on, hold on, CHARLES: hold on, hold on.

RAJ: I don't... Yeah.

Completely gone.

I don't think that's going to go anywhere.

VO: Oh dear, that doesn't sound good.

(ENGINE REVS) Can you get it in any gear?

I've got nothing at all, Raj.

Charles, we're going to have to get help.

CHARLES: Hello!

RAJ: Help!

CHARLES: Hello!

VO: Good luck with that, chaps.

He-he!

Yesterday, Raj parted with £80, buying a tank periscope, a 19th century majolica dish and a pair of art-nouveau firedogs...

I'll do the three for 80, and if... You better win.

VO: ..giving him just over £150 to shop with.

Meanwhile, Charles purchased a 19th century continental silver tea set... ..and a pair of early 20th century marquetry panels by William Chase... And they're quite good.

VO: ..leaving him with more than £540 still to spend.

Stop running, OK?

RAJ: You trying to... CHARLES: Come on.

RAJ: You trying to make me feel bad?

We haven't got time.

VO: The boys might have to rely on the old shoe leather to reach their next destination, the historic market town of Denbigh.

Overlooking the majestic vale of Clwyd, Dinbych in Welsh means little fortress, and the remains of the historic Denbigh Castle dominate the skyline of the town.

Faster!

Yay!

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Slow down.

Right, right.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

We're here.

VO: The gents are shopping at Denbighshire Antiques... See you inside.

He's just left me here.

VO: ..one of the largest emporiums in north Wales.

Packed to the rafters with all sorts of treasures - there's more than enough to satisfy our insatiable experts.

Moneybags Hanson has got plenty of cash to splash, but he needs to find something first though.

These are quite nice.

Hello.

How are you, little dog?

So these are a nice decorative and collective pair of bookends.

They've got nice sculpted heads, cast in probably a bronzed metal over a spelter body.

So it's a base metal.

But what I love is this sort of rouge veining on this marbled alabaster.

And you'll see it's beautifully done and they're priced at £90.

Lots of age.

1920s.

Ruff!

Fancy coming to auction?

I think they could be a maybe.

VO: With that in mind, let's check in with our underdog.

Ha!

We've got this, which is a lovely 18th century oak settle.

With a cushion on here, they're actually very, very comfortable and you can imagine, you know, one of these either side of a kitchen table or a dining table.

I really like it.

Unfortunately, I can't buy it because it's around £450 and that's way over my budget.

VO: Yeah, as you say, not in your price range.

Better move on.

What I quite like down here, though, is this little thing.

This guy is a cast iron moneybox, so the money goes on that right hand.

That right hand falls into this little socket here where his arm is like that.

What I like about him is the fact, on the enamel surface, you've got lots of real wear.

And I simply like him and he's giving you a wave.

"Hello, hello," says American banker to you.

He's circa 1870.

Right?

Right.

Mental note.

VO: That's two items Charles is interested in buying.

What's this?

Catching 40 winks, Raj?

VO: (CHORTLES) CHARLES: (CHUCKLES) Sorry.

Wakey-wakey!

Come on.

RAJ: Charles... Charles.

CHARLES: Listen!

Brush up your skills, man.

What are you doing sleeping?

This road trip has just got to me now.

To be honest, I feel like I've been on three road trips.

You're reclining like an 18th century man.

Wakey-wakey.

Leave me alone to rest, OK?

Go away.

Go away.

VO: Come on, chaps.

Time's wasting and antiques wait for no man.

Look at this.

This... ..is a dresser or a mirrored back sideboard.

But what's drawn my eye, look at the convex glass almost bubbling out in these cupboard doors up here, nice beveled glass on the mirror.

But what I love about this is, look at the stylized forms.

You've got what we call the Hector Guimard Paris Metro curvy forms, like a whiplash.

Think of the wrought metal we saw on the underground.

That's the top section of the mirror back.

Well look down here, you've then got these gorgeous handles.

It's just eat your heart out 1905.

VO: And still just as good today.

What's quite interesting, you've got a price up here.

A price up here.

It's covered in dust.

I think it's been here a while so who knows?

VO: Julie the dealer would be a good person to ask.

Julie.

Hello.

How are you?

I'm fine thank you.

I've seen three things I think I'd love to try and buy from you.

OK?

One's behind me.

What is the death on this piece of furniture?

The very best on it is 180.

180.

OK, mental note.

The second thing I quite like is the bookends.

They're priced at £90 for the pair.

How much could they be?

The very best on those is probably 60.

That's good.

And then finally, I'm quite taken by the American cast iron moneybox.

Yeah.

VO: Ticket price £260.

What's the best on that?

Very best on that would be 110.

CHARLES: I'll do it.

DEALER: Good.

CHARLES: Thank you.

DEALER: You're welcome.

VO: That's 350 smackers, for those keeping score.

He'll have that lovely big piece of brown furniture sent on to the saleroom.

Ha!

Back inside, Raj is still looking.

Bless him.

Now, this is an unusual piece.

This looks like a Tibetan bronze.

It looks, it's got age to it, er, it looks like it's probably at least 19th century.

All of these symbols represent something.

VO: Judging by the conch shell in one hand, this figurine could be the Hindu god Vishnu.

It is a speculative piece.

It could fly or it could bomb.

I need to take a gamble.

VO: Let's roll the dice, Raj.

Time to speak with Julie.

RAJ: Hi Julie.

DEALER: Hello.

I've seen the... A Tibetan bronze.

It looks like it's got some age to it.

It's a nice little deity.

What would be the best price on it?

160.

I actually haven't got £160, so could you do it for a little bit less?

(SIGHS) Well, that really was the best, but I'll go to 150.

In that case we have a deal.

DEALER: Well done.

RAJ: Thank you very much.

And let me give you some money.

I shall put it down here.

Thank you.

VO: Jolly good.

But that leaves Raj with the minuscule amount of £2.82.

I wonder what he can get for that.

Well, let's hope you're the goddess of luck because I'm gonna need it.

VO: You make your own luck, Raj.

Speaking of which, Charles has made his way to Llandudno... ..home of the great Orme.

This massive headland played a key role in the Second World War.

Charles is meeting military historian Adrian Hughes to learn more.

Adrian, hello.

ADRIAN: Hello Charles.

CHARLES: What a beautiful place.

It is, isn't it?

It is so scenic, it's so picturesque.

It's beautiful and picturesque today.

But 80 years ago, during the Second World War, this was the home of the British Army School of Coastal Artillery.

CHARLES: And why did they come here?

ADRIAN: After the fall of Dunkirk and all the British troops were evacuated back to Britain, there was a need to expand coast artillery in the UK because, of course, the next threat from the Germans might have been that Britain would be invaded.

VO: In 1940, during Britain's darkest hour, we needed to increase our defenses exponentially.

The Coastal Artillery school was responsible for training troops to shoot down enemy aircraft and sink their ships.

Historically based in Essex, the danger of bombing meant a new location was needed.

Llandudno, with its anchorage for targets, high elevation and relative remoteness, was the ideal spot.

I think the coast is clear.

That's good news.

Very good news.

Thanks for the hat, by the way.

It's a pleasure.

I feel very in keeping now to what, of course, happened here all those years ago.

So that was the air raid shelter.

Yeah.

So there were a number of these around the site, built into the hillside.

And so had an air raid taken place, the men could have dropped whatever they were doing and run to the shelters.

As you can see, it's dug into the side of the hillside and from the air completely covered over by briar and bramble and so well camouflaged.

And of course I'm wearing my gunner's hat, of course.

Yeah, it's an anti-aircraft gunner's helmet, and it's the sort of Tommy helmet that the men would have been issued with.

They'd have been here firing these naval guns, practicing.

But you talk about obviously the gunner, where would I sort of be?

Would I be over there?

Yeah, there's a number of them all over the place.

Would you like to come and have a look at one?

I'd love to.

Over five years, about 20,000 men passed through the school.

More than 130 local women married servicemen based at the gunnery.

Men connected with the school fathered an estimated 70 Llandudno babies.

What's this down here?

OK, so this is one of the gun mounts.

So a four inch gun would have been mounted on this very spot using these bolts.

Seated like that?

Indeed.

With his gun and obviously looking around the landscape like that and taking aim at, I presume, targets?

There was two out on the sea and one in the air.

The two on the sea, one, they used to shoot at fast targets which were towed behind motor torpedo boats or motor launches.

And then there was also a static target, the SS Gambhira.

The Admiralty towed to her point off Puffin Island near Anglesey and the gunners would fire at that.

So almost just over there, you mean?

Just behind me, yeah.

VO: After the fall of France in 1940, the German Luftwaffe conducted an 11-month offensive against Britain, dropping 58,000 tons of bombs on our cities.

The raids came at night and despite having early warning through radar, gunners still needed to see the enemy.

Wow!

CHARLES: Look at this.

ADRIAN: Just an amazing view, isn't it?

When you sort of roll back to the 1940s, we're in this almost compound, what would've been going on in this building back then?

OK, so this was one of the searchlight emplacements, and it was here that there was a big searchlight mounted and the men could be trained to maintain it and to operate the searchlight.

So this searchlight would have basically filled this space.

It was huge.

It ran off a generator that was positioned higher up the cliffs, a 15 kilowatt generator just to power one searchlight.

And this searchlight could illuminate the whole of Colwyn Bay.

It was that powerful.

It could get all the way to the mountains in the distance.

They're remarkable structures, aren't they, as well?

They're very evocative of the time and you really feel caught in time.

And that landscape, of course, hasn't changed.

You only imagine now what they were feeling with the view that maybe the enemy was coming, frightening.

Absolutely.

I mean, it's a real legacy of what went on in the Second World War, and these few remaining buildings are testament to that.

VO: The base closed in 1946, and while little remains at the Coastal Artillery school today, its contribution to the war effort will not be forgotten.

And not forgetting our other expert, Raj has shuffled his way to join us in Llandudno.

He has just £2.82 to spend at Digby Antiques.

That's Graham the owner, and his furry friend is Digby, the eponymous dog.

Arf!

There's lots of interesting postcards dotted all round the place.

There is actually a world record for the most expensive postcard, and I believe it was sold in 2002 and it made £31,000.

And it was sold in London.

And one of the reasons for that is not only was it a rare postcard, it was one of the first ones that had a Penny Black on it.

And that was posted, actually sent in 1840, and postcards have become highly collectable.

VO: That would be great, but I'm not sure you're going to find it in here.

These are quite nice.

They're Minton.

Minton was founded in the Potteries by Thomas Minton back in 1793, and it's a good name.

People collect Minton.

This I'd say is a part tea service, because there's this really nice bowl and there are also 10 plates that go with it.

And I believe that...

They look like storks to me.

Even the gildings are still in good condition.

You see all this lovely gold gilding on here?

They're really nice.

There's no price ticket on them.

But usually when you find these sort of part services, you usually get them fairly reasonably.

So I think I will speak to the owner and see what he can do.

VO: Brace yourself, Graham.

Graham.

Lovely little shop, lots of collectables and lots of other things all over the place.

But what I haven't said is that I've only got £2.82 left.

VO: Even Digby's shocked.

And I've seen this Minton bowl and nine plates, sort of a part service, which hasn't got a price on it.

Is there any chance that you could do those for £2.82?

I'm quite happy to sell them for the amount that you were asking for.

Thank you very much indeed.

We have a deal.

DEALER: Thank you.

RAJ: Fantastic.

VO: Very generous, Graham.

And that's Raj all spent up to the very last penny.

Bravo.

Cheers.

VO: Now, where's that Mr Hanson?

It's nearly the end of the road for this pair, and they've been upgraded to a 1968 model of their beloved VW campervan.

We've had such a good time.

We've bought interesting items.

CHARLES: Yeah.

RAJ: We've taken risks.

I certainly have.

I've taken some big risks.

CHARLES: Yeah.

They haven't paid off.

CHARLES: That's right.

RAJ: But, you know, hey ho.

Raj, it's just been a great journey and... ..good things have to end, but let's go out with a bang, not the van going again, just a bang.

I'm sure we will.

VO: Let's get some shuteye, shall we, gents?

Here we are, the last visit to the saleroom.

Raj and Charles have hopped from Wales to England and back again on their journey.

And today they're parking up in Bodelwyddan to watch their purchases go up for sale.

Faenol Fawr is a country house dating back to 1597, and its name translates to big manor.

Here we go.

Here we are, Raj.

Come on.

Last auction.

I'll race you in.

OK then.

Chase me.

Chase me.

Come on.

VO: Their items have traveled south and across the border again to Stroud Auction Rooms... ..where they'll go under the hammer of Stuart Maule.

At £65.

If we're all done at 65?

VO: Charles spent £380 on five lots.

Anything to keep an eye on, Stuart?

The marquetry panels are actually really good.

There's a really strong following for them and they've got a lot of history behind the gallery that originally made them, and that will definitely be very popular.

VO: Raj spent every penny of his £232.82 on his five lots.

Over to you, Stuart.

The firedogs, really nice arts and crafts pieces.

I would imagine they would sell to someone with a large country house, you know, who's going to put them back in their open fireplace, but they will need a repair beforehand.

So that just is going to affect the price slightly.

VO: With bidders online, in the room and on the phone, our pair will watch the action unfold via the magic of technology and tablets.

This could be a roller-coaster and never say never.

CHARLES: Are you ready?

RAJ: I'm ready.

CHARLES: Let's go.

VO: Raj's lowest spend first.

His 19th century Minton bowl and plates.

I only paid £2.82.

CHARLES: How much?

RAJ: £2.82.

£2.82?

That's all I had left, Charles.

And I can open the bidding straight up on commission at £20.

Get in!

Wow!

Come on!

VO: 25.

28.

And 30.

No!

35, 38.

CHARLES: No!

RAJ: Ha!

42, 45.

48.

And 50 still with me.

55.

CHARLES: Raj... Bisram.

RAJ: Wow!

65 and my commission bid is out.

CHARLES: That is incredible.

RAJ: Wow!

Selling to the internet.

At £65.

If we're all done at 65.

Well, it was the name that sold it, obviously.

Wow!

VO: Well, I never.

A few more lots like that, please.

My goodness, that... that is a good result.

VO: Yeah.

Next up, Charles's silver tea set.

Cost him just £10.

This, I hope, is a big find.

There might be tremors across Wales...

I... (CHUCKLES) CHARLES: ..when the gavel falls.

RAJ: I wish you well.

OK?

I can open the bidding straight up at £120.

CHARLES: Yes!

RAJ: Oh!

Yes.

150, it's jumped straight to on the net.

160 now.

Good lad, good lad.

200.

220 is on commission with me.

240.

Takes both of my bids out.

Wow!

Go on!

STUART: At 260.

CHARLES: Rajie!

Bid's on the internet.

Do I see 280?

RAJ: Spot on.

CHARLES: Thank you mate.

Well done.

At 260...

Yes!

Oh, Raj!

RAJ: £250 profit.

CHARLES: Wow!

VO: I think I need to sit down.

That is outstanding.

What a start.

Oh, I can't believe that.

I'm quite excited.

Yeah, good stuff.

VO: Aha!

Can Raj's firedogs muster a response?

I think if they were restored properly... CHARLES: Yeah, yeah.

RAJ: ..cleaned up... CHARLES: Yeah.

RAJ: ..they would look RAJ: quite spectacular.

STUART: I can open the bidding straight up at £50.

CHARLES: I told you.

£50.

75 we've jumped to.

80.

RAJ: Oh!

CHARLES: I told you.

Five.

100.

110's with me.

110.

Do I see 120?

Slow down!

110.

Looking for 120.

120.

130.

Raj Bisram!

130's with me.

130.

Do I see 140 anywhere?

This is phenomenal.

£130 and the bid's on commission with me.

£130.

If we're all done at 130?

Whoo!

CHARLES: No way!

RAJ: Wow!

CHARLES: That's amazing.

RAJ: Yeah.

VO: Every dog has his day.

What an auction so far.

Excellent work.

Oh my goodness me, those dogs were on fire.

My goodness.

VO: Now, Charles feels he's got a sleeper with these marquetry panels.

I'd be disappointed if they made under a oner.

RAJ: Oh no!

CHARLES: (CHORTLES) I'm being serious.

Nice items, these.

And I've got commission bids to reflect that.

Two strong bids mean I can open the bidding straight up at £380.

CHARLES: I told you!

RAJ: Oh!

No way!

RAJ: Unbelievable, Charles.

400 anywhere?

400 on the phone?

400 is bid on the phone.

Both of my bids are out at £400.

RAJ: Wow!

CHARLES: Amazing.

At £400 and the bid's on the phone.

CHARLES: I told you.

RAJ: You did.

STUART: At £400, we're selling.

CHARLES: Oh, that's wonderful.

STUART: If we're all done.

CHARLES: Ah!

At £400.

Wow, Charles!

Get out of here.

Can this go any better for you?

VO: Crikey, this is not good for my blood pressure.

I knew they were good.

(SIGHS) RAJ: Wow!

CHARLES: Get out of here!

VO: Talk about a tough act to follow.

Raj's majolica dish now.

I don't even really want to talk about this next lot after the last lot.

I'm still...

I'm still stunned Charles, OK?

And I can open the bidding straight at £20.

Oh, come on.

25 it's jumped to.

32 we've jumped straight to on the net.

People bidding online.

35.

38 is still with me.

38, 40, 42.

You watch, Rajie.

STUART: 45.

CHARLES: £85.

48 and 50.

Slowed up.

Go on.

£50 then.

It's on commission with me.

Looking for five.

At £50 then.

We're selling to the commission bidder at £50.

RAJ: I can't complain at that.

CHARLES: That's great.

RAJ: I can't complain at that whatsoever.

VO: A modest profit by today's standards.

That's a good profit.

RAJ: So I'm happy with that.

CHARLES: That's right.

VO: Time to see a man about a dog.

Charles's bookends are up now.

They were just... Hopefully solid, to just give me a bit.

Good quality these and bid straight in at £100.

Oh, I'm... (CHUCKLES) At £100, the bid is on commission with me.

What do dogs do?

(HOWLS) CHARLES: Amazing.

RAJ: Wow!

CHARLES: I can't believe it Raj.

RAJ: Wow!

Good auctioneer, clearly.

I mean, amazing auctioneer.

CHARLES: Hey, fetch that.

RAJ: What is going on here?

VO: There's certainly something in the water in Stroud.

This is unbelievable.

I can't believe it, Raj.

VO: Up, periscope.

Raj's piece of militaria next.

I've never seen one of these before like this.

RAJ: Haven't you?

CHARLES: That worries me a bit.

Am I a bit naive in that regard?

Well, I've seen a few of these.

Have you?

No, I've not seen them.

Maybe I'm just a bit young, but...

I'm just a bit...

Hang on a minute, let's not go over that remark.

"I'm just a bit young"?

You had to get that in, didn't you?

And £30 starts the bid.

Oh.

Not going to make it.

38 it's jumped straight to on the net.

40.

CHARLES: Come on!

Do I see five?

At £42 and the bid's on commission with me.

Do I see five anywhere?

45 is on the net now.

We're climbing, Raj.

Come on.

£45.

And we're selling to the net at £45.

Still can't grumble.

It's a nice return.

VO: A profit's a profit.

But that won't do much for Raj.

At £45, it sold for.

I paid 40.

CHARLES: Oh, di... OK. Yeah.

RAJ: OK?

VO: Charles paid £110 for this chap.

By the way he's sat, I sort of looked at him and looked at you and thought, yeah, I can see a similarity there.

So...

I'm only joking.

Interest straight in at £50.

Yeah.

£50 starts the bidding.

55.

60.

Five.

70.

Five.

80.

Five.

90.

CHARLES: Keep going.

STUART: Five.

100.

RAJ: Here we go.

STUART: 110.

120.

130.

140.

150.

He's a banker.

It's gonna keep going.

At £150 and...

I'm very happy.

You should be.

Go on.

£150 then.

Commission bid at 150.

Money's in.

I know.

VO: Laughing all the way to the bank today, Charles.

We're doing well.

We're doing... We're both doing well.

It's quite exciting.

VO: Raj's final item and his most expensive, the 19th century Tibetan bronze.

This is a lot to really make me twitch.

Interest straight in at £100.

CHARLES: Come on.

STUART: £100 starts the bidding.

£100 and the bid's with me.

Do I see 110 anywhere?

It's not going to go up there.

110 on the phone.

120's with me.

130... 130.

140.

Hold tight, Raj.

150.

160.

170.

180.

190?

190.

200.

Oh Raj, you're doing it.

220?

220.

My bid's out.

CHARLES: Oh no.

He's out.

RAJ: Oh no.

Internet, come in.

At £220 then, if we're all done.

CHARLES: Internet!

STUART: At £220... RAJ: And?

STUART: 240.

Oh, you're in!

240.

260?

At £240 then, we're selling to the net.

I can feel it.

Aw!

That's good though.

VO: An excellent return for Raj, but is it enough to catch Charles?

RAJ: £240.

CHARLES: £90 profit.

Yes, I can't complain at that.

VO: Charles's last lot now and his biggest outlay, the art-nouveau sideboard.

I'm gonna put it, if I can clear with it I'll be happy.

300 to 500 is my prediction.

And I've got two very strong bids.

And I can start the bidding straight up at £300.

(CHUCKLES) Oh, can't believe it.

At £300 and it's on commission.

We're selling to the commission bidder then.

Good auctioneer.

At 300...

I'm over the moon.

VO: I bet.

You both had a tremendous auction!

Talk about going out with a bang.

VO: But who has come out on top?

Raj started this leg with just £232.82.

But after auction costs, he finishes this trip with £434.60.

An impressive double up.

However, after beginning this leg with £577, Charles ends the trip with a terrific £1,189.36, making him this trip's champion, with all those profits going to Children In Need.

Well done, chaps.

I'm proud of you.

RAJ: The best man won.

CHARLES: Get out of here, Raj.

All I can say is I found first gear.

You've been first class.

There's one place for you now, my friend.

You're going back to Kent.

Let's find that train station.

RAJ: Lovely.

VO: The road trip's over, but the memories are forever.

RAJ: Our second trip... CHARLES: I can't believe it.

..after six or seven years.

VO: These brothers... Man, there's so much love here.

VO: ..from other mothers... CHARLES: (GROANS) RAJ: You had the handbrake on!

VO: ..had the ultimate Welsh bromance.

I will carry you over the line if that's what it takes.

I wouldn't want anybody else to carry me over the line.

Thanks my friend.

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