VO: It's the nation's favorite antiques experts with £200 each...

I love that.

VO: ..a classic car and a goal to scour Britain for antiques.

Yippee!

Sometimes a man is in need.

VO: The aim?

To make the biggest profit at auction, but it's no mean feat.

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

Knobbly knickknacks.

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

It landed on the rug!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

VO: Yeah!

VO: On this Road Trip, two princely Charlies are vying to take the throne.

Charlie Ross is a silver-tongued auctioneer whose decades in the biz have sharpened his cunning and gilded his charm.

Sealed with a kiss!

VO: His rival Charles Hanson may look barely out of shorts, but he's a serious auctioneering nut, with a wit that's bang-on.

I'm feeling quite explosive now.

VO: Both our proper Charlies started this week with £200.

The venerable Charlie Ross has now managed to swell his coffers to a respectable £246 exactly.

Cheer up old boy.

While the young pretender, Charles Hanson, is nipping at his opponent's heels with riches totaling £239.50.

They're cruising today in a sleek winnings wagon - the 1971 Triumph TR6.

This week, Carlos and Charlie will cover about 500 miles, sailing through the heartlands of England, from Tarpoley in Cheshire to Itchen Stoke, near Winchester, in Hampshire.

Today they begin in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, with noses pointed firmly towards their auction in Ledbury, Herefordshire.

The town of Bridgnorth stretches attractively along the River Severn.

It's here that Carlos is dropping Charlie off at his first shop of the day.

Good luck.

Oh, I can't get out.

VO: Come on old boy.

Look at his leg going over.

See you later.

Thank you.

Go carefully.

Bye, drive carefully.

VO: He's ever so agile for his age and he's off to the Bridgenorth antiques center.

I'm Charlie.

Hello Charlie, I'm Lynn.

Lynn, lovely to meet you.

VO: Look out Lynn, this morning he's got a strategy.

I'm looking for something quirky, something different.

VO: Go for it then.

Stoneware figure of Little Bo Peep.

£1200.

VO: Cor, that is a little bit out of your price range Charlie, but Lynn does have one rather quirky item.

Lucky girl.

LYNN: Well, you can have a look at the vicar's chastity belt.

I beg your pardon?

The vicar has got a chastity belt here somewhere.

The vicar has a chastity belt?

Yes, he owns this little section here, the vicar.

VO: Sounds like the beginning of a limerick to me.

Victorian copy of a medieval chastity belt.

He is going to demonstrate it now.

VO: Oh I do hope not.

Does the vicar get in that?

Oh he can, he's skinny.

VO: Oh yes, well, the less said about that the better.

Plenty of things in here though have caught Charlie's eye but none of them quite right for the auction so he's heading off to his next shop.

VO: Meanwhile Carlos has driven the 14 miles onwards to Kidderminster, Worcestershire.

This statue outside Kidderminster's fine town hall pays tribute to one of her most celebrated sons, Rowland Hill, postal reformer and inventor of the first postage stamp.

Hmm!

Carlos is ambling off into the spookily-named shop, Marley's Ghost, where he's meeting Bill, or should it be Bob?

Good morning sir.

VO: Morning.

Ah good morning.

How are you?

Your shop is called?

Marley's ghost.

Why's that?

I just fancied the name.

VO: Fair enough Bill, but let's hope for your sake Charles isn't going to imitate Ebenezer Scrooge today.

Look carefully.

So what I'm looking for Bill is something weird, wonderful, exotic, something mysterious, something that is an education.

VO: Cor, you don't ask for much, do you Carlos?

Still, it looks like Bill's shop just might be up for the challenge.

Interesting box here, Bill, isn't it?

Yeah.

VO: Cor, they're sharp aren't they?

It is a box.

Oak, leather and canvas for ammunition, probably dating from World War I.

How much is that Bill?

Em... about eight quid.

Interesting.

I'm feeling quite explosive now.

.

VO: Oh no.

Puns, they're for me Charles, thank you.

I love how we've got the canvas still lined... what's the very best, Bill, on this?

Do it for about £6.

It's quite novel isn't it?

It's quite fun.

£6 is your best price?

Yeah.

I think, Bill, I'll take it.

OK. £6, that's wonderful, history.

VO: History indeed.

Carlos has his first buy and is charging onwards and upwards.

His old mucker Charlie, meanwhile, has trucked on to Stourbridge, in the West Midlands.

Where he's heading into Charles Langford Antiques and meeting dealer, Steve.

At least he is not called Charles too.

Steve Wilder.

CHARLIE: Steve!

STEVE: Nice to see you.

Lovely to see you too.

VO: Pleasantries accomplished, Charlie's going to have a good rummage through Steve's stock.

I hope that's not going to be painful.

Lordy.

I wonder if any of this is for sale.

VO: Look at this!

Charlie has snuck into the store room of the shop where the crafty old dog has spied some items that haven't been put on display yet, stand by for a truffle.

Do you think I am allowed to be doing this?

VO: No, I'm pretty sure not so look sharp, oh look out!

Ah!

VO: Steve's rumbled you.

What you looking at?

You're welcome to look at some.

Am I allowed?

Oh yeah, yeah.

There's a bit of rosewood there.

VO: It's a rosewood sewing table.

Might it be for sale?

STEVE: £140 would buy it.

CHARLIE: May I look at it?

Of course, we can dig it out I think.

CHARLIE: Oh I say.

VO: Careful!

That is about 1830/1840 English rosewood sewing table.

Pretty little thing.

STEVE: Isn't it?

CHARLIE: I love the top.

If I waved 100 crisp notes in your direction could you be tempted?

If you waved 120 I think you would have bought it.

I'll go 110 if you can possibly do it.

STEVE: Yeah, 110 I'll do.

VO: An item in the bag and Charlie is browsing on.

CHARLIE: I feel a spending spree coming on.

VO: Jolly good.

Back through in the shop proper, Charlie's been drawn to a little item in the silver cabinet.

I like the shape of that.

STEVE: Yeah.

VO: It is a silver sugar bowl dating from 1906.

Ticket price is £85.

CHARLIE: It's a nice-looking thing.

I would give you 50 quid for it guv'nor.

50 cash.

50 quid is not a lot for that.

Perhaps you would like to think about it?

Perhaps you would like to give me £60?

And then you've bought it.

VO: Charlie's not quite sure about the bowl yet, so he's going to browse on.

CHARLIE: That's just a sweet little thing isn't it?

VO: A joy to perceive.

An 1900 century oil painting of an English market town.

Anonymous.

A little man with a top hat.

Very primitive.

VO: Primitive in this sense means the artist was probably an amateur or self taught or just no good.

CHARLIE: Can you imagine somebody... somebody sitting there in the 19th century painting that?

Probably comes free with every sewing table doesn't it?

STEVE: Not free.

CHARLIE: No.

It's nearly free, it's only £40.

A tenner?

VO: Steve's already knocked the sugar bowl down to £60, with the painting added to the deal they would cost together Charlie £100.

But he's angling for a further reduction.

What could Steve do?

Maybe if we did 70 on the pair of those, I think that is quite good actually.

Well, you would.

(LAUGHS) CHARLIE: 65 quid.

STEVE: You've talked me into it.

Are you sure?

Yes, I'm sure.

VO: Capital.

So Charlie's got a bargain deal in this shop paying £175 total for the sewing table, silver sugar bowl and the painting.

Very happy.

Three things in one easy go.

VO: Carlos meanwhile, has driven on to the town of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.

Feeling terribly relaxed about his buying, he's going to visit Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings, where he's meeting museum director, Simon Carter.

CHARLES: Hello sir.

SIMON: Hello.

Nice to see you, I'm Charles Hanson.

VO: Avonscroft is home to a rich and quirky array of historic structures, which have been taken apart in their original locations and reassembled here for preservation.

It's a varied collection reflecting the built heritage of Britain, and in particular of the West Midlands.

CHARLES: Looking around, there's a wonderful array of different periods, different styles, what's behind all this eclectic mix of architecture and old buildings?

The building behind you was the first of nearly 30 buildings to be rescued and brought to this site.

VO: All the buildings here were in danger of demolition or collapse when they were moved.

The museum collection includes residential buildings, like this, a 15th century middle class home, as well as industrial and agricultural structures.

Taking a fragile historic building to bits and re-assembling it again miles from home is no mean feat.

As this 1960s footage of a building now at the museum shows.

Charles and Simon are going to look at it.

It's a windmill, dating from the late 18th or early 19th century.

It was moved here because it was in a dilapidated state in the late 1960s.

Um... and it was when Avoncroft museum was in its infancy and some volunteers went and rescued it one weekend from Tamworth in Arden.

You tell me this was moved over a weekend?

That's incredible.

SIMON: Yeah, I think it was perhaps five days in total.

The longest part of the job was dismantling the brick roundhouse at the bottom.

VO: Here the plucky volunteers are painstakingly taking the windmill apart, bit by bit.

SIMON: It was moved onto lorries and driven back to the museum.

VO: Here, it was restored to its former glory and stands today as a testament to the ingenuity of the people who saved it, as well as the original builders.

Simon's taking Carlos to see another structure, also saved by the museum.

It's a blacksmith's forge, in which chains were made from the mid 19th century, right up to 1969.

SIMON: It has got 14 forges and there would have been a man - or woman sometimes - at each of the forges making chain for hours and hours a day.

VO: Blacksmith Alex is demonstrating how chains would have been hand made.

CHARLES: Wow.

Unbelievable.

So this must be a ferocious heat?

ALEX: It's about 1,300 degrees.

CHARLES: What I can't believe is that a building like this... ..could be broken down and transported and put back together again and just look so authentic in a new location.

VO: Indeed, and the museum's collection is nothing if not diverse.

This site is also home to the national telephone kiosk collection, which includes no less than 32 historic telephone boxes.

Charles is going to have a quick peek on his way back to the car.

Don't reverse the charges, eh.

# Ring-a ding, ring ring, ring ring, ring ring, ring ring, # Ring ring, ding-a-ding, ding-a-ding, ring-a-ding, # Ring-a-ding ring-a-ding, ring-a-ding ring-a-ding # Ring-a-ding-a-ding ding, ring ring ring, ring-a-ding, # Ring-a-ding ring-a-ding, ring-a-ding, # Ring-a-ding-a-ding-a, ring ring ring, ring-a-ding.

# (PHONE RINGING) My phone isn't on.

VO: Where's that ringing coming from then Charles?

Better investigate.

VO: Well, it looks like Charles will be making his own way.

CHARLES: Hello?

VO: Somewhere.

(TARDIS WHIRRING) CHARLES: They hung up on me.

VO: Oh crikey!

Charlie meanwhile, is still back in Stourbridge and is strolling off to his next shop, Antiques and More.

And Charlie the charmer's up to his usual tricks.

Hello ladies.

VO: Look out girls.

Hello.

Two for the price of one.

Woo woo, thank you.

I'm Charlie.

I'm Marion.

Marion.

Hello, hang on, I feel love coming on.

And your name is?

My name's Judy.

What have we got here?

You have got a book for Charles Hanson?

That looks like Charles Hanson.

VO: Stop tittering.

Do you know, it does rather.

Oh there's some jolly pretty bits here.

Oh that is sweet!

VO: Charlie has found a tortoiseshell case for sewing needles.

CHARLIE: Now that is old.

JUDY: Yeah.

VO: Indeed it is.

Dates from the 19th century meaning it's legal, dealing in modern tortoiseshell is now against the law of course, but antique items made before 1947 can be legally traded.

I'd say needles would have gone in there, would you say?

Packets of needles?

Those little paper cardboard packets of needles would have gone in there.

It's got a name, that's very nice.

W Lund 24 Fleet... well it would be Fleet Street.

VO: It is the mark of box maker William Lund who operated on London's Fleet Street from around 1835.

CHARLIE: That's a glorious thing.

JUDY: It's a nice quality piece, yes.

I can't quite work out the price, is that £12.50?

(WOMEN LAUGH) You are not telling me it's 125 quid girls?

VO: It is.

There's an old fashioned for a dealer - "what would be your death?"

JUDY: I can do 75 Don't recoil from me my lovely.

Can you do 60 quid?

JUDY: Em, I can do 65.

I've got 71 quid and I'm supposed to be buying two more things.

Two more!

Well this one and I don't care about the other one, I'll go begging in the street because I love this so much.

VO: Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that Charlie.

CHARLIE: 65 quid?

VO: You are incorrigible Charlie.

Because I love you.

VO: Here we go.

Sealed with a kiss!

VO: He's got that deal all sewn up.

Look at that, for a bargain £65 and with that our boys have reached the end of another madcap day.

So, night night chaps.

VO: But the next day, they're up early for their morning workout.

Do you know, I make all our antique boffins do this, just lets them limber up for that day's buying.

God, they're good together aren't they?

Magic.

CHARLIE: All together now... # Onward Christian soldiers... # VO: So far, Charlie's spent a substantial £240 on four lots - the rosewood sewing table, the silver sugar bowl, the oil painting of a market town... ..and the tortoiseshell needle holder.

He has a scant £6 left in his wallet.

But Carlos has only spent a paltry £6, on the World War I ammunition box.

He has £233.50 to spend today - and he better get cracking.

CHARLES: Am I in the mood?

CHARLIE: Yes!

CHARLES: Yes I am.

VO: I'm glad to hear that.

The boys are just coming into the city of Gloucester.

CHARLIE: That's Gloucester cathedral.

Does that make you proud of our country?

CHARLIE: It certainly does.

CHARLES: To see ancient monuments standing so proudly.

VO: Quite.

In fact, the remains of Plantagenet king, Edward II are buried here.

They're heading for Upstairs Downstairs Antiques.

CHARLIE: Come on.

You've got a lot of money to spend.

VO: Where they're meeting head honcho Vic.

CHARLIE: Greetings.

VIC: Greetings.

How are you?

Who's the boss?

I'm the boss.

You're the boss, you're the man I need, are you?

Yes.

Hello there, good to see you, I'm Charles.

Good to see you.

VO: Carlos and Charlie are going to split up to case the joint.

And Charles, it would seem, has a definite strategy today.

Ask for objects which really are antique and by that I mean go for the medieval, go for the Roman rings, go for objects, which, in historical terms, talk history, rather than being edgy with a knobbly knickknack.

Charlie.

VO: Hey, you're cocky for a man who's only spent £6 Carlos.

True to his word, the clever young buck seems to have unearthed something with a bit of age to it.

CHARLES: I just think it's quite novel.

I'm not really sure what it's used for.

VO: Charles thinks it might be an 18th century piece of Korean pottery.

CHARLES: Very crude, fairly mass produced I suspect.

For a fairly coarse, middle-rate market, probably for export from Korea to China and probably used as ballast on the bottom of a boat.

What's your absolute best price, sir, on that?

I will do it for 15 for you.

A tenner?

I'll take it.

Lovely jubbly.

VO: Deal done.

Now, on the other side of the shop, Charlie appears to be up to something suspicious.

Why is he looking so happy?

I have a cunning plan.

VO: Mmmm.

Charlie has spotted a copy of the Auctions Bidding Agreements Act, 1927.

It's legislation which governs auction houses and a copy of it must be displayed in sale rooms.

Was there an auction here once?

There was, yes.

Yeah.

VO: But japes are afoot.

Charlie has concocted a scheme to trick Carlos into autographing the document, thus - he reasons - raising its value.

He's going to ask if the shop staff will pretend they want it as a souvenir.

I want you if you would, before Charles leaves the premises, to say to him, "Charles would you mind signing these for me?"

I have only got £6 left, I don't suppose they are worth a lot but... We can do that.

It's not the biggest deal you have ever done, but it will make an old man very happy.

VO: So, Charlie buys the agreement for his very last £6.

Five... six.

Okey-cokey.

It's a deal.

Shall I leave that with you?

VO: But will the cunning ruse to get young Carlos's autograph work?

I wondered if you would be so kind to sign it, just across the top?

Do you know what, is that for sale?

VO: Ha!

Too late Carlos.

Sorry?

It's not for sale, is it, that?

No.

What a shame because I could do with one of those.

I'll sign it, it will be a pleasure VO: Ah, what a gent.

But he will get a surprise when he sees Charlie's items.

Still, Charlie seems very pleased.

I think somebody in an auction room would pay millions for that.

Well, more than six quid anyway.

VO: Charlie now has all his items for auction.

So he's driving the 10 miles on to Cheltenham in Gloucestershire.

He's off to visit the Holst Birthplace Museum... hopefully not looking like that.

Ah, much better.

He's meeting charming curator Laura.

CHARLIE: Hello.

LAURA: Hello.

Charlie.

Nice to meet you, Laura.

Laura!

VO: Great British composer, Gustav Holst is perhaps best known for this monumental composition, "Mars, the Bringer of War", from his orchestral suite "The Planets".

Don't be scared - it's only music.

Holst was born in this very house in 1874.

Of Latvian and German descent, he came from a long line of musicians and artists.

CHARLIE: Was his father a musician?

Yes he was.

CHARLIE: That's where it came from.

It came from... well his grandfather and his great grandfather were all musicians.

Adolf his father was a musician as well, he played in Cheltenham, he was well known in the concert circuit in Cheltenham.

Yeah but he would have got most of his musical education from them?

Yeah, exactly, from his father who, you know, introduced him to the piano, the trombone and the violin from an early age.

CHARLIE: There... there he is.

LAURA: Yeah that's Holst, Holst himself.

CHARLIE: He looks rather melancholy if I may say so.

LAURA: Yeah, he always looked melancholy in his, you know, photographs and portraits, but actually in reality he was quite a humorous... Was he?

From his letters he was quite a humorous person.

CHARLIE: That's nice.

LAURA: Yeah, so... That's nice to know.

Always nice to know that someone has a bit of humor.

VO: Now Holst's orchestral suite, "The Planets" is one of the most widely performed and imitated works in the 20th century British classical repertoire.

LAURA: I mean this piano which we think he composed "The Planets" on.

This is the actual piano on which "The Planets" suite was composed?

Yes, we think so.

(PLAYS NOTE) I know I'm not supposed to do that.

No, that's fine.

VO: No!

Do behave Charlie.

Anyway, "The Planets" suite... CHARLIE: When was that written?

Well it was began... he began it in 1914.

He started with Mars literally just before the war broke out, so very apt, Mars the bringer of war.

So then he continued writing the rest of the suite throughout... throughout the First World War and it got its first premier in 1918.

Right.

Right.

And then so around the 20s, early 20s that's when it became... it was performed regularly and that's when his fame sort of really rose.

VO: Holst also composed in a variety of musical forms.

He wrote opera inspired by Hindu philosophy and religion and music for marching bands as well and folk song, you know and obviously a lot of good choral work.

He wrote across the spectrum really.

VO: Laura's going to show Charlie a score written in Holst's own hand.

This is "I Love My Love", one of Holst's arrangements of choral folk songs.

So this is an original manuscript, so you can see all Holst's workings out here as well.

Yes indeed and all the instruments - oboe, clarinet, there's the voice.

Yes.

Gosh.

It is a traditional Cornish folk song which Holst himself arranged.

VO: Holst composed till near the end of his life in 1934.

Now with thanks to Laura...

Thank you very much indeed.

You're welcome.

A wonderful trip.

Really interesting.

Lovely to meet you.

Thank you.

CHARLIE: Bye bye LAURA: Bye.

VO: ..it's time for our own music man to hit the road.

Charles Hanson meanwhile... Are these your little dogs are they?

Max and Paddy.

VO: After stopping to make some new chums... CHARLES: Hello, aren't you lovely?

VO: ..he's driven on to Tewkesbury in Gloucester.

Tewkesbury's fine Tudor buildings and winding streets make it a suitably atmospheric place for Charles to finish his shopping.

But with only two buys and a tiddly £16 spent, Charles is fast running out of time.

He's supposed to be visiting antiques shops, but has now - shockingly - decided to pursue an alternative plan.

He's spotted an auction house, Church Street Auctions, and wants to see if they have anything he might purchase.

I just wondered whether you might have any unsolds or any re-offers that viably on behalf of your clients, you could perhaps sell to me?

VO: Charles is looking for any items that remain unsold after auction.

But if they didn't sell at the previous auction, will they sell at yours, Carlos?

Have a look around and if you see anything then we could talk about it.

You've got some things that I could have a look at?

I have a couple of things... Really?

Your name sir is?

Bo.

Bo, I'm Charles Hanson, I'm an auctioneer as well in Derbyshire so...

I know you are.

VO: Your reputation precedes you Charles.

VO: He has precious little time left to find the lots he needs, but his chipper confidence remains undimmed.

Charlie Ross watch out.

I may have hit on a wholesale goldmine.

VO: Really Carlos?

Get a move on mate.

Ah, a pretty little something has caught his eye.

See, she's quite nice.

Here you've got a Victorian lady and she really captures the age of I think the 1870s/1880s.

Her head's actually a fabric head with what appear to be later eyes.

But she's quite good.

What's the best price on her?

35.

OK, a mental note.

VO: He's putting her aside as a possibility.

Don't toy with the girl Charles.

Ha!

I'm like a boy in a sweetshop.

VO: Oh, Lordy.

BO: You like that do you?

It's quite sweet, what is it?

I haven't a clue.

I was hoping you'd tell me.

VO: Let me then.

It's a cup, probably mid Victorian made from a lacquered coconut shell with a wooden and ivory mount.

Ivory items - like tortoiseshell - are illegal to trade unless they're made before 1947, which this comfortably is.

Phew.

This too goes into the 'maybe' pile.

And now he's got something else in his sights.

CHARLES: Is it World War I these various buttons?

VO: It's a quantity of early 20th century military and regimental buttons mounted for display on a leather belt.

BO: You know, it's a good military thing.

There's a lot of people interested in militaria and that, so... yeah.

What could they Bo as a little lot on their own like that?

Eh...

I'd do them for 20.

VO: Carlos is definitely interested in the coconut cup, doll, and military buttons.

The combined price Bo is quoting is £75.

What's the very best Bo?

BO: 50.

CHARLES: For the whole lot?

BO: Yeah.

Wow.

I'll take it.

Thanks Bo, I'll take them all, for £50.

Yep.

VO: Three lots bagged eh!

But now he's wandered off and found something else!

What has caught my eye over here are one, two, three, four, five... VO: Let's just round it up to 17 shall we?

CHARLES: 17 figures.

And Bo, they have caught my eye because they decorate an area don't they?

Yeah.

In a real riot of color.

VO: They certainly are a riot.

They are Capodimonte.

They are they're Capodimonte.

VO: The original Capodimonte porcelain came from the Royal Factory in Naples, Italy, which was founded in the 18th century and closed long ago.

These items are not from that historic factory - you'll be pleased to hear... and that figures.

These really are, I suppose, the lower end aren't they?

Yeah.

These are the more sort of collectable end.

I don't know Bo, would it be viable for me to buy the whole lot?

BO: Yeah.

CHARLES: Would it really?

£20.

The whole lot.

£25?

I'll tell you what I'll do... CHARLES: Yes sir.

.. you take them all, £23.

CHARLES: They're awful aren't they?

VO: Yeah but at £23...

I'll take them.

VO: Thanks Bo, you are very, very kind.

What have I done?

What have I done?

I've got carried away.

So what?

VO: So what indeed.

And with that triumphant swipe, the young pretender has all his lots for auction, so he's off to meet Charlie for the great unveiling.

I can't believe this extraordinary avalanche I can see in front of me.

Charlie, they often say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, OK, and you haven't seen what I have bought yet.

VO: First, Carlos's motley collection of figures.

CHARLIE: They're not Capodimonte are they?

Please don't... tell me they're not Capodimonte.

Yes, they are.

They are.

I hate Capodimonte.

Charlie...

Carry on.

VO: Well, that was a positive start.

A man with a degree in history, with a lovely sale room, a penchant for the wonderful things.

I can't believe it.

Some aren't in great condition but they are flamboyant... No.

CHARLES: They are colorful... CHARLEI: No.

I think they've got a certain character about them.

VO: No?

OK.

So what about the World War I ammo box?

Here's my military ammo box.

CHARLIE: Yup.

CHARLES: There you are.

Lovely.

Just what it is.

CHARLIE: Yup.

CHARLES: Tells a story.

CHARLIE: No shells.

CHARLES: No.

CHARLIE: No frills.

CHARLES: No.

CHARLIE: Cost a fiver.

Say again?

It cost me £6.

Six.

VO: Ha, maybe the quirky coconut cup will fare better.

CHARLES: I like this.

I just think it's quite interesting.

It's quite an interesting object It is isn't it?

VO: Ah, the sweet manna of approval.

CHARLES: I like this lady as well.

CHARLIE: I do like her.

She is definitely Victorian, and this dress is period.

It is lovely.

Isn't it?

Absolutely glorious.

That's gorgeous, that's fun, that's history.

I can't get on with these.

No.

VO: Now, Charlie's up.

Oh crikey.

Oh, you have bought, oh my goodness me Charlie Ross, oh goodness me, you bought well.

Don't you start.

No, Charlie, hats off to you.

I love your objects.

First of all, I love your silver sugar bowl, that's lovely quality, that's a really good thing Charlie.

I bought a bit of furniture.

OK. You know my love for furniture.

And be careful with the lid.

CHARLES: It's a sewing case.

CHARLIE: It's a sewing table.

Sewing table.

CHARLES: That's too good, it's rosewood.

It is, you know, it's William IV, it's rosewood, but it is in poor condition.

Mr Ross, I am willowing here.

But this is my prize lot.

I would like you to look at it.

Oh no.

You didn't!

VO: Ha ha, such monkeys.

I said to the man, "that's hanging up, will you take £6?"

he says, "It's not for sale, part of the shop."

I said, "please because I want to get... Oh no!

"..you to say, Charles Hanson, please sign it for me."

CHARLES: Oh no!

And then I'll put it in the auction.

I'd already paid for it when you signed it.

So that means, since I have signed, I now have part share in it do I?

No.

Alright, that's wonderful.

And it cost you how much?

£6.

I hope the audience aren't put off by my autograph.

No, no, that's what makes the value.

VO: Quite so.

Yeah.

Put it there.

Good luck old bean.

Yeah I can't wait Charlie, I am actually lost for words.

VO: Yeah, not for long though.

All his items, for the first time, all of Charlie's items are really quite invigorating.

He has bought that ridiculous linen Auctions Agreements Act, that I signed and how he... unbelievable he got that round me, I'll never know.

As always, may the best man win.

He never ceases to amaze me.

I mean, could you ever bracket a man with such wonderful depth of knowledge and love of antiques with Capodimonte?

I mean, dreadful.

Which items would I rather have?

Mine, Charles, mine.

VO: Oh this leg, Charles and Charlie have traveled from Bridgnorth in Shropshire to end up at auction here, in Ledbury, Herefordshire.

Ledbury is another town which rejoices in some lovely historic architecture.

Work began on this - the Market House - in 1617.

They're heading to HJ Pugh & Co Auctioneers.

And Carlos is certainly dressed for the occasion.

Do you ever think they'll have seen a jacket like yours in Ledbury?

Probably not.

VO: Well, I'm sure this will be an education for all concerned.

Charlie Ross began this leg with £246 exactly.

He's spent that whole amount on five lots.

While the young pretender, Charles, started with £239.50, and has spent a thrifty £89 on six lots.

However, disaster has struck... Could be in trouble.

VO: Oh no, one of his lots has gone missing.

The military ammo box was lost in transit.

Perhaps it blew up.

If anyone does happen to find it, we'd be awfully glad if they'd get in touch.

But fear not, the Road Trip rules provide for just such an eventuality.

An insurance valuation of the item will be recorded as the sale price.

An independent assessment tell us that it's valued at £30.

So before a gavel has even fallen, Charles has scored a £24 profit.

Nice and generous.

This evening's auction is about to begin, presided over by auctioneer James Pugh, just before the off though, what does he think of our lads' lots?

JAMES: The rosewood sewing table, fair amount of damage on that one.

We've had a fair amount of interest from a number of purchasers today.

Capodimonte, not one of the favorite things around here shall we say, let's see if we get a bid and we'll go from there.

The signed bidding agreement, I would be somewhere around the £10-20 mark.

It's an item that everyone would want, who wouldn't want his autograph?

VO: Battle is commencing and first up, it's Charlie's cheekily customized Auction Biddings Agreement slip.

Will his rival's scribbling attract the punters?

Fiver straight in we go, at £5, here a fiver, £5.

Eight at £8.

10 at £10, bid at 10.

Stop there, that's far too much.

I thought there would be more money for this.

At £10, work out what we're doing wrong every time.

At £10, here, 10, 12, £12, I'm bid 12.

On the internet at £12, the internet's out... Internet bid.

Internet bidding.

15... Must be, must be your mother.

Want the money now, £15...

It's my wife for you.

That's the way sir.

Get it sold.

I won't tell you we've just signed another one for you.

At £20, here at 20.

Backing the Hanson name.

Internet is in at £22.

Go on, one more.

At £22, here at 22.

Internet... five, 25.

Stop it!

Stop it sir.

£25, in the room I go now, at £25 then, the internet is out, selling then at £25.

Well done sir, well done, well done, well done.

VO: It seems the crowd is keen for a little bit of Hanson.

Canny and cunning Charlie, a nice profit for you.

I might start signing a few papers and put them to sale Charlie.

And take your lot with me.

That has sorted out your retirement.

It has.

VO: Yeah.

Next up it's Charles' collection of military buttons on a leather belt.

Might his remaining lot of militaria score a direct hit?

Tenner only, at £10 here at 10.

15, at £15 I hear 15 for that belt.

20 at the back, at £20 bid, at 20, at £20.

Come on keep going, keep going.

Five, 25, 30, £30 bid, five, 35, 35 on my right.

At £35, I hear £35 why ever not?

Here, here sir, here!

Oh good, it's a lady.

40, new bidder, 40 at £40.

I should be looking this way.

At £40 here at 40, five more surely?

At £40 here at 40, you're out left and internet, and selling then at £40.

That's OK. Good profit.

Happy, Charlie.

£30 I'm off and running.

VO: A stormer.

What a start for Carlos.

Next, Charlie's pretty but primitive oil of a market town.

Tenner straight in a tenner.

At 15, 20, five, 30, five, 40 five, 50 five, 60... VO: Gosh.

70, 80, 80 with me.

VO: I don't believe it.

£80, only 80.

90... VO: No!

100.

At £100, take a five if you like.

Five, 105 on the room.

I don't believe this.

105 in the room we go.

Brilliant Charlie.

Anyone else?

Sold at 105.

Put it there, well played.

That is a wonderful result Charlie.

VO: And that puts Charlie firmly in the lead.

Next, Carlos's little cup.

Fiver we go, £5 here at five.

10, at £10... Oh dear.

Here at £10 in front I have, at £10, here at £10.

I'm disappointed at this.

Absolutely.

20, £20 I've got, at 20, the internet has got it at £20 here at 20.

Five, 25, £25 bid at 25, at £25, internet again.

I think they want you to bid once more if possible.

30, at £30 I'm bid, at 30, thank you.

And the other one would be kind as well.

At £30 bid at 30, £30 bid here at 30.

At £30.

The internet has still got it, the room is out.

At £30, here at 30, the hammer is up then and going then.

At £30.

VO: Thanks to some good work from James the auctioneer, a tidy little profit for Carlos.

Now, the rosewood table, will Charlie have a profit here all sewn up?

£100 to go surely?

100, 100 come on.

80 I'm bid at 80.

At £80 here at 80.

Brilliant, that's brilliant.

At 90, at £90, I wonder whose it could be at 90, a 90 bid at 100, £100, 110, 110, 120, 130, 130, 140, 150, 150, 150, 160, 170, 170 with me, at £170 bid, at 170.

I like this man!

Had its time?

And selling at 170.

Well done, bean.

CHARLIE: I tell you what- CHARLES: That was a result It was.

VO: Everything is looking rosy for Charlie.

That solidifies his lead.

Now Carlos is up with his odd little coconut cup.

£20 I've got, at 20... Oh dear.

Don't worry Charles.

At £20 here, at 20 for the coconut.

30, at £30 here at 30, at 30, phone's out.

At £30, five, 35, £35 bid at 35 why ever not?

I think I might be in trouble for this one.

At £35, in at 35, 40 if you like now.

At £35 bid at 35, up the back we go.

40, new bidder, 40.

£40 bid, five, 45, 45 left, at £45 here, 45.

Had its time then and selling at 45.

VO: In the end, it's a nice little earner.

Now for the sweet little silver sugar bowl for Charlie.

50, I'm bid at £50 here, 50, 60, 70, 80, £80 bid.

At £80 only at 80.

90 with me, at 90.

At £90 here, commission I've got one at £90 bid.

At £90 here at 90... That's fantastic.

At £90 here, 90, at £90, disappointed though, but sold at £90.

It's alright.

We don't mind £90, cost 50.

That's a profit of how much?

CHARLIE: £40.

CHARLES: That's fantastic.

VO: Another toothsome profit for Charlie.

Now Carlos's Victorian doll.

Let's hope a pretty little profit awaits here.

£100 for those surely?

100 for the doll?

100?

Come on, £20 here at 20, £20 here at 20, a bit of damage but away you go.

At 20, 30, at £30... Come on hands, up you go.

At £30, I'm disappointed with this.

At £30 here, take a fiver if it helps.

At £30 here at £30.

Five anywhere now?

Had its time, and going at £30.

VO: A small win for Carlos, but not enough to take the lead from Charlie.

Charlie, I'm nibbling at profits, I'm nibbling Charlie but I can't nibble your gigantic bites.

VO: Charlie's tortoiseshell needle box is next.

Can it pin up a profit?

£50, here at 50, at £50, at 60, 70, 80 in the room I go, £80 here at 80.

90, 100, £100 bid 10, 110, 110.

Why ever not?

At £110, you can't buy it off me tomorrow.

At £110 bid, at 110.

20s anywhere now?

Had its time then and selling then at 110.

Well done Charlie, great result.

It's a profit.

VO: A tiny item scores a big profit for Charlie.

Good night.

Where are you going?

Relaxing.

VO: It ain't over though till the fat lady sings Charlie.

And Carlos's em... much-loved collection of Capodimonte figures - not - are still to go under the hammer.

£40 to go, 40.

Come on.

40?

40?

£5, at five?

They ought to be on a sort of shy so you throw things at them.

At £10, here at 10?

For the lot of them, that's not each mind.

£10, here at £10, luckily you are in the saleroom, with £10 here at 10.

15 to I hear now?

Sold at £10.

Charles, I loved all your other lots but Charles, I have to say, I put my hand on my heart and say, they were awful.

VO: And the saleroom seems to be in agreement on that, but chin up Carlos, you've done well from this sale, just not quite as well as Charlie.

Carlos began this leg with £239.50.

He made a tidy profit of £62.70, and now has £302.20 to carry forwards.

Charlie, however, started with a narrow lead and £246 to his name.

He made a storming profit of £164 exactly and trips off now with £410 on the button.

It's dark.

How long were we in that sale room for?

Heck of a long time, but long enough for you to make a whacking great loss.

Yes.

Exactly.

VO: Err... CHARLIE: Except you didn't, you made a profit.

VO: Quite, do pay attention Charlie.

On the next Antiques Road Trip, Charlie's riding high.

Charlie, you can't do that.

What?

Get down.

VO: But who will be smiling when the last gavel falls?

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