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: We're approaching the halfway stage of our antiquarian amble in the company of Natasha Raskin and Charlie Ross.

Being driven along a leafy lane in the sunshine by a young girl in a sports car is frankly all any man could ever wish for in life.

VO: Aw, charmer Charlie, an auctioneer from Oxfordshire, is the experienced half of our two on the road, well versed in the ways of the bargain.

Hello Steve.

Yeah, Charlie's on his knees.

VO: While art and style guru Natasha, from Glasgow, has been entirely candid on her maiden outing.

I know, I know, I'm a plonker.

VO: Honesty can pay though.

Geography sometimes as well.

I was amazed at how good a deal I got from the chap whose mother was from Glasgow, simply amazed!

(BOTH LAUGH) VO: It's a funny old game this.

They set off in their Triumph TR6 with £200 each and so far the auction score is one all, although Natasha's made just a modest profit with £217.50.

Whilst Charlie's turned his stake into £307.92, a lead of over £90.

But can the wise master stay ahead?

CHARLIE (CR): What you need is for me to buy three things for £100 each.

NATASHA (NR): Could you do that?

CR: And you to buy three things for 20 quid each and make a steady little miserly profit.

I can do that!

VO: The kid learns fast.

Our journey begins in Cornwall at Falmouth and heads east, taking in most of southern England before ending up over 900 miles later at Stansted Mountfitchett, Essex.

Today we're making for an auction in the Dorset town of Christchurch, but starting out in the Chiltern Hills at Berkhamsted.

It was in Berkhamsted in December 1066, just a few months after the Battle of Hastings, that the English finally surrendered to William the Conqueror, and it was here too, equally lost in the midst of time that a certain auctioneer and road tripper spent his formative years.

CR: Berkhamsted School, founded 1541.

I was at school here and I've got a surprise for you.

NR: Oh no!

My old first 11 cap.

You look about 12.

Would you like to hear the old school song?

It's in Latin.

# Laudata virtus # crescit et invidus # eredit annos... # VO: When Charlie runs out of Latin, they'll be shopping in two shops, just a few doors apart.

CR: "Vintage & eclectic".

NR: Just like you.

You or me?

No, it's you.

Vintage, eclectic.

Good luck.

VO: It's just like heading for the office, isn't it?

Hello, good morning.

Hello!

NR: Hi there!

JULIE: Hi.

I'm Tasha.

I'm Julie.

Nice to meet you.

Lovely to meet you Julie.

Hi there.

Gosh, what a fabulous shop you have.

Thank you, we love it.

VO: REunion, once a pop up shop but now permanent, should have plenty to keep Natasha interested.

Very very interior design, isn't it?

Very very.

VO: While Charlie heads off to Heritage.

No more of those though, eh?

Good morning!

JOHN: Good morning.

CR: John, is it?

I'm John.

CR: Charlie.

JOHN: Hello Charlie.

It's lovely to be back in Berkhamsted.

You came here before?

I was at school here.

No.

Ten years of my life spent here.

And mine.

You were at the school as well?

I was, yes.

What house were you in?

Lowers.

Lowers!

Which is just up the road here.

That one there, yes.

I was halfway up the hill - Incents.

Incents!

We hated you.

What?!

VO: Hm, that went well.

Let's change the subject, shall we?

CR: Well I'm going to try and buy antiques.

I know that you've got all sorts of things here, haven't you, from the shabby chic to the antique?

From the sublime to the ridiculous.

(LAUGHS) VO: No prizes for guessing what Charlie will come up with then.

Meanwhile, Natasha is in designer heaven.

This shop is so midcentury, everything is so midcentury.

It's got that real Birkhall feel, G-Plan, Danish kind of feel.

Love that.

Love that fruit plate.

That's just so gorgeous.

£28.

Finland, oh so sort of Scandinavian design.

I love the palette.

It's a really awful kind of sickly green, and I love it.

I think mainly if we're talking Scandinavian at the moment, do we not want glass?

I think we probably would want glass more than ceramics.

I wonder if she'd give me that for a tenner?

No, that would be too rude, that would be too rude.

We'll see how we get on with our stuff.

Oh, OK!

VO: Charlie's going a bit more trad.

What a fantastic place setting.

There's a lot of it.

How many?

Ten place settings, EPNS cutlery, £85.

Is that yours?

JOHN: No, that's Janet.

Seems jolly good value to me.

I'll even have to have a look at a piece.

Made in Sheffield.

As you would hope.

Quite impressive, isn't it, as a whole lot, to have the knives as well?

JOHN: It is, if you've got a ten-seater table.

Or, of course, if there's just two of you and you don't like washing up much.

VO: That would just about suit, too.

£4?

£4?

Are you trying to beat me down, Charlie?

Well, I, of course, I would if I wanted to buy it, but that's absolutely ridiculous.

Dalton Lambeth, they started by making drains, didn't they?

They made drains in London, and then they progressed onto earthenware objects.

It's known as a harvest teapot.

Cuz you can see the guys with their harvest here.

This is very churlish, but at £4, what's your best?

£3.90.

£3.90.

VO: While heady figures are bandied about elsewhere, Natasha may be about to actually hang her hat on something.

I love this big hook.

That would probably ruin the ladies' display somewhat.

It's 20th century, isn't it?

It's not going to be late 19th century, it's 20th century, but that has good farmhouse appeal.

That is quite fun.

Julie?

Yeah, hi.

I love this massive row of hooks.

Is that for sale?

It, yeah, it is, yeah.

The price is 75.

75.

OK. Yeah.

I tell you what I'm going to do is I'm going to think about it because I don't know, and I've had a bad history thus far of making snap decisions.

JULIE: I can do it for 60 if that helps.

£60.

OK, I do think I need it, and I have to do that awful thing where I have to just kind of go down and down and down, I have to say Julie, would you take £50 for it?

What did I say?

60?

55 I think is the absolute bottom.

I knew you were going to say that.

Yeah!

I think I'm quite comfortable with 55.

I don't know if I've lost the plot, but Julie, I think we should go for it.

I think I have!

(BOTH LAUGH) Thank you so much, thank you.

I love it.

I love it, love it, love it, love it.

VO: First blood to Natasha.

Down the road, Charlie's spoken to the dealer who owns the cutlery.

Every bit helps as they say.

VO: And got it down to £65.

He's still looking though.

CR: You've got an antique there as well!

Yeah, it's an old Comtoise.

Blimey, an old Comtoise clock!

Yes.

With a pendulum.

CR: It is rather a jazzy pendulum.

Yes, it's the actual original folding pendulum... Look at that!

..they came with so they could be boxed and moved around easily.

CR: Ah.

Seems to have missed its bell.

It has got a missing bell.

Shame, isn't it?

Oh dear.

Nativity scene here.

JOHN: They're good movements though.

Hasn't been... (BLOWS) ..going for a while, has it ?

No, it hasn't been going for about 20 years.

VO: Comtoise long case clocks are named after the French region they were made in for over 200 years.

JOHN: They're unusual because they have this lovely habit.

You know how you wake up in the night and you hear the clock strike?

Yes.

And you think 'was that three or was it four?'

Yeah.

This one does it a minute later.

CR: It strikes the hour twice?

JOHN: Yes.

Do you know, I never knew that.

Is that standard for a Comtoise clock?

Absolutely, yes.

I'm not liking the price.

VO: Yeah, that very old ticket price doesn't reflect that the clock's now in bits.

Ha!

Charlie can be bold about this one.

You going to sell it to me for 20 quid?

Make an old man happy.

What, to 20?

No, I can't make 20, I can't make 20.

You can't.

No.

Gee, that came across the Channel!

Did it?

That's one of the most expensive trips, isn't it, nowadays, for 20 - Well it is nowadays, it was jolly cheap in those days.

Come off it.

So what's the verdict?

25.

VO: A more realistic price agreed.

I thought you were going to say 120 more.

As an old Berkhamstedian.

As an old Berkhamstedian.

VO: Flushed with success, he's also decided to plump for the cutlery for £65 and the little £4 teapot.

# Laude... # VO: Oh dear.

Yet another go at the school song.

# ..ata virtus.

# VO: Make it stop, someone.

You did that so well I'm going to knock £2 off that teapot for you.

CR: Darling.

WOMAN: That's alright.

May I?

Anything to help.

That's fantastic.

VO: There really is no accounting for taste.

Pot, clock and cutlery then, all for £92.

I knew this would be you!

Hi, how are you?

Have you spent all your money?

A touch.

A touch.

A little bit.

Probably too much.

Are you going in the next shop?

Might have a look.

Might have a look.

I'm going off to an intriguing destination.

Where are you going?

Wouldn't you like to know?

VO: Very intriguing and top-secret.

Natasha's mysterious destination lies beneath the Buckinghamshire village of West Wycombe.

Welcome to the caves that were once home to the notorious Hellfire Club.

Hello squire!

I've traveled back in time!

I'm Natasha.

You've traveled back to the 18th century, my lady.

Ooh!

Pleasure to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

Welcome to the Hellfire Caves.

Hope you're ready.

I'm so ready.

So so ready.

OK, then let's descend.

Let's go in!

VO: Extending for about a quarter of a mile, this unsettling network of chalk and flint caverns was first created in the mid-18th century with a devilish purpose in mind.

OK Jack, what are these caves?

Where did they come from?

Well originally they were a quarry site.

Right, oh right, OK.

But then they were transformed into these caves, this underground labyrinth.

VO: The man who dreamt it all up was the local landowner, Sir Francis Dashwood.

He needed a venue for the naughty goings-on of his Order of the Friars of St Francis.

Now is the time to tell you I'm slightly claustrophobic.

No, just kidding, just kidding.

VO: There was nothing holy about Dashwood's Friars - quite the opposite.

Bacchus and Venus were the deities invoked by this toff and his chums as they acted out their wildest fantasies in ritualistic parties.

Stand by.

Is it wrong to say that with these cusped arches and the sort of Gothic feel there's something quite religious about these caves?

That is the correct word, religious.

May I introduce you to the Pope?

NR: What is that?!

That's horrible yet amazing!

That is a William Hogarth original.

As in William Hogarth, 18th-century portrait painter?

Mmhm.

He has put these faces throughout the caves, in the shadows, in the light, everywhere, and each of them have a religious symbol to them.

Hogarth?

Did he not spend his whole career skewering and jibing and exposing the upper classes for their debauchery, and this is the most debauched place I've ever been?

So Hogarth was here?

Yes, his names are on the original papers.

He was one of the founding members in fact.

VO: Another famous visitor to the caves, but not a member, was Dashwood's friend Benjamin Franklin, although some have claimed he was only spying on the secret society, whose motto translates as "do whatever you wish".

This is absolutely amazing.

They were doing this and I'm so intrigued, because I have a feeling they were doing so much more.

VO: They were, Natasha, dirty beasts, although there has to be a limit to the detail this program can divulge.

And it's a little bit scary, a little bit scary.

VO: It's fairly safe to assume that the presence of several MPs, together with alcohol and prostitutes dressed as nuns, would have resulted in some dissipation.

And welcome to the banqueting hall.

This is the party central.

I mean, it's quite sparsely adorned.

Was it like this when they are having their parties?

Oh no, in those days, in these alcoves they had beds.

OK!

And they were pointed into the center where they had a large round oak table, and above that a rose quartz chandelier up there.

That's unbelievable.

I can almost hear the laughter of just ladies giggling and just, from these alcoves... Oh my goodness, it really is ritualistic, isn't it?

VO: The mind boggles, darling.

And we'd be more knowledgeable about the club's activities if their steward and secretary, Paul Whitehead, hadn't destroyed all the records.

Shame.

Just before he died in 1774, Whitehead's will was suitably strange too.

It says "to my dear Sir Francis Dashwood, I bequeath two things - the sum of £50" - which meant he was rolling in it.

Huge amount of money, right?

"And also my heart."

His actual heart?

As a memento to the noble founder.

VO: Sadly, Whitehead's bequest, which was stored in an urn and occasionally exhibited, was stolen in 1829.

Since then, there have been numerous sightings of his ghost in the West Wycombe caves - not that unusual in one of the most haunted places in Britain.

NR You spend a lot of time down here.

Have you ever experienced anything out of the corner of your eye?

You must have done.

JACK: I've heard laughter.

NR: Oh you haven't!

JACK: I've heard whistling.

NR: Whistling?

And when I've said hello, it stops.

Really?

Oh, that would be such a fright!

Shall we?

Ladies first, if you think you can lead us back out.

Please don't!

Please don't leave me to find my way out, honestly Jack - oh!

I'm walking into it and everything!

Oh my goodness.

VO: Lordy.

Meanwhile, back above ground, a strange apparition haunts the antique shops of Croxley Green.

Aha!

Are you the boss?

I certainly am sir.

And your name is?

DAVE: Dave.

CR: Dave, I'm Charlie.

Charles, nice to meet you.

Nice to see you.

VO: He's already bought three things today and spent almost £100...

It's easy to miss things in here, isn't it?

VO: ..but shows no sign of slowing up yet, despite his age.

Oh, I love that.

A loo roll holder!

Is it old?

I'm 99.9% sure it's a right one.

It looks old to me and something that screams to me it's old is that these screws don't quite fit, they're wrong, which I think is a good thing, cuz if they fitted exactly I think to myself 'hang on'.

Got the kitemark on there, which looks right.

And that knob looks right.

I think you could catalogue that as Victorian, couldn't you?

VO: I wonder if Dave's got a loo to go with it, Charlie.

CR: I think that's fab.

I don't think it's fantastically valuable but I just think it's great.

VO: The price is £35 - hardly spending a penny.

Ah, Japanese lacquered papier mache tray.

DAVE: Yes.

Little bit of damage on it.

Someone's been biting it!

VO: That'll be cheap then.

You can see all the gilding has rubbed off here.

That would have been so wonderful when that was made in probably 1910, 1920.

Well it could be 15.

15 quid.

Well you've really tempted me there.

VO: Well Charlie, with over £200, can certainly afford it.

Now what has he spotted?

What I like about that - not that it's a particularly wildly exciting thing, I suppose it's 1920s, isn't it?

It is.

The condition is fantastic.

DAVE: Condition's superb.

They're always broken, those things.

Every time I see those they have the writing on them and half the blooming letters are missing.

DAVE: You can even see the hallmark still.

Yeah.

I love that.

I think it's really charming.

Pins.

Totally usable.

And that's not ebony, it's a bit of Bakelite, I think.

DAVE: Yeah, I think it's Bakelite, yeah.

It's a bit too cheap, really.

I can't believe it's too cheap.

DAVE: £25.

CR: Is it as much as that?

(BOTH LAUGH) Well I could most probably go to 20...

I thought you might - ..4.99.

VO: Charlie's met his match here.

You got a little hallmark book there by any chance?

I bet you have.

It's London, isn't it?

We're London on a D. It can't be as late as 1959 - do you know, I'm beginning to think this is Victorian.

I think it's an A. Yeah.

Could be.

1896.

I think it's possibly a D, but I mean, if it's 1899 it's still Victorian whichever way we look at it, which surprises me.

I thought that was 1920s.

So did you I think.

DAVE: Yeah, I did.

I did, yeah.

Price has just gone up.

(CHARLIE LAUGHS) VO: Time for a sitdown talk, I think.

That's got 25 quid on it.

Yup.

The loo roll holder was...?

DAVE: 35 CR: And the tray you said 15.

15, yeah.

It's coming to 75 quid.

£75.

You know what I'm thinking of, don't you, and you're not, I should think.

I was thinking of a nifty.

VO: Dave definitely doesn't have 50 in mind.

That one I'll knock another fiver off.

£70 for the three pieces.

Right.

The tray's neither here nor there so we talking about 55 for these two?

55, yeah.

CR: I can't say no, can I?

DAVE: Not really.

It's been wonderful.

Thank you ver- I'm going to get off me seat.

My pleasure sir, my pleasure.

Thank you very much indeed sir.

VO: A standing ovation for a deal well done - hurrah.

What a fantastic day.

Two shops, five items - I'm going for a lie down.

VO: Night night.

VO: Next morning, Natasha's mystery buy has Charlie hooked.

CR: You only bought one thing yesterday.

I only bought one thing, and I'm not going to tell you what it was, but it was unusually large.

CR: How exotic.

It was exotic!

I can't wait to see it.

It wasn't even really for sale, it was more for display purposes, but I nabbed it off their wall anyway.

You saucepot!

VO: Well I hope he's not disappointed when he finally gets a butcher's at what she's bought.

I don't know if I've lost the plot, but Julie, I think we should go for it.

I think I have!

(BOTH LAUGH) VO: Those set her back £55, leaving just over £160 left for her purchases today, while Charlie opted for strength in numbers, acquiring a Comtoise clock, some cutlery, a pin box, a teapot and a Victorian loo roll holder.

I would have that in my house.

VO: For a grand total of £147, which means he too has £160 left for any further purchases.

Later they'll be heading for a Dorset auction in Christchurch, but our next stop is in Buckinghamshire at Marlow.

This fine town on the Thames boasts a very distinguished suspension bridge, the prototype for a much larger one across the Danube in Budapest.

Every time I looked around There he was, that hairy hound From Budapest Never leaving her alone Never have I ever known A ruder pest.

VO: I'm not sure what else the two destinations have in common though.

Maybe antique shops.

What a gorgeous building.

Hello!

Hi.

Hi there.

ZOE: Morning.

NR: Nice to meet you.

I'm Tasha.

Hi, I'm Zoe.

VO: Hm, I wonder how she's coping with the news that her experienced rival made great strides yesterday.

He's bought everything on the first day.

I can't believe he's done that to me.

VO: I think the answer's not well, actually.

But is this fine establishment the place to fight back?

I'm struggling here.

I have a tiny budget.

A tiny budget.

OK. And I'm thinking 'look at all these gorgeous little trinkets and things, I bet they're still worth more than I can get them for.'

That's an interesting piece actually.

OK. Let me just hook that out.

We know it's Birmingham, 1913.

It has a mirror.

NR: Hmm!

We think maybe it was either for a beauty spot, maybe.

Yeah.

Or possibly rouge or something else inside that.

NR: What a lovely thing.

ZOE: Yes, beautiful.

But I'll bet you're asking for a handsome price for this little patch box, whatever it may be.

£55.

55.

I mean, what would it make, it would make £20 in an auction, which is sad, unless two people really wanted it, but gosh.

Then you might go a bit more.

I mean, it is lovely.

The enamel hat pins and all these things, you are teasing me I think!

You are teasing me Zoe with your very beautiful items.

I've got £162.50, I've got to buy four items.

OK. Is it possible?

I think you might do it.

You might not do it in here!

(BOTH LAUGH) VO: Your honesty is appreciated, ZoZo.

Time to scarper, Natasha.

How is Charlie?

Looking a bit smug, methinks.

On his way now down the Thames to Maidenhead to visit yet another shop.

True.

Also very true.

Especially in my case.

VO: Yes, we've noticed.

CR: Morning!

STACY: Hello!

Ready and waiting for me, with a very firm handshake.

How are you?

I'm fine, thank you, how are you?

CR: And who are you?

STACY: Stacy.

You own everything here?

No, we've got lots of dealers, 38 dealers we've got, yes.

38 dealers!

Are they all nice?

No.

VO: Hm - well said Stacy, backed up by statistics too I'm sure.

Are there nice areas and horrid areas?

It's all lovely in my shop!

Oh, don't hit me!

VO: These two are definitely hitting it off.

Charlie's after just one more lot.

God, it's amazing.

VO: Furniture?

Thought so.

CR: Lovely Edwardian cross banded mahogany cabinet, mirrored center section, 85 quid.

And it's been there for months.

I bet it has.

I could have it.

Yes, have it, take it!

Can I have it for nothing?

No, not for nothing!

Oh go on.

You know what it would make at auction today?

You'd do jolly well to get 50 quid for that today.

I mean it's bizarre, isn't it?

But then you buy it for 30 and you've made your £20.

Oooh!

Oooh!

I've hardly got in the shop!

You know how to excite an old man, don't you?

VO: Calm down, Charlie.

Consider your slightly desperate rival... taking our route further down river towards East Molesey, where Sir Edwin Lutyens had a hand in designing their bridge.

(BELL RINGS) Ding-a-ling.

Hello.

Hi.

How are you?

Hello.

I'm Natasha.

Sue, hello.

Nice to meet you.

Sue, lovely to meet you.

VO: Hmm.

So with just £162.50 to her name, could this finally be the place to spend it?

That's quite good, isn't it?

She's quite funny.

Very art deco Egyptian revival, sort of an onyx base, brass item.

It's a shame it's not a finer material.

Quite often with the art deco stuff it just helps if there's a bit of flesh on show, and she's got 'em out, so that's working in her favor.

She's got massive feet but I do quite like her, she's good fun.

£18 is the price.

I don't know, we'll come back to her but I quite like her actually.

She's funny, she's got funny proportions and I can relate to that, I've huge hands and feet and so does she.

VO: Cheap enough Natasha - a few more priced like her would help.

And as luck would have it, there's a sale on.

40% off!

Look, a place card holder.

£1.

£1.

Take off 40, 60p.

A pair of sterling silver cowgirl boot earrings.

Now what are these?

These are £7, so for £7, take off 40%, so again, we're at sort of £3.80 or so.

VO: Well, £4.20 actually.

Oh come on, giddy up, they are the best things I've ever seen.

I like that.

Let's say if I take those for £3 wotsit, that's a thing.

VO: Yeah.

£4 wotsit, eh.

Certainly cheap enough.

Meanwhile, how's the other half living?

CR: Oh, look at that.

That's a beautiful Edwardian étagère.

What they call the Sheraton revival period.

So it's about 1900, but it's trying to be 1790, from the Sheraton period, with all this wonderful swag decoration.

It's mahogany, it's cross banded in satinwood, it's got olive wood inlay, it's got boxwood inlay.

It's a beautiful, beautiful object, but it's furniture.

And?

VO: I think we can all appreciate his note of caution, Stacy, even at that price.

CR: Is it yours?

STACY: No.

No.

But that's a very nice person.

Nice, nice person.

CR: I would guess it would sell at auction for £110-£120.

I've got to take the commission off, 95, something like that.

I don't think I'd be able to go to 100 but if it crept below it I'd get sweating up in the paddock really.

STACY: OK. May I do one thing?

May I just look at the back legs and see if they're there?

(LAUGHS) Yeah, we've propped it up.

VO: So while Charlie's busy counting legs, Stacy makes the call.

A oner, and that is it.

Alright, thank you.

Best, best, best price is £100.

Right on the cusp, isn't it?

That's right where it's at.

£100.

Oh, do you know, I'm such a man of instant decisions normally.

How about we throw in the corner unit as well?

VO: That might speed him up.

Very generous.

It's a bogof, isn't it?

It is, yeah, buy one g- yes.

It's a buy one get one free.

Absolutely.

I do like that.

Eh?

Quick.

I'm gonna do it!

Give me a hug.

VO: I'm not sure he's growing old at all.

Back at Bridge Antiques, Natasha's seen the light.

NR: This is the strangest thing I've ever seen.

There is a coffee grinder that has been converted to a very retro lamp.

That's bonkers.

What are the chances of there being a coffee grinder/ not a coffee grinder retro lamp in the auction house?

Not really very high.

And sitting opposite the coffee grinder is a really lovely mirror actually as well.

It's fretwork, right, OK, so mahogany fretwork mirror.

George III, Georgian, George III?

Oh.

From the sublime to the ridiculous.

I'd really like a Georgian mirror and a beautiful 1970s coffee grinder lamp.

It's a bit too odd, isn't it?

But it could work.

VO: It might.

As could Sue's slightly scary climb - do be careful!

The asking price is £90 and 70 for the lamp.

SUE: Oh, it's quite heavy.

It has got a bit of age to it.

SUE: It has got age but I don't think sort of 18th century age really.

Not quite.

We're thinking more 19th century.

SUE: But it's still a sort of decorative, you know, good mirror.

It is.

This mirror, does this belong to you?

Yes.

And does the coffee grinder belong to you?

Yes.

So I'm going to throw a figure at you for the two - £110.

Yeah, OK. NR: OK?

SUE: Yeah.

And you're sure?

Yeah!

Shall we shake on it before you change your mind?

Yeah, OK. Oh Sue!

I'm really grateful!

VO: Phew!

Now for the bargain basement.

Go girls.

I love these but my maths is not so good, so £7, 40% off...

I think they become... well, £4.

VO: What did I say?

I love these.

I think I can say yes, 100%, let's go for those, because they are just too good, but the other thing is this girl.

We can't say she's the most finely modeled.

No, she's not, but she's sort of an art deco figure, isn't she?

I mean, she's got a nice peachy bottom.

SIE: She looks very nice from the back actually, doesn't she?

Has this dealer got much sway?

I mean £18, it's not asking the earth, but... Well, she would probably do 15.

She'd do 15?

Yeah.

I mean I'm just trying to think.

I mean £15, is anyone actually going to pay £15 for her in auction?

SUE: I could probably go another £1 but... 14 you reckon?

Yeah.

NR: Shall we do it?

SUE: Yeah.

Oh!

Yeah, it's 14 quid, someone's gonna pay more than 14 quid.

You reckon?

Oh Sue, thank you so much.

VO: Hey, that's quite a little haul she's got now - all four for £128.

Now, what about Charlie?

Headed for the very center of London, Mayfair to be exact, to size up one of the capital's most trailblazing tailors.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon Charlie.

Keith is it?

It is indeed, and I'm a director of Henry Poole & Company, the first firm of tailors on Savile Row.

When did it start?

Way back in 1846.

Fantastic.

Lead on.

Come on in.

VO: The gentlemen's bespoke tailors known as the founder of Savile Row has received countless royal warrants since first opening for business on the golden mile of tailoring, but their story starts in the early 19th century with James Poole, a military tailor during the Napoleonic wars.

That went well, but when his son inherited the already booming business in 1846 he didn't sit on his laurels.

KEITH: Henry Poole did a couple of very shrewd things - one, he began to court the sporting and aristocratic set.

The second thing he did was to turn his premises round 180 degrees and make the back entrance, which was an alleyway on Savile Row, into the front of house.

Now Savile Row at that time of course was populated with surgeons.

They were all so disgusted that the trade had moved in among them...

The trade!

..that they began to up sticks, you know, they began to look for somewhere more suitable for them.

So they went off to Harley Street or wherever?

They went off to newly laid out Harley Street, where they thrive today, but we still have little sort of touches, little echoes of the former occupation of the Row, most notably in the fact that a good suit made on Savile Row will always have four buttons on the cuff.

CR: Well of course!

Of course!

But unlike yours... Oh dear.

Two of these are functioning, they can actually be undone, and that was so that you could do this, you see.

CR: Don't have a proper suit, do I?

No professional man ever took his jacket off, he simply, in the case of the surgeon, he rolled up his sleeves and got on with it.

It was only the working man that stripped his coat off.

VO: Savile Row soon became the top destination for bespoke tailoring and Henry Poole was the Giorgio Armani of his day, dressing many of the movers and shakers in Victorian society, from JP Morgan to Charles Dickens and from Buffalo Bill to Bram Stoker.

And he's significant because of course he writes Dracula, bases Dracula on his friends and patrons.

Right.

One of which of course was Sir Henry Irving, the first actor to be knighted, who was also a customer of Poole's.

Was he?

VO: But it was undoubtedly the patronage of royalty, and one prince in particular, that ensured Poole's place in fashion history.

So here we have the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII, who comes to us in 1861.

Now in 1865, he orders a blue silk smoking jacket and he has a pair of trousers to match.

It's the forerunner, literally, of what we produce today, and not too long afterwards he invites a certain James Brown Potter of upstate New York to come and dine at Sandringham.

Potter is advised to go to the prince's tailor and to have one of these dining jackets made up.

So he wears this and takes it back to his club in New York, and this creates something of a sensation.

You know, he's said to have turned round and said "well if it's good enough for the tailor of the Prince of Wales than it's good enough for the Tuxedo Club."

Oh is that where he was?

And that's where he was, and that became the distinctive dress of the Tuxedo Club.

VO: And not only did the future king invent the dinner suit but he's also credited with turn ups and leaving the bottom button on a waistcoat undone, which, when you consider his expanding girth, is no bad idea.

After all, his nickname was Tum Tum.

CR: I always undo the bottom button of my waistcoat and I don't know why I do that.

The Prince of Wales sat back in his chair after a particularly heavy meal and, feeling the restriction of his waistcoat, simply undid the bottom button and left it so.

Yup.

And, you know, as the day progressed, the courtiers all began to do the same, and... Once he's done it anybody can do it!

Yeah.

VO: I'm not sure what the playboy prince would have spent on his bespoke suits back in the 1860s, but today's equivalent could set you back about £3,700.

(LOW WHISTLE) It remains the dream of any dapper dresser to be fitted here.

I do apologize to be standing here in an inferior suit.

It's alright, it's alright.

We've seen worse.

Nine and a half across the back.

Thirty and a quarter.

Thirty four and a half.

Jacket off please.

Oh, my braces have come undone!

You know, I'm not dressed properly, am I.

No.

(ALL LAUGH) Gentlemen, it's been absolutely wonderful.

Thank you so much, and thank you Keith.

You're very welcome.

I'm just going to nip down to the bank to check my balance.

I probably won't be back.

VO: Come on Charlie, remember - as Oscar Wilde, another customer, once remarked - "one should either be a work of art or wear a work of art."

You look like Chaplin.

But before the stitching starts, the shopping's complete, Charlie having spent £247 on a pin box, the loo roll holder, some cutlery, a comtoise clock, a teapot, an étagère and a corner cabinet.

While Natasha parted with just £183 on a mirror, some coat hooks, earrings, a figurine, and a table lamp.

So what did they make of all that lot?

CR: The lamp in the form of a coffee grinder?

What is all that about?

The toilet roll dispenser is so good, it's so Charlie.

It's very naughty, isn't it?

How could someone not want that for their lav?

And I'm going to do better because I bought nicer things.

He knows his market, he'll do fine, but I think a yummy mummy wants those brass hooks and I reckon they're going to be my savior.

VO: After setting off from Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire, our experts are now heading for a Dorset action at Christchurch.

CR: Oh, look at this!

NR: Oh gosh.

Have you had a shower this morning?

NR: Ah!

CR: Oh my God!

We're firing on all cylinders!

We are - morning!

Yay!

Oh, hang on.

VO: Civil engineer Sir Donald Bailey developed his famously strong prefabricated bridge whilst working in Christchurch during World War II.

Are you ready?

Tinged with nerves.

May I take your arm?

Oh, you'll take mine!

Come on.

(THEY SING HERE COMES THE BRIDE) VO: So who'll come out on top at Bulstrodes?

Let's hear from auctioneer Kate Howe.

Victorian toilet roll holder, I suppose everyone needs one, a bit of fun for the downstairs loo, £10-£20 I would think.

The Egyptian art deco figure I don't particularly like and I think we might well struggle with this one.

To be honest, we'll be lucky to get a fiver.

VO: Blimey Natasha.

Will she go in twos?

No, she's a £5 lady.

She's a class act, there's no messing around.

She is a class act.

This is why I bought class items for her.

VO: Get you.

Let's see how your pin box fares.

Start me at 10 for it.

£10 is bid.

It's bid.

Yeah.

15.

20.

Five?

25.

In the room I have at 25.

We need one more.

Little bit more.

...as well, 30.

£30.

35 on the net, yes or no?

35 on the net.

40, lady right at the back now, £40.

40's bid!

40's bid.

At £40.

45 on the net.

50 in the room.

£50.

Selling to the lady in the room at £50.

Thank you.

Yeah!

I knew my aunt was coming to the sale.

VO: A great start, and I don't think he was even pinning his hopes on it especially.

What's next?

A musical turn?

No, Charlie's cutlery collection.

£30 please, start me for the cutlery lot, £30.

Who'll start me?

£30.

For all the cutlery.

35 in the room, 35.

Looking for internet bids then.

At 35 then, we'll sell it quickly.

40, why not, seems cheap.

£40, lady to the side at £40.

Any more then?

Sells at 40.

Thank you.

VO: Quite a bargain that for some lucky bidder.

One minute you're in the clouds, the next minute you're in the doo-doo.

VO: Don't worry Charlie, your £2 teapot can't fail, surely.

Oh, I'm excited, here we go, here we go, look at it.

Little dinky one.

A dinky one.

Give me £10 for it somebody please.

£10, the little teapot.

£10.

£10?

Keep your hand down!

Oh sorry!

Yes?

15.

15 is bid.

£15, a little teapot.

Sells for £15.

Yay!

That's a serious profit.

VO: Yeah.

It's a rollercoaster day today.

Natasha's little Egyptian's next.

I can relate to her because she has these massive hands and I have massive hands too.

You do have big hands.

For scooping up profits.

For scooping up profits.

Shoveling snow.

What shall we say?

It's here to go.

Start me at £5, £5 for it.

Fiver is bid, £5.

Five?

Why, why so low?

Thank you, five, ten.

Ten.

15.

One more?

Yes, 20.

Look, you're making a profit!

£20.

25.

Any more?

Yes?

£30.

And 35 now.

Yay!

35.

At 35.

In the room at £35.

Thank you.

Give me your hand.

My massive hand.

Your enormous hand.

VO: Hey, she's done much better than the auctioneer predicted.

Now for Natasha's other bargain buy - yee-hah!

£10 for them.

£10, thank you, £10.

15.

Look at this!

20.

£20.

And five now, fresh bidder.

Fresh bidder!

I give in.

Five.

40.

£40!

VO: It's a stampede.

Five, 60.

Five.

Lady at the back at £65.

And they sell for 65, 234.

VO: Just the spur she needed.

She'll be taking the lead at this rate.

CR: You've spent £18 and got back 100.

That's amazing.

And all I've got to do is lose it all now.

VO: That's enough of that talk Natasha, although your coffee grinder lamp could be risky.

Robert Higgins is at the crease now.

Unusual thing, look.

What's going to start me off at this?

£20?

I would think very little probably.

20?

Give me a tenner then.

Ten at the back, £10, £10.

Keep going, keep going.

Stop it!

£10, anyone give me 15?

15 on the internet, 15.

15, any more?

Internet bidder this is now at £15.

Any more now?

£15.

VO: This is brewing up to be quite a contest.

Now for Charlie's furniture collection.

Needless to say, Douglas can't carry them both.

And I've got a couple of bids here so I'm going to start at £85, for the two of them this is.

85.

90, five, £100.

Ten.

20 is it?

No, 110 I have.

110.

They're cheap at 110 for two of them.

Finished at 110 then.

Oh!

But it's something.

VO: It's almost furnished someone's front room for a good price Natasha.

Now, what about the row of hooks?

20 to start me, £20, £20.

Yes!

Boom, boom!

25, 30, £30 now.

You're rocking.

I have 35 bid, anyone going to say 40?

It's the internet bidder I'm taking.

£35.

Price!

Take it!

No!

That's about £30 more than I thought.

(LAUGHTER) Did you hear that?

VO: The cheek of it.

He's got a point though.

Can she make it up with a cracking profit on her mirror?

£30 anyone?

£30 bid.

And five, 40.

ROBERT: £40 I've got now, £40.

NR: Here we go, here we go.

Five, 50.

50 it is.

No?

Yes, five.

60, £60 for the mirror, at £60, I'll take five anyone, quickly, all done.

£60 on this one.

VO: Do you know, I think she's about back where she started from.

This Victorian loo roll dispenser may be Charlie's favorite lot.

CR: It'd be a talking point, wouldn't it?

People would come out of your loo and say "gosh, that's a cracking holder."

What's going to start me for that?

A little novelty piece.

£30 someone?

Tenner to start me.

Tenner over the back.

Well done madam.

20, 25, 30.

£30.

Five internet.

Come on madam, hang your lavatory roll!

40 in the front, £40 now.

£40!

You'll not find another one.

45.

Oh!

At £45, selling it then.

NR: Yes!

CR: Not bad.

VO: Charlie's back on a roll.

Ooh-hoo.

Now for his last lot - the slightly tatty French clock.

Needs a bit of work I think.

Not a lot, sir.

£20 someone.

Come on.

Come on.

What?

Tenner for it then.

Oh come on.

Tenner at the back.

Oh, we jumped to 25 on the internet.

BOTH: Oh!

25 now, 25.

Anyone say 30?

Must be a Frenchman.

All done then.

Oh Charlie!

VO: He's just about got away with that one, but the winner again today is Natasha.

And are my parents going to be proud?

That's what I want to know.

Probably not.

No!

CR: Come on then.

VO: She's catching up though.

Slowly.

Charlie, who started out with £307.92, made after paying auction costs a loss of £13.30, leaving him with £294.62 to spend tomorrow.

Don't look so glum.

While Natasha began with £217.50 and after paying auction costs she made a slightly smaller loss of £10.80.

So she now has £206.70.

Still in the runners up spot though.

I'm getting used to winning by losing.

You're catching me up!

Off we go.

Bye Bulstrodes!

VO: Next time the terrific twosome search for items going for a song.

# I won't betray his trust # His trust.

# VO: Natasha changes her shopping style.

It matches my outfit just perfectly.

VO: And Charlie takes a leaf out of his rival's book.

WOMAN: Perfect.

CR: A bit of a statement?

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