VOICEOVER (VO): It's the nation's favorite antiques experts...

I've got it, I've got it.

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

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

Argh!

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

But it's no mean feat.

Doubled up there!

VO: There'll be worthy winners... £1,700.

SERHAT: Yeah!

VO: ..and valiant losers.

Oh, no!

VO: Will it be the high road to glory... Loving it, loving it, loving it.

VO: ..or the slow road to disaster?

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Drop dead gorgeous!

VO: Hello, Kent!

We're in the Garden of England, with auctioneer and road trip grandee James Braxton... (LAUGHTER) VO: ..and dealer extraordinaire, Irita Marriott.

IRITA: Road trip!

I'm having the time of my life.

I love what I do.

I think I have the greatest job on the Earth.

This is the icing on the cake, isn't it?

Yes, it is!

Yes...

This is...this is dealing, but in classic cars.

I mean, can it get any better than that?

No, it can't.

VO: And with £200 each to spend, it's all to play for.

One thing I can guarantee you immediately is you will probably win.

(LAUGHS) VO: Yes, it's been a while since our auctioneer from Sussex has taken the top spot.

But that doesn't stop him.

James is a road trip veteran and a real lover of the classics, who can always sniff out a bargain.

It's a large piece of brass.

Look at that.

So it passes the Braxton weight test.

Look at that.

What a... Lovely solid gauge.

VO: He's up against Irita, a dealer from Derby who's not afraid to buy with the heart.

IRITA: I know it's not to everybody's taste.

But it is just so me.

VO: Today, Irita is behind the wheel of a 1968 Volvo 1800S, a four-cylinder sports that some say is the prettiest Volvo ever made.

Lovely.

I need a straight road to, like, really test it.

JAMES: Really bomb it.

IRITA: But yeah... You look very good in it.

Oh, thanks.

So do you... JAMES: You look very good in it.

This car makes you kind of feel a bit sexy and... ..mm-mm-mm kind of feel to it!

VO: Blooming Eck!

Roger Moore, the great James Bond, drove this in that...in that fabulous program called The Saint in the 1960s.

James Bond?

James Braxton!

I know... IRITA: Ooh!

JAMES: He's... Shall I be your Bond girl?

Yeah!

I'm up for that role!

(LAUGHTER) VO: James and Irita are embarking on a grand adventure across the south of England.

Setting off from Kent, they'll be winding their way along the coast into Sussex and Hampshire, before a final faceoff in Devon.

JAMES: Very pretty, isn't it... Oh, look at it!

What a place to live.

Oh look, there's some duckies.

Oh, there's some ducks.

IRITA: Hey, bubbas!

VO: We're starting our jaunt in the village of Brasted, just near Chartwell, the former home of Sir Winston Churchill.

VO: Both of our antique-hungry hounds are hoping to snaffle a bargain at Courtyard Antiques, which sprawls across two buildings with a veritable smorgasbord of delights to tempt them.

Now, where do you want to go first?

Well, you're closer to that door so you hop in there and I will go in there.

Good luck!

Thank you.

IRITA: I'll see you later.

VO: James and Irita both have wallets bulging with pound notes, and they're eager to spend.

That's a strong shape, nice art deco shape.

And here's something in a similar vein as well, over here.

Says Victorian brass mirror, but I think it's later.

I think it's sort of 1920s.

We've got some opalescent cameos here.

And the surround is stylized.

This is made of brass, and it's laurel wreath.

Look round at the back.

I like this.

This looks as though this has been done on an engineer's workbench.

This looks like an old ebony mirror.

Something that you might get on a dressing table.

Would have had a handle.

And I can see where the handle's been sawn off and then smoothed off there.

So the handle would have been down there.

It is £75.

If I could get this for 30 or 40 quid, I can see a profit in it.

VO: That's one contender.

Now, where's Irita got to?

Oh!

If I would have to describe myself in a piece of furniture, this would be it.

We've got swags and flowers and the courting couples.

It's just so romantic.

This is what you would call a moon table.

So it goes against the wall to kind of make the most of the space.

And then, ta-da!

You open it up and you'd probably play games on it.

Card games, chess.

VO: But at £700, it's a bit out of your budget, Irita.

I could wax lyrical about it.

But instead I have to keep going and keep going shopping.

VO: Time to move on.

The clocks are ticking.

What is James up to?

Now, I spotted this earlier, I quite like this.

It's got a silver collar here.

It's been mounted in silver.

Now, sometimes people do that to make things more special.

Or sometimes they do it to hide something.

And it might be a crack or some problem here.

Always check, you know, porcelain.

Sometimes the eyes can lie, especially my eyes now, but just tap around.

That sounds sound.

That sounds sound.

It has a very luxurious pallet to it.

Look at the amount of gold in it.

It's a good jug that, I'd love that jug.

That's a great jug.

It's 50 quid.

If I could get it for under £30, I'd be on a winner and Irita would be looking worried, wouldn't she?

Oh dear, stiffening up there.

VO: Steady on, old boy.

Time to speak with proprietor, Tim.

Ah, Tim!

TIM: James, how are you?

JAMES: I had great fun, it's been really lovely.

Oh, thanks for saying so.

And I found this.

Yeah.

JAMES: This rather fun art deco mirror.

So that one, 75 on there.

Yep.

We could do £50 on that one, James.

And then this rather nice jug here.

And that's got 50 on it.

TIM: £40.

JAMES: Could you go any lower?

I could do 38.

I will definitely give you that, that's very kind.

VO: That's a combined total of £88, leaving him with £112 in his wallet.

Thank you.

They're really fun.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Bye... You're welcome.

Come again.

VO: And with that, James is on his way.

VO: Meanwhile, has Irita had any luck?

Oh!

When I saw that, I thought 'ooh, that looks so good!'

And it is good, but it isn't.

It is good because it is an early domed French glass lamp.

And it isn't good because it's got a great crack all the way through it.

These were made in the south of France and...in a place called Nancy.

I think they are mainly known for their centerpieces with little butterflies and little frogs on, because that is what you see the most from this factory.

If that was in perfect order, that would be £1,200-1,500.

That isn't going to come cheap, whether it's cracked or not.

Think I better find out how much it is.

Tim!

VO: Tim's being kept on his toes today.

Irita!

How are you getting on?

IRITA: I'm very good.

I had a great look around and I've spotted your lamp.

TIM: You can have that for £75.

IRITA: If that was not cracked... TIM: Yeah.

IRITA: ..I could not afford it.

TIM: £1,000.

IRITA: So I...

Exactly.

Yeah.

IRITA: So I kind of feel like I have to buy it for the 75.

So let me give you some money.

One, two, three, four, five.

Here you go.

Bye, lamp.

IRITA: See you later!

Bye, Irita.

VO: Thanks, Tim.

Great name, by the way.

That leaves Irita with £125 to spend.

VO: James's next stop is just outside the market town of Chislehurst, where the green fields hide a secret.

Deep beneath the ground, a labyrinth of tunnels were once occupied by thousands of people.

He's come to meet Jason Desporte, manager of Chislehurst Caves, to find out why this dark and damp world became home to so many.

JAMES: Hello, Jason.

How are you, James?

Very good.

It all looks very splendid.

Now, where are the caves?

Because this looks like the opening of a public swimming pool, doesn't it?

It does.

Interesting enough, they built around them.

So through this tunnel, you'll find 22 miles of intersecting passages of an ancient chalk mine.

Wow.

It played a very vital role in the Second World War, didn't it?

It did.

This was the largest air raid shelter outside of London.

Well, come on, show me.

Where did they all live then?

Right down here.

(AIR RAID SIREN) VO: In 1940, British civilians found themselves on the front line of World War II.

The Blitz lasted for months, and in desperation, to shield themselves from the deadly maelstrom on the surface, the British public fled underground.

Jason, is this where they would have all come down each day?

JASON: They would've.

Em, this tunnel we're in now was built in '90.

But the original tunnel's here, when it was divided.

So they would have had an entrance tunnel and an exit tunnel.

I see.

Em, and red light, green light.

So if there was an air raid going on, red light.

Yeah.

And if not, it would stay green.

And they would have just continued down here until they got to the ticket office or to their bunk.

Wow.

Sanctuary and shelter.

Yes.

Kept them nice and safe.

VO: Although known as caves, the tunnels are an entirely man made network of chalk mines, carved out over hundreds of years.

Despite seeming an obvious choice for an air raid shelter, initially, the government were against people sheltering deep underground, fearing civilians would refuse to come out.

So, members of the local community took it upon themselves to band together and create their own safe haven.

When war broke out, the caverns were being used to grow mushrooms.

And it was one of these would-be fungi farmers, owner James Gardner, who initially opened the caves to the public as an air raid shelter.

This is what they abided by, was it, these rules?

JASON: Yeah, the 17 rules of the caves.

Why's this one here, "Four days' absence may involve loss of pitch"?

What's the thinking behind that?

JASON: I mean, basically, if you were gone more than four days, especially during 1944, with the V-1 rockets, it was presumed that you'd lost your life.

JAMES: Really?

JASON: Yes.

So the pitch would have become available.

JASON: It would have become vacant... JAMES: Really?

..and they would have reissued it, yes.

VO: Before long, the caves functioned like a subterranean city, developing facilities like a hospital and a chapel, eventually earning the nickname the Chislehurst Hotel.

Thanks to the actions of James Gardner and local volunteers on the Cave Committee, thousands of lives were saved and families kept safe.

Watch your head here.

JAMES: Thank you.

And there's a lovely paraffin lantern here on the table for you.

Right, good.

Well, they're nice and warm, aren't they?

JASON: They are!

A little bit of light and a little bit of warmth goes a... Good.

JASON: ..long way down in these caves.

So here you go, James, here are your bunks.

This is how you slept every night that you were down here.

JAMES: OK. JASON: Pitch numbers at the top.

JAMES: Yeah.

Three-tier.

Not comfortable, but safe.

This particular area, we're 140 foot below the surface.

The deepest point of the caves is 236 foot below the surface.

Right.

Jason, thank you very much indeed.

It's a fascinating story and I didn't know the scale of it.

15,000 people.

Safety.

JAMES: Yeah.

It really, really did work... JAMES: Safety and security.

Yes, it did work.

And I am so glad that you enjoyed it that we've arranged for you to stay here for the next week.

Do enjoy yourself and we will... Yeah, well... ..see you in a week's time.

Be sure not to turn the candles out.

JASON: Oh, it's alright.

You've got your lantern.

Oh.

Oh, that's alright.

I hope this paraffin lasts - I'd better keep it safe.

VO: And while James is left in the dark, where's Irita?

I think anybody who starts the day by buying a very expensive broken lamp would say they have had an amazing start.

Agh!

This is one bumpy ride.

Let's hope that this is no reflection on our week ahead.

VO: If she can make it there in one piece, Irita is heading to the town of Wallington, and OAP Curiosities, where dealer Rob has amassed an Aladdin's cave of wonders for Irita to peruse.

Oh, this is looking good.

I need to take it all in, take my time, be sensible.

Do not buy broken lamps in here!

VO: Yes, that would be a good idea.

Some might say a light-bulb moment!

Now, let's see what we've got here.

Oh, dear.

Stay strong, Irita.

Lamp!

No, no.

VO: Hey, are those...?

Spare teeth, anyone?

VO: Ah-ha!

Ah!

How cool are these?

Fantastic.

I'm not sure what you would ever do with one, but it's pretty cool.

VO: I'll take your word for it.

IRITA: I love a good cabinet of curiosities.

You never know what you're going to spot.

For example... Let me get in there.

This.

Ooh!

I love that.

That looks dangerous, don't you think?

This is mid-century.

Norwegian.

But it's not a piece of jewellery, is it?

Basically, what it's been made for is for grabbing ice cubes and putting in your drink, or grabbing sugar cubes and putting them in your cup of tea.

And it has a beautiful blue enamel tip to it.

I love it.

Absolutely love it.

What I don't love is the price tag.

£75.

What I have also seen next to it is this - a double-ended perfume bottle.

You can see, in the middle, there is a darker patch right there and there's two sections.

And you would put your perfume inside, you would have had a little stopper, a glass stopper that matches the green in there to make sure that it doesn't come out.

Unfortunately, that is missing.

And the same on the other side.

That one is missing too.

And on top of that, I've just noticed there's quite a dent on there.

I mean, the price does reflect it.

£25.

I know it's damaged, but you know what?

I quite like it.

I just like the story that it tells.

So I'm going to grab my picker... "My" picker!

I like it.

VO: Time to talk money.

Rob?

Hello.

Are you alright?

ROB: Yeah.

Now, I've had a good look around and these are the two things that I have come up with.

The combined ticket price is £100.

IRITA: Now, what magic could you do on the pair?

Em, I could do £60 for you for the pair.

That's more than fair.

I ain't haggling...

ROB: I'm not surprised.

..from that.

IRITA: Thank you very much.

And there's £60 for you.

Good luck.

IRITA: Thank you.

See you later.

ROB: Goodbye.

VO: That's £40 for the Norwegian grabbers and £20 for the Victorian scent bottle.

VO: So, at the end of an exhausting day, how are our intrepid pair feeling?

Worn out, like this old pair of boots dangling on the line?

It's quite hard work, thinking the whole time, isn't it?

Yes, it's actually more mentally draining... JAMES: Yeah.

..than anything.

You're going to be getting plenty of beauty sleep tonight, James... Well, I tell you what, compared to you and I, I'm the one who needs the beauty sleep.

Oh, come on.

No, you do not.

JAMES: I do.

VO: Well, on that note, it's time for our antique-hunting duo to put their feet up.

Nighty night.

VO: It's the second day of our road trip through Kent, and James Braxton is behind the wheel.

What do you think of the car?

I think it's really nice.

It's very elegant, isn't it?

Mm.

It's a lovely driving position.

You feel very reclined.

JAMES: You do, don't you?

Ergonomically, instead of my weight being all on my bottom, I think my weight is spread not only from the buttocks to the back of the thighs and then the back, it's more...

It's lovely.

VO: Right, enough about buttocks!

How was your shopping yesterday?

Are you happy... Oh, really excited.

It was lovely to get back in an antique shop again... VO: Yesterday, James bought an art deco brass mirror and a 19th-century silver-collared ironstone jug...

It's a good jug, that.

I love that jug.

That's a great jug.

VO: ..leaving £112 burning a hole in his pocket.

Meanwhile, Irita splurged two-thirds of her £200 budget on three items - a Daum Nancy glass lamp, a glass scent bottle and a Norwegian sugar or ice grabber... That looks dangerous, don't you think?

VO: ..leaving her with just £65 to spend.

JAMES: Keep spending... You can't accumulate if you don't spend.

JAMES: No, no.

What's the saying?

Without risk, there is little reward.

Yeah...

There you go.

And I'm going to risk it all!

VO: That's the spirit.

Seize the day.

VO: After dropping Irita off, James has motored on to Headcorn, looking for bargains in the aptly named Allsorts of Headcorn.

James has £112 left in his wallet.

What treasures can he unearth in here?

Every home needs a mirror.

Well, my home doesn't need a mirror because, you know, the reflection is sometimes disturbing.

VO: You don't say!

JAMES: Generally, these are known as cushion-shaped mirrors, because they've...they're slightly cushion-shaped.

So they sort of go out here.

And it's nicely carved.

The wood is oak.

Suffered a bit of damage here, but damage sometimes is reassuring because it's proof of age.

It's got a nice back to it.

Looks as though it's been there for some time.

It's rather nice.

That'd look rather handsome on the wall.

It's got a price tag - 75.

Now, if I get that cheaper, my smile would be broader.

VO: Time to see what shopkeeper Paul can do.

JAMES: Eh, Paul?

PAUL: Yes?

Hi.

I've found something.

Fabulous.

JAMES: I like this mirror.

PAUL: OK. JAMES: It's got £75 on it.

Yes.

Do you think they might take 40?

Under 50?

Em, I can certainly give the dealer a call PAUL: and ask the question... JAMES: Would you?

Would you?

Em, yes... ..and we can find out.

JAMES: If you're giving him a call, you might as well make it 40... PAUL: I'll try, try my best... JAMES: Give him a little room.

I'll try my best for you and see what we can... JAMES: That would be really kind.

See what we can do.

No problem... JAMES: Thank you, thank you... PAUL: OK.

It's one of those things.

If you don't ask, you don't get, do you?

It's a bit cheeky, I know that, but you never know.

Better to sell it before somebody kicks it over and breaks it.

VO: Sounds like a threat, James.

Lordy!

Get on the blower, Paul.

James?

JAMES: Yeah.

PAUL: I have the dealer on the phone regarding the mirror.

She can't do 40... OK. PAUL: ..but she could do 50.

Paul, will you thank her very much?

I'll take it at 50.

Yes?

Fantastic.

Thank you, Veronica.

We have a deal there.

VO: Job done, then.

£50 and James doesn't have to destroy any merchandise.

Phew!

That leaves him with £62 in his wallet.

And you'd better get back in the driving seat and mosey on, James.

Mirror, signal, maneuver - that's it.

VO: Irita is just a few miles north, in Maidstone.

She's heading to the Hilton Hall Dance Academy to meet Zahida and some Kentish maidens - or should that be maids of Kent - to learn about belly dancing, an art form which first made its way to our shores in the early '60.

Stand by.

IRITA: This looks absolutely amazing.

Hello!

Welcome... Hello!

This is belly dance.

It's also known as raqs sharqi in their origin countries.

Where does it originate from?

It's from Arabic countries, so we would say Egypt as the main place.

But we also have Lebanese dancers, Turkish dancers.

VO: The term "belly dance" comes from the French phrase "danse du ventre", which translates as dance of the stomach, but is said to have been performed in Egypt since the time of the Pharaohs.

However, its origins are unclear.

What is known is that, in one form or another, belly dancing has been practiced in countries throughout the Middle East for millennia, forming an intrinsic part of many cultures.

Today, it's still performed at social gatherings and celebrations, but it is very different to the Westernized version popular worldwide.

When did it come to Western countries?

There was a particular dancer, her name was Little Egypt in Chicago, in one of the universal exhibitions.

And she was representing the Egypt pavilion.

So she was dancing with the belly bare, so it started that association.

How long has belly dancing been popular in England, in the UK?

Uh, there was a very lively nightlife around Arabic clubs and belly dance in London around the '60s, '70s.

The belly dance scene now in the UK is more about amateur, more about community centers, more about gathering and having...getting together and sharing good moments, more than performing in big theatres.

I can actually see it as quite an empowering dance.

It is, actually.

And I can tell you why - everybody is welcome.

No age limits, below or top.

You can dance, belly dance, whatever your body type is, your size.

IRITA: Now the costumes is one thing that intrigues me, because they are always so out there, so beautiful.

ZAHIDA: Yeah.

All beaded and chained.

Have you got any here that we could have a look at?

Yeah, of course.

Let's go, have a look.

IRITA: Thank you.

VO: The costume belly dancers are renowned for is called the bedla, made famous by sirens of the silver screen during Hollywood and Egyptian cinema's golden era.

It consists of a bra, a skirt, bare midriff, veils and oodles of glitter and beads.

IRITA: Wowsers!

Look at that!

Oh, thank you very much.

This is one of my performing costumes.

IRITA: It looks fantastic.

You look a million...

Thank you very much.

IRITA: ..bucks in that.

Oh, thank you very much.

I think I referred to it as empowering.

IRITA: It is, actually... And...

Yes, it's like...

I actually have my issues as well.

I feel a little bit afraid or ashamed to show my belly and that's why I'm wearing this mesh, actually.

But isn't it empowering that a person that has been ashamed her whole life because you were fat, blah-blah-blah-blah, whatever name you want to put to that, is actually marvelous dressing and...?

Yeah, it is actually empowering.

So the dance has helped you feel more confident?

ZAHIDA: Definitely.

VO: Eh, time for a quick lesson, I think.

OK.

So would you like to learn some steps, some movements?

Yeah!

Do you like my outfit?

I love it.

Am I rocking it... Yeah, amazing.

Amazing.

OK, let's go to that one.

The name of that movement is hip drop.

OK. OK?

And basically what you do is just raise your hip and drop it.

Drop, drop, drop.

That's it.

Now relax... Like that?

..and open your arms very wide and elegant, and open your chest there.

That's... That hurts every muscle in my tummy!

That is hard work!

ZAHIDA: It is a workout, yeah.

It's a full...full-on workout.

I'm so glad you enjoy it.

IRITA: Oh, it was the best time ever.

Thank you very much for your really good, positive attitude.

You are a good dancer.

Oh, thank you.

I'll take that.

I'll go and show James Braxton my good moves.

Right, thank you very much.

See you later.

Bye.

See you.

VO: And while Irita sashays away... VO: ..we're going to boogie on a few miles south to Goudhurst, where James has an appointment with Jackie at Goudhurst Antiques and Interiors.

Armed with a fistful of pounds - 62, to be precise - he needs to make his final purchases before heading to auction.

JAMES: Right.

Well, that's right up my street, a bit of bamboo and rattan.

Look at these.

A very stylish pair.

They'd look good in...in a bedroom.

Not often do I go into a shop and see something that I will want to buy immediately.

The worrying thing is it hasn't got a price tag, so I'll have to ask Jackie.

I love the stylized flowers, the whorls.

They're rather sweet, aren't they?

They're very interesting.

VO: Indeed.

In the meantime... ..Irita has arrived at Hurst Green for her final shop of the day, Planters, which offers a good range of antiques and furniture.

VO: But with just £65 to her name, she hasn't got a lot to spend.

Oh, hello.

IRITA: I quite like the look of these.

What I love about Japanese satsuma ware - they're just so striking.

I mean, look at all that gold.

It's fantastic.

Let's have a look.

Is there a mark?

No, there's no mark on the bottom.

Shame, because a lot of satsuma ware is marked on the base with character marks in gold.

And if you see that, it's usually worth a little bit more.

This one is much better quality than that.

The detail is much greater.

I like that.

I prefer this one.

Oh, and it has a mark on the base.

Yeah.

Just like I said, it's got a character mark in gold, in gold letters.

Now, this one is £45 and the other one is £30.

Which one would I prefer?

The more expensive one.

Oh, I wish I would have had more money.

I could have bought both of them.

VO: Let's leave Irita to ponder.

Back in Goodhurst, has anything caught James' eye?

This is a rather interesting fellow.

All that glitters is gold.

In this case, it isn't gold though.

Brass, Indian baby's rattle.

VO: Brass?

That looks silver gilt to me.

So, it's got an incorporated whistle.

And at the other end, here, you often had a semiprecious stone.

Maybe coral, possibly jade, something like that.

And it was known sometimes as a baby's rattle or teether.

VO: Priced at £32, that could be a good find.

Time for a deal?

Now, Jackie, I've got here a rather nice little rattle.

There.

I like this.

It's got 32 on it.

JACKIE: OK...

But I also like... You've got a lovely pair of chairs down here.

And I don't come to you with great riches.

I have only got £62.

JACKIE: OK. Would £62 buy the pair of chairs and the rattle?

JACKIE: I'll take your 62.

JAMES: Take my 62... And you can have the chairs and the rattle.

JAMES: ..that's the last amount of money.

That's very kind.

VO: That's £37 for the pair of rattan chairs and £25 for the child's rattle - a bargain.

Oh!

All done.

That...that's good news.

All spent up and all done.

VO: Meanwhile, let's see if Irita's had any joy.

I like the look of this.

Got a top hat.

Well, at least it looks like one.

I think it's actually made in Murano, on one of the Italian islands near Venice.

So it's Murano glass.

And you can tell it is hand-blown because you've got the nice, smooth pontil mark on the bottom that's been grounded off.

And it's got a great age.

You can tell the wear just on the edge all the way around where it's been sliding on surfaces for years and years and years.

Well, I like it.

I think it's stylish and this is only £25.

And if it can be 20 quid... Beggars can't be choosers.

Just going to have to be.

VO: Right then, time to see what dealer Anthony can do on the glass top hat and the satsuma vases.

She has her eye on the big one, remember?

Do you think there's any chance you could do that for 40 instead of 45?

Let's say he can do that for 40, yeah.

Fantastic.

ANTHONY: Good.

Well, that's that.

And I also noticed...he has this.

ANTHONY: That would be handy, yep.

Looks a bit like a top hat, don't you think... ANTHONY: Indeed.

It definitely suits you.

Yes.

IRITA: That is priced at 25.

ANTHONY: Yeah.

IRITA: What do you think would be his best on that?

Em, to save troubling, let's say 20.

IRITA: That makes it 60... ANTHONY: £60, yeah.

IRITA: Perfect.

ANTHONY: Good.

There is your money, and I'm going to grab my bits and... ANTHONY: Thank you.

IRITA: ..head off.

Thank you very much.

Well, do come back again, perhaps with more money next time.

I will sure try.

ANTHONY: Good.

IRITA: Thank you... OK, bye!

VO: With that done that, Irita has made her final purchases for a combined £60.

That leaves £5 in her pocket and time to spare.

James will be so jealous.

Mm!

IRITA: To die for!

VO: Lovely!

VO: And after a long day antique-hunting, next stop is dinner.

What do they say?

Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, dinner like a pauper.

Pauper.

Em, so you should never eat...never eat anything that's going to be too heavy on the old tum, but that's very easy to say.

Very hard to resist, though, isn't it?

IRITA: Argh!

JAMES: Oh.

IRITA:(LAUGHS) JAMES: I found reverse... IRITA: Eh, forward, James... ..forward.

I have found reverse.

VO: On that note, I think it's time to say shut-eye.

VO: Rise and shine, it's auction time!

Look at that, James.

Oh!

JAMES: Isn't that beautiful?

IRITA: That is stunning!

Now, that is a good place for an auction, isn't it?

JAMES: Right, OK, first one there... ..first one there gets the first lot.

I can never work out this seat belt.

Come on!

Are you a spring lamb..?

Hold on, wait, wait.

..still?

Slim 50 year old... IRITA: Come on!

..emerging.

Oh, iPad!

Oh!

IRITA: Are you stuck?

Do you need a hand?

Oh!

Oh, dear.

Ow!

There we are.

All ready.

Nothing to see here!

VO: After starting their trip in Brasted and motoring through Kent, they've come south to the Romney Marsh.

Meanwhile, their purchases have traveled north to Bourne End in Buckinghamshire to go under the hammer at Bourne End Auctions.

With bidders waiting with bated breath online and on the phone, all presided over by auctioneer Hugo Lemon.

Selling at 110... VO: James blew the lot, spending all £200 on five lots.

Does Hugo see anything special lurking in there?

The rattle - unusual because it's 1807.

A little bit earlier than usual and it's in rather good condition, even though the coral end is missing.

You could have some good surprises on that one today.

VO: Irita left herself £5 change, spending £195 on her five lots.

Would you take a punt on anything, Hugo?

The ice tongs, Norwegian, and designer pieces look good on a side table next to an ice bucket.

Therefore maybe £40 to £60, that sort of region.

VO: Right then, down to business.

How do you feel about the auction?

IRITA: I'm always nervous about it.

Yeah.

Always, because you just never know.

What about you...

So, so-so?

I...I like the items I bought.

Whether I bought them at the right price or not, we're about to find out, aren't we... IRITA: Well, go on, then.

VO: First up - James's rattan chairs.

JAMES: Oh.

£50 for them.

Thank you, and five... 50 in!

HUGO: ..and 60 and five.

Anywhere now on five and 70.

70 and five.

And 80 I'm bid... IRITA: Look at that!

HUGO: ..at 85...

This is uncharted territory!

HUGO: ..90.

90 and five.

And five.

JAMES: Really?

Five.

100 I'm bid on commission... IRITA: Oh my God!

That's fantastic... Has the world gone crazy?

10 I'm bid now.

Thank you.

110.

I'm going to sell, then, at £110.

Last chance at 110... VO: Good show, eh?

Whew.

That's very good.

IRITA: £37!

Sort of vaguely embarrassing.

Why?

You're not used to making money, are you?

No, I'm not.

VO: Next, let's see if Irita's lamp will light up the auction.

50 I'm bid.

Thank you.

And five I'll take.

At £50 I'm bid.

And five anywhere?

IRITA: Come on!

At £50 I'm bid, and five...

Bit more.

HUGO: ..in a nice shade... Go on.

Keep going.

55 now I'm bid.

And 60... IRITA: Keep going.

60 I'm bid, thank you.

And five.

And five.

And 70.

70 I'm bid.

Thank you.

And five.

And five.

80... Yeah, I broke even!

JAMES: 80!

HUGO: 80 I'm bid, thank you.

And five.

At £85, then.

At £85, then.

I will sell for £85... JAMES: Amazing.

IRITA: Come on!

HUGO: ..are you all done... IRITA: One more!

..at 85?

Last chance.

VO: Well, a profit is a profit.

I wish I could have found a perfect one for that money.

I know.

Next leg.

Next leg.

Next leg.

VO: No one's thrown their toys out of the pram yet.

James' rattle is next.

80 I'm bid.

Thank you.

And five.

And five.

Oh my God!

Fantastic!

100.

120.

130.

140.

160.

Blimey, what's happened to me?

180.

200.

VO: With interest from overseas, the rattle is already at £200 and still climbing.

340.

360.

Wow.

At £360 then on the phone.

At 360... IRITA: 360, go on... JAMES: This is, this is still... Wow.

HUGO: At 360 then.

I'm selling then, at 360... Come on.

One more bid.

Oh... 380 I'm bid, thank you... JAMES: 380!

400.

At £400 then.

Are you sure?

You're all out then.

On the phone then, at 400.

VO: Well done, James.

That item is on its way to Belgium.

£400, James!

That is amazing.

I mean, it was a spectacular thing.

JAMES: Mm.

VO: Well, that leaves Irita with a mountain to climb.

Her Norwegian grabbers are up next.

Start me at £50 for them?

50 would be nice.

HUGO: 50 I'm bid, thank you... IRITA: Yes!

HUGO: ..and five... JAMES: Well done.

IRITA: Profit!

And five.

And 60.

And five.

Yeah!

And 70.

And five.

And 80... That's fantastic.

Wow.

90 I'm bid now.

And five.

And five.

And five.

100.

It's that magic combination... HUGO: At £95 in the room.

..silver and enamel, isn't it?

IRITA: Yeah.

HUGO: 100 I'm bid, thank you... IRITA: Good condition.

HUGO: 110, 110 I'm bid... One...

110?!

..thank you.

At £110.

In the room at 110.

Last chance then at 110.

I'm selling then at 110.

VO: That's a great start to the fight back.

Very happy.

£110, that's very good... IRITA; That's a great result, isn't it?

Very good.

Yeah.

VO: Can he stretch his lead with the mirror?

HUGO: £50, anyone?

JAMES: Oh.

HUGO: 50 I'm bid, thank you... IRITA: Go on, 50.

..and five, and five.

And 60... 50, you're in!

HUGO: ..five, and five.

70 I'm bid.

At £70 on commission.... Wow.

..and five.

At 75 now... IRITA: Really buoyant right now.

..I'm bid, and 80 anywhere?

80 I'm bid, thank you.

New place.

85 now, and 90...

Still cheap for a large mirror like that.

HUGO: At £85 I'm bid.

At 85, 90... 85.

I'm happy with that.

HUGO: 95 now.

100.

Had a bit of deterioration on the mirror.

HUGO: At 95... Yeah, but that gives it character.

HUGO: ..thank you.

100, 110.

100, 110... 110.

At £110.

At 110.

All done at 110?

Selling at 110.

VO: Well, another healthy profit for Mr Braxton.

You're doing fantastic.

Well, it's...you know, unusual.

But there we are.

VO: Now, will the scent bottle deliver the sweet smell of success?

30.

I'm bid straight in there at 30... HUGO: 30, well done... IRITA: Profit!

30 I'm bid.

32.

35 now, new places... Oh, I like you.

Keep going!

..I'm bid now.

40.

And two?

At £40 I'm bid.

And two I'll take.

At 40.

All done at 40... 40.

HUGO: Last chance at 40.

I'll take it.

Double my money.

40, all done at 40?

VO: A respectable return on that.

IRITA: Happy.

JAMES: Yeah.

Happy bunny.

I would be happy.

VO: No resting on your laurels now, James.

It's the art deco mirror.

30 I'm bid, thank you... JAMES: 30.

HUGO: ..and two.

Well, it's in.

HUGO: Two, 32, 32.

And five... IRITA: Come on.

35.

37.

37.

And 40.

40 I'm bid, thank you.

And two.

42.

42.

45.

45 I'm bid now.

New place... Come on, I want to get to 50.

HUGO: Seven.

IRITA: Come on!

Come on!

Go on!

Go on, one more bid and you'll... JAMES: You can do it, man!

IRITA: ..break even!

47 I'll take.

At £45.

47 anywhere?

At 45... IRITA: Come on!

Are you all done at £45?

VO: Ah well, the hot streak had to end somewhere.

It's the first loss!

I'd be smiling if I was you.

IRITA: Why?

I liked it!

I would have bought it for £50.

JAMES: Yeah, well, there we are.

VO: Will the satsuma vase charm the bidders?

Under the hammer next.

Em, I'm looking for 80 to start.

IRITA: 80?

JAMES: Wow... IRITA: That'd be nice.

HUGO: £80, anyone?

50 to get away.

Oh... 50 I'm bid, thank you.

And five I'll take.

£50... IRITA: I was going to say that was, em... At 55 now I have.

And 60, 60.

60 I'm bid.

Thank you.

And five.

And five... IRITA: It's profit.

..70.

And five... Could I double my money?

HUGO: ..and 80.

80 I'm bid now.

And five.

And five...

Yes!

Double the money.

HUGO: 90 I'm bid.

And five.

Well done.

I'm going to sell then, at £90.

All done then, at 90?

VO: Excellent work.

Steady profits for Irita so far.

I feel like... Feel like dancing.

VO: Moving swiftly on!

Will James waltz away with the victory on his final lot?

£30, anyone?

30 straight in.

At 30, 30.

And two?

At £30 I'm bid.

Two I'll take.

At £30 I'm bid.

30, 30.

32.

32.

35... Come on, keep going.

HUGO: 35 I'm now bid.

JAMES: He's away.

IRITA: Go on, you're nearly there.

HUGO: ..I'll take.

IRITA: Come on.

JAMES: Go on!

37, thank you.

Take the eight!

IRITA: That's it, come on.

JAMES: Go on... HUGO: 40 I'm bid, thank you... Ah-ah-ah!

Well done... 42.

45.

47.

50 I'm bid.

Thank you.

And five.

Going to sell then, at £50.

Are you all done at 50?

VO: £12 profit rounds off a very good day for Mr Braxton.

Put that hammer down!

Well done, well done.

IRITA: £50!

VO: What profit can you pull out of this hat then?

20 then to start.

20 I'm bid, thank you.

And two.

22.

22.

25... 22!

HUGO: ..27.

27 I'm bid... Oh, I made a profit!

HUGO: ..and 30 anywhere?

And 30.

30 I'm bid, thank you, and two... IRITA: Oh-oh!

32.

35?

35.

37.

37.

And 40 I'll take.

At £37 I'm bid.

40 anywhere?

At £37 I'm bid.

And 40 anywhere?

At 37 then.

At £37 then.

Are you all done at 37?

IRITA: Is that it?

VO: £17 profit.

But I think it's hats off to James, don't you?

JAMES: That's very good... IRITA: Well... ..what a successful auction.

IRITA: That was fantastic.

Really good.

What are you going to do?

Are you going to spend it all now?

Well, put it this way, Irita, I'm not going to be buying 20 or £30 items.

I've got the opportunity now to spend hundreds.

VO: Great!

Irita made a profit on five out of five lots, and after auction costs, has banked £301.84.

Wow!

VO: But the day truly belongs to James, who, despite making a loss on one of his lots, has filled his piggy to a massive £586.30.

Quite amazing!

IRITA: Come on, James, take me to some shops, will you?

JAMES: There we are, we're away.

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