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

Which way are the bargains?

VO: ..behind the wheel of a classic car... Do you know where we are?

No.

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

Act one, scene one.

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

Ta-da!

VO: But it's no mean feat.

There'll be worthy winners...

Woo!

Happy dance!

VO: ..and valiant losers.

Heartbroken.

Close your ears.

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

It's just delightful, isn't it?

VO: ..or the slow road to disaster?

VO: This is Antiques Road Trip.

VO: Yeah!

VO: Well, well welcome to Wales.

He-he!

IZZIE: Ah, Mark.

MARK: Here we go.

I am so excited to be in a car with you.

So, this is a first.

It really is a first.

VO: It's a completely fresh start, and trip, for two of our snazziest experts, 20th century design whiz Mark Hill and jewelry specialist Izzie Balmer.

I've heard all about you, obviously.

I've heard all about you, of course.

I've been talking to everyone, getting all the gossip.

I thought I felt my ears burning.

VO: Did they just become best friends?

Pembrokeshire can do that to people, you know.

IZZIE: Wales is just such a beautiful place, isn't it?

And so varied, but very rugged.

I suppose that you're very rugged, you're very dapper.

You're...maybe not rugged.

Rugged, masculine.

That's me!

IZZIE: (LAUGHS) You're so dapper.

IZZIE: You ooze elegance... MARK: Thank you.

IZZIE: ..and sophistication.

But I do think... you would make... IZZIE: ..an excellent villain.

MARK: Oh.

VO: They do have a very swanky car to suit the '80s villain theme - a classy 1987 Lotus Eclat.

MARK: So, how are you finding driving?

A beautiful, beautiful car.

Although the pedals are all off at an angle, so I'm sat in a very weird, twisted way.

How are you finding the car?

MARK: It's great.

IZZIE: And my driving?

I'm kind of feeling the need to wear polyester.

I'm getting that sort of '70s, '80s vibe, you know?

VO: Leisure suits are not to be sniffed at.

Careful, Izzie.

IZZIE: Aw!

MARK: Hey, look!

Can we take him on our road trip?

MARK: He's gorgeous!

IZZIE: Bless him!

Look at that little waddle!

MARK: Oh, he's coming along... IZZIE: He's coming with us!

He's so gorgeous.

What would you call him?

What's his name?

IZZIE: Nelson.

MARK: Edgar.

IZZIE: Edgar!

I like that, yes.

MARK: He's an Edgar.

MARK: He looks like an Edgar.

VO: Scoot round him.

You're here to find antiques, not dogs.

If you had one thing that you could find, what would it be?

I really like really old stuff.

Like, really, really old stuff.

I think they're called antiques.

IZZIE: No, older than antiques!

VO: Well, whether it's antiques, antiquities or artifacts, whoever wins best of five with their £1,500 will be the king or queen of this road trip.

VO: This trip, Izzie and Mark will take in South Wales, then head through the Cotswolds and Midlands before a final auction in Hampshire.

Have you been here before?

I have been to Wales a few times.

I feel like I'm getting to know Wales ever so well.

Hang on, hang on.

So does this mean you've got an advantage?

If you've been here before, you know the territory... MARK: ..and the lie of the land.

IZZIE: Mwa-ha-ha-ha!

OK, so who's the villain now?

That is a villainous laugh, m'dear.

VO: Heroes and villains alike on this part of their trip will be spending their way to Narberth, but they're starting in Cardigan.

VO: Neither the '90s indie band nor famous knitwear are from here, but the town did give birth to the first Eisteddfod.

A precursor to the national celebration of Welsh music, poetry, and arts occurred at its castle in 1176.

Will our experts be singing and dancing on the other side of Cardigan Antiques?

MARK: Here it is.

IZZIE: You've got good eyes, there, Mark.

MARK: Hey, hey!

Well, that's yet to be proven, because we've got to see what's inside.

IZZIE: Oh, those are nice bits.

MARK: Yeah, absolutely.

After you, my dear.

IZZIE: Ah, thank you very much.

Always a gent.

VO: Such chivalry befitting of this place, full of period pieces - displays atop, quirky things below.

VO: That's it, Mark.

On your feet.

VO: Perhaps he's weighed down by the 1,500 he and Izzie both have for the whole trip.

Ooh!

Now, this could be interesting.

Gently does it.

Art deco ceramics, with these wonderful bright colors, typical of the jazz age, are so collectable right now.

Looking on the bottom here, I see it says Myott & Son.

VO: From Stoke on Trent, Myott & Sons produced bold art deco wares in the '20s, '30s and '40s.

MARK: Kind of followed fashion, really, and produced these really brightly colored art deco ceramics.

What's the price on this?

So, for £32, would it make me money at auction?

It's a handsome thing.

It's very much of its time.

But, for me, I think I'm gonna have to leave it behind.

But you know what?

I think Myott's a really good tip for the future.

It's back in the cupboard.

VO: While caution prevails in one corner, Izzie is digging for treasure in another.

Just a bit of local interest.

Historically, one of the main industries in Wales was the mining industry.

And here we've got a receipt from a local mine for the coal.

VO: Is it a "coal-d" or tickly cough, Izzie?

I love it.

I don't know that anyone else would love it as much as me, though, £15.

VO: A "miner" distraction, then.

Hm...

I think I know what this is.

So, this is a magician's bag.

So, we have a bag on the end of a brass stick here, and I can put my hand inside and there's absolutely nothing inside the dark recesses.

Abracadabra... Look what I find.

VO: What the...?

What trickery is this?

Magic items have become increasingly collectable over the past decade or so, especially if they're connected to famous magicians.

So posters advertising late 19th and early 20th century magicians.

There's something exotic, something exciting, and something quite magical about them.

These are not, sadly, connected to a great magician.

I wonder what this does.

But they're just a great bit of fun.

So, this, I think, is a mystery box.

And if I feel somewhere around it...

There we go.

Look.

So, you would be able to slide something inside here, having locked it up and given someone the key or something like that, and then, magically, you would open it up and there'd be something inside it.

VO: My word, he could teach Dynamo a trick or two.

So, these probably date from, what, I don't know, the 1930s at the earliest, but they're probably post-war, so 1950s or 1960s.

But there is an appeal for these things and to buy them new today, they just don't have that sort of game-worn, sort of wonder-worn excitement.

I rather like these.

So, our magic box is £22.

You get some streamers, too.

And our bag is £45.

I think I might have to ask about a quantity discount for that.

VO: Has Izzie found anything as magical?

Trying to award yourself something already.

Medals!

Yes, yes.

I love a medal.

I'm being awarded for... Fabulous Expert of the Year.

Aw, that's too kind.

VO: What's he after?

Now, lucky dip.

Have a go.

Stick your... Oh, Mark, what's in here?

Don't worry.

There's nothing.

It's not going to hurt.

IZZIE: Promise?

MARK: I promise.

Go on.

VO: No, no.

Don't do it, Izzie.

There's a handkerchief in there.

I really don't like wasps.

No, it's... How could I keep a wasp in there?!

There's nothing in there!

Ugh.

Unlucky dip.

VO: Where did it go?

MARK: Try again?

Go on... MARK: No wasps.

IZZIE: You know what... IZZIE: Hey, look!

Matches!

MARK: Now, that's magic!

VO: Dark arts, more like.

That is magic.

And it matches!

(LAUGHS) MARK: Dear, dear.

There you go.

Ta-da!

He missed the ta-da.

Any good magician has to go, "Ta-da!"

He's missed it.

I'll do it for him.

Ta-da!

VO: Take a bow, Izzie.

Well deserved.

Now, what was it you came in here for again?

Oh, yes.

To buy antiques.

Rupert, hello.

Oh, Mark, hello!

VO: Mark's hoping to saw this deal in half.

I found some things downstairs, which I think, quite frankly, are magic.

Think I've got a clue, there.

OK, so I'm kind of interested in the whole lot.

You've got 45 on the bag, 22 on the box... RUPERT: I think we can do a buy one, get one free deal, so...

Really?!

RUPERT: ..buy the bag, and we'll chuck the boxes and streamers in.

Let me shake you by the hand.

RUPERT: You're very welcome.

MARK: Thank you so much.

VO: And I assure you, sir, that money will not do a vanishing act.

MARK: Fantastic.

RUPERT: Not trick money..?

MARK: It's definitely not trick money, no.

And the ink is dry, as well.

Thank you very much.

You're very welcome.

VO: So, Mark now has £1,455 remaining.

Now, that deal was magic.

VO: What is happening in Cardigan today?

Let's hope Izzie can bring a bit of sanity back to proceedings.

She has her eye on something sweet.

IZZIE: It's a folding cake stand.

That's, like, perfect for a picnic.

You could have your sandwiches.

Do you know what?

This is getting better and better.

It's a lunchbox.

It's a fold-up lunchbox.

Because you could have your sandwiches here.

I mean, you'd have to bring your sandwiches in a lunchbox.

So, it's kind of having to take two things with you, but you can have your sandwiches here, you can have your cakes here.

And I suppose, really, if you're gonna have a picnic, maybe, like, your scone with your cream and your jam there.

VO: Usually ceramic and fixed, travel stands like this were produced in the period that afternoon tea was all the rage.

IZZIE: I would say that this is probably turn of the century.

It's priced at £28.

I quite like it.

And I do really like cake and I do love picnics.

VO: You should never mix business with pleasure, but Izzie's striving to cut a sweet deal.

IZZIE: Hello, Rupert.

Oh, hello, Izzie.

I'm hoping you're gonna tell me that behind the counter you've got some cakes that we can put on my cake stand.

Sorry, we're fresh out of cakes at the moment.

Not to worry, I'd still like to buy your cake stand.

Prepare yourself, Rupert.

VO: What's she building up to?

RUPERT: Shall I sit down?

I think you might need to.

This is priced at £28.

Yes.

I'm gonna pay you...£28.

What, no discount?

I know!

I don't know what's come over me!

RUPERT: You're welcome here any time.

VO: Slightly fearful that cold has gone to your head, Izzie.

IZZIE: Got five, and then...

There we go.

£28.

IZZIE: Thanks for having me.

RUPERT: You're very welcome.

VO: So Izzie has £1,472 remaining, and both she and Mark have a couple of playful, hopefully profitable, purchases to their name.

VO: Whilst Izzie heads off to find more bargain antiques, Mark's stopped by the hamlet of Cold Inn to meet woodcarver Kerry Thomas, who's keeping a Welsh crafting tradition alive.

I thought I could hear the sounds of a man at work.

KERRY: Hello, there.

MARK: This is fantastic!

I can feel the love here.

Yeah.

This is where we make all our lovespoons.

VO: In Wales, intricate carvings have been incorporated into wooden spoons for love and good luck for a long time.

The Six Nation-winning Welsh rugby team showed theirs off to Prince Charles in 2008, but it all began a lot earlier than that.

It is a Welsh tradition... ..dating back to the 17th century.

Lovespoons were carved by young men, offered to the young ladies that they were courting.

If accepted, they were regarded as tokens of engagement or betrothal.

Most people would give a ring.

KERRY: Exactly.

The young men we're referring to probably wouldn't have been able to afford a ring at that point.

But a lovespoon, they had wood available, they would have had fairly primitive tools.

For instance, a simple spoon like this, there's a little ship on the ocean with a heart.

"We hope you will cross the ocean of life safely."

So, you'd put a little message in your spoon to show the young lady how much they loved her.

There were so many things that they could express into the wood.

VO: Kerry would know all about it, of course, from the time this carpenter was looking for love.

KERRY: I heard about this tradition when I was courting, and I thought it would be a good idea if I tried to save myself having to buy an engagement ring by making a Welsh lovespoon.

There it is.

That was my first attempt at making a lovespoon.

A very simple one.

I offered this spoon to my girlfriend.

She accepted it.

And so that's where our family began.

VO: Made in 1969, it was the start of Kerry's love affair with spoons, too.

This is the start of a beautiful story for you and your wife.

But did it sort of change language?

I mean, this sort of coming together?

Yes.

Years ago, people would say, "Aw, they're spooning."

In fact, there was a song, if I remember rightly.

"By the light of the silver moon, I love to spoon."

VO: Steady on.

Back to business, please.

VO: Love, of course, isn't all you need to make spoons.

VO: Kerry's son, David Thomas, has been carving since he was a toddler and can testify to that.

Hello, David.

My goodness, this looks amazing!

It looks quite hard work, though, carving wood like that by hand.

DAVID: It can be.

Once you learn the process, there's nothing too much to it.

Would you like to have a go?

VO: He thought you'd never ask, David.

Each spoon is carved using chisels and gouges, which themselves are over 100 years old.

Go gently, Mark.

You hold it at the top with your right hand.

I love the faith you're putting in me here.

And we guide, then.

It's using the two hands together.

So, like this?

Look, it's coming off.

I'm making shavings.

It's happening.

DAVID: So, you push with that back hand... ..and if you just take hold of it with your front hand... MARK: Right.

Oh, like this?

DAVID: ..you might be able... DAVID: That's it.

MARK: Ah!

Now, what we need to do is to pick the heel up a little bit.

Right.

DAVID: So we find that cutting angle... MARK: Yeah... OK. DAVID: ..and just scoop.

DAVID: There we go.

You're a natural.

MARK: (CHUCKLES) I'll be carving lovespoons a-go-go.

If we think of St Valentine's Day, is that the day when you would traditionally present a lovespoon to your beloved?

This is why we say Wales is the most romantic country in the world, because we have two Valentine's.

We have 14 February.

Mm-hm.

DAVID: And we have 25 January... MARK: Righto.

DAVID: ..which we call St Dwynwen's Day.

VO: A revival in devotion to St Dwynwen sees parades and the exchange of lovespoons between couples, friends, and family on 25 January.

A fifth century princess, and now the patron saint of Welsh lovers, folklore says she asked God to always help true love after her own was frozen and then thawed from ice.

I think today we can use the lovespoon to put a happier spin on things and we can celebrate.

Because, of course, the key message for St Dwynwen is that she wanted the true lovers to have everything that they desired.

MARK: I think I'm running out of steam.

Look, here we are.

What do you reckon?

DAVID: I think you've done a great job on that one there.

Still a long way to go, though.

Work in progress.

VO: Thankfully, David and Kerry have just enough love left to stir up a complete spoon for Mark.

Which, would you believe, he's decided to dedicate to his greatest of antique friends and rivals.

MARK: I mean, we're gonna be friends anyway, but I think bearing in mind I'm going to be giving this to Izzie, she's the winner.

VO: Who'd have thought he had such a sentimental streak, eh?

I've never known such camaraderie between unknown road trippers.

VO: Saving his gift for the last leg of the trip, while Mark gets back on the road, his antiques rival is taking a pit stop at Patch Beach in Cardigan Bay.

In the 19th century, this place saw more ships than Cardiff Docks.

Today, it's best known for its wildlife and the perfect skimming stones.

Go on, Izzie, show us how it's done.

Right, you have to get your skimming pose.

Feel like you have to have your bum out, your legs bent.

You probably have to get a bit lower to the ground.

Right.

(STONE PLOPS) OK, that was a plop.

Let's try again.

Let's get a bit closer.

Give myself a better chance.

More flick?

Yes!

Did you see that?!

Did you see that?!

That was, like, five!

VO: That's the spirit.

Just don't skim the surface at your next shop... VO: ..which is in the town straddling the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, Newcastle Emlyn.

A former car showroom, Emlyn's Antiques is now a delightful dealership of relics and rarities.

Izzie has £1,472 left for the rest of the trip.

IZZIE: This is really rather beautiful.

It's a dressing table set.

Now, there's five pieces.

Silver tops, etched or frosted glass bodies.

VO: These sets were popular as wedding gifts during the Victorian period.

These were hallmarked for London, 1917.

So, that's early George V. At the right price, that could be worth a shot.

The condition issues do concern me... ..but it is so pretty with that frosted glass.

Really, really beautiful.

VO: So Izzie isn't shelving it, but needs to know the price before committing.

IZZIE: Oh, aren't they lovely?

OK. That's really rather smart.

We've got a set of 12 mother-of- pearl-handled knives and forks.

It's the mother of pearl handle that's really drawn me to these.

What's really special about these is not only is there a set of six, there's a set of 12, and they're all there.

So, it's not like a set of 11, and a pair has gone missing, or 11 and a half, and a fork's broken.

VO: I do hate it when there's one missing.

IZZIE: It's fairly unusual for something of this age to be in such good condition.

I think they're really special.

When I say special, I don't mean that they're gonna make me a huge amount of money.

But it's just the fact that I see items all day long in my job as an auctioneer, and so often they're damaged or pieces are missing.

I'm quite excited that there's a complete set here.

VO: Ah.

But no ticket price today.

Do you think he looks like Mark?

No.

Well... No.

Mark's too much of a gent.

This looks more like Mr Punch.

It's a character jug.

I would say late 19th century.

These can sometimes do very well, and other times they can be a total disaster.

VO: Made popular by Staffordshire potters.

Best one I ever saw sold was a salt-glazed one and that one did really quite well.

But this is not salt-glazed.

Also doesn't have a price on it.

If I can get him for £10, there might be a little bit in it.

Kind of off-putting about the possible damage there.

But he is a bit of fun.

VO: Time to make an inquiry.

Nell's looking after the shop today.

IZZIE: Hello, Nell.

NELL: Hiya.

I've had a good look around, and I've had to be really strict with myself because there's some really beautiful things in here.

But I have tamed myself to three items.

There's Mr Punch, the jug.

He hasn't got a price on him, but I wondered if you'd accept £10 for him.

Next one is the silver topped dressing table collection with the beautiful dog-roses.

And then there's the totally exquisite mother-of-pearl-handled knife and fork set.

What can we do, if anything, on the prices, please?

So, we could do the Mr Punch jug for £10, I think.

IZZIE: Thank you.

I'll take him, thank you.

Brilliant.

The cutlery set, we could probably do... NELL: ..50 on that one.

IZZIE: OK. And the dressing table set, we could do 85.

OK, 145 altogether.

Can you do any more on that at all?

For the three, we could probably do 120.

Yes, please.

I'll take all three.

BOTH: Thank you.

VO: Thank you very much to Nell.

What a spree and a trio of treats to end the day on.

Izzie now has £1,352 remaining.

IZZIE: Shall we just go and do something fun to end a fun day?

I definitely think we should.

We need to find out where we are and where we need to get to.

Mark, I keep telling you, that's your job as the navigator!

But I'm looking at the countryside.

IZZIE: I just drive!

MARK: There's a lot of countryside to see!

I'm counting sheep.

Well, that'll send you to sleep.

Is my chat that boring?

MARK: (LAUGHS) VO: Get some shuteye, you giddy pair.

Nighty night.

VO: It's a lovely looking morning en route to Newport.

MARK: First day in the bag.

Day two, here we come.

Here we come!

You're still smiling.

I am still smiling, but it's always the smile of anticipation and excitement about what we may find.

I absolutely love your exuberance, because I imagine you in, like, these little, little-boy shorts.

Like, little scout boy sort of neckerchief or something.

You've just got this sort of, I don't know, 1930s boyishness about you.

VO: Be careful what you wish for, Izzie.

There was a 1930s comic called The Champion.

MARK: Well, I'm only feeding off you.

You're always a ray of sunshine, regardless of the time of the morning.

IZZIE: Ugh, I'm really not a morning person, Mark.

And I really struggle to get out of bed, and I can't really string a sentence together until I've had some caffeine.

VO: Izzie was certainly full of beans yesterday, with four purchases - the bronze travel cake stand, a dressing table set, mother of pearl cutlery, and a Mr Punch character jug.

I do definitely start to wake up at night, but come midnight, that's me done.

I'm, like, ready for...

Right, it's bedtime.

VO: She now has 1,352 of her £1,500 remaining.

Midnight is for me, oh, I'm still going.

IZZIE: Just getting started.

MARK: Absolutely... No.

I just couldn't do a nine-to-five job, rush hour on the train, holding on.

It's just not in my DNA.

Can't do it.

Can't do it, Izzie!

Standing, with all these other people?!

I know!

Creasing my cape?

Oh, no!

MARK: (LAUGHS) VO: Mark did sprinkle a bit of magic on just one purchase yesterday, the early to mid-20th century magician set.

People don't stand near me when I'm wearing my cape, so... Well, it does have a Count Dracula look about it.

IZZIE: (CHUCKLES) VO: He now has 1,455 of his £1,500 remaining.

What are you dreaming about finding today?

I'd like to find some really obscure, really highly academic thing that's so rare... ..that they just haven't spotted it.

A true sleeper.

VO: Now in Newport, North Pembrokeshire, Izzie is dropping her bestie off.

VO: The Carningli Centre specializes in railwayana as well as other antiques.

There's station signage, train trinkets, lights and lamps all over the shop.

MARK: (CHUCKLES) Ooh!

How many cups of tea would you get out of that?

It's cast iron and it weighs a ton.

But look how big it is!

You know, over the past 20 years or so, there's been a massive rise in decorative antiques.

It's just antiques that look good or are cool or quirky in some way.

And I think that's got all three.

VO: Possibly Victorian.

It looks like it has a long boiling time, if any at all.

MARK: It's got the look of ages to it, and I just think that's a wonderful decorative piece.

It's ever so slightly rusted through over here, which isn't so good, but it's got a look.

And let's look at the price, £120.

Big price, but it's a big kettle.

That's a definite maybe.

VO: Izzie would raise a cuppa to that.

IZZIE: I love anything that's a bit quirky, a bit different, something I haven't seen before.

So, it's always really exciting when you find... Yeah, that something that's just a little bit different or it's got something about it.

VO: Hopeful she'll discover her own quirk or two, Izzie's parking in the town of Saundersfoot which lies on Pembrokeshire's coast path.

She's headed for an old Victorian schoolhouse, now home to Saundersfoot Antiques with collectibles, jewelry, and glassware galore.

Do you reckon I can get three down?

VO: Izzie's bowled over!

Ha ha!

Only one.

(GASPS) What have we got here?

This, well, it's quite clearly a fire guard, but it's an arts and crafts fire guard.

VO: Pieces made in the arts and crafts style were created using traditional craft practices as a reaction against the machine manufacturing that was born in the 19th century.

Now, this is priced at £75.

However, fire guards, they are simply out of fashion.

Something like this is stunning.

I would pay 75 for it, but I don't think that's gonna make me any money at auction.

VO: Meanwhile, over in North Pembrokeshire... MARK: Bendix automatic washers and "Slow Danger".

"Slow, danger"?

Or "Slow Danger"?

I rather like this.

It's been fashionable now to sort of hang advertising posters and road signs in kitchens or homes.

And I think that's kind of got great appeal.

I mean, I like the fact it's a diamond shape.

It's bright yellow, and Slow Danger is kind of...

It sounds like an album or something from some rock band.

VO: Mark And The Mechanics, perhaps.

MARK: You can still read the wording very well.

It's got a good sort of level of age all over it.

It's just got eye appeal.

£65.

Can I see that making £65 or more at auction?

I jolly well hope so.

I rather like this.

VO: Time to track down Ann for a spot of haggling.

Hello, Ann?

Are you lurking in here somewhere?

ANN: Hello.

MARK: (CHUCKLES) Hello!

It is incredible here.

There is just so much stuff.

There is a lot of stuff in here.

The enormous great big iron kettle.

MARK: It's got 120 on it... ANN: Erm...

The best would be 100.

MARK: The sign, which I just love, and it's got 65 on it.

So, that could be... Again, I can certainly do 55.

VO: So £155 for the two.

MARK: Could you do Slow Danger and the kettle for 150?

Yeah, that's OK.

Yes.

Fantastic.

In that case, I'm gonna shake your hand.

VO: Mark now has £1,305 of his £1,500 remaining.

MARK: Look at that.

ANN: Lovely.

Thanks very much.

Well, I know what I'll be drinking tonight.

Tea all night with a kettle that size.

(CHUCKLES) Thank you so much!

VO: Meanwhile, Izzie's browse continues in Saundersfoot.

IZZIE: So, not an antique, but what a nice little card.

Tenby.

Oh...

I really love glassware.

This is Seguso.

Again, I've probably pronounced it wrong.

But Seguso, it's Murano, so it's Venetian glass.

And they're one of the oldest glass makers, glass manufacturers, on the islands.

They can trace their lineage back to the 14th century in the Venetian archives.

VO: Murano glassware has been made on the island it was named after since the 13th century, though this particular piece is probably from the 1960s or '70s.

It's not signed, but this shape is an iconic shape of Seguso.

It's priced at £20.

I really like Murano and there are other people out there that also really like Murano.

I think for £20 that's got to be worth a shot.

I really like it... Gonna take that one.

VO: Better find Becky and do a deal.

IZZIE: Hello, Becky.

BECKY: Hi.

I saw two items I loved.

One of them was the really beautiful art and crafts fire guard.

And then the second item was this Seguso Murano vase.

And I decided I'm gonna play it safe because I love the fire guard.

I'm just a bit concerned with them being somewhat out of fashion at auction that the price on that might just be a bit too much for me, so I'm playing it safe with a £20 vase.

I'm really happy to pay £20 for this because I think it's such a lovely piece.

BECKY: Lovely, thank you.

IZZIE: So, there we go.

£20.

Fab.

And I will shake your hand.

IZZIE: Thank you so much.

BECKY: Thank you.

Thank you for looking after me.

BECKY: You're welcome.

Bye!

VO: Izzie is now left with £1,332.

VO: Meanwhile, Mark has made his way to Narberth.

He has time for a final search at Narberth Antiques and Interiors.

They have it all in here - paintings, furniture, clothing, you name it.

And the question is, where to start?

Decanters, glasses, jugs, sculptures, lighting.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY) Funny things, these.

So, when you see these glass fish, lots of people associate them with the famous Venetian glass-making island of Murano.

Their origins are actually in eastern Europe, Romania... ..places like that, Hungary.

They would produce these fish, and they were produced to sit on top of old-fashioned cathode ray TVs.

VO: Priced at £45, Mark's putting these tiddlers back to swim upstream for today.

Hello... VO: Looks like he's heading for the bright lights instead.

I rather like this.

Now, some people think that the antiques business is sort of dry, dusty, and staid.

Charlatans, is what I say.

So, this isn't a reproduction.

It is a 1940s, maybe 1950s, painted toleware pendant lamp.

So a hall lamp or a corridor lamp, something like that.

VO: The term "toleware" comes from the French for painted metal.

MARK: And it's been cut with these flowers, these leaves, and then it's been painted with all manner of patterns.

So, we've got curling acanthus leaves, we've got flowers, we've got more leaves at the top.

We've got this shaped body here.

And just to turn the volume up a little bit, they've put in these wonderful etched panels, as well.

It's in really nice condition.

I mean, it is a little bit rusty.

But you know what?

That sort of rusty rustic look is also what people are looking for with these.

So, it's £165, which is a great retail price.

But is it a good auction price?

I think I'm gonna need some movement.

VO: Well, this place is full of surprises.

Oh, my goodness.

Look at that!

Wow.

Now, that I did not expect.

I thought it was gonna be a weird speaker, or a radio or something.

But what we've actually got is a little writing box, or desk set.

VO: And it's homemade, so one of one.

MARK: £45... Now, I think that would make a radio collector's heart skip a beat.

You could keep all your little bits and bobs inside there, charger cables for your phone, whatever it might be.

So it's got a use today, a practical use today.

And lots of collectors who collect things like radios collect things associated with them.

That, I love.

I'm fully tuned in to that.

VO: Time to meet Zara and talk terms.

Hello, Zara.

Hello, hello.

Plenty to catch my eye, and my eye's been caught by a couple of things - a lamp.

VO: He means the toleware lamp - £165.

I think the absolute death on that would be 120.

MARK: 120's the death?

ZARA: Yes.

It's a nice lamp.

The little box, the writing box.

Handmade in the shape of a speaker... MARK: ..or a radio... ZARA: Yes, radio.

..or something like that.

MARK: I just love it.

ZARA: Give you a chance.

30.

MARK: The lamp... ZARA: OK. MARK: ..and the box... ZARA: Yep.

150.

The death, on both.

MARK: Let's do it.

ZARA: Thank you.

MARK: Thank you very much indeed.

I really appreciate...

Wonderful.

VO: From a total on-display price of £210 down to £150.

Not bad at all, Mark.

I'm off to go and get my treasures.

MARK: Thank you.

Bye.

ZARA: Bye.

VO: He now has £1,155 to spend on the rest of the trip.

IZZIE: I've just really enjoyed myself.

MARK: Aw!

IZZIE: How about you?

Yeah, I had a really good day as well, actually.

MARK: Interesting things... IZZIE: Good!

I'm happy, actually.

I think Wales has been very kind to us.

It's been beautiful weather, which really makes a difference.

MARK: It's true.

I've just had a really good day.

VO: Goodnight, both.

Get some shuteye.

VO: It's time to see if our fresh-faced pair will be rewarded for their toil at the auction.

MARK: Well, this is it.

(CLAPS) First day, first auction!

Are you excited?

Extremely excited.

And you?

Well, you're running ahead of me!

IZZIE: Can't wait to... MARK: It's just to get the door!

VO: Forever the gent, our Mark.

VO: After journeying through the coast and countryside of South Wales, our heroes have arrived in Market Harborough in the English Midlands, for their first auction of the trip at Gildings Auctioneers.

They'll be selling to buyers in the room and online.

VO: Izzie's spent £168 on the road and has five items to sell.

Are there any that auctioneer Will Gilding can imagine exciting his crowd?

The 1950s Murano glass clam vase, as it's known, is very, very stylish.

It's a great design, cuz it's got two bases.

You can turn it on its side to get the full clam-shape effect.

But it's a great piece.

VO: Mark parted with almost double the cash of Izzie for his five lots - £345.

Can Will see any standouts?

The yellow and black enamel road sign, "Slow Danger."

Hopefully not in this sale.

I think it will pick up pace and sell really quite well.

We've got a good degree of local interest with buyers after enamel signs, such as this.

VO: Time to take your seats and find out.

MARK: Here it is!

IZZIE: Auction day!

It is.

Excited?

Nervous and excited.

How about you?

Always the same, nervous and excited.

It's that dichotomy, which we hope leads to success.

VO: First up, Mark's collection of magician's equipment and tricks.

It's not brand-new.

It's not a child's toy.

It's just great magic stuff.

And people collect magic memorabilia.

And you've got all the streamers in there.

You've got the whole shebang.

Absolutely right.

£18... Straight in online at 18.

20 bid... WILL: £20 bid, 20.

MARK: £20?

£20, online bid.

22.

25, 25, 28.

Selling at £28... Oh...

I thought that was a really good thing.

VO: He didn't manage to pull it out of the bag that time.

What a shame.

Well, I think it's gone off to a collection for a very good price.

Good for them.

VO: That's it, chin up.

This is just the beginning.

Next up is Izzie's Murano clam vase.

You and I both know that some Murano doesn't make much, but some does.

And, I don't know, I just think it's such a good quality glass for not a lot of money.

A modest start, £20.

At 20.

£20.

At 20.

22, 25.

£25.

At 25.

£25.

I will sell at £25...

It's a profit.

VO: A snappy little purchase.

IZZIE: Clawed it?

MARK: I don't know... IZZIE: Pincered it?

MARK: Shelled it?

Shelled it!

MARK: I'm desperate now.

IZZIE: Nabbed it!

Nabbed it.

Nabbed it.

That'll do.

VO: Moving on.

Mark's hoping he can get the pot boiling with his blackened Victorian teapot.

This is what it's all about for me.

Victorian, cast iron, huge.

And I always like things that are really, really tiny, or really, really massive.

I think there's a great appeal there.

We start the bidding online, coming in with you then, at £15.

I've got 18.

20.

My bid.

22, 25.

Oh, it's on the go.

At 25, it's with me.

28.

WILL: 30's my bid.

MARK: Up you get.

WILL: 32 online.

£32.

And selling...

Forget the tea, bring me a vodka.

VO: Mark's on the rocks with that one.

Ha!

At that price, that's probably 20p a cup of tea or something.

VO: No time for the maths yet.

Let's see if Izzie's character jug can jolly us along.

I've bought a Mr Punch character jug.

So, I'm hoping you're gonna say Dalton, or one of the great...

I wish.

It's not marked.

£10, we open the bidding at 10.

Do I see it?

I can't go much lower at 10.

Online comes in, though, at £10 and saves the day.

At £10.

We'll sell.

The maiden bid, £10... (GAVEL) MARK: You didn't lose... IZZIE: I didn't lose.

So you needn't worry.

VO: Call it evens.

It's a break even, can't complain at that.

VO: Now, come on, Mark.

We're relying on that correspondence box to bring home some good news.

Now, I know this is not a finely made piece.

It was probably handmade by someone at home.

But, actually, it's got quality, and I think it's got bags of style.

Starting at £30.

At 30.

Do I see 30 anywhere?

He's holding out...

It's wonderful condition inside.

£20 bid.

Thank you.

At £20 here.

At 20.

Fair warning... Oh, dear.

The less said about that, the better?

VO: Yes, let's just pretend this isn't happening for Mark's sake.

It was a lovely thing.

Find me another one.

IZZIE: I would have bought it.

MARK: Yeah?

VO: Will it be a picnic for Izzie and her Victorian travel cake stand?

I love a picnic.

I love a British picnic.

And, to me, that is the iconic picnic item.

Everyone should have one, a cake stand.

Absolutely.

Start bidding at just £20, please.

We're open at 20.

At £20.

At 20.

Will cost you more to fill it with cakes.

Don't!

That's gonna put them off.

Don't say that!

IZZIE: (LAUGHS) WILL: At £20, are you all done?

(GAVEL) That's a British picnic for you - lots of rain.

VO: When it rains, it pours.

That's Izzie's first loss of the day.

But you kind of got your cake and ate it.

IZZIE: Do you think?

No... MARK: Kinda.

My cake was there.

I was not allowed to eat it.

VO: Here's hoping Mark gets to brighten things up a bit with the early 20th century metal and glass lantern.

I like the fact that it's a little bit sort of... ..battered and worn.

That's what a lot of buyers actually quite like.

These things are not meant to be sort of brand spanking new.

£35.

At 35.

38.

38.

Here in the seats at 38.

40, 42.

45, new place.

45 in the room.

Right at the back.

48.

50?

50?

And a shake of the head from the lady at £50.

With the gentleman, then, at 50.

55 online.

They've not gone away.

60.

IZZIE: Ooh... MARK: Oh, good.

Online is hovering somewhere.

In the room at 65.

65.

And both room bidders shaking their head now.

At £65, at 65... Bargain.

£65.

VO: Oh, blimey.

We're all struggling to see the light at the moment.

Do you know one thing?

That is gonna look great in whoever bought it's home.

VO: Someone got a bargain.

Now, we're looking to Izzie's five-piece beauty set for good luck.

I've just never, ever seen one with such beautiful decoration or even remotely similar decoration.

£35.

38, 40 I'm bid.

40.

£40 here.

Bid 40.

At £40.

At 40.

Should surely be making more.

WILL: 42.

45.

MARK: And the room's in.

WILL: 45.

£45, at 45.

Are you coming back in?

They are.

48 online.

50.

IZZIE: Keep going, keep going!

WILL: £50 here.

Please!

At £50, and selling.

Oh...

It's a little loss.

VO: And someone's loss is always another's gain.

They're gonna look really fantastic on someone's dressing table.

They will, yeah.

VO: Time for Mark to sign off with the yellow and black enamel warning sign.

Now, this, I think, has great appeal.

You know, road signs, motorcycling, motor cars.

You know, I can see this being on the wall of a loft apartment or something, or... You know, it's just got that look.

Online bids start at 32.

I've got 35.

35.

With me at 35.

38.

40, my bid.

42, 45.

Against you online.

Still my bid, 48.

And I'm out at 48.

50, thank you.

MARK: Yes!

WILL: New place online at 50.

WILL: 55.

60... IZZIE: Yes!

Profit!

WILL: Back in at 60.

At £60.

At 60.

Are there any more bids?

At 60... IZZIE: Well done, you.

MARK: Tenner.

VO: Mark's first piece of profit.

VO: At last!

IZZIE: Well done.

That's good news.

I'm happy with that.

VO: We all are.

How will Izzie's silver-plated knives and forks fare?

I love them.

I love them.

I don't know whether I'd ever use them, but...

They're just exquisite.

£40.

At 40.

42.

45, 48, 50.

55, 55, 60... MARK: Oh, nice buy.

IZZIE: Profit... MARK: Oh, you're on the go!

IZZIE: Profit, profit, profit..!

90.

Five.

100.

£100 bid... IZZIE: Yay!

MARK: Well done.

WILL: 110.

110.

Still climbing.

120.

120, online has the bid.

Selling... IZZIE: Thank you.

MARK: Well done.

VO: Soak it up, Izzie.

Devour it!

They were just beautiful.

I cannot explain how beautiful to look at them, to handle them.

I'm just so delighted that someone else has recognized that.

VO: Let's just hope Mark's spirits aren't too dampened.

VO: After auction costs, Mark's almost £180 in the red.

VO: But after saleroom fees, Izzie's got some profit of £16.50.

VO: So, it's 1-0 to Izzie.

But there are four more auctions to come.

IZZIE: That was tough, brutal.

Oh my, I feel like I've been beaten around the head with that gavel.

IZZIE: I know the feeling.

MARK: ..kind of, you know... MARK: ..steady me a little bit.

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