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

I just love it.

VO: Behind the wheel of a classic car.

(HORN TOOTS) LOUISE: It's fast.

CHARLES: It's a race.

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

PAUL: This could be tricky.

MARGIE: £38!

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

VO: But it's no mean feat.

ROO: High five!

There'll be worthy winners... CHRISTINA: Mind-blowing.

VO: ..and valiant losers.

Could have been worse.

Will it be the high road to glory...

Car!

..or the slow road to disaster?

CHRISTINA: Aaagh!

TIM: Oh my!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip.

VO: What fun!

It's nearly the end of the road for our two antiques experts James Braxton and Roo Irvine.

ROO (RI): James, this is it, the last trip for us.

JAMES (JB): What a lovely place to do it in, the Ribble Valley.

Are you feeling glad that your time with me is over, almost?

No.

I'll miss it terribly, Roo.

Me too.

VO: Aw, so sweet.

But our Mustang driving mates still have work to do and lunch to consider.

We haven't had a hotpot yet, have we?

Lancashire hotpot?

No, we haven't.

We should try to squeeze one in.

A hotpot.

Because it's not as if we haven't eaten enough food around here.

VO: Hollow legs, those two.

James bought big last time, chucking large sums on a few big ticket items.

Didn't quite pay off, though.

Oh, dear.

VO: Roo was on her uppers on the previous leg but she managed to make her money go a long way.

They're a like.

VO: And with a few canny buys, she's bounced back.

Tides turned a wee bit, didn't they?

It has.

I think definitely that leg was yours.

RI: But the good thing is I'm back into triple figures.

That meant a lot to me.

I seemed to go to extraordinary lengths to make the princely sum of £2.

VO: A profit's a profit, James.

Roo started this trip with £200 and after a bit of a nosedive, she's clawed her way back to £124.50.

James started with the same amount but he's managed to nudge that up to £228.52.

This is our last chance saloon.

Last chance.

Are you going to go big and spend all your money?

Yeah, definitely.

VO: Yeah, you go for it, chief.

We started this jaunt on the North East coast, popped briefly into Scotland, headed down the west side of the country and moseyed around the Midlands.

We now have our sights set firmly on that final auction in York.

But before we get there, we are doing one final jaunt back up the west side of the country, starting in Preston.

Always been a progressive city, this.

First place in the country outside London to be lit by gaslight.

And the birthplace of teetotalism.

But I'm sure publican James won't hold that against it.

RI: Alright mister, here we go.

JB: Very good.

It looks fun, doesn't it?

RI: Looks like my kind of shop.

I'm jealous.

Roo, thank you.

Have fun.

See you soon.

Bye.

VO: Let's see what European Fine Arts and Antiques have in store.

James, how we doing?

JB: Oh, very good.

BRIAN: Brian.

Brian, good to meet you, good to meet you.

Thank you.

Great building, isn't it?

Built in 1867.

Right.

Used to be a Masonic lodge, initially.

You noticed from my handshake that I wasn't a mason.

I did, I did.

VO: Ha-ha!

Well, that's the initiation over.

Brian's got three floors crammed to explore, but you don't have to go too far in here to find something of interest, do you, James?

Brian, you've got this rather nice sort of sarcophagus shaped thing.

What is it?

It's a wine cooler.

Yeah.

But it was made from the salvage of the timbers of the HMS Foudroyant that foundered at Blackpool beach.

It was Nelson's flagship.

Wow!

All that fabulous seasoned nautical timber... That's it.

..ended up with cabinet makers.

Yes.

Has it got a maker's name on it?

Has it got a plate?

Yes it has.

It's got Goodall, Lamb & Heighway, Manchester.

Oh, yes, that's lovely.

Yep.

So we've got the lining there.

You've got the lining, you've even got the brass shovel for the ice.

Rubbish.

It's a coal...

It's a coal bin.

It's a coal bin!

That is very smart, what a great story.

Is it within my reach?

Erm...

I don't think they'd give you enough budget, James.

Do you?

You don't know, Brian.

BRIAN: Well, you might... OK, JB: ..with great riches.

Well, well, alright then.

We're into the thousands.

No, you're dead right.

Can we pitch it from there?

No, you're dead right.

I think I'd better look for something else.

VO: And while he recovers from that shock, let's catch up with his chum.

Roo's headed out to the coast and St Annes on Sea, home to this rather splendid Victorian pier.

And this establishment.

Now, I don't know about you but I think this might be an antique shop.

Hard to tell, isn't it?

I feel a requiem coming on.

RI: Hi David.

DAVID: Hello.

Nice to meet you.

RI: I'm Roo, how are you doing?

DAVID: Very well, thank you.

You really do have a bit of everything in here, don't you?

I do, yes.

It's quite eclectic.

I'll see you soon, David.

Okey-dokey.

VO: David's collection is quite a size.

Nice bits of furniture and lots of quirky items.

Bound to be something in here to tickle her fancy.

Feeling a bit playful.

Confident.

I'm wearing my bright lime so I'm all up for the competition.

VO: Dressed for success, eh?

Well, you wouldn't lose her in a crowd, would you?

Let's go for it, then.

Now, you see quite a few of these but they fail every single time.

Early 1900s weighing scales.

And it says fully working, which is great.

Sometimes you see them with cracked glass or incomplete.

This is Townson and Mercer, London.

And they're priced at £55.

That's not bad.

Imagine a really cool penthouse or even an old country house.

You will see this on a lovely side table.

David?

Yes, Roo?

You've got this priced at 55.

DAVID: Mm-hm.

RI: What could that be?

For you, Roo?

For a Scots lassie.

Let's say 35.

35?

Let's shake on that right now.

DAVID: Yeah?

Okey-dokey.

RI: Let's shake on that.

VO: That's a very generous discount, David.

I shall keep browsing.

Of course.

Lovely.

That's me off the starting line.

I will let you close it.

VO: No messing about today, then.

That hi-viz jacket must be working.

What have you spotted now?

I always say to myself, "Don't buy furniture."

But this is quite a cool thing.

When I look at it I initially think of arts and crafts, it's got that hexagonal type table, dark wood.

But looking at it closely it's covered in dragons, carved dragons which is from the east, the Orient.

I would say this is more of a touristy piece from the early 1900s.

It's priced up at £30.

That's within my budget, my little pauper's budget.

David?

VO: He never gets a moment's peace, does he?

It's charming.

I think it was definitely made by someone, by hand, to sell to more of a sort of tourist market.

But you've got £30 on it.

Could I be naughty and bend my knees and have it for 20?

Of course you can.

RI: Yeah?

DAVID: Yep.

You're an absolute gentleman.

Thank you very much, David.

I think I'm on a roll here.

I'll keep going until I empty your shop.

DAVID: OK. VO: Excellent work.

Back over in Preston, James is after something more in his price range than that great big wine cooler.

This reminds me of a fellow teammate, young Mr Charles Hanson.

A good Derby man.

I'm sure this is a porcelain from Derby.

This is early part of the 19th century, so this is probably 1820.

It's a great shape, isn't it?

Mini campana shape.

But it's lost its base, poor fellow.

Look, we've got this rather funny brass colored base here.

But if I look at the bottom I'm pretty sure that's cast iron.

But beautiful painting and I can see why they've saved it.

This is a lovely panel.

All against this lovely cobalt blue ground.

It's a nice looking item.

I hope it's cheap.

VO: Yeah.

No price tag on that.

Better ask your man.

Brian.

I've noticed this fellow here, this lovely little Derby fellow, isn't it?

What have you got on that, chief?

Er... how's £25?

£25.

God, that sounds, that sounds decent.

Could you go a little lower, Brian?

How's 20?

20.

I'll give you 20.

Go on.

Thank you.

JB: There we are.

DAVID: Good man.

Thank you very much indeed.

That's lovely.

VO: So that's James off the mark too.

Pay the man and let's get going.

Roo, meanwhile, is still on the hunt.

Ooh, a little shop within a shop.

Look at that, what fun.

Hello there.

I'm Roo.

Hi, Roo.

Sid.

So this Aladdin's cave is yours, then?

Yes, yes.

Wow!

OK.

This is exactly my kind of shop.

SID: Oh, you're welcome.

VO: Yes.

Sid's place is certainly choc-a-block.

I've spotted some marcasite.

SID: Right.

Is that silver?

SID: It is, yes.

Beautiful.

Right, OK, so this isn't a British hallmark.

This is 935.

935, yes.

So this is 93.5% silver.

That's right, yes.

So actually 1% more than our British silver.

SID: That's right.

RI: It's almost like a pansy.

It is, isn't it?

Yeah.

The leaves, the petals are almost folding down.

What is the price you have on that?

SID: £20.

RI: £20, OK. Can I pop this here?

Yes, of course you can.

Now, you've got some silver salts in the corner.

These are very, very sweet.

Not a huge amount of weight to them.

SID: No, they're not very heavy.

Birmingham.

And that I would say is about 1897.

So late Victorian.

Are the spoons actually from the same set?

Birmingham still but it's got a C on it.

SID: Oh right, yes.

RI: Which I think is early Edwardian.

VO: She's not wrong.

1902.

Still very much antique but it's a shame it's not the original spoons.

So Sid, how much are these salts?

20.

20 for those, OK.

I'll do them for 20.

I will go with the salts and the marcasite brooch.

That's fine.

If that's OK with you, for £40?

No, you're welcome.

Yes.

RI: Thank you so much.

SID: Thank you very much, Roo.

Thank you.

I will take these.

That's fine.

And go and pay to David.

Thank you.

VO: Her four picks come to a grand total of £95.

RI: Thank you very much, David.

DAVID: Thank you.

RI: It's an absolute pleasure.

DAVID: Indeed.

VO: So, with Roo laden with goodies it's time to head for pastures new.

Now our James is a big fan of the kiss-me-quick hat.

He's left the dusty antique shops behind and is taking in the sea air in Blackpool.

This playground, once for the factory workers of northern England, is famed for its tower.

But James is here for the thrill of the circus, and what better guide than one of its clowns?

Which is which?

Hello sir, I was told I'd find you here.

Hello Mr Boo.

Hello sir.

Now, I was expecting somebody with a red nose and rather large feet.

MR BOO (MB): Well, that's my brother, he has got small... Well, he makes his own clown shoes, which is no small FEET.

Yes...

I'm nicking his gags now.

I'll stop the funny.

Well I'm the straight man, he's the funny one.

He's the funny one.

How long have you been a clown for?

I've been a clown all my life.

But I've been a clown in the tower for about 27 years.

JB: Wow!

MB: Yeah.

VO: Started as a child.

He comes from a circus dynasty stretching back nine generations.

But the story of the British circus is much older.

MB: Started actually in London.

It's a great British institution.

It started in... Well, 250 years ago.

Wow!

Yeah.

There was a fellow called Philip Astley, he was an ex-cavalryman.

Yeah.

And he was a great rider, apparently, a trick rider.

And he invented the circus ring.

He just put stakes down and rope round and invented the first circus ring.

And he started off, actually in the same spot where the London Eye is now, that's where the first ever circus was.

A defining thing is very much the ring, then?

It's called a circus ring, 30 meters wide.

The reason being it's a perfect size for a horse to gallop round.

I see.

That's why it was invented.

And Astley, of course, the cavalryman.

Cavalryman, yes.

VO: The success of Astley's circus was huge and led to the creation of circuses all over the world.

Some toured in big tops but many had custom-built permanent homes.

And Blackpool's is one of the finest.

JB: Wow!

This is my sort of interior.

Isn't it fabulous?

MB: Yeah.

It is a bit over the top.

I wouldn't want this in my house, to be honest, my front room.

But it is one of the most beautiful buildings, in my opinion, in the world.

I love it.

Yeah.

This is pretty much the pinnacle of circus.

It's like you go to Albert Hall or something like that for a singer, an opera singer.

It's basically the pinnacle of your career.

So this is the Wimbledon of circus, is it?

Ex...

Exactly, that's a good way of putting it.

VO: The tower was begun in 1891 and took three years to complete.

It was inspired by the Eiffel Tower, which had been unveiled at the World's Fair in Paris two years earlier.

And the building at its base was constructed to house entertainments like the famous Tower Ballroom, an aquarium, and of course the circus.

Originally it didn't have all this gold on it.

It was originally just metal.

Because these are the four legs of the tower.

JB: OK.

So we're right in the centre?

MB: The centre.

The first thing they did when they built the tower was dig the hole for the circus ring.

That was the exact center of the tower.

VO: Since its grand opening in which visitors were treated to a spectacle of elephants, horse riding, jugglers and acrobats, the circus has never missed a season, even continuing through World War II when the tower was used by the RAF as a radar station.

Whilst animals no longer appear in the show, the circus has always had a resident clown.

There was a fella called Doodles who was a Russian Englishman.

And he was a very famous clown for many years here.

Then it went on to Charlie Cairoli and he did about 38 years, I think he did here.

Really?

38 years.

And he was famous, yeah, he was very famous.

He was quite a household name at his time, he was on TV shows and circus world championships.

He was on the Royal Variety a few times.

He was very famous.

And then me and my brother moved to here about 27 years ago.

We took it over.

Wow!

And we've been doing it ever since.

JB: I didn't know the history of the circus was so fascinating.

Has all this history been recorded?

Circus history?

I think it's in the Blackpool Museum Project.

All the posters, all the memorabilia, all the old programs, 124 years of non-stop circus.

Amazing.

It's pretty amazing.

VO: And in keeping with that tradition... AS CIRCUS ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the Tower Circus proudly presents Bingo the Clown!

(MB AND VO CHUCKLE) JB: What are you laughing at?

Well, you, you.

You're doing your job right.

I've made the grade.

You're looking good.

You're looking good, I'm loving the trousers.

They're very comfy.

I like this high waistband.

Well, they're actually called ballroom trousers.

JB: Are they?

MB: Plenty of... room.

Yeah.

(CYMBAL ROLL) Now, Mr Boo, is there anything missing about my attire?

Well, I didn't want to say, there is one thing missing.

Really?

Yes.

Er, well, just... Just wait here.

I'll sort it out, don't worry about a thing.

OK.

I know about the circus, it's all about loyalty amongst performers.

Kindness, trust... Let me show you.

VO: Oh no!

Ha!

Dear, oh dear, oh dear!

Now you're in the circus!

VO: Well, James is fond of pie!

(VO CHORTLES) Oh, dear.

How do you top that?

Roo is on a mission.

No clowning around here in lime.

I've got ahead of myself a little bit.

So I've now got just under £30 to spend in a few more shops.

Was that clever?

VO: Time will tell.

VO: She's headed a little way up the coast to Knott End-on-Sea on the south side of Morecambe Bay.

It's a scenic place to park, but it's still a bit of a walk to the shops.

Here we are, then.

Hi there, I'm Roo.

I'm Elaine, welcome to This and That... and the Other.

RI: And the other?

ELAINE: Yeah.

I saw on the sign it's like a T... ELAINE: Ah, T'other.

It's T'other.

So this is This and That...

This and That.

And that's T'other.

T'other.

I'm gonna save This and That for later and to go to T'other first.

Have a look round.

VO: Well, I'm glad we got that cleared up.

This shop has all sorts of stuff to look at.

But with Roo's limited budget she might need a helping hand picking out the best bits.

So I'm looking for something antique, quite quirky and different, but for around £15.

Right.

Challenge of the day.

ELAINE: Challenge of the day!

Hm.

What about something like that?

That's antique.

Austrian.

Austrian, yes.

Bisque.

It's a wee bit wobbly on its feet, like me.

It is a bit, isn't it?

It's like me in my heels.

VO: I think that's a no then.

Any other thoughts, Roo?

Do you have any gentlemen's wares?

Things like, I don't know, pipes or snuffboxes or...

I've got some pipes.

..or cool sort of cigar lighters that are sort of antique.

VO: We're heading back to This and That, then.

That's the man's shelf, it looks like.

ELAINE: Yep.

This is a late 19th-century one.

Is that, is that meerschaum?

I believe it could be.

It's been lacquered.

Which is a shame, I love that, I love the original color of meerschaum.

It's a shame, in't it?

But then it could've been done years ago.

VO: She's bought a meerschaum pipe before.

Didn't do awfully well.

What's the price on that?

25.

25, but we bought well on these.

OK. Could you do that potentially for 15?

Yeah, yeah.

OK.

This is quite an interesting pipe as well.

And I was hoping that would be sort of like a silver...

It's not stamped.

It's white metal.

It's obviously got the initials of the chap on there, JMM.

It's quite nice that it's a horse, although he is a wee bit looking in different directions.

That's priced at 30.

But as I've already said about the meerschaum... That could potentially be... ..yes.

Hmm.

Food for thought.

I think I'm gonna have to think about that one.

VO: Well, I think it's safe to say she's going for a pipe.

But which one?

I bought a cat doorstop which did really well.

I bought my lovely doggy nutcracker, which James totally didn't believe would make a profit, and it flew.

So maybe Mr Horsey is my third time lucky.

VO: I think the neighs might have it.

I have been thinking.

I've had a conversation with myself and I've talked myself into the right thing to do.

Mr Horsey.

Is that OK for £15?

Yeah.

That's OK.

Brilliant.

You're an absolute star, Elaine.

Thank you.

VO: Pay the nice lady and we'll be on our way.

Off you trot.

Now, you've both been hard at work today.

Time for a little treat, I think.

Dinner is served.

Hey, look at that!

Now you're talking.

All handmade.

All handmade, yeah.

RI: Chicken spring rolls.

JB: Yep.

Onion and spinach pakoras, lamb samosas and aloo and coriander tikkis.

Can I have one of the samosas?

Go for it.

Very good.

Try one of my breadsticks.

Talking of fabulous food.

OK.

So, what is it, what are these, then?

Go on.

It's sourdough.

Sourd...

There's a lovely tension in this bread.

RI: They're a workout for the cheeks.

Almost this is a gastronomic high, isn't it?

VO: Well, if there is any left over you won't forget your humble narrator now, will you?

VO: Nighty-night.

VO: It's a lovely morning for our last day of shopping.

Isn't this beautiful, the Lake District?

This is absolutely sunny.

I think the sun has come out especially to wave us off and say au revoir.

JB: Au revoir.

RI: To our road trip.

Bonne chance!

VO: Roo didn't need any "chance" yesterday, as she managed to acquire an Oriental table, a pair of silver salts and a brooch and a set of scales and an equine pipe.

As you do.

It's a wee bit looking in different directions.

VO: But that leaves her with just £14.50 left.

James, on the other hand, only managed to bag one item, a Derby vase.

Nice looking item.

I hope it's cheap.

VO: So he still has a healthy £208.52.

I bought five items.

I'll tell you what, five plays one.

You bought one!

One item.

One item.

It's a winner, though.

Oh, is it?

It's gonna contribute.

VO: We'll find out when we hit our final auction in York.

But first, James has parted ways with Roo and is heading to Low Newton on the edge of the Lake District.

VO: He's come to Yew Tree Barn, specialists in architectural salvage, lots of old bits of buildings just waiting to find a new purpose.

See what I mean?

And with over £200 in his budget still to be spent, what will tempt our man in here?

Now, this is something I've seen little of on this road trip, is a bit of Braxton bamboo.

Here we have a lovely piece of pavilion furniture.

Why pavilion?

Well, the Prince Regent down in Brighton built his amazing pavilion and he furnished it with faux bamboo, made of solid wood in his case.

This is a revival piece at the end of the 19th century which is actually made of bamboo.

Very nice.

Slightly damaged, got a crack.

Japanned on the top with this lovely peach.

And has survived for 130 years.

I'm gonna leave that, I might come back to that.

VO: You bet he will.

Loves his bamboo, does James.

In fact, there's so many objects that are interesting in here he's enlisting the help of owner Clive for some guidance.

Clive, I've found something that's sort of singing out to me.

Calling me.

They call these marquettes?

CLIVE: Maquettes.

JB: Maquettes.

Yes.

As far as I understand it's the thing you use, the modeling before you make a mold to, say, do a bronze casting.

So this is by the famous Renaissance artist Michelangelo.

This is the dying slave one, it's his very famous sculptures.

But presumably Michelangelo wasn't working around in the Lake District, was he?

It was done by a lady in the '30s... ..who subsequently moved up here and retired with her family.

Yeah.

And we were lucky enough to get some of these that she'd produced.

Really?

It's a lovely thing and I think she's very skilled, looking at it, don't you?

It's great, it's great.

And it's a bit bashed, I see.

It is.

His left arm's taken a blow, hasn't it?

It has indeed.

And how much could that be?

Could that be...

Think cheap, Clive.

I think that could be in the region of, what, £70, I would say.

I'm gonna shake your hand, Clive, thank you.

Yeah, I like that.

My first Michelangelo.

VO: And a snip at that price.

While you've got Clive's attention let's find out what he thinks of that bamboo table.

What's this?

1890 or something?

Well, perhaps even a little bit earlier, 1886, something like this.

Really?

Yeah, almost 150 years old, isn't it?

Wonderful.

Amazing.

And it's still standing.

The only thing I did notice is when I was looking at it, it's got these slots here.

I'd imagine there was similar lacquer panels just forming a frieze here.

Which would have been rather splendid but we've lost those.

And it just makes it a little more wobbly.

(THEY CHUCKLE) You've got a price tag of 45 on here, I see.

So what price could that be, Clive?

Well... Cheap?

It's cheap as it is but should we say £30 in view of the wobbliness?

In view of the wobbliness I'll give you £30, thank you very much indeed.

You'll get it all in the end, you know that?

VO: I wouldn't be surprised given the way you're splashing the cash today.

Under 110 left and you haven't even looked outside yet.

Clive, I'm interested in this.

What on Earth is it?

It's a wine barrel cradle.

Wine barrel cradle.

VO: That should be right up your street, James.

Why on earth did you buy this?

Is this English?

No, no, it's French.

Yeah.

And I bought it some time ago on one of our buying trips to France.

Sounds fun.

And we've had it a while but it's a lovely thing, isn't it?

And inexpensive, you'll be pleased to know.

Oh, that's what I like to hear.

I see it's got some great wheels here.

It's got some deterioration, which would suggest use and age, wouldn't it?

It would, yes.

What price could this be, then?

This could be the princely sum of £90.

£90.

Wow!

That's a story for 90, isn't it?

Here we are, go on, I'm gonna give you the 90.

VO: Blimey, last of the big spenders, eh?

He's burned through £190 on those three items.

There you are Clive, I told you you'd get it all in the end.

Cleaned you out.

VO: Not far off.

Just over £18 left.

Let's leave old moneybags trying to figure out how he'll fit it all in the Mustang and find out where Roo's got herself to.

VO: She's actually come down to the sea at Flookburgh.

VO: This coast is renowned for its shellfish.

Cockles, mussels, and of course the Morecambe Bay brown shrimp, which is something of a delicacy.

Roo's here to meet Mike Wilson whose family have been shrimping here for generations.

Hiya Mike, I'm Roo.

Morning, Roo.

Nice to meet you.

Same.

So, tell me about the history of shrimping in Flookburgh.

Er... it began, as far as we know, way back in time with people basically to make a food source for the family.

All done with little hand nets and just worked with hand nets at first.

Would they actually sort of wade out into the sea?

Yep.

Just basically wade out into the gullies and get enough for a meal for the family.

VO: If the locals caught more than they could eat, they'd sell them.

Gradually, the popularity of these tasty little morsels increased and the shrimpers had to keep up with demand.

And then they went onto horse and cart.

Tractors came along.

We could pull more nets, catch more shrimps.

Make more money.

My father did it, my grandfather did it, my great grandfather did it, and I follow them.

Wow!

So are we gonna do this, are you gonna show me how it's done?

Yep.

Are you ready then?

Where do I climb on?

On the back.

Off we go.

Where is my seating arrangements, Mike?

Climb up there and hang on to there.

So I literally just... hang onto this rusty bar?

Just hang on.

Yeah, hang on.

VO: Shrimping is very much dictated to by the tides, and at Morecambe Bay when the tide is out, it really is out.

So, how far do they actually go out to sea, then?

About three to seven miles, depending where we're working.

Three to seven miles that way or that way?

We're going this way today, straight out.

I still can't see the sea.

How do you know where they are?

Could they be hiding from you, not wanting to get caught?

Well that's why you catch the shrimps just before the tide turns.

Right.

Cos they're more settled in the rivers and you catch them just before the tide starts to bring them back in.

Ah.

VO: Now they've gone far enough out, Mike deploys the nets.

Time to get shrimping, then.

Is that us?

That's us, we get on the tractor and then we trawl down this river and hopefully we'll catch some shrimps and... That's quite easy, then.

So there's... No, it's not that easy.

It's not that easy.

Can you see how the river's running?

Can you see the run in the river?

Yep.

We want to be close to that run but not in the run.

That's where most shrimps will be, on that run.

Mike, I actually have a fear of crustaceans.

They absolutely give me the heebie-jeebies.

Do you know what it is?

It's all those legs, the beady eyes and the pincers.

They just... ew.

Well, we might catch a few today.

That would suit you.

Well, I'm hoping it's going to be a dry day, we don't get any!

VO: It might have been an idea to mention that before we set off, Roo.

Well, there's plenty of other things to find out here.

You see the cockles coming up.

Here.

Oh!

There's one.

They're the famous cockles of Morecambe Bay.

What's the best way to eat a cockle, then?

Raw.

I'm not gonna do that.

You open them like... You put the backs to back... RI: Alright.

MIKE: And twist one.

And it forces the other one open.

Oh, that's so clever.

And you see that?

You're not going to... Yeah.

Do you want one?

VO: It's like a sneeze in a shell!

(MIKE CHUCKLES) VO: Oh dear.

I think we're a little out of Roo's comfort zone here.

To fill the nets takes about 20 minutes of trawling.

And then it's time to see what we've caught.

So Mike, that's quite a haul you've got there.

Yeah.

Or we've got.

We did this.

And there's a lot of flatfish.

The plaice and flounders, yeah.

But those wriggly things, are they shrimp?

They're shrimps, these are the shrimps.

They're not esthetically pleasing, are they?

Ah, but they are when they're cooked.

On a good day, the best day, how many shrimp do you think you would catch?

Thousands?

Yeah.

We might catch four or five of them boxes full.

My goodness.

VO: The shrimps that Mike catches are first cooked and then potted in butter and a secret blend of spices.

It's a dish that is enjoyed by everyone from humble shrimpers to royalty.

So it would be rude not to give it a try.

Roo.

Well, I've never had shrimp before, and you know I'm a wee bit scared of them.

Yeah.

So if I pretend it's scrambled egg on toast... ..then maybe it might work.

Here goes.

Mm!

Fishy.

Fishy, yeah.

I'm getting it now.

Do you get the, the tang of them?

I'm getting it now.

I'll let you have that piece that is covered in...

I'll have it.

In a oner?

Oh, nearly.

Alright, before they come chasing me, I'm off.

VO: Now, while Roo's been snacking, James has made his way to the pretty Lakeland town of Kendal, home of mint cake and the inspiration for Greendale, Postman Pat's delivery area.

It's the last shop of our entire trip and James is going to have to be thrifty here.

With a mere £18 and change to his name, I imagine his options will be somewhat limited.

Hello Andrew, how are you?

This is... Now, this is my sort of antiques shop.

Your type of antiques shop.

I like something busy.

This is busy, isn't it?

There's a lot of stuff.

VO: You're not kidding, Andrew.

I'm gonna try and find a curio.

I'll leave you for the moment Andrew.

No problem.

VO: Well, it's not the biggest shop but I'll wager that Sleddall Hall Antiques is the sort of place where, whatever you want, they've got it.

Everybody should have a little music in their life.

You know, it does have the feeling of something like early children's television, doesn't it?

I don't think it is terribly old, do you?

I think it's made in the last 40 or 50 years.

But this is the sort of thing that all antique shops should have because it's fun.

VO: While James tinkles in the corner, look who's turned up.

It's going to be slim pickings for our Roo as well.

She's even more strapped for cash, with just £14.50 left in hand.

That'll focus the mind.

I'm quite intrigued by this.

I love history and the thing I love most about antiques is the story behind each piece.

This purports to be a 17th-century panel from a cork cupboard.

It's only the panel, it's not the entire cupboard, which is a shame.

But what was a cork cupboard?

It was used for displaying side plates and crockery.

It was almost like a Welsh dresser.

That's a 1600s...

But it's got a later carving.

It's saying 19th-century carving.

But that's still almost 200 years old.

Now, it's priced at £25.

But this has got two different time eras in it coming together on one happy plaque.

That could be a potential.

VO: So, how old is it?

Let's have a word with someone who might know, like Andrew's brother, Robert.

Do you know the provenance behind it, how you came to know that it was 17th century...?

Yes, we bought it from a friend in the trade and that was his take on it.

And we go along with that as...

I think probably the carving is later.

That happened, didn't it, quite often?

I'm gonna tell you what my situation is.

It's my last shop and I've got £14.50 left.

I see.

Not what you want to hear, I know.

I'm sorry.

You're still smiling.

Yes.

VO: He's taking it very well, actually.

Let's have another butcher's, then.

Well, it did come in as a sensible price, so we'd be happy for you to have it.

That would be very, very kind.

I will snap your hand off, then.

Thank you very much.

Thank you so much.

VO: For the final time, she's spent every last penny.

RI: Well, off I go, then.

ROBERT: Thank you.

Into the sunshine.

Thank you, Robert.

Yes, right, goodbye.

Bye-bye.

VO: Right, let's see if Braxton can pull off the same trick with his meager budget.

Andrew, do you know what I've seen already?

Very near the door... Is that being lazy of me?

No, you're not being lazy, you would spot it immediately because Marjorie had only polished it yesterday.

Oh, excellent.

Well done, Marjorie.

She's away with it.

And a lovely piece of copper on the top isn't it?

Exquisite, yes.

These copper top tables were in public spaces like pubs, taverns and even lowly ale houses.

Because they're antibacterial, copper sort of kills most bugs on contact.

Yes, it does.

What sort of date would you put on it?

I would say 1930s, something of that nature.

Pre-war.

99% of tables have four legs.

Yes.

But there are a very rare and chosen few that have six or eight legs.

I love this copper table.

VO: Huh.

Ticket price on that is £80, though.

I think it's time you fezzed up, James.

For a proper haggle, you need a fez.

Right.

Appropriate headwear should always be worn.

Right.

Men of our sartorial elegance...

Right.

..and I should just warn you, in my opening salvo, I only have £18.

Oh, gosh.

Only £18?

JB: Only £18.

ANDREW: Right.

But it's been here since time immemorial, hasn't it?

I can't recall when it came last.

Marjorie's getting tired of polishing it.

Yeah.

I think this calls for... What?

Oh, another appropriate piece of headwear.

Another appropriate piece of headwear.

Oh, very smart.

That portrays a wealthy man.

Right.

VO: He really does love this clowning about.

ANDREW: Are you willing to take this out of our way?

I'll take it away from this place hence.

And you'll try and make a profit?

Try and make a profit.

Good, so £18, is that a deal?

That's a deal.

Aw, well done, Andrew, thank you!

VO: That final purchase leaves our James with a 52p safety net.

We've gone a bundle on odd shaped tables today, haven't we?

Come on, madam.

Get in there.

Thank you very much, kind sir.

What a beautiful day...

It is glorious, isn't it?

..for our last day of shopping.

It is lovely.

Right, I think it's ice creams and pakoras all round.

Ooh, that sounds good.

VO: Hopefully not in the same bowl, though.

Right, next up is our final destination.

We're heading to our last auction.

First, better get some shuteye.

VO: It's survived the Romans, the Vikings and the Normans but will York be conquered by our two tykes?

Their last chance for a profit will be at Wombell's Auction House.

Wombell's.

What do they pick up?

Second hand goods, refuse, litter?

You might have picked up the litter, I might have picked up the treasures.

VO: Well, we're about to find out.

VO: After starting off in Preston in Lancashire, we've crossed over into the white rose county for our final battle, with internet bidding.

Roo blew her entire £124.50 on five auction lots, including this panel of uncertain age.

I must say, I would've bought this.

Lovely oak panel.

I see no problem with the carving, I think it's totally contemporary with the panel itself.

I think it's all mid 17th century.

I like this item and I think it's a winner for Roo.

VO: James nearly spent to his limit too, parting with £228 on his five lots.

I knew James could not get through a road trip without buying bamboo.

But he's bought this table.

If it's up high, then it looks great, nice legs, shame about the face, I'm afraid.

Meant to have a peach painted on here.

Someone's actually scrubbed half of the peach off.

It's more of a sour plum.

VO: Let's see if auctioneer William Rice is sweet on any of their items.

WILLIAM (WR): Pipe is really well carved, it's got a later mouthpiece.

Nice decorative thing.

It should do quite well.

The barrel trolley is my favorite item.

It should do really well because you can use it in the garden, on a patio.

That industrial, galvanized look is what everybody wants at the moment.

VO: Very encouraging, as is the large crowd, look at that.

Right, let's get settled in and start bidding.

This is us, James.

Last auction.

Last auction.

Good room, isn't it?

Nice and full.

Very, very full.

And I can smell cooking bacon, which is a great omen.

A well fed bidder is a happy bidder, is a more generous bidder.

VO: Oh yes, we give you all the top tips on this show.

Let's start with one of our many polygonal tables.

Roo's dragons.

£14 the table.

16, 18, 20, £20.

WR: At 20.

22.

24.

JB: 20.

Well done.

26.

28.

30.

At £30, we're all done at 30?

Selling at £30, then?

We're officially off and running.

VO: Indeed we are, and not a bad start either.

It is exciting when you see that whole table tennis in an auction, isn't it?

It is, it is.

VO: Second serve, then, to James.

His Derby vase with replacement base.

£10 bid, this vase, 12 in the room.

14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24.

Moving very fast.

28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40.

£38.

James!

Selling at £38, are we all done?

At £38.

Well done.

You've bought that with a very clever eye.

Aha Mm-hm.

VO: Oh, he knows a thing or two, does James.

Learning from the old masters.

VO: Roo's silver selection next.

Let's see if she's worth her salt.

£28 bid, this lot.

Selling at £28.

At £28 selling...

Yes, that's it.

30, 32, 34.

£34.

36, 38.

We are all done at £36, then, on the front row?

Ooh!

Just short.

Short!

Just short, just short.

VO: That's a shame, her first loss.

But I'm not bitter.

VO: James's bit of Michelangelo now.

Careful where you put your hands, sir.

Ooh.

Bit nervous about this one.

£45 bid this lot.

Selling at 45, 50, 55.

We're going up in fives.

£55.

Selling £55, are we all done at £55, then?

Commission bid?

Any gain I made from the Derby has just disappeared...

I... RI: That's a hard thing, though.

JB: ..in a puff of smoke.

VO: Oh dear.

He's not taken it well, either.

Auction's a cruel place sometimes.

It is a very cruel place.

Cruel place.

VO: Let's see if Mr Horsey can get us back in the running.

Selling at 40.

At £40, any advance?

One in the room.

45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80.

Brilliant!

All done at £80?

Selling then, commission bid.

I am... JB: Well done!

RI: ..thrilled.

VO: Giddy-up!

That one romped home.

I can smile again!

VO: Now, polygonal table number two, Braxton's bamboo.

£10 for it, please.

£10 the bamboo table?

£10 anywhere?

£10.

£10 bid, selling at £10.

At £10, any advance on £10.

Selling then at 10... 12, 14, 16, 18, 20.

We all done at £18?

Salvaged!

Well... 18.

..that's better, cos it could have stagnated at 10 there for a while.

Well, thanks for that!

VO: Silver linings, James, silver linings.

Dear, oh dear.

fortune needs to swing my way.

VO: Well, Roo's scales might tip the balance.

10 bid.

12, 14.

Come on.

Go up in fives, come on.

£16.

£16, selling at 16.

Oh, we need more than that.

22, 24, 26.

Come on.

I think it's running out of steam, I'm afraid.

(ROO SQUEALS) I thought that was a good buy at 35.

Did you?

VO: The room thought otherwise, I'm afraid!

Tough old world out there.

It's so difficult to judge JB: these things, isn't it?

RI: It is!

VO: Time for James's big barrel buggy.

The auctioneer had high hopes for this.

Didn't think you were into the sort of industrial reclamation, salvage... No, nor did I until I saw this.

Must bid £60.

£60 bid, this lot.

Fantastic.

Any advance on £60?

65, 70, 75, 80, 85.

James, well done!

95, 100 and 10?

120, 130.

£120.

At £120?

Selling at £120, we're all done at £120?

I think the future's in metal, isn't it?

RI: It is.

JB: It is.

Good old heavy metal.

VO: Yeah, forget your bamboo - rust is where it's at.

I'm reminding myself I am happy.

You're happy, Jimbo.

VO: Roo's last lot, her carved panel.

Definitely old, whenever it was done.

£5 for it, please.

£5 bid.

Selling at £5.

Six, seven, eight, nine, 10.

RI: Up in ones!

WR: 12, 14.

£12, that's £12.

17th century.

Are we all done?

Any advance on £12?

Selling at £12.

14, 16.

Hands, come on, we wanna see hands.

£16.

At 16, are we all done at 16?

See, right to buy it.

£16 then.

Aww!

I thought that might have flown.

Does age not count for anything these days?

I know.

VO: Apparently not.

Still a profit though, old girl.

I'm a wee bitty disappointed.

VO: Last up is our third odd-shaped table.

He got this for a song.

This table is making me slightly incensed.

Why, why?

£18.

VO: That'll be the fez, Roo.

30, 32, 34, 36, 38.

40, 42.

44, 46.

48, 50.

55, 60.

65, 70.

JB: £70.

WR: £65, WR: Back of the room at £65.

JB: Go on, go on!

At £65, selling then.

£65, we're all done?

Saved the best till last, Roo.

Absolutely, well done.

JB: Well done, well done.

RI: Put it there.

Put it there.

VO: Nice one James, and nice polishing, Marjorie!

Anyone for a celebratory snack?

I've cooked one last thing for you.

Ooh!

JB: That looks lovely.

RI: Beef and potato.

Go on, then.

Give us a verdict.

Very good!

Really?

VO: While they stuff their faces, let's look at the final results.

JB: Very good.

VO: Roo made a profit of £29.66 after auction costs today, giving her a final total of £154.16.

Good effort!

VO: James made a smaller profit after costs of £14.72, but he takes this trip overall with a grand total of £243.24 Well done, chief!

All profits go to Children In Need.

We're free!

We are free.

I must say, the only casualty, though, has been the old waistline.

James, you had nothing but salad.

JB: Rubbish!

RI: Yes you did!

I had all those lovely eastern delicacies.

VO: Well, it's always good to leave the auction with a few extra pounds.

Ha-ha!

We've had a feast of fun with our foodie chums.

Mm!

VO: So long, and thanks for all the kippers!

We're hungry people.

Are you gonna provide the snacks?

Hungry?

Very hungry.

What have you got for me?

RI: James.

JB: Mm, Roo!

Would you like a dairy cream fudge?

How many calories have I just eaten?

No need to worry about the figure.

Burning.

It's falling away.

Cheers, cheers.

VO: Next time on Antiques Road Trip, Philip Serrell and newcomer Louise Gostelow.

Phil sticks to what he knows.

Manure was two pence a ton.

VO: Ha!

While Louise tries her hand at the haggle.

It's quite a high round number.

(DEALER CHUCKLES) subtitling@stv.tv