TIM WONNACOTT: The nation's favorite celebrities.

Got some proper bling here.

TIM WONNACOTT: Paired up with an expert.

Wait, wait.

TIM WONNACOTT: And a classic car.

[INTERPOSING VOICES] TIM WONNACOTT: Their mission, to scour Britain for antiques.

All breakages must be paid for.

This is a good find, is it not?

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

But it's no easy ride.

Who will find a hidden gem?

Who will take the biggest risks?

Got my antiques head on.

TIM WONNACOTT: Will anybody follow expert advice?

Oh, that is horrible.

TIM WONNACOTT: There will be worthy winners.

This is better than Christmas.

TIM WONNACOTT: And valiant losers.

Time to put your pedal to the metal.

This is Celebrity Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Breaking news, today's road trip features two heavyweights of British Broadcasting.

Fearless journalists Martha Kearney and John Simpson.

Are you terrified, Martha, to be with me?

I'd be more terrified if I were doing the driving.

JOHN SIMPSON: We haven't stalled yet.

TIM WONNACOTT: Famous last words, John.

MARTHA KEARNEY: Have you found the indicator?

JOHN SIMPSON: I found the indicator.

Then no need for hand signals?

Reverse, that was good.

TIM WONNACOTT: (LAUGHS) oh dear, their dashing 1961 Ford Zephyr was manufactured before seatbelts were mandatory, which is why our celebs aren't wearing any.

And with two veterans of frontline reporting hitting the road, there's no room for small talk.

JOHN SIMPSON: Well, what were you doing in Kabul?

First time I went, I presented a woman's hour from there, which was very-- Really?

Yeah, yeah which is-- God that's really good stuff.

MARTHA KEARNEY: Where do you stay when you're there?

I stay in the-- what's it called?

The big hotel in there.

The one that's always getting attacked.

Is it Serena?

Serena.

TIM WONNACOTT: Multi-award winning journalist John Simpson has been at the forefront of breaking news throughout a career spanning five decades, fearlessly confronting some of the world's most terrifying dictators and reporting from the depths of war zones as events unfold.

The veteran broadcaster will go to any length to get a story.

And was once smuggled into Taliban controlled Afghanistan disguised as a woman.

Well, I followed in your footsteps and put on a burka.

But I always wondered how you got away with it, because you are quite a tall man.

Yes I was-- So you in a burka must have been quite a sight.

I was the tallest woman in Afghanistan, the biggest feet.

TIM WONNACOTT: John's in good company today.

As Martha herself is no stranger to danger.

She was nominated for a BAFTA for her work reporting on the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Her fearless approach whilst interviewing the world's leaders has made her one of our most respected political journalists.

Today, she's well known for the incredibly popular World at One on Radio 4.

JOHN SIMPSON: Your program's one of my absolute favorites.

When I'm not traveling, I'm home mostly.

And I can listen to whatever I want to listen to.

That's very-- that's lovely to hear.

TIM WONNACOTT: Armed with 400 pounds each, how will this pair cope battling it out on the antiquing trail?

Do you want to beat the bejesus out of me?

Well, you know, I think journalists, we are very competitive.

We are a bit.

MARTHA KEARNEY: But in a way, you have to have that competitive spirit.

And you have to want to be the first with a story.

You do in our business.

In our business, yes.

TIM WONNACOTT: Two such intellectual titans deserve only the most cerebral of experts, auctioneers Natasha Raskin.

We have got some erudite guests.

TIM WONNACOTT: And Phil Serrell.

What did you just say?

Erudite, astute, clever, intelligent.

Come on, Phil.

Keep up.

TIM WONNACOTT: Yeah, keep up, Phil.

They're powering along in the 1965 MG Midget.

These are tip top BBC journalists we're dealing with here.

PHIL SERRELL: I'm in awe of people like that, seriously.

Because, I mean, they are-- Risk takers.

Yeah, you know.

You think of all the different things that they've had to report on.

Martha, for the peace process in Ireland.

Your driving.

[LAUGHTER] TIM WONNACOTT: Watch out.

On this road trip, we're traveling through Jane Austen country, otherwise known as Hampshire, ending up at an auction in the village of Itchen Stoke.

Today's journey begins in Hartley Wintney.

That's a cool car.

I want to drive that car.

I'm going to go and let Martha out.

I'm going to get my partner.

Hello.

Hi, there John.

I feel as though I've been in a can of beans or something.

Very nice to meet you.

You too, you too.

Looking forward to this.

How are you?

This is exciting.

Very.

Any tips?

Well, the only tip I've got is to try and beat these two, really.

He usually does.

It looks like we've decided who's working with who.

Yeah, we've naturally sort of migrated towards the opposite sex.

Boy, girl, boy, girl.

It's got to be done.

We need to sort these cars out.

Yes, I quite like the one you're leaning on.

I think that's quite cool.

What do you reckon?

Well, this was the first car I ever owned.

But I wanted to MG, but I couldn't afford it.

Are you going to be able to fit into it, John?

I'm not sure I can.

I mean-- PHIL SERRELL: This could be good.

Only because you're so tall.

That's all.

Oh, how nice you are.

NATASHA RASKIN: Oh, no.

I'm going to-- NATASHA RASKIN: It's happening.

Hey.

NATASHA RASKIN: Oh, man.

[CAR STARTS] You never lose it.

He's off.

He's dumped you.

That's not a very good start, is it?

He's back, you know.

No, he's off again.

He's still going.

We just sneak off to the shop.

Let's steal the march.

- It's Brands Hatch.

Yes let's steal the march on them.

Don't leave me alone.

TIM WONNACOTT: If John ever comes back, our celebs are sharing the shop floor this morning in White Lion Antique Center.

PHIL SERRELL: So Martha, what floats the Martha boat?

I've got very wide ranging tastes, actually.

I love arts and crafts furniture.

I've got a few things with by the mouse man.

Robert Thompson of Kilbourn.

Yeah, I love those.

I quite like kitschy '50s things.

So what we want is something vintagey, kitschy that's art nouveau with a mouse on it.

Exactly.

That'll sum it up pretty well.

TIM WONNACOTT: Good luck with that, Phil.

I wonder if John has such a clear game plan.

Do we know what you're looking for?

Anything in particular?

Or are we just going to amble along and see what strikes us?

That sounds terribly kind of purposeless, doesn't it?

But I-- it's my way of approaching everything, really, just kind of see what-- Without purpose?

Without purpose, without any purpose whatever.

TIM WONNACOTT: So with two very distinct approaches in play, let the shopping commence.

Nice tache.

How are you on boxes and trunks, Martha?

Oh I do like-- yes, I do like trunks very much.

Have a look at that one over there.

Oh and I like this, actually.

What I love is the idea that somebody is stored things in this.

And look this beautiful, beautiful wood.

PHIL SERRELL: The thing with trunks and boxes is you get two types of trunks and boxes.

You get dome top trunks.

And you get flat top trunks.

And by and large, a flat top trunk's always worth more than a dome top trunk, because you can't put anything on top of a dome top trunk.

Oh so this could be like a coffee table or something as well.

I can see that as a coffee table, TV table.

MARTHA KEARNEY: Is it all the same piece?

You're good, aren't you?

Because if you open that up-- well, what do you think that would make at auction?

I would think about 60, 70 quid.

I think you're on the money.

TIM WONNACOTT: It's ticket price is 125 pounds, though.

MARTHA KEARNEY: At least half, isn't it?

We're going to need to get it down.

Kind of thing I would buy for myself.

Martha, so you would buy this for yourself.

And I think that's a-- let's just leave that there.

Let's go and have a quick look around.

And then we'll come back.

I like this girl.

She's [INAUDIBLE].

TIM WONNACOTT: Well, this is going swimmingly so far.

How are their rivals getting on?

I mean this is my kind of stuff.

This is a Gandara carving.

NATASHA RASKIN: So is she a deity?

Yes, yes.

And it's from Afghanistan.

TIM WONNACOTT: It may be.

But it's also way out of budget.

Natasha?

I did clock something over here.

And forgive me if I'm wrong, but I have a sort of vision in my mind.

JOHN SIMPSON: What this?

NATASHA RASKIN: I just thought, isn't that very 1970s sort of a diplomat's item?

Did you encounter a lot of diplomats?

JOHN SIMPSON: I did.

NATASHA RASKIN: Yeah, and this makes me think of diplomats.

Maybe on their beautiful dresser.

They would have had this filled with ice and the decanter by the side.

JOHN SIMPSON: It's actually quite nice, isn't it?

NATASHA RASKIN: It is quite nice, yeah.

If my wife came back from a sale with that, I'd be full of congratulation, instead of the usual, where did you get that tosh from?

TIM WONNACOTT: I'd say that's a pretty big thumbs up, then.

Ticket price is 55 pounds.

JOHN SIMPSON: They're nice and thick.

They are nice and thick, yeah.

They look good.

I quite like the set.

JOHN SIMPSON: I think you're absolutely right.

And I think I trust your instinct on this if we can get them down to the kind of level that, you know, where we can sell them.

TIM WONNACOTT: Now, what's Martha up to?

[MUSIC PLAYING] Load of cobblers.

TIM WONNACOTT: Strayed from the serious business of shopping, eh?

Perhaps dealer Jerry can help.

What about that?

A blowtorch?

It's a vintage blowtorch.

It's a blowtorch, Martha.

It's a blowtorch.

What does it say there, Primus or something.

PHIL SERRELL: So presumably, this is from the same makers of the Primus stove.

Isn't it?

And you pump it up.

And then it blows up.

TIM WONNACOTT: It's priced at 38 pounds.

I think these are very fashionable.

I think these kind of things are coming into their own now.

Do you know?

Worryingly, I'm not going to argue with you.

It's the sort of thing that I would buy.

But you've got to buy that for 10 or 15 quid.

Do you want to bring that with you?

TIM WONNACOTT: Martha knows exactly what she likes.

As does our Natasha.

Don't know how you feel about jewelry, but I absolutely love this micro mosaic brooch here, the bar brooch style.

Really intricate, isn't it?

Really lovely.

And it's got that-- for you, I guess, trying to theme it with your career, it's got a sort of a Moorish appeal to it a little bit.

Yes, you're right.

I know nothing about these whatsoever.

I mean who makes it?

Where does it come from?

Well, they tend to have been touristy items made in Italy.

JOHN SIMPSON: Made for the tourist trade.

NATASHA RASKIN: Made for the tourists.

And, of course, it was the Brits going over to Italy and coming back with wee trinkets.

And look how wearable that is today.

Just jazz up this outfit instantly.

Even yours, even yours.

I think it would be good on both of us at 3 quid.

Good on anyone at 3 pounds.

You think I'm-- Let's get that.

TIM WONNACOTT: Ticket price is just 6 pounds.

This is the first test of John's haggling skills.

Stand by.

There's a sort of '70s glass set of six glasses and an ice bucket.

And then there's a little brooch, very small brooch.

Nothing, you could throw that in and not even notice it.

TIM WONNACOTT: Smoothly done, John.

The two items have a combined ticket price of 61 pounds.

NATASHA RASKIN: What would be great for us would be half price.

30?

30 for the two?

Can't do 30.

I could take a chance at 40, to help you out.

JOHN SIMPSON: Well, I would have said 34.

36?

Well, let's say 35.

35, sounds great.

Thanks, John.

Nice to meet you.

TIM WONNACOTT: John's no stranger to haggling, it seems.

So that's two items in the bag.

30 for the drink set.

And 5 pounds for the brooch.

Now, what has Martha unearthed?

Goodness knows.

What have you found?

It's this old chair.

It's a little bit rickety.

But there's something about the wood that I rather like.

It's feel-- you can feel that somebody's sat in that chair over time.

Well, very often, if you have a look at the back of these things, it tells you more than the front.

And if you look there-- Yes, it's been mended.

PHIL SERRELL: That's been broken.

And that bit of wood has been let in there.

But this thing just wants a polish and some love, really.

TIM WONNACOTT: So that's now three items of interest from Martha, the chair, the trunk, and the blowtorch.

Their combined ticket price is 338 pounds.

Time for some serious negotiation.

PHIL SERRELL: Is there any possibility they can buy the things somewhere between about 100 and 140 pounds?

Somewhere between-- All of them?

Could probably deal at 180.

That's quite high for us isn't it?

No, because we'd lose on that, wouldn't we?

Really like to buy three things here, if we possibly could, be nice, wouldn't it?

I don't want you to buy things from here and not earn a profit.

So let's do the deal.

[INTERPOSING VOICES] Jerry, thank you so much.

You've been really kind to us.

Thank you so much.

Thank you very much.

I'm delighted.

We won't use the blowtorch on you now.

No.

That was our secret weapon.

PHIL SERRELL: Fantastic, thank you so much.

Pay the man, Martha.

Pay the man.

TIM WONNACOTT: Wow, thankfully, Martha's charming smile and Jerry's generosity were enough to secure the blowtorch for 20 pounds, the trunk for 50, and the saddle chair for 70 pounds.

Their rivals, though, have once again hit the open road.

Is there one moment in your career that really sticks out as a particularly proud scene?

There's one which I've never really told anybody about.

After Nelson Mandela got let out of jail in 1990, I started to get to know him a bit.

And he was very friendly and very nice.

And then he was, of course, in 1994, he was elected president.

And we were allowed onto the platform right beside him.

And oh, I mean, it's a wonderful memory of a wonderful man.

He looked at me and gave me a big wink and a thumbs up.

And I just thought, oh, life holds nothing better than this.

TIM WONNACOTT: That's quite a story.

John and Natasha on their way Keogh Barracks in Ash Vale.

John's no stranger to being a civilian on the battlefield.

And he's here to learn about some very different noncombatants who played a decisive role in winning the war.

OK, shall we?

Let's do it.

TIM WONNACOTT: Today, they're meeting with Captain Pete Starling.

Well, Natasha, John, welcome to the Army Medical Services Museum.

TIM WONNACOTT: Preparing for war involves a huge amount of planning.

Incredibly, it was only after General Haig suffered toothache at the start of the First World War that any provision was made for our soldiers' teeth.

Prior to this, huge numbers of soldiers were withdrawn from battle due to teeth issues.

So this wasn't a problem they could afford to ignore any more.

There were thousands of soldiers suffering from toothache, broken dentures, and were ineffective as infantrymen.

And this happened right throughout the war.

TIM WONNACOTT: In the early days of the war, almost all dental treatment for British soldiers was carried out by civilian practitioners.

By 1918, there were 850 dental officers in the Army.

By the outbreak of the Second World War, the Army Dental Corps had been established.

So 1939 then, the army mobilizes again.

But there've been great developments in the Army Dental Corps.

We had this organization called the Field Ambulance.

And this was the unit that treated the casualties as they came back from the front line.

TIM WONNACOTT: Being at the heart of the action left them vulnerable to attack and capture.

Like their Medical Corps counterparts, a substantial number ended up as prisoners of war, because they remained with the sick and wounded.

One such military dentist was captain Julian Green.

One of those captured in Northwest Europe was this dental officer, Julius Green.

And he was captured at St. Valerie with 150 Second Field Ambulance.

And throughout the war, he remained in captivity.

TIM WONNACOTT: As well as surviving the perils of the prisoner of war camps, Green played a vital role in the war after a meeting with a British commando that would change his life forever.

Now, in one camp he was in, he was taken to see a commando who was very seriously ill. And this chap was working for the intelligence services.

And what he was doing, or what he had been doing, is he had been sending letters back to his parents with code in them.

TIM WONNACOTT: Green was asked to take over from the commando and become a spy.

He was taught a secret code to communicate with MI9, who were responsible for aiding Allied resistance fighters in occupied territories.

The code was hidden within letters to his parents.

The letters were then intercepted by the British intelligence service.

We've got here on the table a translation of how you interpret the code here, which is quite difficult to understand, because it's all to do with so many words in one line and then you take the second word or the third word.

TIM WONNACOTT: The code consisted of a grid system, where individual letters or words could be picked out of specific sentences to make up phrases.

Oh, wow, it's amazing and it's quite interesting that you say that.

It says decoding the letters is quite simple.

As it so happens, but then tellingly, once you know how.

PETE STARLING: Once you know.

TIM WONNACOTT: Green proved to be the ideal candidate to spy on people.

As a dentist, he was asked to treat German officers, as well as other prisoners.

And as he wasn't a fighting soldier and had an affable bedside manner, people spoke surprisingly openly to him.

The smaller one is a letter from the intelligence services to his father, telling him to ignore certain phrases in the letter.

That he won't understand anyway, but please don't question them.

Please pay no attention to the reference to letters from Lorder and Philippa Outram.

And do not mention them in letters to your son.

It's quite a lot of pressure on his family, seeing here, you'll no doubt appreciate the necessity for maintaining absolute secrecy in this matter.

You can just imagine how he would have felt.

He would have been shaking, reading that letter, thinking people were watching him.

But more importantly, what happened if his son was caught?

What would happen?

TIM WONNACOTT: Incredibly, after all Green had been through, he survived and returned home at the end of the war, and amazingly went on to play yet another pivotal role much closer to home.

I have a little bit of a secret to tell you.

This is the man that my father used to call Uncle Juli.

There's no blood relation.

But he was the best man at my father's wedding.

And my father was the best man at his wedding.

And Julius's son, Alan, was also a dentist in Glasgow.

Completely bizarre, is it not?

You've kept very quiet about it.

Well, I didn't think it could be true, to be honest with you.

It's just-- it's too bizarre.

But my dad tells a nice story of every morning uncle, Juli used to come down and do military inspection before they went to school.

So he must have been through so much in these prisoner of war camps and remained a really light-hearted, gentle man, which is an amazing story in itself.

TIM WONNACOTT: What an incredible man, whose bravery will have saved countless lives, both on the battlefield and at home.

Back with Martha and Phil, who are driving just under a mile down the road from their first shop.

Out of all the people that you've met and spoken to, and talk to, and interviewed, were there any you really felt nervous about beforehand?

When I was a junior reporter, I was sent to interview Margaret Thatcher.

She was visiting a craft fair.

But my editor said, go there, ask a few questions about the-- and then ask her about the teachers' strike.

So OK. She's very nice to me at first, and explained to me why she liked the Dartford crystal, or whatever it was.

And then I said, and what do you think about the teachers' strike?

And she glared at me with those bright eyes, and turned on her heel, and walked off.

And I remember, I felt absolutely awful that I had-- I felt I'd done something very wrong.

TIM WONNACOTT: Something tells me Martha is going to have no problem keeping Phil in check today.

This is rather pretty, isn't it?

PHIL SERRELL: It's lovely, isn't it?

Looks promising, doesn't it?

TIM WONNACOTT: Talking about the shop?

Hopefully so, as they still have 260 pounds left to spend.

PHIL SERRELL: And how much is that?

20 quid.

We can leave out there a bit longer, I think.

MARTHA KEARNEY: What about this vicious looking fellow?

Can't imagine having him around the house.

PHIL SERRELL: That's 950 quid.

I'm not sure there's anything in here for us.

950 pounds for a stuffed fish?

TIM WONNACOTT: So far, it's not looking good.

I'm a keen cook.

So I like these are kind of for making little sauces and things.

PHIL SERRELL: I think they're probably French.

And you can pick them up really for next to nothing in the markets.

Have you done any of the celebrity cooking programs?

I have.

How'd you get on?

Well, I did great British Bake Off, won it.

So what sort of cake have we got tomorrow?

Presumably, you've rustles something up for us.

Yeah, it's back in the car.

TIM WONNACOTT: There are many lovely objects on offer here.

But there's nothing that tickles their fancy.

Lordy, where's Phil off to now?

The butcher's?

OK, the baker's.

And now the pub.

Really, Phil?

I wasn't after a quick pint.

You say that.

He said he wasn't after a quick pint.

But do we believe him?

Moderately quick.

TIM WONNACOTT: He does look a bit rosy-cheeked, the old rogue.

They picked up some great items earlier.

So rest up, chaps.

There'll be more shopping tomorrow.

And nighty night.

It's a new day.

And today's headliners are bright eyed, bushy tailed, and all set for reporting for duty.

So how are you enjoying the shopping?

Well, very, very much.

I mean, the thing is, I never go shopping for that kind of stuff.

So it's a bit of a mystery to me.

I imagine you're more used to that.

I do like poking about in old junk shops and antique shops.

But I've really enjoyed doing with Phil.

I mean, he tells it like it is.

I go over and say, oh, these lovely sauce pans.

He said, 20 quid in France.

Don't bother.

He's very direct.

Doesn't try and nurture my feelings.

TIM WONNACOTT: Yeah, that's our Phil.

With Natasha, she spots things that are just sort of hidden by other things.

And I'd never even notice.

TIM WONNACOTT: Our celebs aren't the only ones enamored with their pairings.

Do you know what I think is interesting about these two, out of all the people that we've worked with in all the rest of it, they put themselves up there on the edge.

On the line, yeah, Martha in Ireland, John, across the world.

But yeah, they're really-- they know no fear, until they met you.

You know, being shot at and all that sort of stuff, it just pales into insignificance to a mahogany chest of drawers.

Doesn't it?

TIM WONNACOTT: Speaking of which, yesterday, Martha and Phil made a great team.

She showed a keen eye for antiques, knowing exactly the style she wanted.

I think these are very fashionable.

TIM WONNACOTT: They spent 140 pounds on three items in their first shop, a brass blowtorch, a pine trunk, and a Victorian saddle seat chair.

John was mostly interested in historical artifacts from his travels.

I mean, this is my kind of stuff.

TIM WONNACOTT: He let Natasha take the lead on his two purchases, spending just 35 pounds on an Italian micromosaic bar brooch and a 1970s highball drink set.

NATASHA RASKIN: Good morning.

MARTHA KEARNEY: Try not to crash into your car.

Stall.

That's a good way of stopping, isn't it?

PHIL SERRELL: You to get your man out.

The only way to stop.

It's the only way to stop.

Good morning, John.

How are you?

MARTHA KEARNEY: How are you?

Good morning.

Isn't this gorgeous?

This is exciting.

Very, we're going to win.

Let's go tease these two.

[INTERPOSING VOICES] Have to say, don't get too close to the enemy.

MARTHA KEARNEY: The enemy?

We are not the enemy.

Look at us.

We're all friends here.

PHIL SERRELL: This, this is a war zone.

Psych them out.

We've got the most amazing objet, haven't we?

Oh, yeah stunning.

Objet?

My goodness, we've got a couple of objects.

TIM WONNACOTT: Bit more competitive this morning, I see.

PHIL SERRELL: Absolutely.

TIM WONNACOTT: Back on the road, heading to Wickham and John is telling Natasha about his own fallout with a prime minister.

It was my very, very first day as a reporter.

My boss said, there's a lot of stuff in the paper Harold Wilson is going to call a general election 1970.

Why don't you go down to Euston station, he's going to travel to his constituency.

And just ask him.

He comes down the platform, smiling at everybody, everybody's smiling back.

So I step forward with my trusty microphone.

Excuse me, prime minister, but I've heard of rumors that you might be going to call an election.

Is there any truth in it?

I got as far as saying excuse me, prime-- when he went berserk, punched me in the stomach, tried to wrestle the microphone out of my hand.

TIM WONNACOTT: Hopefully, there'll be no such conflict at Warwick Lane Antiques.

JOHN SIMPSON: The money is burning a hole in my pocket.

Yes, me too.

Let's go spend it.

TIM WONNACOTT: They've still got 365 pounds left.

So where to first?

Should we separate and-- Are you keen for a separation this early?

I'm up for that.

You go one way, I'll go the other.

And see what we come up with.

TIM WONNACOTT: Natasha took the lead on day one.

But it looks like John's keen to branch out by himself today.

Lordy, what's he gone and found?

[ALARM BLARES] How about that?

I've started my own air raid.

This is great.

Absolutely lovely.

No home should be without one.

TIM WONNACOTT: I'm not sure about that.

But John certainly seems right at home.

It's kind of my natural habitat, this, you know, stuff from the Second World War, shell cases.

Actually, to be really honest, I don't have this kind of stuff at home very much.

But it's the sort of thing I'm interested in.

TIM WONNACOTT: Natasha's back to see how he's getting on.

There's a thing there which is just up my street.

A letter to the German people from the British occupying forces about how bad the war was, and how good the Brits are going to be to them, how the Germans ought to be quiet from now on.

Handed out to, you know, hundreds of thousands of locals.

That's just my cup of tea.

I love documents that are real.

TIM WONNACOTT: John has found British propaganda pamphlet translated into English from a German one that would have been airdropped during World War II.

Ticket price, 35 pounds.

I can't believe anybody else in the world will be interested in it.

You may be wrong.

I have another letter to show you, if you want to have a look.

I think you'll find it quite interesting.

It sort of mixes wartime with decadent living.

Quite interesting.

Should we go and have a look?

Sounds like my life.

TIM WONNACOTT: Nothing decadent about the letter's price tag, though, as it's just 12 pounds.

It's such an unassuming little brown envelope, isn't it?

And it's been sent to this hotel in a Yorkshire address.

And the first telling sign-- From France.

From Remins.

NATASHA RASKIN: Lanson.

House of Lanson champagne has been around since 1760.

It's one of Champagne's oldest houses and has been the official supplier of the British court since 1900.

NATASHA RASKIN: So a little touch of class and fizz.

For the first time since many years, nice French-English, we find again, the opportunity of writing to England and telling you how thankful we are to your armies for their magnificent efforts.

Isn't that lovely?

And now, he's saying despite the numerous and terrible bombardments of your towns, you and the members of your house are safe and well.

Wines are in good condition, stocks pretty fair, vintages 1941, '42 will be very good.

TIM WONNACOTT: The letter was written on Boxing Day 1944 to a hotel in Yorkshire, encouraging them to start buying Lanson Champagne again.

In preparation of the liberation.

So I thought to myself, as soon as you showed me that letter, maybe we could put them together.

I think World War II ephemera, surely.

TIM WONNACOTT: The two letters are owned by different dealers.

First up, it's Julia.

This is lovely.

It's gorgeous, isn't it?

It's just such a fascinating letter.

A sort of a moment of history, France just opening up again.

NATASHA RASKIN: Did you have a figure in mind?

It had 12 pounds on it.

You wouldn't take 8, would you?

9.

Can we afford nine?

I'd be lying if I said no.

I would be lying.

What do you reckon?

Yeah, I'd be happy to.

Thank you.

JOHN SIMPSON: Thank you, thank you.

NATASHA RASKIN: I'm really happy with that.

Well, it's a delight.

TIM WONNACOTT: So that's one letter signed, sealed, and delivered, and one more to go.

I'm really interested in that little document there.

I love documents.

I love this kind of thing.

Always, whenever I've been in places where air forces have dropped the leaflets, I'm always out there if I can be, chasing around, picking them up.

TIM WONNACOTT: Strong pitch, John.

But how low is Gil willing to go?

GIL: I'll do it for 22.

I suppose I ought to say would you take 21?

I'll take 20.

You're a great gentleman.

I love you for it.

TIM WONNACOTT: Good man, Gil.

And with that, their shopping here is complete.

Isn't it?

I have to say, I'm very sad to be walking away from the siren.

GIL: You'd be amazed how many people have looked at that.

JOHN SIMPSON: I bet.

GIL: And it's only been in about four days.

I could do a very good price on that.

So what was your full price?

Ticket price is 290.

I could knock nearly a third off that price.

So we're talking?

I'd knock 80 pound off for you.

So we're still over 200.

And there's no scope for sort of 150 pounds?

I would do 2 for you, because I like John.

And I'll throw that letter in.

Oh, so that's all in.

And that was originally 20.

So essentially asking 180.

It's a gamble.

It's a big gamble.

It is a gamble.

TIM WONNACOTT: Surely not for the man who's regularly in war zones.

Are you going to try it?

I think you got a sale.

That's so kind of you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

TIM WONNACOTT: John really has come into his own this morning and found three items of historic interest for 209 pounds.

Meanwhile, Martha and Phil are back on the road again and heading to Lyndhurst.

So you're an apiarist, aren't you?

TIM WONNACOTT: That's a beekeeper to you and me.

Yeah, I was.

I was given a beehive as a wedding present about 15 years ago.

And I built up to seven hives over the years.

I love bees.

I've got many, many bee related items in my house, old beehives, old skeps, tablecloths.

TIM WONNACOTT: Nature lover Martha is in for a treat, as they're visiting a jewel in the crown of the Southwest.

Covering more than 90,000 acres, the New Forest is Britain's smallest National Park and famed for its iconic ponies.

Ruthlessly cleared of its local population to create a playground for royalty, it is still governed by a unique set of ancient laws handed down over the last 1,000 years.

To tell them more is Jonathan Gorelli.

Hi there.

How are you doing?

Fantastic day to be in the New Forest.

Welcome to the forest.

Yes, it's lovely.

And the ponies as well.

JONATHAN: Yes, we have ponies here.

They're here grazing away quite happily, catching a bit of breeze, and keeping the flies off.

It's called the New Forest.

But obviously, it's not all new, is it?

No, Nova Foresta, but of course, it's not very new, as you say.

It was designated, created, became a royal hunting forest made by William the Conqueror in about 1079.

TIM WONNACOTT: With his royal capital in nearby Winchester, the King made a controversial land grab.

Declaring 150 square miles of land as his own personal hunting ground.

What happened to the people who are living here when William the Conqueror decided that this was going to be his very own playground, a hunting forest?

When he came here, there were already people living, working, farming, keeping animals on the forest.

TIM WONNACOTT: These once peaceful lands became scenes of carnage and destruction as the King systematically cleared villages and burnt down churches to make way for his new royal hunting ground.

All he was interested in was protecting his deer and protecting the habitat that the deer lived in.

TIM WONNACOTT: Strict laws were enforced and illegal poaching was punishable by mutilation or death.

After much discontent, it was eventually recognized that the forest folk must be allowed some use of the land in order to survive.

So he created a number of very draconian forest laws to help control these people, manage this area.

TIM WONNACOTT: A system of rights were established, which remain in place today, allowing commoners to graze their animals on the land, but under strict supervision.

Whilst the majority of the New Forest is still referred to as Crown land, it has not been used to hunt deer since 1997.

To carry out and make sure those rules and regulations were adhered to, he created the Verderers and the Verderers Court.

They employed agisters to go out and do the work on the ground.

And because I'm a top notch journalist, I can see that you yourself are an agister, what does that-- what does that involve?

Well, an agister, if you look up the word agist in the dictionary, it means to take in animals for payment.

All these animals are owned by individuals.

We refer to them as commoners.

But they pay a fee to put these animals out here.

The agister collect that fee on behalf of the Verderers Helps pay the running costs of the Verderers Court, helps pay my wages.

So I'm always very keen to make sure we get all that money in.

It all sounds still quite medieval.

Very much is.

Yes, it is very much a medieval system.

But it is very much relevant today and still in practice today.

TIM WONNACOTT: It is these ancient rules that protect the forest and manage the livestock, including the world-famous ponies, whose ancestors have been roaming free here since the last Ice Age.

So how do you keep track of how many ponies there are here?

Well, all the ponies have owners, as we've said.

They all carry their individual owner's mark.

And every autumn, we conduct what we in the forest refer to as drifts, round-ups, if you like.

TIM WONNACOTT: During drifts, the ponies are rounded up and checked over for any health problems.

This annual event is governed by the laws of the forest, all of which are upheld in the Verderers court.

Right, come on into the hall.

This is a very nice space, isn't it?

Looks pretty ancient.

You've got quite a few antlers on the walls here.

You don't have any spare ones, do you?

PHIL SERRELL: She's good, honestly.

Yes, very good.

Not on me at the moment.

But I might be able to track some down.

TIM WONNACOTT: Has Phil met his soulmate in Martha?

True to his word, John has managed to hunt down some antlers.

So they're off to see a man about a deer head.

Just 30 minutes down the road, near Sway, they're meeting Martin.

Hi there.

Hello, how are you?

How you doing?

All right.

I'm afraid we've been calling you antler man.

You are, yes?

This is Phil.

Nice to meet you.

Hi there, I'm Martha.

This is Phil.

Good to see you.

So you sell these things?

Yes, there are.

PHIL SERRELL: They're cool, aren't they?

MARTIN: All deer byproducts, natural.

Obviously, some of the deer have been culled humanely, as part of population management.

And unfortunately, the big one was hit by a car.

And we had to put it down.

And yeah, obviously lovely set.

So we kept the head, basically.

PHIL SERRELL: We probably more interested in the antlers would we?

Rather than the-- I think more interested in the antlers.

The skins are very pretty.

But yeah, these are big, these antlers, aren't they?

Yeah these are two fallow deer, one big one and a medium sized one.

And some little roe deer.

PHIL SERRELL: And how much do you sell these for?

The roe deer go for 10 pounds each.

The medium, for 30.

And the big one, for 60.

60.

What do you think?

TIM WONNACOTT: There's choice at least.

This is clearly the most impressive one, isn't it?

I don't know what that would make at auction.

Would that make 40 to 60 pounds.

MARTIN: More than that I would say.

Would it make more?

I would say so yes.

I don't know, I mean, I should think you should get 100 pounds for it or so in auction.

PHIL SERRELL: Really?

Yes, I would say so.

PHIL SERRELL: What about if we gave you 60 quid for those?

MARTIN: Say 65, yes?

Is that a deal?

PHIL SERRELL: I think so, don't you?

MARTHA KEARNEY: I think that's a deal.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Antler man, put it there.

Thank you very much.

Very good.

TIM WONNACOTT: It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but Martha and Phil are leaving with three of the four deer heads.

Back with John and Natasha, and they're making their way to Winchester, England's ancient capital, and the former seat of King Alfred the Great.

NATASHA RASKIN: I reckon we'll find it here.

TIM WONNACOTT: John's got just over 150 pounds left to spend in the Jay's Nest.

That, John, is bang on trend.

Even the color of the upholstery, which is so ghastly, is bang on trend, because it's Scandinavian.

It's simple.

The chair, no, I think it's horrible.

All you do is just persuade me of two things.

One, I shouldn't be involved in furniture in any way.

And two, I'm not really suited to the modern world anymore.

TIM WONNACOTT: Fear not, John.

There's plenty more in here.

So we found this lovely woodblock.

I mean, the Japanese are right into the woodblock prints, aren't they?

I've been collecting them for-- my husband's got-- we have about 50 at home.

Have about 50.

And I keep bringing them down.

But the best ones are still at home.

And this is one of your husband's?

Yes, my husband.

TIM WONNACOTT: It's another object of historic interest to John, an early 19th century Japanese woodblock print depicting a New Year's ritual.

Got that lovely lacquered furniture, presenting that lovely motif in the background.

We've got these gorgeous girls.

We've got all these nice motifs.

So it must all have sort of auspicious meaning, doesn't it?

JOHN SIMPSON: And the New Year's meaning, I think.

We know who the artist is.

Which is so important.

TIM WONNACOTT: Its ticket price is 75 pounds.

But will Jocelyn be prepared to take an offer?

It's 50 pounds.

I mean, that is a good price.

Is there any scope for a wee bit of haggling?

No, not on that.

I've given you the bottom straight away, because he had about 75 on it.

Yeah, what do you think John?

Well, I love it.

It's the period before anybody had kind of quotes discovered Japan.

It was a closed society and would remain that way for another 50 years or something.

Everything about it is beautiful.

Jocelyn, 50 quid.

- 50 quid.

- My husband will be delighted.

Let's do it.

Thank you so much.

TIM WONNACOTT: So that's their final item in the bag.

I'm really, really chuffed.

Am I allowed a kiss?

Yeah, sure.

TIM WONNACOTT: What a smooth operator, John.

Thank you so much.

Take care.

TIM WONNACOTT: Back with Martha and Phil on their way to Southampton, the departure port for the Titanic.

They're visiting Cobwebs Antiques and meeting dealer Peter.

MARTHA KEARNEY: The Ship Shop.

TIM WONNACOTT: Do I have a sinking feeling, or what?

- Hello there.

- Hi.

- Nice to meet you.

- I'm Peter.

I'm Martha.

I love all this marine stuff.

It's terribly romantic.

It is.

MARTHA KEARNEY: I went to an ocean liner when I was a little girl.

And ever since then, I really enjoy these things.

TIM WONNACOTT: Martha still has 195 pounds left to spend.

But what has she spotted?

Industrial-- would this be called like a bulkhead light?

PETER: Yeah, it's a ship's navigation lamp.

Why do you like that, Martha?

I like these heavy industrial feeling-- I don't know.

There's something very strong and interesting about it.

TIM WONNACOTT: Martha is once again quick to find something of her own personal taste.

PHIL SERRELL: So how old is that?

Probably 1950s, 1960s.

Peter, what's the ticket price on that?

45 pounds.

PHIL SERRELL: She's good.

She's absolutely on the money.

She knows very quickly.

TIM WONNACOTT: She's also quick to spy another item of interest.

MARTHA KEARNEY: This, I rather like.

What period was that be from?

That's Edwardian.

It's a desk lamp.

I had that on my own desk, actually, for a while.

My own taste, I prefer this one.

But I don't know which you think would do better at auction.

Well, like everything else in life, it's down to price, isn't it?

PETER: And that one would be 35.

And on the other one, it'd be 70.

PHIL SERRELL: If we offered you 50 quid for that one, you'd tell us go away, would you?

Very politely, yes.

PHIL SERRELL: What would you tell us to go away on this one on?

PETER: 30 quid.

For me, that's ticked the number one box.

The number two box is that I think that's a better buy.

Lovely, OK.

I'm going to go for that.

Is that a deal?

30 quid?

Thank you very much indeed.

TIM WONNACOTT: Swift business, eh?

So with her final purchase sorted, time now to hotfoot it over and join John and Natasha for the big reveal.

NATASHA RASKIN: What have we got here?

MARTHA KEARNEY: This is a ship's navigation lantern.

And this is a vintage blowtorch.

For waking your husband up in the morning.

Yes, exactly.

Attacking the opposition.

And then that's an old desk chair, which is surprisingly comfortable.

And I thought it's almost like an old newspaper man's chair.

Yeah, it is a bit, isn't it?

Yeah, lovely.

And then, of course, the piece de resistance.

The biggest one was actually killed in a road accident.

They took the horns from it.

And it's just magnificent.

John, what's your sort of reaction to this stuff?

Really impressive.

And I think-- I'm pretty certain they're going to win.

We went the kooky way, didn't we?

NATASHA RASKIN: Yes, you do the honors.

Oh, this is quite a range.

This is the propaganda leaflet that the British dropped over Germany to say we're going to win the war.

NATASHA RASKIN: It's accompanied by this really interesting letter.

This is sent in 1944 to say thanks to your wonderful armies, France is now liberated.

And we should let you know that the latest vintage of champagne is really good.

So any time you want it, yours sincerely, Monsieur Lanson.

How much was that?

29 pounds all in for the two letters.

That's cheap.

I'm intrigued to know about your woodcut, because they can make a lot of money.

JOHN SIMPSON: It's a beautiful little thing, about 1810, 1820.

Wow.

MARTHA KEARNEY: But then our piece-- Can I just tell you.

I love that.

How much was it?

NATASHA RASKIN: It was 180.

I'll give you 190.

You love it.

John thought it would be a good way to call his son to dinner.

It's the absolute business.

I love it.

Do you know what we should do?

NATASHA RASKIN: What should we do?

JOHN SIMPSON: Oh, yes.

Let's go fill these.

Should we have a toast?

Let's have a wee toast.

To the auction.

To the auction.

Best of luck to you.

May the best team win.

Yes, thank you.

TIM WONNACOTT: Hang on, chaps.

Before you start celebrating, what do you think of each other's items?

I love the range of the things they've got, especially the air raid siren.

Who could not fall-- I want to own that.

I could write a novel in that chair.

I think it's absolutely gorgeous.

I'm not sure I would swap anything.

I like what we've picked.

I do like what we've picked.

That'll do me.

Come on.

TIM WONNACOTT: How very cordial.

Will the competitive juices start flowing en route to the auction in Itchen Stoke.

I don't think I'm going to beat you at the auction.

I think you're going to win.

I think those stag's heads are absolute winners.

Do think you probably have the most beautiful thing out of all our objects.

And that's the Japanese woodcut.

You know, I would like that.

That's something I could imagine at home.

TIM WONNACOTT: Today we're visiting Andrew Smith and Son auction rooms, where our celebs' wares are going for sale online, on the phone, and in the room.

Our guy with the gavel is Andrew Smith.

The deer antlers are quite magnificent.

Some people find them a bit gruesome, but the actual antlers themselves are good quality items and really have much interest to interior design people these days.

So they should do well.

I think my favorite item must be the air raid saxon.

It's a fun item.

And it's of local interest as well, being a Hamble item.

PHIL SERRELL: How are you?

MARTHA KEARNEY: Very well.

PHIL SERRELL: Good to see you, Martha.

MARTHA KEARNEY: Door opening service.

JOHN SIMPSON: Hello, my darling how are you?

NATASHA RASKIN: It's all go.

I'm very well.

How are you?

Are you nervous?

JOHN SIMPSON: Oh, I think I am.

TIM WONNACOTT: Despite having no game plan, John did unearth items he loved.

He spent a total of 294 pounds on five lots.

Martha, however, knew exactly what she wanted and bought five lots that reflected her own personal style.

She spent 235 pounds.

Good luck.

Yes, good luck to you.

TIM WONNACOTT: Good luck indeed.

The first item is the brooch that Natasha found and John fell in love with.

10 pounds, surely.

10 pounds I have, thank you.

I have 12.

10 pounds, 15, 17, we have 20.

20 pounds.

Anyone else coming in at 20 pounds, one last time?

Well, that wasn't bad.

That was fantastic.

That's very good.

That's very, very good.

Quadrupled your investment.

Yes.

TIM WONNACOTT: Cracking start.

Up next is Martha's blowtorch.

20 pounds, 20 pounds.

Start the car, Martha.

Start the car.

10 pounds, well done, sir.

15.

That's good money.

He's worked hard, hasn't he?

Is there any more?

All done at 17 pounds.

Very last time.

Wow he did-- At least somebody paid money for it.

I'm quite relieved about that.

TIM WONNACOTT: That's the spirit, Martha, only a small loss.

Let's hope John's 1970s drinks set a la diplomat fares better.

I'm going to start the bidding at 25 pounds.

Is there 7 in the room?

Nearly there And selling, it does seem cheap, doesn't it?

27, 30, 32.

These people are blind.

32 pounds?

All done at 32 pounds, last time, 32 pounds.

Can I suggest-- can I suggest on the way home, you get a lottery ticket.

TIM WONNACOTT: It's a profit.

You're on a winner.

They've got a bargain, though.

They've got a bargain.

You're on my side.

TIM WONNACOTT: Easy, Phil.

Will lady luck be shining down on Martha's bit of maritime nostalgia.

I'm going to start the bidding at 50 pounds.

At 50 pounds and selling, is there 5?

At 50 pounds, 55.

At 70 pounds, any more?

Last time, then, at 70 pounds.

Martha.

Brilliant, very pleased with that.

TIM WONNACOTT: With good reason.

Martha's more than doubled her money there.

Good job.

I can see Martha's developing a new career here.

TIM WONNACOTT: Look out, Phil.

The next lot is John's Japanese woodblock print, which he adored.

40 pounds, 40 pounds, 20?

20 pounds?

What's happening?

ANDREW SMITH: 20 pounds?

10 pounds?

- John.

ANDREW SMITH: 10 pounds we have, thank you.

Eye for the bargain, there, sir.

At 10 pounds, is there 12?

At 10 pounds, we will sell, make no mistake at 10 pounds, 12.

15.

20.

It's all go.

ANDREW SMITH: At 20 pounds, any more?

At 20-- Beautiful.

Eye of the beholder.

At 20 pounds?

Any more?

All done at 20 pounds, last time.

I think that was very unlucky.

I think that's really unlucky.

Oh well.

We put our name to something beautiful and with age to it.

I can't believe that people can't recognize quality when they see it.

No matter what-- I mean, I suppose you've seen this all the time.

It does happen.

TIM WONNACOTT: Bad luck, John.

Somebody really did get that for a steal.

Next up, Martha and Phil went slightly off piste and came back with some antlers.

I'm going to start the bidding at 50 pounds.

Is there 5 in the room?

At 50 pounds and selling, is there 5?

55, 60, and 5, 70, and 5, 80, and 5, 90?

At 85 pounds?

Knew it.

ANDREW SMITH: You sure?

At 85 pounds and selling.

If you're all done at 85 pounds, very last time.

A profit.

I'm very pleased with that, very please with that.

John, do you think you were paired with the wrong expert?

No, my dear.

No, no.

Can I just get this in?

Can I just get this in?

You don't think they were a little dear?

TIM WONNACOTT: He's on fire today.

Good result, though.

John and Natasha loved their World War II letters.

Fingers crossed the buyers do too.

Interesting lot.

Start with 50 pounds, 50 pounds, 50 pounds.

20 if you like.

Someone's got to bid.

12 pounds, well done, thank you.

And 15, at 12 pounds and selling, any more?

At 12 pounds, at 12 pounds, 15 on the net.

17.

At 15-- No, that was a no.

Is there 17?

At 15 pounds then.

Last time at 15 pounds.

Someone online has got a wee bit of history there for nothing, for nothing.

TIM WONNACOTT: They were two incredible finds of John's.

But there's still time for a comeback.

Next on the agenda is Martha's pine trunk.

I'm going to start the bidding off at 60 pounds.

Is there 5 in the room.

Come on.

At 60 pounds and selling.

65 at the back.

70 and 5, 80 and 5, at 80 pounds, commission bidder, is there 5?

At 80 pounds, any more?

Martha, you're the cat that got the cream.

Look at that.

80 pounds, last time.

Well done.

Well don you.

Well done you.

That's great, isn't it?

TIM WONNACOTT: Martha's on a roll today.

But auctions can be won or lost on just one item.

Next, it's her Victorian saddle seat chair.

I'm going to start the bidding at 20 pounds.

Is there 2 in the room?

Yes, of course there is.

22, 25, 27, 30, 32, in the room-- Who leaves 30 pounds on commission for that?

40, 42, 45, 47, 50, sure?

50, and 5, at 55 pounds and selling, then, if you're all done, and it's 007 again.

007.

We love you, Mr.

Bond.

He stole your blowtorch and he stole your seat.

How dare he?

I think it's Blofeld, not blowtorch, isn't it?

TIM WONNACOTT: That small loss for Martha is good news for John.

It's the final lot of the competition, John's big gamble, his World War II air raid siren.

He could be up for a big loss, but equally a big win to put him back in the running.

No bidding from you now, Phil.

Can I give it a whirl.

You can give it a whirl.

But I have to say this is only a practice.

Don't evacuate the room.

NATASHA RASKIN: Here he goes.

How good is that?

I think round of applause.

The sound of the blitz.

Well done, well done.

Air raid siren as ably demonstrated there.

We have a commission bid.

I'm going to start the bidding at 50 pounds.

At 50 pounds, 55, 60, and 5, 70, and 5, 80, and 5, Got a long way to go.

85 pounds, and 90, 90, and 5, 100.

We have three-- ANDREW SMITH: And 10, 120.

TIM WONNACOTT: Oh, this is tense.

Come on, John.

10 pounds, is there 120, at 110 pounds in the room, and selling at 110 pounds.

I loved that.

I'd have bought that.

TIM WONNACOTT: I really thought that that was going to go higher.

But at least you bought something you love, John.

We probably need to go and do the sums, don't we?

To see whose won?

I don't think we need to worry too much about-- I'll get the abacus.

You get the calculator.

I'll take my shoes off, count on my toes.

Let's go have a look.

TIM WONNACOTT: No need for that, chaps.

That's my job.

Both couples started this trip with 400 pounds each.

John and Natasha made a loss of 132 pounds and 46 pence, leaving them, after auction costs, with 267 pounds and 54 pence.

Doesn't sound too bad if you say it quickly.

Martha and Phil, however, are the victors of this road trip.

Making a profit after costs of 16 pounds and 74 pence, leaving them with a grand total of 416 pounds and 74 p. All profits, of course, go to children in need.

That was great.

It was fantastic.

It was real fun.

And actually, I have to say, without being smarmy, that it was-- the most fun was being with you three.

We did have a laugh, actually.

Let's face it.

I just lost money on the rest.

So it was bound to be more fun.

Great pleasure.

Gentleman.

Yeah, thank you so much.

Martha, it's been a real pleasure.

Absolute laugh.

And thank you for your great company.

Of course you can.

John, thank you so much.

That was wonderful.

We're good at losing money together.

Aren't we a bunch of lovies.

Not like this in the newsroom, is it?

Don't tell them.

When I see you next, I should blank you.

Walk straight past.

Really enjoyed it.

I mean, it's been such a wonderful contrast with the day job.

In three days time, I'll be in Libya covering the civil war there.

And I'll look back on this with real nostalgia, actually.

TIM WONNACOTT: I'm sure you will.

Safe travels to the pair of you.