VO: It's the nation's favorite antiques experts, with £200 each, a classic car and a goal - to scour Britain for antiques.

That hurts.

(SHE GASPS) VO: The aim?

To make the biggest profit at auction, but it's no mean feat.

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

You're a mean lot.

VO: So, will it be the high road to glory or the slow road to disaster?

And there's always another auction, Mark.

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Yeah!

VO: It's the beginning of a whole new week and a whole new road trip.

This time our dueling duo are Mark Stacey and Mark Hales.

Two Marks in one car.

Mark what I say!

MARK STACEY (MS): Is it true, two Marks are better than one?

MARK HALES (MH): Absolutely right.

VO: If you say so!

Veteran road tripper Mark Stacey is an auctioneer and valuer from Brighton.

He's a smart operator whose wits are as sharp as his tongue.

Mark?

Yes?

You couldn't give me a hand, could you?

Could I give you a hand?

Yeah.

Er... You asked for a hand.

VO: Ceramics expert Mark Hales runs a Devon auction house.

He's a relative newcomer, with just one previous road trip under his belt.

So could this upstart be chasing victory this time?

And I've got to beat Mark over there, haven't I?

Definitely.

I mean, he must be beaten.

The name of the game.

He's such a veteran.

He must be beaten.

VO: Because it's the start of the week, they both have full wallets - £200 to spend on antiques, which they'll later sell at auction, aiming to make a tidy profit.

Today our brave boys are driving a dashingly red 1968 Triumph Spitfire Mark III.

So that's two Marks in a Mark III.

Oh, good grief!

MS: I'm not terribly good on cars but, of course, I do love the color red.

MH: It's a lovely red, isn't it?

MK: You know, I think we're going to have a hoot in it.

MS: Sexy red.

VO: Now, don't get carried away!

This week's epic journey sees the two Marks drive nearly 300 miles, from Finedon in Northamptonshire, through Norwich in East Anglia, to Colchester in Essex.

On today's show, they're heading for their first auction, in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

The pretty village of Finedon in Northamptonshire effortlessly combines the ancient and the modern.

It's mentioned as a significant settlement in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Let's hope it's not too doom's day for our boys.

MH: Here we are.

MS: "Affleck Bridge Antiques".

MH: Here we are.

That's the idea.

Right.

MS: Oh, I'm itching to get out, aren't you?

MH: Well, this is exciting.

MS: Ooh!

MH: This is it - the thrill of the chase.

MS: Turn it off, then.

MH: This is it.

Oh, gosh!

Oh!

VO: Not... Not as young as you used to be, are you chaps?!

I say, I'm glad to be out of that thing.

I nearly had to ask you to help me out then!

I wouldn't have.

I would've left you in there - more chance of me finding the bargains.

Are you feeling nervous?

Just a little bit.

It's the... Come on, it's the first l... Thrill of the chase - first buy of the day.

Good luck.

I'm going over there, I think.

Right.

And have a lousy morning.

I hope things go badly for you.

Yeah.

Thank you so much, Mark!

I'm only joking.

Bye!

VO: First, Mark Hales is scouting out Affleck Bridge Antiques, where Robert Cheney's on hand to give him a warm welcome.

Hello, Robert.

How d'you do?

Alright, thank you.

Would it be alright if I... had a browse?

Yeah, yeah - carry on.

Thank you very much indeed.

VO: Mark Hales is newer to this game than his battle-hardened adversary.

So does he have a master plan other than just... rubbing his hands?

Well, no plan as such - just keep looking.

Keep looking, don't lose my cool.

I am a little bit nervous.

I'm always nervous until I've got that first buy out of the way.

Yes...

The mallet, Robert - is it a presentation piece?

It is, yeah.

VO: It is a presentation mallet, made for the builder of Chelmsford School in 1906, and crafted from ebony.

Mark's convinced it may be of interest to a particular buyer.

There are a lot of builders out there, and a lot of build... Builders love to collect things, don't they, Robert?

They do, yes.

Builders that... You know, if you have 20 collectors in a room, I'm sorry but probably 12 of them would be builders, wouldn't they?

Isn't that right?

VO: The ticket price is £55.

Can Mark haggle it down?

Can I buy it for £35?

No.

Cuz that will give me a profit, won't it?

DEALER: It would but it wouldn't give us one.

MH: 40.

DEALER: Just.

Cuz if I bought that for 40, I reckon I've got a profit in that, I really do.

That's... that would be it.

As long as the auctioneer does his job, puts it out there, and those collectors, those building... those collecting builders spot it, I think it could do well.

MH: Yeah?

DEALER: Yeah.

£40 for the mallet?

That's it, yeah.

Thank you, Robert.

We'll have... we'll have the mallet.

Thank you very much indeed.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!

We've started.

We have started.

Good.

VO: Meanwhile, Mark Stacey is next door in MC Chapman Antiques, with proprietor Mike.

This Road Tripper is a formidable competitor but what does he make of his new rival?

I think Mark's going to be very tough competition, actually.

I think he jabbers a lot, cuz we've only just met and he might be a little bit nervous, but I think he has a good eye.

VO: Ha!

Looks like he's not the only one.

This is... That's rather pretty as well, isn't it?

DEALER: It's cheap and cheerful.

MS: It's a little... DEALER: I think it's continental silver, I'm not sure... MS: I think so.

There's some sort of mark on the bottom.

I haven't got my eyeglass with me at the moment.

VO: What's he's fiddling with here is a miniature white metal continental candle holder, list priced £22.

And now he's spied something else too.

MS: That's a rather unusual thing as well, isn't it?

DEALER: It is, yeah.

Yeah.

What do you think it is?

A pin tray?

Yeah.

I mean, mother-of-pearl.

Yeah.

Quite a big piece as well, actually.

Mounted in a sort...

Almost an arts-and-crafts...

It has...

I can't see any marks on, but it feels silver.

It feels silver, doesn't it?

Yeah.

VO: On the ticket, £55.

Mark Stacey is an absolute magpie this morning!

He's found yet another shiny object.

My eyes are wandering, and I'm seeing things I didn't see before.

Erm... And it's just... it's just... Oops.

It's just good to have a look at things, because you never know - you just might find that extra something, you know?

It's a little...

I... You could call it a sort of compote or a tazza, I suppose.

VO: A tazza is a shallow cup or vase, usually on a decorative pedestal.

1882.

So it dates it to the late 19th century.

How much is that, Mike?

DEALER: 45.

MS: 45?

VO: In the other room, Mark's alighted on something else he likes.

There's no stopping him.

Gosh, that's rather nice.

Gosh, it's reasonable, isn't it?

DEALER: Just lovely quality.

MS: It's lovely quality.

VO: What we have here a 19th century cribbage board.

MS: This is all mother-of-pearl here.

And you've got... Is this rosewood?

I mean, if you got that made today, how much would it cost?

Well, yeah... MS: Three or four hundred?

DEALER: Mm.

At least.

Right, I've got to make some decisions, I think, Mike, haven't I?

Let's have a little look what we've got.

We've got that bit, which I quite like.

That, which I like.

This, which I like, and that, which I like.

So that's four bits already, isn't it?

This is going incredibly well... or very worrying.

DEALER: Yeah!

MS: That's the pr...

Almost too well, really.

VO: The ticket price for all four items combined is £172.

So what can masterful Mark get shaved off that hefty lump sum?

145 so... so far.

Is that right, Mike?

Yeah.

But I've really pretty much given you the...

The best on the lot?

So I can't twist your arm at all?

You can twist my arm for another fiver off.

I must be absolutely mad, Michael, but your charm... ..has beguiled me, and I'm going to buy them.

Thank you very much.

That's really good.

Thank you.

VO: He's managed to negotiate £32 off.

So that's £140 for all four items.

Good work!

Well, I suppose you want some money!

Oh yeah, that would be good as well!

That would come in handy, wouldn't it?

Look I'll be quite honest, I've got my whole budget here.

So the easiest thing to do actually is just to take... Take 60.

..60 away... Take 60 away.

..and give you the rest, actually!

Excellent.

Thank you very much.

Thank you again.

VO: This bold strategy shows a whole new side to Mark Stacey.

How's he feeling after his buying bonanza?

I've been in a few awkward positions in my life but I've never been in this position before, of having bought four items and spent most of my budget in the very, very first shop.

VO: Meanwhile, Mark Hales is now in Mike's shop.

It's been a boon for Mr Stacey.

Will Mark Hales hit the jackpot too?

First pick, a 20th century cast iron helmet.

That hurts.

OK. VO: Suits you, Mark.

Ha!

But upstairs is something much more promising.

"Happy As A King"!

Isn't that lovely?

It's a colored 19th century print, Pears print, Pears Soap, and it's always been a favorite little... favorite painting of mine.

Mike?

VO: The print is of a painting by 19th century artist William Collins.

I'll help you a fiver.

I'll do you it for 20 quid.

You know, that's what I was thinking of.

Erm... (CLEARS THROAT) Yes!

Yes, I've got to have a go, haven't I?

Yeah.

I've got to have a go.

VO: Another buy for Mark Hales.

Well, actually, I'm as "Happy As A King"!

VO: Ha!

I'll do the jokes, thank you, Mark!

VO: Time for the lads to leave Finedon and head 21 miles south, to Northampton.

This large market town boasts some fine architecture.

The Grade II listed Northampton Guildhall was opened in 1864.

But it's the local museum Mark's heading for.

Northampton has been the life and "sole" of the British shoemaking industry for centuries.

Ha!

He's come to meet Rebecca, who will walk him through the museum's extensive collection of footwear.

Shoemaking in the area is a proud tradition that survives today.

Even the local football team is affectionately known as The Cobblers.

Hm.

Rebecca and Mark are kicking off in a room that explains the traditional shoe manufacturing process, which has employed generations of local workers.

Right...

So in here we've got the shoe machinery and we start as well with the first... with the last.

MH: A last?

REBECCA: It's just really usually a wooden, foot-shaped sort of block that the shoe is then made molded and made round.

VO: There were over 200 individual processes involved in the traditional manufacture of shoes, and this room describes how each of them added up to a natty pair of brogues.

MH: This sort of machinery didn't wear out easily, did it?

It was built to last, wasn't it?

REBECCA: Well, yes.

Certain things have changed and they've, you know, they've got better machines and improved machines, but there are certain processes that are the same today, and so they use the same machines.

Yes.

Isn't that lovely?

VO: Lovely.

As a special treat, Rebecca's agreed to show Mark behind the scenes at the museum.

This is the backstage area, where some of their rarest items are stored.

They have a vast collection of footwear, from the ancient to the modern.

This is where everything that's not on display is kept, including the 11,000 pairs of shoes.

11,000 pairs of shoes!

Right.

Promise me you won't tell my wife!

So we have a few prime examples on the table here.

So I think maybe you ought to pop a pair of gloves on.

REBECCA: And you can... MH: Right.

..uncover what lies in these boxes.

Right.

Yes.

This is... one of our very earliest shoes in the collection.

It's an Egyptian sandal sole, from 300 BC, actually.

It's difficult to believe that 300 years BC... VO: Next, Rebecca's got a surprise for Mark - a pair of shoes worn by a special lady on her very special day.

MH: It's not gonna jump out at me, is it?

REBECCA: No.

MH: No.

It's not gonna be THE smelly pair?

No, these are probably one of our most popular pairs in the museum.

MH: Really?

REBECCA: Yes.

Really?

They really... Oh... goodness me.

Oh, now... 19th century?

Yes.

They're Queen... Whose...?

Queen Victoria's wedding shoes.

Wow!

Just look at the size of the young queen's feet.

How delicate.

They are.

They're about a 3½, and incredibly narrow.

Do you think I might just...?

Could I possibly just pick one up?

Yes, you can.

If I'm very, very careful?

Yes.

Could you hold that for me?

Just so...

I mean, I have to hold... My hand's shaking.

I have to hold Queen Victoria's... Look at that.

That's it.

Made by shoemakers to the Queen and the royal family, Gundry & Sons, in London.

Well, I think that's a bit of a special moment, don't you?

Mm-hm.

Isn't that fabulous?

If you think of all the prints and paintings that you see of Victoria on her wedding day...

Yes.

..and these are the actual shoes she was wearing.

And then these are very interesting, I think you'll find.

Oh dear!

Do you know, I was enjoying myself until I saw those!

Well...

These are from the 1930s, which is quite amazing.

Really?

Fetish style.

Yup.

Goodness me - from the '30s?!

I know, it's quite unbelievable.

It is, isn't it?

Oh, they're horrible.

I mean, seriously horrid!

No.

VO: A-ha!

Anyway, moving on... Rebecca, it's been absolutely fascinating.

REBECCA: Great.

MH: No, I mean that.

Thank you.

Do you know, I really, really have enjoyed myself so, so much.

I'm so glad.

Thank you very much for having me.

You're welcome.

Thank you.

VO: Oh.

Just down the road, Mark Stacey is continuing his shopping extravaganza.

He's heading for Northampton's largest retailer of antique and vintage goods, and proprietor Gilly Burgess.

DEALER: Hello.

MS: I'm Mark.

Hello there.

I'm Gilly.

MS: Hi.

Nice to meet you, Gilly.

DEALER: Lovely to meet you.

Gosh, it's a lot bigger on the inside.

VO: Size isn't everything.

(CLOCK CHIMES) Time is ticking already.

VO: Sharp!

It's not long before Mark's spotted something - an Italian silver candlestick, with a familiar motif.

Thank you, my love.

One eyeglass.

Yes, cuz I bought this cherub candlestick this morning, and...

I was just thinking that if, in the sale... there was a cherub lover there... ..it would compliment it.

It might compliment it.

VO: Sounds like it's time to strike a deal, Mark.

But after your big spend this morning, what can you afford to offer?

The candlestick is silver, after all.

Do you think they would take £5 for it?

(THEY LAUGH) I think that's a "no" then, is it?

Jog on!

I think that's a "no", is it?

But I thought they might've sort of... £5.

I thought they might've said, "Well, as you've got the other cherub..." (HE CHUCKLES) "..it'd be a shame to see them not reunited."

For your cheek, you can have it for £5.

Give me a kiss.

On one condition.

Oh no!

What's the condition?

This comes with another cheeky bottom.

Does it?

It's part of a pair.

Oh yes?

And if you... MS: Do I need a seat?

DEALER: ..will consent to take this other cheeky bottom with you, and have it as part of your... then you can have that for £5.

OK. What's the other cheeky bottom?

DEALER: I'll go and fetch it.

What's going on here?

I mean, why do...?

Do I look a cheeky bottom type of person?

Don't answer that!

Oh, I can't look.

Shall I cover my eyes?

Because... Is it really cheeky?

This week's objet d'art!

Is it really cheeky?

It's very cheeky.

Can I look?

You can look.

(GASPS) (THEY LAUGH) If you can shift that, I'll eat my hat.

Cuz I can't shift it.

(THEY LAUGH) Is that or is that not... MS: ..the vilest thing you've ever seen?

DEALER: Yes!

MS: I have...

Words fail me.

DEALER: Thank you!

VO: So, Mark's bagged himself the silver candlestick for a fiver, and, er, a "cheeky" bonus.

And on that bombshell, it's the end of a very busy day.

Plenty of purchases and more than a little tomfoolery... so nighty-night, boys.

It's a new day and our tussling twosome are back on the road.

MH: This is where it all happens today.

So far, Mark Stacey's spent £145 on five lots - the two cherub candlesticks, the cribbage board, the mother-of-pearl pin tray, the bronze tazza and the, erm, interesting vase.

He only has £55 for the day ahead.

Mark Hales has only bought two items - the 19th century print and the ebony presentation mallet, all at a cost of £60, leaving him with £140 to play with.

So, onwards and upwards, boys, as they head to Weedon Bec, in Northamptonshire.

Yes!

Woo!

We're here.

Good.

Right.

OK.

Here we go.

"Heart of the Shires".

Oh, looks quite big.

VO: They're aiming for Shires Antiques, hoping to find their next round of bargains.

MS: Come on, Mark.

MH: Lovely.

I'm not sure that I want to share this shop with you.

Do you not like sharing, Mark?

I do with some people, Mark.

VO: Ha!

It seems a good night's sleep hasn't made them any less competitive.

Tut-tut!

Nice, very nice.

VO: Children!

Shame on you!

I know.

I'm so sorry.

I'm not really normally like that.

Right, we're shopping together, OK?

We certainly are not.

We stick together.

Come along now.

I'm going over there.

You stick down... No, you st... Don't you dare follow me!

VO: Laurence and Alison Spencer will be helping them, and might be called on to referee.

Both Marks are competing on the same turf this morning, and it's all getting a bit tense.

You're in the wrong side of the shop, Mark.

Of course I'm not.

You should be over there.

Rubbish.

There's no right or wrong side to the shop.

You are...

There's no point trying to follow me, looking for inspiration.

You've got find your own, alright?

Mustn't... VO: Simmer down, now!

Oh-ho-ho!

VO: Honestly!

What are you going to buy, Mark?

So that's quite interesting, isn't it?

Little sort of silver... "Quality unmarked silver-plated wine funnel".

So this is what you'd serve to...

It's a nice piece.

..you know, you'd serve your wine through here to...

Yes, right, decanting.

..in the days that, you know, there was often a lot of sediment... That's right.

..in the wine bottle.

So you'd use this to pour through... That's right.

..and the wine would pour out, and of course decanted into the decanter.

Course, from my point of view, I would love it to be unmarked silver.

LAURENCE: Well, that's right.

MS: It's not marked at all.

But then it'd be slightly bit... high in price.

Unless the dealer didn't know that.

I've got £55 left.

Is it worth having a little word with them?

I'll go... quite happily give her a ring.

VO: That wine funnel was marked up at £85, so he's going to need a substantial reduction.

As Laurence phones the dealer, Mark Hales is looking lost.

You couldn't give me a hand, could you?

MS: Could I give you a hand?

MH: Yeah.

You asked for a hand.

That was almost a joke.

That was almost a joke.

Thank you for your help, anyway.

No, you're very, very we... Any time I can be of... any assistance, you know, by all means, feel free to...

Thank you so much.

Just think of my name and I'll be there, Mark.

Of course.

I don't know what all that was about.

I'm not quite sure.

You see, I never know with Mark... whether he's trying to... unnerve me... or whether he genuinely is panicking.

Naturally, being the friendly and helpful person I am, I'm hoping it's the latter.

VO: Oh!

Charming!

On the other side of the shop, Mark Hales has found some picture frames that take his interest.

Alison's on hand to help.

Not my subject at all but... ..there's two of them here... and it says "Northumberland Fusiliers" and "York and Lancashire Regiment".

So militaria, and militaria's quite salable, isn't it?

ALISON: Very.

MH: Collectable?

Yes.

And they're nice quality.

Might do well at auction.

VO: The price on the ticket is £70.

You know, without messing about, if I could buy the two for £45, I'd buy them.

Tell her I'm desperate.

Oh dear!

I'm not really that desperate.

You shouldn't admit things like that!

VO: And now we've got an answer from the dealer selling Mark Stacey's wine funnel.

LAURENCE: Mark?

MS: Yes?

LAURENCE: It's your lucky day.

MS: No.

She's accepted your offer.

VO: And there's an answer for Mark Hales too.

55 is her very best.

And that's her bottom line, is it?

It is, yes.

Right.

Oh... well, I think I'd better buy them, hadn't I?

Yeah?

Yeah.

I think I'd better buy them.

£55.

Thank you very much indeed.

You're welcome.

VO: Not quite the deal he wanted, unlike adversary Mark Stacey, who's bagged yet another item.

Seems Mr Hales has some work to do.

They're in the car again and heading the 10 miles back towards Northampton.

Mark Hales is in Old Bakehouse Antiques, with Lynda Grant.

Thank you very much.

Would it be alright if I have a jolly good look around?

LYNDA: Of course.

Oh... VO: It seems he's spotted some 1970s retro chairs, which just might turn a tidy profit.

Far out, man!

Blonde Ercol.

LYNDA: Yeah, they're all Ercol.

MH: I'm not very knowledgeable in retro but you know, these have been quite popular.

VO: Founded in 1920, Ercol is a great British furniture manufacturer, still going strong in Buckinghamshire.

Their vintage designs from the 20th century are popular with retro furniture enthusiasts.

Have they been sort of restored or, you know... LYNDA: No, absolutely no...

They're actual... absolutely as they were?

LYNDA: Yeah.

They were in a clearance.

They're great, aren't they?

The thing is, I've sold these, alright?

MH: And you're right.

LYNDA: Yeah.

I mean... you're absolutely right.

There's nothing wrong with the price.

No.

But I've sold these... erm, you know, I've sold them in my auction room in Devon, and I've sold them for £10 each... Mm-hm?

..and I've sold them for £25 each.

£25 each.

It just depends who's there on the day and what's happening.

I can do you a deal on those.

I mean... You can have the four at £10 each.

Yeah, and that's 40, isn't it?

VO: Er, correct!

Yeah.

And I'm not being mean or anything, MH: I've got to ask anyway... LYNDA: Aha?

..and don't be insulted, but I was thinking, if I bought... if I could get those for 30... you know...

I mean, they take up space, don't they?

35.

Oh, you're a hard woman!

That's... You've got profit and we've got profit then.

Well, I can't say fairer than that.

That's fine.

Thank you.

Deal.

Thank you, Lynda.

I've bought those.

LYNDA: OK. MH: That's wonderful.

Big strapping lad like me, I can carry those.

Wish me lots of luck!

LYNDA: Good luck!

Hope you win!

MH: Thank you.

Bye.

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

What have I done?

Oh, Retro Chair Man.

Right.

Retro Chair Man.

VO: Let's hope he doesn't live to regret it.

Oh!

VO: Careful!

VO: Meanwhile, Mark Stacey has hijacked the car and is heading towards Rockingham Castle, near Corby in Northamptonshire.

Wouldn't we all love a driveway like this?

VO: Mark's here at Rockingham, to meet head guide David, who's going to show him around this stately pile, which boasts impressive connections to both grand monarchs and a famous writer.

That's what I call a door knocker.

Hello.

Hello.

David.

Welcome to Rockingham Castle.

That's very kind of you.

I'm Mark.

VO: Built by William the Conqueror, the castle was home to medieval kings and queens until King Henry VIII granted it to Edward Watson, the 16th century ancestor of the current family who still live here.

Its royal Tudor pedigree is indicated by this magnificent portrait of Elizabeth I.

400 years after the Tudors, Rockingham Castle took on another life, as the playground of the great English novelist Charles Dickens.

Dickens would visit his good friends, owners Richard and Lavinia Watson, and tried out several of his plays on the castle's guests.

During the time that Dickens was here, in the early Victorian period, this was the room in which they entertained and came up to after their great meals, and on which, on one occasion, 1851, he put a play on.

And we can st... We have the playbill... Really?

..in a cabinet round the corner.

Well, in this cabinet we have various items connected to Dickens.

Here a playbill... Gosh.

..for a performance he put on in this room in 1851.

He put on three plays, in which he acted himself.

You can see his name there.

Sir Charles Coldstream - Mr Charles Dickens.

DAVID: Mr Charles Dickens, yes.

And he also acted as Colonel Freelove.

MS: And then he went down to just being a doctor.

DAVID: The doctor in Animal Magnetism.

He stayed here on several occasions but one of the things which connects him to Rockingham is that one of his novels, Bleak House, in it features a house called Chesney Wold, a great house, and many of the features of that house are based on Rockingham.

So the Long Gallery here is the model for the drawing room in Bleak House.

Oh right.

VO: And the castle's not just famous for its place in literary history.

Its location by the Welland Valley gives it stunning views across five counties.

The best place for sightseeing is up the castle tower.

I'm sure it's going to be worth it.

I think the views are definitely worth the climb.

And here we are.

A little bit breezy but... Oh wow!

..we have a great... panorama.

David, what a wonderful way of ending our visit in Rockingham Castle.

Thank you so much for your time.

Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I've thoroughly enjoyed it.

And I hope I can come back again some other time... We'll look forward to seeing you.

..and get a better look round.

DAVID: Good.

MS: Thank you.

Would you like to lead the way down, or...?

Oh.

So if I fall, you can land on me!

VO: 12 miles to the east, Mark Hales has one more shop left to visit, in the ancient market town of Oundle.

With £50 left to spend, he's heading towards Green Man Antiques.

MH: Hi.

VICKY: Hi.

Hi, I'm Mark.

I'm Vicky.

Nice to meet you.

Hello, Vicky.

How d'you do?

Would it be alright if I had a browse?

Yeah, please do.

Fabulous.

Yeah... VO: With shopping time running out, Mark's resorting to an unusual shopping tactic.

What springs to mind that's £50?

Oh... Just in case.

Have a little think for me.

VICKY: Yeah, I...

I will... MH: Have a little think.

I don't have to buy something but it would be nice just to get rid of that last little bit of money and get myself another item.

You're determined to spend all your money?

Yes, yes.

Mm.

We do have a couple of barometers, wood-framed barometers.

Ah, these?

Yes.

These.

Yeah, I didn't look at these.

I could do the two of those for £46.

But that is my absolute final.

I mean, that's jolly reasonable.

That's ever so good.

I mean, they should be... VICKY: They are beautiful.

MH: And they're usable, aren't they?

VICKY: They are, yes.

MH: That's the beauty of things like this.

You hang them on the wall and you use them.

They're 19th century, aren't they, Vicky?

VICKY: They are, yes.

MH: They're 19th century.

And, you know, they're sort of late 1870s...

Yes, yep.

..sort of period?

They should be snatched from the shop, shouldn't they?

They should.

Before I change my mind.

Oh, bless your heart!

That was very good.

VO: That's you told, Mark!

Better hand over the cash and get out of there - quick!

50.

Right.

That's good news, isn't it?

That's good news.

I've done it.

I've spent all my money.

Well, £4 left.

VO: Marvelous.

Maybe.

Now it's time for the boys to reveal their purchases to each other, and they've chosen a picturesque but out of the way setting.

And, wait for it...

I'm revealing again!

That's two reveals.

VO: Mm.

It's all about quality, not quantity, Mark.

MH: Right, Mark, what do you think of that?

Well, I mean, you've really gone across the board, haven't you?

Actually, these look very interesting.

Are they regimental?

They certainly are, yes.

They're both, erm...

It says on there "Northumberland", and it says on here... Look at this "York and Lancaster".

Oh, I think those are very commercial.

Early 20th?

I think they're very nice, actually.

Did you pay a lot for them?

MH: They cost £55.

MS: For the pair?

Yes, for the pair.

Well, that doesn't sound much to me.

Good.

I'm pleased to hear that.

Doesn't sound to me.

And are those Ercol, the chairs?

Yes, they are.

They're very nice, actually.

They're very commercial.

I would've thought, cuz they're very in at the moment, this revival stuff...

In vogue, they certainly are.

Expensive?

Erm, I think they were actually a bargain.

MH: £35.

MS: For the four?

For the four.

Oh, well I... You can't go wrong.

Have a look at this.

Feel the weight.

I think it's lovely.

I love the turn.

It is so nice to have that plaque on the front.

And I think that should be very, very salable.

How much was that?

Erm, it cost £40.

I would've gone for that if I'd seen it.

Good.

I think that's a charming item.

VO: Compliments!

MS: Can I just say something?

MH: Yes.

You've rather impressed me.

VO: Praise indeed!

Well, I didn't expect to, actually.

I think I'm going to have to mind my stuff with you, Mr Hales.

Really?

OK.

Thank you very much.

Would you like to reveal?

Are you ready?

Yeah, I'm ready.

I'm going to try and be... Oh, my goodness.

Oh, I've knocked one down already.

Is that a wine funnel?

It is.

It's absolutely gorgeous.

I absolutely love it to bits.

Now, I need to know, and it's no good me guessing actually, what did you pay for that?

£55.

Did you?

Well, I tell you what, if the auctioneer does his job, there's a profit in that.

I'm now going to ask you... Yeah?

..a huge favor.

Right, go on then.

Cuz I do have one hidden item.

Oh, of course.

Could you cover your eyes for one moment?

Right, that's easy.

Or turn your back on it.

Cover your eyes.

That's easy.

VO: I wonder what's coming up here.

Cuz I want your opinion, as the king of pots... ..what you think about my modernist vase.

MH: Right.

MS: You can turn round now...

I'm not terribly good at 20th century, when it comes to porcelain... Oh, my goodness me!

What have you bought?

What have you bought?!

What have you bought?!

MS: Don't drop it.

No, I think in the right place, erm... (CLEARS THROAT) VO: Mark - handling.

With the right person...

In the right place, with the right person, I think yes, you could do very well with that, yes.

Yes.

No, good for you.

Actually, I quite like it!

Do you really?

How much was it?

It didn't cost me anything, actually.

MH: Really?

MS: No.

Oh, isn't that typical?

I thought we were supposed to go into these places and pay for things.

No, well I was, but I... ..the woman would only let... sell me that for the price I paid for it if I would take that as a gift.

I see.

So you were doing her a favor, were you...

I was doing her a favor.

..removing it from the shop?

VO: But what do they really think of each other's purchases?

There's a lot of silver content there, so I mean, it could be scrapped, so the value's there.

He can't go wrong.

He's played it very, very safely.

I'm very pleased with the items I've bought, and if there's any justice in the world, they will do reasonably well.

But Mark has surprised me.

There's one or two things there that might sell very well.

It's too close to call.

This is going to be a right royal ding-dong.

VO: On this leg of the road trip, our two Marks have traveled from Finedon, Northamptonshire, to end up today in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

Stamford's proud past stretches right back to the Anglo-Saxon period.

It's justly celebrated for its pretty, historic streets.

MH: Well, here we are in Stamford.

MS: Beautiful, sunny Stamford.

Little bit of Old England, isn't it?

VO: They're on their way to Batemans Auctioneers & Valuers.

This family business is run by two generations of Batemans.

Auctioneer David Palmer will be wielding the gavel.

But before kick-off, what does he think of their lots?

There is, one or two are interesting, and purchased... with feeling, I would imagine.

There's one curious thing there.

I didn't understand at all what that was - a mother-of-pearl, circular dish, with what appears to be silver mounts around it.

I can't imagine anyone these days knowing what to do with it.

The bit I love the most is the jug - the female shape of the jug.

I mean, you've only got to look at it and instantly I'm thinking of my wife.

VO: Oh really?

Mark Stacey started this leg with £200, and has spent it all, on six lots!

VO: Mark Hales also started with £200, and has spent £196 on five lots.

But don't forget - they'll have to pay auction costs on each sale.

So who will be victorious in the first all-Mark showdown?

On your marks!

Oh, sorry.

VO: First up - Mark Hales's groovy Ercol chairs.

Rather attractive design there.

Put them in at £20.

20 I'm bid.

20, two, 25, 28.

At 28 now.

Take 30.

30, two, 32.

You in again?

35.

Goes then... seated at 35.

38, net.

38, 40.

In the room at 40.

50 in the room.

Net, you're out.

55.

Come on.

At 55.

Done then at 55.

No, we need a lot more than that.

Come on...

Still on the net at 55.

They're proper chairs!

At 55.

Is that a 60?

It is a 60.

Oh, put the hammer down.

MH: No, keep going.

DAVID: In the room at 60.

Net, you're out.

Take your five if you want.

Nobody else?

At 60.

VO: Great start and not one to be sniffed at.

It was terribly brave of me.

Was it?

Well, that's the first bit of Ercol I've bought in my life.

Was it?

Oh yeah.

I'm quite proud of myself, actually.

Well, you know, if you're proud of yourself, Mark... Well, that's all the matters, isn't it?

MS: Absolutely.

MH: (CHUCKLES) VO: Goodness!

What are they like, eh?!

Next, Mark Hales's pair of 19th century barometers.

But has he gauged the pressure of the saleroom correctly?

These are the most fashionable and sought after of all barometers.

Put it in at what, 20 quid?

Well said, sir.

20 I'm bid.

Straight down in the front, yes, thank you.

20, two, here at 22, 25?

25.

In the room at 25.

With you, sir, at 25.

At £25.

That's not good at all.

Done and finished then at 25.

Oh... VO: Oh dear!

A loss of £21.

It was almost like a BOGOF there.

Yeah.

Buy one, get one free.

VO: Good of you to point that out, Mark!

Now, Mark Hales's print of Happy As A King is up.

But will it put a smile on the punters' faces?

£10.

Five anywhere?

It's a pretty picture, isn't it?

A fiver... VO: Yeah, someone's looking glum, and it's not even his lot!

For the Pears print, Five I'm bid, thank you, sir.

At five only.

And I sell it then at £5.

At a fiver.

Six.

You want seven?

Seven, eight, nine, 10.

10 down here.

Goes then at 10, and I sell at 10.

We all done at £10?

VO: Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!

Another loss.

You do know... How bad can it get?

..the nature of the game is to buy things and then hopefully make a profit?

MH: Oh!

MS: It's not to buy something and then sell it for half what you paid for it.

Profit - I remember that!

VO: So let's see if you can do any better, Mark Stacey - here comes your inlaid cribbage board...

I'm not hopeful for this, Mark, actually, but I do like it and I think it looks nice up there.

DAVID: ..cribbage board... And they're popular.

10 for it?

Straight in at £10?

10 I'm bid.

With the lady at 10.

Take two now.

12, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30, 32.

35, 38.

At 38.

I sell on the seats at £38.

And I sell at 38.

VO: Not so bright now, Mark Stacey - a £7 loss for you too.

Well, that's one thing on my list now - no more cribbage boards!

We're going to have a very long list of things of not to buy!

VO: Let's see if Mark Stacey can redeem himself with his bronze tazza.

Put it in at £30.

30 to start.

Come on!

30 I'm bid.

At 30 now.

I sell standing at 30.

Right at the back, at 30.

Take a two anywhere?

Goes then at £30.

In the blue at 30, the maiden bid of 30.

DAVID: Sell then at £30... MS: Can you believe that?

So it's not just me then, is it?

It goes in the blue at 30... £30.

Right at the back at 30.

Nothing on the net.

32.

(LAUGHTER) Do you want 35?

35.

In the room at 35.

Every little helps.

In the room at 35.

At 35.

I sell with the sporting gent there at 35.

Here at 38.

40?

I'm getting too carried away there!

Oh, for God's sake, I think that's plenty, don't you?!

I sell at 40.

VO: It holds its value but there's still a loss after the auction house has taken commission.

I think we're both going to have to chalk this down to experience today, Mark, by the looks of it.

We've an awful lot of lots to go yet, don't we?

It's not looking use...

It's not looking good.

VO: Another lot for Mark Hales now.

Can he turn this around with his ebony presentation mallet?

DAVID: Let's start at £30.

30 quid for it.

30 I'm bid.

With the lady at 30.

And I sell at £30.

35.

With the lady now at 35.

38.

At 38.

Sell then...

This is possibly the worst day of my life.

You're all out in front... VO: Oh Mark... At 38.

I sell with the net then at 38.

You're out in the room at 38.

VO: It seems the builders Mark hoped might buy the mallet have not materialized.

Another loss.

Poor Mark...

I think...

I have to say, Mark, that you're not having a good day and it's not fair.

VO: Next, Mark Stacey's cunningly combined his two cherub candlesticks into one lot.

Will it be enough to pull him out of this quagmire?

Erm... £20 the two.

Straight in at £20?

Come on.

20?

They're worth that.

A tenner each.

Come on.

20 quid.

20 I'm bid down here.

Oh good.

Well, I've got my money back.

Take a two.

Sell then at £20.

Come on.

Twenty... five.

You in again?

28?

28.

At 28.

MS: Internet is bidding.

DAVID: Goes then at 28.

In the room at 28.

MS: Bit more.

Oh... VO: A modest profit.

Rejoice!

Is this the turnaround?

I mean, I'm happy with a profit, at last.

So, fingers crossed, anyway, I'm on my way uphill!

VO: We'll see, as his wine funnel goes under the hammer.

Straight in, 20 quid?

Decant your wine?

20 I'm bid.

At the back at 20.

Take a two now.

What did it cost?

55.

25 in the room.

28, 30.

£30.

Back, standing at 30.

And it goes then at £30.

All done at 30?

VO: Nope.

No turnaround there.

I think it's...

I think we've entered a new phase of the competition, don't you?

MS: Yeah.

MH: It's who can lose the most?!

Yeah.

VO: Oh come on, boys, cheer up.

It's not that bad.

Next, Mark Hales and his regimental picture frames.

£20 for them?

20?

Put the appropriate photographs in them.

Don't start at 20.

Oh 22.

Net at 22.

You want 25?

25.

In the room at 25.

28.

MH: That's ridiculous.

DAVID: At 28 now.

28 on the net.

Come on.

DAVID: On the net at £28.

Should be 120 quid or something.

DAVID: 30.

30 in the room.

30 in the room.

32.

You in again?

35?

35.

35, it's in the room.

38.

40 now?

38.

40, 45.

Net at 45.

45.

There's two people on the net.

DAVID: 55.

MS: It's going on.

Yeah, well it should do.

65.

At 70.

DAVID: At 75.

MS: It's creeping up.

It's got to go on to next week!

At 75.

Goes then at 75.

Oh... No one else?

At 75.

VO: A £20 profit will have to do.

It's such a shame, Mark.

Well, you can't win them all.

VO: Surely Mark Stacey's lovely little arts and crafts pin tray can tease this tough crowd?

VO: Tenner for it.

£10, the dish.

10?

10.

At 10 I'm bid now.

And I sell then at £10.

And it goes at 10.

Take two.

12 behind you.

15 in front.

15.

18.

20?

£20.

In front at 20.

With the gent there at £20 and I sell at 20.

All done at 20?

VO: Another lot nosedives.

We can't have it our way every auction, can we?

MS: (SIGHS) It was a tricky day, wasn't it?

VO: Well, never mind, boys - here comes the auctioneer's favorite, that vase that the dealer just wanted to get rid of.

This is seriously cool.

This, in my opinion... MS: Fabulous piece.

..is the best bit in the sale.

Come on, I want everybody bidding.

It is so cool.

20 quid for it.

Straight in, £20.

22 I've got on the net.

Oh!

MS: Oh... Come on.

DAVID: On the net at 22.

25.

At 25.

Down here at 25.

Is that it?

In the room now at 25.

Anybody else?

28.

30.

32... VO: Well, blow me!

DAVID: At 32.

MS: Come on!

One more!

DAVID: Goes then at £32 now.

All done at 32.

Nobody else?

Come on!

MH: Yes!

VO: Well, would you believe it?

I think that was the most... marvelous price!

VO: Sadly though, no champagne for either of our experts... but at the end of the auction, it's still a close call.

Mark Stacey started today with £200 but after auction costs, he made a loss of £45.84, leaving him a slimline £154.16 to carry forward to the next leg.

VO: Mark Hales also started with £200, and after auction fees he made a loss of £25.44, giving him a healthy £174.56 to play with.

Well, Mark, not our finest hour, I think... No, no, no.

But it could've been worse.

It could've been a lot worse.

So we've got at least some money to carry forward.

Money?

Oh yes, I remember that.

So on to the second leg.

Put it down to bitter experience.

MH: Yes.

MS: And I'm not bitter.

VO: Oh really?

Next time on Antiques Road Trip: our pair of Marks hunt high and low for bargains.

It's easier just to stay down here, frankly.

VO: And might have one or two lucky saves.

MARK: Oh!

(WOMAN GASPS) subtitling@stv.tv