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!

This week, we have the ultimate battle of the Marks.

Mark Stacey is a dealer and auctioneer from Brighton, whose sharp eye and sharper wit make him a formidable Road Tripper.

MARK STACEY (MS): I don't want to force you on this, because it's not in...

It's not in my nature, but...!

VO: While Mark Hales is an auctioneer and ceramics expert from sunny Devon, who hopes his chutzpah might just carry the day.

MARK HALES (MH): He who dares wins, Jon!

VO: Although they both suffered losses in the disastrous first leg... ..we've entered a new phase of the competition, don't you?

MH: It's who can lose the most?

MS: Yeah.

VO: ..both boys have now managed to turn tidy profits.

I think I'm the cat that's got the cream.

You certainly are.

VO: Both Marks started this week with a cool £200.

Mark Stacey has managed to grow that seed money into a bountiful £511.64.

Pretty good.

While Mark Hales has traded his original £200 up to a respectable £305.28.

Today our twosome are paired with a stunning 60s chick.

Ha!

The sinuous 1968 Triumph Spitfire.

This week sees the two Marks journey through eastern lands, from Finedon in Northamptonshire 300 miles through five English counties to Colchester in Essex.

On this last leg of their epic road trip, they begin in Clare in Suffolk, heading for their final auction in Colchester.

MS: A nice little Georgian town again, isn't it?

MH: Very pretty.

VO: During the medieval period, the small town of Clare prospered from the cloth industry.

Today, its large range of listed buildings makes it an attractive place to start the day's buying.

Right then, here we are.

Jolly good.

You're very keen, Mark.

I am very keen.

Can't wait for this.

VO: You're positively bouncing, Mark!

Well, I'm popping in that one, I think.

OK, I'm off this way.

You're going that way?

Yep.

Be lucky.

Be lucky, and I'll catch up with you later.

Yeah, don't catch up with me too soon!

MS: Oh, I will.

MH: Bye!

VO: Mark Stacey's heading off towards FD Salter Antiques, where David rules the roost.

MK: Hello.

DAVID: Hello.

I'm Mark.

Hello.

David.

Nice to meet you, David.

Lovely little shop you've got here.

Thank you.

VO: Let's hope Mark's in luck as he hunts for his first item.

Now there's something that might be Mark's cup of tea.

That's quite pretty, isn't it?

Quite a sweet little thing, it's a little pewter... embossed tea caddy, almost sort of arts and crafts-y, in a way.

VO: The 19th century arts and crafts movement reacted against the manufacturing changes brought on by the Industrial Revolution, and harked back to the styles and craftsmanship of previous centuries.

And let's see what David says price-wise.

We might be lucky.

What I did find, David, was this little single tea caddy.

Yep.

Erm, embossed with pewter, I suppose.

I would say it was pewter, yes.

And I like the fact it's obviously got a bit of age, because... Oh yes.

..it's got that lovely patina on there.

Yes, yes, yeah.

But there was no price on it, David.

Do I need to sit down?

No, no, it's not too bad at all.

It can be £35 to you.

Oh well, that's actually not too bad, is it?

We couldn't get to 30?

I don't want to push you too much on this, David...

I can't, I'm afraid.

You can't, OK.

I've not bought anything like this before, so do you know what?

I'm gonna buy it for 35, David.

Lovely, right.

Thank you.

That's very kind of you, thank you very much.

Wish me luck with it, won't you?

I do, yes, yes, yes.

If it does well I'll have a cup of tea with you.

Good, fair enough.

VO: Ripping!

Mark Stacey's first buy's in hand.

Meanwhile, Mark Hales is a couple of minutes away and heading into Clare Antiques and Interiors.

But his morning isn't going quite so swimmingly.

I'm having a blond moment.

VO: Steady on now.

Don't be colorist.

What to do?

What to do?

What to buy?

VO: That, Mark, is the question.

I keep seeing little bits and pieces that I can buy for £15, they might make £25, it's not what I'm after.

I'm trying to buy something with considerable profit in it.

Ha-ha!

And I'm not dreaming, it happens, I've done it before, I can do it again.

VO: Indeed you have!

Yes!

Yes!

I'm gonna hug Mark Stacey.

Oh my God!

Yes!

VO: While Mark Hales pulls himself together, the competitive Mark Stacey is nearby and has just spotted another shop he's keen to have a gander at, Market Hill Antiques.

This looks rather interesting, actually.

MS: Hello there.

ROBIN: Morning, sir.

MS: I'm Mark.

ROBIN: Robin.

MS: Nice to meet you, Robin.

ROBIN: Nice to meet you.

VO: As ever, Mark's eagle eye is hunting for a bargain.

Watch out, Robin.

We're realistically priced.

Are you?

Ah well, that's a word I like!

But I prefer "very" in front of it.

I can fully understand that.

VO: And a good thing too.

Mark's on fire today!

He's just spotted a pair of Georgian lead tobacco boxes.

There's one with the Prince of Wales feathers here.

And they are 1720s, are they?

Yeah.

They're probably Scottish, they had the main tobacco import from Virginia and places like that.

VO: The Scottish port of Glasgow dominated the 18th century tobacco trade with the American colonies, and many great fortunes were built on the weed.

So I've never bought one of these before, and they really are early 18th century?

I'll do you a deal on the pair.

What are we looking at if I took the two of them as one lot?

I'll do you buy one get one free.

OK. Do you want to look at the price now?

No.

185.

Oh my God.

I'm always open to an offer.

I don't want to be reckless and jeopardize my hard earned winnings.

At £120 they've got to make a profit, haven't they, for the pair?

I mean, it does seem reasonable, but I do like round figures, you see.

150 then?

No, 100!

That's what I was thinking.

110 the pair.

You can't do them for 100?

Shake on 100?

Go on.

What have I done?

You've spent £100, sir.

I can't get it back now, can I?

No, we shook on it.

We have.

Sweating, sir?

I am sweating, I've never bought anything like this before, so I'm really worried now.

VO: Where are you going Mark?

Get back here!

That's more like it.

And Robin gets his cash - finally - and another buy's in the bag, despite the tomfoolery!

Mark Hales though still hasn't found anything in the other shop.

It's all going wrong for me today.

I don't, you know...

I'm just going... VO: So he's taking a break from the stresses of buying.

I hope I haven't missed anything!

It's so easy to miss things.

Right, onward.

Onward.

VO: And he's driving the 32 miles to Maldon in Essex.

VO: The town's history is tied to the Blackwater Estuary on which it sits.

Traditional Thames sailing barges, which once carried cargoes through the waterways of eastern England, can still be glimpsed.

Today Mark's visiting the town's Combined Military Services Museum.

And meeting museum historian, Clive.

Good afternoon, sir.

Good afternoon.

I'm Mark.

I'm Clive.

Hello, Clive.

VO: The museum's collection illustrates the proud history of Britain's armed forces.

Weapons, uniforms and other equipment displayed here from all branches of the military, ancient and modern.

The museum's owned by a private collector of militaria.

Some of the most interesting pieces relate to espionage and covert operations in the 20th century.

Clive's going to show Mark one of them.

Ah, now what have we here?

Now, this is a suitcase radio.

MH: Right.

CLIVE: It was the type of thing that was issued to special operations, executive operatives during the Second World War, both men and women.

And they used it to communicate back to the UK.

VO: The Special Operations Executive - or SOE - was a secret British army unit convened during World War II to engage in covert reconnaissance and sabotage behind enemy lines.

Way in advance of its time in terms of communications.

You can pick it up, you can carry it, and the obvious disguise for it was a suitcase, hence the term "suitcase radios".

VO: The men and women of the SOE risked their lives to send information vital to the war effort back to Britain.

They were brave, weren't they?

They were indeed, yes, very much so.

And if you like, you can actually put the headphones on and have a tap on the Morse key.

Oh, lovely.

Right, now what's SOS?

Dot, dot, dot, dash, dash, dash, dot, dot, dot.

That's it.

I've done it, I've sent a message.

VO: Now, is that a gun in Clive's pocket?

Now, I've got something else here that you might find of interest.

Craftily concealed about my person.

Now this... That's a gun!

It's a Luger, standard German Second World War pistol, but this one is rather special.

And this particular weapon, with another one, was prepared for an assassination attempt on Hitler in 1944.

That actual Luger?

Yeah.

They decided in July 1940 not to carry on with the operation because it was considered that Hitler was doing so much damage to the German war effort by himself that it was best to leave him alive.

Yeah, it sort of makes sense now, in retrospect, doesn't it?

That gun would have been used had the operation gone ahead?

I'm having trouble getting my head round this.

That actual pistol basically could have changed history.

I mean, it could have changed the history of the world.

I mean, can I have a go?

CLIVE: Certainly.

MH: As it were.

Yep.

VO: Like all of the firearms here, the Luger has been deactivated, thank goodness, so it can't fire, and there's no chance of Mark doing himself a mischief.

MH: Almost as if it was made for me, you know.

VO: Er, yes Mark, you do look the part.

VO: Now, Clive has some other super-spy gadgets to show Mark.

This room is packed full of items thought to have been used in espionage during the Cold War.

Much of the collection was amassed by two real-life British agents, the husband-and-wife spy team Peter and Prue Mason, who used many of these specially designed items in the field.

Here are some particular artifacts I thought you might find interesting.

VO: I think Clive might be Essex's answer to Q.

Now, I'm not going to tell you what they are, because I want you to think James Bond.

My goodness me.

See if you can see what's different about these shoes.

OK, alright.

Apart from the fact they're very sexy patent leather.

Oh, each to their own, Clive!

VO: Now, now... MH: Oh, oh, here we go.

If I pull that out... MH: Oh, nasty.

CLIVE: There you go.

And that's for doing his nails, isn't it?

VO: The shoes contain a concealed blade - just like the shoes worn by arch-villainess Rosa Klebb in Bond film From Russia With Love.

Typical James Bond scenario, all you've got to do is flick that out... Flick that out with your other foot, or wiggling about.

Yeah, or on a chair.

Cut your ropes, quite bit of kung fu or whatever, out the building.

Don't forget the young lady.

VO: Daniel Craig is quaking in his Italian leather brogues, I'm sure.

Just pick up that cigarette there.

That's heavy.

It's a gun.

Well, of course it is, how obvious!

Of course it's a gun.

It's a single shot pistol.

Is it really?

To fire it, you have to twist that.

Right, so all you would do is twist it... CLIVE: Yep.

MH: ..and that would... Fire a bullet out of the end.

This is Boy's Own stuff, isn't it?

This is straight out of books, isn't it?

VO: The museum holds all manner of secrets.

But the rest of them are for Mark's eyes only.

I shouldn't show you this, but we do have one or two items... VO: Mark Stacey though, is back in Clare, Suffolk, and has popped into the shop that gave Mark Hales such gyp earlier.

Can his eagle eye spot anything his rival missed?

I've seen this little box here that's got Ollivant & Botsford on it.

VO: Ollivant & Botsford were jewelers, silversmiths and watchmakers.

Shall we open the box?

Let's open the box, come on, let's open the box.

VO: Oh goody!

Let's!

Could be a winner.

Can I have a look at this?

VO: Dealer Jim will get it out of the case.

Drumroll, please.

Let's see if it's as exciting as it looks.

Oh.

VO: Well, that was an anticlimax.

Whatever was in there, "issued by the Royal Observatory, "Greenwich, 19th September 1917."

VO: The box used to contain a deck watch, used for naval navigation.

The number on the box's lid uniquely identifies it and ties it to these records held in the Royal Observatory, Greenwich.

They confirm the box's provenance and tell the story of its working life.

It was acquired by the Royal Observatory in the 1890s, and was issued to many Royal Navy vessels before being retired in 1922.

It's just an intriguing little thing, but £40.

I mean, is the dealer negotiable here?

He seemed to be able to do something on that price.

What can you take?

I know he'll give you 35 on it.

Do you think he would come down to 30?

I'd have to call him.

Would you mind doing that?

He'll do £30 for it.

Oh, well I think I've got to have it for £30, haven't I?

Thank you very much indeed.

Thanks, Jim!

VO: Marvelous, and Mark Stacey sails off to his next shop.

VO: He's traveling the 39 miles to the small Essex village of Rettendon.

A compact but charming destination.

Its church, All Saints, dates from the 13th century.

He's strolling off into Rettendon Antiques.

Is there anything he might risk his hard-earned on?

There is this fire screen.

It's...

The central piece is made out of beaten copper, and I quite like these very stylish roses, almost like Tudor roses.

Now, it's got £55 on it.

VO: Now we know you regard that as the very loosest of jumping-off points, Mark.

Best see what you can strike up with the lovely proprietor, Elaine.

Elaine?

Sorry, Elaine.

I mean, I found this, and dare I say what I want to pay for it?

I mean, it's got 55 on it.

What do you think the lowest will be on that?

DEALER: I could do it for £20.

MS: £20?

It doesn't sound too bad, does it?

I think it's very reasonable.

You would, Elaine, wouldn't you?

DEALER: Yes.

MS: You would.

VO: Hm, this Essex girl's no pushover.

You don't think we could get it lower than that?

£20 I think is a good price.

MS: Is it?

DEALER: Yeah.

This is... Do you want to hear what my good price is?

DEALER: Hmm... do I?

MS: No!

(THEY CHUCKLE) I'm not sure!

Oh, you're getting far too good at this.

VO: She is, isn't she?

We couldn't tweak it under a bit, for good luck?

I don't want to force you on this, because it's not in...

It's not in my nature, but..!

VO: Who will break the silent battle of wills?

You're a very good saleswoman, you know.

I think it's worth the £20.

Go on, I'll take it for 20.

DEALER: Good.

MS: You don't... DEALER: Have we got a deal?

MS: We have.

VO: There's something you don't see every day.

Mark is outdone at his own game.

Elaine gets her £20, and Mark gets his fire screen.

And with that highly irregular occurrence, the curtain falls on our first day.

Night-night, chaps.

VO: But they can't stay off the road for long!

The morning sun greets them back in the Spit and raring to go.

MH: Do you know, the sun's shining, Mark, it's a beautiful day, I'm on the up.

Lady Luck is going to shine on me today.

VO: So far, Mark Stacey has spent £185 on four lots: the box for the naval deck watch.

The lead tobacco boxes.

The pewter tea caddy.

And the arts-and-crafts fire screen.

While Mark Hales has yet to make a purchase, and so has spent nothing whatsoever.

But all is optimism as they head for the first shop of the day.

MH: Lots of time left, anything can happen.

MS: Anything can happen.

MH: I'm only a tad behind.

It's not over until the last auction, Mark.

That's right.

That's what I always think, you know, you're only as good as your next purchase.

VO: They're driving to the Essex village of Battlesbridge... ..through which the River Crouch flows, along its stately way.

This morning's a two-hander, as our haggling heroes go to war in the same place - Battlesbridge Antiques Centre.

This complex of shops holds over 80 dealers, so there should be plenty for everyone.

This looks good.

Are you feeling happier now?

Yeah.

This is great.

VO: They're heading off in different directions.

Oh, I want to get in there.

Don't worry about me, will you?

I want to get going.

MH: Good morning, sir.

JON: Good morning.

MH: I'm Mark.

JON: My name's Jon.

VO: With no buys yet, Mark's going to have to work fast.

Already I've seen a lovely Wemyss jardiniere, come and have a look.

It's in good condition, let's have a quick look.

225, this is too much for me.

VO: Wemyss ware is a type of decorative pottery originally produced in Ceres, Fife, from around the 1880s to the 1930s.

It was decorated by a chap called Nekola and this is all hand-painted.

Several patterns, lots of different flowers, plants, etc.

VO: Very nice.

Now, what can you get the blooming price down to?

In a bit of a pickle, actually, Jon.

JON: OK. MH: I'm up against Mark Stacey.

He's in front at the moment.

JON: OK, we don't want that.

MH: The pressure's on.

JON: Right.

Yeah, a bit of a nightmare.

OK, what are we going to do?

MH: I dunno!

(CHUCKLES) Have you seen anything in particular... Jon, I love you already!

"What are WE gonna do?"

That's what I like to hear!

Can I show you a Wemyss jardiniere over there?

Course you can, yes.

You've got 225 on it.

I want to buy it for 150.

JON: OK. MH: What's it got to be?

The absolute best, Mark, to you has got to be £175.

That's the bottom line, is it?

That's got be the absolute best, I'm afraid.

Alright, well let's have a go.

JON: Thank you very much.

MH: Thank you, Jon.

..this wrapped up for you.

Brilliant.

Yeah.

He who dares wins, Jon.

VO: Oh yeah, Del Boy, oh yeah.

Bye!

VO: Meanwhile, Mark Stacey is outside.

Well, I've just spotted something which is completely barking mad - a pair of cast iron... what only can be described, really, as castle hinges.

It's almost like a fleur de lys design, and these would have gone on to a moat bridge or something.

Or a very, very old wooden door.

And I don't know if I'm crazy or very wise in trying to buy them.

VO: On the ticket is £125.

I must be having a funny five minutes, you know, I'm getting a hot flush here about these, it's really quite mad.

VO: Oh settle down, dear, settle down.

What would be your best price on those then?

I'd go to 75.

75.

75, that would be my best price.

You couldn't go to 70 for me?

I'll go to 70.

I must be mad, but I'm gonna have them at £70.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

VO: Ah, a buy fit for a king!

Across the way, Mark Hales is really starting to feel the pressure.

He's still only bought one item.

I think it might be getting to him, all this.

Morning.

Cheerful chappies, aren't they?

Just looking for anything old that'll just hit me.

And frankly the rate I'm going, I should be knocked out.

You'd think in a place like this I could buy something, wouldn't you?

VO: Oh Mark, do settle down.

Have you found anything yet?

I'm A FRAYED KNOT.

VO: After all that flimflam, he's back where he started in Jon's shop.

Oh dear.

Oh, now that's nice.

That is me all over.

Lovely Georgian stoneware tankard.

Markings on it.

It's in good order.

Oh, imagine a couple of pints of porter in that!

It's brown glazed stoneware, made all over the place, actually.

Derbyshire, Nottingham.

We have to be a little bit careful, because they did reproduce a lot of brown glazed stoneware.

But not with this sort of banding and turning on it, it's good.

£35, let's go and see what we can get it for, shall we?

Jon's still over there, let's go and have a chat.

Now, I know what you're gonna say Jon, but I'm going to ask you.

It's got £35 on it, I want to buy it for 25.

I can sell it for 30.

Oh, blimey, can't you do 28?

No, I can't, it's got to be 30.

Right.

Come on, let's have a go, I love it.

JON: Thank you very much.

MH: Thank you, Jon.

I'll get that packed up for you, Mark.

MH: Thank you.

JON: Thank you.

VO: Ah, ceramics maestro Mark is back in familiar territory.

Maybe his luck's about to change.

Ah!

VO: Meanwhile, Mark Stacey's still outside, and boxing clever once again.

Well, the dealer's just brought this out of the back of his van, and basically it's a box.

Now, have I bought any boxes so far?

VO: Listen, you've bought four of the flaming things.

It's a Victorian lady's jewelry box, in walnut.

VO: Now, Mark's thinking it might make a job lot with his pewter tea caddy.

Ticket price is £35.

Best speak to dealer Colin.

Col?

Is there any way we can get it for 25?

COLIN: 30?

MS: It has to be 25, I'm afraid, I paid so much for the tea caddy, you see.

Go on then.

Are you sure?

25?

COLIN: Yep.

MS: Lovely, thank you.

And I'm going to quickly pay you before you change your mind!

COLIN: Yes.

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: Capital!

And with that, it's time to bid Battlesbridge a fond adieu.

Mark Stacey has bought up to the hilt, so he's heading off towards Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex... ..where he's going to pay a playful visit to the House on the Hill Toy Museum, where he's meeting owner Alan.

MS: Hello, Alan.

ALAN: Hi, Mark.

Nice to meet you.

Welcome to the House on the Hill Toy Museum.

Oh thank you, it's amazing, lovely weather, isn't it?

I'm hoping to learn a lot today.

Well, it's the largest toy museum in the world... VO: Alan has run the museum since 1990, when he turned his magnificent private collection of toys into this huge public exhibition.

We're coming into the tin plate area, the tin plate toys.

VO: Alan started his collection at the age of 14.

Today, it spans all types of toy, from board games to dolls, and from ancient toys to modern.

But it's the tin toys of his World War II childhood that are his first and greatest love.

Here we have a Mettoy in its original box.

MS: Wow!

ALAN: A Rolls Royce, actually.

A Rolls Royce?

I bought that many years ago.

I paid actually £600 for it.

Did you really?

Yeah.

Today, I don't know, it's worth about 1,500.

And the chauffeur's inside as well.

Yeah.

I think that's amazing, actually.

And a real find from that era, isn't it?

How rare is it to find it in this sort of condition?

Oh, extremely rare.

They don't survive, cuz they played with them.

VO: And Alan has another cabinet full of World War II period toys nearby.

Right Mark, this is what we call our home front display, it's war toys depicting everything from World War II.

As you can see, the toy manufacturers, to sell the toys, started producing all the toys in camouflage.

A lot of the toymakers were German, mainly Jewish, and they fled Germany in the early '30s and came to England and set up manufacturing units here - Spear's Games, Mettoy, etc.

And so these are all basically based on their knowledge and skill.

MS: And then after the war?

The Americans got the Japanese to produce toys, robots, etc.

Oh, I remember the robots.

Yeah, and that kickstarted the Japanese economy actually, and they started producing robots and space toys, and that was the start of... Can we see some?

Have you got some?

MS: I'm sure you have.

ALAN: Yes.

Come over here, I'll show you.

I've got loads of them.

Oh wow, Alan, these are fantastic.

Yes, this is a robot and space cabinet, mainly from Japan.

VO: As a child of the 1960s, this is Mark's era.

It's bringing back all sorts of memories, actually.

ALAN: Well, here I've got an early Japanese clockwork toy.

You can see you wind it up and all the planets go round.

MS: And of course there was the fascination, wasn't there, with sci-fi?

You get those B movies from the '50s.

ALAN: Exactly, and course it was the time when UFOs were seen... MS: That's right, and it wasn't long of course before men on the moon in 1969.

ALAN: Exactly.

MS: Well, I do remember as a child, I loved all the space television, Captain Scarlet and the Thunderbirds and all that sort of stuff.

Well we've got the original, not Thunderbirds but Gerry Anderson, car here, from the television series The Investigator, and that was the original prop from the series.

VO: Gerry Anderson was the creator who devised puppet series Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet, amongst others.

I was quite in love with Lady Penelope.

Were you?

And her pink Rolls Royce.

Did you ever go out with her at all?

No I didn't, we never met.

ALAN: No!

MS: She was a bit short for me.

A bit wooden!

(THEY CHUCKLE) Oh Alan, that's been fantastic, it's a real trip down memory lane for me.

Thank you very much for showing us.

It's been a great pleasure.

VO: F-A-B!

To the Spitfire and away!

Meanwhile, Mark Hales has traveled the nine miles to Debden, Essex, where he has one final chance to shop.

Leafy Debden, in the Uttlesford area of Essex, is rural tranquility itself.

In recent years, it's been twinned with the Nepalese village of Tang Ting.

Not a lot of people know that.

Let's hope Mark can look forward to similar cooperation as he heads for Debden Antiques.

Now or never, my last shop of the entire trip.

Urgh!

I have to buy one or two items here.

VO: Indeed you do!

Hopefully fresh-faced dealer James can be of some assistance.

Good afternoon.

Would it be OK if I have a look around?

Yes, sure.

Thank you very much indeed.

225, way out of my league.

Hm.

Leave well alone.

VO: It's crunch time.

MH: James?

JAMES: Yes.

Help.

VO: Oh, Mark.

OK. Lovely.

MH: Help, James.

JAMES: Right.

Look, I've got...

This is my last hour, and I've got about £100 left, I've got to use it up.

Have you got anything you can recommend, that I might find attractive?

Um, well... Cuz I've got to buy it and I've got to sell it and I've got to take the auctioneer's commission off it.

Yes, I really feel for you.

VO: Oh bless you, James.

I like the big decorative things.

"A large hand-painted vintage ship's name board "from the vessel..." What?

Organs?

VO: Oh lordy.

JAMES: (CHUCKLES) Ogano.

VO: Thank you.

On the ticket, £245.

I've got £100 and 28 pence, and... And what I want, James, right, cuz I know you're on my wavelength, I just want something big and showy.

Right.

It's all a gamble.

£100.28.

JAMES: You can have that for 100.

Well, look, I'd better take it.

MH: Alright.

JAMES: And I DO want the 28p!

(THEY CHUCKLE) MH: I don't blame you, look.

20, 40, 60, 80, 90, five, 100.

JAMES: 28p.

MH: 28 pence.

Right, OK. James, you got me out of a pickle.

JAMES: That's alright.

MH: No, you're alright.

MH: Thank you very much indeed.

JAMES: I'm sure it'll do OK. MH: Thank you.

JAMES: And now you can JAMES: get it off the wall!

MH: Right!

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: Marvelous - Mark has three lots at last!

They've repaired to the rustic environs of Stansted Mountfitchet Castle to unveil their purchases.

Looks like they've got some company, too.

Let's see if we can "quack" this, shall we?

Mark, it's our very last reveal.

I know.

I know.

How are you feeling, my old buddy?

I'm a little bit sad about it.

MS: Shall I show you?

MH: Yes please.

MS: Are you ready?

MH: Yes!

Oh my goodness me.

Now... Well... What do you think?

I love it.

I mean, this I think is great.

Arts and crafts copper.

Arts and crafts, English Tudor roses.

Oh!

Nice wrought iron base, nice honest condition, not been cleaned.

VO: Yes, we know YOU like it, Mark Stacey.

But what does Mark Hales think?

Wonderful.

VO: Good good.

And what are these magnificent, um... What have I done, Mark?

They're castle door hinges.

They certainly are.

I just love them, actually, I thought they were great fun.

They'd be super in the average kitchen, wouldn't they?

VO: Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, Mark.

MS: This is an interesting find.

It does have a Royal Observatory, Greenwich, mark.

September 1917.

I just thought it was a beautiful little box.

Delightful, and military is up.

How much?

£25?

MS: 30.

MH: (GASPS) Mark, I can't wait any longer.

Please, show me your... VO: Ah, yes.

Well, I've been terribly brave.

Have you?

Very, very brave.

All my money has gone, every penny.

Really?

OK, that's that.

VO: What was that look, Mark?

Oh, I like that.

Ogano.

Is it the name of the ship?

Yep.

I love it, I think it's really good, actually.

1920s, I think.

How much did you pay for that?

£100.28.

VO: What about Mark Hales's pretty but pricey jardiniere?

I don't need to look under here, Mark, but I will look.

As it's Wemyss obviously, isn't it?

Of course, yes.

MS: I love this, I've always loved Wemyss.

It actually cost me £175.

Oh, that's a fair chunk, isn't it, Mark?

And I was thinking two to three at auction, hopefully.

Oh, you must do.

VO: And the tankard?

That's my favorite thing.

GR, so that's George III?

It's a lovely Georgian tankard.

Isn't it gorgeous?

MS: I love it.

MH: £30.

MS: Oh well.

MH: (SNIGGERS) It's going to be an interesting auction!

VO: All very civilized, chaps!

But when their rival's back is turned, do the gloves come off?

The Ogano ship sign, it's a pastiche of course - somebody's just put the portholes on there.

Are they the original ones?

Possibly.

It's quite interesting, 100 quid, there might be a small profit in that.

The Wemyss is very speculative.

It's an interesting lot.

I love Wemyss, and you know, 175 quid is not bad, actually.

Looking forward to the auction, but you know, I've said this before and I'll say it again - it ain't over until the auctioneer puts his gavel down.

A lot of objects there.

I mean, good for him.

I thought he was pretty brave, actually.

I think we can forget about the hinges, you know, there's bits busted off them, half of one is missing, and the two boxes he's put together, they are very nice and a very good buy.

I like those a lot.

The military box, beautiful mahogany military box, lovely.

Anything can happen at auction, anything, so I'm in with a chance.

VO: On this epic road trip, the two Marks have traveled nearly 300 miles through the shires of East Anglia.

On this leg, they started in Clare, Suffolk.

They're heading now for their final showdown in Colchester, Essex.

The town has housed a military garrison since as far back as the Roman period, and was an important city in ancient Britain.

Let's hope our marvy Marks can harness a bit of that warrior spirit as they head for their very last auction.

A venerable Colchester institution, Reeman Dansie auctioneers have been established here since 1881.

Our very final chance...

The last auction.

The last auction, the last dance, the last tango, the last everything.

Anything could happen!

And it probably will.

It probably will.

Shall we go and find out what's happening?

VO: Auctioneer James Grinter will be wielding the fateful gavel today.

But before he takes to the stage, what does he think of our boys' buys?

The ship's name board, erm, sadly I think we probably will struggle with that.

It's not very old, it's not very decorative and it hasn't got very much quality.

The lead tobacco boxes are very stylish, but whether or not there'll be lots of collectors out there for them, we'll have to wait and see.

My least favorite lots are the pair of iron hinges.

VO: Mark Stacey started this leg with £511.64.

He's spent £280 exactly, and has assembled five lots for his lucre.

Mark Hales, meanwhile, has spent his entire cash pot - a grand total of £305.28.

But he's only assembled three lots for his trouble.

Anything could happen as our pair ready themselves for the final showdown.

Look comfy, don't they?

So without further ado, I will start the collectors' items.

MS: Oh, this is it.

This is it.

MH: Here we go, Mark.

VO: First up, Mark Stacey's pair of lead tobacco boxes.

Will they set the saleroom alight?

Or simply smolder?

£40 to start me.

40, 40 I have.

He's got 40, so I haven't lost everything!

£2 down there now, at 42.

44.

46.

48.

50... five.

60... five.

£65.

Come on, a bit more.

All done at £65.

VO: So, a less-than-stellar start for Mark Stacey.

Thank goodness, a loss!

VO: Charming.

It's boxes, boxes everywhere, as Mark Stacey's next lot takes the stage.

£40 start me, 40, 40 I have down here now, 40.

42.

44.

46.

48.

50.

55.

60.

Well, I've got my money back, Mark.

£60 is bid.

Any advance?

All done now at £60.

All done.

VO: They hold their value - but that's a loss after the auction house's commission.

Might this be Mark Hales's chance to catch up?

I thought there might be a £20-30 profit in them.

I thought they'd make 120 in a sale like this.

VO: So, Mark Hales's first lot now, as his Wemyss jardiniere meets the saleroom.

Er, what do you say to start me?

£100 then, £100 I have down here now, at 100.

Come on.

110.

120.

130.

140.

150.

160.

170.

MH: Good.

That's my money back.

MS: You're in profit.

£190 bid I'm here now at 190.

Bid 200.

Gonna sell.

All done at 190.

VO: A profit, but not the one he hoped for.

He'll still need a flier if he's going to catch up.

Well, I've got to laugh - I can't do anything else, can I?

You made a £15 profit, Mark.

MH: (SIGHS) VO: Enough of the sighing, boys.

Maybe Mark Stacey's arts and crafts fire screen will ignite the saleroom's interest.

30?

£30 to start me somewhere.

30 I have, £30.

There's two, 34.

36.

38.

40.

At 40, 42, 44.

46.

48.

50.

At £50, gentleman at the back now, at 50.

It's good, it's good.

MS: It's good.

JAMES: ..now at £50.

VO: Another modest profit.

MH: Well done Mark.

Yes.

Add that to the coffers.

VO: One now for Mark Hales, as his plain but antique tankard is up.

£30 to start me, 30 I have... Well, there's profit.

Show me a profit.

At £30, do I hear 32?

At £30 is bid.

No.

It's bombed.

At £30, all done.

(GAVEL) VO: Not what he hoped for.

Oh dear.

Story of my life.

Don't despair.

You've still got the Ogano ship sign!

VO: Indeed he does!

But the next lot hinges on what the punters make of Mark Stacey's - er - hinges.

These weren't my favorite at all.

I'm really regretting buying those, actually.

I can't look.

..give them 30.

Oh no!

Please don't.

..two, 34.

36.

38.

40... two.

44.

46.

48.

MH: No!

JAMES: 50.

55.

60.

65.

70.

MH: Are you having a snooze?

You're going to wake up in a moment!

100.

At £100, I'm going to sell.

All done at £100.

(GAVEL) VO: An unexpected triumph for Mark Stacey!

Lovely.

Do you know, I'm really not as unhinged as I thought I was!

VO: Ha-ha!

Don't know about that.

But this certainly widens Mr Stacey's lead!

# We're in the money!

# VO: Right.

After that stunner from Mark Stacey, the ship's sign would really have to have the wind in its sails if it's going to redeem Mark Hales.

£30 for it, for the ship's name board.

30 I have, down here now at 30.

32.

32?

Make it 34.

34.

36.

38.

40 I have.

Another place.

42.

It's climbing very slowly, isn't it?

44.

46.

48.

50.

At £50 against you, make it 55.

55.

60.

65.

MH: Fresh bidder.

Oh!

Clawing its way, clawing its way.

85.

90.

95.

At £95, in the far corner now at 95, I'm going to sell, against you all.

All done at 95.

VO: It fails to sail, sadly for Mark Hales.

Finally now, Mark Stacey's intriguing mahogany deck watch box, minus the watch.

Might it sail off into the sunset?

I have two commissions with me, and I go straight in at £100 with me.

At 100.

110.

MH: Wow!

MS: Gosh!

120.

130.

140.

150.

160.

170.

180.

£180, still with me.

Well done, Mark.

200 on the book now, at £200 against you on the internet.

At £200.

On the book, it's going to be sold, all done at £200.

(GAVEL) VO: Mark Stacey, you look quite flabbergasted!

Well done!

VO: Well, that lot certainly went tick-tock!

A stonking profit for Mark Stacey, and his victory is decisive.

I don't know what to say.

MH: It's fantastic.

MS: Ooh!

VO: Attack of the vapors, Mark?

So, a run of bad luck for Mark Hales and an absolute flier on the deck watch box have determined that Mark Stacey is the king of this road trip!

Very well done, Mark.

Thank you, Mark.

I mean that, you did really well.

VO: Mark Hales started this final leg with £305.28.

After auction costs, he made an unfortunate loss of £46.98 and finishes the road trip with £258.30.

Bad luck.

Mark Stacey began with £511.64 and with the help of that deck watch made a terrific £109.50 profit today, giving him a victorious total of £621.14.

All the money our boys have made will go to Children In Need.

Well Mark, what an auction that was.

Yes, I think you did terribly well.

Oh, highs and lows, highs and lows.

Highs and lows.

But we had some good results throughout the week, you know, so did you.

We certainly did.

But having said that... (ENGINE STARTS) ..it's not just about the profit and the win, it's about the fun.

Yeah, and lots of fun along the way.

And we've certainly had that, haven't we?

VO: Well, this has certainly been a week of trenchant competition and high drama for our two remarkable Marks.

They've experienced joy...

Yes!

VO: ..and pain.

That hurts.

VO: There have been frustrations... How dare you?

How very dare you?

VO: ..and revelations.

I'm looking for... antiques.

VO: But it's never been predictable.

Ooh!

VO: Ooh!

And they've always been friends in the end.

Do you know, I was so happy then, I nearly kissed you.

MH: Onwards!

VO: Next week on Antiques Road Trip, we're with two dashing gents on the hunt for a bargain.

We've got Thomas Plant, who's always calm under pressure.

What have I done?!

VO: ..and James finds his long-lost twin.

Any resemblance to me is merely coincidental!

subtitling@stv.tv