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

VO: ..with £200 each, a classic car, and a goal - to scour Britain for antiques.

I'm on fire - yes!

Sold - going, going, gone.

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

But it's no mean feat.

50p!

VO: There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

Come on then.

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

Ooh!

Come on, I've got to get to another shop.

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

VO: As they begin the fourth leg of their road trip, our experts Mark Stacey and Catherine Southon are back on the roads of Scotland, where sunlight is a dim and distant memory.

MARK (MS): I don't know where we're going to.

I think this is probably the wrong... CATHERINE (CS): Do you think I've gone wrong?

MS: Um... you...

Many, many years ago.

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: Mark is an antiques expert with considerable experience as both an auctioneer and a dealer, but he's found himself falling behind on this road trip.

Ooh!

Oh!

Oh!

Ooh, ooh I say!

VO: Catherine's worked in the world of antiques for over 16 years, and seems to have found the key to success on this trip, but she isn't going to let the cat out of the bag.

(CAT PLAYS MUSIC) Mad, isn't it?

Does he shut up?

How do you shut it up?

Shut up!

VO: These two friends have been fighting like cat and dog on the trip though, which inspired a challenge to buy a canine-related item on each leg.

Our pair began their journey with £200 each, and three auctions later... CS: I do believe I'm slightly ahead.

MS: You are way ahead, not slightly, Catherine.

VO: A chasm is opening up between them.

Catherine took the lead in the road trip, with victory in the third auction, giving her a delicious £290.42 to spend today.

While Mark had another bruising encounter at the last auction and is kicking off this leg with a rather limp £218.02.

Doesn't it show?

Not even the weather is on Mark's side, as he and Catherine have the roof up and wipers on in their 1968 MG Midget, but he's ready for a fight.

When my back's up against the wall, Catherine, I come out fighting.

CS: Yes.

Where are we anyway?

VO: I was just coming to that.

Our traveling antiquarians are cruising the length of Scotland.

They started in New Abbey in Dumfries & Galloway, then up to Elgin on the Moray Firth, before looping back down to finish at an auction finale in the beautiful capital city of Edinburgh.

On this leg we're kicking off in Aberdeen and meandering across the North East of Scotland, to an auction in Elgin, in Moray.

Aberdeen seaport is Europe's principal hub supporting the oil industry in the North Sea.

Oh, and there's a fine antiques center here too.

MS: Oh, here it is Catherine, here.

CS: Right, you don't need to be so bossy.

MS: I'm not being bossy, I'm just pointing it out, cuz... CS: Well you don't need to, cuz I can see it says "antiques centre"!

I know, but I know you need, you know, CS: Guidance.

MS: ..all the assistance, MS: guidance you can in driving.

CS: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

I'm just trying to be helpful.

CS: Right.

MS: Alright?

CS: Well, don't try too hard.

MS: Oh!

VO: Ah, the familiar squabbling of the lesser spotted antique experts.

Let's hope they can behave themselves inside.

..though.

Listen, I do love spending time with you, as you know, but I think I'm going to leave you and head down that way.

Yeah, go on, go on then, you head down there and I'll stay up here.

He's quite nice, isn't he?

"The famous Chemould Art Gallery, Kolkata."

Have you heard of the..?

No, I haven't either.

So they're not that famous, are they?

It's a load of tram and railway books from the estate of a railway enthusiast.

Railway, railway, railway.

That one is... trams, so we don't want that one.

Actually, my little boy would probably really like this book.

He loves trains.

Actually quite interesting.

I'm going to go and get someone.

I'll be back.

VO: With the weight of winning the last two auctions on her shoulders, Catherine seems to have adopted a new strategy, and wants to share it with dealer Alex.

Don't get excited Alex, don't think I've found the bargain of the day, cuz I'm sure I haven't and it's something so boring.

OK. Books.

Yeah.

The only reason I picked them up is cuz they're all on railway, and I thought someone, somewhere, in Elgin... ..will come and buy these books.

OK. VO: Railwayana is highly collectable amongst train enthusiasts - surprise, surprise.

Whilst these books aren't necessarily collectable, they would be of interest to the thousands who have a passion for the subject.

This is from another dealer's.

Erm...

He's got them all priced individually.

CS: Oh, has he?

DEALER: Yeah.

What I would like to do... ..is take the lot for 30 quid.

I'll go and get in contact with him.

Thank you.

OK, no problem.

Oh, you're lovely.

Oh, he's lovely.

Thank you Alex.

VO: And it's not long before the lovely Alex comes back with some news.

Oh, this one's about America, trains in America.

Oh, hello!

Yeah, that'll be fine for the books.

Is it?

DEALER: Yes, that's fine.

CS: Oh fab.

VO: Well, that's one purchase down for Catherine.

How's Mark getting on?

I really do want to have a look at this little cherub painting in the gilt frame here.

VO: This late 19th century plaque with a Florentine rococo easel frame has caught Mark's eye, so he's brought Holly in to get a closer look.

Now I quite like this actually - it's quite fun, isn't it?

It's got a little easel as well, which is rather nice.

HOLLY: Yeah, it's... MS: It's marked on the back with a factory name, and... HOLLY: Mm-hm.

I think it's probably what we'd call decorated, it's got...

It's had a print put on and then sort of just painted over.

Mm-hm.

VO: With a ticket price of £40, it's one to consider.

Now, Catherine wants to buy more here, and she's dabbling in pens.

The pen that I bought yesterday, or sold yesterday rather, that was a Jones one, and I bought it purely on the esthetics rather than looking at the actual name.

It wasn't a Waterman, but this one's a Waterman, so I would be going up in the world, and that's where I belong.

VO: But Alex is tempting Catherine with a Sheaffer fountain pen instead.

This is... That's nice.

Oh, that's lovely.

VO: The Schaeffer brand of luxury fountain pens has become synonymous with quality and value.

With a ticket price of £90, what is Alex looking for on this particular item?

£50.

There's no movement on that.

OK. Would you do 45 on it?

Yeah, £45.

That'll give you a chance.

OK.

I'm going to shake your hand on that, thank you so much.

Super.

VO: At half-price, that seems a good deal, Catherine.

That's two items down.

Now, what's Mark up to?

These are political cartoons.

In the 18th and 19th century, there was a flourishing industry, particularly in London, of political cartoons, mocking the government or even the royal family.

Some of them were incredibly satirical and were really... they tried to ban them - they were not popular with the powers that be.

This one is all to do with the Duke of Wellington.

He's looking rather cross here with his hat and his big nose.

They're always making fun, humorous.

You've got the Battle of Waterloo on the wall there, and then it's published in London, 1827.

VO: Items depicting historical figures such as Wellington, Nelson and Napoleon are very collectable, and should gain a lot of interest.

I tell you what also is quite interesting is the price.

£25.

I think that's a bit of a find, actually.

It won't stop me trying to get it cheaper of course.

I've got my own Battle of Waterloo raging behind me here, and I want to come out victorious.

VO: And with that, Mark gallantly marches to the counter to do battle over the price with poor Holly.

Now, I really like these, I would like to buy them today and take them forward to the auction.

OK.

But I'm so far behind.

I know that everybody says this to you, but I'm not used to being behind, particularly with Catherine Southon.

But I would really love to pay £15 for this and 20 for this.

so we could do this one for 20, and this one for 20, so that's 40 for the pair.

HOLLY: I think it's a good deal.

MS: Holly you've been very fair.

MS: Thank you so much.

HOLLY: No problem.

VO: So that's half-price on the frame and a fiver off the cartoon.

Catherine, meanwhile, is still on the prowl, and Mark's laying down the gauntlet.

I want a lot of that money spent, Catherine.

What?

I want a lot of that money spent, because I'm going to spend everything.

I really am.

I need to, Catherine, I need to find things.

You are going to spend every single penny are you?

I am.

Because I need to.

What have I got to lose?

I looked in there... VO: Mark's doing his best to unsettle our Catherine.

Sly old fox.

And this is Trixie, the cute terrier Catherine saw earlier, with a ticket price of £25.

Alex, can I just borrow you for a sec?

It is nicely drawn, isn't it, if you like that sort of thing?

Yes, yeah.

Very cutesy.

I'm trying to convince you as well as me.

ALEX: If I had a westie, I'd buy it.

CS: Would you?

ALEX: Yeah.

Mm.

CS: Can I have it for £10?

I think 12.50's the best we can do on it, that would be a 50% discount.

12.50.

That's fine by me.

VO: Our experts have already bought five items between them in their first shop, but not even that can keep these two happy.

Are you finally ready?

What do you mean am I "finally ready"?

I'm always waiting for you!

No you weren't!

Now come on, I've got to get to another shop.

VO: Oh dear.

It looks like the pressure's getting to them.

Just as well they're splitting up for now.

Catherine is dropping Mark off around the corner for a spot more shopping at Elizabeth Watt Antiques.

The shop may be small, but it's filled to the brim, and Jeff is on hand to help Mark spend his money.

Nice to meet you Jeff.

Jeff Watt.

Hi, nice to meet you.

MS: I had a little look... JEFF: Rather interesting little brooch, abstract.

MS: Very abstract, isn't it?

JEFF: '70s.

It's Ola Gorie, from Orkney.

MS: Oh.

It's hallmarked, it's got an Edinburgh hallmark.

It's quite fun, isn't it?

Yeah.

MS: Actually that is quite fun, actually.

VO: Ola Gorie is one of Britain's most important jewelry designers of recent times.

She was a pioneer in Celtic and Norse design jewelry.

I mean, the trouble is not many people wear brooches these days.

You know, that's the real difficulty, because I love the quality of it.

I like all this finishing here.

So what can it be?

It could be 12.

£12?

You know, we're so close, I was going to say 10.

12's the price.

MS: (GASPS) Oh, I can't say no, £12, come on.

Thank you.

JEFF: Thank you.

MS: Are you sure?

JEFF: Yes, absolutely.

MS: Are you happy with 12?

MS: Promise?

JEFF: Yeah, absolutely.

I think that's a bargain, isn't it?

VO: £12?

Not exactly the big buy we were expecting, Mark.

VO: Meanwhile, Catherine has made the short journey to visit the University of Aberdeen's King's College Chapel.

The University of Aberdeen was founded in 1495 by the Bishop of Aberdeen, William Elphinstone, and King James IV.

It is the UK's fifth-oldest university, and standing at the center of King's College campus is the chapel that serves as a constant reminder of the university's foundations.

JANE: Hello Catherine.

CS: Hi there.

Welcome to King's Chapel.

Oh, thank you very much.

I'm Jane Geddes.

Hi Jane, hi.

And I want to show you what I hope's going to really surprise you about a medieval church interior.

Oh, that sounds exciting.

Oh!

Oh wow!

VO: Automatic doors!

Ha-ha-ha!

That IS surprising!

This is quite incredible, isn't it?

Are all of these hand carved?

JANE: Yes, it's some of the finest surviving medieval woodwork in Scotland.

CS: My gosh, it's everywhere, isn't it?

Right at the back.

Gosh, look at all these vines and the thistles.

VO: The decorative panels are not just ornamental.

They also tell the story of the university.

JANE: To start off with we have the thistle of Scotland, which is the king.

I saw that.

Yes, at the doorway, as you come in you reach, see the king, but as you move towards the chancel in the east end, you have the vine, which is the priesthood and the clergy and the Eucharist and Christ.

All the way through the chapel you'll see this connection between the king and the Church together, hence the name of the chapel, the crown on the roof and so on.

VO: The stained-glass windows are an outstanding feature of the chapel, and particularly the work of Aberdonian Douglas Strachan, considered to be one of the most significant designers of stained-glass in the 20th century.

Up here you can see two scenes from the history of the university.

First of all, the Pope granting the papal bill which founds the university in 1495, and then next to it you see Elphinstone very solemnly overlooking the construction of the chapel, with ladders up against the church wall.

Oh yes, I can see that.

And so there he is in his finery, watching his university grow around him.

CS: That's a wonderful scene, isn't it?

JANE: He was incredibly fond of this building, and although he was Bishop of Aberdeen Cathedral, and he could have been buried there, he chose to be buried in the chapel that he founded, and he wished to be buried at the altar, in front of the altar, which is what happened, and I'll show you what happens down here.

This is the tomb that was eventually made for Bishop Elphinstone.

When he died, he wished to be simply buried at the foot of the steps leading up to his own altar.

But when his successor, Bishop Dunbar, came into the university and said, "Where are the remains of the founder "of this great institution?"

they said, "Well, he's under your feet, under the flagstones."

And in 1514, this was absolutely absurd, for such an important person to be buried in such a humble way, and Bishop Dunbar immediately commissioned this amazing construction here.

We have an inventory from 1542 which says that on top of this was an enormous full-sized bronze effigy of the bishop in his full robes.

So what happened to the statue?

Well, there's no story about it but by the end of the Civil War period, end of the 1600s, we are told there were only a few bits of metal hanging off it, so clearly something awful happened during the Civil War.

VO: Scotland was invaded by Cromwell's troops, who were notorious for plundering towns and cities.

300 years later, excavations uncovered that the tomb had been disturbed, and that the bones of the bishop had been removed, so all that remains now is this monument to his life and this incredible chapel.

CS: Thank you so much, Jane.

JANE: Thank you for coming.

CS: I've really enjoyed it, thank you.

VO: The chapel is still used throughout the year by the university and its alumni, but for Catherine it's time to meet up with Mark and get some shuteye.

It's been a busy day after all.

Time to rest and reflect on a good day's shopping.

Nighty-night.

After a night's kip, Catherine's finally woken up to Mark's mind games.

MS: Have you got much money left?

I know exactly what you're doing now.

You are wanting me to say, "Right, that's it, I'll spend it all," so that it all goes horribly wrong for me.

Catherine, you've got to make your own decisions.

That's true, isn't it?

No, it's not.

VO: Uh-oh, looks like you've been rumbled, Stacey.

I think you'll need to concentrate on what you're buying from now on.

Despite encouraging Catherine to spend big, Mark's only spent a measly £52 on three items - an Italian porcelain plaque, an 1820s political cartoon depicting Wellington... ..and a vintage Scottish silver brooch.

That means he has £166.02 left in his coffers.

VO: Catherine on the other hand has parted with £87.50 on a collection of railway-related books, a fountain pen in its original case, and a pastel drawing of a terrier... ..which still leaves her with a magnificent £202.92 to play with.

Our experts have motored 45 miles northeast, to the rural idyll of Glass.

Mark's dropping Catherine off but it looks like he's leading her up the garden path.

CS: Do you think this is it?

MS: Do you think so?

CS: I don't know.

Well, the sign pointed up this way so... (HORN TOOTS) MS: Ooh!

CS: Ooh!

(CHUCKLES) Announce our arrival Mark.

VO: Housed in a large steading, Antiques at Glass offers a great selection of affordable antiques and collectables.

We'll catch up with Mark shortly.

CS: Hello.

DEALER: Hello.

I didn't know if I was going to get in then.

Hi, I'm Catherine, hello.

Hi, I'm Tim.

Hello Tim, nice to meet you.

VO: Inside, Tim and Lynn are only too keen to help.

This place is awash with doggie items, but Catherine already has her dog purchase sorted, so she's turned her attention to something shiny, priced at £60.

That's a nice... fire screen.

TIM: Fire screen, yeah.

Does it open out?

TIM: Yeah.

Is it repro?

TIM: Good weight to it, a lot of the modern ones seem... CS: Yeah, they do.

TIM: No weight to them at all.

Like a peacock's feathers opening out.

What do you want for it?

Normally it would be about 50.

Would you take 20?

Who's the boss?

God loves a chancer!

LYNN: Of course the woman's the boss!

Yeah, of course, the woman's always the boss.

Can you do that?

Mm-hm.

CS: Yeah?

LYNN: Yeah.

Does that still give you a bit of a margin?

A wee bit.

A wee bit, oh well that's good.

OK. £20 then.

VO: Cor, you're on fire today, Catherine.

Another nice purchase at a snip.

VO: Meanwhile, Mark's heading 10 miles north, to Keith, to the oldest distillery in the Highlands of Scotland.

VO: Strathisla Distillery has been in operation since 1786 and produces the single malt at the heart of "Shivas Regale" - or Chivas Regal - a world-famous blended whisky.

Little has changed in that time, with its distinctive pagodas, cobbled courtyard and the gleaming copper pot stills making the distillery arguably one of the most beautiful in Scotland.

Hello, I'm Mark.

Hi Mark, Ian Logan.

Welcome to Strathisla.

Nice to meet you.

I'm dying for my tour.

Please come in.

VO: Whisky is as synonymous with Scotland as tartan and bagpipes.

The name whisky derives from the Gaelic word "uisge beatha", similar to "aqua vitae", "the water of life".

Over time, the shortened "uisge" was anglicized to "whisky".

The first evidence of whisky production in Scotland dates back to 1494.

King James IV enjoyed "ardent spirits", and paid to have whisky provided at his pleasure.

In the cabinet here there's some of the older artifacts involved in the production of whisky.

There's things here like Sikes hydrometers.

These would have been measured to the gravity of the liquid, and that would, by relation, would tell you how much alcohol was in it.

Oh right.

It's been a long evolution to where we are today.

Years ago you'd have started off, it was gunpowder.

Gunpowder?

You had a measured amount of gunpowder and a measured amount of spirit.

If you lit it and it burned blue, you were under proof.

If it burned orange, you were pretty good.

If you lost your eyebrows, it was a wee bit high.

Then it was over.

Yes.

Now what's this?

It's called a gaging rod?

Yeah, what you would do in the warehouse with this is you would take the bung out and drop it into the cask.

Right.

Now every year we lose 2% to evaporation as the whisky matures.

Wow, that's a lot.

This allows us to gage how much has been lost through evaporation in the cask.

And this was made in London.

Now I love the Customs And Excise... Yeah, and...

They get everywhere!

Well up until 1978, by law there had to be a customs officer lived in every distillery.

No.

Yeah.

Mm-hm.

VO: Yep - the taxman and whisky go way back.

In 1707 the Act of Union brought increased taxation and full-time excise men to collect on Scotch whisky.

Some distillers shut down but many continued underground or amongst heather-clad hills, and often in cahoots with local communities and judges.

Smaller Highland-based distillers like Strathisla produced high-quality whisky legally from the late 1700s.

The basic whisky making process is the same but technology has moved on.

Ian, the first thing I notice in here, it's very, very noisy.

Well you've got four extremely big copper pot stills up here that are being heated underneath, so you have the gas flames that are burning there, you have the water running through the condensers at the back, so there is a lot of background noise in this...

There is, isn't there?

I love this.

I mean it's so visual.

This is the modern hydrometer.

This is the way it is, yeah.

Now, this is exactly what every distillery in Scotland's doing.

VO: The basis of all whisky is barley, which is fermented into alcohol.

It's then heated in the copper pot stills, where the evaporation creates a purer alcohol.

It is distilled a second time, to double its strength and remove impurities.

IAN: The right-hand side is your first distillation, the center part is the second distillation, and then you have the liquid in the hydrometers, and that's exactly doing the same as those old instruments I showed you, they're measuring the alcohol strength.

VO: Scotch whisky is generally distilled twice, although some are distilled up to 20 times.

Scotch whisky regulations require anything bearing the label "Scotch" to be distilled in Scotland and matured for a minimum of three years in oak casks.

I mean this is really fascinating.

I love it.

I'm delighted you've enjoyed your visit.

Now you've seen everything we have to offer apart from one thing... What?

..which is the whisky.

Let's go and taste some of the whisky.

Oh, but I'm driving Ian!

Let me find you something to take away with you then!

Wonderful!

VO: Looks like you'll have to wait until later to taste yours, Mark.

A little goodie.

Take some home and try it when you have a chance.

Thank you so much, I'll look forward to that.

Nice to meet you.

VO: Oh, lucky devil!

Now remember to keep some for me Mark.

VO: And after enjoying the lure of the amber nectar, Mark and Catherine have joined up to journey the 13 miles north to the coastal town of Cullen.

This fishing village on the Moray Firth is famous as the home of Cullen skink - a traditional soup made from smoked haddock - and for the highly impressive viaduct that soars above the town.

So far Catherine has spent over £100, and despite Mark's insistence that they blow the lot, he has only spent half that.

I smell a rat.

CS: This could be interesting.

MS: You're here, are you?

No, I'm here.

Oh, well I'm going in there.

I'll see you later.

Bye OK. Alright, good luck, see you later.

Bye.

VO: Ready to shop, Mark has bagsied Cullen Antiques Centre, while Catherine's trying out Abra Antiques for size.

Hello there!

Hi, I'm Catherine.

Hello, I'm Tom.

Hi Tom, good to meet you.

VO: There are a lot of quirky and eclectic pieces in here.

Has owner Tom got any suggestions?

Ah, now, I have the most perfect... Oh, sorry.

VO: Ooh, I felt that.

Ah-ha - a late 19th century Indian silver purse, priced at £86.

You're bound to like this.

I'm sorry.

Oh I love that.

Oh, I love that.

You're not sorry at all.

Well, that's true!

Take that out, let's give you the box.

Right, let's have a look at this.

So what have we got?

We've got this lady in the centre.

TOM: A dancing girl I think, is she?

She looks like she's dancing, and then we've got little elephants around the side.

And monkeys.

It is silver, but it's not... it's not sterling, obviously.

What's the best you can do on that?

Well, I suppose 70.

70.

What about a little pinch at 65?

(GROANS) VO: Is he alright?

CS: Go on.

Would you like to shake at 65?

Oh... alright.

VO: Dear, oh dear.

And just like that, Catherine's spent up, but Mark is having some dog problems.

Catherine is going to hate me.

I can't find a dog.

I can't find a dog that really bites me.

But I love this pig.

I love this pig.

And so I'm going to have a piggy poochy purchase, I think.

VO: A piggy poochy what?

I don't see this going down at all well, you swine.

He's adorable.

I mean look at that face.

I mean, don't you die for that face?

And I love the fact that the farmer's had his name and the date put on.

I think it's got everything, it's a little bit of folk art from the 20th century.

He's kitsch.

I mean, I think it's silver, I just think it's unmarked.

I think it's great.

VO: What it isn't is a dog.

It's got a ticket price of £60, but if you're happy Mark, best bring in dealer Allan.

I've failed in my poochy purchase.

You did, yeah?

I was supposed to find a dog.

Mm-hm.

But I have fallen in love with your pig.

OK, yeah.

I'd love to get him for £30.

Hmm, that's probably too little.

I would try and accommodate you.

Thank you.

And say £40.

You can't go to 35, just to give me a chance?

To give you a chance, sir?

I'd love to buy him, honestly, for 35.

OK, then, we have a deal.

MS: Oh, thanks Allan.

DEALER: OK?

Catherine's going to hate me, but I love him.

MS: You've made my day Allan.

DEALER: OK. VO: But with time running out, Mark's making a dash across the road to see if Tom has one last bargain for him to take to auction.

Watch out, old boy.

TOM: French.

Mirror's, obviously, seen better days.

TOM: But... it's jade.

MS: Art deco.

TOM: Art deco, beautiful.

And she's seen this as well?

No, I didn't show it to her.

No, she saw it.

But it's £85 Tom.

No, no, I will do a good buy on that.

Well, how good a buy?

Because I like you...

I'd let you have that... ..to give you a chance of winning, 50 quid.

Oh Tom, are you sure you can't do it for 40?

45.

Tom, you are a meanie.

No, I'm not a meanie.

I'm giving it away.

What's a fiver between friends?

It makes a big difference... MS: Does it?

TOM: ..between death and life.

So if I don't pay you 45 you can't eat tonight?

That's probably true.

Go on then, 45.

45.

Right.

Thank you very much.

VO: Yeah, let the man eat, for heaven's sake.

Now that Mark is all shopped out, it's time to meet up with Catherine, because it's the moment of truth, when our experts reveal all to each other.

Well you seem to have got a lot of stuff, let's have a look.

Well... Say something then!

I don't know what to say!

So you bought a load of model railway books.

Yes.

You've bought a pen.

Yes.

Sheaffer.

Yes, and this one is gorgeous.

MS: Right.

CS: Yes.

OK. And you've got a pencil drawing of a terrier.

Mm.

Pastel, actually.

Oh pastel, I saw that.

CS: You rejected it.

MS: I didn't like it, no.

And a reproduction fan... fender.

It's not reproduction!

It is reproduction!

It's not old.

It is old.

It's not, Catherine.

It is old!

It's not.

How old is it?

It's old!

But how... What...?

Define "old".

OK, it's not Victorian, but it's got a little bit of age to it.

The '50s.

Yeah.

Well...

I mean, it's very decorative.

I like the little Marie Antoinette-looking... Few screws missing I see.

I only paid 20 quid for it!

Yep, no, well, there we are then.

VO: Hm.

Mark's a right moaning Minnie today, isn't he?

How much have you spent?

I spent £172.50.

Right.

And for £172, this is your offering?

Yeah.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

Really?!

For that amount of money, Catherine, you could have done so well.

Do you want to see mine?

Go on then!

OK. Oh, yeah, I saw that in the shop.

I rejected that.

That's fine.

I'm happy you rejected it.

How much did you pay for that then?

45.

Yes, he saw you coming.

No...

I don't think they did actually, Catherine.

Funny enough.

This is lovely.

I didn't get a poochy purchase, so I've changed it to a piggy poochy purchase.

Yes, hold on!

That's not on!

And look at that.

Briggsie, 1920.

Unmarked silver.

Look at the face.

That's very nice Mark, but that's against the rules!

I couldn't find a dog!

There was no rules, Catherine.

There's no... there's no rules.

That's as light as a feather.

Yeah, but it's quirky.

Pigs are popular.

Yes, so are dogs!

And you were supposed to...

But I couldn't find a dog!

MS: So I... CS: Well, that's not on.

VO: Let's hope this is the end of all this dog challenge nonsense.

35 quid.

This - oh you'll love this, Catherine, I've got to show it to you.

This is political.

Hmm.

That's nice.

1827, hand colored.

Yeah.

Have a guess how much.

Well you probably got that for a steal.

I dunno, 30 quid or something.

£20.

Yeah.

That's good.

But has it or has it not again been fun?

I think we'll agree to disagree on this one.

Will we?

Get your hands off.

CS: I'll see you later.

MS: Bye.

VO: Oh crikey.

After all that barney, what have they got to say for themselves?

Wasn't he horrid?

I didn't think that was very nice at all.

He wasn't complimentary about any of my items, and he says he thinks I should be ashamed of myself, which I thought was a bit of a cutting remark.

I mean I think she's a bit mad at me because I wasn't so overly enthusiastic this time about some of the pieces she bought, but I'm not, I'm sorry.

VO: So, with relations fraught, it's best we get back on the road and head to the auction, smartish.

On the fourth leg of their road trip, our dandy dealers have shopped their way through Aberdeenshire and Moray, starting in Aberdeen and ending in Elgin, for the auction.

In a battle just outside Elgin, Duncan, the king of Scotland, became Macbeth's first victim en route to obtaining the crown for himself.

The venue today is Elgin Auction Centre.

Built in 1995, it accommodates a quarterly sale of antiques which has built up a UK-wide reputation, thanks to its internet bidding.

MS: Here we are, Catherine.

CS: Are we going through the back entrance?

I think we're going to the cattle shed.

Oh, that's nice, there's a nice happy smile on there.

VO: And inside the cattle shed - I mean auction centre, ha!

- branch manager Gordon Pirie is waiting to tell us what he thinks of our experts' items.

Well, I think the Briggsie pig'll sell well.

I mean it's an area where there's a lot of livestock, the North East of Scotland, so just for a quirky item, I think it should do well.

The fire screen's quite nice.

We see quite a lot of them going through that probably use later models.

That is an earlier sort of model.

VO: Mark Stacey set out on this leg with £218.02, and splashed out £132 of that on his five lots.

Not exactly the entire budget.

Catherine Southon began this leg with a more impressive £290.42, and parted with £172.50 on her five lots.

PA: 177, £2, £2 bid... VO: The man on the Tannoy is Graham Gibb.

A word of warning - he's quick, this one.

What...

I don't know what he's saying!

CS: (MUTTERS) I think, I think he's praying for rain.

Let's hope the bidders don't rain on your parade Mark.

First up is your porcelain plaque in an easel frame.

20, 10, five?

10, 15.

15 bid, 20.

Five, 30.

£30 bid.

Five.

40.

Five.

Oh, well done!

45, with the gentleman at the front then at 45 bid.

45 bid down there, that's the gentleman, 45 bid.

All finished?

45 and 45, it goes at 45.

Oh well that's alright.

VO: He may be fast but he can't half get the bidders interested.

It's Catherine's railway books next.

Let's hope someone here finds them less boring than she does.

Five bid, 10, 15, 20, five, 30.

£30 bid.

Oh come on, come on.

Bid's up high at 30, five.

This looks all in to me ladies and gentlemen, 35, lady's bid at 35.

40.

£40 bid, a fresh bidder altogether, and you're on £40 bid.

CS: Come on, a bit more.

£40 bid, no advances?

£40, £40 it goes then, £40 bid.

£40.

It's a £10 profit Catherine.

VO: You're on the right track there, Catherine.

Not a bad start, girl.

Mark's Ola Gorie brooch is next.

Will his luck continue?

£100 again.

20, 10 for a bad start.

Oh, I'd love...

I'd love...

I'd love £100 for it.

Here we are.

50.

50 bid.

£50 bid.

MS: Come on, a bit more.

CS: He's very good.

GRAHAM: 50 bid.

MS: Come on, a bit more.

GRAHAM: Five.

MS: Yes!

It's the lady's bid everyone, at 55.

MS: £55.

..ladies and gentlemen.

55 with the lady, now, everyone, 55... Well done.

55 the offer is, ladies and gentlemen, 55, and we're selling in the room then.

55, the internet's flashing at me here.

Come on, bid internet, bid internet.

GRAHAM: 55.

(GAVEL) 55, that's very good.

VO: Yes, very good Mark.

It looks like the people of Elgin share your taste.

Anyway, well done.

Thank you.

That said... was said with such sincerity!

No, I mean it!

VO: Now, will Catherine make up ground with her fire screen that opens up like a peacock's tail feathers?

£50 again.

20, 10 bid.

£10 bid.

I think you'll be surprised with this.

20.

30.

40.

Are you joining in again, ladies and gentlemen?

GRAHAM: 40, bid's up back.

CS: Oh come on.

Well you've doubled your money.

£40 bid.

50.

£50 bid.

50.

Could be sold again, ladies and gentlemen, any other advances at 50?

MS: Put the gavel down!

CS: That's quite good.

GRAHAM: £50, 50, will it go?

MS: Put the gavel down!

GRAHAM: £50.

£50.

MS: Put it down!

..1799.

Gosh, he went on.

VO: Anyone would think you didn't want Catherine to make a bigger profit, Mark!

Ha!

Well done, this is going well.

Can Mark keep up the good form with his jade art-deco mirror?

The one that Catherine rejected.

So if this flies, I'm going to be kicking myself.

Well don't kick me.

..ladies and gentlemen.

£20 again?

Five bid.

10.

Oh no.

10 bid, 15.

20, five, 30.

Oh, this is where it's all going to go wrong now.

It's all going wrong now, Catherine.

CS: No it's not.

GRAHAM: 35 with the single... MS: Oh no.

CS: Don't be such a drama queen.

GRAHAM: 35 bid.

MS: Where's the internet?

35, at 35, and 35 away, 35.

MS: Oh.

No.

CS: So I did the right thing to reject it.

No.

VO: It's the first loss of the day but Mark's still in the lead.

Yes, I knew it was the right thing to do, to reject that.

Yeah.

VO: Now Catherine made a loss on a fountain pen in the last leg.

Can she catch up with this leg's offering?

The Sheaffer pen complete with box.

£20 again.

Lot 230.

20, 10, five.

Surely an opening bid, ladies and gentlemen.

Five bid.

GRAHAM: £5 bid.

CS: Five?!

Eight.

10.

12.

15.

Come on, we've got a long way to go here.

Lot 230, at 15, on 20, thank you.

25.

30.

Five.

40.

CS: Come on.

Come on.

Original case I'm told, at 40.

Any other advances, ladies and gentlemen?

It'll be sold again then at 40.

CS: Come on.

GRAHAM: £40, £40, it's away at £40.

Oh.

Small loss there Catherine.

VO: Yup.

Maybe the writing's on the wall for your penchant for pens, Catherine.

Now, can Mark's pig pique local interest and win the, erm, dog challenge?

This is it.

Piggsie.

Briggsie.

MS: Whatever he's called.

CS: Briggsie.

Briggsie the piggsie.

Briggsie away, £20.

10 bid we'll chance, surely, £10 bid, at £10, with £10 for Briggsie.

No.

15.

£15 for Briggsie.

20.

Five.

30.

£30 bid for Briggsie.

Oh it must be worth more than that, surely.

35, we've got Briggsie at 35 bid.

35 bid.

Any other advances, ladies and gentlemen?

35 bid.

I'm surprised.

Where's the internet?

Where's the internet?

35.

And five?

Away at 35.

Number 43.

Well I'm surprised at that, Catherine.

VO: Ouch!

That comes back to bite you Mark.

That's what you get when you don't play the game, eh?

It was a bit of a pig in a poke, wasn't it?

Yeah.

VO: So despite Mark's derision, can Catherine's terrier portrait win this leg's dog challenge?

Got a Scottish terrier, ladies and gentlemen.

Two bid.

Oh come on.

£2 bid, two bid, five, eight.

10.

11.

I think that's probably what it's worth, actually.

GRAHAM: 12.

CS: See, she likes it.

GRAHAM: 15.

18.

MS: Oh no.

18 bid.

Oh I can't believe it.

I can't believe it.

CS: Aw!

GRAHAM: Cheap for a dog.

18 bid.

BOTH: Very cheap.

18 bid.

Not cheap enough as far as I'm concerned.

GRAHAM: 20.

£20 bid.

MS: Put the gavel down.

MS: Oh come along!

GRAHAM: £20 bid.

Well, I think the seller's disappointed.

£20 bid.

No, we're not!

It's wonderful!

£20, at £20 bid, £20 away, £20.

You've got the luck of the Irish.

Thank you.

(MOUTHS) VO: And with that rather modest profit, Catherine's won the challenge, and more importantly, has closed the gap on Mark.

So how will Mark's final item fare - the hand colored political cartoon depicting Wellington?

GRAHAM: 20, 10 bid.

MS: Oh.

10, 20, 30.

40.

GRAHAM: Take a look at this... MS: Come on!

The bid is at 50.

60.

CS: That's good!

GRAHAM: 60's in the seats.

This should make more than this, Catherine.

GRAHAM: £80 bid on it.

MS: Oh, that's more like it.

£80 bid on it, down at the wall down here.

They said 80.

£80 bid, £80, £80.

Well done.

Well, that was on the low end of my expectation but I'll be happy with it.

VO: And so you should be - it's a fantastic profit for Mark.

He'll never SA-TIRE of hearing that.

Ha!

Now Catherine's found the knack of finding one gem in the past few auctions.

Will her last lot, the Indian silver purse, do the trick this time?

£20 bid.

20 bid, 30, 40.

£40 bid.

Well, somebody likes it, Catherine.

Late 19th century here.

MS: Someone likes it.

GRAHAM: Silver purse.

£40 bid.

45.

Come on, I need you to get a bit more than that.

50, on paper.

55.

60 still with me.

MS: Well, somebody's bidding.

Bid's on paper, ladies and gentlemen, 60.

CS: He's got commission bids.

GRAHAM: Fresh blood at 65.

MS: Well... CS: Come on.

65 bid, I'll look for more here.

At 65, 70.

£70 bid.

Come on, come on.

Are you all done, ladies and gentlemen, at 75?

CS: Come on.

MS: That's enough.

GRAHAM: 80.

CS: Come on.

£80 bid, are you done, ladies and gentlemen?

£80 bid.

£80, £80, it's to be sold on.

£80, £80, £80.

He had a commission bid on that.

MS: Yes.

CS: £80.

VO: Not quite the profit Catherine was hoping for, but it's been a good auction for both our experts.

Well done.

Well listen, come on, we've enjoyed it.

MS: Another auction done.

CS: I know.

Let's get out of here.

VO: Mark started this leg with £218.02, and made a magnificent comeback, resulting in a £73 profit after auction costs.

He's this leg's winner, leaving him with £291.02 to take forward.

Did Catherine let Mark's mind games get to her?

She kicked off this leg with £290.42, and only improved her margin by a mere £16.10 after auction costs.

She takes a slender lead into the next leg with £306.52.

Catherine.

Ooh!

It's getting close!

Ho-ho-ho!

I'm back in the game!

You are, you were trailing so far behind.

This is going to be very, very nail-biting.

Mm.

VO: So it's all to play for as we head into the final leg.

How exciting!

On the final fling of their Scottish sojourn... Mark thinks he's judging The Great Road Trip Bake-Off.

Now I'm going to put on weight and have that lovely scone.

It's all yours.

VO: Whilst Catherine's having a whale of a time.

Looks like he's had a few.

His eyes are going all funny.

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