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

I don't know what to do.

(HONKS HORN) VO: ..with £200 each, a classic car, and a goal: to scour Britain for antiques.

What a little diamond.

VO: The aim - to make the biggest profit at auction, but it's no mean feat.

Back in the game.

Charlie!

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

Oh!

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

Oh!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah.

VO: Today is the final serving of a grand road trip, with auctioneers Mark Stacey and Thomas Plant.

MARK: You've got to be confident, and wearing a jacket and trousers like that, Thomas.

Yes... And socks to match.

MARK: Yes.

THOMAS: You're just jealous.

VO: That'll be it, then, Thomas.

Mark's feeling self-assured after yesterday's victory.

I've just seen a little picture of Thomas that he looked like after the auction yesterday, up on the wall there.

VO: Thomas has an unusual way of making friends.

THOMAS: Bridget?

BRIDGET: Yes?

Are you playing dress-up with me?

Yes, why not?

VO: Mm.

They've been whizzing about town and country in a nippy 1978 MGB GT.

THOMAS: Ooh, hello.

If you can't find it, grind it.

VO: Our road trip buddies started off with £200 each.

At their fourth auction...

Yes!

VO: ..Mark made a hefty profit with a pair of swan garden planters.

VO: Mark has £445.60 to splash.

Watch out Thomas, Mark's catching up on you.

VO: Although Thomas made a smaller profit he's still in the lead with £477.52.

Blimey, there's just over £30 between them.

VO: Mark and Thomas' 500 mile road trip started in Sittingbourne in Kent and wound its way along the South East and East Anglia and will end in Oakham in the East Midlands.

Today's journey begins in the Norfolk town of Fakenham and the auction finale will take place in Oakham.

Your trousers, not that we can see, are almost the same color as my jacket today.

Well, they're a little bit more subdued than your jacket, Thomas.

Don't you like it?

I can't look too much in that direction.

VO: It's not that bad Mark, unlike your driving.

Ooh.

Thomas is first to shop today at Fakenham Antiques.

Well, Thomas, this is your first shop.

Good luck.

THOMAS: Mark, you behave.

Have fun.

I will.

Bye bye.

VO: Over 15 dealers trade from here, including Brigitte.

Hello, I'm Thomas.

Hi, Thomas.

VO: A true antiques aficionado, Thomas has a keen eye for quality.

THOMAS: An adorable, vintage, straw filled, pajama case.

They're just lovely, aren't they?

So, you unzip his belly.

And inside is where you'd put your pajamas.

VO: Oh, every home should have one, Thomas.

THOMAS: I like this sampler here.

It's got muted tones to it, a walnut frame, but this was done in 1830.

It's marked at 89, but it's got a bit of damage to it but I'll ask Brigitte about it.

VO: Hang on, what's going on here?

I found some quite loud shirts.

BRIGITTE: Wow.

I mean, that looks a bit tight, I have to say.

BRIGITTE: And the funky disco one?

Well, d'you know, I just... Or is that not your fabric?

OK, I'll give it a go.

VO: Listen, this is meant to be a competition, Thomas.

BRIGITTE: That's fab.

What do you think of this?

Actually that really suits you.

VO: Dear, oh dear.

Do you think your wife would like that?

No.

Funnily enough I don't think it goes that well.

VO: Listen, Thomas, you need to focus!

THOMAS: So, this is pearlware.

We call it pearlware, because you can see this almost slight blue to the body of the glaze.

VO: Pearlware was particularly popular from the late 18th century but gradually it went out of fashion.

Looking at mid 18th century.

Proper antique.

But I just think it's quite a lot of money, being £85.

BRIGITTE: So, what were you thinking of for this?

£50, something like that.

I know it's a lot to ask.

I know it's a lot to ask.

And then would you mind asking about the sampler?

BRIGITTE: Sampler.

And what do you have in mind for that?

Well, because it's quite faded and then part of the frame is missing, how does £40...?

VO: Both items are owned by different dealers.

Brigitte makes the calls.

BRIGITTE: Good news, he'll accept £50 on that.

Brilliant, yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely.

Deal.

So, we'll go for that one.

THOMAS: And the sampler?

BRIGITTE: The sampler, yes.

I spoke to the dealer, they take on board the comments you make about condition etc.

THOMAS: Yeah, yeah.

But it's just a little bit low.

Oh, what did they?

Can you go a little bit stronger than that?

So, what would they... Where do they want to be?

Not much more, just a...

So, I said, what, 45?

I think we'll be OK with that.

THOMAS: Yeah?

BRIGITTE: Yeah.

OK. Well, we'll do those.

Good.

Excellent.

Thank you very much.

VO: An eventful first shop.

And generous discounts for the sampler at £45 and for the pearlware for 50.

VO: Mark, meanwhile, has travelled nine miles to the village of Foulsham in Norfolk.

VO: Mark's first shop, Country House Antiques.

SIMON: Hello, very pleased to meet you.

Simon Davis.

Welcome to north Norfolk.

MARK: Well, thank you.

Gosh, this is an oasis in the middle of the countryside, isn't it?

SIMON: It is.

I'm gonna have a little look round.

Thanks very much, Simon.

SIMON: You're welcome.

Actually I've just seen a little picture of Thomas that he looked like after the auction yesterday, up on the wall there.

He wasn't very happy yesterday I don't think.

VO: Nothing like rubbing it in then, Mark.

And I am at that very dangerous point now.

This is the last two buying days.

We're heading for the finale.

And I want to take the last bow on the stage.

VO: Watch out, Thomas!

MARK: I could spend all day in here.

Now, I love this pattern.

This is Chinese.

And even though it's just a small vase, what I quite like about it... You've got the very typical decorations of the sort of, a window into Chinese life.

VO: There was a great demand for Chinese porcelain in Europe at the end of the 17th century, and this pink enamel later became known as famille rose.

MARK: We've got a nasty chunk out of the rim there, and a little filled in rim repair there.

The reason I quite like it is this doesn't sit terribly comfortably with all the other pieces and it's got no price on it.

It might be something that's been purchased as part of a consignment, and therefore didn't cost very much money.

And that's really what I'm hoping for, because if it is a good price then I'm afraid it'll be going to auction with me.

VO: That Mark is definitely entering into the spirit of the competition.

MARK: And this is rather fun.

It's full of sentiment this, actually.

It's made, I think, of bronze and it's got a really nice feel about it.

I think it probably dates to the sort of 20s, 1920s.

It just speaks to me.

Sometimes you've gotta go with your brain and some things you've got to go with your heart, and on this occasion my heart's winning out.

VO: The bronze puppy is priced up at £95.

Time for a deal for the two, methinks.

MARK: Simon, I found two things.

I found this in the cabinet over there.

I was rather hoping, as that doesn't fit in with your traditional antique English interiors, that that might be incredibly cheap.

I'm thinking a fiver.

I'm, I'm thinking exactly the same and I'm gonna say yes, completely, to a fiver.

But I've fallen in love with this little dog.

I think he's got such charm and sentiment about him.

He's just been told off for something, I think.

I think it's a good piece for auction.

SIMON: Someone will fall in love with it.

You've had this a long time, have you?

That was my mother's.

VO: Uh-oh.

MARK: So how much do you think you could let that bit of sentiment go for?

My gut feeling was if you gave me 50 I would do a special Mark Stacey concession.

Do you know what, I think you are being so kind to me.

Do you think we could say 50 for the two?

VO: Might be pushing it, Mark.

SIMON: That's cost me nothing and I'm sure my mother would be very pleased to see you make a profit on that one.

Well, I'm thrilled.

Thank you so much.

SIMON: You're welcome.

VO: Simon's been very generous.

The Chinese vase for a fiver and the cute bronze puppy for 45.

Gosh.

VO: Back to Thomas.

He's travelled east to the town of North Walsham.

VO: If Thomas is looking to spend his wodge of cash, Timeline Antiques could be just the place.

Hello, I'm Thomas.

Hello Thomas.

Michael.

Michael, nice to see you.

Nice...welcome to Timeline.

THOMAS: So I'll have a good look around and I'll come and find you.

As much as I love Mark, I would love to see him in this, put his little head in there and his hands in here.

That would soon keep him quiet, not buying anything.

VO: No time to play, Thomas - only £30 separates you and Mark.

I really like that.

That is so cool.

An Edwardian bridge card box.

Bridge is a big thing.

Don't get me wrong, it's for old people.

My mother plays it.

She'll hate me saying that.

VO: I think she'll be having a word.

THOMAS: People do play bridge.

It's becoming quite popular these days.

VO: Bridge dates to the 16th century on these shores, but the modern game took off in the 1900s.

THOMAS: Do you play bridge?

MICHAEL: Yes.

THOMAS: I really, really find that interesting, so could you have a chat with whoever owns this one?

MICHAEL: I'll have to talk to myself.

Oh, really?

D'you know, that's the first sign of madness, isn't it?

What's the very best on this?

I can do that...

The best is the round hundred.

Round hundred.

It couldn't be anywhere near a two figure mark instead?

THOMAS: Don't say 99.

I can shave another tenner off.

90.

90 would be the absolute death on it.

Really?

Yep.

Can we put that on the front desk?

Of course.

And maybe we can have a think.

Have a think.

Have another think, and maybe have another chat with yourself.

Just a little bit of one.

Yes.

I'll give myself a telling off.

A talking to.

And maybe we can do another little bit.

VO: Huh!

That's one way to get the price more to your liking.

VO: Anything else?

THOMAS: There's this little etui, a little toothpick.

Something to have in your chatelaine.

A little knife for cutting a bit of string.

A little buttonhook.

VO: The ticket price on the etui is £45.

Usually etuis are sewing related, but this little set would have been essential kit for any discerning lady.

What do you think of that, Michael?

Looks old, doesn't it?

Yes, I would say early 20th century, late 19th.

Yeah.

Something for a chatelaine, isn't it?

That's right.

To have on.

No, I think that's quite a cool thing.

So, I think I'd like to have a chat with you about this, and the bridge box.

VO: Time for a deal?

So, you've provided me with a cup of coffee.

Is this to sort of...?

Yes, this is to soften the blow.

Have you had a good chat with yourself and what do you think we can do on that, and what do you think we can do on that?

The bargain price today, for the two objects, 100.

£100?

Yes.

Deal, sir.

Thank you very much.

100% deal.

Give you some money.

One, two... VO: We got there in the end.

£70 for the bridge box and 30 for the etui means Thomas now has four lots for auction.

VO: While Thomas has been enjoying a spending spree... VO: Mark has travelled to the seaside town of Cromer.

VO: Once a sleepy village renowned for crab fishing, by the 1880s Cromer had become a fashionable resort for the great and the good.

VO: One innovative resident captured this special piece of history and Mark is heading to Cromer Museum to meet curator Alistair Murphy to find out more.

MARK: So, what made Cromer so famous?

ALISTAIR: When the railway arrived finally in Cromer in the 1870s, suddenly Cromer was available for people and a writer called Clement Scott wrote a piece about the area and named it Poppyland.

Why Poppyland?

He fell in love with all the poppies that were in the fields and as a result of his writing, Cromer became the resort of the rich and famous.

VO: Clement Scott was The Daily Telegraph's theatre critic and he encouraged many famous artists to visit the town.

Other notable Cromer fans included Winston Churchill and Albert Einstein.

MARK: Was there anyone locally capturing this excitement?

ALISTAIR: Yes, a woman photographer called Olive Edis.

MARK: Woman photographer?

Yes, who was based in north Norfolk, who photographed a lot of the rich and the famous here.

VO: Olive Edis took up photography in 1900 when she was given a camera by her sister.

Olive was a pioneering photographer known for her intimate portraiture and as the first woman to use the autochrome process, an early form of color photography.

MARK: That must have been very unusual at the time, a lady photographer.

It's not as unusual as you would think.

MARK: Really?

There were quite a lot of women doing it, but the thing that I think made Olive different was that she was doing it for a living.

VO: Olive's subjects ranged from fishermen of north Norfolk to prime ministers and British royalty.

The breadth of her interest across such a broad spectrum of British society makes her work internationally renowned.

The museum has over 2,000 images of Olive's work.

These ones, I'm guessing, are local fisherfolk are they?

These are two Cromer fishermen.

Probably quite staged.

But they have a casual candidness to them.

MARK: Completely.

I mean, you're almost expecting them to speak to you at any moment.

Yes, absolutely.

And they're beautifully done.

Yes.

Beautifully done.

And moving on, I can see a very young portrait there of...Prince Albert.

Later of course George VI.

ALISTAIR: Yes.

MARK: I mean, that is charmingly done, isn't it?

ALISTAIR: Yes.

And it gives a...

It gives an idea of the kind of circles that Olive moved in.

To be able to put both of those people... MARK: Yes.

ALISTAIR: ..who could not be more different at ease.

I'd call Olive Edis photographer of fishermen and kings.

MARK: Yes.

VO: Olive's innate ability to connect with strangers served her well.

And she was the first woman appointed as an official war artist.

She was commissioned at the end of the first war, by the National War Museum, which is now the Imperial War Museum.

She went for about a month and took a wonderful series of landscapes, just showing the desolation of war.

I think the other thing that's important about Olive is that not only she recorded the changes in society, in particular in relation to... MARK: She helped create them.

She helped create them and she lived, she lived it.

She clearly is a special person.

What makes her so special?

Well, I think that ability that she had to communicate with people from all areas of life.

And you get the sense that Olive probably was comfortable with everybody and possibly was not judgmental about them.

And all of the photographs, regardless of who the people are, always seem to me to be totally sympathetic.

VO: Olive devoted nearly 50 years to photography, capturing intimate portraits and documenting the aftermath of war.

Today her work offers a unique and intimate insight of early 20th century Britain.

VO: Wasn't that a treat?

But it's the end of a long day and rest beckons.

Nighty night.

VO: It's the last day of the road trip and the sun is shining.

But our boys are feeling a little sad.

I just can't believe it's coming to an end, Tom.

Well, it is.

All good things.

I don't know if I can bear to part with you, Tom.

God!

You know.

You've been my little cuddly sidekick.

Oh no!

Listen to all of this.

Honestly, Tom.

Listen to all of this.

I mean I'm welling up inside.

I really am.

It's just...

I don't know how to take any of this.

VO: Pull yourself together, chaps!

VO: Let's remind ourselves of their shopping so far.

Mark has purchased two items.

A famille rose vase and a bronze puppy.

This gives him £395.60 to spend today.

VO: As for Thomas, he's notched up four items.

The sampler, the 18th century pearlware plaque, a bridge case and the etui.

Leaving him £282.52 for the day ahead.

VO: Mark is first to shop today in the charming Norfolk town of Holt.

MARK: Here we are, Tom.

VO: Oh, loving the lilies.

MARK: Thank you for that.

I hope you don't buy too well.

Well...

I still wanna win, you know.

Course you do.

THOMAS: Still wanna beat the older statesman.

I know.

I want to beat you, Tom.

THOMAS: Yeah, I bet you do.

You don't have to slam the door!

VO: Mark seems driven.

VO: Mark is going for a gander around Mews Antiques Emporium.

MARK: Hello, I'm Mark.

RICHARD: Hello.

Very nice meeting you.

VO: Dealer Richard is manning the fort today.

MARK: I'm gonna have a look round, lots to see.

RICHARD: By all means.

VO: And after a nosey around, Mark has found something.

MARK: This is a little handmade copper cream jug.

I mean it's quite fun, isn't it?

It's modelled as a sort of tree trunk.

Now, there's no marks or anything on there, but it's obviously handmade.

It's very difficult to date these, to be honest with you.

You'd like to think it was sort of 1900, 1920s.

I mean it could be 20 years old.

But does it really matter with something like this?

If you've got a rustic themed house, you know, something like that is actually quite fun.

You will certainly never find another one.

VO: There might be a reason for that.

MARK: It is priced up at £8.50.

I mean, it's not a lot of money, is it?

And what would it make at auction?

You know, it could make 20, 30, £40.

And if somebody really wanted it, it might make more.

Would I be stupid not to try and buy that?

VO: I am saying nothing.

If it did make that money, of course, I would be the cat that got the cream.

See where I'm going?

VO: Unfortunately, yes.

MARK: Richard, I think I'm going to go for the jug at £8.50.

Will the jug make a profit?

Um, one would hope, wouldn't one?

You're being very cagey.

I was rather looking for some support.

RICHARD: Thank you very much.

VO: Mark's exercising caution with his budget.

The little jug for £8.50 gives Mark a total of three items.

VO: Meanwhile it's Thomas's turn to head to Cromer.

VO: And to hear the story of another former resident.

Thomas is meeting Jacqui Palmer, manager of the Henry Blogg Museum.

Hello, I'm Thomas.

Hi Thomas, nice to meet you.

THOMAS: This is beautiful.

JACQUI: It's lovely today, isn't it?

I bet you it's not so lovely on a stormy day.

No.

This is one of the most dangerous coasts around Britain, actually.

And a place where the Royal National Lifeboat Institution really has a big input into saving lives at sea.

And we've got a huge heritage here in Cromer of saving lives.

Especially through the most decorated crew member, Henry Blogg.

VO: Henry Blogg was a man of the sea.

By 11 he was working on the family crab boat.

In 1894, aged 18 he joined Cromer lifeboat crew.

By the time he was 33 Henry had become coxswain - in charge of the lifeboat and in command at sea.

He would venture out with his crew in all weathers to rescue those in danger.

So Jacqui, tell me, where are we standing now?

We're actually on HF Bailie, which is the lifeboat that Henry Blogg was coxswain of from 1935 until 1945 here in Cromer.

THOMAS: How many men were there on this boat?

JACQUI: There were around 11 or 12 of a crew, so it was, it was a fairly busy boat.

How were they all mustered together?

Well in 1935 a maroon would be fired from the end of the pier, which would send out a loud boom right across the town and you would simply see a whole load of men rushing out of their homes with their boots under their arms and when they got to the pier they'd grab a lifejacket and jump onto the lifeboat.

VO: During 53 years of service, Henry saved 873 lives.

The story of one rescue tells of the bravery of Henry and his crew.

JACQUI: It happened just off the coast here in Cromer.

THOMAS: Where we met.

Absolutely.

Just on the beach there.

And you can see in some of these photographs how close they actually were.

You can... Oh gosh, we were almost here.

Yeah.

This was December.

The surf itself was horrendous.

Some of the worst gales that had come across this side of the country in decades and the barge itself was pulled off course by the gales and the wind.

The two men had to climb up into the rigging from the flooded deck just to stay dry.

So, what happened?

How did they get saved?

Well, initially when the maroon went off to sound the alarm, the motor boat and Henry Blogg and all of the number one crew were actually already on a rescue.

THOMAS: Mm-hm.

So the only way that they could help was that the fathers and the uncles of the crew came down to help and unfortunately they had the older boat, so they actually had to row against this surf... THOMAS: Oh.

JACQUI: ..to try and reach the barge and they kept being pushed back onto the shore... THOMAS: You'd imagine, yeah.

..until they were completely exhausted and the men, all this time, you can imagine, just clinging on there.

THOMAS: Freezing.

JACQUI: Freezing cold, watching the lifeboat fail.

VO: As luck would have it, Henry and his crew learned of the stranded barge through Cromer coastguard.

JACQUI: Henry Blogg realized he also could not get alongside the barge.

He took the lifeboat and he drove it right on top of the deck of the flooded barge.

THOMAS: Lopped it on?

JACQUI: And if it got stuck there then they would all lose their lives.

However, they managed to pull the two men down onto the lifeboat.

The lifeboat was damaged, so they actually crashed the lifeboat straight up onto the beach just outside the museum here in Cromer.

What a risk.

Absolutely.

What a risk.

JACQUI: He had a huge amount of skill, knowledge, understanding of the sea.

A huge amount of determination, but also maybe a bit of luck.

VO: Henry is the most decorated lifeboatman in RNLI history, with seven medals for gallantry, the George Cross and the British Empire Medal.

Henry retired in 1947 and died a few years later aged 77.

Thousands attended his funeral to say goodbye to their local hero.

So what sort of legacy do you think he's left?

Well the biggest legacy is obviously all the lives that he saved, along with his crew.

873 people who had children of their own, who had grandchildren as well.

That's such a legacy.

VO: Now, let's check up on Mark.

He's just along the coast in the village of Cley next the Sea.

VO: Artemis Antiques is Mark's last opportunity to shop.

MARK: What a lovely place.

Gosh, I can see lots of gems in here.

But the problem with gems, of course, is that they normally cost an awful lot of money.

I love those stained glass panels.

They look like butterfly wings, don't they?

And this is very much that sort of gothic, Arts and Crafts period.

A&N.

It would be lovely if you knew an Anthony and a Nigella.

They'd love that, wouldn't they, for their luxury pad in Oakham.

VO: Well maybe, and they might be Masonic, a potential good buy.

Time to meet owner Sophie.

MARK: I'm Mark.

SOPHIE: Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you too.

Well, you saved the best till last obviously.

MARK: Of course.

Of course.

I think you and I are going to get on.

VO: What's that you've found?

MARK: That's quite a fun thing.

What do you think this is made of?

Copper?

Actually it's pottery.

This was made by Bretby ware.

And they always mark their wares with Bretby and then like a rising sun above.

And this is a very typical type of jardinière.

VO: Bretby Art Pottery was established in the late 19th century and was renowned for producing copperette, so called because it simulated hammered copper.

Now, according to this, this Bretby jardinière is £40.

That's a possibility actually.

So we're getting there.

There's a few things, you know, percolating.

All is not lost.

MARK: These are quite fun, aren't they?

VO: They're a bit saucy.

Very curvaceous pair of lady's legs.

You crack your nuts with them.

VO: Oh, yeah?

How much?

Where's Sophie?

I mean, there's no price on them and they don't really go in with the sort of quality stock, if you don't mind me saying so.

VO: Here he goes again.

They can be £8.

Oh.

Do you think we could do those for £6.50?

Go on then.

MARK: Are you sure?

That sounds like...

I'm feeling kind and generous.

Thank you, Sophie.

Pleasure.

VO: They're not maracas, Mark!

VO: After a last browse, decision time looms.

The two things I'm drawn to at the moment is the Bretby jardinière, and I think I'm mad, but I love those stained glass panels.

SOPHIE: They are beautiful.

MARK: It all comes down, I'm afraid, to the final price.

You've got £40 on the Bretby jardinière, and I have a feeling that you want to help me in my quest.

I might be nice!

MARK: So what could you do on that?

SOPHIE: I could do it for 20.

MARK: That's a no-brainer.

I'm going to take it for 20.

SOPHIE: Lovely.

I haven't looked at the price of the stained glass panels because I don't want to shock myself too much and I want to feel I've got a chance of buying them.

SOPHIE: I have them on at 175.

MARK: Oh gosh.

I had a figure in mind, which was £100.

SOPHIE: Um...an extra £5?

105?

Well let's not fall out over a fiver.

Let's not fall out.

And I'm not going to say "let's call it 100", I'm going to say 105.

Fantastic.

Thank you very much.

Pleasure.

Sophie, that's great.

Thank you so much.

VO: Mark certainly went to town here.

Nutcrackers for £6.50, a Bretby jardinière for 20, and the big money gamble on the stained glass panels for £105.

VO: Thomas, meanwhile has travelled to Holt.

He has just under £283.

Holt Antiques and Interiors is his last chance to add to his antiques booty.

Hi, I'm Thomas.

Hi, good afternoon, I'm Stephen.

THOMAS: Big shop, loads of dealers.

We have 32 different dealers.

Great.

I'm going to have a good look around.

VO: Like a kid in a sweet shop!

Right!

We're off now!

See?

It's rather good, isn't it?

I'm off on an expedition.

VO: Oh dear.

Come on, concentrate, Thomas.

THOMAS: I quite like these big terracotta urns.

Imagine one of those in somebody's garden.

VO: These big beauties are actually used for storing and transporting olives.

As luck would have it, the owner of the pots, John, is around to talk money with Thomas.

THOMAS: John, nice to meet you, John.

So you're the sort of reclamation garden guy?

Yes, I am.

Brilliant.

I quite like one of your olive jars.

JOHN: Which one, because they are different.

THOMAS: Which one can you do the best deal on?

JOHN: Um...What have I got on those?

195.

Well, I was thinking... 150?

That's a bit...more than I was wanting to spend.

I think the best I could do would be 130.

Really?

I was really hoping that you could maybe... Maybe I could push you a little bit further and talk about a two-figure price?

VO: Watch it, he's a big fella.

JOHN: 98.

Um...on which one?

And you're going to make money on it.

THOMAS: Which one do I like the most?

I personally...

I can't really make a decision now, it's very difficult.

I think we're going to go for this bulbous beauty here.

You sure I can't push you to 95?

VO: Thomas!

Go on, 95.

You're a scholar and a gentleman.

That is my last purchase of the road trip.

VO: Great display of smiling negotiation from Thomas.

£95 for the olive jar.

And that wraps up this road trip's shopping.

VO: Thomas has collected five items - the 1830's sampler, the pearlware plaque, a bridge case, the etui, and a massive olive jar.

Thomas has spent a grand total of £290.

VO: Mark also has five lots - the Chinese vase, a bronze puppy, the combo lot of the nutcrackers and the copper jug, the Bretby jardinière, and the stained glass panels.

Cautiously spending £190.

VO: What do our experts think of one another's buys?

Thomas, I really dislike you at times!

I absolutely adore that little Scottish pottery dish.

It ought to make a decent profit.

I'm not sure it will in today's market but I adore it.

He has bought one thing for a rather lot of money - the stained glass panels.

MARK: I think it'll be a clash of the garden pot and the stained glass panels.

THOMAS: Now that is a risky, risky purchase because they are just one shape.

I know who I want to win - the stained glass panels.

As it stands, I'm in the lead, only by a £30 margin.

Mark's been immensely tactical.

I've been brave and bold, and hopefully that'll carry me forward to victory.

VO: Yeah.

Fingers crossed for both of you.

Next stop, the town of Oakham in rural Rutland to battle it out in the auction finale.

THOMAS: And I bought a very large spherical object!

You bought a big pot?

A big pot!

But is that to put your profits in at the end of the auction?

I hope so!

VO: Hey, you'd be a millionaire if you could fill that olive pot.

Our last auction is taking place at Oakham Auction Center.

MARK: Here we are, Thomas.

Oakham Auction Centre.

MARK: Well... THOMAS: Last auction - do I have to get the kleenex out?

The tissues?

MARK: Come on, come on, buddy.

THOMAS: Come on, get out of the car.

You're so slow.

Here's to profits.

Many of them.

VO: They're raring to go.

VO: Our auctioneer today is Jeff Dale.

What does he think of Mark and Thomas' offerings?

The olive jar, I think, will do well.

It's a nice garden feature, we usually sell garden items well and I think there'll be plenty of buyers for that.

The 19th century leaded panels, they should do reasonably well, but I have my doubts because they're not of a uniform size.

VO: Crumbs, don't tell Mark.

So, settle down, it's auction time.

VO: It's Mark's Bretby jardinière first.

AUCTIONEER (AU): £10 bid.

£10, £10, 12.

£12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 20, 22, 24... Profit.

AU: 26, 28.

28, 30.

There you are, started at 10.

AU: 32, 34.

34, 34, 36.

36 on the far side.

36.

Almost doubling your money now!

It is quite big.

AU: £38, do I see anywhere?

Selling at 36.

Eight or not?

At least I've started off positively.

I think that's very good.

How long will it continue?

VO: Good start for Mark.

He's on your tail, Thomas!

Next, Mark's Chinese vase.

10.

10 to go.

Five.

A pound.

Three.

Three, £3 bid.

At £3, £3.

Four.

Four it is.

Selling at four.

£4 bid, £4.

Five.

Selling at four.

So, you've lost a pound on that.

I know, but it was worth a lot more than that.

VO: Not a huge loss, Mark.

You're still very close to overtaking Thomas.

Thomas' turn now.

His 18th century pearlware plaque.

10 to start.

10, £10 bid.

At £10, £10.

12.

£12.

14.

16.

18.

20.

20.

Two.

Four.

THOMAS: 24.

26.

26 if you like.

£26.

Do we see any more?

No, that's it.

AU Selling at 24 on the right hand, had its time, selling at 24.

I'm gutted for you, Tom.

THOMAS: Hm.

I think that was such a cheap price.

VO: A disappointing blow for Thomas.

Such bad luck.

Thomas' monster-sized olive jar next.

£20 bid.

At 25.

25, 30.

Five.

40.

Five.

50.

Five.

Well, it's going up, Tom.

70.

Five.

80.

Five.

90.

Five.

Got a profit.

Told you.

115.

Selling at 115.

20 or not?

The last time.

Selling at 115.

Well that's not bad, it's a £20 profit.

Very small profit, yeah, but we got there.

But you got there.

VO: You did.

Loving your positivity, boys!

Mark's quirky lot of nutcrackers and a little jug next.

AU: 10.

10 to go.

20.

£10 bid, £10.

12.

£12, 14, 14.

16.

Profit.

A pound profit.

AU: 20 if you like.

£20, do we see anywhere?

Selling at £18.

Well done.

Thank you, Tom.

You made some money though.

I made some money.

VO: Things don't bode well, Mark.

Mark's bronze puppy is up next.

10.

10, £10 bid.

At 12.

£12.

14.

16.

18.

Oh, it's moving up.

Four.

24, if you like.

24 anywhere?

Selling at 22.

Four?

24.

26.

28.

What did you want it to make?

About 200.

150.

32.

Selling at £30.

What can you say, Tom?

I think it's annoying because you know it's worth more than £30.

Of course.

VO: Oh dear.

Even the puppy's weeping.

Back to Thomas, his etui next.

AU: 10 to go.

10.

£10.

12.

14.

16.

18.

20.

Two.

Well, it's going up.

AU: Selling at 24.

Six or not?

Had its time.

Selling at 24.

It was worth a lot more, it was interesting, but... Not here and not today.

No.

VO: We're not making great progress, chaps.

It's Thomas' bridge card case now.

AU: 30 to start.

20.

£20 bid.

At 25.

25.

30.

30.

35.

40.

45.

50.

There we are.

THOMAS: 50.

You're alright, Tom, actually.

THOMAS: 60.

AU: At 60.

Five.

70.

70.

70 if you like.

£70, £70.

75.

80.

80.

Five.

90.

Five.

100.

Oh, we're moving on.

105.

Selling at 100 on the right, selling at 100.

Do you know, it just shows you though, Tom, there are bidders for the right thing.

Yes.

And that was the right thing in this sale room today.

VO: Finally a decent profit.

It's Mark's last chance to scoop some profits.

His pricey stained glass panels are next.

30 to start.

20.

£20.

10.

10.

£10 bid.

How do you feel about that?

16, 18.

18.

20.

Two.

24.

26.

28.

30.

Oh, they're moving up.

30, 32.

34.

34.

36.

I mean, it's really struggling at £2, isn't it?

Well, here we are, 40, 42.

42, 44 now.

Did you hear 44?

Fresh blood.

AU: 46.

46.

48.

48 if you like.

Selling at 46.

Eight anywhere?

Selling at 46.

VO: Uh-oh!

Half your money... Down the plughole.

Thanks for coming.

VO: Ouch!

A gamble that didn't pay off.

It's the last lot of the day - Thomas' 1830's sampler.

AU: 30 to start.

20.

20.

£20.

25.

30.

Five.

35.

40.

Five.

50.

50 if you like.

£50, do we see anywhere?

Selling at 45.

50 or not?

Had its time.

Selling at 45.

Oh no.

Yep.

Lost a bit of money on it, but still.

VO: Disappointing, Thomas.

You started off well, you finished well and you deserve to win, Thomas.

Well, thank you very much.

You really did.

Well done, old friend.

It's been a great trip.

It's been wonderful.

I'm a bit sad really it's over.

VO: It's been a very close-run race too, but who is the victor of this week's road trip?

VO: Mark started this leg with a magnificent £446.60.

After auction costs, he made a loss of £80.12.

Mark's final total is £365.48.

VO: Thomas started the final leg with £477.52.

After all auction costs, Thomas made a small loss of £37.44, giving him a grand total of £440.08.

VO: A close call, but Thomas is crowned this week's Road Trip winner.

All profits go to Children In Need.

Well, Mark, it was a good game.

Well fought, I thought.

Yeah, and well fought by you.

MARK: I gave it all I had, I'm afraid.

THOMAS: Well you did!

And you gave me a run for my money, didn't you?

You didn't let me let up.

MARK: Oh, shut up and get on with it.

Shut up and move.

Move the car.

VO: Many congrats, Thomas.

VO: It's been a blast with our perky pair.

THOMAS: You don't think I'm a Superman.

No, no.

I think you're more like an overweight Lois Lane.

Ooh!

VO: There were some doubts.

My strategy has gone out of the window.

I feel like weeping for you.

Don't be depressed.

VO: Some disagreements.

THOMAS: I'm telling, you're never driving again!

I'm watching you.

I'm watching you.

Be afraid.

Be very afraid.

I'm quaking!

VO: And a little bit of love.

It's been good fun, Tom.

And whatever happens, we'll carry on smiling.

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