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

I just love it.

VO: Behind the wheel of a classic car.

(HORN TOOTS) LOUISE: It's fast.

CHARLES: It's a race.

VO: And a goal - to scour Britain for antiques.

PAUL: This could be tricky.

MARGIE: £38!

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

VO: But it's no mean feat.

ROO: High five!

There'll be worthy winners... CHRISTINA: Mind-blowing.

VO: ..and valiant losers.

Could have been worse.

Will it be the high road to glory...

Car!

..or the slow road to disaster?

CHRISTINA: Aaagh!

TIM: Oh my!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Oh yes!

VO: Welcome to the birth of a brand new Road Trip in the company of a couple of old muckers.

PAUL (PL): Here we go again, Catherine Southon.

CATHERINE (CS): I know, Paul Laidlaw!

Ha-ha!

We're lucky we're buddies because it's getting intimate, this cockpit, is it not?

CS: We are a wee bit close!

VO: Which brings us to their shiny red Morgan 4/4, the third amigo along for this week's ride.

Nice color.

It's a bit like tomato soup color.

(HE CHUCKLES) I don't think that's what it says in the sales brochure.

VO: Perhaps not, but it might take a tin opener to prize them out of there again.

The things that's weird with this is that your gear stick is such a long way down.

I'm almost touching your leg, Paul, so apologies if my hand wanders.

You had me at "tomato soup"!

VO: Catherine is an auctioneer from Bromley who specializes in scientific instruments.

Whatever floats your boat.

VO: While Paul, from Cumbria, is also an auctioneer.

A Faschinenmesser.

VO: Knows an awful lot about war.

That view down the bonnet is the view Battle of Britain Spitfire pilots had.

Fantastic!

VO: See what I mean?

I think he's got away with it, though.

I like your vision, Paul, and I love your green tights.

(HE CHUCKLES) VO: He's not really wearing green tights.

At least I don't think so.

It's all about the location.

PL: We're near Sherwood Forest, are we not?

CS: We are.

# Robin Hood, Robin Hood # With his merry men.# VO: They're setting forth from Budby in Nottinghamshire with £200 each, and about to thoroughly "do" the Midlands.

Heading out west towards Wales, before moseying back east so that when their work is done, they'll eventually gravitate towards Middle Littleton and journey's end.

Today they'll be making for an auction in the Leicestershire town of Market Harborough.

But we start shopping in a hamlet which was once part of the aforementioned forest.

CS: Oh, how are we going to get out of this?!

PL: Oh dear.

CS: Hello!

Er, Inelegantly.

VO: Should be interesting.

PL: Pass me that Vaseline, would you, Catherine?

You alright there?

Want a hand?

Or a foot!

Can you manage?

CS: No!

VO: I think that definitely needs work.

How did we get in there?

VO: Or a shoe horn.

PL: Hello there.

Hello there.

Is that a welcoming party I see?

VO: Yep, and a very nice warm stove.

So, we'll stay here.

If you could just bring us lots of bargains and we'll pick one of them and we'll call it quits, yeah?

DEALER: Jolly good.

VO: Cheeky!

I'm going to go that way.

VO: Away from the hearth, there's plenty to get our two warmed up at Budby Antiques.

Oh!

Fantasy Flyer!

Every girl's dream.

That's as small as the Morgan.

It's easier to get in that than it is to get into that Morgan.

VO: You could give it a spin, then.

Bubblegum pink.

It's got a wheel that goes left and right, and the propeller goes... And it goes backwards and forwards!

Oh, it's wonderful.

VO: Very Penelope Pitstop.

Possibly pricey.

Chloe?

CS: How much is it?

CHLOE: 325.

It's one of those I've just got to say goodbye to, but it is lovely.

I've only got £200 and I don't think it's going to buy it.

VO: Crikey.

She's more economy-minded today, methinks.

What's Paul got hold of?

Just found a piece of Malacca cane, as you will see.

Malacca identifiable by virtue of that rib that runs down there.

This one is more than you may think because... Oh my word, look at that.

That has transformed into a swordstick.

VO: We might have guessed.

PL: I'm out and about, the dark streets of Whitechapel, and I'm accosted.

"Hand over your valuables."

"I think not, sir.

Begone, brigand."

VO: Slightly more socially acceptable than a sword, but almost as dangerous.

One can only own, indeed sell, a swordstick today if it is an antique.

And this, because it's an antique, is exempt, and you can walk in here with your £575, and walk out with a collector's item.

But they are reproduced.

If you buy a modern reproduction, then you can fall foul of the law.

VO: So, no swordsticks or pink aeroplanes.

Maybe something a wee bit more conventional?

On that top shelf, what is the one thing that you like?

CHLOE: I would have said that bracelet there.

CS: That's what I thought!

CHLOE: Is it?

Yeah.

So basically, we've got a panel bracelet here.

It's not precious metal in any way.

And then it's got these wonderful little Egyptian heads on every single panel.

But it's Egyptian revival.

It's 1920s, and I just think it's got a really lovely appearance.

Can we try it on you?

Yeah.

See, that's too chu...

It's nice, but... CS: Do you not like it?

CHLOE: Oh, I do like it.

No, I do like it, but it's just not for me.

I've got to make some money on that though, um...

Sorry!

VO: Quite.

The ticket price is £50.

If there's any way it could come down to something like 30... Mm-hm.

..ish.

Possibly...

I need to go and check.

Yeah, cos you liked it as well, didn't you?

CS: From a distance.

CHLOE: No worries.

VO: Aye-aye!

Ahem.

Technically this is trespass, Catherine.

Is it?

What happened to "I'm going that way"?

Is this your border?

The border's over there.

You're a country mile into...

This is no man's land, that's what this is.

VO: Calm down, man.

Concentrate.

Fireman's helmet.

And maybe not so old as you might think because these were in use in the middle years of the 20th century.

Price tag is £40.

It's worth that at auction.

My word, it's tiny.

Look at that!

You'd think that was for a child.

The truth of the matter is... those poor, malnourished souls of the late 19th, early 20th century, they were smaller than you or I.

But, back to the future, get shopping, Laidlaw.

Stop prattling.

VO: Good point.

There's an awful lot to see in this former barn after all.

A little booklet there.

Your Answer To Invasion, OK?

Very real post-Dunkirk.

Your guide to fending off the Nazi hordes.

And in this instance, how do you do that?

What weapons do you carry?

None at all.

Unarmed combat's as good as it's gonna get for you.

Written by a British ju-jitsu champion, James Hipkiss.

Inside there are these fantastic graphics depicting Tommy Atkins, maybe our wee home guardsman, and Johnny Hun.

I've got to say, they're hilarious.

What's the price on this?

"1941 booklet, £10."

VO: Meanwhile Catherine is still wrestling with that bracelet.

Anything else?

I like him.

It's nicely cast.

It's like a cold-painted bronze of a peacock.

I'd like to say that it was circa 1900.

VO: What's the best price, Chloe?

It was 20, but we can do it for 15.

OK. Can I walk around and hold it?

Yeah, if you want to.

And then I kind of get a feel for it.

Yeah, warm him up, warm him up.

Warm him up, cos he is cold.

Yeah, I dunno.

I'm gonna have a... A think.

£15 doesn't seem much, does it?

Is it that ugly, though?

Is it really ugly?

Let's think of the positives.

I saw it standing at the back, it didn't have a price on.

£15 to me doesn't seem a lot of money.

But someone will like it.

£15!

VO: Yes, you did mention the price.

Over to Paul, also rummaging.

That's perfectly nice, isn't it?

1930s, '40s.

Turned pint-pot tankard.

"Per ardua ad astra."

That's the crest, of course, of the RAF.

And that's why I'm talking to you about it.

Picture the guys of the squadron back from their sortie, bit of R and R in the mess.

"I say, old chaps!"

I suspect this hails from south Asia because I think this is Oriental wood turning and carving.

Price on that... £45.

Well, I don't think that's overly expensive.

But I'll tell you what would make it cheap.

That collar being silver would make it cheap.

VO: Still a good find, even if it turns out to be silver plate.

But we have to buy it as we see it.

Am I interested?

You know I'm interested!

VO: Time to have a word with Allan.

PL: Allan, how're you doing?

ALLAN: Hello.

I'm good, thanks.

I'm swotting up on unarmed combat but I think you and I can keep this amicable.

Now, £10 on that is neither here nor there.

OK. Now, got a couple of other things that I'd love to pick your brains over.

So, one, RAF tankard - 45 and, not a country mile off, continental fireman's helmet, £40.

Is there any slack in these two prices?

Yeah, I can do a little on that.

That's OK, yeah.

£10 between those two.

PL: A fiver off each of them?

ALLAN: Each one of those, yeah.

If I buy three pieces here and now... Mm-hm.

..can I squeeze another fiver off?

That would make that 35, 35, and the £10 asking price on that.

Yeah, we could do that.

Would you do it, then?

Yeah.

An absolute pleasure.

VO: So that's £80 in total.

Thank you very much.

VO: And with that, Paul's work here is done.

Toodle-pip!

VO: Catherine's not letting go of that peacock.

CS: £15, you say?

CHLOE: Yeah.

Any more news on the bracelet?

Um, yeah, she will come down to 35, but that is absolute lowest.

Oh, OK. 35.

CS: 50 for the two?

CHLOE: Yeah.

CHLOE: Deal?

CS: Yeah.

CS: Thank you ever so much.

CHLOE: No problem.

I'm gonna take my little pet with me.

My little pet peacock.

VO: Not to mention your four pharaohs.

40.

CS: And five makes 50.

CHLOE: Lovely.

CHLOE: Thank you very much.

CS: Thank you so much.

Lovely.

VO: So, while she goes in search of her next shop... Ooh!

I'm back, little car.

Oh, gosh.

VO: Just as well she's only bought smalls.

(VO CHUCKLES) Paul's taking a well-earned break in the nearby town of Tuxford, where he's come to visit the unique museum dedicated to the history of the horse.

With exhibits which date from as early as 600BC, it's the huge personal collection of enthusiast Sally Mitchell.

SALLY (SM): Hello Paul, how nice to meet you.

Likewise.

What a hugely impressive gallery.. SM: Do you think so?

Thank you!

PL: ..this is.

VO: Sally, who began collecting as a child, has artifacts which reflect almost every aspect of equine life, including over 50 saddles.

But Paul, of course, has one particular section in mind.

This is our military room.

Take a look at that.

What a centerpiece!

(SHE CHUCKLES) So, see this poster, and it takes us to the First World War.

SM: Indeed.

And we think First World War, we don't think cavalry, we think tanks and trenches and barbed wire.

SM: To a large degree, but the horses were very useful for the artillery, because it was the only way they could get the guns to the front in many of the rough terrain that they were working on.

So you had horses in use throughout the...

Absolutely.

Yes.

Do you know what sort of numbers we are talking about in terms of horses used by, let's say the British army, in the First World War?

SM: Oh, goodness me.

Nearly a million horses.

And of that, only 60,000 came home.

PL: Where did they come from?

They requisitioned them from people all over the country.

If you had favorite hunters that you'd bred and trained, worked with all your life, they were gone.

What was their experience like?

Oh, terrible.

I mean, if you look at the photographs, they'd get bogged down in shell holes, they were often drowned in shell holes.

And on top of all that, where they were picketed, they were targets for the Germans.

Because if they could wipe out the horses, you couldn't get the guns to the front.

VO: One of the earliest British battles during the conflict was a cavalry attack in 1914.

But thereafter, as tanks were introduced and became slowly more reliable, they began to replace the cavalry's role while horses performed other, equally vital tasks.

Those are cable-laying panniers, because of course they had to lay lots of cables.

And there's a packsaddle there that they used for bringing injured soldiers back over mountains.

They've been used since the First World War out in warzones where you couldn't get other sort of equipment.

PL: Very sophisticated.

Specifically tailored to exploiting the... SM: Absolutely, yes.

PL: ..the horse.

VO: There are also reminders of another horror from the Great War - mustard gas.

A horse isn't gonna react well to this, is it, or...?

Well, they say that the First World War masks, which were really just a canvass bag, were so like their feedbag that the moment you put them on, they'd plunge their head to the ground looking for food.

VO: For a living demonstration of what those warhorses would have looked like, Paul's come to Sally's yard.

This is Peter and Diva the horse, who's modeling for you.

That is some sight.

That gives you an idea surely of how imposing the cavalrymen looked, not just a hundred years ago but a thousand years ago and beyond, eh?

SM: Doesn't it really?

My word!

Sad to say, this is my domain, I recognize all the accouterments here, from the 1908 pattern cavalry trooper's sword through to the 90-round bandolier round the neck.

It brings it alive, doesn't it?

SM: Doesn't it?

PL: We could be here 1914 or 18, and the thought of a gentleman in khaki atop that, that's impressive.

SM: Yes.

PL: Oh, it's fantastic.

VO: Meanwhile, out on the open road...

I think I'm getting the hang of this.

I feel like Toad of Toad Hall... ..with my scarf whisking off out through the window.

I haven't got my scarf on any more.

VO: Poop-poop!

She's maneuvering the motor towards Mansfield, the market town that gets a mention in the once-banned Lady Chatterley's Lover.

Catherine's got exactly £150 to spend at the Arcade.

Every space is full, which is a good thing.

VO: Amen to that!

CS: Hello, hello, hello!

DEALER: Hello there, Catherine.

Hi.

Catherine, and who might you be?

I'm John.

John.

Good to see you, John.

Thanks for having me.

No problem.

You've got a lot of stock here!

Yeah, we've got a very lot of stock here.

VO: Well, I'm sure our Catherine can help thin things out a bit.

Wow!

VO: Once she gets her eye in.

I love these.

Singing bird.

Birds in a cage, or automaton.

So these are basically German and I would say it's 1950s.

And it's very dusty.

But people love these.

And they sing.

Come on.

(CHIRRUPS) And if you look inside the actual mechanism, it's quite incredible, really.

It's very intricate.

If you were buying this today at auction, you would probably have to pay around £400, £500 for it.

So today I'm gonna say, "Hello, goodbye, you are not for me."

But keep singing.

(CHIRRUPS) VO: They're chirpy!

Anything a bit CHEEP-ER?

Ha.

Oh, that's interesting.

I like that.

VO: A pan rack.

Should be within budget.

Over to John.

CS: Is that actually for sale?

JOHN: It is.

Oh, is it?

Yes.

It's on there for £56.

Is it actually wrought iron, or...?

JOHN: Yes, it's wrought iron.

Yeah.

You would hate me if I bought that, wouldn't you?

Not at all.

VO: Time for a closer inspection, eh?

You can have a look if you want.

Or do you want me to get it?

Do you want me to go?

No, no, no, no.

I'll go up.

I'm quite happy to go up.

I'm just wondering how old this is.

See, I'd like to say that that is early part of the ce...

I don't know.

Like, 1900?

I would think so.

I mean, looking at the wear on the chains.

"Old farmhouse pan rack, £56."

VO: John will need to consult the dealer.

It's a 1930s/40s, and he can actually let you have it for £30... CS: OK. JOHN: ..if you'd like it.

CS: Yeah, I like that.

JOHN: Mm-hm.

I've never done a deal on a ladder before.

VO: It's an exclusive club.

CS: Those three there.

JOHN: Mm-hm.

Would you take 10 on those?

Yes, yeah.

I think he'd do that.

Would you take... Yeah?

Fantastic.

Total of 40.

Thank you so much.

VO: Fast work, Catherine.

20, 30, 40.

JOHN: Thank you very much.

CS: Fantastic.

Thank you so much.

Do you gift wrap?

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: Ha-ha.

Mind those sharp bits in the back of the motor.

CS: Now this car's pretty good.

Yes, it's very us, isn't it?

Let's... VO: Very!

Night-night, you two.

Next day, Paul's somehow squeezed behind the wheel.

If you shaved off some of this beard... (HE CHUCKLES) ..you'd fit in it a lot easier.

Am I... Am I tickling you?

VO: Yesterday Catherine acquired a pan rack with measures, a bracelet and a cold-painted peacock.

Is it that ugly though?

VO: Leaving her with £110 to spend today.

While Paul picked up a tankard, a fireman's helmet and a jiu-jitsu booklet.

You and I can keep this amicable.

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: Which means he still has £120 left.

Looks like it's brightening up too!

You'll have your top off soon, so to speak.

Taps aff!

(THEY LAUGH) VO: Later, they'll be heading towards the auction in Market Harborough.

But our first stop is in Southwell.

VO: Or "Suth-ull".

Both pronunciations are equally acceptable around these parts.

Nice place.

The young Byron used to spend his school holidays here, apparently.

Paul's got it to himself, having already dropped Catherine off.

Hello there.

Is it Terry?

It is, it is.

Good to see you.

And you, and you.

What a fabulous wee town you inhabit.

VO: Well said.

I wonder what Paul will discover in the antiques quarter.

That's delightful, is it not?

What a little joy.

This is how you play chess on the move in the 19th century.

Pre electronics and apps.

And it's all there.

Is that not a joy?

I'd like to settle in, smoky wood fire... ..a pewter tankard of ale, and some good company.

I say, the news from the Crimea is darned awful, is it not?

Come on - that's how you do it!

VO: It's how YOU do it.

Let's have a look at one of these.

There you have it.

It's had a life because I think the hinges were renewed.

And I think there was a green baize lining here that's just, the moths have gotten to it.

Is that catastrophic?

Absolutely not.

VO: Ticket price, £80.

What a lovely gift that would make.

But not for these purposes.

And I've got one anyway.

VO: Fair enough.

Not an awful lot of obvious Paul buys in here though.

But when in Southwell... "What on Earth is Laidlaw doing with a china figurine?

"My granny has china figurines."

This appears to be somewhat superior to the crinoline lady on your granny's sideboard next to the sherry decanter.

You can tell that straightaway with the classical modeling.

We've got a warrior here and I put it to you that that's probably Mars, the god of war.

VO: Surprise, surprise!

He's in a scale armor cuirass, his flamboyant helmet.

We turn it upside down because that's what you do.

There you see in iron red a crown, and the initial D - Derby.

OK?

What I'm not keen on here is the gaudiness of the gilding.

And I'm suspicious that this isn't actually truly of its period, that it actually may be somewhat later than we'd like it to be.

VO: I think he's right.

Time to consult proprietor Terry.

In the cabinet there.

Yes.

Very n...

I like it.

I like it.

I like it.

Yeah.

Is it dear, is my question.

We've got it on at 95.

Historically, that's pretty damned inexpensive, isn't it?

Yes.

But that's a big gamble for me.

I'm a wee bit out of my comfort zone here, I'll be honest with you.

Is there wriggle room, is where I'm going.

I can tempt you with it.

What are we thinking, what have you got in mind?

I'm thinking half of where you're at.

50?

I was thinking sort of 60 but if we split it and do 55.

Oh, we don't haggle any further from that.

We shake hands.

Sold.

And I take a punt!

VO: Come off it!

The god of war, plus Mars?

A pleasure.

VO: What could possibly go wrong?

Now, where exactly has our goddess got to?

The ancient market town of Newark, actually.

Which, during the English Civil War was at the heart of the battle.

Because, as a major royalist stronghold on the River Trent, Newark was besieged three times between 1644 and 1646.

Good afternoon, I'm Catherine.

Good afternoon Catherine.

VO: Curator Glynn Hughes is an expert on the long and bloody struggle between the supporters of Charles I and II, and those who favored republican rule.

The divine right of kings versus a contract between sovereign and people.

GLYNN (GH): You have the royalists on one side, also known as the Cavaliers.

Yeah.

Fighting the parliamentarians who some people called the Roundheads.

CS: Right.

Fighting for a republic, fighting for a commonwealth.

VO: The king fled London in 1642 and raised his standard in Nottingham, making this part of the Midlands a key strategic area.

So what's the significance of Newark in all this?

Well, Newark's important because Newark controls the Great North Road and it also controls the Fosse Way, the A46.

So it's the crossroads of two of the most major arteries in the country.

CS: Right.

GH: We're also on the River Trent.

So the River Trent is access to the hook of Holland and the low countries where you can bring in arms.

VO: The final siege of Newark saw over 16,000 troops trap the inhabitants for six months.

At least one third of the population had perished before they surrendered.

Charles was tried and executed three years later.

This belongs to Francis Hacker.

This is the coat he wore when he escorted Charles I to have his head cut off in 1649.

Wow!

That's such a significant piece, isn't it?

It is.

As a curator, it's an amazing thing to be able to touch history this close.

How exciting.

That's incredible.

VO: Almost 200,000 people died as a result of either fighting or disease from an English population of around five million.

And yet in 1660 the brief era of republican rule came to an abrupt end with the coronation of Charles II.

Another of the center's incredible artifacts holds a clue as to how the restoration came about.

This is Eikon Basilike.

It is Latin for royal portraiture and it was produced about 10 days after Charles I was executed in 1649, by royalists.

Basically, it's Charles II's copy of his father's last days.

CS: Yeah.

GH: This, I think, for me, is one of the most important elements of the book.

It's a superb piece of royalist propaganda and plants the seed for the restoration of the monarchy.

In the background you have stormy waters and of course the rock is Charles.

Yeah.

So great symbolism here.

Yeah, the shaft of light looking directly on Charles's head and he's holding a crown of thorns which, of course, invokes Jesus.

VO: The message was that Charles, God's chosen monarch, had been martyred.

This is a pivotal document.

People believed this.

It is a deification.

It becomes dangerous to print this and to own it.

CS: Right.

GH: It's a sort of book which Parliament is very unhappy about because they can see that it's creating a memory of Charles which they're not happy with.

Not happy with.

So this is hot property?

GH: It is hot property.

CS: So can we actually say, therefore, Glynn, that the pen was mightier than the sword?

I think we can.

VO: Now, where's Paul?

Ah!

Busy putting that tomato souped-up roadster through its paces... ..en route to the second largest city in the Midlands.

Raleigh famous for push bikes, also lace making and Forest winning the European Cup, twice!

Hello there.

Is it Liam?

It is.

I'm Paul.

Nice to meet you, Paul.

How you doing?

I'm doing alright.

This has got a vibe, has it not?

Cheers.

I like it!

VO: I'm not surprised.

Housed in a Victorian industrial engineers' merchants.

So much stuff here.

VO: Yeah, that too.

£65 left in his wallet, though.

The world is here.

And in this case, two African shields.

What do you reckon of those?

That's somewhat vivid, is it not?

Stark geometry.

And this decoration and this form of hide shield, because that's what it is, on a wooden frame, is distinctive to the Masai of modern-day Kenya.

Ethnographica, that's a great market.

These things are seen as art because, indeed, they are.

But what the market looks for is age.

Because I think they need to evoke a spirit of the age of discovery.

You want to be thinking Livingston, not holidaymaker.

The market doesn't just need authentic, it needs age.

Give me a hundred years, I'll show you something quite valuable.

Today, what are they worth?

Going to be worth £40 to £80 each as decorative pieces.

But I'm not taking decorative pieces to auction.

VO: But while Paul's been tied up in Notts, Catherine's crossed the county line towards the Lincolnshire town of Grantham, the scene of Oliver Cromwell's first military victory in 1643.

What shall I buy, what shall I buy?

VO: So, do we have a battle plan, chief?

£110 I have burning away in my pocket, so I need two items, two good meaty items.

VO: Well, I think that might be very doable in this establishment.

Do you ever see opera glasses?

French, 19th-century, late 19th-century ladies' opera glasses in their original... vintage handbag.

How cute is that?

And you know that it's completely right, the colors match beautifully.

VO: £48, then.

Best see shop owner Charlotte.

Have they just come in?

Yeah.

They've only just come in and they are...

I think because they've got that bag they're beautiful.

Never seen that.

It's in lovely condition.

I love the thought that when you go out for an evening you'd have your little handbag with your opera glasses.

I know.

Can I just give you that for a second?

DEALER: Of course.

CS: I haven't finished.

DEALER: OK. CS: Yeah, because er... CS: I haven't even started.

DEALER: OK!

VO: Now, what about our other treasure seeker, over in Nottingham?

PL: Mm.

VO: Cushty?

My word.

Check this out.

The British Soldier's Testament.

That's got my attention straightaway.

That's poignant, is it not?

And it is exactly what you think it is.

A pocket New Testament, as issued to or given to soldiers.

And I can tell you, this is a Great War example.

Private Robert... maybe Renfrew.

July 1915.

See if this gets you.

There's the bag, and there's the label.

British Soldier's Testament, £4.50.

What I'd do with this, I'll add it to my little Second World War Home Guard Ju-jitsu book.

I am going to... keep that in my fist and keep shopping.

VO: Well, the only way is up.

There he goes.

And up.

Why is Laidlaw holding a phone and not an antique?

It's not all about age, you know.

It's about style.

Look at this for a piece of - albeit late 20th century, not late 19th century - design.

The cradle like a pyramid.

This quality of Scandinavian design was expensive in its day.

This is elite design and technology.

VO: Bang and Olufsen.

Very Danish, very influential.

What floats to the surface over time is the best of its generation.

I love it.

And the price tag says £12.

That is a gift, I'm telling you.

And time will prove me right.

VO: It's your call, mate.

Liam, how're you doing?

LIAM: Good, how are you?

PL: I found two things I love.

LIAM: Great.

And you couldn't get a greater contrast between two things anyway.

One First World War soldier's New Testament, one designer telephone.

£12, £4.50.

16.50 the lot, and worth every penny of that.

I will give you £20.

Thank you very much.

And if you've got the change, we're in business.

VO: One extremely contented customer.

See you next time.

VO: So, that lot of shopping's now complete.

VO: Is it still going good in Grantham?

Catherine's already reserved those £48 opera glasses of course.

I have to show you this.

This is terribly exciting.

OK, trench art.

So we have a shell, a case, made into - get this... ..a dinner gong.

How cool is that?

What I like about it is the style, the base here, that's almost like deco as well, the design.

Really elegant.

£99.

That's a lot of money.

VO: Well, we can but ask.

Charlotte?

DEALER: Hi.

CS: Hello.

I am completely in love with your gong.

I mean, it's not too much to ask, I know.

It's £99, but I love those as well.

Alright.

So?

This is £110.

OK. And I would love to buy both of those.

If I just quickly work out with my little pen and paper... Erm... VO: Sounds promising.

So the best price that we can do on the two items, because they are both from the same, would be £100.

Even less!

VO: Lordy!

And that gives you £10.

That's amazing.

OK?

Thank you!

I have change.

VO: It's all gone very well.

Thank you.

Ooh!

VO: Now, where's Paul with that car?

Next stop, the auction.

I think it'll be online.

Internet bidders.

You brought the map, didn't you?

VO: I think some shuteye might be in order, don't you?

VO: This distinctive and newly refurbished old grammar school is the 400-year-old symbol of Market Harborough.

After setting off from Budby, Notts, Catherine and Paul have plotted a mostly southerly course, towards Leicestershire and Gildings Auctioneers.

Catherine was right about the internet bidding.

I've bought the most amazing thing that's got Paul Laidlaw written all over it.

PL: Yeah, sure.

CS: Jealousy, jealousy.

I'll believe it when I see it.

Get in!

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: I think she means her going, going, GONG.

Ha!

Catherine parted with £190 for her five auction lots.

£10 change, remember.

VO: While Paul spend quite a lot less - £151.50 - on his five lots.

So, what do we think?

The first thing that I saw when I walked into that first shop was this.

I now wish I had bought this.

Gutted.

You want that, don't you, for your rustic country kitchen?

And do you know what?

That worries me.

Two or three people could easy take a shine to that.

Bad news for me.

Ouch.

This has got Mr Laidlaw written all over it.

VO: And Ms Southon squeezed inside it.

Ha-ha!

It's incredibly small.

But knowing Mr Laidlaw, it will make serious money.

VO: She's not wrong.

But let's also hear the sage thoughts of our auctioneer, Mark Gilding.

MARK (MG): What a stylish pair of opera glasses.

And with the bag, and really complete super condition.

'90s phone, a cracking thing, and I think it'll do well.

This is an unusual bracelet.

Yeah, I like this one.

We've got a lot of jewelry in today's sale, like costume jewelry, and this fits in.

VO: OK, enter the gladiators.

It's gonna get very real very quickly.

Ooh!

VO: First, we have Paul's Roman god, in his colorful skirt.

Nice figure, this.

Do I see £100?

£35 opens my bidding then, at 35.

40.

45.

45 I'm bid then, at 45.

48.

50.

55 online.

At 55.

You all out at the back?

With £55.

Selling at 55 then.

Does that hurt?

I think that's close enough.

VO: Yes, there's a long way to go.

No shame, no glory.

I'll take that.

VO: But what about Catherine's opening salvo, the pan rack plus?

Bidding opens here on my book at £22.

25.

28.

30 at the back now.

£30.

32.

32 here, at 32.

30, don't know.

Shaking his head then, £32, seated.

I think I'm jinxed.

I think I am actually jinxed.

VO: Looks like someone's got themselves some bargain kitchenalia.

I'm gutted.

VO: Cheers!

Here's to Paul's RAF tankard.

The lining isn't silver by the way.

Bidding opens here with me at 20.

22, 25, £28.

OK, it's a start.

30, 32, 35, 38, 40, 42.

Room bidding at £42.

Any more would be nice, but that's alright.

Selling quickly then at £42.

Ooh, I knew I should have looked at that.

See, I left that for you.

VO: How kind, Catherine!

Ha!

Well done, Paul.

# We're up and running.

# We are.

Well, I'm not.

# You are up and running.

# VO: Now, bang a gong?

Bring it on!

Bidding here opens at £18.

Ooh, I thought he was going to say 80 then!

18, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30.

32.

32.

Five.

42 here.

You're both out now.

45 at the back.

55 here.

He's putting healthy increments there.

Both bidders out of the room now.

55 online.

Fair warning, selling at £55.

Come on.

So near yet so far.

VO: Bad luck.

She took that well, I thought.

You do know I'm here to make you look good.

Oh, behave yourself!

VO: Hey, let's go all the way back to the '90s.

Paul's design classic.

£15 only I'm bid.

PL: He's got a bid.

MG: £15 I'm bid.

18, 20.

Oh no!

£20 here.

22, seated, now at 22.

MG: 22 I'm bid.

PL: Oh the book's in, room's in.

At 22.

22, bid's in the room then.

MG: 25.

CS: No!

25.

28 now, seated, at 28.

CS: How do you do that, Paul?

MG: Over here at £28.

£28 then, in the room, seated, and selling at £28.

VO: A profit, even if it didn't exactly go with a bang.

It's all about brand and design.

IMITATING PAUL: Brrrand.

VO: Can this little fella do Catherine proud?

I've got absentee bids here.

25, 35, 45, £55.

CS: No way!

PL: Happy days!

£55 I'm bid, now at 55.

60 online.

70 with me now, at 70.

£70.

75 online, at 75.

Online bidder now at 75.

Fair warning then, selling at £75.

Boom!

I knew, I knew that was a good thing.

VO: She certainly knew it cost just £15, ha.

Am I winning?

Am I winning?

Yes!

What are you?

(SHE HUMS HAPPILY) We are on the way!

VO: Paul's distraught.

Can a bit of trademark militaria improve matters?

£10 only bid.

£10 I'm bid, now at 10.

PL: Go on, bid.

MG: £12 I'm bid, at £12.

£15.

£18.

At £18.

20, do I see?

Right at the back of the room then, £18, selling away at 18.

VO: Respectable, certainly.

Well done, that's a profit.

Hmm.

Prrrofit.

I'm talking like you now, have you noticed that?

VO: Next, we have Catherine's opera glasses and accompanying bag.

£10 I'm only bid.

12, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25.

Seated now at 25.

MG: 28, new bidder.

CS: No, come on.

30, 32, 35, 38.

Yes, yes!

40, 42, MG: 45, 48... CS: Yes, yes!

MG: 50.

CS: Don't stop.

50.

55, back in.

Ooh, it's gonna come again.

They're on the ropes, they're on the ropes.

MG: £55.

At 55.

Be a long time till you find another pair.

55.

60, thank you.

65, forward at 65.

Go on, now!

A big shake of the head then, at £65.

CS: Yes!

PL: Well done, Catherine.

VO: Yep, congrats are in order.

Paul, I want to kiss you, I'm so happy.

I'll take that!

VO: Can she follow up with her bracelet?

The auctioneer liked it.

And bidding here, £15.

£15 I'm bid only, at £15.

15.

£18 I'm bid online.

At £18.

At £18 I'm bid.

20 do I see?

Wow, what a surprise.

It's £18.

And we're selling with the internet at 18.

VO: That's dampened things down a bit.

That's the auction game, fair enough.

Oh well.

VO: Catherine's loss means that if Paul's little fireman's helmet picks up a tidy profit, he could still pip her at the post.

Ooh, we're gonna start with the internet, are we?

£65.

CS: Well done.

PL: Right on the money.

CS: Paid 35?

PL: Right on.

£70 online now, at 70.

Five.

75, internet all the way.

£80 bid now, at 80.

My leg's going, my leg's going.

£85 online.

At 85.

£90 bid.

At 90.

I was leading a minute ago.

£90.

Five.

£95.

At 95.

MG: It's £95.

PL: Feel free to join in.

Feel free to join in.

Selling at £95.

Well done.

VO: Yes, Paul's just won it at the last.

Are we gonna race on and buy some more antiques, or will we retire while we're not down?

This has been a hard one, but... No, come on, let's get more!

VO: Catherine started out with £200, and after auction costs she made a profit of £10.90.

That's now added to her piggy to spend next time.

While Paul, who also began with 200, made, after costs, £43.66.

So he takes an early lead and a little more cash into the next road trip.

How on Earth did you win that?

What?

What do you mean?!

You don't spend any money, that's why!

Spend money!

VO: It's like as if they've been married for years.

VO: Next time on the Antiques Road Trip... taps aff!

The sun's shining!

You're looking good, Paul.

This is just wonderful.

VO: Not to mention money off.

Go on, then.

Magic.

Yay!

VO: And don't forget, time off.

I would love to own this.

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