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.

Tricep dips!

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

Ooh!

Oh!

Ah, should be a good one.

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

On this week's Road Trip we're on the road with two frightfully nice fellows.

VO: Despite losing the last leg, auctioneer Thomas Plant is flexing his antique-hunting muscles and doesn't shy away from blowing his own trumpet either.

(PARP!)

THOMAS (TP): Yeah, that works.

VO: Well, bugle anyway.

His antique adversary is Paul Laidlaw, another auctioneer who'll stop at nothing to stay in front.

PAUL (PL): I'm not going to make you a reasonable offer.

I'm going to make you a bad offer.

VO: Oh yeah?

On the last leg Thomas started with £200, but made at loss at auction of £19.46, so begins the day with £180.54.

Paul also started with £200, but after clocking up impressive profits of £101.14, he's got £301.14 to flash about today.

The thing is, obviously you still feel that we are still... We are matched.

Even though there is that gaping, gaping, vast quantity of money between the two of us.

PL: I prefer to see it as sparring partners.

TP: Oh, listen to this.

PL: (LAUGHS) VO: Their valiant vehicle for this adventure is a 1963 Sunbeam Alpine.

The perfect choice for this rather boyish antiques tussle.

In the left-hand seat, delicate flower.

No!

In the driving seat, brutalist.

The brutalist Laidlaw.

VO: These competitive chaps kicked off this route in the town of Morecambe, Lancashire, and, covering around 600 miles, will end the week in the country town of Bedford.

Today, they're starting in Preston, in Lancashire, and will weave their way to auction in the Cheshire town of Nantwich.

Preston, I don't know its... its history very well.

Do you?

Nor I.

Not a clue, I only live - what?

- 90 miles away.

Why don't you know this?

Why don't you come here?

VO: Well, Paul you've been missing out on a rich architectural history, as Preston's fortunes go back hundreds of years, and in the 17th century it was one of the country's most prosperous market towns.

PL: It's a market.

We need to be shopping, guys, we need to be shopping.

We need to be shopping.

Look at this!

VO: As this enthusiastic pair have noticed, the markets are still going strong and it looks like today it'll be graced with an impromptu visit from our beady eyed experts.

Fabulous building.

Cast iron, Victorian, and it's full of people selling car parts, tires... ..antiques.

I mean, it's just everything here.

I mean, it's great.

Something for the garden for four quid.

I mean, it's brilliant.

VO: Look at that - he's already diving in with this architectural stone tablet.

It dates from the 19th century.

It might have been a funeral... DEALER: Something like that, yeah.

Funeral or something, but I can imagine somebody putting that in their garden and sort of making a feature out of it.

It is not that big, is it?

That's right, yeah.

Would you take a couple of quid for it?

Yeah, alright.

TP: Yeah?

DEALER: Yeah.

Awesome.

We'll have that for a couple of pounds.

DEALER: Can't go wrong with that.

I can't go wrong, can I?

VO: He's wasting no time at all.

One purchase down even before all the stalls are set up.

Anything military still to come out?

Not at the moment.

I dreamt about a gas-mask bag last night.

How wrong is that?

I'm a very sick puppy.

VO: Keep looking then, Paul - in this place, even YOUR dreams might come true.

Any idea what that is?

DEALER: Not a clue.

It's Portland stone or whatever from the Houses of Parliament.

VO: That is another lump of stone.

I'd say this one's a magazine rack made from reclaimed pieces of the Houses of Parliament after it was bombed in the Blitz.

Ticket price is £5, which is ridiculous.

Who's not taking a punt at a fiver?

I'm into that.

Yeah, I'll take a punt at that.

VO: He's got an eye for a bargain and a head for the facts.

All the best.

It's a big lump and I like the fact that I've not seen one before because I've seen more than my fair share of this material so this is a rarity.

That's worth 40 quid of anybody's money.

And it's worth 80 if this is your bag.

Ha-ha-ha-ha!

A fiver - sweet as a nut.

VO: Last of the big spenders these two.

Although looks like Tom's seeking out some riches here.

That micro mosaic, please.

That one there?

Yeah, what has that got to be?

Nine karat, that is.

TP: Is it?

DEALER: I think it is, yeah.

No, that's not nine.

Would have told you anything.

TP: Plated.

DEALER: Is it?

Yeah, plated, you are right.

VO: Dating from the 19th century, originally this would have been part of a bracelet and Tom's rather taken with it.

What can that be?

To you... TP: Go on.

DEALER: 15 quid.

TP: Tenner.

DEALER: No.

Half way at 12?

Go on, give us 12 for it.

You're a star.

Second item in, like, five minutes.

That's the way to do it, isn't it?

VO: It certainly is.

So with three items between them already, it's back in the car and back on the road.

PL: (LAUGHS) Have you clawed it back?

Have you... You've spent £10 on two things that are going to make 100 quid?

No!

I wish.

PL: Because I did.

(CHUCKLES) VO: (CHUCKLES) A bit of friendly rivalry, then, en route to their next shop - luckily it's big enough for both of them.

Mind the wall.

You alright?

Are you, sort of, taking your time?

My work is done today.

Is it done?

Is it?

VO: Not likely, Paul - you're walking into 75,000 square feet of antiques here.

Hoo!

TP: See you laters.

This is a fabulous shop.

Lots of dealers with lots of stuff, but it is just...

I need to find things with profits.

And I am sure there are things here with profits, and maybe I'm not seeing them.

But I'm just not feeling it immediately.

And that's my main issue.

VO: Thomas may be feeling the pressure but this place is throwing up more riches for his rival.

That's quite a lovely object, is it not?

That is a wine bottle... ..that's 300-year-old if it's a day.

I LOVE this.

I think it is a great piece.

They are worth about £100 retail.

That's priced at £48 and I think that is a great buy for such a stylish and evocative piece of early glass.

VO: These hand-blown bottles aren't rare but, with a reasonable ticket price of £48, this one might be worth a tipple.

Unless there's something here with a bit more scope for profit.

One thing that keeps making eyes at me is this... 19th-century... ..table telescope... ..er, which I have a weakness for.

VO: It's a lovely piece of brass but can you see any profit in it with a ticket price of £250?

That's gorgeous!

Look at it!

Erm... Let's say it dates to 1830 to 1850, so it's got some real history here.

And look at it as an object.

If you are lucky enough to have a nice bay window, and a desk or a table nearby, this sitting there - does it not just cry out, "Come and play with me, have a look"?

I adore that.

VO: He's certainly taken with the telescope - the only thing in his way is that hefty ticket price and Sue - ha!

- who'll be doing the deal on behalf of the owner.

Stand by.

PL: What can that be?

You go first.

Well, to be really honest with you... Mm-hm.

Regardless of where we're starting... Mm.

..I'd be very interested at 100.

I think the very best price will be 125.

And that's pretty darn close to where I want it to be, isn't it?

Yeah.

I wouldn't dare go any lower.

And at 125, yeah, you've got a deal - I'll buy that.

Oh, that's wonderful, thank you very much.

DEALER: Thank you.

PL: Yeah, yeah, great stuff.

VO: Well, you can't argue with half price, can you?

It's such a great deal that he's been tempted back to that £48 wine bottle.

Would you sell me that at 35?

35.

DEALER: I would.

I would.

PL: I am pretty close at that.

I'm not going to be silly and play games.

DEALER: Thank you.

PL: Great stuff.

Thanks for that and with that, I am out of your hair.

VO: So one expert may have left the building, but there's another one in here... somewhere.

I don't know how I got here.

I'm just sort of almost... Do you know what I'm thinking?

That these are probably growing legs and attacking me, um... like a sort of Day Of The Triffids but it's a day of...

It's a day of furniture.

Got to sort of... move things out the way.

VO: Struggling somewhat, I see.

Oh no.

VO: Free at last to find his fortune.

God, do you remember these benches from school gym days?

They were used for everything, from... ..sitting...

Sitting and watching the... school nativity... ..to tricep dips.

VO: Oh, he's easily distracted, isn't he?

To balancing.

That's about the level of my boredom at the moment.

VO: Oh, try to focus, Thomas.

This is brilliant - this is a large Salter scale.

Huge massive dial.

I mean, I've never seen one this big and it goes up to 1120.

It's massive, it weighs a ton.

So what you do is this would be hung and it would weigh really heavy objects - probably for trade.

You know, grain and stuff, potatoes, produce mainly.

But that's...

It's a good weight.

It's a spring balance, there'd be a spring in there.

And things would get attached to this steel ring round here.

At 30 quid, it's going to make a profit.

But at 75 it's not.

VO: His head's back in the game, his heart's fallen for the scales but will his hands be reaching into his pockets?

Do you think you could come down to a really wonderful, wonderful price?

Tell me what you think is a wonderful price.

Well, it's really low - 20 quid.

DEALER: No.

TP: Really?

Come on, £30 and I'll take it off your hands and I'll walk away today.

If you say £35 I'll let you have it but that's it.

At 30 there's a profit, do you see what I mean?

At 35 I could be struggling.

Yeah, I agree with you there.

OK, 30.

You're wonderful.

VO: Certainly is.

The scales tipped in Thomas's favor with another hefty discount from the generous Sue.

I think he's going to need a bit of a rest after all that.

VO: Paul, however, is embarking on a mission to explore Preston's revolutionary past.

Like many cities up and down the country, Preston's population, and particularly the working class, felt the often brutal consequences of industrialization.

By the early 19th century there was an acute social problem and it was ruining lives.

The root cause was alcohol.

It was everywhere and it was cheap.

The general population, including children, were drinking away their wages and their lives.

Action was needed.

And a group of social revolutionaries from Preston rose to the challenge.

They became an important part of the temperance movement, encouraging people to help themselves out of poverty, starting with abstinence.

It grew to be a worldwide movement with millions of members.

VO: And to find out more, Paul's come to the University of Central Lancaster's arts center to meet Dr Annemarie McAllister, a senior research fellow in history, and a specialist on temperance.

Mine's a gin and tonic.

PL: So why Preston in particular?

Well, Preston was a large industrial town where people were packed in and many working class people were in difficult conditions.

It could've been Manchester, it could've been Liverpool, it could have been Glasgow, but Joseph Livesey lived in Preston...

Right?

..and that was what made the difference.

He was born in 1794.

He is one of these wonderful Victorian entrepreneurs.

And he was very interested in social reform and in helping his fellow man.

And in 1830, the government passed an act making it easier to open a shop and sell beer, so by 1832, Livesey was seeing the results of this so-called moderation, and therefore he and six other men got together to sign what was the first total abstinence pledge.

VO: The movement gathered pace and numbers.

They used heavy handed tactics and their message, often communicated with frightening images, had become far reaching.

By the end of the 19th century, the movement claimed millions of adults and around half the country's children as members.

The idea was with children, we may not think that they would be at risk of drink but there were indeed children, child workers were paid in pubs and we have records of drink shops saying "if any child buys drink at this shop in the week, "they will get a free piece of cake on Sunday".

Gosh.

How times change.

And Livesey himself said we needed to educate children because that was the soil in which the temperance movement will grow.

But even more excitingly than that I think, children were made agents.

In other words, they were encouraged in what they read, in what they did at the meetings, to pester adults essentially.

Oh... as powerful today as it was then.

Isn't it?

Yes, yes!

That little motivator.

VO: But temperance was more than just a message of abstinence.

It encouraged good health, education and cultural pursuits.

Many football clubs and brass bands started as temperance organizations.

Music was composed, and new words were written to well known campaign songs to rally the troops.

The aim was to provide an alternative to alcohol that educated and entertained the masses.

ANNEMARIE: One of the things that they always used to do in temperance meetings and Band of Hope meetings, was have a sing.

And I wonder if you would like to learn a bit of a temperance song?

It was actually to get a million more, it shows the numbers of these movements that they had campaigns to get a million more.

Yeah, indeed.

And this is the Million More song, from early in the 20th century.

And the chorus goes... # Come, boys Come and join our army PAUL JOINS IN: # Come girls Come and lead the way.

# (THEY CHUCKLE) Are we ready to go again?

And... # Come, boys Come and join our army # Come, girls Come and lead the way.

# PL: (LAUGHS) There's a lot more, but I won't make you sing the rest.

VO: Ha!

Paul Laidlaw singing eh?

Now that is a sobering experience.

VO: Thomas, meanwhile, is keen to catch up with his rival and has been hurtling towards the market town of Ramsbottom.

I am trailing behind, feeling really glum about it.

But I have to pick myself up and see what can happen.

VO: That's the spirit Thomas - fortunes could be waiting for you at the next destination.

R-R-Ramsb...

I love saying it.

R-R-Ramsbottom.

And it looks a very sweet town.

I wonder what the industry was here.

Was it wool?

Ramsbottom.

VO: Well, he's half right - the town was built up around the mills of the Industrial Revolution, including woolen mills.

But the name Ramsbottom pre-dates this.

But why let the truth stand in the way of a good story, eh?

And he's here for his last shopping trip of the day, at Memories Antiques.

Hello, I'm Thomas.

Hello I'm Mavis.

TP: Mavis, lovely to meet you.

MAVIS: Pleased to meet you.

Is this all yours?

No, it's shared by about 20 of us.

20 of you.

VO: That sounds like a whole lot of antiques in one place - wow!

TP: Oh...

There's so much.

It's just... ..an assault.

I should be used to it by now.

But it does surprise you every time.

VO: It's gone from bad to worse for poor Thomas.

Dressing up galore.

VO: Oh no, another distraction.

Hang on.

Wait for it.

A soldier.

In a tight jacket.

Somehow, this just isn't quite fitting.

Strange that - my barrel chest.

My Falstaff physique.

I don't think I can even do a button up.

VO: All those push ups were for nothing.

Come on now, Thomas - you'll get nowhere against Paul in the dressing room.

So in here... (CHUCKLES) "Canton plates, circa 1880.

"As featured on Antiques Road Trip.

"Anita sold for 50 for one."

But these are 35 each.

I think that's just wonderful, that bit of labeling.

Now, who is responsible for that?

JEAN: Me.

WOMAN: Jean.

TP: Is it you?

JEAN: Yeah.

VO: Anita did sell a very similar plate for £50, so could this pair prove to be a money spinner for our Thomas?

£35 each - what is your best on these?

Erm... £35 each.

Well, 50 for the pair?

50 for the pair?

I was more like thinking 20 for the pair.

DEALER: Oh my God!

TP: 40 for the pair.

40, 20 each.

45.

40?

40 then.

TP: Yes.

DEALER: OK. TP: Deal?

DEALER: OK, yes, deal.

TP: Promise?

You happy?

DEALER: Deal.

Thank you, yes.

Thank you very much.

Hopefully they will turn a bit of a profit.

I don't know.

Well, if Anita can, then you can.

VO: No pressure there then.

Ha!

All will be revealed at auction, but for now our pair of exhausted experts can relax after a rather busy day.

So night-night.

Morning has broken and the chaps are back on the road.

TP: I'm feeling a man today.

PL: Are you?

When?

Is it a rendezvous you have got arranged or what?

TP: No, because I am wearing long trousers.

Oh ho!

I never noticed.

Look at you, all grown up.

VO: Gosh, they're fiery today.

TP: How many items have you bought so far?

PL: Three things bagged.

TP: Three things bagged.

PL: Two shops today so... Oh yeah, you are sitting pretty.

Pas problem.

You can relax.

And here is the truth - you've got to keep on looking, haven't you?

Yeah.

VO: Seek and ye shall find, Thomas.

And yesterday they certainly did.

Paul's collection includes the World War II Portland stone magazine rack, the 19th century brass telescope and the early 18th century glass bottle.

That bundle cost him a grand total of £165, leaving him with £136.14.

Thomas picked up four items - the 19th century stone garden ornament, the mini mosaic, the large spring-balance scales, and the pair of 19th century Canton plates - spending a total of £84.

And he now has £96.54 left for today.

VO: This morning they're in Manchester.

Celebrated for its architecture, culture, and sport.

The city played host to the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and is home to two Premier League football clubs.

One of which is opening its doors to young Thomas today.

I would say "have a good one", but it is too easy.

It is too easy.

Sometimes I have to pinch myself.

PL: (LAUGHS) Is it true?

Is it true?

VO: What a start to the day - a treat at Old Trafford.

The grounds of the biggest football club in the world.

Worth in the region of £2 billion and with a global following of over 600 million people, Manchester United is one of the most successful sporting teams in history.

From humble beginnings, the club's story over the last 130 years charts its record-breaking highs and devastating lows.

And here to share it all with Thomas is museum guide and life-long fan Bill Goddard.

Hello, I'm Thomas.

Welcome to Old Trafford museum.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

What is the history behind this fantastic club?

Well, in 1878, a group of railway workers established a football team.

And they gave themselves the name Newton Heath Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Cricket and Football Club.

Played both cricked and football on the same pitch apparently.

VO: But not at the same time.

Ha!

The team became known as Newton Heath, but in 1902 changed its name to Manchester United.

By this time they were a professional team and needed the grounds to match.

BILL: The pitch they played on was not very good, so they decided to look for another location and in 1910 they moved here and a new stadium was built on this site.

We are looking at sort of, in 40 years, under 40 years, the team went from happy amateurs... Mm.

..to a professional outfit with a new stadium being built.

Mm.

Mm.

That's pretty impressive isn't it?

And even more impressive was in the first full season here, they won the league championship.

VO: They had tasted success, but it wasn't until manager Matt Busby took the reins in 1945 that the club really grew.

He invested heavily in a youth team and soon his "Busby Babes" started winning titles.

But in 1958 tragedy struck.

Returning home from a European match, the plane carrying the team crashed.

44 people were on board and 23 died, including eight players and officials.

What became known as the Munich air disaster devastated the team and shocked the nation.

BILL: Just a very, very sad occasion in the history of the club, really.

TP: The crash in 1958 was probably the most historic disaster for players within any football club, within the world.

BILL: Certainly, in my experience, it is the worst disaster.

And what it did do, of course, it brought Manchester United into the sphere where many people throughout the world became interested in the club because of the disaster.

TP: What happened afterwards?

The team was rebuilt, it took a bit of time.

But Matt Busby and his assistant manager Jimmy Murphy eventually rebuilt the team to a standard that enabled them to become the first English team to win the European Cup - that was in 1968, only 10 years after the Munich crash.

I think that was a tremendous achievement.

VO: Since those testing times, the club has gone from strength to strength.

As has its home Old Trafford, now known as the Theatre of Dreams.

TP: Wow!

This is incredible, isn't it?

The Theatre of Dreams, this is a cathedral to football.

It really is amazing.

76,000 people in here.

76!

Can you imagine the noise?

(ROARING) What I will take away from all of this, what is tremendous is had the boys from Newton Heath, the railway workers, carriage workers, from that, all the way through to here... That's tremendous, isn't it?

It's a... a tremendous transformation really.

Story!

What a story!

Many a tale has been told but thank you very much, it's been a real pleasure.

Well, thank you very much for coming.

Brilliant, really enjoyed it.

VO: As the final whistle blows on Thomas's foray into football, Paul is preparing to tackle his next shop.

He's traveled the short distance to the Manchester Antiques Company, in the hope that road trip regular dealer John Long can help keep him in front.

Hi there, Paul, you are?

John, John Long.

John.

Great to see you.

May I just go for it?

Sure, yeah, yeah.

Just wander about?

Help yourself.

Absolutely superb.

Right, I'm chomping at the bit.

JOHN: OK. PL: I'll see you in a mo.

(THEY CHUCKLE) JOHN: Right.

Never buy anything you're going to have to apologize for.

And I'm looking at a globe in two pieces.

VO: Is he floundering in this land of furniture?

Screwed to the wall.

No use to me, then.

That is a splendid bracket.

I think from this perspective, my word it is.

Yeah, you've got to see it from here.

That's good work.

From the side it's awful.

VO: He sure knows how to sell something.

Need to be cheap, John's got to have no expectations... ..erm, or I'm doomed.

Or I may be...

Sorry, the eyes are...

I may be walking out of here empty handed.

You know how that smarts.

Let's talk pounds, shillings and pence with John.

VO: So an "awful" piece with the saving grace of the decorative shell carving - can Paul persuade John to part with it?

Is that bracket, the shell bracket, bolted to the wall - is that for sale?

Everything is for sale, Paul.

Excellent, is it dear?

No, no I'm not going to say it's dear.

I'm looking for the cheapy, I'm looking for something bargain basement at this stage.

VO: That's one way to do it John, just pull it off mate.

In my world, it's worth... And that's at auction, so it's lean, it's a 40 to 80 quid piece of wood carving, isn't it?

I suppose it is, yes.

Yeah.

Can that be bought for less than 40 quid or no?

£40 done.

Easy as that.

You're an easy man to deal with.

PL: I like your style.

DEALER: Correct.

Yeah, sweet.

VO: So, an 18th century wall bracket for £40 - I think part of an elaborate pew actually.

And keen to keep up the shopping momentum, the chaps regroup in the Sunbeam and brave the summer rays.

Is that keeping the sun?

Is it?

Yeah it is.

PL: You're so demanding.

TP: I am.

PL: Is this legal?

Don't worry, don't worry.

Keep both hands on the wheel.

There we are.

I'm losing a bit too much on the old crown.

I love the sun, I love the sun, I am a bit like Superman really.

Gets my power from the sun.

How are you?

Er, yeah, I am a Scotsman.

I mean, I cook.

VO: So it's Superman and the Scot making the short journey to the town of Sale.

A thriving magnet for commuters, Sale lies on the banks of the Bridgewater Canal and the River Mersey.

But no time for a dip today fellas - there's shopping to be done.

TP: Ah, well done Laidlaw.

This is my shop.

PL: Plenty of it.

TP: Yeah, plenty of it.

PL: Holy Moses.

TP: There's a lot to look around.

Whether there's anything here, you never know.

I'm sure you'll find it if it's there.

I'll try, I'll try.

VO: Thomas is pinning his hopes on Barry - one of the dealers at the vast Levenshulme Antiques Centre.

You've got to go for the definite profits.

No risks to be taken.

VO: Feeling fussy are we, Tom?

That's wonderful.

VO: Hmm, the signs aren't good in here.

A walking cane with a split in it.

That's no good.

(PARP!)

TP: Yeah, that works.

But it's come to the end of its life.

Realistically, it would need to be a lamp.

VO: Great idea - but he's not feeling inspired today.

I think I'm going to love you and leave you.

Thanking you.

TP: You're a nice man.

DEALER: Yeah.

TP: Right, see you soon.

DEALER: Bye, Thomas.

Thank you.

I don't think I can find anything and there's no point buying it if I don't see a profit in it.

So, I've got my four items, I feel a bit mean but the cards just haven't been laid out for me this time.

Maybe next leg.

VO: Thomas may have thrown in the towel but Paul's puckering up for a last romp around another fine antiques establishment.

This time he's heading for Romiley.

VO: But can this small suburb of nearby Stockport throw up something irresistible?

Here we go, yeah.

VO: The last throw of the dice is in Romiley Antiques & Jewelry.

Peter, it is great to see you.

Great to see you.

I like the feel of this, this feels like my kind of shop.

And you like your glass, like me.

Well, leave me to it.

I'll, er, nuzzle about and see what I turn up.

VO: This is already more positive than his opponent's last punt for a purchase.

DEALER: Now, that would be different if you bought that, Paul.

Yeah, if I had the budget for that, it would definitely be brilliant.

That's a really jazzy coffee set, isn't it?

Yeah.

A little bit of damage on it, unfortunately.

Is there?

I think one cup is cracked and I think the lid of the coffee pot is also cracked.

VO: Cor, he's an honest fellow.

PL: It's quite clever work.

You know, even within the fields to have like a... a solid color, and then a marbled...

They've thrown everything at that, haven't they?

VO: He's sounding excited about this Gray's coffee set.

Although small, the Gray's company was renowned for its hand-painted patterns.

Particularly those by prolific ceramic designer Susie Cooper.

And d'you know if this set was by her, it could be worth hundreds.

Only got £90 on it.

But I'll do it for... ..60.

How's that?

My opening offer...

In fact it's not even an opening offer, my offer is 20 quid.

Make it 30 and you can have them.

It's obvious, isn't it?

Am I saying it or are you?

DEALER: Shall we say it together?

£25.

PL: (LAUGHS) Like your style Peter - you've got yourself a deal.

VO: In the end, he just couldn't argue with a £65 reduction for the 15-piece coffee service.

I think he's stumbled onto a goldmine with this last purchase, but how does it stack up against rival Thomas's antique offerings?

What's that?

I don't know.

That was very expensive.

TP: Extraordinarily expensive.

PL: Was it?

You're setting me up now, aren't you?

So expensive.

Oh, but I hate a conundrum.

It is not ancient.

Is it a facing from something larger?

It would have been but it's great for your garden.

It's a decorative piece.

That was a fiver.

It was £10.

TP: No.

PL: How much was it?

TP: £2.

PL: That is cool.

I've called it 19th century.

Now, these used to make big bucks.

Yeah, but not any more.

And that's still a belting big specimen.

You seen that?

You seen that?

Over a hundredweight.

No, no, no.

No, have you seen that?

PL: Wowee!

TP: That's half a ton.

Yeah.

That's half a ton.

I am surprised if you got that cheap.

30 quid paid.

Bang on the money, isn't it?

You can't lose on that.

VO: But how does it weigh up against your lots, Paul?

Oh!

Look at that!

Get in there.

You like?

Love the Susie Cooper.

I didn't attribute it - you think the... Did Susie Cooper design for... ah... Gray's?

Yeah.

I'm quite proud of that.

Oh, it's lovely.

Cubist.

So rare to see.

How much was that?

125.

Yeah, it is gonna do well.

No, it was 25 quid.

TP: No, it wasn't?

PL: (LAUGHS) It's so nice.

Anyway, and the telescope.

You really have gone old school, haven't you?

Yeah.

That's lovely, isn't it?

£125.

Mm.

125.

Oh, you're not sure?

Oh, they are always awkward, aren't they?

But in the right sale.

No, that's...

I think that, stick my neck out here... £200.

250 quid, yeah.

Really?

250.

I hope so.

Do you know what I think your best buy is... You love that.

That is magic.

You don't see enough.

Well done.

Thomas, you're magic.

No, don't hug me.

Don't hug me.

PL: You're magic.

TP: Don't hug me.

PL: (LAUGHS) VO: Do you know, I'm with Thomas - that coffee set could be a real winner.

I love his tea set.

He didn't know it was Susie Cooper but it definitely is Susie Cooper, cubist design.

You don't see enough of it - it's so rare - so that's going to do really, really well.

Hats off to Tom - he attributes my Gray's pottery moderno or deco coffee set to Susie Cooper.

Well, on that basis, that does look like a good buy.

I will make money and Paul will make money, and he will still be ahead of me, but he better watch out, because delicate flower the Plant is coming behind him.

VO: So onward it is, suited and booted to auction.

TP: I've come from shorts... to suits.

You looked like a layabout previously, Plant.

Magical, magical pins supporting this Adonis torso.

Seriously, you've got to get over believing what your mother told you as a boy.

TP: (LAUGHS) VO: These boisterous boys are en route to Nantwich in Cheshire.

VO: A town packed with history and evidence of its riches brought in by centuries in the salt and tanning trades.

VO: But can today's auction at Peter Wilson Fine Art Auctioneers hold such fortune for these two foes?

Here we are, Laidlaw.

PL: (LAUGHS) It should be a good one.

For you it is going to be marvelous.

For me, impending doom.

Impending doom.

VO: As our experts get in amongst the competition, auctioneer Peter Stones gives us his thoughts on their lots.

I was a bit nervous about the Bath stone garden ornament because actually to me it looked like a headstone from an animal grave.

Doom.

What excites me are the Gray's coffee set.

That is going to absolutely march out.

VO: Thomas spent £84 on four lots - the stone garden ornament, the mini mosaic, the large spring-balance scales and the pair of Canton plates.

Paul spent a considerably larger £230 and is offering up five lots - the 19th century telescope, the 18th century wine bottle, the Portland stone magazine rack, the carved wall bracket and the Susie Cooper coffee service.

VO: As the anticipation grows, the auction begins - in the room, online and with some commission bids, allowing the auctioneer to bid on behalf of buyers who can't be here in person.

VO: First up is Paul's piece of brass.

He's eyeing up big profits with this one.

I have got £70 bid for it straightaway, at £70, 75 is there now?

At £70, only at 70.

Thought it would have made more.

At £70 only, going to be sold, make no mistake, at £70 only... All quiet done at £70 on one bid alone?

At 70 then being sold now.

VO: That £55 loss is going to hurt.

Oh, I'm feeling that, I'm feeling that.

Ooh!

Ooh!

You're going to make up with it with your tea set.

I'm sorry about that.

Paul.

VO: Until then, maybe the wine bottle can help profits flow.

I've got £60 bid for it straightaway, at £60 with me, at £60, that's on commission at 60.

Five do I hear?

At £60.

Good lot, well done.

Made back your money.

75 is there now?

At 70 the bid is here with me.

At £70, 75 fresh bidder.

Any further bidding?

At 75 then.

VO: He's clawing it back - a solid £40 in the bag.

You've made your money back.

Sweet as a nut that, yeah.

VO: Over to Thomas now for his garden ornament, or headstone for a pet apparently.

At £20 I'm bid straightaway.

At £20, 25 is there now.

£20 is with me on commission at 20 and five, 25 on the internet.

At £25 only.

At 25, 30.

35 on the net, 35 is there now?

Taking that.

At 35, £35 do I hear?

30 it is with you, at £30.

35 on the net.

40 bidding?

40 bid.

At 40 only and going to be sold at 40.

VO: Look at that!

With a £2 piece of stone, Thomas has recouped his loss from the entire last auction.

Get in, man.

VO: Now for Paul's stone offering.

Can it rack up more cash?

We both went to that market, which was magic, and came away with a boulder.

£20 anywhere for this one please?

At 20 I am bid straightaway, at 20 and five is there now?

Your bid at £20, 20 I am bid at 20, five anywhere now?

Trying my hardest, at £20 then.

All quiet and done at 20?

Extra five anywhere?

At 20.

Sold at 20.

VO: £15 profit but Paul wanted considerably more.

I thought that was... ..45, 80 quid if you wanted it.

I think that's flat as a pancake.

VO: Back to Thomas.

Anita got £50 for one Canton plate, so how will he fare today?

Immediately I have got £30 bid.

Straight in, you're out clean.

No, I'm not.

At £30 I have, at 30, five anywhere now?

Surely at 30, bid is here with me.

At 35.

40?

35, 35, 40 is here.

More, more.

£40, with me on commission at 40.

All quiet and done, at £40 only then, at 40?

VO: They've broken even but will make a loss after costs.

What a disappointment.

VO: Now for Paul's wall bracket - not sure if that angle shows it off to best advantage.

Bit of interest in this, £40 bid straightaway, at £40 I have.

At 40.

And five is there now?

Very nicely carved.

£40 bid at...

Need a bit of run on it to get me out of the commission.

And five is there now?

At 60, the bid is here.

On commission.

You're all out in front of me, at £60, the bid is here with me, at £60, going to be sold at 60.

VO: Another £20 profit - it's slow but it's getting there.

I've probably broken even at this stage.

No I've not - I bet you I am still down a tenner.

No, no, no.

Four lots and I'm down a tenner.

And then you've got the tea set.

VO: But first we're looking to your next offering to help balance the books, Thomas.

£30 to start off, surely at 30, £30 I am bid, £30 I have straightaway, no hesitation.

Crazy fool has not mentioned...

It weighs half a ton.

..anywhere now at £30 with the auctioneer on commission.

One more.

More, five, yes!

35 on the internet, at £35, only at 35, going to be sold.

At £35, last chance, at 35 then.

VO: They may be able to weigh a ton, but after action costs they won't make any money.

I'm so glad that didn't make money.

The scales were doing my head in, Thomas.

VO: Up next it's Thomas's smallest lot but he's looking for a big return.

£20 anywhere now?

At £20 bid on the net, straightaway at £20 bid and five is there now?

This could help, at 22.

Five is there now?

At 25, 25.

It's a lovely little thing this, at 25.

30 is there now on the internet?

30 bid.

35 now, 35.

40 now, are you going to bid on the net?

At £40, yes, £40 bid.

45, 45, 50 is there now?

It's going to make money.

50 is there now?

50 surely?

Surely no-one will pay £50 for it.

Here at £45.

45, 50 anywhere now?

At £45.

All quiet and done at £45 and will be sold at £45 then.

VO: £33 profit.

It's a mini marvel.

You are rocking, man, you are...

This is the man whose glass was half empty.

It's half full now.

VO: Last but not least, the highly anticipated Susie Cooper coffee set - but will the cracks hurt its chances?

I've got several commissions left on this, so just to speed things along a little bit, £150 bid straightaway.

Get in!

150, 150 I am bid.

160 is there now?

160, 170, 180, 190, AUCTIONEER: 200, 220.

TP: Yes!

Well done.

240, your bid at 240.

240.

260 is there now?

240, the bid is there at 2... 260.

280, 300, and 20.

Don't shake your head like that, It's going to be the biggest regret of your day when you go home.

At £300, the bid's there.

I have seen these make £600.

At £300, the bid's there.

At 300, and 20 is the now?

At 300, the bid's there.

At £300.

At £300, going to be sold at 300.

Gavel's going up, gavel's coming down, at £300 then.

Useful money.

Yes!

Well done, you.

That's fabulous.

VO: Damage?

What damage?

Paul, king of the auction, with £275 profit.

You had some killer margins there, man.

Have we both come out of this making some money?

Have I made money?

You have, haven't you?

You have.

You've made money, you've made money.

VO: He has indeed.

Starting with £180.54, he's made £47.20 after auction house costs.

So ends today with a respectable £227.74.

But thanks to that coffee set, Paul has pulled even further ahead, notching up a huge £200.50 profit after costs.

Giving him £501.64 to spend on the next leg.

Well done boy.

TP: Rockefeller... PL: (LAUGHS) Rockefeller, I want to drive you.

Cuz soon you can be paying a driver with all this money.

Onwards, driver, I'm going to find an investment bank.

VO: Next time on the Antiques Road Trip, Paul is set on making a killing.

If it was Professor Plum, in the library, these would do the trick.

VO: But rival Thomas is ready for the fight.

I'll be back.

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