Voiceover (VO): It's the nation's favorite antiques experts with £200 each, a classic car... CHARLIE: (SCOTTISH ACCENT) We're going roond!

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

I want to spend lots of money.

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

Oh no!

VO: There'll be worthy winners...

Yes!

We've done it.

VO: ..and valiant losers.

You are kidding me on.

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

What am I doing?

Got a deal.

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

VO: This week's crusade sees two authorities in auctioneering wrangling for road trip supremacy.

PHIL: Well we're on the homeward run now of our road trip.

I'm going to miss your company.

Aw, Philip.

PHIL: Isn't that emotional?

JAMES: Yeah, no, no, no.

I too you.

VO: Former geography teacher now seasoned salesman Philip Serrell has discovered the sympathy card tactic.

I'm £100 behind at the moment.

VO: Ah.

James Braxton is an expert in tracking down treasure but that doesn't stop him scouting for bargains.

50p!

It's a king's ransom, isn't it?

VO: Our two connoisseurs of all things curio started with £200.

On the fourth stretch there is still over £100 separating them but the tables have turned.

Over the course of the last three auctions James now has £335.50 to spend.

But Philip's stolen the lead and has £463.30 to put to use today.

PHIL: Would this be an opportune moment to say that I am slightly ahead of you?

I think that might verge on gloating.

I wouldn't do that.

VO: Both the chaps need to step it up a gear as they maneuver this magnificent 1955 Austin Healey towards their fourth auction.

PHIL: So what's your... What's your plan, James?

Are you going to go all in?

JAMES: I think that the old old adage, the better you buy the better you sell.

You've got to be tough.

You can't be all smiles in this game, you know.

Grannies, small children, clear a path.

VO: Brutal, Mr Braxton.

The fellas' walloping 920 mile quest sees them careering from central Scotland through the Borders to the Lakes, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and culminates in Newport, Shropshire.

The fourth push is a tour of the northwest, starting in Frodsham, Cheshire and ending in Liverpool.

PHIL: Do you like this car?

JAMES: I love this car.

PHIL: I think it's a bit racy, isn't it?

I like the louvred bonnet.

JAMES: Yeah, and the leather belts, it's a fabulous car.

VO: For centuries Frodsham has been part of the Cheshire salt district, using the River Weaver to export the salt but Frodsham's most famous export is Take That's singer songwriter Gary Barlow.

JAMES: We've got the weather of the southeast to the northwest, and that's what we do for the place.

On our road trip we bring out the sunshine.

VO: First stop is the 15,000 square foot Lady Heyes Crafts And Antiques Centre.

That's if James can get out of the car.

Anyway...there we are.

Seamlessly done.

I think this... VO: Oh dear.

Graceful certainly doesn't spring to mind.

James' first port of call is the antiques emporium.

Based on the Edwardian room, there's a huge collection of antiques and collectables, vintage toys and jewelry.

Always look up in these places.

Look up and look down.

Now there's a powerful image.

Barry AF Clark.

A fabulous spitfire.

VO: It seems like looking up has paid off.

On a bit of ply, it's obviously a print.

But what a strong piece of work and the nice thing about this particular print is it's framed as one so it's a total package and it's nice and big.

That would look stunning in a contemporary flat.

I can see it's had a couple of bashes.

What's he got on it?

45.

I might take it down and see if there's any more damage.

One, two, three.

VO: Careful.

No, I'm going to need something.

VO: Are you quite sure?

Don't do this at home.

But it's alright.

I do yoga, so I've got good balance.

VO: Famous last words.

Yoga or Yogi?

It's resistant.

It's not as bad as I originally thought there.

It's a nice bit, that.

VO: And, at least it's not arts and crafts, like he's bought for the last two auctions.

Now James just needs to get a good price from one of the shop's dealers, Anthony Goodband, known as Larry.

It's a good-looking item, isn't it?

It is.

In a modern interior it's going to be a nice feature piece, isn't it?

Yeah.

The boys are going to love it, the girls are probably not going to see that as the great addition that you and I might think, into the interior.

That's right.

Depends how big a garage the boy has to put it in.

Could you do something like 28 on it?

We could come down to that, yes.

28?

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Larry, you've gone and got yourself a deal.

That's fabulous.

VO: And James's first item for auction is done and dusted.

There you are, 28.

Lovely, thank you.

Bye now.

VO: And James has even managed to charm antiques restorer Patrick Young into giving the spitfire print's scuffed corner a bit of spit and polish.

Well, a bit of teak wood stain actually.

Well Patrick has done a fabulous job with that.

VO: A great start for James then.

Meanwhile, Philip is heading southeast, staying in Cheshire but bound for the small town of Sandbach.

VO: The historic market town is known for its Saxon crosses at its heart.

These likely 9th century sandstones are elaborately carved with animals and biblical scenes, forming one of the finest Saxon monuments in Britain.

This is just a really really pretty place isn't it?

VO: Facing the crosses is the appropriately named Saxon Cross Antiques, run by John Jones.

Hi.

Philip.

Hi.

John.

John.

John, good to see you.

VO: John's been in the business for 25 years, following in the footsteps of both his parents and grandparents, so he should know a good thing or two about antiques.

PHIL: We're going to go to a saleroom in Liverpool, and so I'm thinking Liverpool, maritime... JOHN: I've got exactly what you're looking for.

VO: John's got a fine collection of model boats.

PHIL: How old is that?

I would put it at turn-of-the-century, 1900, 1910.

It is scratch built.

And what is your ticket price?

Ticket price on that is 50 but I can do you a good deal on that.

How much is a good deal?

20 quid.

All the bits are there, but it's had cat damage.

But if you look inside...

So it really is scratch built.

VO: Scratch building is making a scale model from raw materials rather than from a kit.

But Philip is not committing to it just yet.

I quite like this actually.

Look at that.

JOHN: That one's the old pony express.

And I think it's Mobo.

And how much is that?

Eh...

I've got 75 on that.

It's nice that it's not been painted or restored.

When was that made, John?

Early 50s.

We think this was just called the Pony Express, which you've got there with the traditional guns.

VO: Mobo, standing for mobile toys, were made by British toy manufacturer D Sebel & Co between 1947 and 1972.

They specialized in sturdy, steel ride-on toys.

So could you 40 for the boat and the Pony Express?

I would do 50.

And you've got me right down.

Give me five minutes while I just have a think to myself.

Yeah, sure.

VO: Philip has over £450 to spend.

John's already given him a £75 reduction but Philip's playing hard to get.

I think £50 is too much money for the two.

I really do.

Let me just... Let me just do this.

Let me just...

If I put that there and I put that there, I think that might act as an encouraging enticement, wouldn't it?

40, I couldn't do.

Can you help me out at 45 for the two?

You are a gentleman, thank you very much.

Thank you very very much.

I'd better get some more money out, hadn't I?

VO: So that's 30 for the Mobo ride-on horse and 15 for the model ship.

And Philip's got his first two items for auction.

Meanwhile, back at the antiques center, James are still making his way around the units.

Hello.

James.

Rose.

Hello Rose, very nice to meet you.

VO: Along with her business partner, Rose Bryant has been running the attic here for six years, looking after three different rooms.

JAMES: What do you have in here then, Rose?

I'm going to Liverpool so that's on the Mersey, isn't it?

Famous for its shipping, its connection with New York and all that.

Oh, hold on.

Some boxes here.

Boxes.

That might be interesting, that one.

That's a very unusual box, isn't it?

Somebody or other.

Captain, Captain Corbet.

What does that say?

RN is it?

Or RI?

What is it?

RN, Royal Navy.

Oh, right.

That's quite nice, isn't it?

Nice bit of oak.

Unusual shape isn't it?

So, navy, oblong.

Charts, isn't it?

Do you think it could be a chart box?

It could be.

I thought for telescopes, but probably, yeah.

I think, Rose, you might have the day.

I think it could be a telescope.

What could you do on this, Rose?

Are you going to be hard on this one?

Oh dear.

It's a sort of...

It's a take it or leave it.

65.

That's what you originally thought?

Yeah.

What are you offering?

I'd love to buy it for 28.

VO: He seems to have a thing for £28.

I do like it, yeah.

38.

38.

Now that is... What about we meet in the middle?

32.

Rose.

Go on then.

32.

Go on then.

That's really kind.

VO: James did say he was going be ruthless today and he's got himself his second item, a 19th-century oak box with an engraved brass plaque for £32.

That's the three, Rose, and there's the 10 and there's the 20.

Lovely.

Thank you very much indeed.

VO: I think he's miscounted and overpaid.

We'll call it £33 from James.

VO: Meanwhile, Philip's been heading north to Altrincham to visit Dunham Massey Hall, a grade one listed Georgian house that belonged to the Gray family, also known as the earls of Stamford, since 1736.

Philip's here to learn about a very unique period in this stately home's history.

Really is just glorious.

VO: In 1914 Britain was in the throes of the biggest military conflict in its history.

The First World War saw millions of British servicemen return home from battle injured.

By 1915 there was a real shortage of hospitals to care for the wounded.

The solution was to convert over 3,000 houses across the country into private military hospitals, including Dunham Massey.

Today the hall is owned by the National Trust and housing collections manager Katie Taylor looks after its contents.

Nice to meet you.

What a fantastic property, isn't it?

Yeah, it's beautiful.

VO: This auxiliary hospital, named the Stamford Hospital, was part funded by the Red Cross and part by the Gray family.

This private contribution was a common commitment made by wealthy families for their part in the war effort.

KATIE: At the outbreak of the First World War there were only 7,000 hospital beds in the country, so there was a massive shortage.

VO: The hospital was in operation from April 1917 to January 1919, taking 282 patients overall.

Each room was given a separate role, some of which have been recreated as part of an exhibition to mark the centenary of the war.

This room became the recreation room and this is where the soldiers, those who could get out of bed, would come and eat their meals, they would play games... PHIL: They would've eaten there.

KATIE: Yeah.

That's quite humbling, isn't it?

VO: Men were brought from France and Belgium for treatment in the makeshift ward here.

Stamford Hospital was for the lowest ranking soldiers known as Tommies, a generic term for a common British private.

PHIL: And he's come from a home where there's no running water, no electricity, outside lavatory, no bath.

And then you've got all this around you.

An 18th-century mansion house.

KATIE: This place must have been a real change for them, a real surprise.

VO: There would have been 25 patients in the former drawing room.

Now each of these beds tells the story of a soldier that came here for common wartime illnesses or injuries.

Despite horrific circumstances, war forces medical advancement, like the Thomas splint introduced in 1916 by orthopedic surgeon Hugh Owen Thomas.

PHIL: Says here, the leg was in a Thomas splint on admission, wound very septic and penetrating.

KATIE: Well he had a compound fracture, so the wound was open.

80% of people who had a compound fracture before this Thomas splint was invented, died from shock, which is fluid loss, blood loss basically.

This reduced mortality rate to just 7%.

Blimey.

So in a way, the war gave us the Thomas splint, which saved people's lives.

KATIE: Every war produces different weapons, it produced different injuries, it means that medical science is always evolving because of conflicts.

VO: One of the most seriously injured soldiers treated at this hospital was Private William Johnston.

He arrived with two pieces of shrapnel in his brain so they needed somewhere the doctors could operate, which has been recreated again today.

So this is a stairwell that's become an operating theater.

Yeah, it was.

Primarily because there's a sink as part of a loo just outside there, which would have been a great spot for people to rinse out bandages.

VO: Not only did the family give up their home, but Lady Jane Grey, the sister of the earl at the time, also trained as a voluntary nurse.

She assisted during Private Johnston's operation, holding a torch for the doctor whilst he extracted the shrapnel.

The world of nursing was a far cry from the society life she would have led if there hadn't been a war.

KATIE: She remembered being very frustrated because she didn't realize when she was boiling a pan of milk that it would boil over.

And there were so many life skills she had to learn in order to fulfil this role that lower class girls would have just known so as much as it was a different world for the Tommies, it was an entirely different world for women like Jane.

VO: The hospital closed in January 1919 and the hall was once more a family home.

This has been a really, really memorable trip for me and it's a special place.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

VO: While Philip finishes soaking up the house's impressive stories, James is still in shopping mode, edging his way east to Romiley.

Set within the borough of Stockport, the village of Romiley borders the Peak District.

Its name comes from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning spacious woodland clearing as up until the 19th century it was predominantly an agricultural area.

James is here to meet Peter Green, who has owned Romiley Antiques & Jewellery for 30 years.

PETER: Hello.

JAMES: Hi.

JAMES: James.

PETER: Peter.

Very nice to meet you, Peter.

And you.

VO: The pressure is mounting on James now that he is over £100 down after being £100 ahead, so Peter is giving James some potential pointers.

There's a pram here.

No, not for me.

Picnic basket.

Not for me.

No.

This barometer... it's quite nice.

It's not for me, that fellow.

No.

VO: But finally, James has found something himself.

Peter, I think this is more me.

It's got a bit of color, we've got a bit of sea.

The interesting thing with this charger is unfortunately, you know it is old, it's suffered temperature changes and it's crazed but it's quite well done and from afar that looks quite good.

We've got marine interest.

We're going to Liverpool, it's famous for its maritime history.

VO: It's actually a Dutch wall plaque, as referenced on the reverse.

It's of Texel Island off northern Holland.

It has a ticket price of £30.

What can we can do it for...?

Can that be cheap?

I don't know.

What would you like to pay for it?

I'd like to pay 15 for it.

Can we do it at 15?

You can have it for £15.

Peter, I'll take it for £15.

Thank you very much indeed.

VO: And that's James's third item for auction.

Thank you very much indeed Peter.

I'm pleased with that.

Very good.

VO: Now our gents are done for the day so sweet dreams, fellas.

VO: Wakey wakey then.

The sun doesn't have his hat on this morning so the roof's certainly up on the Austin Healey as our two antiques professionals step on the gas again.

I'm beginning to know exactly how sardines feel.

Yeah, but I hear a little bird told me that you got in and then they put the roof over you.

I couldn't possibly comment.

VO: Good luck getting out then fellas.

But they've got a lot to do today.

Philip has spent just 45 of his £463.30 on a ride-on horse and a model ship.

James has over £250 still to spend after picking up a Spitfire print, Dutch wall plaque and an oak box for £76.

So they've got a busy shopping day ahead.

Nice that they've got the weather for it.

Talk me through your leaks there.

Well, I think I've got one here that's dribbling down on my right thigh.

Excellent.

I've got one here that's dribbling on my left knee.

Good.

And the one in the middle, I don't want to tell you where that's going.

No.

VO: Yeah, please don't.

Our soggy sardines began their jaunt in Frodsham and are looping round the northwest.

Next up is Sale in Greater Manchester.

The commuter town of Sale has been dated to prehistoric times after a flint arrow head was discovered by the Victorians.

Philip's here to target Manchester Antiques Centre for some auction spoils.

But you can lead a horse to water... Hello horsey, how are you?

VO: ..But Philip, you never know.

John, good morning.

Good morning.

How are you, alright?

Looking forward to this.

VO: Owner John Long, the second John of the trip so far, specializes in antique furniture.

Blimey, you've got some stock as ever, haven't you?

That's quite a nice thing, isn't it?

But it's got a bit of a Teutonic shift in plates around the top of South Africa, South America.

South Africa?

I used to teach geography.

VO: Thankfully, you did give up your day job though.

This is a bit of fun, look, isn't it?

It's probably an old blackthorn stick.

It's got a really sweet little duck or a goose's head on it.

Quack, quack.

VO: Uh-oh.

I think he's gone quackers.

There's no price on it.

I'm going to take that down and just ask John how much that is.

That's lovely, isn't it?

Collector's item.

It is.

How much is that?

£270.

Look at the eyes.

They've got tears running down them, John, I think.

They've got tears.

I think I made a mistake.

I think I should have asked you what is the cheapest thing in the place.

One Bechstein piano.

How much is this?

This is under £10?

Make an offer.

I'll give you a fiver for it then.

You can have it.

VO: The German company Bechstein is one of the top piano makers and brand-new upright pianos can cost several thousand pounds.

Second-hand ones though are a different market.

JOHN: I can't sell them anymore.

And you'll sell that for a fiver?

I will.

I'm warming to you.

The two best makers in the world surely are Bechstein and Steinway, are they?

Correct.

And you can sell a Steinway.

Really?

Very easy.

I'm hoping you can sell a Bechstein.

Well, it's yours now.

VO: Methinks John could be having the last laugh here.

Come on Phil, I've got something more in your price range.

So how old is that one, do you think?

I'm guessing 30s.

And has it got any history or...?

Well actually, it's funny you should ask that.

That came out of my mother's garden.

Really?

So I know where it's been for the past 50 years.

Do you know what?

That in good order would have been hundreds of pounds, wouldn't it?

It would, yeah.

I agree.

£280.

VO: It's glazed stoneware, so that might be a little steep for Philip.

No, I... No I can't do that.

Where are you on this, then?

I've got to try and buy that for somewhere between 40 and 50 quid.

What do you reckon?

Would 40, 50 quid buy it do you think?

Not really.

No.

OK. VO: Come on, Phil.

It was his mother's bird bath.

Right, £90.

Under the hundred, you can't fail.

I can.

I can fail.

I'll give you my best 60 quid and that's me finished.

Very difficult, that'll be OK. You done?

Done.

VO: That's a staggering £220 off the asking price and a piano for a fiver.

£65 for the two.

Philip's been even cleverer removing the broken outer part of the pedestal in the hope that it makes it more saleable.

So I bought a piano and I bought a water feature.

What do you think of that?

Not much, eh?

VO: Neigh!

Did someone mention hay?!

Meanwhile James is navigating his way north to the city of Salford.

VO: Since the closure of the Manchester docks in 1982, there's been a huge regeneration of Salford Quays.

Manchester's unique waterfront is now an arts and culture hub.

The award-winning Imperial War Museum North was designed by internationally acclaimed architect, Daniel Libeskind, who's also responsible for the master plan for the Ground Zero site in New York.

Today James is meeting the museum director, Graham Boxer.

Good morning, Graham.

Good morning, James, nice to meet you.

You've got a very impressive building.

Oh, it's an amazing building.

There are three parts that you can see, the earth shard, which slopes away here, the air shard which rises up into the sky and also on the other side of the building, near the canal, the water shard.

I see.

Three shards of the globe fractured by war and conflict.

Yeah.

VO: The museum specializes in showing how war shapes lives by telling personal stories.

No more harrowing than those of the millions of people sent to prisoner of war camps around the world during the Second World War.

Young Army Captain, Ronnie Horner, was posted to Singapore in January 1942 to defend the British colony against the Japanese.

Within a few weeks the British army were defeated and Ronnie was captured.

JAMES: So, Graham, what have we got here?

This is the suitcase that belonged to Ronnie Horner and we can see his initials on here, RMH and this would have contained all the items that he took out to Singapore with him and he kept it with him when he was in the prisoner of war camp.

In May 1943, when he was moved from the prisoner of war camp in Changi to work on the Thailand-Burma railway line he took this with him.

VO: The infamous Burma railway, is also known as the Death Railway and made famous by the film Bridge Over The River Kwai.

Around 100,000 died during its creation.

It wasn't just the heat and humidity or the back-breaking labor, but also the poor living conditions and lack of food.

GRAHAM: Two of Ronnie's belts.

This is the one that he was wearing when he went to Changi... Yeah.

..and you can see the width of his, circumference of his waist.

And this one here is what he was like when he came out six months later.

Gor, it's a child's, isn't it?

You wonder how they survived and how they actually were able to do any work at all.

VO: Despite the huge risk, Ronnie kept a diary for three years, hidden behind a panel in his suitcase to remember his experiences during the camp.

"I find that as the days go by thoughts crop up, memories are revived and instances occur that quite obviously will be forgotten if not noted down."

VO: Ronnie survived the appalling conditions at Changi camp and sailed back to Britain after Japan surrendered in August 1945.

But some prisoners didn't wait for the end of the war to escape.

Germany's infamous prisoner of war camp, Stalag Luft 3, had not one but two escapes.

The Great Escape film tells the story of one, but just before that, three different prisoners successfully fled the camp, using entertainment as a decoy.

So these items, Graham, what's their link?

Well, these items belong to Oliver Philpot.

He was an RAF pilot that was shot down.

VO: Philpot was sent to the high security camp.

Along with two other prisoners, he planned his escape meticulously.

Philpot knew that if he actually managed to get out, he would need a cover story to help him reach neutral territory.

He decided that he would take on the role of a traveling salesman, so he needed to look the part.

He took his military service tie, which is what we see here, and he, he made it look less military, as you can tell, by putting this sort of white stitching into the tie all the way along.

JAMES: It's very cleverly done.

He asked a friend of his and fellow prisoner of war in the camp to actually make this compass for him.

And the person that made it took parts of a gramophone player and converted them into the compass.

VO: The key to the escape was a strategically placed wooden box.

Philpot and his co-conspirators dug a tunnel whilst hiding in the bottomless box, near to the barbed wire.

After 114 days of digging, on 29th October 1943, the three men escaped.

He eventually managed to smuggle himself onto a vessel bound for Sweden, then it was easy for him to get back to England.

What a great story.

So, two objects that aided his flight?

Absolutely.

Thank you, Graham.

Thank you for coming.

Really enjoyed it.

VO: After returning home, Oliver Philpot went on to have two sons and three daughters and died aged 80 in 1993.

They're just two of the many incredible stories of the brave men and women affected by war that you can find at the museum.

With one or two items each still to buy, James is joining Philip back on the road to Ramsbottom, Lancashire.

The skyline of this picturesque market town is dominated by the Peel Tower, commemorating Sir Robert Peel, former prime minister and founder of the police force who was born here.

So, where is Ramsbottom, James?

Ar, Ramsbottom's down thar, lad.

We're both in the same shop aren't we?

There'll be lots of competition.

Running around.

Really?

Well, I don't know too much about that.

Yeah.

VO: I can't see them running for anything.

They've got to sort the car out first.

That is a bit floppy, mate.

It goes sort of like that I think.

Let's just leave it be, I think.

Come on, come on.

VO: Never mind!

Memories Antiques Centre has two floors of antiques, collectables and vintage items.

So knock yourselves out fellas.

PHIL: For once... JAMES: Yeah?

Can I be the upstairs man, and you be the downstairs man?

OK, go on.

Good on you.

Don't be too lucky though.

I won't, I will try hard.

VO: James still has over £250 to spend and he's hoping dealer Mavis Newton can help him spend it.

Have you got any fresh goods?

Nice things over there in that cabinet.

What, in this one?

Yes, that one there.

The sticking out one, as I call it.

VO: Meanwhile, upstairs Philip is with his third John of the trip, dealer John Roberts.

John, without getting it out, what might that truncheon be?

Ah, 60?

Let's have a look, then.

Now, a lot of these were ceremonial, weren't they?

I think there is some, er, writing on it somewhere.

Holborn, that's London?

Yeah.

That's right, yeah.

It is a bit rubbed, isn't it?

It is a bit worn.

Well used.

So, you see that's a preparatory statement just to try to get the price down a little bit more.

So you agree it's quite well used and rubbed?

It's... Well it's 100 years old.

VO: Not sure you're plan's working Philip.

Back with Mavis, will James carry out his plan to be tough with everyone from kids to grannies?

Can I look at this medal group, here?

Yeah.

So, 39-45, the Italy star, the Africa star, the Atlantic star and the '45.

It is a very nice group.

They are marked at 55.

55.

Can I squeeze you, Mavis?

Could you do it for 30?

That'll be fine, yes.

Would that be alright?

Yeah.

You've only gone and got yourself a bargain.

VO: Surely it's the other way around?

Upstairs, Philip's still rummaging through John's wares.

PHIL: John?

JOHN: Yep?

Well I was just looking at that book The Short History of the Lancashire Fusiliers.

Oh yeah, I got that recently.

Yeah, it's quite in... That is quite cheap.

Oh, hark at this.

Yeah, quite cheap.

Can I have a look at it, please?

Yeah, sure.

This is a little book, look.

Well it is the short hist...

It does what it says on the tin, it is The Short History of the Lancashire Fusiliers.

I just think that is quite a nice little thing.

This is a record of their... just their various actions, isn't it?

That's right, yeah.

Well what I'm thinking is, I'm wondering if I could do a package of that and the truncheon.

VO: There's a good market for both military and antique police memorabilia so if Philip gets them for a good price, he could do well at auction.

PHIL: You see, I think that is going to make, again, £50-£80, which means I've got to try and pitch it...

Try and buy it at 40 quid.

Mm-hm.

Realistically.

Is that going to be any good?

JONH: 60 for the two.

PHIL: I really don't think I could do it.

I'll tell you what, 50 for the two.

That is the best.

That is it finished?

That's it finished.

OK. You are a gentleman.

I am going to have the pair of them.

Right.

OK.

Thank you very much indeed.

VO: So that's £50 for Philip's fifth and final lot and that's him finished for the day.

James meanwhile is still being ably assisted by Mavis.

Mavis, the only reason I have asked you to open his cabinet is I like big sculptural objects and this rather cute doggie is quite big as pottery figures go, isn't he?

He's gorgeous, actually.

Do you know who the maker is?

Sylvac.

Got a sort of cutie look, tongue hanging out hasn't he?

Is it alright Mavis?

Is it damaged at all?

No he's perfect.

VO: Condition is key for Sylvac figures, as damage will devalue them.

They were produced from the late 1920s by Staffordshire ceramics company, Shaw & Copestake.

Larger figures are generally worth more.

That's nice because it's large.

Normally they are only...

They are only usually about that big and not glazed.

They're really small, aren't they?

Mm, that's lovely.

Could this be cheap?

Gina, how much can the dog be, he's £65?

£30?

30?

Can you do it for 30?

Yes.

I will take it for 30.

Yes.

VO: That's 30 for the Sylvac dog, another 30 for the medals and James' shopping is done.

So let's remind ourselves what they've bought.

Along with his last two items, James has a Dutch wall plaque, a spitfire print and oak box ready for auction.

And he's spent just £136 on his five items, just over a third of his budget again.

Philip also has five lots - a birdbath, a ride-on pony, a piano, a model ship, a truncheon and a military book.

And he's only spent £160, just a third of his budget too.

They may have been playing it safe, but what do the chaps think of each other's objects?

Phil, the canny fox, has bought well again hasn't he?

I do like his boat, which he has paid little money for, £15.

An upright piano, a fiver?

Seems cheap to me.

I think I have bought good items on this one.

Let us hope this leg is mine.

I think James has been really, really clever with what he has bought.

We are going to Merseyside, the waterfront.

He has brought that really good Delft plaque, with a shipping scene on there.

He has bought that lovely box with captain whatever his name was, RN, Royal Navy.

That's going to do well.

But the real but is the dog.

I think the dog is a dog.

VO: If you say so Philip!

After a 136 mile loop of the northwest, our experts' fourth journey is drawing to a close at auction in Liverpool.

PHIL: I think it's fantastic here.

Look at that, look at that, that is Liver bird, isn't it?

Has a great New York feel about it, doesn't it.

VO: Liverpool's had strong links with America since the growth of the cotton trade in the 19th century.

Now the boys are on their way to do some trade of their own.

So is there anything of yours James that you have got just that little bit of a wavering on?

Do you know Philip, I am feeling very smug here, but no.

That is great.

That has made me feel really good.

Thanks a bunch, mate.

Bang on trend with prints and sentimental dogs - it's the way forward!

VO: I'm not so sure, but we'll soon see as the boys arrive at Cato Crane auctioneers.

That's if they make it inside in time.

(BOTH LAUGH Holy shmoley!

Ah.

Well, James, here we are.

Doesn't get any easier that.

VO: And it's over to our fourth and final John of the journey, auctioneer John Crane.

£10 is...

Sorry, too slow.

VO: With over 35 years' experience in the business, John's cast an eye over James and Philip's picks.

One interesting item is the truncheon.

It depends who is on the internet, it depends if we've picked up a specialist buyer.

One item which might cause a bit of problems is the pianoforte.

The problem with pianos, restoration costs must be taken into consideration.

I will be very surprised if we sell it.

VO: So it could be an interesting auction for Philip.

How's that piano of yours?

Well, rather rather fortuitously the rubbish van has just arrived.

VO: We'll have to wait and see for that one... VO: ..as first under the hammer is Philip's ride-on pony.

Sh!

Concentrate, because my horse is coming up.

The Pony Express?

Pony Express, yes, Mobo Pony Express.

£20 is bid, straight in on the internet.

It is an internet sort of lot, isn't it, Phil?

25, the gent there.

30 on the internet.

35 is bid now, in the room, standing.

All done at £35?

Your bid, sir.

That has broken even.

Yeah.

Washed its face, that one.

VO: Just a fiver profit for Philip's first item.

Let's see if James' first lot, the Dutch wall plaque, can do any better.

£20 to start me off?

Commission bid of 20.

£20 is bid.

Commission bid, James.

20.

Is that the best we can do?

£20, it is a nice thing.

£20, make it 22, someone.

22?

22, 24, £26 is bid.

I am going to sell.

I would like a little more, really.

For £26.

So would I if you put it that way!

It is going to go at 26.

There is no reserve.

Do you know what, that is a bit of a relief to me, because I thought that was going to make £50-£80.

Did you?

Shut him up, hasn't it?

VO: But £11 profit is a good start to closing in on Philip's lead.

Next it's Philip's model ship.

I will take 25 to start you off.

What?

25 is bid.

30 over there, the lady's bid over there.

£30, now.

I am going to sell at £30 now.

All done at 30?

It is your bid, madam.

£30.

That is not bad is it?

VO: Take what you can get fellas!

We're not going to walk out of here with bulging pockets are we?

No.

Bulging what?

JAMES: Pockets.

PHIL: No.

No.

VO: But James' Second World War medals could entice a specialist militaria buyer.

What do you think you will make on them?

I don't know.

50, £60.

£20 for these?

20 is bid over there.

20.

25, thank you, I'll get to the internet in a second.

25, 30 sir, 35 with you, sir.

35.

40 at the back.

Internet now is £45.

45 on the internet.

Any further bid in the room now?

50 is bid, in again, thank you, sir.

£50 is bid.

£50, your bid sir.

Make no mistake.

JAMES: £50 then.

£50.

VO: James was right at £50 and that's £20 profit to help inch closer to Philip.

Next it's Philip's bird bath.

He's taken a gamble by removing the broken base.

I heard somebody over there talking and they said if that item had the base... Yeah.

..then I would have been all over that like a rash.

You've got very bitter this morning, haven't you?

Very bitter.

I can start the bidding at 30, and 30 is bid.

£30 is bid.

35 on the internet.

35 on the internet.

40 on the internet.

We have got two bidders on the internet, now.

Two bidders.

Good, isn't it?

That's good.

45 on the internet, now.

Do they know it is not going to go in an envelope?

All done at £50?

That is enough I think, isn't it?

£50 on the internet now, I am going to sell at £50.

Just horrible, you are.

Sold at 50.

VO: Oops Philip's gamble hasn't paid off.

He's ended up with a £10 loss.

That's a relief, that is.

It's a relief.

Could've been a lot worse.

VO: James is up next with his Sylvac dog figurine.

Look at that.

This is lovely.

Start me at £10 on the Sylvac terrier.

Ten is bid everywhere, 10.

12, the gentleman here, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, sir?

24.

26, 28, 30...

The first bit of bidding I have seen in the room.

34, sir.

36.

Oh, profit, James.

38, 40 Mr Dicken?

40.

40.

Keep going.

This is remarkable.

This is bidding in the room.

£44.

Right in front of me here.

I can feel you creeping up behind me.

VO: And another profit for James - watch out Philip!

Next it's auctioneer John's pick - the antique truncheon and military book.

What do we say on it, £20 to start me off?

Oh, ouch.

20 is bid.

25, 30, 35.

Worth a bit more than that, I think, isn't it?

No.

40 on the internet, now.

Would you like... 40 on the internet.

Bid 42.

44 on the internet.

I am getting worried now, Philip.

Well done, well done.

46 is bid in the room.

48 on the internet.

48.

48.

Do you want to round it up to 50, madam?

48 on the internet.

I am selling now.

It could have been worse, couldn't it?

That could have been my Armageddon.

Yeah.

VO: Philip could be losing his grip, it's his second loss today!

Now it's over to James' beloved spitfire print.

God, I do love my spitfire, what do you think?

Cor, do you know, I'd buy that.

You did.

What is it worth, gents?

A lot of money.

£20 to start me off, come on anybody at 20?

It is a nice thing.

£20 is bid.

Anybody else?

25, Mr Barry.

26, sir.

Oh, here, you are off to the races.

27.

£28 with you.

29 now?

30 with you.

30.

£30.

31, we'll do another one.

£32.

Why waste the bids?

Take it up in fives, chief.

Are you happy with that there, Mr Barry?

£32 then.

We're going, Barry.

VO: And that's another profit for James.

He's now got one last chance to try and get the edge on Philip.

The maritime theme of his final item, the Royal Navy oak box could do well in the port of Liverpool.

This is it.

If this makes one hundred and... 100 quid, then I am in trouble.

It won't make £100.

JOHN: What do we say?

JAMES: £20.

What about £20 to start me off?

I told you.

£20 is bid, 20, 25, 25, 30 with you sir.

30?

£30.

All done at £30 then?

No, keep going at £30.

All done and finished ladies and gentlemen?

£30.

What a crying shame to sell something like that for £30.

I got out of jail there, didn't I?

£30.

I know.

VO: No one likes a poor loser and that's James' first loss today.

But Philip's final item, the piano, is a potential winner.

Brand new Bechstein pianos can cost thousands, but as Philip got his so cheaply, he could seal a win if it makes good money.

If that piano makes 100 quid I'm stuffed.

Who would have thought you would be able to buy a Bechstein at £5.

Bonkers.

Absolutely bonkers.

It is bonkers.

And then be worried that you might not make a profit on it.

Amazing.

That's the real bonkers bit.

And I might not.

Who will give me £50 for it?

It's worth it, ladies and gentlemen.

With a bit of money spent on it you will have a very very fine instrument.

Come on, £50?

£20 if you like.

MAN: I'll give you 10, Mr Crane.

JOHN: How much?

MAN: Ten.

£10, you are away.

That is profit, chief.

£10 is bid.

It is worth a lot more than that, I think.

Ten.

Wants a lot of restoration.

Can you give me 20 for it?

15.

Fif... Is that your best bid?

And I am doing you a favor.

(LAUGHTER) The man is clearly an expert, isn't he?

Is that the best you can do?

Yeah.

Any further bid anywhere else?

All done?

I think you are the proud owner of a Bechstein piano, sir.

It's not bad.

At least you've got a profit there chief.

VO: Who would have thought it?

An upright piano for a fiver making a tenner profit.

I'm not complaining, because I think that it was a real gamble buying it, wasn't it?

Yeah.

VO: Philip's lost today's leg, setting off with £463.30 and after auction costs, he's lost £14.04 leaving him with £449.26 for next time.

VO: James started today with £335.50 and after auction costs he's up by £13.24, bumping his budget to £348.74, but Philip's retained the lead so it's all to play for in the final leg.

Dear me, James.

Start the car.

You've narrowed the gap.

I have narrowed the gap.

But I expected to do more narrowing.

Are you driving?

I'll drive.

Go on, good man.

VO: Cheerio till next time fellas.

Next time, it's all getting very sentimental on the final leg.

And you've been my little ray of sunshine.

I have.

VO: Philip tries to squeeze a profit.

Think I'm gonna put that down.

VO: While James finds himself in a tight spot.

Do you want a lift out?

Well, I haven't had any breakfast, so I've got no sort of core strength.

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