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

One big challenge - who will make the most profit buying and selling antiques as they trot around the UK?

DEALER: £6.

PHIL: £5.

Done.

Is that your very best you can do?

VO: By the end of their trip, they should have made some big money.

But it's not as easy as it sounds.

And only one will be crowned champion at the final auction in London, because this is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah.

This week our two experts are Philip Serrell and Charles Hanson.

Philip's adventures as a country auctioneer in Worcester are so entertaining he's written books about it.

What's his plan?

PHILIP (PS): I don't really think I've got a plan in this.

You know, you've got to just see what you buy.

And any strategy that you might have formulated up here is going to alter the minute you see something you like.

VO: Charles, the youngest and leanest expert in the group - ha!

- is an auctioneer in Derbyshire.

In one of his sales he auctioned Queen Victoria's knickers for £5,000, and I was there.

What's his strategy?

CHARLES (CH): Philip's in for the cool, calm stable ride.

With Mr Hanson, I'm gonna be in for that helter-skelter hurdy-gurdy ride of a great merry go round.

VO: Good on you.

Ha!

Each expert starts the week with £200.

In yesterday's show, Philip made 49.65 profit, so he's now got 249.65.

But Charles picked him to the post with a profit of £81.53.

So he's out in the lead with £281.33.

Their trip throughout the week is taking them from Llandudno in north Wales to Exeter in Devon.

In today's show, they're leaving Birmingham and heading for their next auction in Gloucester.

The first stop on this leg of their road trip is Warwick, famous for its magnificent castle.

It was built in 1260 on the site of William the Conqueror's original wooden fortification.

Phil, I've been doing some research.

And there were 30 antique shops in this area CH: originally 15, 20 years ago.

PS: Are they shut?

Yeah they've all shut, it's how the markets gone.

CH: It's difficult.

PS: Haven't heard we're coming?

No, well, there's two left.

One for you, one for me.

One is called Vintage, and one is called Warwick.

PS: Which do you want?

CH: I'll go to Vintage.

PS: Yeah?

CH: You go to Warwick.

CH: And we'll see how we get on.

PS: Alright, good luck.

CH: Yeah.

We'll need it, OK?

PS: See you later.

VO: They're in tourist territory.

So it will be difficult to strike good deals.

You see, speculative really is a word.

These purport to be arts and crafts, priced at £48.

They look to be 1910, 1920 but they could be only 30 years old.

So really, when it comes to auction, it's just making sure I have complete confidence in what I'm buying.

VO: Philip's looking at silver.

I quite like that.

Is it a sugar bowl?

Oh, it would have been a sugar.

Yeah, little sugar bowl.

Possibly part of a...

BOTH: Three piece set.

That's quite sweet, isn't it?

And I quite like that it's got its rhythm molded body here.

Rhythm being that sort of swirling effect in the lower half, isn't it?

I quite like that.

And you've got it priced up at £30, haven't you?

Aha.

(LAUGHS) 27, usually.

Was it that much?

You know and I got that.

I got £3 knocked off and I haven't said a word, have I?

PS: This is good, isn't it?

DEALER: Yeah very good.

You've got some lovely things and I won't insult you.

What's the best you can do?

The very best would be 25.

OK. VO: Charles is bouncing around and has just found a silver luster jug.

What date are we?

We are 18... 13.

1813.

I love the country house view.

CH: It's Shugborough.

DEALER: Shugborough.

Shugborough.

It is Shugborough.

Goodness me.

On the A51, which is only 50 miles from where I live.

Isn't that wonderful?

And here we are in Warwick.

What a wonderful thing.

Again, location location.

In my saleroom, it'd probably do very, very well.

And it's a shame it hasn't been tinted with some hand coloring.

Oh, anything could be arranged.

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: But at 265 it would only leave Charles with about £16 so the rest of the trip.

So neither of them buy in Warwick.

Off to Stratford upon Avon.

There's no doubt as to why this place is so famous.

William Shakespeare, the world's best known playwright, was born here in 1564.

Many of the buildings you see in Stratford today are so old, Shakespeare himself would have walked by them.

Philip's hoping to unearth that rare beast, a priceless treasure no one's noticed.

Well, a man can dream.

Culture Vulture Charles is opting for a bit of history first.

So he's zipping off to Shottery, just a mile from Stratford to visit Anne Hathaway's Cottage.

No, not the film star Hathaway.

Shakespeare's wife, an illiterate farmer's daughter.

Charles's guide is Anne Donnelly.

Tell me about her.

Tell me about her life here and how... Well starting with brass tacks, of course she was ANNE: Shakespeare's wife... CH: Yes of course.

..who married William when he was only 18.

And she was quite a bit older.

CH: He was a toy boy.

ANNE: And she was pregnant.

Oh crikey.

Only happens today.

Absolutely not.

He was a minor.

And they had to have a special license.

Oh really?

VO: Dirty beast.

18 year old William would have come to this house to court his 26 year old girlfriend.

ANNE: Right, here we have... CH: Goodness me.

..the Hathaway bed.

So really, Anne, we're looking at a bed which was probably constructed in the main, you know, 60 or 80 years before the Great Fire of London.

And that sort of social context is remarkable.

And you wonder, you know, in the morning and the omens with the little turned, almost caveated carving here.

Now, what has he seen in all these years?

Yes, has he seen Anne Hathaway and Will?

We can only wonder, can't we?

We can only ponder.

Now over here is another important object.

ANNE: Now the chair is very special.

CH: Right.

ANNE: Because it has the emblems of Shakespeare's family, ANNE: the spear and the hawk.

CH: Yes.

So in a wider sense, Anne, how important is this chair, CH: in your opinion?

ANNE: Phenomenally important.

Because it's...

It's got a direct link possibly Shakespeare with himself.

Oh my goodness, me.

May I be very cheeky?

Yeah.

And just...

I'm a great Shakespearian fan.

Might I just wander over and just very slowly, just feel the whole ambience?

Goodness me.

VO: Mmm.

Feeling the ambience, Charles?

From the hot seat in Anne Hathaway's cottage to the hot antiques back in Stratford upon Avon, Philip's found a piece of Carlton-ware pub memorabilia.

PS: It looks like lusterware, doesn't it?

DEALER: Like a Sunderland luster.

Sunderland luster of about 1840.

Yeah.

I think it's later than that.

I would say...

It's not 1840s but 100 years later.

DEALER: 1930s I would say.

PS: 1930s.

VO: This is this is one of the many styles of advertising pieces produced at the Carlton-ware factory in Stoke on Trent.

Do you have a lot of interest in it?

We have.

I've only had it a week or so.

Yeah.

So, er, it's a very commercial item.

PS: How much did you pay for that?

Or how much is it?

Well I'd let it go with one bottle, for what I paid, which was £35.

35?

Just for that.

What about £35... two bottles?

DEALER: Deal.

Deal done, yeah.

PS: Deal?

VO: Yeah.

Good.

At last Philip spent some cash.

Charles is back in Stratford determined to buy something before the shops close.

CH: This is quite interesting.

Probably Japanese, late 19th century, carved in a hardwood and some sort of immortals.

And they are one of a pair as well.

And they're quite nice.

VO: These hand-carved ornaments would have been made in the Far East for the export market.

Unusual and quite early.

DEALER: Those are early.

CH: Are these yours, sir?

DEALER: Yeah.

How early are they do you think?

I think they're '20s.

CH: 1920s.

I'm sure they're Japanese.

I think they're possibly Chinese.

CH: Do you think so?

DEALER: Yeah.

CH: They're quite nice.

DEALER: Could be right.

Are they £38 for the pair?

DEALER: £30.

CH: £30 for a pair.

See, I would estimate them to fetch between sort of £20 and £30.

But I think they might just make a bit more on a good day.

And they are quite interesting.

VO: To buy or not to buy?

CH: Would you do a deal?

DEALER: 25, I'll do.

CH: 20.

DEALER: No.

And my guide price of 20 to 30 gives me a great chance.

CH: All for charity.

DEALER: 25.

No, I can't do it.

CH: Meet me halfway, 22?

DEALER: OK go on.

OK.

I'll do it.

May I shake your hand?

VO: That's a modest gamble for Charles, and Philip's playing safe too.

Let's see if they can throw caution to the winds tomorrow.

A new dawn, a new day and Philip and Charles have high hopes for some more productive shopping today.

They're heading to Long Marston first, then on to the Cotswolds.

They've got loads left to spend.

Philip's a few pence shy of £250.

Charles has a tenner more than Phil and a few pence under 260.

It's a big place full of antiques.

Perfect.

That is just awful, isn't it?

What do you think of it so far?

Rubbish.

VO: Maybe not.

But Philip needs to snap something up soon.

He's mulling over a new strategy to get with it.

PS: The thing about the antique business is that tastes and times change.

And sometimes you can be left thinking you are a dinosaur when you get people clamoring to buy Action Man dolls and Barbie dolls.

But I just think that it's... You have to keep abreast of these changes as they happen.

And you've just got to be aware of them really.

Spot the next one.

That's the really cute trick.

VO: Well, Charles is sticking to traditional antiques for the moment.

Nice chair.

It's priced at £200.

I love this carved floral motif on the square shoulder.

VO: He's found a William IV library chair made in the 1830s.

With a really nice high back and hopefully it's quite comfortable.

It is, not too bad.

VO: Philip's practicing what he's just preached.

He's come up with a cutting edge use for a 20th century oak lectern, something you'd normally find in a church.

You imagine a modern contemporary kitchen, where you've got your Aga here, and your Mrs Beeton or your Jamie Oliver or your whatever here.

And I think that would look quite cool.

If you said to somebody 25 years ago, "I'm going to put a church lectern in my kitchen," they'd have looked at you like you're completely gone out somewhere, but I think today you can get away with that.

I think it's quirky.

I think it's fun.

I think it's different.

Historically ecclesiastical items, aren't that sought after.

They aren't that collectable.

I suppose if you really were in trouble... ..you can pray off it as well really.

I'm gonna see if I can find out how much I can get it for.

Right.

You've got this priced up at £45.

What's the best?

OK, well...

I'm gonna try to be really hard here.

DEALER: Yeah.

PS: Don't look at the price on there yet because I... You just tell me your best is.

OK well, the best really has got to be 40.

I can't see it at that.

Well... what are you thinking about?

I would like to buy it for around the £20 mark.

I couldn't possibly do that.

Erm... it did actually cost me more than that.

Can you meet me halfway?

Can we do the deal at 30 quid?

Yeah.

We'll meet at 30.

I'll buy that off you.

Thank you very much indeed.

Yeah, that's lovely.

VO: Philip's pleased.

That's a good price for an unusual object.

I hate parting with money.

VO: Charles can afford the £200 chair.

Though he'll only have £60 left if he buys it.

If I offered you 160, would that be somewhere near the mark or...?

Well, I think we'd accept 180 on it.

Hundred and... not a penny less.

CH: Fair warning.

All done.

DEALER: Absolutely.

No more takers.

It's a gamble.

It's a really good chair.

DEALER: And it's very comfortable chair.

And for the quality... Do you know what?

I'm going to walk away... CH: No, I'll buy it.

DEALER: Wonderful.

VO: Charles has found his form at last, buying a big splashy object.

# This town ain't big enough for both of us... # VO: The boys want to cram in as much shopping as they can.

So Philip's being dropped in Moreton-in-Marsh while Charles is off to Chipping Campden.

OK, so what - couple of hours?

Oh I might need more than that.

OK. Well listen, go carefully.

Don't spend all your money, OK?

See you Philip.

# This town ain't big enough for both of us # And it ain't me who's gonna leave... # VO: They're in full blown Cotswold country now.

Moreton-in-Marsh was granted its market charter in 1227.

And there's still a market here every Tuesday.

Philip's quickly deflated.

There are some really lovely things in here.

But lovely things mean lovely prices.

I'm beginning to wish that I'd bought something else at the barn because... ..this is not cheap.

Good things but not cheap.

So I think my rapidly rearranged strategy... ..is to buy something as cheap as I can, cuz I can't lose much money if it's cheap.

VO: Charles has arrived in Chipping Campden, which prospered in medieval times thanks to the wool trade.

It's a good place to soak up all that lovely warm Cotswold stone.

There, look.

VO: Charles is leaving no stone unturned.

I feel quite exhausted just watching him.

Just unbelievable.

There is just so much stuff... ..so carefully packed tight together.

I would not want to have to do a stock check.

VO: But amazingly no buy.

# I still haven't found # What I'm looking for... # Philip.

Charlie, how you doing?

I'm just standing under the market hall in Chipping Campden, really, really struggling.

Been to see a guy called Jim.

You know, fantastic objects great, great old antique center, but just everything is you know, really aren't my price range.

Well, I'm having the same thing in Moreton-in-Marsh, really.

You know, there's some lovely lovely things here really good quality things, but, boy, they're too hot for me.

What should we do?

Panic, Charlie.

Panic.

VO: While Philip panics, Charles has come up with a plan B. I'm going to head back to the barn.

The barn is huge.

There must be something in there which I haven't seen yet.

Which will just help me along... God willing.

VO: So Charles feels his best option is to return to the shop they went to first thing this morning.

Philip had better get a move on.

That is a little silver-plated christening mug, quite a nice shape, priced at £15.

That's quite sweet.

That's a little silver-plated copy of an 18th century or Georgian salt cellar.

And that's priced at £8.

So that's £23.

This is a little salt again.

You can just see there we've got a hallmark around this glass body and there's no price on that so that must be free.

Gets better this does.

But I'm going to be mean with my bid.

It's going to be a one hit wonder, this is.

And then we've got a pair of silver-plated knife rests, which are a tenner.

So 23... that's gonna be another tenner.

33, 43.

Now what I'm gonna do is just make 'em an offer of £10 the lot.

VO: Cor!

That's a bit tight Philip.

You've got nearly £200 left.

Incredibly she says yes to £10.

The lady that owns this has been very kind and she'd be... She's been an angel.

She's been an absolute angel but I... what I'm going to do is buy all that lot off you and put it as a job lot in a sale.

You know, I might make a tenner profit on that lot.

Might.

DEALER: Well fingers crossed.

VO: Now it's a mad dash from Moreton-in-Marsh, back to Long Marston where Charles will hopefully find what he's looking for.

Rosie, I'm back again.

CH: It's me again.

ROSIE: How are you?

I'm OK.

I'm bit short of time.

Right...

I came... Well obviously I was here today.

There's one item I didn't really go back.

CH: It's in the cabinet here.

ROSIE: Right, fine.

May I have a quick look inside?

Absolutely.

VO: Oh, you're a sly one Charles.

Back for a second go.

CH: It's... there.

ROSIE: Ah.

Right, yes.

Interesting looking ruler.

There we go.

I like this.

VO: It serves no practical purpose at all.

It's quite novel, isn't it?

It is.

Very, very unusual.

And we can see quite clearly by opening and extending it... Gosh, there's more than 10 inches there.

It's a good extending pencil and quite clearly, which is good to see, there's hallmarks on here.

I could see it making between £40 and £60, £50 and £70.

Maybe on a really good day it could sort of race away and make £75 or £80.

Condition's quite good.

It's priced up... ROSIE: It's priced at 55.

CH: £55.

What's the very best?

It's going to have to be 47.

CH: £47.

ROSIE: £47.

CH: Yeah I'll take it.

OK. ROSIE: Right.

VO: Charles has run out of money and Philip has run out of steam.

Time to show each other what they've bought.

Charlie, my first bit is an old lectern, look.

Do you like that?

Yes I do.

Do you?

It was 30 quid.

£30?

Yeah, it's alright isn't it?

CH: But the color's nice.

PS: Well it's a color that's in at the minute, isn't it?

If it was a dark one I'd have left well alone but that color.

£30.

Yeah, it's cheap enough.

It's an absolute bargain.

Lucky you.

Yeah, let's have a look at your...

Right.

Well, I followed in your style buying a bit of masculine ephemera.

Yeah.

In... that.

I quite like that.

It looks really good, usable chair.

The only thing that holds me back on it a bit, it is a just a touch in your face with the upholstery.

And actually, you sit in it... Is it comfy?

Really comfy and it's sturdy as well.

It's not going to go anywhere with you.

What did you pay for that, Charlie?

Well, I think in the current market, it's worth £150 to £250.

I paid £180.

Do you want to see my next bit?

Please.

Well, I bought that little lot, and I paid a tenner for it.

CH: Ah, Philip, Philip.

PS: What do you think?

I think those in the equation there, they're heavy and they're nice knife rests.

You know, they're, what?

£15.

Then you get these other items thrown in.

PS: I thought to myself on a good day, it's £20, perhaps £20 to £30 worth.

Oh, yeah.

And on a bad day the most I can lose is, I can't lose any more than a fiver.

Six days out of seven it's going to make, you know, £30 or £40 quite happily.

And that's... You know, that's me being realistic.

And I think it's a good lot for that.

VO: Now, Charles is nervous about his panic-buy Oriental figures.

Are you ready?

Yeah, go on.

Do I have to shut my eyes.

Yeah, close your eyes.

Phil, you can open your eyes... now.

Let's have a look.

Are they Japanese or Chinese?

I would've said they were Japanese but I wouldn't know.

And I said the same.

And he said to me, "no, they're Chinese," but I think they're Japanese too.

And that's what I said.

So they were £22.

I think they're quite neat.

OK, Phil, they're not in a better condition.

But they just have a charm about them.

Yeah.

Do you want to see my next one?

VO: Philip reckons his mini bottles of stout are a gas.

We've had a real tiring two days.

Oh it's been a tiring two days.

And I think we I think we needed a bit of iron and stamina.

Quite right.

Just so there's yours, Charlie.

Oh, Phil that's my favorite drink.

Is it?

And I've got another one for me.

So I thought we'd have... You bought these?

Well, yeah, but I also bought this Carlton-ware advertising plate.

And I got on the old t'internet.

Yes.

And one of these on its own sold... CH: Yes.

PS: ..in 2002 for £100.

Well great thing, Phil an it's completely right.

VO: Finally Charles's last minute extending pencil.

It's Birmingham hallmarked.

1924.

It's got one, two, three, four.

And then it goes nine, 10, 11, 12.

And can you see there's another section?

CH: Oh, yes.

PS: Right?

There you are.

So I think that comes out again.

CH: I never saw that.

PS: Let me have a look.

Is that fantastic?

Phil I think... What did you pay for that, Charlie?

I negotiated £47.

PS: It's going to appeal to three groups of people.

It's going to appeal to someone who collects pens or pencils.

It's going to appeal to someone who collects novelty bits.

And it's going to appeal to a measuring man.

And you know, there are those people out there.

Yeah.

VO: Let's hope some of them are at the auction.

So how do they rate each other's chances?

Overall, he might be looking at between sort of losing a tenner and making £30 or £40.

That's how I see it.

There's small margins for a turn.

But even so, Philip's safe and secure.

And knowing Phil's productive ways, I'm sure he'll have a clean sweep again.

VO: Confident of profits then for when their items go under the hammer in a week's time.

With the shopping behind them Charles and Philip arrive in Gloucester on auction day.

Past the renovated Victorian docks which hint at this once thriving commercial port.

One of Gloucester's claims to fame these days is its cathedral's appearance in the Harry Potter films.

Now, our two wizards are hoping for some magic at Cotswold Auctions.

It's an antiques and interiors sale with auctioneer Elizabeth Pool.

Philip and Charles have bought some daring items and their nerves are jangling.

Have they made the right decisions?

We're about to find out.

First up, Charles's Oriental wooden figures.

ELIZABETH (EP): Start me at 50.

£50 somewhere.

30.

£30.

Nobody want them?

20.

£20.

CH: Uh-oh.

EP: 20 bid, at 20.

At 20.

20.

This isn't a lot at 20.

My first bid only.

I shall sell them EP: if you're all done.

CH: Come on, one more.

With the lady then at 20.

And selling.

All done.

VO: Whoops, not a great start.

Next, his fine blue library chair which Philip is sitting in.

But did Charles pay too much?

Start me at 100 somewhere.

£100.

Ow, Charlie!

£100.

Come on.

Nobody want it?

80.

I don't believe.

It's a handsome chair for £80.

Come on.

CH: Oh dear!

EP: Nobody want it?

70.

They want something for nothing today.

BIDDER: 50.

EP: £70 somewhere.

70 bid.

BIDDER: 50.

EP: With the ladies at 50 then.

Thanks for coming.

Who's going on?

It's cheap at 50, five I'm bid.

60.

65.

70, ladies?

£70.

70.

75.

80, is it?

At 75 then I'm bid.

80.

85, is it?

Bidding?

85.

At 85.

CH: Why not?

Thanks for coming.

EP: 90.

PS: I feel completely kippered by the Charles Hanson fan club!

All done then?

I shall sell it at 90.

If we're all done at £90.

(GAVEL) EP: Bargain.

VO: Even the auctioneer thought that was cheap.

Disappointing for Charles but that lady next door got a real steal.

Philip's lectern for the modern kitchen is next.

£30, very useful thing, a lectern.

Nobody want it?

30 I'm bid.

At 30.

CH: It's gonna go, Phil.

30, it's going on 35.

40, is it?

40.

At 40.

CH: It's a good thing.

EP: At £40.

Not a lot.

45.

50.

At 50.

It's standing at the back at 50.

Any advance?

At 50 then, we're selling at 50.

Be quick.

At 50.

(GAVEL) CH: Well done.

Cheap enough though, wasn't it?

In all honesty, I thought it would make about £80.

OK?

I thought it would make 80 but you know it didn't.

But I'm quite pleased because I... PS: Because you lost £85.

CH: Correct.

VO: Philip's random silver collection is next.

What shall we say?

Start me off.

30 to start.

£30.

20 then.

£20 for the lot.

Nobody interested at 20.

Tenner.

No bids, I'll move on.

Nobody wants it.

Sorry chaps.

CH: Hasn't sold.

She's passed it.

Well it has to make something surely?

Yeah!

Well, I reckon I can take that and put in the next auction PS: with something else.

CH: I would.

I will do.

VO: That's a surprise.

He'll carry it over to the next auction.

Charles is pinning his hopes on his extending pencil.

Super little piece, there we are.

What should we say?

30?

£30 to start.

20 then.

£20.

£20.

Come on.

Nobody want it for 20?

Oh golly.

Come on.

You're all asleep today.

EP: 20 bid, at 20.

CH: I don't believe it!

At 20 then I'm bid.

At 21 bid only.

All done then at 20.

I shall sell it at £20.

This isn't a lot.

That is bad.

VO: Yes it is, Charles.

Three losses in a row.

Finally, Philip's Carlton-ware plate and miniature bottles.

£10 somewhere.

Start cheap.

See if we can get any higher.

£10.

Come on.

Nobody want it?

10 bid.

At 10.

It's going on at 10.

My first bid at 10.

Any more?

Not a lot.

It's a bargain at 10.

You all done?

Sorry chaps, you're not having a good day, are you?

VO: They both look shellshocked and I can't say I blame them.

But a bad day for our experts was a great day for those bidders.

Now, Philip started this leg of the road trip with £249.65.

After paying commission he made a loss of £36.38.

So his new total is £223.27.

And he's still got the silver to sell.

But it was far, far worse for Charles.

He began this leg on £281.53.

However, his hugely disappointing loss of £143.67 means that he's now down to £137.86 to spend on the next leg.

But as ever, Charles is ready to put a positive spin on his dismal experience.

If Philip will let him.

Charlie, that was a bloodbath.

I'm scratching my head.

I'm scratching my wallet.

I just can't believe it.

I think I've got to look at it and be positive and take that profit and say look, big loss today.

But it's part of this wonderful discovery.

Get out of here.

Where we see... Drive me on to the next Charlie.

Get out of here Charlie.

VO: Like Dr Foster, I don't think they'll be coming back to Gloucester in a hurry.

In tomorrow's show, Charles and Philip head back to Wales.

Charles gets flustered and territorial.

That's fine.

I'll just have a look.

No, no.

I'm not gonna come back later.

I'll just have a look around now.

VO: And almost loses the plot at the auction.

I missed it.

What did it make?

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