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

Which way are the bargains?

VO: ..behind the wheel of a classic car... Do you know where we are?

No.

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

Act one, scene one.

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

Ta-da!

VO: But it's no mean feat.

There'll be worthy winners...

Woo!

Happy dance!

VO: ..and valiant losers.

Heartbroken.

Close your ears.

VO: Will it be the high road to glory...

It's just delightful, isn't it?

VO: ..or the slow road to disaster?

VO: This is Antiques Road Trip.

VO: Yeah!

VO: We're out on the Road Trip again, in wonderful Wales.

No wonder there are so many lambs around.

Isn't it lambing season?

It is.

It is.

Do you know what sheep farmers drive?

Go on.

Lamb-orghinis!

Oh, Raj.

It's gonna be a long week.

VO: You said it, sister.

That's king of the dad jokes Raj Bisram behind the wheel, and his long-suffering co-pilot, Irita Marriott, looking very sophisto in their 1960s Vanden Plas Princess, don't you know.

IRITA: That color of the car looks amazing in that sunshine.

And you're dressed accordingly, you literally match the car.

I take these things very seriously.

Not like you, just throw on any scarf.

This was literally known as the poor man's Rolls-Royce.

It doesn't look that much of a poor man's car to me.

RAJ: In Rolls-Royces, in the back, you've got this sort of cupboard that opens up, and inside you've got drinks and everything.

These have got it as well.

IRITA: Has it?

RAJ: Yeah.

Shall we have an afternoon tea in there?

I'll drive you round and I'll be your chauffeur, OK?

VO: Don't give her any ideas, Raj.

She already feels like a big cheese after that last runout, when she plumped for some very classy items.

I mean, I said I wanted to find something meaty.

VO: Meanwhile, Raj's shopping experience was a lot less refined.

RAJ: You need waking up.

VO: And despite some advice from the great beyond... RAJ: The wheel of fortune is spinning in your favor.

VO: ..Lady Luck was definitely with Irita at the auction.

Sold at 260, then.

Can you believe that?

I saw it with my own eyes.

VO: Which means, in the battle of the auctions, Irita's in the lead with 1-0 in this best of five competition.

RAJ: Well, I have to say, Irita, you do know your onions.

Raj Bisram, did you just give me a compliment there?

Oh, my goodness.

I'm gonna have to take that back straight away.

Are you feeling OK?

Obviously not.

VO: There's the Raj we know and love.

VO: He started this trip with £1,500 to last him for the whole week.

With one leg down, his money's shrunk to 1,140.

VO: Irita started with the same amount but was a little more frugal.

Her kitty currently stands at £1,250.

Right now I'm focused on my tactics.

You've got tactics?

Since when?

I was up all night drawing diagrams about how I am going to win this Road Trip.

Should I come from the flank?

You know, or just go straight ahead?

And what was the final decision?

I think I'm just gonna get out a white flag, OK?

VO: Nil desperandum, Raj.

There's still four more auctions to fight for.

This trip will wander in Wales, meander through the Midlands and ease over to East Anglia before our final auction at Market Harborough.

RAJ: This excitement is real!

VO: On this run out, we'll be shopping all the way to Shropshire, ending up at Bridgnorth.

But proceedings get under way in Wales, at Wrexham.

VO: Or at least on the rural outskirts.

First stop of the trip is Bryn Y Grog Hall Antiques & Collectables.

They'll be doing this one together, so there could be trouble.

RAJ: Let me open the door.

IRITA: Look at you!

You've grown some manners overnight, sir.

RAJ: Surprise, surprise.

VO: Now, I hope you've packed a compass, sensible footwear and sandwiches, because this place is a whopper.

40 dealers have set out their stock in here, and it just goes on...and on...and on.

Jenny and Dana are on hand should you get lost.

And Polly, too, of course.

Now, let's talk strategy.

If you're with Irita, it's best not to start at the beginning.

Get down one end, stay well clear of her, and who knows?

VO: I wouldn't worry too much, Raj.

(SAW) VO: She's off doing her own thing at the moment.

Oh, I like the door.

Can I buy the door?

That is so cool.

I've never been in a barn with one of these before.

What do you reckon?

Do you think it's cool?

Neigh!

VO: I bet she's a hoot at parties.

Now, what's Raj up to?

RAJ: This is an old tractor seat.

VO: Keeping with the farming theme.

They're made of cast iron, and this is where it's made.

Wexford.

So it's an Irish tractor seat.

And I don't know if you've ever been into a bar, but in London they are full of bars where they've turned these into stools, and they look really, really attractive.

They're not very comfortable, but talk about a piece of recycling.

This is ideal.

£70 on the ticket, though.

Heavy.

VO: Very clever, Raj.

Now, how are things progressing elsewhere?

IRITA: Is this... Is this open?

Oh, yes, it is.

This little chap has caught my eye because it's an early Staffordshire inkwell and I have never seen this form before.

It's basically modeled as a little bird's nest with bird, little eggs inside, and what looks like a caterpillar climbing in.

It is in rather good condition.

Cuz think, this has survived 200 years, because it would date from about 1820s, 1840s.

The selling point for this is pure novelty, and novelty sells.

Novelty's always good, and this would appeal to someone who is collecting Staffordshire.

It also has the market of collecting ink wells or even bird-related things.

VO: £38 is the price on that.

Do I think there's a profit in it?

Maybe only if there's a discount to be had.

VO: I think she's sweet on that one.

Uh-oh, here's trouble.

RAJ: Irita.

IRITA: What?

Somebody said you were getting a bit tired so I brought this trolley to wheel you around.

IRITA: Oh, are you doing a tour for me?

RAJ: If you'd like.

OK, on you get.

I do this to my children.

RAJ: OK?

IRITA: Whoa!

RAJ: Relax, relax, relax.

OK. IRITA: Hmm... Cuz somebody did tell me you are off your trolley.

IRITA: How dare you?

How am I supposed... RAJ: OK, here we go.

IRITA: ..to concentrate?

RAJ: Hey!

Whoa!

VO: Wheeling her away from the good stuff, eh?

Very cunning.

About time you found something for yourself, though, Raj.

RAJ: A smile comes straight to my face because in this stand we have lots of lovely antiques.

Not just furniture.

We've got glassware, we've got ceramics, we've got tea caddies.

And here we've got a lovely pair of cups and saucers.

These are early 19th century and they're really good condition.

The color is still very vibrant, and these have been well kept, cuz normally they're worn.

VO: They look like puce, transfer-printed Staffordshire porcelain to me.

£15 per cup and saucer.

If there's no real damage, that's not bad at all.

(CUP) You hear that?

That means that there's no damage.

So definitely a possibility.

VO: Progress at last.

And I don't think he's quite done with the stuff in this area.

We've got this lovely little oak table with a lovely patina.

18th century, dates probably between 1740 and 1780, and there's only £65 on the ticket, which I find hard to believe because it says it has alterations.

It means...that means repairs and such.

But it's a very old table.

It's had a replacement piece of wood that's put in here.

Clearly, you can see that, but the rest of it looks pretty original.

I think it's almost a no-brainer.

I'm gonna have to speak to them about this table.

I love it.

VO: He's on a roll now.

Elsewhere, Irita's back on the hunt.

This is rather adorable.

Nowadays, when you give your child breakfast, lunch, dinner, more than likely you'll be getting out a plastic plate.

Back in the day, that wasn't quite the case.

They were getting things like this.

You've got your plate where you put your food, then you open this bit, you put hot water inside it so whatever you've got on the plate would be kept warm.

Because, you know, kids aren't the fastest eaters.

It's also got two little handles and a scene that will keep you entertained for ages, the rabbit pinching the huntsman rifle and basically is chasing him around.

This is probably about 100 years, or there or thereabouts, old, and there's also some marks at the bottom.

WMF.

Do not ask me to say the full name.

VO: W rttembergische Metallwarenfabrik.

That's O level German.

IRITA: I've seen so many pieces of pewter and silver plate from that factory.

I have never seen anything like this.

Now, is this gonna put me off?

"WMF plate warmer.

£22."

I'm having it.

VO: Just like that!

Let's have a chat with Dana at the till.

IRITA: Hello there.

DANA: Hi.

IRITA: I'm coming bearing some goodies.

DANA: I love it.

IRITA: What do you reckon?

Oh, you love it, do you?

DANA: I do love it.

Oh, well that's good to hear.

At least... DANA: Probably cuz it's mine.

IRITA: Oh, hmm, are you being biased there?

DANA: Yes, a bit.

IRITA: Well, that has caught my eye, and also, right at the back, in one of the cabinets, there was a little inkwell in shape of a nest with a bird... Uh-huh.

..and that was priced at 38.

So that's £60 for the two?

And you want the best price, do you?

Well, that would be very good.

What about if I said 50?

Yeah, I'm happy with that.

Yeah?

Yeah, £50 it is.

VO: Which makes the inkwell £30, and 20 for the plate warmer.

Lovely.

IRITA: Thank you.

You're welcome.

VO: Got all your goodies?

Time to scarper.

Back inside, a call has been put into the dealer about the items Raj has earmarked.

RAJ: I can see Jenny on her way.

She's got a big smile on her face.

Let's hope she's gonna put a big smile on my face.

JENNY: I think I will.

RAJ: I hope so.

JENNY: The combined price on the cups and saucers is 30.

He will do them for 22.

RAJ: Yup.

JENNY: And the oak table, he will do 50 on it.

At those prices, that's really nice.

Thank you so much.

That's no problem at all.

RAJ: The answer is yes.

We have a deal.

JENNY: Thank you very much.

Thank you so much.

VO: That'll be £72, please, Raj.

And a very fruitful shopping experience all round.

VO: Time now for a quick pop into England and the county town of Shropshire, Shrewsbury, where Irita's had to break out the brolly.

IRITA: Oh, my goodness.

This looks quirky.

VO: You should fit right in at the Shire Emporium, then.

IRITA: Hello there.

STEVE: Hello.

How're you doing?

IRITA: Nice to meet you.

STEVE: Nice to meet you, too.

IRITA: Irita.

Well, where do I start?

Steve.

Well, wherever you want to.

Where are the bargains?

..great treasures in here at great prices.

Oh, I like to hear that!

I'll be back.

VO: Yes, this place has a bit of all sorts.

And with £1,200 at your disposal, there's plenty to keep a discerning shopper such as yourself occupied for quite a while.

IRITA: I like that.

It has seen better days, but if you take away the fact that that rocking horse, which is probably about 1920s... that it's missing the skin, if you like, it actually has a lot of charm and I don't mind it the way it is.

The paint is chipped, shabby chic.

Who doesn't like a bit of shabby chic?

VO: Quite.

Originally made to teach children to ride, rocking horses were popularized in the 19th century by none other than Queen Victoria herself.

I doubt she'd be amused by this one.

IRITA: Steve, can you come and help me with something please?

STEVE: Yeah.

Course I can.

IRITA: Before I ask you to remove this from the top, I can't see a price tag.

How much is it?

Can do 45 on the horse.

Can you give me a hand getting it down?

Yeah, course we can.

VO: This should be good.

IRITA: Oh, my good...

It's big... Oh, is it...?

VO: Do be careful.

IRITA: Ooh, agh.

Oh, Steve!

My... Whoa!

VO: Oh lordy, mind his head!

STEVE: You alright?

Here you go.

IRITA: Aah!

No wonder you said £45!

He's falling apart.

Oh my God.

Oh my God.

That was the most dramatic entrance ever.

Where did his tail go?

Oh, no, we lo... STEVE: There you go.

IRITA: We lost its tail.

Oh, poor horsey.

VO: Steady on, Irita.

Hasn't he suffered enough?

IRITA: We'll makeshift it.

STEVE: That's it.

There you go.

IRITA: There.

STEVE: That's not a bad job.

IRITA: Right, let's try to reassemble this thing.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

I'm gonna be gentle with you, I promise.

I promise.

Tell you what, let's leave it down here, and I'll have a wander around and see what else... OK, fair enough.

..I can find.

Yeah.

VO: Yeah, cuz that ain't going back in the cupboard any time soon.

VO: Now, back over the border, our man Raj is still wandering through Wales.

Oh, I'm a lucky man.

Open road, classic car, sun is shining.

I've just got to find one thing that makes a really good profit, and I'm feeling so positive.

I need to give myself more pep talks like this.

VO: Let's just hope you pay attention to yourself.

He's heading over the other side of Wrexham and the village of Gwersyllt, where the next stop for our pepped-up punter is Acorn Antiques & Collectables.

RAJ: Hello there.

DENNIS: Hello.

RAJ: Hi, I'm Raj.

DENNIS: Hello Raj, hello.

RAJ: And you are?

DENNIS: I'm Dennis.

RAJ: Dennis.

Welcome to Acorn Antiques.

Thank you.

It looks packed with lots of things.

There's loads here and loads of bargains today.

RAJ: Ah, that's what I wanna hear.

Course it is.

RAJ: I'll be back, then!

VO: Dennis wasn't wrong about the quantity of stock.

There's two floors full of lovely things from various dealers.

As for the bargains, well, that's for Raj to find out.

Let's see what £1,068 can buy you in here.

RAJ: Now, this, this is for a professional tea drinker.

This is called a teapoy, and it's 19th century.

It's mahogany.

It's a lovely bit of furniture, but if you open it up, look at that.

This is where you kept four different types of teas, two mixing bowls, and you really went for it.

And it's priced at £375.

That's not a bad price when you think it cost way more than that in the 19th century to have made.

It's a beautiful piece for the professional tea maker.

VO: But he's not feeling the Darjeeling today.

Something else?

Dennis?

VO: That was quick.

RAJ: Hi, Dennis.

DENNIS: Hello.

Hi.

Dennis, I've spotted something.

That glass bottle over there.

But can I...can I move it to the table?

DENNIS: Yeah, of course you can.

RAJ: Yeah?

Is that OK?

Better make sure you don't drop it.

No, I won't drop it.

I won't drop it.

Trust me.

Trust me.

Oh!

VO: All breakages must be paid for, Raj.

I know...I know it's not an antique, but there's something about it which appeals to me.

OK. Well, I guess the fact that it's red and, of course, Chateau Margaux is one of the world's most famous reds.

But I think this is a real interior decorator's item.

DENNIS: Right.

RAJ: So if this was cheap enough, at the right price, I might have a go with it.

Well, I think that is cheap enough, and at the right price.

RAJ: Now I know why you wear glasses.

OK. VO: Cheeky so-and-so.

£48 is the asking price.

Oh, how about...35?

Uh, I was thinking more like 20.

DENNIS: 20?!

RAJ: Yeah.

DENNIS: Oh, I can't do that.

RAJ: Fair enough.

DENNIS: 28.

RAJ: 28.

I really like it, I wanna shake your hand.

DENNIS: There we go.

RAJ: Thank you very much.

Thank you.

DENNIS: Pleasure.

VO: So, while Dennis takes that to the till, we head back to Shrewsbury.

Any other large, awkward items, Irita?

This is a country house dough bin.

And it's one whopper of a dough bin!

So if you needed to make a lot of dough, you would make it up and you would put in here to prove.

Stick your lid on, simple!

And the character and the story that it tells, like these burn marks.

It really had had a life.

And it's not in a bad condition.

I just want to see whether any of the legs or parts have been replaced at all.

Because I would like to think that everything that you're buying is original.

VO: No price on that.

Let's find out how much dough it'll take.

Steve?

Alright, what can I help you with now?

The bin.

STEVE: Ah.

IRITA: The dough bin.

In elm.

It's beautiful, isn't it?

I was hoping you don't like it and it would be really cheap.

Well, it's not a bad price.

I can do 150 on that.

So 150 on that and 45 for the horse.

STEVE: Yes.

IRITA: So that's 195.

180, the two.

Didn't even need to say anything, did I?

No, because I know it was in your head.

Wasn't it?

VO: He knows you so well, Irita.

OK, I'll have the two.

That's lovely.

Thank you very much.

VO: So £40 for the dobbin and 140 for the dough bin.

That's a lot of bread.

BOTH: Thank you very much.

I will not be taking these with me now.

Someone will come and collect them, though.

That's lovely.

Thanks very much.

IRITA: Thank you, Steve.

STEVE: See you, bye bye.

Bye.

VO: Elsewhere, we're still rummaging with Raj.

RAJ: Now, these are lovely.

Look at that!

They're nicely decorated with a shamrock design.

They're a lovely color.

I mean, that is classic art nouveau design on those.

VO: It's the sinuous lines that give it away.

RAJ: But when you buy glass, one of the things you should always do is just to check that there's no chips on the rim.

And also just check...

Hold them up to the light just to make sure there's no cracks at all.

These look absolutely lovely and I think they are really, really attractive.

VO: £52 the pair and handily their owner is just around the corner.

RAJ: Hi Gordon.

GORDON: Hi, Raj.

Hi.

I have to say, first of all, great center.

GORDON: It's good, isn't it?

RAJ: It is.

It is good.

Now...I've buttered you up.

Yeah.

OK. OK.

I've got these two vases, the art nouveau ones.

Yeah.

RAJ: What is the very, very best on them?

GORDON: It's probably your lucky day.

They were in a job lot.

RAJ: Aha.

I like that.

GORDON: I have had them a little while, so I'm quite happy to move them on.

Give me a price.

This is all sounding very good news to me.

£25.

How does that sound?

RAJ: £25?

GORDON: Yep.

RAJ: I'm not even gonna quibble.

VO: And that doesn't happen often with him.

Let's go and settle up, shall we?

Hi.

You've got that here.

Fantastic.

Yes, good.

And I've also agreed with Gordon a price of £25 on those.

Has he done 25 on those?

Wow.

Yes he's done 25.

You twisted his arm.

VO: So I make that £53 all in.

RAJ: Thank you very much.

GORDON: Come back soon.

RAJ: I will.

Thank you.

VO: Time to head back to the car, and for pity's sake don't drop them.

How was buying today, Raj?

Feel under pressure at all?

Course not.

Look at you, cool as a cucumber.

I mean, why would I be under any pressure whatsoever?

You've only hammered me into the ground once already.

Why would I feel pressure?

Why would I feel pressure?

Why would I feel pressure?

VO: I think someone's a little overtired.

VO: Nighty night.

VO: A new day dawns for our peregrinating pair in the Princess.

RAJ: The countryside around here is beautiful, isn't it?

It is really pretty.

Yeah.

VO: We're fully over the border into England now, on the tourist trail.

Look at that over there.

That is a Roman city.

VO: Viroconium, the fourth largest settlement in Roman Britain, don't you know?

We get to go to these fabulous places.

We do.

We get to drive these amazing cars.

The only downside's the company that they give me.

Sorry?

Sorry, did I... Did I hear correctly?

There is a bus service.

There is a bus service.

They'll be along in two days.

VO: Someone always spoils it, don't they?

Yesterday, Irita went on a bit of a spree, picking up a Staffordshire inkwell, a pewter dish warmer, a huge dough bin and that thoroughbred.

IRITA: Oh, poor horsey.

VO: So her budget now stands at £1,020.

Raj also did a big shop.

He got his mitts on a pair of art nouveau glass vases, an oak table, a pair of cups and saucers and a big red bottle...

There's something about it which appeals to me.

VO: ..leaving him with £1,015 to play with.

Now, are we back on speaking terms yet?

VO: That'll be a no, then.

Boo!

Come on!

VO: Later, our pair and everything they buy will end up at an auction back in Wrexham.

But we say ta-ta for now to Wales and head to Shropshire, to the village of Gobowen where Irita's visiting Derwen College, a remarkable institution that gives young people with physical and learning difficulties the skills and experience to live a full and active life in the wider world.

I've been potting plants to sell in the shop.

Fuchsias.

VO: Irita's meeting the college's Helen Edwards to find out about the remarkable woman behind it all, Agnes Hunt.

HELEN: This is Agnes Hunt's bust and also a portrait of her that we have hanging here in the Orangery at Derwen College.

Pride of place, isn't it?

Absolutely.

Agnes herself was disabled.

She had an infection in her hip when she was about nine or 10 years old and she had to walk with a stick.

But her family enabled her to carry on life as her siblings were doing.

They all played together and her mum took her across the world.

She went to Australia, to New Zealand, chopping down bush in Tasmania.

Victorian woman with a disability, I just find it just amazing that she was able to do all this stuff.

VO: After her travels, Agnes trained as an orthopedic nurse, dealing with disorders and deformities of the skeleton and muscular systems.

She then worked with Robert Jones, the doctor who was treating her own condition, to create a pioneering orthopedic hospital in the area.

But Agnes had plans beyond just medical treatments.

HELEN: Agnes had always worked with people with disabilities.

When she was treating patients at the orthopedic hospital, she knew that she wanted to upskill them, reskill them to be able to live a life of independence, to get their own jobs.

And her work through the hospital with Robert Jones led her to Derwen.

It was like her ultimate dream to be able to enable people with a disability to become independent.

VO: In 1928, Agnes, now a dame, got the funds together to purchase this place, Derwen House.

She transformed it into a college where people with physical disabilities could learn trades and life skills to enable them to get employment and live independently.

This really was the culmination of her life's work, Derwen College.

She clearly never let her disability stop her.

Never.

And I suppose that is what she wanted for everyone else.

Her ethos was always to enable people with disabilities to be happy, enjoy life, and her work still continues today.

IRITA: Amazing.

VO: Although Agnes died in 1948, the college has built on her incredible work, now providing vocational courses across four sites for young adults with both physical and learning disabilities.

There's a restaurant, shop and garden center here, open to the public and staffed by the students to give them hands-on experience.

The skills they gain here in the nursery, for example, can lead to work as gardeners for the local authority or in other garden centers.

And, as she's here, Irita can lend a hand, with Derwen student Kian supervising, of course.

IRITA: What is the plan?

What are we going to do?

Putting those plants into that.

IRITA: OK.

So you're gonna have to fill all of that with the soil?

Yep.

Compost.

IRITA: Compost.

Professional at work.

KIAN: I wouldn't go that far.

What skills are you learning while you're here?

Working as a team.

IRITA: That's very good.

That's very important life skills, isn't it?

Communicating with the customers, making sure the customer knows what plants they're getting, and just helping them to find things.

IRITA: Right in the middle?

KIAN: Right in the middle.

You know what?

Can I tell you something?

This is the first ever plant I've planted.

You're laughing!

I'm serious!

KIAN: I cannot take you serious.

IRITA: Well, what do you think?

KIAN: Yep.

Do you approve?

Have we done a good job?

Good job.

High five.

A very dirty high five.

VO: Most of these plants will be sold in the shop to help continue the college's important work.

But one pot is heading to a very special location, All Saints churchyard in nearby Baschurch, and the final resting place of Agnes Hunt, accompanied by Kian, members of Agnes's family and the Reverend Linda Cox.

LINDA: Heavenly Father, we thank you for Dame Agnes and for the inspiration and the many blessings she brought.

And we pray that her inspiration will continue to inspire those who work and learn at the Derwen College.

Amen.

VO: A remarkable life and a legacy to be proud of.

VO: Now, elsewhere in Shropshire, Raj is on the move, pointing the Princess towards the market town of Church Stretton, which shares its name with an asteroid discovered by an astrologer at the local observatory.

And hoping for an out-of-this-world deal, Raj is hurtling towards the Stretton Antiques Market.

Brace yourselves.

RAJ: Hello!

DAVE: Hello, Raj.

RAJ: And you are?

DAVE: Dave.

RAJ: Dave.

Nice to see you.

Mind if I go and have a look round?

DAVE: Please do.

Please do.

RAJ: Thanks a lot.

DAVE: Thank you.

VO: Bit of a Shropshire institution, this place.

Three floors packed with the wares of 60 or so dealers, from jewelery to furniture and everything in between, and a few old favorites for Raj to get stuck into as well.

RAJ: Now, this has brought me back with a big smile on my face.

It's highly documented that when I first started in antiques I was 10 years old and I used to walk past a pawnbrokers on my way to school.

And I used to save up my pocket money and I bought something, it was the equivalent, I don't know, one week's pocket money.

And I've just seen exactly the same thing in this cabinet here.

And these are the J Sainsbury's potted meat jars.

And I still have, I still have the original one that I bought to this day in my office at home.

I can't remember exactly what I paid, but it would've been around 10 pence.

And was that a good investment?

I see they've got £6 on one of them now, so not really.

But what lovely memories this has brought back.

The first thing I ever bought.

Lovely.

VO: I can't imagine Raj as a 10 year old, can you?

Let's leave him to wallow in nostalgia and catch up with Irita who's wound up in Bridgnorth, at the Old Mill Antique Centre, in an old mill, obviously.

Our girl currently has a smidge over £1,000 in the kitty, but 40 dealers across four floors means there's a lot of ground to cover to discover that perfect purchase.

And when she finds it, John will be the man to talk to.

Hi, John.

Will I have a leg up if I buy a pair of stools?

VO: No, but you'll have somewhere to sit.

Ha!

IRITA: What is happening to me, because since when does Irita Marriott buy furniture?

They're rather stylish, though.

I like the shape.

They're probably mid-century, 1950s or so.

Do you know what I like the most about them?

They're £8 each.

Or is that just being a cheapskate?

VO: I couldn't possibly comment.

IRITA: Decisions, decisions.

VO: Well, you'd better knuckle down then, because time is marching on.

#Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock Get on with a tick-tock, tick-tock.# VO: Exactly.

And there's still more floors to wade through.

Now, back in Church Stretton, has Raj hit paydirt yet?

RAJ: Here we've got a pair of early Carter tiles.

Now, everyone's heard of Poole.

In fact, there's a piece of Poole right here, obviously from Poole in Dorset.

But before Poole originated, it was called Carter.

VO: After Jesse Carter, who founded the company in 1873.

And Carter made these tiles.

There's £55 on the ticket on each one.

But they are lovely.

VO: Fancy a closer look?

You'll need Dave for that.

RAJ: Dave, I found something.

I think so, anyway.

DAVE: Alright.

RAJ: Can I have a look at the tiles?

DAVE: Yes, fine.

You'll see on the back very slightly impressed, Carter Tile Company.

Very difficult to see, but there is a mark there.

RAJ: You can see that, Carter Tile Company.

DAVE: I think it says Poole.

RAJ: Poole, yeah.

DAVE: Yes.

RAJ: Says Poole under there... ..which, of course, gives it all the provenance that you need...

It does, yes.

..as far as Poole's concerned.

And they're all hand-painted.

It looks like a Dutch scene.

RAJ: Yeah, definitely.

They're both Dutch.

Yeah, they're really nice items.

I don't think I've ever bought any tiles before, Dave.

DAVE: Oh, right.

RAJ: This is the first time, RAJ: but there's something about these that really appeal to me.

DENNIS: Yeah, yeah.

RAJ: Except for the price.

Right.

RAJ: What could you do the two for?

DAVE: OK. £15 for the two.

Oh.

Oh, Dave, that is very, very generous indeed.

In fact, that's almost too generous, I think.

That's... DAVE: Is it?

I'm gonna give you £20 for the two.

Oh, that'd be fantastic.

Yeah?

You're happy with that?

I'm more than happy, Raj.

Thank you very much.

RAJ: Let's shake hands, £20.

DAVE: Cheers.

VO: A whopping discount there.

Many thanks, Dave.

That purchase whittles his budget down to £995.

RAJ: I appreciate it very much indeed.

And not too heavy to carry out either.

No they're not.

VO: And that brings his shopping to a close.

Back in Bridgnorth, Irita's made it to the loft.

So what grabs you up here?

Oh, I like the arms of this, articulated arms.

I think they're rather rusty.

So, basically, you can put them in any position you would like, even do very elegant fingers.

Look at that.

Isn't that nice?

Hasn't got a great age.

Let me pull it out.

VO: Oh, yeah, a shop mannequin?

Probably 30 or so years old.

IRITA: John?

Whoop!

Oh, my... JOHM: Hi.

Do you need a hand?

IRITA: Hello.

Lovely to meet you.

JOHM: Hello.

Tell me about this.

JOHM: That's a bit of a... problem for me.

IRITA: Oh!

I bought that, probably four, four and a half years ago.

IRITA: OK. JOHM: And I'm absolutely sick of having to repair the fingers, because there's always some kid who tries to do something clever with the fingers to make a rude gesture... Oh!

..and snaps one of the fingers off.

IRITA: So really, that's a pest, isn't it?

It's getting... JOHM: It's getting that way.

IRITA: And you shoved it...

It's stuffed in the corner, out of the way.

Yep.

JOHM: I'd love to see the back of her.

Hmm, OK, well, I like the sound of that.

OK.

I'll take a £50 note off you.

50 quid it is.

OK. VO: I think both parties benefited there.

Does that include the delivery down those enormous stairs?

Fortunately, we've got a lift.

Oh, OK.

Right, let's get...let's get you to the lift.

IRITA: Whoa!

JOHM: You... Oh my God!

I'm fine.

Come on, I'm going.

VO: So, with £970 still in hand, Irita's done shopping too, and the next time we'll see her new friend will be at the auction.

But for now, it's time to catch up with her traveling companion.

I have had a great day today, Irita.

Is it because you only spent 10 minutes with me today?

To be honest, that was two minutes more than I planned.

You did not say that, Raj Bisram!

No, no, no.

VO: Well, before this ends up in a barney, I think shuteye don't you?

VO: Here we go again.

Time to see if all that hard work pays off.

Are you ready for this?

Well, in your words, Irita, I'm always ready.

Auction number two!

VO: Oh yes.

VO: After setting off from Wrexham and scouring Shropshire, we've come full circle back to where we started at Wingett's auctioneers once again, selling to Wrexhamites in the room and everyone else online.

VO: Raj spent a mere £145 on five auction lots.

Let's find out what our friendly neighborhood gavel wielder Dyfed Griffiths likes the best.

DYFED: Red French bottle, nice thing, collectable and an unusual lot as well.

Good size, bit different.

Not something you see every day.

We'd expect a lot of interest from that.

VO: Irita forked out almost double the amount, £280, on her five lots.

What do you reckon, Dyfed?

The rocking horse.

Um, an unusual lot.

Needs a lot of TLC and a lot of luck, really, to sell it, but I think it will go today.

VO: Well, that's the runners and riders then.

Let's see how we get on, shall we?

Why are we both rubbing our hands?

RAJ: Exactly.

I don't know.

Maybe we're rubbing our hands at the thought of all that money that we're going to make.

IRITA: Keep dreaming, Raj.

RAJ: It could be that... IRITA: Keep dreaming.

RAJ: ..OK?

VO: Irita's first to the off.

Her Staffordshire bird's-nest inkwell.

RAJ: Is it porcelain?

IRITA: Yeah.

RAJ: Surprise, surprise.

£20 I'm bid.

On the internet, against the room at 25 bid.

30 is it now?

We're online currently at 25.

And looking for 30 anywhere.

At £25, you finished?

Sold online then.

If there was ever a hammer that... IRITA: ..hurt.

RAJ: Tiny one.

Tiny one.

VO: Quite.

That seemed a bit cheap to me.

Well, it's just a fiver.

DYFED: 20, somebody?

VO: There there.

VO: Raj's big red is up next.

That's a whole lot of bottle!

Good looker, that.

What's it worth?

Give me 50 for it.

£20 away on it, come on.

Must be that, surely.

20 we have.

Thank you, madam.

Start me off in the room... IRITA: Much did you pay?

RAJ: 28.

Come on.

IRITA: Oh, OK. RAJ: We need to get going.

And 30.

And five.

35, madam?

In front, 40.

And five?

£40 I'm bid.

Behind you then.

At £40.

I'll take five anywhere else now.

All done with it at £40?

Are we all done?

45 just in time.

50, madam.

You're out?

At £45 in front now.

50.

Your last chance.

IRITA: I can't believe it.

DYFED: At 45.

RAJ: Yes.

I can't quite believe that because, honestly, I would not have bought that.

I would not have even looked at it.

VO: I bet Raj is glad he did.

Our first success of the day.

Well done.

Yeah.

Well, small profit.

It's good.

I'm glad.

Profit's a profit.

Yeah.

VO: Irita's Victorian child's plate warmer next, with an ancestor of Bugs Bunny on it.

It's just so much fun.

20 to start it, come on.

Surely to goodness that's £20.

IRITA: It's not been a good day... Somewhere.

20 we have, thank you, to start things off.

DYFED: Trading at 25.

RAJ: You're away.

DYFED: Internet bid currently.

At £20.

You finished?

IRITA: Come on.

Anyone?

Away at 20 then.

Aw!

Why is this such hard work?

VO: If it was easy, it wouldn't be a competition.

Right, let's move on.

VO: Raj tries his hand with china now, his pair of cups and saucers.

You stepped in my territory, did you?

RAJ: I did step on your toes, yeah.

It just means I can walk proudly next to you, yeah?

£20 away on those, somebody?

10 then?

RAJ: Maybe not so good.

Gotta be 10 there, surely.

10, we have.

IRITA: Oh, internet bid.

DYFED: Straight in at 10.

Is there 12 now?

RAJ: Come on, 12.

DYFED: Against the room, 12 I'm bid.

RAJ: 14.

DYFED: 14 now?

Come on.

On the internet.

14 back in.

16 I'm bid.

18?

£16... IRITA: You want it.

RAJ: Come on... Come on, come on.

Make it 18.

DYFED: 18 bid.

20.

And five?

£20.

The bid's on the internet at £20.

We're looking for five.

IRITA: Come on, give him a profit.

RAJ: Yeah, we're looking for two!

Let's look for two!

You're finished?

Sold at 20 then.

Teeny loss.

Teeny-weeny loss.

VO: Not walking so proudly now, are we, Raj?

We're not having a great day today, are we?

VO: Well, maybe you can turn things around with that huge dough bin, your most expensive purchase.

My heart rate is through the roof right now.

I don't think I've ever been so worried about anything I've bought.

RAJ: I thought it was because you were sitting next to me.

Sorry.

Got the complete wrong end of the stick there.

50 to start it, come on.

Oh no.

DYFED: 50 we have.

God bless you.

To start things off.

60 bid.

And five is it now?

We're online at £60.

The bid's there.

RAJ: 60.

It's going.

65.

70 is it now?

And five if you like.

Oh, we're so far off.

75.

80.

80 bid.

And five?

I just can't look.

DYFED: 90.

RAJ: Look, it's going up.

Stop it.

90 in the room.

And five?

£90, the lady's bid now.

95 online.

100 now.

IRITA: Come on.

Looking for 110 now.

At £100 it's being sold.

Make no mistake.

110 just in time.

120?

You're out.

IRITA: Oh, I can't watch this.

RAJ: Come on.

DYFED: Sold at 110 then.

Be a big girl...

It was a nice thing.

..take it.

Take it, yeah.

You can take it.

VO: Sadly, that didn't rise to the occasion.

I think that was the first time I've ever bought brown furniture.

I would give it another go.

VO: Raj's turn at furniture now, his 18th century side table.

How much for it?

Give me 50.

Antique table, £50.

20 then.

RAJ: Oh my God.

There must be £20 there, surely to goodness.

There's nothing wrong with that.

There's a man over here wanting to pay 100.

Hey, shh!

Don't push your luck.

£20, we have, thank you.

To start things off in the room.

It's already at £20.

Is there five now?

Maiden bid.

It's all gone quiet all of a sudden.

RAJ: Aw.

DYFED: 25.

Bid 30?

No?

£25, the bid's with the lady.

We're still in the room at £25.

DYFED: 30 if you like now.

RAJ: Go on.

DYFED: That is reasonably priced there.

At £25.

30, your last chance.

Sold at 25.

Medic?

VO: The curse of brown furniture strikes again.

IRITA: Isn't that bonkers?!

You couldn't buy the wood for that money.

Do you wanna see a really sad face?

Go on.

Oh, I quite like that.

You were good.

VO: Let's see if Irita's backed a winner with this next one, that horsey.

RAJ: Do you know something?

IRITA: No.

I think you're gonna romp away with this.

Well loved, Hercules the horse.

Um, what's it worth, 50?

Silence.

30 then?

£30, we have.

Thank you, madam, start me off trading.

She sees the potential there.

At £30.

five if you like, now.

VO: And we're off.

DYFED: £30.

DYFED: The bid's there at £30.

I'll take five.

Anywhere else?

IRITA: No.

DYFED: Sold and away at 30, then.

I got it wrong.

He clearly didn't like it.

I got that wrong.

VO: Fell at the first hurdle.

Poor old thing.

Can this day get any better?

Neigh!

Sorry.

Sorry.

VO: Silly man.

VO: His art nouveau vases are next to go under the hammer.

£40.

Not a bad start there.

RAJ: Beautiful.

IRITA: Straight in at 40.

Lovely.

And being sold, make no mistake.

At 45, just in time there.

50?

50 back in.

And five, sir?

55.

60?

RAJ: Don't lose them now.

Don't lose them now.

DYFED: 55... IRITA: Come on.

DYFED: 60 back in.

And five?

On the internet at £60.

We're looking for...

It's an amazing price for those.

DYFED: You finished?

Sold and away at 60, then.

IRITA: That is good.

Yeah, I'm happy with that.

I'm happy with that.

VO: Another profit for Raj.

That might have just tipped this one in his favor.

Don't get too comfortable, OK?

Just saying.

Hang on, let me enjoy my one minute of profit, OK?

VO: Last chance for Irita.

Is her mannequin dressed for success?

£30.

£30 I've got, thank you, to start things off trading.

35 bid.

40.

And five?

50.

And five?

55 online.

RAJ: Yes!

DYFED: 60?

And five?

IRITA: I've actually made a profit.

DYFED: £60.

We're in the room.

Now it's standing at £60.

65.

70.

And five, either of you?

75.

80, madam?

And five?

IRITA: I feel like I can breathe.

DYFED: 90?

And five.

Now it's just going too far.

DYFED: No?

£95, we're in the room then.

I'll take 100 anywhere else now.

At £95.

You finished?

Your bid, sir.

IRITA: Oh... RAJ: Brilliant.

Well done.

VO: At last, Irita breaks that losing streak.

I'm very, very happy with that.

You should be.

Is that my only profit today?

Nah.

VO: Uh...

Yes, actually.

VO: And finally, Raj's couple of Carter tiles.

Here we go.

What're they worth?

£20 away on 'em, somebody?

Come on.

RAJ: Lovely tiles.

IRITA: Cheap, tenner each.

RAJ: Yeah.

10, then, for the two of them.

10, I got.

12, I'm bid.

14.

That was quick.

DYFED: 18, 20.

And five.

30?

25, we're in the room currently.

I'm looking for 30 anywhere now.

Still cheap.

Still cheap.

Come on.

DYFED: 30, your last chance.

IRITA: Come on.

Sold at 25.

Thank you.

IRITA: He had a bargain.

RAJ: Small profit.

Bargain!

VO: But a result, and that's auction number two done and dusted.

Well after that, I could do with a nice Welsh scone.

Mm, I think I need more than that.

OK, let's go.

VO: Make that two scones for Ms Marriott.

Irita didn't have the best of days today.

After auction costs, she made a loss of £50.40.

DYFED: Thank you.

VO: But Raj fared much better.

He lost less, a mere £1.50 after saleroom fees.

So he wins the second auction and draws level.

But there's three more up for grabs.

IRITA: Well, Raj, you made it.

Well, I tell you what, by the skin of my teeth.

RAJ: But again... IRITA: An auction each.

RAJ: ..another great auction, so brilliant!

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