[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: It's the nation's favorite antiques expert.

Yeah.

Super cool.

How about that.

NARRATOR: Behind the wheel of a classic car.

And a goal to scar Britain for antiques.

The aim, to make the biggest profit at auction.

But it's no mean feat.

There will be worthy winners.

Yes.

NARRATOR: And valiant losers.

Blast it.

NARRATOR: Will it be the high road to glory or the slow road to disaster?

This is the antiques road trip.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Oh Yeah.

Set your sat nav for antiques and start your engines.

It's the beginning of a brand spanking new road trip.

Kicking off their adventure are auctioneer Raj Bisram and dear Margie Cooper.

MARGIE COOPER: It's up it's you and me.

Marge And Raj.

I have been looking forward to this for ages, you know.

NARRATOR: This first time pairing, are prancing around the scenic vistas of the East Sussex countryside.

So we're going to be circling around here for the next week.

Actually I don't think I've been to East Sussex before.

NARRATOR: The French fancy taking them on the antiques array is a 1988 Citroen 2cv in a rather fetching shade of primrose yellow.

Ooh la la.

This is a little French job is it?

It is.

It is a little French job.

Oui, Oui.

NARRATOR: [SPEAKING FRENCH] It looks like it's like it's in a rice pudding.

Yeah, well have you driven one of these before?

No.

RAJ BISRAM: The nickname for them in France is an escargot.

Snail.

But why would you want a car that behaves like a snail.

Well, as long as it doesn't break down.

NARRATOR: Best not to jinx it Margie.

With 200 pounds each and five auctions ahead of them.

The competition starts here.

I think you're competitive.

I'm getting less less competitive As you get older As I get older.

I mean, no doubt about that.

I can see the twinkle in your eyes.

NARRATOR: Blimey, the tactics have started already.

Raj and Margie will motor their little yellow job on a scenic route through the home counties.

First heading North to Buckinghamshire, then down to Kent along the South Coast to Hampshire before ending up at their final auction in Exeter, The first leg of our duo's trip culminates at an auction in Bourne end.

But we start today shopping in the Victorian seaside resort of Eastbourne mine's a 99 with a flake, please.

[MUSIC PLAYING] With Raj, left to fend for himself, Margie has set her sight on the first shop of the trip.

Eastbourne Antique Center has a wide selection from over 20 traders.

Lots to choose from.

Everything's here for the grabs.

You never know.

Oh things you find an antique shops, not for sale.

A lovely work on that.

cocky.

NARRATOR: Keep looking, girl, keep looking.

Oh I this is a Masonic badges.

Masons is a secret society, but they do a lot of charitable work.

These are so beautiful.

They have gilded silver.

This one's probably early 1900s.

Maybe anomaly on that, and the anomaly is very very hard process.

Each different color has to be fired separately.

I mean, they're like little jewels really.

This is rather a nice one.

It says hand of friendship, and then each lodge has a number, a lodge number.

So you know that-- and they all have a badge of office.

I mean, to be honest with you, I don't really know the ins and outs of Masons.

But I know it's quite secret.

I'm always drawn to these.

I just think they're so beautiful.

I think they're just little works of art.

Just look at that.

How could you not like that?

Just beautiful.

So maybe like to buy it, I would maybe like to buy those two as well.

NARRATOR: No price ticket.

We'll leave you to ponder on that one.

Meanwhile let's catch up with Raj.

He's making his way across the county border to West Sussex in Burgess Hill.

[MUSIC PLAYING] The Rocking Horse Emporium is a combination of quirky antiques, vintage paraphernalia, and collectibles.

Plenty of potential me thinks.

But what's Raj sleuthed out?

Kojak and I have something in common.

NARRATOR: A sleuth in pink.

We both like lollipops.

NARRATOR: Very funny.

Move along Telly Savalas.

I love this piece.

I've seen one or two of them before and I've always been attracted to them.

I mean this is what it is is-- it's for an opticians.

It's all these different lenses, they'd have a try on, and you'd be looking at a board.

And inside here, it's got all the little gadgets.

I don't know what they all are used for, but obviously, they're-- I mean, look at that.

I mean, this is fantastic.

This is, I guess, this is what you would put on to start with.

That must help my looks, doesn't it?

Oh, blimey.

NARRATOR: Better, worse?

How about that?

And then you put-- you slip the lenses onto them until you can see properly.

Let's have a look at the price tag NARRATOR: 150 pounds old bean.

Yeah.

I mean this is my first buy.

I can't go spending all my money on the first thing, but I have to say, I think it's lovely.

NARRATOR: Yes, it would.

Let's see what Dealer Sharon thinks.

Sharon, get in focus girl.

I've seen something I like the look of.

All right.

OK. Tell me what can you do it for?

SHARON: Are you going to make an offer?

RAJ BISRAM: I would like to offer 75 pounds.

Oh.

I was thinking around 120.

What about if we split it but in your advantage.

So if we said 100.

I think that's quite fair 100 pounds.

RAJ BISRAM: I think we should shake hands on that.

- OK - OK.

I really love it.

NARRATOR: That's half year 200 pounds budget blown already, but I spy a profit in that.

60, 80, 100, look at that.

NARRATOR: Meanwhile, let's see how Margie is doing back in Eastbourne.

Looking for something.

Coins, don't understand those.

This looks a nice cabinet.

Nicely lit.

I Like that.

Little Georgian snuff box, isn't that nice?

To two Georgian ladies.

Papier mache made of-- so it's made out of paper, press paper.

Can't believe it can you?

And it's survived all those years because this is probably about over 200 years old.

NARRATOR: Papier mache, literally meaning chewed up paper, was once a popular method of creating mass produced decorative objects like this one, during the Georgian and Victorian periods.

Nice item.

Delightful picture on the front.

It's a tiny little mark there.

But what you expect after 200 years.

And it has some French writing.

Underneath which, I don't know, something to do with responding.

Two ladies talking to each other.

So Yeah I like that.

NARRATOR: Me too.

But with no price tag, you'll need to speak to Paul the dealer.

Right.

Paul.

Hello, my dear I quite like that.

The snuff box.

Yeah.

And I'll not just have one because one's no good.

You picked the three nicest ones.

I'd really like to buy those if we can come to some kind of arrangement.

This is, you know, that's a Georgian snuff box.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

French because they've got-- I would have thought-- Do we know what that is?

I can actually.

There's two ladies talking to each other.

And one saying to the other [SPEAKING FRENCH] Yeah, "You should answer him."

Ah!

Hey.

There you go so.

That's good, isn't it?

Bit of a tete-a-tete over the gentleman, isn't it?

I can do the snuff box for 40 pounds.

40?

Well, don't look at me like that.

And I can do this for 20 pounds each.

It's 60 for the three.

That I'm happy with.

Can I lean on you for a little.

I think that's going to fetch 40 to 50 at the auction.

35.

35.

60, 30, 90 quid.

OK. That's a deal.

Thank you, Paul.

Very much indeed.

100 for you.

Thank you.

NARRATOR: That's the Masonic badges for 60 pounds and the papier mache box for 30.

So good work.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Back in Burgess Hill, and Raj has found something else to show Sharon.

[MUSIC PLAYING] What can you tell me about these.

I've been told that this is about 150 years old and sort of made out of banana skin.

RAJ BISRAM: I mean, I have to say.

I mean this looks like wood on the outside, doesn't it?

I mean that looks like wood.

It could be lined with banana skin.

I could be lined, yes I mean that looks-- definitely looks-- I mean it's got age to it, you can see it's got age.

I mean, it's got a bit of damage to it, but I'm sure someone could repair that.

I'd offer you 20 pounds for that one.

You know, I will accept that.

Fantastic.

Thank you so much, Sharon.

You're very welcome.

NARRATOR: A gamble on the model boat and opticians kit means Raj is 120 pounds lighter.

But what does he care he's such a punter.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Meanwhile, Margie has made her way just north of the village of Glynde to the picturesque grounds of the Glyndebourne estate.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Home to the Christie family for over 180 years, the estate has played an important role in the history of opera.

Glyndebourne archivist Julia Airies.

Is here to tell Margie how it all began.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Julia.

Hello, Margie welcome to the organ room at Glyndebourne.

Thank you very much.

So how far does opera go back?

Well opera started in Italy about 1600s.

And then it continued to grow in strength throughout Europe.

But it really didn't take off in this country until probably the 1800s.

[OPERA MUSIC] In those early days, it would very much have been the members of the aristocracy who treated it as an evening entertainment.

It was not something that was rolled out to the masses.

They had their music halls and their local theaters.

Opera was very much London-centric, and it was for the upper classes.

NARRATOR: By the 1900s, there were only ad hoc performances by touring companies outside London.

It was all about just get it on the stage bang, bang, bang.

Singers would turn up often with their favorite own particular favorite piece of costume which they would then wear, stand on the stage, and sing.

There was no rehearsal.

There was no production.

[CLASSICAL MUSIC] NARRATOR: One man keen to change this was, John Christie.

An avid fan of opera, John had been holding small concerts in this very organ room during the 1930s for his friends at one such soiree he met his future wife, soprano Audrey Mildmay.

During their honeymoon at the Salzburg opera festival, inspiration took hold of the duo who returned home with grand ambitions.

Well, John came back full of plans to extend the organ room with a little stage at the far end.

And Audrey realized, over dinner one night, that it was going to be neither one thing nor the other, and she famously said, if you're going to spend all that money, John, for God's sake, do the thing properly.

And did he take notice?

Oh he most certainly did.

He immediately set about designing a purpose-built theater which he put in his vegetable garden.

NARRATOR: Bad luck for the veg, but great news for British opera.

The new 300-seat theater was capable of hosting the quality of opera the Christies had enjoyed on the continent.

JULIA: The first performance was the 28th of May, 1934 performance of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro.

It was a two-week season with Figaro and Cosi fan tutte.

The press comments very much regarded Glyndebourne as the Salzburg of England.

Awful good reviews.

Wonderful reviews and audiences that went away absolutely wowed by the standard of production, the standard of design, and the singing, [OPERA MUSIC] NARRATOR: At the end of the war, Glyndebourne had plans to take opera further than Sussex.

They conceived a regional festival that would rejuvenate the arts in Britain.

With the help of Edinburgh City Council, they hosted the inaugural Edinburgh Festival in 1947.

And at this point every opera house and every concert hall in Europe was pretty much in smithereens.

So all of those orchestras and performers flocked to Edinburgh to come and actually play.

And it was an enormously exuberant event.

And it sort of rippled out very slowly across the country as other small festivals were formed.

Other cities thought, oh, let's have a little bit of that action.

And slowly, slowly, the art form became more widely recognized and more accessible.

[CLASSICAL MUSIC] NARRATOR: The Edinburgh Festival has continued to grow into one of the world's largest arts festivals, all thanks to the pioneering vision of the Glyndebourne opera company.

But how's our songbird Margie at holding a tune?

Ida and Matt from this year's company are here to put her through her paces.

So I thought that we could work on the first race of Voi Che Sapete.

With you, Margie.

So I'm singing a Glyndebourne.

[PIANO MUSIC] [NON-ENGLISH SINGING] Oh, it's easy I can do that.

[LAUGHTER] IDA: (SINGING) La, la, la, la la.

(SINGING) La, la la la la.

Oh, dear, that wasn't very good, was it?

NARRATOR: Well you gave it a jolly good go.

Well I'm clearly not good enough for Glyndebourne am I?

Look at him laughing at me.

And thank you so much.

I'll leave you to your rehearsals.

Thank you Fair well, bye-bye.

NARRATOR: You're a good sport, Margie.

What many thought of as merely a rich man's folly, ended up becoming the spiritual home of British opera which he still enjoyed by thousands today.

[CLASSICAL MUSIC] Back in the Citroen, Raj is headed to Lewes in the South Downs National Park.

I think I've taken a big risk spending so much money in the first shop.

But no pain, no gain as they say.

I'm happy with what I've done.

NARRATOR: I'm glad.

[MUSIC PLAYING] The picture-skew town of Lewes sits on the banks of the River Ouse, and is famed for its ruinous Norman castle.

Set in the heart of the medieval town is Pastorale Antiques, and his second shop of the day.

music [RAGTIME MUSIC] With 80 pounds left, does anything take your fancy?

I am a little bit limited to what I can spend now.

But I spotted something here, a really pretty little bird doorstop.

It's 19th century, so it's an antique.

It's got some age to it, and you can see clearly it's a doorstop here because it's got the wedge.

That would go underneath the door and it would keep the door shut.

And this is what you would see from the inside.

I'm not on ornithologist, but it looks to me like a Kingfisher 22 pounds on the ticket.

NARRATOR: Time to talk turkey with Dealer Tony.

- Tony - Hello Hi.

I found something.

I'd really like that.

Isn't that sweet?

Very pretty.

What's the best you could do on it?

18 cash.

18.

I'm not going to quibble with that.

I think that's very fair indeed.

I love it.

We have a deal, how about that?

NARRATOR: That's another one in the old bag.

I haven't finished though.

I'm going to keep looking.

Give me a shout, if you need.

Yep.

I mean, this is rather nice.

This is a arts and crafts copper trivet, but I mean, you could use that actually for all sorts of things.

But you know a trivet was put next to the fire and you put something hot basically that was that you cook on the fire, and you put it on top of here.

And I think that's rather attractive.

NARRATOR: Ticket price is 35 pounds.

It's just a little bit dirty, but all cleaned up with look lovely.

NARRATOR: Yes indeed.

Tony you're needed once more.

I'd like to talk to you about this.

I rather like it.

It's priced up at 35.

What's the best you could do on it?

TONY: 30.

RAJ BISRAM: I was thinking 25, to be honest.

As long as it's cash.

I'll make sure it's cash then.

You happy?

I'm happy.

You sure?

Always happy with cash.

Brilliant.

NARRATOR: 18 pounds on the doorstop and 25 on the copper trivet.

Great work.

[MUSIC PLAYING] With today's shopping complete, how's the mood in the Citroen?

Aim for small profits, Raj.

Don't start trying to have a big ones.

No, no.

Listen, I'll tell you what, any profit will do.

Any profit will do.

[LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: Oh, don't be so pessimistic, Raj.

Tomorrow's a brand new day.

Nighty night you two.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Morning has broken and we're back on the road.

After a hearty breakfast, it's time for our second day antiquing.

I found something yesterday, which I spent half.

Half Half of my money on it.

On one item?

Yeah.

I took a real gamble.

The biggest clue I can say is that you will see what it is.

MARGIE COOPER: An optical thing.

I can't say anymore.

I'm not saying any more.

NARRATOR: I think you said too much already, Raj.

Yesterday as well as a trip to the opera, Margie bought a papier mache box and three Masonic badges.

Leaving 110 pounds for the day ahead.

Raj, however, bagged himself the opticians kit which is really good.

The model boat, the doorstop, and the copper trivet.

Meaning he has just 37 pounds left.

Raj, I think this car was in a Bond movie with Roger Moore.

Yeah for your eyes only.

That's it.

That's the one.

Let me see, there's a switch here.

I wonder if this is the ejector seat.

[LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: With Raj carefully ejected, it's a short trip east for Margie, to the market town of Hailsham.

With a healthy balance of 110 pounds, she's visiting Antiques Ah, here we are.

NARRATOR: In the search of all sorts of antiques.

[RAGTIME MUSIC] There really are all sorts in here.

Oh my goodness look at this.

This is some kind of hunting horn, isn't it?

And it's old, looks like Edwardian.

Brass chrome end.

Really nice thing.

Seeing loads of hunting horns, but I've never seen one like that.

That is so rare, and so nice.

You ready?

Let's see what happens.

NARRATOR: At least You don't have to sing.

[HORN BLOWS] That would be two commands to the dogs, they'll be trained, won't They NARRATOR: But at 225 it's a bit out of your price range.

I love it.

I'm going to play it again.

[HORN BLOWS] [LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: It's quite enough of that.

Talk about blowing your own trumpet.

[MUSIC PLAYING] You won't be doing much sewing with that.

Come on.

Focus, Margie.

MARGIE COOPER: You don't always look up in antique shops.

That looks interesting doesn't it like a pond yacht.

I wonder what the story is.

Is it hand-made, is it homemade?

NARRATOR: Looks like shed work to me.

These homemade pond yachts can be quite collectible.

Time to talk to Alexa.

Tell me a story about this.

It is handmade by someone.

I don't think it was a kit.

I think it was completely scratch-built.

And it's very heavy because of the radio control gear that's inside it.

So I'm going to get someone stronger than us to lift it down.

Right.

Michael.

NARRATOR: Michael.

Here comes the muscle.

Can you get it down?

Ooh.

Perhaps just put it on the floor, shall we?

Thank you very much.

Oh, careful.

These pond yachts can be quite interesting.

Oh look.

There's the equipment battery.

But I believe there would have been sails which-- - Yeah, obviously.

- --which aren't with it.

MARGIE COOPER: Which are redundant now.

So how much is that, Alexa?

Well, it's got 95 on the price label, but be willing to go down to 50.

But I saw it.

I thought if I could buy that for 40 I'll have it.

[LAUGHTER] Nervous laugh.

[LAUGHTER] Would you go up to 45?

OK, I'm going to buy that.

Perfect.

Thank you.

And I hope there's a good wind behind me.

[LAUGHTER] Thank you.

NARRATOR: I bet a good wind is what we all need.

But before you set sail, has anything else caught your eye?

Ah, Well, I buy these every now and then, and they sometimes do OK.

It's a little Chinese silver miniature.

Oh, and there's a little person inside.

So the standard is about 800, whereas British standards 95.

But it really doesn't matter in this case.

And I have actually had success with these before.

It all depends on which it is.

So, Alexa, how much is that?

ALEXA: Well, it's got 95 on the ticket.

But because it's you, I'll go down to 50.

All right.

So let me just think.

So if I bought the two, 90 pounds do it?

Yeah, 90 is fine, - OK.

It's a deal.

Thank you very much indeed.

NARRATOR: She's good at this 45 pounds each then for the pond yacht and the Chinese silver miniature.

Well done.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Elsewhere, Raj has made his way North to the small market town of Heathfield to learn about the ancient craft of wooden wheel making from master Wheelwright, Douglas Andrews.

Hello there?

Hello.

I'm Raj.

I'm Doug.

Nice to meet you.

NARRATOR: Often credited as the hallmark of man's innovation, the origins of the wheel date back to prehistoric times, when Stone Age man is believed to have used a Rolling Stone or around log to move heavy objects.

But it wasn't until the invention of the fully formed wheel that things really started moving.

The earliest wheels, created by the wheelwright were planks of wood jointed together and shaped.

Although rudimentary in design, it was a pivotal moment in history.

But despite the great innovation the early wheels had a major flaw.

The main problem with making a wheel out of one plank is that the grain is all going in one direction.

And if you run over something that looks like a wedge, at a certain point, it can split your wheel in two pieces basically.

How did the wheel progress?

There's always a progression in making wheels to make them lighter and yet be really strong.

So when the Iron Age came about, and iron started to be added to wooden wheels to stop them wearing out in the bearing and around the tire and to hold the wheel together, the wheel became much stronger for its weight.

A weight to strength ratio they got better.

NARRATOR: Thanks to the added support from the metalwork, craftsmen could replace the solid wooden planks with three smaller components all of which were carefully crafted by a new generation of wheelwrights.

Well we developed a hub.

Into the hub were set spokes, and it should be driven in there dead tight.

So we've got longitudinal grain which is very good at bearing weight, and then the rim parts here the grain is coming this way around.

So it's less likely to split.

RAJ BISRAM: What type of wood are these made of?

The hub is made out of Elm because it doesn't split easily.

The spokes are made out of oak because it's very strong and the compression.

And the rim parts of the wheel these are made out of ash because it's springy, and it's able to absorb the shock from the road between the two points where it's supported by the spokes.

I mean how many wheelwrights are there actually in the country today?

I think there's about 25 or so.

RAJ BISRAM: That's a very small amount considering going back in time, there must have been a hell of a lot of wheelwrights around the country.

Every village had a wheelwright, and they were mostly really repairing things.

Around about the turn of the century, there were massive factories mass producing wheels.

And when they're done a bit of work, then the village shops took over and repainted them and repaired them.

And I think that was really probably the height of the wheelwrights time.

NARRATOR: The heyday of the wheel rights was short lived, however.

By the 1920s the motorcar industry was fast growing and despite early cars using wooden wheels, they were soon replaced by metal resulting in a fall in demand for the skilled craftsmen.

I noticed that you're in the process here of making a wheel.

Can I have a little go?

You can chop the corners out of these mortices.

OK well.

It's been drilled here.

OK so what should I'll be doing?

This tool is a buzz.

There you go.

Don't cut yourself.

3 No.

OK.

So I just whack it?

Whack it NARRATOR: Whack it, Mind your hand.

You'd think with all this practice with the gavel, Raj would be a natural.

Have I got it in me to be a wheelwright?

No.

- No.

I'll stick to the day job.

[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: I wonder how much she's getting on in our French classic.

Don't like the way this car is driving at the moment.

It's resisting me.

I just hope we get to the shop before catastrophe.

NARRATOR: Fingers crossed for you then, girl.

The next and final stop before the auction for both Raj and Margie is the seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea.

[MUSIC PLAYING] They're heading to Eras of Style.

A large shop full of antiques and vintage wares all set in a disused train station.

First to arrive is Margie.

Mind the gap.

But with only 20 pounds left, can she find one last bargain?

Let's see what's in here.

Oh my goodness, what is this?

I wonder who made that?

Somebody who loves the royal tournament obviously.

There's a handle.

Here we go.

Here you go the ground oh, always falling off a cliff.

Oh my goodness, look.

Oh this is got.

Oh look, how many more?

Oh my goodness.

Play for hours with this.

Oh isn't that brilliant.

That's been made by an amateur.

It looks like 1950s.

And I reckon, all right now look as though the are going to move.

This one has-- yeah there's another handle.

Let me just get in.

There we go.

But the drawback with that is I can't watch them go around.

So I'm going to that one.

It's brilliant absolutely amazing.

And there's a ticket on it 750 pounds.

NARRATOR: A bit out of your price range, I'm afraid.

Marching in now is our very own toy soldier quick march, left, right, left, right.

We just 37 pounds left to spend what can he find?

These are unusual I mean their scales, and but what's unusual about them is that they've got a mirror.

I don't think I've ever seen a set like this.

They've actually got a mirror so I guess, you would stand on the top of these and you'd be able to see because you can't see how much they weigh.

So if we put them on the floor, God, that's heavy.

NARRATOR: Don't put you back out And put them down there.

If I stand on these, I should be able to see how much I weigh.

I mean these scales might be out though.

They are very old.

So if there's anything above 13 stone they can't be working properly.

NARRATOR: Moment of truth.

Now isn't that interesting.

I can't see a thing.

NARRATOR: This might be a two man job.

Best call for help.

Andy Yes, Raj, how can I help?

God, I'm taller than you.

These scales.

Yes.

Very unusual.

Yeah But I believe that the mirror is in the wrong place.

Yeah I think it's missing a chain, Raj, to the side.

It would have had a little-- little chain holding it up there to the mechanism there That makes sense.

You can see something.

Yeah then you can see how much you weigh.

- Yeah.

- Can you just hold it a second?

- Sure.

- Because I normally am-- I weigh about 13 stone.

6 stones.

NARRATOR: He's pulling your leg, Raj.

It must be the shoes.

It can only be the shoes.

Andy, they don't have actually a price ticket on them.

No I'll do those for 40, Raj.

Even without a chain?

I think so, yeah.

Well, I'd offer you 25.

I'll tell you what let's go 30.

I think that's fair enough.

I like them, they're different, but they're fun.

Thank you very much indeed.

Look at that.

I've got 7 pounds left.

NARRATOR: Raj is all bought up.

ANDY: Thank you very much.

NARRATOR: Five fabulous items in the bag, one considerably lighter wallet.

Try weighing yourself now old bean.

Now, let's catch up with Margie.

[MUSIC PLAYING] What is he doing?

NARRATOR: Making himself comfortable by the look of it.

Little Sleeping Beauty.

He's exhausted, bless him.

Oy.

What are you doing?

Waiting for you.

You got here before me, and I've done all my buying and I mean, there's nothing else to do.

That's the woman's prerogative.

Why are you slow?

That is a woman's prerogative.

I've been working.

I've been searching for things to beat you.

Could you find a blanket?

[LAUGHTER] Are you done now?

Nearly.

I can see what this trip is going to be like, isn't it?

I'm going to be hanging around for you all the time.

I won't be long.

I shall be here when you come back.

NARRATOR: Best leave him to his nap.

That's very reassuring Back to work Margie.

How about an ale glass?

Let's Have a look at that one.

These are lovely aren't they I'm blown.

Hand-cut.

Victorian, could be late Georgian.

NARRATOR: Traditional ale glasses are distinguished by their shorter stems and wide feet.

The ale drank from such vessels like this would have been much stronger than today's tipple, meaning it came in smaller measures.

It's 38.

I wonder if they'll take 20 for it.

Got a nice foot and good neck.

Victorian one I think.

It's nice.

Handsome.

NARRATOR: Now let's see if Jenna is in a generous mood.

Now, This is a big ask.

A big ask.

That's all I've got left, and the ticket says a bit more.

Let's have a look.

MARGIE COOPER: Decide your going to buy it or not?

I think we can do that for you, Margie.

Thank you very much indeed.

Almost a 50% discount very generous.

The ale glass for 20 pounds is her fifth and final purchase of the leg.

Time to wake up Sleeping Beauty and hit the road.

[MUSIC PLAYING] I think we're going to have a fantastic week.

I'm really looking for-- NARRATOR: Uh-oh, that sounds like trouble.

Something definitely wrong with this car.

Do you want me to go and have a look?

I think.

Could You?

Yeah, of course, of course.

Oh, dear, oh dear.

[MUSIC PLAYING] [NON-ENGLISH SINGING] Yeah, Margie, it's this wheel.

Is it?

- Yeah.

Oh, no.

We're going to have to walk to the station.

Oh, flippin' hat it was all going so well.

NARRATOR: At least the escargot got you this far.

I think that that was the nearest town that way?

NARRATOR: Isn't the auction the other way?

Best of luck, eh?

I hope you get some shut eye.

[MUSIC PLAYING] It's auction day.

Welcome to the village of Bourne End, on the banks of the River Thames.

And at one time home to children's author, Enid Blyton.

Lashings of ginger beer chaps.

RAJ BISRAM: Well, Margie.

MARGIE COOPER: Yeah.

RAJ BISRAM: Our first auction.

How are you feeling?

I'm almost a bit anxious.

You?

Yeah.

I'm a little bit anxious.

I normally go a little bit pale.

[LAUGHTER] Can you not tell?

NARRATOR: Confidence is key, guys.

After starting out in Eastbourne our dynamic duo have traversed much of East Sussex before arriving in Buckinghamshire.

Today's auction is being held here at Bourne end auction rooms.

On this outing, Margie bought five lots spending all of her 200 pounds budget.

Whilst Raj also picked up 5 lots spending a little less at 193 pounds.

[MUSIC PLAYING] But what did they make of each other's purchases?

Is this yours?

Is this yours?

It is, and mine is bigger than yours.

Yeah mine is bigger than yours.

Well, they say great minds think alike, don't they?

Absolutely.

How strange.

And also, look how close we are to the river?

But to be honest, I think your boat, that's definitely a Thames, but it's more you, Margie, isn't it?

It is I can see you sitting in the back having me serve you drinks.

You'd love that, wouldn't you?

Well let's hope we both sail off into the sunset.

NARRATOR: Best of luck, guys.

It's the room 25.

NARRATOR: 25.

The man behind the rostrum today is Hugo Lemon.

What does he think of our experts items?

22.

Victorian now glass it may be Victorian maybe slightly later, but either way it's a good quality glass.

Although it was made for ale, it will be used for wine today.

It always makes your wine taste that little bit better coming out of a good glass.

The opticians cabinet, very different, it's great that it's so complete.

Not everyone's cup of tea.

But it's quirky.

And quirky sells.

It's just different and great fun.

NARRATOR: Today, Hugo will be selling to buyers in the room on the phone and online.

So time to take your seats.

Hello 90.

Right about to start.

20 pounds on bid on commission-- Exciting isn't it?

It is.

NARRATOR: Here we go.

First up is Margie's papier mache box.

It's interesting, and I think you can pay a huge amount of money for it.

To start me off how about 30 pounds for it.

[AUCTIONEER CHANT] main bid at 32 pounds or 30 pounds-- Oh no AUCTIONEER: 30 pounds.

All done.

Last chance.

All done.

NARRATOR: Could have be worse.

You got your money back.

Well, it's better than the loss.

It's better than a loss.

NARRATOR: Next up is Raj's mirrored scales.

The reason I believe these is because I have never ever seen a set of scales that had an adjustable mirror.

Rather different there.

20 pounds for them.

10?

They're going to be in the back of the barn these.

Oh, you've sold them.

12 anywhere at 10 pounds on bid.

12, and 14, and 16, and 16.

And 18.

16 pounds, and are you all done at 16.

No, no, no Last chance at 16.

NARRATOR: Not the best of starts.

Oh, now be big glad be happy.

Yeah I'm happy.

NARRATOR: Will it be plain sailing for Margie's pond yacht.

We've got the perfect place.

If they don't like boats around here, where are they going to like boats.

I know.

Have 50 on bid thank you and 4 I'll take.

55 on bid and 5 and 60 and 5, 65 pounds on bid-- Oh come on.

AUCTIONEER: -- 65 pounds and 70.

I'll take.

Could do with a bit more.

And 70 now.

Here we go, come on.

come on, come on.

At 70 pounds now and 5 I'll take, selling them at 70.

NARRATOR: First profit of the day.

Well done, Margie.

Not bad.

Profit.

Not bad, I think that's not a bad.

NARRATOR: Time to see if Raj's model boat can do any better.

It's broken as well.

It's going to need someone who's passionate about banana boats.

Have 20 on bid, thank you, and 3 I'll take and 22 now.

25, 27, and 30.

32, 35, 37, And 40.

42.

That's a good price AUCTIONEER: At 42 pounds and I'm going to sell at 42.

Well done.

All done then at 42 pounds.

NARRATOR: It sailed to a profit.

Good job That's good.

Yeah.

NARRATOR: Next up, Margie's Chinese silver miniature.

Lot 141.

140 sorry.

You reckon he wanted to skip it?

30 to get away.

To everyone now at 30, 30 on bid.

32, 32, 35, 35, 37, and 40, 42, 45, 47, and 50 and 50, and 5 and 60, and 5.

I had 60 pounds in the room, 5 I'll take it.

Nice.

Go on, go on, go on.

All done then at 60.

NARRATOR: Another good profit for Margie.

That's good news.

Let's put a smile on your face.

Good.

NARRATOR: Will your next lot leave you smiling, Raj?

the copper trivet.

A Trivet.

Trivet to you too.

20, 20 on bid.

Oh, you got 20.

22, 25.

Oh.

And now 27 on commission, 27 and 30 now.

32 now last minute 32, 35.

And all done at 32.

NARRATOR: Not the biggest, but a profit's a profit.

Well done.

It was a small profit, but I didn't it was going to make it.

NARRATOR: Now, how will Margie's Masonic badges do?

Why don't we try a little handshake?

Oh, Free Masons.

Do you know that?

- Did get that one?

- Yeah.

- Did you get it?

- I know it.

- Good.

At 20 on bid.

Thank you.

And 2 I'll take.

22, 22, 25, 25, 27, and 30.

It's a long way to go.

At 32-- Oh No.

32.

All done then at 32.

NARRATOR: Margie's first loss chin up.

Oh my gosh.

Don't panic.

I am panicking.

Don't panic?

Don't panic, Mr. Mainwaring.

OK?

[LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: Next item under the hammer is Raj's doorstop.

It's you're little bird.

Tweet, tweet.

At 10 pounds on bid and 12 and 14 and then 16, 16, and 18.

Yeah, come on one more.

All done then at 16.

NARRATOR: That went cheap, cheap, cheap.

Oh, that's a shame.

I thought that would have made 30 quid.

NARRATOR: Margie's last lot next.

The Victorian ale glass.

It's quite nice.

It's got a bit of age.

50.

50 on bid, thank you.

And 5 and 5 and 60 and 5 at 60 pounds on bid and five I'll take.

At 60 pounds on bid.

Wow.

Well, that's good news.

Are you all done at 60?

Raise a glass to a great success.

That is really good.

Well done.

That is Brilliant.

40 quid.

You got 40 pounds.

Just for that.

Yeah it's Brilliant.

NARRATOR: Right.

Raj's opticians kit.

The auctioneer had high hopes for this.

You're big one coming up, Well this was my big gamble.

Isn't this our lucky shirt?

Well, I'll tell you what, if this doesn't do, it nothing will.

150 on bid, thank you, 150 on bid.

Well done.

160, 170, 180, 190.

Oh well done, AUCTIONEER: 200, 220.

Oh my goodness.

AUCTIONEER: 240.

260.

280.

And 300 320.

Oh that's enough now.

AUCTIONEER: 340, 360, at 360, 380.

380.

380.

Wow.

AUCTIONEER: I'll sell then at 380 pounds all done?

380.

Well that is amazing.

The lucky shirt-- The lucky shirt.

--paid off.

NARRATOR: Well, I didn't see that coming.

An incredible end to the day.

Coffee is on you, I think.

Definitely.

Coffee and lunch.

- Can I have a cake?

- You can have a cake as well.

Oh, my God.

I can have a cake.

Come on let's go.

NARRATOR: Time to crunch the numbers.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Margie started with 200 pounds and off auction costs made a small profit leaving her with 206 pounds and 64 pence to spend on the next leg.

Raj started with the same sum but made a super profit.

After sale room fees is deducted, he has more than doubled his starting kitty.

He now has 405 pounds and 52 pence.

Well done that man.

Well.

Wasn't that exciting?

It was.

I mean I know, you know, you think I did well, but you also, you wiped your face didn't you?

I did not wipe my face.

I've made 6 pounds.

Well, there you go.

Even better.

And you set the bar now.

Exactly.

You have set the bar.

The fight is on.

Absolutely.

NARRATOR: One down, four to go.

[MUSIC PLAYING]