[CAR NOISE] NARRATOR: It's the nation's favorite antiques expert.

Yeah!

Super cool.

How about that.

NARRATOR: Behind the wheel of a classic car, and the goal to scout Britain for antiques.

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

There'll be worthy winners.

Yes NARRATOR: And valiant losers.

Bastard.

NARRATOR: Will it be the high road to glory?

Or the slow road to disaster?

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Look at that, hey.

[INAUDIBLE],, that's good morning, Wales, by the way.

Looking nice, isn't it?

It's a lot of Wales, it is just gorgeous.

But it gets too much rain I think.

Well, I'm from the Lake District so-- Oh To me it's quite dry.

NARRATOR: Also in fine fettle are our experts, debutante Stephanie Connell, and veteran, Charlie Rose.

Sun is out, the sky is blue , and here am I stuck in here with you.

Are you feeling romantic?

No.

I thought I'd ask?

NARRATOR: Great, they're far too busy for a canoodle, so many new challenges to face.

Do you know anyone Welsh at all?

Nigh.

Is that why I should-- Nigh.

Do you know anyone Charlie?

I do like a bit of Dylan Thomas.

Are you going to recite some?

[INAUDIBLE] There's a character then Under Milk Wood.

NARRATOR: Charlie is an auctioneer and music enthusiast.

(VOCALIZING) NARRATOR: With a nose for a fine antique.

It smells fabulous.

NARRATOR: Well Steve from Surrey.

Hey, don't do that.

NARRATOR: A top auctioneer turned dealer.

Very New York, or Chicago.

NARRATOR: Is much more 20th century, like their 1960s Hillman [INAUDIBLE] She lovely, isn't it?

It is.

And you started making money.

I started making money?

- Miss Connell - I am out.

You got the hang of it now.

I nearly got back to where I began with so that's good.

NARRATOR: Began with that sounds worse too.

Steph who set out with 200 pounds now has 193 pounds and 66 PE, while Charlie who started with the same sum boasts an enormous 417 pounds and 66.

You're like Rockefeller, you've got loads of money.

Rockefeller, and you are Cinderella.

You're going in and buying van golfs, and I'm going in and negotiating what have you got for a fiver.

NARRATOR: They kicked off in Kent, and thoroughly explored that County before venturing both North and West.

Then they journeyed through the middle of England towards the Cotswolds, and now South Wales.

Eventually, they'll swing back east before finally finishing journey's end in the Midlands at Market Harbo.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Later, they'll be making their way to an auction in Worcestershire at Middle Littleton Club, but their first stop is in Cardiff, bay city and capital of Wales.

Motto, the red dragon will lead the way.

[MUSIC PLAYING] And bang on cue, the blue minx.

Look, here we are, the pumping station.

I'm going to go.

NARRATOR: He can't contain himself.

I'm not waiting for you.

NARRATOR: Looks like Charlie's motto is devil take the hindmost.

I shouldn't worry though Steph, this place is enormous.

There's more than enough to go around.

Oh, NARRATOR: Charlie careful, don't get too close.

[MUSIC PLAYING] I spotted something really fun is to pop Skittles game.

It's got a label on this end, which says it was manufactured by Gilesports depots, who were based in Newport and in Cardiff.

So it was made in Wales, not only is it kind of quite a stylish thing in its own way, but it's fun and you could play it, and it's actually usable.

So I just do this.

Yay, that was a good one.

NARRATOR: Not bad, but you're supposed to serve around the pole.

And then you just put them back up again.

NARRATOR: Sorry Steph, but we can't pass up this opportunity to savor your astonishing innings at bat and trap.

Now, once more in action replay.

Well worth it.

Oh, my nose.

NARRATOR: OK, let's talk to dealer Bob.

So it's priced at 75 pounds, what's the very, very best?

I'll give you one price on it because I think it's worth 35 pounds, that is the one and only price.

OK, 35 pounds, it's a deal.

NARRATOR: I should think so too.

Oh, now look who's turned up.

What do you got there?

Hello, well, you can't have it because I've already bought it.

- You bought it.

- I bought it.

Do you want to get in it?

How do you play it?

Let's have a look.

Oh, oh, I've won.

What an absolute cheat.

NARRATOR: Didn't seem strictly within the rules, did it?

Never mind.

Time to pull your finger out, it's not as if he's short of a Bob or two.

Gold secret from Roscoe's find something without a price tag on it.

1870 London apostle sifting spoon, apostle spoon because it has one of the Apostles on the top, hence the name.

There are 13 symbolizing the Last Supper.

That might be Peter.

It's well marked, London 1870, so it's truly Victorian.

We have Victoria's head on there.

Well, the cabinet belongs to somebody called Steve, but he hasn't put a price on it.

So there's always a chance I suspect he's asking 65, and I want to pay 30.

How about that?

Should we go and find out?

NARRATOR: Courtesy of the delightful digits of shopkeeper Sue.

OK, Charlie.

Thank you.

Hello?

Hello, good morning.

How are you?

And there's a sifting spoon, and it hasn't got a price on it.

Would you take 30 pounds cash off an old man?

Can you trim it just a little bit, I'm within a gnat's whisker of buying this.

That's very kind of you, 35 pounds lovely.

Well, we've got a deal.

Thank you on behalf of [INAUDIBLE] OK. Can I put that on one side?

Yes, you certainly can.

I'll go and find something else.

NARRATOR: He's also off to a good start.

Oh, wow.

NARRATOR: Meanwhile Steph's persuaded Bob to let her have a rummage in his storage, no go zone.

You'll see 500 paintings at least.

Oh, really?

OK, right.

Well, I'll go and have a dig around.

And the books there's like 1,000 books, and there's probably 500 records there.

NARRATOR: Sounds like she's going to have her hands full.

I'll pick up.

NARRATOR: Quite dusty too.

Back to Charlie.

Aren't those nice clean cabinets?

I've seen a scent bottle in here.

In fact, there are two.

It's a pair of scent bottle.

Well, I assume they're a pair.

They've got I'm hoping Hallmark silver tops.

Yes, London WC, William Cummins made a lot of photograph frames.

There go, open up the top.

And there is no stopper.

That's a serious problem.

But you can get a stopper made, but it's quite expensive.

I like the hob nail cut, you can see the way these are cut, it's nice.

Sue, may I borrow you?

Yeah, what do you want Charlie?

Well, I'm just looking at this, which is lovely.

There are two in the same cabinet here, 60 pounds each.

Now, do you know how long they've been nestling in this cabinet for?

Not really.

No.

It's always a cheeky-- How about then I say yesterday?

Cheeky, oh yes, yes, NARRATOR: Prepare to gird.

What can you do?

Shall we say 40 pounds each?

Gosh, do you think we could just tweak them just a little bit, 75?

Go on then, I think we can just about do that.

Let me have a hand.

B a hand.

NARRATOR: It's one shake after another in here.

Now, what's Steph unearthed?

I found something really very nice.

It is a English channel nautical map.

I don't know exactly what all the information relates to, but it does have a lot of places that we've been so far on this road trip.

It's got all the different places in Kent that we've been, London, and then coming out to here.

Now, some of the facts that it says on the map, dangerous area, vessels entering do so at their peril.

It was printed in 1936.

So it's pre-war.

So obviously when they made this map they had no idea that this kind of information, I guess during the war would have been hugely important.

It's got no price on it.

I've got no idea how much it is.

NARRATOR: Well, I'm sure Bob can help you out there.

I found in your secret cubby hole of items this English Channel and Western Approaches map.

What is your best price?

Right, that would be 25 pounds.

25 pounds, it's a deal at 25.

That's great, thank you very much.

Let me give you some money.

NARRATOR: Time to pay up, Charlie too.

75.

75.

- 35.

- Correct.

Makes.

110.

Oh, you're a natural mathematician.

110.

Marvelous, thank you very much.

Thank you very much indeed.

NARRATOR: So with the mighty till replete, it looks like our two are almost done, almost.

Oh these are sweet.

NARRATOR: Hang on.

Oh I like these.

What these are, are a pair of cloisonne vases.

Cloisonne is enameled metal.

So in this case, you can see underneath if you have a look that they are metal on the base, metal on the rim, all this threading here, will be metal, and then the enamel is overlaid onto it to make this detailed floral pattern.

They're nice usable decorative.

Now with cloisonne it often does get damaged so it's always best to look at condition.

Yeah, this one's got a little bit of loss to its enamel work here.

It's obviously been dropped on the floor or taken little bashes some time.

And it's also got a little bit of a bash there.

The other one actually seems to be in pretty good condition.

So that's good.

Now, how much are they is the question?

Oh gosh, they're 12 pounds, a bit of a bargain.

So I'm definitely going to take them at 12.

I'll go and pay for them.

NARRATOR: Well, that really was one hell of a shop.

What sort of time is this for goodness sake?

Someone's in a rush today.

We've got to get on with it.

Yeah, all right.

NARRATOR: He's right of course.

Tight schedule as always.

Miss Connell take me to heaven.

Or take you to Newport.

NARRATOR: I think the latter Steph.

Much closer for a start.

The next shop is in Pontypool, up in the valleys.

But they're going via the nearest city, and this amazing structure.

[MUSIC PLAYING] I think in neutral, handbrake on, pray.

NARRATOR: The Newport transporter bridge.

What a wonderful way to cross a river.

Did you feel us move?

Yeah.

Did it move for you Steph?

It did.

Oh, this is wonderful.

The bridge over the River Usk is effectively part bridge and part ferry.

A Gondola, attached to rails running between two enormous steel towers.

Have you ever bring up the Eiffel Tower?

No.

I tried once, I got about four or six steps up and walk down again.

Oh, dear.

NARRATOR: Yes, Charlie is not great with heights.

But he's the one who's about to take a closer look.

Thanks very much.

There you go.

Don't buy anything too good.

I've been doing a good job so far.

Have a good time.

Bye.

NARRATOR: Now time to find out more about this incredible feat of engineering.

Looks rather high Mike.

NARRATOR: In the company of Newport council's Mike Lewis.

They started considering ways of crossing the Usk at the end of the 19th century.

Whatever was built had to provide enough headroom for tall sailing ships of the day to cross underneath safely, so traditional bridge would need an enormous approach around probably starting in Cardiff.

And the borough engineer Robert Haynes became aware of these new transport bridges that we're beginning to be built at the end of the 19th century thought this was like a cost effective solution for Newport.

NARRATOR: The counselors traveled to Rouen to see this bridge, the work of French engineer Ferdinand Arnodin.

He was soon hired to design a crossing for the Usk.

It took six years to build, cost 98,000 pounds, almost 11 and 1/2 million in today's money.

And was opened in 1906.

CHARLIE: Here we have the engine room.

This is where it all happens.

It's basically a long cable that goes to the far end of the bridge that pulls the Gondola one way.

CHARLIE: Yes.

And then a shorter cable pulls it back the other way.

Very, very simple piece of technology.

NARRATOR: The 92nd ride on the transporter bridge was essential to the Newport economy.

It meant that a steelworks could be built and the workers safely commute.

Several ferry crossings had already proved fatal Thanks to the extreme tides of the Usk.

It gets very high, almost lapping the top of these foundation stones.

CHARLIE: Really?

Even the bottom of the Gondola skips along the water at very, very high tide.

Gosh.

Are there many ships to go up and down here?

Not any longer.

But back in 1906 a lot of the port infrastructure was still upstream of where we are today, the ships moved up to the center of the town up until the 1980s.

Really?

CHARLIE: How high is it?

MIKE LEWIS: It's 54 meters above the high water level.

NARRATOR: Unfortunately, the Gondola which can carry just six cars was never ideally suited to the rise of the automobile, and Newport eventually built more crossings.

How many steps as you said there were?

278.

I thought 24.

NARRATOR: Nowadays the grade 1 listed structure, one of a handful of transporter bridge is still in use worldwide is primarily a tourist attraction.

And unluckily for our correspondent you're allowed to walk across the top.

Sunny side up.

MIKE LEWIS: Mind your step.

CHARLIE: I'm minding everything, oh, my.

MIKE LEWIS: Yeah.

NARRATOR: Come on Charlie, some people would pay a fortune for those sort of thrills.

Mike was this century box here?

Oh, this is the toilet for the people working on the bridge.

Toilet up here?

A toilet with running water 54 meters below.

CHARLIE: Well, it's just a whole?

It is just a hole in a plank.

Now.

NARRATOR: Keep going, don't look down.

Now, after all that high anxiety let's get back to Steph.

Keeping things nicely, oh, grounded.

Remember, she was headed north towards Pontypool, famous for its front row.

Not sure Steph's much of a rugby fan though.

Roofrack Ragamuffins, promising.

- Hello there.

- Hi.

Hi, I'm Steph.

I'm Alan, pleased to meet you.

I've noticed you've got lots and lots of luggage and loads of different amazing looking suitcases.

Yeah, it is a passion.

Yeah?

They do call me Mr. suitcase.

NARRATOR: Well, I'm going to stick with Alan.

Anyway, this place could suit our Steph all right.

Just over 120 pounds left to spend, anything you'd like to recommend Alan?

OK, here we have it's a food flask.

That was a vision of a Vulcan bomber, so it's for the flight crew.

So it's like a like a big thermos.

This is glass lined and it's got three stainless steel.

Tubs inside if the crew would have their food in.

NARRATOR: Sounds logical captain.

So they just left it.

Oh, that's really nice.

NARRATOR: Vulcan bombers were once Britain's airborne nuclear deterrent.

Really cool, I like that a lot.

How much is that?

That one is, 35 on that.

You can still use this it today.

Yeah, I guess you could put your picnic in there, your dinner party in there, you could put whatever you like.

Your noodles in there something like that.

NARRATOR: Well, it's a food for thought.

Anything even quirkier than a bomber's lunch?

I don't know what that is.

Oh, it's obviously [INAUDIBLE] dentistry.

It says on the top the Amalgamated Dental Company Limited made in England.

Looks to be a foot pump.

I really don't know what this is.

I'm going to have to ask Alan.

Alan can you help me?

What exactly is this thing?

And this one seems quite barbaric because it's-- it's actually a foot pump for a dentist drill.

So if you can imagine if he's drilling new teeth, and all of a sudden the pump starts to run down to pump up the pressure again so he could carry on drilling your teeth.

STEPHANIE: No.

ALAN: Yeah.

STEPHANIE: That's scary.

This was in actual use 70 years ago.

We bought it locally, the chap was a dentist.

And he actually used this on a regular basis.

STEPHANIE: How much is it?

This is 50.

Is it?

How would you put a price on something so quirky?

It's true, It's tricky, isn't it?

NARRATOR: Maybe just a bit too niche for Steph's purposes.

Back to the flask, do we think?

It's 35 pounds.

I'd really like to take it, but what is your best, best, best price?

We've had that a little while, so I could probably do 20.

Oh, OK, great 20 then I'll take it I think.

Let's-- lovely, thank you very much.

NARRATOR: Steph is in a decisive mood today.

Really nice to meet you.

NARRATOR: Back together again.

I just hope Charlie's got over his vertigo.

Nighty, night.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Next day the lingo learning continues apace.

Just learnt the word lon, that means lame on that sign we went down.

L-O-N?

L-O-N.

It's just a leafy lawn.

What is a leafy lawn?

NARRATOR: They're the best kind all right.

Yesterday Steph's money did all the talking, acquiring a Vulcan bomber food flask, some cloisonne on vases, a chart of the English channel, and a bar of Skittles game.

STEPHANIE: Yay, that was a good one.

NARRATOR: Which means she now has about 100 pounds left to spend today, while Charlie splashed out on an apostle sugar sifting spoon, and a pair of scent bottles.

We've got a deal.

NARRATOR: So he has over 300 pounds in his bulging wallet.

Now, back to the lessons.

[SINGING] Dear Steph.

That's the best I can do really.

It's not my birthday.

NARRATOR: That's all right.

Just role play.

Later they'll be off to auction in Middle Littleton, but the first shop today is in the town of Usk.

By the river of that name, same one Charlie was messing about above yesterday.

Steph got Usk all to herself though.

STEPHANIE: Good morning SIR SIMON: Welcome to Usk Emporium.

How are you doing?

Very well, thank you Steph.

NARRATOR: Since you asked Sir Simon.

She's not doing too badly either remember.

The label says Thor's hammer only kidding, it's a plumber's hammer.

Still got over 100 pounds in her kitty.

Oh, this is really cool.

Love this art deco period terrarium.

So used for keeping plants in.

Got to lift up a lid, it's got a really unusual.

I've never seen this on a terrarium before, an art deco design on the glass on the top.

It's a nice shape, got the hexagons, the original led work, it's all complete.

NARRATOR: The terrarium was invented by Victorian botanist, Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward.

It has got some damage though, which isn't surprising with a terrarium that's this sort of age.

But a usable antique, and very cool.

And it's a really nice way to keep plants.

It is 110 pounds.

So it's potentially a buy, but I'll carry on looking.

And while she does that, we'll catch up with Charlie.

Heading east towards the town of Chepstow.

Situated on another great river, the Wye, which is also the border with England hereabouts.

Oh, there he goes.

What a glorious town.

Oh, good morning.

Oh, what a lovely shop.

Are you Leslie?

I am.

I'm Charlie.

Pleased to meet you Charlie.

NARRATOR: I'm Tim.

Of course, Charlie as usual on this trip has plenty left to spend, over 300 pounds actually.

What is that Leslie?

Samovar.

A samovar.

Yes?

A Russian tea urn LESLIE: A Russian tea urn.

A Russian tea urn.

You know what the label says, it's a salamander.

A salamander is an amphibious reptile.

Obviously, a slip of the pen.

NARRATOR: Very easily done.

Tell us about the goods.

It's 19th century, and it is so beautifully modeled, copper and brass basically for boiling water.

But this is such a classic design, I absolutely love the sort of empire style of the supports.

Best London manufacture, but that's all it says doesn't got a maker's name.

Samovars used to make hundreds of pounds, they then went completely out of bed, and they make 30 or 40 pounds.

But I think that's just better than the average samovar.

NARRATOR: Russian novelist Dostoevsky described the samovar as the most essential thing in Russia.

Leslie, how much is your English stroke Russian samovar?

75.

That's a really awkward answer because it's just got me tickled.

Leslie come here, I need to talk to you.

I'm buying this because of the-- or trying to buy this, I nearly slipped up there.

You did.

Because I love it as an object.

The quality is superb, can you do it for 60 pounds?

Go on 60.

Are you sure?

Yes.

I've got to shake your hand before you forget.

NARRATOR: First buy to Charlie.

Now, with Steph in Usk still prowling.

Oh, that's cool.

NARRATOR: Do tell us more.

Steph I like this.

So it says on the label that they think it's a toothpick holder, and they've put toothpicks in it, in the form of a shoe.

But what I actually think it is, is a vester striker.

So a striker for matches, so you have a little look it's rough here, so you have somewhere to strike the matches there.

It's silver topped, it's got a mark for London, but the date letter is quite heavily worn so I can't see exactly when it's from.

But it's quite a good novelty thing, and it's a bargain.

It's in a sale it was 19.50 pound, now 8.50.

In that price I'm definitely going to have to buy it, especially if I'm going to beat Charlie.

NARRATOR: Watch out Charlie, Steph is about to put the boot in.

It's only 8 pounds 50, so I definitely like to take it.

You've got to have it.

Yeah, I've got to have it for 8.50.

Deal.

- Excellent, deal.

- Thanks very much.

- Thank you.

NARRATOR: Well, she's certainly keeping costs down.

Back in Chepstow, Charlie has his samovar for 60 pounds.

Anything else tick your fancy?

This reminds me of my youth.

I would say, look at that this train when it goes along the engine driver goes up and down.

And that would be hugely amusing for children, it's quite amusing for me.

NARRATOR: Why are we not surprised?

And I would think the age of that is approximately the same age as me.

I would think that was made in about 1950.

I want to find a name on it.

Nickel Toys , and that's not a name I know.

I was expecting to find Chad Bailey or something.

It's crude-- and I see the price is 14 shillings and 9 pence, and frankly I think that's too much.

Leslie, talk to me about this.

Is it dirt cheap or is it a treasured item?

10 pounds, and it's yours.

I'd rather have it for five, but I'm not going to argue.

Thank you very much.

Wonderful, I've got a train set and it'll go so nicely with a samovar, or a salamander.

I owe you money so let's go and do the business.

Thank you.

NARRATOR: Let's 60 pounds for the samovar and 10 for the train make 70.

Thank you Leslie, bye.

NARRATOR: Steady Charlie.

Oh, lordy.

So while he stirs his booty in the mornings, and gets back on the road, Steph's made a bit of a detour into the valleys.

To visit a World Heritage site at Blaenavon, the remarkably preserved location of a 19th century iron works.

[INAUDIBLE] Oh [INAUDIBLE].

Oh, watch your step, watch your step.

You nearly went there.

I'm Steph, nice to meet you.

Hello, I am Evan and this is my dog Billy.

Nice to meet you Billy.

You'll have to speak through me because he only speaks Welsh.

We're not going to be able to communicate them, what a shame.

Watch your step here because it's a building underneath here.

There's a building underneath?

Yeah, so I think probably be safer if we went onto some solid ground.

NARRATOR: Iron production during the late 1700s was transformed by the use of coal instead of charcoal.

And by the rise of the steam engine it meant that smelting was no longer reliant on either wood supplies or water power.

Local historian Evan can pinpoint the exact moment when this once rural sheep farming community began to experience that change.

There were three industrials came from the Staffordshire area, it was Thomas Hill, Thomas Hopkins, and Benjamin Pratt.

They leased this area from Lord Abergavenny.

These are Lord Abergavenny's hills and by 1789 within a year more or less they had a two furnaces going.

All the raw materials were available here.

You hire the iron ore, the coal, which could be converted into coke.

And there were the limestone, the three main ingredients to produce iron.

This was probably the most modern iron works in the world at the time.

NARRATOR: The main product of the Blaenavon works known as pig iron was the essential material of the first Industrial age, required for railways, engines, cables, and bridges.

[SPEAKING WELSH] NARRATOR: At the center of it all though was the furnace.

This was a continuous process 24 hours a day, seven days a week, they never extinguished the furnace.

So even as they were tapping, taking the oil out of the furnace at the bottom, they were probably still filling it at the top as well.

So as you can imagine, it's very, very noisy in here and of course very hot as well.

A hellish place to work I suppose.

The molten iron would flow down the troughs, which they'd formed in the sand here in the casting house.

And this was pig iron.

Why did they call it pig iron?

Aha, well, most of the workers that came here were from agricultural areas so if you think of the trough that the iron is flowing down, and then you have little troughs coming off the main one, it reminded them of piglets suckling the sow.

The main trough would be the sow, and the little ones would be the piglets.

NARRATOR: Those cast iron bars made the owners very wealthy indeed, although the workers of course, saw little of it.

Also preserved at Blaenavon were some of the houses, especially built to attract a skilled workforce from the Midlands.

These are good quality cottages built in the Staffordshire style.

The only problem is the population rose from about 1,000 people to about 5,000 people, and so you had what was called the warm bed system.

So more or less when you got out of bed in the morning there was somebody waiting to go into the bed to take your place.

How did they pay the workers?

They paid them in tokens, which were cast here in the works.

This is a token.

Wow.

They could only spend the tokens in the company shop.

You couldn't spend it anywhere else.

So that means that they ensured that they got entirely all of the workers' wages back to the company itself.

Of course, the company's shop could provide you with everything from the cradle when you were a baby to a coffin when you died, and in between they half-starved you.

That's shocking.

NARRATOR: But for all its horrors, not at least those perpetrated upon the surrounding countryside Blaenavon a name which can be found marked on railway lines around the world made industrial Wales a force to be reckoned with.

STEPHANIE: The area was granted World Heritage status, I believe.

Right and it was really a memorial to all the people who shaped this area.

Don't forget before the iron workers came there was no Blaenavon, Blaenavon only exists because the iron works is here.

Well, it's been fascinating.

[SPEAKING WELSH] [SPEAKING WELSH] Thanks very much.

NARRATOR: Oh, well she's really coming along.

Now, the last time we heard from Charlie he was close to the river Wye, can you guess his latest gorgeous destination?

Uh-huh.

Wonderful place to stop underneath the very famous Clifton Suspension Bridge.

You can see the little dots of people walking across the top of it.

And of course, it was constructed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

NARRATOR: Yes folks it's the river Avon.

Because Charlie's last shop is in the Bristol suburb of Clifton.

Once home to one of his cricketing heroes, the legendary WG Grace.

Oh, good afternoon, sir.

Good afternoon, the name is Charlie Rose.

And I'm Michael Bees.

Michael, very nice to meet you.

My daughter Rachel.

May I say even nicer to me Rachel.

NARRATOR: So do we think Charlie's going to have fun in here?

[MUSIC PLAYING] Just my sort of shop, absolutely wonderful.

There's bits of this and bits of that.

Must have clearly school I think or University something of course I never went to.

NARRATOR: I hear his subtraction passed muster though almost 240 pounds still available.

Sweet set of shelves, very arts and crafts, nice oak, good [INAUDIBLE] peg construction, and not overly expensive.

But there's only one area I want to look at, good old English brown, the stuff that you can't give away, unless you're Michael possibly.

This is a fabulous William The Fourth mahogany sewing table.

Pull out the drawers I expect to find compartments for your cotton reels and this and that and your pens.

You could make it a writing table, but what gives the game away is the bag at the bottom.

Pull that out, put all your wool in there.

And that is a classic piece of English furniture on turn legs, original brass casters, and I would say, 1840 as near as damn it.

The price is 225 pounds, which I would describe as historic, in today's market matched over 100 pounds, which is just absurd.

It should be worth 650 pounds.

Now, Michael come over here.

You put these bits of furniture just here, didn't you?

Because you knew me.

Well, you're a connoisseur.

I was just looking at that Michael.

I've seen the price on it.

I think we've got to forget about the price on it.

No, no that's just a price we start with.

Yes, exactly.

NARRATOR: Strap yourselves in.

I would not let that go under 80 and that is it.

You couldn't buy the casters for 80 pounds.

You couldn't buy the knobs for 80 pounds.

I know I won't down that road.

No I would rather you didn't.

Good.

NARRATOR: There we go.

But that is a figure I think we're going to have to stay on that because I know it is-- is the easiest piece for me out of the pieces around here.

Yes, it's the easiest.

I'll tell you what the most difficult piece to sell is.

Well, I know what you'll do because you're leaning, aren't you?

[LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: A Georgian bureau.

Go on tell me how cheap that could be.

Amuse me.

How we're messing about you know.

No, I'm not messing about.

Amuse me.

There's not going to be cheap like that one, but we'll do it at 85.

Now look at the price on there.

Show the camera the price on there.

That's 325.

Now I've done that I'm purposely so you can't walk out here without it.

Oh, I can.

You can-- you can-- now no listen.

Don't you start with me.

I once bought one of these for 100 pounds at the auctioneer sold it for 40 or 60 or something, and I cried, I cried.

I so like to have been there.

Yeah, Now, look.

No hang on, hang on.

The sewing table is 80 pounds, right?

And the Bureau is?

85.

NARRATOR: Sounds like Michael's bargain bureau isn't quite hitting the spot.

I'll give you 80 pounds for that same table.

Yes, that's OK. That's OK, isn't it?

I've shaken now the hand, and say you are a gentleman sir.

NARRATOR: Well, that was fun, wasn't it?

Charlie's bought more furniture, and we've now moved onto Tommy Cooper impersonations.

Just like that.

Time to make it disappear.

MICHAEL BEES: Thank you very much You want me open the door?

No, I can do that.

MICHAEL BEES: Oh, look too eager to get that out of it.

NARRATOR: I hope the minx isn't far off.

Afternoon, ladies.

If I was going to stop buy you a snack, what would you like?

Rhubarb and custard.

NARRATOR: Ooh, I like those too.

I'll see if I can get some.

You can sit at the auction, you can sit at the auction sucking sweets.

NARRATOR: But before that, shut-eye.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Hello, Middle Littleton.

Not a very nice day, is it?

At least the auction is undercover I suppose.

After starting out in the Welsh capital and learning lots of the language, they've arrived in Worcestershire village.

Ah, Littleton auctions with internet bidding.

I can't believe this, we've had sunshine all the way.

I know, and it's absolutely horrible.

Yes, but our lots aren't.

Well, I don't know.

I'm going to make a fortune today.

NARRATOR: Charlie partied with 260 pounds for his five auction lots.

This is a really nice quality samovar.

It's got lovely feet, really smart design, but the problem with samovars is, they're really difficult to sell.

NARRATOR: Steph spent less than half of Charlie's total 100 pounds and 50p for her five lots.

Bob Elliott's complete on nine pins if you prefer.

It's quite crude, Edwardian best I think.

NARRATOR: Not keen, hey.

Let's hear the thoughts of the man who's got to sell it all, auctioneer Martin Homer.

Scent bottle is always popular, the pair of them makes them even more desirable.

And I think they'll do quite well.

The flask, the fact that it's got provenance being used on a Vulcan bomber, it's got all the fittings inside, and I quite like that.

The sewing table is my favorite lot it's William The Fourth.

It's always popular with the ladies.

I've already got commissioned interest on my book, so I think we'll do very well with that one.

NARRATOR: Also, in late breaking news according to Martin Charlie's train is actually a steamroller.

I think he's right too.

It looked like a train to me.

But of course, it is a steamroller.

It doesn't look anything like a train.

That might make it rarer, I could make a fortune.

NARRATOR: Building up a head of steam as usual and quite an appetite.

Well, this is rather nice.

And you've got bacon sandwich.

NARRATOR: Yeah, starting off we have Charlie's apostle spoon.

Well it caused a stir?

Surely 30 pounds for it.

30 on bid for you madam?

At 30 pounds in the room at 30.

I'm asking for two now.

32 on the internet.

35 in the room.

37 with you, madam.

40 pounds?

At 40 pounds, you want five madam?

At 40 with you sir?

All done then at 40 pounds.

Ah, it's not bad.

NARRATOR: I think, meh is what the kids say, isn't it?

Could have been worse.

Could have been a lot worse.

NARRATOR: Now for Steph's little boot vester, she got it in the sale.

Let's go 20 pounds for it please.

20 on bid.

[INTERPOSING VOICES] 20 pounds, 22 pounds, 25.

Steph, you're going out the clappers.

27, yeah?

No bid at 27.

Well, it cost eight 8 pounds 50.

Oh Rose your days are numbered.

27 pounds.

Well done.

Oh Steph, it's nearly 20 pounds profit.

NARRATOR: Cracky Steph is on the march.

You're getting hang of this, aren't you?

Great time [INAUDIBLE] NARRATOR: After the boot the hob now cut perfume bottles, nice.

Should we say 30 pounds to start them please?

All over the place 30, 32, 35, 37, 40 pounds, 45.

Well, the internet's flying off, watch the internet.

55 the internet's come in.

60 with you, sir we're in the room 60.

65 back in the room.

Nearly there, nearly there.

75, 80 pounds, Keep going.

At 80 pounds, and we're all done then?

And selling at 80 pounds, 85 new bidder, 99.

Oh, goodie.

At 90 pounds.

It's got to be one of Charlie's.

At 90 pounds.

At 90 we got it, I'm selling at 90 pounds.

Oh, Oh, Oh just about got out sideways I suppose.

NARRATOR: He's not happy unless it's a huge profit on this trip.

They were really nice.

They were nice, thank you, thank you Steph.

You're welcome.

NARRATOR: Steph cloisonne vases, more from her cheap and cheerful collection.

Go 20 pounds to start me on those please.

20 I'm starting with 20 pounds, thank you.

At 20 pounds NARRATOR: You're a roll, aren't you?

22 on the internet, 25 in the room.

I'm bringing your money don't worry about it, and 20 quid don't get too greedy.

Well done.

NARRATOR: Slow progress, but she's certainly on the up.

It's a privilege to be working alongside you.

I thought [INAUDIBLE] NARRATOR: Charlie's turn at a bargain buy now.

His turner train slash steam engine.

It's actually a steam roller.

OK, where should we go with this 20 pounds please?

Let's go 15 for it then.

Come on surely 15 pounds.

Oh, dear.

Oh, dear.

Oh, crumbs.

15 on bid, thank you.

I've got a victim at pounds.

I'm 15, I'm 15, 17 I've got now.

We're taking off.

20 pounds I've got now.

Yes!

At 20 pounds, at 20, is it 2 anywhere?

And I will sell at 20 pounds, going once, going twice, sold at 20 pounds.

Congratulations.

NARRATOR: Well, it made money whatever it is.

20 pounds That's a good profit.

NARRATOR: More wooden toys, step forward Steph's Skittles.

And I've got some interest on the book, and I will start you off at 30 pounds.

Well done.

It's a mere 30, 36, 35, 40, 120 on the internet.

Ah!

[LAUGHTER] Sorry sir.

120 on the internet.

120 pounds I'm looking at 120, That's brilliant.

That's so exciting I'm gobsmacked.

120 pounds on the internet.

I'm 120 pounds, and away at 120.

Bravo.

[APPLAUSE] Thank you.

NARRATOR: Yes a canny purchase Steph, a biggest profit to date.

A 120 quid, that's amazing.

NARRATOR: Now, from Russia with milk and two sugars, Charlie's samovar.

Can we get 50 pounds start on that one?

AUDIENCE: That'll be 30.

30 on bid, thank you.

It's 30 pounds.

32 in the room now, 34.

[INTERPOSING VOICES] 55 in the room.

60 on the internet sir.

65 in the room now.

The room's at 65 pounds.

Will give it 70 now.

At 65 pounds, the room has it and I'm selling, I'll order and then 65 pounds.

65?

Less commission is not too bad.

NARRATOR: It's a very nice thing.

It's one of the cheapest salamanders I've ever seen.

Lot 120 NARRATOR: Strange have their buys seem to complement each other, isn't it?

Steph's RAF flask keeping the heat in the Cold War.

Let's go 20 for it then come on.

Surely 20-- 20 on bid, thank you.

Yeah, well done.

[INAUDIBLE] at 20.

25, 27, The bidding are piling.

30 pounds, no?

27 at the back of the room.

30 pounds new bidder.

And 30 pounds, you want 2 sir?

32, 35, 37, at 37 pounds.

Is there a 37?

And selling at 37, Away at 37.

Another profit.

NARRATOR: Yup, four out of four.

You've got the Midas touch.

It's phenomenal.

NARRATOR: Now for Charlie's last lot.

His Bristolian bargain.

I've got interest on the board and I will start at 121.

Ah, Charlie, well done.

Away at 120 pounds hey gentlemen.

130 back to me at 1-- You're back in the game.

And 140 pounds, 150, 160, 170, 180, at 180, 190 takes me out.

200 new bidder, with 200 pounds.

You and furniture.

200 pounds.

Cheap.

And 210 anywhere, going once, going twice, and away at 200 pounds.

Yes.

Oh.

That was really good.

NARRATOR: Yes he definitely saved the best till last.

Blimey that's sort of skittle profit.

NARRATOR: Finally, we have Steph's chart.

She did well with a map earlier in the trip, so why not today?

50 quid.

Let's have 20 for it.

20 I'm bid thank you, room comes in at 20 pounds.

At 20 looking to - Oh might make a loss 2 now.

And 22 on the internet.

You want 25?

25 pounds in the room at 25.

27 on the internet.

You're out madam, OK. Do I hear 30 anywhere?

AUDIENCE: Over there.

30 pounds,new bidder at 30 pounds.

At 30 pounds are we all done?

And I'm going to sell.

[INTERPOSING VOICES] 35 back with you sir.

At 35 pounds.

We're at 35 in the room.

All done and fair warned at 35 pounds, and away at 35.

Just give me a hand.

NARRATOR: Yes, congratulations Steph, a clean sweep.

That's just sensational.

Back in the game now Charlie, slow and steady wins the race.

Is going to be like the hare and the tortoise, except with the hare keeping pace with the tortoise the whole time.

NARRATOR: Yeah, I think that works but it's been a long day.

Now, stand standby for a very fine result.

Charlie started out with 417 pounds and 66 p, and after auction costs he's now almost reached the 500 mark.

While Steph who began with 193 pounds and 66 has finally made a thumping great profit, now just shy of 300.

Well done girl.

Getting better all the time, aren't you?

It was a good auction.

Bar skittles.

That's the way forward, bar skittle.

Certainly is, I'm going to see if I can find some.

[MUSIC PLAYING]