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

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

I want to spend lots of money.

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

Oh no!

VO: There'll be worthy winners...

Yes!

We've done it.

VO: ..and valiant losers.

You are kidding me on.

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

What am I doing?

Got a deal.

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip.

VO: Yeah!

VO: Today we're back on the road with a couple of rays of sunshine: Thomas Plant and Anita Manning.

ANITA: Thomas, the beginning of our second leg.

It's an unearthly hour, the skies are gray, but there's sunshine in our hearts!

THOMAS: I'm all abristle with a frisson of excitement.

Sitting next to me?

Yes!

THOMAS: Tingling in every part of me!

VO: Oh, steady on old boy.

VO: Dapper, debonair and full of boyish charm is Thomas Plant.

His passion for antiques buying is boundless - together with dressing up.

Sod this, I'm going to the Alps.

VO: Looking distinctly Doctor Who-ish is his road trip partner, Anita Manning.

She is an experienced auctioneer who just can't resist a compliment, even if it's double-edged.

Must've been a really lovely little lassie when you were younger.

Well, you're lovely now!

Well I'm a lovely wee lassie now that I'm old!

VO: Charming.

VO: They both started the trip with £200 but after their last auction, Thomas sits on the miserly sum of only £162.66... VO: ..whilst Anita has seen her money dwindle to a miserable £149.44, poor girl.

We've got less than what we started with.

Are we going to have to be a wee bit canny today?

VO: So they really need to brighten up and bag some bargains in this sunshine yellow 1968 Lotus Elan.

I'm not used to gray skies, cuz I come from Scotland, and it's always Mediterranean climate in Scotland.

VO: Thomas and Anita will travel over 550 miles from the village of Redbourn in Hertfordshire all the way to the town of Maidstone in Kent.

Today they'll start in the Cotswolds town of Tetbury, before finishing at auction nearly 100 miles away in Chiswick in west London.

THOMAS: I'm heading to Bristol.

My city.

Oh, a Bristolian at heart.

THOMAS: Yes.

ANITA: Body and soul.

Body and soul, and I'm thinking if I have time to squeeze a little bit of lunch in with my mummy.

Oh, you're going to visit your mum?!

Yep.

Thomas, keep your mind on the job.

VO: Aye.

But before Thomas sees mummy dearest, it's time to offload Anita onto the mean streets of the Cotswolds town of Tetbury.

Nearby is Highgrove, home to his Royal Highness Prince Charles, but how will the queen of antiques get on here?

ANITA: But it's raining!

THOMAS: I know, I've got my hat on!

ANITA: OK. THOMAS: If I drive fast enough, I won't get wet.

ANITA: (LAUGHS) ANITA: Go easy darling.

Bye bye.

THOMAS: Enjoy Tetbury.

Bye bye.

VO: It's the first shop of the day for Anita, at the curiously named Top Banana Antiques Mall, but will she make more than peanuts in here?

VO: Hm!

Time to meet owner Julian.

JULIAN: Ah, Anita, hi.

Hi!

I'm Anita!

JULIAN: So lovely to see you.

ANITA: This is a huge place!

(LAUGHS) ANITA: With a labyrinth of rooms and corridors.

VO: Aye.

Anita is having a good nosy, but what's on her mind?

I want to spend lots of money, but I know that I have to be really really careful at this bit or I could go down really quite low, and I don't want that to happen.

I want to make profit this time.

On everything.

VO: On everything?

Well, an admirable ambition, but first I think you ought to try and buy something.

I'm quite interested in this dragon.

ANITA: I can't see it properly, I'm going to get Julian to get it out and let me have a proper look.

Julian?

JULIAN: Hi.

ANITA: Oh!

(LAUGHS) This dragon winked at me as I approached the cabinet... JULIAN: Ah, great.

Great.

ANITA: ..and I wondered if I could have a closer look.

JULIAN: Yeah of course, of course.

ANITA: Do you know Julian, I feel like a kid.. ANITA: ..in a sweetie shop in here.

JULIAN: Marvelous, brilliant.

Brilliant.

ANITA: It's absolutely wonderful.

JULIAN: Let me get it out for you.

Watch the old tail, that's... ANITA: Alright, uh-huh.

As long as it's by weight we're going to be fine.

Oh right.

Is it 18 carat gold?

Definitely, definitely!

VO: Ha!

18 carat brass maybe.

Alright, OK.

I thought he was quite splendid.

Sort of ferocious looking.

I think it's probably for fruit or something I would think.

ANITA: Yeah.

The first part of the 20th century?

JULIAN: Yes, I would think probably 1920s, 30s maybe even 1900.

VO: This fiery fellow probably once held incense and would have been used in Buddhistic religious ceremonies.

VO: He has a price of £30.

I actually think we actually would be happy to take £20 for it.

£20?

Put your hand there sir, that's wonderful.

Marvelous.

Thank you.

I think there's a very... VO: A third off straight away, eh?

That's a great bargain without even a haggle.

ANITA: ..great, yeah.

I like it.

(ROAR) Let's hope it will roar into profit!

(LAUGHS) (GONG) VO: Yup, we'll see.

VO: Now anything else catch your fancy?

Now I know what this is, this is a SylvaC dog.

VO: And SylvaC is a factory famed for ceramics from the 1930s, particularly of animals.

ANITA: These SylvaC dogs and little SylvaC rabbits and other animals were made in the 1930s and they were very very popular, but I haven't seen a teapot!

ANITA: (LAUGHS) And this is a teapot, so it's quite an unusual piece.

ANITA: And if you wanted a cup of tea you would pour it out of this dog's nose, and I think that that's a lot of fun.

Now they have gone down in price in auction, ANITA: but because it's a teapot and because it's a wee bit unusual, ANITA: I think I might have a wee blast on it.

What do you think?

VO: Sausages!

He thinks I should have a nice cup of tea as well.

Julian!

(LAUGHS) VO: There's no ticket price so what can Anita get it for?

ANITA: What would be the very, very, very, very... JULIAN: We're getting... ANITA: Very...

There's a lot of verys there!

Yep.

A lot of verys.

Let me have a look.

It's just because they're not popular any more.

£20.

Och, let's go for it.

Fantastic.

VO: Another bargain, eh?

I think Anita's charm has paid off here.

Now that I've bought the teapot, will you make me a nice cup of tea?

Definitely, I shall be off immediately.

ANITA: Let's go!

JULIAN: Cheers, thank you.

VO: So Anita's haul in her first shop has been the SylvaC teapot for £20... JULIAN: Look at that, it even pours.

JULIAN: Cheers Anita, fantastic.

ANITA: It's been a great pleasure.

JULIAN: Thank you.

VO: ..and the old dragon, also for £20.

VO: Now, back to Thomas.

He's making his way 23 miles south to the village of Frenchay on the outskirts of his hometown, Bristol.

VO: Frenchay was noticeable for the large number of Quakers who settled there in the 17th century.

The Quakers were a nonconformist religious sect who split from the established Church of England.

VO: Thomas has come to the tiny Frenchay Museum to discover how one entrepreneurial Quaker family went from small-time chemists to kick-starting a billion pound industry.

His guide is local man Alan Freke.

THOMAS: So Alan... ALAN: Yes.

I'm a local boy, a Bristol boy, and here we are in Frenchay.

Tell me, if I was being correct in Bristol, what you gonna learn me about today?

ALAN: The Fry family, who were famous for making chocolate.

THOMAS: Really?

Let's go and have a look.

ALAN: OK. VO: The Fry family first tasted success in the 18th century when their drinking chocolate was sold as an alternative to alcohol.

VO: But it was in 1847 when Frenchay man Joseph Fry hit upon the idea of a solid chocolate bar to eat.

ALAN: There had been attempts to make chocolate bars but they were all dry and crumbly.

His trick was to use the cocoa butter extracted from the beans to mix with the chocolate so you got something which, when you put it in your mouth, melted in your mouth.

Perfect.

But nobody bought it.

Nobody bought it?

Well, chocolate's a drink.

If you went into the supermarket tomorrow and saw on the shelf a bar of tea, would you buy it?

Hm...no.

(LAUGHS) ALAN: Well, that's it!

ALAN: People went in, they saw a bar of chocolate and thought 'what's that?'

But then at the Great Exhibition of 1851, ALAN: Fry's took a stand, displayed their chocolate, were giving away samples, and the rest is history.

VO: It was a marketing masterstroke that made life sweet for the Quaker business.

VO: Here in Frenchay is one of those original 1851 bars.

And those are the ones they gave away?

ALAN: Well no, I'd imagine they would give small samples away.

Little small samples.

But that would have been part of a display of bars.

THOMAS: God, the thing about chocolate, it doesn't go off, does it?

ALAN: Well, that still smells like chocolate.

THOMAS: Yeah.

We haven't tried tasting it obviously!

THOMAS: No!

(LAUGHS) But it's... And it's got a bloom on it, which chocolate tends to get.

THOMAS: Yeah.

ALAN: But it's still fine.

VO: Other Quaker families making chocolate like Cadbury's and Rowntrees followed suit, and the melt in the mouth chocolate bar became a British and then global bestseller.

So you're really telling me that the chocolatiers from Frenchay were the first people to make a chocolate bar?

Never been done before?

ALAN: That's right.

VO: And like the other Quaker firms, the Frys' religious convictions meant their workforce enjoyed high levels of care, which were advanced even by today's standards.

By the middle of the 19th century, staff had pensions, there was a health scheme, there were beds in Bristol General Hospital paid for by Fry's for employees who were ill to be put in, and so on.

VO: The family's success saw them employing thousands of people in Bristol, and along with their fellow Quakers they pioneered a golden age for British chocolate and an industry which is now worth nearly £40 billion worldwide.

THOMAS: Thank you very much Alan, it's been...

It's been so enriching, and I'm going to go and eat some chocolate.

Thank you very much.

Hope you enjoyed your visit.

ALAN: Thank you.

VO: So, while Thomas goes off in search for chocolate, VO: Anita has also made the journey south from Tetbury to Bristol.

VO: She's going to Michael's Antiques, run by no other than the silver haired and silver tongued Michael.

MICHAEL: How do you do Anita?

I had to come to your shop because I believe that you are a legend... A legend?

..in Bristol.

And you're more prettier off camera than you are on.

Oh, you're the type of man that I like!

ALAN: Oh, I know.

ANITA: (LAUGHS) VO: Enough of the flirting, let's get down to business.

Michael?

MICHAEL: Yes?

Does my bum look big in this?

MICHAEL AND ANITA: (LAUGHS) VO: No, but your head looks small Anita.

VO: Uh-oh, Michael's gonna have a go.

I feel like Fred Upstairs.

ANITA: That's very good, that's very good.

There you are.

MICHAEL: OK. MICHAEL: One, two, three...

BOTH: # For we're no awa' tae bide awa... # VO: Huh!

It's all going a bit Strictly here.

BOTH: # We're a couple of swells, # we live in the best hotels... # ANITA: What comes next?

I don't know!

MICHAEL AND ANITA: (LAUGHS) VO: Not so much Fred and Ginger as Laurel and Hardy, perhaps.

Much is that?

Ah... Well, these I usually sell for £35.

VO: But there's a rather battered box that goes with it, and it's £35 too.

ANITA: I would really be wanting to pay round about £30 for the two of them.

(IRISH ACCENT) 30 poon?!

Baby Jaysus, 30 poon!

ANITA: (LAUGHS) VO: She's from Scotland, not Ireland, Michael.

Oh no!

Throw me out the shop!

MICHAEL: I'll tell you what I'd do for the two - £40.

ANITA: OK. Leave them and we'll think about that, and can I look at some... VO: So what else can Anita find?

She's always been partial to a nice bit of glass, and it's not long before she's got Michael hunting high and low.

ANITA: Could I see that one there?

MICHAEL: ..I don't break any.

ANITA: I want you to be careful.

MICHAEL: What, the price or getting them down?

Both!

MICHAEL: (LAUGHS) Both!

This is quite a nice jar.

ANITA: OK.

I think it's probably Italian glass.

MICHAEL: Well, it's like Murano, isn't it?

Isn't it?

VO: Yup.

Murano glass comes from the Venetian island of Murano.

VO: The workers there have been making wonderfully colored and crafted glass since the seventh century.

VO: Look, put him down Anita.

MICHAEL: Ah, now this is a nice... ANITA: Uh-huh.

MICHAEL: That, that is very nice.

ANITA: With the white lips.

ANITA: Is it within the realms of reason for me to buy these for £30?

I knew you were going to say that.

Did you?

No.

MICHAEL AND ANITA: (LAUGHS) MICHAEL: I'd do you the both, right, seriously, for £75.

That hat's worth £75.

MICHAEL: That's the hat, the hat box and two of those.

ANITA: £75?

MICHAEL: Yep.

Could you come to 70?

It was just an idea that flushed through my head.

What, the money?

The two lots for 70?

MICHAEL: Yes.

Aw, thank you very much, you're a darling.

VO: Oh you old smoothie.

Well listen, I'm pleased.

You're happy with that are you?

I love these.

I know.

And the hat's funny.

ANITA: And I had great fun with the hat.

Are you sure you're married?

VO: Anita!

MICHAEL: Yes.

VO: So after all the mutual flirting, a deal has been struck.

£35 for a hat with an antique hat box and £35 for the two pieces of Murano glass.

VO: That's £70 that she's got off the asking prices.

VO: Meanwhile, what is Tomboy Plant up to?

Well I'm here in Bristol, my home city, the city I was born in, and I've rang my mum, and it would be rude not to sort of pop in and see her, so I'm going in for a fleeting visit, spot of brunch.

THOMAS: I feel I need a bit of energy, a bit of home loving, just before I start shopping.

THOMAS: I mean, only your mother can say you're wonderful and you know, you'll always believe it.

THOMAS: (LAUGHS) (CAR ENGINE REVS) You're just in time for lunch Tom.

THOMAS: Oh wonderful.

A bit of lunch.

VO: Hello, look at this - Tom's mum, or should I say Alex, and hello Tom's step-dad.

It's dairy free for my poor, pathetic little boy who can't eat any dairy.

VO: Aw - that's tough love for you.

THOMAS: Oh, wonderful Ma.

VO: Alex has decided to raid the family album, so we can see young Thomas as a kid.

ALEX: He was a lovely little boy, he was very kind to his sisters.

And he was a delight.

ALEX: He wasn't one of those clingy children who would hang round your leg like a limpet.

He was always "right, bye Mum, thank you, off we go!"

VO: And does mam have any tips for the grown-up Thomas?

ALEX: I think your trip with Anita, you just be... You just listen to what she says, because she's an older woman, not an elderly woman, but an older woman, like myself, and I think you should just listen to what she's got to say.

Maybe you get a few tips from her.

(LAUGHS) I certainly will Ma, thank you for that advice.

THOMAS: Right, off to Hanham.

VO: Now he's been suitably refreshed, Tom is off across Bristol for a spot of antique buying at the aptly named Odds & Todds.

THOMAS: Hi, I'm Thomas.

VO: Jay is here to serve him.

I don't know whether he's Odd or Todd.

VO: Crikey, there's lashings and lashings of stuff here.

THOMAS: Oh my gosh, there's a downstairs as well.

How does he cope with all of this?

THOMAS: Acres of furniture, coffee tables, cane furniture, bridge tables.

It's just immense.

THOMAS: I've found a cabinet full of stuff.

I love this.

JAY: Plenty of those.

THOMAS: What is that?

THOMAS: It's a sort of, you screw it off, and you've got something - is it for your talcum powders for your dressing table?

Shaped as a flower?

JAY: Well could be.

THOMAS: Yeah, and then you unscrew it and you've got a little mesh bit there which you obviously fill up with something.

THOMAS: Let's give it a sniff.

No, nothing in there.

It's alright, just a bit of - see what it would smell like, see if it smelt of a scent of some description, but what a strange looking object.

Do you mind if I just pull a few things out?

JAY: No, no.

VO: Interesting, but what's this?

THOMAS: Sort of a little christening set, that's quite sweet, isn't it?

JAY: Yeah.

THOMAS: Well you've got this maker's name, Bernard Instone, here.

JAY: Yeah.

THOMAS: Silver manufacturer known for doing this sort of lovely handmade silver with a bit of enamel on.

THOMAS: It's quite sweet really, isn't it?

JAY: Yeah, it's a nice little piece.

Little christening set.

JAY: Mm.

VO: Hm, very nice.

But what else have you got?

THOMAS: Um, I've got a maritime theme.

JAY: Yeah.

THOMAS: With a little fob compass.

THOMAS: What do you think these are?

Do you think these are... JAY: I thought they were eggcups.

THOMAS: I think they're eggcups as well.

THOMAS: "Cunard Steam-Ship Company Limited".

THOMAS: Art deco.

Aren't they?

JAY: Yeah.

THOMAS: And then we've got the Stirling Castle, the marine vessel.

This is an ashtray.

This is in chrome.

(TAPS ON ASHTRAY) It's a bit ropey, but it sort of works together as a sort of nautical theme, doesn't it?

JAY: Yeah.

THOMAS: Um... JAY: That can go together, can't it?

THOMAS: It can go together, can't it.

And this is just mad, but it's proper, isn't it?

Nice bit of deco for some reason.

VO: And for his next trick, Thomas is going to add up all the ticket prices on all the items.

So five, eight, nine, 10... JAY: Yep.

THOMAS: 22, 32... (DRUM ROLL) 40.

God, my maths is good today.

JAY: Yeah!

That is good.

VO: But what would be very, very, very good is some kind of discount from Jay, eh?

Um... THOMAS: I know it's not the big, big bucks... JAY: No, it's the nice little bits.

35 quid.

How's that?

You ought to be doing alright out of that.

That's lovely.

Thank you very much.

JAY: No problem.

THOMAS: Thank you.

That's really kind of you, I can't argue with that.

No.

VO: No, I definitely wouldn't argue with that Thomas.

Now for those of you keeping a tally, that divvies up into £7 for the powder shaker, £20 for the christening set and £8 for the maritime lot, so well done.

VO: It's finally the end of a hard day's buying for Anita and the end of a bit of a skive for Thomas.

Will the tables get turned tomorrow?

You'll find out very shortly, so night night you two.

VO: It's the start of a rather wet day, ha!

And Anita and Thomas are heading to Bath, but Thomas's thoughts are of home and dear mama.

THOMAS: Yesterday I popped in to see my mother.

I thought you were supposed to be working Thomas.

I know, I know, but I couldn't resist it.

Popping in to see your mammy!

I know, to see my mammy.

And she gave me a decent bit of advice.

Really?

Yes.

Oh tell me, will you share it with me?

Yeah, I will share it with you, she said "listen to Anita".

Aw!

ANITA AND THOMAS: (LAUGHS) ANITA: Well, my advice to you is to spend as much money as you possibly can!

THOMAS: Really?

As much money?

ANITA: (LAUGHS) THOMAS: Oh no.

VO: Sage advice Anita.

Let's just remind ourselves how they got on yesterday.

VO: As Thomas spent most of the day talking chocolate and eating lamb, he only spent £35 on three items: the christening set, the maritime lot and the powder shaker, leaving him with £127.66 for the day ahead.

VO: Anita's appetite however was for shopping, and she spent a further £110 of her budget on four items: the dragon incense burner, the teapot, the top hat and box and the Murano vases, leaving her with only £39.44 for the rest of the day.

VO: Now our intrepid pair have finished their 13 mile trip southeast and have arrived in the beautiful spa town of Bath.

VO: Mind that curb, Anita.

ANITA: There we are Thomas.

(LAUGHS) Bye bye, darling.

THOMAS: Spend big!

ANITA: Bye!

THOMAS: Bye bye!

Yesterday my mother said "take Anita's advice".

Anita's advice this morning was to spend big.

I never follow advice.

(DOOR CHIME) VO: First stop in Bath is Old Bank Antiques, run by an old friend of the trip, Alex.

THOMAS: You were busy!

Yes, well, doing the dusting.

You can't get the staff these days, you know!

VO: Thomas has been here before so it means no messing about.

VO: Aha, it looks like he might have found something - a wooden fire screen.

THOMAS: So I found this hardwood oriental screen.

THOMAS: Um... it's quite decorative.

You've got dragons chasing the pearl of eternal life, a pagoda, Balinese figures, an Egyptian face and other more sort of oriental things, and then at the top here you've got two, looks like crowns.

THOMAS: And then here you've got the lion and the unicorn of our coat of arms, so you've got British coat of arms, so it leads me to believe that this is sort of empire-ish, isn't it?

ALEX: Very much so.

The product of an empire upon which the sun never set.

THOMAS: It's got a few cobwebs on it.

ALEX: Well we keep those to make people think that it's authentic.

THOMAS: Do you?

ALEX: Yep.

You know, people like to get things home and dust them all themselves and then it's theirs.

VO: With a ticket price of £85 it's time for a cheeky Thomas offer.

I personally think that this is fun but I don't think it's worth any more at auction, and understand me that I'm not trying to be offensive, any more than 30 quid.

How about 45?

Well... £40 you've got a deal.

OK. THOMAS: That's a really kind, kind deal.

VO: £40 it is then - done, and soon to be dusted.

Ha!

VO: Anita meanwhile has traveled three miles outside Bath to the very posh Claverton Manor, that houses the American Museum.

VO: It's home to some of the world's oldest maps, so what could be more fitting for a road trip than looking at some of them?

VO: Here to meet Anita is curator Laura Beresford.

Hello my love!

ANITA: Ah, hello Laura!

It's so exciting to be here!

Well thank you so much for coming.

VO: The American Museum, perhaps unsurprisingly, was founded by two Americans - the antiques dealer John Judkin, seen here on the right, and his life partner, the American oil heir and philanthropist Dallas Pratt.

VO: The museum contains all kinds of artifacts related to American history, but it's Pratt's personal collection of over 200 Renaissance maps that is its crowning glory.

LAURA: Well of the two of them Dallas had the checkbook, John had the eye, but Dallas was very good at choosing star items himself, and his great passion was maps, particularly maps showing America that were printed before the year 1600, so we're talking about the first great age of discovery, exploration, and so you've got America changing shape.

ANITA: So his passion and his collecting bug had to do with maps?

He talked about having the map bug.

VO: But the bug first bit him not in America but in Paris.

LAURA: He was 18 and he was walking along the Seine, and he chanced upon one particular bookseller that had three maps on display, and one of the maps is this one here, LAURA: and it was such a shock for him to see his country represented so vividly.

VO: Pratt's aim was to rediscover America through antique maps.

To him they were a valuable snapshot of the geographical knowledge, history and beliefs of the time.

He was particularly fascinated with Columbus' expeditions and his mistaken belief he'd found the Indies rather than the Americas.

This map here is more recognizable.

LAURA: Yeah.

ANITA: The world is round.

LAURA: And in the top left we have Christopher Columbus, looking very young, dapper and handsome, perhaps never what he looked like in life, ANITA: (LAUGHS) LAURA: but still, what he... ANITA: But an adventurer should be young and glamorous and handsome!

ANITA: But what's this, where did the word "America" come from?

Oh, that's wonderful, because that all came about because of a fantastic muddle.

VO: Columbus wouldn't admit he'd found an entirely new continent rather than the Indies, so when Amerigo Vespucci, a rival with a nose for PR, started to make the claim it was a continent, he received the credit rather than Columbus.

LAURA: The name "America" comes from Amerigo Vespucci, because he was so good at telling tales, promoting himself.

A very prominent mapmaker of the period, Martin Waldseem ller, he produces a map in 1507, LAURA: a big world map, with this new discovery, and he gives all the credit to Vespucci on the map for its discovery, and he coined the phrase "America", and it was such a catchy word people latched onto it.

VO: Waldseem ller later realized his error, as the notes on this map make clear.

LAURA: It's Columbus, it's Columbus who discovered this new land!

But no one's listening, because America is such a great word.

VO: Whether it was the misnaming America or thinking Asia was across the Atlantic, many mistakenly held beliefs at the time made perfect sense, including the charting of "where there be monsters" on maps to warn fellow sailors.

ANITA: We have these giant crabs, squeezing poor sailors.

We have whales with huge tusks.

I mean, these are just the scariest, the scariest of things.

LAURA: In the text it talks about "fish as large as mountains seen off the coast of Iceland", and can you imagine how freaky that would have been if you were out in a very small boat and all of a sudden a whale breached beside you?

And it's all completely loopy, it's all completely bonkers, but in the context of the time, when so much was unknown, it absolutely made sense that things like this could exist.

VO: Dallas Pratt died in 1994, but his passion for maps has left us with a visually stunning legacy and unique insights into the beliefs of the 15th and 16th centuries.

ANITA: The thing I suppose that strikes me about this collection is the sheer beauty and artistry of the mapmakers.

LAURA: Absolutely.

ANITA: And when I think of today, what is, how do we find our way today?

By sat-nav.

A little screen in front of our windscreen.

And how poor that is compared to these wonderful maps.

Laura, it's been absolutely wonderful for you to show me around.

You're very welcome.

I've had a great time.

Thank you so much for coming.

VO: So, from a map of the world to one of the UK.

VO: Thomas has now traveled a whopping 47 miles east from Bath to Marlborough.

VO: Legend has it Marlborough was the final resting place of Merlin the magician, so can Thomas cast a spell on Gary here in Marlborough Parade Antique Center?

(DOOR CHIME) Hello, I'm Thomas.

Hello Thomas, pleased to meet you.

THOMAS: Pleased to meet you as well.

Who's the dog?

GARY: That's Eric.

THOMAS: Hello Eric, you're lovely, aren't you?

Eric's got his own shop down the road.

THOMAS: Does he?

GARY: Yep.

VO: Can Eric help Thomas sniff out a bargain?

(SNIFFS) VO: After a couple of false starts, it looks like Thomas might be onto something.

THOMAS: It's, that is cool.

Good ring tray that, isn't it?

Silver mount round there, solid silver.

THOMAS: "CB & Sons".

Date letter for London.

THOMAS: 1913.

It is, yeah.

CB & Sons.

That's for Charles Boyton.

VO: Charles Boyton was a well-known London-based silversmith from the turn of the century.

As well as the silver band, this exquisite ring or pintray is made of alabaster, the white marble-type material, and lapis, which forms the blue inlay.

It's £35.

GARY: Only £35.

THOMAS: No no, it's £35, it's still quite a lot.

GARY: Yeah, only.

THOMAS: "Only".

VO: Only £35?

We'll see about that.

Thomas heads off to the counter to see if he can squeeze a few more pounds off the price.

I've got to make a living, sir.

I know you've got to make a living... And this dealer's got to make a living.

I know the dealer's got, but it's slightly damaged.

GARY: Would be twice, three times that amount if it was undamaged, if it was unmarked.

I'm gonna live with this, whether I like it or not.

THOMAS: £30.

OK. THOMAS: That all at £30?

That's all I can do.

VO: So £30 for the pintray it is.

That's Thomas' final item bought, but will it turn out to be the best in show or a bit of a dog?

VO: Anita has hit the road again.

She's traveled 10 miles northeast to Corsham.

VO: She's heading into the Curiosity Shop.

ANITA: Hello!

ANNE: Hello!

I'm Anita.

ANNE: Hello Anita.

ANITA: Nice to meet you.

ANNE: Yes.

ANITA: Is this your lovely shop?

ANNE: It isn't actually, it's a friend's.

ANITA: Is it your shop, wee girl?

EMILY: It's my mum's.

ANITA: Oh, it your mum's!

And are you helping today?

EMILY: Yeah.

Good, good, good.

VO: The boss is Emily.

Helping her is Anne.

Ha!

VO: It doesn't take Anita long to find something.

ANITA: (GASPS) I've got a herd - I've got three horses there.

Chestnuts?

Would you say that was a chestnut?

Um, yeah, probably.

ANITA: This one is called "the Spirit of the Wind".

ANITA: That must mean that it's a thoroughbred, and they can run very, very fast.

VO: Anita is now going to see if she can get a deal on the "Spirit of the Wind."

The ticket price is £20.

ANITA: I do like this horse.

ANITA: It is Royal Doulton, that's a good factory, but this is a fairly modern example.

ANNE: Well, how about 14 Anita?

Because that's dropping it quite a bit.

ANITA: Yeah.

14.

ANITA: Could you come a wee bit more?

Say, to 10?

ANNE: Would you like to ask your mummy please... EMILY: Yeah.

..if she agrees with that.

VO: Emily needs to go and check the price with her mum, who's upstairs.

ANITA: Aye, she's very good, isn't she?

She said that 11's fine.

ANNE: 11.

ANITA: 11's fine.

11's fine?

I think we've got a deal.

Well done Anita.

ANITA: Emily, I think we've got a deal.

Thank you very very much, and thank you Mum!

ALL: (LAUGHS) VO: Haha - so Mum's word is the word.

£11 it is.

With the change safely in her pocket, Anita's shopping is all done.

VO: Both she and Thomas now have bought their lots.

Let's remind ourselves what they got.

VO: Thomas has amassed five lots - the christening set, the maritime set, the powder shaker, the mahogany screen and the pin tray.

This gaggle of goodies cost a total of £105.

VO: Anita also has five lots: the incense burner, the teapot, the top hat and case, the Murano glass and the horse figurine.

All in all, Anita spent £121.

VO: So let's hear what they think of each other's purchases.

He bought quite well, bought a nice little maritime group.

ANITA: Now we've got Cunard stuff there, and that's the magic word.

People want anything associated with the Cunard line.

Her oriental item could do tremendously well, and if that takes off, well I'm in her dust.

I think I've maybe paid a wee bit too much on some things which are maybe a bit ordinary.

It could be my lucky day.

Auctions are a funny thing.

It's all to play for.

VO: With five items each then, it's off to auction in Chiswick, west London.

ANITA: What do you think about our items and how they will fit into a London auction?

The thing is Anita, I was meant to follow your advice.

I know!

You know, my mother said to me "Thomas, listen to Anita.

She has good advice."

And I listened to you and I listened to my mother and I took none of it.

I know.

Well you were quite right, too.

VO: With the nerves jangling and their reputations on the line, it's time for today's auction at Chiswick Auctions.

THOMAS: Oh!

ANITA: Well here we are.

Our auction excitement.

THOMAS: Are you ex- come on, let's go.

ANITA: (LAUGHS) VO: The man with the gavel is William Rouse.

So what about our duo's wares?

(GAVEL) Thomas has got a more interesting, eclectic selection of items I think than Anita.

Anita, my feeling is that she's played it a bit safe.

WILLIAM: I think some of her glassware perhaps is...

It's just a little bit pedestrian, if one's honest.

WILLIAM: Tom's powder thing, I have to admit when I was first handed it, um, I really didn't know what it was.

I can't say I've ever seen anything like it before.

It's got a really good art deco feel to it.

VO: The room is busy, and there are fingers poised on mice for our internet bidders.

VO: Let's get this auction started.

VO: Yes, first up it's Thomas' lovely art deco powder shaker.

William thought you might do well with it.

What shall we start this?

£20 for this please to go?

WILLIAM: £20, £10.

£10 I'm bid, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30.

THOMAS: Call over there.

This is it.

Is this it?

THOMAS: This is it.

WILLIAM: 38, 40, 42, 45, 48, 50.

It's going.

WILLIAM: £50, on the table here at 50, it's alright, £50.

WILLIAM: You all done, finished at 50?

55 over there, new bidder.

55!

WILLIAM: Do you want 60?

£55, here at 55.

(GAVEL) THOMAS: Yes!

WILLIAM: 55.

VO: Shake your moneymaker Thomas - that's a great opening profit.

You deserve a wee kiss for that.

Mwah.

VO: Next, it's Anita's "Spirit of the Wind" horse figurine.

WILLIAM: Bid 20, 22, 25, 28, £28 for that little horse.

30 there.

32, 35.

Yes!

WILLIAM: 40 in the room.

At £40 in the room.

Anybody else?

I'm happy.

WILLIAM: Sell the lot then for £40, for the horse for 40.

WILLIAM: 1268.

ANITA: Yes!

£40, I'm happy with that.

I bet you are.

I'm not just happy, I'm delighted!

I'm deliriously delighted!

VO: The thoroughbred has galloped into profit and given Anita a solid start too.

VO: Now it's Thomas's maritime set.

Will it sink or swim?

Start me, £20 the lot please to go.

20, straight in at 20.

28.

£30.

32.

WILLIAM: £32.

35.

38.

40.

ANITA: (GASPS) WILLIAM: 45, £45 here.

£45 with Howard then.

Anybody else then?

£45 here.

(GAVEL) Excellent!

Ohhh!

Superb.

See, never listen to your mother.

No.

Or your auntie Anita.

VO: That's another inspired buy by Thomas.

VO: Enter the dragon - will the brass bring gold?

WILLIAM: £40 for the brass dish.

£30 then, surely?

Oh dear, nobody interested?

ANITA: They don't like it.

WILLIAM: 20.

£20.

20 is bid.

22 is bid.

WILLIAM: 25.

28.

30.

32.

35.

38.

40.

42.

45.

45 to my left.

THOMAS: Come on, you've doubled your money.

48, just in time.

WILLIAM: 50.

55.

60.

No?

£60 then, far left then at 60.

Here we go, £60.

(GAVEL) ANITA: Yes!

VO: It stuttered at first, but the incense burner took center stage and a tidy profit.

So far so go... shouldn't speak, ssh.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

And don't tempt fate.

VO: Can the christening set keep up this great run of profits?

WILLIAM: £20 please to go.

20 is bid.

22.

25, 28, £30, £30 is bid there, at 30, anybody else then for the silver?

WILLIAM: At £30, it goes for 30, for £30 then.

ANITA: That's alright Thomas, THOMAS: That's perfect.

ANITA: That's alright.

VO: Not quite as good as the previous lot but still a profit.

Next it's Anita's doggy teapot.

Will it stray into profit?

WILLIAM: Where shall we start this little jug there?

£20 to go?

£10 then for the jug, £10 I'm bid.

£12.

14, 16.

WILLIAM: £16 it is now, £16 for the jug.

£16.

(GAVEL) VO: Oh dear, that's a loss.

I think I'll just burst oot greetin'.

Do you know what that means?

What does that mean?

Dissolve in a flood of tears.

Oh, Anita!

VO: Now it's the silver and alabaster pin tray.

Thomas has high hopes for this.

£20 for it.

20 is bid.

22.

25.

28.

£30.

32.

35.

£35, here at 35.

WILLIAM: Nice little thing, at £35.

You all done?

35, I'm selling it for.

Thank you.

THOMAS: 35.

ANITA: Not too bad.

VO: Sadly, not quite what he'd hoped.

Are the profits starting to slow down?

VO: By my reckoning, Thomas is in front, but a good profit here could put Anita ahead.

THOMAS: I can see loads of glass collectors here.

Probably some of the most famous glass collectors in the world.

You're shooting me a line!

I am.

WILLIAM: Start me, £20 for them.

20 I'm bid.

22.

25.

£25 in the corner.

At 25, 28, thank you.

30.

No?

£30 then, in the corner at £30.

Are you all done and finished then for 30?

WILLIAM: £30 (GAVEL) VO: Och!

That glass didn't shine for our punters.

VO: We're in the home straight now.

Can Thomas' final item seal victory for him?

£10 for the screen.

I'm bid 10.

12.

14.

16.

£16 in the distance.

Do you want 18?

No, £16.

18 I'm bid.

20, 22.

£22 for the screen.

22, you all done?

(GAVEL) I thought that was a lovely wee screen as well.

So did I.

22.

Disappointment reigns supreme.

VO: That's a bad loss for Thomas, and it puts Anita right back in the game.

ANITA: It's the roller-coaster ride.

We feel wonderful and then all of a sudden we're down.

One more lot to go.

VO: She needs some big numbers here from the hat to come out on top.

Ha!

THOMAS: Here we are.

ANITA: Here we are.

What's it worth?

Start me, £20 for a top hat.

WILLIAM: 20 I'm bid, thank you.

22, 22 I'll take.

£20 from the left.

22.

25.

28.

£30.

WILLIAM: 32.

35.

38.

£40.

To my left then at 40.

Anybody else for the top hat and box at £40?

Well.

A £5 profit.

Yeah.

VO: It's a profit, but is it enough?

Yeah, let's go and do the sums.

And have a cup of tea.

THOMAS: Definitely.

VO: So, where does that leave our pair?

VO: After paying auction costs, Anita's haul has made her a modest profit of £31.52, leaving her to start tomorrow with an improved £180.96.

VO: Thomas also made a profit today of £48.34, which makes him the day's winner, and also keeps him in the overall lead and ready to rise afresh tomorrow with £211 to spend.

ANITA: Well Thomas, I think we should not be too unhappy about the results.

Do you think it's time to crack open the champagne and off to the races with all our money?

Well, I think probably a wee cup of tea's more like the thing!

VO: And they're off!

(ENGINE RUMBLES) VO: In your own time.

VO: On the next Antiques Road Trip - we're heading deeper into the West Country, where Anita has a romantic moment.

Ooh-a.

Reminds me a bit of one of my old boyfriends.

VO: And Thomas proves to be a safe pair of hands.

Watch.

Well I'll break it, and drop it.

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