VOICEOVER (VO): The nation's favorite antiques experts, £200 each and one big challenge.

Cuz I'm going to declare war.

Why?

VO: Who can make the most money buying and selling antiques as they scour the UK?

Can you make it...?

No.

VO: The aim is to trade up and hope each antique turns a profit.

Ouch!

VO: But it's not as easy as you might think - and things don't always go to plan.

Push!

VO: So will they race off with a huge profit, or come to a grinding halt?

We're doomed!

We're doomed!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

VO: It's the penultimate day for our dashing duo, Thomas Plant and Paul Laidlaw, and it's all to play for.

THOMAS: I think my modus operandi is to buy tat again!

THOMAS: And turn it into gold!

PAUL: Thomas, Thomas, it's clearly working for you!

PAUL: You've got the junk Midas touch!

VO: Thomas Plant is an auctioneer and jewel expert, but when it comes to making decisions, well, it can take some time...

I just need something to come out and grab me.

Hm... VO: Our proud Scottish expert, Mr Laidlaw, is a lifelong collector, with a passion for all things military.

He loves a bargain and seldom backs down.

I think my estimate in an auction is £30-£60 on that.

PAUL: Can we do it?

Thank you very much indeed.

AUCTIONEER: 1387, it's a hallmarked silver-cased trench watch.

VO: At yesterday's auction, Paul was playing it safe and stuck with what he knows best, militaria.

Well done.

Well done.

That's a really good profit.

VO: And it's certainly worked.

Show me the money!

More money!

VO: After a disappointing start, he's now on the up, with £255.88.

But can he catch his fearsome competitor?

VO: Thomas is keeping his chin up despite a gut-wrenching loss at the last auction.

Where do we see it?

Who's going to start me £30?

AUCTIONEER: 30 pound online.

At £30.

Ouch!

VO: Sadly, two of his lots didn't impress, leaving him with £305.20.

He's still on top but he definitely needs to up his game.

But it's a new day, and keeping them on track is their sporty Alfa Romeo Spider.

THOMAS: Lovely day, isn't it?

You know... PAUL: Laidlaw and Plant, in their little Italian hairdryer.

VO: Starting in Skipton, Thomas and Paul will travel over 400 miles south, through the beautiful Yorkshire dales, the home counties of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, before arriving in Pewsey, for the final auction.

VO: It's the penultimate trip and they're leaving Towcester behind them, heading for auction four in Watlington.

First stop is the beautiful market town of Olney.

VO: Olney is known for its Pancake Race, which has been run in the town every Pancake Day since 1445, but perhaps it's best known as the place the Olney Hymns were written.

MUSIC: "Amazing Grace" (SOUL ARRANGEMENT) # Amazing grace, # How sweet the sound # VO: John Newton, the author of the hymn 'Amazing Grace', was curate of Olney and is buried here.

VO: Sadly pancakes aren't on the menu today, and as the boys go their separate ways, Mr Laidlaw's first shop of the day is Dodo Antiques, where he's meeting proprietor Owain.

PAUL: Do you own this material or are...do you represent a lot of different sellers?

Bit of a combination.

Most of the furniture's mine.

There's a cabinet in each room pretty much rented out.

PAUL: My word - what a lovely offering.

It just feels lovely in here.

VO: And it just gets better and better for Paul.

PAUL: Look at these fabulous art deco cloud chairs, round this fabulous burl veneer table.

But between you and me, price is my problem at the moment - not choice, price.

VO: You've got over £200 to spend.

Surely there's something you can afford.

PAUL: It's a dinner gong.

It's missing a cord at the moment but let's do the business, shall we?

(RINGS GONG) PAUL: Lovely tone.

Very oriental.

That's a shell case.

VO: You really are drawn to all things military aren't you Paul?

It's a British naval shell, and from the markings, looks to date to January 1898.

PAUL: This is kept as a souvenir and actually re-used.

But don't they make a handsome gong?

Now, what's it on?

PAUL: Rather architectural, rather classy.

Some of these are junk, but this absolutely is not.

PAUL: Whopping great big piece of mahogany.

PAUL: So far as they go, it's a superior example.

VO: It's a pretty unique item and I'm sensing Paul has fallen for its charm.

PAUL: But I can't see a price on it to start with!

We could do that for £45 for you.

Could you think harder about that?

I'm thinking pretty hard!

PAUL: I think that's not expensive.

OWAIN: It's not.

PAUL: But it's not a bargain yet.

So what is a bargain?

20 quid's a bargain!

20 quid's scrap!

PAUL: That's... Let's see if we can find a few things you're interested in and do a deal.

Why don't we?

I like that.

VO: While Paul hunts for potential bargains, Thomas is across the road in Leo's place, and he's feeling the pressure.

THOMAS: Oh, it's difficult, isn't it?

You see, Paul's got this vision of me just buying toot.

The thing is, I just know what sells, especially in that jewelry world.

THOMAS: I mean, he knows about his military thing.

Oh!

More military stuff!

VO: It might be draining, Thomas, but it's the military stuff that's keeping Mr Laidlaw hot on your tail!

With a bit of help from shop manager Di, Thomas starts to make progress.

THOMAS: Is it alright if I just go through and then pick out things I'm interested in?

Not at all, Martin.

THOMAS: Thomas.

DI: Thomas!

Where does "Martin" come from?

I don't know.

Is that ridiculous?

I've never been called a Martin.

Robert, I get a lot of, because of Robert Plant.

But Martin... VO: Hm.

I think you might have to enlighten Di on that one!

Yeah, the singer, Led Zeppelin singer.

THOMAS: Going to put them over there... VO: Glad you've cleared that up, Martin!

Now, back to business, Thomas.

See, I am drawn to this, but this looks like it's been in there a long time.

THOMAS: It could be an old friend.

I've put these two to one side.

39 and 9.50.

It's German, 1920s/1930s, that sort of fashion for that Egyptian style jewelry.

THOMAS: I don't even think it's silver.

I mean, you know, this is too rich for me at £38, DI: Would you be interested in it?

Well, I would be but it's a real low figure.

Real low figure.

How low?

THOMAS: I mean it's so low, I don't expect people to accept it.

20?

THOMAS: No, it's too much, I'm afraid.

How much too much?

THOMAS: If it was a tenner, I'd have it.

VO: A tenner?!

Thomas, I think you could be pushing your luck here, boy!

THOMAS: And then there's this brooch which I'm interested in.

I like these from the point of view that these are smoky quartz.

Yes.

Which isn't the greatest stone ever to walk this earth, but still, it's a smoky quartz, isn't it?

You know the interesting thing about this brooch?

The backing on it...

Yes, yes.

..is foil backed, so it dates it to 19th century.

Tell you what... You see, I've got this £20 sitting here.

I'd give you that for those two.

So that makes that 15 and that makes that five.

Because it's you, Tom...

I'll accept 20.

Oh, brilliant.

DI: Thank you.

THOMAS: Thank you very much.

VO: Well done, Thomas - that's a great buy!

Time for Mr Laidlaw to show us what he's got.

PAUL: Now, all, some or none of these could end up worth buying but let's see what we've got.

Lovely little pocket notepad.

Nice.

Pocket fruit knife.

This is a bit of decadence for you - cocktail swizzle stick.

Cuz isn't it so tiresome when one's champagne is just a tad too effervescent?

Like those.

VO: He's also found an English, silver cigar cutter, a silver penknife, as well as a lorgnette I say!

Isn't Mrs Smith's behavior scandalous in the village at the moment?!

VO: It's a great collection of silver but at £171, it would only leave him with £84.88 to spend.

How are you getting on, Paul?

If there's any way you can look at what can be squeezed on all of that potentially... OK.

I'll go and give the dealer a ring, see what I can do.

VO: Be warned Owain, our Mr Laidlaw loves a good haggle!

Is that best?

Thank you.

See you later.

OWAIN: She's saying, really, that the best she could do would be £145 on the lot.

Well, what did we start at?

I never even added them up.

Em...you've got 15% off there.

15?!

Yeah.

She's no even trying, is she?

OWAIN: OK, I could throw something else into the deal to try and sweeten it for you, if you want.

Liking the sound of that.

I've got something over here.

VO: This kind of negotiation is right up Paul's street!

OWAIN: We've had this little lot... PAUL: ..for a while!

VO: Owain has two classic mirrors.

They're priced at £80 and £95.

At the last auction, Paul's mirror did very well - much to Thomas' disappointment.

You've made a steady profit on all of them.

PAUL: So we've a reproduction, late Georgian style, oval framed, satinwood stringing to the edges...

There's nothing the matter with it apart from nobody wants it.

And the Victorian one is like a tombstone, isn't it?!

VO: Mr Laidlaw, I'm shocked!

I thought you'd be snapping them up.

I could do 'em for a tenner each.

VO: What a bargain!

How can you refuse?

My fear at the moment is that I'm shooting all my bolts.

But I'm still talking to you.

Where were we with the gong?

PAUL: Was it 40?

I'll go to 30 on the gong.

Now we're talking about gong, couple of mirrors and a handful of silver and plate.

Add it up and give me the last price on the lot, then.

The best price is 190.

Gimme a wee bit off it.

20 quid off that.

170 quid.

Cash, job done, I'm outta here.

Everybody wins.

I'll drop it to 180.

170.

PAUL: You're teetering.

You want to do it.

Go on, then.

VO: What a result!

How do you manage it, Paul?

One shop down and already he's bought four lots.

The pressure's back on you, Thomas.

VO: After a great buy with the brooches, Thomas is hoping for another bargain.

He's met Allan, one of the dealers.

THOMAS: Oh, we got the same watch.

There's good taste for you!

There's good taste, is it?

VO: Allan rents space in the shop for his collection of clocks and watches.

THOMAS: That's a lovely Albert, isn't it?

ALLAN: It's a gorgeous fob as well.

ALLAN: A lot of gold... THOMAS: Ooh... ALLAN: ..and a beautifully enameled center... VO: Named after Queen Victoria's beloved consort Albert, it consists of a T bar and two complete chains.

THOMAS: Basically, you'd wear this in your waistcoat here, so your watch would have been clipped on...

There it is... clipped on like this.

If I clip it on, you've got a watch on there.

That would have gone into your waistcoat pocket in there and this would have gone into the buttonhole of your waistcoat.

THOMAS: That's rather handsome.

THOMAS: So, um, is that something you're willing to sort of sell to me, at a deal?

I'd always be willing to sell you something.

Well, I know you would, but, you know... You mean at the right price?

A good price.

Would you consider £90 a reasonable price?

Well, that's OK...

I had another figure in mind.

A bit less.

But I know that I'm being sort of pushing.

I'll take another five off - 85, which is very reasonable.

THOMAS: You wouldn't go as low as 70?

No.

You said you'd take a fiver.

Would you take a bit more off?

Not really.

THOMAS: Really?

Go on.

No.

No?

I'll do it for 80 but that's it, alright?

£80.

Yep.

That's it.

Well, I like you.

I'm gonna say yes.

OK. We've got a deal.

Thank you very much.

THOMAS: It's a very nice thing.

ALLAN: Good.

I hope it's not the undoing of me!

VO: Now, all that's left is for Thomas to dish the dosh to Di - but not before he's had one last try.

THOMAS: We agreed on 80.

He wasn't gonna go down any more, wasn't he?

That was it.

A bit of profit and by the time he's paid commission... THOMAS: How much commission is he gonna pay?

Well... THOMAS: Could you give me the commission off?

I can't.

I'm so sorry.

I had to ask!

VO: Meanwhile, after a mammoth shopping spree, Paul drives 14 miles south, to Bletchley Park.

Well, this looks promising... PAUL: "Welcome To Bletchley Park National Code center."

VO: Bletchley Park is the historic site of secret British code-breaking activities during World War II.

The museum reveals the incredibly complex processes needed to break the German codes that proved so important in winning the war.

Hello.

Is it John?

VO: Being a military enthusiast, Paul is extremely excited to be shown around by volunteer John Jackson.

Shall we go in?

PAUL: Thank you very much.

Expensive technology.

JOHN: Yeah!

VO: Enigma is perhaps the best known cipher machine of all time and Bletchley Park has the largest collection of these machines on public display in Europe.

JOHN: What we have here is the standard three-wheel enigma machine used by the German armed forces throughout the Second World War.

JOHN: This machine was used under battlefield conditions.

Wherever the German military machine went during the Second World War, around 50,000 of these machines went with them.

Wow.

VO: The enigma machines were designed and used by the Germans to send each other encrypted messages.

It was these messages that were picked up and sent to Bletchley Park for the code breakers to crack.

So I'm sitting here and I've a secret message to get back to HQ, and here's the message, and for every letter I put in, I get a different and encrypted or enciphered letter out?

JOHN: Yes.

VO: If Bletchley Park had broken a particular code during the day, they had to start all over again, as every night, at midnight, the German operators would change the settings on their enigma machines.

JOHN: When that key was set up for the day, the odds against finding it were one in 158 million million million.

And when you consider that getting the winning ticket in the lottery is only one in 14 million, you understand why the Germans were so confident about the security of this machine.

VO: In order to decipher the German enigma messages, the British designed a machine called the bombe, and this became the primary tool used at Bletchley Park to crack the enigma messages.

This is the bombe rebuild, and this is Helen... Hello, Helen, how are you?

..another one of the bombe demonstration team.

JOHN: It took the team 12 years to rebuild.

JOHN: It has got 12 miles of wiring and it has got 17,000 screws keeping it together.

JOHN: And during the course of the Second World War, these machines broke 2.5 million messages enciphered on the enigma machine.

Astonishing.

And it is said that Bletchley Park probably shortened the war by as much as two years.

JOHN: And the great tragedy of these machines is that the day after the war ended, they began breaking them up.

And it wasn't until 1974 that anybody outside of Bletchley Park even knew that they had existed.

VO: 1,600 Wrens worked on the bombes at Bletchley Park.

Eight hour shifts, 24/7, right up until the 8th of May, 1945.

Conditions were hard, they were in bomb-proof buildings with no windows, and the need for speed and accuracy made the work relentless.

JOHN: The crucial thing about the job they did was all the clever interception and all the genius of the code breakers would have fallen down if the Wrens had not been 100% accurate when they plugged up the bombe.

If they got it wrong, everything went wrong.

But they were wonderful young women and they did an outstanding job.

VO: Churchill called the work done at Bletchley Park his "ultra secret", and at one time thanked the Wrens for "laying the golden eggs without clucking".

What a fascinating place!

And who would have thought that just six miles down the road in Woburn, another great piece of history took place?

MUSIC: "The Wedding March" by Mendelssohn THOMAS: This was the venue for my wedding, Woburn Abbey.

A few years down the line, here I am, back again, and it brings back very, very happy memories.

So, what a lucky boy.

VO: Hopefully your luck will continue, as you head to the old town hall, aptly named Town Hall Antiques, where owner Elfyn is on hand to help.

THOMAS: Well, I wouldn't mind looking in your friend's cabinet.

OK, let me go and get the key.

Yeah, thank you very much.

Thanks.

ELFYN: I haven't seen that.

She's only just put that in.

ELFYN: It looks like a nice object.

THOMAS: A Viennese bronze of a swallow.

THOMAS: It's well done.

Just tap it with your ring.

THOMAS: Obviously if it's another metal, it doesn't ring as well as bronze.

And that's got a really nice ring to it.

That's got 125 on it.

What's she like?

Good or bad?

ELFYN: She's mean as...mean as anything.

THOMAS: Really?

Really hard, yes.

Really hard.

ELFYN: I should say 115... THOMAS: Really?

But I could squeeze to 110.

Really?

THOMAS: I love that swallow.

She wouldn't come down any more on that if you gave her a call?

ELFYN: I'll take another five but not a penny less.

105.

I...I think that's quite a good buy.

So I think you're being very mean if you're not happy to pay 105.

What about 100?

No.

No.

Not at all.

105.

The thing about that is I just think it's slightly out of fashion.

Well, start a new fashion.

Me be the trendsetter?

Yeah, yeah.

You've got the auction to do it.

VO: Oh, dear.

Has the Plant charm lost its sparkle?

I don't know.

I'm in two minds.

THOMAS: I'm about to spend £105 on a bronze figure.

But is it just not fashionable?

Elfyn is...he's a nice guy, he knows his stuff.

I don't think I can push him down much further.

I might get thrown out of his shop if I do.

VO: Time for a change of tactics.

VO: Thomas is looking for something to pair with the swallow, in the hope that Elfyn will do him a deal.

THOMAS: These are cultured pearls, so the bead's been implanted inside the oyster.

They're quite nice though.

THOMAS: They've got this sort of creamy color to them but look how they change color.

It's a creamy color against my skin, see that?

THOMAS: But put pearls against white and look what happens - they come alive.

Isn't that amazing?

Do you think she would do me a deal on these two items?

ELFYN: On that and the swallow?

Well we got these at 59 and I've got the swallow at 125.

That's...184.

If I say 150 for the two items?

THOMAS: Could I sneak a little bit more?

I really don't think so, no.

It's n... You're sure?

I'm sure.

Yeah.

150 for the two items.

And are you really positive you couldn't do 140?

Nope.

Oh, no.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, no.

Definitely not.

Definitely?

150 is my absolute death.

Are you sure not 140?

No.

Definitely not.

150 is the death.

Meet you halfway?

No.

150 is the deal.

Just do it for 145.

No.

No.

150.

But I will toss a coin for it.

THOMAS: Alright.

Call.

THOMAS: Heads.

ELFYN: Tails it is.

THOMAS: Oh... God that means I woulda spent 250 in my first day!

Go on, let's do it!

ELFYN: Well done.

VO: Who'd have thought it?

Thomas has bought five lots in the first day!

The competition's heating up but for now our antique hunters need their beauty sleep.

VO: It's a new day and our chaps are on the road again.

THOMAS: What are you gonna buy?

Are you gonna be buying more things today?

You bought four already.

Yeah, look, I'm on a roll.

I can't help myself.

THOMAS: One expensive item, go on!

THOMAS: So far you haven't bought one item over three figures yet, have you?

(SING SONG) No, you haven't, no you haven't not a single item!

PAUL: But I haven't crashed and burned with one either!

VO: So far, Paul's spent £170 on four lots - the dinner gong, a Victorian dressing mirror, a Sheraton string inlaid mirror, as well as a collection of silver delights, leaving £85.88 for the day ahead.

Thomas, meanwhile, hit the first days shopping hard, spending a colossal £250 on five lots - an Egyptian brooch, a smoky quartz brooch, a double Albert watch chain, a figurine of a swallow and a pearl necklace.

He has just £55.20 left to spend.

THOMAS: But yeah, pretty good fun, huh?

PAUL: Yeah.

VO: They're leaving Woburn behind, and chauffeur Paul is dropping Thomas in Shuttleworth, where he's in for a treat.

Chocks away!

THOMAS: Chocks away for me!

I feel like a very lucky spoilt boy!

VO: With all his shopping done in the first day, Mr Plant is off to a flying start, so he's come to the Shuttleworth Aerodrome.

Good luck buying.

Spend all your money.

PAUL: Rest assured.

Yeah.

Enjoy.

VO: The Shuttleworth Collection is an assortment of working aircraft and automobiles, founded by the young aviator Richard Shuttleworth.

Showing Thomas around is Tony Podmore.

Come on in and let me show you... THOMAS: I'm fascinated by the collection and how it came to be.

Obviously there was a Mr Shuttleworth.

TONY: Well, Richard Shuttleworth was born in 1909.

He had inherited his grandfather and father's flair for all things mechanical.

VO: Richard Shuttleworth was passionate about cars and became a motor racing driver, taking part in the first ever British Grand Prix in 1935.

VO: But after a nasty accident, his career was cut short.

TONY: He decided though, however, to take an interest in flying, because, he thought, it was so much safer!

This "never give up" attitude, this "never die" attitude, you know, it's like... it's terribly British.

VO: And Richard's gung ho attitude didn't stop there.

When war broke out, he volunteered as a pilot for the Royal Air Force.

It was during, very sadly, a night flying sortie at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire that he suffered a fatal crash.

So he was only 31?

VO: In 1944, Richard's mother set up a trust in his memory, and today the collection houses some of Richard's most prized possessions.

TONY: There she is - the world's oldest airworthy airplane.

My!

1909 Bleriot.

1909!

TONY: Isn't she amazing?

THOMAS: It is amazing!

TONY: Richard believed that the very best form of preservation was to keep everything in working order.

Has this ever been up, really?

In the air?

Oh, yes.

THOMAS: Really?

Absolutely, yes.

THOMAS: It goes up in the air?

TONY: Yes.

What we tend to do nowadays, in view of the rarity value of this airplane - it is the only one of its kind in the world - we restrict it to what we affectionately call "hops".

THOMAS: Oh, right, OK.

This is where it goes down our runway and the aircraft comes off the ground, and just "hops" along.

Wow.

It looks like one of those model aero engines I sell at auctions.

There's no chance we can hop with this one today?

TONY: No, but I tell you what we can do - we can actually fly one for real for you.

Not one of these though.

Not the Bleriot - vintage 1931 de Havilland Tiger Moth.

Yes!

TONY: Come this way!

VO: While Thomas gets kitted out, Paul's taking his £88.55 south, to Hemel Hempstead.

VO: After World War II, Hemel Hempstead was designated a new town for people displaced by the London blitz.

PAUL: Interesting wee neck of the woods.

VO: The original part of Hemel is still known as the old town and it's where Paul is on the hunt.

That looks the part, doesn't it?

"Off the Wall" - "Eccentric European Collectables".

That's got Laidlaw written all over it.

But closed!

VO: But never one to be defeated, Laidlaw's on the phone, to track the owner down.

Why not?

In for a penny.

Give it a try.

PAUL: Michelle, where are you when I need you?

MICHELLE: (VOICEMAIL) I can't answer your call right now.

If you leave your message, with a number... VO: As he patiently waits for news, Thomas is ready for action.

(ROCK MUSIC) That's fabulous.

You look great.

How do you feel?

I feel ready to do it.

Hold tight.

VO: Up, up and away!

Hold on tight, Biggles!

The de Havilland Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane, designed by Geoffrey de Havilland, and was operated by the Royal Air Force as a primary trainer.

The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until 1952.

VO: Thomas, it looks as if you're having a ball!

Oh, that was just awesome - absolutely awesome!

THOMAS: Absolutely wonderful.

Very honored.

THOMAS: And as you can tell by my big smile, it's been a wonderful, wonderful trip up.

VO: Mm.

Awesome.

While Thomas is on cloud nine, Paul's prayers have been answered.

VO: Shop owner Michelle opened up.

But in order to get in, he needs to help move stuff out!

It's just like portering around the auction room again!

VO: Michelle has owned the shop for 11 years and it's bursting at the seams!

Good luck, Paul.

Oof!

This place is like an antiques TARDIS!

Have you seen round here?

PAUL: Look at this!

You know what I need?

One of those big long poles, that's what I need - tightrope!

That is a Georgian cribbage board.

I love cribbage, my favorite card game.

I played too much of this in 6th form!

So how does one use a cribbage board when playing crib?

Well, you get points for certain card combinations, and I start at this end and you may start at the other.

And we race one another round the board.

This is just a score-keeping board.

People played crib round this maybe 150 maybe even 200 years ago, in a tavern, smoking a clay pipe.

PAUL: I think it's charming.

It is £3.

(MOUTHING) Chinese armchair.

VO: Now, what have you spotted?

PAUL: It is a Chinese armchair here, a striking piece of furniture.

You'll have to come and have a look in a mo'.

But I don't know that there's any tremendous age to it.

Never mind the quality - feel the weight!

PAUL: I'd like it to be 18th or 19th century, brought back in some tea clipper or in someone's military baggage train.

What I don't want is it to have been brought over 30 years ago in a shipping container, with a whole load of other looky-likies.

VO: After his antique assault course, it's time to talk numbers.

MICHELLE: I think I paid about £90 for it... PAUL: Oh!

MICHELLE: ..about 15 years ago.

PAUL: Wow, wow.

Ouch.

So how about 50 the chair, Paul?

We've got a deal for the chair?

PAUL: OK. You might have seen me looking at this wee cribbage board.

MICHELLE: Am I feeling a "buy one, get one free" moment coming?

Oh, you... You didn't tell me you could read minds as well, Michelle!

Yeah, I'm psychic!

I think I'm sticking my neck out with the chair.

That is a gamble.

When I said volatile, it could go the other way - it could work for me.

MICHELLE: Yeah.

If you give me the chair for 45, throw that in as a wee freebie, I'll take a punt at the chair.

OK.

The chair takes up more room, in this very overcrowded shop!

PAUL: It's empty!

VO: True.

With his last two lots secured, it's time for Mr Laidlaw to show Mr Plant his treasures.

THOMAS: Did you spend all your money?

Uh...I spent a goodly sum, Thomas.

Come on, show me!

Prepare to be under-whelmed.

THOMAS: Oh, right, come on - just get on with it!

THOMAS: Oh for... PAUL: (LAUGHS) I'm so bored!

Thomas, when you're gifted, you find it difficult to walk past mirrors.

PAUL: Tenner.

THOMAS: No!

Get in!

A tenner?!

That's amazing, well done, you.

So this... PAUL: Oh, my word!

Looks a nine carat... THOMAS: A lovely bit of silver, yeah, yeah, with a lovely enamel and silver fob.

PAUL: I see that, yeah.

With gold on it.

But I paid 80.

If you want one, try and find me better.

I defy you.

Gorgeous quality.

Speaking of gorgeousness... THOMAS: Oh, for Go... THOMAS: No!

Not another one!

THOMAS: Why did you buy an Edwardian one?

That was cheap, so that one was 70.

No, it wasn't 70.

Don't be so ridiculous!

Tenner.

Oh, Go...

But you know, is there a pattern here?

The pattern is Laidlaw bought a good thing at a killer price again!

THOMAS: There we are.

PAUL: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

King Tut.

Is it 1920s, Egyptian... 1920s, Egyptian revival.

PAUL: Yeah.

OK. No...it's...n... No, but it's £15.

It's... How can you go wrong with that?

£15.

You can't.

If you're lucky, double your money?

Well, if you're... £20-£30, if it goes.

Yeah, but it's gonna make more than 15.

THOMAS: I mean, it's a good-looking thing.

Close your eyes.

Trust me.

THOMAS: Can I open them?

THOMAS: Oh... PAUL: How... What do you... You're weeping at the splendor of my dinner gong.

THOMAS: So a shell in a fire iron set, attached to it by a bit of string.

Paul, it's fun, it's fun, but did you spend more than £35 on this?

Would that be a bad thing if I had?

Um...personally, yes.

Paid 30 pound for it.

THOMAS: So I think it's a silvered bronze.

Yeah.

THOMAS: It cost me 100.

PAUL: I'm loving that.

THOMAS: It's a good thing.

What a great thing.

THOMAS: Lovely thing.

So, come on.

Onto the microscopic now.

THOMAS: Onto the titchy-witchy!

THOMAS: Lovely little silver fruit knife.

£20.

£18.

Oh now, come on.

I know when he's pleased with himself.

THOMAS: OK, so this is a little Laidlaw lot?

THOMAS: Those are nice gold lorgnettes.

PAUL: They are Really nice... PAUL: Well, I don't know...

I did not buy them as gold.

That's just part of it.

Oh, no.

Oh, and another one.

THOMAS: Oh yes, sweet, sweet.

Let's be sensible here.

PAUL: You're not gonna get that cheap.

I would say that lot cost you...£65.

120.

120?

No, that's fine.

THOMAS: It's a nice lot, and it's gonna make that.

But that's not the lot.

I got that.

THOMAS: And something else, come on.

Trippin' over it.

THOMAS: Oh, and a cigar cutter.

PAUL: And eh, what's this...?

No.

What's this in here?

THOMAS: A swizzle stick.

PAUL: Yeah.

120 all of that?

That's a very, very good lot.

OK. Smoky quartz?

Nine carat.

THOMAS: Yeah.

It is gold.

19th century setting.

Obviously it would've been part of a brooch.

PAUL: OK. Um...you got that dirt cheap.

You paid £15 for that.

THOMAS: I paid a fiver!

PAUL: Oh!

THOMAS: £5.

You're romping home with that.

That's not a problem.

THOMAS: OK, Chinese chair.

PAUL: Yeah.

All the hallmarks of authenticity.

THOMAS: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

What did you pay for it?

45.

That was cheap.

PAUL: I would have to be unlucky to lose on that.

I quite like... Because the thing is, I was so disappointed with these, but they were only a tenner each.

You know why I did... How... You're not walking past those, are you?

I am.

I'm walking past those... PAUL: At a tenner?

I'm not interested.

Oh, you're interested in diamante.

I forgot!

THOMAS: I've got a string of pearls.

THOMAS: They're lovely, creamy pearls.

Very subtly graded.

Yeah, they're not bad.

And a wee sterling clasp.

I've seen these picking up... Buy these for £80 under the hammer.

Yeah.

They were 50 to me.

Yeah.

So are we done?

Wait a minute, wait a minute - I've got a freebie.

It's nice, that.

Why did you get that free?

You shouldn't be getting free things.

If I was you, I could put it with that lot... Can somebody pick up Tom's dummy?

He spat it over there.

No, it is quite nice.

It's gonna make, you know, 20-30 quid.

PAUL: Absolutely.

THOMAS: I don't mind saying, you've done really well.

VO: Well, it's all sounding very nice, isn't it?

Time to hear, though, what they really think.

I am really nervous what's going to happen at the auction, because he's bought really well.

And although I've bought well, that silver lot is gonna eclipse everything, and as soon as that came out, I went ugh!

I think this is the auction where it turns in my favor again.

VO: Well, maybe.

It's been a fabulous jaunt, though, from delightful Olney, via Woburn and Hemel Hempstead, with the auction house in Watlington firmly in their sights.

THOMAS: I feel pretty confident, Paul.

THOMAS: You've got some great lots coming up.

PAUL: I played a good hand there.

VO: Reputedly England's smallest town, nestling in the shadows of the Chiltern Hills, Watlington offers a traditional market town welcome - just what our cheeky chaps need on auction day.

VO: Kicking things off today is auctioneer Simon Jones.

But first, what does he think of their choices?

I think there's a good cross-section.

SIMON: The little bronze bird, that will do well, because it's just a nice, pretty little thing.

SIMON: I think my favorite item will be the chair, simply because you don't see that many of them and it's just a lovely object.

VO: Paul began this leg with £255.88 and has since spent £215 on six auction lots.

As for Thomas, he started with £305.20 and threw caution to the wind, spending £250 on five auction lots.

It's the moment of truth.

Let the auction begin.

VO: First up, it's Paul's dressing mirror.

SIMON: What can we say?

£50, £60 for it?

40 then to start me, for the toilet mirror.

SIMON: 40 I'm bid.

42 anywhere?

SIMON: You all happy at 40.

All done then at 40.

VO: Excellent start.

But will the dinner gong strike the right note?

SIMON: £50, £60 for it?

£50?

50 I'm bid.

55 before I go to the phone?

Coming to you now at 55, Kay.

SIMON: 55 I'm bid.

60 anywhere?

At 55 then.

It's 60.

65.

65.

70.

70 I'm bid.

75?

Come to Daddy.

75.

80?

80 I'm bid.

85?

85?

SIMON: At £80 then, it's in the room at £80.

We're all done at 80.

619 Well done.

You were... Read it and weep, Plant!

VO: Well done, Paul.

You're off to a flying start.

And it can only get better, as your next lot was a freebie.

SIMON: Lot 110, it's the little treen cribbage board.

SIMON: Sweet little chap, this.

What can we say to that?

£40, £50 for it?

That would do.

20 then to start me.

15 to go.

Weird, that.

Anybody want a cribbage board?

SIMON: 10.

10 I'm bid.

12 anywhere?

Dirt cheap, dirt cheap.

SIMON: £10 then.

I would give you more than that for it.

At £10 then.

All done at 10.

PAUL: Ah, well - it was a tenner.

THOMAS: Well, it cost you nothing, it owes you nothing.

That's £10.

VO: Three lots down and Paul's hot on your heels, Thomas.

Let's hope your figurine pays off.

SIMON: Lot 116 is the bronze figurine of a swallow.

Silver plated on a little circular base there.

£100 for it?

PAUL: He's asking for the right money.

SIMON: 50 then.

50 I'm bid.

55 anywhere?

£50.

SIMON: 55?

Yes, 55.

60.

65?

£60 then.

SIMON: That's right at the back of the room at 60.

PAUL: That's somebody got a bargain there, Thomas.

PAUL: You were unlucky there.

Somebody got a bargain.

VO: Oh, dear.

It was always going to be risky.

Now for Paul's second mirror.

SIMON: 128, is the Sheraton string inlaid dressing mirror.

SIMON: £40, £50 for this?

30 then to start me.

20 for the dressing mirror.

Little Sheraton one.

Shield shape.

Yeah, £20 I'm bid.

At 20.

All done at 20.

PAUL: Thank you, auctioneer.

THOMAS: £10 profit.

VO: Back to Thomas, for his pearls.

Fingers crossed!

SIMON: Lot 330's a string of graduated cultured pearls, with a silver and marcasite clasp.

There we are.

£40, £50 for it.

30 to start then.

..necklace.

Don't tell me pearls are out of fashion.

SIMON: £20 I'm bid.

22 anywhere?

At £20, all done at 20.

PAUL: Ouch!

VO: Oh, go on!

Give him a hug!

A hug?

THOMAS: No.

PAUL: You want a hug?

No.

Later.

No hugs later.

VO: Surely his silver double Albert chain and fob will get him back in the game?

40 then, to start me.

40 I'm bid.

42.

44?

£42 seated.

44 anywhere?

SIMON: At £42, all done at 42.

667.

Do you want me to start bidding on your stuff?

Cuz I find that I've got a lot of money to burn.

Cheers!

VO: Keep positive, Thomas - things can only get better!

SIMON: ..350 is an enamel 1930s Egyptian brooch, in the little box there.

£30, £40 for this.

That's what it should do.

20 then, to start me, for the brooch.

SIMON: £20 I'm bid.

22 anywhere for the brooch?

22.

24.

26.

28.

30.

32.

34.

36.

38.

40.

42?

At £40.

All done at 40.

SIMON: 126.

PAUL: Sweet.

VO: That's more like it!

Now for Thomas's last stab, the double smoky quartz brooch.

SIMON: £30 for it?

MAN: 25.

SIMON: 25 I'm bid.

28?

£25, then, for the smoky quartz.

£25 then, you're all done at 25, with Alan.

PAUL: Oh, fair enough.

VO: The brooches were your saving grace.

Now for Paul's collection of silver.

I'm nervous about this bag of stuff.

Here it comes.

£100 to start me.

£100 I'm bid.

110 anywhere?

110.

120.

130.

140.

150?

140 then.

Oh, dear.

SIMON: Standing at the back of the room at 140.

SIMON: 150 anywhere?

That's a cheap lot of stuff.

SIMON: 140, all done.

664.

VO: It's Paul's last stab at a big profit.

SIMON: A Chinese chair.

What can we say for that?

£100 to start me for it.

THOMAS: £100 starter.

SIMON: £100.

£100 I'm bid.

110?

At £100.

You all happy at £100?

On the maiden bid of £100, you all done.

SIMON: 627.

THOMAS: Can you lend me some money?

PAUL: (LAUGHS) Can you lend me some money?

VO: In spectacular fashion, Mr Laidlaw wins the day!

VO: Thomas started today's show victorious, with £305.20.

But after commission, he's made a hideous loss of £96.66, giving him a meagre £208.54 to spend tomorrow.

VO: Paul, meanwhile, started with £255.88.

He made a fabulous profit of £104.80.

So, with a whopping £360.68 in the kitty, he's firmly in the lead.

What a rollercoaster!

Huh?

You're tellin' me!

I've been...

I've been like I've been on the helter-skelter, you know?

It's gonna make for an interesting shop in the last leg.

All to play for, for me.

PAUL: Yeah.

THOMAS: I'm going for it.

VO: We've heard that before.

Next time on the Antiques Road Trip, it's the grand finale.

Thomas is playing catch-up.

THOMAS: My shop closes in three quarters of an hour.

Time is against me and then I have the devil chasing me on my back.

VO: And has Mr Laidlaw met his match?

Make it £28 and I will buy it.

DEALER: I can't.

PAUL: Oh!

You're good!

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