VOICEOVER (VO): It's the nation's favorite antiques experts with £200 each...

I love that.

VO: ..a classic car and a goal to scour Britain for antiques.

Yippee!

It's a good job I like ya!

VO: The aim?

To make the biggest profit at auction, but it's no mean feat.

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

Agh, I'm getting wet!

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

How much did you make?

About a couple of quid!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

VO: Yeah!

VO: It's the start of a brand-new road trip, with a couple of cheeky chappies and firm favorites of the antiques circuit - Thomas Plant and Philip Serrell.

THOMAS: We're in the northwest right now?

PHILIP: Yeah, yeah.

THOMAS: Not somewhere I've spent a great deal of time.

PHILIP: Well, we're in Lancashire.

VO: Don't be fooled by baby-faced Thomas Plant, though.

VO: He's got years of experience, as both dealer and auctioneer - although he's not afraid to call on his boyish charm when required.

THOMAS: Why the one, Genevieve?

Come on.

Nice and easy for me.

VO: Philip Serrell's warm charm matches his wise old owl-like wisdom.

Over 30 years in antiques have taught him never to take a challenge lying down, especially from a young whipper-snapper like Thomas.

Who can buy the daftest, dangerous, most stupidest lot ever.

I'll give him a run for his money.

VO: It's day one for Thomas and Philip and before they set off, it's time for a quick tactics talk.

PHILIP: So have you got any plans for the week?

I plan to have a wonderful week.

And we can have a laugh.

Come on, Thombo, let's go.

Let's go.

VO: Time to get started.

THOMAS: Are you happy with me driving?

PHILIP: Oh, over the moon.

Over the moon.

THOMAS: Are you?

PHILIP: Yeah.

VO: Oh yeah?

In their oh-so-retro 1975 Triumph Stag.

PHILIP: Now, in your own time!

THOMAS: It's not working!

VO: If Thomas can get it fired up, that is!

THOMAS: What have I done?

Why does this happen to me?

(LOUDLY) Why me?

PHILIP: Hang on.

Now we go.

Do you know, you've got to have the touch, haven't you?

THOMAS: How did you do that?

PHILIP: It's just knowing cars, isn't it?

Onward!

THOMAS: I can't believe you did that!

VO: And they're off!

Hurrah!

VO: The route for the week ahead takes our intrepid road- trippers across land and sea, from Samlesbury, in Lancashire, to the Isle of Man and back again, down to the final destination in Greenwich, almost 700 miles away.

But today's trip begins in Samlesbury and ends up at auction in Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man.

VO: Samlesbury lies in Lower Ribblesdale, in Lancashire, just six miles from Preston.

(COW ) VO: Moo!

Famous for its witch trials in 1612, today it's a peaceful village - where the only magic taking place is the sparkling repartee between our two seasoned road-trippers.

THOMAS: "I know nothing!"

I know nothing about this hall.

PHILIP: Yeah, well I'm going shopping, and I know nothing about that either!

THOMAS: Well, join the club!

PHILIP: As I've proved on many occasions!

THOMAS: Have you watched me?!

PHILIP: Yeah.

THOMAS: (LAUGHS) VO: Our experts are heading to Samlesbury Hall - the historic home of the Southworth family, which, rather conveniently, also sells antiques.

THOMAS: Here we are.

History, antiques, galleries... Oh, look at this.

PHILIP: That looks stunning, doesn't it?

THOMAS: Look at that, it's Tudor, isn't it?

Tudor, a Tudor building.

PHILIP: Is that sort of 1480?

THOMAS: 1480.

VO: As Philip shops, Thomas will get the guided tour.

THOMAS: So are you gonna..?

You're gonna sort of keep all the bargains.

PHILIP: I'm going to go and trawl it through, just pick it over.

THOMAS: You could pick it over.

Yeah, just make sure there's nothing left for you at all.

THOMAS: (LAUGHS) And you're gonna have a look round your Tudor building.

THOMAS: Yeah, and I'll tell you all about it.

See you, Thomas.

All the best.

Well, not too much.

VO: Whilst Thomas goes for a nosy, around the country pile, Philip gets his shopping under way, with a little help from manager Genevieve Donlon.

PHILIP: Good to see you.

You've got some lovely things here.

GENEVIEVE: Thank you.

PHILIP: I'm gonna have a job keeping Thomas Plant off that.

Just out of curiosity, I can't afford that, I know... Well, if I can afford it, I'll have it.

How much is that?

GENEVIEVE: It's just over £3,000.

PHILIP: I don't suppose you'd drop that to 200 quid, would you?

I don't think the owner would be very happy.

PHILIP: No, no, no, no.

No.

VO: Nice try, Philip.

Samlesbury Hall has been selling other people's antiques for over 40 years.

The hall takes a commission, which helps toward the running costs.

PHILIP: Oh, wow!

This is a stunning building, isn't it?

GENEVIEVE: It is, it's beautiful.

This is the long gallery.

Because the hall lost all its furnishings, a part of the reason why we sell antiques for people is this also furnishes the hall.

PHILIP: It is a good way of furnishing a place, isn't it?

GENEVIEVE: It is, yes.

I think that's a nice chair.

Leather tub chair by Garnett and Sons.

VO: Garnett and Sons were cabinet and furniture makers of distinction, based in Warrington at the turn of the 19th century, producing some very desirable pieces.

PHILIP: Oh, that's nice.

Isn't that a nice thing?

And it's clearly been reupholstered at some time, cuz you can see just there, look, that's where the original tacks would have been for the upholstery.

Let's just have a seat.

That's really nice.

GENEVIEVE: It's comfortable as well, isn't it?

PHILIP: Yeah.

How much movement is there on your price?

GENEVIEVE: Oh.

There's not a lot of movement.

It is priced to sell.

What were you thinking of?

I'd like to try and buy it for between 50 and 60 quid if I could.

No, I couldn't possibly.

PHILIP: Was that a sharp intake of breath then?

GENEVIEVE: No, as I say, it is priced to sell.

If I went to 75, that's really pushing it.

PHILIP: Is it?

OK. GENEVIEVE: It is, yeah.

I'm gonna buy that, cuz I love that.

GENEVIEVE: It is a lovely piece.

PHILIP: Yeah, I just think it's a really, really nice chair.

Thank you very much indeed.

GENEVIEVE: You're welcome.

VO: As Philip seals the deal upstairs, downstairs, Thomas has gone to visit the curator of Samlesbury Hall, Sharon Jones, for a history lesson on its uses and its inhabitants.

THOMAS: Hello.

SHARON: Good morning.

THOMAS: I'm Thomas.

SHARON: Hello, Thomas.

We were driving up, and we were trying to date it.

THOMAS: Can I have a go?

SHARON: Yes, you can.

THOMAS: So we thought it was Tudor.

SHARON: Uh-huh?

THOMAS: And we thought maybe between 1480 and 1520.

How wrong are we?

Well, you're quite right to a certain part of it, the hall's been sort of built over a few years... THOMAS: Oh, we did think that was 19th-century.

SHARON: (LAUGHS) Fine.

You're wrong.

THOMAS: Right, OK. SHARON: This part here was actually built in 1325.

Oh, right, OK. SHARON: So that's the oldest bit.

That bit was the hall standing on its own, then we sort of pan back right over to this part of the hall, which was about 1490.

THOMAS: So we were right.

So you're absolutely spot on with that.

Spot on with that bit.

SHARON: Yeah, and then we sort of built this bit in between, in 1535.

So from there to there, is 1535.

THOMAS: So are we gonna go inside, and then you're gonna give me a grand tour, or..?

SHARON: Yeah, I'll walk you through the rooms and tell you what happened with the families here, yeah?

VO: The hall has had many incarnations in its 700-year history - it's been a pub, a school and a factory - but it started out as the ancestral home of the Southworth family.

SHARON: So, here we are in the parlor, which was built in 1535.

If you can read Latin, that's what it's going to tell you above the fireplace there.

THOMAS: Thomas South... SHARON: Southworth, yes.

THOMAS: Southworth.

SHARON: Yes.

Obviously that's the Southworth family, the crest in the middle, that's the Southworth shield.

VO: The family were staunch Catholics during the time of the Reformation under Henry VIII, when the Church of England broke away from the Catholic Church in Rome.

But the Southworths refused to change their religious beliefs - which was just the start of their troubles.

SHARON: And there is a story of one of our...the ladies from our family, a lady called Lady Dorothy Southworth, fell in love with a local from Hoghton Tower, one of the de Hoghtons.

The Hoghton Tower were very strong Protestant then, and of course we were very strong Roman Catholic.

They agreed to meet, they met here in the grounds, Lady Dorothy's brothers found out about the meet, and they killed young de Hoghton and his two soldiers, and they found skeletal remains just in the grounds actually out here, and they reburied them, they're still there.

But they then sent Lady Dorothy off to a nunnery in France, where she died of a broken heart.

The tale is that we still see Lady Dorothy crossing the road.

Really?

VO: In spite of the tragedy, and later unproven accusations of witchcraft within the family, the Southworths maintained their own chapel and Catholic priests here at the hall - a dangerous thing to do during the dissolution of the monasteries.

So when the royal priest- hunters came calling, they needed a bit more than divine intervention.

THOMAS: Is there any priest holes up here?

SHARON: Yes!

THOMAS: Really?!

SHARON: Yes, there is an alleged priest's hole here, where there's a little bit of a crack, but in the entrance hall that we've just walked through, there's a definite priest's hole, you can see where the priests hid.

Can I see one of these priest holes?

SHARON: I can take you to one of the priest holes, yes.

THOMAS: Please, that'd be quite interesting.

Can you lead me on?

VO: Priest holes were secret hiding places, built into many Catholic houses during the time of the Reformation.

There's a priest hole actually in the fireplace over here.

Cuz they hid by the fires, didn't they?

SHARON: Yes, they did.

Yes, they did.

And you can sort of...

It's better if you sort of see it through there.

They actually got in and they sort of stood right at the back there.

THOMAS: I think I'm gonna have a go.

Do you mind?

(LAUGHS) Not at all, no.

THOMAS: Right.

God, they were a bit smaller then, weren't they?

SHARON: Yes.

THOMAS: I don't think I'd be a very good priest!

They were slightly smaller than that, Thomas!

Do you think I'm a bit too big to be a priest?

VO: Maybe not, if you were imitating Friar Tuck.

Uh-oh - look who's coming!

Thomas, what are you doing?!

I'm pretending to be a Catholic priest!

(LAUGHS) Do you know, if I could find some bricks, I'd brick you in there now.

THOMAS: (LAUGHS) I'm gonna get out.

PHILIP: What are you doing?

Have you got the key to the car?

And you're filthy now.

Am I filthy?

Come here.

Honestly.

THOMAS: I've lost the keys.

PHILIP: You've lost the keys?

THOMAS: I've got them here.

I put them in the priest hole.

PHILIP: Really?

THOMAS: (LAUGHS) Have a good day, see you later.

I'm a bit out of breath, in and out of that priest hole.

Pleasure to meet you.

SHARON: And you too, Thomas.

THOMAS: Thank you very much.

Thank you, thank you.

VO: Having satisfied his ecclesiastical curiosity, it's time for Thomas to defrock and get down to business.

It's shopping time!

VO: What's that then, Thomas?

This is a silver pocket watch; it's an open-faced example, with Roman numerals.

It is silver.

This chain is not, this is plated, this is just a plated clone, but it's quite a nice, fun chain.

To check to see if it's working, you give it a quick shake.

And it is ticking.

(MAKES TICKING NOISE) And it's got a second subsidiary dial.

You can see the second hand moving round.

VO: But will he get any movement on the £40 price tag?

Tick, tock, Thomas!

GENEVIEVE: Em, I could probably go to 35 on that.

Not as low as 28?

GENEVIEVE: Sorry, no.

Em...

So you couldn't go as low as 29?

GENEVIEVE: I couldn't, I'm afraid, no.

What could you do?

GENEVIEVE: ..32.

Halfway.

30.

GENEVIEVE: That's not quite halfway!

THOMAS: Well, it is in my books.

GENEVIEVE: (LAUGHS) GENEVIEVE: Well, we're starting from 40.

31.

Go on, £30, makes it nice and easy for me.

My maths, my maths isn't great.

(SOFTLY) £30.

31.

Why the one?!

It just helps the client, the commission... Why the one?

Why the one, Genevieve?

Come on.

Nice and easy for me.

GENEVIEVE: Round figures.

THOMAS: Round figures, I'm only a simple man.

VO: Now, now, don't put yourself down, Tom.

That's my job.

THOMAS: Will you do it for me?

I'll do it at that for you.

That's very sweet of you.

You won't get in too much trouble?

Hopefully not.

THOMAS: £30.

Thank you very much.

GENEVIEVE: Thank you.

You're welcome.

Nice to have met you.

THOMAS: Well, I think I've been quite painful.

GENEVIEVE: Just a bit, yes!

BOTH: (LAUGH) VO: You're not wrong there, Tom!

Having left Thomas to wheedle his way to a purchase, Philip has driven on... ...to his next location, in Bretherton, 14 miles away.

VO: Now, Bretherton is a small village in the borough of Chorley, and Philip's next shop is quite literally a barn of a place, called Old Corn Mill Antiques, run by Aiden Finn.

Whatcha, Aiden?

AIDEN: Phil?

PHILIP: Hi, how are you?

AIDEN: Hello, long time no see.

Have I seen you before?

I've seen you, on the telly!

How are you doing, alright?

AIDEN: I'm not so bad.

PHILIP: It's a big old place this, isn't it?

You got stuff everywhere.

AIDEN: It's bigger than you think.

PHILIP: I want something a bit undiscovered.

I want something that's not on show, I want some little... AIDEN: You want something that's sleeping.

PHILIP: ..hidden gem.

VO: Hidden gems right this way!

Something for all tastes, if you're prepared to roll your sleeves up and get your hands dirty.

AIDEN: Cast your eyes in this.

PHILIP: Lordy, Lordy.

What is all this stuff?

AIDEN: History.

PHILIP: History?

AIDEN: This is the past.

PHILIP: I like... Got the bells and whistles, this.

PHILIP: These fit on the back of a horse, I would think, and then the shafts of the cart, I would think, go through each side - would you think that?

AIDEN: Yeah, I agree with you.

Where there's muck, there's money, doll.

You bother me, you do.

VO: He's a right charmer, Phil.

PHILIP: See, that's just falling apart.

AIDEN: Age.

I know just how it feels.

How much do you want for this lot?

AIDEN: Probably a couple of hundred.

PHILIP: Cop a hold of that.

VO: Old grumpy pants here has spotted an ancient- looking coach lamp.

PHILIP: How many of these have you got?

AIDEN: Can't quite remember off hand.

There's a few.

PHILIP: What's that one there?

AIDEN: That's a better one.

All I wanna see is whether it's broken or not.

AIDEN: It's more perfect than the other one.

Well, it's either perfect or it ain't PHILIP: - it ain't more perfect!

AIDEN: (LAUGHS) That's...

But you're right; it is more perfect, innit?

What I'd like to do... Can I swap these two over?

AIDEN: Yeah, course you can.

We're not gonna be talking... Well, I'm not.

AIDEN: (LAUGHS) ...big sums of money here, cuz you've got half a lot.

Triple figures?

PHILIP: Yeah, £1.57!

AIDEN: (LAUGHS) VO: Oh cheer up, Philip!

PHILIP: Come on, let's go and have a look downstairs.

VO: Just like I told you, there's something here for everyone.

Not that I'm one to blow my own trumpet, you know.

PHILIP: Is that Boosey & Hawkes or something like that?

AIDEN: I don't know.

(AIDEN BLOWS HORN) PHILIP: Right, I would think it's probably a French horn.

And you would hold it like that, wouldn't you?

And you would play it like that.

And the thing that I like about it is, it's just got this London maker, just here look.

AIDEN: Oh, yeah.

VO: And he's not done yet.

Aiden has something else that he wants to show Philip.

AIDEN: You like to see me tooling?

VO: Cheeky.

AIDEN: Look at the work in that.

PHILIP: That's quite nice, isn't it?

AIDEN: Beautiful.

PHILIP: So what you'd do is you get a...leather desk, and you put gold leaf around the outside.

AIDEN: Yeah.

Or books as well.

And then this would have to be heated.

Then you'd run that round there, and this repeating, it's almost like an acanthus border, would be put on either on the book or on the desk, it's like an emboss... AIDEN: Gold leaf.

...gold leaf embossing thing, isn't it?

AIDEN: Mm.

Oh, it's only got 95 quid on it.

You live in a dream world.

AIDEN: Yeah, but it's a lovely dream.

How do you see it?

So you can make a profit.

PHILIP: No, I've got to try and buy them for 40 quid.

But you can say no.

AIDEN: 50 quid, and I reckon you'll get more than that for that.

PHILIP: I tell you what I'll do, I'm gonna give you... AIDEN: You're gonna give me a one-er for luck.

PHILIP: No, I'm gonna give you 45 quid.

AIDEN: (INHALES) PHILIP: And that's me finished.

Ooh, you're a...hard man.

You're a gentleman.

It's a good job I like ya!

PHILIP: Thank you very much... VO: ..But I wouldn't buy ya!

So, a big job lot of metal-ware, an antique tool and a bit of a carry on, all for £45.

Philip really needs to develop a sense of humor.

Or lighten up.

VO: Reunited, Philip and Thomas head off towards Liverpool.

But there's no stopping for shopping - they're driving to the ferry terminal, for the next leg of their journey.

VO: Sea legs at the ready - our boys are off to the Isle of Man.

Trust them to want to rub shoulders with Il Capitano.

PHILIP: Are we alright here?

MAN: Yeah, no problem.

PHILIP: Is that a 'sure'?

MAN: Don't mind.

How long will it take us to get to the Isle of Man?

CAPTAIN: We'll be in Douglas for 9.30 or thereabouts.

Brilliant.

PHILIP: Do you know what's really disappointing?

There's no wheel.

Where's the wheel?

CAPTAIN: That's the wheel.

THOMAS: Oh, get out of here!

That?!

CAPTAIN: Constant source of disappointment to small children.

Oh, that's a girl's wheel...it really is.

VO: Hey, hark at Captain Pugwash, eh?!

Uh-oh - Thomas has found the foghorn.

(FOGHORN SOUNDS) That is brilliant!

Superb.

PHILIP: Thank you, Celine Dion - go back downstairs, we'll crash.

Go on, off you go.

THOMAS: No, thank you very much.

PHILIP: Thank you very much... PHILIP: ..Thank you.

VO: Celine Dion?

Where did that come from?

Oh yes, Titanic!

VO: Hopefully this ship of dreams will stay afloat, carrying them off into the Irish Sea to find many more glorious antiques on the Isle of Man in the morning.

So, nighty night, boys.

VO: A brand-new day finds Thomas and Philip back on dry land, on the Isle of Man.

This beautiful island is a self-governing British Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea, 32 miles long and 14 miles wide.

Famous for kippers, Manx cats, and the Isle of Man TT races - and it's plenty big enough for our boys to put their foot down and get back on the antiques trail.

Hopefully they're rested and raring to go.

THOMAS: Did you have a good night's sleep?

PHILIP: No, not really.

THOMAS: No, you didn't, did you?

PHILIP: No, no.

THOMAS: You were tossing and turning all night.

PHILIP: I know.

VO: How'd you know?

Perhaps next time we'll book you separate beds!

So far Philip has spent £120 on three lots - the 19th-century leather tub chair, the gold leaf embossing tool, and a collection of metal ware, including horse brasses, coach lamp and a French horn.

Which means he's still got £80 to spend.

(MAKES TICKING NOISE) VO: Thomas, meanwhile, has only spent £30, on a Victorian silver fob pocket watch, which leaves him with £170 and a lot of catching up to do!

VO: After overnighting in the island's capital, Douglas, our boys are heading for their first shop of the day, in Peel.

VO: Situated on the west coast, Peel has its very own castle, built in 1392, and is believed to be the first place Christianity was brought to the island, by St Patrick, in 1226.

But enough of the history - Thomas has something else on his mind.

THOMAS: But I want a kipper.

That's what I want now; I think I want a second breakfast.

VO: Old greedy guts and Philip are here to shop in the Arts and Antiques center, managed by Zoe Brindley.

Hi, Zoe.

THOMAS: Hello!

Good morning.

THOMAS: Are we alright to have a look round?

ZOE: Yes, certainly.

You go upstairs, I go down.

Righty-o, good luck, Thombo.

THOMAS: And you.

A barometer.

Shaped as a coach lamp.

What about a Manx cat?

ZOE: Early Rushton, that's a local pottery.

PHILIP: Manx cats, why have they got no tails?

No idea, I'm a comeover, so I don't... PHILIP: What's a 'comeover'?

It's somebody who's been on the...from the UK, that's been on the island for a period of years.

You're a stopover when you've been here 10 years, so actually I'm a stopover now.

PHILIP: So I'm a comeover, cuz I've been here 12 hours.

ZOE: (LAUGHS) Yes!

VO: And if anyone is interested, Manx cats actually have no tails because of gene mutation.

But enough of the science - bring on the silver!

ZOE: Got a nice little Chester pot here, 1906.

I could do that for 20.

PHILIP: What's..?

Is that the very..?

ZOE: It is the very best.

PHILIP: OK. ZOE: Yeah.

It's pretty, it's nice.

ZOE: Ladies like things like that, don't they?

VO: Perhaps distracted by the thought of kippers, Thomas is struggling to find anything at all.

PHILIP: I think that I'm definitely going to have that, so Zoe, if I can pay you for it, look.

ZOE: OK, yeah.

£20.

Ooh, he's coming up the stairs, I'm gonna put it in my pocket, hold on.

PHILIP: Er, so we've got 10, 20, there we are.

THOMAS: Look, spondoolies changing hands.

PHILIP: Thank you.

Thombo, I'm going to look round the harbor.

You've been buying already?

Well, I'm going to see if I can get you some kippers.

THOMAS: Are you?

That's very... PHILIP: Yeah.

Take care, matey.. THOMAS: Take care.

Bye!

What's he bought?

Oh, I'm not telling you.

Can I look up here, please?

Please do, yes, yes.

THOMAS: Thank you.

ZOE: I'll leave you in peace.

ZOE: Just shout me if... ZOE: ..I can help... THOMAS: Thank you very much.

VO: Philip heads off to Moore's Kippers, in search of a man who sells seafood on the seashore.

(RINGS BELL) PHILIP: Do you do kipper baps?

MAN: We do kipper baps, yeah.

PHILIP: Two hot kipper baps would be lovely.

MAN: Yep, no problem.

PHILIP: Thank you very much indeed, thank you.

MAN: You're welcome.

VO: Never one to miss an opportunity, Philip's attention is momentarily diverted.

Are those scallop shells?

MAN: They're scallop shells.

PHILIP: So that lot there and a lobster pot.

MAN: Yeah.

PHILIP: How much would that lot be?

45 quid.

PHILIP: Ouch!

PHILIP: Those shells and a lobster pot might make 20 quid.

MAN: Yeah.

PHILIP: So I've got to try and buy 'em for 10 or 15 quid.

MAN: Yeah.

PHILIP: That's really hard.

MAN: Yeah, well... PHILIP: If you can do that, PHILIP: you can do it, if you can't I understand.

MAN: Well, 15 quid.

PHILIP: Are you sure?

MAN: Seeing it's you... PHILIP: Go on, you're a PHILIP: ..gentleman.

I'll take 'em, thank you... VO: As Philip shells out, it's Thomas that's left feeling that he's been stitched up like the proverbial kipper.

Thank you very much, Zoe.

I'm sorry I couldn't purchase... ZOE: No, so am I but never mind.

...But Philip bought off you, I saw him.

ZOE: Yes, yes, OK. THOMAS: Thank you very much.

ZOE: Thanks for coming in.

THOMAS: No worries.

Pleasure.

ZOE: Bye.

Bye bye.

Having failed to buy anything at all, Thomas now has a small wind problem.

Ha!

Just as well he's outside.

Thomas, I got you lunch.

(SHOUTS) What?

It's so windy!

PHILIP: (SHOUTS) I got you lunch!

(SHOUTS) Lunch?

PHILIP: Lunch!

What have you got me?

Nice baps.

No, I like a good pair of baps.

What are these?

VO: Behave!

PHILIP: Kipper baps, that's what you asked for!

Kipper baps?

Nice.

Go on then.

Let's see what they taste like.

I'm not sure I'm ready for this.

THOMAS: Really?

PHILIP: Yeah.

They're really nice.

PHILIP: Are they?

THOMAS: Mm.

VO: Didn't your mother ever tell you not to speak with your mouth full?

VO: After their fishy diversion, our boys are back in the old Triumph and Thomas is taking Philip back to Douglas to check out some vintage transport of a very different kind.

With all of his shopping done, Philip has time to take a trip down memory lane, on the one the most famous draws for tourists on the island - the Manx Electric Railway.

He's come to meet Trevor Nail, to nail down the story!

This is just fantastic, can I press the bell?

VO: Ding ding!

Brilliant, isn't it?

PHILIP: Why would you suddenly decide to build a tramway on a sea promenade?

TREVOR: Well, you've got a large shipping fleet here, bringing people across from Lancashire.

This was like going abroad in the 1860s, 1870s.

PHILIP: A real big trip?

TREVOR: Yeah, and it was quickly realized that the infrastructure of roadways here was almost non-existent.

So the logical way of getting this influx of tourists around the island was by rail - either steam railway, which was earlier in 1873, or this railway up the east coast of the island, to open that up, in 1893.

PHILIP: So this was here really to serve holidaymakers.

TREVOR: Yes.

In 1893, they're carrying about 10,000 people a day.

VO: It wasn't just the common tourist drawn to the Manx Railway.

In 1902 the transport system courted the attention of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.

Well, if it's good enough for royalty, it's good enough for Philip Serrell - especially as it's every boy's dream to be a train driver.

The Manx Railway's Paul Fielding is on hand to keep him on track.

When you set off, just give a little whistle.

As you put the first point on, let the brake right off, and it will start moving.

PHILIP: Oh!

I quite like that bit!

PAUL: Right, let the brake right off, (HISSING) in one go, right off, right off, that's it.

And now go up to two.

Give it some whistle for the crossing; let everybody know you're coming.

(WHISTLE) I do like the whistle bit.

Yeah.

PAUL: And we're over the road, so you can build the power up again now, so up to six.

PHILIP: This is really cool.

PAUL: Ease off a bit.

(WHISTLE) PHILIP: How long have you been doing this?

PAUL: I've been doing this for 12 years now, since I retired.

When did you...?

I mean, when do you feel comfortable with it?

PAUL: After about two or three months.

PHILIP: Really?

PAUL: Yeah.

And then you realize what's happening, you realize that you're in full control of it, anyway.

PHILIP: Yeah.

Does that 40mph apply to us, or cars?

PAUL: I think that's for the cars.

PHILIP: Well, that's a relief.

PAUL: If we went 40mph, I think you'd be a bit scared.

I tell you what, I want a train set.

I never wanted a train set, but I do now.

Well, you won't get one with scenery like this one.

No, you won't.

(WHISTLE) VO: After leaving Philip in Douglas, and with time running out... VO: Thomas has hurried on to Jurby, on the northwest coast.

So far, Thomas has only bought one item... VO: ..and he's still got £170 to spend.

His last shop is a huge warehouse, Jurby Junk, run by Stella Pixton.

Sounds promising.

VO: Hello, Stella.

THOMAS: Hello.

Oh, hello.

THOMAS: I'm Thomas.

Oh hello Thomas, hi.

THOMAS: What's your name?

STELLA: Stella.

THOMAS: Stella.

And you've got lots of pussy cats.

STELLA: Oh yes.

THOMAS: Is that a proper manx cat with no tail?

STELLA: It sure is, yeah.

Billy.

THOMAS: Billy, hello.

VO: Probably not a good time to mention Thomas' allergy to cats - or attempt to get a bargain!

STELLA: You're not going to haggle with me, are you?

I might a little bit, but you seem... STELLA: I have a little notice there, look.

Puss!

THOMAS: "Do not ask to pay less.

No reductions".

VO: So pussies aplenty, and no haggling.

THOMAS: There's loads here!

You can't actually comprehend it, until you look at it, really.

VO: Good luck, Thomas, l reckon you're going to need it, mate!

This one is full of books.

Full of books, but you can see... Oh look, there's a bit of silver wilver wilver there.

Bits and bobs.

STELLA: The cup?

This one?

THOMAS: Yeah.

(SNEEZES) VO: Ah, cats 1 - Thomas 0!

Thomas has his eye on a silver George V presentation goblet.

We've got a cup here for Fairhaven Sailing Club regatta, 1926, won by John Kenworthy.

It's priced at 30.

THOMAS: Can I have a look at the religious plaque there..?

STELLA: Oh, yes, a nice little one, I remember.

I love religious things.

VO: The icon is brass and silver plate and features the Madonna and Child, keenly priced at £15.

THOMAS: (SOFTLY) And that's at 15.

I love that.

STELLA: It's rather nice.

THOMAS: Oh, I like that.

It's a really sweet thing.

STELLA: Mm.

THOMAS: OK. Um... Oh, the cup there, sorry, at the very bottom, the twin-handled one.

This is a race for Concourse d'Excellence, Bexhill, 1934.

VO: It's another George V silver trophy - with motor racing interest - priced at £20.

THOMAS: And one last thing is the little pounce pot or pepper pot, on there...

Thanks.

VO: I see a theme developing.

This time Thomas has gone for George IV!

The silver pepper pot is dated 1824 and is marked up at £15.

So, let's cut to the chase.

I know, I read your little notice.

Which is fine, so those are 30.

£30... STELLA: Right.

THOMAS: ..for those two.

That's 30.

60.

THOMAS: And that's 20.

STELLA: 80.

THOMAS: 80.

Yeah.

I'll take those off your hands.

VO: That didn't take long at all and not a haggle in sight!

He's even managed to avoid the cats - well, almost.

THOMAS: Hello, there's a pussy cat here.

Oh, dearie me.

THOMAS: Hello.

STELLA: Right, em... STELLA: And for your respecting my no haggling... THOMAS: Yes.

I can give you a few things you could sell in auction, not solid stuff, but connected with my father, who was a pioneer aviator, and I remember Father telling me, France was one year ahead of Britain when my father changed.

THOMAS: He changed?

Really?

Before the First World War.

A most important period.

I've got information sheets here which will give quite a lot of history about Father... VO: Looks like a series of first day covers - postage stamps on cards or envelopes franked with the first date of issue.

THOMAS: "The man who put Britain in the lead for the first time in aviation history by winning the Schneider Trophy 1914."

VO: Very collectable!

And if they're going for nothing, then Thomas has nothing to lose!

THOMAS: So if it's alright, I could just take an example of...them.

Yeah.

Take them all if you wish.

No, I think six is enough, (MOUTHS) I think.

Thank you very much.

STELLA: OK.

Right you are.

It's an absolute honor to meet you, and to know that you were relate...you know, your father was so important.

STELLA: Yeah.

THOMAS: Can I give you that?

STELLA: Oh, yes, please.

Thank you.

THOMAS: Is that alright?

80.

And nice to meet you and your cats and everything here is wonderful.

Thank you.

STELLA: Bless you.

THOMAS: Bye bye!

VO: Goodbye!

STELLA: God bless.

THOMAS: Thank you.

VO: With all the shopping and sneezing completed... (SNEEZES) Ooh, well, almost - it's time for our boys to check out each other's buys, in a feline-free zone.

Use a hankie.

PHILIP: Right, come on, show me what the cat... Well, I haven't really bought very much.

What did cat person have for you?

Cat person..?

Well...

..I couldn't stay long in there.

Really?

So I just bought and ran.

So that's all I've bought.

There's a bit of a theme here, Thomas.

THOMAS: I've just got silver!

Bought that, bought that.

Bought that and bought that.

Yeah?

80 quid.

That's alright, isn't it?

Of course it is.

PHILIP: Yeah.

THOMAS: Yeah.

That's very good, in fact.

THOMAS: Well, no, that's silver plate... PHILIP: But it doesn't matter... Nice little icon isn't it.

She said "As you haven't haggled, I'll give you a present."

So what did she give you, then?

All those first day covers?

I could choose, she had lots of them, so I literally...

So you took all of them?

No, I didn't!

I didn't.

I just took one of each.

PHILIP: Yeah.

Oh, that's cool.

I think your two interesting lots, right, are this little MG trophy, and that little icon, just because they're not run of the mill.

THOMAS: No, absolutely.

Right, are you ready for this?

I'm ready, go on.

Philip!

Philip!

PHILIP: I bought that chair while you were in the hall.

THOMAS: Yeah.

PHILIP: And I love that, it cost £75.

That's alright, yeah, yeah, I can see that.

PHILIP: I think that's a really nice... THOMAS: Sorry, stop.

What are those?

VO: Scallops, you silly boy.

PHILIP: Well, you know, we're at the seaside, aren't we?

THOMAS: We are at the seaside.

So a log basket full of shells?

PHILIP: So I bought a log basket full of shells, and a lobster pot, and I thought they'd do really well.

And then it suddenly dawned on me that if you're on a small island like the Isle of Man, probably lobster pots and shells aren't that rare, really, are they?

But you can't have paid much for them.

VO: You never know, it might net him a few squid.

Next!

THOMAS: I love this stuff.

We were rummaging upstairs.

That lot was £25.

And this.

THOMAS: It's great fun.

PHILIP: Right?

THOMAS: And then your French Horn.

PHILIP: There is a slight problem with it.

Um, you're missing the de de de de de.

No, I've got the de de de de de de de.

What I haven't got is half the piping that makes it de de de de de.

VO: But will it make you any p-p-p-p-p-p profit?

PHILIP: It'll blow.

No you can't.

PHILIP: I'm not going to let... THOMAS: Why not?

PHILIP: No.

Well go on, then.

THOMAS: (LAUGHS) (FRENCH HORN) It's all there.

PHILIP: Fantastic, no it's not, it's missing there, mate.

Oh, yeah, those things there.

Yeah, which is a minor detail, it's just a third of the notes are missing.

PHILIP: So if you can find... What ideally we want is a work for a French horn that's got a third of the notes missing.

And it's all bashed there, isn't it?

THOMAS: But it's quite fun.

PHILIP: ..don't care for detail It's a flower pot holder.

It's a flower... Or a lamp.

Yeah, so how am I gonna do?

Brilliantly.

I love that.

I love that.

I don't know why I bought silver, I hate buying silver, but I had to get out of the cat place.

PHILIP: I tell you what, do you know what I'm gonna buy?

What?

You a drink.

Come on.

Yeah.

VO: Er, no drinking on the job, gents!

That can wait.

First, we want to know what you boys thought of each other's items.

THOMAS: Fantastic, eclectic, wonderful.

I really like the bookbinding tool.

Good profit in that.

And shells and lobster's pots, I wouldn't expect anything else.

I'm a little bit in awe, and a little bit disappointed I didn't do the same.

PHILIP: Do you know, I think Thomas put all his eggs into one very silver basket!

I like that silver MG trophy; I think that could do quite well.

And the other, you know, it's got to do OK just on melt value alone, so it's game on here, it really is.

VO: That's fighting talk if ever I heard it!

From Jurby, there's just a few short miles on to the auction, in the island's capital, Douglas.

VO: Today, our experts are going head to head at Murray's Auction House.

But before their items go under the hammer, let's find out what main man Murray Keefe thinks of their lots.

MURRAY: The best lot that was brought in is the collection of sundry metal-ware, you call it, with the old battered French horn, an old coaching lamp, which will clean up beautifully, and also there's some Scottish dray horse leather and horse brasses in there, with bells and regalia for the heavy horses, and I think that will probably be the most expensive lot.

And the least expensive lot I think will be something that's been collected, probably found on the beach, an old lobster pot and a bucket full of old scallop shells.

They still pong a bit, but we'll try and sell them.

VO: Well, Thomas began today's road trip with £200 and spent £110 on five lots, leaving him with £90 cash in hand.

Philip also started with £200 and also bought five lots, but he spent £155, leaving him with £45 in the bank.

PHILIP: It's seven o'clock.

Any self-respecting antiquarian would be in the pub, and where are we?

We're in an auction.

What is going on?

VO: Is he still going on about a drink?!

Auction first, boys, and we kick off with Philip's gold leaf embossing tool but will it leave him with a good mark up?

I feel a bit anxious.

THOMAS: £80.

PHILIP: No.

Profit.

No!

No, no, no, no.

£50 for it.

£50, interesting walnut handle on it.

£50.

50, 10 for a start off, 10 I'm bid, 15, 20...five, 30...five, 40...five, 50?

THOMAS: See?

There you are.

£50.

£45, good for the leather on the tops of desks as well, not just books.

MAN: Very good.

45.

50?

Wanna try one more?

MAN: No.

MURRAY: Oh, £45!

THOMAS: Are you sure?

MURRAY: Last look at 45, a lucky gentleman over there... (GAVEL) VO: A great start for Philip and a healthy profit.

THOMAS: That's very good.

PHILIP: Let me tell you, that's not very good, that's like world record result for me, mate!

VO: First up for Thomas, it's the silver-plated religious icon and the George IV silver pepper pot.

THOMAS: Oh, here we are.

30 for a start for the silver pepper pot and the icon, £30.

Bid me 30.

£30, there they are at £30, lovely little pepper pot.

THOMAS: This always happens.

MURRAY: 30, 35 I'll take.

For nothing, 35.

40...five, 50.

45 behind me.

45.

50 I want.

45 behind me, and I'm going to sell it at 45.

£45... (GAVEL) PHILIP: You're not taking this seriously, are you?

THOMAS: No.

But the thing is, whatever way I look at it, it's a profit.

Oh, that'll do, then.

VO: Another profit which means they're both off to a good start.

CALLER: 128.

Oh, 128, here we go, here we go, here we go.

VO: Philip's job lot of metal-ware is up next - a selection of horse brasses, bells, coach lamp and a French horn.

Let's see if it was worth getting his hands dirty for.

At £50 for the horse tack, £50.

60 I'd like.

At £50.

60.

70.

80.

£80 dead ahead, at £80, £80.

That's brilliant.

MURRAY: 85?

At 80 for the tack etc, at £80.

325.

(GAVEL) THOMAS: Brilliant.

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

Actually, that's alright.

VO: Which just goes to show "where there's muck, there's brass" and puts Philip in a clear lead.

Thomas is continuing his silver streak with the George V presentation trophy.

Let's see if it can win him any prizes.

£100 for it.

50 for a start.

£50 for it.

50 at the back.

60 I'd like.

At 50.

60 I want.

50, it must be way more than that.

£50.

£50.

Five if it'll help you.

At £50 at the back, at 50, £50... (GAVEL) VO: Thomas's trophy rewards him another with yet another tasty profit.

Let's see if he can keep it up.

Surely he can't go wrong with the Howard Pixton first day covers, which didn't cost him a penny!

MURRAY: £50, interesting little lot.

£50, 10 for a start.

I've got £10 bid, 10, yes.

15 I want.

A rare little lot.

15.

20...five.

30.

25 on the left, at £25.

THOMAS: £25... MURRAY: 30 if you want.

30...five.

£30 here.

At 30 on the phone now, at £30, any more?

£30 they go, last look... (GAVEL) PHILIP: If something costs you nothing, you will never ever beat the percentage profit on that.

No.

You are on a 100% winner.

VO: Well, that remains to be seen, but it certainly closes the gap between them - only a fiver in it now.

Philip's not sitting pretty yet, but he might well be after the sale of his 19th century tub chair.

£100 for it?

£100.

50 for a start, good solid chair.

£50.

Surely 50.

50, 30.

30 I'm bid, thank you, £30.

At 30.

40 I want.

At 30.

Creeping up slowly.

MURRAY: 40.

50.

60.

70?

80.

There you are.

What else?

90?

£80 on the phone, at £80.

Five?

90.

At £85 by the coffer, at 85, any more at 85?

85, last look at £85... (GAVEL) VO: Not exactly a tub-thumping success, but a £10 profit means he strengthens his lead.

PHILIP: What's next?

It's your watch.

My pocket watch.

Oh dear, that's a bit of trouble.

Oh...

BOTH: # There may be trouble ahead... # VO: Time to see if Thomas can catch up, with the silver pocket fob watch and chain.

MURRAY: Who'll bid me £50 for the silver pocket watch?

20 for a start then.

THOMAS: Go on.

MURRAY: £20, 20 I'm bid, 30 I'd like.

Five I would like.

At £20 here, at £20.

That's it.

MURRAY: Five I'd like.

THOMAS: I can't believe that, it's shocking.

£40, for the silver watch.

Last time I buy a watch, then!

(GAVEL) VO: Just when every second counts, he makes a loss.

Bad luck Thomas, old fruit.

More silver now - no, not for Thomas, for a change - it's Philip's pretty little dressing table box.

£30, make a nice little present.

Make a lovely pressie.

MURRAY: ..dressing table box.

If he's asking for 30, I'll get 10.

Silver-topped.

10 for a start.

10.

15.

A present for the lady.

THOMAS: See hands... A sea of hands everywhere, always.

There you are.

30...five.

30 behind you now.

Are you sure?

35?

£30.

Any more..?

(GAVEL) PHILIP: Do you know, that's not too bad, is it?

THOMAS: Oh, come on.

It's 33%, isn't it?

It's a good margin.

VO: Perhaps not the great profit he was expecting there, but £10 is £10.

PHILIP: A little £10 here and a little £10 there... VO: It's all still to play for, with Thomas' final item - the George V silver goblet.

I've got 50 bid on it, the presentation goblet.

£50.

60.

60, 70.

60 at the back.

70 I want.

At £60.

THOMAS: Ooh, gosh!

Five if it'll help you.

60, £60.

PHILIP: Pen please!

THOMAS: Sorry.

Of course.

60 and 68.

(GAVEL) VO: A toast to Thomas then, as he doubles his money on the goblet.

CALLER: 356.

THOMAS: Here we go.

VO: Philip's final item is the basket of scallop shells and lobster pot - you never know, stranger things have happened at sea.

There we are, £10 for it.

Interior designer stuff, here we are.

10.

15 I'd like.

15.

20...five.

30.

25, you'd be sorry to miss this, Paul.

20... You'll be kicking yourself if you don't bid.

30.

£25.

30...five.

35, 40.

I told you.

Brilliant, well done you.

It's lunacy, it's lunacy, isn't it?

35, ladies have it.

40?

The most expensive basket... MURRAY: ..of scallop shells.

PHILIP: They were nice baps.

MURRAY: ..not full, you know!

WOMAN: I need the log basket!

£35, any more at 35?

Last look, 35... (GAVEL) VO: So, Philip makes a mint on the mollusks but is it enough to take the first victory?

THOMAS: Philip, Philip, Philip.

Work that out, Thombo, cuz I've got no idea where we are.

VO: Allow me!

Thomas started the show with £200 and after auction costs, has increased his spending power to £258.10, going through to the next round.

VO: Philip also started with £200 and after auction costs, he just pips Thomas to the winning post with £270.50.

Close enough.

That was alright, wasn't it?

That was very good.

PHILIP: A little skip.

THOMAS: A little skip!

PHILIP: It's still daylight as well, look.

THOMAS: I know, but we're not used to this, really.

We are so far up north, we're almost in Scotland.

PHILIP: "Oop" north!

THOMAS: Up north.

Right... Where to now then?

THOMAS: Well... PHILIP: I need a drink, actually... THOMAS: Mainland.

Now, Phil, do you mind me driving?

No, no, no.

But if you could stop...

There's a peaked cap shop down here.

I'd like to get you one.

Drive on!

THOMAS: (LAUGHS) VO: Meow!

With just £12.40 in it, it's neck and neck as they get back onto the open road.

PHILIP: Bye!

THOMAS: Bye!

VO: Bye!

VO: Next time on the Antiques Road Trip...

There's no dampening our pair's spirits, come rain... THOMAS: Agh, I'm getting wet!

VO: ..or shine.

PHILIP: It's a lovely day, Tho-mas.

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