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: On this road trip, a pair of dueling devils are vying for England's heartlands.

Young Thomas Plant runs a Berkshire saleroom with his a cheery energy and a magpie eye.

Shiny, shiny, oh... More shiny.

VO: While Philip Serrell, an auctioneer from Worcestershire, has a quick wit and a...very sunny outlook.

PHILIP: I don't know what's happening, really.

My life needs to take a new direction.

VO: After both suffering losses on the last leg... Do you know, there are occasions on a Sunday morning when you get up and you think 'I should have stopped in bed'?

That's a hideous loss.

VO: ..they need to up their games.

They both started this road trip will a cool £200.

VO: Though he lost a little lolly on the last leg, Thomas has still managed to accumulate £247.54 in total.

VO: While the privations of the last time have left Philip in the poorhouse, with only £193.34 to his name.

VO: It was the rash purchase of a large canoe that did him in.

PHILIP: I'm still emotionally destroyed after the canoe saga.

THOMAS: (LAUGHS) Don't talk about it!

PHILIP: I think I was scuttled.

THOMAS: (LAUGHS) PHILIP: Just call me Bismarck from now on.

THOMAS: Alright, Bissy!

VO: This whole Road Trip takes our boys from Samlesbury in Lancashire over the waves to the Isle of Man, then south to Greenwich in London - a heroic journey of almost 700 miles.

Today, they begin in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire and cruise through the Peak District and the East Midlands, before ending up at their auction in Leicester.

VO: Sheffield is - of course - 'Steel City': famed for its long association with the metal.

But it also has one or two surprises in store.

PHILIP: Do you know what I didn't realize about Sheffield is I didn't realize it was quite so hilly.

VO: Well, you do now.

PHILIP: It's just such a fantastic view, isn't it?

THOMAS: It's a great view.

What do you know about..?

Oh, nothing mate, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United.

The Full Monty.

The Full Monty?

That was set here.

Was it?

Yes, of course it was, course it was.

Yes, that's ri... THOMAS: Steel.

All the steelworks.

So as it was such a great film, do you want to come and... PHILIP: Thomas!

Come on!

THOMAS: Yeah?

PHILIP: No, no, no, come on!

Come on, we've got... Thomas!

Come on!

Wouldn't you like that?

PHILIP: No, no I wouldn't!

THOMAS: A bit of exhibitionism?

PHILIP: Thomas, no one wants to see your bits.

You worry me sometimes.

THOMAS: (LAUGHS) VO: And me.

And, as if there isn't enough to worry about, it looks like the car's conked out too.

THOMAS: That is gone, isn't it?

PHILIP: It's dead, finished, kaput.

Capisce, Kaput, goodnight, goodbye.

THOMAS: It's the electrics?

PHILIP: Yeah.

We're auctioneers, not engineers.

THOMAS: I know that!

PHILIP: Thomas, what we'll do, we'll call a cab.

THOMAS: Alright, OK.

Here we are, here we are.

PHILIP: You are a gentleman, sir.

Thomas.

Oh, this is much better, isn't it?

VO: Don't worry lads - a local garage will pick up the car.

THOMAS: What's your name?

My name is Gil.

THOMAS: Gil.

PHILIP: Gil.

What are you doing for the next couple of weeks, Gil?

THOMAS: (LAUGHS) THOMAS: Oh, I'll pay the man, don't worry.

I'll pay him.

PHILIP: Thank you.

Well, you have got more money than me.

VO: Finally, they've arrived at their first shop - Dronfield Antiques, where dealer Howard presides.

THOMAS: Howard, I'm Thomas.

Nice to meet you.

Thomas, hi.

Hi, Philip.

Philip, hi.

Nice to see you.

I'm sorry we're a bit full in here, but it's always like this.

VO: Howard's shop is indeed stuffed to the gunnels with items.

Surely our lads can find something to their taste in here?

(WHISPERS) There's a lot here.

My God.

I don't quite know where to start.

VO: Thomas has alighted on a 1960s hairdryer.

I'm not sure that's quite what you're looking for though, old boy.

Looks like something out of Barbarella, the film.

VO: Yes...

The resemblance is uncanny, Thomas.

But, while mountaineering over the acres of stock, Thomas has spied something that might carry a bit more weight in the saleroom.

THOMAS: Oh my giddy aunt!

I've seen some scales.

They might be a bit big.

They're railway ones, I reckon, railway scales.

The whole thing weighs a ton.

VO: These heavy-duty scales were made by W & T Avery of Birmingham, a manufacturer of weighing scales, founded in the 18th century.

THOMAS: I reckon they're railway scales, or something like that, or food, or food scales, but we're missing the weights.

(MUTTERS) I'll ask him.

I'm standing on these scales.

Right.

What do you know about these?

Well, I would have thought they were late Victorian, probably.

They've been there a while, actually, they've been buried under some furniture.

What have you got on them?

HOWARD: I think they're on at about 65, I think.

50 quid'd buy them.

THOMAS: OK, OK. VO: But before long, he's trying to haggle Howard down.

THOMAS: Can we do anything on the price?

What, less than 50 quid?

THOMAS: Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

How much less?

THOMAS: Well... HOWARD: About a fiver less might do it.

Well, I was thinking maybe a tenner less, but you know, it's up to you.

I would like to pay £40 for them, if you're happy with that.

I'll take your £40 then.

THOMAS: Is it..?

Really?

Yeah.

Alright?

Done.

THOMAS: You're a very kind man.

I hope... My pleasure.

THOMAS: ..they'll be alright.

And I hope they, I hope they're an earner.

VO: So do we, Howard!

So do we.

THOMAS: Thank you very much.

HOWARD: Thank you very much indeed.

THOMAS: That's brilliant.

VO: Philip hasn't found anything in Howard's shop, so he's wandered off, just down the road to Swifties - a yard that deals mainly in roofing and architectural salvage.

This kind of place is right up Philip's street!

Luckily, Tracey's on hand to give him a friendly welcome.

Oh, stop it, Tracey.

You'll make the dog blush.

Can Tracey - and her doggie assistant Molly - help to salvage Philip's chances in this game?

That's nice, isn't it?

You've got some cool things here.

I like that there.

I wonder how much that is.

It's like a pedestal, I can't really see, that's the trouble.

I'll have to find Tracey.

VO: It's a solid marble pedestal or plinth.

It's priced up at £50.

PHILIP: You could put a bird bath on there.

You could put a sundial on there.

TRACEY: Plant on it.

PHILIP: You could put a plant on it.

That's what I love about you, Trace.

You've got some vision, kid, ain't you?

What could you do that for?

TRACEY: 50.

Oh, behave, Trace!

Go and have another look at it.

Blummin' ruin, that is.

£40.

PHILIP: I'm daft enough to want to buy that.

I'll give you 30 quid for it, sold as seen.

TRACEY: (LAUGHS) Go on.

You're an angel.

You are.

Mwah!

I ought to come here more often.

TRACEY: Oh yes.

VO: Now Philip, how on earth are you planning to get that..?

Oh, I see.

Oops, carefully now, mind the dog.

PHILIP: Gonna end up in the middle of the road with this.

By the cringe.

VO: Back at the other shop, Thomas is ready to move onwards, and is calling his compadre to let him know his travel plans.

(PHONE RINGS) Hello?

Hello, Philip.

Thomas, how are you?

I'm gonna go off to my shop now.

Oh right, so what am I gonna do, then?

Well, you can make your own way.

Oh, that's nice, isn't it?

Charming!

THOMAS: (LAUGHS) "You can make your own way."

(GRUMBLES) THOMAS: Bye!

PHILIP: Bye.

THOMAS: Oh, he's not very happy, but my taxi's here, and I'm not waiting for him, cuz he's got stuff to do.

So I'm gonna go and get it.

Well, I think we're left to our own devices now.

VO: I'm sorry to say, you are, Philip.

Don't forget your hunk of marble now, will you.

Handy.

Thomas, meanwhile, has just found an old friend: Gil, the taxi driver.

THOMAS: Yep, that's brilliant.

Thank you.

VO: They're heading for Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, about 24 miles away.

VO: Which is rather a long taxi journey.

I hope you brought your wallet, Thomas.

GIL: And how are you doing with your purchases so far?

Not bad actually, but Philip unfortunately had a very bad time.

Bought a canoe!

Well, it didn't do too well.

GIL: He comes out very stern on television sometimes.

THOMAS: Does he?

He's not grumpy all the time.

VO: Hm, not quite all the time.

Now known as "the capital of the Peak District", Chapel-en-le-Frith was founded in the 13th century.

Thomas is heading into Antiques and Collectables, where Barry's ready to greet him.

Hello, I'm Thomas.

I'm Barry.

Barry, nice to meet you, Barry.

Nice to meet you.

So here we are, we're in...

I think we're in the Dales.

I'm pretty sure we're in the Dales.

VO: Not even close - you're in the Peak District.

Let's hope your eye for a bargain's sharper than your geography today, Tom.

Sure enough, he's spotted something he might want to snap up.

THOMAS: I'm going to look through all those photographs.

First World War cards, a nice shipping one.

Thing about postcards and photographs, Victorian, Edwardian, up to the First World and Second World War, look at this lot.

And you just wonder where they went to, what they got up to.

People like sort of big job lots of photographs.

THOMAS: Barry?

What can be done on these?

Normally we sell them out as individuals.

THOMAS: OK. BARRY: But maybe I'd do a deal for the lot.

THOMAS: What do you think?

I would have thought about 45 quid for the lot.

Can I offer you 30?

BARRY: What about 35?

(WHISPERS) Go on, 30.

35.

VO: It's a battle of wills.

I'll make a concession, £32 and that's it.

THOMAS: 32?

32.

30...not 30?

32.

THOMAS: Thank you very much, sir.

Thank you.

And I get the basket?

Yeah, I suppose so.

What do you mean, "I suppose so"?

What do you...

I thought Dick Turpin wore a mask!

There you are.

Thank you, sir.

I'll get you some change.

VO: But, highwayman or not, Thomas's luck is in today.

BARRY: You're a winner.

Why am I a winner?

There's no change.

No change?

Thank you very much!

£30.

Get in!

VO: Nicely done, Thomas!

(SOFTLY) 30 quid.

Yes, yes!

Awesome.

VO: Meanwhile, Philip is still back in Sheffield.

Since his local knowledge is a little lacking, he's decided to spend the afternoon learning more about the city.

Kelham Island Museum should do the trick: it celebrates Sheffield's industrial heritage - in particular, her status as Steel City.

Pleased to meet you, Philip.

Mick Steeper.

PHILIP: Mick, how are you, alright?

VO: Mick is a technical manager and engineer in the steel industry and is just the man to ask... Why then was Sheffield a center for steel?

Well, the reason that Sheffield developed a steel industry was because of the geographical features.

There's water power in the rivers that are coming down from the hills.

PHILIP: That's five, isn't it?

I mean, there's the Don, I know that one.

What are the other ones?

MICK: There's the Sheaf, the Porter, the Rivelin and...

BOTH: The other one!

Yeah, I got in before you.

VO: Sheffield is recorded as a center for metalwork - particularly cutlery making - stretching back to the medieval period, but it was at the dawn of the Victorian era that steel making became super-sized.

MICK: At the time of Victorian onwards, Sheffield's interests moved on to a much higher volume of steel making.

PHILIP: Which presumably is the Industrial Revolution?

MICK: That's right.

And the reason that Britain needed steel changed completely.

It was no longer small volume stuff like the cutlery and the hand saws, it became large-volume stuff like rail, like shipbuilding, like steel in construction.

VO: Once the industry was able to produce the metal in volume, all the other machines associated with steel making had to grow in size.

Inside, Mick wants to show Philip an immense steam engine that once powered a steel mill.

PHILIP: That's just the most amazing piece of kit, isn't it?

MICK: Well, this is steam engine itself...

This is the engine?

...so the steam enters the three cylinders at the top, each drives an individual piston.

Over 2,000 people worked on the ordnance plant of which this was part.

PHILIP: Ordnance, was that the war effort?

Yeah, basically munitions and armor.

And these mills were used to roll armor plank for battleships.

Some sort of motor, isn't it?

It certainly is.

VO: But the steel industry in Sheffield also prides itself on its history of small-scale, artisan manufacture.

Philip's going to meet Stan, one of the last "little mesters" - or "little masters" - the craftsmen who carry centuries-old metalworking skills into the present day.

PHILIP: So, Stan, how long have you been doing this?

STAN: 70 years.

I'm 86 now, and I'm just learning, more or less!

PHILIP: You're 80...80 what... STAN: 86 now.

No, I don't believe that.

I am, yeah.

PHILIP: Really?

STAN: Mm.

PHILIP: Do you think you've got... PHILIP: ..the hang of this yet?

STAN: Just about.

VO: Stan is a highly- skilled craftsman, known as a cutler.

PHILIP: Cutlers make cutlery?

That's right, I'm a spring knife cutler, a folding knife cutler.

VO: Stan makes every part of these pocket knives himself, right down to the springs that hold them together.

PHILIP: Who taught you to do this?

Who taught me?

PHILIP: Yeah.

STAN: A little old fella called Ted Osbourne.

He was about 60 when I first started as an apprentice in 1946.

PHILIP: You started in 1946?

STAN: Yeah.

PHILIP: So all of this comes from Sheffield steel, does it?

STAN: Oh yeah.

Every blade's got my name on, of course.

PHILIP: "Stan Shaw, Sheffield."

STAN: It is hard work making them though, cuz I've got to make all the blades and springs and linings and put all the pearl on the...things and stuff, there's 200 hours in that one.

PHILIP: Thank you Stan, PHILIP: you've been a star.

STAN: It's a pleasure.

Do you know, I tell you what, it's been absolutely...

It's been a joy to meet you, and a pleasure.

VO: And with that, it's time for Phil to cut and run.

Ho ho ho!

Sorry.

Thomas, meanwhile, is still in Chapel-en-le-Frith, and he's about to have a nice surprise.

It looks like the car's been repaired and delivered back to him.

THOMAS: Let's hope she works.

Come on, work for me.

(IGNITION STARTS) Ha ha ha!

I can't believe it works, that's so brilliant.

VO: So Thomas is back in the driving seat and off to meet Philip.

Nighty night, chaps.

VO: But a new day finds them roving England's grassy byways once more.

Philip seems to be in a reflective mood.

PHILIP: I can't help myself buying canoes and other rubbish like that, you know.

And if I go and find another one, I'll go and buy it.

And it's just...You know you're gonna end up doomed.

VO: Oh Philip, do cheer up.

And stop harping on about that blasted canoe!

PHILIP: Do you know my goal?

I'd like to buy a muck spreader.

THOMAS: (LAUGHS) A muck spreader?

PHILIP: Yeah, I think that'd be really cool.

VO: Oh Lordy.

So far, Thomas has spent £70 on two lots: the cast iron scales and the collection of vintage postcards and photographs.

He still has a generous £177.54 burning a hole in his pocket.

While old cheery-chops Philip has spent only £30 on one lot: the solid marble pedestal.

That leaves him £163.34 and a hernia to spend today.

PHILIP: Are you shopping in Bakewell?

THOMAS: I don't know.

VO: You are.

Glad to see you're paying attention, chaps.

PHILIP: All the best.

VO: But at least the landscape does not disappoint!

THOMAS: Look at that view.

VO: Philip's dropping Thomas off in Bakewell, Derbyshire.

THOMAS: Ah, lovely.

VO: This pretty market town is home to the celebrated delicacies the Bakewell pudding and the Bakewell tart.

Well, Thomas, you have a jolly good shop.

THOMAS: I will.

PHILIP: Don't forget my tart!

I won't forget your tart.

Don't forget my tart.

A nice big one for you.

PHILIP: Yes.

VO: Cheeky.

PHILIP: Good luck!

THOMAS: Thank you.

VO: Thomas is heading for the regal Tsar Emporium, where dapper owner Mel holds court.

THOMAS: Thomas.

Hi, I'm Mel.

THOMAS: Mel, nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

I like your style.

VO: Mel's shop is simply packed with shiny baubles - but will all that glitters mean gold for our Tom?

MEL: It's a bit like an assault course in here.

THOMAS: It is a bit like an assault course.

And you might get molested by Maximus, he's floating about down there.

Maximus.

Hello Maximus.

Are you named after Maximus... (DOG YELPS) Oh, sorry.

MEL: He's feisty.

He's only playing, though.

VO: Oh yeah?

I have the same trouble with Thomas and Philip.

MEL: It's quite cute, isn't it?

VO: It's a child's toy tambourine, made of wood and pigskin, probably dating from the 1950s.

It's a great bit of fun.

VO: And he's spied something else that might just be the answer to all his prayers.

THOMAS: I quite like your little St Christopher.

That's sweet, isn't it?

VO: It's a rosewood St Christopher plaque, priced up at £14.

THOMAS: It's a little St Christopher plaque.

St Christopher obviously the patron saint of all things travel.

(SOFTLY) It would be good for us on our travels.

I think we need it with the car.

VO: It certainly couldn't hurt.

Now, what deal can he strike with Mel?

MEL: How much is on the ticket?

THOMAS: Well, you've got £25 on it.

Yeah, um... THOMAS: I mean, you know.

Yeah, well to give you a chance, I'll do you that for 10.

And the St Christopher?

MEL: How much is on that ticket?

14.

Well, I suppose seven.

THOMAS: Seven.

MEL: Yeah.

Could we do the two for 15?

MEL: You're a cheeky one, aren't you?

I can but ask.

OK then, we'll do that.

THOMAS: Oh, brilliant, OK, well we'll do that, we'll have those for 15.

VO: A glittering deal!

THOMAS: Wonderful, thanks.

I'm off to go and buy a tart for Philip.

VO: Righty-o.

When in Rome, eh, Thomas?

I'm here to buy a Bakewell tart.

Right, OK. For my co-pilot on my little trip, Philip.

Right, well, how much is that then?

VO: What Thomas has here is a Bakewell tart, with a shortcrust pastry base - importantly distinct from a Bakewell pudding, which is made with flaky pastry.

Thank you.

I'm sure he'll love it.

I'm sure he will.

VO: And with that sweet little mission accomplished, he's heading onwards.

VO: Philip, meanwhile, has driven about 10 miles to the Matlock area in Derbyshire.

VO: The former spa town of Matlock sits at the southern edge of the Peak District.

The shop Philip is aiming for is in the small village of Cromford, just to the south of Matlock.

Dealer Pat is on hand to help.

Hi, how are you?

Is it alright if I have a look round?

PAT: It is.

PHILIP: Hi.

Philip.

How do you do?

VO: Philip's not doing too well so far.

See the thing is, I have got to buy.

I've only bought one lot.

That's the issue for me.

VO: Luckily, he's alighted on something which might spark some interest.

PHILIP: Look at that, look that's a fireman's nozzle, if you'll pardon the expression.

So that would go on the end of your hose, and put your fire out.

You know, I like that.

VO: But will Pat throw a wet blanket on his enthusiasm?

PHILIP: I think at auction, you've got that priced at 30 quid, I think at auction, 30 quid's the top end, I think it would make 15-30 quid.

If I offered you a tenner, would you throw me out the door?

Might do!

But would you throw me out the door with this, and you with a tenner?

VO: Ha!

PAT: Er, I could manage 15.

How about 12 quid?

My maths isn't very good, that's sort of splitting the difference, isn't it?

PAT: Alright.

Alright.

PHILIP: And 13's unlucky... No, we're not going to say 13.

Pat, you're an absolute gentleman, thank you ever so much.

I'll get some money out.

I like that, I don't quite know why I bought it.

VO: You never seem to, Philip.

But his second buy seems to have lit a fire under him.

He's back in the car and heading for Matlock town center.

I'm so far behind the game now, I've got to go and buy something, and I've got to go and buy something that's not going to make me just £10 profit, so it's going to mean taking a risk.

VO: Matthew from Magpie Antiques is an old pal.

PHILIP: Oh, hiya, matey!

Alright?

PHILIP: Good to see you.

Yeah, you too.

VO: So let's hope he can help Phil stack up another buy.

And it's not long before something takes his fancy.

MUSIC: "Love Sneakin' Up" by Tim Garland # Love sneakin' up behind me... # PHILIP: Hell fire!

How much is she?

# I wasn't ready for his sneaky... # I'm very very tempted.

# I wasn't ready for... # PHILIP: Isn't she hot?

Isn't she just gorgeous?

PHILIP: She's lovely, isn't she?

# ..baby, so... # VO: She's a 1960s mannequin, Phil, minus her arms.

Armless.

Mate, she's still got the glass eyes in.

PHILIP: And how much is she, like that?

MATTHEW: Probably about... 80 quid.

Give me one sec.

Give me one second.

VO: Matthew's popping downstairs to check what the rock - Huh!

- bottom price might be, with the dealer who owns Philip's new friend.

His interest might not be as crackpot as it seems.

Retro mannequins can be popular, and might attract interest from vintage style enthusiasts.

MATTHEW: Right, sir.

I've had a word.

Yeah.

And I can get that young lady for you...for 60 quid.

You don't get the clothes with her, unfortunately, so you need to wrap her up in a towel... PHILIP: Not the clothes?!

MATTHEW: You need to wrap her up in a towel and sit her well in that convertible.

No, I can't do that, I can't do that.

VO: No, you can't.

The designer corset the mannequin is wearing is far too expensive for Philip.

It's selling for £120, second-hand.

So, you can keep your mitts off that lot.

I didn't think this was that sort of show!

MATTHEW: Right, Phil.

Here's your date for this evening.

VO: She's a picture!

Now, what can Matthew do on the price?

MATTHEW: Well, what about if we come down a little bit on the price... PHILIP: I'll give you 30 quid for her, that's it, finished, as she is.

Handshake?

I got to buy something off you.

And I know I'm being mean, but I just got to buy something.

We'll say 35, and you take the scarf as well.

The whole lot as it stands...

The whole lot, £35.

PHILIP: Go on.

MATTHEW: She's yours, sir.

Cheers, matey.

Good Lord, how am I going to explain this to my wife?

VO: That's none of our business, Philip.

MATTHEW: Thank you, my friend.

VO: Anyway, best get going.

VO: They're driving about 20 miles to Ravenshead, near Nottingham, where Philip's dropping Thomas off.

VO: Having bought all the lots he wants for auction, he's decided to visit an intriguing local collection.

PHILIP: All the best.

VO: Thomas is meeting Andy Carter, a "petro-head" with an addiction to a special kind of vehicle... VO: ..bubblecars!

THOMAS: Hello.

Hello, Thomas.

Pleased to meet you.

I'm Andy.

Andy, nice to meet you.

Andy, are these all your cars?

ANDY: Yes, this is my bubblecar collection.

VO: Bubble cars - or microcars - are tiny but roadworthy vehicles dating from the 1950s and 60s.

Today their retro looks and quirky charm make them irresistible to their devoted fan-base, and most particularly to Andy, who has more than 20 of them.

ANDY: It's my hobby, yes.

THOMAS: Your hobby?

Right back to when I was a teenager.

THOMAS: So tell me about the bubble car.

Why were they invented?

Well, they appeared after the war, in the mid-50s.

The Suez Crisis meant petrol was rationed, so they do fantastic fuel consumption; people were just getting back on their feet after the World War II.

Cars were very expensive, so these cars were much cheaper, so it enabled working people to get around and get to work, and they were one step up from a motorbike - they...

Covered transport.

Well, that's it - covered transport.

You wouldn't get wet.

ANDY: That's right.

THOMAS: Bring me through your collection here.

ANDY: Right.

Well, I'll start with the car that I started with.

So, Thomas, this is my first car - BMW Isetta.

My mum and dad didn't want me to have a motorbike when I was 16 years of age, so they went and bought me an old Isetta.

VO: Andy got the car in 1970, after the microcar craze had waned for most.

ANDY: Well, they suddenly dropped out of fashion, when the Mini and the Fiat 500 and the NSU became popular.

All of a sudden, bu... Nobody wanted a bubble car anymore.

They weren't cool enough to be seen in.

VO: But caring not a jot for popular opinion, Andy's love for the bubble car was born.

THOMAS: Were you chuffed to bits?

ANDY: Oh, yes, fantastic, yes.

I could take a girl to a party or...had my own mobility.

It was fantastic.

THOMAS: Was it freedom?

ANDY: Yes.

THOMAS: You could get out!

So how do you get into this one?

Well, you'll have to stand back, Thomas.

OK, yeah, yeah.

Because the whole front of the car opens up.

There we go.

And then you just jump in?

And you notice the steering wheel even moves out...

It does, doesn't it, yeah?!

...to allow you room to get in.

Right.

And then you just...slip in.

ANDY: Just jump in.

THOMAS: Just jump...literally just jump in.

Oh, it's...um...right.

ANDY: Are you OK in there?

(LOUDLY) Yeah, I'm alright, yeah.

Luckily I don't suffer from claustrophobia!

Oh, this is wonderful.

It's quite sort of compact and sort of bijoux in here.

Oh, wonderful!

Open-top motoring.

Look at that.

You could feel the wind in your hair!

And did you take your wife out in this?

My wife did actually go out with me when I had an Isetta, and at one time I did run over her foot, and yet she still married me.

THOMAS: God, that's true love, isn't it?!

VO: Bubble cars were made both in Britain - like these Peel cars, built in the Isle of Man - and in Europe, like Andy's BMW.

ANDY: German cars were obviously much higher quality.

The British cars quite often were made of fiberglass, they were designed with a motorbike engine... THOMAS: And who would have made them?

ANDY: Well, this one was designed by Hunslet, the locomotive company in Leeds.

THOMAS: On three wheels?

ANDY: Yes.

Three wheels.

With a little Villiers motorbike engine.

Incredibly noisy.

It looks dreadful.

ANDY: But that's part of its charm, Thomas.

I know that it's part of its charm.

I mean, you know, that, I think, it's got lines, it's got design to it.

Somebody's thought about that.

Some nutter's done that one.

You know?

You can imagine somebody in a shed... VO: But that's the great British way, Thomas!

Tut-tut!

Now a special treat - Andy's going to let him drive one of the bubble beauties.

So I'll take her for a spin round the block?

This is brilliant.

How was that?

Wow!

Wow, wow!

What a great, great experience!

I don't think I've ever driven a car like that.

ANDY: You did very well.

You did very well.

Well, that's very kind.

It's very kind.

So thank you very much.

I've really enjoyed my day.

It's been my pleasure, Thomas.

VO: Meanwhile, that old gearhead Philip has the, eh... VO: .."macrocar", and has driven on to West Bridgford, where he has... VO: ..one last shop to visit.

PHILIP: (CALLS) Hello!

Hi.

Philip.

Philip.

Andy.

Right.

I've got to buy something.

VO: With only three items bagged, and time rapidly running out, yes, you jolly well do, Philip!

VO: But something's caught his eye.

Uh-oh!

The theme is developing here.

PHILIP: Is that a young lady up there?

It's just a...uh...a...it's just a fairly saucy post-Second World War calendar.

VO: The price on the ticket is £38.

And what I like on the back is this inscription: "To Albert, with lots of love, Annette."

So Annette clearly had a good old sense of humor, didn't she?

VO: He's going to weigh up that decision, but something in a cabinet has caught his eye.

It's a little set of scales for checking the weight of gold sovereign coins.

He's thinking he might combine them in a job lot with the fire hose nozzle he bought earlier.

That's appropriate!

Ticket price is £10.

PHILIP: The purpose of this was just to make sure that you weren't being kippered on your gold, weren't you?

That's right.

So you'd weigh your sovereign... Sovereigns or half sovereigns.

Yeah, and it should have a specific amount of gold in them.

ANDY: Of gold, that's right.

PHILIP: So I think that's quite a bit of fun.

But we only...We got a load of weights missing, haven't we?

Well, that's a possibility again, isn't it?

VO: And here's a "fab" little item.

(WHIRRING) PHILIP: Fantastic!

Look at that!

"Thunderbirds are go!"

I think this is brilliant.

So...

...I spent seven years qualifying as a fine art auctioneer, I've been in this business seven...what, 35 years now?

And I'm just about to buy a Thunderbird 2 alarm clock.

What is the world coming to?!

VO: Oh, Philip, don't be so dramatic!

I think that is possibly one of the worst things I've ever seen in my life.

In fact, I think that is so bad, it's verging on genius.

VO: Unfortunately, it isn't an original Thunderbirds item.

It dates from the early 1990s.

Ticket price for the toy is £10.

Philip's amassed a little pile of items, and they're certainly diverse.

Combined ticket price for all three pieces is £58.

Now, what sort of a deal can he strike with Andy?

To me, there's £25 worth there.

PHILIP: I think 20 for the three.

22.50, and we can deal.

I tell you what, cuz I can't do 50ps, I'll give you 22 quid for the lot.

Go on, then, £22.

Right.

You're on.

You're a gentleman.

VO: And with that, Philip has his lots for auction - and not a moment too soon!

They've repaired nearby to unveil their haul of items.

Philip's up first.

I've got... Well, this is my first lot, Thomas.

THOMAS: Really?

PHILIP: I don't know what made me do this... ...know what made me do...oh!

THOMAS: Oh, Philip!

PHILIP: Hey, where's..?

Hold on.

Why..?

Wh-wh-wh-wh...

Think she's rather fetching?

THOMAS: She's armless.

VO: Oh...that's mine line!

See, I know she hasn't got any arms, right, but what I was thinking was that if you just went round here, like that, right, you can sort of... THOMAS: Yeah.

All very nice but somehow the arms don't match with the body.

VO: Ha!

Not quite!

THOMAS: (LOUDLY) What is this?

PHILIP: Ah, right...well...yeah, it's a lump of marble.

Yeah.

VO: Yeah.

This is my best buy ever.

THOMAS: More on the same theme?

VO: Tut-tut!

PHILIP: Well, I got it...

I had a stocking moment.

Well, that's fine.

Every bloke should have one.

PHILIP: So I think she's really cool.

She was a tenner.

She's beautiful.

She's like one of the Vargas girls.

Lovely.

Lovely shape.

Em, do you think she'll do... alright for a tenner?

For a tenner, she's great.

I mean, she's going to make £15, isn't she?

VO: And now, the Thunderbirds toy.

£6.

Right, you ready for this?

"Thunderbirds are..." I'll count you in.

Ready?

"Thunderbirds are go."

(WHIRRING) PHILIP: Isn't that just brilliant?

THOMAS: Yes.

I had one of these... PHILIP: There is a... minor problem.

What?

That it's 1992?

PHILIP: And it doesn't work.

That's the only thing it does.

THOMAS: What do you mean..?!

(LAUGHS) Is that all it does?!

PHILIP: Yeah, it doesn't do anything else at all.

THOMAS: £6?!

PHILIP: Yeah.

Was I robbed?

THOMAS: Robbed!

PHILIP: Was I?

Royally!

That's 50p in a boot sale!

PHILIP: Yeah, but it's brilliant, isn't it?

THOMAS: It's quite funny.

Come on then, Thomas.

Let me see what you got.

THOMAS: I am humbled by your... PHILIP: I can understand that.

THOMAS: ..these are shocking.

PHILIP: Oh right.

VO: First up, the basket of photos and postcards.

So, you've got somebody's photograph album..?

Well, yeah, it's a collection of photographs, yeah.

VO: And the tambourine.

Was it going for a song?

PHILIP: Right.

This is...my "Kumbaya, my Lord".

Child's... PHILIP: Is that..?

THOMAS: ..child's tambourine.

PHILIP: Right, OK. THOMAS: 7.50 PHILIP: 7.50?

How you can knock my "Thunderbirds are go", at six quid, when that cost you £7.50, is beyond me.

VO: But surely Thomas's Victorian scales will turn out to be a heavy hitter, won't they?

THOMAS: So these were £40, the Avery & Sons.

I think either railway station... PHILIP: Or post office?

THOMAS: ..or post office, yep.

Yeah.

And that's the thing that'll make them sell, isn't it?

Yeah, yeah.

And scales are quite... You know, they need a bit of love and attention but it's all there.

PHILIP: I think you're alright with that lot.

VO: Finally, some mild positivity!

God, is that it then?

That's it - it's really, really depressing.

VO: Aren't you both fonts of joy today, then?!

Well, at least Thomas has a little treat for Philip - the Bakewell tart.

(LOUDLY) Oh!

Tarts.

Absolutely.

Well, shall we go and...have a dr..?

We need a drink to go with this, don't we?

THOMAS: We need a drink to go with this, definitely, yeah.

VO: But do they have any tasty predictions once their rival's back is turned?

I think Thomas has been really, really clever, cuz he's only spent about £80.

Now, if they give all of his stuff away, he can't lose as much as I did with my canoe and all the rest of it at the last auction.

VO: Oh, enough about the canoe!

So I think he's been really quite clever.

To buy underwear on the Antiques Road Trip, on an armless mannequin, is just brilliant.

Is it going to make profit?

(EXHALES) It's probably going to do alright.

It's probably going to make something.

I think perhaps...arms would've helped, wouldn't they?

Does that mean that I'm going to retain the lead?

Well, I haven't done that well myself, so it's...all up in the air.

We'll have to wait for the auction.

VO: Then you won't have long to wait!

VO: On this leg, Thomas and Philip have traveled from the city of Sheffield to their auction in Leicester, in the East Midlands.

VO: Leicester is a city with a venerable history, stretching back to the Roman period.

PHILIP: I quite like Leicester.

THOMAS: Do you know what?

I think it's quite attractive.

VO: I'm glad it meets with your approval, chaps.

They're aiming for Churchgate Auctions.

PHILIP: Are you ready for this?

THOMAS: I am ready.

(LOUDLY) Oh, thanks for stopping in a puddle!

This will set my day off beautifully!

VO: Don't bicker!

VO: Thomas Plant started this leg with £247.54.

He's spent £85 on the nose, and has four lots in this sale.

VO: Philip Serrell began with £193.34.

He spent £99 and has five lots to show for it.

VO: Auctioneer Dickon Dearman will be at the helm today.

Our tussling twosome are about to do battle.

Take it away!

VO: First up are Thomas' Victorian scales.

What will they weigh in at?

Do I see £30?

£30 for them.

20 then.

£20.

£20 has been bid on those scales.

20's been bid.

Is there 22 now?

22... That's not great.

DICKON: 24.

THOMAS: 24.

DICKON: 26, 28, £30.

£30.

32, 35, 35, 37, 37, £40.

40, yes.

45.

50.

50.

DICKON: £50 at the back?

50 do I see?

No.

Selling then to you, sir, for £45.

(GAVEL HAMMERS) VO: They make just a shade more than Thomas paid.

Not an auspicious start, but better than a loss!

This doesn't look good, does it?

It's a lot of work, isn't it?

It doesn't look good, this, does it?

VO: Now Philip's job lot of fire hose nozzle and sovereign scales.

Will they set the saleroom alight?

Do I see £10?

£10 has been bid.

12 from you, sir.

14.

He's your fan.

DICKON: 16, 18, £20.

20, yes.

22.

22, 25, 25 now.

25 do I see anywhere?

25 is there?

Selling then for £22.

(GAVEL HAMMERS) VO: Again, they squeak a profit.

A turn for Thomas next, as his basket of miscellaneous photos and postcards are up.

Do I see £20 for these?

£20 only?

Oh, dear.

20 is there?

£10 then.

£10 I have down there.

This is not good news.

£12.

14, 16, 18, £20.

Ooh, you're off, you're off, you're off!

DICKON: 24.

24, 26, 28.

28, no.

28 do I see now?

28 is there anywhere?

Selling then for £26.

(GAVEL HAMMERS) VO: Another sale price that's nothing to write home about.

Tough luck, Thomas.

What did you pay for those?

Eh...Don't want to... Not telling you!

Nah, nah, nah-nah, nah!

(SOFTLY) £30.

VO: Now, can Philip's post-war bombshell seduce the punters?

Opening here at £15.

Get in there!

Profit!

Do I see 17 now?

£17.

17.

17 from you, sir.

17's been bid.

Is there 20 now?

£20.

20 do I see now?

20 is there?

No further bids?

Selling then for £17.

(GAVEL HAMMERS) That is a good profit.

I wouldn't say it's a good profit, but it's a profit!

VO: It seems there's one thing that always sells.

Shrewd, Philip.

It's previous experience with the two of us.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

That's a massive, massive hit, that, isn't it?

Yeah.

VO: Now the other woman in Philip's life.

Can he repeat the trick?

So £20.

Ouch.

£20 for the mannequin.

£20.

£10 then.

Ouch.

Oh, 10.

Do I see 12?

£12.

14, 16, 18, £20.

20, yes.

22, 25, 27, £30 has been bid.

35 now.

35.

35 is there anywhere?

35 do I see?

Selling then for... Oh, 35, fresh bidder, madam.

Fresh bidder.

There you are.

35.

£35.

Is there 40 now?

£40.

40 is there anywhere?

Selling then for £35.

(GAVEL HAMMERS) £35.

Which is exactly where we started!

DICKON: And lot number 64... VO: Seems like the punters didn't fancy her.

Yeah, it's all looking good isn't it?

Rosy.

Everything's rosy... VO: It's Thomas' tambourine next.

Perhaps this will shake things up.

20.

Do I see £20 for the tambourine.

I'll take 10 if you like, then.

DICKON: £10 for you.

12.

I'm going.

Start the car.

DICKON: 16, 18...

This is just ridiculous!

DICKON: ..yes.

22.

22, 24.

Shake of the head.

24 do I see now?

24 is there anywhere?

No further interest?

Selling then for £22.

(GAVEL HAMMERS) VO: An unexpected success, with bells on!

Well done.

(SINGS) Kumbaya, my Lord... PHILIP: Oh, ging gang goolie, more like!

VO: Now the Thunderbirds toy that even Philip seems to lack faith in.

DICKON: £10.

PHILIP: It's fantastic!

Oh, look there, he's bidding!

Get in there!

Do I see 12 now?

£12.

£12.

14, 16, 18.

£20.

£20.

22.

22 now.

22 over... Don't dare to dream.

DICKON: 26.

It's making more than... Oh, living the dream!

Living the dream!

£30, you say.

At 32 now?

32.

32 is there anywhere?

32 do I see?

Selling then for £30.

(GAVEL HAMMERS) VO: And it flies!

F.A.B!

You are one of the country's leading toy experts, right?

THOMAS: Yes.

That's not in any dispute at all.

You said my toy was worth 50 pence.

This isn't a toy auction.

I wouldn't have entertained it... ...to be absolutely honest.

VO: Thomas could really do with some help here, so let's hope his St Christopher plaque will protect him from further losses.

£10 for this.

Do I see 10?

A fiver, then.

Oh!

Fiver.

£5 have been bid.

And six now.

£6.

Six.

£8.

And 10.

£12.

14.

No.

£14.

14 do I see?

14 just there.

16.

£16 now.

16 anywhere?

16 do I see?

Selling then for £14.

Thank you.

(GAVEL HAMMERS) Doubled my money.

VO: Looks like someone's watching over you, Thomas.

And finally, the great hunk of marble.

Can it carve out a profit?

What's my marble plinth going to make?

£30.

25, if you like.

25 has been bid.

25 has been bid.

Do I see £30 now?

£30.

30 just there.

35.

What did you pay for it?

30.

DICKON: 40.

£40.

40, yes.

£50.

50, thank you madam.

£50 have been bid.

Do I see 60 now?

£60.

60 is there anywhere?

60 do I see?

Selling then for £50.

Thank you.

(GAVEL HAMMERS) VO: A very respectable sale, proving even Philip's bad luck isn't set in stone.

Ha!

VO: Thomas started this leg with £247.54.

After paying auction costs, he made a rather modest profit of £2.74, which gives him £250.28 to carry forward.

VO: While Philip began with £193.34, he made a slightly more substantial profit of £27.28, giving him £220.62 in his wallet.

So that means that despite his grumbling, he ends this leg victorious.

Well done, Phil.

THOMAS: Wh..?

That's it.

PHILIP: I've had enough.

I'm going to... (LOUDLY) Don't...Come on!

We've all made money this time.

Come on, we've got to be happy.

PHILIP: How much did you make?

THOMAS: About a couple of quid.

(LAUGHS) Onwards and upwards.

Come on.

THOMAS: £2 profit, £25.

Let's go!

Wahey!

VO: Next time on the Antiques Road Trip, Thomas and Philip do some deals on the quiet.

Will you just shut up, Jack!

VO: And then decide to make some noise!

(FOGHORN) subtitling@stv.tv