VO: The nation's favorite celebrities... Wow.
VO: ..paired up with an expert... Ow.
Ow.
Get it sorted.
VO: ..and a classic car.
She's beautiful.
We're steaming.
VO: Their mission - to scour Britain for antiques.
Is that antique?
I'll take it.
I'll take it.
I'll take it.
VO: The aim, to make the biggest profit at auction.
But it's no easy ride...
There's a dog chasing us!
VO: Who will find a hidden gem?
I love that.
VO: Who will take the biggest risk?
Ah!
VO: Will anybody follow expert advice?
Yeah, uh, OK, I know what that means.
Woo-hoo!
VO: There will be worthy winners...
Yes!
VO: ..and valiant losers.
Disaster.
VO: Put your pedal to the metal.
Let's go shopping.
Woo-hoo!
VO: This is the Celebrity Antiques Road Trip!
VO: Oh yeah!
VO: Today's a tale not of naked ambition, but blonde ambition!
I love this car.
It smells good.
I like the color, for starters.
(LAUGHS) That's such a girly thing to say!
I know.
I always buy a car on the color.
VO: At the wheel of the aqua blue Frogeye Sprite is Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington.
Normally, I'm not for a soft top either, because I like to protect the hair.
But this is actually really lovely.
Oh no, this is cool.
VO: With adventurous TV presenter Helen Skelton as her co-driver.
Oh!
Ooh, the brakes aren't as sturdy.
Ooh!
(THEY LAUGH) I feel like this car is wasted on us.
VO: Helen and Becky have been firm friends since they met whilst making telly for BBC Sport.
Officially we work together, but I feel like that's why we get in trouble at work, cuz we just talk about life.
Yeah, and we're also very giggly.
I don't know what you mean.
(THEY LAUGH) VO: I do... Becky, OBE, won gold in the 400 and 800m freestyle in Beijing, and picked up bronze medals in London four years later.
While Countryfile's Helen is also extremely sporty, having successfully added kayaking, and even ultramarathoning to her action-packed CV.
(HELEN LAUGHS) I'm glad I've got a good bra on!
VO: I say!
But what of their experts in the Mark Two Jag?
Can they tell a shuttlecock from a mashie niblick?
TIM: Do you support football?
I live and breathe football.
I sense a bit of sarcasm there.
(LAUGHS) I'll go to a football match for the pies.
TIM: Yeah.
ROO: (LAUGHS) ROO: Are you a football fan?
TIM: Em, not really, no.
ROO: No?
TIM: No.
VO: Oh well, at least auctioneer and coin expert Tim Medhurst and dealer Roo Irvine sharpen up when it comes to the sport of antique hunting!
Are you competitive?
I am.
It's the Scottish, Asian blood in me.
So this is a real competition.
It is.
VO: Fighting talk!
And so, with £400 for each pairing, let battle commence.
I think our experts might be more competitive than us.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
They'll lead us astray.
I'll be like "No, can I buy this?"
They'll be like "No!
You must buy this!"
VO: Let's get them together and see what happens, eh?
(HORN HONKS) Toot toot, the ladies are here.
Stop, stop, stop!
HELEN: Good driving!
Hello, ladies!
HELEN: Hello!
REBECCA: Hello!
You do realize, Tim... HELEN: Ooh!
TIM: Woah!
VO: That was nearly a very short program!
ROO: Hi there, lovely to meet you, how are you doing?
TIM: Lovely to meet you.
HELEN: Nice to meet you.
You alright?
ROO: I'm loving the trousers!
Nice to meet you.
Did you enjoy the car?
That car was amazing!
Awesome.
I can't say I was the best driver.
The funny thing is, the two tallest people are gonna be in the smallest car... Yeah.
..and we've got plenty of leg room here.
I'm driving like this.
(TIM LAUGHS) Yours looks like a wedding car, it looks amazing!
ROO: Are you looking forward to it?
Yes!
We just both like shopping and talking, so...
Perfect.
VO: So, take your partners and your classic cars, please, and let's hit the road!
This might be interesting!
VO: Today's trip starts out in Greater Manchester at Failsworth, and then heads south and west towards Wales.
Returning to reach a thrilling conclusion, close to where it all began, at Bolton.
VO: But there's an awful lot of spending to be done before then.
Have you had any experience with antiques?
I love antiques.
Do you?
Oh, I am such a hoarder... (GEARS CRUNCH) I'm sorry, car, I'm sorry!
(ROO LAUGHS) I grew up in an old house full of antiques.
My mum loves interiors.
I spent a lot of my childhood in antique shops.
I love random, quirky things that other people don't necessarily like.
ROO: Quirky is good.
Quirky tends to do well at auction, because you don't often see it.
VO: Huh.
Now, what about her chum?
Becky, are you a connoisseur of antiques?
Not.
At.
All.
(THEY LAUGH) I am a complete novice.
I have no idea what to expect, and I just want to take on as much information as possible from you, and just learn.
Because obviously, we've got £400.
That's quite a lot of money.
Yeah.
I'm not good at haggling.
Oh no!
That was gonna be my next question.
I am the worst haggler.
So we're gonna have a little crash course on haggling?
Yes please.
VO: Crikey!
Which one's chalk and which one's cheese?
I like the random stuff that used to be something.
Yeah.
Like I have gym equipment from the 60s in my living room.
In your living room?
Yeah, I use it as like a bench.
My husband hates it.
I've got an Amazonian nut on a shelf.
A very large nut?
Like a coco de mer?
Yeah.
Like a big nut.
Oh wow!
I really like old, weird handbags as well.
So I have them hung up on the wall.
VO: Oh, yeah?
Well I think Failsworth might just have Helen's dream shop.
I'm an impulse buyer.
I'm like I'll take it, I'll take it, I'll take it.
VO: Welcome to Cornerhouse Antiques.
ROO: Right, come on, let's get shopping!
I like this, look at this!
Come on, missy!
I don't know what it is, but I like it.
Hi there.
I'm Roo.
I'm Jim.
Lovely to meet you, Jim.
I'm Helen.
I don't know where to look!
VO: Don't worry, there's a quirk in all corners!
(WHISPERING) Pucker up.
# TROMBONE VO: Did she say pucker?
What do we think might be big in Bolton, then?
HELEN: Wow.
Authentic hair.
Exclusive collector's edition, encapsulates a highly collectible piece of hair.
That's really cool.
Is it?
You could actually touch John F Kennedy's hair.
OK, let's move you on.
(ROO LAUGHS) I like you, but you're scaring me, Roo.
(VO LAUGHS) Sorry, Bolton.
Even Helen has her limits.
Now, banjo anyone?
I mean, that's cool though, isn't it?
That is very cool.
(STRUMS BANJO) If I don't do anything, and they just dub some music over the top, I'll look really cool.
VO: Oh, alright then.
# LINE DANCE STYLE BANJO VO: Yee-hah!
Meanwhile, on the other side of Manchester, what will the newbie be hoping to pluck from the shelf?
I'm really into cooking.
OK.
I absolutely love cooking, I love baking.
So maybe something that was from a kitchen?
Or... We call that kitchenalia.
Yeah.
That just would be pretty cool.
OK.
So we've got some direction to aim for.
VO: Becky and Tim are about to arrive in the town of Stockport, famous for its mighty 11 million brick viaduct.
TIM: Oh, here we go.
Massive, isn't it?
VO: Plus the equally grand Pear Mill.
REBECCA: It's not what I expected.
(TIM LAUGHS) Where do you even start?
So, how many antiques shops have you been in before?
This one.
This is your first one?
REBECCA: Yeah!
TIM: Excellent.
Fantastic.
So your first antique shop, it's a huge one.
What's the game plan, do you reckon?
VO: Well Tim, I think that navigating a former cotton mill packed with antiques might just be your job, actually.
TIM: That's a bit of you.
Vintage swimming costume... £40 for a... A 50s or 60s swimming costume.
And what would happen there, I'd dive in and it'd go whoop!
(THEY LAUGH) VO: Lordy!
Best stick to what you know, Tim.
TIM: How old do you think it is?
And where do you think it was made?
China?
Yes.
It was made in China.
70s?
80s?
Let's go a couple of hundred years earlier.
That's from about 1770.
REBECCA: What?!
TIM: I know.
That bowl?
Yep.
How do you know that?
Just the way it's been made.
It's the Imari palette.
It's copying Japanese, but this is actually a Chinese bowl.
Back in England, in the 18th century, we called Chinese porcelain white gold, because it was so valuable.
And people would pay fortunes for this in the 18th century, and get it shipped over.
And it was quite a status symbol to have something like that on your table.
So from something that was worth a fortune back then, to 25 quid now.
I like it.
If there was a set, I would have gone for it.
But what's somebody gonna do with one bowl?
Because you want stuff to match.
Yeah.
That's true.
Now I'm too logical for this game.
That's what I think my issue is.
(LAUGHS) I'm too... TIM: OK, well we'll just...
I like it though.
You're on the right lines.
Right, let's find something else with a story.
I love the pattern.
VO: I think Tim's passion is having an effect.
Anything else?
TIM: I really like that.
It's got nice little shelves inside.
Nice, original mirror.
I love it when mirrors have that black flaking.
It just shows that it's really old.
Would you have that in your house?
I think it's really cute, and I really like it.
The thing that I wanted was something for the home and that's what I'm interested in.
It's not just something that is just a cupboard.
Like, anyone can go into a shop and buy a cupboard, whereas this is just so different.
I love it.
It looks a little bit like a castle.
It does.
I love rustic and handmade things.
And this looks like it's been made out of lots of different things.
And inside the drawer you can see these brand marks, CJG.
I mean, that could have been part of an old crate.
Possibly it could even be Welsh, something like that.
And you can see across the top here, you know, all of those little nails.
That is not by a master craftsman by any means, but it's been nicely made, and I'd imagine this dates to around 1880, something like that.
Just think of a lovely Victorian rustic cottage, and a pine kitchen, or a pine bathroom with this in it.
And you know, 65 quid.
I'm sure there's a bit of movement on that.
I could see in an auction, that could make £100 or so.
VO: Getting on famously, aren't they?
Whither Helen and Roo?
In Failsworth.
Hey, look.
Oh, that's cool.
Enamel sign.
Enamel signs do very well at auction.
Yeah?
Key things you need to look out for, one is condition, and that has had quite a bit of wear and tear on it.
HELEN: But isn't that good, in a way?
It is.
Well, it adds to the charm of the enamel sign.
Secondly, color, you want vibrancy.
This is red, black and white, so it's alright, but what it's got in its favor is the size of it.
Now this one, I would say sort of 1930s, 40s, so it is vintage.
And it's priced up at 190.
So could we get that price down, do you think?
If we can get a good chunk off that, that's a good buy, and it takes the risk element away from it.
OK. VO: Well it's big enough, alright.
VO: Now what about that, Helen?
It looks cool, but what is it?
(ROO LAUGHS) Good question, cuz I have never come across any of these.
This is an ironmonger's knife sharpener.
HELEN: Right.
And he would put all the knives in here, spin this, and it would actually sharpen the knives.
VO: Not so much sharpen, but clean, the knives, because before the invention of stainless steel, knives rusted.
And gadgets like this in stately homes cleaned the rust off the knives before they were laid on the dining table.
How's that?
ROO: It's the kind of thing I go into antique shops, and I wish I would come across.
And you rarely do.
Ta-da!
You have!
You have brought it to me, I know.
But there's no tag on it, so this'll be priced up at three figures.
VO: Yep.
120, actually.
Now, what news from Stockport?
Now, what do you think of this?
Do you like the look of this?
I love, like, a worn brown leather, so it's definitely catching my eye.
What I like about this, just from the outside, is how original the condition is.
I know it's worn, but worn leather, like you say, it's a great look... No, worn leather's, yeah... TIM: Yeah.
Now, do you know what it is?
REBECCA: It's a bag.
(LAUGHS) TIM: Yeah.
It is a bag.
And they're known as a Gladstone bag.
VO: After the eponymous William Ewart Gladstone, four times British prime minister, don't you know.
OK. Quite often used by doctors, people like that, just to keep all your papers and things inside.
But this one's unusual, cuz it's got a flap on the front.
I'm just gonna have a look inside.
I love the little catches.
Look at that.
Inside, we've got a whole tray full of shaving implements.
TIM: And there's a hip flask... REBECCA: Oh my gosh.
..for your afternoon tipple as well.
Look at that.
That's really cool.
I've never seen one of those before.
What's that?
A salt and pepper pot?
TIM: No, you would have... Oh, it's a brush!
You've got your brush in there, and then inside the actual bag... Look at that red lining.
REBECCA: Ah, that's nice.
TIM: Isn't that lush?
That is amazing.
Yeah.
Do you know what?
If we're thinking of profit, I reckon that would actually sell quite well.
Cuz you've got a few collectors there.
You've got people that collect shaving memorabilia, there's a big market for that.
But also somebody that wants just an unusual object.
It's very unusual.
And personally, I'd buy it, because it's unusual.
VO: Priced at £100.
You couldn't use it, unfortunately, just because the leather is quite worn.
It would have to be sold to someone that just really enjoys it, cuz it's a purist thing.
It's an antique, untouched.
Just a lovely, lovely thing.
How old, what...?
I'm thinking it dates to the turn of the century, so we're talking maybe 1890 to 1900.
You want a proper antique, and if you love it, I reckon other people will as well.
VO: Time to talk to your first dealer, then.
Becky, meet Tom.
TOM: Ready to haggle?
(SHE LAUGHS) No.
TOM: Right, so it's 100 at the moment.
REBECCA: Yes.
TOM: What are you thinking?
I think £80, like then it would just allow us to have more freedom then with the other bits that we've still got left to do.
OK. That's a deal.
Yes.
Fantastic.
There we are, shake the man's hand.
REBECCA: (LAUGHS) TOM: Thank you.
REBECCA: Thank you, Tom.
VO: Well, you got an old bag, actually.
What about Tim's rustic find?
REBECCA: So what's the best price on the cabinet?
It was 65, right?
On the cabinet, I would do it for 40.
Absolute bargain.
You've got yourself a deal on that one, definitely.
TIM: Thank you, perfect.
Money.
REBECCA: Thank you so much.
VO: So, 120 for those two items.
(CAR REVS) REBECCA: Ooh!
VO: Now, let's get the Frogeye jumping!
TIM: And we're off.
Onwards and upwards.
VO: Quite a debut, Becky.
Back in Failsworth, they have the huge enamel sign and the knife cleaner on their list.
Anything else?
ROO: I found this.
I love my silver and I also love my pipes, even though I'm not a smoker.
But this one is just a nice, simple, wooden pipe box, but it's got a sterling silver collar to it.
That's where the value in this is.
And if you look, do you see the marks there?
That little anchor?
So is that how you know that it's real silver?
Yes.
You see, that lion means it's British sterling silver, and that little anchor means it's made in Birmingham.
And this little letter p would date it at around 1914.
See, in my head I can see somebody buying that as a gift.
Like a nice present for a granddad, or... ROO: Exactly.
The thing is, you've got a lot of collectors for pipes, but this will also appeal to a silver collector too.
And it's priced up at £25.
That could be a possible.
HELEN: I like that.
Right.
Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.
Let's go.
(THEY LAUGH) VO: Watch out, Jim.
They're heading your way!
ROO: Jim?
Yes?
You've got 120 on the ironmonger's knife sharpener.
Yep.
Right.
What could you do on that?
It would be £100, and that would be the absolute death on it.
How long have you had it?
JIM: Eh, maybe six months?
HELEN: OK.
But it's a nice curio piece.
ROO: Well, what about the enamel sign then?
Best would be 170.
I... oh... er... VO: Which, roughly translated is, "still quite a lot though".
And the pipe, you've got 25 on.
So that would be 295.
That's a big chunk of our budget.
Kick another fiver off, if it helps you.
HELEN: I think the sign is a no-brainer.
I think the knife sharpener is a harder sell.
VO: She makes a very good "point".
ROO: If we took all three, could you please do 280?
Er... yeah, I'll go for that.
Ah, you're a good man.
Thank you so much.
VO: How to shed pounds fast!
HELEN: Going down... JIM: Thank you very much.
HELEN: What do we get back for luck?
VO: I think we can probably guess.
(HE LAUGHS) Thank you so much.
VO: So while they attempt to squeeze all this into the Jag... ..let's catch up with Becky and Tim.
VO: Still going swimmingly, we trust?
What a pun.
Becky, what would be the ultimate highlight of your competitive career?
Oh, it's so hard.
Really really hard, cuz I obviously went to Beijing and London Olympics, and they were both so different.
Literally the whole country is rooting for you as well.
We're not used to it.
Like, we go to a normal swimming gala, and there's just my mum and dad in the stands, going "go!"
Whereas then you go to the Olympics, and there's 17,000 people.
It's just unlike anything else.
It's just...
It's incredible.
VO: Those two are taking a brief break from the shopping, and steering the Sprite towards the Manchester borough of Chorlton-on-Medlock and this Edwardian masterpiece.
TIM: Wow, look at that!
What an amazing building!
REBECCA: It's gorgeous.
TIM: Yeah.
VO: I only hope they've packed their cossies.
TIM: Can't wait to see inside.
After you.
VO: When Victoria Baths closed its doors in 1993, after 86 years of service, a very determined group of campaigners soon set about raising funds to restore what was once known as the Water Palace.
Ah, the fish.
VO: Ha ha.
Becky and Tim won't be taking a dip today, however, because as project development manager Gill Wright well knows, a return to its former glory is still a length or two away.
Hello, welcome to Victoria Baths.
REBECCA: Thank you.
TIM: Hello there.
Tell us the history of this amazing building!
Well, it was opened in 1906, and we're standing here in the male's first class entrance hall.
There's also a male's second class entrance, and a female's.
And you might not be surprised to know they're not quite as fancy as this one.
They started building it in 1903, and opened in 1906, so it was the best part of three years constructing it.
And in that time, the council had spent £59,000.
TIM: Wow.
Which of course sounds nothing to us now, but that was an awful lot to spend on a public baths back in the early 20th century.
REBECCA: How much would that roughly be, nowadays?
GILL: I believe it was about £6 million.
Wow!
GILL: But you got a lot of baths for your money.
VO: Yup.
Three swimming pools, for example.
An investment which reflects the growing importance of swimming as a competitive sport at the turn of the 20th century.
This was swimming, and bathing luxury.
It's covered in these wonderful green tiles, but also ceramic staircase all the way up.
Who made all the tiles?
Was it Minton, or somebody like that?
They were actually all made by Pilkington Tile Company, which is a relatively local firm.
And the tiles, and the faience of the balustrade is made by Pilkington's.
They're such a luscious color, aren't they?
So art nouveau.
One of the things people really remember when they've seen the building.
VO: Victoria Baths soon put Manchester on the competitive swimming map, providing a training venue for many British stars, including former world champion James Hickman.
As well as hosting numerous historic galas, including one which would come to influence Becky's own career.
We've got this wonderful document here, from a swimming gala that was held in 1912.
And as well as being a gala for local competitors, we had people coming from a number of different countries overseas - Hungary, Canada, Australia.
And it was a very important event, because this was the first time that front crawl had been demonstrated here, in the UK.
OK. Wow.
Before that time, in freestyle events - your own event of course, Becky - they would have swum something called the trudgen, which is some sort of sidestroke.
Yeah, a sidestroke.
And this guy from Hawaii, Duke Kahanamoku, had just won the Olympic title for the first time by swimming front crawl.
Yeah, yeah.
And on his way home from the Olympics, he called in here at Victoria Baths in Manchester, and demonstrated front crawl.
And this is listed on this program.
REBECCA: That's incredible.
That's amazing.
GILL: And we're just thrilled to have it as part of our history archive.
Wow.
Are you good at swimming?
Erm... Nope.
(LAUGHS) TIM: How does it feel standing in this position, where front crawl was first exhibited?
REBECCA: Absolutely incredible.
It's amazing that it was here in Manchester, in this baths as well.
So thank you so much, Gill, for showing us round.
GILL: It's been a great pleasure.
REBECCA: It's been incredible, thank you.
VO: But while those two have been cool in the pool... ..our other pair have carried on exploring.
ROO: You're quite an adventurous girl.
You've done all sorts, like kayaking, and crazy things like that.
I don't even dip my toe in the swimming pool.
What?!
Roo!
So maybe at the end of this road trip, I will have taught you more about antiques, and you will have taught me more about living life to the full.
Yeah, OK. Not that you need to ever leave Scotland, cuz it is glorious, but there's a load of really cool places you can visit.
VO: Like the great city of Manchester, for a start.
I'm sure you could always kayak on the canal?
Not today though... ..because there's shopping to be done in the borough of Hulme.
ROO: Let's do this.
HELEN: I love this place.
VO: Helen and Roo already have just 120 of their original £400 left.
ROO: I've got a thing for lighting.
HELEN: Well you'll be happy in here.
VO: Somehow I don't think they'll have much trouble spending it.
HELEN: What would you do with this?
ROO: Try and lift one.
HELEN: (GROANS) ROO: Lettering like that made out of cast iron, that is very valuable.
HELEN: Not the kind of thing you should pick up over an open-toed sandal though.
VO: Quite.
Probably too pricy, to boot.
ROO: Here is the ampersand, so you've got, I think about eight letters.
OK go on then, guess the price.
£1,000.
5,500.
OK.
I don't think we can afford them.
VO: Anything a bit more budget friendly?
That's cool.
That is...
I don't know what it is, but I like it.
VO: And if Helen likes it...
There's a pattern forming here.
It's obviously a piece of railing... (GROANS) And oh my goodness, you could not lift that.
We're definitely going for heavy stuff today, aren't we?
See that shape?
Kind of like the club that you see in a pack of cards.
Yeah.
You'll see the shape quite a lot in architecture and things, whether it's in wood or metal.
HELEN: So could you build that into a garden, and make it a bit of a feature?
It's got the weight and the quality and the age to it.
It's definitely late 1800s, early 1900s.
The thing I like most about it is it's £48.
(WHISPERS) We can afford that!
We can afford it.
But at auction, I have seen so much of this architectural salvage go for hundreds of pounds.
So I think at £48, that's quite a clever buy.
VO: Maybe so.
Keep looking though.
Roo, I absolutely love this.
You've got great taste.
What would you do with it, though?
In our home, of course, that we're buying.
I would put this on the wall, like you would hang a picture.
Would you?
HELEN: You could have a little light behind it.
Yeah!
I think that's really cool.
It says here, it's actually come from Ashton town hall, which is why it's got the word 'town' on it.
So there would have been two other panes of glass.
It's 145.
But you said this morning, you said you love quirky, and your eye has been drawn to quirky items.
I love that.
It's really nice.
Talking of quirky, I have literally fallen upon something.
I do like that a lot.
That is brilliant.
What is this?
But it's cool.
Do you know what it reminds me of?
It reminds me of a very trendy thing at the moment, grape buckets.
Now this is not a grape bucket.
I think this is more something you would see in a sort of haberdashery, or a textile shop.
VO: It might well be a Lancashire cotton barrel.
It's cardboard, that kind of cardboard material.
But over the years, and over wear, has almost taken on that leathery look.
Almost like me after too much sunshine.
(THEY LAUGH) I can see loads of people wanting this, because you could put a big plant in it.
You could put your umbrellas in it.
A really cool stick stand, exactly.
VO: Priced at £78.
We can afford it.
(LAUGHS) We are on a mission to spend every penny, aren't we?
You could easily see that in an interior shop and think "oh yeah, I need that for my house."
And it's got a good story.
VO: Not that they actually have enough cash for both those items, of course.
Gird your loins, Laurence.
< Right, OK, you've found a couple of things you like.
Two things in particular, which are quite large.
The textile drum, and the sort of railing.
So that comes to 126.
What could you do on those two items?
I mean, it would free up a lot of space for you.
(LAUGHS) Go on, what's your offer?
ROO: But honestly, I was thinking about 80.
100.
£100.
I think that's great!
I think that's a really good deal actually.
Put it there.
OK, thank you very much.
Thank you.
(LAUGHS) Money makes me awkward!
VO: Oh, me too.
Lovely color though, isn't it?
HELEN: Two, four, six, eight, one hundred.
VO: Never mind freestyling, let's hear it for freespending!
HELEN: Thanks.
ROO: Ooh... HELEN: Cheers!
(BANG, ROO GASPS) VO: What door?
Right, come on, get it high.
VO: And get back on that road.
Still a long way to go!
I hope you know the way, not to San Jose, but to Wales.
Let's go to Wales.
Are you gonna be driving?
Buckle up.
(LAUGHS) No, not as in like, not shut up.
(ROO LAUGHS) Put your seatbelt on.
VO: Sleep tight, eh?
VO: Next day, the news is soon all over Cheshire.
So how much did you spend?
Nearly all of it.
No?!
I could've spent all of it in the first five minutes.
VO: Yep, Helen and Roo certainly didn't hold back, acquiring a knife cleaner, a pipe, an enamel sign, a leather look barrel, and a railing.
I don't know what it is, but I like it.
VO: Leaving them with just 20 from the original £400.
VO: While Becky and Tim were much more cautious, opting for a little pine cupboard and a Gladstone bag.
REBECCA: Oh, that's nice.
TIM: Isn't that lush?
VO: I wonder what they'll plump for with the £280 they still have in their pockets.
A lot of it, I was just walking round going, "This is somebody's junk, that they don't want."
Why would I then want it?
VO: Well, that is one way of looking at it, Becky.
Why not have a word with Tim?
HELEN: Hello!
ROO: Morning, ladies!
How are you?
Very good!
I want to know what you guys got yesterday.
We wanna know what you got.
Shall we do the A team first?
Oh, confident!
OK. HELEN: Right... TIM: What's going on here?
ROO: Come and have a look.
TIM: Oh, look at that.
ROO: Now... REBECCA: What is that?
ROO: That is a Victorian knife sharpener.
I love the maker's label on there.
It is very very heavy.
And in there... Tim, would you do me the honor?
I'll hand it to you.
That is a very simple boxed pipe, but with a sterling silver collar on it.
REBECCA: You're impressed, Tim?
TIM: It's a sort of... Yeah, I could see myself smoking that pipe, driving this Jag.
Could you see yourself sharpening the knives?
Perhaps not that.
I love it though.
Isn't it a lovely thing?
Out of the five items we bought, this is the only thing we could actually lift.
See, this is not what I expected you to get at all.
Why?
Cuz you're very like, 70s, and colorful, and playful.
She wouldn't let me buy that!
(LAUGHS) VO: Now, did you know the word budget derives from the old French word bougette, meaning little bag?
REBECCA: So, this is ours.
HELEN: Oh, I love that.
Oh, I love this.
Careful, careful.
Oh my days!
TIM: This whole section comes out.
That's beaut... That is the nicest Gladstone bag I've ever seen.
That is cool.
I loved the red, but I was like, I'm not really bothered about the gentleman's bit.
(LAUGHS) I was like... HELEN: Can I see the tag?
REBECCA: Whereas this... HELEN: Oh, wow!
RECEBBA: ..is the bit that I loved.
ROO: Right.
I really like that.
That's cool.
That's where the packed lunch goes.
(LAUGHS) That's where my swim kit goes.
(LAUGHTER) Goggles.
Both of us have bought stuff that's... We wouldn't have in our house.
Do you know what I mean?
I wish I could have been a fly on the wall with you in the antique shop, because I bet she was like, "Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish.
Love it!"
VO: That's enough of that for now.
Ha-ha.
Time to buy more stuff!
TIM: Bye.
REBECCA: Bye.
Bye!
Not competitive at all.
I have to go first.
VO: But just what did they make of the other lot's buys?
HELEN: Their bag is lovely.
ROO: It is.
I think they've found a real treat there.
But I'm pretty confident about what we bought.
The knife sharpener, I'm a bit... (ROO LAUGHS) ..indifferent about, because I kind of think it's cool, but it's weird, who's buying that?
When I saw Tim's reaction I thought "Oh, OK, yeah.
Roo does know what she's doing."
VO: You feedback is important to us.
REBECCA: I've got a bone to pick with you!
TIM: What's that?
I'm sorry, she said that Roo did all the haggling...
Really?!
..and like the negotiations.
I was like, "Hold on, Tim made me do it, when I didn't wanna do it!"
So you can help me today.
OK. We'll do... You can do at least one of them.
OK.
I wanna see a pro in action.
Also, why have you let me do all the driving?
Well you seem to be enjoying it so much.
Plus, you really do suit this car.
Ahh.
VO: Nice work, Tim.
Later they'll be off to the auction in Bolton, but the first stop today is in the Cheshire hamlet of Milton Green.
REBECCA: Wow, look at this.
TIM: Ooh.
VO: Yes, there's quite a lot to see before you even get inside Applegate Antiques.
TIM: What do you think of this?
REBECCA: Really nice!
TIM: I think this is so cool, cuz it reminds me of the Victoria Baths yesterday.
TIM: Do you remember the... REBECCA: The tiles?
..lovely Pilkington's green, delicious tiles?
Yeah.
This bit looks exactly like that.
Yeah, exactly.
And it's from the same period, so the building was started in 1903, and I would say this was probably around 1905 to 1908.
REBECCA: I like it.
And originally, this would have a real brushed steel finish, I would imagine.
And it's completely rusted over.
But do you know what?
I actually really like the color of it.
REBECCA: I really like the color.
TIM: It's real shabby chic.
But how much is it?
That's the question.
Right.
BOTH: £125.
OK.
It might be worth the risk.
Are you a risk-taker?
Not really.
(LAUGHS) Maybe I could see your expert haggling going on.
Yes.
Yeah, yeah, we could use that.
I need to see a pro in action, Tim.
I really do.
VO: Time to get in the swim, Tim!
TIM: Nice to get a breath of fresh air though.
VO: Encouraging start.
Still got £280 left to spend, remember.
TIM: There's a nice box there.
I like the pattern on it.
Shall we get it out and have a look at it?
VO: That requires the helping hand of proprietor Jackie.
REBECCA: Oh, OK. What do you think about it?
What's your...
It's quite heavy.
TIM: What do you think it's made of?
Silver?
Well, I don't think it's solid silver.
It looks like it's silver plate on pewter.
It's quite smart, isn't it?
It's got a real Indian, sort of Eastern influence about it, hasn't it?
Which, this would date to late 19th century.
And if you can imagine all of the Persian designed carpets that people had in their houses back then, this really ties in with that sort of feel, doesn't it?
And it's got the stamp here.
Quite a lot of people think that they're solid silver hallmarks, but they are faux, or fake, marks.
That EP stands for electroplated, which was a way of silver plate back then.
Oh, OK. And you've got a maker's mark there as well.
But it's just a really smart thing.
Do you know what it was used for?
REBECCA: Tea?
TIM: Yes.
VO: You said you wanted practical, Becky!
REBECCA: It's really nice.
I love the pattern.
TIM: It's really smart.
Is it something that's up your street?
I love boxes, and like, stuff that's useful, that you could... that people could use.
And to be honest, it is just a nice ornament.
TIM: Yeah, so...
But how much would this go in... Well, it's priced up at £75.
I could see that in the auction making up to 100.
We'll pop that back.
REBECCA: And I love tea.
I'm a huge tea girl.
VO: Promising.
But remember, other boxes are available.
TIM: That's a lovely box.
REBECCA: The box is gorgeous.
Lovely inlay.
The only thing that's holding me back...
I know we haven't looked inside yet, but the price.
£185.
That is a lot of money, isn't it?
So when we open this, we're hoping it's gonna be something amazing.
Cuz the outside is amazing, but... Diamonds are pouring out!
Yeah, exactly.
So, writing slope.
You'd write your letters on here, and then this used to be... REBECCA: Oh wow, that feels amazing!
Yeah, again it's that nice original velvet.
Yeah, it's lovely.
It hasn't been changed.
And then we open this.
And you would have kept your pieces of paper in here.
And in here, you would keep your little pen nibs.
Perhaps pens in here, and then you've got a pair of inkwells as well.
And this tray even looks like it comes out as well.
And you've got more compartments.
REBECCA: Wow.
TIM: So, writing box.
So when, what sort of time?
We're talking the Victorian period, perhaps again, 1880, 1890, something like that.
But it's...
I think I've found my thing that I like.
TIM: You like Victorians.
REBECCA: My era.
Yeah, you like the Victorian period, definitely.
It's worth the money.
But in auction, is it gonna make that sort of money?
What, what sort of thing do you think...
If I was seeing that in auction, I would see it at nearly more half the price, to be honest.
Ah.
So I don't think we can really negotiate it down to that level.
But it is beautiful... (BOX CLANKS) REBECCA: (GASPS) TIM: Oh.
It was a beautiful thing, so... VO: (CLEARS THROAT) Not damaged?
Oh, goodness.
Anything else?
TIM: This is an Edwardian silver button hook and shoehorn.
OK.
It's quite sweet, isn't it?
It's solid silver, it was assayed in Sheffield, and the date letter is 1907.
But I do quite like it.
I mean, it's unusual to find a shoehorn button hook combo in one.
Normally, you would have a button hook or a shoehorn.
OK.
So nice that it's together, but also nice that it's solid silver as well.
So it is a piece of quality.
REBECCA: It's just boring.
TIM: It's a boring bit of...
I like you, Tim, but it looks...
It's a boring bit of social history.
..very boring.
VO: She speaks as she finds.
VO: So, the tea caddy and the fireplace then, Jackie?
Now, we loved the look of that fireplace outside.
Yeah.
It's really, that lovely art nouveau period, which everybody loves.
It's gorgeous.
So we've got that on our mind, and also... REBECCA: The tea box.
Yeah.
So the fireplace was priced up at 125.
What are you thinking then, for it to work for you?
Well, I think in auction, I can see it at 60 to 100 quid.
OK...
So do you think, about £70?
Is £70 enough for that?
Yep.
I can do that, yeah.
Lovely, thank you very much.
That's really kind.
REBECCA: Amazing.
TIM: Brilliant.
And what about the tea box?
And the tea box?
I think we can probably do 50 on that.
TIM: 50.
We can't argue with that.
I think that's fair.
Oh, it is fair.
Lovely.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, Jackie.
Thank you very much.
TIM: One, two... VO: So, £120 in total.
TIM: There we are, thank you very much.
VO: And time to squeeze into the Sprite for the final hop.
REBECCA: Last shop!
TIM: Last shop.
REBECCA: Woo-hoo!
TIM: And we've got a lot of money.
REBECCA: We do.
TIM: Yeah.
Let's spend the lot.
VO: Talking of cash splashers, the opposition, having, let's face it, already bought almost everything for the auction, are off to experience one of Cheshire's most iconic products.
Do you like cheese?
Love cheese.
Winner winner.
VO: Also something our Cumbrian farm girl knows a fair bit about.
I was born and brought up on a dairy farm.
It's in the blood.
Did you actually used to clear out the muck and milk the cows?
Yeah.
I've done my shifts shoveling cow muck.
My grandparents milked, my dad milked.
My parents still live on the farm.
VO: Beneath the green pastures of Cheshire lies the salty remains of a prehistoric sea, and the sodium rich soil is what gives its cheese, one of Britain's oldest, its unique tang.
Wow!
You have come prepared!
I have to say, you're looking very comfortable up on that tractor.
You know, where we'll see the cheese, it'll be really clean?
Am I over preparing?
VO: Our two have come to Malpas, close to the Welsh border, and one of the last Cheshire Cheese producers still using traditional methods.
John Bourne's family have been making the stuff for a very long time.
The cheese that we're making today, interestingly enough, is a copy of the cheese they were making in the mid 1800s.
HELEN: Take us to the cheese then, John.
Absolutely.
VO: Yes please!
Oi!
Come on, girls.
Come and see a bit of cheese in the making.
HELEN: Wow!
So what stage are we at?
The curd is developing.
The acidity levels are growing.
The whey is leaving.
This is the whey at the bottom.
The way this cheese is made is a much slower process.
The acidification is slower.
So because of that, we are retaining more of the flavors, and more of the character of the milk, actually in the cheese.
I'm fascinated though.
Your family have been making cheese for over 250 years.
Take me back to when it began.
Well, cheese has been around as long as milk has been around, pretty much.
The Romans brought cheese to the UK, it wasn't here before they came.
VO: And what else did they do for Cheshire?
Well, they discovered the rock salt, which was deposited during the Triassic period.
Salt mines have been a feature of the county's landscape ever since, along with dairy cows, of course.
VO: And speaking of sodium chloride, it's time to add some of Cheshire's finest.
Not just for flavor but to help dry the curd.
Then it's milled.
Before the next stage.
ROO: Wow!
So you've salted it, you've milled it.
Yep.
Then what happens?
This is the press room.
This is where the cheese start their maturation process.
So those are the molds.
Those are filled with curd.
They will then be placed onto that press, and then they will come off and go onto the bench.
And then from here, because these are 1845 cheese, these will go into the cellar, where the 1845 cheeses in 1845 were being stored.
Same cellar, different cheese.
Just to develop the taste?
Absolutely.
It's a fantastic atmosphere.
It's very moist in the cellar.
Ideal for maturing cheese.
We can't see any cheese on the press or on the bench, which means it must all be in the cellar.
Which means it must be ready to taste?
You couldn't possibly leave this place without tasting some of the finest cheese in the world.
You love it, don't you?
How proud are you of this cheese?
Well...yeah, I love it.
Come on then.
Take us to the cheese, John.
Come on then.
VO: This is the part where I try not to drool.
Look out for that characteristic salty flavor.
HELEN: So this is the 1845?
JOHN: Yes.
This is delicious.
That's a very well rounded flavor, isn't it?
In't it good?
You could eat a lot of that.
(LAUGHS) In't it good!
You could eat a lot of it.
(ROO LAUGHS) And anybody who tells you that Cheshire should be mild and crumbly, they're talking a load of rubbish.
This is creamy, and... Well, I think it's bloody good.
It's as simple as that.
VO: Thank you, John.
VO: And while Helen's been taking a cheese break, her chum's been enjoying a different kind of wheel.
REBECCA: I absolutely love it.
I would definitely get one for the weekend.
TIM: Would you?
REBECCA: It's so much fun.
It is good fun.
So we've got antiques, sunshine, classic cars.
Exactly.
We're feeling it, we're happy, we're excited.
Woo!
VO: Crikey!
They are in a good mood.
VO: Just crossing into Wales, too, en route to their very last shop in Wrexham.
REBECCA: Here we are.
TIM: Here we are.
Look at this.
A little shop full of curiosities.
VO: Still got quite a bit of cash to spend, remember.
TIM: Let's start inside, shall we?
VO: Why not?
There's more than enough at Acorn Antiques to invest their remaining £160 in.
Although they will soon have company.
ROO: They've beaten us to it, hell's bells.
I don't think they'll be looking for what we're looking for.
VO: Yeah, Helen and Roo have only £20 left.
I can't see any expensive items sticking out of the car, so they haven't bought too much.
No.
VO: Nosy parkers!
Looks like the coast is clear, look.
Now this is a treasure trove.
ROO: Oh, wow.
HELEN: So much stuff.
And I can smell cake.
VO: Cake?
After all that cheese as well!
TIM: What do you think of this?
REBECCA: What is it?
Well, what we've got is an inkstand.
It's really cool, cuz it's got the horseshoe pen stand, so you'd slot your pens here.
So you could have one, two, four pens resting there.
Yeah.
And then here, you've got the inkwell.
And the top is a polo cap, jockey cap.
Isn't that cool?
I mean, it looks cool, but it looks quite novelty.
Is it?
What's... Well, novelty is brilliant, because that's what's popular at the moment.
People like curious, novelty and fun.
OK. And tied in with that, this is probably early 20th century, so we're talking 1910, 1920.
That's that old?
Yep.
Almost 100 years old, I should think.
How do you know that?
Just from the style of it, the wear of it as well.
And also, if we look at the bottom, I bet there's quite a lot of wear.
There we are, look at that.
That's really nice.
What we always hope when we go to auction is that the auction house uploads their catalogues to the internet, and have live bidding.
This will appeal to so many different collectors.
People collect pens, they collect inkwells, and also the equestrian market's really popular as well, for collectors.
REBECCA: It's nice, the fact that it's sporty, cuz that's the one thing we haven't even found, is anything remotely to do with Olympics or sport, or anything.
But obviously, it's only £48.
Yeah, 48 quid.
And we've got 160.
Yeah.
On a good day, that could potentially make £100.
Cuz it's got enough about it that it's collectable, so it's something to bear in mind, isn't it?
REBECCA: Definitely.
TIM: Cool.
OK. VO: Keep looking.
I think the others are still safely downstairs.
TIM: What do you think of this?
REBECCA: Hm... TIM: It's heavy, isn't it?
REBECCA: Yeah.
Most 19th century glass, and earlier, is quite heavy, cuz quite a lot of it has a higher lead content.
At the time, that's how they produced glass.
And if you hold it up to the light, it won't be really clear.
It'll have this sort of slight grey tint to it, and that's a really good way of telling earlier glass.
OK. Quite often it has that heavier feel and look to it.
Do you know what it was used for originally?
No...
It would have been probably in a chemist's or something, and it would have been lined in a cabinet with loads of others, quite often labeled as well.
What do you think about it?
Erm... Cuz we wanted homey.
That does fit in with maybe an interior design.
I feel like I could go into a very popular homeware store and buy this.
But it wouldn't be 100 years old, would it?
It wouldn't.
No.
But this doesn't scream at me, that it's 100 years old.
I would have just thought you'd have bought this at a shop.
VO: I don't think Becky's over keen.
Meanwhile, down in the bargain basement...
I'm having an absolute blast.
I mean, I'm in my element.
Normally, I come in these places, and I have no reason to buy the stuff I wanna buy, but I actually have an excuse.
VO: Now, did anyone mention cake earlier?
# Happy birthday to you # Happy birthday to you # TIM: Aw!
# Happy birthday, dear Tim... # Aw.
Thank you so much!
# Happy birthday to you # Woo!
And look, he's just loitering by the birthday cards, when we found him.
Make a wish!
What are you gonna wish for?
It's gotta be a secret wish, hasn't it?
VO: As a rule, birthday boy.
You got much money left?
REBECCA: A lot.
HELEN: Oh!
I think we should give you a challenge.
Spend all of that on one item.
That's what we've been trying to do.
(ROO LAUGHS) If you're gonna spend some money, you need me.
TIM: (LAUGHS) ROO: I tell you what.
While you're shopping, do you want me to hold your cake?
I'll take it with me.
ROO: Are you sure?
TIM: Mm.
Thank you anyway.
Alright.
Bon voyage.
Bon appetit.
You'll finish it otherwise.
See you in a bit.
VO: OK, back to work, you lot.
TIM: Thank you!
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH) Hell's bells, I've found something.
OK.
I'll run as fast as my wee legs can carry me.
OK doke, I'm coming.
VO: Whatever could it be?
I've found a silver cigarette holder.
Made in Birmingham, which is the same place that the pipe was made.
The silver collar was also Birmingham.
That was World War I, this is at the end of World War II.
So it ticks a silver box, it ticks a smoking tobacco box.
And the best part?
£25.
(GASPS) This will actually boost the value of the pipe so much more, cuz it's pure silver.
You've excelled yourself, Roo.
I've actually given myself a hot flush.
VO: They are a fiver short, however.
Over to Dennis.
You've got that priced at 25.
Have you had it a while?
No... 25?
That's more like 45.
(ROO LAUGHS) Someone needs to learn their numbers.
Don't they?
It does.
Hey, that's lovely.
It's in great condition, isn't it?
DENNIS: It's tremendous.
Perfect as well, hasn't been dropped or banged, or anything.
We love it.
We just obviously only have £20 left... Do you?
We don't wanna put you on the spot.
No, I can see that.
But we are doing that, aren't we?
(LAUGHS) Of course you are.
What do you think?
What do you think?
OK.
Twist my arm, I'll do it for 20.
VO: Dennis saves the day!
ROO: Good man.
VO: What about the others?
Back at that inkstand.
REBECCA: Carol?
Can I borrow you?
CAROL: Right, OK. TIM: Hello, Carol.
What have we found?
Interesting.
REBECCA: We've found an inkwell.
CAROL: Yes.
TIM: You'll do the negotiating on this one.
I did the last one.
I don't know.
I was thinking, either a tenner off 38, 40.
I can do that for 40.
CAROL: I couldn't go lower... TIM: That's lovely.
REBECCA: I think that's a deal.
TIM: Sounds good to me.
Thank you very much, Carol.
REBECCA: Thank you, Carol.
CAROL: Good call.
VO: So they've most definitely not spent the lot.
There's your £40.
Lovely.
Thank you.
VO: Could be interesting!
Well I think that was... successful.
ROO: A lot of fun?
A lot of fun?
Yeah!
That's all the shopping done.
We can now officially dust off our hands and wait for auction.
TIM: Mm.
Off to the auction.
REBECCA: Bring it on!
See you at the auction!
Have a nice time, won't ya!
Call you later!
VO: I can't work out whether those two are competitive or not.
We'll soon find out.
Sweet dreams.
VO: Now, I wonder if you can see the auction house from up here?
You can certainly watch Bolton Wanderers play.
I'm just so worried that people aren't gonna buy anything we've bought.
Someone'll buy it.
I mean, they might not buy it for much money.
We could today emerge as experts, or idiots.
I'm going for the second.
(LAUGHS) VO: After setting forth from Failsworth and journeying as far as Wales, our celebrities and experts have now returned to the northwest, and Bolton Auction Rooms.
With internet bidding!
HELEN: Hello!
ROO: How are you doing?
Good!
So, are you guys excited?
Yeah!
(THEY LAUGH) I've never been to an auction!
You have?
Yeah.
Oh yes, because this was your first antique shop, your first auction, your first classic car.
I would say first victory, but she's won loads of stuff.
ROO: You have!
This is gonna be ours.
It's gonna be our turn.
Come on, go second.
REBECCA: Oh, cheers.
VO: So, Becky and Tim spent 280 of their £400 on five auction lots.
This is very cool.
Sporting related inkwell.
HELEN: Oh, that would make a nice present for someone.
I like these, but they're not that antique are they?
ROO: Magpie, magpie!
(LAUGHS) Sorry, I'm easily distracted.
What do you think they've spent on this?
HELEN: Is this one of theirs?
ROO: Yes.
Oh, I thought you just liked it.
ROO: No!
HELEN: Em... £40.
But that might be bronze.
If that's bronze, then they will make good money on that.
Erm, I'm... Not your type of thing?
No.
VO: Helen and Roo wasted no time in blowing every single penny of their 400, also on five lots.
So this is one of their items?
It's quite dirty.
Yeah.
I'm not too sure about it, to be honest.
I just don't know what you would use it for now.
What was it used for, do you know?
Pfft.
Who knows!
Oh, OK.
I don't know.
It's just a really random thing.
I think this might be their downfall, you know.
VO: You wish!
Let's have the lowdown from auctioneer Harry Howcroft.
(GAVEL) The enamel tobacco sign is one of my favorite lots in the auction.
It's rusty and crusty, but that's how people like them.
The interesting Gladstone bag, it is complete.
There again, it does have condition issues.
But because of its age, I think it is allowed.
I don't know what they were thinking about when they bought the railing.
It's cast-iron, late 19th century.
We may sell it, we may not.
VO: Gosh.
Now, the sale is already underway so let's just sneak in.
We have Helen Skelton, Rebecca Adlington, Roo Irvine and Tim Medhurst.
So we can give them a right Bolton welcome.
(APPLAUSE) VO: Celebrities, eh?
You don't usually get that when you walk into an auction house.
You never get clapped in, Tim?
Not usually, no.
VO: More importantly, is there going to be a show of hands for Helen and Roo's starting lot?
I love this barrel.
We thought it was a bit of a barrel of laughs.
As long as we're not scraping the barrel.
(LAUGHS) REBECCA: I don't know what it's used for.
The options are endless.
You could put umbrellas it, or put plant pots in it.
It was a textile... How big are your umbrellas?
Straight in, 16, 18 been bid on the net.
At £18 bid on the net.
I'll take 20 anywhere.
At £18 bid, I'll take 20.
It's on the net at £18.
All done and finished, last call... Oh no.
(GAVEL) Thank you.
No.
I'm sorry, guys.
That's glorious!
(LAUGHS) VO: They've certainly not got off to the best of starts.
I'm not gonna lie to you though.
From looking at your selection, that was the worst.
So it's only gonna go up.
VO: Time for Becky and Tim's little cabinet.
Fully working order.
TIM: It's rustic.
It's... Is rustic just a nice way to say it's a bit naff?
At least you can use ours then.
You couldn't use your barrel.
You can, for umbrellas.
I can go in at... £20 bid.
At £20 bid, I'll take 22.
We can go on.
Come on.
Well it's creeping up, it's creeping up.
At £24 bid.
Is there 26 anywhere?
Keep going, come on.
Keep going.
On the net at £26 bid now.
ROO: Well... TIM: Internet's going.
You're minimizing any loss.
At 35 anywhere?
All done and finished, last call, the gavel's up then at £30... (GAVEL) That's not bad.
I'm alright with that.
I'm alright with that.
Less of a loss than we made!
It's less of a loss than we could have made.
I'm alright with that.
VO: Ah, the power of positive thinking!
It was a nice little thing.
It was usable.
It was usable.
Stop hammering our barrel!
VO: Let's see if they can do better this time.
The Victorian knife cleaner.
This is actually my favorite item.
I think it's such a cool thing that we spent £100 on it.
What's your favorite?
Well, I liked the barrel.
(THEY LAUGH) I can start the bidding at... £35 bid.
At 35, 40 is it?
At 45, 50 is it?
At 50 on the phone now.
£50 bid.
It needs...
It needs to go into triple figures.
At 60 then, 65.
Don't stop there.
Back with the phone.
Oh, that's it.
Go tenners.
At £60.
All done, last call at 70, er £60... (GAVEL) Guys, I'm sorry.
So what did it go for?
That was so quick.
TIM: £60.
REBECCA: I missed it!
VO: Well from your point of view, it's actually quite good news, Becky.
I can't, I can't keep up with it!
ROO: Ooh!
I don't know if I want to keep up with it.
I'm literally sat here going, "what?"
VO: Well pay attention, because your Gladstone bag is next.
Fingers crossed.
It is kind of a Rolls-Royce of Gladstone bags, with the compartment that comes out with all the bottles.
Yeah, the red as well.
I've never seen one before.
It's so beautiful, cuz I think of Gladstone bags as big, bulky, manly things.
This is really pretty and small.
We really need to have this chat up there, to the room, before we...
I've got 16...
It's creeping up.
See, I think people are gonna... We've got a long way to go on this one.
24 only bid.
It needs a lot more than this.
26, £28 bid.
At £28 bid.
TIM: Come on.
HELEN: It's gone up.
It's moving fast, it's moving fast.
At £45 bid.
The net is going crazy.
I think you're gonna crash the net.
The net, the net.
(LAUGHS) At £50 bid, I'll take 55 anywhere.
At £50 bid.
Still very cheap.
At £50 bid.
All done and finished.
Last call then at 55 in the room.
Sorry, you've got 60.
At £60 bid.
At £60 bid.
Oh, the net's gone.
65 anywhere?
At £60 bid.
Gent's bid...
The net's slowed down.
The net has stopped.
The net has stopped.
(GAVEL) £60.
VO: Not exactly in the money today, are we?
It could have been worse.
It could have been better.
TIM: It could.
ALL: (LAUGH) VO: Helen and Roo's pipe and cigarette holder.
Silver and smoking collectors, please take note!
I think this could be your one, babe.
Could be your winner.
Yeah, but if people are bidding online, you've closed it.
TIM: Yeah.
REBECCA: They're cheap.
VO: Top tip, Becky.
Sharp intake of breath.
I can go in at £35 again.
Smoking.
Nice.
ROO: Come on.
Come on.
Yes.
HELEN: Oh, hello.
At 40.
Do you want 50?
Yeah, go for it, go for it.
HELEN: Yes!
ROO: Keep going, keep going.
50, you're in profit.
On the phone then at £50.
All done at 50... (GAVEL) Thank you.
Look guys, a profit.
Fantastic.
VO: It's great news.
Give those celebrities another big hand.
You didn't even just break even, you made a profit!
Yes!
Helen, we'll take our £5.
£5.
I'll tell you what, I'll buy you a sandwich for a fiver.
I think that was better than that.
VO: We just need a profit for Becky and Tim now.
Cue the lucky horseshoe ink well.
I'm gonna go out on a limb here.
I think this was your pick.
(ROO LAUGHS) REBECCA: It's little, and we can post it.
HELEN: It's marble!
When was the last time you put something in the post that was marble?
I've got a little bit of interest with me at 28, only bid.
(REBECCA LAUGHS) REBECCA: Pricey!
TIM: Come on.
Start talking it up.
At 28, only bid.
I'll take 30 anywhere.
I'll take 30 anywhere?
35 I need.
ROO: Internet.
AUCTIONEER: £30 bid on the net.
Oh, it's worth more than that.
I'll take 35.
At £30 bid.
35 in the room.
You're a gent.
That's good.
It's good.
In the room, at £35 bid.
Gent's bid then, in the room at 35.
£40 bid, new bidder.
Oh, you've got a new bidder.
You've got a new bidder.
45.
45, 50.
£45 bid.
At £45 bid.
Gent's bid, in the room then, for £45... (GAVEL) £40 wins the race.
Thanks.
VO: Woo-hoo!
Everything's looking rosy all of a sudden!
We both made £5, guys.
VO: Now we've all heard of coming up on the rails.
Here's a rail that Helen and Roo 'came upon'.
Even though you got it in the same shop as your barrel, I couldn't see what you'd do with it.
Whereas this rail, I think will go lovely, no matter what style of house you've got, it would like... How many times?!
Umbrellas!
I will go, anybody, a chance for £10?
Bid me £10 on this one.
Bid me 10.
Very heavy.
Bid me £10.
Rebecca, for crying out loud, bid.
AUCTIONEER: I've bid a tenner on this one.
Bid.
Please bid.
At 10.
Any interest at £10?
We might have to pass on this one.
A £10 bid.
Thank you, a £10 bid.
Thank you.
At £10 bid.
At £10 bid.
Lady's dived in at £10 bid.
All done for a tenner... (GAVEL) VO: Well, that's just silly!
VO: Not just a rail, but a celebrity rail!
This auction has confirmed what I already knew.
I need to stop buying stuff.
(THEY LAUGH) VO: Time for one of Becky and Tim's favorites.
The silver plated tea caddy.
I love how we're all so bad at this today, that we're in this together now.
(THEY LAUGH) I know.
I can start the bidding with me, at £30 bid.
It needs a polish.
35, 40, £45 bid.
At £45 bid in the room.
AUCTIONEER: I'll take 50 anywhere.
It's a beautiful thing.
At £45 bid.
I've got 50, 55, 60.
65, 70.
We've not lost on it.
75, 80.
At £75 bid, lady's bid to my left.
Last call then at 75... (GAVEL) Your bid, thank you.
Well done.
High five on that one.
VO: Yes, we can all enjoy that result.
I mean, we're in this together now.
VO: Rusty and crusty, it's the auctioneer's favorite.
As well as being Helen and Roo's last shot at glory.
This was the one out of all your pieces that I was like "that's Helen."
It's cool, isn't it?
I've got interest again.
I can go straight in at £40 bid, at £40 bid.
I'll take 45 anywhere.
At 45.
It's up already.
It's up.
Oh, the net's gone.
£55 bid in the room.
At £55 bid.
65, 70.
At 70 in the room now.
Come on.
The net is going crazy, Helen, look at it.
The net is going.
80 on the net.
At £80 bid, it's on the net at £80 bid.
The net is up.
There's a bachelor somewhere in his pad.
Ooh, it's halting.
All done and finished, last call, the gavel's up then at £80... (GAVEL) VO: That does seem very cheap.
A lot of sign for the money.
I'm broken-hearted.
Have we... That was cool as well, that was cool.
TIM: It was cool.
REBECCA: It was cool.
We all would have bought it for our own place.
Yeah.
It was a bit big.
(LAUGHS) VO: Whereas Becky's last lot, this trim little fireplace, would fit nicely into most homes.
I love the fireplace.
Yeah but this one's risky, cuz we spent £70 on.
That's quite a lot for a, like, just a fireplace.
Yeah, but I think you know what you do with that.
Everything else has required a bit of vision, whereas this, I'd like to think there's someone who knows what it's for.
Here we go, here we go.
VO: Stand by.
I've got 10, 12, 14, £16 bid.
The net's...
It's creeping up, it's jumping up.
At £18 bid, I'll take 20.
At 18 only bid.
Seems cheap.
That's good.
£18 for an Edwardian fire surround.
At £18 bid.
At £20 bid just in time.
At £20 bid.
On the net then, for £20, here to be sold at £20... (GAVEL) Criminal.
That is criminal.
VO: Yup, unlucky.
Fortune definitely hasn't favored them today.
Right, shall we go outside and calculate the damage?
Yes.
Let's go console ourselves.
VO: OK.
The figures are in.
Helen and Roo began with £400, and made quite a loss.
Over 200 after costs!
Leaving them with £178.76.
(GAVEL) VO: While Becky and Tim, who started out with the same sum, lost, after fees, quite a bit less!
So they are today's winners with £308.60.
TIM: There we are guys.
Another day, not another dollar.
(THEY LAUGH) So, we won the gold medal... REBECCA: (LAUGHS) HELEN: Listen... ..but we both lost money.
HELEN: We were in it together five minutes ago!
(THEY LAUGH) I'm gonna furnish my next house with 55 of those fireplaces, because I can afford them.
And that will cost you... £30!
Brilliant!
Thank you for your expertise, guys.
We really enjoyed ourselves.
HELEN: Lovely to see you.
Right, bye!
Come on.
TIM: Bye.
ROO: Bye.
VO: Bye bye, Bolton.
Bye bye, Becky and Helen.
I have loved the experience, and I'm so glad I've done it with you.
Cuz we're so not competitive with one another.
It has been really good fun.
And I think it's opened my eyes.
I would be nervous about buying stuff at an auction, but now I'm not.
REBECCA: Just take a mate with you, you'll have a right laugh!
VO: Ha-ha!
Giggles aplenty!
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