TIM WONNACOTT: It's the nation's favorite antiques experts-- I think I found something.

Pretty good, yeah.

TIM WONNACOTT: --behind the wheel of a classic car.

Stop it.

TIM WONNACOTT: And a goal, to scour Britain for antiques.

Ooh!

I think it's brilliant.

TIM WONNACOTT: The aim, to make the biggest profit at auction.

But it's no mean feat.

You're some man.

TIM WONNACOTT: There will be worthy winners and valiant losers.

No!

TIM WONNACOTT: Will it be the high road to glory-- Yeah, baby.

TIM WONNACOTT: --or a slow road to disaster?

Oh.

Oh.

TIM WONNACOTT: This is the "Antiques Road Trip."

[MUSIC PLAYING] Ding dong.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Today, it's the start of an adventure for two road trip veterans in their debut double act.

This is the first time that you and I have been manacled together.

I know.

TIM WONNACOTT: It's James Braxton at the wheel and Catherine Southon by his side.

And it's all smiles for now.

So are you looking forward to this, James?

JAMES BRAXTON: It's a great moment.

You and I against the world.

TIM WONNACOTT: Actually, it's you and him against each other.

But you'll get the gist as we go along, folks.

Ha!

For auctioneer Catherine, it's the little things that make her happy.

Small is generally beautiful.

While experienced antiquer James has a penchant for big, weighty objects.

At least there will be room in their fabulous 1969 Rover P5 V8 to give it its proper title.

Ooh, yes, please.

[MUSIC PLAYING] I don't think I've ever been in a Rover before.

This is quite plush, actually, isn't it?

JAMES BRAXTON: It is.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: And it feels quite luxurious.

It's more stately.

Ooh.

Yes, I am back.

You've got the lean.

TIM WONNACOTT: This stately car was the motor of choice for prime ministers of all hues.

Margaret Thatcher used to have one of these.

I'm not surprised.

It-- it has a feel of an official prime minister's car.

I think Harold Wilson had one of these.

I'm surprised there isn't a little pipe rest somewhere, isn't there?

TIM WONNACOTT: Now, pipe down, you two.

James and Catherine each kick off with 200 pounds.

Only a few hundred miles ahead of them as they meander gracefully from Eversley in Hampshire via a circuitous route, taking in Birmingham and Bedford, end up at a final auction in Bourne Lincolnshire.

Yeah, that's a rather large horse with a very large car.

She looked petrified, James.

I don't blame her.

TIM WONNACOTT: Best not to scare the locals, James.

On this leg of the trip, all roads lead to an auction in Bourne End Buckinghamshire.

But we kick things off in the aforementioned Eversley.

Gentlemanly James is dropping Catherine off at Eversley Barn Antiques, which is set in a beautifully restored 16th century granary barn.

Good luck.

Thank you.

I'll see you later.

I'll see you later.

Have a nice day.

Same to you.

Bye-bye.

TIM WONNACOTT: There's 20 dealers here offering a wide variety of wares.

Good morning.

Hello.

I'm Catherine.

Lovely to see you.

- How do you do?

I'm Judy.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: Is it OK to have a look around?

JUDY: Yes, do.

Help yourself.

[MUSIC PLAYING] TIM WONNACOTT: Watch out.

I'm knocking everything down.

This is the short area.

I need to be in the long area.

TIM WONNACOTT: Moving swiftly on.

[MUSIC PLAYING] You might think I'm mad.

TIM WONNACOTT: Well.

Just joking.

What have you found, doll?

This arts and crafts repoussé copper, so hammered from behind to get this design.

1900.

It's a jaguar.

But I like the fact that it actually probably doesn't look a huge amount like a jaguar because it's very naive, quite naively done.

And that's really what arts and crafts, I suppose, was all about as well.

It's got quite a hefty ticket on, 95 pounds.

A very hefty ticket, but I-- I like that.

I'm going to go and speak to Judy about that.

TIM WONNACOTT: Good plan.

Now, where's Brackers gone to in the Rover?

I love this car.

You can steer it with your fingertips.

It almost moves along of its own accord.

You're merely there to point it in the right direction.

TIM WONNACOTT: And he's pointed it in a southerly direction to Farnham and to the Antiques Warehouse, which is brimming with antiques, collectibles, memorabilia, and Hillary.

Oh, look, this is fun, a piece of history.

Avon, the great cosmetic people, aftershave, Viking horn.

That's when men were men.

That's when men actually drank the stuff as well.

And very helpfully, they've given you the alcohol percentage, 73%.

Oh, it can't be.

This sort of stuff put the Great in Great Britain, didn't it, you know?

Oh, I think so, yes.

There's too much moisturizer around these days.

What we need to do is get back to manly aftershave.

It's cheap enough, Hillary.

15 pounds, isn't it?

Yes.

The only problem is it's empty.

TIM WONNACOTT: Time to move on, me thinks.

Look at all this stuff.

That is quite weird, isn't it?

HILLARY: This is amazing.

This-- this came from a professor of anthropology who died.

But she went out to-- to Bali and got these about 60 years ago.

She went to the tribes.

They're not-- they're not tourist pieces.

They're dancing masks.

They used to-- JAMES BRAXTON: They're fabulous, aren't they?

HILLARY: --actually wear them-- JAMES BRAXTON: Yeah.

--when they-- they had their ceremonies.

I wouldn't mind having a look at that-- Which one?

--black and red one.

TIM WONNACOTT: These masks represent spirits, which the dancers wear, bringing them to life.

JAMES BRAXTON: Now, that moves.

I see it sort of hinged there.

This is a Barong monkey.

I thought it looked like a monkey.

HILLARY: Look at his-- his eyebrows.

JAMES BRAXTON: Eyebrows, great eyebrows.

HILLARY: Aren't they lovely?

TIM WONNACOTT: I say.

James seems quite taken with this fellow.

Ticket price is 75 pounds.

What could something like that be?

HILLARY: I can make it 65.

Do you think 55 might buy it?

Possibly, and I won't take my commission.

JAMES BRAXTON: Put it there.

Come on.

Come on.

- Get your violin out.

Thank you.

Thank you.

TIM WONNACOTT: That was very kind, Hilary.

And with plenty more to see, we'll leave James to browse on.

Meanwhile, over in Eversley, how is Catherine getting on?

Judy, I like this.

Oh, it's fab, isn't it?

Jaguar, cheetah, whatever it is.

Arts and crafts, anyway.

It's-- it's got quite a hefty price on it.

Do-- could you talk to the dealer about doing anything?

Well, actually, that's one of my pieces.

Oh, is it?

So you can talk to me about that.

Oh, that's right.

OK. TIM WONNACOTT: Handy.

Off you go then.

Starting price 95 pounds.

What-- what could you do on that, Judy?

Well, I could do 50 quid off, say 45.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: Could you?

Oh, wow.

OK. That seems good.

I wanted to buy something else.

He's nice.

What's this?

HILLARY: It's like a patinated bronze.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: Patinated bronze, isn't it?

Chinese, I believe.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: How old is it, though?

I'm not sure that that's-- It has some age.

It's not new, but it's not ancient, if you know what I mean.

I just love the dragon with the handles.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: What could that-- what could that be?

I know.

I like it.

It's attractive.

- Yeah.

Gorge.

- I like it.

It looks nice there.

Well, do you know what?

To be honest with you, Catherine, because I loved it so much, I paid way too much.

You paid a lot of money because you've got that up at 190 pounds.

JUDY: Yeah, I know.

What am I like?

CATHERINE SOUTHON: Yes, that's quite a lot.

OK. Well, I could do-- how about 90?

Right, OK.

I-- I like it, but I wouldn't-- I-- I don't think I like it at that sort of price.

TIM WONNACOTT: But she's not putting it down.

Good tactics, Catherine.

What would make you really happy, Catherine?

What would make you happy, Judy?

JUDY: Ah.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: What do we think?

If I do that for 30 and that for 50, that's 80 for the two.

You're under 100 quid.

There we go.

I think-- it's got to be worth the gate for that, hasn't it?

Yeah, it's got to be.

TIM WONNACOTT: It has indeed.

Well done, Catherine.

First shop and two items bought, leaving you with 120 pounds still to play with.

JUDY: Lovely.

Thank you very much.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Yep, pretty happy with that.

And I like it even better in the light.

[MUSIC PLAYING] TIM WONNACOTT: Back in Farnham with one item already secured, our James is taking in Hillary's stock that spilled outside.

These pots, there's something magical about big pots, isn't there?

There is, yes.

It's wonderful.

JAMES BRAXTON: Traditionally, they were for precious things like wine and olive oil.

HILLARY: Yes, yeah.

But these things have been made since the beginning of time.

They have.

So out of this terracotta, this earthenware, they're all handcrafted.

And are these thrown or coiled-- HILLARY: Yes.

JAMES BRAXTON: --or what?

HILLARY: No, they're hand thrown.

Look.

TIM WONNACOTT: Hand thrown is generally the term used for shaping the clay on the potter's wheel.

They must be the size of Hercules, the people who do these.

HILLARY: I know.

Can you imagine throwing that?

These ones, you know, they're not antique.

But they're made exactly as they would have been made probably even in biblical times, you know.

HILLARY: Oh, I'm sure.

I'm sure, yes.

What did the Romans give us?

Well, yes.

Terracotta pots.

Terracotta pots, yes.

They did.

This one's a bit bashed and everything.

HILLARY: Oh, yes.

JAMES BRAXTON: Can something like that be bought for 50, 60 pounds?

I can do a discount on that.

I can make that 70.

JAMES BRAXTON: 70.

You got yourself a deal.

All right.

Hilary, thank you.

It's been really lovely.

Thank you.

So look, we got-- we got something Roman but slightly modern.

Yes, yes.

TIM WONNACOTT: Earlier, they agreed 55 pounds for the mask and 70 for the pot.

I did get my A-level maths.

TIM WONNACOTT: Well done, James.

That's 125, Hilary.

TIM WONNACOTT: James has certainly splashed the cash.

He's already spent more than half his budget in just one shop, leaving him with only 75 pounds in his pocket.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Meanwhile, Catherine is putting shopping on hold and has come to the Royal Horticultural Society's garden at Wisley to find out how one of Britain's most beloved flowers was saved from extinction and how horticultural research, innovation, and learning have been at the core of Wisley from the start.

Green fingered site librarian Simon Art has all the info.

I feel very spoiled.

I feel like we're at Wisley on probably the best day of the year.

I think you've picked the greatest day this summer.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: I'm seeing every single flower possible.

I mean, it is beautiful and bursting with color.

When did Wisley first come about?

Well, the RHS took possession of the land in 1903.

But before that, it had been an experimental garden started by George Ferguson Wilson in the 1870s.

He started it to try growing difficult plants in good conditions.

His ethos still carries on to this day, really.

So we do a lot of trials of different plants every year.

Is it just plants and flowers?

Plants, flowers, trees, vegetable, fruit, the whole lot, really.

TIM WONNACOTT: Renowned horticulturalist James Kirkham Ramsbottom studied from 1911 to 1913, graduating top of his class.

No wonder then, the RHS turned to him to tackle a mystery that was wreaking havoc amongst flower growers.

Back in the 1880s, a disease started attacking daffodil bulbs.

What were the symptoms?

It would become discolored.

And once the plants started to grow, it would be much smaller than you'd expect.

The leaves would be discolored.

There'd be scale.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: Right.

And so it was-- CATHERINE SOUTHON: No yellow?

No yellow at all, no, and not much green, either.

TIM WONNACOTT: By 1916, with the disease rapidly on the rise, daffodils were teetering on the brink of extinction.

No one quite knew what it was, but it was decimating the whole of daffodil bulb stock.

So one particular nursery reported that they lost 10,000 pounds worth of stock of bulbs in two years, which is just an especially-- That's huge.

Yeah.

At that time, that's a huge amount of stock and a huge amount of money that they'd lost.

So something had to be done about it.

TIM WONNACOTT: Ramsbottom got to work.

He began by inviting growers to send him their bulbs so he could experiment on as many as possible.

And finally, he got to the root cause of the problem.

It was an eel worm.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: Lovely.

Yes.

It's a tiny little worm-- CATHERINE SOUTHON: Right.

--that was eating the bulb.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: And-- - And-- CATHERINE SOUTHON: --killing it.

- --yeah, killing it.

TIM WONNACOTT: Yuck.

The pesky pest had to go.

And Ramsbottom's solution was remarkably clever in its simplicity.

This is a gas-fired water boiler.

So the gas would have plugged in at the front here.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: Mm-hmm.

And it would light a pilot light underneath here-- CATHERINE SOUTHON: Mm-hmm.

--and boil the water in the cage.

So the water would be in here, and they would pop the bulbs into the cage here, put that in, and gently boil the bulbs.

I don't understand.

How can that possibly happen?

How can you boil the-- - Well-- That would kill it.

Well, you'd think so, but it's boiled at a very specific temperature of 43 degrees.

And that was enough to kill off the eel worm but not kill the bulb.

TIM WONNACOTT: Brilliant.

And much bigger heaters were then used to boil the bulbs on an industrial scale.

Because of Ramsbottom, we have the gorgeous daffodil today.

SIMON: We do.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: It's been saved.

SIMON: Yes.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: He saved the daffodil.

He did, yeah.

So he-- he's sort of affectionately known as the "King of the Daffodil."

TIM WONNACOTT: Lovely.

And today, a new generation of Wisley students and scientists lead some of the most important studies of flowers in the world, keeping our borders and baskets in bloom.

A team of gardeners plays its part, too, inspiring visitors like Catherine to gather seeds and grow flowers from scratch.

Gardener Lucy Ronitska is Catherine's seed collecting guide.

So we're going to choose one of these seed heads.

Right.

Well, I can see the seed still there.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: Oh.

I've got to get my bag open and just gently rub, and the seed drops down into the bag.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: Oh, you don't just pick the whole thing off?

No.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: So you just literally rub the thumb-- oops, you don't mash it.

I'm quite good at dropping them as well.

There we are.

You see?

Look, they're all going in.

Oh, and on the floor.

TIM WONNACOTT: Oh, dear.

Catherine is more butterfingers than green fingers.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: Oh, you've got loads in yours.

Oh, I'm way behind you, Lucy.

I need to get in there.

Well, it's only your first day, remember.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: I know.

I've been doing this for a long time.

How long have you been collecting for?

Well, I've been collecting seed for the last five years.

But actually, this is my 25th year working at the RHS.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: Oh, well, then you've got a head start.

TIM WONNACOTT: Well, you better get on with it.

Let's chatting, more seeding, please.

Still not enough?

Still not enough.

Right.

OK.

I'm going to be here a long time.

TIM WONNACOTT: Let's leave them to it and catch up with James, who's motoring happily away to his next shop in Haslemere.

And the rather stately Rover seems to have gone to his head.

I need a man in livery with a rather nice peaked cap, don't I?

The chauffeur.

Where is the chauffeur?

I'm driving the high roller's car, but I haven't-- I haven't got the cash.

TIM WONNACOTT: With less than half his money left, remember, he's only got 75 pounds after this morning's spending spree, let's hope that the Ark Store's bargains come in two by two.

That's Nick, the owner.

Fingers crossed he's feeling generous.

[MUSIC PLAYING] The best opportunity is generally gained from items without a label.

And we've got a heavy piece of porcelain here.

It's painted in a famille rose palette and named after this pink-- pink color.

So famille, rose.

An 18th century Chinese bowl.

Unfortunately, it's got a chip here.

It's got a crack there.

It's quite a nice dish, though.

So Nick, it has no price.

NICK: It has no price.

What could you do on that?

60, I think.

60?

I think-- my-- my-- my problem with this fellow is it's got this hairline crack and the chip here.

Sure.

There's no doubting its-- you know, its age.

It's a solid-- gah, it's a heavy fellow, isn't it?

TIM WONNACOTT: Hey, careful with that, James.

Can we say 50?

Can we say 40, Nick?

45.

Oh, come on.

That was very quick, that, wasn't it?

TIM WONNACOTT: Maybe he's seen you in action before, James.

Oh, it's on the edge, and it's a punt.

I'll give you 45, Nick, for that.

OK.

Thanks, James.

Thank you very much indeed.

But I'm-- I'm not done yet.

[MUSIC PLAYING] That's rather nice.

A trumpet.

But Nick, where are its knobs?

TIM WONNACOTT: Is that a trumpet?

Normally, a trumpet, you expect to have a couple of-- a couple of stops, don't you?

Right.

So you can play it there.

So maybe it's a bugle.

TIM WONNACOTT: Trumpet, bugle?

Jury's out.

Are you going to give us a tune, though, James?

[MUSIC PLAYING] Ah, if music be the food of love-- Bit of vibrato there.

TIM WONNACOTT: --stand by for a divorce.

Ticket price is 30 pounds.

Could this be 20, Nick?

Why not?

Nick, thank you very much indeed.

Very pleased with that.

That's-- you see, it even-- you even get a tune out of it.

TIM WONNACOTT: Oh, poor old Nick.

And he's given you such good deals as well.

Mind his ears, man.

So that's 45 pounds for the Chinese 18th century bowl and 20 for the bugle, 65 pounds in all.

With four lots in the bag, James has had a very big spending day today.

But he's left himself with only 10-- yes, 10 pounds for tomorrow.

Gosh.

[MUSIC PLAYING] And at last, our terrific twosome are back together in their comfy car.

A good first day.

Amazing.

Good to be back in the car.

I feel good.

I feel relaxed.

I feel happy.

Yeah.

Bring on day two.

Bring on day two.

TIM WONNACOTT: It'll be here soon enough.

But for now, take your rest while ye may.

Nighty night.

Good morning, road trippers.

It's Catherine's turn to take the wheel in sunny Surrey.

How was your day yesterday?

Hot.

Hot?

Very hot.

Hot and sticky.

Hot, and sticky, and successful?

Well, yes and no.

TIM WONNACOTT: She's not giving away much, is she?

But I can tell you, Catherine purchased an arts and crafts copper picture and a sconce with a dragon's head.

She's still got 120 pounds and lots of shopping ahead.

[MUSIC PLAYING] You're-- you're a native to Surrey, aren't you?

Well, I'm kind of Surrey Kent borders, actually.

JAMES BRAXTON: Yeah.

But this is leafy Surrey, and it's living up to its expectations of being very leafy.

[MUSIC PLAYING] TIM WONNACOTT: James bought four globetrotting items, a Balinese mask, a North African style urn, a Chinese dish, and a British bugle.

Little wonder he only has 10 pounds left to spend today.

This turns beautifully, doesn't it?

I could drive this all day.

Is it me, or are the lanes getting smaller?

I think so.

TIM WONNACOTT: Backseat driver.

With the auction in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire on the horizon, Catherine has dropped off James, and he's flying solo in Surrey and heading for the historic market town of Dorking and the Christique Antique Center.

Not easy to say.

And with more than 60 dealers in over 20 showrooms, that's a lot of ground to cover.

Let's hope that coffee helps.

Where did that come from?

Ideally, I'd like to buy about three items.

But with prices here of around 130, 420, 91.50, you get the gist.

It's really tough.

[MUSIC PLAYING] TIM WONNACOTT: Perhaps dealer Karen can help.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: This is nice, Karen.

I like this.

Card case, isn't it?

Yes.

Edwardian, and then it's decorated on each corner with the suits.

So we've got the diamond, the heart, the spade-- no, club.

- Club.

This is the spade.

You can tell I don't play bridge or anything.

And then on the top, the two different cards.

Rather nice.

Two packs of cards inside.

KAREN: Yes.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: What are they asking, 60 pounds?

Yes.

What-- what can you do on that?

What's your sort of best?

I think the best we could do is 45.

45?

You couldn't come any more?

No.

She only brought in yesterday, so-- Oh, did she?

Right.

--it's a new item.

- It's a new-- a new find.

- Yes.

Right.

TIM WONNACOTT: And a good 'un, I'd say.

What say you, Catherine?

I'm going to park it there.

I do like that.

OK. And I'll have a little think about that for 45.

KAREN: Yes.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: Lovely.

TIM WONNACOTT: Okey dokey, in your own time.

The thing I'm drawn towards is this gavel, and I'm drawn towards gavels because I collect gavels.

I've got a lovely little collection.

And this is a miniature gavel, but it's lovely.

Really quite nicely turned ebony.

A little bit of wear to it.

And it's only 12 pounds.

You see, I like that.

As a collector, I would buy that.

I would happily buy that, and I would probably pay 25, maybe up to 30 pounds just because it's quite dinky.

Dinky do.

Dinky do gavel.

TIM WONNACOTT: Dinky what?

Anyway, that's two possible buys back on the shelves.

I'm drawn back towards this box.

I-- I've just got a feeling about it.

I do like it.

Right.

45 pounds.

I'm going to see if there's anything else.

If there is another little bit of movement, that would-- that would help.

If not, I think I'd buy it anyway because I do like it.

TIM WONNACOTT: Ah, hurrah.

Decision made at last.

Now, where's Karen?

Karen?

KAREN: Hmm?

Can I ask?

Is there any other little bit of movement or not?

The very best I can do is 40 pounds.

I'm going to shake your hand because-- KAREN: Thank you.

--I do like that very much.

I hope that I've got the money.

Where did I put it?

Here we are.

I have got money.

Don't worry.

I'm not expecting it for free.

40 pounds.

There we are.

KAREN: Lovely.

Thank you.

- Love it.

- Good.

Thank you.

Good.

TIM WONNACOTT: What about the gavel then?

I meant to get that-- I'm going to go back and get that gavel.

TIM WONNACOTT: Good plan.

It's still there.

You see, nobody wants it.

Is that a sign?

TIM WONNACOTT: It seems Marion is behind the counter now.

Maybe Karen has gone home to lunch.

I have bought this earlier, but I haven't paid for this.

I quite like this, the gavel.

12 pounds.

Can I give you the money for that?

Yes, that's fine.

I do have the right money.

Lovely.

There we are.

MARION: Thank you.

Wish me luck.

MARION: Good luck.

Thank you.

I actually feel a lot happier now.

I have my extra bonus item.

TIM WONNACOTT: Me, too.

James, in the meantime, is taking a busman's holiday.

He's in Guildford on a road trip with John Dennis, who's been tinkering with classic cars his whole life.

And he's been participating in the London to Brighton run since he was seven years old.

John, I-- I have a-- a lovely old MG 1952.

And I smile when I get in that.

But I must say, the smile is even larger in this car.

It's amazing.

TIM WONNACOTT: But it's a bit of a bone shaker.

Hold on tight, everyone.

This car was built in 1902 by John's grandfather, the motor manufacturing supremo also called John Dennis, who in 1901, founded what's believed to be the UK's first purpose built car factory.

It was one of many Dennis Motors' innovations, which quickly propelled John and his brother, Raymond, to become world leaders in the field.

Kind of a physical thing driving this.

Yes, right.

I'm a bit used to it now after 60 years.

That many years?

TIM WONNACOTT: That's possibly as long as the cars behind them feel they've been waiting to overtake.

Rather large queue back, isn't it?

Oh, well, it's something you except in an old vehicle.

Now, we must be doing at least 10 miles an hour.

TIM WONNACOTT: They're heading very slowly to the current Alexander Dennis factory.

The firm is still manufacturing vehicles today.

JAMES BRAXTON: That was great fun, John.

TIM WONNACOTT: Although cars were not built here for very long.

At the time of the First World War, they developed from-- from bicycles, tricycle, motor tricycles, cars, then commercial vehicles, and buses.

TIM WONNACOTT: A wise decision, as cars were only bought by the Gentry at the start of the 20th century.

The brothers' first commercial vehicle, a 1,500 weight van, took to the road in 1904.

Buses came next, and then in 1908, they built one of the earliest motorized fire engines in the world.

Pretty amazing when you consider that horse drawn fire engines were still the norm at the time.

John, this very splendid fire engine-- Yeah.

--tell me about it.

It's the first vehicle to be ordered by the city of Coventry in 1914.

And by this time, it had developed into quite a big hairy machine with a nine liter four cylinder engine.

JAMES BRAXTON: Wow.

And it turned motor pretty rapidly, even now.

But you've got to remember that you've only got two wheel brakes.

So you do need a fair bit of stopping distance.

Yeah, so you'd be harrying along, ringing that bell.

Ringing the bell and suddenly find-- Find them fighting a fire.

--find-- that's-- that's right, yeah.

If you didn't go into the village pond.

That's right.

There's ye heritage.

TIM WONNACOTT: The key to their success was always the brothers' technical wizardry, including one remarkably forward thinking creation.

Back in 1904 when the wheels of most vehicles were driven by a chain, they invented a worm drive axle, encapsulating the inner workings in a tube, protecting them from the elements.

It was a game changer, as Factory Supervisor Claire Barrett explains.

It was at the heart of innovation.

It was one of their first real sale points, as well, of their commercial vehicles.

The axle?

Yes, the axle.

It just made the vehicle run so much better.

And so invented then and still in use today?

Still in use today.

The wheels on the bus go round and round, don't they?

Yeah.

They most certainly do.

Well, hopefully, they do.

TIM WONNACOTT: Dennis Motors has survived and evolved across three centuries and is still going strong today.

Everyone probably gets on a Dennis bus of some-- Yeah.

--description at some point when you're traveling around the country.

Well, Claire, be assured.

From now on when I see a Dennis bus or coach, I will salute.

TIM WONNACOTT: Me, too.

But hang on a minute.

Where's James off to now?

Oh, Lordy.

It's a scramble.

[MUSIC PLAYING] JAMES BRAXTON: Hey, guys.

TIM WONNACOTT: Oi!

Come back with that fire engine.

Oh, he is a rascal.

Catherine is blissfully unaware of her buddy's exploits.

She's en route to Kingston upon Thames, the location of the pair's final shop before auction.

Still one more item to buy, and I'm going to buy it in Kingston with James.

So it will be interesting to see what we buys.

What have I got left?

Not a lot.

68 pounds.

Dear, that's not a lot, is it?

TIM WONNACOTT: Hmm.

Wait till you hear how much James has got left.

Catherine should be onto a winner here at Kingston Antique Center.

She's arrived well before James and has first dibs on the items of more than 125 dealers.

Wow.

[MUSIC PLAYING] CATHERINE SOUTHON: Right.

Nice little bits and pieces here.

I'm going straight in for the brightest thing, which is that brooch.

Important to check that the clip is original, which it is.

I don't think that's broken.

Here we are.

How does that look?

TIM WONNACOTT: It looks lovely, if you're asking me.

Hello, Vera.

Hi, Catherine.

Busying away there.

I just picked up this brooch from this cabinet.

Is this yours?

VERA: It is, actually.

Lovely.

Right, OK. Beautiful color, nice and vibrant and Scandinavian.

What's your best price on that?

20.

Is there any-- any movement on that, or is that your-- I could take another couple of pounds.

I want you to win.

So 18.

18?

That's lovely.

That would be really good.

Thank you, Vera.

You're welcome.

That's very sweet of you.

TIM WONNACOTT: Hey, no playing favorites, please.

That's Catherine's fifth and final item in the bag.

Super.

Thank you.

OK, thanks.

TIM WONNACOTT: And here comes James, minus the fire engine, I'm delighted to say.

[MUSIC PLAYING] James.

Hello, Mr. Braxton.

Hello, Teddy.

How are you?

Is this a lucky talisman for you?

Well, we're just having a well-deserved break.

JAMES BRAXTON: Are you?

- Yes.

Break?

How can you-- how can you break?

I've been working very hard today.

Have you?

Well, I've-- I've been driving a fire engine today.

Good fun?

It was great fun.

Great-- very complicated.

Why are you waving 10 pounds at me?

Because this is all I have to spend.

Really?

All I have to spend.

Oh, James.

How exciting.

Go and spend the lot.

This is my ticket to profit.

You can't even buy this Teddy.

He's 55.

JAMES BRAXTON: Bye, Teddy.

He can't buy you.

TIM WONNACOTT: Actually, Catherine, I think he has a cunning plan.

On my way into the shop, I noticed this, a rather nice little three legged table.

And I'm irresistibly drawn to three legged tables.

This is just a tubular steel, very simple manufacture.

And you know, feeling it, this is Bakelite, so the early-- a forerunner of plastic.

It has a bit of design quality about it.

It-- one might call this retro, probably 1950s, 1960s, which is very fashionable at the moment.

It's quite attractive, isn't it?

And look, what's even better is it's a match.

10 pound price there, 10 pound note.

It's mine.

TIM WONNACOTT: Clever old James.

Nabs a real bargain.

Vera.

Hey.

I have found something.

Wow.

For 10 pounds.

- For 10 pounds.

- That's amazing.

- Outside.

- This here?

The first thing I spotted here.

Can I give you said 10 pounds?

Lovely.

Thank you.

CATHERINE SOUTHON: Is it mine, Vera?

It's yours.

It's mine.

Thank you.

TIM WONNACOTT: And that, job done.

All shopped up?

All shop-- all shopped up.

Now, have you spent everything almost?

We're nearly there nearly there.

JAMES BRAXTON: Nearly there?

I can't give too much away, James.

I'm all spent, all spent.

Really?

Good.

TIM WONNACOTT: Doesn't sound too pleased, though, does she?

Thankfully, it's time for some well-deserved shut eye.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Hmm.

Nice here, isn't it?

This is where the River Wye empties into the River Thames, which explains all the boats, I suppose.

After kicking off in Eversley in Hampshire, our intrepid twosome have made several stops in Surrey before winding up at the Bourne End auction rooms in Buckinghamshire.

First auction.

First auction.

The nerves are creeping in.

Are they?

You shouldn't be nervous.

You have lovely items.

No, I'm not nervous at all.

Oh, thank you, James.

- Really?

Well-- You should be nervous, shouldn't you?

Should I?

Should you?

I'm petrified.

Oh, no, rubbish.

You're seasoned.

TIM WONNACOTT: Salt and pepper, anyone?

Catherine parted with 150 pounds for her five auction lots.

James, what do you think?

And now, Catherine has put quite a lot of store in this, this-- this beaten copper panel.

It's quite nice.

Catherine got it for an all right price, 30.

I can see a profit in this for Catherine.

She needs a profit.

TIM WONNACOTT: Don't we all?

James, meanwhile, spent all of his 200 pounds on his five lots.

Thoughts, Catherine, please?

What a lump.

I wouldn't expect anything else from James.

I rather like this olive jar, handmade.

They're pretty cool in your garden, and it could actually make a little bit north of 70 pounds.

So he could be home and dry.

I like it.

TIM WONNACOTT: But which items tickle the fancy of today's auctioneer, Hugo Lemon?

The sconce cast bronze, mix of styles, various different styles in there.

Could be good for an interior piece.

Even better if there was two.

The famille rose dish, Chinese, mid to late 18th century.

Slight damage with a crack on it, which will affect the price.

We would imagine that something like that would make in the region of 60 to 80 pounds.

TIM WONNACOTT: Good ho, especially as there is online and phone bidding today.

And while the sale room settles in for the off, Catherine and James have front row seats.

This is the spot, isn't it?

I'm feeling money makers, which-- Good.

--is not a good sign.

No, it's a good sign.

TIM WONNACOTT: Here we go.

Catherine is up first with her Edwardian playing card set.

40 on bid.

Thank you.

And two, I'll take.

At 40 pounds on bid.

- Well done.

Well done.

There is somebody behind us bidding.

45 on both lines.

At 42.

45 now.

47.

I do love the internet.

And five.

And 60.

And five.

- Keep going.

HUGO LEMON: At 65 pounds.

I'm bid in the room at 65 pounds.

Oh, don't give up, internet.

It's going so well.

At 65 pounds then.

With you at 65 pounds.

I'm-- 70.

At 70 pounds indeed.

- Woo.

Sorry.

And 80.

And five.

At 85 pounds.

And in the room at 85 pounds.

Last chance-- - Thank you.

--at 85 pounds.

All done at 85.

TIM WONNACOTT: What a great start.

Come up trumps.

That's a profit, isn't it?

You got half your money from the card.

Yeah.

- Half your money.

- Millions.

You see, I'm gonna make so much.

Millions.

Millions.

So much money, I just can't carry it out the room.

TIM WONNACOTT: Nice idea, but hold on to that thought.

James's bargain Bakelite table is up next.

Start me off there with 30 pounds for it.

30?

20 then.

- Silence.

- 20.

20.

You'll double your money.

Double money.

20 pounds, and two I'll take.

At 20 pounds on bid.

22, 22, 25.

27.

At 25 pounds in the room.

25.

It's not even stable.

HUGO LEMON: At 25 pounds.

And are you all done at 25 pounds?

It's-- I'll sale then at 25 pounds.

All done then at 25.

TIM WONNACOTT: The stable table has more than doubled its price.

Very good.

Well done.

- Thank you.

- Genius.

I'm gonna buy those.

TIM WONNACOTT: You stick to what you know, Catherine.

Your miniature gavel is about to go under the gavel.

30.

20 then to get away.

20 on bid.

Thank you, and two.

20 on bid.

You're in profit.

25, 27, and 30, 30, 32, 32, 35, 37, 37, and 40.

I have 40 pounds on bid.

- 40 pounds?

- 40.

HUGO LEMON: I have 40 pounds on bid.

Ya.

I'll sell then at 40 pounds.

All done then at 40.

Last chance.

TIM WONNACOTT: That's another healthy profit for Catherine.

Would you like me to lend you some money?

I might need it by the end of this.

TIM WONNACOTT: Now, here's James's 18th century Chinese bowl.

60 to get away then.

60 on bid online.

Thank you.

65 pounds.

Five in the room.

And 70, and five, and 80.

At 75 pounds in the room.

This could be our good day.

HUGO LEMON: At 75 pounds then in the room and 80 anywhere.

At 75 pounds on bid, and 80 anywhere.

At 80, at 80, and five.

At 80 pounds online, and five I'll take.

85 and 90.

And 90 and five.

We want the three figures.

At 95 then.

At 95, I'm going to sell then at 95 pounds.

Go on.

In the room at 95.

TIM WONNACOTT: Yep, you're both raking it in.

So much money.

I know.

TIM WONNACOTT: Can Catherine's Scandinavian brooch keep things on the up?

30 to start.

30 on bid.

Thank you in the room at 30 pounds.

Straight in, 30.

At 30 pounds on bid.

32 anywhere?

32 online on easy live.

32, 35, 37.

On 40 now.

I have 40 pounds on bid, and two I'll take.

At 40 pounds then.

I'm going to sell then at 40 pounds.

Brilliant, that.

Last chance then at 40 pounds.

All done at 40.

TIM WONNACOTT: Not very supporting, James, but that's three profits out of three for Catherine.

Lovely.

That's really kind.

Thank you.

TIM WONNACOTT: Will James's bugle hit the right notes?

20 I don't mind then.

20 on bid.

Thank you, and two I'll take.

- At 20.

Yeah.

HUGO LEMON: 22, 22, 25, 25, 27, and 30, 32.

I have 32 pounds.

All out in the room at 32 pounds.

Online at 32 pounds.

I'll sell then at 32.

All done at 32.

TIM WONNACOTT: More music to our ears.

You did well with that.

That's pretty good, that.

More profit.

James, that's good.

TIM WONNACOTT: Next up, Catherine's copper repoussé picture.

80 pounds on bid.

Thank you, and five I'll take.

I got 80 pounds for it.

Yeah.

90.

90 and five.

At 95 pounds on bid.

100 anywhere?

All done then at 95 pounds, and we'll sell online at 95 pounds.

All done.

Well done.

Well done.

Bet Catherine's grinning like the cat what got the cream now.

Yep.

Well done.

Oh, wow.

Thank you.

TIM WONNACOTT: Can James's rather unusual Balinese wooden mask keep him in 100% profit?

20 to start.

20 on bid.

30 on bid now.

32, I'll take.

You see, it's Bali.

They want it back again.

Two, I'll take.

At 30 pounds on bid.

Brighten up any room at 30 pounds, and two, I'll take.

Brighten?

Get-- get rid of any unwanted guests.

All done then at 30.

TIM WONNACOTT: Ouch.

That's a shame.

Oh, James.

Oh.

And I like that, my mask.

I know.

But it's lost me money.

TIM WONNACOTT: Catherine's final lot is a dragon on a sconce.

30 on bid straight away.

At 30, and two, I'll take.

30.

That's fine.

I don't mind, as long as it's made something.

Don't say it's going to make a profit.

37.

At 37 pounds.

And 40 now.

42, 45, 45 on bid.

47 and 50.

No.

HUGO LEMON: And five.

Oh, no.

I have 50 pounds on bid, and five, I'll take.

And five, and 60.

Go on then.

Do you want a profit, Catherine?

No.

I have 65 pounds on bid.

Online at 65 pounds on bid, and 70 anywhere?

I'm going to sell then at 65 pounds.

All done at 65.

TIM WONNACOTT: A small profit.

She's kept a clean sheet.

Every single item you have sold today has made a profit.

That's rare.

It's a miracle.

Thanks, James.

TIM WONNACOTT: Cheeky.

Let's hope James's heavy vessel is also an earner.

Fingers and toes crossed, everyone.

HUGO LEMON: 50 then to start.

Come on.

40 then.

I don't mind.

40 on bid.

Thank you.

42, 45.

All over place.

They're all over it.

HUGO LEMON: And 60, and five, and 70.

Yes.

And 80, and five, and 90.

At 85 pounds at the back of the room.

And 90, I'll take.

At 90 online now.

90 online.

95.

95.

At 95 pounds and in the room.

I will sell then at 95 pounds, and all done at 95.

Selling then at 95.

TIM WONNACOTT: That's 25 pounds in the pot.

Lovely.

It gets very tight.

We need to do some maths.

Do you think it's a photo finish?

It could be a photo finish.

Let's find out.

TIM WONNACOTT: Don't you worry.

I'll do the math, Catherine.

Now, James started with 200 pounds, and after our sale room costs, ends the day with more than he started.

He has 227 pounds and 14 p in his piggy to take forward to the next leg.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Catherine started with the same sum and made a profit on every lot.

After fees, she has fattened her piggy to a whopping 316 pounds and 50 pence.

Good work.

Catherine wins the day, but both of them had a fine old time.

There's only one word for today, James.

What?

What?

One word.

Miracle.

No.

What is it?

Two words then.

Two words.

Miracle and just stunning.

Stunning?

Stunning performance.

I think there was a note of brilliance from you.

From both of us, James.

It's great.

Money-- money has been made in Buckinghamshire.

I know.

TIM WONNACOTT: Long may it go on.

[MUSIC PLAYING]