ANNOUNCER: The nation's favorite celebrities.
- We are special then, are we?
- Oh.
That's excellent.
ANNOUNCER: Paired up with an expert.
We're a very good team.
ANNOUNCER: And a classic car.
Their mission, to scour Britain for antiques.
I have no idea what it is.
Oh.
I love it.
ANNOUNCER: The aim, to make the biggest profit at auction.
Yes.
ANNOUNCER: But it's no easy ride.
There's no accounting for taste.
ANNOUNCER: Who will find a hidden gem?
Who will take the biggest risks?
Will anybody follow expert advice?
Do you like them?
No.
ANNOUNCER: There will be worthy winners and valiant losers.
- Are you happy?
- Yes.
Ecstatic.
ANNOUNCER: Time to put your pedal to the metal.
This is Celebrity Antiques Road Trip.
Yeah.
Today's celebrities are two giants of daytime telly.
Breakfast presenting doyen, Anne Diamond, joins top TV chef, Ainsley Harriott.
Famous for his delicious recipes and flamboyant style, Ainsley is now one of our leading chefs, but his first big break was a slot on Good Morning with Anne and Nick.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: I'll never forget the first day that I came on the show .
I was so nervous.
And I heated up all my pans so everything would cook quickly because we were against the clock.
And you came over and went "shit.
The pan.
I think you burnt your hand".
I thought I was going to get the sack.
She's never going to have me back.
ANNOUNCER: Broadcaster and campaigner Anne started out in the 80s on the ground breaking TV-AM but it wasn't until she got up a bit later and met Ainsley that she really cracked TV cooking.
ANNE DIAMOND: I remember you showing me how to poach an egg.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Yeah.
ANNE DIAMOND: Live on air.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Yeah.
ANNE DIAMOND: Yeah.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: And you've never forgotten that?
ANNE DIAMOND: No.
And I've never still been able to do it.
ANNOUNCER: Ainsley went on to present legendary shows like "Can't cook, won't cook" and "Ready, Steady Cook".
But now after all these years he's back with Anne.
ANNE DIAMOND: "Ready Steady".
It must have been a lovely program to be on.
Oh.
Yeah, Why wasn't I ever invited onto that?
I don't know.
I should have rung you up.
Maybe I was busy.
ANNOUNCER: And today's experts, dealer David Harper and auctioneer Christina Trevanion are certainly feeling bowled over about working with these two.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: He was quite famous for his shirts, wasn't he?
DAVID HARPER: Very much so.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: [INAUDIBLE].. DAVID HARPER: Yeah.
I know.
I love his dress sense.
We've got the same hairstyle and everything.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Yeah.
DAVID HARPER: Do you know what?
Me and Ainsley Harriott would look like twins.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Yeah.
ANNOUNCER: With 400 pounds each, celebrities and experts are making their way through the Thames Valley in a 1990s Alfa Romeo Spider and a 1980s Mercedes convertible.
ANNE DIAMOND: The last time we saw each other this car was modern.
ANNOUNCER: Time to meet and decide who's going shopping with whom.
ANNE DIAMOND: We made it.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Open the door, sir.
DAVID HARPER: Oh.
Oh.
I got it.
Yeah.
ANNE DIAMOND: David.
DAVID HARPER: So Sorry, Ainsley.
DAVID HARPER: Lovely to meet you.
Hello.
ANNE DIAMOND: Muah.
Muah.
DAVID HARPER: This is Christina.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Yeah.
How are you?
DAVID HARPER: Yes.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Are we going to win?
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Are we together?
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: I think we are together.
DAVID HARPER: Oh.
I think it's a boy, girl, boy, girl.
ANNE DIAMOND: I think it is.
Yes.
Absolutely.
DAVID HARPER: I think so.
I think so.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: OK.
So who's going to go in which car?
Would you prefer the auto?
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Quick.
Quick.
Quick.
Let's go.
You go first.
Make a decision because they're off.
They already know.
Oh.
No.
No.
You drive first.
- Right.
ANNOUNCER: All right.
All right.
It's not against the clock, you know.
DAVID HARPER: [INAUDIBLE].
ANNOUNCER: Really?
Our trip starts in Maidenhead beside the Thames.
We then shop into London before making our way out East winding up at an auction even further downstream in Dartford in Kent.
But first a little celebrity expert bonding.
DAVID HARPER: So are you a lover of antiques?
ANNE DIAMOND: My first answer is no.
Oh.
No.
But hang on.
I've got absolutely no idea why but I've always been interested in little interesting side tables.
ANNOUNCER: Maidenhead will be ready.
After all, it's seen a few celebrities over the years.
Britain's own blonde bombshell.
Diana Dors, used to live here and we're just a few minutes from the Ten Slide Studio where the Hammer Horrors were made.
ANNE DIAMOND: Hello.
You must be Mari.
Hello, Anne.
Nice to meet you.
DAVID HARPER: Hello, Mari.
Lovely to see you.
ANNE DIAMOND: What a fantastic place.
You've got so much going on here.
We certainly do.
DAVID HARPER: So we're going to be dealing with you then, Mari.
Yes.
You will be.
DAVID HARPER: OK. Good.
Are you going to be nice and friendly and gorgeous?
Of course.
As always.
DAVID HARPER: Wonderful.
ANNOUNCER: That's the spirit.
Although, she has got 40 dealers to keep happy too.
Anne's declared a passion for furniture but there's a good bit of retro here as well.
Hardly seems like yesterday, does it?
I think I've got this hat.
I think I wore this to Ascot once.
DAVID HARPER: Did you?
Ascot coming up.
DAVID HARPER: Are you into vintage clothing?
Not particularly.
Although I have the finest collection of 80s stuff.
Have you got those huge shoulder pads?
I went to an exhibition at the V Yeah.
And their stuff from the 80s was nothing like my stuff from the 80s because I had the money to spend on designer stuff in the 80s.
All sequins and huge dynasty padded shoulders.
I felt like writing to the V if you want to borrow any of my stuff and put it in the cabinet instead, you're most welcome.
Because I thought I had a much better collection.
Would they actually get it in the cabinet, though?
No.
Really wide.
ANNOUNCER: And speaking of padding.
ANNE DIAMOND: Look at that little chair.
I'm into upholstery and I could put new upholstery on it that would make it look such a pretty piece.
- You do your own upholstery?
- Yeah.
I do.
I've had the same sofa for 27 years because I will not let it die.
ANNOUNCER: She really does love furniture.
ANNE DIAMOND: But it's a little table and I like it.
DAVID HARPER: It is a little table.
ANNE DIAMOND: I like little tables with little compartments and things.
That would look beautiful in the corner of a room.
You see, I'd be terrified that's reproduction and I'm falling for a reproduction.
DAVID HARPER: I promise you it's not.
This is marquetry inlay.
So if you take your nail and run across the top of it.
ANNE DIAMOND: You can feel the way it's done.
DAVID HARPER: Exactly.
Now if it was a repro that would certainly be a transfer approach.
Yes.
I think this is lovely because it has a distinct name and has a great history.
It's the Davenport desk.
So this was made in about 1910, but the original Davenport was made for a Captain Davenport by Gillows of Lancaster in the late 18th, early 19th century.
And Captain Davenport ordered himself a desk, very small and neat, that could travel with him on campaign.
ANNE DIAMOND: Oh.
I like that.
And 100 years later this was made in England out of walnut with marquetry.
And it's ever so sweet.
ANNE DIAMOND: It'd be nice in my cottage.
Now we're not buying for you.
We're buying for profit.
ANNE DIAMOND: I know.
ANNOUNCER: Yeah.
Don't get carried away.
The ticket price is 225 pounds.
Hefty, but already reduced from 385 pounds and there's a good reason why.
DAVID HARPER: 15 years ago I wouldn't have haggled.
Would have bought it instantly and ran out the door.
ANNE DIAMOND: Why is it different now?
DAVID HARPER: Prices have just collapsed over the last 10 or 15 years.
With furniture we'd have to get it at 100 quid.
We really would.
ANNOUNCER: Put it on the shortlist then.
So little bits of furniture really get you, don't they?
I didn't realize they did, but actually yes they do.
Yeah.
ANNE DIAMOND: Yeah.
I mean, even that little table's quite interesting, isn't it?
DAVID HARPER: It's funny because that's Edwardian as well.
Do you know what it is?
It's a cold scuttle.
DAVID HARPER: Yes.
ANNE DIAMOND: Wow.
DAVID HARPER: Isn't that brilliant?
ANNE DIAMOND: Do you know what I'd do now?
Is I'd clean that bit out, completely clean that out, and keep magazines and books in there.
DAVID HARPER: Absolutely perfect.
ANNOUNCER: Anne's enjoying herself here.
ANNE DIAMOND: You could repair that, couldn't you?
DAVID HARPER: Well, yeah.
You could.
Get a bit of brown beeswax and it will come up an absolute delight.
ANNE DIAMOND: I like it.
DAVID HARPER: Isn't that gorgeous?
ANNE DIAMOND: If we can find out how much that is, I'd be interested.
- We'll get a price on that.
There's Mari.
Mari.
ANNE DIAMOND: The coal scuttle.
Now you've got that labeled for how much?
80, I think.
Yes.
80.
So I'd have to get in touch with the dealer.
DAVID HARPER: Well, actually, let's backtrack.
MARI: OK. DAVID HARPER: The Davenport.
To make a profit, I'd say 100 if Anne was up for it.
MARI: That, I think, would probably be OK. Oh.
DAVID HARPER: Should we have the Davenport?
ANNE DIAMOND: Yeah.
DAVID HARPER: Shall we do it?
I think that's a good deal.
Thank you.
We'll have that.
MARI: Excellent.
Thank you.
DAVID HARPER: Thank you.
- Oh.
That's really lovely because I love that.
ANNOUNCER: Well Anne's got those two off to a brave start with the coal scuttle still under consideration.
But what about our other couple?
- Oh.
Go Ainsley.
Go.
Go.
Go.
ANNOUNCER: Oh, lordy.
If he shops like that we're in for quite a ride.
So what's the plan?
Let's buy things that we like.
Let's buy things that are a bit quirky.
Let's buy fun things.
Yes.
OK. And something that you feel passionate about too is really, isn't it?
Yeah.
I think if you believe in it, then we're halfway there.
Yeah.
OK. That's a very good tip.
Believe in it.
ANNOUNCER: I believe we're now about to head into Buckinghamshire and the village of Burnham.
If it all seems a bit familiar that might be because of the numerous carry on movies that were shot around here.
Burnham's awfully close to Pinewood Studios, you see.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Hey.
We're here.
Look at this.
Come on.
ANNOUNCER: Any movie memorabilia here, I wonder?
Kitchenalia?
Will Ainsley do an Anne?
Let's have a look over there.
OK.
So have a good.
Let's see if there's anything that you like the look of.
Anything.
Anything.
Anything.
And give me a shout.
Oh, Ainsley.
No unaccompanied children.
Come on.
This way.
This way.
ANNOUNCER: Now let's not take our expert status too seriously, Christina.
My mother had her tea with each service in a glass cabinet.
Were you ever allowed to touch it?
- No.
- On pain of death?
I mean, it was next to the Encyclopedia Britannica.
You weren't allowed to touch it.
ANNOUNCER: Ainsley is not too bothered about furniture but what will he put his hat on?
Hey, Mary Lou.
Would you marry me?
I think I would, sir.
ANNOUNCER: Carry on, cowboy.
Let's take a look in them there cabinets.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: That's quite nice.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: That is fun, isn't it?
What's that?
Oriental brass and copper cicada cricket snuff box.
That is interesting, isn't it?
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Yes.
- OK.
So we might have a little look at that.
I quite like that.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Yeah.
I think that's really pretty.
What would they have used that for then?
I think it's technically termed as a thing to put things in.
- Yeah?
Yeah.
OK. ANNOUNCER: She's good.
Hello.
Can we possibly have a look in a cabinet?
Yes.
Anne, this is Ainsley who I brought with me today.
Hello, Anne.
How are you?
I'm fine.
Pleased to meet you too.
We really like that silver box.
No, we don't.
No, we don't.
Oh.
Sorry.
We don't like that silver box.
And I'm particularly fond of this piece too.
It's a snuff box.
Oriental snuff box.
So you put your stuff in there, obviously, and then take out the wings and it would-- and you'd take your snuff.
Very sweet like that.
Let's have a little look at that.
What do you think of that?
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Well, I like this.
I mean, there's a little indentation there.
Can you see it.
Small.
A little crease across the top.
Yeah.
Oh look at that.
Wow.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Oh.
That is nice.
Can you see a hallmark on there?
So can you see a silver hallmark?
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Oh.
There we are.
There we go.
Brilliant.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: I'm clever, aren't I?
CHRISTINA TREVANION: So this is the Birmingham hallmark, which is the anchor, and then a D which is 1903, typically Edwardian.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: OK.
It's got this lovely lightly hammered finish so it's quite arts and crafts, which means it was handmade.
Hand finished as well.
What I really like about it is it's got this silver gilt interior, which is a sign of quality.
ANNOUNCER: I think the silver's winning.
Box not quite up to snuff?
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Snuff box collectors really want something that is really antique.
Yeah.
Unique.
Really unique and has got some history to it.
So this is-- A no no.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Not huge matters.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Sorry about that, Anne.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: So how much have you got on the silver box, Anne?
I've got 35 on that.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: 35 pounds?
Is there any flexibility on that price at all?
I love you, Anne.
30.
How about 30?
How about 25?
Oh.
Seeing as you're holding my hand so nicely.
22.
25.
Oh.
I think that's a deal, don't you?
Thank you very much.
Sealed with a loving kiss?
Another one?
How lovely.
ANNOUNCER: That Ainsley is certainly proving a Smooth Operator.
Plus, for a lot less than Anne and David they've acquired a very saleable first lot.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: This is great for storing things in.
That is the key to buying nice silver successfully these days.
It's still got to be useful.
I mean, these lovely sort of entree dishes and things that you can get in solid silver are incredibly expensive, but when was the last time you used your silver entree dish?
How dare you talk about my entree dish?
ANNOUNCER: It was all going so well too.
Any news from Maidenhead, I wonder?
ANNE DIAMOND: Is that just an opening table then?
DAVID HARPER: It's a tea table.
ANNOUNCER: Anne's got yet more furniture.
OK.
So there you go.
There's your occasional table.
- There's your beautiful table.
- Yeah.
- Lovely, lovely table.
Yeah.
That's in solid mahogany so the table legs should have a wooden hinge.
Look at that.
Oh.
Yes.
DAVID HARPER: That's handcrafted.
ANNE DIAMOND: So how do they come out?
DAVID HARPER: So if you pull that leg.
ANNE DIAMOND: Oh.
The whole leg comes out.
DAVID HARPER: Yeah.
ANNE DIAMOND: Oh.
This is brilliant.
DAVID HARPER: Flip that over.
ANNE DIAMOND: Oh.
Oh.
I love it.
I would like to own that.
ANNOUNCER: No, Anne.
It's all about making a profit, love, not home furnishing.
DAVID HARPER: I need to work out whether it is a Georgian restored or an Edwardian copy.
For an indicator for Georgian furniture, the blocks.
Can you see the corner blocks?
ANNE DIAMOND: Yes.
In the Georgian period you've got these rounded.
You've still got a bit of beauty.
Yes.
And they just hand curves.
Yeah.
DAVID HARPER: This is made in the Georgian period but at some point it's been completely reworked and restored.
But it would need to be.
ANNE DIAMOND: Cheap.
DAVID HARPER: Yeah.
But we can try it.
It needs to be 100 quid.
If Mari wants to sell it to us for 100 quid we'd have it.
What price is on it?
DAVID HARPER: 238.
MARI: That's less than half.
DAVID HARPER: I know but we are the mercenary band.
Ah.
I realize.
I'm just going to have a quick word.
DAVID HARPER: Have a word.
And come back to you.
DAVID HARPER: OK. Everybody is petrified of furniture because they keep getting told it's worth nothing.
It's collapsed in value.
Well, you know what?
It's for nothing to buy.
ANNOUNCER: Could be for nothing to sell to though, David.
Now how have negotiations progressed?
I've just had a word with the dealer and they're suggesting that if you pay $170 for the table the coal scuttle will be thrown in for nothing.
ANNOUNCER: Ah.
The coal scuttle's back.
So really we'd want to pay 130.
The very lowest would be 150.
I say we go for it, then.
Come and shake our hands, then.
OK. ANNOUNCER: So 120 pounds for the table and 30 pounds for the scuttle.
Anne's really following her heart.
We're breaking all rules here.
Yeah.
Marvelous.
Let's hope that all goes well.
ANNOUNCER: Meanwhile Ainsley and Christina make for the capital.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: This is a complete treat for me because I used to come home from school, turn on the telly, and "Ready, Steady, Cook" was on.
I know.
You are just like an icon of my generation.
ANNOUNCER: I thought I was.
They're motoring further down the River Thames towards Lambeth to learn all about the chef who revolutionized British army food.
NATASHA: Hello.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Hello.
Hi.
NATASHA: I'm Natasha.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Hi, Natasha.
Christina.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Hi, Natasha.
Ainsley.
How are you?
Do come through.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Lovely.
Looking forward to it.
ANNOUNCER: The Florence Nightingale Museum is, of course, dedicated to the famous lady with the lamp.
But it also celebrates those other heroes who traveled to the Crimea in the mid-1950s.
One of those was Alexis Sawyer, the Victorian celebrity chef.
Perhaps an example of quite how famous Alexis Sawyer was is the fact that he actually sold his own brand of cooking sauces.
Hello.
Thank you.
You're just copying him.
I know.
I know.
All these years later.
So it's actually got his face on it.
Oh.
Wow.
Look at that.
That is amazing.
I mean, that's really commercially minded, isn't it?
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: And what do we have here, Natasha?
NATASHA: This is baking powder.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Hey.
Maybe you need to adopt that hat.
And that lovely, that very French, sort of tache.
How did he become a celebrity chef?
What made him so special?
Well he was born in a small town in France but, finding out that in England French cooks are madly fashionable, he went across to England.
And due to his charm and flamboyant nature people just just adored him.
ANNOUNCER: In 1837 Sawyer became the chef de cuisine at London's new reform club and set about designing kitchens along with architect, Charles Barry.
I used to work at the reform club in the 80s.
No.
You didn't.
Did you?
Absolutely.
And there's a famous recipe he had, which is the lamb cutlet reform, which was a panade.
Flour and breadcrumb, pan fry the lamb cutlets until golden brown.
- Oh.
And I think.
I think, I mean, this is taking me back a long, long way here.
I think it was served with beetroot gherkin and ham.
ANNOUNCER: Sounds tasty.
Amongst Sawyer's many reform club innovations was the use of gas in cooking and refrigerators cooled by running water.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Do you recognize these kitchens?
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Well, I think the layout is probably the same.
I wouldn't have thought it had changed very much at all but modern equipment.
And you certainly wouldn't have that.
Health and safety would close you down.
They used to.
- They'd love that.
If you had a couple of Staggs hanging up in your kitchen.
ANNOUNCER: But as well as catering to the rich, Sawyer wrote cookbooks for those of more modest means.
NATASHA: I think one of the nice things about Alexis Sawyer is that he never forgot his poor background.
ANNOUNCER: During the Irish potato famine in 1847, the French Chef invented the soup kitchen.
And he was equally inventive a few years later when he heard of the suffering of British soldiers during the Crimean War.
NATASHA: The soldiers weren't dying in battle.
They weren't even dying of illness and disease.
They were actually dying because they were underfed, in many cases.
The soldiers were all given their own rations of meat and, crucially, these rations weren't boned or sorted out at all.
So you might find your ration for the day was nearly all bones and gristle.
The method of cooking this was to bind meat very, very tightly to a wooden paddle and just plonk it in water and boil it.
If you boil it for long enough, you might have a chance.
But I should imagine they'd be so hungry that they'd put it in there and take it out so quickly.
ANNOUNCER: Sawyer's solution was a simple metal cylinder that can stand on a tabletop and is so light that a horse could carry two.
The Sawyer stove and adaptations of it became a British military standard.
NATASHA: I mean, they used them for years and years.
They were in use until well after the Second World War.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Really?
But what a great simple design, as you say.
The simplicity of it and versatility of it.
Brilliant.
ANNOUNCER: What an amazing story.
First celebrity chef.
Not you.
Sorry about that.
Shucks.
ANNOUNCER: Meanwhile out in the suburbs, Anne is about to do a bit more shopping.
Any other passions to declare?
The only other thing I'm interested in is I'm very into model railways.
A very strong market.
I have my own.
You do not.
I do.
But if we were to see a proper old, sort of 1950s Hornby GWR logo.
Wow.
Wow.
I think, wow.
ANNOUNCER: They're steaming towards Kingston upon Thames.
Famous for its collapsing telephone boxes and the last resting place of Nipper, the musical dog, Kingston's only been part of greater London for less than 50 years.
DAVID HARPER: Hello.
ANNE DIAMOND: Hello.
Hi.
Good to see you.
Just to let you know we haven't got long before we're closed.
Right.
OK. How long have we got?
- About half an hour.
- Half an hour.
Can we do it in half an hour?
- Oh.
Yes.
We're good at this.
We are good at this.
ANNOUNCER: OK, you too.
Let's get ready to rummage.
Right.
I'm going to go down here.
All right.
Well I'll go down here and then we'll meet in the middle.
Bring some treasure.
ANNOUNCER: Interesting.
I wonder what Anne will come up with solo.
She certainly seems to be getting to grips with it.
You know, I think she does have an eye.
There really is something.
Oh.
Hello.
We're talking about your eyes.
I was saying you've got lovely eyes.
I found a few more little tables.
ANNOUNCER: Is it going to be all furniture for those two, then?
Oh.
It was an ordinary mahogany roundy thing.
DAVID HARPER: Mahogany roundy thing?
Well, that's helpful.
ANNOUNCER: Better still, get three, aye?
DAVID HARPER: I do.
I do like that shape in the leg there.
ANNE DIAMOND: Yes.
It's nice, isn't it?
DAVID HARPER: Isn't that lovely?
They're good looking tables but they're not mega quality.
ANNE DIAMOND: No.
- Any more tables.
- Yes.
One more I want to show you.
All right.
I think it's around here.
I love tables.
Good job.
ANNOUNCER: Nicely avoided, David.
Come on, you too.
Let's steer clear of the furniture, shall we?
DAVID HARPER: Now what about a bit of 1980s funk?
ANNOUNCER: At least they're not brown.
DAVID HARPER: Does that remind you of your days on breakfast television?
I don't think I ever sat in anything like that.
DAVID HARPER: Well, you should have done.
It's the color I like.
ANNOUNCER: Really.
75 pounds for the pair.
- For the pair?
- Yeah.
DAVID HARPER: That's not bad.
Go on.
Let's have a look at you.
See what you look like.
Good Morning, Britain.
I never sat in one of these.
I tell you what, it's comfortable.
DAVID HARPER: There you go.
But I'll tell you what, with the color and the style.
Interview me.
Yes, I will.
Yes.
So exactly.
Tell me about your latest book.
Oh, well.
How long have you got?
ANNOUNCER: Wrap it up, Anne, quick.
DAVID HARPER: Now, Leslie.
LESLIE: Hi.
Yeah.
DAVID HARPER: You look like a girl who's going to love these chairs.
ANNE DIAMOND: 75 the pair.
That's really good.
If I'd known that.
- Far too expensive.
Isn't it, Anne?
- Yeah.
It is too expensive.
65 then.
Leslie, can we do 45?
LESLIE: How much?
45.
45?
I don't-- I think that's a bit of a drop.
65 is really good for two fabulous pieces.
We have to try and make a profit, don't we?
ANNOUNCER: Come on, Anne.
What do you think?
How about 55?
Oof.
Now that.
Have I done something wicked?
Well, no.
But in this business-- Yeah.
If you say, what about 55?
Yeah.
And they say yes.
Yeah.
That's it.
It's a done deal.
You're joking.
It's a done deal.
You can't then say, well, what about 50 then?
You can't go down.
You've now set the benchmark.
That's your offer.
That's it.
ANNE DIAMOND: I've sunk us in it then.
I don't think I can say yes without consultation.
I will ask because-- DAVID HARPER: Go on then.
- Yeah.
OK. DAVID HARPER: Go on then.
Let me a minute.
ANNOUNCER: Well, I hope it's a yes because we're getting perilously near closing time.
DAVID HARPER: I've got a pair of trousers in exactly that color.
If I sat in them it'd just look like it also.
Yeah.
ANNE DIAMOND: Good.
Well, this-- It's a nice look.
ANNOUNCER: I'm sure we'd love to hear more but Leslie's back, thankfully.
Apparently 55 is possible.
That's the bottom.
I think you've done a deal.
I have done the deal.
LESLIE: That's a really cool deal.
That's really brilliant.
Thank you very much.
ANNOUNCER: Well done, Anne.
Those two have bought an awful lot of furniture today.
Anyway.
So you've got four.
I've got four.
I've only got one so I've got to really-- You've got to do some shopping.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: We were looking around.
ANNE DIAMOND: I thought you might go with some sort of ancient old Victorian kitchen utensil.
Yeah.
That's exactly what I was looking for.
You know, a rusty lemon squeezer.
Yeah.
Or old crockpots.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Yeah.
ANNOUNCER: Night night.
Good morning, Anne and Ainsley.
The weather's looking pretty good too, in Wimbledon village anyway.
ANNE DIAMOND: I had a brilliant time yesterday.
I discovered I quite like shopping.
The first shop I walked into there was this immediate fear that I'm going to immediately go for something that's a bit naff and reproduction.
And actually I didn't.
ANNOUNCER: No.
She really took charge.
Took quite a few risks too, acquiring a coal scuttle, a desk, some retro stools and a Georgian table for 305 pounds.
Wow.
- Oh.
I love it.
I would like to own that.
ANNOUNCER: Leaving them with less than 100 pounds.
While Ainsley and Christina took absolutely no risks whatsoever, parting with a mere 25 pounds for a silver pot meaning they have almost all of their 400 pounds left to spend today.
A blank canvas, you might say.
DAVID HARPER: What are you going to paint, Christina?
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Well, I just love the shape of this tree.
I mean, it's just magic, isn't it?
DAVID HARPER: Well, I'm going to create an impression of a George the second sideboard.
Wouldn't that be a bit brown?
DAVID HARPER: No.
No.
Not in my paintings, baby.
ANNOUNCER: Hey.
Slap it on quick, David, because your celebrities have arrived.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Hey.
How you doing?
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Good morning.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Morning.
Morning.
ANNOUNCER: Later they'll be heading into Kent for an auction close to Dartford but our next stop is just around the corner in Battersea where our chef is feeling the heat.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: I'm a little bit nervous.
I was speaking to Anne and she said, oh, yes.
We bought four things.
I'm thinking, hold on a minute.
We've only got one.
Ainsley, today is my birthday.
We have no issues whatsoever.
Oh.
I know.
I wouldn't mind a bit of really old cool kitchen equipment.
Something really unusual.
OK.
I want to go wacky today.
Let's go nuts.
- OK. OK?
Deal?
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Absolutely.
Let's go nuts.
ANNOUNCER: Well, the others did yesterday.
At least our celebrity should feel right at home over there because Ainsley's lived in this corner of sath London.
Hello.
MAN: Looks like I could fit in the back there.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Yeah.
Why don't you?
Jump in.
MAN: You can't really beat Spiders, can you?
No.
She's a beauty.
MAN: You look lovely.
- Oh.
Thank you.
As do you.
ANNOUNCER: Friendly round here, aren't they?
ANNOUNCER: God.
Looks like a bit of a TARDIS, Ains.
Oh.
Wow.
Oh.
Ah.
So that's obviously a shoe last.
So you put that in your shoes either to make them or stretch them.
Is there anything on the top of it?
Let's have a little look.
So what's that?
Size 10?
Size 10.
What size feet are you?
13.
Really?
ANNOUNCER: Plenty of vintage in here.
Quite a bit of kitchenalia too.
But Ainsley's come over all nostalgic.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: This used to be a sawmills.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: So where did they used to do the sawmilling?
All the big planks of wood would be standing up here and they would later cut it and bits of sawdust would fly off.
And that's what I wanted.
I'd come down, collect the sawdust, and that would go on the bottom of the rabbit's cage.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: So what was the rabbit called?
I had Toki Joy, Jumper Toki Joy.
I had Patrona, which was my mother's name.
She said, how could you name a rabbit after me?
ANNOUNCER: Quite.
Back to the shopping.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Come see this.
This looks like a patent type teapot.
Oh.
Wow.
So look at that wonderful bulge, if you like, at the bottom.
Would does that indicate, that one bulge?
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Well, that would have been the strainer.
I mean, usually the strainer was on the side of the teapot so this is probably some sort of patent.
Oh.
Yeah.
Look.
Patent self pouring.
So it's adult one.
A great name to have.
I think it's very very quirky.
I like it.
ANNOUNCER: Good start.
It's about time Ainsley chose something, though.
Isn't it?
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Oh.
Look.
Well, that's rather lovely.
Isn't it?
Do you know what?
From here it looks like it's been hand stitched as well.
So it's so often you see these and they've just been machine made and they're a bit soulless.
I love that.
I'd take it.
I think that's beautiful.
- Should we try for that?
- Yeah.
Should we have a look?
Is it open?
Oh.
Are we allowed to go in?
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: I don't know.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Oh.
Look.
That's beautiful.
I would say this is probably 1950s, maybe slightly earlier.
1940s, 1950s.
And somebody has literally sat and embroidered this things.
I love that.
How much has it got on it?
55 pounds.
OK. That's not too out of the way.
What do you think?
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: I just want to see if we can get anything.
Hello.
Excuse me?
Is this your section?
JENNY: Yes.
- Yeah.
- I'm Christina.
Hi.
JENNY: Hi.
Nice to meet you.
- What's your name?
JENNY: Jenny.
- Jenny.
Come over here, Jenny.
That's OK. Yeah.
We really like this.
- No.
We don't.
Sorry.
I think this is the worst thing I've ever seen.
I'm looking for a shoe polisher.
And I just thought this would be really great.
More importantly.
Jenny.
It's 55.
But I've got a bit of a budget issue here.
Right.
Really at auction we'd be looking, if at all possible, to purchase it in the region of maybe 20 or 30 pounds to stand us a chance of making a profit and hopefully appealing to textiles collectors.
Well I'm happy to give it to you for 30 because I'd love you to do well and make a profit.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Brilliant.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Really appreciate that.
Thank you.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Oh.
You just bought yourself a handbag.
I'm sorry.
It's not very manly, is it?
Oh.
It suits you.
JENNY: It's lovely.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: [INAUDIBLE] darling.
Lady [INAUDIBLE], is it?
A handbag?
ANNOUNCER: Second buy in the bag.
They're not exactly big spenders those two, are they?
Jenny's calling the dealer about the teapot, but Ainsley's already got his eye on something else.
What on Earth are you doing up there?
I'll tell you what.
You'd have thought that I've came up for this lamp but I'm actually interested in the hanging lady.
Oh.
Let's have a look.
Have a look.
Oh, my goodness me.
She's fab, isn't she?
- Oh.
Yeah.
Look at that.
Superb.
Well done.
- Isn't she wonderful?
That's wonderful.
OK.
So what is she made of?
She looks like she's some sort of plaster.
It's a plaster plaque, obviously to go on the wall, and she's just wonderful.
Sort of wild abandon, obviously stark naked, which is fantastic.
She's really quite cool.
I like that.
It looks to me like art deco would be quite controversial for that sort of era so I'm thinking probably later than the 1930s.
ANNOUNCER: But what's the price, I wonder.
32.
32?
Well that doesn't seem bad.
No.
I mean, I think she's wonderful.
She's a real talking point, isn't she?
I love her smiley face.
Look at her face.
She's smiling.
I think there would be a few blushes in the auction.
I think there might be.
Hey.
Let's make them blush.
ANNOUNCER: He's got to close the deal.
Come on, boy.
Hello, Denise.
It's Ainsley Harriott.
How are you?
Lovely.
Well, we walked into the shop and we saw the lovely hanging lady there and I thought she was just delightful.
My budget's a bit tight, though.
If I said to you 25 pounds, how would you feel about that?
Go ahead.
OK.
Thank you very much indeed.
Really really appreciate that.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Bye bye.
Yay.
Well done, Ains.
Fantastic.
You got to love her.
Go for a spin, girl.
Go for a spin.
Here you go.
ANNOUNCER: Oh.
Do be careful.
She looks a bit delicate to me.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: You're not allowed to take her home.
I know.
I love it.
I'll take your money, though.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Oh.
Yeah.
This'll be yours.
Well, it's not mine, unfortunately.
ANNOUNCER: Still got over 300 pounds left.
Not so their free spending opponents.
Heading for the city of Westminster and a tea break.
Welcome to Britain's oldest tearoom, founded in 1786 by the man who changed the drinking habits of a nation.
Are you Philippa?
I'm Philippa.
Pleased to meet you.
DAVID HARPER: Hi.
I'm David.
- Hello, David.
Hello, Anne.
And you've got a royal warrant.
ANNOUNCER: That was granted by Queen Victoria in 1837, the first year of her reign.
So she liked a nice cup of tea.
She did like a nice cup of tea, I do believe.
PHILIPPA: She did like a nice cup of tea and, of course, we've been very fortunate to hold the royal warrant for every single successive monarch since.
Is this the real thing?
PHILIPPA: This is the real thing.
Yeah.
The real deal.
ANNOUNCER: But back at the start of the 18th century, when the company was founded by Thomas Twining, tea was the new beverage in a market dominated by coffee.
These coffee houses were nothing like the ones that we have in the high street today.
They were a bit raucous, weren't they?
They were quite raucous.
Yeah.
They were definitely the preserve of men only.
No self-respecting woman would be seen dead in the coffee shop.
These dens of almost iniquity.
ANNOUNCER: When Twining took over Tom's coffee house he added tea to the menu, having discovered it whilst working for the East India Company.
He soon found the drink was a hit with both the gentlemen and the ladies.
So Thomas was quite astute.
He saw an opportunity because the ladies were actually sending their men's servants in to purchase tea and they were waiting outside in their sedan chairs, which is why he purchased properties next door.
And he actually turned that into a retail environment.
So that way the ladies could, with propriety, come in and and buy their own tea.
He knew his marketing skills, didn't he?
He did.
ANNOUNCER: Within a few years, the drink from China had become a staple of British drinking habits.
It was first introduced by the Portuguese queen of Charles the Second and this brick is how Chinese tea would have looked back then.
China have been the monopoly on the tea trade and had been drinking it for millennia.
Oh.
For thousands of years.
And do they compress it purely for transportation purposes?
Just to get as much in the hold as possible?
Yes.
That would have been one of the main reasons.
- Can we touch that?
- You could touch it.
Yes.
So you can see a few of the individual tea leaves that are pressed into there.
ANNE DIAMOND: Yes.
You can.
Is it heavy?
Can I take it?
PHILIPPA: It's quite heavy.
Yeah.
ANNE DIAMOND: Yes, it is.
It is a brick.
ANNOUNCER: Philip is an accomplished tea blender who gets to taste an awful lot of tea and she's prepared a few choice brews for Anne and David to sample.
First PHILIPPA: Two that we have here are teas which you could have found back in the early days of the shop.
Oh.
So this is tea how it would have tasted all those years ago?
Yeah.
It hasn't changed really.
ANNE DIAMOND: What's the etiquette?
What do you do?
So when we're tasting.
Drink it.
I don't normally drink tea.
Oh.
You're very common, aren't you?
So when we're tasting we will take a measure of tea and basically slurp it or Hoover it up.
DAVID HARPER: Do you have to make a noise to sound professional?
PHILIPPA: You don't have to.
She said Hoover it up.
DAVID HARPER: Oh, my.
That was a bit of a shock.
PHILIPPA: That really helps to aerate the tea.
DAVID HARPER: Aren't you supposed to spit it out?
PHILIPPA: Ideally, yes.
But please don't.
PHILIPPA: Please don't.
ANNE DIAMOND: Oh.
I like that.
I'm going to have another bit.
PHILIPPA: So this is a gunpowder green tea.
It's quite strong.
Well if you don't mind me saying, Philippa.
I think I'd be quite embarrassed to take you out for a cup of tea to a nice little tea room somewhere.
I know.
I know.
It wouldn't go down very well.
It's actually quite difficult to do.
Tough, is it?
Years of training.
Years of training.
600 cups of tea a day.
So yes.
600?
I've got a perfect opportunity for practicing the slurping.
And this is a black tea, both from China, because at this time all tea came from China.
Let's just hear you give it a good slurp.
I tried.
It's not easy, you know.
Oh.
That was rubbish.
Oh.
Rubbish.
PHILIPPA: That was very delicate.
Very lady like.
- Oh.
Well done.
How does she do it?
ANNOUNCER: Well I think those two should now be suitably refreshed for one last shop.
Hey, hot pants.
Although Ainsley and Christina have got a head start.
Down beyond Tower Bridge at Greenwich, once a favorite borough of the Tudors, Greenwich was where Henry VIII was born in 1891.
Some even claim it was the site of the legendary puddle where Sir Walter Raleigh threw down his cloak for good Queen Bess.
Here we go.
Perfect.
Well done.
We're here.
ANNOUNCER: It's that kind of place.
Hello.
Hi.
I'm Christina.
Nice to meet you.
What was your name?
- I'm Toby.
Toby.
Nice to meet you.
This is Ainsley.
Hello, Tony.
How are you, mate?
- Toby.
Toby?
My apologies.
I'm looking forward to looking around the shop.
DAVID: Excuse me, gang.
Oh, sorry, David.
DAVID: Thank you.
Let's all go in here.
You start coming in.
I like it.
He comes in, in and out, all day long.
ANNOUNCER: Those two desperately need another couple of buys and they might have come to just the right shop.
Start in the retro room?
Hey.
It's like we walked into Austin Powers' sitting room.
Yeah, baby.
ANNOUNCER: Hey.
Lots of smashing stuff, including those chairs.
They look familiar.
These are really quite modern designed classics, aren't they?
Are they comfy?
It's all right.
Why, thank you.
ANNOUNCER: Groovy.
What can you do them for?
I mean, normally I'm a 10% person but-- CHRISTINA TREVANION: Oh, no.
Boo.
I'll do a little bit better.
Let's take 100 off.
How about 250?
I'll tell you what?
Yeah.
Yeah.
If you really want to go for them.
They're a lovely set.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Ainsley, we said we wanted to buy furniture.
We said we wanted to buy big.
ANNOUNCER: You know.
I'm not sure Ainsley's completely convinced.
What about those?
Christina's choice again.
Trendy theme though.
They're from about 1900 Baker's shop.
If you look back they're all terracotta and then glazed.
They are lovely.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: What have you got on those?
It's 275 but I'm not going to sway a lot on these, I'm afraid.
It really would be 225 on these because I like them a lot.
What do you think?
I'm just a bit worried about the auction room unless you get specialized people coming along.
I think people need to be able to come along and look at that and want it, need it, as opposed to walk in and just think, oh, that's interesting.
What do you think?
I think they're fab.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Really.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Think of people being really really interested in baking.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: You like these more than the chairs.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: I love this.
TOBY: They're pretty unique and I love the colors.
I mean, and I'm colorblind.
What do you do at traffic lights?
Don't stop.
ANNOUNCER: Like quite a few London drivers then.
Did you say 225?
TOBY: 225 but I really won't budge.
I'm Sorry.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Toby.
- No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Toby.
- No.
Toby.
No.
Tobias, actually.
Oh, really?
Yes.
ANNOUNCER: As in it'll take more than that, Tobias.
Ah.
The opposition's arrived.
DAVID HARPER: You recognize that one, don't they?
ANNE DIAMOND: I do.
Yeah.
Which means only one thing.
They're already here.
They're in there.
ANNOUNCER: Don't worry.
There's more than enough to go around.
But I'm a bit overwhelmed.
Exactly.
I don't know where to look first.
Just look everywhere.
Just keep on looking.
ANNOUNCER: Plenty of brown furniture so far for those two.
Might be time to spread the risk a little.
I think we've got to go quirky.
All right.
We've gone sophisticated, refined, real antiques.
And you want to go quirky now?
I think as an auction cheeky lot a bit quirky.
ANNOUNCER: Quirky it is then.
You won't get to see the bakery sign, though.
Safely concealed while the others ponder.
We said let's spend money, let's buy cool, let's buy cooking.
It ticks every box.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: OK. ANNOUNCER: He's not going to be easily parted from that cash.
Let's go downstairs.
One more look.
ANNOUNCER: In the basement, David's found something he likes.
Oh.
Nobody can value that.
Naked lady to get put in the garden.
Yeah.
- I think that's-- Something for driving in the garden.
You know what?
Yeah.
It's got to be, hasn't it?
Yeah.
I think it's like a fertility thing.
Yeah.
It's African.
And that would go in amongst your gladioli.
I don't think it would.
Would it improve the gladioli?
Would it enhance your rhododendrons?
I don't think it would, actually.
It's not too rude.
It's not rude.
Sometimes they are very rude.
It's even got a, you know, underwear on.
- He's wearing a pair of pants.
- He is.
- Yeah.
- No.
Not he, Darling.
- Oh.
Oh.
It is a she.
- Yeah.
- Oh.
I say.
Oh.
There's another one behind that.
- Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
He's got bits.
Is he?
ANNOUNCER: Time for Tobias to come up with a figure for the pair.
They are quite rare.
They are not cheap.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry to say.
- Oh.
Right.
How much are they?
How much are they?
- They're 350 pounds.
- Oh.
Right.
- Oh.
I'm so Sorry.
ANNOUNCER: Blimey.
Ainsley is having a very different sort of dilemma.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: I know we're looking for large objects at the moment but-- - Have you found anything?
No.
It's just that little doll I thought that was ever so sweet there.
Which one?
This one?
The one at the back there.
Am I barking up the wrong tree here?
Hmm.
3 pounds.
Really?
Perhaps I just saw that little porcelain face and I just thought, you know.
It's looking at me.
Well, take me home.
I know.
Should we leave him now?
Back to the bakers.
ANNOUNCER: That's him told.
Come on, Ainsley.
Flash the cash, mate.
Oh.
Look at this.
V.A.
Marches R.N.
Royal Navy.
Imagine the travels that this has been on.
Oh.
You think we get the contents as well?
ANNOUNCER: Treasure.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Oh, Ainsley, look.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Oh.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: You think that's our sailor.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Yeah.
It might have belonged to him.
There's a little brandy bottle there.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Yeah.
That's his brandy bottle.
And his handbag.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: And his handbag.
I know all about that.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: That has got 40 pounds on it.
What do you think, my love?
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: I think we came in here.
We wanted a couple of big items.
That's 40 unlike 240.
It feels like my money.
That's why I'm a little bit sort of hesitant about the whole thing but I shouldn't be like that because I have you an expert with me and you're guiding me.
So we have a fantastic chest if you want to call it that.
A metal chest.
Trunk.
Trunk.
ANNOUNCER: I'm sure the dealer won't mind what you call it.
Oh.
Hello.
Hello, mate?
How are you doing?
- What's your name?
- Dave.
Dave.
Hello, Dave.
You're all right.
It's got 40 pounds on it.
Is there any movement on that price?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Is there?
35.
How about 30?
I'll go 30.
And a peck on the cheek.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Oh.
All right then.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Would that be all right?
- Yeah.
- You're a [INAUDIBLE].
- Hold on.
- Thank you very much.
Thank you.
ANNOUNCER: At last a deal.
Plus, Christina's found something to cap it with.
Can we put that with our trunk?
[INAUDIBLE].
You put the trunk before.
- Oh.
Hello, sailor.
Do a little dance for it.
[INAUDIBLE] So CHRISTINA TREVANION: We're going to put that in the trunk and include it in our 30 pounds?
Yeah.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: That would be amazing.
[INAUDIBLE].
OK. ANNOUNCER: There's certainly treasure in here.
Depends on how you define it, of course, though.
The face.
TOBY: We're having a little talk here about a thing which might be suitable.
Is the-- - Can I tell you what it is?
Are you serious?
Can I tell you what it is?
It looks like a horse and trap type thing.
TOBY: That's exactly what it is.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's from the Victorian period.
TOBY: It's the seats of a horse.
- Yes.
I was going say it came off a horse and trap very long time ago and then it fell on the ground.
And then it rolled over several times.
And then landed in a ditch.
Yeah.
TOBY: And I dug it out.
And you dug it out.
So this is going to come up as a surprise in front of an auction room.
And they're going to say, it just looks like a bit of old what's it.
ANNOUNCER: Which sounds like penny and trap.
That is not its original magic because that's not leather but underneath that.
ANNE DIAMOND: Is the horse hair.
DAVID HARPER: Is your old-- Do you want to have a feel of that?
ANNE DIAMOND: No.
No.
DAVID HARPER: Have a feel of it.
ANNE DIAMOND: I really don't.
No.
DAVID HARPER: Have a sniff.
ANNE DIAMOND: I really don't.
I like it.
And I can absolutely see in a beach house or something.
Oh.
Wouldn't it be?
It'd look fantastic.
Yes.
But is anyone going to see the potential in that?
ANNOUNCER: It all depends on the price, I suppose.
DAVID HARPER: What is it, Toby?
Is it 30 quid?
TOBY: 40 pounds I'll take on that.
DAVID HARPER: OK. Well it's a heck of a risk, but-- you won't go below 40?
TOBY: 35.
Yeah.
35.
ANNE DIAMOND: I'd love to take a punt.
I'd love to see Ainsley's face when he sees what we bought.
DAVID HARPER: You know what?
Exactly.
What do you reckon?
ANNE DIAMOND: Yes.
DAVID HARPER: Shall we have it?
ANNE DIAMOND: Yes.
DAVID HARPER: You've just bought part of a carriage.
ANNE DIAMOND: I know.
- Toby.
- OK. Good man.
OK.
I won't throw a horse in with it, I'm afraid, though.
I think we might be flogging a dead horse.
Oh.
Don't say that.
ANNOUNCER: Sold for 35 pounds.
OK.
It's safe to uncover that Baker sign now.
Hopefully do a deal too.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: Oops.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: What is your absolute best price?
My absolute best.
I'll do 210.
200.
Come on.
200.
200 pounds.
TOBY: 200.
This is it.
You'll throw in a massage, right?
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Turn around.
Oh.
All right.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Ready?
200?
You do hand reflexology.
200.
Yay.
Keep massaging the man.
ANNOUNCER: All right, Ainsley.
You can stop now.
Are you convinced?
For 200?
You got a deal.
It's been a pleasure.
ANNOUNCER: It's certainly been a struggle, but with the purse strings finally loosened, it's time to take a look at what our celebrities and experts have plumped for.
Ready?
Ready?
Ready?
Ready?
Ready?
Ready.
Go.
Oh.
My gosh.
Right.
Oh.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: What do you think?
I love her.
I love her.
You racey lady, you.
ANNE DIAMOND: I know.
She's lovely.
ANNOUNCER: They didn't blush a bit.
That looks like a treasure chest.
Like somebody's treasure chest.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: And it really was for us because inside of that we actually found what we think could well be a picture of the man himself.
And we also got a hat thrown in as well.
Oh.
Oh.
DAVID HARPER: And it fits you perfectly.
Yeah.
And we bought it in Greenwich, for goodness sakes.
Yes.
The home of maritime.
ANNOUNCER: Now for the sign.
That.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: What do you think of this?
Early 20th century Bakers sign is astonishing.
I thought it was wonderful.
Ainsley is not convinced.
Really?
I kept thinking, you know, most of our money is going to go on this.
DAVID HARPER: Oh.
OK.
But the baking thing is really trendy at the moment.
Oh.
That's true.
- You know?
- Yeah.
That's exactly what I told him.
That's fair true.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: So excuse me, please.
Yeah.
No.
You've got a point there.
All right.
Shall I give you a hand?
Shall I do this one?
- One.
Two.
Three.
Go.
Oh.
Wow.
[INTERMINGLING VOICES] Exactly.
What is that?
Apart from a big pile of woodwork.
ANNE DIAMOND: Now we thought do that up, you know.
You could upholsterer it, put a beautiful cushion on it.
It could be an unusual seat in a New England beach home.
Yes.
DAVID HARPER: But let us show you real quality.
This is nice.
Yes.
This is a George the Third 1790 fold over tea table.
ANNE DIAMOND: Yeah.
No.
So it starts out as a table, maybe even in your hallway, but your friends come around for tea, apparently.
Yes.
They do.
Right?
ANNE DIAMOND: And four of you can sit down comfortably at a beautifully shaped table with all its original little bits and pieces.
DAVID HARPER: It's that lovely?
ANNOUNCER: Anne and her furniture, aye?
CHRISTINA TREVANION: OK.
So then we go to the sublime to the frankly-- DAVID HARPER: Don't you dare say ridiculous.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Unbelievable.
ANNE DIAMOND: These are 1980s chat show interview chairs.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Oh.
Are they?
ANNE DIAMOND: And they're comfortable.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Are they comfy?
ANNE DIAMOND: Yeah.
- Oh.
ANNE DIAMOND: Aren't they?
Micheal [INAUDIBLE],, eat your heart out.
OK. ANNE DIAMOND: You know, retro, gorgeous, unusual kitchen and breakfast room.
Very sturdy.
ANNOUNCER: But what did they really think?
They looked very happy when they saw our pony and trap seat.
I think they did.
I didn't believe that Anna was going to like our naked lady.
No.
I know.
I wonder what they're saying about ours.
Something probably really horrible.
They've taken a risk.
They have taken a risk.
Brown furniture is not doing very well.
Their Bakers sign is gorgeous.
That is the worry.
That's going to make them.
Could that go for a lot?
Yes.
It's going to make them or break them.
Anne the baker.
We'll be fine.
ANNOUNCER: After starting out in Berkshire at Maidenhead, our celebrities and experts will conclude their 10 side trip at an auction in the Kent countryside in Dartford, just off the route that pilgrims used to take to Canterbury Cathedral lesson.
ANNE DIAMOND: Have you ever been to an auction before?
DAVID HARPER: I've been to an auction before but I do worry about, sort of, scratching my nose, though.
Suddenly said sold to you, sir.
- Anne's driving.
- Oh.
Anne's driving.
ANNOUNCER: Welcome to Waterman Auction Rooms, where for 14 years they've been selling antiques and collectibles the old fashioned way.
CHRISTINA TREVANION: Right.
Should we head on in?
Are you excited or nervous?
I'm feeling a bit nervous now.
ANNOUNCER: So will Anne's brown furniture spree prevail?
Or will Ainsley's caution combined with Christina's pester power prove the winning recipe?
Let's hear what auctioneer Colin Waterman makes of their lots.
Well the Bakers sign is very unusual.
Because it's advertising it should do very very well.
You're talking about 100 to 200 pounds on a good day.
This is Davenport.
Pretty little thing, but they went out of favor sort of five or six years ago.
Brown furniture has had its day and this is the thing of the future, retro.
ANNOUNCER: Anne and David bought five auction lots spending 340 pounds, while Ainsley and Christina bought five auction lots for a total of 310 pounds.
And they're first under the gavel with their safe little silver purchase.
Oh.
Here we go.
Here we go.
What shall we say for that?
50 pounds to start, mate?
40?
30?
You tell me.
30 straight in.
Thank you.
30 I have.
Two anywhere now.
Lovely silver box there for 30 pounds.
Can I see two?
Should go for more.
At 30 pounds, though, it's going to be sold.
At 30 pounds.
Are we sure?
Ah.
Maiden bit.
Maiden bit.
Never mind.
- That's what-- - Now, is that profit?
Is that profit?
- Yeah.
That's what you want.
ANNOUNCER: Yes.
It's definitely a profit.
No complaints.
Next up Anne and David's posh coal scuttle.
If a coal scuttle could ever be posh.
That's going to lift the [INAUDIBLE] muscles.
What should we say for that?
About 50?
40?
You tell me.
30 quid then?
Come on.
30 pounds, someone.
Go for 25.
20 pound then.
20 [INAUDIBLE] go.
Looking for two.
Last time at 20 pounds.
It's going to be sold.
22?
24?
26?
ANNOUNCER: Go on.
- 28?
30?
ANNE DIAMOND: You can keep magazines in it.
You don't have to keep coals in it.
ANNOUNCER: Go on.
- 28 there.
30 anywhere now?
Looking for 30 pounds again.
Last time.
At 28 it's going to be sold.
Oh.
No.
ANNOUNCER: Ah.
An even bigger loss after auction costs.
We're just getting warmed up here.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
So are we.
Yeah.
ANNOUNCER: Yeah.
Handbags at Dor, mate.
Speaking of which.
You paid 30 pounds for it.
He's put an estimate of 20 to 22 pounds.
Come on.
We've got to get it up more than that.
AUCTIONEER: 12 pounds.
See what happens.
[INTERMINGLING VOICES] ANNOUNCER: The catwalk won't know what's hit it.
DAVID HARPER: He's off.
AUCTIONEER: The 1940s.
DAVID HARPER: Oh.
Oh.
I say.
Oh.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: It looks great with or without glasses, girls.
Look at this.
Look.
Start me off at 30 pounds, someone.
20 then for it.
Nice vintage handbag for 20 pounds.
Hold it up.
Come on.
AUCTIONEER: 15 then.
- I'm showing you.
Look.
AUCTIONEER: Anyone at 15 on the vintage handbag?
15 I have.
16 anywhere now?
It really is beautiful.
18?
20?
22?
24?
ANNE DIAMOND: Go, Ainsley.
AUCTIONEER: 26?
28?
30?
28 with the lady there.
30 anywhere now?
Still selling at 28 pounds for the last time now.
DAVID HARPER: Oh.
But well modeled.
Well modeled.
The next auction is on the 27th.
Can you come back?
Yes.
Oh no.
We lost money on it.
DAVID HARPER: Oh.
ANNOUNCER: Well I'm sure that without modeling it it would have been a lot worse.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: So you're going to carry around your horse thing?
Yes I may well.
Put it on your back.
ANNOUNCER: Time for Anne's big fat Georgian gamble.
[INTERMINGLING VOICES] But unfortunately, as we all know, we are dictated to by fashion.
DAVID HARPER: I know.
I know.
AINSLEY HARRIOTT: I think you should sell it with a tin of paint.
DAVID HARPER: Yeah.
To to paint it a bit.
Distress it.
Yes.
I know.
I know.
Can we see it?
It's over there.
Can you bring it over?
He's a strong lad.
DAVID HARPER: Go on, John.
Come on, Johnny.
What can he say for that?
100?
DAVID HARPER: Come on.
AUCTIONEER: 90?
DAVID HARPER: Come on, guys.
AUCTIONEER: 80?
You tell me.
- Oh.
70 pound then?
No.
Nobody has 70 on it.
- Come on.
Come on.
AUCTIONEER: 60?
ANNOUNCER: Not looking good.
AUCTIONEER: Any interest at all?
40?
40 I've got.
40 I've got.
5.
50.
5.
60.
Come on.
Come on.
AUCTIONEER: 5.
50.
70.
5 anywhere now.
70 I've still got.
Looking for five.
It's going to be sold at 70 pounds.
Oh.
ANNOUNCER: That is a blow but someone's got themselves a very nice table.
How about Ainsley and Christina's piece of Maritime history?
Start me off at what?
90 pounds for it?
80?
You tell me.
60 pounds for it?
Someone to start it.
Nope.
50.
- Come on.
- Oh.
Come on.
Coffee table.
AUCTIONEER: Coffee table painted shabby chic.
45?
40?
30?
You tell me.
Any interest at all?
20?
[INTERMINGLING VOICES] AUCTIONEER: 20 I've got.
5 anywhere now.
20 I've got.
22?
24?
26?
28?
30?
32?
30 I've got.
Two anywhere now.
On the navel trunk, 32.
Last time at 32 pound.
It's going to be sold.
DAVID HARPER: Oh.
ANNOUNCER: A tiny profit but sadly another loss after costs.
Tell me you'll ever go to another auction again, Ainsley.
Can we start again?
[INTERMINGLING VOICES] ANNOUNCER: At least the next lot is one of the opposition's, Anne's favorite buy.
How much did we buy it for?
100.
Oh.
Feels very expensive.
Can we bring it in?
Let me give him a hand.
Come on down.
Here we are.
Here we are.
There we are.
DAVID HARPER: Very good job.
AUCTIONEER: And a lovely little thing there.
Lift it up.
Lift it up.
AUCTIONEER: What should we say for that?
100 pounds?
90?
80?
- Come on.
Work the lid, Ainsley.
AUCTIONEER: [INAUDIBLE].
60 I've got.
- Come on.
AUCTIONEER: 60 I have.
Five anywhere now?
Thank you.
70.
5.
It's got the ink pots.
Look.
AUCTIONEER: 80.
Five.
Deserves a lot more.
80 I've got.
Last time.
5.
90?
5.
95 I've still got.
Last time at 95.
One more.
AUCTIONEER: 100 I've got.
It came back.
One 5 at 100 pounds.
[INTERMINGLING VOICES] ANNOUNCER: Good work, Ainsley.
I think you saved them.
Well done, Ainsley.
[INTERMINGLING VOICES] Can I hire him out?
ANNOUNCER: Time for his little swinger but there's bad news.
You know our naked lady we love?
Yes.
We just went over to have a look at her and her foot has come off.
- Oh.
Bless.
ANNOUNCER: The auctioneer's given an insurance valuation of 30 pounds so there's a small profit guaranteed at least.
30 quid?
20?
10?
You tell me.
10 I've got in the bag.
12 anywhere now.
12?
14?
They still like it though.
AUCTIONEER: 60?
80?
20?
22?
24?
26?
28?
30?
32?
Hang on a minute.
I'll take the cross.
AUCTIONEER: 34 anywhere now?
Selling up 32 pounds for the last time.
ANNOUNCER: I wonder what she'd have made in tact, though.
The best lot of the day is about to perform.
After all that fine furniture, the runt of the litter.
How much shall we say for that?
- 500.
- Well.
Yeah.
We'd like to think so, wouldn't be?
100 pounds to start me?
Go on.
AUCTIONEER: 90?
- Oh.
AUCTIONEER: 80?
The seat lifts up and you can put stuff in it.
Yeah.
I know.
I felt that myself actually.
70 pounds start me then, someone, surely.
No.
Let's have a look at it more.
AUCTIONEER: 50 I've got.
- Oh.
Yes.
ANNOUNCER: Not bad.
AUCTIONEER: 50 I've got.
- Come on.
Come on.
AUCTIONEER: Looking for five pound now.
55?
60?
5?
70?
5?
Go on.
Go on.
Unbelievable.
AUCTIONEER: Last time at 80.
It's going to be sold.
80 pound then.
Sold.
Well done.
Really lovely.
ANNOUNCER: Well the profit is certainly.
David's persuasion paid off.
I don't understand it.
And it sold for more than a George the Third 1790 mahogany fold over table.
That's what the market once.
They want quirky, wacky thing.
They want madness.
ANNOUNCER: They won't cupcakes too, apparently.
Christina twisted Ainsley's arm to buy this but it's risky.
I really nervous.
I'm nervous.
Early 20th century Bakers sign.
You saw it over there and commission bids on this start me straight in at 145 pounds.
Oh.
Wow.
AUCTIONEER: Do I see 150?
145 I have.
150 anywhere?
145 I've still got.
Looking for 150.
Last time.
At 145 pounds I'm going to sell it.
At 145.
Oh.
ANNOUNCER: So now they both had one stonking great loss.
Win some.
You lose some.
Yeah.
It's all fun.
It's not the winning, Ainsley.
It's not the winning.
Oh.
Yes it is.
ANNOUNCER: Finally it comes down to those 1980s chairs.
I think you should model them as our last ditch.
Will you model then?
- Yeah.
I'll do an Ainsley.
AUCTIONEER: 12.
Take 10 for it.
- Will you?
Are you going to do an Ainsley?
OK.
This is your starring moment, Anne Diamond.
Go on.
AUCTIONEER: Anne Diamond herself is going to read the news now.
ANNE DIAMOND: I think they're like studio chairs, except you could have these in your kitchen, you see.
Michael Parkinson would sit on a very high stool like this and interview.
Billy Connolly sat on that one.
And what's more, they're really comfy.
And they're orange.
Yeah.
And you can't miss them.
And they would go fantastic in a retro kitchen or something.
Wouldn't they?
Ta da!
DAVID HARPER: Well done.
ANNOUNCER: Well, I'm convinced.
What about everyone else, though?
AUCTIONEER: What are we saying?
80 pounds?
70?
You tell me.
Any interest at all?
DAVID HARPER: Go for it.
AUCTIONEER: Shall we start it off at 10 pounds.
I'll take 10 to start with.
ANNE DIAMOND: Oh, no.
They're retro.
AUCTIONEER: 20?
5.
30?
Come on.
AUCTIONEER: 25 behind.
Looking for 30 now.
30?
5?
40?
5?
50?
5?
60?
5?
[INTERMINGLING VOICES] AUCTIONEER: 60 there.
5 anywhere now.
DAVID HARPER: Come on.
AUCTIONEER: 60 I have.
5?
70?
65 there.
70 anywhere now?
Last time.
You can't get blood out of a stone.
Believe me.
I try every two weeks.
65 I've got.
Selling I am now this time.
ANNOUNCER: Anne's extra efforts ensured profit.
That means she and David are today's victors.
Gosh almighty.
That was a ride.
Wasn't it?
ANNOUNCER: Ainsley and Christina began with 400 pounds and after paying auction costs they made a loss of 91 pounds and 6p, leaving them with 308 pounds and 94 p. Whilst Anne and David, who also started out with 400 pounds, made after paying auction costs a slightly smaller loss for 58 pounds and 74 p. So they are today's victors with 341 pounds and 26 p. - So we've won.
- Oh.
Yay.
Well done.
But we've both lost.
But we've lost less.
DAVID HARPER: It's been great fun, though.
I really enjoyed this.
- It was crazy.
- That's brilliant.
Thank you.
Can we have a last go in our cars?
- Come on.
- Yeah because the sun is out.
DAVID HARPER: Thank you.
I'll tell you what this has given me the taste for going out and doing it myself.
And not being frightened to do it.
No.
You know, I enjoyed the [INAUDIBLE].. Maybe you and I should [INAUDIBLE] and go rummage around.
Exactly.
Exactly.
Our own one afternoon.
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