Antiques Road Trip

Catherine Southon and James Braxton tour in a 1969 Rover P5. Catherine hears how one of the UK’s most popular flowers was saved from extinction. And James takes a ride in a car manufactured in 1902 and learns about a family business from the late 19th century that still makes vehicles. But they are focused on antiques -- for Catherine, small is beautiful, while James prefers the large and noisy!

For Catherine Southon and James Braxton, pride and profits are at stake in the West Midlands! James ends up on stage for an impromptu performance at the Royal Shakespeare Company while Catherine explores the little-known history of Birmingham’s jewelry quarter. Both experts go wild for papier-mâché, but will it be the pretty writing box or the pair of prop canon that makes the most profit?

Catherine Southon and James Braxton are back on the road, hopping from Leicestershire to South Yorkshire. Catherine buys whatever takes her fancy and James goes arts and crafts crazy. Away from the antiques hunt, Catherine learns all about the bravery and glory of the Staffordshire Regiment, while James bakes with a local baker who still makes traditional Staffordshire Oatcakes today.

Catherine Southon and James Braxton’s take their antiques hunt to Derbyshire and Leicestershire. How do Catherine’s 18th century caryatid carvings measure up against James’s very old bowl full of marbles? Catherine gets steamed up on the heritage Great Central Railway and James goes potty about pottery. With a mix-up over one item and a costly gamble on another, who will come out on top?

With just six pounds separating them, Catherine Southon and James Braxton battle it out on the final leg of their adventure. Catherine meets a stallion in Newmarket, and James stops for wildlife on the Fens. Back on the antiques trail, will a jug in the shape of an owl or a biscuit tin in the form of a travelling trunk make the biggest profit?

Charlie Ross and Izzie Balmer start their antiques hunt in the bucolic Cotswold town of Stow-On-The-Wold, pointing their 1960s classic car to Wales. Charlie’s campaign for brown furniture is momentarily put on hold when he picks up a military first aid kit for a quite intimate area. And Izzie’s eclectic mix of buys include a toast rack and a tutti-frutti bowl.

Charlie Ross and Izzie Balmer continue their trip in Surrey. Izzie finds a piece of jewelry that causes quite a stir at auction. And Charlie’s passion for furniture sees him uncover a very rare table that sparks a frenzy of bids at the Dorking auction. Charlie heads down river in an attempt to keep eels swimming, while Izzie looks up to the sky in admiration of Britain’s first female astronomer.

In North Wessex Downs, Charlie Ross hunts for ‘sparkly’ antiques but is distracted by an Edwardian box that holds a surprise. Izzie Balmer rummages in a shop’s storeroom -- what goodies will she uncover? On a shopping break, Charlie learns how an ancient Egyptian toe has relevance to advances in medical science today, and Izzie discovers how silk production moved from China to England.

After a quick lesson in how to identify different wood, Izzie Balmer gambles on some furniture -- but is it made from beech or ash? Charlie Ross ends up in a shop’s storeroom and uncovers an antique he’s never before seen but is confident will excite the bidders of Sidmouth. Izzie goes on a nature ramble and Charlie hears a story of industrial espionage, religious persecution and people smuggling.

Izzie Balmer and Charlie Ross sail to the Isle of Wight for their final leg. Charlie falls for a brass jardinière stand but there’s a problem with the price tag only the dealer can resolve. Izzie, when not devouring fish and chips, relies on her expertise to identify some ruby and diamond earrings. Our duo go to auction one last time, where Izzie’s silver brooch goes against Charlie’s silver pen.

Veteran Angus Ashworth is showing new expert Steven Moore the ropes, traveling in a 1960 Hillman Super Minx in the Scottish Borders, and heading toward the Lake District at Crooklands. Along the way, they encounter the story of the country’s greatest archers and take a trip to a part of Scotland that’s slowly revealing its secrets to archaeologists.

Steven Moore and Angus Ashworth, plus their shiny, white Hillman Super Minx called ‘Betty,’ are shopping their way along the byways of Scotland. Angus bags something aromatic and coffee related, while Steven springs for a little treasure from his fellow expert’s back yard in Yorkshire. On the way, they visit Scotland’s largest lowland loch and also take a crash course in chemistry.

Angus Ashworth and Steven Moore are still having fun in Scotland, and their 1960’s Hillman Minx has serious issues with hills! On the way to a saleroom back below the border in Clitheroe, they discover the well-spring of water polo and enjoy a very soggy Highland Games. Expect swimming costumes and caber tossing.

Steven Moore and Angus Ashworth hit the byways of Derbyshire and Yorkshire in their Hillman Super Minx. They visit a couple of venerable survivors from the Industrial Revolution and enjoy more regional pastries before heading off to an exciting auction in the town of Bedale. But will Angus’s crystal ball prophecy prove correct?

In the northeast of England, it’s the final leg with experts Steven Moore and Angus Ashworth and their sparkling white 1960 Hillman Super Minx. There will be Whitby jet, the sheep of the beautiful North York moors and even a trip back north to Dundee. Plus, Steven takes up painting and Angus decides to go for gold and parts with a small fortune.

Louise Gostelow and David Harper cross the Irish Sea to take in the delights of Northern Ireland from a classic VW Beetle. David discovers a new way of haggling, while Louise, who employs a more traditional negotiating technique, gets to grips with a tin toy till. In a real taste of Ireland, David visits the oldest distillery in the world, and Louise heads to the coast to sample some seaweed.

Louise Gostelow and David Harper continue their adventures in Northern Ireland. David gets a shock when he gets his hands on a Victorian cure-all, while Louise finds an ally while shopping. Louise discovers the inspiring story of a formidable Belfast woman who fought tirelessly for social change, and David travels back to the past to hear tales of this land’s legendary heroes.

Louise Gostelow and David Harper hit the roads in their old VW Beetle, scouring Lancashire and Cumbria for items of interest. On the way, Louise gets down to work in a dairy, finding out about the man who standardized the method for making Lancashire cheese. And David heads into the Lake District to find out why the woods around Windermere once rang with the sound of industry.

Louise Gostelow and David Harper are in Wales, where Louise samples a British drink that sold all around the world before it took off in its hometown and David heads to the coast to hear the melodious sounds of a Welsh male voice choir. Louise hopes to be sitting pretty with her collection of chairs, and David tries to step out of his comfort zone.

Louise Gostelow and David Harper begin their last day on the moors of West Yorkshire. Louise gets her hands on a very early labor-saving device, as well as an illuminating bit of retro chic. David takes a shine to some theatre seats, but things get complicated when he tries to work out how many he can afford. He also has his eye on a saddle for a camel. Who will emerge victorious?

Natasha Raskin Sharp and Raj Bisram take a ride in a 1960s Sunbeam rally car through the garden of England. Natasha splurges on an expensive French sunburst clock, and a Victorian scent bottle has her swooning with the romance of a royal love affair. But former soldier Raj finds ammunition boxes and a steel helmet a lot more attractive.

Natasha Raskin Sharp and Raj Bisram continue their rally through East Anglia in the 1960s Sunbeam Rapier. Raj does a spot of ‘step dancing’ in a local pub, while Natasha buys a jukebox from the 1800s. Raj’s expensive collection of uranium glass might glow in the dark, but will it go nuclear at auction? And Natasha’s head is turned by a posh suitcase from Fortnum & Mason.

In Kent, Raj Bisram takes on a mighty mollusk in Rye where scallops are king, while Natasha Raskin Sharp pushes the boat out on the Royal Military Canal for a closer look at the coastal defenses designed to see off invasion from France. Raj nabs a post-Napoleonic French eagle, but cherubs and art deco costume jewelry are more Natasha’s style. Which of them will clean up at the Colchester sale?

Natasha Raskin Sharp and Raj Bisram travel the backroads of Norfolk, where Raj stops off at one of Britain’s first nature reserves, and Natasha makes for the coast and the imprint of a deep-sea fisherman-turned-artist. Raj nets a fine butterfly, and Natasha falls for a kitten in a basket, an owl, and also takes a punt on a pair of polo horses.

For their last auction in Cambridge, there’s a seventies theme going on as Raj Bisram weighs in with a large set of standing scales and Natasha Raskin Sharp shells out for a lazy Susan. Natasha also steps aboard a narrowboat antiques shop moored on a canal, while Raj rummages in the den of a fantastic pair of foxes and emerges with perhaps his most unpredictable purchase to date.