BBC Antiques Road Trip experts storm out of auction house over huge loss

The duo of antiques experts walked out of the auction hall after a nearly £200 loss (Image: BBC)

Things took a turn on an unearthed episode of the BBC’s Antiques Road Trip after a collection of expertly selected finds failed to meet expectations at auction.

After browsing antique treasure troves across Oxfordshire, the show’s experts Roo Irvine and Phil Serrell arrived in Warwickshire to flog their finds at Bigwood Fine Art Auctioneers.

Ahead of the opening lot, lead auctioneer Christopher Ironmonger noted some of the pair’s items appeared to have had a “rough time” and was cautious in his sale estimations.

As the auction dragged on, it became apparent it was going to be a bad day at the office for the duo, who walked out of the auction after accumulating a combined loss of over £175.

Using his profits from previous episodes auctioneer and presenter Phil Serrell had spent a grand total of £424.30 to secure five items to sell on to collectors.

READ MORE Antiques Road Trip expert 'in tears' as co-star mocks her over catastrophic loss [LATEST]

The pair had toured Oxfordshire on the hunt for bargain antique finds (Image: BBC)

His first item, a silver yad, which is a pointer used to follow text in the Jewish Torah, sold for a reasonable profit of £30. Unfortunately for the antiques pro, the sale would be his best profit of the day.

His partner on the series, Roo Irvine parted with the lesser sum of £170 on five lots, but she too failed to profit and her first item generated just £10 on top of its purchased price.

As bidding on rival lots continued, Serrell said: “I think I need some fresh air”, and the experts rushed from the auction hall.

After all sales were accounted for, Serrell had recouped the purchase cost of his items, but auction fees put him at a loss of nearly £130.

Dismayed after spending several episodes scouring the UK for bargain antiques, Serrell said: “I have spent two days to end up exactly where I’ve started.”

After her five lots failed to rouse bidders and auction fees were settled, Irvine suffered a loss of £47. Reflecting on the day, she added: “If I don’t laugh, I’ll cry.”

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The walkout came after Serrell was slapped by a trader in a previous episode during negotiations over a table.

Struggling to understand the farmer’s thick Yorkshire accent, the presenter joked he was in need of a “translator”.

Serrell gave a scathing assessment of the table’s value: “That’s an old top on four brand new legs. Things have potential in life - but it’s not worth a fat lot.”

He offered the farmer £25 for the piece and urged the man to seal the deal with a handshake, but the farmer whacked his hand away with a loud slap.

In the broadcast of the spikey exchange, the show's narrator Tim Wonnacott cut in to explain on the farmer’s behalf: “He had his reasons.”

BBC Antiques Road Trip experts storm out of auction house over huge loss

BBC Antiques Road Trip experts storm out of auction house over huge loss

BBC Antiques Road Trip experts storm out of auction house over huge loss

BBC Antiques Road Trip experts storm out of auction house over huge loss

BBC Antiques Road Trip experts storm out of auction house over huge loss