Ep 5. Episode 5

Antiques Road Trip is a British television program where antiques experts travel across the country for a week, competing with each other to make the most profit buying and selling antiques. The series has been on for over 10 years, with each season following a new group of experts as they embark on the exciting journey.

Season 23 Episode 5, titled "Episode 5" follows expert Izzie Balmer as she travels across the southwest with hopes of finding some hidden treasures. Izzie is an art historian, who specializes in identifying and evaluating rare jewelry items. She is a regular on the show and has been a part of the antiques business for over a decade.

The episode begins with Izzie starting her road trip at Corsham Court, a historic 18th-century country house located in Wiltshire. Here, she meets with the owners who show her around the property and share some interesting stories about its history. Izzie takes a keen interest in a pair of bronze sculptures that have been on display for over 200 years. She believes they could be worth a lot of money and is intrigued to learn more.

Next, Izzie travels to a local antiques fair, where she hopes to find some valuable items to add to her collection. She moves around the fair examining various stalls. Amongst the items that catch her attention is a silver snuffbox, a piece of antique furniture, and an oil painting.

Izzie recalls her expertise and knowledge in the field to evaluate the items' worth and discovers one of the pieces could fetch a good price at the auction if she purchased it. She tries her luck and negotiates a fair price with the seller, excited to put her business acumen into action.

As Izzie moves on, she makes a stop in Bristol, where she visits the Red Lodge Museum, a grand Elizabethan mansion with a rich history. Izzie explores the museum, and while checking the rooms, she comes across a mysterious painting. She is immediately drawn to it, convinced it’s a valuable original painting from a famous painter.

Izzie proceeds to investigate the origins of the painting and finds out that it’s a fake painting, a mere copy amongst the paintings that adorn the walls of the mansion. Although a bit disappointed, she still manages to appreciate the beauty of the painting and continues her journey.

Later in the episode, Izzie makes an impromptu stop at Cheddar Gorge, a place she has fond memories of from her childhood. She is surprised to find an antique shop there and decides to investigate. She meets the owner, who shows her around, and Izzie can’t believe her luck when she comes across a wooden casket with intricate carvings. She believes the piece could be a rare find, and decides to take the risk and purchase the item.

As the episode comes to a close, Izzie makes her way to her final destination, Thomas Watson Auctioneers, and valuers. She meets up with the auctioneer, who examines her collection; the bronze sculpture, the silver snuffbox, the wooden casket, the oil painting, and the antique furniture. The auctioneer provides Izzie with the prices she can expect for each item and the potential profit she can make.

The auctions finally commence, and Izzie is optimistic as she watches her items get auctioned, eagerly waiting to know how she fared. In the end, Izzie was delighted to find out that she made a good fortune and has exceeded her targets on this trip, proving that age-old adage true: there's gold in them thar hills.

Antiques Road Trip season 23 episode 5 is a must-watch for antique enthusiasts, as it entertains and educates viewers on the world of antiques. It’s intriguing to watch Izzie navigate the antiques market and showcase her business acumen, wit, and historical knowledge in the field. The show is a fantastic watch that continues to captivate audiences with its unique and thrilling narrative.