Rakie Ayola and Charles Dale Bargain Hunt Famous Finds

Hello, and welcome to the Ardingly International Antiques and Collectors Fair

from the South of England Showground.

Today we've got a modern-day Florence Nightingale, who should be perfectly capable

of keeping her head in a crisis, and her opponent is normally seen

wheeling the sick and injured

around hospital corridors, but will he keep his cool?

Or, more importantly, lose his trolley?

Before we kick off, let's have a reminder of how this show actually works.

We have two teams pitted against one another with a wodge of cash.

They're given an expert and a challenge to find three items to sell on to make a profit.

They make a profit at auction, they get to keep it, and the team that wins gets the most profit.

It's as simple as that!

Whoa!

Let's go and meet the star of the Red team.

For the Reds, we have actress Rakie Ayola,

who some of you may know as Ward Sister Kyla Tyson in Holby City.

Look, I know it's not my place, but palpitations, nausea, sweaty palms...

-Go on.

-It sounds like alcohol.

She's got that look. Shall we?

-So, Rakie, are you excited to be on Bargain Hunt?

-I am so excited.

I've never been to an antiques fair as big as this. It's amazing.

Who have you brought that's special as your team-mate?

I have brought my father-in-law,

who some of the viewers may recognise

as Eddie Booth from the 1970s sitcom Love Thy Neighbour. Jack Smethurst!

-How do you do, Jack?

-Hello, Tim, nice to meet you.

Very, very nice to meet you too.

So, this relationship with your father-in-law is slightly ironic?

It's hugely ironic!

So this all goes back to Love Thy Neighbour, right?

-When you had a white family living next door to a black family.

-Yes!

The irony being, of course, that you married Jack's son.

There must have been something in the air about that show, that that's worked out the way it has.

-So Jack, are you looking forward to today?

-Immensely, yes, I am.

I don't know much about antiques.

Many, many years ago I thought that it would be a good idea, when I was a young actor,

when I couldn't get arrested, never mind get a job, I thought, "Let us start collecting antiques."

The trouble was, I fell in love with the things I bought, so I couldn't bring myself to sell them then.

You were a hopeless dealer!

-Totally hopeless!

-What sort of things are you going to be looking out for today between you?

I like useful antiques. It'll be hard to walk past the furniture.

-So you're Mrs Practical?

-Yes, it's very difficult for me to pick up

something that I can see no use for, even if it's really beautiful.

-Unless it's a painting.

-Yes. What about you, Jack?

Porcelain in particular. I'm quite interested in a bit of porcelain, or maybe silver.

That's great, we've got silver, porcelain, furniture and paintings!

Quite a lot to go for!

Let's have a look at the opposition.

For the Blues, we have Charles Dale, who currently plays porter Big Mac in Casualty.

-I don't suppose you could just close your eyes or something?

-I'm sorry.

Isn't there another way up?

Yes, but unfortunately the skyhook is broken.

And if you enjoy your soaps, you'll recognise him as Dennis Stringer from Corrie.

Welcome, Charles, to Bargain Hunt.

-Thank you very much.

-Are you looking forward to today's experience?

Definitely. Couldn't have a better day for it.

And who special have you brought as your partner today?

I have brought my lovely wife Sara.

Ah, how do you do, Sara?

-Nice to meet you, Tim.

-Welcome to Bargain Hunt.

What sort of things do you collect yourself, Charles?

It's sporting memorabilia, cricket especially. I love cricket and anything to do with it, really.

So if you find something that's suitable in the way of sporting

memorabilia, you'll buy it to go to make a profit, will you?

-I might buy it for me!

-Can't have any of that!

If it doesn't make a profit, I won't be buying it, hopefully.

-Sara, are you primed and all ready to go Bargain Hunting?

-Oh, yes!

Do you collect anything at all?

I used to collect compacts.

That was because you were in the make-up business?

I was, yes.

-I don't do it anymore.

-Did you do that for film and TV?

Yes, I did. For television.

-I was doing a job for the BBC when I met Charles.

-No!

Indeed.

And she's still with me, which is very surprising!

That's brilliant. Charles, I know you're best friends with Rakie.

Are you going to find it difficult, taking her on head to head today?

Not at all. It's the Cardiff bragging rights, I think. Absolutely.

Yeah. Us Cardiff girls know how to have a good scrap.

A good scrap! Let's hope we don't have too much scrapping!

Anyway, next, the money moment.

I give you your £300. £300.

You know the rules, your experts await, and off you go!

Very, very, very good luck.

I fancy the Red team today are going to have the best bedside manner,

but the Blues might be steadier under pressure.

It's gonna be fascinating as to how this storyline unfolds.

Each team will be led by one of our experts.

It's their mission to make sure our teams buy only the most profitable items.

Monitoring the Reds' progress is David Harper,

and consulting for the Blues is David Barby.

You like this one, do you, Rakie?

-I do like this.

-My dream woman!

-Jack, do you like this?

-I do.

Depending on the price!

How old do you think it is?

150 years old?

Very good. It's about 180 years old.

It's a pine carcass, then thickly veneered with hand-cut mahogany.

Three drawers at the bottom, but only one really works.

-Oh, right.

-Then you've got the shelves on the inside.

-Lovely.

-That's the bit I like. I can see lots of daylight here.

-Yes, that's shrinkage.

If you look at the back, you can tell that the backboards are original. But how much is it?

£85.

-Priced at 85.

-£85 for that is criminally cheap.

I'm not a great haggler, but since I love it, I'll have a go.

A flick of those eyelashes!

Rakie did exactly that, and the cabinet was hers for £65.

Oh, come on! What are you doing, viewing your country estate?

No, we're just trying out the surprisingly-comfy bench.

-Right. Is it part and parcel of the landscape?

-Quite possibly.

We just liked it, we like the shapes to it.

It is surprisingly comfy, quite springy. But we like this.

This is very nice. Just got this lovely little shape here.

-When do you think this was made?

-I have absolutely no idea.

-Turn of the century, something like that?

-I would think so.

-And I have a feeling it's probably made by the local blacksmith.

-Right.

He probably produced maybe 20 of these, dotted around the landscape.

-And it's still in good condition, isn't it? It hasn't gone all the way through.

-No, it's all solid.

It's just under the paintwork, you could use it, leave it distressed, do what you want.

Just tell me the price.

Ticket price was £200.

£200. You've got to get a third off.

-We shall do our best.

-Really?

I have great faith. Shall I leave it up to you? OK, best of luck.

Thanks.

Charles and Sara kept David's advice in mind and got the bench down to 140.

Tell me what you think this would be used for.

-Miss Practical!

-The obvious thing is flowers, of course.

You could put a couple of little flowers in there, I suppose.

-It is beautiful.

-I like it.

-Lovely colour, isn't it? Beautiful.

-It's very heavy, isn't it?

Don't! No!

Control yourself there, Jack!

-What do you think?

-I don't know. It's a quirky one.

-It's priced at 20 quid.

-I can tell you that's it's not expensive

at that, but I would love to know who made it, because someone made it with great care.

-It's lovely.

-What do you think, David? Age, how old?

-Probably latter half of the 20th century. You've got a good eye there, because it is quality.

-Yeah.

What do you think, Rakes?

-It is gorgeous.

-I think we should go for it myself.

-At 20 quid, we're not gonna break the bank, are we?

-No.

-I'm gonna try and get him down.

-Go for it.

You try and do that. You like it.

-You go and get a bit off.

-OK.

-Shall we continue wandering?

-Yeah.

Come on then!

Determined to follow Rakie's lead, Jack cut a deal of £12 for the vase.

If our teams have any leftover lolly, they give it to their expert,

who goes and finds a bonus buy which can resuscitate their chances over at the auction.

Thank you very much.

# How much is that doggie in the window?

# The one with the waggly tail... #

Sara, what have you got here?

Well, David, I think it's an artist's box.

It's full of artist's material.

Do you think it actually started off life as an artist's box?

It's possibly an apothecary's box or something like that, or a pharmacist's box.

But this here, I can't see any other use for that than it being a portable easel.

There's a lovely little thing that opens there.

-With the drawer handle there for your canvases.

-Now, look, RB Joy, 1807.

That falls in line, actually, with the box itself, which is a lovely mahogany box.

-You're an artist, aren't you?

-I like to dabble.

Could you take over this box and start using some of these things?

I'd love to.

Charles, what do you think about it? Are you just agreeing with Sara?

No, I think she has a really good eye, and also, what I really like

about it is, it's obviously a family piece, and it's been used for its entire life. So it's nice.

Brilliant. How much?

-They're asking 140.

-140?

How much do you think it's worth?

-100?

-£100?

-Do you think you might get it for £100?

-We could try.

-It's up to you.

-Try and negotiate.

-We will.

-OK.

-Sara kept a cool head while negotiating and settled on that £100.

The Reds have bought two of their items already,

and still have a whopping £223 to spend on their third find.

Now, this is great! Look at this!

Honestly, girls and their toys!

-Does it remind you of being a little girl?

-I never had anything like this, but I wish I had.

-I would play with it now.

-Very old-fashioned now, isn't it?

That's the point!

It's not a bit of plastic with a washing machine on it.

No, but with a modern-day child, they wouldn't know what that was, would they?

I don't think very many people are going to buy it for their child or grandchild.

I think it's a toy collectors' thing. Have you heard of Triang?

-Yes, I have.

-No.

-A famous British toymaking company.

Triang was owned by the Lyons family.

The Lyons family have been making toys since about 1850.

I reckon that's got to be 1940s.

How many toys can you buy today that in 50 years' time people

will want to buy, and they'll be good enough to buy?

All the wheels are there.

-How much is it, though?

-125.

£125. And we can maybe get it a bit cheaper.

I think you could get it cheaper.

-I think you've got the passion for it.

-Let's make a concerted effort.

Let's all go and see him.

-Shall we do that?

-Yes.

-All right.

Subject to getting a good deal.

-How's that?

-Fair enough.

Rakie's passion shone through, and with the help of Jack and David,

she squeezed the price down to £90.

The Blues have already spent £240, and still have one item left to buy.

The clock is ticking, and their wallet is almost empty.

Hang on, you two. A very nice lady has allowed me to bring this

to show you, which I quite liked.

What is it, Sara?

-An ashtray.

-Yes!

-Whose ashtray is it?

I think it might be Clarice Cliff.

I think you might be right.

Charles, do you like it because it's Clarice Cliff design,

or do you think it's going to make money because it's Clarice Cliff?

I think it's a combination of two things.

Clarice Cliff has been very popular for many years, but also I think

it's bold, I think it's quite naive, I think it's a really interesting piece.

Sara, you've said nothing about it. What do you think?

I quite like it, actually. I like the colours.

Would you have it in your house as a decorative item?

-No.

-OK. Charles, what's the asking price?

-They are asking £85.

£85? Sara, what do you think?

If you can get it at a good price, maybe it's worth going for.

-Right. Do you think it's going to sell well?

-I think it'll go down very well in Wandsworth.

It could possibly backfire on me, as all things do.

-But no, I think it's a nice piece.

-Are you quite confident about that?

Sara, shall we let him go for it?

-Yes, why not?

-Off you go, Charles. It's getting rather cold.

-We're going off.

-See you in a bit.

With the daylight waning, Charles persuaded the storeholder to sell it to him for just £50.

Pressure's rising. Time's up.

Ooh, matron!

Price tag for the corner cabinet might have been criminally cheap,

but that didn't stop Rakie getting a little bit off. 65 paid.

Jack made sure he didn't pay over the odds for the vase.

It set him back a reasonable £12.

It was love at first sight for Rakie, but let's hope the mangle

has the same effect on the bidders.

She paid a stomping £90.

Let's remind ourselves of what the Blues bought.

The wrought-iron bench might not look it, but according to Charles

and Sara, it is surprisingly comfy.

Will the bidders see it through the same rose-tinted glasses?

They paid £140 for it.

Sara couldn't believe her eyes when she found the artist's box.

It cost her £100.

Sara wouldn't have the Clarice Cliff ashtray in her house.

They'll be in trouble if the bidders feel the same!

Charles coughed up £50 for it.

Let's head off to the auction house and find out whether the auctioneer thinks our lots

are heading for disaster or are likely to make a full recovery.

We've come to a very wet and windy Criterion Auctioneers in Wandsworth,

but it's great to be here with Daniel Webster, our auctioneer. How are you, Daniel?

Very well, thank you, Tim. Welcome to Criterion.

Thank you very much. Now, Rakie and Jack's first object is this monster of a corner cupboard.

Not the easiest of things to sell these days.

Brown furniture, difficult at the moment.

We have sold those bow fronts before, though. Two doors rather than a single door is nice.

Nice cornice on there as well.

So I think 100-200.

Do you really? They'll be delighted about that.

They paid £65.

Should do OK.

Next is the glass-blown vase which Jack found. What do you think about it?

It's a nice decorative thing, Tim.

It's glass, it's not damaged.

Will it bring ten or £20, do you think?

That's what it should make, Tim, that's our estimate, yes.

£12, that's what Jack paid, so that's pretty good.

Now, moving from the possible to the perhaps impossible,

not many children today would know what to do with a mangle, frankly!

Is it going to sell, do you think?

We've got 20-40 on it.

At that price, I think it will sell.

Rakie absolutely loved it, and she paid £90 for it, which is gonna

-take some wringing out, isn't it, really?

-It certainly will, Tim, yes!

Overall, I think they're going to need their bonus buy.

Let's go and have a look at it.

So, Rakie and Jack, you spent £167, which was relatively cautious.

You gave £133 to David Harper.

Let us see what David Harper has bought you.

-Oh, that's sweet.

-Do you know what it is?

-No!

-Careful!

-It's not a stamp!

It's a very high-quality

piece of pressed glass, and it's a ladies' pin tray.

On the base there, it's inscribed Lalique.

Rene Lalique, a fantastic Parisian glassmaker,

started in the early 1900s.

1945, he died, so we know this one is dated after '45,

because on the base it just says "Lalique, France".

It it had R Lalique, it would be before he died.

So this one is probably 1940s or '50s. Dare I ask you what you think I spent? Bear in mind the quality.

82.

Oh, very good. Jack?

-75.

-£40.

-Really?

-That's not bad.

We've just made 50 quid there, haven't we?

Exactly!

On that happy note... You don't have to decide right now.

You decide after the sale of your first three items.

But for the viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about the old fish.

So, Daniel, Lalique lookalike. What's it worth?

It's a nice decorative thing, and I should think £40-60.

David Harper will be delighted about that. He spent £40.

It's supposed to be a bonus buy. We'll have to hope for the best.

That's it for the Reds. Now for the Blues.

Charles and his lovely wife.

Their first item is the estate forged bench.

What do you think it's worth?

We've put 50-100 on it.

-It's a bit shy, that. £140, they paid.

-Right.

Which is a fair old wodge, isn't it?

It is, I think, yes.

Moving on to this marvellous artist's box. Isn't that a wonderful thing?

Good-quality mahogany box.

-It's just a nice thing.

-What's it worth?

-We've got a conservative 60-100 on it.

Does that mean it might make more?

-We hope so.

-£100, they paid.

Lastly is the Clarice Cliff keyhole-pattern ashtray.

I think it is quite a good design for Clarice Cliff, and I think it'll appeal to the collectors.

-How much?

-We have 40-80 on it.

40-80. £50 paid. I think they'll make a decent profit on that, with any luck.

The big problem is the bench, as to whether you'll get that away profitably.

So, just in case, we'd better go and have a look at the bonus buy.

Charles and Sara, you spent a whopping £290. I'm so proud of you!

-We did!

-Leaving a miserable £10 note to go to David Barby to go and find your bonus buy.

Did he find something to make a profit? David, put them out of their agony, will you?

Right.

-Oh, right.

-What do you think?

I think it's very pretty.

-First of all, it's pewter, but it was made for a certain company in London called Liberty.

-Oh, right.

The mark underneath is Tudric.

That's the mark that was employed by Liberty to denote

that is was for that company, and also it was a certain range.

-The bonus is the fact you've got a little medallion there with a golfer on it.

-Brilliant. It's very lovely.

You could still use it if you want to have a pint in it.

-Do you like it, Sara?

-I do.

-It's great, very round and very chunky.

-A bit like me, you see!

-Full-bodied.

-Exactly! Quite right!

So there is a big question in here, Charles, isn't there?

-There is. Whether or not.

-Yes.

-We'll have to see.

-You don't decide now, you decide later.

But for the viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about David's mug.

Have you got time for a quick half?

Just about, Tim!

-What do you reckon?

-50-80.

No! £10 only paid.

That's absolutely marvellous.

In fact, so marvellous, I might go and have a quick one myself!

So how are you feeling, team?

-Very confident.

-Very confident.

-Are you? Are you sure about that?

-No! Not at all.

-It is a funny feeling, isn't it, because you're a very confident actress, right?

Both of you are confident screen people, yet at this moment,

when you don't know what is gonna happen, it is exciting.

First up is your bow-front corner cupboard. Here it comes, darling.

Lot 122, the George III bow-fronted corner cabinet. £80.

80 is bid now.

-You're in profit.

-90. 5.

95 away.

At £95 are we done?

Come on, bit more!

-95...

-Yes, £95!

You've made £30 straight up.

Now, your vase, Jack.

Over in the cabinets now and on the screen now. £5 for it. No money.

Neat little thing for a fiver now. Five is bid. Eight. Ten.

At £10 are we all done? For ten.

12. 12, new place now.

At £12. Are we all done for 12?

Well done, Jack. It's wiped its face.

You're still plus 30.

Now, the mangle.

Say it with a positive inflection!

The mangle!

-Thank you.

-Interest everywhere at 25.

30 gone. At £30.

Money's with me at 30. At £30 then.

£30 is minus 60!

-Are we still in profit?

-No!

You are overall minus £30.

What are you going to do, sweetpea, about that pin tray?

-Are we gonna go for it?

-Go for it.

-Are you gonna do it?

-You don't have to go for it.

-We decided, if we were down...

That's your strategy,

is it?

-All right, fine.

-We've got a strategy, have we? Good!

-We've got an idea.

-Jack!

You're letting her down.

Anyway, you're going to go with the bonus buy? We're going with the bonus buy. Here it comes.

Lot 128 is a Lalique pin tray. Interest. 30 gone.

At £30. Money's here at 30.

Are we all done at 30? 5. 40.

At £40.

£40 then.

£40, £40, wiped its face.

Well done, David. Which means overall you are minus £30.

Minus £30 could easily be a winning score, all right?

Don't tell the Blues anything, all right?

-You look so disappointed!

-I am!

They don't realise how well they've done, actually, do they?! That's the sad thing!

It's not a bad score, is minus 30.

I promise you. This could be a winning score.

I believe you.

You wanted to go home with the cash, didn't you?

Yes. I just wanted to sell the mangle.

I just wanted someone to see what I saw in the mangle.

I feel really wrung out about it!

At £40 then...

So, Blues, do you know how the Reds got on?

-No.

-You don't want to know, let me tell you.

Oh, right. Doesn't sound good!

-Sounds good for them.

-How are you feeling?

Fine. Strangely nervous.

Yes? Don't see any casualties on the horizon?

I don't know.

Our bench is looking a bit tired next to some of that Edwardian furniture!

How about you, Sara? Are you all right?

I'm fine. Very nervous. Very excited, actually.

Good fun, isn't it? Cos we honestly don't know what's going to happen. It's all in the luck of this auction.

Anyway, the first lot up is the bench, and here it comes.

Lot 158 is an early 19th-century wrought-iron garden bench.

It's with interest. 40 gone.

At £40. Here with me at 40.

Are we done? Come on! Heavens!

At £40 then.

He's sold it for £40, which is minus 100.

-Dear, oh, dear.

-159 is 19th-century artist's box with contents.

Interest everywhere at 120. 30.

130, are we done? 40. 50.

150 still with me. 150, are we done?

At £150, then.

Yes, good girl. £150.

You are plus £50 on that.

Overall, minus 50.

Now, here we go!

Clarice Cliff, Bizarre ashtray. Neat one. Interest again.

80. 90. 100. 10.

At 110, the money's here.

15 if it helps in the room. £110.

With me at 110.

Yes, I don't believe it!

110, you've made £60 back, which means you are plus 10!

How brilliant is that?!

That is so good. What a helter-skelter, eh?

You must be chuffed about that.

Poor old bench, though! We liked the bench.

But good old Clarice!

You are £10 up. What are you going to do about this Tudric pewter mug?

Are you gonna ringfence the £10, or are you gonna go with David's choice?

You've got to make your mind up quick.

He's very good to us, isn't he?

-Thanks for that!

-We'll back our David.

You're gonna back our David? You're gonna stake all your £10 winnings on his... You're gonna go with the pot.

We're going with the bonus buy, we're going with the pewter tankard.

-Here it comes.

-164 is a Liberty Tudric pewter tankard. Golf motif.

£30 for it. 30's bid.

5. 40. 5. At £45.

More!

At 45...

£45!

You have made £35 on that, which means overall you are plus £45!

How about that?!

-Well done, both of you!

-That is something else, isn't it?

How chuff-making.

You make a profit on your Clarice Cliff, you make a profit on your

artist's box, and you make a profit on your pewter! Three in a row!

What could be better than that?

Don't tell the Reds a thing, all right?

In fact, go out looking rather depressed. Very good!

It's a number 26.

Well, well, well, who would have predicted all this fun?

-Have we had a good time?

-Yes.

-You've been talking to one another?

-No.

Keeping everything on the QT, have we?

This is the moment to reveal all.

I have to reveal that the runners-up today are the Reds.

-So sorry.

-Congratulations.

-Gracious in defeat.

It started off so well, didn't it, that £30 profit on your corner cupboard.

Then we all got mangled in the end.

We lost it. I know.

The mangle, what can I say?

Don't worry about it, that's the whole thing. It was a sweet object.

-It was, there was just no-one here that was young at heart.

-Not that young, anyway!

Anyway, I hope you've had a good time, cos you've been a great team.

The three of you have been a great team.

Thank you so much for joining us anyway.

But the victors today, the Blues.

This is amazing, you're going to go home with money.

It never happens! Didn't start off so well, though, did it?

That £100 going down the drain on the bench. But you clawed it back.

So, thoroughly well-deserved result.

Which is plus £45.

I have to ask, what are you going to do with your £45 winnings?

We're going to be giving it to Macmillan Cancer Research.

A very noble cause, and I'm sure they'll be grateful.

Thank you very much for joining us. We have had a fantastic show.

-Join us soon for some more Bargain Hunting. Yes?

-ALL: Yes!