Kate Bliss v Jonty Hearnden: Car Boot Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

We've all seen them on TV, but how will the country's favourite antiques experts fare

when they're challenged to make a profit with their own cash?

If that's £50, you've got a buyer.

There's the stuff just leaving.

From car-boot sales to auction houses,

our experts will be recreating some of their real-life deals,

as they go head-to-head

and try and make the most money for their chosen charities.

100% profit.

£100. That is amazing.

The challenge to our experts is clear.

Dealers, put your money where your mouth is.

Today's experts are our very own debonair dealer Jonty "The Hit Man" Hearnden

and the First Lady Of Antiques, Kate "Absolute" Bliss. The daughter

of an auctioneer, Kate's been surrounded by antiques

all her life. It's hardly surprising she's gone on to become a respected independent valuer,

agent and broker with over a decade of experience under her belt.

I've grown up around auction rooms. I've grown up rummaging in boxes, handling antiques all the time,

and they're all over the place, at home.

Kate's title of the First Lady Of Antiques

comes from dispensing expert advice on Bargain Hunt and Flog It!

I would like 150.

150? Oh, no, no, no.

Kate's opponent might not have grown up in the antiques world,

but with over 30 years' experience in the trade behind him, there isn't much

that Jonty Hearnden doesn't know about antiques and collectables.

One of the most exciting sales I've ever undertaken was buying a Tudor bedstead for a client of mine.

It ended up costing them in excess of £30,000, and when

that sale actually happened, it was a very, very exciting moment for me.

A firm favourite with the housewives,

this antique hunter can regularly be found searching for Cash In The Attic.

So we have our experts and with their reputations on the line and their chosen charities counting

on them to deliver the goods, it's time for us to find out the aim of today's game.

-Kate.

-That's a nice bench.

-It's lovely, isn't it.

-Now, I have an envelope.

-And I've got something for you.

-Ooh. Let's have a little look.

"Jonty and Kate, your challenge today is to spend up to £250

"of your own money on antiques."

-I think I can manage that.

-Yes, I can cope.

"You must then resell your purchases with the aim of making as much profit as possible.

"The winner is the presenter who makes the most cash."

"Today, you must buy all your antiques from a car-boot sale."

Do you think there are going to be any antiques?

You never know what you might find.

That's true. That's the one thing about a car-boot sale.

-You could see anything.

-Let's go and find out.

-Exciting!

-Come on.

So the challenge for our experts is to spend up to £250 of their own money at a car-boot sale.

Pretty much everybody that Kate and Jonty try to do deals with

will be aware that they're are on a mission to raise as much money as possible for charity.

And our experts will be doing everything in their power

to persuade people to give them the best possible prices, when they buy

and sell the items that they hope will drive them to victory.

The Hit Man and Miss Bliss will be crossing swords at the Cheltenham Car Boot Sale.

This weekly sale has hundreds of stalls and thousands of items on offer

and is held at the world-famous Cheltenham Racecourse.

Kate and Jonty are planning to hunt through every car boot, going row by row and stall by stall.

As both experts are chomping at the bit, let's get under way.

With the Put Your Money Challenge Cup about to start,

this could be the biggest race since the Grand National.

It's the young filly Kate "Absolute" Bliss versus the old warhorse, Jonty "The Hit Man" Hearnden.

They're under starter's orders...

And they're off.

Our experts have got up to £250 of their own money in their pockets today.

They're on the hunt for potentially profitable and game-winning pieces.

Now, here we are at Cheltenham Racecourse.

Look what I've taken a gamble on.

This! Isn't she magnificent?

Now, wait for this.

I paid £38 for this.

I think that's a genuine bargain.

But this yacht, or model yacht, is not necessarily 1920s or Edwardian.

This is practically brand new.

But for my £38, I think I've got a genuine bargain

which allows me to sail to victory.

The model yacht has definitely put the wind in Jonty's sales.

But this battle has only just begun and it's only a matter of time before Kate's systematic approach

of looking in every nook and cranny, helps her to uncover an unusual find of her own.

Excuse me, sir. Where did this come from?

It came from a local Victorian house in Lansdown.

-Here in Cheltenham?

-Yes, it was taken out by a local contractor.

So how much do you want for it?

-My dad's asked for 25...

-Right.

-..as a round number, I guess, and that's what I've been telling everyone.

Right. I tell you what.

I've got a figure in my head. I'll give you 15. How does that sound?

-Yeah, I think that's close enough.

-Yes?

-OK. Lovely.

-We want to get rid of it. Yeah. That's great.

I'll take it off your hands.

-Thank you.

-Thank you. But I tell you what.

Even if it's a later reproduction, it's still got

that lovely period look, and I think a reclamation yard or even a private person nearer to where I live,

who's doing up a period residence, would quite take a fancy to that.

With one flutter of her eyelashes, the First Lady has managed to get the radiator for almost half price.

Bargaining power like that could be the undoing of some opponents, but not The Hit Man.

He's cool, calm and collected and, thanks to his eye for modern design,

he's managed to snap up another bargain.

So for a fiver, what have I bought?

I've got this fabulous, retro 1960s-shaped chair.

I call it retro in style because this is not a contemporary chair of the '60s.

It is possibly brand spanking new, and I'll show you for why.

Turn the chair upside-down, look at the frame here, this chrome frame at the bottom.

That is a brand new chrome frame, which means the chair itself is brand new, too.

So for my money, it's a fiver, but a fiver very well spent.

So Jonty's managed to pick up a chair that's almost brand new,

while Kate has her eye on furniture that has a distinct rustic feel.

I'm not sure you could call this set of garden furniture antique.

I'm not even sure if it's English. It could well be French.

But what I do know is that it's a very commercial little set of four chairs and a table.

And the best thing is that it all folds away. Look at that.

To even the smallest of garden sheds.

Now, I have noticed it does need a little bit of work.

The wood is lifting here, on this arm, and it's a little bit wobbly in places.

But perhaps just a few screws need tightening up.

I'm not sure whether I'd paint this or whether I'd rub it down

and ply it with teak oil to bring out the colour of the wood.

But the damage hasn't really deterred me from enquiring about the price.

Excuse me, madam.

Hi. How much do you want for your lovely set of table and chairs?

-£60.

-Well, I was hoping for 50.

-55?

Hmm, 50's better for me.

-OK.

-50?

-Yes.

-Oh, fantastic.

I think I might just have...

there we go, 20, 40, 50. Thank you very much indeed.

It will go to a very good home, I can assure you.

-Good.

-Thank you very much.

That's a good bit of business from Kate. She and Jonty are shopping like pros at this car boot sale.

And it looks like Kate is splashing the cash again.

Look what I have got myself for just £3. I think that's a bargain

and I know just the retro specialist I'm going to pitch this to.

So not only did Kate get the coffee pot for the knock-down price of £3,

but she's also got a buyer in mind for it already.

Elsewhere, Jonty's added a set of silver spoons and a Japanese vase to his stash of items.

-Got a sale?

-Yep.

-You have two sales, sir.

-I'll be able to eat tonight!

I've got some booty from the boot sale.

Now, this fabulous vase.

This is really attractive.

But I've broken all of my golden rules.

I've bought a vase with a massive great big chip on the top.

How am I going to sell it? Because porcelain dealers are very, very fussy animals, indeed.

But vases like this are so superb and the detailing is what really attracts me to Japanese vases.

This vase would have been made about 120, 140 years ago

in the southern part of Japan.

All the decoration, all the gilding, is all hand-done.

So this would have taken somebody literally weeks to make.

I find them quite extraordinary, and for 50 quid, I think there has to be a profit in it. I love that to bits.

So that's my vase. But I also bought these really great silver spoons.

These spoons were made to commemorate the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977,

and as a consequence, I think there'll be a buyer for them, out there, somewhere.

These are solid silver, and at £30, I'm hoping I'm going to make a stir in the marketplace.

Now, has Kate spotted this stand?

I'm not quite sure whether she has the eye for genuine quality.

Ooh, I say! That's fighting talk from The Hit Man.

He clearly means business today and he'll also be aiming to cash in

and make a profit from a pair of Sadler vases and a green jug.

But Jonty's not the only one combing through the car boots.

Absolute Bliss is doing very nicely.

When it comes to haggling, she's definitely got the gift of the gab.

-I like your necklace. Can I have a look, please?

-Yes.

Great colour.

Lovely, thanks.

Now, this reminds me of an Edwardian sautoir, as they were called.

They were rope-like necklaces ending with a tassel pendant, just like this one, usually about 40 inches

in length. They were popular in the Edwardian period because Queen Alexandra used to wear them.

This one is modern and beadwork, but it's a beautiful blue colour

and I think, with the right dress, this could look fantastic.

-How much is that, please?

-£5?

£5. Hmm, can you do it for a couple?

-Could go for three.

-I tell you what. How much is your mannequin?

-Mannequin's 15.

-OK, what could you do if I took the two?

15?

Can I be cheeky and say what about 12?

12, OK, 12's fine.

All right, brilliant, lovely.

-There's 10 and one, two.

-Thank you.

-Is it heavy?

-No, it's not.

Lovely. Thank you.

-Better not forget the necklace. Thanks a lot.

-No problem.

Both our experts are working hard to find potentially game-winning pieces

but who's galloping to success and who needs to pick up the buying pace?

Remember that our experts began the day with £250 of their own money.

Jonty's spent £132 on six items,

which leaves him with up to £118 to spend.

Kate has bought five items and spent £80,

which means that she still has £170 in her kitty.

Both our experts have got plenty of cash left in their pockets.

They're on the hunt for more items

with the potential to make them the profits they need to win today's contest.

Both our experts are sticking to strategy - checking ever car boot,

going row-by-row and stall-by-stall.

Jonty has tracked down a potentially profitable piece,

and it's a genuine antique.

I freely admit that I have a chair-buying disease,

because, yes, I have bought it.

This chair is a fabulous, kind of like, Victorian throne chair.

When I first saw it, I thought this is probably a municipal-style

chair, so a chair that would have housed a grand Victorian town hall.

But I don't think it is, because of the top here.

If it had been a municipal piece, then you'd probably have a town's crest here.

This is somebody's individual initials carved here, in the top rail.

So this chair would have probably been part of a very large, grand dining-room suite.

Can you imagine it? The massive table, the massive chairs?

So this is a carver of one of the set of the chairs.

This is the original fabric here

This needs re-covering, but one day, sooner rather than later, hopefully, somebody will buy this from me

and restore it, to turn it back to its former Victorian glory.

Price?

£70.

The Hit Man might be sounding confident about his Victorian chair,

but his rival has got her hands on a piece of furniture that she thinks could help her to victory.

Now, this is known as a Globe Wernicke-type bookcase.

Funny name, but it's a name given for a bookcase that's made in sections, just like this one.

And they can stack on top of each other to give you a versatile size.

You can extend it just as you wish.

The name Globe Wernicke goes right back to the late 19th century, when there were two factories in America.

The Globe Files Company and the Wernicke Company.

By the end of the 19th century, the two companies had merged. They had patented what was known as

the "elastic bookcase," because of its flexible size and stackable components.

Now, it was such a good seller that they had a great slogan for the business.

"It grows with your business as your business grows with it."

It was so successful, it was copied in Europe and in England.

This piece is 20th century.

I would say it probably dates from the '40s. Look at the details on it.

The really square shape. Nice little, sort of, almost Deco mouldings to the top. And you've got these

lovely bronzed handles, which I think are very Art Deco in shape and just give it a nice, little bit of detail.

Inside, I've noticed you've got the retailer's label on the inside, saying "Minty Limited"

and "library specialists, Oxford".

So, obviously, made and retailed in the UK.

The colour is a little bit patchy down here, where it's got a bit damp or it's been in the sun.

And if you have a look at the top, it's even tattier.

You've got some paint damage and the lovely, light oak-colour has faded quite a bit.

But these are still really commercial pieces today, because of their flexible design.

And at £40, this little bookcase has just got to be mine.

So that's another potential bestseller for Kate.

Elsewhere at the boot fair, Jonty thinks he's lined up another opportunity to pocket some profit,

having just spent a fiver on three collectables.

It's a glorious, sunny morning here at Cheltenham Races,

and I've placed my bets and put my money on this picture here.

When I first picked it up, I thought it looks very modern because we've got a modern reproduction frame.

This is in the style of a 19th-century walnut frame,

but the frame itself and the mount is brand new.

But on the inside, here, is a late-Victorian, hand-coloured print.

It's obviously of a family having a bit of fun playing snooker or billiards, which was

incredibly popular in the late 19th century and into the Edwardian era.

So underneath all of this modern frame is an antique print.

I'm hoping that I can snooker Kate with this one.

I've got these...

but I've got also a pair of Ladybird books.

The ladybird books are now highly collectible. The reason why I think they are

so collectible is they have that retro feel, because I remember these books as a kid, myself.

Originally, a lot of these, I suppose, history books that were created by Ladybird in the early

1960s and late '50s had original dust jackets.

If they've got their original dust jackets, they could be worth a small fortune.

But here, if you look down on the spine, they are a little bit worn.

I had a flick through and there's no children's markings on them, as that makes the price almost unsaleable.

I'm hoping that I'll make a profit on these.

Ladybird were first published, or first produced children's books, in 1915. They were designed

to produce pure and healthy books for children. That was their motto.

Talking of children, are you sitting comfortably?

Then I'll begin.

"When our planet began its life as a whirling mass of hot gases, there was no land..."

Come on now, Jonty, you haven't got time for bedtime stories because Kate's hunting out more bargains.

She's cast her eye over hundreds of the items on offer and has picked out an assortment of pieces,

including something with an Irish heritage.

This is perhaps the most famous type of porcelain that's ever come out of Ireland. It's a piece of Belleek.

It's an ashtray. Not the most commercial design,

but as a piece of Belleek, it's certainly collectible.

Turn it over and all pieces of Belleek have their mark,

and this piece is the fifth period mark, or the green mark,

which helps me date it almost exactly.

Because here you can see the words "County Fermanagh,"

underneath the scroll here, and I know that that was removed from the mark in 1965.

So this has to date between 1955 and 1965.

So it's got more age than you think.

I think that's quite a tidy little piece. Have a look at this teapot.

This is probably about 1840 in date, early Victorian.

Staffordshire and printed with painted decoration over the top, in coloured enamels.

A bit of a crack on this side, but otherwise a really old piece.

There's a lovely vase here.

This is probably Art Nouveau, 1930s, perhaps a bit later.

Beautiful organic shape, and this lovely blue,

almost opalescent, colour with a purple finish.

Almost like an orchid vase, if you like. A really nice organic shape.

And here is a little wine glass

which dates probably from the 18th century or even earlier.

And you can see how it was made.

It's got a lovely misshapen bit on the foot,

and you can see bubbles in the glass, which I particularly like.

I think I'd better snap these pieces up.

As we all know, Kate is no novice when it comes to haggling.

So how much can she get this little lot for?

-20?

-20...Ooh, come on, sir.

A little bit better?

Just for me?

You tell me this time.

Look, split the difference. 17?

-It's a deal.

-Yes?

Fantastic. Thank you very much.

Yes, she may have half of her kitty still in her pocket, but like a seasoned pro,

Kate's haggled like a trooper and managed to buy a job lot of items for just £17.

Sadly, that's the last time she or The Hit Man will be able to charm

the stall holders today, because with the boot fair wrapping up,

it's time to find out who's performed like a thoroughbred and who's been a bit of a donkey.

Jonty "The Hit Man" Hearnden has spent £207 on nine items,

leaving him with £43 in his kitty.

Kate "Absolute" Bliss kept a tight grip on the purse-strings, spending

just £137 on seven items, which leaves her with £113 in her pot.

Remember that the winner will be the expert who makes the most profit.

Before they head home to plan how they'll sell their wares,

Jonty and Kate are keen to get a glimpse of what their opponents have purchased.

-Look at this!

-Wow, look at all this booty from the boot sale!

-You've got loads of stuff!

I know. What do you think about my big chair?

-Yeah, it's like your throne.

-I know.

King Jonty. Your initials?

Sadly not. And it does look a bit like a commode!

-I do like your yacht, though.

-Yes, very pleased with that.

-That's very classy.

-Oh, yes.

I only buy classy items, Kate.

What have you got over there?

Do you like my lovely set of garden chairs and table?

What d'you think?

There's a problem.

-There's a hole in the middle of your table.

-Oh, come on, you can't have everything.

-It's for when it rains.

-And I've also spotted...

-Oh, yes?

Come here, come here.

Kate, I'm concerned.

We have a coffee pot for one, a teapot for one and a sherry glass for one. What's going on?

Well, I'm a mean lady.

But I have to show you this, look. I thought this was a complete gem.

A little bit of 18th-century English porcelain sitting in a car-boot sale.

-That is very, very nice indeed.

-Probably New Hall, I would think.

That's fabulous. I'll give you a fiver for it now...

Right, enough chit-chat. Time to do some selling.

Oh, gosh, yeah. Do you think we can?

Course we can. Let's get on with it!

So at today's boot sale, Jonty bought the model yacht,

an almost brand-new retro chair,

a hand-painted Japanese vase,

a set of silver spoons,

a Victorian throne chair,

a late-Victorian hand-coloured print,

a pair of collectible Ladybird books,

a pair of Sadler vases,

and a green jug.

Kate will be hoping to profit from a period radiator,

a set of folding garden furniture,

a 1970s coffee pot,

a beaded rope necklace and mannequin,

a bookcase,

and a collection of glass and porcelain ornaments.

After a titanic tussle at the car-boot sale, our duelling duo have returned home to take stock,

have a good look at their purchases and work out who, what, where and how to shift their wares.

They'll both be pulling out all the stops to find the right buyers for all of their items. They're working

their way through their contact books, putting together deals on the phone and by e-mail.

But, until they've shaken on it and money has changed hands, no deal is truly sealed.

Now, clever Jonty has persuaded his local charity to display his model yacht in their shop window.

It's created some interest but Mr H still has to do the hard part and seal a deal.

Now, you've obviously spotted this in the window.

Is this something that you'd buy?

I think I'd be very interested in adding it to my collection, yeah.

I like models and models of yachts.

Do you know anything about Endeavour? Because the name is here, very clearly, at the bottom.

Yeah, there were two Endeavours, built in the 1930s for Tom Sopwith.

The gent who made all the biplanes in the First World War?

The Sopwith Camel and other famous planes from the First World War. He got very interested in yacht racing.

He built two Endeavours, Endeavour I and Endeavour II -

Endeavour I about 1933, the other one was at the end of the 1930s -

to race in the America's Cup series, against the Americans. Which, unfortunately, we didn't win.

-Surprise, surprise!

-Yes!

I'm aware, of course, that this is not an original 1930s model. It's relatively contemporary.

This is a modern model, but it's still very nice.

It's very high quality, very nicely made, and it's something which will obviously appreciate over the years.

As a model, it will become a nice collectible item.

I'm being a little bit different here. I'm actually asking for offers in excess of £100.

The Hit Man an has built up a rapport with his buyer

and now he's using a top tactic by inviting an offer for the yacht.

But will this pay off?

Will the collector be willing to spend over £100?

In Herefordshire, Kate has pitched up at a reclamation yard with her garden furniture.

Remember, the furniture set Kate back £50. Can she turn a profit?

So, here we go, Rupert. I've laid it all out for you.

Table and four chairs.

There is a bit of damage. This arm has come a little bit unstuck and it is a little bit wobbly.

I think it just needs tightening up a bit. So what do you think?

I think it's a nice little set.

Four seats, perfect for most families.

-Galvanised frame.

-Right.

-And a nice silvery colour on the teak.

It's a nice commercial little set.

Great. OK, well, I was hoping for about 120.

How does that sound, for the whole lot?

I think, given the little bit of wear here and there,

maybe 100 would be a nice round figure.

Sure, I appreciate that. I'll bow to your better judgment.

-£100 will do it.

-OK, you've got a deal.

Lovely. I think it looks great here. Do you want to leave it here?

I think we should leave it here. Maybe get a bottle of wine and test it out?

That sounds great to me. I'll follow you.

That's a great sale for Absolute Bliss and puts £50 in her profit pot.

Jonty is a determined opponent, though,

and is working hard to secure a deal on his yacht.

So if I made you an offer of £150, we've got a deal?

-Perfect. Let's shake on it quick.

-Thank you very much.

Nicely done, Mr H. The Hit Man sails into an early lead,

landing a whopping £112 profit from his yacht.

Today's selling contest is well and truly under way, and Miss Bliss is hoping to strike back quickly.

She's lined up a potential buyer for her mannequin and necklace.

Kate picked up the mannequin for just a tenner and the necklace for £2.

Will the First Lady's passion for fashion pay dividends?

What do you think?

I'm sure she'll be quite useful, Kate.

She's quite full-bodied and she's missing her stand.

She could do with a pole and a nice tripod base or something.

-We've always got spares of that anyway.

-Have you?

I'm sure that it would be really useful, especially to some of the

vintage stuff and probably some of the military jackets.

-Yeah.

-I know she's a lady, but we can always put a nice jacket on it.

OK. I've got this necklace, as well.

What do you think about that?

Not really me, Kate. Um...

It was the colour that really drew me.

Yeah. I mean, it's very, very rough.

It depends how cheap it is, Kate.

I'm looking for 15 for the necklace.

Oh, no, Kate, no.

Kate's contact is driving a hard bargain and is not prepared to give up her cash easily.

After a confident start, is Miss Bliss about to stumble?

What do you think?

-I'd go 10 on that.

-OK.

And £30 for the mannequin?

No, Kate. I'll do 20 on that.

-All right, done. Yeah. 20 and 10, 30 for the two?

-Yep.

-Fantastic.

-Thank you very much.

It might not be big bucks, but that's two more items sold for Kate.

Mr Hearnden is a determined foe, though, and he's hoping to pour more profit into his cash pot.

Here's the jug. What do you think?

Oh, it's lovely, perfect.

-It's yours for £20.

-Lovely. That's perfect.

-Happy?

-Very happy.

-Excellent.

Thanks very much.

And that buyer is not the only lady to have the pleasure of Jonty's company this afternoon.

£18. I'm being very generous.

Is that right?

-Yes, that sounds good to me.

-Yes?

-Happy?

-Yes.

-Excellent.

Jonty's jug and two vases have delivered a £29 profit.

He's also secured sales for his silver spoons,

his two Ladybird books

and his Japanese vase, giving him a further combined profit of £6.

-Mr Hearnden's piling the pressure on Miss Bliss, who needs to sell, sell, sell!

-Hi!

-How are you? It's good to see you again.

-Lovely to see you.

Remember, Kate paid just £3 for this coffee jug.

-I'm looking for about 25. How does that sound?

-Hmm...

Accept 20?

Seeing as it's you. You're a good businessman, Paul.

-Thank you. Come over, I'll get you the pennies.

-Lovely, thank you very much.

That's a great sale for Miss Bliss

and today's car-boot battle is heating up nicely.

It's The Hit Man who's setting the pace.

He's sold £275 worth of items and piled up profits of £147.

After a promising start, Kate has managed to flog

just £150 worth of goods and has put £85 worth of profit in her kitty.

Both our experts are determined to win today's contest

and they're setting up deals on the phone and by e-mail.

If Kate wants to beat her rival, she needs to up her game.

She's hoping the chrome radiator, that cost her £15 at the boot sale,

will help her to turn up the heat on The Hit Man.

Hi, Rupert. Here I am again.

Sorry, I'm like a bad smell, aren't I?

But you're always welcome.

Thank you. I know you've got a really good kitchen/bathroom section.

You've got some lovely marble wash-stands and things.

I wondered if this just might go.

Yeah, I like the shape of this.

It's a bit different from your normal, plain towel rail. It's got a bit of character.

I'm told it came out of a period house in Cheltenham. I don't know

what you think, I'm not quite sure how old it is.

Yeah, well, it's difficult to tell with these things.

Could be ten years old, could be 30 years old.

Obviously central-heating hasn't been around that long and there's a lot of good copies.

I think that tap's probably a lot later.

Yeha, yeah.

All right, well, I'm hoping for about £60.

60? I think 50's probably a reasonable price for that.

Seeing as you've done me a good service and you're taking two pieces, £50 will do it.

-OK, you've got yourself a deal.

-Great. Thank you.

Kate's chipping away at Jonty's lead, and will make up even more

ground if she can sell the Belleek ashtray.

She's called ahead to set up a meeting and her potential buyers have expressed an interest.

They may even have talked money.

But, until they've shaken on it and the cash has been handed over, no deal is a done deal.

-It's very nice to meet you, after talking to you on the telephone.

-Yes, lovely.

Let me show you my little treasure. There we go.

There's the piece of Belleek.

You two know all there is to know about Belleek, being members of the Collectors' Society.

I only know a little bit. I recognised it as a Belleek before I saw the mark on the bottom.

It's got those characteristics, firstly, what I would call, that pearly finish to the lustre.

-Is that right?

-It's called cob lustre.

-Ah, OK.

And it's actually called the weave ashtray.

-It's actually called the weave ashtray?

-Yes.

Because of that pattern?

-Because of the weave, yes.

-And this one, I know, is not particularly unusual.

-No.

-It's got the mark on the bottom.

I think I'm right in saying, is that the 1955-65 mark?

-Yes, the fifth period, or second green.

-Right.

As a little piece of Belleek, is it fairly commercial at the moment?

-What's the market like?

-Smoking is a big taboo these days, so...

But it's Belleek, you see, and that's what brings my interest into it.

And I'm willing to give you £50.

£50 is fantastic.

Thank you very much indeed.

Thank you, Kate.

Remember, Kate bought the ashtray, along with a vase,

teapot, a bowl and a glass, for a total of £17.

The £50 sale of the Belleek ashtray has already given her

a £33 profit from the job lot.

Well, £50 for my lovely piece of Belleek. That is quite a result.

Jonty Hearnden, put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Yes, those last two sales have put a real spring in Absolute Bliss' step.

However, Jonty, the man who would be king, has tracked down a potential buyer for his throne chair.

Gee, that's heavy. Hi, Simon.

-How you?

-Look what I've brought you.

-What have you got here?

-What do you think?

Nice Victorian, sort of, hall chair.

-This is original fabric on the back, isn't it?

-Yes, coarse hair

and everything. And you can tell it's the original by original lining and it's only one row

of tacks underneath the finish. So totally straight.

The wooden seat would have been completely wooden once upon a time.

Yes, they've obviously cut it out with a saw to make it and sprung

it to make it a bit more comfortable.

A bit of old carpet under there.

Now, are you interested in buying this?

-How much?

-It's all down to money. The dirty question.

I'm looking for £140.

In this condition, with the polishing, it's going to be a little bit too much.

I could give you 100.

Go on, then. That's a quick profit.

-Excellent.

-Thank you.

-Wonderful.

£100 lands The Hit Man a £30 profit.

Nicely done, Jonty.

Put Your Money's resident furniture fanatic isn't going to rest on his laurels, though.

He's lined up a potential buyer who loves modern design.

Jonty paid £5 for the '60s-style chair.

He's told the dealer by e-mail what he thinks it's worth and used all his expertise to get him interested.

But the dealer wants to check it over, before he shakes on it.

Is it what you imagined it to be?

It is. From the picture I saw of it, it is what I imagined it to be.

The condition's very good.

Probably be preferable to be leather in that colour, not cloth.

In cloth, you're normally looking for bright colours like reds, blues and that kind of colour.

But I think it's saleable and it goes exactly with what

I actually sell. It's a good choice to bring it down to me.

-One thing that I must do, though, is sit in this chair.

-Absolutely.

If you're going to buy a chair, you've got to sit in it.

-What d'you think?

-It's still comfortable.

The padding underneath is still in good condition and it's not shaking.

-That's always a good sign.

-Yeah. Can I serve you a drink, sir?

-Um, what have you got?

I'd love a drink! I really would.

It's nice, Jonty. Let me just double check underneath it first.

We always do that before we buy chairs. Make sure it's all in good condition.

All your screws are there, all nice and tight.

-Do you approve, sir?

-I do approve.

Can we agreed on a £40 sale?

I offered £40 and I'm happy to pay £40.

-Chris, I like you even more.

-Fantastic.

So The Hit Man's retro blind date is a real success

and he's now almost £60 out in front of his rival.

Miss Bliss is hoping that her glass and ceramic pieces

and her star item, the £40 bookcase, can deliver a big sale and a decisive profit.

Have you given it the once-over?

It's a little bit on the rough side.

Well, I know,

but with a good polish, a good bit of elbow grease, I think that might come up rather nicely, Russell.

-It is a rather nice light oak colour.

-It is, which customers seem to like.

There's a nice retailer's label inside there.

Minty.

That's right. Library specialist, Oxford. I would think it's

-probably '30s.

-'30s to '40s, yes. It's got a handle missing.

-I knew you'd notice that.

-Which is difficult to get hold of.

-I thought they were quite nice, little '30s handles, almost bronzed handles.

-They are, yes.

How much are you talking?

£100 and it's yours.

I was thinking more of 75, 80.

-Really?

-Yes.

-Well, I think it is quite commercial.

You could get quite a few books in there, and it's not too big, is it, as bookcases go?

90.

-That's pretty much halfway, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-All right, happy with that.

-Happy with 90.

-Bingo!

The bookcase sells for £90, yielding a nifty £50 profit

and putting Kate right back into contention.

-The little bits? Have you had a chance to look at those?

-Yeah. The teapot...

Well, you tell me. It's got some damage.

If Kate wants to win today's contest, she needs to seal a big deal

for her glass and ceramic items.

In Oxfordshire, her rival is also keen to show that he's

the best of the best and is determined to make sure he doesn't get snookered.

Actually, Jonty, there is a picture I have some interest in.

-Which one's that?

-It's the one here.

-This one here?

-Yes.

-The snooker picture? Ah, OK.

What took your eye?

Was it the guys playing the...?

-Not really. It's the actual frame.

-You like the frame?

What wood is that?

This is veneered walnut. Veneered burr-walnut,

and this style of frame was very popular in the 19th century.

So a lot of pictures you'll see framed just like that, with a little gilded edge on the inside there.

But this is a reproduction frame. A relatively new frame.

-All right.

-This is not a Victorian frame.

-But the actual print on the inside here is about 100 years old.

-I see.

-It's hand-coloured.

-That might actually lend me more to actually keeping the print in the frame.

-Really?

-Yes. Have to see what it looks like when I get it home - if it's the right price.

OK. I'm looking for £50 for this.

I'd say 40 would be my top. That's what I'd pay.

40?

-40's a done deal.

-Good man. Thank you very much indeed.

-It's yours, sir.

-Thank you.

Now THAT is a massive margin sale.

I paid £4 for that print.

£4. And I've just sold it for 40.

Kate, I think I've got you snookered.

It might be a massive mark-up, Mr Hearnden,

but will it be enough to secure victory, or will Miss Bliss

be able to seal a great deal for her glass and ceramic items?

It has got damage - you've seen. But teapots are quite collectible,

-aren't they?

-Yes, we have quite a few people come in for them.

-Maybe.

-Maybe?

-Maybe.

Now, the vase, I thought it was really attractive.

It's a lovely sort of late Victorian/ early Edwardian, maybe Art Nouveau,

opalescent with this lovely bluey colour, and then a really nice violet edge to it.

-In perfect condition.

-Yes, a little posy vase.

That's right. Quite a nice size, though.

How much do you want for the lot? We'll do a deal on all of it.

-Happy to take the lot?

-We'll see what you're asking.

-OK.

With Kate piling on the charm, the outcome of today's contest is hanging in the balance.

We'll find out shortly if Kate can steal a victory

from the jaws of defeat. Because it's now time to tot up the totals and reveal our winner.

Today's roller-coaster ride of ducking and diving saw our experts

start with up to £250 of their own money at a car-boot sale.

Jonty splashed out £207 in total.

His rival, on the other hand, spent only £137 from her kitty.

They've both worked hard to sell all their items. It's time to bring

our battling experts to the capital, for one final confrontation

as we discover who is today's Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is champion.

Now, that was a really tough call, doing a car-boot sale,

because that's not really our happy hunting ground ordinarily, is it?

Not really, but I have to say, it was a lot of fun, wasn't it?

Yeah, it was great fun. Really was.

I actually feel much more comfortable dealing in £5 and £10 notes rather than in £100.

Yeah, and the beauty of that is, if you make a mistake, it doesn't really matter.

True. Although, every penny counts.

What about your yacht? I quite liked that.

Ah, my yacht.

I did manage to find a buyer. That sailed right out of the showroom

where I managed to display it, so I was very pleased about that.

Really? Well done you.

-Shall we have a look, then?

-Yeah.

-It's exciting.

-After three.

-One, two, three.

-Go.

Oh, pretty close!

-Very close.

-Congratulations.

-It's me!

It's pretty close, though, isn't it?

Yeah, that's very close indeed.

Well, looks like it's my turn to buy the ice creams.

Yes, lots of ice cream, please.

-It's a hot day.

-Come on, then.

It's a great result for Miss Bliss.

After a fiercely fought contest, Kate's snatched a famous victory,

and it was the sale of the glass and ceramic items that swung the result in her favour.

100 for the lot.

Could you do another 10 at a push?

I suppose we could squeeze £10 more out, yes.

Fantastic. Thank you very much.

I've just beaten Jonty.

I'm surprised but delighted.

Well, I thought I was going to be king of the car-boot sale.

Instead, crowned, we have a queen.

Well, it might have been a triumph for Kate, but both our experts

worked round the clock and all their profits will be going to their chosen charities.

My £313 is going straight to the Alzheimer's Society in Herefordshire.

I'm very pleased that I've managed to raise just a smidgen under £250 for Helen & Douglas House.

Kate might have been crowned today's champion, but this clash of the antiques titans is far from over.

Tomorrow The Hit Man and Absolute Bliss do battle in a final, no-holds-barred showdown.

I'm running really short of time.

I've got a lot to do.

Tonight is a special night because I'm in a competition and this competition is a fierce competition.

Only half an hour to go.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]