Swinderby 19 Bargain Hunt

What happens when you send two teams of good friends

to do battle with one another?

Will they still remain friends at the end of the day?

There is only one way of finding out, and this could get messy.

Let's go bargain hunting!

Hello and a big Bargain Hunt welcome to Swinderby.

Have you never heard of the Swinderby Fair before today?

Well, where have you been?

Because they don't come much bigger than this.

Soon to be racing round these stalls will be the Bargain Hunt Express,

two teams laden with £300, trying to buy three antiques.

And they had better use their hour's shopping time wisely!

We're slightly going away, we've got to think about it making a profit. Is that going to make us a profit?

So, it's well beyond our price range. But...

-We do have expensive tastes.

-You do have expensive tastes.

The next aim will be to sell the three items they have bought at

auction, hoping to turn over their choices for more than they paid.

But will they make good decisions?

You're bothered about the dog's bed?

You're not the only one that's bothered about the dog's bed!

-You could lose all of that effort.

-Yeah.

Are you like this when you go to Vegas? You are 1,000 up...

-Keep putting it in the slot machine!

-Keep putting it in...

So, now you know what's at stake, let's go and meet today's players.

Linda, Chris, Rob and Jane.

Now, you've only just met them, but they know each other

extremely well, and the competition today is going to be stiff.

-Now, how do you know each other so well?

-We all work together.

-Do you?

-We work at the residential special school in Lincoln.

-Mm-hm.

Linda is the boss, I'm second boss, then there's Rob and Jane.

-So, this is the pecking order?

-That's right, absolutely!

Now, do you know your way around an antiques fair, Chris?

Yes, I collect all sorts of stuff, I go to antique fairs,

we do car-boot sales, anything like that.

Do you have the same taste as your friend, Linda,

when it comes to the antiques?

Definitely not as good, I wouldn't have thought.

-I'm really into, at the moment, collecting funny dog things.

-Doggie?

-Yes, I love dog things.

-Do you?

-I do.

-Porcelain dogs, always, is it?

-Yes, it seems to be.

It says here that you're likely to disagree about things...

-Oh, absolutely!

-You will be disagreeing, will you? You promise?

Yes, yes. I'm sure we will.

No, seriously, don't have a big bust-up about it,

because we are really here to have fun.

But very, very good luck, anyway. Super.

-Now, you two, lower orders in the pecking chain, hey?

-Yes, definitely.

So, what's your interest in antiques, Rob?

Well, I like lots of things, I don't collect anything any more,

because I've downsized, because I've recently moved.

-I used to collect pie funnels.

-Pie funnels?

-Yes.

Are those the jokers that keep the pastry up?

-Yes, and let the steam out.

-Oh, right. And what do you do with them?

-Nothing, really!

-Were you a baker?

-No, no.

-You didn't use them in a pie?

-No.

-And what have you done with them now?

I gave them to a friend's son, who sold them,

-he is at university and he needed the money.

-Oh, I see.

So, it was a charitable gesture.

-Because that's the sort of person I am.

-Yes, quite.

-Now, Jane, have you got any collections, darling?

-Er...

As Rob will tell you, I've recently started collecting buttons.

-But not shirt buttons, Tim.

-No? Oh, right.

-He asked me to make him one, Tim.

-You made this?

-Yes, can't you tell?

-And that's what you do with your old buttons?

-No, not always.

He asked me to make him one as a joke.

And you did and he is wearing it now!

-And are you wearing it with pride?

-I am, yes.

-He's wearing it with pride.

Well, that's got that sorted out.

Now for the money moment, £300 apiece, here is your £300,

you know the rules, your experts await, and off you flit!

And very, very, very good luck.

Helping the two teams out on a rainy,

windy day are our two excellent experts.

Supporting the Red team

and always brightening up the day, it's the lovely Catherine Southon.

While for the Blues, and feeling right in his element,

it's Thomas Plant.

And they'll need to whip up a storm today,

as they will be helping not one, but two pairs of Reds and Blues.

Now, Swinderby fair might be huge, but Catherine

and the Reds look like they may have found something already.

-Oh, I like that.

-Quite a lot of bits and bobs.

I mean, bear in mind that some of these could be sort of associated...

-Yes.

-But that's quite nice, isn't it?

You can see, those are more modern, aren't they? But there are some older bits and bobs in there.

The only thing is, I hope it is an artist's case,

rather than perhaps trying to be like a Gladstone bag, or

something, like a doctor's case, you know, that would have had bottles.

Why are you drawn towards it?

I don't know, just because it's old and a bit more quirky.

Looks like it might have some history. It's quite tatty, though.

-But you quite like it?

-Yeah. Do you like it?

-Yeah, I like it.

-It's got £65 on it, which is a lot of money.

-Yes, too much.

Can the girls get better terms and conditions?

Meanwhile, the Blues have found something they like the look of.

-Oh, Jane.

-That is lovely, I like that.

-I'm going to have to, aren't I?

-Yeah.

I don't know whether it's worth a fortune, but I just like that,

-and it is appropriate to us.

-You're into penguins?

-Yes.

It's just, that's what got us on here in the first place.

-Jane's got a penguin...

-It almost looks identical.

I mean, it's slit moulded, it's made in the former USSR,

former Soviet Union, and they did make other types of animals,

but I would say this is probably 1960s.

We are looking for certain things,

but we've always said that something will jump out at us, and that's it,

Rob likes that and that's fair enough, I think it's lovely.

-We'll have it then, yeah? OK, well, I'll go and tell the stallholder.

-Thank you, Thomas.

So, you've got the price of £48 on here, can you do anything?

-£40 would be best.

-£40.

That's what, about 20%? Yeah, that's not bad, thank you for that.

Good negotiating by Thomas, eh?

And the Reds are trying to strike a deal

on the Gladstone bag of artist's tools.

-65.

-165, is it?

-No, 65.

Oh, my word, we are speaking very different languages here.

That's far beyond what I was thinking.

50 quid.

-35?

-50 quid's the best.

For 35, or maybe, at a stretch, 40, we might be all right.

But I think 50 might be pushing it.

-45, best price.

-No.

-40?

-40.

-I think so.

All right, go on, £40.

-Thank you.

-Robbed me blind!

Oh, well done, ladies! Well done.

Some excellent hard bargaining from the Reds,

but time is ticking away and they still need two more bargains.

Meanwhile, have the Blues found their next item?

-Do you think that's real copper and brass, Thomas?

-Oh, yeah.

-It's £120, though, but it's lovely.

-It's a Victorian epern.

Is it for flowers?

Oh, yeah, you put that in the centre of your table,

and your posies, primroses, peonies, pansies, something like that...

They are very pretty things.

Do you think we'd stand a chance of making a profit on that?

We'll have to ask the stallholder, again,

what the best is on this.

Now, sir, what wonderful deal can you do me?

Seeing as you've had the penguin, we'll go to a straight 100.

90?

-Go on.

-Go on, then.

-That's fine.

-Really?

-Oh, I'm happy! Yeah.

Reserve that for me, thank you very much.

I'll be home for an early bath!

I did spot that when I walked in, I thought it was really, really pretty.

Just 15 minutes to go, and the managers are taking a cruise.

-Do you actually go sailing?

-Yes, I do.

-Oh, right.

So, it would be really nice to find a nautical piece.

And I'm into narrowboating,

so we've both got this shared sort of water interest.

-So, maybe a canoe or something like that.

-Yes!

Well, there's nothing nautical about this!

-Very sweet.

-Yeah.

-What do you think about that?

I would like to see that as

an interior piece in a children's bedroom.

-How much has it got on it?

-165, that's far too high.

We've got to think about it making a profit.

Is that going to make us a profit?

I see that at an auction with maybe an estimate of maybe 80, 120.

60, 80... I don't think we'll want to spend more than about £80.

-No, we'll have to see what they say.

-Let's ask him.

-Oh, go on, then.

She's quite scary, isn't she?

Well, with just nine minutes to go,

Chris has managed to talk down the price of the bed to £98.

Now, it looks like the Blues are having a bottle party!

-Go on, pick one up and have a look.

-Glass, is it?

-It's a strange texture.

-These are quite old.

They are 18th-century bottles.

Might be a little later, that one, but still, it's quite nice.

I mean, that one's nice, with the AH there.

I've got a feeling they are going to be quite expensive, because bottles are quite expensive.

-But they are quite lovely things, aren't they?

-They are.

-STALLHOLDER:

-£100.

-£100, yeah?

You know, I don't think that's out of the way, to be candid with you.

Having a seal on it makes it more desirable.

-£100, what do you think about that price?

-Hmm.

Yeah, I think it's good, but if we could get it for a little bit less...

He's given us a firm figure, and you never know,

-he might trade a little bit.

-If you want that, yes, I'm happy with that.

-You want to go for it?

-Yes, please.

I think you've got a really good opportunity.

-I think you could beat your bosses.

-I'm sure we can!

-Not like that, you know!

-I'd probably be out of work in September!

-Let's go.

-Let's go for it.

So, the workers are ready to down tools,

and the managers haven't been clock watching.

They should have been!

Shall we cut through, shall we whiz?

-We've really got to, as well.

-Yeah, we have!

Do you want to go up and left, or do you want to go down...

That way is down, yeah?

You said there was a stall down there you really wanted to look at.

We are going towards the end of the fair,

and we are going to be in trouble!

They want something nautical, but they don't know where to look.

-Five minutes.

-They're all at sea.

-We are running out of stalls now!

Which way? Over there? Quick, shall we run?

At last, they've sighted the tent they want.

With only seconds left on the clock, they're dropping anchor.

I hope these are the original... the glass is all original.

-Would you do 80?

-I will, but that's the very best.

-What a nice man!

I like the way they've got the port and starboard on them.

Yes, they are a matching pair, they are nice.

I mean, we are literally at the skin of our teeth, we are...

And these, we were looking for something nautical.

You wanted nautical, didn't you? £80?

-Yeah, OK.

-We'll go with them.

-Sure?

-Yup.

-OK.

Well, any port in a storm, eh?

The Reds have just managed to complete their task.

That was a close shave!

I don't think I've ever actually been as close as that.

My head is throbbing!

So, now, all the teams will be thinking about is,

have we bought the right item? Will we make a profit at auction?

To give them that extra chance, we allow the expert to go

and buy that extra item, which we call the bonus buy.

But first, let's remind ourselves what the teams bought.

The Reds were drawn to an artist's Gladstone bag, which cost them £40.

Next, they alighted on a small bed for a small dog, which cost £98.

And finally, they ran ashore with a pair of ship's lamps,

coming in at £80.

-What did you spend?

-200...

-218.

218, so, you've got £82 of leftover lolly, yes?

-Here we go, £82 of leftover lolly.

-Lovely. Thank you.

-Well, good luck with that. Got any ideas?

-Well, we spent big, very big.

-So, I'm going to spend small.

-Are you? A modest purchase.

We'll stand by for that.

Let's remind ourselves what the Blues bought.

The workers were united on a Russian penguin, for which they paid £40.

Next up was a Victorian epern with green glass vases, at £90.

And another £90 went on this handsome, hefty dark glass bottle.

-Which is your favourite piece, Rob?

-Er, this.

-Which is your favourite piece, Jane?

-I like the glass, I can't...

-The epern?

-The epern.

-Brilliant. So, you spent 220.

£80 goes to Thomas, if you don't mind giving him that.

-Thank you very much.

-You're welcome.

And, well, in this pouring wet, Thomas, I wish you good luck!

-Thank you very much!

-I wish you good luck, as well!

Well, it's a treat to be in Derby at Bamfords Saleroom, as usual,

-with James Lewis. Hi, James.

-Good to see you.

Linda and Chris, the Reds, went with this Gladstone style bag,

with contents.

Rough old bag, rough old contents, but it sort of has

the quality of a prop from some Dickens programme, don't you think?

-And do you know, that's exactly who I'm trying to sell it to!

-Is it?

-Yeah, somebody who does film props.

-Ideal! So, how much, do you think?

-I thought £40-£60.

-OK, that's fine, £40 paid.

-Oh, good.

-That's OK, then.

-Perfect, isn't it?

Next up, this rough old bed behind me, which has got the look,

but would it just be for dolls, would it?

-You'd never put baby in there, would you?

-I don't really like it.

I think it's going to make...

-£30-£50?

-Never!

-Ooh.

-£98 was spent.

-Oh, no!

-Yes. Catherine paid £98.

-Oh, Catherine!

-30 to 50, you are reckoning.

-Oh, gosh!

Now, the lanterns, these copper lanterns.

I reckoned these probably date from, at kindest, 1935-40.

But quite jolly.

Yeah, they are the sort of things that pubs had,

weren't they, on the windowsill?

They are what they are. What do you think they will bring in the sale?

-I think they're worth £50-£80.

-£80 paid, so that's not too bad.

Yup, yup.

But what with this bad old bed behind us, I think they are

going to need their bonus buy, so let's go and have a look at it.

Oh, that's lovely!

The reason I bought it, I know you like sort of nautical things,

and it's like a little apprentice piece,

I suppose, in the form of a ship's lamp.

You'll be pleased to know, I didn't spend £82. I only spent £10.

So, I would hope we would make £5, £10 profit?

I really like it.

I can tell you love it, Christine, don't you just love it?

I do, absolutely.

-And you, Linda, you're really fired up with this, aren't you?

-I like it.

You do, OK. Jolly good. Well, we've got

a prediction of £5-£10 potential profit there, which is wonderful.

Hold on to that thought,

while we find out, for the audience at home, what the auctioneer thinks.

Um, gosh. Sorry, I just really don't like it.

And it's got one of these brass struts missing here, look.

Lacking a strut. That hinge doesn't look so splendid.

Yes, that's one way of putting it!

-Well, it's bust.

-Yes. Um, no.

Really...

-Gosh, sorry, but I hate it.

-OK, fine. So, give us an estimate.

-A pound.

-OK. She paid 10. With any luck, they won't go with it.

So, that's it for the Reds. Now for the Blues.

-Robert went with the Russian penguin.

-Yeah.

-Now, I think that's rather fun, don't you?

-I like it a lot.

It really makes me smile, it's these completely mad colours,

but that sort of expression on its face, yeah, it's great, I like it.

£40, they paid. So, Soviet period ceramics.

-What do you think it might bring?

-30 to 50?

£30-£50, jolly good, so, spot on, they are right in the middle.

Super. Now, the table epern looks a bit weak to me.

I mean, Victorian table eperns never...

Well, they're not making what they did 10 years ago,

and that is a really poor example of one.

-What did they pay?

-They paid £90.

-Ohhh!

-Gosh! I think that's twice what it's worth.

-Do you?

£45 is where you're coming to.

40 to 60 estimate, so you gave quite a generous estimate,

but they could be struggling around 40, 45.

And how do you rate that curious, tapering bottle?

It looks like a gin bottle, doesn't it? An 18th-century gin bottle.

Because the idea being that the glass was worth more than

the contents, and you would identify your own

bottle by putting your own initials on the top, and take the bottle

back to the gin place, fill it up with gin, get your own bottle back.

Was that the way it worked?

That's the way it worked, as to why, in the 17th

and early part of the 18th century, you identified your bottle.

And if you were an aristocrat, you'd have your seal, your coat of arms on it.

-Yes, I've seen sealed ones.

-If you were an ordinary person,

you would just put your initials on, like that, AH.

-How old is it, do you think?

-I don't know.

-It's got all those wonderful scratches around the foot rim.

-Mm.

You'd have to feel that it's kind of... 1710, wouldn't you?

-Wouldn't it be great if it was?

-I'd like to feel, but it's an odd shape.

But I have a horrible feeling that it may be

a 20th-century facsimile, I can't...

-It doesn't feel 300 years old, to me.

-No.

I'd like to think it was late 18th century, but then it's the wrong...

It wouldn't be. So, I think you might be right, I just don't know.

I'm going to hold my hands up and say, let's just wait and see.

So, a wait-and-see type estimate would be what, do you think,

-on that?

-I would put £40-£60 on it.

-If it's right, they'll certainly know.

-Perfect, well, £90 was paid.

If they are right, your glass buyers will recognise it

for what it is, then it would be worth at least £100-£150.

At least that. So, good luck, Blues.

Some difficulties there, perhaps, in making automatic profits,

therefore, they might need their bonus buy, therefore,

let's go and have a look at it.

Aah!

A very fine Arts and Crafts, could be a paper rack, letter rack,

something you hang and you put your papers in.

But it's a very fine copper design here,

but this work here is very similar to the Liberty design,

but it doesn't have a Liberty label on it.

-Now, £75 was spent, what do you think?

-I really like it.

-Yes, I do.

-So, you like that, Jane?

-I do.

-That's good.

How much do you think it will...?

Well, as a piece of Arts and Crafts, it's worth £80-£100.

You don't decide right now, you decide after

the sale of the first three items, but for the viewers at home...

-We've decided!

-For the viewers at home,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about it. Naughty Rob!

It's certainly of the period, isn't it?

It's 1900, 1905, something like that. Strange object.

-Wall-hanging newspaper rack, do you think?

-Exactly.

-Magazine rack?

I think today's newspaper was put in that rack every day

at 35 Acacia Avenue, and a little rack for his slippers.

THEY LAUGH

I have the Antiques Trade Gazette in mine.

Ohh, you're such a sucker!

-OK, well, how much? What's your estimate?

-I should think £40-£60.

OK, fine, £75 was paid by Thomas,

in the fond hope that he will get a profit on it.

And depending on who is here in a minute, all will be revealed!

Yup.

-Linda and Chris.

-Yes.

-You're looking a bit nervous, Chris!

We are a little bit bothered about the dog's bed.

Bothered about the dog's bed?

You're not the only one that's bothered about the dog's bed!

First item up, though, is the Gladstone bag, and here it comes.

Gladstone bag, there it is, full of really interesting early

artist equipment, and I'll start at 15, 15 and 18, anyone? 18, anyone?

At 15, and 18 at the back. 18 and 20, and 22? 22, 25, 28.

28, 28, and 30, 32, 35, 38.

-38 has it.

-Getting there. Come on!

-38, and 40. 40 and 42.

-40 on the phone, good.

45, 45, 48, 48 and 50, no? At £48.

Back of the room. No more?

No? At 50, anywhere? At 48, all sure?

£48. Well done! Plus £8, well, who would have thought that?

Now, your bed. Stand by.

The doll's bed. £40, surely. Anybody want it, £40?

-Come on!

-40. Do you want to come in? £40 on the phone. At 40, and 45 now.

45, 50, 50 and 55.

-Come on!

-No? At £50 on the phone, it's against you.

At £50, are you sure?

I'm selling at 50. It's yours.

£50. Well, that's his top estimate, in fairness.

It's still, I'm afraid, minus 48,

which means you are on minus 40 overall.

Now, the lanterns.

OK, I've got three bids on them. One of £38, one of £40 and one other.

So, £42 starts. 42, 45 now. 45, 48 and 50.

50 and 55, 60 has it. 60 and 65, 70.

70 and 75, at 70, anybody else? With you at £70.

-They're worth a little bit more than that!

-At 70.

Bad luck. That's not bad, though.

That's minus £10, so overall, you are minus £50. Bad luck, girls.

Now, what are you going to do?

Are you going to go with the other lantern, which cost 10?

Are you going to risk another tenner,

-or are you going to stick at 50?

-Let's go with it.

-I think we are going to go with it.

-Not sure.

-You want to go with the bonus buy?

-Look at his face!

-You're going to risk the

-£10? We are.

Desk light, you can put a little tea light in there.

Where shall we start? At £20 somewhere, 20?

£20, 10? £10 for it, 10 bid on the aisle, 12 now.

At 10 here, 12, do I see? At £10 only, do I see 12?

-With you at £10. Anybody else?

-Come on, just an eensy-teensy profit!

At £10.

Ha-ha! Wiped its face, there you go.

£10, no profit, no loss, no pain, no shame.

The big thing is, don't tell the Blues a word, right?

You are overall minus 50, no shame in that.

It might be a winning score! You never know.

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

-No.

-You don't?

-No, we don't.

You've not been chatting to them?

Well, they are the bosses, aren't they?

-Best not to talk to the bosses.

-No, better not, no.

-How do you rate your chances?

-Fantastic, Tim.

-Yeah, confident.

-You're confident.

-Yeah, we like what we've got.

You've been a great team, I have to tell you.

Bearing up under all this bullying from above.

First up is your Russian penguin, and here it comes.

This Russian pottery penguin and chick, almost comical,

it's a great little group, this one, I really like it.

£30 is bid, 32, do I see? At £30, and 32 now. At 32, 35? 38 and 40.

42, 45. 48 and 50. It's against you. At £50, and 52, do I see?

At 50, all done at £50? It's with me at 50, it's against you.

-£50, do svidanya! Plus 10, that's brilliant, that is.

-Well done!

Now, your epern, lady.

Green glass table epern, 19th-century, where shall we start?

£40?

40 bid, 45 now. At £40, and 45, do I see?

45, several places, 50. 55, 60. Either of you, 60? 65, 70, 75.

At £70, by the pillar. At 70, and 75, do I see?

At £70, that's standing.

Gosh, he's done well! £70, that's above his top estimate.

That's minus 20, which means overall, you are now minus 10,

and here we go with the gin bottle.

The 18th-century continental glass bottle.

Oh, he's called it 18th-century.

And start the bidding, I've got one, two bids on it.

And £60 starts, and 65 now?

At £60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 110.

120, 130, 140, 150, 160.

170, we have in the room. 170 at the back. 180 now. At 170, 180 anywhere?

170, he sold it for 170, you clever chicken, you!

Well, that's good, isn't it? That's a profit of £80.

£80 profit, who would have thought it? Isn't that brilliant?

Well done, darling. So, overall, you are plus £70, all right? £70 up!

The big question now is, what are you going to do?

You've got £70 in the bank, are you going to go with

the Arts and Crafts rack?

Are you going to risk some of that £70,

which could be a winning score, you could hammer the bosses

if you hang on to your £70, or are you going to try

and multiply it a bit by going with the rack? What's your plan?

We thought we'd trust Thomas, we want to go with it.

-You sure you're happy about this, Jane?

-Yes.

So, we are going with the bonus buy, and here it comes.

The Arts and Crafts oak wall-hanging letter rack, great hinges,

£30 for it, please. 30.

30, really stylish lot, £30. Who wants it?

Oh, no, please!

30? 20, then.

-Oh, dear!

-Oh, it's worth that, come on! £30, someone?

20 bid, 22, do I see? 22, yes, 25? 25, 28.

28 and 30?

28 has it. At £28. Thought it would make loads more than that!

-Thought it would make loads more!

-At 28. 30, do you want one more?

30, well done. 32? No?

At £30, on the right. At 30, to the right of the room.

Selling, it's against you, are you sure? £30.

-Oh, no!

-It's fine, it's OK.

-£30 is minus £45!

You had that lovely £70 profit, you went with the bonus buy, 45, 60...

You are plus £25.

Well, you win some, you lose some.

But the Blues still made a profit of £25, making them the winners,

as remember, the Reds made a loss of £50.

Coming up, two more teams go on the hunt for bargains.

But first, I'm off to somewhere really very grand.

I'm at Tissington Hall on the Tissington estate, a few miles

outside Ashbourne in Derbyshire, in the village called Tissington.

This magnificent house has been in the FitzHerbert family

for over 400 years - how Tiss-tastic is that?

'Hmm. As you might expect,

'that continuity of ownership has helped accumulate,

'under one roof, a fine collection of family furniture.'

And here, in the East Drawing Room,

which, strangely enough, is on the first floor, we've got

an arrangement of precious family possessions, including

the dominating piece in here, which is this break front bookcase.

Originally made to contain books,

it's been converted later to hold china.

Now, each of these pieces is identifiable to

the FitzHerbert family as a result of this coat of arms.

And what happened was,

you'd send a drawing of your coat of arms to China,

and the Chinese would then carefully make 144 pieces in the order,

it would take a year to send the drawing out to the Far East,

it might take the Chinese another year to make all the pieces

and decorate them, including the armorial piece,

and then a year to bring it back to Britain.

If we turn this over, you can see it's got no marks.

And what would happen

if you broke a piece of this Chinese export dinnerware?

Would you want to send back to China

and wait another three years before you got a replacement?

No, I don't think you would.

If I pick up this circular fluted bowl, called a fruit bowl,

specifically to hold strawberries,

it looks just like the Chinese original, with

the coat of arms in the middle, but if I turn it over, it says Spode!

And this is the Spode mark for about 1780.

So, somebody in the 18th century did break a few pieces

of the FitzHerbert service,

but they went down to Stoke-on-Trent to get the replacements.

Meanwhile, back at Swinderby, let's hope the only thing that gets broken today

is the record for highest profits at auction!

Time to meet our new pairs of Reds and Blues.

So today for the Reds, we've got friends Neil and Pete,

and Margaret and Debbie for the Blues, who are mother and daughter.

The big question is, which is the mother and which is the daughter?

Oh, she's going to be cross with me in a minute!

Now, you guys. Neil, how did you two meet?

Pete and I work together at a secondary school, Springwell Community School in Chesterfield,

and we help run a behavioural improvement centre.

Now, Pete, before you started work at the centre, you came from a completely different background.

I did, I did, Tim. Yeah, I was a design manager

at a glass manufacturers, local glass manufacturers in Chesterfield, for many years.

About 32 years I worked there.

Really? How do you two think you're going to get on in this competition?

Tremendously well, cos I've got the age and experience and...

I have the youth and enthusiasm, Tim.

That's what we need. I love a prediction.

That's what we've got. What's actually going to happen? Ohh! Now for the naughty Blues.

Have you forgiven me for my cheap jibe?

-Just, just.

-Thank you.

-You're very beautiful, and also passionate about a lot of things, aren't you?

-I am, yes.

Tell us about your passions.

I love amateur dramatics and murder-mystery parties and things like that,

and I've been doing it from a very young age.

-I actually played my first role at a month old as Baby Jesus.

-Was she good? I bet she was good.

She was all right till nearly the end and she started to cry.

People thought she was a doll, and then they knew it was a real baby!

-Yes. Well, we can tell today that she IS a doll, which is really lovely.

-Oh, thank you.

How do you think you're going to get on today, Mags?

Well, we work together really well so we should be all right with each other,

but the only problem is we're not very good losers, and I'm especially bad.

Really? What happens if you get on a losing streak, then?

-Mardy is the word.

-Mardy?

-Mardy.

-What's mardy?

Mardy?

-Do you know what mardy means?

-Yes.

I've never, ever heard that before. Mardy is angry, then, is it?

Well, miserable and upset and cross and...

Is that what you call "right mardy"?

-Yes!

-Is that it? OK, we've got the regional inflection here.

Well, before everybody gets "right mardy", we'll have the money moment, then. Here's £300.

£300 apiece. You know the rules, your experts await, and off you go!

So, £300 and one hour to find three items, eh?

Looks like Catherine's straight in, with a bit of glamour.

So you press... Pull this up here...lipstick pops out.

There you go. There's your mirror.

-Bit of lipstick.

-Mmm. It is quite nice.

Pop it in...

I know it's not very old, but it's quite attractive.

Yeah, age-wise, I think it can only be...probably '50s.

Yeah. It is quite attractive, though.

What do you like about it?

Well, I just like the shape and I like, you know...

An unusual mechanism which is quite nice.

Yeah, I like the way it works...

-The mother-of-pearl.

-Yeah.

It's functional, isn't it? It could actually be used.

The maximum we are going to get is really about £20 for something like this, to be honest.

Can I ask, what's your price on this?

I've got 15 on it, but for a pretty face I'll always do it for 12.

Is that MY pretty face?

Which pretty face is that?!

Um...

I mean, to stand any chance of making any profit, we'll want to get this for about eight.

-OK.

-Or ten.

Would you sell it at eight, ten?

-You never say the highest price.

-I'll do nine.

In the middle of the eight and ten - nine.

-Eight and we'll buy it.

-He's a hard man...

If we lose, we can only lose £8 on it.

That's what I was thinking. It's not bad, is it?

Go on, then, buy it. Buy it, do it.

That's it, Catherine -

shame them into it! There's no room for indecision in this game.

Especially with the opposition hot on their heels.

Look at that. This is white metal.

It's not stamped silver, but this is a lovely crest, isn't it?

-They would've been mounted onto a cup, something to do with the family etc.

-Right.

But what's so interesting - this is enamel in here and it's really lovely quality.

Yeah, the colours are really so vibrant, aren't they?

Very sharp, aren't they?

£90 for the pair.

What sort of price do you think you'd expect to get for them?

Between £80 and £120 at auction. They're very nice things, actually.

They're very attractive, because they're perfect, the enamel is good

and you've got a collectible because people are interested in...

Social historians are interested in collecting armorials,

-or people buy things for...people who are researching their families.

-Yeah.

-They're small and pretty, and we both like small and pretty.

-We do, yeah.

They're small and pretty, aren't they?

-It's our sort of thing, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Do you want to go for them?

-Yeah, that'd be great.

-Yeah.

-Oh, brilliant. Thank you.

-Thank you.

And let's hope small and pretty will equal big profits.

Over with the Reds, Catherine appears to be hearing voices.

OK, anything here talking to you?

Anything here you can see?

I just like that.

Ah, now, why do you like these?

I don't know. I think toys always seem to go well, don't they?

You get a lot of toy collectors...

"Mamod".

I quite like this one. I know it looks a bit battered.

I must say, I prefer this one.

-Do you?

-How does this one actually work?

I think you put a little... That's it, a little burner in it and it actually works by steam.

Oh, I see. Yeah. So you put like, meths or something in there...

-Yeah.

-That's for the meths burner and it goes in.

Right, OK.

Sorry, what did you say it was?

I've got it on at 95. I can do something on it.

Yeah, I think we'd want to go quite a bit lower than that, to be honest,

if we're going to stand any chance of making profit.

I could do 70.

So that when you're floating around and deciding and making your mind up...

There's still movement in it.

-What do you think about that, chaps?

-NEIL: It's quite nice, but I think 70's perhaps a bit expensive.

I think probably you would get about 70 for it, I think, at the auction.

-Shall we have a think?

-Yeah, yeah.

Let's press on. Thank you very much.

-Thank you ever so much.

-Thank you.

They might have started off quickly, but indecision is rearing its ugly head again.

The girls have found something they like, but seem to have lost Thomas. Ha!

That jug there...

So why do you like the tankard?

I like glassware, and I really like the colour and it's very eye-catching.

And I love crystal so, you know, all the detail in it is really pretty.

It's Bohemian.

Oh, right, which I should've recognised because I collect Bohemia!

Well, it is Bohemian. Do you know what this technique is called here -

-this sort of red and the colourless here, the clear glass?

-No.

It's called flashed. It's flashed.

What happens is, the blower blows their clear piece of glass and then

he dips it into the red colourway, and then makes the tankard itself with the casing of the red over it.

Then, this cutting here is done by a diamond wheel, so a diamond wheel spinning

extremely fast, and the cutter puts the glass against the diamond wheel.

-I think we should go for it.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-What do you think, Margaret?

Well, I daren't disagree with her, really. She's the boss!

-Really?

-Oh, I'm really scared of her, actually, most of the time!

-Really?

-Yes!

-I think it's a good spot.

-Excellent.

-Do you want to go and do the deal?

-Yes, please.

-I think you could work your magic.

-I think I will!

Debbie did the deal,

and managed to pick up the Bohemian tankard for £70,

leaving them £150 for their final item.

The rain might be pouring down -

but the teams are having fun spending the cash.

Look at the Reds, for instance. They've spent a massive £8.

That's almost as miserable as the weather!

-Shall we bypass the stall with the engine?

-The steam engine, yeah.

-Right, I'm going to leave it to you.

-OK.

Is there any chance you could let us have it for 60?

-The lowest we can go is 60.

-The lowest?

-The highest.

-Shall we go higher, then?

-No, the highest!

-The highest we can go is 60, definitely.

What about 65?

Yeah, go on, then, 65.

I'm happy at 65. Pete?

It's a lovely...it's a lovely...

-Would have been better at 60.

-It would've, quite right, but...

-So? Shall we shake on it?

-Yeah, smashing, deal.

Is that OK? Thank you very much.

Good work, chaps. Good work.

Fantastic. Can't complain with that.

Well, that's the art of negotiation for you.

Sometimes you have to pay that extra fiver to get what you want.

-Hats off to you both. Well done.

-Thank you.

-OK, let's go inside.

Don't speak too soon, Catherine.

Time is running out, and you've got one item yet to get.

The good news is that there's an enormous £227 left in the Reds' kitty.

That's if the team can stick together.

Anything...? We've lost... We've lost a member of our team. Where's Neil?

Can you see where he is?

While the Reds are going AWOL...

Pete? It's not only me wandering off.

..the Blues are suffering from a slight obsession.

Well, Margaret is anyway.

-What would that have been for?

-It's an inkwell.

What's that, then?

-Again, it's an inkwell. You're obsessed by inkwells!

-Oh, sorry!

Another inkwell set for you here.

So what do you think of this?

What do you think it could be, bargain-hunters?

It's another inkwell!

-Oh, Mum!

-Determined to have an inkwell, aren't I?

And it's obviously for a ship because it's weighted, very heavily weighted.

They're very collectible, but this is getting ridiculous!

Even the Reds are getting in on the act.

I just saw a little inkwell that was like a bear, carved bear.

Oh, yeah? How much was it?

There were no price on it.

What's come over you lot?!

Can Catherine get their attention on something other than an inkwell?

Look at this. Any ideas on what it is? It's absolutely wonderful.

-No.

-A beach ball for a teddy bear?

-I like it, I like it! Not quite.

-Oh, it looks as though it...

Look at this. If we just open it up...

-Oh, nice.

-An inkwell.

There we are. Isn't that lovely?

Is that the original innard?

Well, it fits quite snugly.

I would say that it probably is.

These sort of novelty inkwells are often made in Austria.

But I love this,

I really love this because it's leather on the outside,

-in the form of a... Feel that.

-It is very nice.

-It's absolutely gorgeous.

-It is meant to be a ball?

Yeah, it's basically a travelling inkwell. It's in beautiful condition.

-So how much is he asking for this?

-It's a lot of money.

£185.

Is it worth £185 at auction, though? Would you be looking at a profit?

It's a lot of money. I mean, this is the sort of thing that a private buyer's going to go for.

-Do you want to go and see if you can haggle?

-Yeah, let's haggle.

-We'll haggle.

What's your absolute rock bottom on this?

It would be 150.

-150?

-Can we meet in between?

-Could we meet in the middle?

-I'll meet in the middle at 145. I can't do any better.

145. Pete?

-Yeah.

-All I can say is, that is a lovely item.

-It is nice.

So the Reds have all three items, leaving the Blues searching

for their third. Has Thomas found something that the girls will like?

It's a 19th-century painted, gilded, papier-mache letter safe, so you'd put your letters in there...

Oh, now, I like that. Who would buy this, then, do you think?

Very good question. Who would buy it? Yes.

I think there are Victoriana collectors out there.

There's also people who are setting up

room settings, decorators, looking at the materials of the object -

papier-mache, hand-painted, mother-of-pearl, abalone...

Do you think it'll sell well in auction?

It always has a value. Do you know what I mean?

-Yes.

-It always has a quality value.

There's quality to it.

It's not going to sell for nothing. It certainly has something to it.

It's on for £135.

I've got £35 off, so it's £100.

-Ooh, that's what I sort of...

-It's £100.

And what do you think it'd fetch in an auction?

That's a good question.

-It sounds a lot of money.

-It is a lot of money.

I think it's a very nice object, and it's at that sort of money, I think, at £100 to £150.

-I suppose it depends who's there.

-It does, but it's a quality item.

-Right, we'll go for it.

-We'll go for it.

Brilliant. I'm going to go and do the deal. You've been a pleasure. After the hour, I still love you.

-Oh, that's good.

-We love you too!

Time's up. Both teams have all three items.

Let's remind ourselves what the Red team bought.

The lipstick holder is an unusual choice for our two blokes,

but only £8 are at stake when it goes under the hammer.

Will the steam roller make Peter proud,

and make more than the £65 that were paid?

After all the inkwells that were for sale, only one was bought,

and this was this novelty beach ball.

You spent, what, £212?

-18.

-218.

You spent £218, that's brilliant.

So we want £82 of leftover lolly, please...

-Thank you.

-..which is quite a nice amount, isn't it?

-Yeah, it's a very nice amount.

I hope it's stopped raining out there.

Well, I'm definitely heading outside, I think, cos I think we've exhausted inside.

So time to go out, I think.

-Find something decent. Good luck.

-Thank you.

Now, let's find out how the Blues are getting on.

These two enamel armorials were the Blues' first buy,

but were they a bargain at £80?

The Blues continued their spending spree

when Debbie spotted the Bohemian tankard and negotiated a £70 deal.

Finally, if there ARE any Victoriana collectors at the auction,

the team might be in luck with the £100 blotter.

So you spent £250, all right?

250 of the 300, which we really like.

And that means we're going to have to have £50 to pass over to Thomas.

There you go, Thomas. £50.

-What are you going to do with the £50? Something interesting?

-I think something very interesting.

It's getting to the end of the day and I need to rush out there.

-You do need to get your leg down.

-Get us something great!

-Your leg over and your foot down.

Something like that, anyway.

-Great. Lovely to be here, James Lewis.

-Good to see you.

We've trotted down to Derby to be at Bamfords Auctioneers. Now, Neil and Pete, the Reds, their first item...

Pretty macabre group of things, I have to say!

-Yes.

-..is the lipstick holder.

How do you rate that, James?

I think it's a really nasty little object...

-Oh, do you?

-I do. But it's by Stratton and they're a good maker.

If it was a compact, there'd be people queuing up for it. But it doesn't have a great deal of age,

it's pretending to be mother-of-pearl, but it's plastic.

It's pretending to be gold, but it's...

-Tin?

-Tin, yes.

-Fair enough.

There's not a huge amount of money in it.

-So are you going to put a pound or two on it?

-Less than ten.

-Less than ten. Well, they paid eight.

-Next is the steam roller, the little Mamod steam roller.

-Yeah.

It's a great nostalgia purchase.

I've still got mine.

I think mine was about third-hand when I got it and I think they're worth about £30, £40.

-In brilliant condition?

-Yeah. I mean, boxed.

-A lot still come through the salerooms in their original boxes and tend to make £60, £70.

-Yes.

-Is that £20 worth, do you think?

-Yeah, 30 I should think. Hopefully.

-£65 Peter paid for that.

-Gosh.

-Which is plenty enough, really, isn't it?

-Hot in the head, I think.

And lastly, we've got this seriously wacky,

but rather wonderful in a way, beach-ball inkwell.

So probably worth what, do you think?

-£40, something like that.

-OK.

I can now tell you...that Catherine paid £145 for this.

HE GASPS No!

That's enough to make your ink dry, isn't it?

I might be missing something, Catherine might be right, but...gosh!

For James Lewis to be at a loss for words is unusual.

Anyway...I think what we're saying here is that they're going to need

their Bonus Buy, so let's go and have a look at it.

Now, it's not a miniature telescope.

It is... Isn't that lovely?

A little gentleman's travelling case with these little bottles.

Could be used for scent or toiletries.

I'd like to think they put a bit of whisky in there myself, a bit of gin.

How much did you spend? How much was it?

I actually only spent £12 on that, which I think is rather good,

because I really like the shape of these bottles.

£12? Is that all you spent?

-Yeah.

-That's unbelievable.

You going to ask her for a prediction as to how much she thinks it might make?

-Will it make more than £12? That's the big question.

-Got to be 40, 50.

-I'd have said, yeah, £20, £30 at least.

-15, 20...

You're all experts on this programme. It's brilliant.

Now, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Catherine's little lot.

I like it. Seen better days, hasn't it?

This is all a little bit rubbed.

-Case is a bit tired.

-But, yeah...

-What do you think it's worth?

-It's worth 30 quid, isn't it?

-Perfect. £12 paid.

-Oh, brilliant.

That's it for the Reds. Now for the Blues, Debbie and Margaret.

Their first item are these two cartouches.

Nicely enamelled, but not marked. You'd think they'd be solid silver.

Yes, it's annoying not having any marks. But how much do you think for the two of them?

I think they're great quality. I'm just not sure what somebody would do with them.

Um...40-60?

-£80 paid.

-I think that's toppish.

What about the flashed glass tankard?

It's a good quality object, but who wants it? That's the thing.

We don't have a great lidded-tankard sort of culture here, do we?

It's the sort of thing that might do well in Germany, in Bavaria, that sort of thing.

-Yes. But we're in Derby.

-Yeah, we are.

-Yeah, that's true.

So what's the Derby man's estimate on that?

I think 30-50, £40-£60, something like that.

-£70 paid.

-I think that's too much.

-That's two things that are too much.

-Now, what about the papier-mache folder?

-Lovely, isn't it?

It's great quality, nicely painted, and in good order, so I like it.

What did they pay?

Er, £100.

Ohh! Gosh, I've done it again.

-It's another "Oh, gosh".

-How much do you think?

I think it's too much again. £50 to £80.

We're talking about estimates which are half the price paid

for all three of these items, so they're going to need their Bonus Buy. Let's go and have a look at it.

A very fine, Edward VII, silver capstan inkwell.

-And what did you pay for it?

-£45.

What do you think it's going to make?

I'd say there's probably about five tri-ounces of silver,

five eights are forty... Probably a little bit more for that.

-Maybe £50.

-Right.

-50 to 80? It would be a travesty if it doesn't make that.

A travesty. Hold onto those words.

-We will.

-For the audience at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Tom's travesty.

What's this? "From Mr and Mrs Edmund Butler".

-A great military inscription would be super.

-Yeah.

It's not a great object.

At least it's practical, it's useful. It's solid silver, so £30.

-On a good day?

-Yeah.

-Let's hope it's a good day.

He paid £45 as a Bonus Buy.

-I think that's too much.

-Tight, isn't it?

-But nothing's too much for you, James.

-I'll try!

-No responsibility(!)

-Good luck.

-Thank you.

You two look as if you're about to be led out to be shot!

-What's the matter with you?

-Anticipation, slightly nervous.

-It's nerves.

-Are you nervous?

-Terribly nervous.

-Why's that?

We don't like losing money.

-Even though it's our money.

-Yeah, well...

No, quite right too. That is a proper attitude to take.

Good Bargain Hunt contestants.

The first lot up is the lipstick case, and here it comes.

2881 is the gilt metal

and mother-of-pearl lipstick holder and mirror,

and where shall we start that? £20 somewhere? 20...

15 if you like.

£15? 10, then?

It's a Stratton one. Nice quality.

-£10. Who'd like it? £10?

-Come on!

-Come on!

Come on, girls, for the night out.

£5, then?

Anybody want this? At £5...

5 on the aisle.

I thought we were going to have to break you all and go below £5 then.

At 5 on the aisle, at £5. 6 now?

At 6, 7, 8...

£7. On the aisle at 7.

Do I see £8 anywhere? Do you want 8?

Come back, another try...? No.

At 7, it's yours.

It's £7. That's bad luck,

it's minus £1.

-Only

-£1. That is close, isn't it?

The steam roller now. Here it comes.

2882, the Mamod steam roller,

and I've got one, two, three, four, five, six,

seven, eight bids,

and I'm afraid they're all almost identical...

-Oh.

-Oh, well.

£24. At £24 - 25, do I see?

At £24... 25, do I see?

25, 26, 27,

28, and 29 beats them all.

At 29... 30, 32, 34, 36...

-Something's happening.

-Come on!

38? 38 for you.

At 36 - 38, do I see?

At 36, all sure?

-At 36...

-That's not bad.

-GAVEL BANGS

£36 is four short of 40.

25, £29.

-Minus £29. You are minus £30 overall, all right?

-Yeah.

So, now the inkwell.

..The leather and brass inkwell in the form of a beach ball,

and again, lots of bidding on it.

Um...

Five bids, and £45 takes it.

45, 50 now? At 45 - 50, do I see?

At 45. 50? At 45...

Anybody in the room? 50, 5...?

It's against you at £55.

60 anywhere? At 55. Do I see 60?

-So disappointing.

-At 55... GAVEL BANGS

£55. I make that minus £90.

-That was not good.

-Doesn't sound too bad...

if you say it quickly,

which means overall, you are minus £120. Minus 120, OK?

What are you going to do about the scent-bottle holder?

-Yes.

-Definitely.

-Going with that? Not a lot of choice there, is there?

We know that'll make a profit.

2887 is this gentleman's leather spirit flask. There we are.

Great for a picnic or something like that,

and I can start the bidding at £20.

At 20 and 2 now.

At £20 - and 2, do I see? 22, 25, 28...

I want lots of interest in this.

-Yeah.

-At £30 with me - and 2, do I see?

At £30, 32 now?

-At 30... Anybody else?

-This is brilliant.

£30... GAVEL BANGS

-£30, then.

-Well done, Catherine.

-That is plus £18,

-which means you are minus 102.

-That's not good.

That could be a winning score...!

Fingers crossed. Let's hope.

You never know, if things go really badly for the Blues.

No, seriously - £102 minus.

-Don't say a word to them.

-No, we won't.

-No.

We'll reveal all in a moment.

-How are you feeling?

-Not too bad, thank you.

-Not too bad?

A bit nervous, but not too bad.

Does she get like this easily, your mum?

-Very.

-Does she?

-You're not nervous.

-I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

-Thoroughly enjoying it.

And what's your prediction as to how you're going to get on today?

-Not too good.

-Really?

I don't understand that!

First up are the armorial cartouches, and here they come.

Lot 2903, lovely quality English cartouches,

and £42 is the underbidder, so 45 starts.

At 45, 50 now?

At 45 - and 50, do I see?

At 45... The two bids on the book.

At £45 - 50, do I see?

No?

Leaving it to the absentee bids, at £45...

£45 is 5 short of 50.

That is £35. Minus 35, girls.

2904...

is the ruby flash stein

and I can start the bidding at 42 again.

42, 45. 45, 48 and 50.

5, 60.

60 for you? 60, do I see?

60, is it?

No. At £55 - 60, do I see?

-At 55...

-Go on.

-Any advance, at £55...

Lovely quality.

£15 on that.

Now... Dear, oh, dear. You're 35, 45... You're minus 50, girls.

2905, the papier-mache blotter, and one, two, three, four, five,

six, seven bids, so loads of bidding on it,

and I can start it at £45.

48, do I see? 48?

At 45, 48 now?

48, 50, 5,

60, 5...

At £60. Absentee bid at 60.

5, 70, 5, 80, 5...

One more?

-Go on!

-2 if you like. Go on, help 'em out.

-Go on, do me a favour!

-Please!

82? 81, then?

I'm trying to help them!

-Just go one extra.

-Absentee bid at 80.

Anybody else? 81, do I see?

At 80, anybody else for it?

GAVEL BANGS

£80. It's not as bad as it might've been.

Minus 20. Which means overall, you are minus £70, girls.

Minus 70 could be a winning score.

What are you going to do about the inkwell?

-We're going for it.

-You are?

-Really?

-Oh, are you sure?

-In for a penny, in for a pound.

Well, £45, actually! That's what you're in for.

Are you going with it? Definitely?

-We'll definitely go for it.

-Here it comes.

The silver inkwell.

Little capstan inkwell,

and I can start the bidding here at £32.

£32.

At 35, 38, and 40?

No. 38 with me - and 40, do I see?

At 38... 40 now?

At £38...

-One more?

-Yes. He wants it. He wants it!

He does, but he doesn't want it at that!

At £38, are we all sure?

£38 is minus 7.

So overall, that's minus 77.

-You were determined to have your punt there.

-We were.

-Yeah.

-But we were close.

-We were very close.

-You were close. And you're a great team.

Anyway, don't tell the Reds.

-We won't.

-We won't.

-Mum's the word.

-We won't tell them!

Mum's the word, Margaret.

Well, I think it's no secret between the teams that we have some socking great losses today.

It's just the scale of the socking great loss that we have to sort out right now.

Both teams hoped to win, nevertheless,

and I have to reveal that the team with the greatest losses

-are the Reds.

-Ohh!

-Yes!

< Well done.

It is a whocking loss of £102.

But the victors today are the girls...

-by only losing £77.

-Thank you!

But unlike the Reds, who DID make a profit on their Bonus Buy, you made a profit on absolutely nothing.

-But we're not going to dwell on that.

-We were consistent.

You were consistent in making losses on absolutely everything.

But we have had a great day - and join us soon for some more bargain-hunting, yes?

ALL: Yes!