Portobello Bargain Hunt

Bargain Hunt's popularity has spread worldwide,

so to celebrate our global domination, we've got teams

from both the northern and the southern hemispheres.

Watch out for a winner, as we go Bargain Hunting!

Hello, and welcome to Portobello Road in London,

home to one of the most famous markets in the world.

It's lined with antique shops and stalls which makes it

the very best place for our teams to shop for their bargains today.

It's been here since the 19th century, the big question is

will our teams' decisions last quite such a long time?

I'd better remind them about the rules.

I give each of the teams £300 and an hour to shop for their three items.

They'll be helped by their expert, and I just hope that they choose the right items!

Anyway, let's go and meet today's bargain hunters.

I'd love to say that our teams today had winged in especially to join us on Bargain Hunt, but actually

both teams live in London, although they come from the United States of America and Australia.

How thrilling is that? Anyway, for the reds we've got Sally and Chris,

welcome to Bargain Hunt, and for the blues we have Courtney and Dina.

BOTH: Hi, Tim!

Brilliant! Let's meet the red team first. Now, Sally?

-Yes.

-Where about do you come from in Australia?

-I'm from a small town named Gympie in Queensland.

-Called what?

-Gympie.

-Gympie?

-Yes.

-But really, in your heart of heart, you're a traveller, aren't you?

-Yes.

Tell us about your travels.

-Well, before I lived here in London, I've been living in Japan for six and a half years.

-Japan?

Mmm, and while I was in Japan, I travelled around a lot, and then

also on our way to come to the UK we did a trans-Siberian type tour.

-Did you really?

-Yes.

-That sounds chilly.

-Mmm.

-Can you speak Japanese?

-Yeah, I can speak a little.

-Can you?

So give us "Hello, Bargain Hunters,"

-in Japanese.

-Yes, let me think,

-just a second. OK.

-SHE SPEAKS JAPANESE

Ha!

So!

-Konichiwa, Chris?

-Konichiwa, Tim.

You're not Australian yourself, are you?

No, you can probably guess from my accent, I'm from Stoke-on-Trent.

-Not sunny Stoke-on-Trent?

-Sunny posh Stoke-on-Trent.

Fantastic. And you love a bit of travelling though, obviously?

Yeah, the same as Sally, I've actually lived in a few countries now, I lived in America

for a while, I lived in Spain, and Sally spent six years in Japan, I spent five years.

So, for the sake of today's programme, and the internationalism

of our teams, can I refer to you as an Australian?

Sorry, Dad, but yeah, OK.

-You'll allow us to do that?

-Yes.

-Anyway, that's sorted out Australia.

Now, let's wing a few thousand miles, and say, "Hi, girls!"

-Hi, Tim!

-Hi, Courtney!

-Hello.

-Hi, Dina.

Hi, Tim, it's swell to be in the motherland.

So sweet!

-So, Courtney, you're from the United States of America.

-Yes.

-Whereabouts exactly?

-Dallas, Texas.

-Dallas, Texas? That's exciting!

-Big D.

-All those oil barons.

Now, what do you do here in London?

I'm an accent dialect coach for theatre and film.

Dina, do you also come from Texas?

No, I'm from Colorado, which is a bit further north.

I bet you ski like a dream?

Well, I can get down the bumps, but I can't

make it look all pretty like the Olympians do, or anything like that.

I bet you're very modest on that front.

What did you do after you graduated?

I actually moved straight over here after graduation from university, and got a job as a social worker.

-Is that what you do?

-Yes.

-Well, that's very worthwhile. It says here you played soccer for 12 years?

-I did, I played for 12 and then busted my knee, so I coached for three years after that.

-Brilliant.

What do you collect, darling?

I collect a lot of books, I'm into reading, that sort of thing,

-and Dreamcicles and Snow Babies as well.

-I beg your pardon?

Collect what?

They're little figurines doing various activities.

-Did you ever grow up at all, then? Not really?

-No.

You're still just a baby?

Just our American baby. Anyway, welcome to Bargain Hunt.

Now it's the money moment, £300 apiece, yes?

£300, there's your £300, you know the rules,

your experts await and off you go, and very, very, very good luck.

So it's Australia versus the USA.

Which team is going to win, not only for their team, but also their country?

Today's experts at the ready to face the crowds

of competitive bargain hunters are tenacious Thomas Plant

for the reds, and jovial James Braxton for the blues.

And they'll need to hustle, as today,

they'll be helping not one, but two lots of teams.

Wow! So you've found a big blue and white vase, haven't you?

Yes, there's a little bit of a problem.

A little bit of a problem?!

-This whacking great big crack! Look at this!

-It is a big crack.

It's character, it gives it character.

Rubbish! Let's not break it any more, let's put it down gently.

-Ooh, that's good, isn't it?

-I like it. I do like that.

-Sally, what do you think?

-I don't mind it.

I wonder about the big crack.

OK, well, it's definitely Chinese, and this is transfer printed on here.

-OK.

-So it's been printed on.

1900, 1890.

I mean, it's that kind of Edwardian look.

So now, here comes the big question -

cracked vase, how much?

£75?

-What do you think?

-Not bad.

Well, in my honest opinion,

we're not looking at a fine piece of porcelain here, we're looking at

a decorative piece, and it's something which the likes of you two going to an auction would buy.

Definitely, I would, yes.

And I think that's why I'm going with you and trusting you on this, because I think it's a good idea.

-Do you want it?

-Yes.

-You really want it?

-Yes.

-All right, we'll go and get it, then.

-Yeah!

-I'll let you pick it up, though!

-OK.

Well done. Don't drop it!

-I won't.

-Come on!

-All right, let's go.

-TIM:

-At least they noticed the crack, but was £75 too much damage to their budget?

Ah, here she comes, look... she's smiling!

-Uh-huh!

-Look at that!

Come on, Dina, what have you found me?

This is what I've found. Well, the tag says it's a glass biscuit barrel.

-Biscuit barrel, yeah.

-Yeah.

You're dead right, dead right, but of course nobody's allowed biscuits any more,

-are they, Courtney?

-I disagree with that!

So this was, you're dead right, a biscuit barrel.

So your Victorian/Edwardian home,

But nowadays they've been re-badged as ice buckets,

so for gin and tonics and whatever.

All the mounts are silver,

obviously a glass body here,

-I like the cutting, reminds me slightly of a pineapple.

-Wow.

I think it's a good one, I think we've got to get it below sort of £50.

I think it looks classy, and it's got the hallmarks,

which are important, and it's real silver, yes.

I think it's real silver, it's in nice, good condition, I think

the only rider is that we can try, we've got to work hard on the man, try and get it below £50.

-She can do it.

-No, it's a good one.

Go on, get off there!

It's not as low as they'd hoped, but Dina did the deal for £58.

So, guys, look what I've found.

-What is it?

-What do you think?

-Hmm.

-"Hmm." What does that mean?

-Hmm, I like it, or hmm, I think it's horrible?

-No, it's quite nice.

-It's quite nice?

-I can see it on a big table, or something like that.

Yeah, OK.

It's made by a man called Per Lutken, it's designed by him,

made by the factory called Holmegaard, a Scandinavian factory, and it's dated 1957.

And that's Per Lutken's signature there, 1957.

-Oh, it's engraved in the glass.

-All engraved in there.

-What do you think, after I've told you all of this?

-How much?

-£25.

-£25?

-Ooh, that's not bad!

I sell these quite a lot, I mean, I just had a lot of Holmegaard, and I believe there's a £5 profit in this.

-Maybe we can get a bit more?

-Really?

-Yeah.

-Do you think so?

-Shall we send you in?

-Yeah, I reckon.

-Yeah, send Chris in?

-Let's send Chris in.

-OK.

Bash him over the head, I'll hold on to this, I'm going to send you off.

-OK.

-And Sally and I will look for the next item.

-All right, I'll see you in a second.

-OK, then, bye-bye, good luck!

-How do you reckon he'll do?

Maybe he'll knock a couple of pounds off it.

-Yeah?

-We'll see, yeah.

And he did do well, Chris got the dish for £23.

Now, what's James hiding?

Courtney, Dina... you'll never guess, I'm running with a theme here,

I've not quite bought it, I'm looking for some sort of sanction.

What do you think of this?

Just by way of confirmation...

Oh, look, another biscuit barrel!

Well, you've sent me on a path,

and I seem to have only eyes for barrels here.

Frosted glass, and it's got these marks here,

so emblematic of a staved oak barrel here, and then just in case there was

any doubt about its use, we've got a tag saying biscuits on it, but I like this sort of the marine theme.

We've got this rather nice coiled rope on the top there.

So any self-respecting billionaire

will want that on board his yacht to carry his ice, won't they?

Now, is that real silver, though?

This is plated, so how much did we buy the last one for?

-Er...

-£58.

-£58.

-£58, price?

-£20?

-I'd probably go with about maybe £50, £45?

-£50!

£50, you're my sort of woman, that's what we want to get at auction.

So how much is it?

I'd rather pay what you said at auction...

It's not, it's somewhere in the middle, I think probably £30, what do you think?

£30, I think it's a lovely quality item.

I'm not sold, but I'm willing to trust you.

That's very kind. Dina?

I agree, let's go for it.

-Yep.

-OK, I'm buying.

Another biscuit barrel?

-Hello?

-I think I found our third item.

-Yeah, OK.

-What do you think?

It's a little vase, and it's got this nice lacy stuff through it,

and then the yellow and the gold,

which all goes nicely together,

and it all seems to be intact, so I think it's all still OK.

It's probably made in Venice, in Murano, by a company called Venini.

-Oh, OK.

-In a factory, Venini.

-Now you mentioned this lacy bit here, didn't you?

-Yeah, what is that, then?

-They are bits of glass...

-Oh, really?

And they're like, it's cane, glass cane, and it's called latticino

-and millefiori.

-Oh, a lattice effect.

Absolutely, latticino in there.

-In my opinion, it's very decorative.

-Yeah.

You can't really do it down, because there's nothing really wrong with it.

-So I think you've sold it to us quite well. What do you think?

-Chris?

-I think we should get it, then.

-Excellent! I've already bought it!

-Really?

-Yeah.

-What do you think about that?

-A bit cheeky, but OK!

-Number three!

-Really cheeky! How much did you buy it for?

-£30.

-£30, well, you didn't do too bad, £30 is not bad.

-OK.

I think it's quite nice.

That is very smart, what did the lady sell it to you as?

A Bakelite cigarette holder, but I don't think that's right.

No, the weight would definitely suggest it's not, and then this sort of little bit of damage here

would suggest it's a marble of some sort, and it is, it's this sort of igneous rock that's just come through

the earth's crust, and it's pretty well synonymous with Cornwall.

So it's rather nice, this red, and I like this silver...

Did the lady say it was silver, or not?

She said, but I can't see any hallmarks anywhere, so I don't... Is it?

No, I can't see any hallmarks, but you know, I think it's English-made,

so I think it probably is plate.

Now, what's the price?

-Make or break?

-£38, but she was selling it as Bakelite,

so since we know it's not Bakelite, I think that was a bit steep, so I think we can get it down.

Try and get her down, anything below £30, we might stand a chance.

It's a lovely curio, a nice decorative object.

-All right, I'm going to go and see if I can get some money off this.

-You need to, Courtney.

-We agree, yes?

-Yeah.

Let's hope any profit is bigger than that bucket!

Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick! Time's up!

Chris and Sally were potty to pay £75 for a cracked vase, Thomas went

all stylish choosing the fruit bowl for £23,

and was Sally right to snap up the lacy vase for £30? We'll see later.

So, Sal, my pal, and Chris, how did it go?

-Not too bad, not too bad.

-Not too bad, oh, yes!

-We've got three good items,

-we think.

-Which is your favourite piece?

My favourite is probably the big blue and white vase that Chris found.

-Yeah? Is that your favourite too, Chris?

-Of course, yes.

Yeah, so you're in agreement there, that's always nice.

-Yep, yep.

-And which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

However, I think the one that will bring possibly a bit of a profit is the big glass bowl.

-Glass bowl jobbie?

-Yes.

-The Holmegaard bowl?

-That's the one, yes.

-All right, and do you agree with that, Chris?

-I disagree with that, Tim.

-Yes?

-I think the big blue vase will bring a big profit.

-Well, you're a Stoke-on-Trent man,

-isn't it?

-Yes. If it's made of pot, it's for you!

-Anyway, that's brilliant.

So you only spent £128, that's not so much, which is £172.

-How much is that in Australian dollars, roughly?

-About 345, 350?

That's a lot of money! Sounds better in Australian, doesn't it!

-344, cobber!

-Yes, lovely!

-What are you going to get up to with that?

-Something which maybe a magpie would like, it's a bit shiny.

-Oh, really, a bit of bling?

-Needs a bit of a shine to it.

-Yeah?

You'll be all right to polish it up. Thanks, Thomas.

Let's remind ourselves what the blues bought.

Dina went all fruity, buying the pineapple biscuit barrel for £58,

James also fancied a biscuit and bought another barrel for £30,

and Courtney's mini bucket cost a mini £28. Hmm, bargain(!)

-So, dolls, did you have a nice time?

-Yes!

A pretty giggly time, hey?

It was a good time!

Which is your favourite piece, bearing in mind they're all the same?

BOTH: The barrel.

And which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

The silver baller... That's... I can't speak English!

Just as well you're in charge of elocution, isn't it, your school!

The silver ballerg?

What is a ballerg, please?

Cut? No, no, we keep going on Bargain Hunt!

There's no way out!

The silver ballerg...

-Yes, that one!

-That's the one?

-The silver barrel.

-Thing, OK.

You spent £116, truly pathetic, £184 worth. £184 worth!

I mean, James, this is your pocket money for a year!

Are you going to buy sweeties, or what?

-No, I think I'm going to try and avoid a barrel.

-Yes!

I think it'll be something slightly more sculptural, ladies.

More sculptural? Well done!

Well, it's very nice to be at Bellman's Auction Room in

West Sussex with the Chairman and Managing Director, Jonathan Pratt.

-Hi, Jonathan.

-Good morning, Tim.

Now, Chris and Sally, they went with this pot.

Is it Chinese, do you think?

-I think it is, actually.

-It's heavy enough, isn't it, to be Chinese?

Yes, I mean there's no markings on it, but you've got that sort of

fairly rough footrim there, and the decoration lets it down

sadly, because you want it to be hand painted, and you've got this...

-It's awfully blurry.

-It looks like it's a transfer,

it has to be a transfer with that sort of decoration, that's what we said.

-So it's a myopic Chinese vase then?

-Well, exactly.

It's for the European market, obviously,

but it's a nice big vase, sadly let down by a crack which runs down it.

-It hasn't got a crack too, has it?

-It's got a... Where are we?

There, look at that.

-Running straight down, top to bottom, that's...

-Oh, my... Look at that!

-It's a J curve!

-It's a J curve.

-And that, I think, reflects our estimate.

-Which is?

£10 to £20.

-Oh, Lordy! £75, they paid.

-Hmm, I think that's very optimistic.

What about this H-H-Holmegaard glass fruit bowl?

-You've got to say it with a Danish accent, Tim.

-Oh, yes.

-"Hulme-gaard".

-Is that uben aben?

-Yes.

-So, a big old lump of Scandinavian, as they say.

It's signed on the bottom, Holmegaard 1950...

I think we said seven, anyway the description in the catalogue,

I think, says '57. £30 to £50.

-£23 paid.

-Brilliant.

-So, that's not too bad, is it?

-Yeah, it should do that.

-Yes, it should get a touch off that.

Now, what about this Venetian glass vase?

Well, I mean, you look at it, and that's what it is, isn't it?

It's Venetian, that's the sort of style, this sort of air-twist

decoration, sort of extruded, twisted cane.

-How much?

-How much? £20 to £40.

-OK, £30 paid.

-£30 paid.

-So, that's not too bad, is it?

For certain, they're going to need their bonus buy so let's go and have a look at it!

So, Sally and Chris,

this is the leftover lolly moment,

-you actually had quite a lot of leftover lolly, didn't you?

-Yep.

£172 worth, which you gave to Thomas.

Now, what did he blow it on?

Come on, Thomas! Be honest!

Yeah, I think I did blow it, I bought a silver pin cushion modelled as a shoe, it's very fine,

I think it's sort of Edwardian, so it's 100 years old.

-How much was it?

-Well, don't really worry about that, it was £140,

so I didn't spend all your money.

-£140?

-Yeah.

I think you're impressed, Chris, aren't you? You think £140...

There's something shaking inside.

-Well, that's the...

-It's a toenail!

-So, how much does it go for at auction?

-£100 to £200,

hopefully it falls between the middle of that, so we've got a profit.

Would it be the sort of thing you'd find down under?

I don't know about that, no!

-Probably not!

-It's too old!

-You don't have to decide now.

-We'll have a think about it.

You decide after the sale of your first three items,

but for viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about it.

-I don't think this is your size, Jonathan.

-Or my design.

-Or your design, but it's a sweet looking thing, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Are you going to put your boot in on this?

Give it the boot! Someone has on the back of the heel there.

There's a little bit of a dent on the back there.

-It's painful, that.

-They do sell well, they do sell well...

-Lovely.

-But at the right price.

-What's the right price?

-I would say probably £30 to £50.

-Would you?

-Mmm.

-Thomas Plant, as a bonus buy, paid £140 for this.

-Excellent.

-Yes.

-Good luck to him!

So, he's slightly on the cusp of the top end of expectations here?

Well, I mean estimates often generate interest, one hopes maybe it's a nice

collectible object, there's going to be private people after it.

-Yes, £140 though, it's a buy.

-It's a long way to go.

Now, that's it for the reds, now for the blues, Courtney and Dina.

Starting with the silver and glass biscuit barrel,

which is this joker,

that looks, feels and tastes like moulded glass to me?

But it's got a silver mount, which is good.

Yes, which is good. How much then, for that joker?

I would say it still will attract buyers,

even though there's a little bit of few chips on it, £40 to £60.

-£58 they paid.

-Could get better.

-So that's maybe not too bad.

Now, believe it or not, we've got another biscuit barrel,

which is I think much more attractive,

because it's a novelty jobbie.

I think they spent their money on decorating the bowl,

rather than going for the mount.

How much for the fishy biscuit box barrel?

-I've said £20 to £30.

-£20 to £30?

-£20 to £30.

-£30 paid, so that's OK?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, close enough. Now, what about this little bucket then?

-That's a novelty bucket for you?

-Very pretty.

It's got a silver-plated mount.

It's been swung around by the handle a few times, obviously been used.

-Yeah, it's been squashed, hasn't it?

-But it's good quality tourist ware.

-Yes.

-£10 to £20.

-£10 to £20, £28 paid.

-Yeah, could get there.

Either way, let's go and have a look at their bonus buy, eh? Yes.

I have squandered your money...

THEY LAUGH

..on these two lovely little Scottie dogs.

What do you think, Dine?

-Uh...it's nice.

-Nice.

-I like them.

-Do you?

-How much did you pay, though?

-You may not like them now!

-Oh, no!

-Well, I had a lot of money, didn't I?

-You did!

-Yeah?

So, he was a very nice stallholder, I thought he needed a bit of a lift,

so gave him £145 for this.

Hundred and what?

Quite a lift, actually.

-So, what's the estimate for it then?

-£100 to £150.

£100 to £150.

It's a doggy nation, isn't it?

I think that has filled Dina with confidence, that's the sort of statement we like, James.

Anyway, girls, you don't have to decide right now, you decide later,

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

-So, what's the verdict, then?

-Erm, well...

they are functional, they're attractive, they're 1920s.

They're not in bad nick, are they?

Not in bad condition, but you can't necessarily price it purely on

hoping that someone's going to come along with her two Scottie terriers

and say, "They're for me".

You have to be more conservative in that respect.

-Yes.

-He says, leading up to a...

A disappointing estimate coming up!

So, if you can just cut to the chase.

-Cut to the chase, yes, £30 to £50.

-Oh, dear, I had a funny feeling you were going to say that!

Mr Braxton went in strongly, into the kennel ring, at £145.

-145...

-Now the big question on the population's lips is,

are you taking this sale today?

-I am indeed.

-Aha ha!

We're in safe hands.

Sally and Chris, how are you feeling. Pretty good?

-Yes, confident.

-Yeah, confident?

-A little bit nervous.

-You're a bit nervy?

-Yes.

-I don't know what you've got to be nervy about, darling?

-Chris's thing.

-His pot?

-Yes.

Well, that big Chinese pot, there is a problem,

-it's got a dirty great crack in it.

-That's a crack.

-You paid £75 for it.

-Character, character.

His estimate is £10 to £20, that is not so sweet, I'm afraid.

1441, a beautifully decorated pottery vase, decorated with

an oriental scene, there she is on the screen.

Look at that!

Start me at £10 for this?

Do I see £10? Any interest at £10?

-£10 is bid, thank you madam.

-We've got keen bidding.

Here we go.

Lady's bid at the back at 10, I'll sell at 10, looking for 12,

-are we all done at £10? I'll sell at £10.

-We needed £20!

-Unbelievable, I'm blaming you entirely.

-Going down at £10!

No. £10. Oh, the brute. Minus £65.

She was keen to go more.

Ten quid, what a bargain!

Not a good start, that.

Next up is your Scandinavian bowl, and here it comes.

Lot 1443, Holmegaard studio glass bowl, irregular outline, dated 1957,

and there we go, I've got to start at £22 is bid with me at £22.

We've got one down, come on.

Do I see 25? £22, maiden bid of £22.

-Go on!

-Come on!

-Surely worth more than £22?

-At £22 then.

-25, get in there!

-Hey!

-Bid 25, eight anywhere?

Selling £25 lady's bid, dead ahead and selling at £25.

Good, £2 profit, that's all right.

Brilliant, £25 plus two.

-Now, Venetian glass.

-Lot 1445, a Venetian glass vase,

moulded twin handles on a pedestal foot, and, uh,

who'll start me at £10 for this?

-£10 for this.

-It's keen bidding.

-Ten waving on the left, thank you.

-Lovely ladies.

-Keen bidding.

-And we've got a war on here!

£12, it stops at 12, £12.

Do I see 15? £12, back of the room at £12, any further bidding at £12.

Are we all done at 12? No further interest at all?

I'll sell at 12, we're all done at £12, thank you.

-Go on!

-£12! That's bad, that's minus £18 on that, so 65.

-81.

-63, 73, 81.

Minus £81, this is a disaster!

-Minus £81!

-Can I just give you some advice about the shoe.

We've seen what's happened to the other items,

you make up your own mind about the shoe, it's a good quality item.

-Do you have a hidden message here or something?

-Go for the shoe!

-Are you going to go with it or not?

-Yeah, obviously.

-We may as well.

-You want to go for it? Really?

-Go for the shoe.

-You're going to go with it?

-We're in the minuses anyway.

-Quickly!

-We're going for it.

If you're going to go with it, your decision made?

You're going with the bonus buy, the old boot.

1448, a silver pin cushion modelled as a lady's shoe, and I can start at

£12, is bid at £12, 15, 18, 20,

-22, 25, 28...

-Lots of bidding.

Yeah, we've got a war on here!

32, 35 clears the bids in at £35, do I see eight anywhere?

£35 and on the left at £35, are we all done?

At £35, I'll take another bid...

-selling then for £35.

-Oh, brilliant!

-£35 there, that's minus another £105.

-Oh, dear.

-106...

-That makes us overall then, minus £186 smackers,

by my old-fashioned mathematics!

Sally and Chris, whatever you do, don't tell the blues a thing.

-We don't want them to know just how well you've done...

-That's right.

-And on that basis, mum's the word, yes?

-Yes.

Mum is the word.

So, girls, how are you feeling about this auction?

-I'm feeling good about it.

-You're feeling good about it?

-Excited.

-Do you know how the reds got on?

-No.

-You don't want to know.

Anyway, first up is the number one biscuit barrel and here she comes.

Lot 1466, we have a cut glass and silver-mounted biscuit barrel

of pineapple design, and it's dated London 1898, and I can start at £40.

-£40?

-£40.

45, 50, and five, 60...

Look at that, Dina...

-you're in profit, chicken!

-Yeah!

One more, £70 then against you at £70, £70 on the book at £70.

-£70, I don't believe it!

-Gosh!

We've made a profit! Look at that... £70! Here we go, kids!

1467, a frosted glass and silver plate mounted biscuit barrel, detail "Biscuits"

with a nice cord rope finial, and start me at a tenner, £10 for this?

Ten is bid, thank you, at 10 on the left, at £10, looking for 12 now,

-£10 on the front here at 10, are we all done at 10?

-A deal at 10?

-Surely not?

-Come on, come on!

I'll take 12, selling for 10, last chance at £10!

-Oh, no, no, no!

-All done at £10!

That's a conspiracy, that is a conspiracy.

£10? Minus £20.

-Oh, sorry, team.

-Here's the serpentine. It's OK.

Look out... here comes the bubble, I mean bucket!

Lot 1468, an ornamental serpentine bucket

with an applied silver mount and a swing-over handle, pretty

little lot this of Cornish granite,

and I've got bids to start me in at 10, 12... let's start at £32.

£32. Courtney! Courtney!

38, 40 if you like, £38 then with me at £38,

looking for 40, I'll sell at £38, 40 at the back, 42, 45, 48, 50, 5...

Have you got your relations involved?

£55 then, at £55, 60 at the back...

-£55!

-Oh, my God!

-Look at this!

£60, are we all done at 60... £60, one more maybe...

£60 to the lady standing at the back of the room at £60.

-Whoa!

-£60!

I think that's £32 profit!

-That's £32 profit.

-Thank that lady, well done!

So, overall you are plus £24. What are you going to do?

Are you going to go with the bonus buy, or not?

-No.

-Are you sure you don't want the bonus buy?

-No, sorry, James.

-Sorry, James, no.

-You're not going with those dogs?

-No.

-No bonus buy.

1471, a pair of Art Deco style alabaster bookends

mounted with patinated smelter,

figures of seated terriers, and who'll start me at £10?

£10?

£10 on the left, 12 anyone?

12, £12 then, £12 gets at the back of the room then...

Paid £145.

-£15 anywhere? Selling for 12, dead ahead then, lady's bid at £12, all done, I'll sell for £12.

-£12.

-Thank you very much.

-£12 minus £133.

Is that another record?

So, good decision-making by the blues,

because by not taking the bonus buy,

they made a tidy profit of £24

and beat the reds who, remember, made a whopping loss of £186.

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

but first, I'm heading off to a museum with a difference.

Here in leafy Bloomsbury is the site of the original Foundling Hospital,

established by philanthropist Captain Thomas Coram in 1739

and home to countless thousands of abandoned children,

or "foundlings" as they were then called.

After the hospital was relocated to the countryside in the 1920s,

the building was demolished.

Historic parts of the hospital's original decor were saved

and stored in a purpose-bought 1930s house for years

until the Foundling Museum was opened in 2004.

What's extraordinary is

that when the original hospital was demolished in 1926, this ceiling

and all the contents of this room

were dismantled and put in the store for 11 years,

and then reassembled in this building

and most perfectly put together,

Now, what do you remember about Moses?

Abandoned in a basket, amongst the bulrushes,

on the banks of the River Nile.

Well, you'd be right there. But look at this image.

Here we have the infant Moses, aged three or four years,

being delivered to the Pharaoh's daughter.

No more appropriate image

in the courtroom at the Foundling Hospital.

Meanwhile, will our two new teams

find any antiques in need of a good home

back at the Portobello Market?

Time to meet the next lot of reds and blues.

All fine actors and actresses who are being themselves today,

except that there may be a little help at hand, literally.

-Hi, Tim.

-Oh, Lord. Look at that.

First up then, Brenda,

who, apart from being in many West End roles, you, for 27 years,

-have been the voice of Sooty and Sweep's friend, Soo.

-That's correct.

-Is that right?

-Yes, it is.

-And you've performed at the National Theatre.

-Yep.

-And in five West End shows.

-Yes.

Yes. And musicals. I've been the Reverend Mother several times in The Sound Of Music.

-So, Soo?

-Yes?

Would you like to introduce us to Robert?

Well, this is Brenda's friend, Robert and they first met in the '60s

-when they were children, under a large stuffed bear.

-Never.

Well, we were four at the time and it was a stuffed bear

in the Haslemere Museum, in the taxidermy department.

Many years ago, I had a stall in Portobello Market.

-You didn't.

-I did.

-You're experienced.

-You know your way around.

-I used to sell Steiff bears and they used to call me the teddy boy.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-So, now, for the Blues.

Also, actors.

Sue and Maurice, welcome.

And you have recently appeared in a production with the Reds.

Yes, in David Copperfield. Maurice was Peggotty and I was Mrs Steerforth.

But your love of show business goes back a long time, doesn't it?

Yes. My parents were a doubt act

and I toured with them for the first seven years of my life,

so really, I grew up in a theatre.

So, Maurice, what do you do to compete here with Sue, then?

I mean, how can you keep up with the girl?

There's no competition. What we are trying to do in Farnham

where once stood a proud theatre called the Redgrave,

which is probably going to be pulled down...

-Oh, sad.

-Very sad.

We've actually created our own theatre company called the New Farnham Repertory company

and we perform there in the local area

and we create work for other actors.

Now, the money moment. Here comes the box-office cash.

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

Now, here's a little corker.

Oh, yeah. I can see that.

-A Heeley corkscrew. What do you reckon?

-You're quite right, Robert.

It is by Heeley. They're the makers but what we call...

This is a Weir patent corkscrew cos it has this concertina action.

1880s, I would say.

Now, the all-important question is how much is it?

Well, he's asking £60 for it. What do you think?

Well, we do sell these at auction and yes, they are popular.

However, £60 is a bit steep. I think we have to do some work on that.

Shall I go and screw him down a bit?

I think that's a good idea.

Go and have a chat. Brilliant.

Robert and Brenda turned the screw on the dealer to get him down to £45.

-Isn't this lovely?

-That is lovely.

-It's a spirit level. Look.

-Yes.

Now, this is a slightly unusual choice for a lady.

-I know.

-What attracts you to it?

-Well, because it's been used and it's seen a lot of work, and nowadays

you go and buy it, it's got plastic on it, it says 4.99, but that was a craftsman's.

I think you've chosen a winner. It's beautifully made.

We've got these brass plates, a mahogany carcass, a little window.

Very nice. Everything's beautifully done about it.

John Rabone and Sons, the maker there, Birmingham.

-All right.

-We like that.

-We like that. Shall we see if we can get a deal?

-Shall we?

-Yes. So what are you asking for it?

-£60.

-60? Can you do better on it?

-40?

I can't do 40, I'm afraid. Um...I'll do 50.

-50? Somewhere in the middle?

-A happy level would be 45?

-Come away. 45. Yes!

-45!

-Good. We got it. That's lovely. Terrific. Thank you.

-Very pleased.

Always good to see a bit of thespian action on the show.

Now, let's pull the curtain on the Blues.

-Bridget.

-Robert! How lovely.

-Good to see you.

-Brenda.

-Hello.

-Thomas.

-Hello.

-I told you you'd meet some actors here.

Bridget and I have known each other for...

-slightly too long.

-Too long. Don't tell him the truth.

-Don't tell anybody,

but we did a thriller in the West End, for a year, wasn't it?

- Really? - He was my stepson.

Got some lovely stuff here, Bridget. Is that a scissor set

I can see down there?

- Yes, it is. Shall I get it out? - Yes, please.

There we are. It's a matching set of five scissors.

Let me have a look. They're rather fine, aren't they?

Look at these lovely handles on them.

Lovely texture to them in a great green leather case.

-They're quite chic.

-Oh, look. They're by Briggs.

-Is that good?

-Very fine and rare.

Early makers of sewing-related items.

-Early Briggs.

-Absolutely.

-They look quite sharp.

-They are.

They're pre-stainless steel. >

Stainless steel coated it and therefore they were never so sharp.

Fantastic. Well, as you've been my stepmother,

are you going to be a good stepmother or a wicked one?

-How much are they?

-I'll try and be a kind one,

but the very, very best would be £45.

What do you think?

Is this going to make a profit?

- Everything I do makes a profit. - You betcha!

So we've heard. Yes.

-Bye-bye, darling.

-Bye-bye.

See you again soon.

Well, they say it pays to have friends in high places, but will it pay for the Reds?

-Ah, now, what about this?

-That's lovely, isn't it?

That's lovely. Beautifully cast.

It was a... What do you think?

Obviously, a small bidet, Maurice.

-It's an inkwell, isn't it?

-It is. You're spot on,

but it's quite a triumphal inkwell, isn't it?

It's a typical Victorian thing.

-A captain of industry would have had this.

-OK.

Fabulous on his desk.

And I like these masks.

-It's quite sort of Neptune.

-Oh, yes.

-Shipping.

-Shipping.

-It's priced at £45.

-Oh.

What do we think?

There might be some movement now.

-We need a bit of movement, because it doesn't have the liner.

-No. Absolutely.

-But it is

-just a really decorative piece.

-Shall we do it?

-Yes.

Sue and Maurice had the brass to get the Victorian inkstand down to £25.

Hello, everybody.

Come and look at this. I promised Sooty a present.

- What do you think of this? - What is it?

Oh, it's a little bureau. What do you think, Thomas?

Well, it is a bureau.

-Very heavy.

-Doorstop.

Almost like a doorstop, exactly, but it's probably something

indestructible, so made for children.

And it's obviously a bureau and it may be made out of something...

a slate or... It's certainly a hard stone.

-I think it's a decorative object and it would look rather good on a desk.

-Yeah.

-Absolutely.

Or even a mantelpiece, you know, as an objet d'art.

-So, Soo, how much is it?

-Well, it was £22, but I think we can get it for 15.

-£15. That's wonderful.

Fantastic price. Well done.

Blimey, that's heavy.

-It is heavy, isn't it?

-Let's hope we get a good LUMP sum, eh?

-I'm sure we will!

Good to see Soo putting her furry feminine charm to good use.

But it looks like she's not the only furry female around.

Oi, Soo, beware of impostors.

Yes. There's really only one Soo. Hee-hee-hee!

I think I have our third item. This is with your approval, I must add.

It's a lovely little box. It's Tunbridge Ware.

Early Tunbridge Ware.

-Yes.

-And...recognise it?

-Oh...it's the Dome, it's the Pavilion, in Brighton.

-Yeah. It is.

Where I live. Isn't it fun?

So, it's an early transfer, coloured engraving.

Now, there's a chap called Wise of Tunbridge, and he used to produce this early souvenir ware.

1800, 1820.

-A nice Regency bit, but it's a beautiful wood as well.

-That's nice.

-Yeah.

A little lozenge. Typical shape for this period.

What about the price?

It's a high one. £140.

-You've astounded me. £140.

-A lot of money.

-For a box.

-What do you think we can get for that?

-Well, we'll try and get it down.

-Well, I think...

-It's not a bad price anyway.

-I love it.

The fact that the Dome has a theatre in it, which is still being used today, I think it's lovely.

You've been great contestants and great performers. I think this is the one for us, don't you?

-Yes?

-All right. Yes. I do. Yes.

-Good.

-So where are you girls from?

-We're from Melbourne.

-Australia.

All the way from Australia. And do you watch Bargain Hunt at home?

-Yes, we do, every day on Channel Nine.

-5.30.

How exciting is that?

Any minute now we're going to know how much leftover lolly there is for the experts to spend

on that bonus buy which may or may not boost their team's profits at auction,

-but right now, there's just one thing to say and that is...

-BOTH: Time's up.

Time's up. Let's check out what the Reds bought.

Robert got this steel corkscrew for £45,

but will it pop any corks at the auction?

Brenda's scissors were a snip at 45 quid.

And Soo used a little "bear-faced" cheek

to get this slate doorstop for a knockdown £15.

So what's Soo's favourite item?

Well, Soo's favourite item, I think,

were the scissors because there was a little bit of bling on them.

Brenda, which is your favourite item?

I rather like the corkscrew because I don't think you can have too many corkscrews.

You can't have too much vino either.

-Do you agree with that sentiment, Roberto?

-Absolutely.

-I'd go for the corkscrew any day.

-Is that your favourite bit?

-Sure is.

-Sure is.

Anyway, you spent a pathetic £105.

I can't believe this. Only £105.

That means there's £195 worth of leftover lolly to give Thomas.

-I'm going to spend most of it.

-It's a big moment for you.

-Absolutely.

-Let's find out what the Blues bought.

On balance, this spirit level seemed a good buy, at £45.

The writing's on the wall for the inkstand at 25 quid

and will the Blues be boxing clever with their Tunbridge?

We'll find out at the auction.

So, S and M, did you have a good time?

-We had a lovely time.

-We've had a fantastic time.

It's so interesting going around with someone who can tell us what these things are...

-otherwise it's just a walk.

-Are we talking about James Braxton here?

-Lovely.

-He's our man, I tell you.

-He is the man. Yes.

-Now...

-Which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

-Probably...the spirit level.

-I think it's going to be the spirit level.

-Or the inkwell.

-You think the ink well.

-Somebody might just see it.

-The spirit level.

-Or it could be the box.

-Could be the box, yes.

Thanks very much for that.

-It's very clear. Anyway, you spent £205...

-I know.

That's a really mature amount. £95 of leftover lolly.

-Now, James, they're full of fulsome praise for you.

-They're lovely contestants.

What have you got in mind then with the 95 smacks?

-Lot of big desk theme going on, so maybe something totally different.

-Completely different.

-Football...

-You know all about the completely different.

-Quite. Yes. I should be able to find something.

-Good luck with that, James.

-Thank you.

Well, we've taken a trip out of London, down to Sussex,

to Bellmans Auction House,

and it's lovely to be here with Jonathan Pratt. Jonathan.

-Good morning, Tim.

-Hail.

-Hail.

-Hail.

Reds, Robert and Brenda, they have gone with the sewing scissors set.

A nice little leather bound case

and you've got this nice graduated set of steel scissors.

-Each one stamped with the name of their maker.

-Yes.

Five by Briggs and one by...

Yes... sadly, which makes a difference.

-Not exactly a matching set.

-Not exactly a matching set.

We're one digit away from perfection.

One digit away from perfection.

I would say probably £60 to £90.

-Well, they'll be delighted. £45 they paid.

-£45.

-Next up is the corkscrew. Mr Healy's.

-Mr Healy's.

-It's a good fun thing. I mean, these sort of novelties...

-Yes.

They're a good laugh at the dinner table.

-How much? £20 to £30.

-£45 paid.

-OK.

Lastly, is this lump here...

It's a big lump of slate.

Big lump of slate

in the form of a bureau from the northern part of Wales.

-£20 to £30.

-£20 to £30. They paid £15.

-Yeah. Good.

Well, I think this team have bought extremely well.

And overall, they may not need their bonus buy,

but we're going to go and have a look at it anyway.

I'll show you. Now, I wanted something related to our little theme.

-Oh, yes. Yes.

-And I bought a rattle.

Oh, look. Well done, Thomas.

-It's not yours, is it?

-It's not mine. No. No.

-It's so like you.

-Thank you very much.

A little smaller.

A little smaller. Yes. Have a look.

Absolutely divine.

-We like him.

-You like him.

-How much did you give?

Well, I gave £120 for a silver and mother-of-pearl rattle, and it's post-war.

I was thinking it was going to be Edwardian, but seeing the catalogue description,

I didn't have a chance to look up the date and it's probably 1960s.

But I thought for the theme I thought it would be great fun.

-Absolutely.

-Lot of money.

-Well done, you.

-We had a lot left.

Now, you two, 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 it.

Not an old one, particularly. 1961.

-Right.

-But, nonetheless, fun object.

-£30 to £50.

-£30 to £50.

-£30 to £50.

-Right.

Thomas Plant has paid £120 for this bear

and he rates that as a profit-making potential purchase.

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

Sue and Maurice. Their first item is this enormous spirit level.

I actually do like a good tool.

Yes.

When it's brass mounted in mahogany, very nice.

-£10 to £20.

-Oh, Lordy. £45 they paid.

Victorian brass inkstand. There's a fine one, look.

No inkwell in it.

-Well, I never.

-Not so good.

There would have been glass well inside.

Not difficult to find, in fairness.

So, how much, then? £30 to £50. Well, that's super.

-£25 they paid, you see, so that was a good buy.

-Yeah.

Now, finally, the box.

Very much a piece that's redolent of Sussex, Brighton.

When I first saw it I thought, you know, £30 to £40 at auction.

-Has it grown on you?

-It's grown on me, yes.

I think we'll do rather well with that, actually.

Do you? Well, £135 was paid,

-if I'm being honest with you, so it does need to kick on.

-Yeah.

I think they'll do perfectly nicely out of these objects,

but we'll have a look at their bonus buy anyway.

-Oh, that's nice.

-Sue.

I like it. I like it.

What's the story?

It's a nymph captured in a bronze-like metal.

It's rather nice. Art Nouveau.

So, nice Art Nouveau, steel.

Sort of, whatever, 1890, naughty '90s.

I don't think it is bronze. I think it's lighter, isn't it?

-So, it's spelter, but it's very well formed.

-How much was it?

-£55.

-Do you think it'll make a profit?

-I sincerely hope so, Sue.

-Yep.

-You don't have to decide now.

You decide after the sale of your first three items,

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

Typical sort of Art Nouveau touch to a classical subject.

-£30 to £50.

-£55 as the bonus buy.

-OK. Could get there.

-Could get there.

-Yeah.

There's our prediction, you see, so this is most interesting.

Are they going to need to take the bonus buy?

Will they indeed take the bonus buy? We can't tell just yet.

-But you'll be doing the necessary on the rostrum.

-Absolutely.

We look forward to seeing you there, hammering away for Britain. Thanks.

Now, Roberto et Brenda, excited?

Ooh, ecstatically.

Listen, you're professional thespians, right.

-You go to the edge every day of your working life.

-Every day.

-Yeah.

-Yes.

I mean, I don't know how you do it, actually. You step up on that stage.

Do you have that awful butterfly moment just before the off?

It's like a drug, adrenaline. You get off on it. You miss it if you don't do it.

There you go. Well, you're going to do it now.

We have collectable sewing collectable items.

19th century French leather case steel scissor set.

And I can start at £50.

-What?

-With me at £50.

-No.

Against you all at £50. Any further interest? At £50.

Named bid at £50. All done at 50?

I'll sell, straight in then, commission bid at £50.

Look at that. £50.

You've made £5 before we've even winked. Here we go then. Let's go.

Healy's steel patent corkscrew.

Late 19th century one and again I'm bid £25.

They're very generous in Sussex.

£2, 35. £38 with you, sir, on the right, standing at 38. Do I see 40?

-Come on. A bit more.

-£38 then.

Gentleman far right at 38.

Are we done and selling at £38?

£38. That's a bit disappointing.

That's minus seven.

Lot 4091. A slate doorstop modelled as a George III bureau.

Nice interesting lot, this and I can start straight in

at 20, 30, £40, £45 bid.

£45. 50. 55. 60.

Five. 70. Five. 80. Five. 90.

Five. 100.

£95 against you then. £95.

Are we all done at 95?

110. £110 then. Against you at 110.

Any further bidding at £110? Are we all done? I'll sell at £110.

Last chance at 110.

-Fantastic.

-Brilliant. Plus £95.

£95 less your losings... is £93.

-You are plus £93.

-That's fabulous.

-Are you going with the bonus buy, or not?

-Well...

-What do you think?

-Well. I love it, but I just think it's probably a little over the odds.

I'm going to guess a price now.

I reckon 30 to 40.

And Thomas paid 120.

I gather from that you'll not be going with the bonus buy.

Do you think that's wise?

Very wise. A sensible decision.

-No bonus buy.

-No bonus buy.

-No bonus buy. Here it comes, then.

Hold your breath.

A silver teething rattle, modelled as a teddy bear.

Birmingham 1961. And again to start,

at £30 clears the commissions on the book at £30. Looking for two.

Commission bid at 30. Do I see two?

I'll sell at £30, then. Straightaway then.

Last chance, at £30. Are you all done? £30.

Phew.

Minus £90 on that.

Had you gone with the bonus buy,

you'd have profit now of precisely £3.

As it is, you have a profit of £93.

And you have to promise me one thing, right?

-Yes.

-Do not tell the Blues a word.

-Don't tell the Blues.

-Don't tell the Blues.

Sue, Maurice, do you know how the Reds got on?

No, I don't. I have no idea at all.

-No idea at all.

-They were zipped.

-We don't want you to.

-We're not allowed to.

No. We don't really want you to.

-First up is the spirit level, here it comes.

-1512.

A mahogany and brass mounted level by John Rabone and Sons

and I've got bids to start me at 15, 18, £20.

£20 is bid. Looking for two now. 22.

25. At £25, £25 then. All done at 25.

-I'm selling at £25. Last chance.

-Come on!

-No taste.

Going to go down at £25.

That is so cheap. £25 minus 20.

Well, I would have had it myself.

1513. A Victorian brass inkstand of square form.

Embossed with masks. Start me at ten for this.

-Surely worth ten. £10 for the brass inkwell.

-Oh, come on.

£10 back in the room. At £10. I'll sell at ten, looking for 12?

-£10? Surely worth another £2.

-I'm getting a sinking feeling.

-So am I.

-£10. At £10.

£10. So it's minus 15.

Now, the Tunbridge web banded box on this basis,

we're about to get slaughtered.

1514, we have a 19th century Tunbridge web banded box.

Very nice box, that. And there's a lot of interest in this.

To start me at 80, 90, £100.

£100 to start me at. £100.

Looking for ten. 110. 120. 130. 140.

£140. 150. 160. £160.

170. £160 against you, then. Commission bid still at 160.

He's selling it.

-You were right.

-This is so exciting.

Last chance. Selling for £160.

Yes.

That is plus £25. I don't believe that.

You made £25 profit, James.

Extraordinarily good.

Anyway, you are minus 35.

You had 25. You're now minus £10.

What are you going to do about the nymph?

-Definitely go for it.

-We might as well while we're here.

She's a beautiful woman and she will do well for us.

-Yes. Bring it in, Zola?

-Zola.

Zola. OK.

Here it goes. Going with the bonus buy and here it comes.

Lot 1518. Here we have the patented spelter bust

of a maiden in the Art Nouveau style and I can start at £30 is bid.

Looking for five now. At £30. 35.

40. 45. 50.

£50 against you, sir. £50.

At £50. £50 it is then.

At £50. Any further bidding? At £50 then, I'm selling.

Last chance. At £50.

£50. Bad luck.

James. Minus five.

Overall, you're minus £15.

There's no shame in that.

No. Not at all. I'm not upset at all.

TIM LAUGHS

Darlings.

-You've been just wonderful.

-Thank you so much.

-Couldn't have done it without you.

-Super duper. Have we had a good time?

-Wonderful time.

-Lovely.

It is my duty to reveal who the runners-up are today

-cos we don't have losers any more, only have runners up.

-That's nice.

And very, very, very sadly, I have to tell you, that runners-up are...

-the Blues.

-Thought so.

-Did you think so?

-Yes.

-Did you have a premonition?

-I had total premonition.

-Did you?

-Yes.

Anyway, there we go. It was good fun.

-To lose only £15 on Bargain Hunt is quite an achievement.

-Is it?

-It certainly is.

You're up there at the top rank.

-That's gratifying.

-But today, sadly,

you haven't aspired to those heights that the Reds have.

They are going to go home with £93.

Can you believe that?

£93 is going to be handed to these thespians. I can't believe it.

£93 is coming your way.

-Thank you so much, Tim.

-There's the 90 smackers. All right.

-And may I say this is going into the New Farnham Repertory Actors' coffers.

-Oh, right.

We're donating it to a theatre company.

Well, isn't that lovely? It's been lovely meeting you.

We have had a really good time. You've been brilliant.

-Join us soon for some more bargain hunting. Yes.

-Yes.

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