London Bargain Hunt

Thank you so much for joining us.

One of me, two teams, £300 apiece, two experts.

It must be Bargain Hunt.

Welcome to Portobello Road market.

Famous worldwide for its market,

it's actually a living movie set,

with an incredible range of collectibles and stalls.

I've detected a slightly artistic and rebellious streak in our teams today.

Before they all get heady with excitement, let's remind ourselves of the rules.

They each get £300 and an hour to find three items.

They then take their items to auction and sell them off to the highest bidder.

The team that makes the most money wins. Hurrah!

Today we've got two teams of manly men, pumped up, full of testosterone and ready for the contest.

For the Reds, we've Mark and Tom.

For the Blues, we've Mark and Andrew. Welcome to Bargain Hunt.

You're best friends, and you agree on everything?

-We agree on nothing pretty much.

-Not really. We agreed to come on the show today

and that we're going to try and find as many good things as possible.

-For Bargain Hunt?

-Exactly.

-That's a relief!

-Do you collect anything?

-I collect horror film memorabilia.

Really? What's it with you and horror?

-I'm just a big horror fan.

-Since you were a kid?

-I used to always watch them on TV and love them.

-Snuggle up with your teddy?

Not a ted any more, but I still watch them.

Have you ever made money from selling collectibles?

I always go to car boot sales, and scavenge around trying to find things.

I picked up an original photograph of Sid Vicious from the Sex Pistols.

I bought it for about a fiver and put it on an online auction and got bid up to £400.

-What was special about the picture?

-It was an original press photograph. It was after he was arrested.

-Sex Pistols collectors just wanted it.

-That's the business.

-I'm not complaining.

-Congratulations.

-Tom, you're a salesman.

-That's right.

-Are those skills going to stand you in good stead?

I hope so. I think I know a few tricks of the trade to look out for.

-Like what?

-Some of the leading questions, and what have you. Put a twist on it.

Hopefully, I'll get a few bargains.

Tom, what out of your experience arms you better than Mark?

I used to go to the auction house with my grandad when I was younger.

-I know what sort of things sell and what don't.

-What sort of things will you be looking out for?

-Something a bit different.

-Wacky?

-Bit out there, yeah.

-"Out there."

I'm getting the message! There could be trouble here.

-This isn't frightening you boys, is it?

-No!

-Not at all.

You don't look as if you scare easily. You're often mistaken for a policeman.

-Why do you think that is?

-It's my shiny shoes.

A little bird tells me that you hate musicals

but the absolutely adore opera, in particular, Carmen?

I love Carmen. What a tramp! I like sassy women.

-What, sassy big fat women?

-Something like that.

-Does that go for you, Andrew? Are you fond of big, fat, sassy woman?

-I see a trend emerging!

I do love the opera. I'm not dragged there, I like it a lot. We go often.

What's the story about you going off to the south of France with a nightie and a pair of wellies?

I did a dreadful deed to my brother. I was sharing a flat with him at the time and we fell out.

-We didn't speak for months.

-What sort of a dreadful deed was it?

-It was a dreadful deed involving his girlfriend and myself.

-Oh, my!

I got stopped late at work, when I was going on holiday,

and had to ring him and ask him to pack me a suitcase quickly.

We then flew off to Nice. I arrived at the villa,

-opened the suitcase and discovered two pairs of wellies and nightie.

-LAUGHTER

-How sweet is revenge?! No bathers?

-No bathers.

-No Hawaii Five-O shirts?

-No.

Very funny. Well, that will teach you a lesson.

What's about you wanting to become Paul Simon?

My father is a musician and he lent money to struggling musicians

and they would leave their instruments as security.

We had lots of instruments to play with as children.

I stuck with the guitar. I play classical guitar.

-I wanted to be as good as Paul Simon.

-That's a reasonable ambition.

I hope today you finish up with diamonds on your soles! Now, the money moment. £300 apiece.

You know the rules, your experts await.

Off you go!

Don't forget, they've only got one hour to find their three items.

Undeniably attractive, seductively informed and effortlessly cool -

that's enough about me.

Let's meet the experts on hand today.

For the Reds, he's not feral, it's just the look of him.

It's Philip Serrell.

A beast!

And for the Blues, adored by many,

revered by even more, it's the delectable David Barby.

It's a big throng of the market and with so many items on display,

our manly team should really get going with their buys.

There are a couple down there.

Guys, what do you think?

I thought the stallholder was just a little bit harsh, because he said there was sort of a...

I can see it, actually.

Better looking, Phil!

What is it?

It's the dog's...inkwell.

It's a boxer dog. It's got its collar round it. I think it's really wicked.

You open him up by the ears, and I just think that's really lovely.

I'd think it dates to about 1880. Two problems with it.

In that that ear, has just been chipped and perhaps flattened off a bit there.

It's been in a fight or something! It may have had glass eyes at one point in time.

The thing I love about it is its colour.

I just think he's lovely.

-Collectible?

-Hugely so -

to people who collect dog-related stuff,

hugely to people who collect inkwells.

I'd love to own it.

I like it. Do you like it?

-It would appeal to different markets.

-How much is it?

That's the acid test. It's £120. If you can have a nice chat with the dealer, see if he'll...

If you can get that for anything under £100,

I hope we've got a result.

If it goes into the auction, it could make £40 or 50.

But if the auctioneers will put it on the internet

and you've got collectors there, there's £100 to £200 worth there.

-It's a gamble.

-I'm up for it.

It's the dog's...!

-Go on.

-I'll give it a go.

-Cheers, Phil.

The boys paid £90 for the Philip lookalike,

I mean, the boxer inkwell!

-Well, that's very indulgent. Biscuits, what sort are they?

-They're cookies.

-I've been shopping. What do you think of this?

-It's lovely. Is it a biscuit barrel?

-No, it's not.

I think, in fact, it is for cigars. I look at this and I think of the workmanship, first of all.

We've got these lovely sections here, brass-banded.

I can't help but think that this could have been an apprentice piece by a young cooper.

-You know, barrel makers.

-We live in Cooper's Lodge.

That's absolutely brilliant. It's divine intervention.

I think this is so good. This is a little lock here, which is Victorian.

If you look carefully at the little flap that goes over the keyhole, it's VR, Victoria Regina.

In the interior, there's nothing exciting. If it was a biscuit barrel, it would be lined.

This could have been made as a gift, for let's say, the mother of the cooper,

and she could have kept her cottons in here or something. It's a lovely little box.

What's the price?

-It's 150.

-That's a lot of money.

Handle it first. You'll notice that these bands of brass,

-they're a bit slack.

-How does that happen?

The wood shrinks. So, a little bit of glue, I think would work wonders on that.

-Do you think we'd be able to get it down to 100?

-We might be able to.

-I can smile nicely. Would that help?

-I think you'd be best trying to get that off.

Go and smile nicely and see what you can do.

I mustn't lose that key.

It's beautiful, isn't it?

-Did you like that?

-I do.

-I think it's quite good, being from Cooper's Lodge.

-Yes.

David's impeccable manners brought the goodies home for £100.

That makes the math easy, £200 to go.

A lot of people don't realise that here in Portobello Road,

there's a lot more than just a lot of stalls outside on the street.

There are some serious specialist dealers.

These carpets look magical because they're beautifully displayed on the walls.

In particular, I want to show you this example which is an unusual thing.

If you feel it, it's incredibly smooth and thin.

The one next door is much thicker and bulkier.

This is an knotted carpet.

Each of the warps and wefts have been put together with loops of wool and knotted,

and then cut, which is what makes a bit of pile.

This rug has no pile at all because it's been woven.

This particular rug is called a kilim, or pileless rug.

It was made in north-west Persia in a town called Senna, around about 1880.

What's unusual about it is its brilliant condition.

The overall design is called Harati,

with these scattered flower heads.

If I take the lower edge and try to roll it,

just look how flexible the rug is.

That's its original purpose.

This very portable type of mat or rug would have gone with a rich person to a communal bath-house.

No plumbing in houses, you went to a communal place to have your bath.

If you were rich, you'd not want to just step on the cold stone floor.

You'd take your own roll-up rug with you.

Amusing, isn't it?

What would a good quality kilim rug from Senna cost today?

For an old one like this,

it could be yours for £3,800.

Now, that's a magic carpet for you!

I want the Reds to win today.

It's got to be the Blue team.

-Definitely.

-Go the Blue team!

-Blue team all the way.

-What's he gone to do?

-I don't know. Where has he gone?

He's around here somewhere. I presume he's out scouring for bargains.

I hope so. There he is.

-I found a nice little silver object.

-How do you know it's silver?

-I'm guessing it's silver. It ain't gold!

-It ain't gold.

-I ain't the expert!

-How do you know it's silver?

-Because of the hallmark.

The boy is cute, isn't he? What does the hallmark tell you?

Age, where it's from,

-and that's about it.

-He's good, isn't he?

This indeed has got a hallmark, just in here.

Assayed in Birmingham. The lion pattern says it's silver.

There's a little E there, I'd think this is early 20th century.

We've got a little silver hooky thing here.

-We don't actually know what it does, do we?

-Is it a clip of some sort?

-How much is it?

-She wants £45 for it.

-What do you think it's worth?

-Hopefully a lot more than that, but...

-What do you reckon at auction?

-You're asking me what it's going to make at auction

-but you don't know what it is.

-It's nice.

-It's nice but we don't know what it is. What is it?

You're going to have to tell us.

-Perhaps it was for doing your trousers up? No?

-I don't know about that.

-It's a napkin clip.

-Oh, right.

So, just when you're about to sit down to your eight-course meal,

you slide your napkin in there and pull the clip down and hook it into your collar just there.

It just holds your napkin.

-Now you know what that is, does it make you feel better?

-I like to know what it is.

-So you're happy you want to buy it?

-I like it.

-I'm happy.

-You're both convinced that you can get a profit on that?

-It'll go well.

-If we get it down a tenner or even more?

-If you can do it.

-Even more.

-I'll try.

-Give it your best. Good luck, mate.

-How do you think he'll get on?

-He's not a bad negotiator.

I hope he is, for your sake!

That's faith for you!

Mark picked up the napkin holders for £35, leaving the Reds £175 still to spend.

What do you think?

-He looks so sad.

-Rather poignant. I had these puppets as a kid and the auction house wanted toys.

-So what do you think?

-Are the strings and everything there?

-Yes.

-What do you think of this?

-I think that's a better bet than this thing.

Look at that. It's like a spy plane.

Yes. What date do you think it is?

-1950s?

-1940s, 1950s. It makes me think of all of those B-movies.

It's got some Art-Deco step features coming off down here.

That's right.

I think it's sort of super-sonic, streamline imagination in the '50s of how the future might be.

Look, the lighter comes out here.

I thought it was an ejector seat!

I thought to myself, "My God, he's broken it!"

You've got the flint going in there and I guess the gas goes in there.

-That's right.

-It fits quite snugly.

So, the whole thing has been made as one particular unit.

-So what kind of money are we talking about?

-I think they wanted £75?

It's quite a lot of money, isn't it, even for a collector's piece?

I've seen them make terrific prices.

-Have you?

-But they have to be named Dunhill, or something like that.

This one, is it named? It's not.

There's no brand name there, you see. I think you ought to get it down to about 60, maybe £50.

-Than sort of price range.

-We should go for it.

-I like it.

-I like it very much.

-As long as you don't play with it!

At £52, let's hope it soars at auction.

You might well be sitting at home, shouting at the telly, saying, "Spend all the money!"

I don't blame you. I'd like to do the same thing myself.

But if the teams do have anything left over from their £300, they give it to their expert.

Once the experts have got their hot little mitts on the leftover lolly,

they'll go and find an additional item, which is offered to the teams at the auction.

They can gamble and go with it, and if it bombs, then that acts against any profit they may have.

If they go with it and it makes a profit, it's all win, win, win!

What on earth is that?

-He's got something.

-Flying saucer!

Here's Tom.

-What do you think, guys?

-Let's have a look at it.

I quite like it, it's an advertising tray for a well-known whisky brand.

-People collect this.

-That's what I thought.

-Do you like it?

-I do.

What's it made of?

-Copper.

-Top shout. How old is it?

Not sure. That's where I was hoping you would come in.

-How old are you?

-28.

-Is it older than you?

-Yes.

I'm hoping!

-Here's the acid test. Is it older than me?

-I wouldn't like to say!

Get out of here! I would think it is probably 1950s, '60s.

-How much is it?

-It's on for 25 quid.

-What would you pay for this?

Would we turn a profit on 15 quid, d'you reckon?

-Get a tenner off it?

-Who is going to pay that for it?

-People who collect.

-People that have pubs, might like old drink memorabilia, country pubs.

You always see things like that adorning the walls.

So you spend a lot of time in pubs? Spotting these things?

-Occasionally!

-You're absolutely right, this has got two markets, really,

one is to decorate a pub.

The other is there are people who collect alcohol-related items.

Personally I'd just rather have the alcohol, but still.

It's £25, and you're gonna get it down.

Get a tenner off, 15 quid.

You won't lose a lot, will you? Might make a bit.

See what you can do. Whatever you can get knocked off,

go and spend it on three large brandies for us.

OK, will do. Cheers!

-He's enthusiastic, isn't he?

-Anything to do with alcohol, yeah.

That enthusiasm must have rubbed off. Tom's purchase, £15.

Hang on, guys, what do you think of this?

I know why you like that.

It's an elephant and a monkey, what's not to like?

That's nice. It's got its original glass as well.

What d'you think of that?

Again, it's one of these quirky objects. And it makes me think of Queen Victoria.

The British Empire, yeah.

Originally, it would have been all silver plate, you can see, and that has worn off.

We've got a base metal which I think is spelter.

-But it's beautifully carved.

-It is.

-I love this trunk here.

-I do like this very much, yeah.

I'm wondering whether the tusks there, the trunk, whether that would form the rest for the pen.

So you could put your pen across there and you've got your ink in there.

So that is rather a nice example.

What's the price, the label's there?

The price is scary, the price is 250.

-Oh!

-That's way, way too much.

-Far too much.

-A tiny dent there.

I don't think it's anything to worry about considering its age.

I'd date that around 1860, 1870.

OK. I'm going to leave you two to negotiate, but you've got to get it down considerably, almost by half.

-You won't do that.

-I've never paid full price for anything.

-I don't want to know about your personal life. Do your very best.

-I will!

Andrew didn't shy away from David's challenge, getting the inkwell for £120.

5, 4, 3, 2, whoops, 1.

That's it, the time is up.

Let's recap on what the Reds bought.

Philip's convinced that someone, somewhere, will want the inkwell in the form of a boxer dog.

Let's hope so. £90 paid.

Mark's natty little napkin-holder only set him back £35.

So thrifty.

And the Reds' final item, something tipple-inspired,

Tom whisked up a deal on the tray and paid £15.

-Boys, did you have a good time shopping?

-Wicked time.

-"Wicked time"?

-Wicked time!

-Which is your favourite piece?

-I like the piece that I found, the silver serviette clip.

-Oh, yes. What about you?

-The dog head, the inkwell, I like that.

-Which will bring the biggest profit?

-I reckon the dog head.

-Probably.

-You agree?

-We got the most off that.

The dog's going to make the most, that's your prediction.

You spent a pretty mean £140.

So I'll take 160 off you. Thank you.

Now, Philip, your challenge, to go and find that bonus buy with that cash, how are you going to get on?

I'm going to box clever and come up something that might just do a turn.

-Would this "box clever" be a bit of a hint?

-Couldn't say.

Couldn't possibly say, could you?

Let's remind ourselves of what the Blues bought.

Only time will tell

whether there was a whiff of a profit with the £100 cigar box.

A soaring silver sensation,

the cigarette plane lighter swooped in at £52.

And what price for a piece of Victoriana?

£120 brought the Blues a novelty elephant's head inkwell.

Unforgettable!

So, you two boys, did you enjoy the shopping?

-Absolutely. A fantastic time.

-It was very good. Lovely time.

-Spending somebody else's money.

-Always the best kind.

-Which is your favourite piece, Mark?

-The chrome lighter.

-What about you, Andrew?

-My favourite piece is the Indian elephant ink pot, which I liked very much.

-Good. Which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

-I reckon the aircraft.

I think the aircraft possibly, yes.

-Ah, you're agreed!

-On something, at last!

You spent a magnificent £272.

So proud of that. We'd like £28 to go across to David.

Not an awful lot, is it?

No, but you've made all sorts of wonderful profits out of small value items.

Well, that's true.

I want something small, quirky and emblematic of Andrew's interest.

-Oh, Lord!

-Better not elaborate on that.

-Later, perhaps!

-OK.

Well, it's that time of day again.

And I think I'm going to take a saunter up Cromwell Road.

In London, in 1851, Hyde Park bore witness to the grand opening of the first ever international exhibition,

enthusiastically championed by Prince Albert.

The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations in 1851, to give it its full title,

was designed to appeal to all classes,

to be of educational benefit to the entire nation,

and was the first exhibition of its type designed to illustrate industrial effort.

The building that arose to accommodate the exhibition was as grandiloquent as its intent.

The Crystal Palace, which provided 770,000 square feet of exhibition space,

and covered some 19 acres.

That grand structure is no longer in existence, so what then brings me to the V&A?

The exhibition was such a huge success that at the finish,

the organisers found that they'd got a profit of £186,000,

largely made up by 4.5 million people investing in one shilling tickets.

And it was with the profit that Prince Albert was ultimately able to fund what became this place,

the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Here we are in the National Art Library, at the V&A,

who've got the complete set of the original exhibition catalogue,

100,000 odd objects.

The exhibits were recorded, and this is just one volume out of that massive set.

What was so special about the objects in the Great Exhibition?

Let's find out.

Do you recognise that gilt and white baby at the back? You're right.

It's the steel engraving from the book in the library.

And it's a seriously wacky combination of birds and bulrushes

making up that exotic stem for a circular table.

Down below, we've got a much more traditional shaped piece of Victorian furniture,

a gentleman's easy armchair, that would've settled in any parlour in the Victorian period.

It was made by a firm in Bath, and whilst it's got a spectacularly carved frame -

we've got thistles, roses, oak leaves, and a whole multitude of foliage,

what's really wacky about it is the centre splat is a solid piece of porcelain

from the Chamberlain's Worcester factory.

No more patriotic an exhibition than to have in the Great Exhibition of 1851,

except, of course, that it's entirely impractical.

If you sat in that chair and leaned back against a porcelain splat, it would last precisely two minutes.

Because the cabinet makers and the porcelain manufacturers

only made this piece specifically for show, not for any practical purpose.

However, some of the exhibits were made for mass manufacture.

40 countries were exhibiting, in addition to the United Kingdom, in the Great Exhibition,

including a German firm who came up with this novel idea for a rocking armchair.

We've got some central-heating pipe here,

that's been bent into this shaped rocker form,

then all joined-up with an upholstered section,

which is extremely comfortable, and this went into mass production.

Funnily enough, I've got one at home, and they work.

The big question is, will our teams come up with anything that's going to be popular with the masses?

Ooh, I do hope so!

Auction time. Let's get started.

Well, we've staggered down from London to West Sussex, to Wisborough Green, Bellman's Saleroom,

to be with Jonathan at our auction.

-Good morning.

-Good morning.

Tom and Mark, their first item is this little inkwell - do you rate that?

It's nicely carved. These novelties are quite good fun. He's a little bit incomplete.

-His ears have been chewed away.

-Got no eyes.

-No.

-So it's a blind mastiff, really.

So he's a little bit play-worn, to say the least.

Yes. That's a pity, because some of these things do make big sums of money, particularly the larger ones.

-It's just condition, really.

-Absolutely.

-What's your estimate?

-£50 to £70.

-Oh, dear, £90 they paid.

-So we're really going to need a mastiff fancier or two on board today.

-Otherwise it's a dog.

A dead dog.

Great. Now, the hallmarked silver little napkin-holder.

Are you fond of a big French dinner?

Well, you know, un oeuf is un oeuf.

Yes, quite. But for the big Frenchman,

traditionally, he'd have a socking great damask napkin and he'd pin it up with that, which is handy,

except we're in West Sussex, not France.

-It's an English hallmark.

-Oh, it is.

-In that respect, I think we could say it's a bib holder.

-It's like a christening present almost.

-For toddlers to dribble into?

-Exactly.

-Well, that is a novel one. That's a good idea. What's your estimate on it?

£15 to £20.

Oh, right. So it's not that brilliant an idea, then?

-No.

-£35 they paid, you see.

And lastly is the Johnnie Walker's copper tray.

No well-dressed pub would be without one of these in the '20s and '30s.

I remember as a nipper, they had these behind the bar,

and they looked very jolly in the Devon pubs. It's a bit of breweriana.

I think people are less likely to be wanting to clean these things today.

You're not displaying them at home.

-So I find that a bit of a tough one.

-What's the estimate?

I've still said £20 - £30.

Oh, that's great, they paid 15.

So there is some hope with one of these objects, but two of them

seem to be decidedly on outer limits, let's put it like that.

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

Let's go and have a look at it.

So, tell me, Mark - you spent £140, you gave Philip £160, what did he spend it on?

Isn't that lovely?

It's a snuff box, French, probably about 1820.

It's elm.

And you've a tortoiseshell interior to keep your snuff dry.

I just think that's lovely. I paid £65 for that.

-What'll it make at auction?

-What d'you reckon?

I'd put an estimate on that of £60-£90. I wouldn't be surprised if it topped £100.

-It's all right, isn't it?

-I can see enthusiasm welling over here(!)

No, it's not really my thing, but I can see why someone would like it.

I'm not looking for you to buy it!

-That's it. What do you reckon?

-If there's enough snuff collectors out there

that come to the auction, then yeah.

-You can see them running away...

-I don't know!

You don't have to decide to take it right now.

You may not even take it after the sale of your first three items!

But for the viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Philip's little snuffbox.

-That's rather fun, Jonathan, isn't it?

-Absolutely. Nice snuffbox there.

French one. I know it's French, because it says "la pie voleuse"!

-Sounds painful.

-You can get tablets for that, can't you?

-Yes.

It's something to do with the magpie nicking something.

Absolutely. There's our magpie there, he's got a spoon in his beak.

The relevance of our chap here, who's got his lady down on one knee.

I don't know why she's so distraught,

-and has to apologise for this bird's misbehaviour.

-Nicely made, though.

-Absolutely, it's listed as elm, but you think it's something else?

-I don't know.

That's pressed, so it's a manufactured box that's come out of a steel dye, squashing the wood.

They're collectible things.

It's going to be something which in that respect is going to be a rarity as such.

-You might get £40 to £60.

-Philip Serrell paid £65, and he's hopeful.

That's it for the Reds. Now for the Blues - Mark and Andrew.

-Their first item is this coopered cigar box.

-Yeah. "Cigar box" is a good marketing term for this.

I like the contrasting woods, gives it that extra definition.

It is made in the way you'd expect a barrel to be coopered.

-Yeah.

-It's got a lovely lock on the front here which is stamped VR

for Victoria's cipher, which is a nice period feature as well.

The top looks a little bit later, perhaps,

the colour of this wood to the rest of it and the patination...

You think it's over-polished? Or even later?

Possibly. To me, it doesn't look contemporary to it.

Everything else about it is very good.

Wooden bits like this do quite well.

We'll get between £40 and £60 for it.

Ah. David Barby will be distrait.

£100 paid. So, we'll have to see about that.

How are you on spy planes?

I know nothing about spy planes.

-I know a little bit about decorative lighters.

-This is a popular theme, isn't it?

You get different periods, different planes, contemporary aeroplanes modelled as table lighters.

-Absolutely.

-They're not ever an accurate model of the actual planes

or "stylised, relatively easily and quickly cast and then chromium-plated" vision

of what a plane looks like.

I mean, it's down as a spy plane, cos I suppose it looks like the U2

which crashed over Russia when the Cuban Missile Crisis was going on.

The novelty element, the fact it is a plane and it's a lighter,

and certainly the fact you've got this sort of stylised Deco feel to it, it's late-'40s styling on it.

We are looking at about £20 or £30 for it.

Is that all? £52 paid. But they're a pretty bizarre trio - aren't they? -

what with the coopered cigar box, the chromium-plated 1960s U2 spy lighter,

and now we've got a heffalump down the end, with a monkey on its head playing a flute,

which is a bit bizarre!

Again, novelty inkwells, your market is the gentleman, the desk.

Of course there is a strong market for that sort of thing.

It's made of Britannia metal which is the better of the imitations of bronze.

You'd really like to see that in bronze, wouldn't you?

We would like to see that in bronze, yes.

But it looks to me rather kind of grey and dull. I don't know.

It's more like an elephant's skin now than when it was plated.

-So it's a bit of a novelty desk item more than anything else.

-Quite.

-And what we will get for that? Well, crikey. £30 to £50, I would say.

-Crikey.

£120 they paid.

One thing's for certain here, they are going to need their bonus buy, so let's have a look at it.

Mark and Andrew, you spent £272, quite magnificent,

leaving David with a miserable £28 to go and try and find something.

-David, what did you find?

-Well, I like it.

-Oh.

-"Oh"!

-TIM LAUGHS

-It's something you put your nuts in, you see?

-I quite like the glass.

And you're a cat lover, aren't you?

Well, it died.

But, yeah, I WAS a cat lover till it died.

Poor thing. This is ideal for ashes!

-It's very sweet. How much was it?

-£15.

-That's a bargain.

-It's a bargain.

-How much do you reckon people would pay for that?

Well, it's the stylised cat, I think it's quite attractive.

-Probably round about £20, £25.

-I think that will go.

-Me too.

It's very tactile, it's chunky.

It is. I like it.

-Let the man have a handle.

-I like that actually, yeah.

It's obviously a major decision in your gameplay(!)

Cos you're relying on David to find you something for £15 that's going to get you out of trouble.

-I like it, yeah.

-You've done the right thing there, David, obviously.

Let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about David's little cat.

-Right then. There you go.

-OK.

-You a cat lover yourself?

I've got two dogs.

-Then you're the right man to ask about this(!)

-Exactly.

Whether it's '70s, I don't know.

Moulded glass, cats. Whatever it might be,

I suppose you could grow watercress in it and give it a trim!

What are you going to do with it?

-Well, absolutely.

-I mean, it's in good condition, but it's only very cheaply made, isn't it?

There's no markings on it. Even at the very least, you'd like it to say Waterford or something like that.

-It could have been made yesterday.

-Yeah.

So, Barby's bought it as his bonus buy.

He only paid £15 for it.

Might he just... might he get a profit on it?

-I think probably there's about a fiver's loss in this one.

-And that's being optimistic, is it?

I've put £10 to £15 on it, and that's probably fair.

It'll be interesting to see what happens in the auction. Thank you, Jonathan.

-Tom and Mark, are you feeling cool?

-Pretty cool.

-Relaxed.

-Come on, there must be a bit of nerves.

-I'm feeling it now.

I'm feeling it a bit now. Holding it together.

-It is nervous process, isn't it? You know about auctions. What about you, Mark?

-I've never been.

Just online auctions, which is a lot more relaxed.

-Not full of people.

-Nothing like this?

-No.

The treen inkwell.

Philip found it.

£90 paid.

The auctioneer has estimated £50 to £70.

That's not a bad estimate.

-It's got a chance.

-It's all right, isn't it, Phil?

-Yeah.

And here it comes.

Inkwell modelled as a boxer dog's head.

I've got a lot of interest in this, and I can start straight in at £70.

Bid with me at 70. Looking for 75. It's £70. 75, and 80?

85, and 90? 95, 100?

£100 against you, sir, at £100.

110 if you like. 110, standing close to commission now at £110.

120, anyone? £110 then, in the tartan at £110, and selling, 120 behind.

Look, he's going on.

-130.

-Yes!

-140.

Look at our man here!

150. 160.

£160, behind then still at 160.

Last chance and selling for £160. GAVEL BANGS

160, plus £70. Well done, boys.

We have a silver baby's bib clip,

a nice, interesting lot, this. And I have to start at £20.

It's bid with me at £20.

I'll take 22. 22, 25. 28, and 30.

£30, against you then at £30.

Do I see 32? Commission bid at £30.

£30 and I'll sell at 30. At £30 it is, then.

I need further interest at £30.

On the book and against you all at £30, last chance at 30.

£30, bad luck, that's minus £5. You're still plus 65. Here we go.

We have the embossed copper advertising tray, collector's item.

£10, to start me at 10. 10 is bid.

Thank you, sir. At 10. Do I see 12?

£10, seated right. £10. 12, anyone?

At £10, surely worth more than a tenner? I'll sell at £10.

Maiden bid at £10.

Blast it. £10, minus 5 on that.

You are still plus £60. £60 up, thanks to you-know-who.

-Amazing.

-It's pretty good, isn't it?

What are we going to do then? Are we going to risk anything for this bonus buy?

-I think we should stick, mate.

-Stick, yeah.

-No offence, Phil.

-Are you going with the bonus buy option? It's just going now.

-No.

-You're not going with it?

-No.

-No bonus buy.

They are determined, these boys. We're going to sell it anyway. Here it comes.

A carved elm circular snuffbox.

Early 19th century,

with this interesting scene. Magpie flying away with a spoon there.

And I've got bids to start me in at £45.

Is bid at £45, looking for 50, now. And 50, and 55. 60, and 65.

70, and 75. 80, and 85.

£85 commission against you at £85.

Do I see 90 now? At £85, and I'll sell at £85.

Last chance, £85.

Well done. You made your decision, you're £60 up.

You deserved your £60.

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

-We are happy about that.

To make a profit on Bargain Hunt is an achievement.

The thing now is not to tell the Blues anything. Don't say a word.

-In fact, go out looking miserable.

-OK.

-It's not hard.

Rubbish. You've done well. And well done, Phil.

-Yeah, thank you.

-Cheers, Phil.

So, Mark and Andrew, do you know how the Reds got on?

-No. No idea at all.

-That's good.

Cos we don't want you to. How are you rating your little cigar box?

Do you still think that's a good choice of David's?

-I think so, yeah.

-Very confident.

Well, £100 was paid for that. It is a really sweet, unusual item.

Anybody who likes a novelty would pay £100 straight up for that.

Whether it's actually for cigars, or whatever comfort you might be locking away

in a little box like that.

You could use it for anything, not just smoking.

But it's a nice thing.

Anyway, the auctioneer has only put £40 to £60 on it, which I think is pretty miserable, actually.

-Yes, so do I.

-We all rate it.

It's a nice crowded room. Here it comes.

We have a Victorian brass coopered tobacco cigar box

with this nice Victorian stamped lock.

And I've got a flurry of bids, and I'll start at 45, 55,

£60 on the book with me, at £60, I'm bid at £60.

£60, looking for 65. At £60, 65, anyone?

On the book against you all at £60.

65. And 70. £70 it is then.

Against you all at £70. At 70, I'll sell then.

£70, last chance, at 70?

-Bad luck. Minus 30 on that.

-It's not looking good.

Maybe not. Here comes the plane.

A chromium plated table lighter in the form of a spy plane.

Mid-20th century example, this. Where can I start?

-I've got £50, I've got £60.

-Yes!

Looking for 65, now. 65, and 70.

£70 and stopping straightaway at £70. 5 anywhere else?

At £70, I'll sell. All done at 70.

Well, that makes you £18.

-It's not all doom and gloom.

-All is not lost.

-The inkwell.

Victorian spelter novelty inkwell modelled as an elephant's head

with this little monkey sitting on the top.

And I've got bids to start me in at £30, £35, £40 is bid.

At £40, 45. 50, 55,

-60, 65, 70, £70 against you. 75, anyone?

-Come on!

£70 against you all at 70. I'll sell at £70.

Last chance at £70. All done? No more. £70.

That is minus 50 quid on that.

-You're minus £62.

-Dear, oh, dear.

-Minus £62.

What are you going to do about the cat?

-Let's just go for it.

-Definitely going to go for it.

What's the worst that could happen?

-Let's go for it.

-Are you going to do it?

-Yes, definitely.

-You're determined.

Absolutely, yes. Let's do it.

We have a decision. We're going with the pussycat.

We have this wonderful moulded clear glass bowl modelled as a cat,

and I have a bid to start me at £12.

£12 is bid. £12, I'll take 15 if you wish to bid.

15 standing at the back waving now.

Left on commission at 15. Looking for 18.

At £15, with the lady, dead ahead at £15 and selling.

Last chance, £15.

£15. Wiped its face.

Well, chaps. What a roller coaster, eh?

-Dear oh dear.

-Well done for the plane, anyway.

That was really super. I'll tell you what, Mum's the word.

We'll reveal all in a minute.

Isn't it funny on Bargain Hunt how it turns out?

Two teams, such poles apart.

Shopping in the same place, shopping at the same time.

Well, there you go.

The runners up today are today, I'm afraid, the Blues.

Bad luck, boys. You were very unlucky there, actually.

You went with the bonus buy, but that sadly didn't make a profit

and didn't make a loss, so no shame in that, David.

Overall I'm afraid, of course, you finish up at minus 62.

On the other hand, for the Reds, you went shopping at the same place, they finish up with a profit

of £60. Minus 62, and we have plus 60.

congratulations on that. Been so much better if you'd gone with the bonus buy.

If you'd trusted Philip you'd have been plus 80, actually,

cos it was a nice profit out of the bonus buy.

But nevertheless, you ring-fenced your profits. Here's you £60.

-Thank you.

-Congratulations on that. I hope you've all had a great time.

We've loved having you on the programme.

-Join us soon for more bargain hunting, yes?

-Yes!

For more information about Bargain Hunt, including how the programme was made,

visit the website at bbc.co.uk/lifestyle

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