South Bargain Hunt

This is where the teams today hope to make some whacking great profits

on their items, but there's a lot of hard work and tricky decisions

before the hammer actually falls.

Let's go bargain hunting.

Hello. Today we're bargain hunting in the beautiful market town of Marlborough in Wiltshire.

And because it's such a historic place, dating back over 800 years,

we should have no difficulty in digging out the odd antique.

We've invited out two teams to the Marlborough Parade antiques centre

and it's here where they'll be fighting to find the very best bargains.

Their quest will be to find three antiques or collectables with £300

and they've only got an hour to do it in

and they've got to be jolly careful what they buy

because they've got to sell it later at auction.

Each item will go under the hammer and if it makes more money than the teams paid, they'll keep the profit.

So let's go and meet today's challengers.

And here they are.

For Reds we've got Kim and Alicia, mother and daughter, and for the Blues we've got

-Alex and Karen who are friends. Welcome to Bargain Hunt.

-Thank you, Tim.

Will you two do all right today?

Hopefully. We're pretty used to success, we play together

as a ladies double partnership and have won our local league for four consecutive years.

So you're a bit of a dab hand with a racquet?

Yeah, definitely. At the net my job, Alicia on the baseline.

-So you're the one sprinting around.

-This is true.

-Very good.

What do you collect?

I like clocks and furniture, but my biggest collection is cookery books.

-I've got at least 800, that's what I tell my husband anyway.

-What? 800 cookery books?

Yeah, and they go back from two generations.

-My grandma was a cook in service.

-Yes.

Mainly they're handwritten because obviously books were very expensive in those days

so I've got her handwritten books then my mother's, she's now dead,

then my own collection, so it spans over three generations.

Does this mean your mother's a very good cook?

-She's not too bad, Tim.

-Not too bad? She must be brilliant with 800 cookery books!

She cooks a bit too healthily for my liking.

Oh, I see. And what do you do, Alicia?

I'm on my year out at the moment and I'm going to Bristol University to study politics and sociology.

-Are you?

-Yes, I am.

-Are you keen on politics then?

-I love politics actually.

I find it really interesting to see all the different sides,

-for example, you know, left, right...

-Centre.

-Yes.

-Does this mean you want to be Prime Minister one day?

-I don't know, Tim.

That's a long way in the future.

So are you proposing to go on some worldwide trip during your gap year?

I would if I had the money, Tim. I'm trying to make money to go away.

If I did, I would go to Australia, just because I like the climate

and the tennis is on so I'd like to go and watch that.

That would be wonderful. Well, perhaps if you're a serious winner today on Bargain Hunt,

-you'll have enough funds for your trip.

-That's a certainty, Tim.

I love the confidence. Now for the Blues.

How do you two know each other then?

We were introduced by mutual friends when we were both pregnant with our first children

who thought we might get on well and the rest is history.

Good. How many children have you got?

I've got one, Benjamin, who's two-and-a-half at the moment.

-Yes.

-And I've got two. I've got Amy, she's just over two and Lucy's four-and-a-half months.

Alex, I've a feeling you're a big child at heart. Is that right?

-You're probably right.

-What are you clutching in your hands?

Well, these are my dragons, these are part of my collection of my little pocket dragons.

-I've got about 300 of these.

-Three hundred.

-Yes,

and these two in particular - the sci-fi one because I'm really into my sci-fi

and books because I collect children's books as well.

-Do you?

-I do.

-What sort of titles do you go for?

-Mostly girls' school stories, but I'm partial to the odd Enid Blyton as well.

-Oh, brilliant.

When you're not potty training and looking after children what do you do?

Well, I'm a bit of an artist.

I do paint canvases, children's canvases.

This is one I did for my daughter.

I've done a Thomas the Tank Engine one for Alex's son

and a few others for friends' children for presents and things.

They're really lovely. Something to hang in the nursery that's special to that child.

-That's it, yes.

-Because it's individually done by an artist.

-Yes.

So are you going to go for your art today?

Well, maybe more the ceramics.

I've got some family connections with Spode

and my nan's from Stoke on Trent, so I'd be looking for some ceramic items of some kind if possible.

Well, there's always plenty of ceramics about and very good luck to you.

Now the money moment, £300 apiece.

-Kim's looking interested in this, here you go.

-Thank you.

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

Now something that will cheer the mothers up, somebody who's going to look after them.

Both teams will have expert knowledge on hand to help them pick up their bargains.

With the Reds it's Mark Stacey

and for the Blues Philip Allwood.

First up are Alicia and Kim. They've found a cabinet full of goodies.

So girls, I think this looks rather interesting, doesn't it?

What about the quality of the glass on the bottom?

I don't think the glass is that important.

It's probably from a travelling one because it's plain. Just simple pattern there.

This is lovely though with the turquoise.

-The blue's very fashionable, this colour.

-Yes.

It's got a modern element. Has it got some age?

-Yes, it's Victorian.

-Excellent.

-I mean I don't know if it's dated for us, but it's certainly...

-How much is it, Mark?

-£165. It's a lot of money.

-It is.

-And there are a few dents.

-Would it have been part of a set?

If had been on its own, it would have had similar decoration on the glass.

-OK.

-To match the top, but if it's in a little travelling set...

Would that knock down its value?

Well, I suppose in this sort of condition it's probably...

£80-£100 on a good day, so £160's out of the question.

Afraid not. And how about that little marker?

We were talking about getting something connected to games.

-That's quite nice.

-It is quite interesting. Well spotted. Do you like it, Alicia?

-I love it, yes.

-It's quite unusual isn't it?

It's a little bone hand that you sort of turn round,

so it's a whist marker or something like that, a games marker.

I like the shape and I think the hand itself is an attractive object.

Looking at the base, it's got a screw in there holding it in place.

There's a bit of wear there so we're probably looking at maybe 100 years old.

-OK.

-1900ish.

But it's just a fun little object, isn't it?

I think games are coming back in fashion, so I think maybe

the trend to playing games and creating your own entertainment

-might become more fashionable again.

-It might do. With something like this with a bit of age to it,

you won't want to play with it all the time or you'll break it.

But what have we got on this?

It's marked up with 78, so I think we need to negotiate a bit on that.

-It's a bit steep, isn't it?

-We need to get that down.

By what? £10, do you think?

If we can get it anywhere between £60 and £65,

-it gives us a bit more of a fighting chance.

-OK.

-Right, I think we all like it.

-Yes.

-But we need to get the price down,

-so let's go and have a chat with the dealers.

-Let's go.

The Reds had a good old chat and wound the card game marker down to £65.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

Hang on a second, it looks like the Blues are feeling a little bit saucy.

Philip, I found these, I think these are fab!

-What do you think?

-Oh, wow, yes. Yeah.

Well, you don't get much more elegant in a sauce boat than that, do you?

What drew you to these then?

Just the simple design of them, really, they're very, quite stylish.

-Are they silver?

-They certainly are.

Birmingham hallmark there for 1931.

It's like so many of the best-selling antiques at the moment,

they are simple, modern looking.

I mean, that could have been designed in 1988 or 1991 instead of 1931

and you'd still believe it from that sort of modern design.

-I really like them.

-Quite practical as well.

-I could use them.

-You could certainly use them.

There's a few nicks on there. Does that make much difference?

Well, it... I can see what you mean about the nicks but they could actually be hammered out of there,

it's not like you've got a big split.

-Doesn't spoil the line at all.

-No, not really.

I think they work pretty well.

I like them. I think it's a good find.

-Yeah.

-So, price.

125 of your English pounds.

That seems a bit steep for me for two boats, but...

Well, I'm not so sure it's that steep

but you could do with getting it under a hundred if you can

because if you were to estimate them at auction at say £100-£150,

I think you'd have people queuing up for them at that point.

-Yeah.

-If you can get them for under 100, do you think you're up for these.

-I reckon so.

-I think so, yeah.

-I think they're a good buy.

-Let's see if talk him down a bit.

-Let's go and twist some arms.

-OK.

The Blues' haggling worked and they picked up the sauce boats to the tune of 90 smackers.

Do you fancy taking a punt?

Well, I tell you, this is the object today to take a punt on.

Why is that? Well, you can't feel it but it's incredibly heavy,

there's probably 15 or 20 ounces of metal in this object.

But what metal is it?

Well, if I put it down and get out my glass

and you're extremely sharp sighted,

you can just make out a lozenge-shaped mark

and that lozenge-shaped mark is a discharge mark,

a kind of hallmark, but it's out of the Continental system of hallmarking

which is extremely complicated.

But it has got a mark and if you fancy this punt,

the secret is to buy it,

take it away, do the research and see what you can find out.

So who is this guy?

Well, I reckon it's Dr Faustus, popularised by Marlowe in the Elizabethan period

who took the German myth or legend of Dr Faustus

who sold his soul to the devil

and in return for 20 years the devil gave him

a helper, and that is probably Mephistopheles sitting in his arms,

that horrible ghoulish, skeletal, devil-like character.

It is exquisitely cast.

Just look at this lovely leather helmet that he's wearing.

If you look at his face, it's extremely expressive,

lovely crinkly nature to his beard and moustache,

he's wearing a sort of jerkin and skirt-type robe

and here in the fold of his knee and above his ankle

you can see the crinkling of his stockings.

Now, if I'm right and the metal is silver

and one is able to identify that little discharge mark to a specific country and maker,

this thing is going to be worth quite a lot of money.

Let's assume that it's 19th century and no older than in the 1800s.

Well, in this quality of casting, if it's identifiable,

it could be worth, I don't know, £600 or £800, maybe £1,000.

If it's older, 17th century say,

it could be worth a whole lot more than that.

What's it available for?

You could buy it here today in the antiques centre for £220.

Now, is that a punt that's worthwhile selling your soul for?

Now, back to our red devils Kim and Alicia, who are trying out their luck.

Now tell me, what do you like about this?

I'm not sure I like it particularly but we're going to an auction

where there's lots of hunting, shooting, fishing, riding

and I think this is a photo frame that maybe could be used to put maybe a child's photo in

who's just started riding, won their first rosette

and people always want photo frames, and good luck as well, a horse shoe.

All good points for me. What about Alicia?

-I like the price, Mark.

-20 quid.

-I'll be honest.

-No, you be honest.

It is quite cheap, isn't it?

But I like your reckoning - we are going to a country saleroom and I think

one of the things that sells well there is that sort of country pursuits type thing.

It's a nice little piece, it's rather crudely made

and I suppose in terms of date it's the beginning of the 20th century,

1900, 1910 maybe something like that.

I think if somebody's done their first point-to-point or dressage or something like that and got a prize,

they'd quite like a little photograph in there with them holding their rosette.

Is it something you'd live with?

I'm not interested in horses, but the good luck element, I would put a photograph of my children in

if they were travelling, or something of the family they could take with them.

Yes, 20 quid, we've got to go for it, haven't we?

-Definitely.

-So shall we go and buy it?

-Yes.

-Let's go.

-Come on then.

And £20 is exactly what they paid.

-Oh, this looks quite nice.

-So what was it that really drew you into it?

I love the shape, it's quite simple but stylish as well,

-I like the lines of it. I love the jug, it's a great shape.

-It's a lovely shape.

-They call it a helmet shape.

-OK.

-You can imagine, if you turned it that way round...

-Yeah.

-You see, like a Greek helmet.

Well, I think it's going to date, certainly by the style, from the 1930s. Royal Doulton.

Somebody in there in an inspired moment decided to call it Valerie.

-Valerie?

-That's the pattern.

-I think it will appeal to a younger market

as well as to collectors because of the style of the design.

Particularly with a lot of art deco stuff, you're getting that lovely straight line,

-simple design which will fit into the modern house just as well as it will a house full of antiques.

-Yeah.

With all this gilding of course not going to be able to put it in the dishwasher without ruining it.

-Have to get the scrubbing brush out.

-I think so.

-OK, so we know it ticks all the boxes.

-Mm-hm.

-Does it tick the price box? That's the thing.

What are they actually asking for it?

-84. That's a funny price, isn't it?

-It is.

-I think you're probably need to get them down a bit.

-Right.

But it's one of those things, there's nothing wrong with the set

-so the only thing that will stop it selling well is the price.

-OK.

So, if we can get it down to closer to 70ish or less,

then I think we would be in with more of a chance.

-OK.

-Let's give it a go, see if we can get him down a little bit?

Sounds good. It's going to be tough.

Take it away, Alex and Karen.

How about 70?

-We'll do that today.

-Great.

-£70.

-Bargain, bargain.

Let's hope.

For your chance to be bargain hunter just like our teams today, it's so easy.

All you have to do is slip us an email to...

We'd love to see you!

Back to the Reds now, who still have £215 to spend.

Good job Mark's found something that could cut into their wedge.

Now we all three are clean-living, healthy-living people, but this is a cigar cutter.

First of all, it's 9 carat gold, which is a good start,

it's by Alfred Dunhill,

which is a great name in the luxury end of the retail market,

nice clean design, you've got that sort of cross hatch design

which I think sort of builds in with the golfing theme

-where, you know, it looks like a golf ball, doesn't it?

-Yes.

You've got a nice clear hallmark, starts off with AD

for Alfred Dunhill, then a crown for Sheffield,

375 for 9 carat gold, and then the date letter is 1981.

-So not that old?

-No, but you know, quite a nice era, end of the '70s,

-beginning of the industrial design and things.

-Antique of the future.

Absolutely, collector's item of the future.

-Shall I show you how it works?

-Yes.

I did happen to borrow a little cigar from one of the punters I bumped into here.

And what you do is you slide it in there

and then you just go...

-Oh.

-You take that away, throw it away and smoke this cigar.

What price is it marked up at?

Well, at the moment it's marked up at £120, but I think we can get it down.

Do you think you'll need specialist collectors?

Well, there's going to be people who smoke. There are people who like a cigar after dinner with their port.

You know, if they want to come and make us a profit, they're very welcome to.

-And cigars aren't cheap, so if you're buying a cigar, then buy a quality item to go with it.

-Exactly.

-But you like it?

-I do.

-I do like it.

It's pleasing to the eye, it feels pleasant in your hand

-and I think it's an object people would enjoy having and using.

-Yes, so do I.

-I don't think this will go up in a puff of smoke, I think we'll do really well with this.

-Excellent.

Both Mark and Philip will be keeping a close eye

on what the teams buy

because any leftover lolly will be given to them to find that bonus buy.

This surprise item will be revealed to the teams at the auction.

If they select it and it's sold and makes a loss, that'll be deducted from their score.

If they select it and it makes a profit, they get to keep the profit.

So, happy shopping, people.

So far the Blues have spent £160,

£90 on the sauce boats, £70 on the coffee set.

So, ladies, make your final £140 count.

Well, I have to say, Phil, I'm not hugely convinced by whatever it is you've got in your hands.

I'm not either, to be honest.

How could you not be convinced by something like this?

A nice little elegant snuff box, Regency,

it's got a nice replacement bit of mother of pearl on top here,

-a split in the bottom.

-You're not filling us with confidence.

Well, it's made of ivory, but it's OK because it dates to about 1810,

so it's OK with the law because it's pre-1947, so that's the cut-off date for selling this sort of thing.

But if you look at the quality of it, it's a lovely thing.

Look at the engraving on this, almost certainly gold hinge here.

So this is almost certainly going to be a Scottish piece.

How do I know it's Scottish? Well, it's actually got what you loosely call a Scottish hinge there,

actually developed in about 1805 by a couple called Crichton and Smith.

You can imagine a gentleman in 1810, in his powdered wig and his long coat opening this up...

SNIFFS ..and away you go.

-Is that the damage? Will that affect it?

-Well, there are lots of things about it.

The crack will affect it.

The good thing about the crack is that you can't actually see it when it's there.

So is there actually a market for these?

Snuff boxes of this type are highly collectable.

They're only asking £65 and I think actually we should be able to get them down from that even.

-What do you think?

-Well, I'm not sure.

-Do we trust our expert?

-I love it, it's a good thing.

-Well, he is the expert.

So if we lose because it doesn't make a profit, it's on your head.

-I don't think you'll lose on that.

-Go on then.

-Shall we go for it? I'll see what I can do?

-Go on then.

-You can do the bargaining.

-Trust me, I'm an auctioneer.

Talk about the kiss of death. We'll see if Philip's right about the snuff box later at the auction.

Time's up.

Not now, Jeeves.

Let's recap on what the Reds bought.

Mum and daughter Kim and Alicia kicked things off

with the 19th-century whist scorer.

Next in the bag was the early-20th-century brass frame

which Kim is hoping will appeal to the country saleroom.

And finally was the 9-carat gold cigar cutter

which they chopped down from £120 to 95.

So has it been good for you today, Mark?

They've been great fun, honestly.

Lots of questions, and that makes the day go quickly.

-They put you on the spot a few times.

-Absolutely. I felt like I was in school.

I'm sure she marked me six out of ten, could have done better.

We know that feeling. Have you had a good time, girls?

-Great time.

-Fantastic.

-Which is your favourite piece, Alicia?

-Despite not being a smoker, the cigar cutter.

-And you, Ma?

I like the whist scorer. It won't bring the biggest profit but that was my favourite.

-So what will bring the biggest profit?

-The cigar cutter.

-Do you think that too?

-I concur.

£180 you spent, so I'd like £120, please. Thank you very much.

There's £120 for Mark to find the bonus buy which might boost their profits at auction.

-Mark, £120.

-It's a lot of money, isn't it?

-It is.

-But I don't think I'll spend it all, Tim.

-Is that a hint?

-I'm going cheap.

-That's not like you.

I always thought you went very expensive.

Let's remind ourselves what the Blues bought.

Alex and Karen's first buy was the pair of 1930s silver sauce boats,

then they found the art deco-ish coffee set and bagged a deal of £70.

And finally, the girls aren't convinced by it,

but they're trusting Philip with the ivory snuff box.

Phil, you're looking well wrapped up.

-Yup.

-Had a good day shopping?

-I think we have, yeah.

-Looking after these girls?

-Well, yes, I hope so.

-Very bonny, aren't they?

-It cannot be denied.

-Certainly can't. Did you have a good time?

-Yes.

-Which will bring the biggest profit?

-I hope the coffee set.

-I think it might be the sauce boats.

-The sauce boats.

-Yeah.

The sauce boats for the saucy one.

Now, you've spent a magnificent £209, I'm so proud of you,

£91 of leftover lolly goes straight back to you, Phil.

-How exciting's that, Phil?

-Very good.

-Exciting, isn't it?

I'll squirrel that away somewhere very useful.

You're off to the bonus buy. Any idea what you're doing?

-I have.

-You have?

-Yes.

-Marvellous!

-I know exactly where I'm going.

-Solid man. Good luck.

-Thank you.

Now, guys, I'm heading off to the most lovely close in Salisbury.

These days, we're always told, when finding a property it's all about location, location, location.

I'm here in Cathedral Close in Salisbury.

What do you expect to find in a cathedral close?

This is not a trick question, it's a socking great cathedral.

Completed over 750 years ago, Salisbury Cathedral has attracted

visitors from all around the world to see the beautiful sight.

Its 123-metre spire, the tallest medieval structure in the world,

can be seen for miles

and the cathedral enjoys the honour as one of the best views in Britain.

So it comes as no surprise that this place would become a most attractive place to live.

In the middle of the 17th century, all these houses were occupied by the bishop and the clergy

but after that such was the peace and tranquillity and utter attractiveness of it

that it became a fashionable and lovely spot

for the mercantile and business classes to live.

The house that I'm interested in is number 53, Mompesson House.

It was Sir Thomas Mompesson, Salisbury MP,

who acquired the site in the late 17th century

and set to constructing the place out of Chilmark stone,

exactly the same as the stone in the cathedral,

although it wasn't completed until 1701 by Sir Thomas's son, Charles.

The house remained under Mompesson ownership until the 1740s

when it was passed down to family member Charles Longueville

and he was ready to make some tasteful changes.

The entrance hall would be the first space that a visitor to Mompesson would see

and Charles was keen that it should be the most impressive area.

Originally the Queen Anne interior was relatively plain,

but he employed local carvers and craftsmen to introduce all these

extraordinarily crisp, Palladian, Roman designs to thrill the eye.

Charles didn't just stop at applying some classical mouldings.

Oh, no, he ripped out the original Queen Anne staircase

and replaced it with this state-of-the-art job.

So what's state of the art about this?

Well, if I go up one or two treads, you can see

that the rise is very, very shallow and the tread is extremely wide.

That goes for making a very easy ascent and descent

and also it's much more gracious.

Extremely good quality? Sure.

Just look at these banisters.

We've got the broad tread here

and each one is filled with three spindles. Isn't that extraordinary?

At home you've normally got one spindle on your staircase,

but here it's three and each one of these is a little tour de force.

At the bottom we've got a baluster

which is wrapped, crisply-carved leafage,

then up you go to this barley sugar twist

and then a little carved collar on the top.

But Charles's climax in this entrance hall and staircase was the use of plasterwork.

The old idea of painting all the interior surfaces of a staircase well with a mural,

a continuous painting, was completely out of fashion by the 1740s.

What you wanted and what he got was plasterwork.

You either had plaster surrounds to dummy frames,

like this kit kat example up above, with an irregular rectangular shape,

or you had cartouches filled with scrolling foliage,

flowers and fruit or swags with cherubic masks.

Not forgetting at head height

this girdle line filled with neo-classical rinceaux.

The big question is today, will our teams find any rinceaux over at the auction?

Still to come on Bargain Hunt, Alicia and Kim are glad they listened to Mark's advice

but will Alex and Karen be happy with Philip's snuff box suggestion?

We'll find out soon, but first let's check in at Lawrence's Auctioneers in Crewkerne, Somerset

to see how auctioneer Richard Kay rates our items.

-Richard, good morning.

-Good morning.

-Kim and Alicia, their first item is the little whist scorer.

-Yeah.

-Looks a little like a draught to me with a little hand on the top.

Well, it's a novelty piece, can't see many people buying it to use it.

-No.

-But quite nicely made, though with little chips to its fingernails.

What sort of estimate can you put on a thing like that?

Well, it is quite unusual and it's the sort of thing that might appeal to somebody, maybe £20-£30.

Sadly they paid 65.

They're going to need a good trick to...

They are. A lucky hand to get out of that.

Next then is the press-moulded novelty brass photo frame

which is pretty cheaply made, isn't it?

Yes, I don't think that really can be described as a novelty, I think it's rather a routine item,

-not terribly well made, as you say.

-No.

So maybe appeal to a girl with a horse maybe.

-Have you got many horsy girls?

-Oh, plenty. I hope they'll be here for the auction, but I doubt

if anyone will part with more than £5-£10 for it.

Well, they paid 20, so that's not so far off.

What about this Alfred Dunhill cigar cutter?

Dunhill is synonymous with good-quality items

and this is 9-carat gold as well.

Not the most useful item, but an attractive little piece,

and for anyone who smokes cigars these days

I should think they might pay £30 or £40 for that.

£30 or £40 pounds. £95 paid.

That's a bit gloomy, isn't it? But on the other hand it is gold.

-It is.

-And as you say, a couple of cigar aficionados

-could go into overdrive for it. Let's hope so.

-Let's hope so.

Well, based on the estimates they'll certainly need their bonus buy so let's have a look at it.

So, chicks, you spent £180, you gave Mark Stacey £120. What did you spend it on Mark?

This, Tim.

A set of six silver spoons with golf-handled finials,

which I think were nice and I thought they'd suit. Very sporting. I'll give them to you.

-Is six a good number to have?

-Yes, six is a reasonable number.

-They normally come in sets of six.

-OK.

They cost me the princely sum of £75.

-Hallmarked?

-Hallmarked. Solid silver.

I thought they might appeal to a golfing collector.

-Yeah, or a boiled-egg eater.

-Or a boiled-egg eater.

-Right.

-Or a coffee stirrer or...

-I quite like them. How much did you say?

-£75.

-What do you think they'll make at auction?

If I was putting them in, I'd put them in at 70-100, so we're roughly in the area.

I'd like to see them making £10 or so on a good day.

-It's got a chance.

-Yeah.

You don't have to decide now, you can decide after the sale of your three items

but for the viewers at home let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Mark's golf spoons.

So, Richard, a set of six of those jokers.

Well, nice to have the golfing terminals on them,

but sadly they're not cased and these spoons are more common than people imagine.

I would have thought that a group of them at auction like that,

-£20-£30.

-Gosh, £75.

Mark Stacey's team are going to be pinning their hopes

on the tremendous profit predicted on these golfing teaspoons so that may not be so hot.

-They'll need the luck of a hole in one.

-They will. Thank you for that information.

That is it for the Reds.

The Blues, Alex and Karen, their first item is the coffee set,

which is nice and complete.

Nice and complete, coffee sets not quite as popular as tea sets,

the design is relatively unusual and it is in good condition.

-Yes.

-So we would hope for £30-£40.

£70 they paid for that.

So that again might be just a bit jammy if they get that.

What about the silver sauce boats?

The silver sauce boats, I would say, are probably a little on the small side,

but I think realistically they are probably £40-£60 for the two.

I have to agree with you, they are on the small side.

£90 they paid, so that probably doesn't stand a snowflake's chance.

And what about the little ivory and gold snuff box?

Small snuff boxes are always popular.

You always have people interested in buying them.

Ivory perhaps not quite so popular as other substances.

We would have thought £30-£50 for that.

-£49 they paid, so they're almost in the frame with that.

-Yes, they are.

So we have on prediction some problems with these three items,

they're going to need their bonus buy again, so let's have a look at it.

Alex and Karen, you spent a magnificent £209, I'm so pleased with you about that,

and you gave the £91 to P Allwood.

Rumour has it he spent the lot, so let's have a look.

-What do you think of that?

-It's a squirrel.

-It is a squirrel. I think it's great.

-Is it a nutcracker?

Well done, but look at it, what is it made of?

What is it? A squirrel. Wood, Black Forest, squirrel, nuts, it all works.

-For me it works anyway.

-How much did you actually pay for this?

I paid a very, very reasonable £20.

-Is that all?

-Which I thought was actually amazing.

-How old is it?

It'll date to the latter part of the 19th century, probably around 1890, 1900.

-Pass it to Karen, she's longing to get her hands on it.

-Oh, yeah.

-Yeah.

It's something you can look at, a thing of beauty, well made and you can use it.

And profit?

-Well, I think it should be worth at least £50.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-I should have thought so.

-You watched his lips there?

We all watched his lips.

For the audience at home, let's go and watch the auctioneer's lips.

So that's fun, isn't it?

It's a bit of fun, but this has had a very hard nut in it at some point

which has unfortunately resulted in it getting broken along the edge.

Oh, look at that, that great lump out of it.

You're absolutely right, Richard.

He holds it for one second and immediately finds the major fault, and that is a fault, isn't it?

That is very off-putting to a collector

and also the fact that the poor squirrel has lost the tips of his ears as well.

-Yes.

-Through extravagant use over the years.

-Pity, really, because it's nicely carved otherwise.

-It is.

It's not the sort of thing, to be honest, that we would normally put in as a single lot here...

-No.

-..with an estimate on it we would have to defend, but I expect that it would probably attract

a bid of ten or fifteen pounds in that condition.

OK, fine, well, Philip Allwood has invested £20.

He is hopeful at that level anyway.

-Are you going to be taking the sale for us?

-I am indeed.

-Perfect.

Now, Kim and Alicia, we're on the edge of the auction.

-We are.

-It's such fun, isn't it?

-Yep.

Look at this room, stuffed up with people all longing to get at your gear, we hope.

I can detect some nervousness here. I think you're going to be perfectly all right.

The first lot up, though, is the whist scorer and here it comes.

Lot 101 is a little whist scorer

and from bids here I start at 18, 20, £22, 25 I have now, £25,

at £25, it's on commission, and selling at 25.

At £25, can I take 28 for it?

It's at 25 then and selling, last time.

Brilliant. £25 is minus 40.

-It's all right, we can make it back.

-Now the photo frame.

Lot 102 is a moulded brass frame in the form of a horseshoe.

£5 for that, £5 for it if you will, £5 anywhere?

-£2 then?

-Come on!

£2 I see by the pillar, at two, I'm standing at £2 only.

-It's at £2 for the last time. All done at two.

-Oh, dear.

-I don't think I've ever sold anything for two pounds.

-Well, you have now.

Minus £18 on that. Now the cigar cutter.

We're optimistic. This is our... This is the one.

1981 in date. Bids here.

Start me at 55, 60, 65, £70 is bid, 75, 80, 85, 90, £95.

-Yes!

-At £95, 100 now, 110, 120, 120 by the pillar.

Latest bid at £120 and I'm selling.

-Yes!

-£120 for the last time, all done at 120...

-Well, that's brilliant isn't it?

-Fantastic.

-£120.

-You have made £25 profit on that. You are minus 58...

-Yeah.

-58 less 25 is... 58 less 25... Is that 32?

-33.

-So we're minus 33.

-You're minus 33.

-That's a winning score!

-It could be a winning score. This is the dilemma.

This is a dilemma, what will you do with those spoons? Mark rates them...

Mark, what do you think they're going to make?

Well, I mean, I think, looking at who's here I really can't. They might sell, but 33 is a good score.

So what are you going to do then?

-Are you going to go with the spoons pile or not?

-No.

-You're not going to risk it?

-No.

-Even though we do trust him. The people just aren't here.

-We're not going with the bonus buy?

-No.

-You're sure?

-Yep.

We're going to sell it anyway, and here it comes.

Lot 107, six hallmarked silver golf club teaspoons

and bids here start me at 25, 28, 30, 32, £35 is bid.

35, 38 now, at £38 and I'm selling.

£38 on my right and selling at £38, last time, all done.

Well, I think you made the right decision here, don't you think?

That is minus £37 so you did the right decision,

you didn't go with the bonus buy, made a thumping loss but that's OK.

-You are actually minus £33.

-Could be a winning score.

-Could be a winning score.

That seriously could be a winning score. Don't tell the Blues a thing.

-Nothing.

-All right? Seal everything.

-We will.

-Including your lips.

-So girls, Philip, how are you feeling? All right?

-Excited.

-Yes.

-Do you know how the Reds got on?

-No.

You don't know how the Reds got on. Good, we don't want you to.

So team, your first lot coming up now is the art deco coffee set

and here it comes.

Lot 123 is an art deco Royal Doulton coffee set

and bids here, start me at £40.

45, 50 pounds is bid. 50 is bid.

£50 is bid. It's on commission at £50.

Absent bidder at 50 then and I'm selling at £50...

All done at 50, last time at £50.

It's not as bad as it might have been. You're minus £20 on that.

-Next your sauce boats, girl.

-Yes.

..1930s silver sauce boats

and interest again here

starts me at 40, 45, 50 pounds is bid for these.

55, 60, 5, 70, 5, I'm out at £75.

It's on my right at 75 and selling now

at £75, last time, all done.

£75, you're minus £15 on that, that's not looking good.

Lot 125 is an early 19th century Scottish ivory snuff box

and bids here start me at 35, £40 bid.

£40 is bid, 45, 50, five, 60, 5, 70, 5, 80, 5, I'm out.

At £85 in the room and I'm selling at £85 for the last time, all done at 85.

-So you made £36 on that, you had lost £35, you are one pound in profit.

-See, he was right.

-One pound in profit, how good is that? Are you going to go with the bonus buy then?

-Yes.

-You're going with the bonus buy.

-Yes, we trust you.

-We trust you.

-OK.

-Well done.

-No pressure there.

All right, so we're going with the bonus buy and here it comes.

Lot 129 is the Black Forest carved treenware nutcracker.

Start me here on this one at £5 shall we? £5? Five I see.

8, £10 now, at £10, 12, 15, 18,

20, 2. No? £22, lady's bid nearer me at £22

and I'm selling at £22 for the last time, all done.

-That is so good, £22.

-£3 profit!

-You've got £2 on that and overall you are plus three.

-Yes.

It was the right side.

Not dramatic but the right side.

So what's that then? One pound each?

-£1.50!

-What are we going to spend it on?

-No, what about him?

-Hey come on.

-Oh, yeah, sorry.

-Look after your man.

-Yeah.

-I mean, he sorted you out, hasn't he?

-He did.

-He did.

-He got you your snuff box.

-Thank you very much.

-He got you your nutcracker.

-Yeah but I got it for £49.

Yeah, all right, you win that. Well, that's super, isn't it?

-Listen, you got £3 profit, don't tell the Reds a scrap, all right?

-No.

Because they'll think you've bombed big time.

Go out looking gloomy and we'll reveal all in a moment.

Well, the end of another delightful day bargain hunting.

You have been fantastic teams, thank you so much for joining us.

It's the moment to reveal who the winners and the runners-up are

-and I regret to say that the runners-up today are the Reds.

-Hey!

LAUGHTER

It was such fun, wasn't it? £25 profit on your Dunhill trimmer.

-Yes.

-Nothing the matter with that.

The correct strategic decision not to go with the bonus buy, ring fencing your losses at £33.

-Oh, not too bad.

-Which is no shame in that I tell you.

-Have you had a nice time, darling?

-Brilliant, thank you.

-Good. Has Mum had a nice time?

-Fantastic.

-Well, we've loved having you anyway. Thank you so much.

-But the victors today, it's a question of all the threes, really, isn't it?

-It is.

Because the victors have won by making a profit of £3.

-Great.

-£3!

Now, I know our North American audience just can never understand

how on Bargain Hunt we Brits get so excited about winning £3.

On American television they expect to win a house in Florida

and four or five Cadillacs before a show like this is at all popular.

-We are happy with three quid, aren't we?

-We are. £3.

-Yes. Well, here we go, here's the £3.

To show I speak not with forked tongue you have the £3, largely as a result,

Phil, it has to be said, of your £36 profit on the coffin form snuff box, which is pretty good.

And then followed up by another profit on your bonus buy, the old nutcracker.

So £3 profit overall was very good.

-Yes.

-And I congratulate you.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

-Are you a happy brace of bunnies?

-We are.

-Join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

-Yes!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]