Ardingly 2 Bargain Hunt

Today, we're at the biggest fair in the south of England.

Plenty of scope, then, to go Bargain Hunting.

Ardingly International

Antiques and Collectors Fair

is home to nearly 2,000 stalls, 90 shopping arcades,

six huge marquees

and literally hundreds of outside stands.

With these sort of numbers, our teams today have sure got their work cut out.

With each team trying to spend £300 on the best three items they can find,

and only an hour in which to do it,

it's going to be a right old race against the clock.

Those three items are then shipped off to the auction house to go under the hammer.

The team that makes the most profit wins. Easy, isn't it?

Let's get out from behind these bars and meet the teams.

And today, not two but four teams will be vying

for the Ardingly crown.

Will our first pair of reds and blues be setting a cracking pace?

On the red team we've got Val and John. Welcome.

And for the blues, we've got Nick and Sally. Welcome to Bargain Hunt.

Now, Val, what do you do, darling?

I work my partner's shop in the Lanes in Brighton, in the South Lanes.

-And what do you collect, Val?

-Well, we collect motorbikes, really,

-and scooters.

-Really?

-Yes.

-And how many motorbikes and scooters have you got?

Well, we've got two scooters and three Harley Davidsons.

-Oh, quite serious stuff, then.

-Yes.

-Gosh.

-And how come you know John, then?

-I met John in the supermarket

where he works.

Well, he was guessing what I was having for dinner.

It was spaghetti bolognese, and he also likened me to somebody who he's very fond of.

Yes, I'm a bit of a fan of a little singer-songwriter lady called Lynsey de Paul, and she reminded me of her.

-What do you collect, then, John?

-Showbiz memorabilia.

I've got some of Liberace's ornaments, the mirrored headboard out of the film The Bitch,

-that Joan Collins laid up against, Bet Lynch earrings.

-Oh, really?

Cos all that stuff just shoots up in value all the time, doesn't it?

-Yes, it seems so.

-Have you ever tried selling any of it?

I did have one of Bette Davis's frocks from Death on the Nile...

-Yeah.

-..and I bought it for 200 and sold it for 600.

Right. So that was a good turn.

-It was a good investment.

-Good luck today on Bargain Hunt.

-Now for the Blues, the fiances Nick and Sally.

-Hello, Tim.

-Hi. So, Nick, what do you do?

I'm a specialist support worker for the NHS.

-And what do you collect?

-Quite a few things, actually.

First of all, lighters, vintage lighters.

Also vintage cigarette cases and, more recently, vintage wrist watches.

And how did you meet?

-We met on an online dating site.

-Oh, I see. Yeah.

And what happens, then? You get to chat...

Yeah, we started out just by emailing

and then speaking on the phone, but I wasn't particularly interested

because he used to have really long dreadlocks. I saw his photo with long dreadlocks and...

-You thought, "Not for me."

-Not for me. But when we met, it was...

Caramba. Another caramba! We're full of carambas on this programme!

What sort of things do you collect, Sal?

For some reason, I'm attracted to toast racks.

I've bought a few recently.

I've known people who've collected toast racks - they are fun things.

-So I'm not the only one?

-No, no, you're not the only one.

Anyway, now the money moment. £300 apiece.

This is what you've been waiting for. There's your £300.

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

So, let's meet today's Bargain Hunt experts.

Pretty as a picture for the Reds, it's Anita Manning.

And making right old racket for the Blues, it's Catherine Southon.

A couple of boxes over there...

With only 60 minutes on the clock, there's no time to lose,

but are the Reds barking up the wrong tree?

So what do you think? Do you like...?

-Dogs are always popular, aren't they?

-You're a cat man, aren't you?

I'm more catty than doggy, I must admit...

They're not silver, are they? No, they're not silver.

They're a white metal, but this one here I like in particular.

It's very well moulded.

It's well made and there's a wee bit of quality there.

Now, I can't find any marks at all,

any maker's name, so there's nothing there.

What sort of price are these?

35 quid the two.

-£35?

-Well, that's the pair.

-I think we need to try and go a wee bit...

-A bit lower?

Uh-huh. We want to make profit.

-We do.

-This is Bargain Hunt.

-Exactly.

18.

Um, you couldn't give me 25?

20.

-£20. Will it be cash?

-It'll be cash.

Go on, then, you've got a deal.

Only ten minutes gone, and the Reds are already wagging their tails with their first item.

I think it's a bit expensive, but...

Oh, yeah, I'm liking that immediately. I am liking that.

You're liking it, I'm liking it. I'm liking it cos you're liking it.

-Have a feel.

-I really like that.

-Love the colour.

-And it's got its little stopper intact as well.

If it is original.

So I think maybe sort of post-Victorian.

I don't think it is Victorian.

£78 is quite... I'd like to get...

-I know it sounds quite cheeky, but I'd like to get that for sort of £40.

-40?

Nick managed to get the scent bottle down to £65, but is that low enough?

With 20 minutes gone and literally hundreds of thousands of items to look at,

both teams are going to have to get their skates on.

-It's a wee pencil case.

-Oh, I say.

-I like that.

-It's good! You've got quite interesting things.

-It's like an umbrella.

-That's it. It's a novelty item.

We've got a little ruler there...

a pen and a pencil.

So it's a novelty item.

Are we able to negotiate with you, sir?

-It has to be 70 quid.

-You're frightened by paying £60.

I'm tight.

The Reds are making some quick decisions today, but £70 for

that pencil case seems a bit on the blunt end of a profit to me. Huh!

We're nearly halfway through.

Let's see what's catching the eye of the Blue team.

-Do you know what these are?

-For making pills.

-Pill-making machines. Good, aren't they?

-Yes.

-So you put your...

-Ingredients.

-..the mixture, the ingredients in here, and then...

-Is that the roller for that?

-Yeah. And then pull that down.

-I'm loving that.

-You're loving that?

-Yes.

-And I think 98 is a bit punchy.

-Yeah.

-Why did you like this?

-I don't know. It's sort of...cos it works.

-Or would work. It would still work, wouldn't it?

-Absolutely.

-I think it's really nicely made.

It is quite nice quality.

-I could probably see this at auction £80 to £120.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-But I would like to buy it at about 60.

-How much?

About 60. Well, I'd like to buy it as cheap as possible, but...

-Mmm.

-Shall we give that a go?

We could do. You're the one that spotted it and liked it.

Why don't you try and get it down, and when I've spotted something,

-I'll haggle down.

-I'm liking that.

-Go and do your stuff.

-OK!

..a maker's mark and there isn't one.

No. I can't. There's nothing in it. 78 I'd do. That's 20 quid off.

-70.

-We've got it in cash.

-70. Then it's yours.

Do you think that's reasonable?

I think it might be worth a go.

I think £70, it might be worth a go.

Well done, Nick. But will £70 prove a bitter pill to swallow at the auction later on?

Both our teams have bought two of their three items

and with 15 minutes remaining, the pressure's on to find one more shiny object.

But with so much choice, where does one begin?

-Oh, now...

-£55.

Oh, yes, that's a lovely one.

I like this. I love the colour.

I'd probably put some form of scented candle in it, I think, as a centrepiece in the table.

Price - how much is it?

It's £28.

-£28?

-Yes.

-Right.

So do you think we could perhaps

-ask the stall-holder if we can get it cheaper than that?

-We'll try.

-Call him over.

-Excuse me, sir.

-Hello.

-Hello.

We've chosen this item.

Mm-hmm, a good choice.

It's beautiful. It's £28.

Um...would you take £18 for it?

Um, I think 20 would be a better price, to be honest.

£20 is a nice round figure as well.

-A nice round figure.

-And it's a nice-looking note as well.

Well...I think we'll go with that.

-Great. Thank you very much. Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Do you want me to wrap it for you?

-Yes, that'd be lovely.

Well done, Reds. Three items and five minutes to spare.

But the Blues are still struggling to find their final item.

-Time goes so quickly!

-I know!

Oh, that is to die for. Yeah.

Ooh, it's a little purse!

Can you date it at all? Because I don't recognise the, um...

With the tortoiseshell, I'm thinking sort of 1860s.

Very sweet, isn't it? Now, you said you wanted something tactile.

-Yeah, I love it.

-It is really, really pretty.

I would see that at auction

-probably making around £80, £90, £100.

-Right.

-What's on it?

-It's well over 100.

160.

-Shall we see if we can...?

-I don't think she's going to go down very much on it.

Sal does her first deal and comes away looking pleased as Punch,

putting the purse strings at a cool £100.

-Next time.

-Yeah. BELL RINGS

Time's up. Ooh!

Let's remind ourselves what the Reds bought.

Val and John went barking mad for these woofers at £20.

Will the umbrella pencil case make them a profit for a rainy day?

And will the candle-holder light up the auction house

like it lit up Val's face?

-So, Val and John, did you enjoy your shopping?

-Yeah, it was great.

-Yeah, it was lovely.

-And you had a lovely expert to look after you.

-We did. She's smashing, yeah.

-Which is your favourite piece, Val?

-The glass.

-The glass is your favourite. What about you, John?

-I like the glass too.

-You like the glass, yeah. Which piece is going to make the biggest profit?

-I think it might be the dogs.

-The dogs. All gone to the dogs. John?

-I'll put my confidence in the glass.

-OK, sticking with the glass.

You spent £110, which is not a lot of money.

I'd like £190 of leftover lolly to give straight to Anita.

So were they as good as they look?

They absolutely wonderful. I had a wonderful time working with them.

And I've got my eye on something that will celebrate good friendship.

Oh, Lord, sounds alcoholic to me.

You'd better go off and get it, Anita.

And very, very good luck.

Let's remind ourselves what the Blues bought.

Nick and Sal sniffed out a bargain in this Victorian scent bottle.

Take one of these with a glass of water and you'll be fine.

£70 for the pill press.

And finally, some impressive bartering

saw £60 knocked off this tortoiseshell purse.

-So, Nick and Sal, did you have a great time?

-Yeah, great.

It was a bit of a whirlwind.

Certainly was a nail-biter at the end, I'd say.

Anyway, you did extremely well. Which is your favourite piece, Sal?

-Definitely the Victorian purse.

-The purse is your favourite. What about, Nick?

I think the 19th-century pill press.

Pill press. Good. Which is going to bring the biggest profit?

-I hope the purse, actually.

-OK.

-I'm sticking with the pill press.

Ah, you're determined, you two.

Anyway, you spent a magnificent £235 eventually. £65 of leftover lolly.

Thank you very much. Goes straight to Catherine.

-I'm going to buy them something pretty and functional.

-Are you?

Mmm. Because we've got... She wants pretty and he wants functional.

All right, fine. Well, well done with that, anyway.

Well, we've popped in to central London, to Chiswick Auctions,

-to be with our auctioneer, William Rouse. Morning.

-Pleasure to have to here, Tim.

-Lovely to be here, too.

Now, Val and John for the Reds,

their first item is these two little figurines.

What do you make of those woofers, then?

I think they're rather nice. They're not very old, not silver, but they're very collectable.

People like dogs, so they've got a good chance of selling quite easily.

Oh, good. How much?

I think I ended up putting £50-£80 on them.

Did you? Have you had a mental aberration?!

No, seriously, they paid £20.

-If you think they're going to £40, £50, £60...

-I think they should make 40.

Fantastic. They could double their money. That is exciting.

Next is the umbrella pencil case, which is a charming little collectable, isn't it?

-It is. Whether it was originally designed for pencils, I don't know. It probably was.

-What's it worth?

I think again the estimate on that is about £50.

Is it? Well, they paid 70, so he gives with one hand and he takes away with the other.

Maybe. And lastly is this...

I think they called it a candle-holder but it's not really a candle-holder.

No, it's a goblet, but not one you'd drink out of. I think it's for putting on the mantelpiece.

-Yes. It was made by a drunken glass-maker.

-At the end of the day, do you think?

At the end of the day. He'd had one or two glasses of Rioja, I suspect, and that was the end product.

It's a pretty ghastly-looking thing, isn't it?

It isn't very nice.

No. So you have to have a bit of a guesstimate on that one. What do you think it might make?

-20-30.

-£20-£30.

Well, they paid £20 for it, so that's about spot on.

-Overall, though, promising, particularly with the dog department?

-I think so.

But just in case, let's have a look at the Bonus Buy, and here it comes.

Now, Val and John, you spent £110, you gave Anita Manning £190.

Anita, did you spend the lot?

-No, I didn't.

-Oh.

-I was a wee bit careful with my money.

-I ALWAYS am.

-Funny you should say that!

Are you going to show us what you bought, then, or are you just going to tease us?

-Ahh...

-It's a pin cushion.

It would've been made by a soldier or sailor in Victorian times.

During the long hours of inactivity waiting for a battle,

they would do these... what we'd call trench art.

And there's always a little bit of text in it.

On this one, we have "Think of me",

which is a wee bit sort of sad, I think. I paid £55 for it.

Is there a profit in it, do we think?

It's not going to fly.

There is a certain price for this type of thing, but we could make £5 or £10.

Just a question of pinning a profit down, isn't it?

On that happy note, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Anita's pin cushion.

I can't say I like it, but the good thing is that, particularly

with items of this nature, they tend to fall apart quite quickly, and it is broadly intact.

And you can read the poem so that's a good thing.

Yes, and representing, I suppose, the purest form of Victorian lurve.

Absolutely.

Well, I don't think either of us particularly "lurve" it, but what's it worth?

-£50?

-50? Is it really?

-I should've thought so.

Anita Manning, who is easily swayed on the romantic side of life, paid £55 for it,

-so she might make a profit?

-Certainly the right money.

Well, it's the Bonus Buy and they may never even select it, but that's interesting. Thank you, William.

That's it for the Reds. Now for the Blues, Nick and Sally.

Their first item is this little scent bottle. Desirable, I guess, because it's cranberry.

Yeah, that's certainly a good thing, and the bottle is intact, but it has suffered a little bit of a bash.

As is often the case it's, I think, been dropped at some point.

And that's a bit squashed as a result, yes, which is a shame.

Interesting to see what it looked like when it was cleaned up.

-Hmm. Saleable?

-Yeah, well, they're collectable.

-They're good for a sort of little vitrine.

-How much do you think?

I think I've put sort of around £50-£80 on it.

£65 paid, so that sits pretty comfortably in the estimate, anyway.

Next up is this rather wacky pill-making machine.

Not the most practical thing in the world. I have seen them before, and

I'm not sure that they ever create a frenzy of bidding, to be frank with you.

If anyone could think of a practical reason to have it somewhere in your house, it might do quite well.

That's the thing, but the estimate of £40-£60 is probably reflecting

the fact that we think it's not going to go crazy.

£40-£60. We're going to have to keep taking the tablets, I think, cos they paid £70.

-Ah. Gosh.

-Yes. Still, there we go.

Next is the tortoiseshell purse,

which is a nice-quality little thing.

It's a nice thing. It's seen a bit of life as well.

It's a bit tired on the outside, it's a bit tired on the inside,

but they again are quite collectable things.

-Again, about £50, I think.

-Gosh. £100 they paid.

-Well, I think 50-80 is our estimate, so with a fair wind...

-Going to be a bit tight, though, isn't it?

I think, in fairness, they're going to need their Bonus Buy, so let's go and have a look at it.

So, Sally and Nick, you've spent £235 -

that's what I call a proper amount of money - leaving Catherine only £65.

-What did Catherine buy?

-Are you ready?

-Da-da!

-Ooh.

-Ah.

-Ah.

Now, you wanted something pretty, you wanted something functional.

I combined the two and I got us a functional beaker.

-Has it got a mark?

-Yes, it is stamped. There we are. It is tarnished, it is worn.

I mean, in perfect condition, I think we could do quite well with this. I paid £32 for it.

-Oh.

-Which is actually not bad.

So how much can you see it getting at auction?

I would hope this would make about £40, £50.

-£10 or £15 predicted, anyway.

-I would hope so, Tim, yes.

-Hold that thought, OK?

For the viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Catherine's little beaker.

Well, William, the old adage "only buy things in good condition" does not apply with this object,

-does it?

-It's not great.

-It's effectively worn out, isn't it?

It is. The decoration once upon a time was quite nice.

Well, it's still quite nice to some extent, but it is well and truly dented, missing its plate.

£32 Catherine spent on it. Is she going to make a profit?

Well, we put 20-30 on it.

-There you go. Are you doing the necessary on the rostrum?

-I am.

Ah, we're in safe hands.

So, Val and John, here we are on the edge of the auction.

-How are you feeling, Val?

-Excited.

-Are you?

-Oh, yes.

-How excited?

-Very!

-Are you?

-It's my first auction.

-You've never been to an auction before?

-Never been to an auction before.

-Good Lord! Yet another virgin. This is lovely.

-I wouldn't say that.

-What about you, John? Are you a virgin?

-No, not at auctions, I'm not.

Or any other way, really.

-You've been thoroughly deflowered, have you?

-Yes, I have.

-OK. Well, there we go.

Anyway, the first lot up are the dog figurines, John, and here they come.

Two in the lot here, 58. What's the worth? £20 for it, please.

Surely for 20?

OK, start me for 10, then, for the two of them.

£10 for the two...

10 I'm bid, a maiden bid at £10. At £10, £12...

14, 16, 18...

£18 here. At £18.

They seem cheap for 18.

At £18, anybody else want to come in? At £18, then. 18. They go then at 18.

-Oh, dear.

-Ohh!

£18. Well, I'm afraid that prediction wasn't much good.

Minus £2 on that. Look out.

Next up is the umbrella.

What's the lot worth? £20 for it, please. Surely for 20.

All right, start me for 10, then.

10 I'm bid. Down here at £10. Anybody else want to come in.

12, thank you.

14, 16, 18,

20, 22...

£22 nearer to me. At 22, anybody else?

At £22. £22, then.

-Oh, dear!

-Dear, oh dear, oh dear.

That's 8 short of 30.

-Don't worry about it.

-Minus 48 on that.

I mean, really! For £22, that lovely little case.

Anyway, don't despair. Here comes the goblet.

Lot 52A is a blue modern-art glass goblet. Lot 52A.

Well, I've got a bid of commission interest in this lot, 52A,

and I can start the bidding at £24.

24 with me. At 24, 26, 28...

28 with me, on commission at £28.

Anybody else want to come in in the room?

28 it's selling for, then. £28.

-Well done!

-Thank you.

Super. It still makes you minus £42.

What are you going to do about the sweetheart?

-Well, I think we're going with it, aren't we?

-Well, I think we are.

You're going with the Bonus Buy, the sweetheart cushion and here it comes.

Bit of fun, this. "Think of me" on it. There we go. What's it worth?

£30 for it? Must be worth 30.

30 I'm bid. Straight in at £30.

35 behind you, 40...

45, 50, 55, 60...

65, 70,

75...

£75. At £75, 80 anywhere else? For £75, anybody else want to come in?

75 it is, then. At 75...

Well done, Anita. You are plus £20 on your sweetheart cushion.

Well, that's amazing. Plus £20. That's brilliant.

-We did the right thing.

-Thank goodness you did.

Which takes you to only minus £22.

Now, minus 22 could be a winning score. Don't tell the Blues a thing.

-Won't tell the Blues.

-Mum's the word.

-Mum's the word.

-Not a sausage.

-Not a sausage.

-Hi, guys.

-Hi.

-Excited?

-Yes.

-Yeah, very.

-Do you know how the Reds got on?

-No idea.

-No, we don't want you to either.

-So how do you feel you're going to get on today, Sal?

-Um...

So-so.

No, I think one of your things is going to do really well.

Which bit's going to do well?

-I think the little purse might do well.

-The tortoiseshell purse?

-Yeah.

-Well, it is beautifully made, that purse, isn't it?

With any luck. You know, this is a London audience.

They like these more sophisticated little pieces to go into vitrines.

You might be lucky. So I've got my legs crossed for you.

-I've got everything crossed.

-Everything? Good.

And, if all else fails, you can always fall back on the Art Nouveau beaker.

Ah! First up, though, is the perfume bottle, and here it comes.

Lot 72A, the cranberry scent bottle. There we go.

What's it worth? £20 to start me for the bottle.

20 I'm bid.

22, 24, 26, 28,

30, fresh bidder.

Do you want 32? 34.

£34 for the...number raised.

34, 36 straight in front of me.

38, 40, 45, 50.

£50 nearer to me. At 50. At £50, the little scent bottle.

At £50, anybody else? £50 it's going, then.

For £50, all done? 50.

£50. Cheap enough.

£50. That's minus £15.

Now, the pill-making machine.

Let's start me for £10.

Who wants it for £10? 10 I'm bid, straight in.

£12 in front of you.

14, 16, 18,

20, 22, 24, 26, 28,

30, 32...

£32. Nearer to me, at £32.

In the blue, at 32. Anybody else.

£32 for the pill machine. At 32. The hammer's coming down for 32, then.

32 is eight shy of 40. That's minus £38.

38, 48, you're minus 53 overall.

So your tortoiseshell has got to do really rather well, hasn't it?

-How do you feel about that?

-Shall we just run away now?

Lot 74A is this little pink purse, 74A.

And I've got some interest in this too.

I'm straight in at £50.

A little pink purse at £50?

£50 with me. 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80...

Still with me at £80.

At £80 for the purse.

Fresh bidding, 85. 90...

95, 100... It's £100. With me at £100, this little purse at £100.

Anybody else want to come in?

£100 for the purse, then.

-It sells for 100, then.

-Well done, darling. £100.

-You wiped your face.

-I wiped my face!

Just like you said, you'd wipe your face.

But sadly, overall, you are minus £53.

Now, that could be a winning score, cos you don't know how the Reds got on.

It could be a winning score. What are you going to do about the Bonus Buy?

-Are you going to go with that beaker?

-We'll leave it, then.

-Leave it this time. No offence.

-We'll cut our losses.

You're not going with the Bonus Buy.

-Here comes the beaker.

-Lot 77A is a WMF beaker, lot 77A.

£10 there at £10, anybody else at £10?

-Oh, dear.

-£10. Nobody else?

-The hammer's coming down for 10.

-Well done, team.

You did the right thing there.

Minus £22 you would've been had you gone for it,

but you parked it, anyway.

-So, overall, it's minus £53, OK?

-Could be worse.

-Which is not too bad. It could've been a lot worse.

And who knows? That could be the winning score. Don't tell the Reds a thing.

But alas, not a winning score,

since remember the Reds made a loss of only £22.

Coming up, two more teams hit the Ardingly trail.

Speaking of which, I'm making tracks to somewhere fit for a king.

Leeds Castle, here, is nowhere near Leeds.

It's actually quite close to Maidstone. And it was built in 1119.

Over the years, successive kings gave this bijou country pad

to their respective queens,

and it became known as the Lady's castle.

How appropriate, therefore, that the last owner just happened to be a Lady.

Look out.

GEESE HONK

Lady Bailey was a wealthy Anglo-American heiress who liked to party.

Looking for a swish country retreat to hold her weekend soirees, she stumbled across Leeds Castle,

fell in love with it and bought it, in 1926,

for the then princely sum of £180,000.

She both gutted and rebuilt parts of the castle

with a view to creating spaces where she could practise the consummate art of hospitality.

Ha! And what a place to wallow.

We've got terribly blase these days about luxury bathrooms

but I tell you, in the 1920s, if you actually had a bathroom,

it was a considerable achievement

and the number of people who would've had a bathroom like this,

entirely lined with solid slabs of Russian striated onyx,

this lovely brown and cream stripey stone that goes all round this space,

the fact that you've got a semi-sunken bath with matching stone lip and surround,

and instead of having to scrabble around for the plughole,

this bath has got the waste fitting attached to a lever

which would open the waste and out would go the water.

Right next door to the bathroom, we've got the ultimate feminine place

but stylistically, this room looks as if it's been transplanted

from 18th-century France.

So what's the purpose of this space?

Why were all these high-quality French fittings fitted up here?

Well, these glazed doors do look rather like library bookcase doors, don't they?

Containing books? Oh, no.

Not a library for books, but a library for clothes and shoes.

Imelda Marcos, eat your heart out,

because Lady Bailey was collecting shoes years before you.

Meanwhile, back at Ardingly Fair, it's a race against the clock for our next two teams.

But will their items perform well later, at the auction?

Today we've got the gorgeous girls versus the lovable lads.

-For the Reds, we've got Becky and Georgina, sisters.

-Hiya.

-And Bramwell and Stuart, best mates, for the Blues.

-Indeed.

"Indeed," he says! Now, Becky, you're a dancer.

What are the highlights of your career so far?

I'd say, probably, I've danced with the English Youth Ballet

when I was younger, so that was a good experience.

And probably getting my teaching qualifications so I'm able to teach dance to children.

And are you interested in antiques?

Oh, yeah. We both love antiques, don't we?

-Always loved them.

-We're hopefully looking for some nice silver or something.

-A nice piece of jewellery maybe.

-Georgina, what do you do, darling?

I'm still at college, studying childcare,

so love children, love working with them.

So about to finish that and hopefully be a nanny when I'm older.

You've got a travel bug too, haven't you?

Yes, I have. I love travelling. I love finding new places,

-so going to Australia this year.

-Yeah.

-Saving up.

-You're going with your sister?

-Yeah.

-Ah, right, it's a duo.

You really are a tight team, aren't you? I think these boys had better watch out.

-Now, Bramwell.

-Hi.

-Are you a collector of anything in particular, Bramwell?

-Yeah.

I'm a great big fan of Star Wars. It's my love.

I've loved it all my life. I used to collect when I was younger.

And unfortunately, a few years back, I sold it all off

and now I'm trying to rekindle my youth

and I buy Star Wars vintage figures,

send them off, get them authenticated and try and make a bit of money.

Oh, do you? So there's money to be made out of this.

So, Stuart, you're musical too?

You could say that, yeah.

Myself and a few friends, we started a boy band back in the sort of late '90s,

which started off as a bit of a joke

but we ended up progressing and touring up and down the country.

-What was your band called?

-It was Four Sure.

-Four Sure. That's a very good name.

-Not Sure now, really!

You're not sure that it was Four Sure, but you did it anyway.

We had a great time.

-We were out there touring for about two, three years, by the time we got out of the studio.

-Really?

I understand you also organise great parties.

Last year, myself and Bramwell decided to celebrate our 32nd and 33rd birthdays

with a big kids' party for us all, all of our friends, at one of my bars

and it was our take on what we used to do as young children, shall we say,

so we had musical chairs, musical statues, Simon says,

dancing competitions and everything.

We don't want you to be too grown-up today,

cos the grown-up moment now is the £300 moment.

-Ready, girls?

-Yeah.

-Look at these expectant faces here.

£300 apiece. There you go, boys.

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

-Come on.

-Go.

Let's go.

Have you got any nice wee kind of quirky silver pieces here?

We have. What about a christening mug? 40 quid.

OK. Could you do it for 20?

Listen, I can do it for 35 quid.

And if you can't get a profit on it, I'll buy it back off you for 32.

-He's got the patter, hasn't he?

-Honestly, it does scrap at £32.

OK.

So you're paying £3 over scrap.

But if it's getting sold at auction, we've got to think of buyers' premium and passing on stuff.

See these girls - these girls are wonderful girls

and they've come hundreds of miles to be the winners of Bargain Hunt.

Their beauty overwhelms me.

I feel I must take them away from you! Pleased to meet you.

Can you not do it for 25 quid?

-After all that...

-Oh, go on. Girls. Girls.

-You have to now. Come on.

-25. 25.

I tell you what... £30, you bought it and that's a good deal.

-TIM:

-That was impressive, girls. First stall, first item and all in ten minutes.

Look at that set.

A lovely big piece of tortoiseshell there with no cracks, no damage.

That is lovely. Nice initials there.

-What can it actually be used for?

-Put your rings in there.

Jewellery box. Necklaces and stuff.

Yeah. I think, probably, it would have had a necklace in there once.

-Hallmarked on the hinges.

-Auction estimate?

-Auction estimate 100-150.

-220 is too high. Let's keep looking.

-OK.

Keep looking.

Mmm. There's plenty of looking going on, but not a lot of buying.

Keep an eye on the clock, guys. Before you know it, you'll have run out of time.

I like this.

Now, this...that's unusual. It's supposed to be one of those...curling stones.

That's fantastic.

-It's a little inkwell.

-Yeah.

But I can see that at £30-£40 maybe doing quite well.

He wants 35 for it.

-I need you to try and get it down to around... I'm thinking £15, £20.

-OK.

With Bramwell left to negotiate, they get the price down to £18.

Right, guys, pick up the pace.

Take my word for it - 25 minutes to find two items isn't long.

What is it? Just a pendant?

It's a locket and you would have been able to put a photograph of your loved one in there.

-It has the lovely detail of seed pearls.

-Yeah.

-And I like seed pearls, but that's a personal thing.

-Yeah.

Can you tell me what you think?

I mean, it's really pretty.

You're not going to see something like this anywhere.

I love the thought that you could put a picture in it.

-Yeah, cos you don't often see an open locket.

-No. I've never seen one.

-OK.

-I love lockets and that is a different locket.

-Yeah.

The girls said they wanted some jewellery and the pendant was theirs for £70.

So our Red team is sitting pretty with two items bagged and £200 left.

I love the handle of this magnifier.

That's all ivory. Isn't that lovely? Beautifully carved.

-Let's just have a look.

-And this is gilt?

Yeah. This is gilt metal.

-And this...different colour.

-I am a bit concerned. Yeah. Absolutely.

I don't think that those two are the same. It looks slightly made up.

Very high price.

-I'll give you a good deal on it.

-OK.

55. It is a nice thing.

-What auction price?

-I quite like that.

-I think that's quite nice quality.

-Yeah.

-But...

-We need to get the price down so we can sell at auction.

I like the sort of flowering head around.

He's not interested in the item. He doesn't care about anything.

All he wants to do is make a profit.

That might be the name of the game,

but Bramwell seems hell-bent on getting the biggest reductions possible.

With 15 minutes left on the clock and only one item bought,

the Blues have got some serious work to do.

Over in the Red camp, it looks like their work is almost done.

Well, it's all there. We have the teapot.

-Yeah.

-We have the sugar.

We have the cream and we have two little cups and saucers on a tray.

Oh, it's lovely.

Now, we have these little scenes on here.

A young swain serenading his beautiful maiden.

But when we look at the back stamp here,

we see that it's made by Limoges, which was a good factory,

so we've got a wee bit of quality there, girls.

-That's good.

-A wee bit of quality.

Now, it's not early.

It's probably from the 1950s, '60s and it is a traditional thing,

-but that's not going to detract from its charm.

-Yeah. Definitely.

Let's go and have a wee cup of tea.

-I think we deserve it.

-Yes.

-Definitely.

Happy with the price at £15, the Reds are done and dusted.

As the Reds stroll back, it's panic stations for the Blues.

Catherine has really got her work cut out.

There's just ten minutes remaining and still two items to buy.

It's kind of vintage. I like the motif on the front and it's hallmarked inside.

-It looks in quite good quality.

-Is that engraved in?

No. We've got some interlaced initials, which has actually been put on to the top of the box.

I've got the lady down to 160.

She said she's paid more than that at auction for them.

We're running out of time.

-We're running out of time. Do you like it?

-I like it. I'm in.

-How much did you say?

-160.

160. I can see it in auction at sort of 100-150.

-OK. We're in trouble, then.

-I think it's got character.

-Right. Come on. Let's decide.

-I'm still soul-destroyed. Let's go.

-Yeah?

-160.

-OK.

-Have another go at her, Brammy. See what you can get.

A little bit more. A little bit more.

Cor, that Bramwell isn't one to give up.

He always has to get the price down just a little bit more, and he did.

He made a massive saving of one whole pound!

Do I sense some tension in the air here?

-Oh, you do.

-We've had a slight malfunction on our buying.

So, how many pieces have you bought?

-Two.

-Two. Two?!

-And we had one slip through our fingers.

You've only got six minutes.

-Can you help us?

-What are you doing here, hanging about?

You're our Obi-Wan. We need you.

You need me? You need HER.

-That's what. You need somebody.

-We need help!

-We need help.

-Then you'd better get on with it.

Time is just running away from the Blues.

Their frantic searching doesn't appear to have been successful

and now they've just one minute to buy their last item.

What are they going to do?

We're going to go back and get the thingy.

To me and you, that's the magnifying glass.

Five.

Four.

-Three.

-Come on!

-Two.

-I'm worried. I'm really worried.

-One.

-What have you done?

-We've bought it for £47.50.

-Time's up.

-Well done, anyway.

-Well done, guys.

-I really think we need a cup of tea.

-Yeah. Let's go and get one.

-Or something a little bit stronger, maybe.

Phew. That was frantic.

Talk about cutting it fine.

Let's recap on what the Reds bought.

With the stallholder mesmerised, they managed to get a tenner off.

£30 paid.

The locket caught their eye and so did the price at £70.

The Limoges tea set was right up their street, at £15.

-So, girls, was that good or was it good?

-Yeah.

-Great.

-We had great fun, didn't we?

Well, there we go. I'm glad you did.

Now, which is your favourite piece, Becky?

-I think the locket with the pearls.

-What about you, Georgina?

I'd say the silver christening cup. It's different and hopefully it'll make the most profit.

Will that make the most profit?

-I really hope it does.

-I think so, as well.

You're going to go with your sister?

I think so. Fingers crossed on that one.

You spent £115. Not a lot.

I'd like to have £185 of leftover lolly to Anita.

-So what was it like, Anita, operating with the young ones?

-We had a wonderful time.

We had a marvellous girlie day shopping and generally having a good old time to ourselves.

Well, that was lovely. So what are you going to do with all that money, then?

Well, I've got my eye on a little piece of bling which I think might

-bring an even bigger smile on the girls' faces.

-If that's possible.

Anyway, Anita, you're just a great big kid yourself, so off you go and good luck.

Let's remind ourselves what the Blues bought.

After half an hour of knocking stallholders down,

the Blues finally managed to agree on a price

and bought their first item, for £18.

After much deliberation, Catherine and Stuart overruled Bramwell

and bought the tortoiseshell case for £159.

Even with seconds to go, Bramwell was determined

to get the magnifying glass a little bit cheaper.

He ran out of time, though, and had to settle with paying £47.50.

Cor, what a scramble it is with you lot!

-We went pretty close to the wire.

-Half a second to go!

-This is ridiculous.

-We don't mess around.

You had a good time, that's the main thing.

So, Bram, which is your favourite piece?

I like the quirky granite inkwell.

Do you? That's your favourite. What about you, Stuart?

I like the tortoiseshell jewellery box. I thought it was the classiest item.

-So that's your favourite?

-Yeah.

-Which piece will bring the biggest profit, do you think?

-I think the...

-Tortoiseshell.

-It's going to fly out.

-The tortoiseshell?

-Yeah.

You're agreed on the tortoiseshell for your prediction of most profit.

OK. Fine. You spent £224.50 which is a magnificent effort, I have to say.

Oddball number but I'll have £75.50's worth of leftover lolly

-for Catherine to find a bonus buy.

-Thank you.

Are you still with us? Cos you must be exhausted after all that.

Well, these two are exhausting.

We've had a lot of fun, but I am really tired.

-Are you strong enough to find something?

-I don't think so, but I'll give it a go.

-Dig deep.

-Wish me luck.

-I will. Good luck, Catherine.

We've come to Chiswick Auctions in West London today.

It's a joy to be with our auctioneer, William Rice.

-Welcome, Tim.

-Thank you.

The teams, then, Becky and Georgina, the Reds,

first up, they've got this little christening mug,

which I think is suffering from what I call the Brillo Pad school of cleaning.

It isn't terribly well polished and it's a bit plain.

Sometimes they sort of have rib decoration round them

or just something to give it a bit of extra oomph.

It's silver and silver price is good at the moment.

Quite. And they only paid £30. What's your estimate on it?

I think we've put 40-60 on it, actually.

Brilliant. OK. Well, that would be very nice to kick off with.

Next is the pendant locket.

Nine-carat gold hallmark. Real seed pearls.

I think it's quite sweet.

It's in good condition too, which is important.

-It's ready for something to go inside.

-Ready to go.

-Absolutely.

-How much, then, do you think?

-50 plus.

-50 plus. £70 was paid.

Gold and pearls together.

-What more could you want?

-Well, quite. What more could a girl want?

What about the little Limoges miniature set?

Well, it's not everybody's taste, it has to be said.

-So how much, then, do you think?

-Well, again, I think £50-£80.

Do you? £15 is all they paid for that.

Good. Well, we've done very well with some Limoges recently.

-Good.

-Maybe that will fly away.

-Well, that's marvellous.

-Potentially, there's a bit of profit...

-Should be.

..in all of these items, which is good.

But you never know, things can go wrong, so let's go and have a look at the bonus buy.

I found this little wee object absolutely irresistible.

Aww!

The girls love jewellery and I was looking for a big bit of bling.

Do you like frogs, though?

-I like sparkly ones.

-Sparkly frogs, do you?

-How much was it?

-I paid £15.

-15?

-That's good. Yeah.

Look how they bucked up, the girls, on that.

-So, Georgina, what do you think?

-Yeah. I like it. It's sweet.

-It's different. You don't really see a brooch like that.

-No.

-I've never seen one like that!

-You don't have to decide now.

You'll decide after the sale of the first three items.

But for the viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Anita's green brooch.

I think it's rather fun.

It isn't gold, obviously, and there's nothing precious about it metal-wise,

but it's enamel and sort of little tiny chips of what look like diamonds.

-Well, I think with a following wind, £20, £30.

-OK. Fine. Well, Anita paid £15 and she's very canny.

-She should turn a profit on that.

-I think so.

Good. That's it for the Reds. Now for the Blues, Bramwell and Stuart.

Their first item is the little inkwell.

Transfer decorated and it is what it is, really.

-Yes.

-Well, I think I'd put about £30, £40 on it.

Well, that's brilliant. £18 paid.

That's not so bad. Excellent.

Next is the little tortoiseshell necklace box.

I think that's a very nice thing. It's in good condition.

Its silver-gilt hinges are hallmarked so we can date it.

But it's just a really attractive box and tortoiseshell is always desirable,

-especially if it's in good condition.

-What do you think it's worth?

I think £200.

Do you? Well, £159 was paid with some trepidation. Let's hope it does well.

And lastly in their purchases, is this little magnifying glass.

Now, do you think that handle's ivory or what?

I don't think it is. No. I'm not quite sure what it is, actually, but ivory it isn't.

Sometimes they make them out of old knives or old bits of cutlery. I don't think this one has been.

I think it's always been a magnifying glass.

Well, they paid another pretty keen price for this. £47.50 was paid for that magnifying glass.

It ought to sell, I think,

with a sort of estimate around the £30 mark.

Round the £30 mark. Right.

-25-40.

-So they may not do quite so well on that.

I don't think anybody will go crazy about it.

No. Well, just in case, let's go and have a look at the bonus buy.

-Are you ready for this, guys?

-No.

Here we are.

Look at these little beauties.

They're miniature Toby jugs.

-Really?

-A Mr and a Mrs.

-Which one am I?

-You're the Mrs.

-Of course.

-Definitely.

Does that work about right?

Let's have a closer look at these.

-Oh, yeah.

-Mine's got lipstick on there.

-Royal Worcester.

-I like them.

I paid £40 for them and I think we should make a bit of profit on these

cos the book price is about £50, £60 each.

-Nice jugs(!)

-They're nice.

On that note, I think we'll move on quickly

and find out what the auctioneer thinks about Catherine's little bits of pottery.

I don't think they're terribly good quality

and Worcester is, after all, known for fundamentally really good things.

I know what you mean, because the underglaze transferred mark

is underneath a particularly odd-looking milky glaze.

It just doesn't hang together terribly well and with the poor painting on top,

it does make me slightly doubt them.

I think you're right to be suspicious.

But having said that, what are they worth?

-£40.

-Right.

-Something like that.

-Catherine paid £40.

So anything more than 40 will show them a profit.

-That's if they go with the bonus buy and nothing is certain in life.

-No.

Anyway, we'll find out in the auction.

-OK, girls, how are you feeling?

-Good. Excited.

-Are you?

-Yeah.

-Quite nerve-racking, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-A bit.

Anyway, first lot up is the christening cup and here it comes.

Lot 92A. A little christening mug there. What's it worth? £30 for it.

£20 for a christening mug. 20.

22. 24. 26. 28. 30.

-32. 34.

-Yes!

40. 45. Do you want 45?

£45 nearer to me.

-At 45. It's £45 for the silver.

-50.

-45 it is, then.

-Well, done, girls. £45.

You are plus £15.

Straight out. Yeah.

Good start.

So, your locket, Anita.

Is it going to be so sweet on this?

Lot 93A is a nine-carat gold pendant locket.

Must be £30 of gold there. £20 to start me, then.

Surely, for the little gold locket, for 20. Dear, oh, dear.

£10, then. At 12.

14.

16. 18.

£18. In the distance at £18. That's all I'm bid, at 18.

20, fresh bidding.

22. 24.

26. 28. £28 to the lady. At 28.

Anybody else want to come in, at £28?

At 30, just in time. £30 to the gentleman, now. At £30.

Selling it for 30.

Bad luck, Anita. £30.

-That is so cheap.

-Minus £40.

-Which means, overall, you are minus £25.

-We'll make it up.

-Now, Limoges.

-Ooh, we could.

Cross everything. All right?

Everybody hold hands. Hold hands.

Lot 94A is the Limoges tea set. Where shall we start this? £20.

-20 for the tea set.

-Come on.

-£10 I'm bid.

At 10. 12. 14.

20. Selling, then, for £20 only.

At £20, that tea set.

-£20 it is, then.

-Bad luck, darling.

-£20 is still a £5 profit.

-Yeah.

But the estimate wasn't particularly accurate, was it?

-No. They got our hopes up.

-You are overall, darlings, I'm afraid, minus £20. OK?

-OK.

You're minus £20 which is not bad.

It could be a winning score. Are you going with the bonus buy?

-Going to go with the froggies?

-We are.

-Yeah.

-Risk £15?

-Yeah. Might as well.

-Yeah. Go on.

-Yeah. We're going to do it.

You're going with the bonus buy and here it comes.

Lot 97A is the amusing yellow metal and green enamel brooch

in the form of four frogs.

Start me for £10 for the little brooch, then.

10, I'm bid.

Anybody else? At 10. 12.

They're appearing everywhere. At 12. 14. 16. 18. 20. 22.

24. 26. 28.

30. 32.

£32, there. 34, anybody else?

£32 in the bed. 34, there.

£34, fresh bidder.

At £34. Anybody else? The hammer's coming down.

34 it is, then. 34.

-Yes! Yes!

-£34!

£34 is plus £19.

-You're still minus £1.

-Oh, no!

The big thing now is not to reveal your big losses to the Blues.

-We won't. We won't.

-50p each.

Keep really quiet about that.

-We don't want them to know.

-No.

-But good fun, eh?

-Yeah.

-Loved it.

Now, Stu, Stu, Bram, Bram, do you know how the Red Reds got on?

-They did little eyes.

-Looked a bit smug.

A bit smug when they went past you?

Don't like little eyes. Very unnerving.

Is that what it is? Yeah.

Anyway, first up, then, is the curling stone paperweight inkwell and here it comes. Och, aye!

Lot 112A

is an amusing pottery inkwell in the form of a curling stone.

£20 to start me. £20 for it, surely.

£10 for it, somebody.

10. 10 all over the place. £10 there, sir.

12.

14. 16. £18, fresh bidding.

20. At £20, then.

I'm going to sell it for £20.

-Well, done, Catherine. £2 profit, Catherine.

-That's mean, isn't it?

-A pound each.

-A profit is a profit.

Thank you. Now, next is going to be this necklace case.

-All eyes on you.

-We're all very nervous.

-Tim looks worried.

-Dude.

-It's a dude?

113A is the tortoiseshell box.

Start me for 100.

£80 for the lot. 80 I'm bid. There, £80.

85. 90. 95. 100. 110, fresh bidding.

120. 130.

140. 150.

-Go on!

-160.

160, there. At £160. At 160.

Anybody else? 160 is the bid, then. 160.

Yes. Well, done.

You've made a profit of £1.

-Told you it'd fly.

-Super. Well, done.

Good lads. Good lads.

OK. So, here comes the magnifying glass.

114A is a little magnifying glass.

114A.

Again, I've got some interest in this.

I'm already bid £20. With me at £20. For the little magnifying glass. £20.

22. 24. 26. 28.

30. 32.

34. 36. Still with me at £36.

Fresh bidding, 38.

40. 45. 50.

55. 60. Still with me at £60.

Anybody else want to come in?

At £60, it's on a left bid of £60.

65.

70. I'm afraid it's still with me at £70. That's £70 the bid.

£70 is the bid, then. At 70.

That's good. 70! That is something else, isn't it?

-I do not understand that.

-That's plus £22.50, right?

Which means, overall, you are plus £25.50.

What are you going to do about this bonus buy? You're £25.50 up. Right.

You can park it or you can risk it.

£40 you're putting at risk.

Toby jugs.

-Are you with it or not?

-Yes. Yes.

We're going with the bonus buy.

-Link arms. Link arms.

-Link arms.

-£20 to start me.

Anybody? 20, I'm bid.

Straight in at £20. And two I'll take. At £20. 22.

24. 26. 28. 30. 32. 34.

36. 38.

40. 45.

45 with the lady. 50 now.

£50 with the gentleman.

At £50. Anybody else want to come in?

50. That's £50 with the gentleman in the distance. At £50.

I'm selling them, then. £50 they go.

-50.

-£50 plus £10. Easy, isn't it?

-Well, done.

-You are... Whoops!

..plus £35.50, overall. Right?

That is...remarkable.

Bargain Hunting at its best.

-£35.50. Yes?

-Yes.

-Don't tell the Reds a thing.

-I won't. I've got to calm down.

Well, what an exciting programme we've had today, haven't we?

-So have we Blues and Reds been communicating at all? No?

-No.

No conversation so you really don't know where you're up to.

-No.

-And you're standing on the edge, longing to know who the runner-up is and who the winners are.

-Yes?

-Yes.

Well, I have to tell you that sadly, the runners-up today are the Reds.

Tricked!

-You girls, we had such fun, didn't we?

-We did.

I mean, you were well and truly down the plughole and then clawed it back with your froggy brooch.

I'm afraid your overall score is only minus £1. I mean, how tough is that?

-To get to the breaking even, at least. But it was great fun, girls, wasn't it?

-Yes. It was.

And you've been a great team. But the victors, today - the Blues.

Profit on every single lot.

That's an achievement, a considerable achievement.

You went with the bonus buy. You got a tenner off the bonus buy too, so congratulations.

-It's down to our expert.

-And £35.50 is what you're going to walk off with.

-There's your £35. There's your 50.

-You get that.

Which is great. And quite a handful for you to handle, Catherine.

-What can I say?

-You have been fantastic. You have been fantastic.

-Worth it. Definitely worth it.

-You've made a profit on every single lot.

-Anyway, great show. Join us soon for some more Bargain Hunting. Yes?

-Yes!

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