London 1 Bargain Hunt

Ah, welcome, fellow agents.

My informants tell me that we've got a couple of teams inside here.

Good men and women, young sporty types.

I'll sniff 'em out and give you the lowdown.

Hello and welcome to Alexandra Palace.

Somewhere out there in this throng of people are our teams,

longing to grab their fistful of cash.

Their task is to spend £300 in an hour,

finding three objects which they'll then cart off to auction

and the team that makes the most profit wins.

Now, that sounds quite straightforward, doesn't it?

Well, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Let's go bargain hunting!

Today for your delectation and entertainment

what better thing to get the old ticker racing

than an old-fashioned battle between the sexes?

For the Reds, we've got David and Matthew

and for the Blues we've got Michelle and Zena.

Welcome.

Strictly speaking, boys, it should be ladies first,

so are you going to be gentlemanly and let the ladies win today?

We're going to very politely let them lose.

Ah, a very well-considered answer, if you don't mind my saying so.

So how did you two get to know each other?

We've known each other since we were children. We went to school together.

-Did you?

-And now we work together.

-Working at what?

-We write children's books.

We write a series of children's books, just happen to have a couple here.

That was a very smooth move there, I must say.

About a naughty boy called Yuck.

What was your inspiration for Yuck?

Well, I used to like doing some yucky things when I was a child.

I once had an experiment to see just how yucky

I could make my socks, so I wore them for six weeks

-and by the end of it they were a little bit crusty and smelly.

-Bit of gorgonzola.

-Bit of gorgonzola, bit of camembert.

-Oh, yeah. Now, David,

you have a fondness for maggots, don't you?

-Yeah, this is on the yucky theme, when I was a yucky boy.

-Yes.

-And I went fishing.

For a dare, I basically ate the bait which ended up as a maggot sandwich.

Hope our lunchtime viewers today are enjoying that little piece, as you've upset half the nation.

Thank you, boys. Now, girls, what's the connection and how do you two know each other?

We met nine years ago when we worked together at the Edinburgh Festival

and we enjoyed that so much that we decided to set up our own company

and for the last five years, we've been running the smallest theatre in London.

-You never have.

-We have.

-And where is this theatre?

-It's in Camden.

-Now tell me about starting up with 1p.

We started our business with 1p and we opened a business bank account with that

and we decided that we would never get into debt and that we would always be thrifty...

-Mmm-hmm.

-Which has meant that we've been more successful than many high street banks...

-Most of the international banks.

-And many popular businesses.

So, Michelle, have you got any weaknesses, darling?

Yeah, I like anything blue and anything with a bird on it

and I'm also partial to copies of Catch 22, which is my favourite book and I'm aiming to collect 22 copies.

-So far, I've got eight.

-Zena, what do you collect?

I like '50s to '70s teapot collections and...

-Mixing bowls?

-Yes, mixing bowls.

-Pyrex?

-Yes. Oh, I love Pyrex.

-"I love Pyrex."

Good, well I think we're going to have a very interesting programme today. This is now the money moment.

There's your £300.

-Thank you.

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

Quite like a maggot sandwich myself.

Time to meet our men on the inside.

Heading the Reds with fabulous form and an eye for detail, it's Philip Serrell.

Smooth and sweet talking, the Blues benefit from the eyes and ears of David Barby.

Things like that, that copper pot.

Oh, here's a nice bit of treen.

Is the same sort of deal where it's all modern stuff.

What are you particularly interested in yourselves?

I quite like 1950s style.

-We want something a bit ridiculous.

-You want something a bit ridiculous?

-Well, something that people will remember.

-You got me.

-You like animals, don't you?

-Yes.

Well, come on, Michelle, let me show you this.

-This is what I...

-An owl!

-Exactly. Now what do you think?

-Oh, I do like an owl.

-Right in the middle there.

-What's it for?

-Well, this is to put papers in.

If you were a lady of quality you would have put your papers in here

and letters that you'd written and letters that you wanted to write.

-Does one of you want to handle it?

-I've never seen anything like it before so that might be a good thing.

-Every single section of silver, you see the mark there?

-Has a hallmark.

Each piece is in lovely condition and every piece is hallmarked.

I know you like it because of the owl there.

If you can get it for £90, I shall be delighted.

-It's certainly got to come down lower than the £145.

-Oh, yeah.

-All right. Start low.

-Start low.

Would you do this for a monkey?

-I'd do it for a 100.

-80?

No. That is the best, love, sorry.

-100 is the best?

-£100, yeah.

-Ooh.

Try for 95.

Go on, then. 95, then.

-Thank you very much.

-OK. Thank you.

A monkey, Zena? We're not at London Zoo.

-£95 it is.

-Oh, brilliant.

-That's yours.

-Thank you very much.

Have you got more of these?

-I've got a set in a box.

-Can I have a look, please?

-How many in a set?

-Thank you. When you're holding silver...

-Yeah.

Right, just take that.

-Just flex the rim. Silver's a very soft metal.

-Yeah.

-Yes, very.

-Can you feel how soft that is?

-Yeah.

-How thin a gauge that is?

-Yeah.

Is that silver plated or silver?

No, this is silver. If you look just there, you can see a hallmark.

These were assayed, it's Birmingham, 1905. £145.

-I think at auction they're going to make £60 to £90, OK?

-OK.

-Ask him if he can help us on price. Are you happy to do that?

-Yep.

-Yeah.

-Excuse me, what's the very best you can do on this for us?

-You've got them for 145.

-I can do 'em for 90.

-£90?

-Yeah.

For me, that's the top end of our estimate, but I think they're quite nice quality.

-So do you want to buy them?

-We're going to go for them.

-Right.

First purchase for the Reds, and they spent a healthy £90.

-It would tie in with our writing book.

-This would be on a desk.

You rest the pens on there and then you've got red and then you've got blue ink.

So it's a nice little piece, almost architectural.

-HE WHISTLES

-Do you like that?

-No, I'm not convinced.

-OK.

-Can we bear that in mind?

-Certainly.

-Yeah.

-Because we may come back to this and say, "Right,

"there's nothing else we can find, we'll go for that."

-OK.

-All right?

You've got your work cut out for you there, David.

Still, keep looking.

£205 and 40 minutes left to play with.

-Chaps, you are book boys, aren't you?

-Yes, we are.

-Oh, that's nice.

Operative Printers Assistants Society. Look at that, look.

-A piece of stained glass.

-Do you think that's nice?

-Yeah, it is.

What you'd really want is two authors who would buy this and put it in their own home, wouldn't you?

-I don't know whether you know two authors.

-I think we just know a couple.

-Fancy that!

Excuse me, my dear, what's the best you can do on that for us?

I'd do 50 on that.

Could you hang onto it for about 30 minutes?

-Can't guarantee we'll have it, but would you mind doing that for us?

-Course I will.

-You're an absolute angel. Thank you.

-You're welcome.

That's a tentative hold for the Reds.

With £210 to spare, they can afford to be choosy.

I like this cigar cutter.

-Oh, isn't that good?

-It's a very slim cigar.

Well, you have those little panatellas, don't you?

-I don't know if we should be promoting smoking?

-Probably shouldn't be.

This is a collector's item, it's not promoting smoking. Oh!

-Do you like that?

-It's not bad.

The young lady might be interested in that, sir, but not at that price.

No. I'll go for 75. - What do you reckon, Zena?

-Would you do it for 60?

-No.

Oh, they don't want much, do they?

The ladies are going to have to start deciding very soon.

I might just see if I can help them along a little.

-You've had 45 minutes, you know.

-Oh.

-You've only got another quarter of an hour.

-We can go back.

We're making this stall-holder sweat.

Think about your expert. You want to get moving!

I think it's called exasperation.

I think it's called making your mind up time.

-Anyway, good luck.

-Thank you.

Someone's buckling under pressure.

One item bought, two to find and 20 minutes to go.

-We need to do what Phil said and find a mixed stall.

-Yeah.

Ah, this looks like a decision.

-How did you get on?

-We got it for 45.

Oh, that's brilliant. Come on, we better go and get something else.

Are the girls any closer to making their minds up?

-It's OK, he's there.

-He's still here.

-Hello.

-We're back.

So did you say you could do this one for 60?

- 65. - Oh, it was worth a try.

- Might as well have a go, hey?

Have a try. Do you like it?

-- Yes, please.

-Let's take it.

-Thanks. OK.

-Well done, girls.

£65 for the novelty cigar cutter.

-What have you found, Phil?

-Well, I'm trying to work out in my own mind whether I like that or not.

I like it.

It's kind of got a little bit of character.

-I can't work out if it's cheap.

-Well, it's brass, right, and it's arts and crafts,

which is in vogue at the minute.

I'm just trying to work out in my own mind whether it's 20 quid or 80 quid.

Maybe we could buy it for 20 quid.

-I don't know whose stall it is. Is this you, sir?

-It is, yes.

What's the very best you could do on this?

-The best on it would be 45.

-45?

-Yes.

How much money have we spent, Phil?

You've spent £135, but, I mean, money's not issue.

-We've got no time left, so yes or no?

-Let's get it, let's get it.

At last, decisive action.

One brass tray for £40.

Gloves. A glove holder.

What's special about it? Do you know anything about the Art Nouveau movement in Scotland?

-Rennie Mackintosh.

-Exactly.

So we're looking at the end of the 19th, beginning of the 20th century.

Now, if you look at that,

that style of elongated flower heads,

it's very similar to the designs you would have seen in Miss Cranston's Tearooms.

-You're not just buying a glove holder, you're buying a work of art.

-Yes.

And there's something quite modern about it as well, in that it looks quite organic and quite crafty.

That's right. I think somebody's going to actually mount this and put it on the wall as a picture.

Look, it's £50.

I will have a word with the dealer

-to see if I can get it down slightly.

-OK.

-Meantime, have a chat.

-Thank you.

-What do you reckon?

-I don't like it.

What don't you like? Do you think you could make it?

Um...yeah.

Right, come on girls, guess what?

-How much?

-I got it down to £25.

-Half price.

-Now, do we go for it?

I like it. Zena's the one who needs to decide, I think.

I'm not so keen but I'm happy to go with it. I think if you got it down to half price...

Oh, hallelujah!

Hallelujah, indeed!

And just in the nick, as time is up.

Let's recap on what the Reds bought.

The Reds picked up the Birmingham silver gilt goblets

for a nice round £90.

£45 bought the stained glass lead panel

and finally, for £40, the brass tray.

-Matthew and David, did you have a good time shopping?

-Very good.

Well, you spent a perfectly respectable £175.

-I'd like £125 of leftover lolly. There you go, Philip Serrell.

-Yeah.

You've had fun with these guys?

Having spent all day with them, I'm going to buy a lighthouse or a ladder.

I've been talking to them like that all day long.

Well, good luck with that, Phil.

Lot's of clues there. Let's remind ourselves what the Blues bought.

The ladies kicked the day off with the silver and oak desk folder

and despite offering a monkey, they handed over £95.

Next up they took a while to decide, but for £65

the Blue team acquired one novelty cigar cutter.

And finally, for £25, a beautifully embroidered

linen Glaswegian glove pocket.

Just what you need.

-So, girls, did you have a good time?

-Really good.

-Enjoy shopping?

-Fantastic, thank you.

Anyway, you spent £185, I'd like £115 of leftover lolly, please.

Thank you very much. Big old fair out there, rather good fun, I thought.

Yes, but two contestants with such diverse interests,

it was difficult to pinpoint any particular piece.

-But they were quite determined.

-Were they? Well, that's good.

And you're determined to find an excellent bonus buy

-with which to boost their profits.

-They're very keen on names.

-Are they?

-Very keen on names, so I'm going after a big name item.

-Are you?

-Yes. I hope.

-All right. Well, good luck.

We've come to Bellmans Auctioneers and Valuers in West Sussex

to meet our auctioneer for today, Jonathan Pratt.

-Morning, Tim.

-Morning. Our Red team, Matthew, David,

their first item are these six little jokers in a case.

Hallmarked silver, 1905 by the Adie brothers.

-A saleable item, I guess.

-They're nicely presented and there are six.

-£70 to £100.

-Brilliant. £90 paid.

Next is rather an unusual object, isn't it? This stained glass panel.

I mean, I quite like this sort of decorative glasswork.

Obviously it's got a limited appeal,

-but you don't get that sort of thing today, really. Certainly not in your office.

-No.

-Probably between £20 and £40 for it.

-Difficult to value, though, frankly.

Now, the rectangular arts and crafts tray.

Limited appeal, I suppose, in some respects -

people don't want to clean it, but it's decorative and functional.

-£50 to £80.

-Very good. £40 paid.

So Philip's been quite smart with finding that and in case they don't do well,

they're going to need the bonus buy so let's go and have a look at it.

Well, chaps, you feeling fit?

-Very good.

-Yeah.

Now, you gave Philip Serrell £125, yes? You spent £175.

-Has he spent all of your £125?

-Don't look at me like that. No, he has not.

-Look at that.

-Gosh.

-Wow.

-It's a serpentine lighthouse,

which I thought resembled you two, really.

-How much did you pay for it?

-£45.

-£45.

-That's not bad.

What made you buy it?

Do you know what chiefly made me buy it?

I had one of these three days before we did the filming

that was that big and it made £850.

And I thought if that made £850 and this was 45 quid, you know...

-I think that's going to make £40 to £60.

-There is some profit in this, in your opinion?

-I honestly think there's profit.

-Stay with that thought, boys.

Because for the viewers at home, we're going to show this lamp to the auctioneer

and see what he thinks.

So is this a beacon for you?

-Beacon of hope?

-Yes.

Well, we have sold quite a lot of this sort of thing in the last couple of years.

Relatively speaking, I think it's reasonably modern, made in the last 50 years.

Yes. It's an incredibly well-made object.

-Oh, absolutely.

-And I think rather fun.

-I think so, too.

-What's your estimate?

-£30 to £50.

Brilliant, £45 paid.

That's it for the Reds, now for the Blues,

Zena and Michelle.

The silver and oak encrusted blotter.

Really captures the style of the late 19th century, early 20th century.

-I like that quite a lot.

-How much do you like it?

I've said £80 to £120.

Well, that's brilliant. £95 they paid so that stands a real chance.

-What about the cigar cutter?

-Well, it's a German one, brass and tin.

It's modelled on a ship's engine room telegraph,

-so you'd pull the little knob back there.

-Full steam ahead.

-Exactly.

-Yeah.

-How much do you think it's worth?

-I think between £30 and £50 for it.

-Is that all?

-Mmm.

-Ah, £65, they paid.

The last item's bit of needlework. Quite nice stylised flower heads.

Exactly. The style you can see is typical Scottish-inspired Charles Rennie Mackintosh sort of thing.

-I think it'll be limited in its appeal.

-What's your estimate?

-£20 to £40.

-Brilliant. £25 they paid so that stands a good chance too.

I mean, I think that's quite an intelligently-bought trio,

-cos they've all got something about them which is a bit different,

and they've got some fun items, so I'm feeling pretty bullish about what's going to happen here.

On the other hand, I could be wrong and they'll need their bonus buy, so let's go and have a look at it.

Zena and Michelle, this is the bonus buy moment.

-OK.

-You gave David £115 of leftover lolly. Did he spend the lot?

Well, Tim...

-Well...

-They are very keen on named things -

you know, branded goods and people, personalities,

so I have an Archibald Knox designed piece of pewter for Liberty.

-Do you want to hold it?

-How much did you pay for it?

-£100.

£100.

I want to ask you, Zena, how does it get you in the tummy?

-Um... £100 gets me in the tummy.

-Do you think it's too much?

-What you've bought is quality.

-It's got a nice weight to it.

-Michelle's more positive.

I'm very practical. Look at this from its art point of view.

You don't have to decide right now, you'll decide later.

But for the viewers at home let's find out what the auctioneer thinks of David's dish.

-There's a stellar object.

-Yeah, that's superb.

-I think it would do quite well. I've got high hopes for it.

-What's your estimate?

-£100 to £150.

-Well, Barby will be delighted.

£100 he paid for that so that stands a really good chance of making money for the bonus buy.

The question is, will the teams go with this? We'll find out later.

-Are you taking the auction?

-I will be, yeah.

Ah, we're in safe hands.

-So how are you feeling, chaps?

-Good.

-Pretty good, yes.

Is it rather like a book launch for you, chaps,

-a new publication coming out, you're full of confidence...

-Yeah.

-This is going really well.

-Of course.

-Is that the moment? Is that what it's like?

-Yeah.

-That's the moment.

-Yes.

-We're waiting, we're ready.

First lot up is your goblets and here they come.

A set of six silver spirit goblets by Adie Bros,

Birmingham 1905 and I've got on the book £25 bid.

-Ouch.

-35, 40, 45,

50, 55.

60, back of the room now. 65?

70, 75.

£70 by the flowers then, at £70.

Do I see five anywhere else?

Last chance. At £70...

That's not too bad.

That's minus 20. Disappointing.

Anyway, here come the leaded glass.

1531A, stained and leaded glass panel depicting

Operative Printers Assistants Society, 1899.

I've got to start at £60, with me at £60.

-Yes.

-Hey, we're back even.

£60, 65 and 70. £70. 5 and 80.

5 and 90.

-5, 100.

-Hey, boys.

-£100 with me, still with me at £100.

Do you want to bid 10? £100 with me on the book, still at £100.

All done, last chance...

-Hey.

-I like that.

£55 worth of profit, Serrell, that's good.

Now, the brass tray.

So moving on to lot 1532A, an arts and crafts galleried tray.

£35 bid with me, at £35, give me 40 now.

38, 40, 45, 50.

£50. Five, anyone?

£50 against you, then, at £50.

At £50, then, at £50.

-Yeah.

-Any further interest at £50? I'll sell. Last chance. £50.

Done. That's another tenner, Phil, on your personal score.

Well, that's £45.

Now, I don't think I need to ask you whether you're going

with the lighthouse or not, I think we should ask Phil if we should.

I think we'll deaf that. I never liked that expert.

Now what are you going to do then?

Are you going to go with the lighthouse? I mean, you're £45 up, that's very fair.

You can bank the money or you can risk £45 on the granite lighthouse.

Chop-chop, then, are we going to go? Yes, or no?

-No.

-All right. We're not going with the bonus buy but here it comes.

Moving on to lot 1535A, a turned serpentine lighthouse lamp.

£20 to start me for the lighthouse lamp? At £20?

Tenner, then?

10 is bid, thank you, at 10. At £10, looking for 12 now.

At £10, by the wine at 10.

12 with the lady. 15, sir?

15, he's gone. 15, he's gone at £15.

-15. £15...

-Wise call, boys.

18, new face. Do you want 20, sir?

No, he doesn't. £18 it is, then. Still £18.

At £18 it is, then, selling at £18.

Minus £27. Bad luck, Phil. That was a run of luck that just couldn't go on.

-It had to end somewhere.

-So you deserved your profits.

It was a good shout not going for it. You are £45 up, which is fab.

-Just don't tell the Blues a thing, all right?

-Right you are.

-Mum.

-So you two naughties, have you been talking to those Reds?

-No.

You don't know how they got on?

Super. You've not been talking to anybody?

-I who know nothing.

-First up is the blotter.

An Edwardian oak and silver mounted desk folder

of arts and crafts design.

£60 I'm bid, at £60.

At £60, I'll take five, though.

-65 waving at the back, by the flowers and 70. 75...

-Come on.

80, 85. He's got it now at £85, looking for 90. 90, anywhere else?

At £85, it's going at £85.

Oh, David, I'm disappointed at that.

-Yes.

-It's minus £10, but don't despair.

Lot 1551A, early 20th century German brass and tin cigar cutter.

£50 with me, straight in at £50.

Looking for 5 now. £50, 55 and 60.

-65 and 70. 75 and 80. 85 and 90.

-Yes.

£90 against you still, at £90.

£90, are you still bidding?

No. With £90. 5 anywhere else?

£90 then, all done at £90.

Last chance. £90.

Achtung!

That's £25 on that, you are plus 15.

Now girls, the glove packet.

1552A, Glasgow School embroidered glove pocket.

And again, 25 is bid with me. At £25.

At £25, I'll take 28.

28 and 30, 32 and 35.

35 against you, then. On the book at £35, commission bid at £35.

Do I see 38? At £35, then, and selling.

All done, last chance, at £35.

£35 there, another £10 profit, David, well done.

You are £25 up.

-It's amazing.

-OK, £25 up.

-Is this man a genius or is he a genius?

-He's very good.

-He's a genius, isn't he?

-Astonishing.

-She's very surprised.

-Doubted me...

Just a slight mishap on the blotter, which could have done much better.

-Yeah. Disappointing.

-But not bad.

Two out of three profits, girls.

So what are you going to do about this old basket?

-This Knox Tudric basket?

-I think we should go for it.

-Do you fancy it?

-I think we should go for it.

-Yeah? No pressure.

-It's cracking, yeah.

-We're going with the bonus buy,

Lot 1555A,

we have a Liberty & Co Tudric pewter cake basket.

I've got £90 on the book, at £90, with me at £90. Looking for 5 now.

95. 100, I'll take 5 if you like.

And 10. 15, sir? £110 against you then, at £110.

£110 and all done at £110.

So that is a £10 profit, David,

well done on that, and overall you are plus £35.

The big trick here is to not tell those great big Red boys anything at all. OK?

-So don't tell the Reds a thing, right?

-OK.

-OK, girls.

Well, how exciting was that? It was absolutely brilliant today.

I mean, smiles all round. This is unbelievable.

Two teams of winners on Bargain Hunt today, it's just a question of scale

of profit and the team with marginally less profits today

are, of course, the Blues.

But you've done so well, girls.

£35 of profits you girls made, which is super.

You got £25 out of the programme

and another tenner out of David's Knox egg basket.

I thought you'd like that.

-£35. What are you going to do with that?

-Spend it on gin, probably.

Spend it on gin. Fair enough.

-Well, have a good time. Now, the victors.

-Yes.

-Nearly got you there, didn't I?

-Just a little bit worried, yeah.

-You were pretty cocky that you had won today.

You have won, which is brilliant.

You won in part by rejecting the bonus buy...

-Yeah.

-But on the other hand, you can't be crabby with Philip because he did contribute £55 worth...

-He's brilliant.

-..of profits off the stained glass panel, which is jolly good. So you are £45 up, right?

-Brilliant.

-Thank you very much.

-What are you going to spend it on?

If they're going to spend it on gin, we'll spend it on beer.

-Join us soon for some more Bargain Hunting, yes?

-ALL: Yes!

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