Oswestry 14 Bargain Hunt

Cor, they've got some right antiques here that you'd give your scalp or your right arm for.

Let's go bargain hunting!

No 'arm done, eh?!

Today, we're in the pretty town of Oswestry,

but just look what we've got coming up on the show for you today! Yes!

The Reds are bickering.

What do you think of this?

Um, I don't like it.

Women always have their way.

The Blues are getting lost.

Not seen our expert, have you?

And one of the teams gets a bit over-excited at the auction.

-45!

-She hasn't sold it to you.

Did you know that behind the name Oswestry

lies a rather gruesome tale?

The name is believed to have come from Oswald's Tree,

a myth dating back to the year 642.

After King Oswald of Northumbria

was killed in battle,

he was dismembered

and an eagle stole an arm

and dropped it in a tree,

hence it became known as Oswald's Tree.

And here it is today.

How do you do? Nice to meet you.

Hmm. Cold.

Let's hope that our teams' purchases today

don't cost us an arm and a leg.

The rules are simple. With £300 at their disposal,

the teams have just one hour to find three items with an eye to making a profit

when they're sold at auction.

And the experts on hand to help them win today

are Charles Hanson and Jonathan Pratt.

And they'll be lending a hand to two lots of Reds and Blues today.

For the Red team today, we've got friends and neighbours,

Derek and Georgina. Welcome to Bargain Hunt.

And for the Blues, we've got TC - Tony and Carol - our married couple.

Congratulations on that.

Now, how long have you two known each other?

Ten years, three months and two days.

And what do you do, Derek?

I'm part of a design and build company

and I do the drawing side of it.

We build, probably, mostly domestic work,

but some commercial as well.

-So you're an architect, sort of?

-Sort of.

-Sort of.

-Sort of.

Georgina, what do you do, darling?

-I'm an enrichment co-ordinator at Shrewsbury College in Shrewsbury.

-An enrichment co-ordinator?

And what does that mean? Are you going to enrich our lives?

I would love to enrich your lives! I enrich our students' lives

and I implement into our curriculum

external agencies that come in and speak and present

on a wide range of activities from police talks to circus skills.

What sort of things do you collect?

I like collecting Victorian and Edwardian children's books.

Are you going to be buying that sort of thing today?

Gosh, I hope so. Yes, I'd love to, yeah.

Good luck with that.

Now, you two, how long have you been hitched?

-Go on.

-40 years next week.

-Is it? Well, congratulations for next week.

-Thank you.

So how did you two meet, then?

We met on a blind date. Some friends of mine went to see Tony in a play that he was in

and they came back and said he was just what I needed.

-Oh!

-I don't know why!

THEY LAUGH

Now, Carol, you've travelled extensively, but there's one place that's your favourite.

-Yes. We love Australia, cos our son lives there.

-What's he called?

-Jonathan.

-Well, that's lovely, cos you've got a Jonathan today as your expert.

-Ah, right!

You've got Jonathan Pratt and you can treat him as if he's your surrogate Australian son.

-How good is that?

-Great!

-So, Tony, do you two work together at home?

-Yes, we do.

We've got our own business and I've been working at home for ten years by myself.

Then Carol joined two years ago.

Fortunately, we do get on very well, don't we?

However, when the office was mine, it was great.

Everything was spick and span, I knew where everything was,

nothing was out of place. The minute Carol comes in,

everything starts to encroach into my territory.

So her side of the office is a tip and mine's nice and neat.

-Don't believe him!

-It is! You know it is!

They're going to do well. They're going to do well!

Now, the money moment. Here you go - £300 apiece.

You know the rules. Your experts await. Off you go and very, very good luck.

And you've only got 60 minutes!

-Right, we're with you.

-I'm feeling really good!

-Confident.

-Inside, right?

-Yes, please.

-Lead the way, Derek.

-Let's start looking - we've only got an hour. I think we're outside, then...

-Yes!

..with gold and pearls, late 19th century. £25.

It's very pretty, isn't it?

-It's sycamore.

-Yeah, it is sycamore, I think.

-What would it be - 1830s? Early 19th century? Mid-19th?

-1831.

-Oh, really?

-December. HE LAUGHS

-Are we OK just to split up so I go round here?

-Yep.

You're welcome to look on another stall. Just keep wandering around.

We'll regroup. We just need to cover a lot of ground.

That's a dangerous tactic, Jonathan. Don't lose your flock!

Charles also has his work cut out with the Reds.

-I like that.

-Where's the lady in my life?

-Here.

-What do you think of this?

-Um, I don't like it.

OK. She's made her decision.

-Long way to go.

-We'll come back to that one, Derek.

-Keep going.

-Women always have their way.

That's right, Derek, and don't you forget it.

-Are these spoons individual or...?

-Flatware's a great area to collect, Derek. Look at them all here.

-They are superb.

-What are they?

-I saw those, they're nice.

-What are they?

-They're little menu stands.

-Of course! You put the name card there.

-If you're having dinner, you might put your name on a little card...

-They're different.

These are really novel. They're 1904, they're very forward-thinking.

What is your absolute best price on them?

£110.

-I think they're good quality.

-I've got £185 on those.

-That's a very good discount.

-It is.

If you let us have them for £100, we'd buy them now.

She's Irish and she'll bless you with good luck!

We have a very small budget.

Well, we could be relatives, so...yes. I'll take £100 for them.

-Are you buying them?

-Yes.

-Right.

-They are nice things.

-And they've got the case.

-Exactly. OK?

-Yes.

-Well, that's a job done. I hope you stand by your decision.

There's no messing with these guys! Just ten minutes gone and item one in the bag.

Do you want to see something really nice? Have you seen that?

Victorian milk churn pepper. Saunders and Shepherd. Yeah.

-I like that, actually.

-What do you think, though, it would fetch?

Well, novelty items sell very well at auction.

Obviously, we're dealing with what you sell here and what you sell at auction.

At auction, you get a very wide buying public, so you have to be selective when you're buying silver.

That's when you get the collectors involved. They might be interested in paying...

£20 more than the next person.

What would be your best price, seriously?

-Let me just have a look what I paid for it. To make some money on?

-Yeah.

So you've a chance with it, you can have it for £70.

-That's 30% off. I ain't going anywhere else with it.

-I was thinking of £70, actually.

I ain't going anywhere else with it, cos I need to make some money.

-He needs to make money.

-Yep, fine. OK. Thank you very much.

-It's a deal.

Well done, Blues, and a great lesson in negotiating.

-Gas rattle?

-1939.

-Still works.

-How much is the flag, please, sir?

-£25.

-Is it really?

-That's with the pole.

-Fantastic.

-Has it got a brass pole?

-Have you got the other bit there, please?

-Where's it from, sir?

I don't know where it's from, quite honestly.

It's very nice.

-£20.

-As a special gesture.

-To me. Let's wave the flag.

-£15.

-Oh, no! I got it for £25!

-£25? £17.50.

£18.

-£18.

-Oh, wow. That's a bargain. Thank you, sir. You're a good man.

-I really appreciate it.

-Thank you.

# Cool, Britannia, Britannia... #

-Are you lumbered with that? Do you want to...?

-Wave the flag, eh?

-No.

-No, no.

That's quite a nice picture.

-A lady. Can you see her?

-Yep.

-Attractive lady?

-Very.

-Jonathan?

-Yeah?

-What do you think?

Um, that's rather smart, actually. A little bit of Mauchline ware.

-Quite a novelty little item.

-What do you think that would...? If we could get it down in price.

-It sounds a lot, doesn't it?

-It seems a lot to me.

-Yeah. Um...

If we got £40 for it at auction, we'd be doing OK.

And the price is above that. I think it's certainly a possible.

-We should earmark that. There are two things...

-Yeah. Go and see what you can do.

Go on, flutter your eyes. THEY LAUGH

-It's a possible one, that one.

-Yeah.

-We like this, but we can't afford £48.

-Yes.

We've only got so much. What could you do it for?

Um, my best on that will be £40.

-Would it? You couldn't come down any more?

-Sorry, no. That would be it.

'£40 paid for the wooden money box.

'But with minutes to spare, now is not the time to go wandering off.'

Not seen our expert, have you?

-Jonathan?

-Yes?

-We've got five minutes.

-Five minutes.

Watch this. Ready?

We always test the quality of a cigarette case by the spring. Ready?

-Look at that.

-Wow!

-Wonderful.

-They're not PC, though, are they?

-It's 86.

£86? Well, I think it's nice. Um...

-Do your stuff.

-Well, we've spent most of our money now.

We've got about £40 to £45 left.

I could meet you at... £60 would be my absolute cut-off price.

It's worth £60 just as silver.

But if we don't buy this, we'll buy something else.

I know! And I'll lose £20.

£45. That's our best price.

Let me have your £45 and you'll really do well with that.

Thank you very much.

-Thank you, sir.

-Well done.

-Appreciate it.

-Thank you.

-Are you happy with that?

-I'm really... You were determined.

Ha-ha! You were very determined.

The Blues are down to the wire.

They've found two pieces of silver, but can only choose one.

It's decision time, team.

-Three minutes, now. Three minutes.

-What else is there?

How much did you say? 58?

Yeah.

Wait a minute, is this better than that moustache brush?

- Cos that's the novelty item. - How much is the moustache brush?

You've got 20-something on there. What's your best price on that?

You can't lose money on that moustache brush.

I would prefer that to that.

The seconds are counting away.

-That one.

-That one.

-How much?

22, he said.

-22.

-Yes, he said 22.

-Shake the man's hand before the clock stops.

OK, that's it.

-OK.

-Thank you very much.

-Oh, I've never known anything like it.

The pressure is enormous, isn't it?

Oh!

Ooh, size isn't everything!

Time's up!

For starters, the Red team bought this set of six silver

Edwardian menu stands.

For mains, we'll keep the flag flying

with this Union flag.

And for dessert,

how about this George V cigarette case?

Yummy!

How much did you spend?

We spent £163.

You spent £163?

-£137 of leftover lolly. Is that complete?

-Yes, that's right.

-137.

-That goes to Charles.

-Thank you.

So, what are you going to do with all that money, then?

Derek's quite hot and sweaty, so something which is going to be sultry for Shrewsbury.

And it's going to stir the masses and do very well.

-What a wordsmith you are!

-I know.

Anyway, let's remind ourselves what the Blues bought.

Will this silver pepper caster shake things up at the auction?

How much money will the Mauchline ware money box make 'em?

And keep a stiff upper lip for this embossed silver moustache brush.

Yeah!

How much did you spend overall?

-132.

-132. So, does that mean I want £168, please?

Unfortunately, yes.

-168 of leftover lolly.

-There you go.

-That's 168.

What we're interested in seeing is whether Pratt makes more profit

in his suit or out of his suit.

That's your challenge, then, with your bargain hunt.

It's the no-suit Bargain Hunt challenge! Off you go.

So, we've popped east to Shrewsbury,

or as some people like to say, "Shroosbury",

to be at Halls saleroom on the banks of the river

with the managing director, boss, Jeremy Lamond.

-Nice to see you.

-Hello. Nice to see you.

-Lovely to be here.

Now, first up for the Red team, Derek and Georgina.

They've gone with these oddball spherical holders.

Are they things that you rate?

When they're cased like that in a presentation case, yes.

People like them and they still use them.

Um...60-100. I don't know what they paid.

-£100 they paid.

-All right. Might get their money back or a bit more.

Bit more would be nice! Anyway, we shall see.

The Union flag...

found by Charles Hanson.

And, er...somebody always wants a flag, especially in this country,

-so it will sell to somebody, er...

-What sort of price?

-£30? £40?

-Well, he'll be really chuffed about that,

-cos he only paid £18.

-Oh, fine.

So that's a sure-fire winner, we hope!

And what about the cigarette case? Engine-turned, enamelled fellow.

Well, it's fine, but nobody smokes any more, do they?

So, Jeremy, what's your estimate on this cigarette case?

-40-60.

-Well, that's not so bad. £45 they paid. £40-60 estimate,

-that's very fair.

-They should be OK with that.

Well, in fact, it's so fair, they may not need their bonus buy,

but let's go and have a look at it anyway.

-BOTH: Oh!

-That's lovely!

-I like that instantly.

-Yes, I like that.

-Is that Art Deco?

-It is. It's small, it's neat, it's tidy.

-It's really pretty.

-It's like you!

I like it. It's a really nice, decorative timepiece

made by John Henry Wynn, hallmarked for Birmingham, 1931.

And I think really it ought to make at auction between £30 and £40...

-Lovely.

-..in my opinion.

Well, you've heard the man say it. You could double your money.

That's what he's just said. That's what you need to remember.

You're not going to choose right now,

you choose after the sale of your first three items.

But for the viewers at home, let's find out

what the auctioneer thinks about Charles' little clock.

It's engine-turned, so it's been lovingly made by a machine.

-We're looking at £30-50 at auction.

-OK, fine. £20 is all Charles paid.

Well, he'll be all right.

Well, that's it for the Reds. Now for the Blues...

Tony and Carol.

Their first item is the pepper caster.

Now is that not a gem?

I think this is a good little object.

Our buyers like novelty.

We think 50-70, but it might make more than that.

-It could make £100.

-Very good. Jonathan Pratt paid £70 for it.

-That's all right.

-I think it's all right.

On the other hand, the second item has come quite a long way

-from "bonny Scotland".

-Yes, this is a Mauchline ware money box

in the form of a barrel...

These are very much collected. A lot of it about.

-Nice little object.

-Yeah, good little thing.

And what's that likely to bring, do you think?

-Probably not a great deal. 20-30?

-Fine. £40 they paid.

Now, the last item is rather intriguing, isn't it?

-It is.

-The silver-handled brush,

but what would you have brushed with it, Jeremy?

Well, when it came in...

I have to admit that we've catalogued it as you have described it -

as a moustache brush,

but, um...

it could be a little silver toothbrush.

It looks much more like a little toothbrush to me.

So how much do you think?

Um...£20 or £30 if it is a toothbrush.

-Right. £22 paid, so that really does have some potential.

-Yes.

OK, great. Well, three very interesting items there.

Let's go and have a look at the bonus buy.

-Toto and Carol, you spent £132. Yes?

-Yep, we did.

Miserable amount. You gave £168 to Jonathan to find your bonus buy.

What did he spend it on?

Well, I was a bit more frugal than normal. I spent...

..a little bit on it.

THEY LAUGH

-Oh!

-On a cuckoo clock.

-Cuckoo.

-It sounds quiet, doesn't it? Cuckoo!

-Does it work?

-Um...that's a moot point.

Um...

-like the clock!

-We're talking about a clock that doesn't work.

Well, it's more... It's a great shape.

It's Black Forest. It's late 19th, early 20th century,

carved in pine, but there are great collectors of this sort of thing,

and cos of its shape, it has a slightly more novelty feel about it.

I mean, for £50, that is not a lot of money.

And it's got its little birdie still in the turret...

Jonathan's stuck his neck out.

The bird's about to stick its beak out.

For the viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks owt about nowt.

Is it true that a cuckoo is the first sign of spring?

Well, it could well be.

This one unhappily won't tell you it's the first sign of spring,

cos he's detached from his bellow,

so he can't cuckoo.

BELLOW WHISTLES

And the other one is a bit sad, so...

We've got a "cuck" and no "oo".

Well, one's got a "cuck" and the other hasn't got a spring, so...

-No "oo".

-..no spring!

-No. What's it worth, do you think?

About £40 like that.

OK. £50 paid by Jonathan. So, um...

we may have a false spring here.

-Yes.

-Anyway...

-who's taking the sale?

-Christina will be our auctioneer.

We'll look forward to that. Thanks.

Now, Derek, Georgina, how are you feeling?

-Excited.

-Quietly confident.

-Confident.

First up, the silver menu holder fellows and here they come.

The moment of truth.

Lot 220. The case set of six silver place markers.

Charles Penny Brown, Birmingham, 1904.

Lot 220, and I have interest here on commission at £60.

Yes!

60, 5, 70, 5,

80, 5, 90, 5,

-100, 110, 120...

-You're in profit.

At £130. In the room then at £130. If we're all done at 130.

GAVEL BANGS

Yes! £130. That's very good. 130. Plus 30. Good start.

Lot 221 now, moving on, is the Union flag.

20th century. Lot 221.

Showing for you on screen, lot 221.

And who'll start me at £20 for it, for the Union flag?

-30 is bid. On the internet, then, at £30.

-The internet!

At £30 and 5.

-40.

-£40!

-And 5.

At £45. Bidding in the room, then, at £45.

Are we all done at 45?

-Yes!

-Yes!

-£45, very good. That's £27.

-Another kiss.

Plus £27. You'll be wearing your lips out!

Lot 222, the silver and enamel cigarette case.

WT Toghill & Co, Birmingham, 1934.

£20 for it, for the cigarette case.

20 is bid. Thank you. And 5.

30. 5.

40. At £40. With you, then, sir, at £40

-on my left.

-Come on, come on! 45!

-Sh! And 5?

Thank you anyway. At £45 on my right, then, at 45...

She hasn't sold it to you, has she?

No.

-45.

-£45. Wiped its face.

You are plus £57, which is an achievement.

£57.

-Profit!

-Yes!

You only spent £163 and you've made £57 profit,

which is brilliant. Now what are you going to do about the timepiece?

It cost Charles £20.

You can park it or you can play it.

BOTH: We're going to play it!

-You're going to play it, all right.

-It's timely!

Lot 226 is the silver-cased engine-turned timepiece

by John Henry Wynn, Birmingham, 1931.

Lot 226.

Who'll start me at £30 for the timepiece?

-£30 bid.

-Straight up, Charles.

-£30.

At £30. Are we all done at £30?

And 5. On the front row, at £35.

Are we all done at 35?

I will sell, then, make no mistake, at 35.

-£35. Well done, Charles.

-Yes!

Very good. Plus £15 on that.

-Team hug.

-57...67...£72.

Plus £72. How good is that? You happy about that?

-Oh, lovely!

-I'm just amazed.

Well done. That's very good.

Now, TC, Top Cat...

Toto and Carol...

-do you know how the Reds got on?

-No.

-No idea.

Lovely. Have you got any idea, Jonathan?

-I haven't got a scooby.

-Have you not?

-No.

That is patently obvious. Only joking!

-How are you feeling, Toto?

-I'm feeling really positive.

-Honestly. We will do well, won't we?

-We will do well.

Right, first up is the silver pepper churn and here it comes.

Lot 242 is the silver novelty pepperette

in the form of a milk churn. Lot 242.

How about that for £30 anywhere? For a silver novelty pepperette?

30's bid, thank you. And 5.

40. 5. 50.

5. 60.

At £60 on my right, then.

£60. Are we all done at £60?

-Selling, then. Make no mistake.

-Come on!

-At £60.

-Oh!

-Did she sell it for £60?

-She did, I think.

I can't believe that! £60!

Lot 243. £20 for it.

£20. £20's bid on the front row.

Thank you. At £20.

All done, then, at £20?

And 2. 25.

-At £25, still on the front row, then.

-Come on!

All done then at £25.

-Oh!

-Well, that's that. £25.

That's minus £15.

-All going rather well, isn't it(?)

-I'm still positive.

Lot 244, by Levi & Salaman,

-Birmingham, 1906.

-Lot 244.

How about that for 20? 20's bid, thank you.

And 2.

At £22. At the back then at £22. With you, madam, at £22.

-Are we all done?

-Go, go!

-Up!

-I will sell, make no mistake, at £22.

-Minus £25.

-Oh!

-I think that's shameful, that.

But let's not burst into tears. Let's think about the bonus buy.

-Let's be positive about this.

-I'm feeling a bit cuckoo.

Are you feeling a bit cuckoo? You're looking cuckoo, Toto.

What do you think, Toto? Are you going to go cuckoo?

-It wasn't my ideal thing, but we'll go for it.

-Yeah.

-Here it comes.

-Lot 248 is the early 20th century, Black Forest-style,

stained pine cuckoo clock.

And I have interest here with me at £25, £35. With me on commission

at £35. With me at 35. At £35.

-Are we all done at 35?

-No.

I will sell. 40, madam?

45. Thank you, anyway. At £45.

-She stopped, that woman, at 45.

-£45.

Oh! Jonathan, that is bad luck, isn't it?

-£45.

-Thank you so much(!)

You're minus £5 on that,

which means overall, you're minus £30.

-All right?

-Not bad.

-It's not bad, is it?

Carol, you are a wonderfully positive person, aren't you?

-It could've been worse!

-What a dreamboat, eh?

Not for us, it couldn't! We only spent a hundred and something!

So, unlucky for the Blues, who made a total loss of £30,

making the Reds the winner,

as, remember, they made a neat little profit of £72, bless 'em!

Coming up, two more teams prepare to go bargain hunting,

but first I'm heading off to somewhere rather stately.

Attingham Park in Shropshire was built in 1785

for Noel Hill, the first Lord Berwick.

It was inherited by his son, Thomas, second Lord Berwick, in 1789.

His story is one of obsession, extravagance

and ultimate great financial loss.

Thomas just loved to spend money, and he did it very well.

Too well, in fact. Nothing pleased him more than to visit Italy or London

and return laden with works of art to furnish his new home.

Needing a suitably grand place to display his collection of pictures,

he commissioned the architect John Nash to design him this spectacular picture gallery,

with its novel, illuminated ceiling with iron elements,

rich red walls to show off the gorgeous pictures and porphyry columns.

Oo-ar!

Thomas's extravagant spending continued unchecked,

and he finally met his downfall

in the shape of one 17-year-old French courtesan, Sophia Dubochet.

He promptly married her, unsuitably,

social ignominy and unhappiness ensued,

but the two of them nevertheless managed to work their way through the family coffers,

and eventually Thomas was declared bankrupt.

In 1827, Thomas had to watch practically the entire contents of Attingham

being sold off in an enormous 16-day auction.

But one of the pieces which was not sold was retained,

is this little delight.

Now, the central element is of course a harp,

but a harp that's been most exquisitely crafted.

If you look at the strings, each of those are graduated,

as they would be in a real harp,

and the detailing in, for example,

the metalwork on this scroll top piece, is extraordinary.

And in front of the harp, we've got a most curious

patinated metal little monkey.

The whole creation sits on a sheet of mother-of-pearl.

And then a concave-sided base which has been cast

and raised with lyres and strands of foliage.

All in all, a massive amount of workmanship

has been used to create this thing.

Concealed within the base is a musical movement.

And the clue to that, of course,

is this little key sticking out on the side.

So, let's give it a tweak and see what happens.

Half a turn, I think.

MUSIC BOX TINKLES

Isn't that charming?

All in all, an absolute tour de force of Swiss workmanship.

'Hmm. Back at Oswestry, will our two new teams find a tour de force

'of their own as they go in search of bargains?

'Time to meet our new pairs of Reds and Blues.'

Today we have little sister Roxanne with her big brother, Lance, for the Reds. Welcome.

And two pastors for the Blues, Rob and Phil.

Welcome to Bargain Hunt. Very nice to see you.

So, Roxanne, you're quite accustomed to this acting lark, aren't you?

Yes, I am. I've been in a small budget film around the local area called Vicious Culture.

And what were you in Vicious Culture?

I was a mean solicitor, and I sent down an innocent man.

-Did you really?

-Yes, it was really bad.

-That's terrible.

-I know.

-Lance, what do you do with yourself?

-I'm a chef at a local hotel.

-And when did you start cooking?

I started cooking when I was about 14, just doing starters and things, and built it up from there.

Do you cook for yourself at home?

Do you like cooking kind of for relaxation or is it just too much?

Yeah, I do like cooking but obviously when you're working a lot,

cooking with food, when you get home it's nice to just relax.

-And is it interesting, cooking a new dish and creating a new menu?

-Definitely, yeah.

When you create a new menu, the menu changes probably every couple of days or so, so always busy.

-Good for you. Anyway, you're up for the challenge today, you two?

-Yeah.

-Oh, yes.

And I think you're a smashing couple.

Anyway, good luck. Now, Rob, you've been a pastor now for five years.

-That's right, yes.

-So what lead you into this line of work?

For the last 21 years, I've been involved in industry

as an operations manager, but for the last six years, I guess, well,

-six years ago I felt the call of God on my life.

-So what happens?

In the middle of the night do you get a thunderbolt come? A vision? What is it?

-It's something that builds over a number of months.

-Oh, I see.

It's something you discuss with family.

It was a big decision for the family.

-Were you a practising Christian before?

-Yes.

So you had discovered God.

That's right. Since 1985.

Well, you've made your bed and now you're in it. Are you happy?

-Very, very happy.

-That's the main thing, isn't it?

Phil, do you enjoy the job, then?

Oh, yes. Best job in the world.

We do stuff, it's great to be able to give good news in a bad-news world. We love doing our job.

You've been out and about and had a few accidents on windy days, haven't you?

Yeah, when I first went into the ministry a number of years ago,

I managed to drop my Bible at a funeral, at a graveside.

I dropped it in the hole.

Which wasn't very good. The wind caught it and it kind of fell in.

-What do you do - nip in and get it back?

-Fortunately, I had a very, very good funeral director

who fetched it back out for me.

I suppose he has one of those long arm type things?

-It doesn't happen very often, apparently.

-Apparently not. Just as well!

Anyway, I hope you have a great time today on Bargain Hunt.

We come to the money moment. Here you go.

£300 apiece. You know the rules.

Your experts await. Off you go, and very, very good luck.

So...£300, two experts and one hour to find three items

that will make a profit at auction.

Hopefully.

Now, are the Blues reflecting on their first item already?

You know, I saw that. I'm purposefully covering my thumb over that because the shape of that,

it shows you a little bit of the neo-classical influence of the late 19th century, and the

sharpness of the edge, it's not a piece of heavily cabinet made stuff.

It's usable but the mirror is a bit sort of mottled.

Small, functional items in homes are very easy.

That's what your missus says about you all the time.

-What, useless?

-No, no...!

-I didn't say that!

Anyway, look at that. Small, functional and very useful.

Thank you very much.

15 quid. At auction, you sell things rarely for less than 15 quid.

You know what? Anyone would think you were an expert.

Well, I'm convincing. I bet you get the same reaction in church.

Let's have a chat with the stallholder on that one.

So, while the Blue team reflect on the oak wall mirror...

It's got all of its anatomy.

..the Reds continue their search,

but they don't look like they're about to make any snap decisions.

We'll come back and get that one if we can't find anything else.

The Blues, on the other hand, might just be about to make their first buy of the day.

-We'll give you a tenner. Tell you what, 11 quid.

-11 quid.

Brilliant. Nice one.

That's how you do it, Blues.

-It's OK. I didn't break it.

-And that's how you DON'T do it, Reds.

-We'll have a think about it.

-Yeah, can we come back?

-Thank you awfully.

-My advice is, less thinking, more buying, Roxanne.

You've had over half an hour already.

-How often do they come up?

-Not very often. It's very decorative.

How much is the Poole uplighter?

-50. It had 65 on.

-It's a colourful thing.

But at 45, I'd say 40, maybe.

-40, go on, then.

-I wouldn't have said 40.

I'd have said 30.

Don't listen to him! What does he know?

I'll tell you what I know - you'll get 65. It all depends at auction.

-30 quid.

-35.

-They're a couple of vicars.

-35, go on, then. Yeah, go on.

-35 quid.

-It's decorative.

Nice one.

-I don't like it, but it's always very popular.

-Where's the auction?

Shrewsbury.

Our ministers see the light and buy it with just £46 spent in total, thanks to some ruthless bargaining.

-Get a move on!

-We're coming, we're coming, we're coming.

Charles's team, meanwhile, have yet to spend a single penny.

There we are. Look at that.

Is it Charles Horner, or do we know who it's by?

And the date code must be, what?

-I'm not sure, actually.

-It's like a Blue Peter badge.

In fact it's Chester silver, and Chester stopped hallmarking in 1962.

We've got the lion passant, we all know that, sterling silver.

The lady has said we can have it for £20 which,

-to me, is quite reasonable.

-Would you mind buying a brooch, Lance?

No, I'm not buying it for myself!

I like it. It's very nice.

It's got that very sort of Celtic feel about it. The Arts and Crafts.

Is there any lower price on it? Would you do it for any lower?

I think 20 is a good price, really.

Yeah, you're going to settle on 20.

Not £18, maybe?

She's very good.

It's brother and sister, you see.

I'm looking for the best I can get for it, basically.

-I'll do 18.

-Good lady. We'll take it.

-Thanks, madam.

-Finally, after 45 minutes of indecisive dithering,

the Red team buy their very first item.

Oh! My nose!

And now it looks like the Blue team are more focused on mucking about,

-this could be a chance for the Reds to catch up.

-More tea, vicar?

More tea, vicar! That is a good idea!

-That's nice, isn't it? That's beautiful.

-Silver flask.

What you've got first and foremost is an enamel lid.

It quite clearly screws open like that.

There you've got... You'd have had a stopper inside.

It's, I suppose, a little decanter, a little spirit flask.

Sweet. Look at that wonderful chase design. Can you see in the light?

-Nice find, that.

-So it's supposed to have the stopper in it?

It would have a stopper originally. It wouldn't be difficult to replace.

I've never really seen them with enamel as the lid before.

-Normally it's...

-It's unusual, isn't it?

I really like it.

The hallmark is London. It must be about 1918,

so it's George V. A nice object. Your price, £75.

Hopefully you've got your book there and you can...

60?

The sweet thing is, the quality is superb.

-But it's just that silver sleeve.

-Would 50 help?

I do like that. I do like that a lot.

Time's running out, Roxy. So don't take too long to decide.

Meanwhile, the Blues have time in hand. Literally.

I'll tell you what, that's had very little use.

-What's that going for?

-He's asking 75 for it.

If I have a gold-plated pocket watch that comes in,

I'll immediately say, you know,

30-40, £40-£60.

Whatever the guy's best price on that would be...

-We can debate that.

-That's the Liverpool one, you see.

That one's better. Do you know why?

Because it ticks with the right accent.

-You've got to be kidding!

-It does.

It goes, "Tick, tock."

Personally, I'd say the gold-plated one would be easier to sell.

So we might come back and have a discussion about that one.

Can we keep that somewhere?

We will come back. But that helps us. That's a nice start.

Nice one, good start.

It looks like indecision could be catching today.

We've only got seven minutes left

-and we've got two objects to find.

-OK.

If I were you, I'd go back to the flask!

-Your sort of thing, that...

-Hello.

Get a move on! What are these here?

We've got three minutes to get back.

Finally!

-Hello. We're back for this.

-We've only got two minutes.

-How much did you say you could do this for?

-50.

-50? Yes, we'll do it.

-We've only got 45 left. We haven't got £50.

-Have we not?

-No.

-We've only got £45 left, would that be OK?

Will that be OK? Oh, brilliant.

Nice object. Yeah, nice object.

Pressure, pressure! Right, one more to find.

Well, look at that, the little minx!

Roxanne, according to my maths, you've still got £237 left!

-That's a Brixton number!

-Is that your parish?

-It's calling home. I worked in Brixton.

-Did you?

I was just looking at that.

-1892.

-That's really pretty, isn't it? Isn't that lovely?

-Yeah.

-What's this, in the middle?

-That's tortoiseshell.

That's tortoiseshell.

Erm... But in fact, it's hallmarked for London 1892.

What's the best price, sir?

-What have I got on the ticket?

-£75.

-Oh, well...

Obviously, you want to make a profit, don't you?

My guide price on this, Roxy, would be between £50 and £70, Lance.

We'll do it for 60.

I was thinking around £60, you know, to ask for it.

-I'll do it for 60, yeah.

-I really like it.

-There's a lot of work gone into the work on the silver.

-Quite right.

-You know...

-Could we squeeze an extra five pounds out, do you think?

-55?

-I'll tell you what we'll do...

-Yes.

-..we'll do it for 58.

-We'll come back to you, sir.

-Definitely come back.

-Thanks.

Come back?! You've got to be kidding!

-There's less than two minutes to go!

-That's pretty, isn't it?

It's very pretty. I like that one.

We've got a minute left. The clock is ticking.

-So why don't we...?

-Get a watch?

-Very good.

-At least the Blues have got the right idea.

Remember, there are just seconds left to go, Reds!

God, we've got a minute and a half!

Could you just whip out the clock we looked at before?

We like the watch, we like the case.

-We've got a minute left.

-45 quid.

-With the chain?

-Will you throw a chain in?

-Nice chain? A decent chain.

I wouldn't go with the chain, to be honest with you.

-Wouldn't go with the chain.

-£40 without the chain.

-40 quid without a chain.

-Go on.

-Come on.

-It's nearly Christmas.

-Yeah? Great, thanks a lot.

-Good man.

-Top man.

-Sold.

Excellent. Job done, son.

-D'you know what? That's a bargain.

-That's a bargain. Nice one!

I definitely want to go for that. We haven't got much time.

-Got about 10 seconds.

-It's yours!

-Yeah!

Thank you very much. That's for you.

Oh, thank God!

Right, time on our hands.

-Thank you very much.

-Time up!

High-five!

Yikes! Two seconds to spare for the Reds,

but they do now have all three items.

Let's remind ourselves what they bought.

After a slow start, the Red team sail off

with the Arts and Crafts brooch for £18.

Lance took a shine to the George V scent bottle and snapped it up

with just five minutes to go.

And, after more dilly-dallying,

the Reds finally bought a decorative tortoiseshell tray, priced at £58.

-How much did you spend?

-£121.

-Is that all?

-Yes.

-£121?

-I know.

Leave it for me, the big finale, the final curtain, I shall spend it all.

£121, that means, do I want £179?

-179.

-Yeah, and I have it here.

-179...

There you go, there's a lot there.

-OK.

-Thank you very much.

There's my week in Corfu!

Well, it is, isn't it? A week in Corfu currently for four people!

-Well, come along!

-Oh, thank you very much.

-What do you want Charles to buy for the bonus?

-Anything quirky.

-Yeah.

-Mysterious and quirky, there's your challenge.

-And maybe Chinese as well, Tim.

-Oh, Chinese, mysterious and quirky!

There's a big hint.

Now, let's see what the Blues bought.

They got off to a raring start

with a compact oak wall mirror priced at £11.

After a bit of haggling, they paid £35 for the Poole Pottery light.

And finally, in the last minute, they bought themselves

a bit of time, literally, in the form of a gold-plated pocket watch.

Now listen, how much did you spend?

Well, we spent, in total, £86.

-£86?!

-Yes.

Does that mean there's £214 in the collection plate?

-There is a lot in the collection plate.

-£214.

-But as always, with the collection plate, hand it over.

-To ME!

There you go!

Today we are with Halls Auctioneers in Shrewsbury, with Jeremy Lamont.

-Very nice to see you, Jeremy.

-Nice to see you, too.

Now, Lance and Roxanne for the Reds went with this brooch.

Bit of a Valkyrie brooch here.

Yes, it looks very Georg Jensen, doesn't it?

-Yes.

-Looking at the Viking theme,

certainly a Scandinavian theme to it.

How much do you think it's worth?

-30 to 50?

-Great.

-£18 was paid by Charles Hanson.

-I think that was good.

And that's not a bad buy in silver, is it? Nicely made.

Next is the scent or gin flask.

This is quite a decorative one.

It's been wheel cut.

But it is incomplete, as you can see, there's no cup.

We've put 40 to 60 on it.

-If it had the bottom, you'd be looking at 150, 200.

-Yes.

40-60 is fine, though, because Lance paid £45 for it.

-That's OK.

-That's not too bad, is it?

Next is this little tray.

We've called it a pin tray

-but could it be a desk stand for a little ink bottle?

-Could be.

It's an unusual little item and very decorative, so we think £30 to £50.

£58 paid by Roxanne for that so she may have just gone over the top

-but the strange thing is, odd little bits of silver, isn't it?

-Yeah.

There are people who are intrigued.

They're always in vogue, aren't they?

In the meanwhile,

let me just check out what's going on with the bonus buy.

I spent every last penny.

I spent the whole, the full £179.

-Great!

-Are you ready?

-Yes.

-Look at that.

-Oh, wow.

Is that a beer keg?

-Well...

-Is it for brandy or something?!

I would say, first and foremost, it's beautifully cut.

Look at this hobnail decoration

on this barrel-shaped spirit decanter on this wonderful stand,

very much in the period 1885, 1890.

Get down and look at it proper.

If you come down... Crouchy, crouchy down.

Come on, Lance. Down you come.

Cos you've got to look at this thing from side on,

-we've got very chunky legs like you'd get in a pub.

-Correct.

-A sweet little tap down this end.

-Correct.

Cork bung hole in the top complete with cork, how about that?

It's just an object of great quality.

To late Victorians, when it came to novelty and quality,

I think this oozes that. It also has a certain modern feel.

There we go. There's a big question you need to ask.

Will it make a profit?

Gosh. That's a good question.

Well, I think this ordinarily ought to make between £200 and £300.

-Think about it.

-Yeah.

Very exciting moment to hang on to.

-OK.

-But for the audience at home

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Charles' little barrel.

When we were researching this lot

we found one that had sold in London a couple of years ago,

retailed by Ospreys with a silver stand exactly the same as this,

-made £5,000.

-How much?!

-£5,000.

-£5,000?!

But this is a plate one.

-However, that's a pretty good start, isn't it?

-Well, it is.

I think we've put a couple of hundred pounds on this, 150, 250,

I think it will take off, this.

It ought to. Thank you very much for researching that.

That's most interesting. Isn't it?

That's it now for the Reds.

Now, for the Blues, first up for them in their wacky mix

is this Arts and Crafts wall mirror

which I quite like from the point of view of the style of the thing.

I can see that in a modern home.

Jonathan paid a handsome price for that. £11.

-I think he'll get his money back. I think £20 or £30 easily.

-Great.

That's what we like to hear. Very good.

Rob found the Poole Pottery wall light.

I'm slightly on record as not being the greatest fan of Poole Pottery.

-How do you rate this piece?

-It's a very striking thing.

It's what we might cynically call an antique of the future

but there will be collectors for it. I think £30 to £50.

Very good. £35 is paid. So they'll be well pleased with that estimate.

Jeremy, thank you. And the pocket watch.

Gold-plated, pretty standard keyless lever pocket watch.

-Yes, in a presentation case.

-What's the estimate on that?

-20 to 30.

-Gosh. They paid 40.

Things are getting tight. They might need their bonus buy.

Let's go and have a look at it.

-Look at that.

-It's a very nicely painted picture

of a couple of spaniels, in the Victorian style.

So the big question is, how much did you pay?

I was doing a bit of a Charles Hanson. I felt rather rich

and I should have gone for 214 quid but I went for £210.

-210. What would you say this would go for?

-Er...

I'm on the spot now!

That's the question!

Well, um... I bought it in a bit of a hurry

and I think that in hindsight it may not be as old as I first thought.

So "Victorian style" is STYLE.

Yeah, sadly so.

Hence why it's like this in the frame because the picture expert

had to have the opportunity to look at the back properly,

which I only got a snip of.

-Not whilst buying it, anyway.

-What would you value it at?

Ballpark.

-Do you...?

-That's the worry!

I'm not liking this!

The hesitation there!

On this happy note, boys...

why don't you park those thoughts and we'll ask the auctioneer

what he thinks about Jonathan's picture.

The painting itself...

is painted, but if you can see,

it's painted on hardboard, modern hardboard.

So if you look at the front of the picture out of the frame,

some of the paint has been thinned in areas around here

to make it look like natural wear, and if you bought this in a fair

it would be very easy to think this was a Victorian oil.

So we put a decorative estimate on it of £100 to £200.

Jonathan paid £210.

But he soon realised the error of his ways, having paid the money,

but it's too late to go back. So he's explained to his team,

we're going to run it through the sale anyway.

But it's very interesting, you analysing it like this,

just as a fair warning to anybody going out there to buy.

Be interesting to see what happens in the auction. Thank you.

And taking the auction today is Christina Trevanion.

-How are you feeling?

-Nervous.

-Excited.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Why are you nervous?

-I don't know.

I just really want the items to do well.

-What about you, Lancey?

-Anxious. We've been waiting for a while.

-A bit like visiting the dentist?

-Yeah!

Not quite sure what's going to happen.

Here we go. Here comes the brooch.

264. How about that for £30 for the brooch?

Little Arts and Crafts style brooch. 30 is bid. At £30.

Are we all done at 30?

I will sell, make no mistake, at £30. If we're all done, at 30.

-GAVEL BANGS

-£30! Not bad, Charles.

Plus £12. That's a good kick off.

Now...

Silver-mounted ladies' flask. George Carlsberg and Son.

London, 1931.

How about that for £30 anywhere, for the flask at 30?

At £30, the ladies' flask. At 30.

20 is bid. On my right at £20.

At 20. Any further interest at 20? I will sell, make no mistake.

And two against you, sir?

25, 28, 30.

At £30, right, then, at £30. Are we all done at 30?

-GAVEL BANGS

-Oh, we want a bit more than that!

Oh, no. £30. That's minus £15.

You're now minus £3. Oh, dear.

It's down to your pin tray, baby.

Who will start me at £20 for the little pin tray?

20 is bid. Thank you.

At £20 with the lady at £20.

Are we all done at 20? And two.

25, 28, 30, 32, 35, 38, 40,

5, 50, at £50,

at the back, then, at £50. Are we all done at 50?

-Selling, then, at £50.

-More, more, more!

GAVEL BANGS

You're so right, Roxanne! She sold it for £50,

which is minus eight.

Which overall means you're minus £11.

That's ridiculous. Minus £11.

-That is disappointing.

-Lot 271.

-I think you've done jolly well.

What are you going to do? Are you going to go with the spirit barrel?

Are you going to risk £179?

-Go for it.

-OK, I'll leave it up to the lads.

-It's not my fault.

-Fine.

A family decision. We're going with the barrel. Here it comes.

Lot 270 is the hobnail cut glass spirit barrel

with plated mount, circa 1890.

Interesting thing, this, lot 270.

And who will start me at £100 for it? For the spirit barrel.

At £100 anywhere? At 100?

At £100? At 80 anywhere?

£80. Surely £80 somewhere.

60 I'm bid, on my right at £60 and I will take at £60. All done at 60?

I will sell, make no mistake. If you're all done at £60.

-GAVEL BANGS

-She's going to sell it!

£60, well, I tell you, I'm speechless.

-I'm amazed.

-That's minus £119.

I don't believe it.

-Not too bad.

-It could still be a winning score! You never know, eh?

So that's £130, overall losses.

Isn't that amazing? The joy of the auction, eh?

Yes, the joys of the auction.

It just goes to show you never can tell.

Do not tell the Blues a thing cos, personally, I'm still in shock.

-Now, Rob and Phil, how did the Reds get on? Do you know?

-Don't know.

I haven't got a clue. Wouldn't tell us.

No divine intervention here?

-None at all.

-No messages beaming down from on high?

-We often do but not yet.

-Just wait and see what happens.

-Perfect.

First up is going to be Jonathan's mirror.

Here it comes.

Lot 286 and I have interest here with me on commission at £25.

On commission at £25. With me at 25. Are we all done at 25?

I will sell, make no mistake. If we're all done at 25.

£25. Plus £14.

£14 profit. Look at that.

The Poole Pottery wall uplighter, decorated by Nicola Massarella.

Lot 287.

And who'll start me at £20 for it?

At 20. 20 is bid. Thank you.

And two, 25. 28, 30, 32,

-35, 38, 40, 5, 50...

-Well done, Bob!

-..5, 60.

-Look at this!

-At £60. With you, madam, at £60.

-If we're all done at 60.

-£60!

-Fantastic. Well done, the lighting department.

-£60!

That's brilliant. Plus £25 on that.

That's not bad, is it? Now, the watch.

Lot 288 in its fitted case there, as well. Lot 288.

Who will start me at £20 for it? £20. 20 is bid. Thank you, madam.

£20 at the very back, then, at £20.

And two. 25.

-28, 30, 32, 35, 38.

-Keep going!

-Yes!

-Thank you anyway. At £38 with you, sir, at £38.

-One more!

If we're all done at 38.

-GAVEL BANGS

-£38. £2 loss. 38 minus 2.

That means you're plus £37.

It's like you almost had a crystal ball there. That's fantastic.

£37 up.

What are we going to do about this picture, then?

As they say in the trade, if there's any element of doubt,

-you have to leave it.

-There's an element of doubt here.

And we're leaving it. Is that right? Here it comes.

Lot 292 is this picture here,

The Manor of Colin Graham.

Two setters in a landscape, oil on board.

It's modern. Lot 292.

Who will start me at £80 for it, for this decorative picture here?

At £80. Setters in a landscape at 80.

At £80 anywhere? 60, then.

£60 for the setters, at £60. 50?

£50, surely, for this picture, here. It's an oil on board at £50.

40, then. £40. 40 is bid.

-Thank you, sir. At £40.

-Phew!

All we all done at 40? I will sell, make no mistake, at £40.

-And five. Against you, sir.

-Another bidder, here?

At £45 on the internet, and 50.

On the internet!

At £50 at the very back, at £50.

At 55 against you. At £55 on the internet, then. At 55.

GAVEL BANGS

£55! Gosh.

-Good decision.

-I make that...

That's £155 down the proverbial, isn't it? Minus 155.

That's got to be my best yet, I think, on one lot!

£155. I think you're quite grateful you didn't go with it.

I think you made the right decision, there.

Definitely divine intervention.

Definitely was divine.

Anyway, you've parked your £37 profit.

You've ring-fenced it, very sensibly.

And, for the moment,

don't say a word to the Reds.

-Talking, you chaps? Have you been talking at all?

-No.

Very good. It is my duty to reveal today that the runners up...

are the Reds.

-Oh, no!

-Whoa! Yeah!

We're not going to dwell on the spirit barrel.

It was minus £11, all right? And then the spirit barrel came along

and it finished up as being minus £130.

Which is incredible!

I have to say, in Charles' defence, I rated that thing.

-I thought it was a pretty good, high-octane object...

-Quite right.

-..that just failed to ignite today. So bad luck.

-It's still his fault!

It's still his fault.

Charles's fault!

I think we'll leave the bickering to the children, shall we?

And turn to the victors. It is very respectable, isn't it?

-You are plus £37.

-Fantastic!

Got 35 there. Got a couple of quid coming out there, look.

There you go, son.

I thought you were going to give that to Jonathan for a moment.

Completely unprompted!

-But you had a good time, I hope.

-We've had a great time.

-Fantastic.

It's lovely to go home with profits and I congratulate you on that.

Thank you very much for joining us.

-We had a great day. Join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

-Yes!