Stamford 9 Bargain Hunt

We always aim high on this programme,

and today is no exception.

We've got two teams of really high flyers,

so chocks away!

We're at Stamford in Lincolnshire, a county so well known

for its airbases in World War II,

it became known as Bomber County.

And we're off!

Why did I get you two? Why didn't I get the girls?

Oh, stop moaning, Catherine!

Now, look carefully at these teams,

because the next time you see them,

they're going to be...

..skydiving!

Oh, Lord!

Here they come now.

Oh, hello!

-Hello.

-Hello.

-Nice of you to drop by!

So, Bryn, how did you two chaps meet?

We met the first time we went skydiving.

There was a little trip of us together. Some guy dropped out,

Chris took his place, and we've jumped together ever since.

Was the fellow that dropped out OK?

-He was absolutely fine.

-Oh, was he? Oh, good.

What do you like most about skydiving, Bryn?

I get paid to travel all over the world,

-and go from one place to the other chasing the endless summer.

-Lovely!

Chris, have you any other pleasures apart from skydiving?

We don't get an awful lot of time, but I do like my motorbikes.

-Anything fast!

-And will you make a good team?

We make the best team.

What are your tactics for beating the girls?

Very simple tactics. We'll do anything it takes to win.

-Gosh!

-Anything.

-That's a big mission statement!

Now, you wee girls, are you quaking in your boots about this?

-Not really.

-Not at all?

-They don't scare us.

-Sort of.

-So, Ro,

-do you work at the same airfield as these two jokers?

-Yes, I do.

So you're all in the same business together.

Yeah.

And what does your job involve?

I am a camera girl there, so I climb onto the outside of the plane

and film these guys when they're taking students.

And what's the biggest achievement that you've ever had?

I think representing England in the European Skydiving League.

Came home with a gold medal, which brought the trophy back to England,

-so that was pretty good.

-That's a good achievement.

-Yeah.

-And Lolly?

Great name. How many jumps have you done, darling?

I've done about 3,700 jumps.

-Gosh, you're experienced, aren't you, at this jumping lark?

-Yes.

-Do you think you can beat the boys?

-Oh, yeah.

-Definitely.

That's got that lot sorted out. We'll have some fun today.

£300 apiece. Here's your £300. You know the rules.

-Your experts await.

-Thank you.

-And off you go,

and very, very, very good luck.

Crikey, that's a first!

Now, let's get on with the rules.

£300 to spend,

an hour to shop for three items,

and everything must go at the auction.

Catherine Southon must steer the Reds in the right direction.

Nick Hall hopes to outfox the opposition.

OK, chaps! What's our plan of action?

-How you feeling? Confident?

-Yeah.

As long as we win. That's the most important part.

What sort of thing are you going to buy?

Quirky, silvery...

So we can buy anything - we've just got to win.

Girly things, eh? I don't know how much use I'm going to be to you.

We're not competitive, but we're just going to win.

-OK, where shall we start?

-Over here.

-Over there?

I like to get in the marquee first,

because you sometimes find the better little bits there.

Anything you spot, just grab me.

-Oh, wow! There's loads of nice stuff.

-Oh, that's fantastic.

What have you found?

A box, but I don't think it's got any age to it.

-No.

-OK.

I like the blue thing. That's quite cool.

-The butterfly's quite cool.

-Ideally, with jewellery,

-we want something with gemstones or gold-mounted.

-OK.

As pretty as some of the costume jewellery is,

it won't be that collectable at auction.

-We're going to an antiques sale.

-Absolutely, yeah. I agree.

'Looks like the Blues have got a plan!

'But they're not the only ones.'

It's very nice auction rooms. I'm thinking about buying good quality.

-It's quite rural around there.

-Yes, it is, absolutely.

-Foxes and hounds and...

-Absolutely.

-Country pursuits.

-That's quite nice, isn't it?

-It is quite nice.

It's nice that it's not a wooden... Wooden ones are a bit boring.

Is there a price on it?

Hi. May we have a little look at this?

-Yes.

-Are these all the original stoppers and everything?

They are.

-I wouldn't like to... Oh, OK. It's not locked.

-No.

Take one out?

Can't get it out. Ah, there. Ah, right.

-How much is on this?

-I've got 220 on it.

-It's very stylish.

-It is.

What's your best price on that?

Do it for...

185.

-I think that's still a bit punchy.

-Yeah. Seem more like the 150 mark,

-something like that.

-I'm losing money at 150.

Really? OK. Cos it's really nice,

but we'll have a look at some other stuff -

Could you go down a bit more than that?

-It needs to be the 185, really.

-Not even 180?

-Go on. Twist my arm at 180.

-It is lovely, actually.

Good quality. Have a lift.

It's a heavy old unit, isn't it?

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

-Definitely.

I could see that sitting quite nicely in the saleroom.

-What do you think?

-Absolutely.

-Let's bear it in mind.

-We said 180. We can come back to it.

-I'd definitely have that in my caravan. Definitely.

Definitely.

'Classy! They're tantalised, but not convinced.'

I mean, it's a heavy, big bit of brass.

Anyway, we've had about ten minutes. Where shall we go next?

Silvery stuff in there. What's in there?

Oh, that little cabinet! Well spotted. What have we here?

-I quite like the little pots.

-Oh, the little condiments?

Salt, mustard, pepper. The little three-piece condiment,

-are they hallmarked?

-Yes.

-They are.

-They're quite cute.

-How much is the set?

-£60.

-That's for the three?

-Yes.

-They're quite cute. I don't know.

The liners are perfect, but the spoons match, as well.

The nice thing is, these blue-glass liners so often get damaged.

-They must be easily dropped, I would imagine.

-Absolutely,

but that - absolutely snug as a bug in the salt cellar's rug.

-Look at that.

-I think they're quite cute.

What do you think? That's quite a nice shape, the tower.

-What do you think to that?

-They're nice, cos they're small

-and miniature and collectable.

-I like them.

-Have you dated the hallmarks?

-Yes. 1925.

1925. That's quite a good vintage, as well. I'm glad you said that.

THEY LAUGH

Do you think something like that would sell well?

There's a market for it, yeah. Hallmarked silver is sought-after

and collectable. It's ticking lots of boxes for collectors.

-Do you like the things?

-It's shiny and cute.

-I like it.

-It's shiny and cute,

like the Blue Team.

'Flattery will get you everywhere!'

-How much you asking for the set?

-I said 60.

Yeah. 75...

-And to these girls?

-£55 max. That's it.

-And if

-I

-smiled, would you -

-No.

-If YOU smiled...

-It would go up again!

I think I'm putting him off now. I'll shut up for a bit.

-I think we should do it.

-Yeah, OK.

-I think so.

-I think you've got yourselves a deal.

-You going to pay the man?

-OK.

-Brilliant. Well done.

'The girls have landed their first item,

'but the boys still haven't taken off.'

Oh, you've got a daddy-longlegs! No, we don't like...

-Ooh, he's horrible!

-I'll do it.

-You hero!

-I know!

SHE LAUGHS

'Heroic! But that's not what you're here for.'

-I'm quite encouraged by that, really.

-Yeah, me too.

Anything else really strikes you that you're looking for,

-on your wish list?

-I think nice glass.

-Yeah.

-Glass can do well, yeah.

No.

The face says it all.

-'Concentrate!'

-It's a little...

-HMV dog.

-What was he called? Um... Nipper.

-Nipper.

-He's a very, um, dirty Nipper.

-Yeah.

-Put it back.

'Keep them under control, Catherine!'

Sorry, miss.

Actually quite an abundance of glass over here.

Come on. We need to start buying, start making a purchase.

Toys!

-Toys!

-Sorry, miss.

I'm just worried that you're a little bit too relaxed, you know?

-Well, we're going to win. The last five minutes, then we can panic.

-OK.

-What about this lot?

-Oh, yeah.

-Ooh, I like that stuff.

There's some really pretty things here.

-Do you like that?

-The little jug, or the...

-The big vase at the back there.

-It's quite cool.

-It is quite cool.

I think that's really funky. But it's a good maker, as well.

-I can imagine it in my house.

-It'd be quite trendy.

-Yeah.

-Do you want to have a look at it?

Could you pass it over? We don't want to drop the thing.

No. Absolutely. Ooh, it's nice. Don't want to hold it long

-because it's really heavy.

-OK, give it to me.

-Oh, wow!

-That is quite cool.

Look at the intricacy of the workmanship, as well.

That actually is made of coloured glass

that's then encased in a sandwich of clear glass.

-A lot of work went into making that. It's not old.

-OK.

-It's very much in the 1950s style.

-That's kind of trendy right now.

It's a modern version of that.

-What sort of deal would you do?

-What's on it?

95.

85?

-I do really like it.

-Yeah. I do.

I'm a bit worried. Maybe the price...

-It's a bit risky.

-It's a bit high.

We're a little worried about it being too much.

I don't think it's frighteningly expensive at that.

-OK.

-What do you think?

-75?

-Yeah.

I'll split the difference. 78.

-OK. I do like it.

-Yeah, let's do it.

-Thank you.

-Yeah, I'm pleased with that!

-Great stuff.

Two down. You've got one more to go. You're a gentleman, sir.

Thank you very much.

Why did I get you two? Why didn't I get the girls?

-The girls aren't nice.

-No. In fact, they're evil.

They're worse than us.

'Yeah, but at least they're buying something.'

How's it going? Apparently you're being incredibly slow.

-Relaxed!

-What's the matter with you?

-Relaxed.

I don't suppose it's enough adrenaline,

just going around a mere antique fair, for you guys, is it?

-We're just a little bit relaxed at the moment.

-Yes.

-When there's five minutes to spare -

-Well, I tell you,

-Catherine can get mighty strict.

-Catherine already is!

-We've had the look.

-If you aren't careful, you'll get smacked.

-Really?

-THEY LAUGH

Come on!

Half an hour in. How much have we spent?

133.

We've got a good budget left, then.

-Right. I'm getting panicky.

-You're getting frustrated now.

I'm not getting frustrated. I'm getting panicky.

Starting to worry. Bowls.

These are really expensive. My mum and dad play all the time.

-Do they?

-They are really expensive to buy.

-Quite nice little vintage case.

-Exactly.

They're about £15, £20 each to buy anyway,

and at 22, and the case, I reckon that'd be a nice little thing.

-Do you?

-Yeah, I do, actually.

-OK.

-SHE LAUGHS

-You're getting the face.

-Yeah.

-I don't know anything...

-How much time have we got left?

-Not much.

-Probably about half an hour.

-Plenty of time.

Ask the man how much we can get it for.

-Where is the man?

-This lovely man over here.

-You've got a lovely smile.

-Oh, and so have you.

Oh, thank you. Then, let's be friends

-and get a nice price.

-15.

-15's a bargain.

-Is it?

-Yeah, absolutely.

We know nothing about balls. Balls? Bowls, even.

-OK. On my head...

-Be it.

-Be it.

-There we go.

-First purchase made! Hooray!

-No need to panic. No need to panic.

-I can relax now.

'Hurray!'

'Now it's my turn to find something.'

What do you do when you go on holiday

about bringing back presents? It's a complete nightmare, isn't it?

Well, if you were visiting Japan

around about 1900 to 1910,

you might have been tempted to bring back one of these things.

It's a little carved wooden doll

in the form of a rather rotund figure

with a comical face,

and that circular face has been carved out of a piece of coral.

And then you've got two ivory eyes and a pink tongue.

And it comes from a particular place,

the port of Kobe in Japan.

And apparently street vendors went running up and down the docks

selling these things to visiting foreign sailors.

Now, the sailor bought it because he was amused.

Why was he amused?

Well, if I take this rotund little person and give them a shake,

look what happens!

HE LAUGHS

Isn't that wonderful? Out pop their ivory eyes

and out pops a livid pink tongue.

If I shake it the other way,

back they go into their little receptacles.

Now, I've seen, in my time,

quite a few of these little Kobe dolls,

and the early ones, like this,

can be worth £40.

I've never seen one that has this additional novelty feature.

Because if I unscrew the base,

underneath this fat little doll face

is a section with some dice -

real ivory dice that you could shake within the doll

and have your little gambling den when on board.

Hah! All in all, it's a bit of a gem.

What's this little thing worth?

Well, I think about £70 to £100.

What would it cost you here on a stall?

Well, today it could be yours for £12.

That's enough to make your eyes come out on stalks.

-What do you like now?

-This.

-It's a bit rubbed, but -

-It's dented.

-Yeah. It is a bit.

-Oh, it is hallmarked.

-Exactly.

-But it's very badly rubbed, and I can't even read...

-Do you want to borrow mine?

-Ooh! Go on, then!

I told you we were here to win.

-Yeah. I mean, the hallmarks are very rubbed.

-We'll leave that one, then.

What have you found?

Oh, Concorde. Right. OK.

-Yeah.

-I'm sensing that voice again.

-Move on.

-Move on.

-It's a bit "deer"!

-THEY LAUGH

You're good at these cheesy jokes, aren't you?

They get worse, believe me!

-I reckon you should go for that.

-Meerkat pen.

Is it a press top or is it a twist? Press top. That means it's 2010.

-We'll have this.

-'Oh, dear!'

-Well, does that grab you?

-THEY LAUGH

I don't know what it is.

What do you think about this one? I know you quite like a hip flask.

And what I like about this is the faceted glass at the top.

Looks quite attractive, better than being a plain...

That's very nice.

And hallmarked on the top and the bottom, and it's B, which is 1897.

But the price was... Sorry. 75, you said.

-I really like that.

-Thing is, that's put us over...

-If it was 72 - I know it's a bit of a stupid price...

-All right. 72.

-72 would be good.

-Yeah, I'd go for 72.

Then we get the other thing, and we'll be all squared away.

-I like that a lot.

-Yeah.

-Hold on!

-Sorry! Sorry!

We haven't even actually looked inside, which we should do.

Check the cork's inside.

Check that everything's where it should be.

Oh! What's in there?

-Happy with that?

-Yes.

-More than happy.

-I like that a lot.

-Yeah. Like that.

Great. Time to put those hands back in those pockets, then, I feel.

-I actually really like it.

-I really like that.

-That Meerkat pen was fantastic.

-A Meerkat pen?

-You didn't buy it?

-We did.

-You didn't. You're not serious.

-Yeah, we bought it. So that's it - we're all bought up now.

-No!

You're having me on.

-THEY LAUGH

-You worried me then!

You really worried me.

'Oh, give the poor girl a break!'

-Nick?

-Mm?

-What do you think of wooden boxes?

-People love boxes.

Got quite an array here. My eye goes to that one first.

-What do you think?

-Pretty patterns.

-It's pretty.

-It's decorative, it's useful...

-Yeah.

-It's clearly a desk stand,

-a gentleman's desk stand, to sit on a nice big partner's desk.

-OK!

Keep all his writing equipment nicely and neatly in there.

Two gaps where inkwells are missing. Doesn't matter.

Little pen tray, which is nice, at the back there,

and then this little lid lifts off and you keep your stamps in there,

which is a nice little thing. Nice bit of leather there, as well.

And there should be a drawer some-... Ah.

-At the front, I think, just there.

-OK.

Um, and we've got nice oak linings on there.

Now, do you know what it's made of?

-Brass.

-Yeah, you got brass,

but this other material here is tortoiseshell,

which is nothing to do with tortoises. It comes from turtles,

but it's all called tortoiseshell.

But when you get tortoiseshell and brass inlaid,

it becomes known as Boulle work - fantastic French word, Boulle -

and it becomes very sought-after. And it just makes it a nice thing!

-I like it.

-You both like it?

-Yeah.

I like it. I was just a bit concerned about the bits of damage.

Yeah, the bits of damage. That actually, oddly enough,

-could be in our favour, because something of this quality would be hundreds of pounds.

-OK.

But with the damage, it might bring it back within our budget,

and then a buyer would buy it to restore it on again.

So we just need to find out how much.

-Hello, there.

-Hi.

-Just admiring your desk stand.

-What are you asking for it?

-Very best on it would be 135.

That was more than I thought it would be.

Yeah.

Is there any room to manoeuvre on that? Could you get it down to 120?

No, I can't. It cost me more than 120.

-Did it?

-I'll take the odd five off. 130.

-130.

-The very, very best.

I'm not sure.

-I can hear lots of chatting.

-We're whispering.

-We're whispering.

-What, what, what?

-About the tantalus.

-Buying it.

-We might be short of time. We should really -

That's a big, big price, though.

-Made a decision, girls?

-We're going to do it.

You're going to go for it? Go and shake that man's hand. Well done.

Thank you.

-Are we definitely going for this tantalus?

-We definitely are.

Hang on. Let's see if it's there first.

-It is there.

-Aha! We're back.

-We're back!

-We have returned.

-And we've got lots of money left,

-just for you.

-She's got a big dog.

-I'm just going to stay back here.

It's a retriever. It won't do anything to us.

-Maybe lick us a bit.

-Lick us to death.

So we were down to 175, weren't we?

-No, it's got to be the 180. Sorry.

-All right, we'll do it. 180.

-180.

-Happy?

-Happy!

-You're happy, I'm happy.

-Time for a cup of tea.

-That tantalus rocks my world.

'There, there, Catherine.'

Enough of this swanning around! Time's up!

Our laid-back Red Team convinced Catherine

that a case of bowls was an all-round good buy,

and they got into the party spirit

when they spotted a silver-and-glass hip flask.

Sticking with the drinking theme,

the Reds spent a whopping £180 on this silver-plated tantalus.

-Hands in pockets!

-Everybody seems to be happy round here.

It's almost as if you fellas are in freefall.

Now, tell me, how much did you spend overall?

-Quite a bit.

-Did you?

-How much?

-£267.

So I'd like £33 of leftover lolly, please.

-It pains me, but there you go, Tim.

-That's great.

Which is your favourite piece, Chris?

My favourite piece would have to be the...

Don't spend too long thinking about it.

-Um, the tantalus.

-Oh, OK. The tantalus.

That took time!

You forgot what we bought then, hadn't you?

-Yeah. Very good, very good.

-I got there eventually.

-What was your favourite piece?

-My favourite was the bowls

in the leather case. A nice little item, and a bargain price, as well.

-Really like them.

-Are they going to make the most profit for you?

-They're the winners.

-All right. Now, you're not leaving much.

-Thank you.

-Got any plans?

No, but this time I'll be relaxed. I've been very stressed for the last hour with these two.

They were super-relaxed themselves about shopping. Have a great time!

Why don't we remind ourselves what the Blue Team bought?

The girls went for cute and shiny with the three-piece cruet

in George III style. They came bang up to date

with this Murano glass vase,

and finished with a 19th-century Boulle desk stand at 130.

Well, you're having a very jolly time.

What are you up to - telling dirty stories or something?

-Something like that.

-Well, it was a good one,

whatever it was. Now, listen - how much did you spend,

you two characters, in total? Ro?

I think it was 263. Yeah.

-263. Check?

-Sounds about right.

Check, check, check. 263...

So I want £37, please. Who's got the £37?

-I have it.

-Lolly's got the leftover lolly!

Oh, how lovely! I've been longing for this all my life,

saying "leftover lolly". I've finally found someone called Lolly to ask for it!

OK, Lolly. Let's have the leftover lolly.

Well done, darling. I'm sorry to be so infantile.

Forgive me. But I haven't been drinking or anything, I promise.

-So, which is your favourite piece?

-I think I like the vase.

-You like the vase most.

-It's quite pretty.

-What about you, Loll?

-I like the silver set.

OK. Which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

-I think the box.

-You agree with that?

-Yeah.

-I know you're dead hot for this box.

Anyway, you've had a lovely time, haven't you?

We've had an absolute ball, Tim.

Does this mean you're going to be going up in an aeroplane and jumping out one day?

-Not sober.

-Not sober.

-Not sober.

I suppose the other could be arranged.

Have you got a plan as to what you're spending that paltry amount on?

-It's not a lot, is it?

-Not a lot.

-Um, so no plan.

No plan. Best to go off with a completely blank mind.

-Going to wing it.

-THEY LAUGH

I love it! Cheers, girls. We're heading off somewhere really lovely.

We're going to Cheshire, and I'm going to show you the most splendid garden, for a change.

The grounds of Arley House are rather special.

They're a fine example of a Victorian country-house garden,

with a series of "rooms" divided by avenues and walks.

This is the ilex walk -

14 Quercus ilex trees,

perfectly clipped into cylindrical shapes.

It wasn't always like this, though.

Originally these trees were pyramid shaped,

but as a result of there being no labour during the First World War,

they grew out, and afterwards have been forever maintained

in these curious cylinders.

The current owner, Lord Ashbrook, has invited me to take a stroll.

Now, Lord Ashbrook, this is the herbaceous garden.

Would you say that this is one of the unique features of Arley?

Oh, without question. It's the feature we're best known for.

And it is interesting,

because we think it's either the earliest in the country...

It's difficult to be absolutely certain. We've not heard of an earlier one, put it like that.

Because it's shown on a plan of 1846, and herbaceous borders,

as you probably know, came in to the latter part of the century

-with people like William Robinson and Gertrude Jekyll.

-Yes.

So it is certainly an early one.

What I love is the way in which it's been divided up like this.

Was it originally two long strips, then?

Well, that's interesting, because when it was originally laid out,

it was one long flowerbed on each side,

and I think it was quite a clever thing they did in about 1870 -

my ancestors broke it up by planting, as you can see,

-these buttresses, as we call them.

-They're a very strange shape!

Well, they are a strange shape,

and my wife thinks they look like cash registers,

but I'm not quite sure whether you'd agree with that.

-Cash registers or fruit machines.

-Oh, fruit machines!

CASH REGISTER PINGING

Each generation of the family has added features of their own.

So, this is the Furlong Walk. Why so called?

Well, it's called that because it's exactly a furlong,

-exactly 220 yards long.

-Gosh!

And it runs straight as a die, too, doesn't it?

Yes. It was originally, in the 18th century,

it was the main approach drive to the then Arley Hall.

Oh, I see.

I mean, Rowland, my Victorian ancestor,

decided that he would turn it into a feature in the garden.

And, um, he went blind for the last ten years or so of his life.

He had glaucoma. And he rigged up, or there was rigged up,

a wire going along this wall all the way,

and when he was blind, it was a sort of guide for him, walking along

holding on to this wire, and at the end there was a bell that rang

-to say when he got to the end.

-So he sort of exercised?

-His constitutional!

-He'd walk eight furlongs.

That would be a mile. Yes! THEY LAUGH

The ever-changing herbaceous borders inspired garden designers

like Gertrude Jekyll...

..as well as artists like Lord Ashbrook's great-grandfather,

Piers Egerton-Warburton.

Well, it's lovely to be in Market Harborough

at Gildings auction house, with Mark Gilding,

-our auctioneer. Hello, Mark.

-Good morning.

Lovely to be back. And first up, then, for Bryn and Chris,

-are their two bowls.

-Yes. Fairly standard lawn bowls, aren't they?

Yeah. Nice leather case, ready to go.

-Worth more than £15?

-Hopefully 20 to 30.

Oh, that would be nice. They paid the £15 for them,

and it's remarkable how cheap some of these things can be, isn't it?

Absolutely. Things like this are very good value for money.

Quite right. Next is the faceted-glass little silver-mounted spirit flask.

Yes. I like this. Nice quality silver.

-The glass is in good condition.

-That's the important thing.

-It is.

So what's your bravest and very best price for that?

-70 to 100.

-Good! £72 they paid.

-Very good.

Catherine will be so chuffed!

-And last is the plated tantalus.

-Yeah.

Do these things sell as well as they used to, Mark?

Definitely not. Things like this are a real struggle to find buyers for.

Funny how fashions change! There was a time,

when you were in shorts, when buyers were falling over themselves

to get hold of these tantaluses. OK. How much, then, do you think?

-80 to 120.

-OK. £180 they paid.

So that is going to be the deep dark hole into which they fall.

Therefore they'll need their bonus buy,

and therefore let's go and have a look at it.

Now, Bryn and Chris, you spent £267.

Magnificent effort. You gave the lovely Catherine £33

to spend on the bonus buy. What did you get, Catherine?

THEY ALL EXCLAIM

-I had to get this!

-We remember this.

-Do you remember? Did you see it?

-Yes. Vaguely, yes.

-Looks just like my dad.

-Well, I had to get it,

with the bowling connection, and as we got the bowls.

-So, how old is it?

-Well, he's probably late 19th century,

early 20th century. It's WMF,

so nice name. Silver plated.

And look at that lovely movement! Look at the lovely detail here.

-And how much was it?

-I spent all of the £33.

-Oh!

-What do you mean, "oh"? I think that was quite good!

You think we'll make on that one?

Yes, I really do think you will make a profit on that.

She was very, very reluctant to let him go at £33,

and I think he's quite good for that.

Great. I like that a lot.

It seems you've excited just the right reaction here.

Yet again you've done it for these boys.

You don't decide now. You hang on to your ripcords

until after the sale of your first three items.

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

-What do you think? More bowling.

-Yes, more bowling.

-Are you going to bowl us out with a decent estimate?

-30 to 40.

-That is a bowl-out, isn't it? £33 was paid by Catherine.

-Yeah.

Is there a big bowling community here in Market Harborough?

-Not that I'm particularly aware of.

-Anyway, that's it for the Reds.

Thank you very much, Mark. Now for the Blues, Ro and Lolly.

Three-piece cruet - staple diet of every saleroom, right?

Yes. We must see two or three a day.

And it's in good condition, but with no case, which is a pity, isn't it?

It is, but as you say, what is there is original to the set, and the glass liners are in good order.

-How much do you think, then?

-30 to 40.

OK. £55 they paid. Perhaps just a tad too much.

-Yes, that is too much, definitely.

-OK.

Moving on to the modern Murano glass,

which looks really bright and breezy, doesn't it?

-Yes. Good-looking thing, that.

-How much?

-Estimate here 50 to 70.

-£78 paid.

-There's a chance we might get there.

Might do. I mean, it's got that kind of funky look.

With contemporary things like this, who knows what people will go for,

-for modern interiors.

-Yeah, quite. But by far the most speculative

and, I think, exciting item is this encrier. Do you agree?

Yes, I do. I think the best buy for this team.

The overall look of it is great. A few losses,

but with a bit of good conservative restoration,

it will be a good object.

If that was absolutely beezer-good condition, with its bottles

-and all the rest, really, it could be £600, £900, couldn't it?

-Easily.

-Yes.

-Anyway, what's your estimate as it is?

-100 to 150.

-OK, fine. £130 they paid.

-Oh, yes.

-That's not too bad, is it? And if somebody fancies it,

-I can see it making a couple of hundred here.

-Yes.

In which case, they'd be on Easy Street.

Or it might not do so well, in which case they'll need their bonus buy.

Now, Lolly, Ro, you spent £263, which is a fantastic sum of money.

You gave £37 to the man. What has he bought?

Well, from little acorns do oak trees grow.

-Ooh!

-What about this? A little ashtray,

carved out of a piece of English oak by Acornman,

who was a pupil of the famous Mouseman.

-OK. And, er, how much did you spend?

-£30,

-which I thought wasn't a lot of money for what it is.

-OK.

-How much do you think it would make?

-Um, maybe £40, £50 on a good day.

-Oh, OK.

-Very collectable, this sort of thing.

-I quite like it, actually.

-I do, yeah.

-Yeah. It's nice.

-The thing I like are the patriotic nails!

I like these blue nails.

They're my favourite bit so far, I have to tell you.

-But it's a different variety on that whole mouse thing, isn't it?

-Yeah.

There's quite a vogue for Arts and Craftsy bits and bobs,

-so I'm quite hopeful.

-You done us proud, I think.

-Wonderful.

-Well, that's really nice, isn't it?

-Anyway, it's one way of spending the leftover lolly, Lolly.

-Yes.

-It's a good way to spend it.

-Yes, absolutely.

Good. Well, on that happy note,

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

Acornman dish.

-Looks like Thompson but it's not.

-This is Alan "Acornman" Grainger,

who was, I think, a pupil of Mouseman Thompson,

-so very much in his style.

-Did he always sign with a nut, then?

Apparently, yes. I've not seen many pieces,

-but the ones I have seen do have a nut.

-Lovely.

-Let's hope people are nutty about it, then. How much?

-40 to 60.

Great! £30 paid. He'll be really chuffed about that.

Overall, then, I think this Blue Team have got some real potential.

Let's see what happens in a few minutes. Thanks, Mark.

-So, how are you?

-Very good.

-Not too bad.

Is this rather like leaping out of the back door on a Skyvan?

-No. This is more exciting.

-Is it?

-More adrenaline-filled...

-More nerve-racking.

-..than jumping from a plane at 15,000 feet.

-Is it?

-Definitely.

-Oh, dear! Perhaps I COULD jump out the back of a plane.

It's not as bad as all that. Anyway, first up, Bryn, are your bowls.

We have ebony bowling woods, nice leather bag, as well.

What are we going to say for these? I'm bidding here £15.

£15 I'm bid on the book here. Bid at 15, bid at 15.

18. 20. Your turn. 22.

In the room now. I'm bid at 22. Five I'll take. Are you bidding?

25 on the front. New bidder. 28 now.

£28. £30 bid. At 30. 32?

32 right at the back now. At 32. Five anywhere?

-32 in the room, then. At £32.

-HE BANGS HAMMER

£32 is plus 17. That's very fair. Thank you very much.

Now, your hip flask.

London, 1897.

-I'm bidding here... £100, is it?

-Come on! That would be nice!

35 I'm bid, then? 35 for the flask here.

£35 I'm bid. At 38. 40. 42. 45.

48. 50.

Five. 55 here.

55, seated. At 55.

-60, new bidding. 65. 70. 75.

-Yes!

80. 85.

£85, still seated.

85 I'm bid, then, and I will sell at £85.

£85 is plus £13.

-27... You are plus 30 overall.

-High-five!

Plus 30 overall. Stand by for the tantalus. Here it comes.

-Oh, Catherine!

-Don't blame me! It wasn't my choice.

..fitted with three decanters and stoppers.

Bidding goes straight in with me at £80.

On the book here at £80, I'm bid.

85. 90. 95. 100.

£100 I'm bid. At 100. Are you all out in the room?

Still on my book here at £100. Ten to bid.

-£100, then, and selling...

-HE BANGS HAMMER

-£100.

-That's a big loss.

-Minus 80...

-You wanted it.

-..equals minus 50 overall.

-That's a shame.

It's a helter-skelter, that life, isn't it?

One minute you're up there, and then the next, down the snake.

I'm so sorry about that. What are we going to do about the bowler?

-We're definitely going to go for it.

-Definitely.

-Yeah?

-Decision made?

-Absolutely.

We're going with the bowler. Here comes the WMF jobbie.

White-metal figure of a bowls player on a wooden mount,

and bidding opens with me here at 18. 18. 20.

£22. £22 I'm bid.

£22 I'm bid here. At 25. 28 in the room now.

28. Bid at 28. 30 with the internet.

-At £30. Bid at 30.

-Come on!

Two, do I see? It's still with the internet at £30.

You're all out in the room. £30 I'm bid,

and selling that at £30.

-Oh, dear. £30.

-I've let you down!

-Badly.

-£30 minus three...

equals minus £53.

Now, listen, lads - that could be a winning score.

-Hope so.

-I think it will be.

I know you're best mates with these girls, the old jumping thing -

-just don't tell them, eh?

-Oh, no.

-Keep it quiet.

-Lol and Ro, do you know how the Reds got on?

-No.

-You don't know what their results were?

-No.

-Well, you won't want to, I tell you.

-HE LAUGHS

Anyway, this is your moment. First up is the cruet set,

and here it comes.

Three-piece silver condiment set

with pierced design and blue-glass liners.

And opening bid on the book here, £18.

£18 I'm bid for the silver here. At £18.

£18 I'm bid. 20. 22.

25. 28.

You bidding? 30.

£30, seated. At £30.

32. Anyone else, 35?

35. 38. Your turn. 40.

42. 42 here. 42. Shaking his head.

It's 42 on the front. At £42, and I will...

45 with the internet now. 45.

All out in the room, then, at 45. With the internet now, at 45.

-And selling at £45.

-HE BANGS HAMMER

45. Oh, bad luck, Lolly! 45. It's only minus £10.

-So close!

-It's not too bad.

OK. Now the Murano glass, look.

Millefiori. Where are we starting this, then?

10. 20. 30. 40. 50.

-60. £70.

-We're in!

I'm bid at 70. For this one at 70. 70 I'm bid here. 75 I'll take.

£70. 75. 80.

£80 I'm bid. At 80 here. At 85, new bidding.

90 here. At 90. 95 in the room, and all my bids are out.

95!

My far left now at 95. 100 do I see? 95 I'm bid, then,

-and selling at 95.

-HE BANGS HAMMER

Well, that's very good, isn't it? Two to 80. That's plus 17,

which means overall you're plus seven!

Girls, now the Boulle stand.

And bidding on this one, £80.

£80. I'm here at £80. I'm bid at 80. 80. At 90.

100. 110.

110 I'm bid, then. At 110. On the front at 110.

120 I'll take. 110 bid.

110 in the room. Selling away now at 110...

-Oh, £110.

-That's a shame.

£110 is minus 20,

which means overall you're minus 13. How rotten is that?

What are you going to do? Are you going to go with this Acornman oak thingumajig?

-I think we should just go for it.

-Yeah.

-Going to do it, then?

-Sure?

-Oh, yeah.

We're going to go with the bonus buy, then. Going to trust you, Nick. And here it comes.

Acornman, Alan Grainger, an Arts and Crafts ashtray.

There we go. Nicely carved. What are we saying for this one? £50, is it?

Anywhere? No? OK. £20 I'm bid, then. £20 for the ashtray.

-£20 I'm bid.

-Bit of a drop.

22. 25. 28. 28 I'm bid, and all my bids are out.

It's 28 here. At 28. 30 do I see?

Internet, can you pick this up? It's in the room, then,

-at 28, and away.

-HE BANGS HAMMER

-Oh, no! £28.

-Two quid!

£28 minus £2 equals minus 15. Now, listen, girls.

Very disappointing not to be taking home any folding money,

but minus £15 could be a winning score, all right?

So don't say a thing to those beastly boys.

-No. Keep shtum.

-Shtum.

-Absolutely.

Well, how lovely is this? Two teams of great mates!

But have you been talking to one another?

-Not a word.

-No.

I know there's been a big competition

between the boys and the girls here, and it's needle-sharp

between you boys and girls, and you haven't been talking.

And the fact that neither of you are going to be wandering home with any pound coins in your pocket

actually does not matter a scrap, does it?

-No.

-Cos you're not here for the money.

-Absolutely not.

-It's just for the competition.

And sadly every Bargain Hunt has to have a team of runners-up,

and they are today the Reds.

-THEY MOAN

-Yes!

THEY LAUGH

Look at how pleased...

Look at how pleased those girls are.

Look at the pleasure that we give out on this!

Can we have a re-count?

Yes. Minus £53. It's bad luck, really,

because you started off with a profit of £17.

It all looked very pretty. And you also got a profit on the next item,

-the hip flask, and then it went downhill, right?

-Yeah.

-SHE GASPS

-Hey, now...

We don't point fingers, all right? This is a team effort.

-Bad luck. You had a good time?

-A fantastic time.

-Will you be able to live this down?

-No.

-Can't go home.

In which case, I shall turn to the girls, who are looking very gleeful.

-Oh, yes.

-And quite rightly so. They too made a profit of £17

on the Murano glass vase. You managed to contain your losses

at £13. You then went with the bonus buy,

which increased your losses to £15.

So the scores are... minus £13 versus minus £53,

and I vote that the girls definitely are the winners today.

Well done, girls!

-Have you had a great show?

-Excellent.

-Brilliant.

-Thank you.

Just don't push any of these boys out of an aeroplane

without a parachute. Join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

Yes!

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