Newark 31 Bargain Hunt

-For the Red team today, it's Brian and Sandy.

-Hello, Tim.

-And for the Blue team, it's Judy and Dudley.

-Hello, Tim.

So it's married couples versus married couples, right?

No, Tim!

No? Oh!

It's wives versus husbands!

Let's go Bargain Hunting or, rather, let battle commence!

We're at the Newark and Nottingham Showground

where we're about to have a right old domestic!

With the wives today is Paul Laidlaw.

Do you think the boys would lend us some of their 300?

And looking after the men, it's Mr Jeremy Lamond.

-The wives is fine. We've got to beat the wives!

-We've got to beat them.

Both teams have just one hour and £300 to find three objects

that will hopefully make a profit at auction.

50, 50 bid. How does 82 sound?

-And there they all are! Hello, everyone.

-Hello, Tim.

Now, Judy, how did this all come about, darling?

Well, I've been wanting to go on the programme for a long time.

Kept talking about it, but did nothing about it,

but my friend here, she applied last year and it's thanks to her we're here today.

-So you're responsible, Sandy?

-I believe so, yeah.

Now, you've got a particular advantage, I believe?

-Yes, we used to have a small junk... antiques business.

-Oh!

Did the word junk come in there?

Well, sort of.

Yeah, we used to buy and sell a little bit from the auctions, and sell at car boots...

Did you ever find anything spectacular?

-Certainly did. A couple of Clarice Cliffs.

-Did you? So this is your little partnership?

-It was, yes.

-And did you return and show off your treasures to your husbands?

-They just weren't interested.

-They weren't... Good!

-As usual!

And do you have any collections, Judy?

Yes, I used to collect teacups and saucers, but I now feel I've got enough,

-so I've stopped now.

-What, any old teacup and saucer?

Yes, anything that was pretty. It didn't have to be a name, as long as I liked it.

Now, Sandy, I know you're apt to play practical jokes on your friend Judy.

What sort of things do you do?

I think the best one was the rotten egg under the bed,

which I put there and wondered how long it would take her to find it.

And it was about three weeks before she found it,

but she came to me and said, "I'm very worried about Dudley.

"He's doing strange things and putting rotten eggs under the bed!"

-No!

-She thought he'd lost the plot completely.

-That's pretty bad, isn't it, Dudley?

-I get all the blame.

-You get all the blame for everything!

How do you think you'll get on against your husbands?

-Beat them easily, won't we?

-Piece of cake.

-Really?

-We know what we're doing.

-We've heard that brave talk before!

-I know.

-Now, boys, are you up for this challenge?

-We certainly are, Tim, yes.

-Yeah.

What do you think you're going to get up to?

Look for something profitable,

it doesn't matter whether we like it or not,

as long as it returns a profit and we can show who the bosses are!

-Do you know anything about antiques at all?

-Not at all.

-Well, you'll do well on Bargain Hunt!

We think so. No, perfect.

You two became friends because of your wives?

-Yes, we were thrown into it.

-Your wives met after you'd obviously married,

they became quite close and you were just dragged along.

We sort of had to start talking to each other, and we didn't have a lot of choice, really.

-And has that been a pain?

-No, absolutely not!

-You get on well. Now, Dudley,

-apart from being a model husband, I know that you're also a model railway enthusiast.

-That's correct.

I build my own layouts, keep the grandchildren happy when they come down,

-let them get it out and play with it.

-You don't have it permanently set up in your roof?

-Not any more. I used to, but I haven't got the room now.

-Now, Brian,

your hobby is dressing up in women's clothing.

Not exactly a hobby, but when forced into it by my wife,

because she organises a bizarre thing for our local Wobaston's Got Talent...

-She makes you get into her clothing?

-No, she makes them specially for me.

-Does she?

-Absolutely.

-Lovely!

-Nice little tutu.

-That's your role, is it, to go around advertising the fair?

-It was, yes. Four of us went on stage and did the dance of the swans from Swan Lake...

-What, dying swans?

We were dying, I think!

So the dance of the dying swans and then you died?

-We did.

-You never did it again?

-Not at all.

-Well, there you go.

-Don't plan to, anyway.

-No.

-Unless the arm gets twisted a lot.

-Are you going to be able to beat your wives today?

-Of course!

-Ah!

-We have a very strong plan, Tim.

-Yes.

-Buy quickly and go to the beer tent.

-Fuelled by alcohol!

-Absolutely!

-Well, anyway, you know the money moment?

Well, this is it. Here's your £300. £300 a team. You know the rules.

Your experts await, and off you go, and very, very good luck!

I think I should retrain as a divorce lawyer!

-You versus the husbands?

-That's right.

-My word!

-Well, at the risk of aggro after the event, are we going to trounce them?

-Definitely!

-Trounce them.

-Do it!

So what are going to do to beat the ladies?

-The wives is fine. We've got to beat the wives!

-We've got to beat them.

-Something small and valuable.

-Right, let's go in here. Let's head inside.

Let the shopping begin!

-What appeals to you personally?

-Sadly, so much!

-Find anything interesting?

-Plastic dog, I don't think we'll go for that.

-OK.

-Morning to you all.

-Good morning.

-Are you enjoying it?

-So far.

Are you sure about that?

-Onwards?

-Yes.

-Thanks.

-Have a good day now.

-Thank you.

-You can take the dog with you.

He doesn't look too thrilled by that idea!

Looks like Brian and Dudley have spotted something to get one over on their loved ones.

What about that? It's in pretty good shape.

-It's a nice Berlin plate.

-Berlin?

-That sceptre is for Berlin.

-OK.

So...it's not a terribly old one,

it's early 20th century, but it's a nice, hand-painted plate.

What sort of auction price would you put on that?

Well, I think you could well get 80-120. It's on the edge of a profit.

-It's a little bit rubbed there. How would that affect its...?

-I quite like the look of it, actually.

-Do you like that?

-Yeah. Do you, Dudley?

-Yes, it's different.

-It's our first one.

-It's in good condition, isn't it?

-So, how much...?

-Well, it's 90...we'll say 90 on it.

-Excuse me...

-125 on the back.

-What's the best you could do on that?

-That is the best.

-What, 90?

-Yeah.

Only five minutes in and they look like they're going to get their first item.

-Shall we just...?

-Let's go for that, then.

-Yeah.

-We'll go for it.

-OK...

-OK.

-Please.

The chaps seem in a rush to buy something. Why could that be?

Well, the strategy is to buy three items within ten minutes and head to the beer tent.

-So we've got one within five, so it's looking good at the moment. OK, Brian?

-Absolutely.

-Let's go and do it.

-Let's beat those wives.

-This chap here has got some silver but he's just unpacking.

-Yeah.

-Now...

what do you think of that there, an epergne?

-I like it.

-Table centrepiece, very flamboyant. Now, we know that's not silver...

-because it isn't sitting on the deck if it's £1,200 worth of silver, is it?

-No.

And we couldn't afford it anyway, but as a piece of plate in a market that's flat for plate,

-that's flamboyant, that's stand-out. What's your reaction to that?

-Er...

I like the idea because I like epergnes,

but I did come here thinking I only really want to look at silver, and not at plate.

But I can understand what you're saying. We couldn't afford that in silver and it is a striking piece.

-It is, isn't it?

-Nice shape, nice style.

What's it worth at auction?

Two people fancy it, it could be worth £80-120 on a good day, on a good day!

-On a bad day, it'd be cheap at 40... £50-80?

-Hmm.

-Nice thing, that.

Excuse me, sir, what's the ticket on your epergne?

-Where'd you want to be with it? It's £90, that's it.

-No, sorry, too much.

-Free caddy spoon goes with it.

-A silver one?

-No.

-£40.

Nice try, wrong guy, goodbye.

-Is that your best, then?

-Can't take less than £80 for it.

-No...you could budge a wee bit.

-75, done deal.

-And a free caddy spoon. You'll get a tenner for that.

-Not for a silver-plated caddy spoon!

-Scissors.

-A cuddly toy!

-Yeah!

-£50.

-Can't do it.

-50's no good, then?

-I need to get something out of it. Come on, meet me.

-Spin a coin.

-No, no...

-What do you want it to be?

-I want it to be £50!

It might do 50-80 at auction.

-60.

-No, I can't do it, man.

-And you think I'm being gratuitous.

-No, I don't.

-50 cash now!

Don't tempt me with the cash!

Well, it is cash!

-We accept any kind of money apart from matrimony! Take it, £50, come on!

-You've got the deal!

-I like it.

-I've got to open up.

-You've spent some money!

- Come on, where's the readies? - Thank you very much.

Wow! That was some great haggling! One item down! I hope they treat you better at home, chaps!

So our ten-minute strategy of getting all the items in ten minutes,

we've passed that time barrier, so we've got to get two items in 50 minutes.

-Well, make it 20 minutes and then go to the beer tent!

-OK.

So long as they don't run out of beer!

That's one pint less already, gentlemen.

Over to you now. Show me what we're buying next!

If you buy those, you've got to budget. You see the way the psychology's working?

-Actually they're only £90.

-Yeah, look. Condition is all.

-Yeah.

-Found something, have you?

-Yeah, it's quite nice.

What about this, chaps? It's a boat condiment and I think that's more in our price range.

Seem to see a lot of them around at the auctions.

-How much is that?

-25.

Well, if you lose on it, you're not going to lose much, are you?

What is it, chromium?

It looks like it's got its original liner.

A liner in a liner!

-You're wasted on this.

-Yeah, you're doing the wrong thing.

-It's different, isn't it?

-What's your best offer on this one?

-Best on that would be 15.

-15.

-Well...

-Make it number 2.

-It's a bit of fun. Number 2?

-Thank you very much.

-You'll go with that, will you?

-Yes.

-OK.

Another one down! These Blues really are in a rush to get to that beer tent!

Whilst they look for their last item, come and check out this curiosity I've found.

You normally expect to find in this sort of fair, a lot of rural, rather rustic objects,

but I have to say, at first glance, this object is a bit of a puzzle.

And from a distance, I saw it as a gadget

that in the old days would have been used as a lavatory seat.

If you go down to examine it, though, it is a rather beautiful construction.

This top section looks just like the front of some wainscot panelling

or even the top of a coffer.

But what a coffer doesn't have

is this curious device that slides up and down this groove.

If I turn it on its side it gets even more intriguing,

because underneath are some hand-wrought pieces of iron that the local blacksmith would have made

that secure the two halves of the hole,

enabling the two parts to come apart like that.

What is this cunning device?

It's actually called a baby walker.

In the 17th and 18th centuries,

you certainly had no baby-care shop to go and buy your infant equipment from.

The local cabinetmaker or joiner simply made up something that was appropriate.

The two halves underneath would grip the child like that,

and the infant would be able to totter along for a short distance that way

and totter along for a short distance that way.

What's the dealer asking for it?

He wants £230.

What do I think he might get for it in a specialist sale?

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't bring perhaps 600-800.

What do you think about that, baby?

Well, I don't think our teams need much help to walk, but maybe some guidance on antiques would be good.

-It's a pepperette.

-What's it made of?

-It's a base metal alloy, isn't it?

Ceramic at the bottom. Silver marks. That's silver that he's holding, English silver.

What a strange beast! It might be more money that you're expecting.

570. THEY LAUGH

Do you think the boys would lend us some of their 300?

I very much doubt that, ladies! They want to win as much as you.

-What is it, an ostrich leg or something?

-That's what it is.

Have you not got one of those? I thought everyone had one of those.

It looks like it is a bronze one. It's very heavily cast.

And you've got... It's more of a mammoth, really, isn't it?

-Because it's a shaggy elephant?

-I think so, yeah.

-And the French did animals.

-You think it might be French, then?

Well, it could be a French one, and the Japanese did them,

but I think we're looking at a mammoth here, aren't we?

It certainly is a mammoth weight, isn't it?

-No marks.

-No marks, nothing at all.

-Manufacturer?

-No, nothing.

The front legs look like they're backwards, don't they?

-Do you like it?

-Yeah, I think we should have a go at this.

It's 85 on the ticket.

What's you best price on this, please?

On that one. We could go to 75 on that one.

-75? Do you like it, Dudley?

-I like it. Would you go to 69, so we just get under 70?

-Yeah, yeah, I think so. We can do that.

-69?

-You happy with that?

-I think so.

-We'll go ahead. Thank you very much.

-Great, thank you.

-Thank you.

15 minutes over their personal schedule, but still done in double-quick time!

That's one of the fastest buying trips I've ever been on. 25 minutes for three objects.

-Great! Off to the beer tent.

-We've got 35 minutes.

-Which way?

-Down that way, I think.

So while the husbands are going to put their feet up with a pint,

the wives still need two objects.

-We're going to run out of time.

-Yes, you are, girls.

There must be something here for you.

A manicure set do anything for you, ladies? That's silver, silver, silver, and the handles are silver.

When you look at it, it's a bit rubbed.

The tool element, the working element cannot be of silver, because it's not strong enough.

So it's plated steel and it oxidises, it rusts, OK?

Now, if it's unsightly, it's a problem, because these have to look smart,

but to be honest with you I would forgive what I see there, that's of no tremendous consequence.

And you've got a full set of English marks there. That's pretty elegant. Is it all there? That's the...

-Yeah.

-Pieces go missing. What does the case look like? Have we seen the lid?

It's just slightly...but you're going to get that at that age, aren't you?

Yeah...I'll tell you this much... they're all fantastic sellers,

but they never seem to make the money the public would expect them to.

-75.

-It's not dear, but it's not a trade price either.

-What do you think that would get at auction?

-I think you'd need to be buying it at £40-50,

-and you should be in safe water.

-Right.

-What's the trade on that?

-£65 for cash.

How do you feel about these numbers?

-You liked that? That's fair enough?

-I wouldn't want to pay more than 50 after what you said.

-50's a no-taker, then?

-No, sir.

-The dirt, we need to get it cleaned.

-£65.

-We've got to get it cleaned, 60?

-If you think 60...

-60 will do me. >

-You'll not lose much, you'll not make much,

-you're on the money.

-What do you think, Sandy?

-I would go for it at 60.

-Yeah.

-OK, then.

-Yeah.

-Thanks very much.

-It's a deal.

Two items down but still one to go.

-We have done silver, in a sense, twice...

-Yeah.

-Which is fair enough, cos we think we got decent things,

but, different medium...is that jug telling you anything at this stage?

-It's telling me it's Charlotte Rhead.

-Excellent!

-Is it?

-Excellent.

I like the form. Do we want to pick this up, because I can see the price tag at 65,

-which sounds not a million miles from reality. Shall we, yes, no, before we go?

-Yes.

If it's delicate, don't let her touch it.

Well, look, is there a problem? It's ringing quite true.

Tube-line decoration.

The forms is...I actually like it, it's not as bland

as Charlotte Rhead ware that is touted... Looking for the marks.

Look at what we've got here!

We've got a plethora.

-Lovely, lovely signature there.

-Oh, OK.

Crown Ducal, the manufacturer,

but I don't mind telling you I'm perplexed by and can't explain

"Abbotsfield School Pupils July 1941".

It means nothing to me, I'm prepared to admit that.

-Do you like?

-Well, the fact it's Charlotte Rhead,

it's got a name to it, and it's different to the stuff we've already bought.

-Can you help us a bit?

-I could help you a bit with the price of £50.

Would you let us have it for 48, seeing as we bought the manicure set?

Those cheeky girls are at it again!

Yes, madam, as you've not chipped it too much, I can let it go for 48.

-Give her time!

-Well, we did it. Thanks very much. That's not a bad pot, that!

There it is. Both teams finished. So let's remember what the wifey team bought.

First up was that rather showy silver-plated piece.

A vanity set was...

And soon after, with minutes to go, they got a Charlotte Rhead pot...

-That was excellent, Paul.

-I'm glad, I think you did well.

These look like contented customers, I must say!

-Are you having a good time?

-We are. Excellent. It's been a lovely day.

-And that shopping experience was all right?

-It was, fine, yes.

-Wasn't too difficult, was it?

-No.

-With our expert... with our expert's help.

-And you're going to completely mash those old men of yours?

-Too true!

-How much did you spend all round?

-158.

-158? That's very good.

-So I want £142, please.

-Right.

£142. I'll trust you with all that. Millions wouldn't!

-Hand it over. There you go. Well, that's a tidy sum.

-Excellent.

We're riveted to see what you come up with next. Good luck with that.

Meanwhile we're going to find out how the Blue team got on, shall we?

Quick off the mark, they got a decorative Berlin plate.

The naval condiment was second on their list.

And not far behind, with loads of minutes to spare,

they hope to make a profit on their bonze elephant...

if the wives don't trump them!

You're too quick, you lot, I can tell you that! How many minutes did you finish in?

-25, 26.

-25.

-The first one was in 2 minutes, was it?

-35 minutes' drinking, it went very well.

-Yeah, a good afternoon.

-Speedy Gonzales, eh?

-So you've spent £174?

-That's right.

-So who's got the 126?

-That's me.

-That's Dudley.

-£126. There we go. Lovely, Dudley! Which is your favourite piece?

-I'd have to say the cruise liner.

-That's your favourite piece?

-What about you?

-I like the plate.

-You like that, Brian?

-Which is going to bring the biggest profit?

-The cruise liner.

-I think it might be the bronze elephant...

-or mammoth, as you call it.

-Coming up with a googly there, Brian.

There we go, look. That's a tidy sum. Lovely, thank you very much.

Meanwhile we're heading off to Sulgrave Manor.

This house in Northamptonshire is the ancestral home of George Washington,

first-ever President of the United States.

George never lived here, he was born in Virginia.

But his ancestors lived here for generations.

In the early part of the 20th century, the house needed restoring

to its former glory.

But there's one room that following the restoration here in the 1920s

that needed a bit of good fortune, and it was this...the kitchen.

By pure coincidence, a house 80 miles away from this

was scrapping its entire assemblage of kitchen cooking facilities

which dated back to the Tudor and later periods,

and they were removed and brought the 80 miles and fitted here at Sulgrave.

The central part here, which is the hearth oven,

is made up of a solid metal plate here in the middle.

Underneath is an iron door, and you could, in the hearth oven,

put your dishes underneath the fire.

Or you could clear the ash from the logs above that plate

and insert it through that trapdoor underneath the hearth oven,

giving you two ways of cooking in the hearth oven from above or below.

On the left-hand side is a rather nice curved-back niche, and fitted into the bottom

of that niche is a little charcoal burner.

On the far side here, we've got the traditional bread oven.

Having proved your dough, insert it on these peels,

remove the peel and then leave the bread to bake.

As far as cooking techniques are concerned, this is fitted with the most magnificent 6-foot-long,

cast-iron pot crane,

effectively a hinged bar that enables you to hang on the bar, for example, a kettle,

for your daily water boiling. Remember, with no electric immersion heater,

if you want any hot water at all in the house, you have to boil it in a device like that.

But I guess one of the most interesting mechanical devices has to be the spit itself.

Your dead half a pig, prepared for roasting,

would have this iron bar inserted through it,

and it would be set up on these andirons.

The spit bar and andirons are arranged especially

so that they connect with this piece of rope.

The piece of rope is connected to an engine called a spit jack.

If I wind this handle, say, three times, that raises the brass gravity weight,

and then the governor, the wheel on the top, starts to revolve.

And that controls the rate at which the cord runs through the spit itself,

and of course the rate at which the pig would revolve.

Now, this would have been a considerable labour-saving device

for your 17th-century cook.

HE SNIFFS

Nice smell!

Why don't we have a look at something that I prepared earlier?

Remove the peel from the bread oven to reveal a lovely loaf.

Of course the big question today is are our teams going to make any bread...over at the auction?

Well, it's a treat to be in Grantham again at Golding Young & Thomas Mawer's saleroom.

-I'm with Colin Young, our host and auctioneer.

-Pleasure to have you back, Tim.

Now, Sandy and Judy have gone with the epergne.

I was taught that these bits of silver-plated stuff weren't selling at all well.

They're not, but that's only been in comparison to how well they used to sell.

-A big, bold, impressive piece like that may well command £40-60.

-Well, that's a relief.

They paid 50, that's in the middle of your estimate, that's fair enough.

I had a horrible feeling you were going to say it's worth £10-20.

But that's fair enough. You're being very bullish, Colin, that's great.

Next, you're going to have to be equally bullish with somebody else's manicure set.

It's like somebody else's dressing-table brush set.

Do you want to brush your hair using brushes that somebody else has had their Brylcreem through?

Similarly with the verruca arrangement with these cutting, splitting tools.

I mean, I just get a bad feeling about this, Colin.

I didn't have a bad feeling until you described it as such!

-Oh!

-I was on a maybe 30-50, 40-60 range for that.

-Oh, really?

Yeah, I was, but I must admit now I'm half-tempted to halve it!

Well, you can't change your mind. It's in the catalogue. 40-60 is your estimate.

-Yes.

-Well, they paid £60.

-Now, the Charlotte Rhead mug. There's a lot of this about, isn't there?

-There is a lot.

And it hit the market about five years ago and just made some massive amounts of money,

but now it's back to good old ranges of sort of 40-60 for pieces like that.

Yes, it's the dull colouring, I think. That's what gets me.

-It's always so boring.

-Well, it is for the mass of it,

but once you get on to the big charges with the bright colours in it,

they can still command high prices.

-Our team paid £48.

-OK.

-In my view, they're got three pretty average objects

and they're going to need their bonus buy, so lets go and have a look at it.

Now, Sandy and Judy, this is exciting! What has Paul Laidlaw spent your £142 on?

-Paul?

-Behold!

-Oh! A box.

-It is a box.

-Any ideas what that could be?

-It's a crystal wireless.

Most excellent. That's exactly what it is and a crystal receiver is a wireless receiver.

This is how most people listened to the radio in the early years,

and this dates to the mid-1920s.

It is the British Thomson-Houston bijoux crystal receiver of about 1925. How appropriate...

BBC...licence was paid on the technology, on the set.

I adore these. They are not furnishing pieces. You're not buying this to stick it on the sideboard.

This is for the hardcore collector. They are out there.

Online auctions, you'll pay £170 for that.

-Get away! Will you, really?

-Seriously, these are coveted pieces.

-In the real world, I think it wants to be worth 50-100 any day of the week...

-Yeah.

You had £142, right?

-I did.

-What did you pay?

-I spent £50 on that.

-OK.

-I think that should be good to go.

But we are in the hands of a good auction firm who has marketed this far and wide,

exploiting the internet, I daresay. So the world knows about this.

It will make a profit, unless we are extremely unlucky!

-Touch wood!

-OK, girls, you don't decide right now, you decide after the sale of your first three items.

But for the viewers at home let's find out what the auctioneer makes of Paul's crystal set.

-OK, Colin, get tuned into this.

-Very easily. Very popular things when it comes to sales.

Quite a strong collectors' market for this type of early radio.

And obviously you've got military interest in them as well, and I think this will do well in the sale.

I'm glad to hear you're so confident. I don't have the faintest idea. What's it worth?

I think that should make £60-80.

Well, Paul Laidlaw is a cunning Scottish monkey, I have to say!

It's his bonus buy. If you and he can't get this thing whooped up and into a profit, I'd be surprised.

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

Their first item in the Berlin porcelain reticulated plate,

-which I suppose is out of a great big fruit or dessert service, isn't it?

-Absolutely.

These do come on the market every now and again. I've managed to do a little bit of research,

and there were 15 of these plates from a service that were sold at auction fairly recently,

and all 15 made £130.

-Gosh, that's not much each, then, is it? And we've only got a single one.

-Yeah.

-It's got to be at least £30-50 as a single, I would say.

-How much?

-£30-50.

-£90 paid! That's just for it on its jacksie!

-Mmm.

-Oh, dear, oh, dear!

This is not a good start.

How are you on art deco chromium-plated cruets?

-Pretty good. We sell plenty of them.

-Well, there are quite a few around, aren't there?

-There's a lot of reproductions around as well.

-What's that one, though?

I think that's all right. It's got the registration mark on the bottom.

There's a level of, I hate to say it, but rusting around it which does show it's got some age about it...

-Which is nice.

-Yeah, it is.

-OK, how much is it worth?

-Well, I would have thought on that you're looking at £10-30.

-That's fine.

£15 paid, so we're slap in the middle.

-What about Nellie elephant here?

-Mmm.

-Is she any good?

-She's OK, but not good.

When I first saw it, I thought it was probably a little bit more exciting,

I was hoping it was going to be Japanese, maybe late-19th early-20th century, possibly marked,

-and worth quite a few hundred pounds.

-Not very well cast, is it?

-It's not quite there, it just misses the mark, doesn't it?

-She's not packing much of a trunk!

-What's she worth?

-Well, we think £50-80 is going to be her mark.

£69 paid, which is plenty of money, isn't it?

Which means I think this team is going to be in trouble,

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

Now, Brian and Dudley, you're determined to beat your wives into submission.

-We certainly are.

-And this is the moment that you're going to find out

-what Jeremy has spent your £126 leftover lolly on. So, J...

-Well, Tim,

I thought I want to buy something that reminds these two gentlemen

of the big competition with their wives,

so I bought... a marriage cup and saucer.

-OK.

-This is French.

-A marriage cup and saucer?

-Yeah.

What it is is a French faience which is a tin-glazed earthenware cup

which was given on the moment of marriage in the ceremony,

and it just a very quaint little thing.

And these usually stayed in the family, they're not usually around.

-So why would it be for sale?

-Well, obviously there's been a divorce!

-It's quite chipped, so presumably they...

-And you paid?

-45.

-OK, right, yes.

I think we could double up on that if it's a good day and the internet sees it.

-Well, I think we need a good profit from you after some of the things we bought.

-You bought!

-Thank you!

No need to be snarky, boys!

Anyway, hang on to your expert's advice, because now, for you viewers at home,

what the auctioneer thinks about Jeremy's cup and saucer.

There we go. One lump or two?

-Definitely two lumps in this case, but very pretty lumps, I would say.

-Aren't they nice?

-A bit of faience, isn't it?

-Yes, it is, French faience.

The factory is Mussier,

and the value on something like this, well, it's going to be a little bit of guesswork, to be honest,

because so little of it comes on the market.

Comparables... going to struggle to find them.

So I suppose this is good old-fashioned auctioneering estimation

of plucking a figure from midair.

Which is the particular pluck you have in mind?

-Well, I'm going to go for 100-150.

-That's just marvellous.

£45 paid by Jeremy.

I mean, if your numbers, plucked from the air, are true he's going to double his money on this,

if the team decide to go with it. All will be revealed in a moment.

-So, Sandy and Judy, how are you feeling?

-Good.

-Excited.

-Feeling strong?

-Oh, very.

-Are you going to biff your old men?

-Yeah.

-Certainly are!

-I wouldn't like to be your husbands today, I tell you! I'd be quaking.

We shall see, won't we? All this brave talk.

First up is the epergne and here it comes.

Lot number 134 is the Edwardian silver-plated trumpet epergne there.

£50 anybody? 30 will do, then, 30?

Silence!

Uh-oh!

30 at the back, that's more like it. Thank you. 35?

40. 45 now. 50. 50 bid.

55 now. 55. 60. 65. 70.

-75?

-Well done.

£70 bid. £70 bid two now.

All done and finished, standing bid at the back of the room.

Selling all done...72! Lady's back in at 72.

75, sir? Have another one.

75 bid? No. 72, then. We're selling at £72.

Well done, Paul Laidlaw. Now the manicure set.

135 is the 20th-century silver manicure set.

Nicely fitted case. Who's going to start me at £50 for it?

40 to go. 40 with you, at 40. 40 bid. 45? 45.

50 at the back of the room. 55. 60. 65. 70.

-There you are, you're in profit.

-72 if it's going to help you.

-What do I know?

-Someone does need their feet doing after all.

-70 bid.

72 do I see? Standing bid at 70.

£70. Well done, girls. Now, can you get a profit on all three items?

Lot number 136 is a Charlotte Rhead

for Crown Ducal pottery jug this time.

Start at 80.

60 to go, then. 50?

Put me straight in at 30, then. £30 for the jug.

£30. 20?

-£10, then?

-Not even in this market.

-£10 bid.

Everyone now! 12. 15.

18 bid now. 18.

20 now. 22 bid surely?

-It shouldn't be this hard!

-25 now?

22. 25 on the internet.

28 now, 28 if you like.

- Go on, then. - 28.

It's in the second row, then. 30 is the last call.

All the net buyers are out. At £28 we go this time, £28!

Sadly that is minus 20, so you are plus 12.

Which is great, which is a profit, which is folding money to take home.

-You actually could whap the boys with a £12 profit.

-We certainly could.

-So what will you do

-about the bonus buy, risk it?

-Definitely.

-You sure?

-Yes.

-Definitely?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-I mean, you've got £12 in your pocket.

We're not going to argue.

No?

"We want some more profit!" says Judy. Fine.

I'm not going to argue with that. We're going with the bonus buy. Here comes the crystal set.

Lot number 140. Early 20th century British Thomson-Houston

wire crystal receiver set, mahogany case receiver set. Start me at £100.

100. 80 to go then, surely? 80. 50 if we must.

£50? I'll take 30 to go. 30 bid.

Do I see 35?

Well, we've got 35, we're up to 50 on the net.

I know you're going to go again. 55. 60 surely?

55 in the room.

Well done, Laidlaw.

-My 75's in the room, my 80's on the net.

-Cunning monkey!

85 now.

You seem to have tuned out, sir. How does 82 sound?

82 sounded appealing. 85 now surely? 85. At 85.

88? We seem to have some crossed wires now, sir.

You sure you're not going to go again?

At 85 on the internet. Net buyer has it this time, selling at £85.

Well done, Paul. That is perfect.

Yes, you had faith.

You were quite right. You are now plus 47.

-£47...is folding money.

-Well done.

-Fabulous.

-That's really super.

-Don't talk to your husbands, all right?

-No, we don't anyway!

Why break the habit of a lifetime?

-So, Brian and Dudley, have you been talking to your wives?

-No.

-No.

-You never normally talk to them much.

-It's been wonderful, a few hours' peace and quiet!

-You'll suffer for that!

-We will suffer anyway.

-There will be pillow talk, I tell you!

Anyway, first up, boys, is the Berlin plate and here it comes.

Lot 155 is the late-19th century Berlin porcelain plate.

Start me at £50. 30 then.

20 if we have to.

20 bid. 22 bid. 25.

28 bid. 30? £30 bid?

28. 30 anywhere else? 30's on the internet.

-Keep going.

-32 now, surely?

All done and finished at the back of the room. Going at £32.

Your bid, sir.

That's bad luck. Next up is the condiment.

Dudley...

156 is the art deco chromium-plate condiment set this time.

Good-looking thing there. Start me at £20 to get on. 20? 10 to go, then.

10 bid. 12 anywhere else now?

at 12. 15 bid. 18 bid.

We're in profit.

Commission bidder has it. 22 from either of you? 22 there.

25 bid. 28? 25 second row.

28 now do I see?

At 25. Second row has it. You're out on the net again. £25.

Well done. That's very solid. You are minus 48 overall, though.

It all hangs on the heffalump!

There we go. 157 is an interesting early-20th century

cast-bronze figure of an elephant.

Who's going to start me at £100 for it? £100? 80? 50?

30 if you have to. Thank you. 35. 40.

45. 50 bid. 55. 60. 65.

Come on.

Lady's bid at 65. 70 surely?

-At 65 bid. And selling at £65.

-Bad luck.

That's another £4 down the trunk!

So that means this is minus 52 smackers.

Minus 52, boys, not looking so pretty. Are we going down the marriage cup route

or are we just going to ring-fence 52?

-No, we're going for the cup.

-Definitely.

-Yes.

-We have confidence.

-Yeah?

-Who dares wins!

-We've successfully lost.

-You've got to make up for our loss.

-So that's it?

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

Lot number 161

is a rare Mussier French faience marriage cup and saucer there.

Very sweet little lot. Who's going to start me at £100?

£100, anybody? 100.

- 50. - Come on! - 30.

£30 anybody?

-Gone very quiet.

-It has gone very quiet.

£20! Blank faces everywhere.

20. Your bid, sir.

-This is not looking pretty, you know.

-No, it isn't.

I'll take 22.

That's a heavy loss.

20 bid I've got. 22 bid. 25 bid.

28 now. 28 bid. This is hard work.

30 now. We're up to 32 on the internet.

32 bid. 35 surely?

At £32 for the marriage cup and saucer, at 32.

The whole world's seen it, the whole world decides.

We're selling then on the net at £32.

So minus 65 is the overall score.

The big thing is don't tell the missus, neither of them!

Well, teams, is it a question of happy families today?

Of course!

We'll see.

You are so needle matched you two and fiercely competitive!

You were determined you were going to beat the girls and vice versa.

How you can be happily married couples, I don't know!

-I felt the seething between you.

-It's friendly competition.

-Friendly competition!

-Anyway, any communication between you?

-No!

None at all. Well, I'm glad to hear that.

Because the runners-up today are... the Blues.

It's gone to plan, Brian. We won. Well done.

Well, Dudley, you predicted that things would go really badly today for you and you're absolutely right!

-We've won by losing.

-By losing £65.

-But we hope you've had a nice time.

-We have.

Believe it or not, your girls are going to go home with £47.

They are going home with folding money, which is really good, isn't it? And did you enjoy it?

-Very much.

-It's been a lovely experience, I hope.

-Good fun.

Good fun. And you will be kind and gentle to your husbands on the way home, won't you?

You won't just be beastly to them?

I expect we will be.

-Anyway, join us soon for some more Bargain Hunting, yes?

-Yes!

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