Portobello/Alexandra Palace 26 Bargain Hunt

Hello. A familiar blue door next door to a Notting Hill bookshop?

And Portobello Road's just down the road?

I'd say, bin the books and let's go bargain hunting!

Hang on. Is that you, Julia?

If you go that way, you go to Paddington.

If you go that way, you're in Holland Park. But right here,

we're going to go bargain hunting in Portobello Road,

London's busiest market, where we hope our teams

are going to get their mitts on loads of antiques.

Coming up on today's show...

The Reds find themselves a drip. No, not JP.

That kind of drip. Oooh!

While the Blues turn on the charm.

How about ten? Ten and we'll love you forever.

Give me your best smile.

Is that 20 quid now?

So, let's meet the team.

Well, on the show today, we've got great mates.

For the Reds, it is Kathryn and Olivia.

And for the blues, it's Keith and Mark. Hello, everyone.

ALL: Hello.

Hello. Now, Kathryn, I don't suppose there's a moment in your life

when you can't remember being close to Oli, right?

No. I've known her since we were four years old and so,

yeah, we've been friends ever since.

We like drinking tea, watching Bargain Hunt.

So, yeah, we're pretty good friends.

Have a good old time of it.

You can't have been watching Bargain Hunt for 20 years,

cos I've only been doing it for nearly 10.

-Well, obviously only since you've been doing it.

-Yes, absolutely.

Otherwise, you watched Andy Pandy or the Flower Pot Men or

-something like that before that, yes?

-Yes.

-Quite right, too.

Now, Kathryn, you're a bit of an entrepreneur.

Well, I don't know about that,

but, yeah, I've got my own business online.

-Have you?

-Yep.

-What is the business, what do you do?

I sell vintage clothing and I customise vintage clothing.

And I also have my own range of clothing that I hand make.

-Do you really?

-Yeah.

-And is there a name that one can search for?

SHE WHINES

-What is that noise?

-I don't want to put a face to the brand

or it might ruin it. They might think I'm really cool, but I'm not.

Then they'll see me on here and be like...

It's a secret website somewhere near you.

I want to keep the mystery. It's just made by a girl.

Just made by a girl.

-If that's enough.

-It's not A girl, it is THE girl.

Now, Olivia, is some of this entrepreneurial spin going to

rub off on you when you finish?

I hope so, yes.

-What are you reading?

-It's graphic design.

I'm hoping to apply for some jobs in advertising agencies,

maybe as a creative director

in the future. That would be my dream job.

You've also got a taste for the extreme.

-Well, I have done one quite extreme thing.

-What's that?

That is a skydive in New Zealand over the Abel Tasman Park,

which was quite incredible.

Does that mean you have some thumping great Kiwi strapped

-to your back?

-Yeah. He was... He was pretty, uh...

-He was pretty all right.

-Was he?

-Yeah.

Do you think all this creativity is going to help you kids

-find a bargain today?

-Definitely.

-Yeah.

-We want to look for something unique,

individual and buy something a bit different.

-And you're going to spend the whole lot, right?

-We plan to, yeah.

Good for you. I like that kind of spirit.

Anyway, chaps, now, you have known each other

since birth, practically, too.

-That's right.

-How many years have you known Mark?

-23 years.

-Yeah. 23 years?

-That's right.

-That is nearly all your lifetime then.

It is, yeah. Keith was about the same height when I met him.

Hasn't grown since.

Don't be rude about your friend like that.

Now, Mark, what do you do in your day job?

I work as a marketing consultant for an advertising company.

-I say!

-I might have a word...

This is a bit of a linkage, isn't it?

We only want the best, so I'm not sure.

We'll have to see how she gets on first.

Are you trying to get on together here or not?

Now, that's interesting, isn't it?

So, what actually do you do in your job?

I go and see small, local companies, go and talk to them

-about their advertising.

-Stop giggling, Keith.

-He's your mate.

-Not anymore.

Put a marketing package together for them and consult them

on how best to advertise themselves in their local area.

-It says here, Keith, that you manage change.

-That's right.

So, I work for an online fashion retailer

and I manage technical change,

which is going to have an impact on our customer base.

It says here that your hobbies are more kind of masculine related.

Yeah, I like to collect cars, so, like model cars,

rare ones like a Jaguar E type,

BMW, Mercedes, Porsche... Those kind of cars.

Is that because you want those cars yourself?

-I think one day, yeah.

-But for the moment, you're going for the models.

-Exactly.

-He's quite small, so he can...

Will you stop rambling on about his size!

It's not going to last, this relationship.

I mean, they've known each other for 20 years,

but I can see it all breaking up any minute.

Right, the money moment, £300 apiece.

Here is your £300 coming up. Happy with that, girls?

Happy with that, boys?

You know the rules, your experts awaits and off you go!

And very, very, very good luck.

I've always been keen on a bit of marketing myself.

Fighting through the crowds on the world-famous Portobello Road,

for the Reds, we have Jonathan Pratt,

who never misses a thing.

Whilst for the Blues, Henry Meadows is looking for the money shot.

So, ladies, here we are, Portobello Road, very exciting place.

Indeed, very exciting.

What do you ladies want to buy today?

Well, we've had a little team talk, haven't we?

And we're thinking of getting something quite,

sort of, individual, unique.

What sort of items will you be looking for today?

-Anything unique that grabs our attention, I think.

-All right.

Well, sort of silver and ceramics and things like that?

Possibly some silver or some antique cars, model cars...

Oh, model cars. Oh, right, yeah!

There is so much choice at this place.

-Let's just start having a look and see what we can find.

-Let's go!

Let's get our skates on. Come on, we've got an hour..

Get shopping, teams.

-We are on the clock, though, yeah?

-OK.

Yes, the clock has started, Blues.

We don't mess about on this programme, you know.

What catches my eye are things like the silver scent bottles

and cigarette cases.

They have a certain weight in silver.

Things like amber beads are doing well. These are agates.

Little vesta cases, which are interesting shapes.

This is, like, for matches, to put little matches in.

We definitely want something different.

Let's wander on and look outside to get an idea what

these guys have got in their stock

-and then we'll come back and wander into one.

-OK, perfect.

Good plan, JP. It's like Aladdin's cave here.

But what are the Blues looking into?

-What have you found out, Keith?

-So, it's a mirror.

-Yep.

I don't think it is real silver, so it's on for £48.

OK. It depends whether you like losing or not, I don't know.

We definitely don't want to lose, so we'll call it a miss for now.

-Fair enough.

-Thanks for your opinion. What do you think, Mark?

I think it could use more depth to it. Quite basic. But, yeah...

-For now...

-Leave it?

-Yeah.

-OK. Thanks.

Be careful, chaps, you know a broken mirror is seven years' bad luck.

I mean, that at auction is worth 50, 70...

Oh, my God!

Oh, perhaps it's just JP that's bad luck.

Let's hope that this is not an omen for a serial of disasters.

-Well, it is a cornflake bowl.

-Right.

-Big breakfast.

That is a big breakfast, isn't it?

-What do you think to that?

-It looks very decorative, isn't it?

Is it Chinese or...?

Can you see those marks on the base, those raised marks?

They're what's known as stilt marks.

And whenever you see, sort of, erm, porcelain of this nature with

stilt marks, generally speaking, it originated from Japan.

-Right.

-Let's have a look at these panels.

Let's hold it very carefully.

-I do know a good restorer.

-We haven't bought it yet.

-No.

But can you see these sort of panels around here?

-This whole palette is known as the Arita palette.

-OK.

You know, because you've got all of these distinctive iron reds

and cobalt blues and gilding

and things like that. Probably made, sort of...

I don't know, 1890, 1900s, that sort of period.

And it was an export piece,

you know, for the grand houses, basically.

Let's have a look at how much it is.

150.

So it's £150.

-Yeah.

-What would that make, do you think?

I would...

If this was in my auction, I'd put this in at, sort of, 80 to 120.

-OK, so we could do with a better price.

-Yeah.

We have got to get it right...

-From our point of view, we've got to get it down considerably.

-OK.

-Do you fancy asking the stall holder?

-Yeah, definitely, so...

We see it is on for 150, we really like it.

We would like to make you an offer of £75.

What can you do there?

I'm going to be totally honest with you, normally I do 10%,

which would be 15 quid.

As it is yourselves, I'll do it for £110.

If you could get it under 100, you'd be doing us a massive favour,

we could get some money with it.

-It's huge, you don't want to take that home, do you?

-No.

£95 would be death on it.

-Should we take a bit of a gamble on that?

-Well, it's up to you.

I think it looks good. It's a decent size.

Based on that, I think we should go for it.

-Shake the man's hand.

-Yeah, let's do it.

-£95.

Well done, chaps, one down.

I think you've got a taste for this bargain-hunting malarkey.

But what about the Reds?

That's...that's... that's 18th-century Chinese,

late 18th-century Chinese. Little sauce tureen and cover.

Um...

You know, that's... You know, a useful thing, a decorative thing.

It's late 18th century.

-Can I just ask you a very quick question?

-Yeah.

-This little tureen cover, how much?

-That's £50.

-£50...

-But, as you know, it's 18th century.

Late 18th-century Chinese, yeah.

-I do like it.

-It's in good condition.

-It is in good condition.

Well, we're going to an auction house that has

a bit of Chinese there.

London is a good market for it, the Chinese are very hot.

Um... I say the Chinese are very hot, it sounds like some sort of comment

-about the Chinese. The market is very good at the moment.

-Yeah.

Always with these lug sort of handles, modelled

as sort of little beasties...

Variant on a willow-type pattern. I mean, I think that's...

Oh, there's a whopping great chunk on it. That's not good condition.

No.

I like the little animal heads, despite the damage.

There's a big chip on the side, though, down the side there.

It was like that when I got it, I promise you.

I hadn't seen that.

-It blends in so well.

-It does, absolutely.

There's a few little chips on the rim.

-Yeah, but those are just sort of...

-I mean...

Yeah, exactly. Would you take 25 for it?

-No.

-It's got a chip.

-I paid more than that.

-Oh, OK.

I'll take 40, but that would be it.

-£40, 40 quid...

-I'm not sure about the damage.

All right, let's move on then.

-We've got a little bit of security.

-Yeah.

Always good to feel secure, JP.

This is...a bit of a...

-a big kid's toy, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-What's your take to this?

A model Air France plane.

-Have you got one of those in your collection?

-I don't, no.

-It looks like it has been through a few crashes.

-Yeah.

Who was it made by?

-Dinky toys.

-There you go, Dinky toys.

-Date-wise, it suggests sort of 1950s.

-Really?

Maybe early '60s. Probably more '50s, looking at it.

With items like this, condition is the key, isn't it?

-And, as you say, this one looks as if it's...

-Well played with.

-Yeah.

I'm not sure whether that is going to be for us.

-No, I don't think that's going to fly at the auction.

-Now, I don't.

Oh, very droll, Henry.

Now, what are those Reds getting their teeth into?

There's this lovely pink biscuit barrel. And on top,

we've got the biscuit's label and a swing handle.

-It is silver-plate mounted.

-I love that.

-The key is...

the key is whether or not the pottery body is still in one piece.

-Yeah.

-So, should we dive in?

-Definitely.

-Do you mind if I just grab this?

-Yeah, I love that.

-And look, the finial, actually,

is a hand holding a cookie.

-Isn't that cool?

-That's really cool.

Um... It's got, again, another plated mark for...

I don't know, it might be James Dixon & Sons.

-And what sort of age is it?

-Late 19th century.

Transfer decorated, so simply produced,

but then with a nice metal mount.

-I quite like that, I think it is rather cool.

-I really like it.

-I especially like the handle.

-Yeah, me too.

And really different as well.

Yeah, and people will use it. But it's also...

I think the pink is kind of quite now, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-It is not in bad condition at all, really.

There's no chips or anything.

Ah, but there might be a few choccy chips in there, JP.

-OK. Do you want to ask the price?

-Sure.

-Sure.

-I'll give it to you for a second.

-Excuse me, how much is this one?

-65.

-OK. Would you take any lower?

-What's your best, best price you could do?

-It would be 55.

-So, yeah, 55 is the best price.

-£55.

I think at auction, you would say...

a standard price for these - 40 to 60, so we're in the middle there.

-Should we just go for it?

-I really like it.

If you put it down, it might disappear.

I like it a lot, I think we should go for it.

Let's just go for it.

Well done, Reds, but no time for tea and biscuits quite yet -

two more bargains to find.

So, while the teams keep on searching,

here's a little excitement for you.

I think we all like the idea of a cheap thrill, don't we?

But a cheap thrill in a brown bag?

Well, stand by.

Isn't that cute?

Well, I mean, it's seriously cute!

Sometimes called apprentice pieces -

little pieces of furniture made by apprentice craftspeople.

It's of serpentine outline, that's that wavy business

going across the front,

which makes it more difficult to make.

And then it has got this oddball boxed section stuck on the top,

which is really intriguing.

A very simple, crude, even, bent wire hasp

on the front opens up,

enabling you to hinge open that interior,

and that gives you a bit of a hint as to where this thing comes from.

What we have got is sprays of flowers here, look,

in dullish brown colours.

Once upon a time, overall it had a yellow varnish,

which has spotted and rubbed and gone away.

But overall, this slightly untidy painted effect is exactly

what people want to buy these days.

It comes, I reckon, from Scandinavia.

It comes maybe from Norway, but much more likely from Sweden.

Which goes, all in all, to make this

into an extremely interesting object.

I paid the man across the road £420 for this little box.

Am I completely mad?

Well, I am probably completely mad, but actually, I think,

as a rare Swedish miniature chest,

it's worth significantly more. How much more?

Well, I think in a suitable sale,

it could bring perhaps as much as £1,000 to £1,500.

But I shan't be selling it.

But our teams do need to find things to sell.

So we could go up here, if you don't find anything,

go back and buy the tureen if it is still there...

-Yeah.

-..with a bit of expert negotiating.

-And then maybe go inside.

-Yeah, definitely, that sounds good.

Tactics?

I think something small and that can generate, you know, a bit of profit.

-So, let's get another one under our belt now.

-OK.

We don't necessarily have to spend big,

and that takes the pressure off us for our third and final item.

OK. Let's get moving.

Good plan, Henry. Get on with it, boys.

Now, where are those Reds?

I particularly like that little chap there.

He's a gardener.

He's a Staffordshire figure, but he is a bit more of a novelty for that.

I think he is quite fun.

Although, the little girl has had a bit of a nightmare on her neck.

-Has that actually come totally apart?

-Yeah, the head's been off it.

So, better not lose your head, JP.

-I mean, I quite like that.

-I think it is grotesque.

Do you think it's grotesque?

But you like pink, she likes the grotesque.

Juxtaposition at its best, JP. Who can argue with that?

So, see anything here?

That box, yeah.

-That's nice, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Could you tell us a bit about that box, please?

Yeah, it is a lovely 19th-century Kashmirian trinket box,

so it's silver.

-Can we have a look at it?

-Of course you can.

Let's have a look.

-It's beautiful, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

It's a nice piece, isn't it?

How much is it on for?

-It is for £150.

-OK.

-Look inside, it is gilded as well.

You see that sort of gilt decoration?

-It's in very fine condition.

-Yes, it is.

We really like it, but we have a budget

-of 100 pounds, so...

-My very best price on it is 110.

-110.

-That's my very best.

I think that is higher than the rate we might get, so...quite risky.

I tell you what, because it is a one-off, my last price is 100,

and that's it.

-100.

-That's doable.

-That sounds great to me.

-OK, shake his hand.

-Cheers.

-Thank you.

That's how to do it, chaps.

Two in the bag, or should I say box.

Now, have those Reds made any decisions yet?

We haven't got much time left.

-I think we should go back to the little tureen.

-Yeah, I do.

Well, let's hope it is still there, girls.

-It's still here, that's really good.

-Let's just see what the guy says.

How much do you want to pay for it?

-I think we should get about 35, what do you say?

-Yeah.

-Would you take 35?

-It's awfully cheap. I mean, it's 300 years old.

I don't know, what about the damage?

It's got a little bit of damage.

38.

GIRLS: Ooooh...

You sure we can't just twist your arm a little bit more?

35 and call it a deal?

-I don't know about that.

-35?

Oh, all right.

Thank you, that's great, thanks so much.

-Cheers.

-One more thing and we've got 13 minutes left.

Oh, gosh, now that is quite tricky.

It's not too tricky, but knowing this is a busy road, let's go.

OK, yeah.

As JP starts to feel the pressure,

Henry seems as cool as a cucumber.

How about this stall?

See anything you like?

What have you got there then?

It is a copper ashtray.

Well, it's copper, that's for sure.

But I don't think this sort of fruit decoration around it

-is very smoking.

-I would use it as an ashtray.

But it's got sort of a beaten... Can you see that across there?

-It has got a sort of a beaten finish, hasn't it?

-Yeah.

This is what they call hammered or sort of planishing,

which was quite typical of the early 20th century,

notably in the Arts and Crafts period.

Is it for fruit, is it?

I think it is just a little decorative piece, but it is

quite nice cos you've got this sort of embossed sort of decoration

-around here.

-Would it have much age do you think?

I think it is probably about 1900.

-Really?

-I mean, it doesn't want to be a lot of money, really.

-No. We have had a couple big buys, so...

-Yeah.

I mean, you know...

-What sort of value...what sort of price?

-Well, I had 20 on it.

But for a special Bargain Hunt deal?

-For special Bargain Hunt deal, £12.

-How about ten?

Ten and we'll love you forever.

Give me your best smile.

-Fantastic.

-Is that 20 quid now?

30. No, no, you can have it for ten.

-OK, I think that's...

-Do like that for ten pounds?

-We've had a couple big items, so...

-No problem, should we go for it?

I think we should go for that. Brilliant.

I'll shake your hand at ten pounds. Thank you very much.

-Fantastic.

-Brilliant.

-Perfect.

Shall we go get a cup of tea?

-I think so. I think we've done well.

-Excellent.

-Let's go.

That's how to do it - cool, calm and collected. Well done, Blues.

But it is a different story for the Reds.

We've got about a minute left.

-Let's get the gardener.

-Run, run, run!

Never mind the damaged goods, off with your heads, Reds!

Could we...? How much is this one?

I did say 40, but then I said to the other lady I could do 35.

-35?

-35.

Don't look at me. Time is ticking away.

Yes, we'll take 35 for this as well.

-35.

-Yes. OK, thank you.

Time, ladies and gentlemen, please!

Let's see what the Red Team bought.

They gave £55 for the pink Staffordshire biscuit barrel.

Crumbs!

Then they found this small, 18th-century Chinese tureen

and cover, which cost them £35.

Finally, they dug out another £35 for this Staffordshire figure

of a gardener.

Now, Kathryn, tell me, please, which is your favourite piece?

I think it has to be the gardener.

-The ceramic gardener.

-Do you agree with that, Olivia?

I think Kathryn particularly had a soft spot for the gardener,

but I quite like the tureen dish.

-So that is your favourite, your personal favourite?

-Yeah.

-OK.

And is that going to bring the biggest profit?

I'm hoping so. It's got a few chips, got a few dents,

but overall, I think it's a nice little cheeky piece.

Now, rumour has it you spent an absolute fortune, right?

-How much did you spend?

-All of £125.

-What, on all three?

-Yeah, yeah.

We were going to go all out, but it didn't happen that way.

All right, fine. So, who's got this lovely £175?

-That would be in my pocket.

-In your pocket?

OK, fine, that's lovely. That is a load of cash, a good old wad.

-JP, what are you going to do?

-Probably avoid buying ceramics.

Probably a good start.

Yeah, well, you know, we've already got all this femininity

urging around, so are you going to go and buy something

butch and male then?

-Arg! Yeah.

-You are? OK.

-I don't know.

On that... on that rather aggressive note,

we will check out what the Blue Team bought.

They served up £95 on this Japanese porcelain charger.

This 19th-century silver-coloured metal trinket box

set them back £100.

And finally, ten pounds was paid for the 20th-century

Arts and Crafts-style copper dish.

-You had a good time then?

-Yeah, lots of fun.

Yeah. And you spent how much in total?

-£205 in total, so a couple of big buys in there.

-Lovely.

£95 of left over lolly, who's got that?

-I've got that.

-Yep. Now, Mark, which is your favourite piece?

I like the charger plate.

I think it is a nice decorative piece, hopefully it should do well.

OK. And you agree with that, Keith?

No, my favourite item is the silver box.

Is that going to bring the biggest profit?

-We'll see.

-Oh, he's enigmatic, isn't he?

What is your prediction, Mark, for the biggest profit?

I think, again, the charger plate.

It's a nice piece, a good sort of piece and, yeah,

we should get a nice profit.

-Nice bit of passion there. OK then, £95.

-Thanks, Tim.

I think we have looked at some pretty, you know,

weird and wonderful things today. Let's continue the theme.

I see. Is that a prediction as to what you're out there

-shopping for, Henry?

-You never know.

-Very good luck with that, Henry.

Meanwhile, we're heading off to Hampstead, to Fenton House,

which is just drop-dead gorgeous.

This is Fenton House, in the borough of Hampstead.

It is home to a large and eclectic collection of works of art,

antiques and furniture.

And, boy, they do have some treasures in the way of furniture

in this house.

This thing would ordinarily sit in the dining room,

underneath the sideboard or side table.

We've got something here that is of perfect sarcophagus form.

The cabinet maker has perfectly pitched and ridged this roof.

The coffered sides that just gently taper, the fact

that it is then raised on solid, slightly hairy, carved claw feet.

And they then sit on a plinth that is proportioned just perfectly.

If I open up the top, it reveals its practical purpose.

It is filled with dividers to take decanters,

hence its position in the dining room.

And to stop the servants having a go at the wines

and spirits, there is even a lock on the front.

It's a treasure.

And, in a way, these two are also similar treasures.

Very rare to find a pair of Irish peat buckets like these.

What is fun about their construction is that the Irish craftsman

has made this like a cooper barrel,

with vertical staves that are contained

by these brass bands.

But instead of leaving them plain, like a barrel,

he has cut them with these horizontal rings,

which is a difficult job to do, but, by gosh, it does make them

decorative, rare things.

But if you want the very rarest and the very best

of a variety of chair called

a Windsor chair, then you go out in search of something like this.

For a kick-off, the material is all yew.

And all yew wood Windsor chairs are the very best.

It has a dished elm seat. That dished elm seat

is shaped out of the solid

and then your bottom fits most perfectly into that shaped part.

For a collector, it is extremely desirable

because of the shape of the back.

You see how this points up?

Just like the lancet window in a Gothic church.

Gothic form, all yew wood Windsor chairs are incredibly rare.

And to top it all, it has got cabriole supports.

Most Windsor chairs have turned front feet.

The very best ones have this curve on them that are then

joined by what is called a crinoline stretcher,

that curvy stretcher.

In short, this chair ticks every single box

that you ever need to tick when it comes to Windsor armchairs.

Isn't that fun?

The big question today is, of course,

for our teams over at the auction.

Just exactly how many boxes are they about to tick?

David Porter is our auctioneer today at High Road Auctions Chiswick.

-Lovely to be here, David.

-Thank you, Tim.

Now, for our Red Team, it seems that Jonathan Pratt rather took

this shopping process over.

The girls have completely trusted him

with these objects. What about the pink biscuit barrel, do you like that?

I think it's fun.

It has got this great revival frieze round the side.

Lovely colour, good condition.

And this hand that holds up the legend - biscuits.

It tells you what it is for.

There it is, form and function at its best.

I have to say, I've seen Etruscan transfer printed wares before,

but never ever, ever on a pink ground.

-It is quite outrageous, but fun.

-What is your estimate?

-30 to 50.

OK, £55 paid by JP.

Yes, and I think that's a conservative estimate.

-What, 30-50?

-Yeah, I do.

-A bit of a tempter.

I mean, you auctioneers do cast the estimates down.

Bring 'em in, bring 'em in.

-That's what I say.

-On a good day, might it make £100?

Yes, I can honestly say that.

The next item has to be F-A-B in today's market - the blue

and white Chinese little tureen.

Charming, and the Chinese market is doing so well at the moment.

I love this shape, I love the hogs' heads

either side on the terminal. It is a nice piece.

It has got a bit of damage on it.

-I mean, it came from a very grand service, didn't it?

-Absolutely.

It would have been a massive service.

It is the scale of these that I particularly like.

How much do you think it is worth?

I reckon we're about £60 to £100, somewhere there.

Gosh! Jonathan only paid 35. That is marvellous!

Yes, let's hope we do well for him on that.

Yeah. No, great.

And lastly, the Staffordshire figure of the gardener,

with his little Scottish-looking child.

Lovely colours, beautiful glaze, good condition.

-Mm-hm.

-Um...there are lot of them about, let's be honest.

But the Americans used to buy

practically every flat-back figure that ever came out.

-Absolutely.

-And they don't anymore.

-No, they don't.

-Very strange.

-So, the estimate is how much, David?

-30 to 50.

OK, £35 paid by Jonathan Pratt.

Well, as he bought all three items for the girls,

he's going to be completely responsible for what happens.

And in case he himself has got it wrong,

he is off now finding a bonus buy.

Let's go and have a look at it.

Olivia, Kathryn, this is your bonus buy moment. You spent £125.

You gave the great JP £175.

What did you buy, Jonathan?

I wanted to avoid ceramics,

we'd been looking at quite a lot of ceramics.

And I thought... As soon as I saw this, I thought, it's...

Well, before I say anymore, here we go. There we go.

-Look at that.

-Champagne bucket.

Nice campana shape, which is a bell shape.

You know, if you want a wine cooler,

if you want a champagne bucket, this is the shape to have.

What do you think, ladies?

It's like a trophy, like a football trophy.

-Oh, it is quite weighty, isn't it?

-Yeah. It is silver-plated.

It is early 20th century,

I wouldn't say much older than that, to be honest.

-It cost me £120.

-How much?

-£120.

Do you like it, Olivia?

Yeah, I do quite like it, actually.

We were looking for something silver originally,

so this has ticked that box.

-Kathryn, do you like it? No?

-Um... I don't...

I do like it, I'm just not thrilled about £120.

I would like to think it could squeeze a profit.

You think it might make 150, then?

It might make £150.

-Well, let's just feast on that thought, shall we?

-Yeah.

-Yes.

Meanwhile, for the viewers at home,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about

Jonathan's champagne bucket.

-Right then, David.

-That is a bit of fun, isn't it, Tim?

I mean, this is good quality silver-plate.

It is about 80 years of age.

Nice detailing on it, that is what you look for in a thing like this.

It is a big piece. It has a presence.

And I think it's worth between £50 to £80.

-OK. Jonathan Pratt paid 120.

-Right.

Makes me feel slightly nervous, actually.

But still, our girls have trusted him in every other respect,

I expect they'll go for it, and whatever profit they have made

on the other three items will proceed to go south.

Well, let's hope we do well.

OK, that is it for the Reds, now for the Blues.

The massive Japanese porcelain charger.

-How do these things sell these days?

-They do really well at the moment.

The Japanese - not as well as Chinese, but at the same time,

it's got the condition, it's got the size, the colouring is lovely.

Made for export, obviously, in Japan.

-I think it will do quite well.

-So, how much?

-80 to 120?

-£95 paid.

So, they should make a small profit out of that, good.

-I would hope so, yeah.

-What about the white metal box?

Well, I like this. This is Kashmir.

The quality of the chasing is superb on this.

It is very tight, almost Persian in its detail.

Lovely box. Nice hinge on it.

You can judge a good box maker by the quality of the hinge.

But it's the quality of the chasing that gets me on that piece.

-Mm, good. How much?

-Between £60 and £100.

OK, £100 the team paid.

-I must say, I can see that making a bit more.

-I can.

It may be just low-grade silver,

-but I bet you it is silver.

-Very much so.

OK, and the Arts and Crafts copper dish.

Well, I like Arts and Crafts, Tim.

This is a sweet piece, spot hammered from the flat,

so it's a tiny little hammer

that has worked this up into a lovely, circular plate

and decorated the border with very finely detailed flowers and fruits.

Um, it's just a nice, honest bit of English Arts and Crafts.

And incredibly cheap to buy at only £10.

£20 to £30.

Well, that is an ace way of doubling your cash.

If they need it, they can have the bonus buy.

Let's go and have a look at that.

Now, Mark, Keith, this is a lovely moment, the leftover lolly moment.

You spent a fantastic £205.

You gave Henry Meadows £95.

Henry Meadows, what did you spend it on?

Well, I was trying to find something weird and wonderful.

I don't think it's weird, but I think it's wonderful.

What do you think to this?

-Very nice.

-Not bad. Stunned into silence.

It's Dutch, late 19th century, silver-coloured metal

we'd have to call it, cos obviously it is continental.

But it is really finely embossed with almost

sort of courting couple on there. How much do you think I paid?

-£50.

-£90.

-£90, right.

-So we have got a silver item, haven't we?

-Yeah, similar to it.

So, if we do really well on that,

hopefully we will do well on this.

And if we don't do well, we might not do well.

That is very logical, Henry, thank you very much for that.

How much profit do you think it's going to make?

-I don't think it is going to make a huge profit.

-Great.

Why did you buy it, then?

Yet another reason to go for that one, then, Henry.

See how you get on after the first three.

You'll get your chance to take it if you want to.

But right now, for the audience at home,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Henry's box.

-Well, that's very interesting.

-Lovely, Tim. Absolutely lovely.

-Got some weight to it.

-Yes.

Typical of the late 19th century, made in Holland,

finely detailed, good hinges again.

And if you open it up to reveal the decoration on the inside.

Very unusual because, obviously,

-you put things in and you're not going to see it anyway.

-No, quite.

-What's it worth?

-£60 to £100.

-OK, £90 paid by Henry, who reckons it.

And after all, I think it should turn a small profit.

-We live in hope, don't we?

-Absolutely right.

-I think we will do well on that.

-Well, we will find out

in just a moment. Thank you, David.

Bid is with you, sir. £60 against you on the Internet.

-Olivia, Kathryn, excited?

-GIRLS: Yes.

Here we go, look, the Staffordshire pottery biscuit barrel.

It's a fine piece with a classical frieze on pink ground.

Thank you, I've got 20 front of house.

It's got a long way to go.

Right in front of me. Am I selling this lovely piece for £20?

Here's the bid, £20.

I don't believe this!

Last chance in the gallery.

Bid's here, right in front of the rostrum at £20.

Selling for £20.

£20!

£20, girls, that's a disaster. Minus 35.

-How much?

-Minus 35.

-Oh, no! We've got lots to do now.

-Look out, here comes the Chinese.

Lot number 91 is the Chinese blue and white tureen dish and cover.

15 here.

20.

25. 30.

35. 40 even. 45 on the net.

-They're back in the game.

-I can't believe this.

Selling to the internet, £45.

Well, that's as cheap as the proverbial fried potato, that is.

Plus £10, very good.

So, you're minus 25 at the moment.

Now, what about the Staffordshire figure?

Lot number 92.

A 20th-century Staffordshire figure of a gardener and his daughter.

Internet bid at ten.

15. With you at 15, sir.

Could be the bargain of the day.

Can't bear it, the suspense is doing something to my knees.

20, new bidder. £20. Do you want to go five?

25. Surely worth 30. £30.

Second row back at 30. Selling to you, £30.

Going the wrong way.

£30 is minus £5, which means overall you are minus £30.

Girls, I'm sorry about this.

I got into an excited state a little early.

In fact, I think I peaked earlier here.

What are we going to do about this bonus buy?

Are you going to go with the campana-shaped wine cooler?

-No, I think we'll stick.

-Yeah, I'm happy to stick.

-Are you happy to stick?

-Yeah.

-OK.

Well, all advice so far has not been terribly hot on your objects,

I have to say,

so on the basis that you stick and at least you're ring-fencing

-where you are, that's what you're doing, right?

-Yeah.

-Are you quite sure?

-Yes.

You're going to do nothing? Right, the decision is made,

we're going to sell it anyway. And here it comes.

Twin-handled ice bucket. Nice piece this.

Fine quality, 96 is the lot number.

15 against you. 20. 25.

30. £30 right in the middle.

35 at the back. 40 if you want.

40 I've got.

I have £40.

Bid is there 40. New bid of 45 on the internet.

50 now.

55. Are we going higher?

We should be.

I quite agree!

Selling to the internet at 55.

60 is bid in the room. It's a new bidder.

-I'm selling it in the room at 60.

-I don't believe this.

Last chance on the net. Your bid.

£60 and selling. Sold.

-£60 is minus 60.

-I'm glad we didn't take it.

You girls did exactly the cool thing.

Aren't they cool? Yes, they are.

You resisted all temptations to go with Jonathan's silvery pot.

And you dug in there, and that is marvellous.

Anyway, you are minus £30. Don't say a word to the Blues

-because minus £30 could be a winning score.

-Thanks. Yep.

Now, Mark, Keith, this is exciting. You know how the Red Team got on?

-I have no clue.

-Good, we don't want you to know.

Here comes your item, this charger.

Large turn-of-the-last-century Japanese Imari porcelain charger.

Shall we start the bidding at £10, ladies and gentlemen?

-10?

-£10?

15 is bid, then. 20 on the internet.

25.

30. 35.

40. 45.

-Go on.

-Trouble.

-Come on, it's worth more than that, surely.

Don't stop now, £55. Still your bid, sir.

Selling for £55. Sold.

Can't bear it. £55 is minus £40.

Oh, dear. Oh, dear. Oh, dear...

Look out, this is going to save your bacon.

19th century, Kashmiri, beautiful box and cover.

We have got £45 for a fine box.

We have now got 50. 55. 60.

It's going up.

75. At £75. Any more?

Selling for £75.

£75 is minus £25,

might as well give it away.

That is minus 65.

Lot number 112 is a 20th-century Arts and Crafts hand-hammered piece.

I've got £12 on this.

Am I selling for a maiden bid of 12?

It's a commission bid of £12.

Ah, 15.

18 is the next bid.

Creeping up slowly.

£20. With the internet. Do you want to go 25?

-Come on!

-What did we pay?

£20, then. Here it is on the net,

and selling to the internet at £20.

Plus £10, which reduces your losses to minus 55.

So, what are you going to do about the white metal box?

-We're going to go for it.

-You're going to go for it?

-Yeah, we'll go for it.

-Against all predictions, then,

you've gone with the bonus buy, lovely. And here it comes.

19th-century Dutch box. This is a pretty piece.

Let's start the bidding here at 50.

55 with you, sir.

Here we go, we've got a phone bidder, we're off and running.

Do want to go five? 65 on the telephone.

£65, bid's on the telephone at 65.

70, new bidder.

At 75 on the telephone.

-80, I've got.

-Come on.

We'll give you the difference.

85, I have. One more.

Are you sure? 85.

Still on the phone. At £85.

Come on!

I have a bit of £85 for a nice little silver box.

90, he's back.

£90, you've wiped your face, thank God for that.

95. 95 is bid on the telephone.

Your bid, sir. 95 and selling. Sold.

-That's £5.

-Made a bit of money there,

-well done.

-Absolutely justified.

-That was hard work there, wasn't it?

Overall, it makes it minus £50.

Now listen, guys, minus £50 could be a winning score.

Seriously, I'm not joking with you, it could be a winning score today.

What you've seen happen here

could easily have happened to the opposition.

So, take strength from that,

take courage, hold yourself in readiness

and all will be revealed in a moment, all right?

OK, teams, any idea how each other have done?

-No.

-No?

-No.

Well, it's no secret that you have all done appallingly badly.

Universally, you haven't done just brilliantly.

But the precise nature of the score, as to who is ahead

and behind is unknown at this moment. Right?

And the runners-up today, I regret to tell you, are the Blues.

THEY GROAN

Yes. Minus £50 is the total number.

And I'm not going to pick over each of these minus scores.

What's the point?

Suffice to say that our Henry came forward with

a splendid £5 profit.

There is nothing the matter with that. But seriously,

-I hope you had a nice time.

-Yes.

-We have loved having you on the show.

But the victors today are the girls.

-Yes!

-You are pleased about that, aren't you?

-Yeah, we are.

Look at all the smiley, smiley!

You managed to win by only losing £30.

-Yes!

-Yes!

Anyway, £10 profit, which is nice, on the tureen,

but apart from that, not much cop.

You didn't go with the bonus buy, which was a very wise move,

so overall, minus 30 is the winning score.

-Yes!

-You had a good time?

-Yes, brilliant.

We loved having you on the show.

In fact, join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

ALL: Yes!

I know you are sitting there thinking,

"I could have done better than that."

Well, what's stopping you?

If you think you can spot a bargain, go to our BBC website and apply.

It'll be splendid to see you!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd