Epsom/Dorking 23 Bargain Hunt

Today we're in Dorking, a historic town nestling in the Surrey hills.

Let's hope there's going to be some historic goodies nestling around here, too.

So...let's go bargain hunting! Yeah!

Today we're looking for the best up west

in West Street, Dorking, to be precise.

And if you look carefully up and down the street, it's stuffed with antiques shops,

which should entice our teams.

So let's have a quick peek at what's coming up.

The Reds adopt a charm offensive to get the best prices.

-What a nice man!

-That might work!

Whilst the Blues struggle with decisions.

I'm going to lose all our money!

Now let's go and meet the teams.

On Bargain Hunt today, we have Elaine and Juliet, who are friends, at least at the moment.

And for the Blues we've got Richard and John, who are partners.

Now, Elaine, you've known your mate for 40 years.

-True?

-Yes, very true.

-How did you meet?

We worked, both of us, for the Selfridge group. In two different departments.

-What was yours?

-I was in in-store promotions.

-Naturally.

-And what was your department?

-PR.

-You're both now in a similar line of business.

-That's correct. We're both independent PR consultants.

Right. So you're writing a lot of spin?

-We say we're writing press releases.

-Oh, I see. And so you're rivals.

-We are. Friendly rivals.

Juliet, you're in PR we know, but you also work a lot with young people.

I am working with Young Enterprise.

Young Enterprise is a charity which helps youngsters to set up a business

-and on how to work together. They really are talented kids. I love going there.

-How nice.

How do you think you'll get on, girls, against these brutish boys?

I think we're going to add a little feminine intuition and charm to the whole thing.

-Exactly. And get decent discounts?

-We'll try!

-Good luck with all of that. Anyway, well done, girls.

Now, moving on to the brutish boys, Richard, you're retired, but a great lover of the theatre.

Absolutely. Having worked in the theatre over the years,

I absolutely adore going to musicals.

-You also have a feel for the garden.

-Oh, yes. I've got a small greenhouse where I grow tomatoes and cucumbers.

And with the produce I grow I make my own jams and pickles and pies.

-Everything like that.

-Gosh.

-If you're good, I'll give you a bottle.

-A bottle of pickle?

-Or pickled onions or something.

-There you go.

Something for the breath, anyway!

-John, what do you do?

-I'm retired due to ill health.

-Oh, dear.

-But before that I was in the theatre.

-Did you meet through your love of the theatre?

-We met in the theatre.

-35 years later, we're still together.

-Congratulations on working your way back to good health.

-Thank you.

-Which is marvellous. You're going to do terribly well.

I feel a money moment coming on. Here we go. £300 apiece.

Your experts await. And off you go! And very, very, very good luck!

Providing a window of opportunity for the Reds is expert Charlie Ross.

And not content with simple window shopping is fellow expert Catherine Southon with the Blues.

So with 60 minutes to shop and £300 to spend, tally-ho, teams!

-What are we looking for today?

-Er, silver?

-Clocks.

-I sense a bit of excitement in the air, girls.

-Absolutely!

-And nice pieces of porcelain or pottery.

-So not much.

-Gosh, no!

-I would like to find something that is dramatic.

-I like drama!

-Let's go and sniff out those bargains! We've got lots to do!

-Come on, then!

-Walking sticks...

-Walking sticks are very collectable. Let's go find some!

-Oops! Sorry.

-Mind how you go, girls. We don't want any accidents.

Hello!

With lots of antique emporiums to choose from, the teams start off in different shops.

Coming from South Africa, Elaine spots a familiar friend. Argh!

-Do you like wild animals?

-That's perfect for Elaine.

-Elaine, your roots!

-Remember these, do you?

-All round the back garden, yes.

-You had lions in your back garden?!

-Almost!

-Wonderful king of the jungle. £58. A statement piece.

-Who wanted something dramatic?

-I did.

-That's dramatic.

-Absolutely.

-What was the lady's name in the shop?

-Shirley.

-Shirley?

-How old is it?

-Well, it's not an antique.

But I think... Hello, Shirley! Look what we found on the cabinet.

-We quite like this.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Do you think the person is desperate to see the back end of it?

Em, probably. She may have bought a job lot of things in a box, couldn't she?

I suspect when you say to her, "How much will you take?" she'll say, "What have I got on it?"

If you could say to her 28...

-That would make sense!

-..we've got a negotiating point!

-I won't be rude any more.

-She's quite a cute little cookie and probably knows exactly.

-Don't take the biscuit, Charlie.

-Come on, girls. Let's move on.

Meanwhile, our Blues are swanning around with Catherine.

-A toast rack in the form of a swan.

-85?

-85. It's worth having a look at.

-I think so.

-Yeah.

-Shall we ask Chris?

-Yes, please.

-Chris, lovely Chris.

-Hello!

-May we have a look at your toast rack?

-Of course. Have a good look.

-Thank you.

-Let's just check. It's English, isn't it?

-Yep. It's Birmingham hallmarked.

-Oh?

-With a date. It's 1900.

-Mm-hm.

-It's really nice.

-That is very elegant.

-Really nice.

(Don't say anything to Chris. I don't think it's too bad.)

Chris, it's really expensive.

-Is there any way you can possibly do something?

-What's your best?

-See if we can get a bit nearer your budget.

-We've got to make a profit.

-What do we want to offer?

-Let's try 70.

-Oh, that's generous!

Oh...OK.

- You tell me. - It's a bit cheeky, but let's go for it.

- And a big cuddle and a kiss. - Optional extra!

-If it was two kisses and cuddles, how about 65?

-Oh, you're really pushing me to the limit now.

Yes, go on, then.

-Beautiful.

-Wonderful. Fantastic.

-I'll get the kisses later.

-OK.

Do you know what, chaps? I think we should be delighted.

-I think it's fab.

-I love it.

-Fab! 15 minutes.

-It's beautiful.

One purchase.

No problem. Come on.

So that's one purchase in the bag for the Blues. Well done, chaps.

Down the road, the Reds are waiting for news from Shirley.

-Come on, Shirl.

-Charlie, we've made the telephone call.

-The lion could be £40.

-£10 a leg!

-Nothing for the head.

-If you're good at maths.

-Thank you very much indeed, Shirley.

I'll discuss it with my team. If that had been £20-£25, I'd have loved to have bought it for fun.

-Yes.

-What I suggest we do as we've had a third of our time and bought nothing,

go down the road, have a look down there and then we know what we've got to come back to if we panic.

-We can run down the road and grab.

-Run and grab and possibly return. Happy?

-Yeah, absolutely.

-Off we go.

-Follow me.

-As long as you don't resort to smash and grab!

Now what have the Blues spotted here?

What about him?

-A little blackamore figure.

-It's rather lovely.

It's got a look about it. I just think it's a bit, dare I say,

-a bit naff.

-THEY LAUGH

-How much is it?

-Well, it's 88.

It's sort of £87 too much in my mind!

One to think about there, John. The Reds now move up the street and join the Blues in the same centre.

-What's that?

-Sugar.

Is it sugar? Is that silver or silver plate?

Got a good, crisp hallmark on it. It's made in London - it's got a leopard's head on it for London.

It doesn't have a Victoria head on. Post-Victorian, but it looks very Deco to me.

I would think 1920s or 1930s. Super cut glass. Fabulous quality.

-And a damn good size. You'd like to shake your strawberries with that.

-Well, yes. Very pretty.

-That's something somebody would buy.

-Yes.

-What's it worth?

-Come on, girls!

-100?

I think it would make £75 or £80 at auction.

-Now it says £89 there.

-So why not ask Adam for his best price?

Kind sir. There's a nice young man here.

Do you know what possibly could be done on that?

-We can definitely do 10%, but I'll make a phone call for you.

-If we could get it to 70.

We'd love to buy it. Do I speak with everybody's...?

-- Absolutely.

-Yeah.

-- Let me see what I can do.

-It's not too rude, is it?

-I like that. It's a good size.

-What a nice man!

That might work!

While the Reds wait for a price on that sugar sifter, I want to show you something I stumbled across.

What have we got here? A framed oval watercolour, but that subject is so weird.

Let's take it apart, shall we?

The oval piece of paper has been crudely stuck on to this silk-covered back panel

and we can't get to see whether there's anything written on the back,

but my eye tells me this thing's weird. And who produced weird old watercolours?

Well, lots of artists did, actually.

But if you believe that this might have been painted perhaps around...

I don't know, 1810, 1820,

and I do believe it was painted in that period,

it takes you towards a group of artists

that are extremely valuable.

The principal one of whom is a chap called William Blake.

He was an engraver, he was an artist, he was a printmaker

and he also had visions.

Weird visions.

He was persuaded by some of his friends to record his visions in pen and ink and watercolour.

And what do we have here? We have a weird, weird-looking animal

recorded in pen and ink and watercolour. Am I an expert on William Blake's work? No, I am not.

Speculatively, I would love this thing to be by William Blake.

If I am right, this thing becomes mighty interesting.

Financially.

If you look up in the art sales records,

you'll find that a weird, mystical animal by William Blake in watercolour

on a card, 2½ inches by 4½ inches,

in 1995 sold for £32,000.

The prices of Blake's works since 1995 have accelerated a lot.

Probably the same thing today would be worth £100,000.

To buy this would cost you

£120.

£120 or £100,000?

That is the question.

Now are the Reds going to get a sweet price for that sugar sifter?

-The moment of truth has arrived. Adam, speak to me nicely.

-Right.

-I've done my best.

-Yes?

-I've spoken to the dealer. I got it down to 70. If that's any good.

-What a brilliant man!

-We're happy with that.

-First purchase!

-We are.

-That's really kind, Adam.

Thank you very much indeed.

-Now we have to find two more!

-Come on! Two more things.

-Great.

The first purchase by the Reds. Well done, girls. We're now just over halfway through the time.

-But what has Richard spotted here?

-Is there any mileage in these?

-How much are they? £39.

-39.

-I couldn't live with them.

-I couldn't live with them.

I could see them at sort of £20, £30...

And still walk past them!

No, we'll leave them. I don't think they'd sell.

Uh-oh. Catherine isn't happy with the boys' choices once again.

Maybe, Charlie, we bite the bullet and go back for the lion?

What?! No, we don't!

-We are not buying the lion!

-Why not?

-I can think of worse things to buy.

-I think it might be fun.

You two are just too much safari.

I hope those two aren't driving you wild, Charlie.

-Charlie, we're getting excited. We've found some things. Come here!

-Oh, Charles!

-Don't get too excited.

-What have we got here?

-Well, it's 9-carat little chain.

-£25!

-And she said she'd do 20.

-And it's 9-carat?

-Yes.

-Well, go and buy it!

-That's what I thought.

-It's cleverly got a little mount on the top there

-that actually might even be a chip of a diamond.

-Exactly.

-Which is tiny, but nevertheless

attractive. I don't think it's got any age. I don't think that matters too much because of the price.

-It's seriously tempting at £20. May I award you the Purchase of the Day Award?

-Thank you!

-Sold.

So it's now 2-1 to the Reds. As ever, time is marching on, but the Blues are undeterred.

OK, this is it. This is Adam. Adam, this is my two.

-We've got one cabinet and 15 minutes.

-Right.

-Here's a man who I think can do us some deals.

-I'll do my best.

-Try to buy things.

-What would you like to look at?

-The service at the top.

-The Chinese lustre ware.

-Let's get you a couple of pieces.

-Is it in perfect condition?

-Pristine. It's very, very fine indeed.

-It's just beautiful quality.

-So we're talking 1920s or something?

-About sort of 1920s, 1930s.

-And it's got the...

-You lift it up and...?

-Who can you see? Can you see someone?

-It's got the head.

-There's a lot there, isn't there?

-What have we got?

-You've got six teacups, saucers, six plates. You've got the teapot,

-the cream and the sugar.

-Right.

-Complete and in perfect condition.

-And how much is on that?

-185.

-Could you move on that?

-185!

-Right. The very best would be...

-The very, very, very best.

-The very, very, very best. It would be 1...120.

-I think that's still too much.

-Too much?

-Could we do a little bit more?

-What do you have in mind?

100?

-Or...yes.

-All right. I'll do 100.

-I don't think you'll get much better than that.

It's just the market. How's it going to do? I don't know.

-Who knows?

-I'd like to take a punt.

OK, well, I wish you all the luck.

So it's tea for two for our Blues. That's their second purchase. Both teams have 10 minutes remaining,

-but Charlie is trying to focus the Reds' attention.

-What do you think that is?

-A magnifying glass.

-What was it?

-Oh, what WAS it?

-Yes.

-Well, it looks like a bit...

-Oh!

-Ah!

-This is the hand of a butter knife.

-That's right.

It is hallmarked silver. And then rather than have a butter knife, they've made a magnifying glass.

-If it's cheap, I'm all for it. Chris?

-Yes, Charlie.

-Could you tell me how much this little object is?

-Yes. £40 on the ticket.

I'm sure we could do a little bit.

I think if you could buy it for £20, I think you stand a sporting chance and it would be very nice.

I'm happy to do it for £20 for you, but before you make a final decision,

-can I just show you something else?

-Good Lord! It's all coming out! Go on, bring it in for us.

-Let's see.

-I think anybody buying this will judge it by exactly what it is.

-Oh, hello!

-I really like papier mache. Look at that.

-Beautiful.

-And it's really in good condition.

-Where does it come from, girls?

-Well, it's oriental.

-Correct.

-Japanese lacquer box. It's a glove box.

-Yes.

-Yes.

£45, and I'm going to chat Chris up!

Now hang on. It does have age. I think it dates from the 1920s.

-So jolly nearly 100 years old.

-But how much would we be able to get this for?

45 on the ticket. The very best I could do on that for you is 30.

-My judgment would be, if you're asking me for my judgment...

-We are.

-..it would either be that at £20...

-Yes.

-If Chris could take 25 for that, I would buy that.

-Mm, decisions, decisions, girls.

Do you want to go back and go for your man?

Oh, your blackamore figure. It is completely your choice.

Yes.

And I'm going to lose all the money we've made, I know!

-OK, John, but I don't think that's a popular decision with Catherine.

-All the money from our toast rack!

-Now let's see if the Reds are in agreement on their final purchase.

-I'll take another £5 off the box.

-Well, you prefer the box, don't you, girls?

-I think the box is lovely.

-Are you happy with that?

-Yes. I can see the girls like it.

-That's so kind.

-That's lovely.

-We've bought three things!

-We've done it!

So that's the Reds done, but it looks like the Blues have made a U-turn on the blackamore figure.

-Have they suddenly spotted something they prefer?

-Three minutes, guys.

-How much would you do on that?

-The silver-topped jar?

-Yeah.

Have a look at that one. Nice decoration. Pristine condition.

-I love the actual pattern here.

-Yes, nicely cut.

-Really nicely cut.

So often these can be chipped and nibbled and damaged.

You've got a honeycomb and the original gilding inside.

-And this little finish on the top. Quite nice.

-Birmingham, 1914.

That one I would do for...

30 quid.

- 35. - I've got to get 45 on that one.

-40?

-Come on! Two minutes!

-40. OK. Good luck.

- Thank you very much indeed. - I hope you do well.

In the nick of time, the Blues make their last purchase. Thank goodness for that.

Right, that's it. Full time. Let's check out what the Red team bought.

First up, they cast away £70 of their budget on a George VI silver and cut-glass sugar sifter.

£20 was spent on a small gold pendant set with an emerald and a diamond.

Last but not least, they handed over £25 for a Japanese Meiji period papier mache glove box, as you do.

-Good thing we didn't buy the lion.

-You think so?

-Yes.

-No point in having regrets now. Had a good time, Elaine?

-Wonderful.

-You've been with the master.

-We have. Very, very suave and sophisticated.

-The Old Master!

-Now how much did you spend?

-115.

-Is that all?

-115, yes.

Two girls out on the scat and you only spent £115?!

I don't believe this! We gave you £300! What's the matter with you?

The first shop was quite expensive and then we were rushing at the end. We just found things we liked.

-And the adviser here was very pro.

-Was he?

-Super. You spent 115. Who's got the £185?

-Elaine.

Thank you very much. I won't count it. Which is your favourite piece?

-The box. The papier mache box.

-Do you agree with that?

-The sugar shaker.

OK, fine. This is a lot of money, Carlos.

-It's wonderful, sir.

-You could buy have this centre for that.

-No lion!

-No lion!

-Don't buy a lion.

-No.

OK, on that happy note, why don't we scoot off and check out what the Blue team bought?

A silver toast rack in the shape of a swan cost them £65.

They forked out £100 on a Japanese eggshell porcelain tea service.

And, finally, they got £25 off the ticket price of this George V silver and cut-glass jar,

paying £40.

-That was absolutely beautiful.

-I'm happy with that.

-Two blokes who look like they got the cream!

-Which you have! You've had Catherine for a whole hour.

-I know.

-She has been beautiful.

-'ave you been pleased with what you 'ave bought?

-Perfect.

-Oh, good.

-Which is your favourite piece?

-Well, my favourite piece is, of course, the dinner service.

-The lustre ware.

-Will it bring the biggest profit?

-No.

-What will?

-I think the toast rack.

-Old swan face.

-Old swan face, yes.

-What did you spend all round?

-We spent...

-205.

-£205.

-I'd like £95 of leftover lolly. Thank you. Goes to Catherine.

-Thank you very much.

-What are you going to spend it on?

-I'm not sure what I will buy, but I know what I'm not going to buy.

And it's those horrible vases!

Right, OK. Have a great time. Meanwhile we're heading off down the road,

across the border into Sussex to Petworth House. What could be more dreamy than that?

This is Petworth House. Impressive, isn't it?

Built by the Sixth Duke of Somerset between 1684 and 1702,

and now run by the National Trust.

The rich treasures inside attract international attention.

In fact, it could be said that they're of global significance.

The sculpture gallery here at Petworth is not just stuffed with old sculpture. Oh, no.

There are other magnificent treasures here as well,

paramount amongst which must be this terrestrial globe.

What's so important about it?

Well, if you take a little squint round there, there's a cartouche.

And underneath that cartouche it says 1592.

That's right.

1592.

This is by a man called Emery Molyneux, who is supposed to be the first globemaker ever in Britain.

What Mr Molyneux did

was to import the gore, which are the triangular paper pieces

that go to make up the map of the world.

He also required a metalworker to give it that central axial girdle

and then, of course, the stand itself, which, if you look carefully is made of turned beechwood.

It's extensively woodwormed because, as we all know, there's no timber that woodworm likes more

than beechwood. But you can see vestiges of the original paint and it is,

for its age, in extraordinarily good condition.

What's this precious globe doing here at Petworth, I hear you ask.

Well, legend has it

that Sir Walter Raleigh, who was implicated in the Gunpowder Plot in 1605,

was banged up in the Tower of London with the 9th Earl of Northumberland.

And Raleigh was supposed to have given this globe to the 9th Earl,

known as the Wizard Earl.

And, distantly, that Earl of Northumberland is related to the family

that owned Petworth House. It's a miracle that these places were accurately, more or less,

recorded at that early period. They simply left out the undiscovered continent

of Australia. The big question today is, of course, for our teams

are they going to be able to navigate their way over to the auction and discover

the continent of profit or the land of loss?

Fair warning. 150. 150.

Well, we've come half an hour due south from Dorking to Washington on the A24

to Rupert Toovey's saleroom to be with Rupert Toovey.

-Tim, it's lovely to see you.

-What could be nicer?

For the Reds, their first item is this so-called sugar sifter.

-Don't you think it's unusually heavy?

-Yes, I do.

-For a sifter.

-Very!

-You don't think it could be a marriage, do you, Rupert?

-You can never tell.

-The rim's not hallmarked, is it?

-The inside rim isn't, no.

-I'd like to see that mark match that mark.

-I agree.

-I'd be suspicious.

We were. So we put £20-£30 on it.

-Absolutely right. They paid £70.

-Oh, poor things.

-Well...

You never know. With your skilful auctioneering, we might get away with it, but a question mark.

Now the 9-carat gold pendant fellow

is something that is just a tad underwhelming.

-It's rather restrained, isn't it?

-Exactly.

On the other hand, it's got the metal and a pretty little stone and it'll appeal to somebody.

-It should be 20-30 quid, shouldn't it?

-Yeah. They only paid 20,

so they'll be crying from the rafters if you get them a profit. I think you will.

Lastly, they've got this transfer-printed lacquer job.

-Very decorative, isn't it? With the Japanese market these days, it has to be really good.

-It does.

-But it's good quality and the condition's not bad.

-Yes.

I think our estimate of £15-£25, we could exceed that.

Oh, good. Well, £25 is the target.

And on that basis, depending on how the caster gets on, they may or may not need their Bonus Buy,

so let's have a look at it anyway.

£185 you gave to Charlie Ross. And what did you spend it on, Charlie?

-I looked at this and I had to buy it.

-Well, what is it, then?

-Well...

-Come along. One, two, three.

Oh, my God, I like it. Really nice. So that's for a desk?

-That is a desk ink stand.

-That is so pretty.

-Edwardian. It is in fantastic condition.

-Does the top...?

-The top lifts up.

So how much did you spend?

Muchos dosh!

-£175.

-Oh, 175.

-Is there anything in it?

All I can say is it was marked up in a shop at 285 and I argued simply that I just had that amount of money

and perhaps it was partly bought with the heart, not altogether with the head,

-but I'd like to see it make 200.

-It's cut glass. It looks lovely.

-I wouldn't mind that myself.

-Ah!

-Silver, is it?

-I don't think you're allowed to buy it!

-Unfortunately. Just think about it.

Don't pick now. Right now, for the audience at home, we'll find out what the auctioneer thinks.

Well, Rupert, that is one flashy inkwell, isn't it?

-Terribly pretty, isn't it?

-All that embossed stuff.

But, of course, the ancient art of handwriting, with all these tablets and things.

-I know, but people do collect inkwells, don't they?

-Yes, they do.

-This one, being Edwardian, will have a good following.

-What's the glass like? Good nick?

-Not too chipped or cracked or scuffed?

-No, not much staining.

I think it's a pretty good thing. OK, Rupert, I want you to think big.

-Draw yourself up to your full height and come out with a thoroughly mature estimate.

-80-120, Tim.

-Is that the best you can do?

-It'll be marvellous if we get that!

-OK, £175 was paid.

-And this is a Bonus Buy from Charlie Ross.

-He's blown it this time.

That's it for the Reds. Now for the Blues, Richard and John,

and their first item is the charming silver toast rack.

It's lovely with that swan neck. Really pretty. It would cheer up your marmalade no end.

And it looks in that swan form with its little tail and what not.

I think it's charming. 60-80, Tim.

-Fine. £65 paid. I think retail £65 for that is terribly cheap.

-I agree.

-They've done really well.

I personally have never been a fan of Japanese eggshell tea sets.

-No, neither have I.

-No.

-Even with lithophane bottoms?

-We almost never take them in today.

-Because they're so difficult to sell?

-Yes.

-Fair enough. You're at the cutting edge of this.

-So this lot isn't going to be worth much, then?

-No. Perhaps £20-£30 if we're very lucky.

-You're joking.

-No, absolutely.

-£20-£30? Do you know, our lot paid £100 for this set?

Well, not all that sparkles is gold.

That is the problem, isn't it? Oh, dear. I'm getting a shifty feeling here.

-How about that silver-mounted dressing table pot?

-It's sweet, but ladies don't dress their tables now.

-So I suppose £20-£30, something like that.

-£40 paid.

-It's dear, isn't it?

-It is. I'm getting this bad feeling again. They'll need their Bonus Buy again.

You gave Catherine £95. Catherine's mighty cunning when it comes to these Bonus Buys.

-What have you bought and what have you spent?

-Well, I didn't buy those horrid vases!

Instead, I bought you...that.

-Oh!

-Oh!

-Which I think is delightful.

-Oh, wow.

-Oh, that is nice. I like this.

-You know what it is, don't you?

-A little scent bottle.

-Yes.

Silver, hallmarked.

-1894.

-And how much did you pay for that?

I paid £65, which I didn't think was too bad, actually.

-That sounds very good.

-What do you think it's worth?

-I think that's possibly what it will go for.

-Oh.

-Do you think there's a profit in it?

-A smidge. Maybe a little inch.

-How much is an inch, then? A tenner?

-Maybe a fiver!

-Well, everybody thinks that's perfect and is in love with everybody else.

And on that basis, why don't we, for the audience at home, find out what the auctioneer thinks of it?

Right, Rupert. Yet another piece of glass mounted with silver.

This time with a bit of enamel. That's good.

The enamel's fine, but isn't it a strange proportion for this object?

-And it's very bruised round here.

-Oh, yes, look at that. What's the button like?

-Well...

-Chipped.

-Yeah.

-Chipped button, bad bruising.

-I'm feeling a visit to the hospital coming on.

-It's 20-30 quid, isn't it?

-Oh, dear. £65 paid.

And it's another Bonus Buy. And if they don't take it and the Japanese tea set doesn't do well...

-They'll be lucky.

-They'll be lucky.

-Anyway, good luck.

-Thank you.

£90. £90.

130 behind. 150.

150.

-Elaine, Juliet, how are you feeling? A bit nervous?

-No.

-Not at all?

-I am! I'm as worried as can be.

-Are you? You look cool.

-But you always look cool.

-Do I?

You only spent £115 on all three items, so you've hedged your bets.

And you've got the big punt, which is the inkwell for £175 to fall back on

-should you want to do such a thing.

-Or fall on.

Well, you may not need to or want to fall on anything. First up is the silver sugar sifter. Here it comes.

1518 is a George VI silver and cut glass sugar sifter, London, 1938.

Conflicting bids here to £32.

-32.

-Any advance here? At £32. Can I see 35? 35. 38. And 40?

-Are you there, sir? 40 I have.

-Well done!

At £40. Can I see the 42? At £40.

£40, then. Fair warning. At £40.

-£40 is minus £30.

-Come on, girls.

-Stiffen up, girls.

-It's only uphill from now on.

-Yes.

1519. A 9-carat gold pendant, claw set with a circular-cut emerald

and a circular-cut diamond.

Again, we're opening and this time at £22. Can I see 24?

At £22. 24 can I see?

-And 24. 26. 28. And 30. And 2?

-Look out, girls.

At £30 here. At £30. At £30 and against you, madam.

At £30. Is there any advance on 30?

- The gold's worth more! - £30.

-£30 he's sold it for. Plus £10.

-A profit.

-But rather depressing.

-Come on, chin up.

-You're overall minus 20.

-Chin up.

We're opening again at £20. And 2. 24. 26.

28. And 30. And 2...no. 30 it is in the room.

At £30.

32. At £32 now.

Can I see 34?

-Go on!

-At £32. With Roger. And thank you. 32.

£32, I can't bear it! You are minus £13.

-Well...

-Better than it might have been, isn't it?

-It is.

-It could be a winning score.

-Could be.

-Could be a winning score.

-So what are you going to do about the old inkwell?

-We'll go for it. Might as well go down gracefully.

-Or disgracefully!

-OK, fine. That's it, then. Decision made. We're going with the Bonus Buy.

And we are going to see it sold now.

1524 is an Edwardian silver and...

-We need this here.

-..embossed with foliate scrolls.

Birmingham, 1905. There it is.

Charming thing. And opening with conflicting bids

at £85.

- My goodness! - 90. 5.

100. £100 now in the room.

-Somebody bid against him!

-I'll bid!

£100. Is there any advance on £100?

With the gentleman. £100. Thank you.

£100. You have gone down magnificently.

-Are we a record?

-No, not at all. Nowhere even close to that.

-We should have gone with the lion!

-That's minus 88.

Now if things go really badly for the Blues, that could be a winning score!

18. 18.

-Are you nervous at all about anything?

-No.

-Looking forward to it!

-Quite excited, actually.

-Nothing you wish you hadn't bought?

-No.

-Your first item is going to be the toast rack.

-Yes.

-You paid £65. And here it comes.

1540 is an Edwardian silver novelty six-division toast rack in the form of a swan.

A really charming thing. £100 anywhere?

£70 then, please. £70 is bid. And 5.

And 80. And 5. And 90. And 5. 100. 110.

-120.

-Look at this!

-120.

130. 140?

-130 it is with you, sir.

-Come on.

-£130 seated.

-You clever girl.

-140 in a fresh place.

150? 140 I have. At £140.

-All done at £140? Fair warning.

-Brilliant!

So brilliant. That is plus £75.

-That's nice.

-Catherine, you doubled your money.

-That's really good.

-Now...

-There you are. That would make any tea party glamorous. Look at that.

-Watch out, Richard.

-What will we say?

-It's beautiful.

-£30?

20?

10?

10 I'm bid. At £10 now. 12 can I see?

-- £10. Is there any advance on £10? - This is amazing.

-£10.

At £10.

-Even I'd buy it for that!

-Well, you bought it for 100!

-I know!

Anyway, there we go. That's minus £90. You had 75. You're now minus 15.

-Now let's hope for the dressing table jar.

-A charming thing.

What shall we say? £30?

Shall we say 20, then? 20 I'm bid. At £20. Can I see 22?

Can I see the 22? At £20.

-Oh, it was so good and now it's gone wrong.

-Look out. It's got 22.

£22. Centre of the room. At £22. Is there any advance on 22?

-22.

-£22. That's minus 18. Overall, you're minus 33.

-What about the scent bottle?

-Are we going to go for it?

-I can't see any reason why not to.

I can!

You could ring fence your losses where you are at £33.

-Or chance the 65.

-It is lovely, but it's a bit...

-No, we won't.

-He says no.

We're not going with the Bonus Buy, but we'll watch it sold, anyway.

I can tell you the auctioneer's estimate is £20-£30. So you've probably made the right decision.

A late-Victorian silver and green enamel cut-glass globular scent bottle. Opening at £60.

-65 can I see? 65. And 70 is there? 70?

-Oh, no!

-65.

£65. Can I see the 70? At 65, all done. 65.

It wiped its face! No profit, no loss.

So it makes no difference. Had you gone with it, you'd have got nothing. Exciting, wasn't it?

-Absolutely.

-And on an estimate of £20-£30, he's done very well. No shame, no pain, Catherine.

Well, well, well, well, well.

I don't know what you lot are laughing about because your scores

were appalling across the board!

No one is coming out of this stinking of roses, I'm afraid.

I shall not be reaching for my waistcoat pocket. It's a question of the scale of the losses.

I'm afraid to say that the leaders of the pack of losses are the Reds!

-You're the runners-up, girls.

-What about Charlie?

What about Charlie?

I hate to see a grown man weep, but anyway, there we go.

Not the day for selling silver, I fancy, in that saleroom.

-Have you had a good time?

-Brilliant.

-We've loved having you on the show, but the victors today,

who only lost £33, are the Blues!

They started off with a £75 profit. So to lose £33, having made £75 profit to start off with

does take some doing, chaps. But you managed to gradually erode the whole lot

and finished up with minus 33. Nobody's crying. We had a great day.

-Join us soon for some more bargain hunting. Yes?

-Yes!

I know you're sitting there thinking, "I could have done better than that!" 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