Epsom/Dorking 21 Bargain Hunt

Welcome to Epsom,

famous for its race course and also for its Epsom salts.

So if you're run off your feet and have an upset stomach, you're in the right place.

Let's go bargain hunting!

Here we are at an antiques and collectables fair,

held at this magnificent race course,

which also hosts

the world-famous annual Epsom Derby event.

The big question today is, will our teams manage to pick up any Derby of their own?

Or maybe a bit of Coalport

or perhaps some Pilkington.

Here's a quick squint at what's coming up.

The Reds play Musical Chairs...

-Oh, wow!

-THEY LAUGH

..and tension mounts for the Blues.

-Petrified.

-You're petrified.

-Petrified, Tim!

It could be the biggest disaster in Bargain Hunt history,

or it could be wonderful.

Well, I never did! Well, let's go and meet them, then.

On Bargain Hunt today we have friends Roshan and Steve,

and a mother-and-daughter combo from heaven, Helen and Tessa.

-Hello, everyone!

-ALL: Hello!

-Lovely to see you.

-Rosh, what do you do for a living, mate?

-I'm in marketing.

I'm a business development executive, which sounds boring but it's actually quite fun.

-Sounds rather expensive to me!

-I wish!

-Jolly good.

-You're enjoying it?

-Yes, very much so.

What's this about you being a bit of a rapper?

I like hip-hop music

and it's just been the soundtrack to my life,

so I've prepared a little rap for you guys.

You never have!

-I don't suppose you want to hear it?

-Roshie, we're gagging to hear it! Off you go!

RAPS: I'd like to thank you for letting us on the BBC,

showing our faces to the nation through a TV screen,

it's such an honour, especially meeting with Tim Wonnacott,

red fleece, expertise, money please, thanks a lot,

I'm out to buy some old stuff, and through the magic of human lust

I'm either gonna make a profit or go bust.

I wish you luck but you might be singing the Blues soon

and if you win, it was still nice to have met you.

Ahh! Isn't that the sweetest thing? Gosh! That's quite something.

Commit it to paper and we'll paste it on the office wall.

That's really lovely. Thank you.

Steve, what do you do to earn a buck?

I'm a personal trainer and sports massage therapist.

-Really?

-Yes.

-Stop looking at me in that way, as if I could do with a bit of both!

So, you go round to all the women in your area

-and persuade them that what they really need to do is trot around with you?

-That's true.

On the odd occasion, a few hairy men need a bit of massaging, as well!

-I see. So you're all things to all seasons, so to speak.

-That's it.

-Do we know anything about antiques?

-No!

On that basis, you're likely to do very, very well today!

-Perfect!

-Thanks, guys.

Now, girls... Hels, your life has been spent on the buses, right?

-Yes, it has. 18 years.

-Never!

-As a driver?

-As a driver.

Cor, look at that! How did you learn to drive one of those enormous things?

-They're quite easy, but I'm not very good in a car.

-Aren't you?

-No. I can't drive a car.

-You like two decks...

-Yes.

-..and a dirty great red thing, yes?

-What's your navigation skills like? Pretty hot, I would guess.

-They're terrible.

-Are they?

If the buses go on a diversion, I get lost. I go all over London.

Really? How very funny.

-Tessa, what do you do to earn a buck?

-I'm a trainee lawyer.

Jolly good. Are you on a training contract?

-How far have you got?

-I'm looking for a legal training contract.

-I've just finished my legal practice course.

-Have you?

-Seven years.

College, uni and then law school.

-Seven years of hard graft.

-Yes.

-And you're a mother.

-I am. I have a 13-year-old daughter.

-You've managed to combine the business of weaning a daughter...

-Yes.

-..and going through college.

-Yes.

-I take my hat off to you.

-Thank you.

How do you think you're going to get on beating these Reds today?

-We're going to beat 'em, beat 'em, beat 'em!

-Are you?

We're going to win, win, win!

-All I can say is...

-Help, help, help!

-You said it!

Anyway, now the money moment. £300 apiece. 300 smackers.

There you go, Rosh. There you go, Hels.

You know the rules. Your experts await. Off you go.

Very, very, very good luck. You might say "on your bus"!

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

In this game of high stakes,

expert Charlie Ross is putting all his money on red.

But dealing a good hand to ensure the Blues beat the competition

is fellow expert Catherine Southon.

So with an hour to shop and £300 to spend,

let's get on with it.

-This is all very exciting, guys.

-It is a bit.

-Is this new territory?

-Completely. I've never done anything like this.

-Really?

You two girls, I can feel the excitement!

-I know. Can we hurry up and get a bargain?

-Calm down!

-What do you want to buy?

-Something shiny. I like purple.

-Something shiny and purple!

-Yes.

-That's really helpful!

-It narrows it down.

-What are we looking for first?

-Some jewellery.

-And some silver.

-Jewellery and silver. So smalls.

-BOTH: Yes.

-Smalls. OK.

Let's put that excitement into action

-and let's get going.

-Let's go.

Great whisks! Look at those.

Get the flies off you.

-Is that what that's for?

-That's what that's for.

There's some jewellery here. Did you want to look at jewellery?

So, what is it - £2,500?

-What have we got to spend?

-We've got, erm,

not quite as much as that!

'In your dreams, Tess!'

This is quite difficult, isn't it?

'This shopping lark is always harder than it looks.'

-I think it's time you started grabbing some things or we'll run out of time.

-Good idea.

'Good advice, Charlie. Times flies on this show.'

-I like them.

-Oh, look at that!

-The blue one?

-The lizard thing.

-Is it silver plate?

-Solid silver.

-How much is that?

65, I suppose it could be.

I could see that doing fairly well. It's quite an interesting piece.

-Would you take...

-I'll do it for 55.

-That's absolutely the bottom. Really.

-Really.

-This is really difficult.

-'Come on! Make your minds up.'

Do you want to hold it... If the lady wouldn't mind,

would you hold it for us for half an hour or so?

-Is that OK?

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

-And then we can think on that.

-OK.

'You can always walk away and decide later.'

-I like that but I don't know why.

-You like that?

-Yes.

-I think I've seen one of them before.

-You will have.

It'll say Royal Doulton. It's a character jug.

It's priced at £35, which is relatively reasonable.

-We're probably going to fall out because I think it's absolutely ghastly.

-OK!

-It's got a cheeky smile.

-Cheeky smile!

-'Cheeky chap.

'It seems the Blues have spotted something else at the very same stall.'

What's the little bottle there, the cranberry and silver?

It's beautifully hallmarked.

I think you would find it too expensive. I have 120 on it.

My very best is £100.

-Smelling salts or perfume or...?

-I think it would've been smelling salts.

-I think that one's a lot better than this.

-The lizard?

-Yes.

You did say you could go down to 100?

-And that's really it.

-Your rock bottom.

-It is gorgeous.

-Really?

-But £100...

-OK. Shall we do it?

-Go on.

-OK, we'll buy it.

-We'll buy it.

-Can we have that, please?

-Do you want that?

-Yes, please.

-We want that.

-Did you say £80?

-I didn't! I said 100!

-And that's a bargain.

-You can't blame her for trying.

-'Indeed you can't.'

-Yes? Happy?

-Yes.

-Happy.

-Thank you.

Gosh, that was hard work!

'Well done, girls. That's the first item in the bag.'

-One item bought in...

-15 minutes.

-15 minutes!

-We don't mess around, us.

-No!

Slightly indecisive at the end, but...

-That's your fault.

-..but very good.

-This has immediately come to my eye.

-Yes.

That's... Well, you know what it is, a pair of bellows, with a dragon.

-It's certainly got age.

-Yes.

-That's certainly 19th century.

That silver plate is beautifully done.

It's a dolphin with a trident.

The bellows need a bit of freshening, as you can see.

When you blow your fire, half the air will come out there.

But it's got a nice polished brass nozzle to it.

Looking at the oak there,

I think it might be just into the 20th century.

It's a nice thing. It's a gamble.

I would think it would probably be estimated at £20 to £30.

I don't know if one of you wants to find out about a price?

-Is there a...

-20.

-20?!

-I think we should take that.

-I think that might be...

-What a reasonable lady!

-'Charmer.' Love you!

-Love you!

-What do you think, guys?

-For £20, you can't go wrong.

And it means we've bought the first item.

-May we buy it?

-Yes.

-Thank you. That's really kind of you!

'Congratulations, Reds. That's your first buy, as well.

'That's 20 minutes of shopping time used up.'

'What's this? It looks like a prop, a resin model of a skull, methinks.'

-What do you think?

-Who is it?

I was thinking you, but you've got a bit more hair.

-Just a little bit!

-Not a lot!

It's more like me!

-Has he got a name?

-Yorick?

-Yorick.

-Charlie!

-Charlie! Thank you very much!

-Pleasure.

-How much is it?

-Let me have a look at the price.

-75.

-75. Oh, is it?

What's the death?! LAUGHTER

-That is the death.

-That is the death!

The guy was in good condition, but he kept asking for better prices!

-DRUM ROLL & CYMBAL CRASH

-'Oi! I do the jokes around here!'

'With the clock ticking away, both teams are still browsing

'but the Blues want to bring Catherine to heel.'

BOTH: Catherine! Come along!

You're so rude!

I've just seen that.

-How much is that?

-£250.

-Two pound fifty?

-No, 250!

Gosh, that's amazing, isn't it? A little powder puff.

-And it's all still there!

-Oh, wow!

-And the lipstick.

-And the little lipstick and mirror.

-That is absolutely stunning.

-Why didn't we come here first?

-What can you do on that?

-220.

-We haven't even got enough for that.

-You haven't got enough money.

-You can't do it for 195?

-You can have it for 195.

-195.

-OK, let's just calm down a minute.

If we buy that at 195,

that means we've spent £295.

-Yes.

-We've still got one item to buy.

-Yes.

-And I've still got a bonus buy.

-OK.

-Which is fine, you can leave me with £1.

-That's what we want to do.

-I don't know if I can find anything.

-But that means you've got to find something for £4.

-OK.

-If we can find something for £4 -

-Why don't you try and find something for £4 first

-before you commit to this?

-All right.

-Because that might be your problem.

-OK.

-Right?

Can you hold that for us for 195

-for about half an hour?

-Yes.

If we can find something for £4, we'll come back.

-This is a mess you've got us into!

-I'm sorry!

'Who do you think you are, Catherine, Laurel and Hardy?

'Now, those Reds appear pretty focused to me.'

-I think we've found a camera over there.

-A camera?

I'll carry on looking here. You go and look at your camera.

-You're the cameraman, aren't you?

-Yes.

-Go and buy a camera.

-Do you know how it works?

-I have no idea.

I'm just fascinated by the fact that it does work.

-It's in quite good condition.

-Not too bad. The lenses look nice.

Take a deep breath.

-And run.

-And run! Run! £4!

'Get going, girls. You're on the clock, don't forget. There's just 20 minutes left.'

-What's the description of a camera like that?

-It's called a twin-lens reflex.

A twin-lens reflex.

-Do you know much about cameras?

-No, I don't.

-'Other than they never lie.'

-What do you know about that?

Not a great deal. I'm used to digital.

This just... I just love the form and the function.

-What's the damage?

-The gentleman's asked for 70 at the lowest.

I can't tell you whether that is going to make

-£40 at auction or £80.

-OK.

-I honestly don't know.

Is there a bit to be had on the 70?

We started at 75 and I went down to 70.

-So, you're coming down?

-Yes. 65 would be the best.

If I go away and come back again, it might be 60.

-Shall we go for this?

-It's something close to your heart.

-That's what it's about - passion!

-That's what we're here for.

-You like it.

-OK. I think we should go for it.

-£65. Shake on it?

-Thank you very much, sir.

-Great stuff. Thank you.

-'Good to see a second purchase develop for the Reds, eh?'

'Meanwhile, how do our experts think things are going?'

In all my years of doing Bargain Hunt,

I don't think I have ever, ever got myself into such a mess.

It's probably time for me to put my head on the block.

I shall go to something and say, "Guys, we're going to buy this."

It could be the biggest disaster in Bargain Hunt history,

or it could be wonderful.

-We've got £4.

-Yes.

-Can we do anything with £4?

-I'm actually getting a bit worried.

-What's going on, girls?

-I feel a bit of tension!

-Disaster!

-We're down to £4.

-We've left her with a pound!

-£4?

-Well, no...

-We're left with £4.

We've bought two items-ish,

we've reserved the second one,

-and if we go for the second one, which is big, big money...

-Yes.

..that means our third purchase, we can only spend £4 on.

-I'd go for the big, big money every time.

-Would you?

-Yes.

-Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

-That's it.

-Don't you feel?

-Yes.

-Do you feel excited by it?

-Oh, yes.

-How about you, Mum?

-I most certainly do.

-Catherine, are you excited?

-Petrified.

I've seen something in the corner,

which is amazing quality

and took my eye,

but it'll be something...

-..it'll be something you love or you hate.

-OK.

-Hands off!

-What do you mean, hands off?!

I spotted that earlier!

-You know it's got a musical base.

-It hasn't?

-LULLABY PLAYS

-Oh, wow.

-It's got a musical base!

-A musical base!

-I can't believe it!

-That's sensational.

I've only seen three of these in my life!

And you probably own all of them!

Guys, this was the thing I was bringing you over to look at.

The unbelievably clever Mr Wonnacott

has lifted up the seat and seen it's got a musical base.

-Now, it comes from the Black Forest, does it not, boss?

-Oh, yes.

It's pure Black Forest, where they're famous for musical boxes,

but also carved furniture.

It's inlaid timber, but it's been stencilled in pen and ink.

But it works just as well, doesn't it?

-The little musical movement inside...

-It's still going.

-..it tinkles when you sit down.

-I know!

It either tinkles when you sit down or it tinkles when you stand up.

I'm going to open it up. There's the musical movement.

-Is that a four-inch cylinder music box?

-It certainly is.

-Has it got all its teeth, Charlie?

-Yes, it has.

The fact of the matter is, having a musical Black Forest full chair like this,

in pretty good nick, is quite rare, right?

-It is a rare thing.

-OK. It's a rare thing.

-We don't want to speak too loudly because the dealer's behind us!

-Sssh!

-Have you asked him what his best price is?

-Yes.

-What is his best price?

-What do you think it's worth?

-I'm going to put him on the spot.

-It's worth £250.

-Oh!

You're not buying it from me. I'm just telling you.

No, but I always like to have my opinion backed up.

-An auction estimate should be, for that, 200 to 300.

-Yes.

-I think it's a rare object.

-It is.

-I think we could be in with a winner.

-I think you could.

If you don't buy it, I will!

-Guarantee!

-See you, kids.

-Thank you.

Sir, I think I asked you a price earlier when I came by.

-It was 110.

-That's correct.

-110 it was.

-I've got a gut feeling about this.

-I'm with you on that.

Is there any chance of me squeezing it below that to 90?

-Er, yes. I'll do 90.

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

-That gives you a profit, does it?

-That's fine, yes.

-We'll have it, sir!

-OK.

-£90.

'Well done, lads. I really like that chair.

'Three items bought with just five minutes left.

'Now, what's happening with those mischievous Blues?'

What about the gavel?

That would be quite good! Where's the lady?

Could that be four?

SHE LAUGHS

-Go on, then, that can be £4.

-That can be four.

What do you think? It's well banged about,

-but I think, at an auction, that might be all right.

-BOTH: Yes.

-I think that's quite...

-It's quite nice.

When the others are playing their game,

we can bang it when it comes to £2!

-'Hey! Underhand tactics, that!'

-Good tactics!

-Forward thinking.

-We're going to go to the compact and that.

-Yes.

That's what she's excited about!

So we've got two fabulous knock-them-dead items

and one...

-Knock 'em out.

-Knock 'em out! Love it!

-'Ba-boom!'

-Knock them dead and knock them out. Are we done?

-We're done.

'So with a crafty £4 second purchase made,

'the Blues can now go all out for the big-money item that they've fallen in love with.'

-We found something for £4.

-Right.

So we would like to buy that item from you for £195.

-OK.

-Do we have a deal?

-Yes.

-Whoo-hoo! Thank you.

-OK.

-Thank you very much.

-Do you want me to wrap it up?

-Can we have it gift-wrapped?

-Yes.

-Thank you.

-I've never been in this situation before.

-Really?

Never.

-It's a challenge! It's certainly a challenge.

-There's always a first.

-We won't get asked back, then?

-No.

Time's up! Let's check out what the Red Team bought.

First, a pair of early 20th-century Arts & Crafts-style bellows

just blew them away for £20.

Snapped up for £65 was this twin-lens camera.

And finally, the 19th-century carved and inlaid walnut side chair

with musical movement

set them back 90 notes.

-Did you say rare mix?

-Oh, very rare mix!

You're a pretty rum lot, you are.

What did you spend all round?

Altogether, we spent about £175.

-£175.

-Yes.

-Who's got the 125 leftover lolly?

-I do.

-Can I have that? Thank you.

Which is your favourite piece?

My favourite was the camera.

-Do you agree with that?

-That was my choice, but I really like the chair that Charlie helped us find.

The chair that we all found, thank you very much.

We all found!

-Yes, you saw it first. Is the chair going to do it for you?

-Definitely.

The chair's going to do it for me, too!

Here's another £125.

What are you going to go off and do with that, Ross?

I'm going to find another chair!

Very good luck with that. Have a nice cup of tea, chaps.

Meanwhile, we'll check out what the Blue Team bought.

A late-Victorian glass and silver perfume bottle

cost them an alluring £100.

Going, going, gone!

A hammered-down £4

was all they paid for this 19th-century turned wooden gavel.

Last but not least, a silver and blue enamel compact

was picked up for a less-than-compact £195. Wow.

-I think we've done quite well today.

-I love the little enamel.

-Yes.

Hang on, girls. Is it true that you spent all but a pound?

-Yes, it is.

-That's how it worked out?

-Yes.

-Amazing. Who's got the pound?

-Mummy.

-Mummy's got the pound.

Mummy's got the pound! There we are. That's nice.

It's a real one. Thank you very much.

OK, Mum, Hels, which is your favourite piece?

-The compact.

-The compact is your favourite.

-Yes.

-Daughter?

-The same. I think it is amazing. It is really beautiful.

I do admire you for spending the £299.

That is a really mature amount of money.

Your challenge is there. What are you going to do with that?

I've never ever had to do this.

-What, with a pound?

-No. I'm not going to buy much, I can tell you that.

-I've got no idea. It's going to be a struggle.

-A challenge, though.

-Don't you love a challenge?

-I do, but not that much of a challenge!

I'm very excited for all of you.

Now we're heading off to Petworth House,

in Petworth, West Sussex.

What could be more gorgeous?

Petworth House, as we see it today,

was largely completed between 1688 and 1702.

The house was passed down through the Percy family.

It was only when young Elizabeth Percy,

who at just 16 in 1682 was already twice widowed,

married Charles Seymour, the 6th Duke of Somerset,

that he set about creating a home befitting one of the wealthiest families in England.

The west front of Petworth House could be described as palatial.

Well, that's the whole point.

It was built to impress your visitors.

Whilst it may be substantially altered

since the time of the 6th Duke,

it does remain one of the greatest English takes

on the European Baroque style.

The marble hall has changed very little

since the 6th Duke's time.

It displays a lot of those French and Dutch decorative elements

that were original to that Baroque period.

The curious thing about Baroque decoration is,

particularly when it's Neo-Classically inspired.

The carvings and mouldings

are just that much bolder and more exaggerated in the early period.

Look at how richly carved those brackets are

and the egg-and-dart moulding underneath

is so big and bold.

The egg bit literally looks like a half-round hard-boiled egg.

Another beautiful feature is, of course, the original floor,

hence this space is called the Marble Hall.

In fact, as an entrance, it cannot fail to impress.

If you happen to be arriving from abroad,

well, you'd feel right at home!

Do you recognise the doorway?

You're right! It's back there, in the Marble Hall.

Why has the artist, Thomas Phillips,

recorded this particular scene?

Well, actually, this is an important historic moment

in British and European history.

Because in that doorway, in the Marble Hall,

we've got the 3rd Earl of Egremont greeting the foreign sovereigns

at the end of the Napoleonic Wars.

Well, almost the end of the Napoleonic Wars.

These heads of state visited Britain in June 1814,

and that tour included a breakfast at Goodwood in Sussex

and then the sovereign heads headed to Petworth.

Lord Egremont is introducing the Prince Regent, who's in red,

alongside Tsar Alexander I of Russia,

and next door to him is the King of Prussia, King Frederick.

Hanging onto the Tsar's arm is his sister,

the Duchess of Oldenburg.

It's a beautifully executed picture.

What I think is a particularly human touch

is the way that the artist has included the family's spaniels,

messing about on that lovely marble floor.

They were, of course, quite wrong to be celebrating the defeat of Napoleon at that moment

because the next year, in 1815, he escaped from Elba,

he raised another army,

but was finally defeated at Waterloo in June 1815.

The big question today is for our teams over at the auction,

are they about to have to endure their Waterloo moment?

240. Thank you. 240. 260, madam.

280. 300!

I can't tell you how lovely it is to have tooled down to West Sussex,

Washington to be precise,

to Toovey's Auction Room to be with a great man,

Rupert Toovey himself! Rupe!

-Tim, it's so lovely to see you down here!

-It's great to be here.

Now, for the Red Team,

we have got the Arts & Crafts-style, so said, pair of bellows.

-How do you rate those, Rupe?

-They're very beautifully made, aren't they?

-I think they're a mixture of dates.

-Do you?

-This is in steel.

-It's very finely done, isn't it?

-Yes.

I don't know anything about these metals,

but I have a fancy that if you try and hammer out steel,

it is extremely difficult.

-It's nevertheless been done beautifully.

-That's what I mean,

with this Mannerist dolphin.

-It is peculiar. I think it'll fetch a peculiar price, too.

-Do you?

-We've made it rather modest. Have you?

-Yes.

What's your estimate? 20 to 30. That's OK. They only paid 20.

Moving on swiftly to their second item,

which is what's been described to me as the poor man's Rolleiflex.

It's Japan breaking into a European market again.

I suppose so, in its day,

-which is, what, 1950s, early '60s, something like that?

-It must be.

-How do you rate this thing?

-40 to 60.

-They paid £65.

-They've been much more difficult since the digital's taken hold.

-Yes.

You really notice it now with these sort of film cameras.

Their last item, which I think is enormous fun,

is this Tyrolean musical chair.

I was there when Charlie found it. We all got thoroughly excited.

I'm just going to give you a demo because I'm sure you've listened to this.

LULLABY PLAYS

Properly tuneful for your Alpine lodge!

Very, very handsome. Have you ever seen a musical Tyrolean chair ever in your life?

-I think this might be the first ever.

-It is an unusual object, isn't it?

-It is.

-What's your estimate on that, Rupe?

-60 to 100.

-They paid £90.

-Well, I think they'll be lucky.

-Do you?

-Mm.

-I see it taking off.

But then I'm very, very optimistic about these things!

In case you're right, they're going to need their bonus buy

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

-Now, chaps...

-Yes.

-Are you nervous?

-A bit.

-Yep!

Well, I tell you, with a man of Charlie Ross's calibre behind you,

you should have nothing to worry about. Right, Carlos?

-If you say so!

-The modesty of the man!

No, seriously, you gave him £125 of leftover lolly,

what did you buy, Carlos?

I went off and told you I was going to buy another chair, I think.

Well, as you can see, I didn't.

-Oh.

-Oh, OK. Er...

"OK"! That's a very positive reaction!

-Interesting.

-Silver?

-Do you know what they are?

-No.

-What do you think they might be?

-To pick up small beans!

-That's not bad! Sugar nips.

-BOTH: Oh, OK.

They are actually late Victorian.

But they were £30.

I shouldn't be telling you that because you ought to be guessing!

I couldn't resist them.

-I think they will show you a profit.

-OK.

-Have they've got hallmarks?

-Yes. They're good, crisp marks.

Rosh, you're on top of this, aren't you?

What you've learnt watching Bargain Hunt over the years, he's unbelievable!

Seriously, I think he said, "They'll turn a profit."

-Is that what he said?

-I believe so.

-Definitely.

-How much?

-£45.

-OK.

So there could be £15 in it. Nice little bonus buy.

For the audience at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Charlie's nips.

Now, Rupert, you love selling these little silver trinkets.

What do you make of these nips?

Aren't they lovely? Beautifully made.

Of course, Levi & Salaman, they're known for novelty items

rather than straightforward tableware,

-so unusual for this maker.

-OK.

-What sort of estimate, Rupert?

-I think 25 to 35.

-OK, fine.

-Charlie paid 30 so that should be all right.

-I think he will.

That's it for the Reds. Now for the Blues,

whose paltry offering

includes a cranberry and silver little scent bottle.

Yes. Well, it's a nice Victorian thing.

They're not as collected as they once were, and it's very straightforward.

Oh, Lord! They paid a monster price, our team.

What, if you had to put your most optimistic pair of trousers on,

might you dream up as an estimate on this thing?

-Wouldn't it be marvellous to get 50 quid for it?

-Oh, dear.

-Try doubling it.

-Ah.

-They paid £100.

-That's too much.

-It does take your breath away.

Moving on, though, to the gavel. How many auctioneers have you got? You must have a dozen.

-Five or six, certainly.

-Have they all got gavels? Are they properly equipped?

-Sadly. And this, let's be honest, is not the finest example we've ever seen, is it?

-No.

I'm afraid the dog's had a go at one end!

-The teeth marks are off-putting.

-They're off-putting on a decent auctioneer's gavel.

-Will it make a £10 note?

-I think you'll be lucky if you get a £5 note.

-That's all right. They only paid £4.

-That's not bad, is it?

Rather sweetly, their last item is the silver and blue enamel compact.

-It's in lovely condition.

-Isn't that good?

The enamel's sound, everything's together. How much?

£60.

-60 to 80 maybe?

-Yes.

-£195.

-Goodness!

-That's what I mean.

-They must've been under pressure, poor darlings.

-You're going to need a blusher if you're going to survive this!

-I think we'll need more than that.

-195 is a monster price.

-It's just too much.

They're definitely going to need their bonus buy

so let's go and have a look at it!

You are the naughtiest of naughty girls,

only giving Catherine £1 of leftover lolly!

What kind of a bonus buy can a woman go out and buy for a pound?!

Not much!

I don't know how you've done it!

Well, I can tell you, it was not easy

running around these stalls where they were selling things for thousands, with my little pound coin!

They were just laughing at me! But I did it.

I bought you...

..this.

It's nothing particularly special, as you would expect with a pound,

but it is a propelling pencil, without the lead, that was extra.

-That's quite a neat...

-I like that.

It's silver plated.

-There's someone's name on it, as well.

-Helen?

-No. It's...

-Tessa?

-No.

-Is it Caroline?

Caroline? How sweet!

I don't know if it'll make much, but it's got to make a fiver.

-They're normally loaded... Oh, there you go!

-Oh, I have got some!

You've got a little lead in there. £1 well spent, I'd say!

-Thank you.

-It was hard.

-That's good.

-Thank you.

We'll see what happens.

For the audience at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Catherine's pencil.

Say, Rupert, that small isn't beautiful.

Small isn't beautiful, Tim.

Oh, all right, then!

Well, it's just plated and not particularly well made.

They'll be lucky if it's a few pounds.

OK, well, that's all right. The team only gave Catherine £1 to find her bonus buy

and that's what she spent her £1 on.

-This might be their first profit.

-What, when you sell it for £2?

-Yes!

Well, there's a very jolly thought! Thank you, Rupert Toovey. Good luck.

£90 done. £90.

130 behind.

Now, Rosh, we're on the edge.

-Just a bit.

-The edge of the abyss!

-Shifty, feeling a bit shifty?

-A bit. I've never done this before.

I've done it a few times and I still get shifty!

And look at his old face over there! That's shifty!

Seriously, anything you wish you hadn't bought, chaps?

-I think we've done pretty well.

-Yes.

-We've something from every price range.

-You're going to appeal across the board.

It's in the lap of the gods.

-If all else fails, you've got his nips to fall back on!

-We do!

Anyway, first up are the Arts & Crafts so-called bellows. Here they come.

We have conflicting bids here. Opening at £35.

£35. Can I see 38?

At £35, can I see 38? Is there any advance on £35?

Fair warning. 35.

-It's done. £35.

-Good start.

Whatever I thought, it's plus 15. That's a profit.

-Now the camera.

-..the twin-lens reflex camera.

Again, opening the bidding here on the books at £30. £30.

-And two. 35. 38. 40. And two.

-Come on.

No? At £40. Can I see the two?

At £40. Slowing at 40.

Is there any more? At £40, then. Fair warning.

Minus 25. Which means overall, you're minus £10.

..carved and inlaid walnut side chair.

The back inlaid with a goat herder and goats

-within a carved...

-I can't bear it!

-..Edelweiss frame.

And it's got a musical movement in the seat! How marvellous!

You'll know when people fidget with that!

We have conflicting bids here. I'm opening at £80.

We can start at £80. Can I see the 85? At £80.

-85 can I see?

-I don't believe this.

Conflicting bids at 80.

-Is there any more?

-It's terrible!

90. And five. 90 I have, here at £90 with the book, against the room.

- At £90, is there any advance? - I want to bid!

I want to bid.

-£90.

-It's wiped its face.

Disappointing, isn't it? Seriously, chaps.

-I had high hopes for that chair.

-I think we all did.

-Chaps, what are you going to do about the nips?

-Go for it.

-Your nips might support us!

-We're going with the bonus buy.

-Yes.

-We're going with Charles's nips.

-Here they come.

-We come to 1436,

a pair of late Victorian silver sugar nips.

Birmingham 1898, by Levi & Salaman.

We're opening at £30. £30. Can I see the 32?

-At £30. And two. 35. 38.

-That's good, yes!

£35 I have. At £35. Can I see 38? And 40. And two.

40 I have. At 40, is there any advance on £40?

At 40, and it's fair warning.

-That's marvellous.

-At £40, selling.

£40.

-Got absolutely nowhere!

-It's better than nothing!

Getting absolutely nowhere could be a winning score.

-At least it's not a minus.

-Quite.

-Don't say a word to the Blues.

-We won't.

-Well done, chaps.

Running through your items,

the ruby glass and silver-topped scent bottle -

you paid £100 for that,

his estimate is 20 to 40.

-Which is not so good, is it?

-No. That's pants.

-I think 20 to 40 is a little mean.

-It's a bit mean.

The gavel - £4 paid, he thinks it might make a fiver.

-Whoo!

-So there we go. Big number.

And the compact - you paid £195 for that.

-He's estimated 60 to 80.

-CATHERINE SIGHS

So on the face of it,

-this is about to be a bloodbath.

-Not looking good.

On the other hand, it may turn out to be absolutely splendid. Who knows, there may be no losses.

That's the message from the auctioneer in terms of his estimates.

First up is your cranberry glass and silver perfume bottle.

Lovely little thing. Here it is.

1452, a late Victorian ruby glass and silver perfume bottle and stopper.

-It's perfect, isn't it?

-Mm.

The hinged cover embossed with flowers and leaves. Birmingham 1899.

Such a pretty thing. There it is.

Again, opening here with bids at £40.

42. 44. 46. 48.

50. And 60. And five. Now in the room with you, sir.

- At £65. And 70. - It's going up, isn't it?

-Listen.

-£75.

-Cor!

£75. Any advance on £75? Fair warning.

OK. That's bad luck. Minus 25.

-It could've been a lot worse.

-Yes.

-It could've.

-Like 20 to 40.

Now, here's the gavel.

..the gavel. It's a little play-worn in places.

It is, nevertheless, a gavel, and you never know when you might need one!

We're opening the bidding at £22.

- There we go! - £22. Conflicting bids.

-£22. 24.

-£22?

-28. And 30. And two.

Ooh, no. No at 32.

30 here. At £30 for the gavel. £30.

All done at £30.

£30. Whoo!

You just made £26,

-which means you have plus £1!

-We're a pound up!

Oh, no. I can't bear to watch this.

We are opening the bidding with £55.

And 60. And five. And 70. 70 now in the room.

- At £70. Can I see the 75? - Oh, come on!

At £70. Can I see the 75? Beautiful thing.

70, then, it is. £70.

£70, I'm very sorry to tell you, is minus £125!

-No!

-You had that £1 profit.

Now you've got £124 of losses.

Oh!

-That's such a shame. We loved it so.

-That's what you call a punt, isn't it?

-You're going to go with the bonus buy, aren't you?

-Yes.

Oh, no! No, we're not going for the bonus buy!

-We're very divided.

-These solicitors are very difficult, you know!

There's no pleasing them.

-Going to do it?

-BOTH: Yes.

-Of course we are!

Now 1458, it's a plated propelling pencil,

-with engine-turn decoration.

-Come on!

-We want someone called Caroline.

-Yes.

Who'll start me at 20?

A fiver, then, to get going?

£5 bid. At £5 now. £5. Can I see the six?

Six can I see? Six it is. And seven.

-£6 I have. At £6.

-Remarkable.

Can't tempt you to a propelling pencil, sir?

-Does anyone know anyone called Caroline?!

-It's because it's engraved Caroline, isn't it?

-At £6, all done. £6.

-Brilliant.

-Yes!

-That makes a £5 profit. Well done, Catherine!

-You made some tidy profits, were it not for the compact.

-Yes.

-That's a shame.

-Overall, you are minus 119,

which is not too bad if you say that quickly.

-Don't say a word, whatever happens, to the Reds.

-No.

-All will be revealed in a minute.

-Well done.

-Thank you.

40? Thank you.

-This has been an amusement, hasn't it? Have we had a good time?

-ALL: Yes.

-Been chatting about the scores?

-ALL: No.

Well, there is a chasm between our teams today.

I cannot believe this!

How can two teams, shopping in the same place for the same amount of money,

do so polarly different?

The team that is running up by a long chalk today is, I'm afraid to say, the Blues.

ALL: Aww!

Minus £119.

-Well done!

-Thank you!

-Amazingly, you got a huge profit of £26 on your gavel.

-Yes.

And despite the bonus buy, the £1 bonus buy,

-which made £5 profit.

-Whoo!

-Well done, Catherine for that.

-But it was not enough to stem the flow, was it, Hells Bells?

-No.

-I'm sorry, petals.

-Never mind!

-But you were very sporting about it.

Bearing in mind how deeply competitive the Reds are, I think you survived very well.

Anyway, Reds, you managed to do everything for the entire programme

-and you have made no profit and no loss.

-Yes!

-Nice one!

-You have got absolutely nowhere.

Despite making a profit of £15 on your bellows,

which I think might've done a lot better,

-and £10 on your nips...

-Thank you.

-..which were the high points of your performance,

otherwise it's finished up with no score.

A wiped face on every face.

Three wiped faces!

-Anyway, we've had fun, haven't we?

-ALL: Yes.

-Join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

-ALL: Yes!

You're sitting there thinking, "I could've 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