Leominster 10 Bargain Hunt

Today we're in Leominster, in Herefordshire,

a town well known for its selection of antiques emporiums

so our teams should have plenty of choice.

It's also known as the Orchard of England

so there should be plenty of rich pickings!

Let's go bargain hunting!

Herefordshire's produce is internationally renowned,

particularly its cider and perry.

The big question today is, are the teams' efforts likely to bear fruit

or simply go pear-shaped?

So, here's a quick peek at what's coming up.

Both teams struggle with decisions...

-The table's going to go for more!

-Back to the table!

-This one!

-Have we got a consensus?

-This one!

..while I practise my riding skills.

Come on, lads, mount up!

So, let's meet the teams.

On the show today for the Reds, we've got chums Dan and Jake.

Well, they're chums at the moment!

And for the Blues, we've got sisters Naomi and Miriam.

-Hello, everyone.

-ALL: Hello!

That's a lovely hello!

You two are housemates. You're at Gloucester University, Gloucestershire University.

-What do you do there?

-I study radio production,

which is presenting, producing, technical aspects, writing.

What's it like being on a television programme, then?

It's confusing. I don't like the cameras.

-What do you collect, Dan?

-I'm quite into sports so I've started a collection.

It happened by mistake when I acquired a cricket ball by James Anderson.

But the signed football shirts and that kind of stuff, later on can bring big money.

Well, when my radio career fails, I'll have something to sell!

Jake, what are you studying?

I do music - performing, writing, looking at the industry.

-That's quite a big subject.

-It is.

It's good fun, especially the performing and writing side of it.

What's your instruments?

-Guitar mainly and singing.

-Oh, right.

-What do you do in your spare time?

-I finished recording an album,

which I've been working on for too long,

-and watching Bargain Hunt, as well!

-Good man!

What have you learnt on Bargain Hunt?

Everything about life we've learnt from Bargain Hunt.

-Pretty broad. But buy low, sell high!

-Yes!

-You're going to make a great team, then?

-BOTH: No. No.

-You're not?

-Oh, God, no.

-We...

Yes. No. Arguments happen all the time.

Do they? We don't mind a bit of arguing.

A little cuddle and it's all fine.

That's what mateyness is all about! Good luck with that, chaps.

Now over to the talent. I mean, the girls!

-Wow. Naomi...

-Hello!

-You're the older or the eldest sister?

-Elder.

-There is four of us altogether, all sisters.

-I'm the baby!

What chaos there must be when you four girls get together.

-It's crazy.

-We paint the town red.

-Yes.

-Or blue!

-And you're also a mother.

-I am.

-Mother of...?

-I'm a mother of two.

-Two.

Yes. Joshua is six and Phoebe is 11 months old.

And you're also surrounded by children at work.

I am. I am. I'm a nursery nurse.

I love my job. I get to go to work and I get to play all day!

-And you get paid.

-And I get paid to do it, as well!

Don't tell anybody because they'll think it's too good.

-Miriam, it says here you're a student.

-I am indeed.

-At what university are you a student?

-I'm at that university!

You're at their university?

It's a University of Gloucestershire reunion here!

-You don't know each other?

-Never seen each other before.

-You jest!

-I jest not!

-"I jest not!"

Isn't that marvellous? That's good, isn't it? What fun!

-What are you studying?

-Religion, philosophy, ethics and sociology.

-It's quite a mouthful.

-It certainly is.

And what's the end result going to be for you?

I'm planning on doing a PGC and being an RE teacher for high school.

Do you collect anything?

-Yes,

-girlie... Like, quirky...

-Girlie, pretty...

-Is that what you're going to buy?

-We're hoping to leave the expert a pound or two.

-A pound or two!

-You're too generous, you sisters!

-I know!

Talking of money, here comes £300 apiece.

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

Very, very good luck.

Gosh! Whatever's going to happen next?

Now, what fine experts have we got lined up for you today?

Well, weighing everything up for the Reds,

we have Claire Rawle.

Hoping to grind out the profits for the Blues,

it's Paul Laidlow.

So, Dan and Jake, what are we looking for today, then?

Ooh, a little bit of everything.

-How are we playing this today?

-We want pretty things.

-Big items, I reckon.

-Yes.

-Not size-wise.

-Oh, really?

-Just big on impact.

-BOTH:

-Think pretty, girlie...

-Pretty, girlie? Do I look like a pretty, girlie type of guy?

-Yes!

-We'll help you!

-Let's do it, then!

-Let's head off into here.

-Let's do it.

'You've got 60 minutes and £300.

'Off you go, teams.'

-Let's get shopping!

-Pretty and girlie...

'Hey, I start the clock, Reds!'

-Food's ready, Jake!

-It's got a good tone to it.

It's a nice oak frame. Dates from the 1930s.

It's all right, actually. It's quite quirky and fun.

-I like it. What do you reckon, Dan?

-I think it's quite good.

-Shall we have a little look round?

-Yes, have a browse.

-OK, right.

-I do quite like it, though.

'So no song for the gong, Reds.'

'But have the Blues found some bling to sing about?'

-How does jewellery sell?

-The jewellery market is great.

It's all in the eye of the beholder,

and so much of jewellery doesn't have precious content, the costume category,

but even costume jewellery is selling just fine at the moment.

-What about rings?

-Now, in the centre you've got a flowerhead cluster...

-That's your granny again. Anathema.

-OK.

We've got a cameo. She liked those, as well.

And at the end, the little amethyst affair...

-Would you wear it? Say no.

-No.

That's great! Bang on script!

Would you wear it?

If I had my purple frock on!

-Next room, I think...

-'You said it, Miriam.

'Move on, then, move on. Purple frock, eh, Paul? Lovely.

'Now, what have the Reds picked up?'

-Give us a tune.

-Is it any good? You're the expert on guitars.

-DISCORDANT STRINGS

-Come on, Jake.

-Ooh, that's out of tune!

-That just says it!

'You can tune it, you know, Reds.'

# Play that funky music, white boy... #

'Now, what's lighting up those sisters?'

Ooh! Nice.

Adam-style candlesticks.

Silver-plate. This much we know, or they wouldn't be sitting there and affordable.

It's easy to dismiss these, but there's very fine reeding.

Quite a starkly geometric form.

Cast-iron loaded base,

because otherwise they topple.

But I'll tell you what I'm liking,

-look at the little bird.

-I saw that!

-Aww!

-I like the bird.

-So, what's that?

That's the family's armorial crest.

-Ohh!

-They came from a good...

You don't have armorial-crested pieces back at home? I know I don't!

Seriously, they've gone from easily dismissed

to what's called old Sheffield plate,

-as opposed to electroplate.

-Oh!

-I love them!

-Do you?!

-High-five!

-THEY LAUGH

What about the price?

My estimate, cautious but probably realistic, 50 to 80.

-What are you like with negotiating?

-We've never tried.

-Never tried?

-But we are good at smiling.

-We are really good at smiling.

Let me see you smiling. Try that again.

-"Yours for £20, madam."

-Thanks!

# Sisters are doing it For themselves... #

'As the Blues practise their charm skills,

'the Reds are on a mission to find their first purchase.'

-There's a chicken theme going on through here, isn't there? BOYS:

-Yes.

-Do they go well at auctions - chickens?

-They can do.

People like chickens.

'There can be a buck in a cluck, Reds. You never know.'

-Nothing else grabs your fancy?

-No. Still hanging onto the gong.

-Do you want to make a purchase?

-Shall we?

-You love the gong.

-I'm enjoying it.

'So as the boys bang on about the gong,

'what are those cheeky sisters up to?'

-Hi!

-Hello!

-THEY LAUGH

-They were nicking off with those!

-I know! Up the jumper!

-That's why they're so big!

-You're trouble, aren't you?

-No!

-What have you got there?

-We like these

but we're not so sure on the price.

-Right, OK. Let's have a look. So...

-There you go.

-We had 90...

-They look a bit old.

-..90 pounds.

I know, I couldn't believe it either! LAUGHTER

Christmas bonus!

I thought that was quite good but, erm...

We usually do 10%, so it should be £80.

We were looking more in the region of 30.

I thought they were only going to be £30.

-How much?

-BOTH: 30.

-£30?!

I thought the maximum we could do was 40.

Well, actually, the dealer's here so I can have a chat.

-Yes, please.

-Is that OK?

-I'll do my best.

-As small as you can!

-We'll see what we can do.

-Thank you!

'Fingers crossed, then, Blues. Now, are the Reds hitting the right notes?'

It's very typically 1930s-type item,

with this sort of architectural oak-type frame round it.

Nice heavy brass gong. It says "Burmese" on it.

I think that's more to do with the fact that they were used out there.

I'm pretty sure it's British-made, more than likely.

What do you think it'll go for?

I would estimate it at about sort of 30 to 50.

If you can get it under the 20...

-Who's a good negotiator?

-He's the charmer!

-Is he?

-Is this going to be your tactic?

-Get Dan to do everything and I pick out the products.

-You just stand in the background.

-That's how it is?!

'No pressure, then, Daniel!

'Blimey. It's a charm offensive all round with these teams today.'

-Look at his face!

-No...

65. Now, that is good.

-I think we might have to leave them.

-Yes.

We'll leave them here and if we need them...

-You know where they are.

-We know where they are.

Oh, yes!

-I could...

-"I could" what?

-I think you're budging us!

I could show you what I think is a really good bargain.

-Oh, yes.

-Take those with you.

-Take these. OK.

'Take them with you! You need to pay the man first, girls!

'Come along, then, Dan, show us your charm.'

You see, now my friend Jake here, this little face...

-I've never seen or hit a gong before.

-..he loves gongs and he loves a bargain.

We reckon, maybe like 18...

This belongs to another lady and I'll need to give her a ring.

Is that all right?

-I'll get hold of her now.

-See what her very best is.

Tell her we've a man with a dashing ginger beard, and he loves a gong.

'How could they say no, Daniel?

'Those indecisive Blues are getting a bit of help from dealer Jeremy.'

This box here is turn of the century, OK?

It's part of the Arts & Crafts movement, which is very popular.

Oh. OK. And what's the price?

The price... Well, I had £40 on it,

-but I can do it for...

-20?

-'Hold on!'

-10.

-Don't make an offer yet!

'You tell 'em, Paul! But you need to start making decisions.

'So, is it good news for the Reds?'

I can't get hold of her so I dare not take anything off.

-So, it's only 22?

-It's 26, I'm afraid. I'm sorry.

-It's up to you, guys.

-Your call.

-It's your gong! It's your gong, Jake.

-I've done my bit!

You're going to blame each other if it bombs out!

-What do you want to do?

-Shall we be daring and just do it?

-'You need something.'

-Could you do it for 25?

I daren't move on it.

-It's up to you two.

-Shall we do it?

-We'll get the gong.

-OK. Well done. Excellent. Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Well done, guys.

'Nice try, Daniel. Better luck next time.

'One down, then.

'Now, has Paul found something to tempt the girls?'

Little split pearls,

a central amethyst and...

'A candlestick?

'They just won't let go of those things, will they?'

'Oi! You can't hide behind that, Reds.'

What do you reckon?

-I'd be happy with that.

-Worth having a go? It says 45.

A more tourist piece than tribal, but there are collectors of this.

It's got quite a nice patina to it. And of course, all hand-carved.

-It's not too frightening, is it?

-No.

-They spook me out sometimes.

-This lovely chap up here...

-I think it's supposed to be a woman!

-This lovely woman up here.

-Yes!

-You hang onto that.

-Yes.

-I'll see if I can find the guy we need to speak to.

-Back in a moment.

-'Going in disguise is not going to help make your case, boys!

'And after all that help, the girls still haven't made their first buy.

'But they're not letting go of those sticks.'

-You've spent half an hour on this.

-No way!

-I kid you not.

You need to buy something.

-Half an hour...?

-Buy something.

-OK.

-I'll tell you what we'll do.

-What did they come down to?

-65.

Go back, like your life depended on it, and get them for 60.

'You'll have to wait a minute, Blues. Jeremy is somewhat tied up.'

-Hello.

-We're interested in this.

-I hope you're not as much trouble as they are downstairs!

-Of course we're not! We're lovely!

-No! No!

-Oh, I'm so pleased!

-How can I help?

-Well, we'd like to purchase...

-..this mask.

-Very good.

-What can you do for us?

-Right. OK.

-It's already been reduced once, you see.

-Yes.

-Is £40 any good?

-That means it's been hanging around a bit, doesn't it?

Can you touch 30?

-Er...

-Look at this smile.

-Claire will get angry, as well.

You don't like Claire when she's angry!

This is very tricky for me because it belongs to another dealer

but I'll take a chance and say 35.

-Yes!

-Ooh! 35?

-Yes, we'll do it!

-Is that a deal?

-That's great.

'Well done, Reds. You're two-up on the Blues.

'But hop to it, Jeremy. The girls need you, too.'

-Right, we're sorry, we're back on the candlesticks.

-Back on the candlesticks!

I tried hard with the jewellery. Stony ground.

60 pounds?

Well, I can only ask.

'Please, Jeremy! For me?!'

Come on! Come on!

-Fingers crossed.

-Fingers crossed!

-We need to nail something.

-'Yes, you certainly do.'

Half an hour is scary!

-Come on, please!

-Yes.

-THEY CHEER

We've got our first one!

# Hallelujah, hallelujah... #

'Let's keep this momentum going. You, too, Reds.'

# Hallelujah, hallelujah... #

Oh! This is sweet!

'Looks like the Blues are feeling all childlike-like.'

-I know! I saw that earlier!

-Ahh!

-I like it.

-A little toy or doll's...

-High chair.

-..feeding chair, high chair, yes.

-I think it's charming. Oh, no... Controversy!

-No, I like it.

-Do you?

-Yes.

-We've got consensus!

-Yay!

So it's a wooden affair that does what you'd expect.

And here we go. Watch this.

-NAOMI GASPS Ta-da!

-Oh, my goodness!

-Ohh!

-Wow!

-It's rather sweet, isn't it? I think it's got age.

You worry that these things can be knocked up, a bit of old brown paint and dust,

but I think that's probably pucker, to be honest with you.

They look like handmade screws.

-See, the slots are uneven?

-Yes.

-Do you like it?

-I like it.

-I like it.

-Working with children, I like it.

-A little girl might love to play with that!

-I think she would.

'It's the item to have, Paul.

'Are those Reds losing their heads?'

-Head things!

-These aren't terribly old. They're very decorative, though.

-You're working to a theme here, I think.

-I would put that on the mantelpiece, as well.

You could do. They're not terribly heavy.

35 for Zeus.

And... Ooh, he's heavier.

Ooh, 35 for Fred. Quite decorative.

You've gone with the unusual interior-type...

Do you want me to...?

-Oh... I don't...

-HE STAMMERS

Come on! I tell you what, we'll walk down here quickly.

'It's a shake of the head for the Reds,

'and another headache for poor Jeremy by the look of things.'

-Hello!

-We're all friends!

-That's a look of dread!

-Oh, no!

-Right...

-Who's kicking off?

-We have found something which we like.

-This.

-Very good, yes.

-Erm...

My mother used to sit me in this, do you realise that?!

-You've grown a bit.

-I was a small baby.

We're just really, obviously, price...

Yes. Er...

-Could you do £15?

-No!

'Cheeky.' No, no, no. £30.

-25.

-I can't.

-Please, Jeremy!

-I tell you what - 28.

-There we go.

-26 and you've got yourself a bargain!

-Or WE'VE got ourselves a bargain!

-You've got yourselves a bargain!

'Ooh, you girls! Give Jeremy a break, the poor man!'

This is quite a nice table.

-It's got 88 on it.

-I quite like that.

-So do I.

Oh, wow! Hey!

OK, have a better look at it.

It is the sort of thing, a lot of furniture isn't selling well, but that is nice.

It's nicely done all the way through. It's Art Nouveau. It's useful.

88's not out of the way. But if you want to come back...

Should we be decisive and do it?

This or the heads. What do you reckon?

JAKE SIGHS

Quick! We're going to be out of time.

-Both say it after three.

-DAN STAMMERS

-Three, two, one...

-BOTH: Heads.

'So heads it is for the boys. 'Is it a chair for the girls?'

-We're coming back here if we lose money!

-How badly wrong can it go at 28?

-OK.

-Take a punt.

-28.

Well done. I'm so pleased you've made a decision!

Does he seem relieved?

-"Get these two out of my shop!"

-Thanks for that!

-Right, you've only got five minutes left to play with.

-Third and final...

No! Five minutes!

'Yes, you heard the man. Five minutes, girls. Pressure's on.'

They're not going to come down that much.

If you can negotiate anywhere near 50... Are you happy with that?

-I'm just thinking about the table, but we've made a decision.

-'What?'

-You haven't got them yet.

-What do you reckon? Quick?

The table's going to go for more, isn't it?

-Back to the table!

-Back to the table.

'Oh, Claire! These teams, eh?'

-Ooh!

-What?

-I like the look of these.

-Ooh! Binoculars!

-I don't even know why!

I was going to say, they're not very girlie.

They are bent. They've been dropped on that eyepiece.

-There is leather missing from here. BOTH:

-Oh, no.

-The lid is detached,

But, but-but-but-but-but, bear with me, they're engraved.

It says, "To Colour Sergeant Lewis,

"from Captain HAN Fyers MVO... 1901"

dating them to the Boer War.

-Wow!

-Us fighting in South Africa.

-This is all of a sudden sexy and...

-Collectable.

-If you like sexy...!

And they're by Negretti & Zambra.

-Is that good?

-It's a good name in British instrument-making.

But it's all in the provenance. And at 22,

that's the kind of thing that can do well because of the history.

'Three minutes left, everyone.'

We're rather taken by this rather pretty table here.

I'm supposed to do £80, but whereabouts are you?

We were thinking 60.

Straight in at 60.

-Go on, then.

-Well done, guys!

Thank you very much. That's excellent.

-Cheers.

-That's wicked.

Hey, done!

'I can't believe it. The Reds have cracked it.

'Come on, Blues! Tally-ho! What!'

-I think -

-Do you like them?

-I think they're worth 20 to 40.

-OK.

-Shout on Jeremy?

-'Yes.'

-Not girlie, but profitable.

No. Yes. Jeremy! JEREMY!

Jeremy... Ahh! I saw this earlier!

-'Oh, no!'

-I couldn't see the price. The price is?

Well, it's £35 he was asking for it, but it can be £25.

-Oh! £25!

-Take a quick look.

That's English silver, mother-of-pearl handle

-and it's a little tea caddy shovel, a caddy spoon.

-OK.

-'30 seconds...'

-Priced at 25.

-What's the price on the binoculars? They're clapped-out, beat.

-Rubbish!

-A tenner.

-Not rubbish!

-Tenner?

-That's the pretty...

-Yes.

What are they worth? That's worth 30 to 40.

Yes, that's worth 30 to 50. It's really nice.

They are worth 20 to 40.

That's pretty and girlie. They're the tired collector's piece.

It's anybody's guess. What does your instinct tell you?

-This one!

-Have we got a consensus?

-'Ten, nine, eight...'

-This one! This one!

-'..seven, six...'

-You can't have both.

-'..five, four, three...'

-I don't know.

-Quick! This one, then!

-'..two, one!'

-I prefer...

-I prefer that because of the history.

-Let's do this. Whoohoo!

-We've done it!

-Done. Done.

'And relax. Gosh! I'm worn out.'

'Let's sit back and remind ourselves what the Red Team bought.

'The 1930s table gong was their first bash at a bargain. £26 paid.'

'They forked out £35 for the 20th-century African wooden mask.

'And finally, their lily-decorated Art Nouveau table cost them £60.'

Claire, I think you need a medal, because these are very enthusiastic, these guys!

-What did you spend all round?

-£121.

May I have £179?

-It's not easy for students, is it, to hand it over?

-It's painful!

-It's the most money I've ever had.

-Which is your favourite piece?

-My favourite is the African mask.

-Do you agree with that, Jakey?

-No. The gong, definitely.

-All right. Fine.

-It's beautiful.

-Is your gong going to bring the biggest price?

-Of course it will.

-Do you agree?

-I'll back him with the gong.

-Well, quite amicable, then, Claire.

-Yes.

-There's a wodge of cash for you.

Thank you. I'm going to be very decisive with this.

-I'll find something interesting for you.

-I'm excited.

We do love a bit of quirk! Good luck with that.

Meanwhile, why don't we check out what the Blue Team bought?

'They didn't want to let go of the silver-plated George III candlesticks

'and finally paid £60 for them.

'They spent £28 on this child's metamorphic high chair.

'And they made a truly last-minute decision

'to pay £10 for the pair of Boer War binoculars.'

I have to say that Paul looks like the man who's got the cream today.

-Now, have you had a bonny time with these bonny girls?

-We have.

-Yes!

-We try.

-Lucky old pupil, Laidlow, I tell you!

What did you spend in total?

BOTH: £98 in total.

-What, on the whole lot?

-BOTH: Yes.

-You're supposed to be women!

-It's our hard bargaining!

-Was that what it is? OK, fine.

-Anyway, I'd like £202 of leftover lolly, please.

-OK.

-The big sis...

-Thank you, sister.

-And you've got the two smackers, too?

-There you go.

-£202 go across to Paul Laidlow.

-Thank you.

Are you going to find something blingy, girlie, gorgeous to go with this team, or what?

To be honest, given the panic in the last minute,

I'm going to see how much counselling I can get for that!

Go and have a quick lie down! Good luck.

Meanwhile, we're heading off to somewhere absolutely splendiferous.

Nestling in the idyllic Cotswolds countryside,

Chastleton House was built in the early 17th century by wool merchant Walter Jones,

who was keen to establish himself as the quintessential country gent,

creating an impressive Jacobean manor with gardens.

But if you think this place looks gorgeous from the outside,

you wait till you see what's inside.

It wasn't just the entrance floor

that would've been used for displaying the family's wares in a house like this,

let me take you upstairs. By jingo, there are many of those!

It goes on...

..and on...

..until finally,

we arrive - whoo! -

in this magnificent space.

72 feet in length,

this is the only gallery

on the third floor of a Jacobean or Tudor house

anywhere in Britain.

Isn't it magnificent?

Some of the pieces of furniture up here are important, like this coffer.

It dates from around about 1500

and is either Spanish or Italian.

It's the covering that I'm interested in,

because where it looks so tatty on the top and peeling,

that's because it's actually covered in leather

that's been very beautifully and expertly tooled.

You see it best on the front

where all these shapes have been cut into the leather

to make a series of fish scales,

and then those fish scales have been painted.

When this was made, it would've been incredibly flash and important.

A bit tatty now but it could be restored,

and is really very, very special.

Almost as special as this fellow.

Scroll forward 280 years or so

and we've got some more clapped-out leather,

this time, enclosing a squeezy section

on something called an exercise horse -

just the thing to have in a long gallery like this.

Because on wet days, when you can't go riding,

you'd come up here, get your legs astride this fellow

and bounce up and down

so that your legs would get the exercise

and remain rigid and hard

and suitable to get on top of a seriously hairy horse

next time the weather cleared up.

And finally, I've found my hobby horse

and I'm going to get on it.

Isn't this great?

This is typical of the survival of kit

here at Chastleton House.

This is not a hobby horse for the squeamish, though,

because the cut-out timber head of the horse itself

has a little piece of mane on it,

the only thing is, that this is a piece of real mane.

That wouldn't have made any difference to the Victorian child, though.

The eldest one would get on board like this

and because it's a five-person hobby horse,

he'd get his siblings up the end here

and then they would've trotted off to the auction!

Just like us...

One more. Go on. 35.

35 pounds.

Well, we've come 30 miles or so north from Leominster

to the lovely town of Shrewsbury to be with Jeremy Lamond.

-Welcome, Tim.

-Very nice to see you, at Halls saleroom.

The big question today is, how's our gong going to go?

It's a fairly ordinary dinner gong. Made in Burma, I think.

-How much?

-Erm, 20 to 30.

I had a funny feeling you were going to say that. £26 paid.

-Now, what about this old mask?

-I don't think it's an old mask.

-Do you not?

I think it's what we might loosely call airport art.

It's something you'd buy before you hopped on the plane.

If you look at it here, it's been...

-Oh, yes. Look at that.

-It's been made up.

Around the eyes and the mouth and the nostrils.

-30 to 50?

-Mm.

-£35 paid.

How do you feel about this lily-carved table?

-Does that do it for you?

-I think that that is Art Nouveau,

whether it's French or Japanese is difficult to say.

The wood is certainly an exotic Asian wood.

I think it's well done but it's fairly simply made.

I rather like the lily pattern, don't you?

Somebody will love it for 30, 50 pounds.

-Is that what it's worth?

-Yes.

-Our lot paid 60.

-Right.

-Claire fell in love with it. She thought it was a cracker.

What you need is somebody else to fall in love with it, too.

-A couple of people, actually.

-Yes.

-You're going to be taking the sale, aren't you?

-I am.

You're very good at matchmaking. I've noticed it in the past.

In case you fail, our teams will definitely need their bonus buy.

Let's go and have a look at it.

You two rogues! I mean, just look at you!

You spent £121,

you gave £179 to that poor Claire Rawle.

What did you buy, Claire? I'm going to help you here, darling. One, two, three...

BOTH: Ooh.

A leather suitcase! Nice brass fittings. It's in good order.

The stitching's good, which is important.

It's become really collectable recently.

-How old is it?

-It's going to be early 20th century,

in the days when you actually had people to carry your luggage for you

because it weighs a tonne, believe me, empty!

Would you go away for the weekend with that, Jake?

If I had a lorry to put it in, or Dan to carry it for me!

-We'd have a nice getaway.

-A little retreat!

-It looks lovely. How much did you spend?

-£50.

-Bargain!

-It's a tactical buy. That was good.

-How much profit?

-I hope we'll see good profit on this.

It's difficult to tell at auction but I've found that these things,

especially with the online sales, are making good money

so I'm hoping for reasonable profit.

-Good.

-We've got a confident prediction there, chaps.

Just live with those thoughts, while for the audience at home

we'll check out what the auctioneer thinks about Claire's case.

-Well, J, this is bulletproof. Really thick pigskin.

-Yes.

I like this bar effect

because it gives you an expanding nature to your case.

That's right. Revelation are known, as was Crescent,

for expandable luggage like this in the mid-to-late 20th century,

and they were pioneers in that area.

-It's a good idea, though, isn't it?

-Yes.

-If you're going away,

-you can make the case bigger or smaller.

-That's right.

-OK, tell us what your estimate is.

-30 to 50.

Claire Rawle paid £50 and she really rates it.

Luggage is on the up at the moment so I think she might be right.

If the team decide to go with it... Anyway, now for the Blues.

First up, the pair of Sheffield plate candlesticks.

They're not rare, are they?

-No, but they are old.

-They are. I mean, they're 19th century.

What you want with candlesticks is to know that they are straight,

not leaning either way.

They're OK.

-60 to 100.

-Is that your estimate?

-Yes.

-Oh, well, that's magic!

What about the child's high chair?

Well, I've looked at this again and, at first glance,

it looks like a 19th-century Victorian doll's high chair.

But if you look at the overall look of it and the thickness of the wood,

this may well have been made quite recently.

I don't know what they paid for it but we put 20 or 30 pounds on it.

-They paid £28 for it.

-Well, that would sort of make sense if it's not as old as it looks.

OK. They may or may not make a profit.

Next is the binoculars, which are certainly genuine, aren't they?

These are old. They're marked 1901.

They've got a dedication from a Colour Sergeant Lewis

to a Captain Fyers.

-This is missing its casing here, which will hold it back.

-Yes, the little holder.

They've also been dropped. We're really looking at £20 to £30.

But it's all about the dedication.

If you find out who Captain Fyers was or Colour Sergeant Lewis,

there might be a story, which would raise the game.

£10 they paid, so they paid the right price.

This is a typical Laidlow cunning purchase, I'd say.

The next step is, will they need their bonus buy?

Let's go and have a look at it.

Girls, you've got your eyes closed for a good reason

because Paul is about to reveal what he spent £202 on.

-Paul, reveal all! Girls!

-Can we look?

-Yes, you can look.

Ta-da!

-GIRLS LAUGH NERVOUSLY

-What is it?

-Is it a baby's manger?

-Oh, yes! Like a Moses basket!

-Are you seeing it now? Are the pieces falling together?

-I get it!

There's age to it and credibility, authenticity.

And as a boy interested in mechanical things,

the construction fascinates me.

Look at this joint here.

You've got this big bamboo length, you cut a little V-shaped check or mitre in it,

but you don't break all the way through, you leave a web,

and then you can turn that round this rail here

and it's held together not with nails, glue and screws,

but by little pegs.

The man that made this, this is what he did.

He worked in bamboo, he knew his medium.

-When we drill down, when we get past the shock of "What is that?"...

-Yes.

..I think it reveals itself. It is fascinating.

How much was it?

-What do you rate it at?

-Do you see £202, girls?

£40.

-I would've said 80.

-Funny you say that!

It was not £40!

-Bang on £40.

-No!

-Oh, my goodness!

Naomi, you're a brilliant woman.

You're in the nursery baby-business, right?

-Yes.

-Would you wrap a baby in swaddling clothes and place it in a manger like this?

-No.

-Health and safety - maybe not!

-Health and safety would stop me from doing that!

We'll find out in a moment.

But let's check with the auctioneer what he thinks about the cradle.

Jeremy, I feel something bamboo coming on and it's right beside you.

Here it is. It's a Far Eastern child's cradle.

Again, bamboo's quite difficult to date.

I would say it's 20 or 30 pounds again.

Laidlow paid £40.

-Did he?

-He did.

-He's seen something in it which I clearly haven't.

All will be revealed in a moment.

Daniel, Jake, nervy?

-Excited.

-I think excited.

-Oh, you're more excited.

What's your prediction now as to which item's going to bring the biggest profit?

We said the gong. We reckon the gong.

Everything else - we'll see.

-If all else fails, you've got the suitcase to fall back on.

-We have.

-Definitely.

-Pack all your winnings in there.

-It's a dead cert!

Brilliant. First up, the table gong. Here it comes.

Lot 94, the table gong. 1930s.

Start me at £15. 15 is bid. Thank you. Who'll go £18 on it?

-15 only here.

-Dear, oh, dear!

-Oh, Jake!

I'll take 18. 18 now.

-There we go!

-22? 22? 25?

A game is hanging on this! Hands up if you want it.

-£25.

-I don't believe it. £25.

-You are minus £1.

-Still in touch. It's OK.

95 - the African rosewood mask. Start me at £25 again. At 25.

£25.

-£20. Who's got £20 for it?

-Come on!

20 bid. At £20. Two.

£22.

-It's a cracking mask!

-It's a great mask.

Five - internet. 25. 28.

28. It's in the room with you, sir. Selling at 28.

£28. That's minus seven.

-That's minus eight overall.

-Save us, table.

-OK, now...

Lot 96 is the Art Nouveau two-tier table, with hexagonal top.

Lot 96 showing there. Already I'm bid £30.

30 is bid. Five. 40. Five. Commission's out.

£45. 50. Five. 60. Five.

65. On my right, then, at 65.

All done?

It's a profit. £65. That's plus £5.

You are overall minus three!

-That's terrible, isn't it? Minus three smackers!

-It's OK.

-It's not too bad.

-We want to be ahead!

-At that stage, it's all right.

-What are you going to do about the suitcase?

-Take it.

-I love your confidence, Dan. Is he always like this?

-Unfortunately, yes.

-What do you mean, unfortunately?

-Well, when you live with him...

-When it comes to suitcases...!

-That's what we're doing?

-Definitely.

-We're going with the bonus buy, the suitcase of the century.

Lot 100, a brown leather expanding suitcase with brass locks, by Revelation.

At £20. 20. Start me at £20.

Expanding suitcase. 25 already on the net.

25. 30. At £30. At five. 35.

40. Five. 45 on my right, then, at 45.

All finished, then, at £45 on my right.

Selling - 45.

-THEY GROAN

-Bad luck, Claire.

-£45 is minus £5.

-We were so close.

Overall, you're minus £8,

which, quite frankly, lads, is neither here nor there.

-This could easily be a winning score so don't say a word to the Blues.

-We won't.

-Well, girls, this is exciting, isn't it?

-BOTH: Yes!

-Do you know how the boys got on?

-BOTH: No.

-Good. They didn't tell you.

-We want to beat them, though!

-You look nervy.

-I'm so nervous!

-Why?

-I don't know!

-We want to win.

-I really think we're going to win.

-You do?

-Yes.

-You've got a feeling.

-I have a feeling, but I'm still nervous.

First up, the Sheffield plate candlesticks.

Lot 111,

the George III old Sheffield plate candlesticks with reeded borders.

Who's going to start me at £50 for them? 50?

£50. 50 bid. 50. 50 only.

£40?

-£40?!

-40.

40 bid. I'll take two if you want.

At £40. £40. Gentleman here at 40.

-Come on.

-I'm selling at 40. Internet, you're out. At £40...

-No!

-I don't believe that, baby!

His estimate was 60 to 100.

Anyway, minus 20. Come on! Let's go with the doll's high chair.

112 - the doll's metamorphic feeding high chair.

This may be more 21st century...

-..than 19th. GIRLS:

-No!

-Antique!

Lot 112. Who's going to have a go at it? £20 for it. 20.

The little chair at £20. 20.

Ten, then, to go.

-Who's got £10?

-Come on!

-10. The internet's got £10.

-GIRLS: Yes!

LAUGHTER

10. Put them out of their misery, someone, and bid 12!

Anybody else, at £10 only. It's going to an internet bidder.

-Ah, thanks, internet.

-You're all out in the room.

-Oh, no!

-£10 is minus 18.

-Ohh!

Minus £38 overall, girls. Now the binoculars...

..this pair of Boer War period binoculars by Negretti & Zambra. Good maker.

Who'll start me at £15? 15 is bid at the very back of the room.

£15 it is. 18 on the internet. 20 now.

-At £20.

-£20!

-25.

-Yes!

£25. At 25. It's an internet bid.

At £25, I'm selling. 25.

That's marvellous!

-You've just made £15, Miriam, just like that!

-BOTH: Yay!

Overall, you're minus £23.

-Are you going to go with the bonus buy or not?

-Yes.

-Going with the bamboo.

-Let's go.

-You're trusting Paul?

-We do.

117 is the Chinese vernacular bamboo cradle.

Here it is. Lot 117. The first one I've seen.

£20 I'm bid.

20 I've got already. £20. 22. 25.

28. 30. Five.

-40. It's 40.

-Go on!

I'll take five if you like. At 40, then.

-One more, sir? No?

-One more.

-40 here.

-Go on!

-41.

Five. 50. THEY CHEER

LAUGHTER £50. 50.

All done?

-Well done, Paul.

-BOTH: Yay!

-10 pounds!

-That's 10 pounds!

That's 10 pounds.

Minus 23, less your £10, means you're minus £13,

-which could be a winning score.

-That isn't too bad.

-It could be.

-Yay!

-All will be revealed in a minute. Well done.

So, who's ahead and who's behind?

-Have you been chatting, you teams?

-ALL: No!

-Silence.

-Not a word?

-Not a word.

-Are you competitive, you lot?

-Yes!

-Yes, you are!

-We don't even want to talk to them.

I can tell you that there's...

-..about a £5-note between you.

-BOYS: Whoa!

-And I can tell you that nobody's going home with money.

-Yoo-hoo!

And the team that is marginally behind are...

-..the Blues.

-THEY GROAN

BOYS CHEER

You went with the bonus buy

-and you managed to reduce your losses to only minus £13.

-Yes.

-Have you had a good time, though, girls?

-Loved every second.

-How many more sisters are there like you lurking around at home?

-Another two. Whoohoo!

That's another programme!

The victors today, who managed to win by only losing £8, are the boys.

-Never in doubt.

-Never in doubt.

You didn't have the most brilliant profits,

but relatively minimal losses, so that's fair enough!

-Had a good time?

-Cracking!

-Loved it.

-We've enjoyed having you.

It's been so good, why don't you join us soon

-for some more bargain hunting. Yes?

-ALL: Yes!

Hey! How high was that?

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!