Newark 10 Bargain Hunt

It's a chilly old day here at Newark

at the Nottinghamshire county showground,

but the heat is about to come on our contestants

who have just one hour to scoot round these thousands of stalls.

So, let's go Bargain Hunting, yeah!

Most of the Pilgrim Fathers hailed from the county of Nottinghamshire,

heading off to the New World in search of salvation.

There are many dealers here from around the world

with all sorts of temptations for our teams.

So, will they succumb to the sins of envy, pride and greed?

Let's have a quick glimpse of the wickedness coming up.

The disco blues get busy on the wheels of steel.

Jimbo, take a look at this.

Every budding DJ needs one of these!

Whilst the reds just can't stop giggling.

That's all still to come.

But first, let's meet the teams.

Today, our red devils are sisters-in-law Joanne and Diane.

And our bad boys in blue are James and Steve. Hello, everyone!

Hello!

Hi. Now, Joanne, you're often mistaken for being sisters.

That's right. We wear a lot of the same clothes. Similar outfits.

We pop up at all sorts of different events looking very similar.

-You don't swap clothes, though?

-No.

-You have your own clothes.

-We have a little bit.

-Yes.

-You do.

-Sometimes.

-Sometimes.

-A bit of swapping goes on.

-Yes.

-Yes!

Absolutely.

-You're actually sisters-in-law.

-That's right.

Did you know each other before that?

No. I married Diane's brother about 12 years ago.

That's how I met Diane. But we only became proper friends when we moved to the UK.

-Where did you come from originally?

-Cape Town, South Africa.

Did you move over with your families?

Yes, I came over first, and then Diane followed.

I'm glad you've settled and are happy.

-Diane, you belong to a dance group.

-Yes. We do.

-Tell us about that.

We both belong to the Jess Daley dance group, a local group in Cambridge.

We do theatre dance, sort of contemporary jazz

and we've done two shows so far. We've been there for three years.

We're busy training for another one at the moment, which is great.

The heap of rather delicious looking cup cakes sitting there

are your responsibility?

Yes. I make cup cakes and I also do wedding cakes

and I do workshops and teach people how to make these.

Very beautiful. Tell me about that rose in the middle.

That's my vintage rose, I call it. My signature sort of look that I do.

Tell us about the mixture for the sponge itself.

-Special ingredients.

-South African. It's a South African mixture

handed down from my gran.

-You're not going to give the secret away?

-No.

-Who's going to have those later?

-Hopefully you can have one!

-Ooh! Thank you very much.

Now, James, I understand you're both scientists and you met in the lab.

Yes. I moved over here a couple of years ago to take up a position as a molecular biologist in Nottingham.

And I was plonked down next to Steve

and at first we never really got on.

He was really surly.

Then after a couple of weeks we got on and started chatting more.

We had the same sort of humour. We're both a bit risque.

Oh, yes?

And we started chatting and I said, "Dude, what happened?"

And he's like, "The day you started was the day I quit smoking."

-So that made sense!

-That's understandable, isn't it?

Where did you come over from, James?

-I'm from Sydney in Australia.

-Right.

-Born and raised.

-Right.

The idea of coming to the UK was to get more experience as a scientist

or better jobs, or what?

To get more experience. To see what it's like to work in Europe

and travel more in Europe.

Also a bit about seeing the mother country.

My parents are both from Birmingham, so I wanted to come back and see where they grew up.

But before you were a scientist, you trained as an opera singer.

I started training and taking classes and performing in competitions.

I auditioned for the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

The day my results were coming back to let me know if I'd been accepted,

I watched Jurassic Park on TV and thought, "That looks like more fun!"

So I resigned and took up a position studying science instead.

Really?

Steve, you're still studying?

Yes, I'm completing my PhD in systems molecular biology.

-Oh, yes.

-Essentially I work with James and we work on bacterial communication.

What I do is try to simulate the reactions that happen

once the bacterium receives these signals on a computer.

With this curious mixture of music and science,

what sort of things will you go for today on Bargain Hunt?

Essentially, I like Art Deco things.

It's quite popular at the moment, Art Deco.

If we can find something like that, a small clock or whatever,

something to go on the mantelpiece, I think that might sell well.

You've got plenty of ideas.

There's a lot in the chat.

What's going to happen in actuality?

Here we go. Here's your £300. £300 apiece.

You know the rules. Your experts await. Off you go. Very, very good luck.

Well, today, it's going to be either buns or bugs!

Representing the reds, our catch of the day, Phil Serrell.

And for the blues, it's smiles all the way to the bank

with Anita Manning.

-Diane and Joanne.

-No.

-No. Other way round!

-Can't I just call you both Anne?

-Yes!

-That's fine!

We've got 300 quid. What do you guys want to buy?

We were thinking before, cos it's an online auction,

we might try and get some smaller unique collectables.

-Something quirky and wacky. We like that sort of thing.

-Here I am!

And there you go!

Maybe brooches, some item of jewellery.

Definitely gold, cos the gold price is up at the moment.

-You've definitely worked it out, boys, so let's get going.

-Brilliant.

Let's go and find something bonkers.

Come on, Anne!

Looks like Phil's got his hands full!

Alas, poor Yorick!

I knew him well. But not in Newark.

-Do you like that bin?

-A bin?!

Our red devils don't want anything throwaway.

And just in case you didn't know where the blue team have got to,

AIR RAID WARNING

-It's a blotter.

-Oh.

-A blotter?

-But I think it's a bit dull, really.

-Yeah.

Bins and blotters, eh? This is gripping stuff, Phil(!)

We don't do dull on Bargain Hunt.

We need something that will return a good profit.

Well, this should return, all right!

-It's not very good.

-Is it not a good one?

It's kind of been split.

So someone's tried to throw it and it's cracked.

-Is that not what it's for?

-Not the ones with this intricate thing.

I don't know much about it, to be honest.

I don't know if it's something that was brought back as a tourist thing?

A souvenir from a trip to Australia.

It feels as if it's got a bit of age about it.

Have you seen these come up in auction before?

Not in Glasgow!

Sounds like James is missing home.

Meanwhile, the reds are missing a seasoned dealer's trick,

according to Phil.

-Aww!

-Oh, I love that.

Right, can I give you a tip here?

When you want to buy something, don't stand and go, "Aw! Isn't it sweet!

"I really like that. I love that.

"I really, really like that."

The thing to do is just stand and go, "Oh, I don't know."

So let's start again. What do you think to that?

-Hmm. It's a bit worn.

-Yes.

-Yeah.

-I don't like it.

-I do, I do!

But at £150, a bit overpriced for a knackered old nag, isn't it!

Now, if our blue boys could get their hands on some of the reds' cupcakes,

this next find could be a winning combo!

Did you ever have a teasmade? Do you know how noisy they are?

It's a design classic, boys,

with its original wiring!

You would probably have to rewire it if you were buying it.

But that's not a problem.

If we look at the body, it's chrome.

That isn't bad because that's a material that was popular at this period.

We have a black base, which I like.

The black dial on the clock

and altogether it's a design classic.

I really like it. It's a classic piece of engineering.

If you were to sell this at auction, what would you expect?

Maybe £60. 50, 60. Is that in the realms of possibility?

-VENDOR:

-Can't do it, no. 80 quid will buy it.

Would you go 75 for cash?

Yeah, go on. 75.

Do you want to buy it?

We've got two scientists here.

And the first thing they go for, although it's functional,

it has an artistic look as well.

I like it cos it's clean and simple, which is what you want from scientific equipment.

I'm not sold, but you know what? I'll give you it.

-If you want to see...

-Is that a deal for 75?

-75 will do me.

-OK.

-I'm on board.

-OK.

That's one down.

You guys don't hang about!

Believe it or not, the first automatic tea-makers

were gas powered and dated back to the 1890s.

Meanwhile, the reds have got their eye on something 19th century, too.

This is what I would call a piggin or feeding bucket.

That's lovely, isn't it. I could do that for £60.

Could you get it under 50 quid for us?

I'll check.

-Do you like that?

-Yes.

-It's very nice. I really like it.

No, it's got to be on 60 cos that's more or less what it cost me.

-OK.

-But it is a belter, isn't it?

About 1820, 1840?

Probably 1840. Mid 19th-century.

-It had been a measure?

-It was probably for feeding.

-Feeding?

-Right.

-Horses and sheep and that.

-OK.

I like the little handle.

-Yeah, it's cute.

-Yeah.

If you look at all this here,

those are the medullary rays of oak.

It's the way the timber is sawn.

-And that there really shows that broad oak grain.

-Oh.

This is coopered. Coopered is basically a barrel.

-So you've got all these staves here.

-Yes.

And the only thing holding them together is this metal hoop.

-Wow.

-Which are then pegged.

I can imagine that in the hall of a country house.

-That's what I was thinking.

-In the kitchen, flowers in it.

Kindling wood by a big log fireplace.

-I just think it's a nice thing.

-It's simple, isn't it?

Simple but really, really nice.

-Yeah.

-What's it going to make in auction?

-In the right sale, that could make 80 to £120.

-Yes.

In the wrong sale, it could make 40 quid.

Right. That's not too good.

-In my view, the gamble is - what are you charging us? 60 quid?

-Yes.

The gamble is you might lose 20, you might make 40 or 50.

-I think it's worth a gamble.

-I'd go for that.

-Yeah.

-It's a nice thing to own. You both like it.

-Yes.

I think it's really, really nice.

We like that. Thank you for helping us out. Thank you very much.

Deal done, eh?

Nice wellies, reds!

Now, our boffins in blue

are past the halfway mark and seem to have lost Anita.

Look at this, James. I wonder what it is.

It's like a spirit level telescope of some description.

Where's Anita?

It's like a sextant.

It's used for levelling, surveying and things.

Scientific instrument, chaps?

-You've found something that...

-I really like this.

I like the look of this.

So it's all clear and you can see to the distance.

-It has level guides in it.

-Let's have a look.

-It's weighty!

It is weighty!

What do you think they made this out of, Anita?

What metal is that? It's very heavy.

I think it's a brass.

It's a brass with a kind of a finish it has on it.

-Yes.

-There.

-I like the engineering that goes into these things.

They're beautiful but also practical.

-Do we have the box with it?

-It comes in a box.

It's from Birmingham, which is local. In the Midlands, as well.

It's interesting to have that label there.

-How much is it?

-It's got a price tag of £138.

OK. Let's call the dealer over.

-Which of you are good at bargaining?

-He is. He's the spiel.

Excuse me, sir.

I have two scientists here

and they're interested in this instrument.

You've got it up for 138.

-Yes.

-Would you take 110?

-I think I could knock the eight off, don't you?

-I think you could do better than that.

-125.

-125?

-125.

If you'd go 125, would you go 120 for cash?

120 for cash. I'll take a cheque.

-JAMES:

-I reckon 125 is fair.

-That's good of you.

-Is that all right, boys?

-It's a deal.

-It's a deal.

-Gentlemen, very fair.

-Thanks very much.

So, two items bought by the blues.

But with less than 20 minutes to go,

the reds have still to find their second item.

And here's proof that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

What it is, is that someone - your wife -

has taken a book, cut the innards out of it,

and lined it

and it's a little secret jewel box.

What's the very best finito, "there is no more"?

-"There is no more" less than £20. That's the death.

-Do you like that?

-No.

-You do, don't you?

I do, actually!

They're learning, aren't they? Getting better.

Could I ask you to hang on to that for ten minutes for us,

while we have a quick root around? See what else we can find.

Now, Steve runs a disco in his spare time

so this should be right up his street!

Here, Jimbo, take a look at this.

Every budding DJ needs one of these.

Know what I mean?

If you have a little look in the top here,

there should be a little record collection as well.

There is a record. Who is it?

Wake Up, Little Susie, by The Everly Brothers.

The Everly Brothers were very popular, back in the day.

Let's move on.

Never mind, "Wake up, little Susie"!

It's a case of "Wake up, Diane and Joanne"!

15 minutes and counting down.

I love that. An apple corer.

-An apple corer and apple peeler.

-I like that. That's cool.

What's nice is that it's English.

So you bodge your apple on there,

and then you wind that back.

As you turn it, it peels it on there.

Oh, that's quite cool.

-Do you like that?

-Yes, that's quirky.

Sir, your apple peeler.

Can we get that with a two in front of it?

I can do that for 30.

-OK. You couldn't get me just under the £30 mark for it?

-28.

-OK.

-Do you like that?

-Yes.

-That's wicked.

A nice little brass badge on it.

-It's lovely, isn't it? If it's made in England, it would be about 1895?

-It would be.

This is made in England. Most of these were made in America.

The Americans were fanatics for apples and apple peelers.

There's one in America that peels three apples at the same time.

Wow!

£28. I would have it.

What you should say is "core"!

-Cor!

-Cor!

Shake the man by the hand.

Thank you!

Now, this little apple corer and peeler

has stood the test of time.

You can still buy almost exactly the same design today. How good is that?

Our plan was for something pretty and kind of decorative.

And we've gone for useful!

-Practical.

-Practical items,

which is not what we would usually do.

-Must be Phil's influence!

-Phil's influence, I reckon.

-Yeah.

So, the reds have been buying stuff that's useful and practical,

and it looks like the blues are playing the same game.

-What do you think of this, Anita?

-It's quite interesting.

-What is it?

-It's a campaign chair.

You take that out there.

Right. OK. And somebody holds here.

And you go round there.

It's a sort of sedan chair.

It really is a bit of fun

and I quite like where we have these moveable hands and moveable pieces here.

It's really a conversation piece.

We've got a maker's name here.

T.W. Buxton. Sheffield.

Let's turn it round and have a proper look at it.

The most important thing is that this canework or Bergere work

is in good condition,

because it's very expensive to get repaired.

I think this may have been replaced at one point

but it's still in good order.

What about age on something like this?

It's about 1900s up to 1920s.

-What about the price, Anita?

-The price is £68.

You want to get it cheaper than that.

I think you're looking to get around about 35, 40.

If you can do that, you're doing well and it's worth a go.

But only if you like the chair.

I think it's nice. Jimbo, what do you reckon?

Yeah, I like it. I'm on board. Go get us a deal!

All right.

Phil's team have been looking for something quirky

and this is quirky with a capital Q, and certainly floats their boat.

That looks really nice. Nice bit of sporting equipment.

Sporting memorabilia.

-It's like a table badminton set.

-Yeah.

-I've never heard of table badminton.

-No, me neither.

Those are sweet, aren't they?

-Aw!

-Aww!

-What have I told you before?

What happens is this clamps onto the edge of your dining table

and you run your net across the dining table.

Then you've got yourself your badminton game.

I would think something like that, on a bad day, 30 to 40 quid

and on a good day, it might be somewhere between 60 and 80. That's what I think roughly.

Is there anything else on this stall that grabs you?

What might be an idea... Do you like the boat?

-Yes.

-The boat's only £42.

It's a pond yacht. These things can be, like this big, worth £1,000 or more.

So they are collectable in their own right.

The fact that they're both toys,

-if you can do the two together.

-Yeah.

The thing to do is ask what's the best for this, what's the best for that,

-and what's the best for the two.

-OK. Separate and together.

Boats and badders, eh?

A quirky combo, indeed!

Bargain! 68 on the ticket,

37 for cash!

-Well done!

-Didn't you do well!

Well done. So you're happy with that, guys?

-Very, very happy with that.

-I'm pleased. I'm happy, yeah.

-Feel of the bones.

-We've got three items,

three interesting items,

so now it's time for a nice cup of tea!

-It is.

-I think so.

-Let's go!

So the blues are home and dry with time to spare.

But the reds have just three minutes left on the clock.

The badminton set. Table badminton. What date would that be?

I think it's early 1900s.

So somewhere between 1900 and 1920.

-Yes.

-So the same age as the pond yacht.

-Both sporting, yes.

-What's the ticket price on that?

I'm asking 100, but I could do a bit less.

What's the best you could do that for?

The very best on the badminton is 80.

-I'll do you the two for 105.

-Let's have a think.

-We need to think.

-You've got now about two minutes left.

You've got to make a decision.

-Either one...

-Or both. That'll be the decision.

-Maybe we should do both.

-Do both?

-We haven't spent very much.

-No.

I think we should do both.

OK. You like that and I like that, so we'll have to go for both.

Done deal. Well done. Tell the lady.

Yes, we'd like to go for both, please.

-Thank you very much.

-105.

Thanks very much. Thank you.

A pleasure!

Well, we survived the shop. The hour is now up.

Now, let's check out what the red team bought.

Diane and Joanne paid £60

for this coopered oak feeding bucket known as a piggin.

From feeding to fruit. The reds paid £28 for the apple corer and peeler.

Finally, with their 60 minutes all but gone,

they bought the indoor badminton set

and toy yacht for a total of £105.

Seems to me you've been having a bit of a party, you lot.

Absolutely!

-Have you had a ball?

-It's been great.

-Been a breeze?

-Yes!

Good. How much did you spend all round?

-Um... 193.

-193.

193. Did you? That's good.

I'd like £107 of leftover lolly, please. Who's got that?

-I do.

-OK, Joanne. Thank you very much. Good.

-Which is your favourite piece?

-The apple corer/peeler item.

That's your favourite. Do you agree, Diane?

-No.

-What's your favourite?

-The wooden barrel.

-Is it going to bring the profit, your barrel?

-I think it will.

-Do you agree?

-Yeah.

-Lovely. You agreed about something!

£107 to you, Serrell. You love this bit, don't you?

-Yes, I do.

-Trotting off and doing your best.

-It's going to be a secret.

-Is it?

-Ooh!

-Not for long, it ain't!

Oo-oo-oo!

Anyway, mum's the word right now. Have a nice cup of tea and warm up.

Meanwhile, we're going to check out what the blue team bought, aren't we?

The boffins in blue paid £75 for the chrome-plated teasmade.

From chrome to brass. Next they paid £125 for the surveyor's level.

Finally, £37 was exchanged

for this Victorian mahogany invalid's chair.

-You spent a lot of money.

-Yeah.

-Did you spend a lot of money?

-Yes!

Great! How much did you spend?

-We did 237.

-You never did!

-We did.

-£63 of leftover, then?

-Jimmy's got that.

I'll have that, James. Thank you very much.

-There you go.

-You don't like handing that over one little bit!

Tell me, old fruit, which is your favourite piece?

I really like the surveyor scope. I rate it. It's quite beautiful.

-OK. What about you, Steve?

-Again, I'd day the surveyor's tool.

I think that's the one that's going to fetch a bit of profit.

You're a couple of rocket scientists. You can work out what's what!

Super-duper. Have you ever been with such intelligent contestants?

They were absolutely great.

-They took me around. I just stood and enjoyed the show!

-Good.

We'll enjoy your next bit of the performance, Anita, which is finding your bonus buy.

Is that going to be difficult?

No. There is something that I'm thinking about

that I have been drawn back to.

Ahh!

Intriguing, Anita.

A couple of weeks later, and we're all together again

in the sale rooms of Golding, Young and Moore in Lincoln.

Before we have a chat with auctioneer Colin Young,

here's a little piece of history that I've spotted.

It's not so often in these auctions that we come across good militaria.

But here's a prime example.

They both relate to the Leicestershire Yeomanry Regiment

and these two pieces probably date

from the 1850s.

And we know that these pieces cannot have been made before 1844

because it was in that year

that Prince Albert allowed the regiment to use his name

hence the embroidery here, "Prince Albert's Own".

This object is a sabretache.

It's a sort of satchel or wallet that would have been worn by the yeomanry cavalry officer

suspended from these three points on the top.

And behind, it opens up to reveal the pouch

into which you'd put secret documents or instructions.

Basically, anything that you wanted to tuck away

whilst cantering around on the back of your charger.

So that's the sabretache.

This thing is the cartridge bag.

Again, a finely-woven silver-mounted belt

and then this hinged compartment

which, if I open it up, you can see inside

six holes for six cartridges.

And the maker who made it is a man called Hamburger

who was in business in London, in Covent Garden,

making militaria-related embroidered objects.

And what an exquisite job he's done.

The auction estimate in the sale today is 700 to £900.

What are the two pieces likely to make?

Well, I fancy a little more than that.

And we'll find out exactly how much it fetches at the auction, later on.

-Morning, Colin.

-Morning. How are you, Tim?

Very well, and delighted to be here in your Lincoln sale room.

Let's start off with the reds' first object,

which is this so-called piggin here,

which I fancy is a bit of a pig in a poke

because this is something that's been imported from Indonesia or the Far East.

Yes, we see plenty of them through the sales.

It could be a bit of a bodge-up, but on the other hand,

what's it going to bring in the auction

as a sort of rustic, cottage piece

for sticks or stones or something.

30 to £50. There'll be a fair bit of interest in it, I'd have thought.

OK, great. £60 paid.

So they may be able to at least wipe their face.

Next up is this patent apple peeler, which is such an intriguing object.

We've loaded it up with an apple

and I'm going to have a go and see just exactly how this thing works.

If we give it a bit of a scoop like that,

you can see the device in action.

-Isn't that clever?

-Amazing.

-Clever, isn't it?

It is a nice piece of engineering.

-What's it worth?

-25 to 40 range.

Fair enough. £28 paid. They didn't pay a fortune.

It is a bit of fun and I reckon they'll make a small profit out of it. Brilliant.

And their last item is sporting.

This table badminton set.

It's a bit of a "guess a price", I reckon, on that.

What do you think it might bring, Colin?

It's really that combination of having the pond yacht with it as well.

Nice juvenalia group.

Maybe 40 to £60 for them all together?

-Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!

-Really?

£105, they paid.

-Hmm.

-I think they got thoroughly carried away, actually.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

We'll have to hope that your audience do, too,

otherwise, they'll need the bonus buy. Let's go and have a look at it anyway.

Diane, Joanne,

you spent £193. You gave Philip £107. What did you buy, Phil?

Place your right hand... No, we won't go that far!

-You recognise that, don't you?

-Yes!

-Yes!

And we know it's an old book

but the guy's wife made these.

And I got it for 20 quid.

I think it's a sweet little thing.

So just share this with me.

You have already been shopping and you nearly bought this?

We had a sort of slight row, not row,

-but we moved on to finer things.

-Yes, we did, yes.

All your little precious at home that you don't want anybody to come across...

-Make a great jewellery box.

-Any sort of private things in a book case.

How would anybody know without going through the whole lot?

-Phil, I think that's a really nice thing.

-Good.

And you like it, girls, cos you nearly bought it.

Yes!

All these secrets you three have been keeping from me

during the shopping! Anyway,

you pick it later. Let's find out from the auctioneer what he thinks

about Phil's little secret book.

This is rather fun.

It is. A good little lot.

19th-century book, nice marbled boards. Leather spine.

There appears to be something missing!

-It works, though.

-It works really, really well.

It's a really good home security device!

Isn't it, exactly.

But done in a period object. What's it worth, then?

I suppose 25 to £40, maybe.

It's useful over and above what it would have been as a book.

Exactly. I think Philip Serrell's been clever.

He only paid £20. So that's perfect.

Now, moving on to the blues.

The blues have got the chromed teasmade by Hawkins.

I don't know about that. Is it something that anybody would buy and use? Probably not.

No. But it is that retro piece that comes through sale rooms

that everybody does clamour for.

Maybe 25 to £40, and with that estimate, I'm being a bit generous.

Really? £75 paid.

-It's a lot, isn't it?

-It is a lot.

That is a big loser. Next is the surveyor's level.

Well, a lot of them come through sales

because they're generally not used

because they're replaced by electronic methods, these days.

So there are lots of these old instruments knocking around. What's that one worth, Colin?

30 to £50 is the range, because they are fairly common.

Sadly, our team have paid £125 for this.

Which is going to be, I think, a difficult price to achieve?

I think it is. I would class a good result at being 70 or £80.

There you go. So what with the loss on the teasmade and the loss on the level,

they're pinning their hopes on this so-called sedan chair,

which is nothing more than an invalid's chair, really, isn't it?

Yeah. At least it's got all of its carriage pieces together.

It has been re-caned and has that sort of,

-bit too much of a fresh look on there, really.

-Yes.

-What do you think it's worth?

-I've placed an estimate of 60 to 90 on it.

-Have you, really?

-Yeah.

-Well, that's brilliant!

-Is it?

-Cos they only paid £37.

I think that's good. It's certainly a good purchase.

It looks to me that the invalid's chair is the only bright star on the horizon.

Depending how that gets on, will determine whether they need their bonus buy or not.

Let's go and have a look at it.

Right. James, Steve, excitement. The leftover lolly moment.

You spent a magnificent 237

and you gave Anita £63. Anita, what did you spend it on?

I think you've seen this one before, boys!

LAUGHTER

The boys agonised over this. They both liked it.

Especially you, darling!

But they weren't quite sure and they sought on.

But I decided that you liked it so much that I would go back and buy it.

It is a very charming boomerang.

I love the carving. A wee bit naive.

And we all loved that fat kangaroo.

How much did you get it for, in the end?

In the end, £50.

What do you think it might do in the auction?

I have absolutely no idea!

That's what I like to hear(!)

I guess we just got to chuck it out there and see what comes back!

I'd get out of the laboratory a bit more, if I were you.

No, seriously, that's great fun, isn't it?

And who knows what will happen?

But for the audience at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about the boomerang!

Right, have you ever thrown one of these things?

I haven't, no.

But mind you, in a sale room,

it's probably a dangerous activity!

-I suggest you try it out in a field, somewhere!

-Oh, right!

I've thrown a few of them in my time and not one can I get to come back!

-Obviously quite an art to it.

-Yes, exactly.

We placed an estimate on that of 30 to £50.

OK. Well, Anita has bought it for £50 and she rates it.

I think that's got a chance.

You're always optimistic, Colin, which is lovely.

I wish you God's speed on the rostrum today.

Start the bidding on this one already at 50? 50. Five.

60. Five. At 65. 70, surely?

Diane, Joanne, what do you know about anything, you lovely girls?

-Anything?

-No.

-Know nothing about anything?

-No. Nothing about nothing!

Correct answer! We're on the edge of the auction. Are you excited?

-Very excited.

-And you, Joanne?

-Yes!

First up is your coopered barrel. Here it comes, girls.

Lot 195 is a 19th-century oak and iron piggin.

Who's going to start me at £30?

30. 20 to go, then, surely. 20. Who's coming in first?

-£20?!

-Ten?

-This is not good.

Everyone. 12 bid. 15. 15. 18. 18

20 and two now. £20 I'm bid. Two do I see now?

Two and five. 28.

30 now. £30 bid. Two, if you like.

32. 32 bid. 35 bid. No?

£35 all done.

Well, it could have been worse.

35. Five off 40. That's minus £25.

Now, your peeler.

Lot 196 is a late 19th early 20th-century apple peeler.

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

50? 20, then?

At 20 bid. 22 on the net.

25. 28 now? 28 bid.

£25. Any more bids now? At 25. 30.

At 30 bid. 32 now.

32. 35, surely?

All done then at £32.

£32. Plus four pounds. You've made a profit, girls.

You're minus 21.

Now, here's your big number. Your badminton set.

197 is the cased Arena badminton set

and you also get a pond yacht to go with it as well.

There we go. 197. Who's going to start me at £30?

30? 20 to go, then.

22. 25.

28. Bid 30 now? £28 I'm bid.

30 I'm on now. 30. 32 now?

32. No? £30 bid. I'm bid at 30. 32.

35? 38 now. 40 bid.

-42 now. 42. 45. 48.

-Hang on, he's going on.

Selling in the second row at £45.

45 is £60 off the number.

Minus 60. You were minus 21 before.

You're now minus 81.

They do take it really well, don't they?

Straighten up a few notches.

I dread to think what would happen if you started making a profit!

We'd turn cartwheels!

Seriously, that is not kind, is it?

Minus 60 on that game.

Anyway, what are we going to do about the French leather book?

-Go for it.

-Yeah.

-Yes.

-Give it a go?

You've got no choice, really!

-It's a lovely thing.

-It is.

-You think it's lovely.

OK. We're going to go with the French leather book

with the secret compartment.

-Yes?

-Yes!

-We're going with it.

A very interesting lot, this.

A 19th-century French leather-bound book

with a secret compartment.

20 to go, then.

-20 would be good.

-15 bid.

18 bid now.

20 now? The bid's in France.

18 bid. Is there 20 anywhere else now?

It's on the market, then,

and it appears that it's going home as well.

-Sold at 18.

-£18 is minus two pounds.

So overall you're minus £83.

And that, girls, is nothing to laugh about!

But the way things are going, it could today be a winning score.

Don't be depressed. Don't say a word to the blues

and all will be revealed in a moment, yes?

-Yes!

-Yes!

-Thank you!

Now, Jimmy, Steve. This is the edge.

-Excited?

-Yes.

-Yeah, looking forward to it.

-You don't know how the reds got on?

-No.

-Not a clue.

Good. We don't want you to.

First lot up is your teasmade. Here it comes.

Lot 212 is the vintage Hawkins chrome-plated teasmade.

Who's going to start me at £40 for it?

40. £40, anybody? 40.

-30 to go, then. 30.

-Come on.

Nobody wants a cuppa.

At 30. 32, now? 32. 35 bid.

38 now? At 35. 38 bid. 40. £40 I'm bid. 42 now?

At £40 bid. 42 now do I see?

At £40 I'm bid. 42. 45 bid.

48 now. 55 on the internet.

-60 on the book.

-Yes!

-65 now. At £60. Commission bidder takes it. 65 on the net.

-Yes!

65. 70 anywhere else now?

At 65. Done and finished. You're out in the room.

Selling at £65.

-That's not too bad.

-Minus ten. He thought 25 to 40 and you made 65.

-Excellent.

-Pretty awesome.

-Let's hope he's out on the level.

Showing next is the 20th-century oxidised brass surveying level.

80? 50 to go, then, surely? £50, anyone?

50?

Well, 30, then.

Ten? I thought that was coming!

Ten I'm bid. 10. 15 do I see?

We ought to crack on. At ten bid. 15. 20, do I see? £20 I'm bid.

20 bid. Five. Bid 30 now. £30 bid.

30. 35, may I say?

32. 32 will do. 35.

38, now? 38 bid, surely?

At 35, selling in the second row.

At £35.

-That's awful!

-Minus £90.

I fear it is. Now, here comes the invalid's chair.

Lot 214 is the Victorian mahogany sedan chair by Buxton of Sheffield.

50 if we must. £50. Who's first bid?

-50?

-50.

-Should be down here.

50. £50 bid. Five now, surely.

55 on the net. 60 in the room. 60.

65 now. At £70? £70 bid.

75 now do I see? 75.

80 bid. 85.

88? You look half unsure.

88 bid. 90 now.

-Yes!

-Let's go, Colin!

-Come on!

-90 do I see?

92.

95.

98? You know they'll go 100!

Trust me, I'm an auctioneer! 98!

100, now, do I see?

100 bid. At 100.

-Yes!

-Another two? No?

Going this time and selling on the net then, at £100.

That is plus £63 and I am amazed!

-That is fantastic.

-Amazing!

£63 is an excellent profit.

-I'm happy!

-It's amazing!

Dear, oh, dear!

So does that mean that you are £37 down? I'm afraid it does.

You're minus 37, even after that excellent result. Minus £37.

What are you going to do about the boomerang?

-Be careful.

-Do you want this boomerang to come back or not?

Let's chuck it in there! See if it brings back a profit!

See if it hits someone!

Going with the bonus buy. Here it comes.

This is an Australian Aboriginal boomerang this time.

Carved with two kangaroos.

Who's going to start me at £50 for it? 50? 30 to go. £30, anybody?

30? £10? Thank you. £10 bid.

At ten. 12 again now.

At 10. 12. 18 bid. 20 bid.

22 bid. 25, now?

-Come on!

-25 do I see?

At 22 bid. Any more now?

Any more bids? Selling this time at £22.

That is minus 65 overall.

That is bad luck, isn't it?

All that stress, all that strain, all that aggro!

You finished up at minus 65.

Still, it could be a winning score. Don't talk to the reds

and all will be revealed in a moment. Well done, chaps!

But before we announce the final scores,

there's one more lot to go under the hammer.

Next up is the militaria,

that lovely yeomanry set of kit,

the sabretache and the cartridge case.

The auction estimate is 700 to £900.

Are we about to have a big surprise? Let's hope so.

One of the most interesting pieces of militaria to come through the sale.

What shall we say for it? £1,000, anybody? £1,000 bid.

At 1,000. 1,100 now surely?

At 1,000. 1,100? 1,100. 1,200.

13 now. 1,300 bid.

14. 15 do I see?

-1,500 bid. 16?

-Double the estimate.

17. 18.

19.

2,000 bid.

2,200.

-2,400.

-Triple the estimate!

26 now do I see? 2,600 bid.

At 2,600 bid. Any more now?

2,600. 2,800.

At 2,800. At 2,900. I've got you at 2,900.

3,000 now? 3,000 bid.

We will go, then, at £3,000.

Gosh, how brilliant is that?

I told you it was a good one!

Well, well, well. What fun, eh?

-Yes!

-The lovely thing is that neither team

is going to show each other up

because they've both done terribly badly!

Which makes the reds giggle particularly hard

because they have done actually particularly badly!

I mean, minus £60 on the badminton set.

I don't know. You can't survive from a body blow like that, can you?

I have got the apple peeler, though.

-Yes.

-Which made you four pounds profit.

So that is something, isn't it?

I'm afraid to say, girls, the overall total is minus 83

which means you are the runners-up.

Fantastic spirit and good fun.

So thank you, but commiserations.

The victors, though, today are the boys who managed to win by losing £65!

-Yeah!

-Minus £90 on the level was a fair old whack to lose!

But making £63 on the sedan chair

was an unbelievable victory.

So you finish up as being minus 65.

-But you had a nice time?

-We had a great time. It was lots of fun.

-Good. What about you, Steven?

-That boomerang came back and bit us!

It whacked us from behind.

The boomerang, minus 28, was not a great number, either.

But anyway, what does it matter? We've had the most tremendous day.

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

-Yes!

I know, you're sitting there thinking, "I could do 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