Ardingly 5 Bargain Hunt

The white van man or albus vehiculo homo as the species are called

have earned themselves a pretty ragged reputation over the years, bunging up the roads,

but let me set the record straight. Without them, our contestants at these fairs

would have nothing to go searching for. So all hail the white van man!

And let's go bargain hunting. Yeah!

These white vans have brought all manner of goodies -

furniture, ceramics, works of art - to sell. We've brought two teams,

each with £300 and an hour to shop, shop, shop.

Here's a quick taste as to what's coming up.

-Some people will do anything to get their own way.

-Look at the mouse! Close your eyes. Just relax.

And we marvel at a master haggler.

-If I talk to her nice, she might come down a bit more. ..Go on.

-Thirty.

Got to be a fiver, innit? Go on. We've got to make some money.

But which tactics will triumph? Let's meet the teams.

Today for our Red team we have two brilliant Rays of sunshine.

We have Ray Senior, father, and Ray Junior, son.

-And for the Blues we've got best mates Sharon and Lynn. Hello, everyone!

-Hello!

Great to see you. Ray, you've got a bit of a passion for collecting.

-Just small things.

-Yes?

-Mainly snuff boxes.

-Yeah.

-I put it in a cabinet. But I also collect tea caddies.

-A bit bigger.

-Which are damaged.

And I repair them.

-Ray Junior, you're not so much a white van man as a caravan man.

-That's right.

A passion from my mum and dad.

My wife now enjoys it as well.

-Have you ever been to foreign parts?

-Not in the caravan.

-No.

-But you have for other purposes.

-Yes, a few years ago I was in a marching band in Romford.

We went all over Europe and was national marching band champions three years running.

-We'll all keep in step today.

-I like to think so!

-Will you be buying any musical instruments?

It's always a passion of mine, so if there's anything there.

Some of these instruments are very undervalued. You might get lucky and blow the right note.

Hey! Anyway, good luck, chaps.

-Now, Sharon, it was a love of show tunes that brought you together.

-That's right.

I have organised many trips to the theatre in coaches. Lynn came on one of my very first trips,

-over 20 years ago, and we've been friends ever since.

-What musical are you fond of?

We're very keen Buddy Holly fans. We saw that show many, many times.

-Own up.

-Probably about 50!

-You never did!

-Or slightly more.

-No!

-It says you're a hypnotherapist.

-I am.

-Tell us about that.

-I specialise mainly in hypnobirthing.

-Hypnobirthing?! Is that what I think?

-I take ante-natal classes so I teach the ladies how to get "in their zone" during labour.

-Right.

-They have a much more natural birth.

-Well, they're hypnotised! If you wanted to put me under,

how easy or difficult would that be? Not for hypnobirth! Just for normal, straight purposes.

-Quite easy.

-Would it?

-Yeah, yeah.

-Now, Lynn, what interest in antiques do you have?

-I do like furniture.

-And anything really... Nothing specific. If I see something I like...

-You'll go for it.

-If I can afford it!

-Will you get on well together as a team?

-Oh, yeah.

-You've been friends for all these years.

-We're as dappy as each other.

I think you'll be very well qualified to do very well today.

On that happy note, I'll give you £300 apiece. You know the rules.

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

Our experts today bring a van load of wisdom and experience to help our teams through the shop.

For the Reds, we have a lady who's always in the driving seat. Kate Bliss.

And on the Blue team is a man who can jump to it when a bargain needs bagging. It's Charles Hanson.

OK, Sharon and Lynn, can I be your buddy?

So I've got two Rays with me. Shame there's no rays of sunshine.

-Can I call you Senior and Junior? Then we'll know where we are.

-Fine.

-The curtain is now up.

-Perfect.

-The crowd's waiting. What's the plan?

-One cheap one.

-OK.

-One medium one.

-Right.

-And one about £100.

-OK.

-They await us. It's this way.

-Great.

Let's have a look up here.

The clock's hardly started and the two Red Rays are straight in there.

-What do you reckon?

-45.

-Not bad, is it?

-I think...

-Could you do it for 35?

-Straight in.

-He's not mucking about!

-Yes, I will.

-What do you reckon?

-First of all, I reckon it's a genuine period piece. We have got to be careful

with these pieces, coal-painted bronzes, that they're not reproductions, painted later.

This one I would say probably dates from about 1900, or a little later.

-I'm just questioning how commercial the subject is.

-I like it and I think bronze always goes.

-Especially coal-painted bronze.

-It's not the most beautiful thing, but...

-You said 35, madam?

-I can't do any less than that.

-OK.

-If I talk to her nice, she might come down a bit more.

-You could try.

- Go on. I'll give you a big smile. - Thirty, that's it.

-Thirty?

-Well, Ray Senior's technique is certainly bearing fruit today.

-You're quite struck on this.

-I am.

-Let's do it.

-Yeah.

-Let's go.

Team decision. We'll have it, madam, please. Thank you very much.

-Well, guys, you're straight in there.

-No mucking!

-No messing around with you two.

-Master tactician.

-First object, well done.

-OK.

And no one seems more surprised about that than Ray and Ray themselves. Still, a good start.

-Now will the Blues be as quick off the mark?

-You've got dessert sets, tea sets...

-dinner ware. But don't you like small wooden things?

-I do, yes. That box looks nice.

-Is it a slope?

-I'm sure you're right. By opening it up, you've got your writing slope.

And what I like about it, Sharon, is that lovely rich colour.

-It looks like it has got false handles.

-No, they're real.

-Are they?

-If you just put your fingernail...

-Oh, gosh.

-Isn't that gorgeous? That's a sign of quality.

-Lovely.

-How much is it?

-The price is inside.

-It's £135.

-Oh, gosh.

-But it's too much at that sort of price.

-I agree.

-Do you agree?

-Yeah.

-Absolutely. Yes, definitely.

Wave it goodbye.

So whilst the Blues wave goodbye to the writing box, will the Reds be splashing some more cash, too?

-Is it silver?

-Let's have a look. No. This is interesting, actually.

You have got a mark there, but it's not a silver hallmark.

-You've got EP there for electro-plated.

-OK, yeah.

-So it's plate rather than silver.

-Great size, though.

-It's nice.

-How much is that?

-£9.

-Fiver.

Got to be a fiver, innit? Go on. We've got to make some money.

-It is plated rather than silver.

-That's why I'm saying a fiver.

-Yeah. No, it's good.

-Would you do seven?

-We've still got plenty of time.

-We have.

-We've got loads of time.

-Just be a bit cautious.

-You're rushing in. Slow down.

-We have got a lot of time to look around. Once you've got your three...

-That's it.

-You're quite right, I think.

-We know where it is!

-We might be back.

-Thank you.

I see we have an impulsive Ray and a reserved Ray, but which Ray's way will raise a decent profit?

Time will tell.

They're Bohemian. Beautifully etched.

On this decanter here you've got this leaping stag. Very Black Forest. That will be 1880.

And this decanter here with its triple neck is the same period.

They've really dropped off in value. It's not everyone's taste, you see.

-It's quite nice, though.

-Maybe we'll move on.

-Mental note it.

An altogether more chilled atmosphere. Remember, team,

to turn a profit, there's a difference between being chilled out and left out in the cold.

-What do you think to this?

-That's quite nice.

-It's quirky.

It's a lovely little turned piece of hardwood. Probably Chinese. You've got a Chinese gentleman.

The quality of the carving is quite nice. Feel it. It's quite tactile.

Don't look at the price yet!

-That is nice.

-What do you think? Any ideas what it was used for?

-Some sort of scoop obviously.

-Yeah. China.

-Tea.

-Tea. Is that what it's for?

-I think so.

-It's lovely, innit?

-What do you reckon?

-I like that.

-How much is that?

-58?

-58.

-Yeah.

What would you pay for it?

20!

£20? I hope you've got a bottle full of that charm, Ray. You're going to need it!

-What do you want to pay?

-45?

-Say 40. Try 40.

-Try 40?

-Then we might end up at 45, which wouldn't be bad.

-OK.

-But that's with luck behind us.

-Give it a go?

-Yeah.

-OK.

-What do you reckon, Ray? Is he any good at haggling?

-I'm not sure.

-That's quite a nice little oak easy chair.

-Yes.

-A little bedroom chair.

-It's got a certain...what?

-Je ne sais quoi.

I knew you'd say that!

Quite right, ma cher. "Ma chair" - get it? All right. Please yourselves.

It's just different. It just jumped out as we walked past.

-In style, it's probably 1925, maybe '30s?

-I'd say late '20s, early '30s.

Quite a nice little oak easy chair. The best price I can offer that to you today for is a straight £40.

-That's the death on it.

-40?

- I can see a profit of about £30. - Charles?

-If only life was so easy. Eh?

-You have to take a chance!

Indeed. But you can't deny he's got the sales patter sorted.

Can I suggest we have a little wander round first? We'll come back.

-Now what news, Ray Junior?

-What's the verdict?

-Charmless today.

-53 is her absolute best.

-Is it?

-That's too much.

-It's a little way off your £20, Ray Senior.

-If I was putting this in an auction as an auctioneer, I would put an estimate of £40-£60 on it.

-OK.

-Do you want to go for it?

-Bag that one?

-Yeah, go on, then.

-Let's do it. We'll go with that.

-Take a chance?

-Yeah.

-Keep our fingers crossed.

-We'll blame Raymond!

-Decision made! Let's go.

OK, go do the deed, Ray. Well done.

Well, whoever's to blame, that's your second buy, Reds.

Two more than a certain other team I could mention.

More pots over here and everything else. Much you like?

-Really.

-That's lovely.

-Really like the blue one.

-Why?

-It's just stunning.

-Lovely shape.

-Lovely colour.

-Is it made by Doulton?

Yes. And if you swing it back onto its...

-A nice weight as well.

-Lovely glazed, mottled effect.

-It's not chipped at all, is it?

-I love the sinuous lines of the Art Nouveau.

Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau. Circa 1905, 1910.

-But it all comes down to one thing.

-How much?

-I don't think it would come within your budget.

-Really?

-I've got 450 on it.

-Oh, crikey!

450?! That's a budget and a half, that is.

-It's too much.

-380 would be the death.

-It's not in budget.

-Sorry.

-Shame.

-Thank you.

-Don't let it get you down, girls.

You've got to pick up the pace now if you're going to orchestrate a win for the Blue team today.

-Staying close to my heart.

-What's that?

-Music.

-You like music?

-I was in a band.

-What did you play?

-Trombone.

-Ever played the clarinet?

-No. I'm afraid not.

-But I do love music.

-What's she got on that? 78?

-78.

-It's got its case and everything.

-Yeah. It looks ready to play. All the keys are in good condition.

-Shall we see what she can do?

-We can ask.

-Why not? All right, bear with me.

I'll go and see what I can do.

Now while Kate goes off to negotiate on the musical number, the musical-loving Blues have managed

-to steer well clear of anything showbizzy.

-A cane with a dog's head.

-No price on it.

-That's quite neat. I don't think it's of great age.

-No.

-No.

-You could always go from a dog to a mouse instead.

-That's why we love Charles - seamless segues.

-I've seen a mouse on this table somewhere. Have you?

-Absolutely.

You're right. Exactly. If there's one thing away from dogs that is really popular,

-it's this sort of...cheeseboard.

-Uh-huh.

-Isn't that neat?

-It is nice.

-Why do I like it?

-It has the mouse on. And what does that mouse mean?

-It means...

-Robert Thompson. Mouseman.

-Good work, Lynn. I'm impressed.

Mouseman and his works, which were based in the north of England, are synonymous with quality.

You've got this carved mouse on this cheeseboard. They're still making them today.

The earlier ones are far more valuable. This one could be as late as the 1960s or '70s.

-But they do sell really well. Which of you uses hypnosis?

-Me.

We now need to really think before we collapse with no buys.

-This mouse. Look at the mouse, OK?

-Blimey! I've seen some desperate tactics in my time,

-but that takes the cheesy biscuit.

-Do you like it?

-Yeah. How much do they sell for in auction?

-It's £110.

It's something that has got some legs, but it needs to be cheaper. Shall we find out?

-Hello, sir. Your Mouseman cheeseboard, which we like. It's on at 110.

-Yes.

-What's your very best price?

-Em, I was hoping for about 90.

Crikey me, team. 40 minutes in. We've bought nothing yet.

-Oh, right.

-Nothing. We're panicking.

It's the nicest thing I've seen so far. You wouldn't take 70?

- Please? - OK, I will do 70.

I would say buy it. It's a great object. We'll take it.

-Thank you very much.

-So good of you.

They just cut off that mouse's tail with a carving knife. £110 down to 70. Well done, Blues.

Great. One down. The mouse is down, OK?

But will selling the board be a "Brie"-ze? Or a Camembert?

OK, enough tenuous cheesy humour. It'll give us nightmares.

-Right, Kate.

-OK, guys, apparently, somebody keeps coming to the stall and playing it really badly,

-so she really wants shot of it.

-I've never heard an excuse like that before!

She's come down to 58, but I reckon she's on the hook.

-Shall we have a think, boys?

-OK, yeah.

-Let's put it down,

-but I think she would like to see the back of it.

-Well, Reds,

you've spent a fair old chunk of time here, so let's get cracking.

-The Blues are strolling down a familiar path.

-A walking cane?

-Yes!

We saw the dog one earlier. That was a bit too late.

This one I quite like because what we've got here

is a date-coded, 1915 cane. It's a bit tired.

The marks are a bit rubbed. Like a hawthorn in terms of the timber and the gnarled knotting throughout.

I don't know. Do you like it?

-It's wood!

-It's wood again.

-Yes, it's wood.

-What would be your best price?

-Between friends.

-Between friends.

Between a Sussex man and a Derbyshire man.

I would give you the discount of £5, making it 40.

- Instead of 45. - OK.

- Even if we flutter our...? - It might make a slight difference.

-Oh, good man!

-Not you!

-Flutter! Flutter!

Or can you put him into a trance? There we are.

I think an extra pound off each. So 38. That would be it. For the flutter, 38.

-35 sounds a bit more...

-35. What do you think, sir? £35?

The hand has come out. Hold on! Are you sure?

-And that was without the flutter.

-Put it there. They hypnotised you!

-Thank you.

-That's very kind.

You were looking for something showbiz. A bit of Charlie Chaplin. All of that.

-There's no time for that. We've got ten minutes to go to find one more item.

-Get moving.

-Exactly. Come on.

-OK.

Our teams have no sense of decorum.

The Blues started at the cheese course and now the Reds have decided it's time for breakfast.

Guys, take a look at this.

This is what every gentleman needs at breakfast time, OK?

This is a breakfast dish, essentially. Victorian in date.

Silver plate, rather than silver. But look at this.

I love these.

This lifts up and, hey presto, that's where you put your muffins or your bacon to keep warm.

Normally muffins or toast. And you've got your little dish that comes out.

But actually just the design of it, the mechanism, I love.

-Look at that.

-What's the price?

-I knew you would say that.

Let's see. I haven't even looked myself. Let's have a look... 135.

Now these do make, I would say, £70-£100 at auction.

-They are desirable things and they still make good money today. What do you think?

-I like it.

-You have a look at that while I see what I can do.

-Go and flutter your eyelids.

I don't want to sort of have all our eggs in one basket and be completely wooden for the auction.

On stage I'm always very wooden. They'll tell you that.

But that is just a fairly fanciful clock, isn't it? It's Bavarian.

It was made in the Black Forest. It's German.

It dates to the 1880s. These are really popular.

They were dust gatherers, but now people really rate and respect and value highly Bavarian carvings.

-But do you like it?

-No.

-Why not? With about... Hold on.

-It's a bit busy and a bit...

-Eight minutes to go. Do you like it?

-No.

-Shall we try to find some silver?

-Yeah.

OK, we'll leave it. Thank you.

Try again, Charles, and try not to scare them this time.

Right, guys, what do you reckon?

-I like it. Dad says too much money.

-Does he?

-So what's his best price?

-£90.

-That's better.

-That's a lot better.

-£90.

It's in great condition. If people are going to buy one, they'll buy one like that.

-Shall we do it?

-Yeah, why not?

-Done and dusted.

-Tell him I want a spoon! I'll ask him.

-Why don't you go and do the deal?

-Good work, Ray. Never happy until he's squeezed a little bit extra.

A bit more of a bargain, all the time.

I tell you what, we'll have it, but we want a little spoon to go in with it.

- OK, what kind of spoon? - I don't care what spoon it is, but put a spoon in with it as well.

-You're welcome to a spoon.

-He'd settle for a wooden spoon as long as it was free.

-That looks good to me.

-Lovely.

-- Brilliant. Thank you very much. - No problem.

-I'm pleased.

-Well done, Dad.

-And we are in time. Time for a cuppa.

-Lovely! Smashing.

Do you get the impression they're happy? It's a feeling somewhat lacking in the opposition's camp.

-Charles, what is that?

-That's nice. That's very pretty. A little silver bonbon dish.

For your nibbles at Christmas time or sweets or nuts.

-It's 70.

-OK, there's five minutes to go.

Hold that thought because what I like over here are these two sweet, conical peppers.

-Or casters.

-I do like these.

-They're really nice quality.

They are hallmarked Birmingham, 1933. They're not cheap.

But, saying that, we've got three minutes to go. Sorry!

-How much, please, are your peppers?

-I think I've got 85 on them.

-What's the very, very best?

-75.

You've got one minute. Very quickly, the scent bottle. How much is it?

It says £90. Birmingham, 1900. Check for a stopper.

-It's in there. Nice condition. What's the very best?

-That'd be 80.

-So... We've got a minute to go.

-I like that.

It's good quality. At auction, probably worth

£60-£100. 20 seconds. Those I think are slightly more novel and commercial,

but sometimes the female eye is a better aesthetic eye than me.

-15 seconds. Your very best price on this? 10 seconds to go.

-£80.

-Will you take £75?

-I won't.

-You've got to say in a sec. What are you going to go for?

-What do you reckon?

-The bottle.

-The bottle.

-£80. Shake the man's hand really quickly! Five seconds.

Sir, we will take your bottle for £80.

And throw away the peppers. OK?

-Done.

-I do like it.

-Yeah.

Right then. Shopping time's up and it's time to load up.

While we do that, why don't we check out what the Red team bought? Where's the key?

The Reds snapped up a bronze figure within minutes of setting off and paid £30 for it.

They went for wood for purchase number two and paid £53 for a hardwood tea shovel.

They finished up with breakfast and this serving dish with liner and serving spoons cost them £90.

-Any regrets?

-No, I love it to bits.

-Good!

-What do you love to bits, Ray?

-And Kate!

-Two Rays, eh?

-Rays of sunshine they've been.

-How lovely. What did you spend all round?

-£173.

£173. Please may I have £127?

OK, 127. Goes straight across to KB.

-Lovely.

-You're going to enjoy that.

-I am.

-What are you going to go for?

-I have to hurry up because I know exactly what I'm going to get!

-That makes a change.

-It does!

-Better nip off.

-I will.

-Good luck.

Let's see what the Blues bought.

The Blues sliced the price of this Robert Thompson "Mouseman" cheeseboard down to £70.

Then they walked off with this George V silver and hawthorn cane for £35.

And as they had no time left to haggle, this scent bottle cost them a steep but fragrant £80.

-Good. So you spent how much?

-£185.

-185. Can I have £115 of leftover lolly, please?

-Voila.

-Don't like handing that over, do you?

-Not really!

-Well, Charles, you've had a ball with these girls.

-We really have.

With their great love of theatre, it's now time for me to perform.

-Is it? Make us all laugh again?

-The curtain's now up and off I go.

-OK. Good luck with that, Charles.

Meanwhile, I'm going to show you something that I filmed earlier that is absolutely fab.

As every good bargain hunter knows, you need to speculate to accumulate.

Take this little picture. On the face of it, a bit dull. It's called a sanguine,

which means it's painted in a variety of shades of one particular colour - brown.

If you can persuade the dealer, a good thing to do is to try to take it out of the frame,

get the glass out of the way and you get a chance of seeing the detail in the painting itself.

So what have we got here? We've got four figures standing in a room

lit by a skylight from above.

In the bottom left-hand corner, you can make out what looks to be a signature,

except it isn't a signature. It's actually a stamp.

These stamps are normally created by collectors to identify, for all time,

as having been in their personal collection. And that's where speculation and research comes in.

If you're lucky in a place like Ardingly and you want to speculate to accumulate,

you'd invest fifty measly pounds in this sanguine drawing

in the hope that a decent attribution could be put on it

and maybe it is worth substantially more than you paid.

In my view, this thing has got it in spades.

A big question today is, of course, over at the auction, just how are our teams getting on

after all their digging about?

80. Five.

85. All done? And selling at 85.

How wonderful is this? We're in Wisborough Green, Bellmans Auction House, with Jonathan Pratt.

-It's fab to be here.

-Thank you, Tim. Fab to be here, too.

-First up for Ray Senior

is this squatting little figure. Is it old or brand Harry spankers?

My suspicions say it's brand Harry spankers, I'm afraid.

You would want it to be late-19th, early-20th century Austrian cast,

Bergman, wonderful. But the quality, sadly, is not there.

-That's why Ray got it for only £30.

-OK.

-If it was real, it would be probably a couple of hundred.

-Yes.

There's probably a container full of these drifting round this country with thousands of them on-board.

-Anyway, what's your estimate?

-£10-£15.

-Perfect.

Next is the little Chinese carved shovel, which could be for tea.

-One thing's for certain - that has no age at all.

-If it had age, it would be worth a lot.

-Yeah.

-What's your estimate?

-£30-£40.

-That's OK. They'll be all right. They only paid £53.

-OK.

They got it at a cheap price because there's another container full of that stuff drifting around.

One thing that has not come in a container is this rather handsome plated entree dish.

Whether you'd simply have breakfast things in it, bacon, eggs...

-Very Downton Abbey.

-Very much. It's a sort of ornament.

-No practical sense, really, now.

-No.

-It's got a sense of quality and style

so easy enough to sell, I would have thought. £60-£80.

OK, £90 paid. More or less on the money. They've got the first two modern things out of kilter,

which will torpedo them, so they'll need the bonus buy. Let's have a look at it.

-Well, Ray...Ray.

-Yes.

-This is the moment.

-£127 of leftover lolly you gave to Kate Bliss. What did you spend it on?

-OK.

-Here you go, fellas. Any ideas?

-Small suitcase.

Some grins appearing on your faces.

You may have seen it before, perhaps. It does, of course, all fit together.

It is a complete clarinet. It's in good nick, ready to go, just right for you, Ray.

-You might know somebody who'd like it.

-The big question is...

-How much?

Well, it's a nice round £50.

-That's OK.

-At auction, I'm hoping...£60 on a good day.

-Which is no money, is it, really? Go and try and buy one of these things.

-Absolutely.

-We'll go on holiday with the profit.

-Of course. Are you going to Southend?

-Southend's very good!

I know it is. There we go. That'll set you off, Ray. Good fun.

For the audience at home right now, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Kate's clarinet.

-There you go, JP. You're a bit of a player yourself.

-Oh, yes.

-Go out busking a lot?

-No.

-I don't blow my...

-Own trumpet.

-Yeah.

-Much.

What can I say about it, really? But it's quality.

There's a certain quality to it.

-Collectors will want something rare and unusual and older.

-What's it worth?

-£40-£60, I'd say.

£50 paid by clever old Kate. She knows a good thing when she sees it.

That's the Reds. Now the Blues.

Very, very simple over here.

-Robert Thompson and the old cheeseboard.

-Everyone knows this chap now, old Mouseman.

Very collectable, the early pieces. Later pieces can be bought new.

-For me, £40-£60.

-£70 paid. So they may have overdone that.

Now the hawthorn and silver-mounted walking stick. Very much of its period.

-Hawthorn makes a really good stick.

-Silver's not in great condition.

-These things are used,

-it's a little bit worn.

-How much?

-£40-£60.

-£35 paid. That's good. Another find of Charles's.

Their third item reflects the fact that they were really pushed for time

-and bought this globular scent bottle. Do you like that?

-Ladies like them.

-Ideally, at auction it's worth £40.

-And they paid £80.

Therefore it's going to flounder a bit. That could drag them back.

They could need the bonus buy. Let's go and have a look at it.

Well, girls, this is exciting. Looking forward to this bit, Shari?

-Absolutely.

-Yeah, good. What do you think he's got, Lynn?

-I don't know.

-It's quite lumpy.

-It's quite lumpy? Well, no need to talk about Charles like that.

Anyway, excellent. You had £115, Charles. I suppose, as usual, you blew the lot.

Tim, I just about did.

-Oh, God!

-Look at these! What do you think?

-Yeah...

These, I believe, are American, they're burgundy kinky boots.

From the early 20th century. And aren't they just delicious?

Right then, Charles. Talk us through this one, boy.

There's a key word in auction business today and that's vintage.

Vintage clothing, vintage accessories. All the rage. I love their finish, their patination.

-They've got a story to tell.

-If they could talk!

-They're well worn.

-How much were they?

-I had £115.

-What are they worth?

-Em...

-On a good day.

-30 quid?

-£30.

-They cost me £20.

-Ho ho! Charles, you're such a tease!

-£20!

-And I'm hoping they have a great degree of pedigree.

Pedigree. There's an interesting term to apply to some clapped-out old boots!

-I hope you're not talking about us!

-No! I said clapped-out old boots.

Anyway, lovely. You pick after the sale of your first three items.

Let's find from the auctioneer what he thinks about Charles's kinky boots.

-Right then, JP, over to you.

-Ah! Tough as old.

-Boots.

There's no hiding the age of these. They've got a bit of wear.

-They're clapped out.

-Well, they're not bad bad.

-High mileage.

I quite like them because they are battered and worn and are good props for interiors.

-£20-£40 would be very sensible.

-OK, that's great. £20 paid for them.

Charles Hanson knows his way around the footwear stores. Have you seen the shoes he wears?

-They mostly look like this!

-Anyway, good luck with that. Thanks.

I shall sell it for £150.

All done? Fair warning.

£150.

-OK, Ray, Ray, how are you feeling?

-Good. Excited.

-Are you?

-Yeah, not half. We're going to earn a fortune!

-Is that your prediction? I love that, Ray.

Good on you, boy. Be brave. Here comes the coal-painted bronze.

Lot 2238.

Coal-painted bronze figure of a seated figure.

Start me at £20 for this. Nice little thing. £20? Surely worth 20.

20's bid, thank you. 20. 25.

30. 35.

£35 I have. Any more at £35? Anyone else?

You're coming back in. 40. Yes?

-40, back in.

-40? What's going on?! Look at this, lads!

50 on the sofa. At £50. Any more?

It's going. Centre of the room. £50. All done?

-Sold it for 50. £50. You're a genius, Ray Senior.

-I'm after your job.

-Plus 20.

Here comes the shovel or is it a spade?

Lot 2239. Chinese, carved hardwood tea shovel.

Start me at £30. Where's 30? Where's £30 for the tea shovel?

-Uh-oh.

-20, then?

-Oh, come on. It's not that bad.

Surely worth £20. 10, then. 10 is bid. 12 anywhere else?

-I'll sell it for 10. Going at 10.

-That's crazy!

-It's £10. 12.

15.

18. At £18. I'll sell at 18. Fair warning.

- And all done at £18. - Come on!

18 is two short of 20, which is 33. That's minus £35.

Overall, you're minus £15. Now here comes your breakfast dish.

So nice oval outline. I've got two matching bids. Start at £40.

-With me at £40. Where's five?

-40?

-Where's five?

-£40 I have. Got to be worth another fiver.

-No money, is it?

-It's crazy!

-I'd buy it!

-Are you all done? It's £40.

-No...

-£40?!

-That's crazy.

£40 is minus £50, which is minus £65 overall.

This is not looking so hot, Rays.

I think the sun's gone in.

-What are you going to do about the clarinet?

-We'll take it.

-Fancy a blow with this?

-Yeah.

-All right, fine. Going with it? You love it and here it comes.

I have interest to start me. I can start at £20. I'll take two.

With me at £20. Where's two? 22. 25.

25. 28 anywhere?

-£25. Looking for 28. 28. 30.

-Come on.

-35. 40.

£45. Clears the commission at 45.

50. £50 on the left. £50 commission bid. At £50.

- Come on! - At £50. One more?

Fair warning at £50. I shall sell.

-All done? £50.

-Well done, Kate. Wiped your face, girl. £50.

No profit, no loss. No pain, no gain.

There we go. Overall, you're minus £65. The way things are today, lads, that could be a winning score.

So don't lose hope. You could be ahead.

-Now, Sharon, Lynn, do you know how the Reds got on?

-No.

-Nope.

Not at all? Good. You're looking a bit nervous. What's the matter?

-Em, well, I'm not quite sure about one of our lots.

-Which one?

-The perfume bottle.

-You paid £80.

-He's put £30-£40 on it.

-OK. I was right.

-I don't know. We'll find out.

It is a disappointing estimate. First up, my chickens, is your cheeseboard. And here it comes.

We have an oak cheeseboard by Robert "Mouseman" Thompson. 1950s one.

And bids on the book. I can start at...£60 straight away.

No! How marvellous!

Where's five? £60 I have.

-65. And 70.

-Over there, look!

-75. 80.

-Keep going. Come on!

£80. Go one more. £80 against you.

-Yes!

-She's going on.

-85. 90 with me.

-Against you. Still with me at £90.

-One more, madam.

-Are we all done at £90? Fair warning.

-95!

100 with me. One more might do it. £100. Against you at 100.

Fair warning. Selling at £100. All done.

Thank you very much. Plus £30, girls.

-Wow.

-Good start.

-Here comes the cane.

Lot 2261. George V hawthorn and silver-mounted walking cane.

-Rather handsome swagger stick.

-Swagger!

-Charles Hanson!

£30 to start me. £30? It's got to be worth £30.

-20, then.

-Oh...

-Reluctantly, I move down to 20.

20 on the net there. There we go. Now where's the five?

-Internet's going to have it.

-So cheap.

-I don't believe it.

-£20.

£20 to the net is minus £15, which means you're plus £15, girls.

Now the scent bottle. Uh-oh.

Cross your legs, girls.

Nice little lot, this. Nice condition. Start me at £40.

Start me at 40 for this. Nice lot.

-20, then.

-No...

-20?

20's bid, thank you. Where's five?

-Looking for five. 25.

-30...

-30.

35! Gets it at 35. £35 on the sofa. At 35.

-Do I see 40 anywhere? £35.

-It's no money, this.

£35 is five off 40, which is minus £45.

Which means, overall, you're minus 30. This is not good, is it?

The kinky boots. Now is the time.

-So you're going with these boots?

-Definitely.

-Absolutely, yes.

-It could be a winning score.

-No, go with the boots.

-You like them.

-Yes!

These boots are made for walking and that's just what they'll do.

One of these days these boots are going to walk all over you.

And here we go.

Lot 2266. A pair of late-19th, early 20th-century burgundy leather ladies cowgirl boots.

Yee-ha!

Someone start me off at £30. Start me at £30. £30?

20, then. No? 10, then. Come on, £10.

There's 10. 12. Surely worth 12.

12, internet. 15. In the room at £15.

-This is no money.

-It's got to make 20, surely.

-I'll sell it at £15. Fair warning, everyone. It's £15.

-I can't bear it.

-£15.

-Bad luck, Charles. £15. £15, I'm afraid, is not helping you.

That's minus £5.

Overall, you're minus £35. Listen, this could be a winning score. All will be revealed in a moment!

Well, funny old world, isn't it?

Certain similarities between our teams today. Nobody's going home with any money!

Nevertheless, we have to have a team that runs up and the runners-up today, by quite a wodge,

-are the Rays.

-Sorry, chaps.

-Both of these sunbeams

have faded at the last post.

-The only thing that did you any good was that coal-painted bronze, which I was rude about.

-It made money!

So what do I know? Nothing.

The rest, let's not dwell on it.

-There we go. Good fun?

-Yes.

-Fantastic.

-You've been a great father and a great son to the show.

But the victors, who win by only losing £35, are the Blues.

-Have you had a good time?

-Lovely.

-Been good for you, Lynn?

-Fantastic.

-Charles?

-Wonderful as always.

You've all been brilliant. Join us soon for some more bargain hunting.

-Yes?

-ALL: Yes!

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

Well, what's stopping you? If you think you can spot a bargain, go to our BBC website and apply.

It'll be splendid to see you.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd