Derby 25 Bargain Hunt

Today we're at the spectacular Roundhouse in Derby where our teams are preparing to find

the very best bargains. So let's go bargain hunting, yeah!

Derby's railway Roundhouse stands as a living testament

to Britain's transition into the machine age.

Built in 1839, it cost a princely sum of £62,000,

a great fortune at the time. Today, our two teams each get £300 to spend

and let's hope that they find a similarly good deal. Let's check out how they got on.

The Reds' expert leads one of his team members astray.

I've been abandoned. I don't know where they've gone.

-Whilst the Blues' is well and truly worn out.

-This is quite stressful.

-It is very.

-Stresses me out.

-Absolutely right.

Let's meet today's teams.

It's happy families on our show today

because for the Reds we've got mother and son, Angela and Tim -

great name - and for the Blues, Heather and Marianne, who are in-laws. Sort of. Sisters-in-law.

-Lovely. Now, Timbo, you've brought your mother along with you.

-Yes.

-You actually work together.

-We do. We run a hair and beauty salon.

I'm a colour technician. Mum does vintage hair-ups.

-Have you always been like this?

-Always had a creative side.

-Does that account for the bow tie, you cheeky monkey?

-Competing.

-Eh?

-That's rather naughty.

-Well...

-Angela, you're an all-dancing lady.

-I love music, any music.

-If I hear music, I just start to leap about the salon.

-Right.

-And burst into song.

-Customers come for the entertainment.

-You like the theatre.

-I do. I love the theatre.

-I love all the musicals.

-Which are your favourites?

-I love Chicago. That's my favourite at the moment.

-Are you going to behave like magpies today?

-We are, yes.

-I shall be reckless and impulsive.

-I'll try to rein her in.

-Is that the plan?

-I'll try.

-You're the sensible, controlling hand?

It often works the other way round - I try to organise Mother.

-Are you going to blow the lot?

-Definitely. Blow the lot. There will be nothing left at all.

-Your poor expert will never find a Bonus Buy. Have a lovely time.

-Thank you.

-We will.

Lovely to chat to you. Now, Heather, you first met Marianne - does it say 30 years ago?

-Over 30 now.

-You were at nursery!

No...!

-I wish. No, at one of Marianne's family parties.

-Yes.

-I was her brother's new girlfriend.

-And you just hit it off?

-Yeah. There's two other sisters. We get on.

-We did seem to click.

-Yeah, we did.

-So what do you do for a living?

-I work in a maternity unit.

-And do you like it?

-I love it.

-That little kind of miracle moment.

-They're gorgeous, and you don't have to take them home. If they start crying, you give them back!

-Quite.

-Marianne, you also work for the NHS.

-I do indeed.

-Tell us about that.

Dreaded medical receptionist at a doctor's surgery, the local.

-I'm quite good with the patients, I like to think.

-You take the brunt of all these stroppy people

-with their grumpy illnesses.

-'Fraid so.

-And you have to come up stinking of roses.

-Every time.

-You're also superstitious.

-I am. I've read tarot cards for many years.

-So how does it work?

-They come on the table exactly as you give them.

And then I start to look. I might say something like, "Tim, I think you've been a bit depressed

-"or you've had some problems lately."

-You're so right! How did she know that?

And the cards will tell me why. It could be to do with your job or marital problems.

-I can tell back about six months.

-So have you done a tarot card reading for your performance today?

No, I won't read for myself or my partner.

Pity. I'd quite like a prediction of how you might get on today. Are you going to be brilliant?

-Absolutely. We'll spend the lot.

-Spend it all?

-Absolutely.

We've got some high rollers today and to help them on their way, £300.

You know the rules. The experts await. Off you go and very, very, very good luck.

Tarot cards, eh? Interesting.

Let's take our hats off to today's experts. Giving the Red team some razzamatazz

it's the inimitable Charlie Ross.

Saddling up for the Blues we have the tenacious Thomas Plant.

-Are you excited?

-I am! Thrilled.

-You're SO excited.

-I'm full of anticipation.

-Is she a show-off?

-Yeah. Is she big and brassy? Yeah.

-Excuse me!

-I'm looking forward to experiencing this. Let's go.

Trust your eyes and your instincts.

What I suggest is we do a circuit, have a bit of a look and see if there's anything that grabs you.

Take that advice, teams. You've got just one hour to get around this great Roundhouse.

-Do you like all these Crown Derby pieces?

-They're not to my taste.

-Just trying to get a feel for what you like. What about that pretty Burmese glass?

-The green?

-It's not very striking.

-It's pretty.

-But not very striking.

-I'm getting a feel.

-I like the lady with the two dogs.

-I was trying to avoid that.

-No, I've seen her. Too late.

-You might have your work cut out trying to please these two.

-What about these figures at the top?

-From Poland, the little sort of stoat.

-If I had to choose anything, it would be the pussycat.

-Right, come on, let's go.

-Is it the worst thing?

-No, but...

-"Get her away from the pussycat."

Yes, run! Run as fast as you can, Thomas.

Meanwhile, the Reds have sidled towards the silver.

-The candelabra.

-You like that?

-It's very attractive.

-Very stylish.

Yes. I suspect, looking at the style of that, that it's probably Scandinavian and relatively modern.

Age is going to help when it comes to selling things.

The Blues have spotted something that looks likely to divide opinion.

-That's a Marianne piece. Not a Heather piece.

-It's a me piece.

-Why?

Because I like the style, the colour, the way she's posing.

OK. It's Capodimonte. A dancer. Where's it from?

-Capodimonte.

-Italy.

-But do you know where in Italy?

Em...

-Sicily?

-Naples.

-Naples.

Previously to these,

they did fine china.

-This, I think, is probably resin. It feels like it. Is it resin?

-Yeah.

She's not my taste, but I can't go on that. Why don't you like it, Heather?

I couldn't see it in my house.

We could leave it there and come back if we need to.

Move on. Move on.

Yes, please do. Move on.

And what are the Reds pinning their hopes on? Something for the salon?

I'm attracted to this little box. It's very pretty. It says Hairpins.

-Ideal.

-Yeah.

-Ideal for us.

-It suits everything in every direction.

-Do you know what it's made of?

-Ebony?

-Correct. It's got some age. And these are in silver.

This lovely engraved floral decoration. And we can date that.

It looks like it might be a London maker. It's English, 1920s.

What concerns me is that here is some damage. Can you see this?

-Oh, yes.

-You could actually press those little dents out. That's not a problem.

But it's still a charming thing.

Because it's got no price on it, it might be jolly cheap. Want to ask? Who's the negotiator?

-I'll...

-We'll wait here. Go and see what you can do.

If you can buy that for a tenner...

What do you think it's worth, Tim? How much would you pay for it?

I'd probably say £39 or £49 for it.

Not £30-£40. Isn't that interesting? Supermarket pricing techniques.

-If I have my hair cut, does it always end with a nine?

-No, five!

Let's go and see how she's doing.

-How's it going?

-Well, I've been told it's £35 and you have said...

-For you guys, 25.

-Are you honestly happy?

-Yes.

-It does give us a chance. Happy?

-Very much so.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

So the Reds are "hair-ing" off to a great start. First bargain bought.

Now how is Thomas getting on with the Blues? Is it still a question of taste?

-Oh, that's nice.

-What about you, Heather? Is that your taste?

I like the green one better. Just because it would go with my colours.

-I like this.

-That's lovely.

-What's the make?

-It's £160.

-This is a large piece, isn't it?

You get an eyeful here. It's British art pottery. Ovoid shape.

This is almost like a cloisonne design on here of this duck over the iris.

-So the cloisonne is a bit like the Japanese cloisonne. Have you seen that before?

-Yes, I have.

-Bits of metal inlaid...

-It's not paint?

-No, it's painted.

But it's reflecting the Japanese influence in the late-19th century.

So this is a "Superb Bretby frilled vase...signed and dated 1908."

-How much is it?

-It's £160. That is a lot of money.

-Shall we see what's the best they can do?

-Heather, what do you think?

-Again, if I had to choose, I'd choose the lighter one. I'm not into dark.

-I prefer that one.

-This is going to be impossible.

What's the best price you could do on that for us?

120.

OK, that's fine. Marianne likes this and Heather loves the Glyn Colledge.

What's on the Glyn Colledge? It's a good, showy lot, isn't it?

-I think it looks nice and bright.

-By Denby, local potter.

- 95. - But if you like that...

-The family dynamics!

-It's terrible, it's terrible.

-The family dynamics here.

-God help you when I choose something and you don't like it.

-Right, OK!

-You haven't bought anything yet.

-Shall we run round and have just one little last look?

-Feeling tense, Thomas?

-Yes, yes, yes.

-We've got the vase to come back to that she hates.

-Off you go.

-You can't shut the stable door after the horse has bolted, Thomas.

What have the Reds spotted?

-What about an excavated sword?

-Er, not today, thank you.

-They do cut hair, but not with something like that.

-It would scare the clients off!

Now, Blues, nearly half an hour has gone. Have you agreed on anything?

-What about the coin box?

-I just said I quite like that. What is it?

-Pick it up, have a look. Is it a 1935 crown?

-1935 crown.

-Which has been enamelled.

-It's a five-shilling piece. Silver crown from George V.

-Yep.

George V. Open it up, have a look.

-There he is there.

-Yeah.

-It's a crown which they've nicely enamelled, beautifully enamelled.

-It's just a pill box, a snuff box. But isn't that enamelling superb?

-It is, it is.

-I like that.

-I don't believe this!

-Did we just agree?

-Yes.

-I don't believe it!

-Neither do I!

-I've got to sit down.

-I...

-Yes.

-I'm exhausted! What's the price?

-The price is...

-99.

-£99.

-Wakey wakey, Thomas.

-99? Let's have a look at it.

They're great things. Enamelled coins are not prized enough. Some work has gone into that.

Want to go for that? Shall we?

I don't know. What would be...?

-It's 80.

-80? It's a lovely thing. So what do you think?

-I like it, yes.

-I do like it. Whether I'd buy it, I don't know.

-You weren't expecting a decision, were you, Thomas?

-It did draw us to it.

-You found it.

-So what do you want to do? I think you should go for it.

-I agree.

-All right. I'm agreeable.

-OK.

-Yes?

-Yes.

-Wonderful.

Cor. Well done, team. That was almost as hard as slaying a dragon.

You've now bought one item. Two left to find. I see the Reds are also eyeing up a bit of bling.

That doesn't do it for me, stylistically.

-But that does.

-Yes.

-How much could that be, out of interest?

-I will have a look for you.

-It might have an unforgettable price.

-I've got 165 on the turquoise.

-You have?

-I could do it for 130.

-Can we look?

165. Could do it for 130. Tim, what do you think of it?

-I like the two stones, I like the shape. It's very unique.

-Yes.

What you have to decide is whether that is going to make more at auction.

But that 165 down to 130 is an extremely reasonable discount. What would the estimate be at auction?

I don't think it would be far off that. It would be a mean auctioneer that didn't estimate that

-at £100-£150. You'd wear that, Angela.

-I definitely would.

-I thought you would.

Would you take 125 for it?

-OK.

-Oh, thank you. That's fabulous.

-Want to buy it?

-Yes! What do you...? Oh, sorry!

You're a bloke. Forget about it!

-If you like it...

-Shall we do it?

-Let's do it.

-You make the next decision.

-The pressure's on you now, Tim.

-We'll have that.

-Okey-dokey.

-We're thrilled.

Yes, well remembered, Charlie. You do have two teammates.

Meanwhile, Thomas is herding both of his cats towards a decision on the Bretby vase.

-You're definitely going for the vase?

-Yes. Yes, we are.

-We'd like to purchase your vase, please.

-OK.

-120?

-125, my last offer.

Switch those figures round. If we go 120, we've spent 80.

-We had 120 in our heads.

-Done.

-He's done it.

-Done.

£120 it is. Nicely done, team.

But what's up with the Reds? What's Charlie done with Tim?

-You're looking a bit lonely.

-I've been abandoned. I've to buy something on my own.

-Where's your expert?

-With my mother.

-How long have they been away for?

-I think it's been about 10 minutes at least now.

That Charlie Ross. He is a rascal, isn't he?

-Dear me. Get after him, Tim.

-Well?

-I need you back, Charlie.

-What have you done?

-I need some help and advice.

-Seen anything you like?

I've seen a few things.

Well, that's a relief. Now the Reds have 10 minutes to hunt for their final bargain.

And surprise, surprise, the Blues are finding it hard to agree.

-This is quite stressful.

-It is.

-Stressing me out.

Well, it is Bargain Hunt, not a walk in the park.

Do you like that?

-Stop asking them if they like it, Thomas!

-I don't think I'd wear that.

-It's not about wearing it.

-That's nice.

Minutes. Minutes.

-Minutes. Come on. Minutes. Pretty cocktail watch.

-Now, I like that.

-Oh!

-That's going to be...

-I do like that.

-The cocktail watch. Marcasites, set in silver.

-It'll have a Swiss movement.

-How much is that?

-£38.

-What do you say?

-Lovely.

-Yes, please.

Ugh! They get the hang of it in the end. Three items for the Blues.

Has Tim found a final item for the Reds?

This little chair I quite liked.

Normally, I would expect to see something of that nature being Dutch or French

and therefore wouldn't have the attraction. Here we've got the full English hallmark on the back.

Having said that, I don't think you would say it's an English chair.

-It's...

-French?

-It looks very, very French in style. It's on a bold cabriole leg.

And it's got an extraordinary back to it and it's got a wonderful embossed seat.

-Can you see that?

-I didn't notice.

-With a little cherub on the seat.

Which would, of course, in furniture have been an upholstered seat. They've given it a cushion effect.

1897. Edwin Thompson Bryant. I'm astonished to find it's English and thrilled to find it's English

with such a crisp hallmark. You picked well there.

-Do you like that?

-I do.

-We like his taste.

-Definitely.

-It did catch my eye.

The very best could be 100.

-Final decision's yours, Tim.

-I'd like to shake on the chair.

-You shake on that chair.

-Thank you very much.

Now it's the end of the track for our teams.

So let's remind ourselves what the Red team bought.

For hairdressers Angela and Tim, the George V ebony and silver hairpin box was a snip at £25.

The Art Nouveau gold, turquoise and pearl pendant was purchased for a princely £125. Cor!

And £100 was spent on a miniature French silver chair.

Hey, team. Congratulations. You finished on time. What was the total spend?

-£250.

-That is a cracking amount of money.

£50 of leftover lolly, please. Have you got it? Thank you.

-Which is your favourite piece?

-The gold necklace.

-OK. Do you agree, Tim?

I do like that, but my favourite is the little miniature silver chair.

-Anyway, Charles, that's very nice.

-Marvellous.

-£50 is a sensible amount. Not too little or too much.

-Gives you something to get your old teeth into.

-Jewellery, possibly?

-Do you reckon?

-Yes.

-Angela wants a bit of jewellery.

-Does she? What girl doesn't? Good luck, Charlie.

Let's check out what the Blues bought.

The Blues began with this commemorative crown coin case for £80.

The large Bretby vase set them back a generous £120.

And they splashed out £38 on this Art Deco silver and marcasite cocktail watch.

-Well, you finished.

-We have.

-Congratulations.

-Minutes!

-Minutes! So what was your favourite piece?

-The Bretby vase I liked. In the end, that was my favourite.

-But I also like the little coin case.

-What about you, Heather?

-The watch and the coin case.

-How much did you spend?

-238.

-I would like £62 of leftover lolly, please.

There we go. 62. Thomas Plant, what is your mental process at the moment?

I need a cup of tea after these two!

-Desperate for tea and then a good Bonus Buy.

-I hope so.

-Very good. Look after yourselves, girls.

While Thomas searches for that elusive Bonus Buy, I'll show you one of Derby's greatest treasures.

The Derby Museum and Art Gallery houses the world's largest collection of works

by one of Britain's most significant 18th-century painters - Joseph Wright of Derby.

Joseph Wright began his career in the 1750s as a portrait painter of fashionable society,

but his ambition was to be a serious artist.

Based in Derby, Wright observed the Industrial Revolution take hold and saw the city become a hub

of scientific discovery and invention, a period later named as the Enlightenment.

This era of radical transformation was captured in paint by the young Joseph Wright,

who came to be known as Britain's Caravaggio and the master of light.

Joseph Wright's intriguing masterpieces have been the subject of many years' research

for Derby's Keeper of Art, Lucy Bamford.

Lovely to see you. What a treat we've got here.

Why was Joseph Wright of Derby quite so celebrated in his time?

Well, his paintings explore some of the scientific and intellectual discussions of his day

in a really extraordinary way. In fact, it's possible to say that he is one of the only artists

that really captures a sense of the excitement of the Enlightenment Age.

-It was all this activity, this frenetic buzz...

-Absolutely.

-..amongst intelligent people

-who were questioning everything that had been set in stone.

-Absolutely.

-So would you say this is your most celebrated Wright?

-Yes.

-And what's going on here?

We've got a mixed group of people here, men, women and children.

They've been gathered around this orrery, a sort of early form of planetarium, if you like.

They've gathered to learn about the workings of the Solar System.

We can see the reflection of an oil lamp beneath the little boy's elbow.

That's there to replicate the Sun's rays. It's a beautiful effect.

It lights up each face in turn. Above him we have the philosopher who is giving the lecture,

we think on the cause and effect of eclipses.

The little girl here is echoing his pointing pose and is pointing, perhaps for her little brother,

at Saturn there, with the shadow of one of its moons case on the surface.

Because the orrery is a scientific instrument, effectively, isn't it,

that replicates the movements of the planets within the universe.

Normally with a clockwork or manual device, all of the planets actually revolve in sequence

-with one another. It's very clever.

-It is. Very beautiful instrument and Wright captures all its details

-really perfectly.

-Yes. What's so special about this form of painting,

and why we call him the English Caravaggio, is this use of light, isn't it?

Yes, absolutely. And we give that use of light a name - chiaroscuro -

which effectively means a very dramatic contrast of light and dark.

So you can see here Wright captures those effects really beautifully

with the bright light of the lamp and then the heavy, dark background surrounding the figures.

The light acts as the metaphor for that arrival of knowledge,

bringing people out from ignorance and superstition, from darkness.

-They're quite literally being shown at their moment of enlightenment.

-This is the epiphany.

Well, very beautifully put, Lucy. Thank you very much.

What an extraordinary and important artist Joseph Wright was,

but the big question now is will there be an epiphany for our teams over at the auction?

Well, well, well, what fun it is to be with Charles Hanson.

First up for our Reds is this ebony and silver mounted box.

-The box could be French and they've slapped these silver mounts on.

-It's a hairpin box, 1910, 1920.

-It's just a pretty small box.

-Lovely. How much?

I've put a guide price on of £40-£60. It's pretty and a lady on her dressing table would like it.

-Let's hope so. They only paid £25, so you've been quite generous.

-Yes, I have.

-Which is lovely.

Are you as passionate about this nine-carat-gold pendant?

It has the looks of the dawn of the 20th century. Art Nouveau. It's not very heavy.

-It's thin. Not much gold.

-Thin, like me.

-It's not chunky like me!

-No.

-Stop agreeing like that. Honestly. So there we go.

-What's it worth?

-It might rise and might take £100.

-On a good day?

-On a good day.

-They paid £125.

-OK.

-So £50-£100?

-Give it a wide girth.

-Could be a problem. Last up is this Louis-style miniature chair.

-Yes.

-I see quite a few of these in all sorts of styles. Nice things to collect.

-Yeah, they are.

Many made in Holland, often carrying import marks. What I like is the Rococo, the hint of Louis XVI.

It's a real Victorian amalgam of different styles. It's London, it's 1897.

-To me, it also will appeal to a doll's house collector.

-Exactly. And it's top quality. How much?

-A guide price between 50 and 80.

-OK, £100 paid. Could be a bit light.

I've a funny feeling they'll need their Bonus Buy, so let's have a look at it.

-Ange, Tim - great name - you spent £50.

-Yes.

-You gave it to Charles Ross, trusting in him.

And he has now spent it on something under this rag.

-It's a box.

-I said I'd buy you jewellery.

-You did. Something shiny.

-But I didn't!

-Oh, I love them.

-Hat pins.

Hat pins(!) Oh, no.

-Angela!

-Save me!

-Mother, dear...

-Did you hear that?

Art Deco, silver cocktail sticks. With rather splendid cherry tops to them in probably Bakelite.

-But they are silver and I think cocktails are coming back in.

-Definitely.

-I spent a naughty 40 on these.

-I like a naughty 40.

-I think they are worth £50, £60.

-I love them.

-I have to say Timbo is our man here.

-You work part-time in a bar.

-Mm-hm.

-You make drinks. Is there a revival in cocktails?

-Definitely.

-Phew! That's OK. Do you want to take one out, Ange?

-I will.

-There are no chips or damage and I think they're a statement of the time.

-They're unusual.

-It's fun to have a fake cherry on the top.

-Oh, yes.

-The topping to beat all toppings.

-What do you think, profit-wise?

-I think they'll make £50, £60.

-Yes?

-Yeah.

For the audience at home, let's find out whether the auctioneer is so keen on Charles' cocktail sticks.

-There we go, Charles. Do you like a maraschino cherry in your cocktail?

-Tim, they are Deco,

-they reflect that age of jazz and living, that luxurious life.

-Exactly.

And there is a revival in all exotic drinks, right?

-To me, it captures that vintage feel of the Deco period.

-OK, brilliant. We like those.

-Yes, we do.

-How much do you think they'll bring?

-I would guide the cocktail sticks at between £30 and £50.

-With a cherry on top, maybe £60.

-Excellent.

Now moving on to the Blues, we start with this circular box.

I made a mistake. When I first saw this box, I thought it was enamel,

-and in fact what we do have is plastic.

-No.

-On top. Yes.

Someone told me that when I was cataloguing it. It's heavy, it's silver, it's hallmarked for 1985.

It's almost celebrating the crown because it's from 1935.

-50 years later, a silversmith has celebrated a bit of history.

-Yeah.

-But plastic!

-When you see silver, Tim, you expect to see enamel.

-Yes.

-I looked at that, almost overlooked it, until someone said to touch it. It's very warm.

-It's not that cold, glassy edge.

-A lot of work in that, though.

-There is.

-What do you think it's worth?

-40-60.

-£80 paid.

-Fine.

A slight hole there. Next is the Bretby Pottery vase.

I think to the unassuming it's a vase that is really trying.

You've got this almost bronzed finish which is coming off and it's pottery, not bronze.

You've got this wonderful almost Japanese form and cloisonne enamel of these irises.

-It just has tried.

-Yes, they're trying.

-It deserves more.

-How much?

-I hope it will do well. Early 20th century.

-Our guide price is £70-£100.

-They paid 120. I think they paid way over, but I could easily be wrong,

in which case that would be lovely. Last up is the marcasite-encrusted stainless steel ladies' dress watch.

-Much of a call for those?

-It's not platinum, not diamond-encrusted. It's stainless steel,

-made to imitate it.

-We got the message - it's cheap.

-Tim, it's cheap, but if you want to live that lifestyle, it's here to go.

-OK, fine. How much?

-I like it a lot for what it represents. £40-£60.

-£38 paid.

-That might just clutch them a bit back from the losses they're likely to suffer elsewhere.

-Yes.

They'll need their Bonus Buy, I betcha. Let's have a look at it.

-Marianne and Heather, this is exciting.

-It is.

You spent £238. I'm proud of you for that and you gave Tom Tom £62 for that.

-Tom, show us what you bought.

-I bought a little figure. You were after a naked figure.

I thought I'd buy you some quality. Here she is. Want to hold her?

-Yes, please.

-Be careful.

-She's very heavy.

-Yes, she is. What do you think she's made out of?

-Lead?

-It's not lead. After we looked at that resin figure of the dancer...

-No, it's not resin. It's bronze. She's probably Italian, most likely 18th century.

-How much?

£60. Now come on. A piece of Italian bronze, 18th century.

-We're talking about the 1700s here.

-What would you do with it?!

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

-It's a bronze. It's...

-How much do you think at auction?

-Would it make us a profit?

-It could. I think it's a good thing.

-It's...nice.

-We're happy, sort of. Aren't we?

-Yeah, it's nice.

-Anything else you need to ask?

-We know what you paid.

-How much do you think you'd get?

-I would get about £100.

-Oh, we like it, then!

On that happy, optimistic note, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Tom's little figure.

-There we go, Charles. She's handsome.

-A nice lady, Tim.

Essentially, based on the classical. She is a lady who, I suppose, if you think back to Pompeii,

it's almost something made to celebrate what was discovered in the 18th, 19th century.

-Probably 19th century, Italian bronze.

-Copying a Roman original.

-Correct, correct.

What's really good, I think, is this encrustation. That stuff on there.

That's all part of the process of ageing. I just wonder if it might not be 18th century.

-Yeah, look at her face. She's quite crude. Could she be 1770? She could be that age.

-Exactly.

-How much?

-I would guide her to fetch £30-£40.

-Would you? £60 paid by El Tomato.

-It's all in the eye of the beholder. We'll find out.

-Can't wait.

£65.

OK, Angela, Tim, here we are. How many sales do you get to, Ange?

I haven't been to any before. This is my first sale.

Never been to an auction before?!

What about you, Timbo?

No, never been, but local antique shops, if they've got a Sold sign on, it's usually Mother.

-Oh, yes?

-Disappearing in there.

Well, this is a pretty extraordinary place with so many people in it. So that's a good sign.

Which is your prediction now about which piece will bring the biggest profit?

-I feel the little ebony box.

-The pin box? You really love that. That's first up.

-Here it comes.

-A very nice George V, rectangular, ebony and silver-mounted hairpin box.

Bid me £20. It's worth it. Start me at £15.

15. I'm out. 15. Do I see 16? A good little box. At £16?

It's a maiden bid. I'm asking... 16. 18. 20.

Two. Five. Are you sure, madam? One more?

No? Thank you for coming. At £20. I'll take five now.

Fair warning. You're all out. We sell in the front row at £22.

-Going, going, gone.

-Poor Ange. Minus £3. That's not right.

Now here comes the gold pendant.

Wonderful. It's Art Nouveau. Nine-carat gold. Turquoise and pearl-mounted pendant.

It captures the essence of the early 20th century. And I am bid here...

-£45.

-Is that all?

-50. Five. 60.

Five. 70. Five. 80.

85. 90. I've got five. Take it away.

At £100, I'm out. At £100. Do I see 105 now?

-Extraordinary.

-Get in there, get in there.

-I'll take now 105. 100.

-Oh, bad luck, team.

I'll take one more bid. 105, I've got you! 105. 110. 15.

-Yes, go on! One more.

-One for the road. Life's too short.

115. 120. 125?

He's saved our bacon!

-120. Lady in red at 120.

-Oh, 120. I thought he'd got 125.

-120 I'm bid.

-One more, one more.

-At £120. I'm watching you.

-Yes, go on.

-125.

-Yes!

-130. 135? Are you sure?

At 130. I'll take 135. We sell to the lady in red. Thank you. You kept with it.

-At £130.

-He squeezed out those last £10. You are now plus five.

How good is that? Doesn't that make you feel better?

-Here comes the French salon chair.

-Oh, I say. This is something that might suit a doll collector

or a doll's house lover. A novel, French-style, silver salon chair. Maker Edwin Thompson.

It's London, it's hallmarked for 1897. And I've got two bids.

-At 45...£50.

-Uh-oh.

-Do I see five now? 50.

-He'll have to work on this.

A wonderful silver chair. I'm out. At £55 now.

Do I see 60? It's a good object.

-One more?

-This is a shocker.

-Make no mistake, I'll take 60.

Before we say going... It's coming down now, madam!

It's going. All out at £55. Sold.

-£55 is minus £45.

-Crumbs.

-Which is not so bad. Are you going with the Bonus Buy?

-Definitely.

-OK, fine. Brilliant.

-We believe in Charlie.

-Exactly. So do we all. That could be your first mistake.

-Here come the cocktail sticks.

-In Bakelite, cherry cocktail sticks.

They're 1930s and they capture an age of high living.

I've got some interest in these.

And I'm bid £28. There's a lot of interest.

30. Two. Five. Eight.

40. Two. Five. I'm out. 45.

-I look for...eight. 50.

-Yes, Charles!

-With a cherry on top. 52.

Five? Are you sure?

-Charlie Ross!

-£52 I'm bid. These are wonderful cocktail sticks.

£52. I'll take five. Five. Eight?

Are you sure, sir? At £55.

-Going, going, going, gone.

-Well done.

£55 is plus £15. Very fair. Carlos, thank you very much.

So 43 is 33...

is minus 28.

Minus £28, which could easily be a winning score.

-Hasn't this been fun?

-Yes.

-Very good fun.

Don't say a word to the Blues. All will be revealed later.

Two. Five. Eight. Forty. Five.

-Have you been talking to the Reds?

-Not at all.

-Good, lovely.

-It's all a mystery to you as to how many pounds they've made or haven't made.

-Not made, hopefully.

You said it! Quite competitive, aren't you?

Your first item, though, is going to be the silver box with the coin inset.

That top isn't enamel. It's some sort of resinous compound.

-Oh!

-But not to worry about that. It's still solid silver. You've got the genuine coin in it.

You paid 80. He's reckoned it at £40-£60.

-Here it comes.

-Wonderful silver and enamel, in style, circular box and cover. There we are.

It's Birmingham, for 1985,

celebrating 50 years after the crown was made.

I'm only bid £25. Eight I'll take. Lots of hands.

Eight. 30. Two. Five. Eight.

40. Five. 50. Five?

No. 50 I'm bid.

I'll take five now. Come on, £50.

50. Five is it?

£50 bid. And we sell at £50. All out.

Minus £30. Not to worry.

-It's gone.

-Think Bretby.

-Lovely.

Here is a wonderful cloisonne vase with a wonderful bronzed effect.

Circa 1910. And I'm only bid...

-Oh!

-Uh-oh.

£35. Bid me 40.

Bid me 40... Miss White! 45. 50. I'm out.

50. I'll take five now for a really good Bretby vase.

50 is my bid. I'll take five now. Come on.

-50 is my bid.

-I don't like this at all. This is a £70 loss coming up.

I'll take five... or we sell at £50.

I know him when he's struggling. That is minus £70.

You are overall minus £100.

I think I'm going to cry. Now let us hope the watch does better.

Art Deco-style, silver and marcasite cocktail wristwatch.

Stamped Vidar. Probably '50s. I've got two bids. 18. 20. And two. Five.

Eight. 30. And two. Five. Eight.

-38.

-You paid 38.

-Do I see 40 now?

Come on. £38. 40 I ask.

£38. It's a really pretty watch for £38.

And we sell it. I'll take 40 or we sell to a lady... 40!

Yes, he's got 40! You're in profit.

Eight. 50. Five. 60?

- Are you sure? One for the road? - I told you!

£55. I'll take eight.

£55 I'm bid. Do I see eight now? Fair warning. The lady here is out.

And we sell at £55. All done?

-Fair warning.

-I was sniffy about it and I was completely wrong.

You've made £17 profit out of the tacky old watch. Brilliant.

It's all right. It takes you down from minus three figures to only minus £83.

-What are you going to do?

-Go with the bronze?

-Go with it, definitely.

-Go with it.

-Great.

-That's it, then, is it?

-Yes.

Going with the Bonus Buy. Charles' estimate on it is £30-£40.

Oh!

-What did you pay? 60?

-£60!

-And here it comes.

-Interesting bronze is this item.

Described as being 19th century, it could be 18th century.

-It has some wonderful markings on to suggest it's a Grand Tour piece. We have interest here.

-Oh, yes.

I'll start at 20. Take two now. Two. Five. Eight.

30 is my under bid. Do I see two?

Two, David. Five. Eight. I'm bid 40. Two.

£42. You're bidding, sir? 45?

I will take £45. We sell at £42.

-I'll take five.

-No, take 45.

-It could be 18th century.

Or we sell at £42.

Sold!

We're back to nearly where we started at 101.

You were minus 100, made a little profit. You're back to minus 101.

-Still, there we go.

-I'm sorry.

-Let's not burst into tears. It works out like this sometimes.

We've had a lot of fun. It's been a great journey.

Don't say a word to the Reds and all will be revealed in a moment.

16. 18.

Some days it's good days, some days it's not so hot. And today has not been a particularly hot day.

-No huge amounts of cash going home, but what is the precise gap? Know anything?

-No.

I can tell you it's huge. The team that's done really, really badly today are the Blues.

-£101 of...

-Worth every penny!

-Well said.

You stand up for yourself. Anyway, minus 101 is it.

-Have you had a nice time?

-Brilliant. Enjoyed every minute.

-We've loved having you. Heather?

-Brilliant.

-Good. I'm glad.

But the victors today, who won by losing £28...

are looking very pleased with themselves.

-Have you had a nice time?

-Wonderful.

-Ange?

-Fantastic.

-We've loved having you. Join us soon for more bargain hunting. Yes?

-Yes!

I know you're sitting 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