Ardingly 18 Bargain Hunt

Are you ready for your daily dose of antique shenanigans?

Then let's go bargain hunting, yeah!

So, the Ardingly International Antiques Fair

is the home for our bargain hunters today, and it is a monster.

They have to trot around this lot with £300 to find three objects

in only an hour before they sell on later at auction.

Let's take a quick peek as to what is coming up.

Well, today, the Reds stop for a warm-up.

Up! All right. Star jumps, girls, star jumps!

While the Blues want to be the warm-up act.

-I think a little bit of wood.

-Yep.

-Wood's good.

-That would be good.

-That would be good.

-Did you hear about the wooden car?

-No, let's go.

It wouldn't go. Let's go.

But before I give too much away, let's meet the teams.

So, we have a team of friends today.

At least they are friends at the moment. And brothers.

For the Reds, we've got Joanna and Kaylee.

And for the Blues, we've got Duncan and Alistair. Hello, guys.

-ALL: Hello.

-So, Kaylee, how did you meet?

Yeah, we met on the train and bus.

-We're both bus drivers together.

-You're a bus driver?

-Yeah.

Are you really?

What's the best part of the bus drive? Is it meeting the people?

-And the driving. I like the driving.

-Do you?

So, what do you like to do other than drive your bus?

-Shopping.

-Do you?

-Yeah, going on holiday, listening to music.

-So when you go shopping, do you buy antiques?

-No, clothes, clothes.

-What do you know about antiques?

-Not a lot.

You're going to do very well on this programme, I'll tell you.

That's the best qualification of all.

Now, Joanna, you're also a bus driver,

-but you took a different route.

-Yeah, I used to be.

I was well chuffed when I got my bus licence.

-Did you qualify together?

-Yes, yes.

I was just a little bit before Kay, like a week before.

Now I work with the ambulance service.

I'm starting off at the bottom

and I hope to work my way up to be in paramedic eventually.

Do you drive the ambulance?

Yeah, at the moment it's only patient transport,

-but, obviously, the next step is on the emergency vehicles.

-Oh, right.

So, do you get the blue light on patient transport?

No, you don't, unfortunately, but I hope to get on there soon.

-Well, do you know anything about antiques, darling?

-No, not at all.

Oh, this is a duo. Well, this is marvellous. Super.

-Alistair.

-Hello, Tim.

You've won a few medals in your time, and don't be modest.

Well, I have. I've been very, very lucky to represent Great Britain

at Paralympics and a few world championships,

-and won several medals including golds.

-Have you really?

-And what sort of areas?

-Well, I'm Paralympics.

I was in a motorbike accident a few years ago now

and I lost use of my right arm,

so I qualified for the Paralympics in 2008,

and very, very luckily won a bronze medal at the China games.

-Well, that's amazing, isn't it?

-Thank you.

-And what was your sport?

-Rowing, Tim.

-On top of that, you are a teacher.

-I am.

I qualified as a teacher a while back now.

I'm a geography teacher, but I think I am more of a trendier teacher.

-Are you?

-I'm not your stereotypical corduroy jackets,

leather elbow patches.

Would your brother agree? That's the main thing,

-cos you're also a teacher.

-I'm also a teacher.

I do design, technology and product design subjects.

But is that what we used to call manual when I was at school?

Yeah, well back in your day it would be woodwork and metalwork.

Something like that. Let me be particularly...

but I seem to remember manual came into that lot.

Hard work, blisters on your hands, that sort of stuff.

I think my poor parents finished up with four bookcases made by me.

None of which were particularly handy at taking any books.

All of a bit of a wibbly-wobbly.

Anyway, that was the top and bottom of my design technology.

Yeah, that's the sort of stuff we still do

and we sort of teach the kids, nowadays, how to hang doors,

how to make a living out of using your hands and using your brains.

-And you got a few collections?

-Yeah, I was sort of a...

My mum and dad had an allotment in Herne Bay,

and we used to dig up bottles.

The old lemonade bottles

and my mum and dad have got a garage full of them.

Will you be buying bottles today if you got the bottle?

-Oh, it depends on what grabs my eye.

-OK, fine.

And that's the group strategy, is it?

I think avoiding bottles is going to be one of them

cos we've seen a few bottles in our time.

And avoiding sporting stuff. We've seen quite a lot of sporting stuff.

I think we are going to go the sporting route.

-Don't listen to him, Tim.

-Oh, really?

We're not going to be sporting in that, are we?

I can sense some disagreement already.

Well, that's good fun. Anyway, now, the money moment.

Your £300 apiece.

There you go. £300, girls and boys. Off you go.

And very, very, very good luck. Well, what fun this is going to be.

On the buses, eh?

And hoping to drive a hard bargain today for the Reds,

it's Anita Manning.

Whilst for the Blues, we have Christina Trevanion. Christina?

Christina?!

Girls, I am so happy to have you today.

Two high-powered, 21st-century women.

So, guys, have we got a plan for today?

Something shiny?

Something shiny?

Well, I think a bit of trench art.

-Oh, oh, that's very specific.

-The centenary is coming up.

Anything that's a bargain, basically.

-You want to make money, girls?

-Yes, we do.

-You want to make dough?

-We want to make lots of dosh.

-Well, let's get to it!

Well, with my sporting pedigree I think a bit of sport...

A bit of sporting memorabilia.

I'm sort of sensing a lot of boys' toys.

-Yeah, absolutely.

-That makes me nervous. OK, right, let's go.

Oh, you'll be fine, Christina.

I'm sure you'll find a "mantique" or two.

But those 60 minutes don't hang about, so eyes down for Round One.

On your marks...

Get set...

Go!

-Is that a girlie thing?

-That's nice. I like that.

I didn't even look up there. I was looking at eyelevel.

You've got to look above eyelevel

and sometimes you've got to look under the tables.

Hi, chaps.

-Hello, you all right?

-What are you looking at?

Well, we're looking at this,

-but also we've seen a lovely fire grate back there.

-OK.

-Should we go have a look?

-It's on for £150...

But we reckon we can get it down to around £90.

Blimey! You don't need me here at all. That's fantastic.

OK, well, let's go have a look at it, see what you think.

-Oh, a shiny drawer!

-A shiny drawer.

And the Blues are looking at something rather un-shiny.

-Oh, OK. Oh, my goodness. Gosh, it's a big, isn't it?

-Yeah.

So, you've got the fireback there, which is rather...

It's got two phoenixes on there.

-What does that mean?

-It's cast there.

What do the dates on the back mean? Do we know?

Well, it's probably just some sort of registered mark.

We've got 80, 04, and 17,

but that's not looking like it's got a massive amount of age to it.

I have to be honest. But, we've also got the grate, yeah?

-And these two rather wonderful firedogs here.

-Yeah.

And we've got some... Just so really...

And also some dungeon equipment.

I think even on a metal value it's worth quite a bit.

In the scrap value alone.

Well, architectural salvage is really, really hot at the moment.

The fact that this is so complete...

You've obviously got the tray, you got the grate,

you've got the firedogs, and you've got the back which is brilliant

because you really like it, obviously, both of you.

And you are agreeing!

-Well, at this point.

-It's fairly rare, but, you know.

OK, where's our man? Oh, hello. Good morning.

-What sort of price would you want for...

-It's all the set, £150.

£150 for everything?

-OK. All right.

-All from France. Handmade.

This is cast iron and iron.

Yeah, it's very beautiful. It's very weighty.

Don't quite know how we're going to get it home.

Have you got a big car?

-Two strong men will carry it home.

-Two strong men, exactly.

So, £150. Is there any flexibility on that price?

Well, £130, if you want.

We were thinking more £70, £80, have to be honest.

-I can't, sorry.

-Oh, go on.

-No, I will sell it much better in France.

-You will?

What do you think, chaps?

-Well, I do think we go to auction with this...

-Yeah, exactly.

You do get a lot of stuff with it which is great,

-but I think £100... Would a £100... Yeah?

-OK.

-Cash?

Are you happy, chaps?

-Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

-Shall we? Yeah.

-Ready? Poised?

-Go for it!

-Yay.

-Well done.

Well done. I love it. Fantastic. There we go.

That was great.

Keep this up, Blues, and you'll be at the finish line in no time.

Now, how the Reds got to their first stop yet?

Oh, it's a wee sweets dish. It's to put on your table.

If you have some afternoon guests and give them

some wee sort of sweeties or mint imperials or something like that.

-Do you like that?

-I like that.

-I really like that.

Let's have a look at it.

Oh, and we can see a lovely big hallmark there.

There, we've got a wee lion, there. Oh, and it's got nice little feet.

-I like it.

-You like it?

-I do as well, actually. I really do.

-Now, I want you to tell me why you like it.

-It's small.

It's not too bulky and it's quite pretty. I love that.

You said you wanted girlie and it's got little girlie flowers on.

Now, which one of you is good at bartering?

-I guess I am.

-All right.

Now, the girls were looking for something girlie and a bargain.

-It's £85.

-£85?

-Because of the condition.

-Right.

-£60.

They're looking kind of roundabout sort of...

If I'm being honest, it owes me £55.

So your bid of £60 is sort of the minimum I would take,

-but I would need a little bit more than that.

-£61!

-Perhaps even a little more than that.

-£61.50.

-62.

-Oh, oh!

Please, please. We'll love you forever.

I would really need about £65 to be fair to give me

-a worthwhile profit on it.

-OK, halfway. £62.50.

I'll give you another two quid for luck. £63, how about that?

-Shake hands with the man.

-I like it.

So, ten minutes in, one item each, and impressive haggling skill.

Good start all round, I'd say. So, all set for Round Two?

So on the list we had boys' toys,

sporting stuff, trench art,

militaria... Yeah? Anything like that?

I think you're a bit cold.

I think we should do a bit of running on the spot. OK.

-Let's do it. One, two, three.

-Up! Star jumps, girls. Star jumps.

Cor, you're stepping up a gear or two, Reds.

Are you taking note, Blues?

Trench art, here we go.

Fantastic. So we do tend to get different types of trench art.

You get civilian trench art which was made out of basically

debris from the battle fields,

and then you'd have soldier-made trench art

which would be whittled away whilst they were sitting in the trenches

waiting to go over the top or that sort of thing.

I think these are made from the debris of the battle field.

So local people that had been living around the area

would have gone and sort of pick up bits and bobs that they found.

-But these are fascinating, aren't they?

-They are.

What do you reckon the original function was?

Do you know what, that actually looks like...

It's a bit of a guessing game, isn't it?

-But this looks like the top of some sort of...

-Shell.

-..shell.

And they you've got some sort of mechanism in here.

What I love is that this is numbered.

Inside of this one, as well.

And it looks like it's been sort of coiled around like that.

So, I mean, this is... almost what you were looking for.

-What do you think?

-Can I make a suggestion?

We keep it here, we know where it is, and come back?

Otherwise we're jumping in too soon.

Yeah. That's got £25 on it. How much does yours have on it?

-There is nothing on there at all.

-Nothing on there.

Let's ask on a price on that one

and then we know potentially what we've got left in the budget.

Where's our lady gone? Where is she?

Hi, there.

We were just looking at these pieces of trench art that you've got

-on the stall here. Would you do a deal on the three?

-I could do £50.

-For the lot?

-Yes.

As I made a mistake on that one and it's got no price.

I think it's amazing.

But I'd still like to have a quick look around.

-I think these are definitely one.

-OK.

-I really do like it and I think they are unusual.

-OK.

But just have a little look around?

OK, so, guys, we've had 15 minutes.

-Could we possibly ask you to keep these for 45 minutes?

-Of course.

-Would that be all right?

-No problem.

Just in case cos I would hate for them to...

No, I think they are lovely. Absolutely lovely.

They are not my cup of tea because I like diamonds,

but if you like them, then I'm prepared to go with them.

Most girls like diamonds but we've only got a small budget.

You're not getting a diamond today, Christina. It's all about mantiques!

But what of the Reds after?

OK, girls, what sort of period do you like?

Do you like Victorian or sort of 20th century modern stuff?

-Just anything.

-Yeah, we're quite easy-going.

-We like everything, really.

-As long as it looks nice.

As long as it looks nice?

-Yeah, as long as it's nice.

-So, price is very important for you.

-Yeah.

-For our next item, definitely.

-Our next item.

-Under £50 we want.

Under £50.

Under £50. Under £50, they said, Anita. Not under £5.

Do you think we might be able to Hoover up a bargain with this?

-It's very, very cute.

-And it's red like us.

Yeah, and you've got a wee brush and shovel there, as well.

-Was that on the £5 table?

-That was on the £5 table.

Should be on the £3 table.

Oh, you're suckers for a bargain, Reds.

While the Blues have lost their bottle.

Oh, look!

You know, I used to dig these up in the allotment

and what you generally find...

-They used to smash these to get the marbles out.

-Oh, wow.

-So we found 100...

-100 and something.

My brother and I were in the local paper.

-Oh, really? For digging them up?

-For digging them up.

And I was at work... I think it was 15 years later,

they were doing another piece in the newspaper

and there I was 15 years later.

-Aw, looking exactly the same.

-Beautiful as ever.

Looking like George Clooney.

-Did you keep any?

-Yes, they are in my dad's shed.

-Brilliant.

What's the price on them?

-I don't know.

-Ask him.

-You might be hoarding a fortune in your shed.

-Excuse me, how much do these go for?

-That's £3.

-£3.

-Aw.

-We've got hundreds of those in our garage.

-Hundreds, perfect!

-Do you want to buy some? Got loads of them.

-We've got loads of them.

Right, come on.

I don't think we need to spend £3 on a bottle

that you already have hundreds of.

And there's no lemonade in it, either.

Indeed, Duncan.

So, Round Two is not going quite as smoothly as Round One.

But has something modern caught Anita's eye?

Girls, see this type of thing here?

This is sort of 1960s glass which is quite popular just now.

-That's quite a nice piece.

-Yeah.

-It's got a good shape.

It's got lots of colour, you know, with the red and green

and that millefiori type base.

Millefiori is a glass work technique that produces decorative patterns

using canes of class.

Does that sort of appeal to you in any way?

What does it do?

Does it do anything?

It gladdens the heart.

Is it heavy?

It is quite heavy.

Well, that's one of the things that we think about

when we are looking at glass.

Because if it's heavy, it really does say, you know,

-"I've got a bit of quality here."

-I'm worth money.

-I really like it.

-I like it.

-I'd definitely put something in it if I had it.

Like some grapes in it.

Now, I think this is probably Italian glass

from the 1960s or 1970s.

What do you think it would make at auction?

Well, I think that it could make in excess of £50 at auction.

Hello!

I'm Anita and these are my marvellous red devils here.

What they're looking for today is a bargain.

-Cheap.

-Yeah.

-That's what you want, isn't it?

-We want cheap.

-Always cheap.

£35.

£35...

But, if you're good, and you can answer this riddle,

Anita, you can have it for £25.

-Anita!

-Oh, there's a challenge.

-Can we both collaborate on the riddle?

-Yeah.

-But I've got to give you the riddle first, haven't I?

-Give us the riddle.

What's the one thing you can't do if you've got no socks?

What's the one thing we can't do if we've got no socks?

Take them off!

Oh, it's your riddle, Reds.

So let's leave them pondering and see if the Blues

have clocked their second item yet.

As pocket watches go, that looks like quite a modern one.

It might appeal to train collectors or railway art collectors,

-but I just don't think it's going to make a lot of money.

-OK.

I'll take your advice on that one.

We can find you another silver case pocket if that's what you want.

-Yeah.

-Ali, no.

I can't leave you five minutes

and you're buying something you shouldn't be buying.

I'm glad you arrived at that point. Let's go.

-Sparkly and shiny, though.

-Oh...

And the Reds are still thinking about that riddle.

We're not going to get this.

What's the one thing that we can't do if we've got no socks.

Right, Reds, what's your answer?

-We don't know.

-Take the socks off?

-Take the socks off!

You would've had to have socks, wouldn't you, to take them off?

You can't do that, though, cos you can't take them off.

I think we were right, there.

You can't pull them up.

You can't pull them up!

That's the same thing.

-We were halfway there!

-Technically, you're halfway there,

so you can have it for £20.

That'll do. Deal.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

I think that's a good bargain for £20. And that's item number two.

Mm-hmm.

Brilliant. You're running on time today, Reds.

Now, I better hop on to find something of interest

to show you later, but it's a big fair and there's so much choice.

Now I know how the teams feel.

Well, I'll keep searching, then. Hello.

But enough for me it's time for Round Three,

so let's get down to the nitty-gritty.

-Girls, two down and one...

-We've done a bargain.

We've done a bargain, we've done a shiny.

This chappy up here has got some sporting equipment,

-so let's have a look at that.

-Oh, really?

-A running machine for you, Alistair?

-Yeah, rowing machine.

-What now?

-What next?

-Something crazy.

-Yeah.

-A bit crazy.

Sporting memorabilia? You wanted sporting memorabilia.

I don't play tennis but I like it.

Maybe too crazy.

I don't know. They are very wacky.

This is very good.

That's really good fun but you don't play tennis.

No, but I love it that you're thinking outside the box,

-but is it tennis or is it not tennis?

-It's not tennis.

-It's not tennis.

-It's not cricket, either.

-It's not cricket.

-It's not cricket, exactly.

-We can move on.

Move on then, Blues.

The Reds are running away with this. Have they reached the last shop?

I love that. That is really nice.

It's a spinning chair.

And it would be used by a spinner.

You know, the spinning wheel would be to the front

and they would have this low chair.

But what's lovely is that it's been decorated.

And it's been decorated in pokerwork.

So what they've done is apply a hot poker to the wood

to make the design.

And it's fairly fine... And look at that ferocious dragon!

-I just want to sit on it.

-It looks really cute.

-Don't sit on it.

-I'm too big.

No, I'm just scared we're going to break everything.

-I like it.

-It's under £50, too.

We could go cheaper than that.

-We will go cheaper.

-Oh, confidence. I love that. Confidence, yes.

The girls were looking at your little spinning chair here.

-We love it, but we're looking at maybe £25.

-I'd do £30.

-£30 is a good price.

-Meet in the middle, £27.50?

-No, I don't do 50s.

-OK, £28, then.

-£28.

-£28.

-OK.

Yes. Thank you.

Thank you so much, that's brilliant.

Round Three done and dusted. Well done, girls.

But it all started so well for the Blues.

Guys, we've got 16 minutes left.

We bought one thing, we've got two left to buy.

You're taking it to the wire.

I think we should go back and have a look at that trench art again.

-Do you like your items?

-Yes.

-Love them.

-I love all three.

All three are unique, they are different,

-and I could take them home myself.

-Aw!

I don't want to send them to auction!

What about your bargaining skills?

Oh, well, for a first-timer, I'm shocked with myself.

-Well, you said £50, didn't you?

-Yes, I did.

-For the three?

-Yes.

Would you possibly do £40?

It's a little bit too tight,

especially as I haven't priced that one, which is my fault, and...

-What if we meet you halfway, then?

-Halfway, £45.

-Go on, then.

-£45.

-£45.

-Thank you.

Yeah, I think we've got two items.

I think we're happy with them, both of them.

I think we're looking for that one extra item.

I think we should go for a little bit of wood.

I think a little bit of wood. Wood's good.

-That would be good.

-That would be good.

-Did you hear about the wooden car?

-No, let's go.

It wouldn't go. Let's go.

Broom, broom! And that's Round Two done.

Do you need the Reds to give you a lift for Round Three?

This is getting to the wire. I'm getting stressed.

That's got a split at the top. Don't think that's good.

-£48?

-Mm, no.

-No.

What do you think?

-Not my cup of tea.

-Not your cup of tea?

-No.

-No, OK.

Nope, but the girls have found theirs.

Well done, girls and cheers!

You might be able to drive big vehicles,

but you can also drive a sharp bargain.

-We can.

-Well done.

-Well deserved.

While the Blues have moved from wood to a copper planter at £140.

I think it's a nice thing. What do you think?

-It's certainly a big thing.

-It's not wood.

It is not wood, but we've got five minutes left.

Considering how much time we've got, we might have to compromise.

-Have you seen the nursing chair?

-Yeah.

Typical Victorian nursing chair.

Probably would've been one of a pair originally.

But we haven't got time to talk about things like that!

-You panic so much.

-I'm panicking! Right, OK.

So we've got the choice between... Do you like the chair?

I think the chair is beautiful.

-What have you got on the chair?

-I've got £80.

£80 on the chair.

And the copper planter, is there any more flexibility on that?

-£125 is my very best.

-Oh. Guys?

-I'm still convinced on the chair.

-Mmm...

-Oh, my God! I don't think I can watch this any more.

-One minute!

-Oh, my God! Oh, my God!

-50-50.

-Chair at £65?

-Chair at £65?

-Go on, yeah.

-Shake his hand.

-Oh, my God.

Let me warm up my hands.

Guys, you nearly gave me a heart attack!

Cor, me too, Christina. Good job, Blues, and...

Stop that clock!

Round Three is done.

Now, let's remind ourselves what the Red team bought.

First up, the Reds paid £63 for the silver Edwardian sweetmeat dish.

They got the 1960s glass vase for £20

after solving the dealer's riddle.

And the beech and oak Welsh spinning chair cost £28.

-Well, girls, was that fun?

-It was really fun.

-Yeah.

-How much did you spend, girls?

-£111.

-£111.

-I'd like 189 of leftover lolly, please.

-Here you go.

-There's the four.

-Thank you.

-And there's the rest of it.

You're not very happy about passing this over, are you?

Cos it's quite a lot of cash.

Oh, and another bit. My bad. It got stuck.

So, which is your favourite piece, Jo?

I love the chair. I love it.

It's so sweet and dinky.

-It's perfect.

-That's your favourite, favourite?

-The chair.

-You agree with that? OK.

-I love the chair.

The double favourite for the chair.

Is that going to bring the biggest profit?

No, I think our little ornament, our little glass ornament

-will make it because we got a bargain on that.

-I think the chair.

You think the chair? OK, fine.

Well, what we do now is to hand over all this money to Anita Manning.

-There you go, darling.

-You've got loads.

Have you got a vision of what's out there?

Well, the girls like shiny things, but they also like bargains.

So that's what I going to do. Find a shiny bargain for them.

-It's not a miniature bus or something like that?

-Yeah.

Anyway, good luck with that.

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

The cast iron fire set set them back £100.

£45 was spent on the three pieces of World War I trench art.

And in the final seconds,

the Victorian walnut-framed nursing chair cost £65.

-Was it good fun?

-It was excellent fun running around the fair.

Very nice. A whole hour with CT.

Literally an entire hour.

-They took it down to the second.

-It's amazing, isn't it?

-How much did you spend?

-We spent £210.

-That's amazing.

-£90 of leftover lolly, please.

-Yep.

-Who's got the £90?

-I've got it.

That is super.

Now, would you mind telling me which piece is your favourite?

My favourite piece is the cast iron fire grate.

-OK. Favourite?

-Yep.

-Sounds heavy.

-Mm-hmm.

-Mine is the nursing chair.

-It is a nursing chair, isn't it?

-It is.

-Bit battered but it is a nursing chair.

-Very nice, too.

And is that going to bring the biggest profit?

-I think, yes, it will.

-Or will it nurse a lot?

-Ha-ha-ha.

-He's panto.

-Oh, no. Pure panto.

Which is going to bring the biggest profit?

-I've got a feeling the trench art.

-The trench art?

The trench art will bring a bit of a profit.

This is a nice mishmash there, isn't it? You've had a lovely shop.

It's all boys' toys.

OK, that means you're going to go get a bit of jewellery.

-Anyway, you got your £90.

-Thank you kindly.

-Very good, and good luck with your trawl with that.

-Thank you.

Anyway, go and have a nice cup of tea and warm up, chaps.

Meanwhile, I'm proposing to get all physical.

Amazing these spaces, aren't they?

Basically, an agricultural building

that's used for all sorts of shows here at Ardingly,

that just occasionally gets converted into a showroom

for fine art and antiques.

And you can find some seriously weird things.

Take this lot.

Weird, aren't they?

Well, not so weird if you happen to be a scientist, of course.

Which I am not.

But, if you like the precision of science,

you'll like these as examples of what molecular scientists

might perhaps get up to.

Building models of molecules which are, of course,

joined by chemical bonds, which are what these metal bars are.

And hence, the whole science of molecular structures

comes into place.

Anyway, that's enough of the science,

and before you all send me a deluge of letters

saying I've got it all wrong, I am not a scientist.

I've approached these simply as decorative objects.

I know from the dealer that they came from behind the iron curtain.

That's interesting, isn't it?

If you look carefully, the balls have been turned out of wood

and then coloured silver and green.

Each of these are pierced with holes so you could take that one

and build on another structure,

effectively making these into any old shapes you like.

To my eye, they're extremely decorative.

They date from the '50s, so they're at least 60 to 70 years old today,

and who knows, might these not become

the collectibles of the future?

But what would it cost you to buy them here today at Ardingly?

The whole lot could be yours for £50.

There's no rocket science about that.

But the big question today is...

Will our teams' items lift off over at the auction?

If you got in your car in Ardingly and you went 59.1 miles,

you'd find yourself in West London, in High Road, Chiswick,

at High Road Auctions to be with Ross Mercer. How are you?

-Very well, indeed.

-Now, this Red team have done extraordinarily well.

They brought this terribly thin piece of silver.

-It is...

-Wafer thin!

-It is quite a mean gauge, I'm afraid, Tim.

Nicely repousse embossed. A bit of a nod to the Victoriana.

-How much do you think it's worth?

-£40 to £60.

-OK, they paid £63.

Now, what about this piece of glass? I've never seen that combo before.

-Have you?

-I haven't, no. It's fun.

-Isn't it?

-How much do you think it'll make?

-£30 to £50.

-£20 paid.

Lastly is the old Welsh spinning chair.

How do you rate that?

It's a piece of naive furniture

which can be quite collectible from the provinces.

Good bit of pokerwork to it.

Reasonable condition. Bit of wood worm here and there.

So, how do you see it selling?

-Well, we've said £30 to £50.

-That's right.

I think we've got to be doing some to get much more than that.

I quite agree. £28 is paid. So, that's OK.

That'll just about wipe its face.

And if all goes badly,

they're going to need that bonus buy so let's go have a look at it.

J and K, two legends.

-I bet you long to know what Anita spent your £189 on.

-We do.

OK, Anita, put us out of our misery. What did you buy?

Well, I had to buy something girlie

for these two lovely, blondie lassies.

I bought this little Victorian brooch.

It looks like quite a modest little thing,

but it's quite intricately detailed with these scallop shells

and this lovely ribbon along the centre.

Made in Birmingham round about the 1880s.

Tell me, is it something you would wear?

Or is it something that you would like?

Well, I prefer the gold look. I don't think you like gold, do you?

-No.

-I think you're more of a silver girl.

-Yeah.

-But, it's shiny.

Was it a bargain? How much was it?

I pay £24 for that, and I think that is a good price

for a Victorian nine-carat gold item.

-So, it'll make a profit, then?

-I think so. That's really good.

There are no guarantees but I just can't see it not making a profit.

-Good move.

-£24, can't go wrong.

There we go.

This is from somebody who's a silver girl and knows her onions,

-right, Kaylee?

-Yep.

-Yep.

OK, right now for the audience at home,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Anita's little brooch.

Well, there you go, Ross.

-A little modest bar brooch for the weekend.

-That's right.

Nice quality.

Almost represents the architectural revival

of the last quarter of the 19th century.

Gosh, you got a fertile imagination.

I have. That's why I'm here.

-Yes, that's true.

-It is nice quality.

It's not the easiest thing to sell nowadays

-but at least it's gold, Tim.

-Hm.

-I'm sure we can get them on their way.

-How much for?

-Well, we've said £30 to £50.

-That's OK. Anita only paid £24.

She'll be very pleased with you.

Now, for the Blues.

This becomes a bit more spectacular because they've got

in the first lot everything you can see in that fireplace.

You've even got a pair of bellows, how's that?

-There's not much more you need other than the logs.

-Exactly.

And I mean, to make that lot...

And frankly it's a lot of work, isn't it?

All that rot iron for £100...

-I think that's an absolute snip.

-Yes. Yeah.

And what's your estimate?

-£100, £150.

-OK, fine.

Now, trench art.

Now most of this trench art, frankly, doesn't do it for me.

-Do you like these three bits?

-I do like them.

The nice thing is that they've seen action.

They've been fired down the barrel

and you can see the rifling lines on the bottom there.

-I think they'll be quite popular.

-What's your estimate?

-£20 to £40.

-Being a bit mean there, I'd say.

-Yes.

I can feel a wager coming on here.

-You're on, Tim.

-Really?

They paid £45. You reckon that they're worth £20 to £40.

I would be very disappointed if they didn't make,

say, between £80 and £100.

Do you want to have a shake on that? It could cost you a drink.

I'll bet you.

Another drink coming my way. How lovely.

No, I could be wrong, but I don't know.

I just feel they've got something.

-They're quite sculptural.

-I'm prepared to risk a drink on it.

OK, lastly, the most out-of-fashion element of Victorian furniture

-is represented there.

-That's right.

It really needs some work, I'm afraid, Tim.

Total reupholstery.

-So, what's your estimate?

-We've said £80 to £120.

OK, well, that's brave. £65 paid.

So, depending on how the wager goes on the trench art

could hang whether this team need their bonus buy or not,

so let's go have a look at it.

-Duncan, Alistair, how are you feeling?

-Very well.

-I'm feeling a bit nervous, Tim.

-Do you?

-Hm.

-I don't blame you, mate.

Now, £210 you spent. You gave the £90 to Christina.

Christina, what did you spend it on?

Well, I tried to get into the whole boys' thing.

I tried to get in with the sort of rugby ball,

and I saw rowing things,

-and I thought the boys are really going to like those.

-Yes.

And then, look what happened.

Oh, a girl's best friend.

I bought diamonds!

You wanted diamonds.

Well, I was looking around for you, but then I thought,

"You know what, stick to what you know."

Little pair of diamond solitaire stud earrings, OK?

They're set in gold and stamped 10K,

which indicates that they are ten carat gold.

-I just think they could be quite profitable.

-Yeah.

-What do you think?

-How much did you pay for them?

-I paid £90 for them.

All the money?

-All the money.

-Wow.

Have you got anywhere to put them about your person?

-Yes, in my ears. I've got both ears pierced.

-What about you, Al?

Have you got anything pierced to stick them in?

Nothing I can show you on TV.

You don't have to pick them until later if you want to,

but right now, for the audience at home, let's find out

what the auctioneer thinks about Christina's little studs.

-OK, Ross, not you don't wear these, do you, yourself?

-No, I don't.

-Me neither. So that cuts us out of the marketplace.

-It does.

Not the top end of quality when it comes to stones.

The smaller, more included stones are used for earrings and pendants.

However, at £120 to £180 is what we've estimated them at.

That's a 'come and get me' price.

Well, Christina, our FGA,

she's dead hot on these jewels. She only paid £90.

-She's done very well, indeed.

-She's done very well.

Well, all I can say to you is jolly, jolly good luck

in the auction tonight, Ross.

Thank you, Tim.

£20 bid five. £20 and it stands at 20.

-Ready for this?

-So ready!

-So ready.

-I can't wait. I can't wait.

I mean, you know, how many times you go to auctions, girls?

I've never been to one. I've never been to one.

-What have you done in your short life?

-Drive buses.

-Drive buses.

That is the right answer.

Any bit that you wish you hadn't bought, Kaylee?

-The silver dish thing.

-The silver dish.

Paid a little bit too much.

-A bit too expensive possibly, but...

-It's in perfect nick, isn't it?

-We like it, though.

-So, sweetmeat dish first, and here it comes.

Thank you, sir. 172.

It's the Edwardian silver reticulated sweetmeat dish.

And £40 I'm bid on the books, at 40.

45, straight out. £45.

At £45 looking for £50.

Now on the internet at £55.

£60, five, sir. Go on. 65.

This gentleman is 70 now.

-No!

-75 still worth it. £75 bid 80.

And you thought you paid too much.

At £75 in the room. Going once.

Going twice...

Sold to you, sir, at £75.

£75. It's 63, 73, that's plus £12.

-£6 each.

-Good start.

-Yes.

Here's the rather curious 1960s studio glass vase. There it is.

£20 I'm bid on the books. Five now.

At £25 puts me out at 25, bid 30, sir.

£30 in the back at 30.

You've only paid £20.

At £40 way at the back now.

-Selling as we are at 40.

-£40, girls!

You've doubled your money again, girls. You are amazing.

Plus £40. Oh, now...

This has got to go well. We like this one. This is our favourite.

Little Welsh chair.

Beech wood and oak spinning stool.

Pokerwork decorated, of course.

And £26, I'm bid on the books at 26.

Make it 30, sir. Come along.

At £30, 30 I have.

Yes! We've made a profit on everything.

-Anita!

-I'm going to pass out!

All done, selling now at £30.

40, 52, you are plus 34.

Now, are you going to go with the bonus buy which cost £24?

I think we will. I think we will. We're feeling lucky. Feeling lucky.

OK, girls, you are definitely going for it. Well, I don't blame you.

178, the Victorian nine-carat yellow gold bar brooch.

It's got to be £20, surely. Come along.

Ten then. £10 bid at ten. It is gold.

Ten, 15, sir.

£15, I'm bid 20.

£20, bid five.

-25, bid 30.

-Yes!

£30 now with a lady at 30.

-Anyone else coming in now £30?

-I was a little bit too, but...

At £30.

Yes. Plus £6.

-So, well done, girls. That makes you plus £40.

-Brilliant.

-Overall, £40.

-That is so good.

-There's no shame in that, is there?

-I'm impressed.

-You're impressed with yourself?

-I am.

OK, D and A, how are you doing?

Uh, yeah, very well. Looking forward to it, yeah.

-Now, the trench art he's not so hot on.

-Aw.

-£45 you paid.

-Yep.

And I have a small side wager with him

-that you will definitely make a profit.

-Oh!

-Good.

-He's put £20 to £40, which I think is miserable.

-That is a bit mean.

OK, kids, so first up is the really exciting fireplace set.

It's the 17th-century style French heraldic cast-iron fireback.

Bids the start against you all at £80, I have.

May say five to you at 85? Bidding 90.

Five, may say 95? 100 with me.

At £100 now it stands.

No money. No money.

It's a great lot. Selling now on a commission bid of £100.

Well, well, well.

-£100, you wiped your face.

-We're even.

-No profit, no loss.

No pain, no shame.

Here it is, the unusual World War I trench art candlesticks.

All three of them, mind, they're up on the screen there for you.

Some interest again. Bids start against you all at £35.

£40 bid five. 50 now said.

£50 now on the net puts me out at £50.

With my colleague at £50.

-£50.

-£50.

I've made a profit. Does that get me a drink or not?

Plus £5.

Spoon-back open armchair.

And £65, I'm bid at 65.

Straight out?

£65 coming in at 70. £65 bid. 70 with the internet.

Five, may I say, at 75. He's in.

-80, now.

-That was an amazing find.

-Last-minute.

-£80.

-That's amazing.

Internet at 80. Making no mistake at £80.

See, panic buying does work.

£80 is plus £15.

Plus your five is plus £20.

OK, kids, so what are you going to do about these ear studs?

-I think they're amazing.

-I think we should go for them.

-I think we should listen to our expert for once.

-For once, yeah.

-We've made a profit without listening to her.

-Yeah.

No, it's true, it's true.

-So, we're going to do it, yes?

-Yes, go for it.

-Two studs going for two studs.

-What did he say?

They're going to go with the bonus buy. OK, now I can reveal all.

-He says they are worth £120-£180.

-Oh, OK.

-OK, good.

-I paid £90 for them.

-Good.

Lot 197 is a pair of these claw set diamond ear studs.

Ten carat yellow gold, of course. Bid start against you all at £80.

Five now. 90, may I say? 95, now.

-In profit, and profit.

-Place it at 95, 100.

At £100, may I say ten? At 100 now.

They stand at 100. Should make more. All done?

Selling now... 110.

At 110, may I say 120?

Front row at £110. All done...

-Sold!

-£110. Well done, girl. That's perfect.

90 to 100...that's plus another £20.

So you've ranked up £40 so far.

-OK, now, plus £40 could be a winning score.

-Yep.

-You know the rules, don't say a word to the Reds.

-OK.

-Nope.

-Well done, chaps. All will be revealed in a moment.

-Well done.

-Well, we are about to make Bargain Hunt history today.

-Oh!

There is a moment for the presenter of this programme

when he has to load up with money in his pocket

and get the money right for each of the teams.

Well, today, we're giving each of the teams profits! Yes!

What's unusual about this is that today we're giving

each of the teams the same profit.

ALL: Oh!

We have never had a dead draw before.

And I'm very pleased to say that the Reds

-and the Blues are both winners today!

-ALL: Yay!

-Yes!

-That's how it should be.

-That's how it should be.

Anyway, I have decided that for kicking off,

we're going to give the Blues their £40 profit, which is what you got.

So that's very handy between you two. That's £20 each.

And then I'm going to turn to the Reds and give them their profit

which just happens to be £40. That's £40 for you.

That's history being made.

Now, the Reds, of course, have done the spectacular feat

of making a profit on each of their items

and therefore they are eligible to be members

of the ancient and noble order of the Golden Gavellers.

So, you take yours from the top, girls.

There we go, like that, and pin them on with Anita.

And as I'm able to arbitrate on these things

because the Blues managed to make a profit on two items,

and wiped their face on the other item,

which is as close as you get to making a profit on all three,

and they scored identical amounts of money,

and they're joint winners,

I think they should belong

to the Ancient Order of Golden Gavellers.

-So, there we go.

-Thank you.

-Isn't that special?

-Thank you very much.

-I think it is a very special moment.

-Very proud.

I congratulate you all wholeheartedly on making it

such a jolly day.

In fact, it's been so good,

join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

ALL: Yes!