Norfolk 30 Bargain Hunt

Norfolk is famed for many things,

including its vibrant lavender fields.

But did you know that the county has links

to Native American legend, Pocahontas?

Well, she married Englishman, tobacco exporter, John Rolfe,

whose home, Heacham Hall, was just around the corner here.

How about that for a cracking story?

Anyway, enough of this dribbling on.

Let's go bargain hunting, yeah!

Today, we're at the Norfolk Showground,

where our teams, as usual, get an hour and £300

to buy their three items.

But is this going to have a fairytale ending

or be the stuff of nightmares?

Let's tune in and see how they get on.

The Reds really know how to pick 'em, eh, Paul?

I think it's ghastly, but it has some age.

Like everything we've picked out!

And it's less ghastly than the other things you've picked out.

And the Blues are in a Continental mood.

You can see them in Montmartre, can't you?

You can see them in Montmartre. We're getting into the spirit of it all.

-Oh, yes!

-Oh-oh-oh...

-With a glass of wine.

That's all for later.

Let's meet the teams.

Well, on today's show, we've got two teams of friends

who are just bursting with talent.

For the Reds, we've got Zo and Jen.

And, for the Blues, we've got Val and Ann. Hello, everyone.

-Hello.

-Hello.

Smashing to see you.

Now, Zo-Zo, you met Jen on one of your gigs.

Yes. I'm a musician.

And she came along.

And then, after the show, we just got talking and got on really well.

-Well, isn't that nice?

-Yeah.

Tell us about the band and what you get up to.

We're called F.O.X. It's an electro-pop band.

We've toured, like, all over the world.

Last year, we went on tour with Depeche Mode

-and we did a big stadium tour.

-Was that fun?

Oh, it was the best experience.

-I didn't think it would ever happen, but...

-It did.

-It did!

-It was amazing, yeah.

-What is your role in the band?

-What do you get up to?

-I'm the singer.

-You're the singer?

So do you have a little trill that you might like to give us now?

-Oh, no!

-I mean, just a little trill

from the album coming up, that we could just get a flavour?

# Can you hear my heart?

# Does it beat in harmony? #

-That's the only one I can think of right now.

-Oh, that's so sweet.

I think a round of applause for that. And so brave,

cos I didn't tell you I wanted you to do that.

Thank you for doing that.

It's no wonder, Jen, when you went there to this gig,

you thought, "This is just marvellous."

Now, you're a fan, not only of '80s music,

-but you like poking around the street scene a bit, don't you?

-Yes.

Where I live in East London, there's quite a lot

of street artists and graffiti,

but it's mainly, like, mural pictures on the walls everywhere.

So I just go round on the weekend and take pictures of all the good stuff.

-You're trying to spot the next Banksy, then, are you?

-Yeah.

But this is what you studied at university, graphic design?

I did, yeah, graphics with fine art.

So I've just got a keen interest in art and everything related to it.

What sort of things are you going to be shopping for today, Jens?

Unusual objects. We're quite emotional purchasers, I think.

-Oh, are you?

-Yeah.

I'm going to be giving you £300 in a moment,

-so you can get really emotional, which will be lovely.

-Perfect.

Anyway, thank you for joining us, girls. This is going to be fun.

-Now, Val, you and I have something in common.

-We do, indeed, Tim.

-And what would that be?

-Well, I can't think.

I have 17. How many have you got?

-One or two more than 17.

-Really?

No, no, no, not that one's bragging, I have to say.

-But those are very jazzy.

-You like them?

-They're not Paisley, but they're pretty cool.

-They've got that look about them.

Well, I brought four pairs with me.

These are the ones that we decided were probably the best to wear.

-Well, you're in the Blue team.

-Of course.

It's all shades of blue. I'm loving it, really. No, good fun.

Now, you have many talents,

but aeroplanes have a place in your life.

Yeah, well, it was very exciting.

I lived in a boarding school

and I volunteered to help with the air cadets.

I got the opportunity to go up in a Tutor, which was great.

-I didn't expect that in my sixties.

-And did you enjoy it?

-I loved it.

I loved it very much.

-And some of the 16-year-olds, they were looping the loop.

-Yes?

-You know, amazing.

-Really scary.

I tried it once. I wouldn't do it again.

Now, Ann, it says here you're a committed twitcher.

-Yeah, I like to twitch.

-Do you?

How serious a twitcher are you?

-Oh, not that serious. But we like to do the overseas trips.

-Oh, do you?

So you'll go a long way to see an egret?

Oh, well, not really, because there's one down the road, but...

We've done Nepal and India and Mexico.

All these places, just to look at the birds.

Well, also for a very good holiday, as well.

Yeah, and very nice, too.

-Now, you're a campanologist?

-Yeah.

You can have, correct me if I'm wrong,

because I used to go bell-ringing at school, when I was very young,

-but maybe you have six or eight bells, say...

-We've got eight.

You've got eight bells.

-We ring together.

-Oh, how lovely!

So, it's another kind of aspect of your friendship, which is great.

So, what sort of tactics will you be using today

to ring in a decent profit?

-Erm...

-We haven't really got any.

We're just hoping that we spot something, a bargain. Make money.

Yes. Are you going to be relying on your expert

or are you going to take a lead yourselves?

-I think I might rely on her, actually.

-OK, fine.

Well, anyway, the money moment. Here it comes, look, £300 apiece.

There's your 300. You know the rules. Your experts await.

And off you go, girls! And very, very, very good luck.

I'm off to buy a CD.

Looks like we're in for a good old ding-dong today,

so let's meet their experts.

Hello, hello, hello...

It's the Reds' own bobby dazzler, Paul Laidlaw.

Taking the lead for the Blues is Catherine Southon.

What's the plan, teams?

Probably avoiding vases, glass, pottery.

Narrowing it down a little bit.

-If we could find one bargain today, what would it be?

-Oh...

Oh, goodness, that's such a difficult one.

-Silver.

-A nice box.

Silver or a box?

Well, it's all out there and we'd better go and find it now,

because we've just got an hour! Come on!

-Science things. You're good at that.

-Yeah, we know that.

Well, that's a lot of food for thought there. Shall we get on?

See if we can find it. Come on, then.

Let the shopping commence.

WHISTLE

Both teams are having a good, old rummage

and finding their feet with the experts.

Catherine, something I spotted down here. What about these?

Cut glass with the silver?

I don't think they're probably silver, to be honest.

-They are probably silver-plated.

-32 for the two. No?

Do you want them?

-I don't know. Let's carry on a bit longer, then.

-OK.

Let's look a bit further.

Baby steps, teams.

Baby steps.

Plenty of time, though.

-I like this boar's head.

-Oh, you like...

..this modern, precast cement boar's head?

-I like it!

-Yeah, the awful one. That's right.

Obviously, I could never say awful. Jen said awful.

-So I'm just quoting Jen.

-All right, then, let's move on.

No? No.

Honestly, I do think...

-We need to get moving, don't we?

-Yes.

Deep breath, Val.

There's loads of time.

-The tiger.

-Oh, yeah!

-The brass tiger?

-Shall we start with the issues?

-Yeah, OK.

It's ghastly.

It's erm...not old.

Oh, dear.

Oh, dear...

Am I going to have problems with you guys?

No, come on, let's go.

Now, what's Catherine canvassing opinion on?

-I think this might actually be a little gem here.

-OK.

So you put your canvas on here.

This pushes through.

Then you can put all your paints and bits and pieces there.

FRENCH ACCENT: And you can be 'ere with your beret and little brush,

of course, doing your little bit.

And then, when you've had enough, you pack it all up and you move on.

-It's beautiful. How much is it?

-It's 120.

-So, if we can get that for about 80...

-Oh, yes.

We'll be home and dry. And there's a nice stamp here, as well.

There's the maker's name here, which I can't quite work out.

Brew something.

B-R-E or Brev something.

-But it's made in France, anyway. So, it's got to be good.

-Absolutely.

-It's where all the good artists come from. What do you think?

-Brilliant. I think it's gold.

You can see them in Montmartre, can't you?

You can see them in Montmartre. We're getting into the spirit of it all.

-Oh, yes.

-With a glass of wine.

-With a glass of wine, of course.

-And your bit of cheese on the other hand.

-Yes, absolutely.

-Do you think?

-Yeah, excellent.

-Are you buying this?

-I love it.

What's your best price on it?

The very best would be 95.

Can we say 85 and we'll go for that?

-Oh, please.

-Oh...

I can see it on your lips.

You're just about to say, "Yes, of course!"

85?

Go on, 85.

-Thank you so very much.

-OK.

Oh, that's a first.

Thank you very much, indeed.

Bravo, mes petits choux-fleurs.

Maintenant, ou sont les Rouges?

And, for those who don't speak French, that means...

Well done, my little cauliflowers. Now, where are those Reds?

This is harder than I thought it was going to be.

Wait a minute, we've been doing this for five minutes

and it's harder than you thought it was going to be?

Do you think it's just a tourist thing?

I think, to be honest with you,

as lovely as it is,

I think it probably is just a tourist piece.

It's a pleasing object and, now brace yourself, this may shock you,

it's actually an antique.

CHOIR: # Hallelujah... #

-Whoa...!

-Yes!

We did it! We found one!

-Right. I would call this "the zone".

-OK.

-OK.

May we stay in the zone.

-OK, good.

-Fine.

-This is it. Now we're here.

-We're warmed up.

Right, this is it, this is it.

And, after all that, he didn't buy it.

Not glass.

-You'd like a box?

-I do quite like boxes, yes.

Again, this looks more like a mahjong set to me.

Come on, guys, 20 minutes to go.

Do you like that chair?

Hold on, I feel a bit giddy.

Because that looks like an antique.

It can't be two antiques on the trot!

Oh, it's pretty. We're in the zone.

Victorian, yeah? Striking form. Nice workmanship.

Look at the carving and the turning, it's all lovely.

It's £160 and, at the moment, that's worth 50 to 80. Would be enough.

-It's just too much money for this.

-OK.

The Reds have definitely got their eye in now.

Just find something cheaper, eh?

Blues, what are you weighing up, then?

It's a jockey scale.

-Yeah, a jockey scale.

-I think that may be way...

They're fantastic.

But I don't think we can afford it.

-How much is it, out of interest?

-650.

-Oh, wow!

-Good spot, though. Because that's a fabulous thing.

I think it's ghastly.

But it has some age.

It's like everything we've picked out.

And it's less ghastly than the other things you've been picking out.

So, we're improving.

We've got a table centrepiece. Earthenware.

Then, cast brass deer, dragging a...

-Has it got damage?

-Mmm, a little bit.

It has, to the glaze. It's £100.

How much do you like it now?

Erm...not £100.

Nowhere near, to be honest with you.

I just don't know who would want that.

I know, that's what I'm worried about.

I would like it and no-one else in the world would,

-which is normally what happens.

-Yes!

-Well, it has been the story of today's shop.

-It really has.

-It has to be said.

-Yeah.

-Could there be a giveaway?

And, seriously, I'm...

I'm talking a tiny fraction of that.

-Or we're wasting our time.

-Make me an offer.

Well, this is a game, we're playing a game. And I'm going to pitch in at...

What am I going to pitch in at?

-30?

-She said 30.

40.

No...!

OK, he says, "No." I have to follow the bossman.

35.

And then, we're done.

OK. I think that's the price.

-Do we like it or do we not for £35

-What do you think?

-I think we should get it.

-Do you?

-Yeah.

I think we need to get something. And we quite like it.

And he doesn't think it's as ghastly as everything else we've chosen.

And we've still got two more items. Yeah, OK.

Oh, God...

Oh, God! Can you read my mind?

Let's do it. Let's just be decisive and do it.

-All right, then, let's buy it.

-OK.

-We've bought it?

-Yes.

-Fantastic.

-A good price. Thanks very much.

-Thank you.

Phew! At last, Reds.

But only 25 minutes to buy your two remaining items.

Before that, I found something rather cuddly.

Now, I am not a person who ordinarily goes

for teddy bears and dolls.

But, I have to say, having found this bear here at the fair in Norwich,

I have taken a bit of a shine to him.

It is a dangerous business buying something about which you know not a lot

because, as they say,

a fool and his money are easily parted.

But this thing has some characteristics

which encourage me into thinking that it could be quite a good bear.

First of all, is the colour.

It is a divine dark chocolate, mid-brown.

The next thing I do know is you want to go for these jointed bears

that have got lovely long limbs.

And, also, these super flat feet.

Flat feet in bears is good news.

The material that's been used to cover the paws and the flat feet

is the finest of fine linen.

That's not been replaced. That's the original.

The other thing that I know

is that you want to go with them with a decent snout.

And if that snout has got a needleworked nose,

that's a good sign.

And he hasn't got plastic eyes, either.

Glass eyes. And rather lovely ones, too.

Traditionally, everybody who picks up a bear

fiddles around in the earhole looking for a button.

This one doesn't have a button in his earhole.

But what he has got is a suspicious loose bit of thread

in the right earhole.

It's all very well having a button in your earhole and everyone saying,

"Oh, it's a German Steiff bear. It's worth a lot of money."

But what happens when the button falls off?

Which could be the case with our friend here.

What it has got is a fantastic collar.

Any toymaker who's going to make a collar to go around a teddy bear,

that's going to take THAT amount of trouble

stitching and lining and fitting,

is going to be a quality teddy-bear maker.

It's in brilliant condition, apart from a bit of moth up his back.

I think it could date from the 1910 to the 1915 period,

which would be marvellous.

You just have this toss-up moment to decide whether to invest or not.

The dealer's best prices is £30.

What might it bring?

Well, if it is what I think it might be

and it does date from that period,

it could be at the top end of £1,000-£1,500.

It's a no-brainer, isn't it?

What do you think?

Yes!

Right, back to the shopping.

And, with both teams having bought just one item apiece,

they really do need to get a move on.

I think that's quite nice. It looks quite good quality.

-What's that?

-This.

-It's, sort of, like a stationery box.

-It IS nice quality, isn't it?

It's beautifully stitched, isn't it?

And you put all your envelopes and things in it there,

so it looks like it's just like a travelling case.

Yes.

This is all, like, simulated.

So it's a bit like crocodile skin, but it's not.

How much is on that?

-48.

-I think 48 is probably a little bit punchy.

But I don't know.

I like it, though. I think it's nice quality. You like it?

-I think it's nice quality.

-What would be your...?

Bottom line, £40.

-That's the bottom line on it, 40?

-The bottom line, 40?

A couple more, but that would be it.

-35?

-No, 38, Catherine.

Shall we leave it for a bit?

We haven't got long. Just to pre-warn you.

That's sound advice, Blues.

And, after 40 minutes, the bottom line is you need a second buy.

As do the Reds.

-Why do you like that cigarette case?

-It looks different.

-I like the picture on the front.

-OK.

Where might it come from?

India?

Turkey? I don't know!

I'm not very good with that.

I think you'll find it's North African in origin.

OK.

And when we see these... What's it made out of? It's very light.

Aluminium?

What else might we make from aluminium in 1940?

-Planes?

-Absolutely.

Oooh...

-This...

-Oh, I like that.

..they say, may have started off as a Luftwaffe bomber, perhaps.

Oh, right.

And said bomber is shot down over North Africa

and later on, some Italian or German prisoners of war salvage aluminium,

work them into cigarette cases, in this instance,

and sell them to British and American troops for cigarettes, for example.

Wow, OK.

Yeah? And that is a mosque.

And on the back, we've got this stylised gazelle or whatever.

And I'll tell you, good workmanship.

Oh, wow!

Oh, wow, did you say?

Of course, poor Tommy Atkins,

who hasn't been home in months, if not years,

and is pining for his sweetheart,

is seduced by this belle in her lingerie

on the inside of the cigarette case.

I really like it.

-You like?

-Yeah, I really like it.

Good!

Now we are talking, are we not?

Price tag is...

£38.

But I love it. I love it!

Oh, good. So, do we. Yay!

At last!

-There's another one.

-There was or there is?

-There.

-Oh, so there is.

Well, we're muddying the water now. You hold that. Sentiment again.

-Oh, I love it.

-Another mosque.

-What sort of price, though?

-Erm...I think...

-38, on each of them.

-I'll move to £25 each.

-I'm going to throw something in.

-OK, right.

This one, we've got North Africa.

I think we may have divisional or unit insignia here.

-And more than anything, we've got sauciness.

-Yeah, I love that.

-What's on the inside of that one?

-Should we just buy the one, then?

-I think we buy the one.

-So we'll leave this one.

-That's my advice.

-OK.

Is there any slack? So, that's 25. Is that the bottom line.

Yeah.

I think it's a fair price. I don't think there's any point in being greedy.

-I think it's a fair price. We love it. It's fair.

-Yeah.

-It's a done deal, isn't it?

-Yes. Thank you very much.

And with that, you may have salvaged your shop, Reds.

But ten minutes left means the Blues have some rescuing of their own to do.

I absolutely love the shape of that. I think that is stunning.

-How much is that?

-Has it got a stunning price on it?

I'll do it for 90.

I think the shape of that is beautiful.

It's a lot of money for it, isn't it? So...

What about the box?

-Have you decided against the box now?

-The box is quite expensive.

Whereas, you know, this is more expensive.

But it's a sort of bigger chunk for what you get. But what do I know?

Let's count our beans. Are we going to go for this? £38?

-Yeah.

-I think so.

-Fine.

-Absolutely fine.

-Yeah, I think so.

I think we're going to go for the case, please.

-You've been very kind.

-You're very welcome.

You've been extremely kind and extremely patient.

Yeah. That's two items apiece. Get a move on.

Just five minutes left to find your final items.

Here it is.

Let's buy something really nice.

-One left.

-One left.

But we've still got to focus.

OK. We're focused.

Onwards. Onwards, ladies.

I think that will sell at auction well.

Erm...

I'll tell you what.

I've not seen one quite like it.

And glass, I've got to say, can do well.

Yeah, Murano it says.

Yeah, so they've speculated Murano, which is Venice.

Price, do we know?

38.

At that, I think you're firmly in gamble territory.

OK.

You too, Jen, you like it as much?

I like it.

Do you want to have a think and, then,

-if we can't find anything else, come back for it?

-Yeah.

OK.

Don't think for too long, girls.

-Catherine!

-I'm coming.

-We're running out of time here.

At last, the Blues are sensing some urgency.

Couple of things here.

You love a box, don't you?

-Well, we love that.

-That's nice, actually.

-Money box.

-Useful.

I think it's pretty.

Mm-hm. How much is on it?

-It's not doing it for me.

-45.

I think it's more 20 than 45.

Oh, gosh.

It's old.

Yeah, but old is good. You were looking for an antique.

-You wanted a box.

-I want a proper antique, yes.

But this doesn't do it for me, I'm sorry.

It's...you know, just doesn't do it.

Oh, my... Disagreement in the Blue camp.

Are the Reds doing any better, though?

-Let me tell you what we're looking at here. You want a big lump?

-Yep.

-This thing here is a stereo zograscope.

-Blimey!

It's a stereo viewer and a big magnifying glass on a stand combined.

Stereo zograscope.

If we played with that,

you would see through your stereo zograscope in full 3-D.

-Are they quite valuable?

-Question is, I'm blathering on.

It's very cheap at £89.

Is it all there?

Let me just get round.

-So, there's a frame missing.

-Right.

Urgh...!

I know!

-Close. But no.

-OK.

Two minutes.

We're buying the little case. So, perhaps the lady will give us a little bit more off.

Like your way of thinking.

I'm just going to sit here and relax, while you do the deal.

OK. We'll go and negotiate.

Catherine's leaving her Blues to it,

while Paul, with the Reds, is getting stuck right in.

I don't know what to do! I don't know what to do!

-I think it's the horse, to be honest with you.

-Do you? Let's go.

Right, come on, then, let's go and get it. Thank you very much.

We would like the inkwell, but we're still...

I really can't get beneath that £80, I'm afraid.

-78?

-No.

The lady is nodding.

I saw her nodding.

She who must be obeyed, then.

-78?

-78, you've got a deal.

-Thank you very much.

-You're very welcome.

-That's brilliant. OK.

Excellent! We'll go and tell Catherine.

Come on, Catherine, wake up. You're back on.

-Hello.

-We got it.

-For 78.

-Oh, fantastic. Oh, well done, ladies.

-And we got some money off.

-Well done.

-78 with that lovely illusion glass, I think that's a nice piece.

-Excellent.

-It's got every chance. You happy?

-Yes. Very happy.

-Exhausted?

-Yes, very exhausted

-Shall we go and get a lolly? A lolly would be good.

-Excellent idea.

We're back.

We've got one minute.

How much can we do the horse for?

Can we do it for £10? Please, please, please, please, please!

See, we don't know it's Murano.

15.

12?

-Please. Oh, please.

-Go on, then.

Yay!

You better shake hands. That was wonderful.

And in the nick of time.

Thank you very much.

What weren't we going to buy?

-We weren't going to buy any ceramics or glass.

-Yes.

What did we buy?

Ceramics and glass.

Time has stopped for the shop.

So, let's check out what the Red team bought, eh?

The 20th-Century centrepiece took centre stage, for £35.

The prisoner-of-war-made cigarette case was liberated,

for £25.

Finally, they trotted off with the Murano-style horse, for £12.

Well, that was pretty boring, wasn't it(?)

-OK, now, which is your favourite bit, Jennifer?

-The cigarette case.

The cigarette case is your favourite piece?

-Do you agree with that, Zo-Zo?

-Yeah, that's also my favourite.

-OK.

And which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

-I think the cigarette case.

-Me as well.

-The cigarette case?

-You're obsessed with this cigarette case.

-We do love it.

OK, rumour has it that you spent an enormous fortune.

-So, how much did you spend?

-£72.

£72?!

I know...

-We tried to spend it, but...

-Did you? Oh, well.

But you had your guide and mentor beside you, didn't you?

-Yeah, certainly did.

-He just said "no" to everything!

Well, we'll see whether he was right or wrong.

Anyway, so you spent £72.

I would like to have £228 of leftover lolly, please.

Thank you.

-There you go.

-Lovely. Thanks.

So, over to Paul.

I hope you're going to spend the whole lot, my old friend.

I'll do my damnedest. I can tell you what I'm not buying, though.

Concrete and brass!

Poor girls. Never mind. Good luck with your search, Paul.

Meanwhile, we're going to check out what the Blue team bought.

First up, they bought the portable artist's easel and paints for £85.

The small leather mock-odile skin writing case was purchased for £38.

And, lastly, the late-Victorian glass inkwell was picked up for £78.

-Well, that was fun for you girls, wasn't it?

-It was brilliant, yes.

So, Ann, which is your favourite bit?

I really like the easel,

because the way it's put together is really neat.

OK. And Val?

Yeah, I'd go along with that, as well.

That was my favourite bit, definitely.

-Will it bring the biggest profit?

-I think, possibly, it will.

-OK.

-Yeah.

-And you think it will, Ann?

-Definitely.

OK, well, we've got a lot of agreement here, which is lovely.

And you spent quite a good wodge. How much was it in total again?

£201.

I'd like £99 of leftover lolly, please. Thank you.

That's quite magnificent. Thank you. We've got the four there.

We've got five there.

-That'll make up the 99, for certain, for Catherine.

-Thank you, Tim.

-You love a nice wodge to go off with, don't you?

-I do. I do.

And I know exactly what I'm going to buy for these ladies.

Do you?

The problem is, I don't think they're going to like it.

Don't worry about that.

If you think it's going to make a profit, that's all that matters.

Anyway, Speedy Gonzales.

Because we're about to head for the auction. Oooh-ah!

Well, we've popped about an hour from Norwich to Cambridge

to Cheffins saleroom to be with Charles Ashton.

-Charles, good morning.

-Good morning, Tim.

It's a pleasure to be back at Cheffins.

Now, for the Reds, they've got a mixture.

And their first, I think, came from behind the Iron Curtain, wouldn't you?

It certainly has that distinct middle-eastern European look to it.

-I'm not sure that the combination of the parts works desperately well.

-No.

Because, what we seem to have here is a leaping reindeer.

The trolley is running across a rutted track,

-that happens to be in guilt bronze.

-Indeed.

That's then slapped on to a piece of alabaster.

Then, we have this rather weedy stem,

that comes up to the piece de resistance,

which is the earthenware bowl.

A slightly unusual colour palette, you might say.

Yes.

Hopefully, somebody, somewhere, who likes animals and guilt bronze

and those combinations will think it's a winner...

-Exactly.

-..and will go for it.

So, there we have it. There's an awful lot there for you money.

-There certainly is.

-How much money?

Well, we think £25-£35.

That's fine. 35 was paid.

Now, moving on.

We've got the alloy cigarette case, which I think is rather fun.

It is. Every side of it has got some piece of engraving or artwork to it.

Probably is World War II.

-We've got a rather natty pin-up girl on the inside.

-Yes.

-Looks a bit like Mae West, doesn't she?

-It does a bit.

-I'm sure there's a bit of inspiration there.

-And it's in good condition.

-It's got a story to tell.

-It has.

-Whatever that story might be.

-Yes.

-And the story we want now, though, Charles, is how much?

-£20-£30, Tim.

Perfect. £25 paid.

So we're spot-on so far. Now, what about this gee-gee?

Probably is Murano.

Again, it's entirely done free-blown or free-crafted by hand.

A bit of a one-off. If you like that sort of thing, it's very nice.

-It's in proportion. It's just had a bust tail.

-Oh, has he? Pity.

Just lost a little curlicue. That's quite sharp on the end.

-But, otherwise, not in bad condition.

-No.

So, how much for a lump like that?

-£10 or £20 only.

-Oh, that's good.

Don't worry about it. £12 paid.

I tell you, this team have been very sharp

-in the amount that they have spent.

-Have they?

-Only £72, you see?

-Oh, that's very good.

So, it's all very reasonable.

The big thing is, of course,

your test as to how much you actually get at the end of the day.

And that will be the determining factor as to whether they need the bonus buy or not.

But let's have a look at it.

You gave our man £228.

Paul, what did you spend it on?

Well, see what you think of this, in contrast to our other purchases.

Ooooh...

Oh... I like that. What does it tell you?

Aesthetic-wise, any names, any movements come to mind?

-Is it Art Nouveau?

-Art Nouveau. It certainly is.

It's an utterly delightful full-period little easel clock.

-Is it brass?

-It is. It's lacquered brass.

How much was it?

It was.... How much do you think it should have been?

40.

-Ouch!

-Oh...

I've paid £50. Just a shade over your expectations.

Ask me what it could make.

I think it wants to be worth £50-£80, all day long.

Really? OK. I like it.

Yeah. I like it, too. Well done.

Isn't that exciting?

Well, let us, for the audience at home right now, though,

find out just how exciting it is for our auctioneer today.

So, there we go. That's rather spectacular, isn't it, Charles?

Do you know, it is. It's good quality. A decent weight.

We've got some nice casting detail.

No, it's a handsome thing.

And it works.

I think, if you're a collector of Art Nouveau,

a lover of Art Nouveau, you'd happily have that in your collection.

You certainly would, wouldn't you? Anyway, we can't beef on about it.

Except that it is crisp. How much?

The dial, unfortunately, has a little bit of damage.

And, for that reason, we've only said £30-£50.

OK.

Well, Paul Laidlaw paid £50 and he clearly rates it.

That's it for the Reds.

And moving on to the Blues, we've got a lovely mixture, look.

We've got the portable beach artist's easel.

Yes.

It's certainly all-singing and all-dancing.

You can take it away with you on holiday. It folds up flat.

Comes ready with some paints.

It's, Constable, eat your heart out.

-Absolutely.

-How much?

We've said £40-£60.

OK. £85 paid.

It just depends on how many artistes there are about in the saleroom.

Next is the simulated crocodile skin, little attache or correspondence case.

-And that's a sweet little thing, isn't it?

-It is.

It's ready to go. It's a pretty little thing. Good colour.

And it's the sort of thing that would date from...

Is it just before the Second World War? Is it sort of '30s, do think?

I think so. I think it's late '20s or '30s.

-OK, so how much, then?

-£20-£40.

I'm with you with that. I think that's absolutely right. Ann paid £38.

So, she may have paid just a tad too much for it, based on the condition, really.

But it's still a useful little thing.

Carrying on with the theme,

we've got the most magnificent of glass inkwells.

-That's a chunky lump, isn't it?

-It certainly is.

It wouldn't blow over in a gale. And it has got some quality to it.

It's been well used and well loved.

The plated mounts have lost their silver coating,

as I think they would once have had.

But it's in pretty good nick and still a very useful object.

-How much of a useful object?

-We haven't stuck our necks out.

We've only said £15-£25, I'm afraid.

With a silver band on it, it's £100-£150.

But the plated band lets it down a bit.

I think my estimate would be more like 40 to 60.

But they're going to be lucky, I think, to get to 78.

In which case, they'll need their bonus buy. So let's go and have a look at it.

Now, Val, Ann, this is exciting. £99 you gave to Catherine.

Catherine, what did you spend it on, darling?

Well, I know exactly what you two are going to say as soon as you see this.

And it's going to be, "Why?" OK?

But here we go...

Is that... Is that what I think is?

-What do you think it is?

-Bell-ringing.

-Is it for opening up ropes?

-Yes! Well done!

Here we are. Have a hold.

Yes, we have them in the tower. But a much smaller version.

-Do you?

-Yes.

-When we're... What are they called?

-Fids.

-Fids?

-F-I-D. Fids.

-Fids.

-Oh, I'm really pleased.

-Yeah, I like them.

Because I thought you'd look at that and think it's terrible.

And when it's really, really stiff,

you put that bit in there and then you can splice the rope through.

-And do they actually look like this?

-We have much smaller ones.

-They are generally steel.

-I mean, that is a whopper, isn't it?

Once upon a time, in the 18th and 19th century,

this would have been on every ship.

It's a good sailor's tool.

Oh, it's for sailing.

So, this is what would have been used to untie all the ropes.

-I think you're so clever to find that.

-Do you?

-Yeah, I really do.

-Oh, thank you. You're my new best friend.

-Mostly made from wood. Sometimes made from bone.

-It's quite tactile.

-It is.

I think it's lovely.

But how much?

You can ask.

I don't know if I want to tell you. £65, I paid.

-Right...

-It might be a bit chunky.

-That's the truth, though, isn't it?

And marine collectables are everything, aren't they?

As fids go, that's a lovely example.

-A fid.

-A fid. Fid.

It's brilliant.

Well, we've all learned something. Thank you very much, Val.

But let's learn a little more, at least, for the audience at home,

by finding out what the auctioneer thinks about Catherine's fid.

Well, you could bear that with menace, couldn't you, on board.

You certainly could. It's a lovely bit of timber, isn't it?

A bit of lignum vitae. Wonderful figuring.

There's this traditional bit of decoration up here at the top of it.

And we either think it's a fid or possibly a belaying pin.

In a marine sale, I've no doubt it would do handsomely.

In a general sale, what do you think?

Well, we've suggested £40-£60 for it.

OK. Well, Catherine paid £65. And she sure knows her marine things.

And, if the right buyers are around, it'll do some damage.

So, how do you rate our objects overall, then, Charles?

It's quite interesting, isn't it?

-Well, the items, they each tell their own story, really.

-They certainly do.

The next story going to be told is how well you do on the rostrum.

-So, good luck with that.

-Indeed. Thank you so much.

40.

All done, then, at £40. I shall sell, then.

You have good estimates supporting these items that you bought.

So, I think it's a good £72 worth.

And then, if you need to, you can fall back on that

beautiful crisply-cast brass and lacquered Art Nouveau timepiece, all right?

We're all good with that, aren't we?

The Bulgarian centrepiece is coming out now. And here it comes...

Will you start me at somewhere around about £30? 30?

£25, left is bid. 25 bid now.

-25 it is. At £25.

-Go on!

-Come on, it's beautiful!

-Anybody else can I tempt or not?

At £25. And all done, then. Left-handed. 30 or not?

Last chance, then. I shall sell, then, at £25.

Oh, no. That is disappointing.

£25 is minus £10.

OK, now the cigarette case...

Wartime aluminium cigarette case. £20 for it. 20 I'm bid now. 20 I'm bid.

At 25. At 25. At 25 bid. Thank you, sir, for your help.

Come on, keep coming. Keep coming.

At £25, then. Seen enough? I'm going to sell, then.

And 30. And thank you over here. And 30 bid now.

30. Fresh blood, then. £30.

£30, then. All done, then. Selling and away at £30.

OK, £30.

-35.

-Yes!

Yes, that's so good...

Oh, fantastic.

Are you sure now? At £35. Thank you for your help.

All done here at 35, then. I shall sell.

£35. You were minus £10. You're now plus £10.

You have absolutely nothing. So, we're all going for it, right?

Now, here comes the Murano gee-gee.

Lot 85 is the Venetian Murano glass model of the horse.

What do you say for him? I don't know, put me in again.

£25, I would've thought, for the Murano glass horse.

£25, you collectors. 20, then.

You tell me. £20. 20. Where's the hand?

20 I'm bid now. 20, I have now bid. Anybody else?

Any more? For any more? Last chance for the Murano glass horse.

At £20. A maiden bidder. And I shall sell, then.

All done and away at £20.

£20 is plus £8. You're in front, girls.

We've got £18.

-No, you've got £8, actually.

-Oh, what?

-Because you...

You lost £10, then made £10. You had nothing.

And you got the eight, all right? Don't worry about that. Just keep singing.

Are you going to trust Paul and go with this brass timepiece?

-Yes, shall we?

-OK. I'm trusting you here.

Yes? you're going with it? The girls are going with the bonus buy.

And we know it's a great object, so let's root for them.

Here it comes...

Lot 89 is next.

This is this rather pretty cast brass Art Nouveau mantle timepiece.

What do you say to that? Put me in.

25, surely? You clock buyers. 30, then.

Nobody's looked at it.

25 bid now. I'm going backwards. 30 is now bidding in the room. £30.

-I won't take you twice. 30 I'm bid now.

-Go on!

35. At 35.

40 will it be?

The bid's here. 40 in the room now. Thank you. At 40 I'm bid now. 40.

At £40, then. We're at 40. Any more at 40?

-No, go on...

-Please...

At £40. And all done. The bid's in the room.

-Oh, no...

-I'm going to sell. Finished, then.

Tears are being wept on this side, you know? At £40. Never mind. At £40.

Nature of the beast, selling at £40.

He sold it for £40!

Children, this is no good! That's minus £2.

-Oh...

-That's OK.

Minus two could be a winning score. Think about that.

-OK?

-Yeah.

-Don't say anything to those Blues.

-No.

-Are you feeling all right, Val?

-Yes.

-Good.

-Excited.

-Ann, are you feeling OK?

-Yes, fine.

-Very good.

On this happy note, let's crack on with your first item, which is the artist's easel.

30, I'm bid. A starter already. At 30 I have bid now. 30 bid now. 30 bid.

-Oh, come on, please...

-This is a quality lot.

-At 35, then. 35. And 40 on the book.

-Come on.

-Shakes his head now. At 40 I'm bid.

-He's got a bid of 40.

Any aspiring artists here? At 40 bid now. At 40. 45 elsewhere. And 50.

50 bid now. 50. Anybody else now? 50 for the folding beach easel?

Yes, and I shall sell it, then, at £50. All done.

At 50.

He sold it for £50...

That's not bad, is it?

-No, it's terrible. It's minus £35.

-Oh, no...!

Chicken!

Next one is the simulated croc skin small writing case. There we are.

25, then, to get on with it. 25 to start me. 25 is bid already.

25, I have bid now. 25, bid now. 25, it is.

Now, 25. And 30. 35?

Still with me. The room's out at 35.

At £35. All done, then, at 35.

Selling, then, and away at £35, then.

-Yeah, but it's minus £3.

-Oh, that's not so bad.

Not so bad? Not so good!

-Minus 38...

-That's not so bad.

-Now, this is the big number.

-Now, this is the big one.

Again, interest here. I'm already bid £25.

Any more or not from anyone else in the room?

The bid's in the book this time.

At £25. All finished, then? Nobody else want it? All done, then.

Yes or no over there? No? Yes? No?

No. At £25. I shall sell, then, at £25, then.

£25 is minus 53.

Your 38, 53, 88...

That's minus £91.

Well, that is phenomenal, isn't it?

So what you going to do about this fid lark, then?

-We're going to go with it, aren't we?

-You're going to go with a fid?

I think so, yes.

The decision is made. We're going with the bonus buy.

Now I can tell you the auctioneer's estimate is £40-£60.

That's all right, then.

He thinks it's rather lovely and, you know, interesting

and all the rest of it.

You sailors out there, you'll need one of these.

Lot 106 is the lignum vitae fid. How do you value that?

What do you say for it? £40, I would have thought.

£30 for the fid. 20, then, surely. 20 for the fid.

£20. Thank you, sir. At 20 on my right. 20 is bid now. 20 bid now.

20, bid now. 20.

It's at 20. And five. 25, bid now. 25.

And 30, sir. Yes, sir. At 30 bid now. 30.

You won't find another one here today. It's a unique item.

At 30 I'm bid now. £30. 30. All done, then. I can't tempt anybody else?

At £30. And I shall sell, then, at £30.

That is minus £35.

Which is minus £126.

Not much to splice about there, is there? Anyway, there we go.

We have to be brave. We have to be British.

We have to look forward to the new horizon.

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

-We won't say a word.

-Thanks, team.

Well, well, well. I love this programme, don't you?

You just never know what's going to happen.

So, teams, are be excited to know the results?

Well, it's no secret that I'm not handing out sacks of cash today

in the way of winnings.

It's just a question of the scale of the losses.

And the scale of the losses twixt one team

and the other are tremendous.

And the team with the greatest losses, I'm afraid, are, by a long chalk, the Blues.

Oh...

I mean, minus £126.

Minus £126.

Oh, wow! Is a bit of a wow, isn't it?

If only I could pluck out a high spot from your results.

But there is no high spot.

-No.

-No.

Apart from, of course, having you two on the show.

Which has been a great pleasure. And we've loved having you.

-Has it been fun?

-We've loved it.

-It's an amusing outing, isn't it?

Anyway, thank you very much for your efforts,

even though they didn't pay off today.

But the victors, who've managed to win by only losing £2... £2.

I mean, that is pretty good, isn't it?

You were plus-£8 and then, that wretched bonus buy fellow,

which I rated, he rated, everybody rated,

then did incredibly badly, which is very irritating.

-Have you had a nice time, Jenny?

-It's been amazing.

-Good for you, Zo-Zo?

-Oh, amazing, yeah.

Well, we've loved having you on the show.

In fact, it's been so much fun, why don't you join us soon

for some more bargain hunting, yes?

Yes!