Norfolk 31 Bargain Hunt

Norfolk - a land steeped in ancient history.

Archaeologists would have us believe that there is evidence of human

settlement here dating back 700,000 years.

So, goodness only knows what our teams are going to dig up today.

Let's go bargain hunting, yeah!

The oldest human footprints found in Britain were discovered

about 20 miles north of this showground.

Well, our teams sure have arrived.

The big question is, though,

are we going to finish up by footing the bill at the end of the show?

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

The Reds give their expert the run-around.

This is really difficult.

-Nothing is grabbing me yet.

-Actually, impossible.

-Paul, we're nervous.

-(I think they're a bit overwhelmed.)

However, the Blues take things in their stride.

-They're awesome.

-It's a deal.

I think I might have to pull rank.

I've never met a pair so decisive.

But before all that, let's meet the teams.

On the programme today, we have two teams of friends.

For the Reds, we've got on Asha and Charlie.

And for the Blues, we have got Alex and Sean. Hello, everyone.

-ALL: Hello.

-Hello, hello, hello.

Now, Asha, how is it that you and Charlie got to be such the chums?

Well, we met at St John College in Cambridge

and we learned very quickly that we were both keen Scrabble players.

And we are... I hate to say it, but we are pretty evenly matched.

-Are you?

-Yeah.

-Do they play it where you come from?

-California? Yeah.

-They do?

-Yeah.

-They do?

-Of course.

-Of course they play Scrabble, but you didn't.

No. Coming to Cambridge was a bunch of new experiences for me.

Learned to play tennis, learned to play Scrabble.

I had worked for, after university, about 10 years before I decided to

do the Phd

-What did you do?

-I did a PhD in social psychology.

One day I was at work, sitting in my cubicle, and one of my co-workers

had said, "Well, I think I speak for all of us when I say..."

And I thought, "How do you know that?"

And that's what I did my PhD in, how people figure out...

-How they get information about others.

-How interesting.

-That got under your skin.

-It did.

-And you thought, "I could be doing something with this."

-Yeah.

How lovely is that?

Now, Charlie, you are a bit of a tomb raider, it says here.

Well, I am no Lara Croft,

but I just finished an MPhil in Egyptology at Oxford.

And before that, I did a BA in Cambridge in archaeology,

where I met Asha.

And there I focused on ancient Egypt and ancient Mesopotamia.

And while I was doing those, I did a lot of archaeology.

And we found some really exciting things, like horned altars,

human burials, even an Egyptian scarab with hieroglyphs on it.

-We are talking about digs, are we?

-Yeah.

And from that point of view as well - hard work,

sifting and shifting and all that.

-That's right.

-Then you get the treasure moment.

-So, just like Bargain Hunt.

-Yes, exactly!

That is what you are going to be so cool on this programme today,

which is marvellous. So, you kids,

how are you going to go about unearthing your treasures today?

-I want to blow the lot.

-Do you?

-I want to, you know, make it rain.

I want to spend everything.

I am not sure we'll agree on everything,

-but I think we'll eventually find some common ground.

-Yeah.

Very nice to meet you. And very good luck.

Well, now, isn't that fun?

Now you know the opposition, they want to know about you. OK, Alex,

how do you and Sean know each other?

We actually work together.

We have been working together for five years.

Technically, I am Sean's boss.

-Ah!

-His boss' boss, actually.

So we'll see how that plays out today and who gets the final say.

We work at...for a company that runs an online fundraising website.

Right. And you get to travel a bit together?

We do charities based across the UK, so I get to stay in

and around the London area and we send Sean up and down the country.

-He is your legs, is he?

-He is the legs, yeah.

So, Sean, tell us about what you get up to when you are at work.

So, I look after a group of our bigger charities

and corporate clients.

And as I like to say, it involves quite a bit of travel.

Recently, to make the travel a bit easier, I have relocated to London.

So I work in a very cool office

and I overlook Piccadilly Circus from my desk.

Which is very cool.

So, you have an aspiration, though, that is more artistic.

When I was younger, I studied acting.

And somehow I fell into fundraising.

But now that I have moved down to the Big Smoke, there is

a lot more opportunities there.

And you have been an extra in some movies, right?

I've been an extra in a music video,

but it was entirely by accident.

So I went on holiday to Miami with my friend couple of years ago.

And we were walking down Ocean Drive one morning

and a man stopped us to ask us if we wanted to be in a film.

And we went to a nightclub during the day, which was very strange, and

we got something like 100 to dance around and drink for about two hours.

-Really?

-It was brilliant.

-Something to show later on in life, anyway.

It is going to be great fun

cos we are going to have £300 apiece now. £300.

-Thank you.

-You know the rules. Your experts await. And off you go!

And very, very, very good luck.

Tomb raiders, eh?

Now, our two terrific teams need two exceptional experts.

There will be no phony buys today,

as the Reds will be calling on...

And mixing it up for the Blues is...

But what is going on here? Ice creams all round?

-Paul, bought you an ice cream.

-Charlie, you are my dream companion.

There you go, Asha.

-Are you ready for the challenge?

-Absolutely.

-We are so ready.

Oh, so ready!

Are we looking for anything in particular?

Well, I'd say something cheap that sells for loads of money.

-We are thinking small bits of furniture.

-Yeah.

-Are you?

-Yeah.

Made of good quality. So, good wood, maybe silver, maybe marble.

Ideally, a combination item, like perhaps a table that

turns into a ladder or a shoe that turns into an umbrella.

PAUL LAUGHS

Something unique.

Time to make your three picks.

Ha!

Your 60 minutes starts now.

-Shall we get going?

-Yes, please.

-Let's go do it.

Let's go do it, it's out there somewhere.

I'm not sure you'll find that shoe-brella,

but good luck all the same.

-May we have a look, sir?

-Lots of furniture here.

-What on earth is this?

-That is Clark Gable, isn't it?

-That is not the Clark Gable we are looking for.

-OK.

A polite way of saying, "Frankly, Charlie, I don't give a damn."

Remember, Paul, honesty is the best policy. Isn't that right, Catherine?

-Be honest.

-I'm always honest.

-This children's chair.

-I know it is a bit tatty on top.

-Yeah...

It all collapses, I guess.

A campaign chair.

-So it is not a children's chair?

-No, I don't think so, no.

People were smaller back then.

-THEY LAUGH

-Smaller bottoms.

Well, have a sit. The only way to test a chair...is to sit.

You have the small bottom.

-You are the man, with your special boots, to do that.

-Let's do this.

Very good, very comfortable, very...good on your back, I think.

Have a word with the lovely gentleman, see what we can do.

-What is your best price on this?

-What have I got on it? 68.

I'll take 15 off it.

53.

Could you do 45?

48 would be the best.

-Sean...?

-That is 20 off.

-I think it's a deal.

-At what?

-At 48.

-Do you?

Crikey, Sean, you don't miss about.

-That was quick.

-Oh.

No, you can, darling, if...

THEY LAUGH

Do you see it making a profit?

We could sell it as a campaign chair, campaign being a piece

of furniture that you can sort of move around from place to place.

What makes you think this is campaign, sir, may I ask?

Well, it is just the rivets, the way it's put together,

how sturdy it is. The age is there.

-I see that going for over 48 at the auction.

-Do want to go for that?

-I think so, yeah.

-Shake the man's hand.

-You've got a deal, 48.

-This is good.

-Fantastic.

-Brilliant.

Excellent. Well, that is the Blue's campaign off to a flying start.

Time to check in with the Reds.

What do we think about crockery and cutlery?

You show me the right piece of ceramic,

the right flatware or cutlery, I'll take it to auction

-any day of the week.

-What does the right one look like?

-THEY LAUGH

-Ah...

The million-dollar question, Asha.

-Why do you like those? Would you have those?

-I would.

-I would genuinely. It's a nice weekend bag.

-Would you use that?

For something specific, maybe bowling or airlines or something like that.

-'50s, '60s.

-I think probably more '60s, aren't they?

Why don't you go and find out how much.

How much are the two bags?

Well, for you, darling, they are £55 for the two.

What do you think?

I think it is a good price, I'm just not sure I love them.

I don't think they're any great quality.

-Should we...

-I do like them.

..have one quick scooch and then if we can't find

anything that draws us like this does, then we'll do it.

-A back up.

-Deal.

Good idea, Blues. Get scooching.

Something the Reds have been doing a little too much of.

-Asha, anything?

-Nothing is grabbing me yet.

Well, onwards, ever onwards.

HE RINGS BELL That is functional.

OK, Blues, sorry to interrupt you mid-scooch,

but I think Catherine has an update.

Your friend over there with the retro bags - 45.

-OK. I like them.

-I like them.

They're on you, so it is your fault, no pressure.

-I closed the last deal, so it lays on you, Alex.

-He is passing the buck!

-They are ours.

-They are ours. They are ours in about 15 minutes.

I am happy with the way this shopping is going.

-Someone else is pointing at them, so let's be quick.

-Let's get them.

Time for a snatch and grab, team, quick!

These Blues are on fire. What you make of them, Catherine?

I've never met a pair so decisive.

I mean, we have gone through seconds and they're buying items,

which is wonderful.

You can really see, though, that Alex is the boss here.

She is the boss and she has the final say.

Brilliant.

So, all happy at the Blue camp.

I wonder how those Reds are getting on.

Paul, we're nervous that we're not going to get anything.

Well, of course we're going to get something.

I love a bit of optimism, Paul.

Oh, has he come up trumps?

Give us the lowdown, Mr Laidlaw.

Small in stature and small in price.

Now, the form - shoulder baluster.

The purpose - a little pepperette.

The medium - silver.

The origin - China.

The Chinese market, we can't really go wrong with.

Aside from the applied characters,

what do we know about it?

Well, there are your marks.

You've got, I suspect, a Hong Kong smith there.

90 standard, 9-0.

It's 900 parts, not quite sterling. Yeah, spot on.

Nice little bayonet fitting cap. You know, it is sophisticated.

I'll tell you what, you'd expect that to weigh nothing.

There is some mass to that.

-There is.

-For all its tiny, there is some substance to it.

Now, look, we are not in panic territory yet,

but...starting to feel a wee bit uncomfortable.

It's the heat.

You know, even if we were in the Arctic right now,

-I'd be feeling a wee bit...

-THEY LAUGH

The price on that is £10.

I doubt you'll go wrong on that.

-You are not sure, are you?

-Do we shake your hand?

-Yes!

-Is that relief?

I don't think we haggle, do we? We just say, "Thanks very much."

What? No haggling?

That has got to be a first on Bargain Hunt.

I think that is a fair price. Thank you very much.

Great stuff.

Well, that is one item down.

But you are still trailing the Blues.

What is the plan now, Charlie?

We want to get something a bit bigger now. We've got a little...

You'd struggle to get anything smaller, in fairness.

PAUL LAUGHS A single little bead.

Something smaller, you say?

Well, it just so happens,

I found something more petite than your pepperette, Paul.

Small table, two small boxes.

It is the two small boxes that interest me.

Without opening this one up, you can see that it is a quality job.

It has been turned on a lathe. It has got multiple mouldings.

It looks a bit like a draft piece.

And it has been made out of olive wood.

Inside, there is a slab of agate neatly impressed

and inlaid in the middle.

And this brown, streaky bit of agate has been dished - it has

a little depression in the middle - and that has a specific purpose,

which I think is connected with clock-making or repairing.

Some of those parts need to be lubricated,

particularly in the bushes and bearing department.

And you would dip them, minutely, into a little drizzle of oil

when doing your repair or assembly.

The person that owned it was pretty proud of it,

cos they put their name on the bottom. Look.

There is a monogram for AT.

It could have been made at the end of the 17th or early

part of the 18th century.

The box next door looks very similar,

but in fact, it is made of a different material.

It is made of turned boxwood.

The top has been fitted with a glazed panel.

And when we look inside, just look at that -

hundreds of little bits of glass.

Now, if I take a card...

Oh, look, it's a photograph of me.

Ha!

On the back, I'll drizzle out a few of these.

You can see what I am talking about.

There is a small selection.

And if we take my magnifying glass and have a squint,

the same watchmaker would be taking these little bits of glass

and using them for his repair job.

In the old days, when you bought a mechanical watch,

it said 15-jewel movement rather proudly.

And the jewels to which that watch refers are these little chaps.

Why?

Because the moving parts in a mechanical watch,

in a dream situation,

would have no friction between those moving parts,

meaning that the time that was kept would be most likely

to be most accurate if there wasn't any friction.

So, two beautiful watchmaker's boxes,

and their contents, could be yours for £28.

Now, that is what I call tic toc.

And that clock is still ticking for our teams.

The Blues have bagged two items, but the Reds still have one.

20 minutes left.

It is a Zeiss projector of about 1930.

Finest of lenses.

I'll do it for £100.

What the hell are you going to do with that for 100 quid?

It's different.

It is probably different from profitable.

THEY LAUGH

I certainly don't project any kind of profit at auction,

that's for sure, Paul.

-I have just spotted something shiny.

-What is it?

-What, what, what?

-Tea set.

-Ah!

-Tea set.

So, we should check these for hallmarks?

-Well, this is not going to be hallmarked. This is plated.

-OK.

I feel like it is a bit Art Deco.

It is slightly Deco-y, isn't it?

You have got a set there.

-What is the price on...?

-On the four?

-Yeah.

I can do...£42.

-That's not a bad price.

-It is a nice shape.

I think we are...slightly impulsive,

so shall we wander?

I think we definitely need a back up.

-I've taken a mental picture of exactly where this is.

-OK.

-If needs be, we can run.

-Look up, you'll see a big flag flying high.

-Follow the flag.

-Isn't that handy?

Well, I never! The Blues walking away from a stall without a buy?

Come on, Reds, you are looking a bit lost.

-This is really difficult. LAUGHING:

-I know!

Really actually impossible.

Are you serious on that?

Well, old mobile phones, old, big mobile phones,

fetch big bucks.

-They do, don't they?

-I remember those.

You'd never fit one of those in your pocket nowadays.

-What is on this one?

-That is on for 30.

I feel like Gordon Gekko.

THEY LAUGH

Gekko? From the film Wall Street? "Buy, buy! Sell, sell!"

-I don't see who would buy it.

-No, you're right.

Well, we know where it is/put it down.

THEY LAUGH

Poor Sean.

Maybe not this one, hey, mate?

Now, I know a team that do need to buy something, and fast!

-What do these do for you? Anything or nothing?

-What are they?

Splendid antique - and we'll get to age in a moment -

wrought iron andirons.

These sit in your hearth,

in your 18th-century cottage,

fire dogs around there

support the timber of the logs that are being burnt.

But these are special because at the front,

we've got these little hooks that would carry a spit.

Now, age.

Well, the working life for these, it is hundreds of years,

-of course, yeah?

-Does it come with the spit rods?

No, what you see is what you got.

And I'll tell you, you are lucky to see that. That's rare.

-How much are they?

-£120. That would be a risky purchase, that.

Any slack in the price at all?

-That's not a lot of money if you've got the hearth for them.

-95.

I think you are in gamble territory, but I'll tell you what,

they are good things.

This is tough. This is a tough decision.

I do...I do like them.

-80 quid?

-No, 90 I can do.

-90.

I mean, I'm...I'm OK with it!

Yeah. Why not?

Your enthusiasm just blows me away, team.

We both kind of like them, let's do it.

-Thank you, sir.

-Thank you.

-You just sold them.

So, that makes our teams level pegging at two items apiece,

with 15 minutes left on the clock.

(I think they are a bit overwhelmed.)

Do you get that sense?

And I think, as a consequence,

I'm pretty much having to spoon-feed them.

I really would like this last purchase to be theirs, you know?

But I just fear we are looking at rabbits in headlights.

I better go find them.

Uh, Paul, they are behind you.

The Blues have taken a different approach,

as they have gone inside to try and find their last item.

-Which direction?

-This way.

-That way.

-That way. OK.

Right, Reds, you need to royally pull your finger out.

-I don't know what you would do with them.

-That is an obvious question.

Asha hates them. We don't have a lot of time.

Quite right, Charlie.

Now, has Alex taken a fancy to something?

You are so ahead of the game.

This is what I love. It is quite expensive.

-This is cloisonne enamel.

-OK.

Almost like a fine wire, isn't it?

Onto the actual piece.

-And then it is coloured with different coloured enamels.

-Uh-huh.

And then we've got these lovely patterns of the dragons

and what have you.

There are not very, very old. I would say they are sort of 1940s.

-What you think of these?

-These on the other hand, are special pieces.

I was initially drawn to these.

SEAN: Are those prawns?

DEALER: No, crayfish.

SEAN: Crayfish.

I really like them. I really, really like them, Sean.

I'm sorry, I think...I think I might have to pull rank.

Well, the boss has spoken, eh?

I just think they may struggle a bit to get to that top end.

Can you do anything on that price?

120.

You are not convinced, are you? I just love... I would buy them.

-That's what...

-Hm.

-I feel like crayfish is kind of niche.

-ALEX LAUGHS

-That is a big chunk of our money.

If there are two people who have the same feeling as I do,

then these will rocket.

-These will absolutely rocket. I am convinced.

-Let's take a risk.

-You have got to spend money to make money.

-Yeah, it is a risk.

-Fortune favours the brave.

-I think you have sold them to us.

-Thank you very much.

-I love them, thank you so much.

120 squid for a pair of crayfish vases. Ha!

-The dream team.

-High-five! Too right.

That is it, Blues, you have netted all three pieces. Good work.

It looks like Paul has given up.

Our expert's vanished into the ether.

I know, he has had enough of us.

He has given up all hope.

Or... Is he bailing you out? And finding your last item.

We have three minutes.

But it is amazing what you can find in three minutes.

Thanks very much.

Has Paul done a deal?

I was looking at that little carousel bookcase there,

-a revolving bookcase. Do want to have a look?

-Yeah.

-For 50 quid...

-Yes, we do.

-Come over here, academics.

I like it.

PAUL LAUGHS

It's beautiful. Look at the quality. That is top-notch.

PAUL LAUGHS If that doesn't sell for 200...

Desk, tidy up those books with our little Edwardian

revolving bookcase. A desktop model. Inlaid mahogany.

Sheraton influenced.

We've got some... Bat wing medallion and spandrels.

A wee bit of decoration or ornamentation to it.

And you know, once upon a time,

that was a pretty valuable piece of furniture.

Today, less so, I've got to say,

but maybe in Cambridge there is an audience for it.

What was the very best on the wee bookcase?

-It has got to be £50.

-50 quid. It's not a lot of money.

I don't think you have got much choice, team.

-I think it's perfect.

-Great.

-I love it.

-Done!

PAUL LAUGHS Let's go with it. Whoo!

You sold your bookcase through desperation more than anything else.

-Thanks very much.

-Thank you very much.

Time has stopped for the shop.

Well, there is nothing like using the time available.

We started off with ice creams, we ended up with palpitations,

sweating.

Relax, you have earned your stripes today, Paul.

I think I need to sit down after that shop

and check out what those Reds bought, eh?

First up was the petite pepperette.

They paid £10.

The second item was

the pair of 18th-century andirons.

They paid £90.

And finally, they settled for

the revolving bookcase for £50.

-Well, you two birds, how did that go for you?

-It was a bit overwhelming.

-Was it?

-Yeah.

-Slightly confused did we get?

-Perplexed maybe.

To begin with, we went very leisurely paced.

And then it got faster and faster.

-By the end, we were quite hysterical.

-Fair enough.

-Now, which is your favourite piece?

-I really like the iron spit dogs.

-The iron spit dogs.

-Yes.

-What about you?

-I loved the revolving bookcase.

And which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

Perhaps the pepper pot. The pepperette.

Do you agree with the pepperette?

Well, it was a really good bargain, so...

That could bring the biggest bargain?

-Percentage-wise, I think it could well do.

-And you spent how much?

-BOTH: £150.

-150, that's perfect.

-Can I have a £150 of leftover lolly, please?

-Sure. There you go.

Thank you very much. Just like that. And over it goes to our man.

-What are you going to spend that on, Paul ?

-More profit.

That's what we need. Yeah?

We are in this to win it. More profit.

That is his motto, that is his mantra. And good luck.

Meanwhile, we are going to check out

what the Blue team bought, aren't we?

Their first choice

was the folding chair.

They settled on a price of £48.

They got carried away with the 1960s

suitcase set for £45.

And finally, they went crazy over

the crayfish vases. They paid £120.

Well, that was extraordinary.

Do you usually buy the first thing that you find, you two?

Well, I think when we see something we want, we go for it.

Now, which is your favourite piece?

I think the suitcases, which is more my purchase, really.

-What about you, Alex?

-Mine would have to be the vases.

I know they are high risk, but they are absolutely beautiful.

And which are going to bring the biggest profits? The suitcases?

BOTH: Suitcases. For sure.

-We both agreed on that.

-And you spent how much?

We spent 213 overall.

213. I would like, therefore,

£87 of leftover lolly.

Thank you. 87 bang on.

And banging on... And on...

There you go, Catherine.

So, on this glorious, sunny day, what are you going to go

and search for?

Well, I am going to buy something

which is small and beautifully formed.

-Is it?

-There we are.

-A bit like Sean.

-A bit like Sean.

Cheeky!

Only the boss could say that.

Anyway, off you go, because we're about to head to the auction.

Uh-ah.

Well, we have travelled to a seat of learning, to Cambridge,

to learn something with Charles Ashton. Good morning.

-Good morning, Tim.

-Now, what you going to teach us today, Charles?

Are you going to teach us about Chinese pepper pots?

We'll have a go, yes. We'll have a go.

Well, it looks a bit lonely to me

cos I feel for every pepper pot, there ought to be a salt pot.

-It looks a bit lonely on its own, doesn't it? I think.

-It does a bit.

But it is very much, I think, made for the Western market,

for the tourists. So we've got very much a sort of European shape there.

And of course, with the sort of...the archetypal Chinese

characters around the edge just to give it a bit of authenticity.

Yeah. How much?

-We have said £15 to £25.

-OK, fine, £10 paid.

Now, moving on, we have got these andirons.

-Shame they are not a pair, isn't it?

-Yeah, it is.

I understand they may have been sold as a pair originally, possibly,

or described as a pair.

And if they were, they'd be worth rather more money.

-But they are nicely old. They must be 18th-century at least.

-How much?

-We have said £40 to £60.

-OK, they paid £90.

They certainly show their age

and they have got a bit of charm and character to them.

But this thing, I think, this so-called Edwardian

revolving table top bookcase,

-is later assembled, don't you?

-We think so.

We have called it reproduction.

In other words, it could have been made at any time, really,

-in the mid to late 20th century, we think.

-Yeah.

If it was Edwardian, you'd think quality timber, quality finish.

Do you know what I think it is? I think it is a bit of shed work.

I think you might be right.

I think if you picked up a copy of The Practical Woodworker

in 1935,

-you could buy out of the magazine...

-I'm sure you're right.

..spandrels like that. And you'd just fix it up in your shed.

-Yeah, absolutely.

-OK. How much do you think it is worth?

-Probably £30 or £40, or so.

-OK.

Well, they only paid £50, so that is close enough.

In fact, they've done sufficiently well, I think they may not need

their bonus buy. But let's go and have a look at it anyway.

OK, Charlie, Asha,

here we go, look. £150 of leftover lolly

you gave Paul Laidlaw. What did you buy, Paul?

-We looked at silver.

-It's gorgeous.

-We were frustrated.

That is a little Edwardian gentleman's card case.

-Wow.

-I think we have crossed over from collectible into practical.

It is over 100 years old.

The gentleman that carried that, what did he experience?

This is the Belle Epoque,

10 years before the outbreak of the First World War,

what do you reckon?

-I think it's beautiful.

-You like?

-I absolutely do.

-What would you keep inside it?

-This is your visiting card.

So there you have it.

Rather than having it all dog-eared in your wallet, imagine

pulling that out, just like,

"Oh, yes, I do have a card somewhere. "Look at this."

It's beautiful. We just have to hope Mr STC is in the audience.

Fortunately,

the buyers don't necessarily follow the monograms, do they?

No, not... When it is pleasingly executed.

I think we can consider that just period decoration rather than

something to be upset about.

How much did you pay for it?

I will suspect you will be surprised

when I tell you that cost me £25.

-Wow!

-It's crazy money, isn't it? What it is worth is the punch line.

-It is worth £30 to £50.

-Good. Thank you very much.

But right now, though, why don't we find out for the audience

at home what the auctioneer thinks about Paul's card case?

-There we go.

-There we are.

-Present your visiting card.

Hinged lid, hinged cover. There we are, still working function.

A little set of hallmarks here for Birmingham, 1905.

Hm-mm.

With a rather nice little curvature as well,

so I guess designed to go on in the back pocket, do you think, Tim?

-Or waistcoat pocket.

-Waistcoat pocket, yes.

If you have a decent corporation,

-it could fit around that nicely.

-Absolutely.

If you have got abs and a flat stomach, it might not be so good.

No, I guess... And if you sat on it,

-it wouldn't stay that shape very much longer.

-That's true.

-Anyway, see, there we go. A little collectible.

-Absolutely.

From the Edwardian period. How much, do you think?

-Probably £20 to £30.

-OK.

Paul Laidlaw only paid £25.

Good. That should turn a profit if they decide to go with it.

That is it for the Reds. Now, for the Blues.

And something completely different.

Now, Charles, is that chair a campaign chair or not?

We fear it isn't, Tim, no.

I think it is just too busy, too complicated.

We have got too much going on. The vertical splats here.

All the rest of it. I think a proper campaign chair

would be much simpler

in construction, would have sort of a leather back and seats,

so you could fold it away absolutely flat.

-This is for the bottom of the garden.

-We think it is, yeah.

It has been well loved, well used, but we don't think it is military.

So, how much do you think it'll bring?

Well, we have been a bit mean, maybe, on it. £15 to £25.

Yeah, that is a bit mean, isn't it?

£48 was paid by Alex.

Modern homes like folding chairs cos they are space-saving

and everything else.

I can see it making £50, can't you? Maybe.

You get two people that really want to go for it, then perhaps,

if they have got the pair to it, then they well.

That is quite a lot of conditions - two people,

they have got to like it and they need the pair.

OK, I am getting the message. Super.

Now, moving on to the very, very sexy luggage.

I mean, can you imagine going to Marbella

first in 1962 with that lot?

Yes, I think you'd have to be slightly bold.

Perhaps if you were in the flare trouser department,

-you might've...

-Yeah.

-..gone for that in the shop.

It is an incredibly bright and breezy period piece, though,

-isn't it?

-Oh, it is.

And it is not in bad condition.

So often with these things,

-handles are broken or snapped or what have you.

-Yeah.

-But actually...

It has been use a couple of times,

-it went into the loft and here we are.

-Absolutely.

OK, how much do you think it is going to head out of the sale

-room for?

-We haven't gone overboard on this.

I think we've said £10 to £20 only.

I think you are probably right to do that.

£45 they paid,

and I think that is a tad too much.

And no sale would be complete

without having a few bits of Oriental in it,

particularly something that looks Chinese,

so we have got these two pots.

-But how old are they, Charles?

-Um...

It's the million-dollar question, isn't it?

There is so much still being churned out

and imported into this country, it becomes very difficult to know

whether they are circa 1900 or circa 1930s, '40s, '50s,

or even more recent than that. I think we...

We haven't dated them for that very reason.

I suspect they are 20th century.

So, let the buyer beware. And on that basis, what is the estimate?

We have said £30 to £50.

-OK, well, 120 is what they paid.

-Ooh, right.

-Which is pretty rich, isn't it?

-It is a little bit heavy.

And if they got that wrong,

they are definitely going to need their bonus buy.

So let's go and have a look at it.

£213 you spent, which is absolutely magnificent,

which means that £87 went to Catherine

to blow on her bonus buy.

Yes, indeed-y.

What's that? ALEX LAUGHS

-Wow.

-Look!

-It is the same!

-That is amazing.

A little miniature boot.

And I thought of you when I bought it.

What do you think of that?

-Oh, that's little.

-It's Victorian.

It is made from jet.

And look at it, you can even see the little Chelsea bit, the elastic.

-Isn't that lovely? Don't you think that is gorgeous?

-That is awesome.

-Doesn't it feel good?

-It feels right. It feels right.

What is the purpose of it?

It's...?

Well, there is no real purpose, I don't think, it is

-just a miniature lady's boot.

-A lady's shoe.

And we didn't spend too much of the 87 on this, did we?

-£10.

-BOTH: OK.

They're both looking relieved.

THEY LAUGH

-And do we think there is a profit in that?

-Yes! Definitely.

I do, I think someone's going to love that.

I mean, it looks like wood, doesn't it? Feels like wood.

-But actually it is this weird marine coal.

-Jet.

That is where we get jet black from.

-Hm-mm.

-You are not impressed. I thought you would rave about this.

I am impressed with the connection, I think that is brilliant.

-The connection with your feet?

-Exactly.

Well, they are very close, I have to say.

Now, let's find out from the auctioneer

whether he thinks the jet boot is worth more than £10.

There you go, Charles, one odd boot.

Well, pretty shape, isn't it?

You've got a little bit of detail there, the bit

of the shaping to the heel and the little sort of cut-in piece here.

I think it might have been offered originally as a Chelsea boot,

but my understanding of a Chelsea boot is more of a

square heel and more of a gentleman's.

-I think this is very much a lady's boot.

-Yes.

And it is jet. We are pretty sure it is jet.

-What will it bring, do you think?

-Not a lot.

I suspect it is probably only ten or £20.

Fair enough, only £10 was spent by Catherine on it.

-So she has not put the boot in, so to speak.

-No.

Well, on that happy basis, we will stand by.

-Thank you very much, Charles.

-My pleasure, Tim.

The sale room is packed.

So, time to pop off and get everyone into position.

-Now, Charles, Asha, how are you feeling?

-Excited.

-OK.

-Not feeling nervous at all?

-A little bit.

-Slightly apprehensive.

This room is stuffed with people.

You can't get a sheet of Bronco between the people here,

queuing up to buy your items, potentially.

-Is that a cool feeling, Charles?

-It is a very, very cool feeling.

-Yeah.

The first item is your Chinese pepperette, and here comes.

Lot 117 now is the little Chinese pepperette, you see it there.

£25 for this. Bit of silver. Rather pretty. £25.

25 bid, thank you, on the right.

25 bid now. A little rarity here today. At 25 is bid.

Straight on my right. 25 bid now. £25. 25 bid. £25.

Right-hand, 25 it is. Opening money, opening bid here. 25 it is and 30.

At 30. 35 at 35.

Out online, at £35.

40 or not, will it be?

£35, bidder on my right.

£35. You are so cool, you guys.

£35 then... 401.

Plus £25 and we have not even started. Marvellous!

The two andirons with their cresset-formed terminals.

You see them there.

And two irons sort of popped up to go with them. Lot 118 again.

Bids here start at not a lot. 20.

-25 I have now.

-(More.)

Start them off at 25 bid now.

25. Good old-fashioned fire irons.

At 25 bid now. 25 it is.

At £25. 30. 30 bid now. 30.

Competition, we want more than this.

Come again surely. At 35, bid now.

35. At £35. All done at 35?

I'm not liking this.

All finished and done.

And away then at £35.

Minus 55.

That is minus 55. Look, here comes the shed work.

The little sort of fan-inlaid revolving bookcase,

table top bookcase.

There we are, lot 119.

Again, interest here.

Starting at 25.

30 I bid now. 30 bid.

At £30 already, here at 30.

35, at 35. And 40.

Five. And 50.

At 50, I have on commission buy.

-Yes!

-And 60.

-And 60.

And 70 bid now. 70.

At 70 bid now, 70.

Somebody else? It's only 70.

My bidder is in at £70.

And 80. And 90.

90 bid now, 90.

-Come on. What did we say?

-Look at this!

-Make it rain.

-Finished at £90, then.

-£90!

-Well done!

£90. Well, that is plus £40.

You were minus 30 before, which means,

in the helter-skelter of Bargain Hunt,

you have £10 profit.

-There we go. How good is that?

-Oh, my goodness.

-Tough decision coming up, then.

-There is, isn't there?

Do you park your £10 and put it in the building society or

-do you take the punt and go with the card case?

-I'd like the punt.

I think it's... BOTH: In the cards.

THEY LAUGH

You don't do the Tarot as well, do you?

-It could be in the tea leaves, you never know.

-Have to see.

-You fancy it, then?

-Yeah, going to do it.

His estimate is £20 to £30.

You paid £25 for it, so that is right in the middle. Here it comes.

And lot 123,

it is the little Edwardian silver card case.

1905, the date, there we are.

In working order, you might say.

Lost 123. Say for that, £25.

A little silver card case. 25, put me in for that, surely.

25 to start it off.

£20, one of you will. £20.

You at the back there. 20 on bid now, 20.

20 I have. And 25.

-And now 25.

-There we go.

"No," he says. At 25 bid now.

25 it is. £25, the bid is with me now.

-At 25...

-Oh, no!

At £25, here to be sold. Nobody else want it? Yes or no?

At 25, all done then.

At £25... Sold.

-OK, 25, wiped its face.

-Excellent.

No loss, thank you very much.

That is plus £10.

That could easily, easily be a winning score,

so don't say a thing to the Blues, all right?

-We shan't do.

-Just look a bit gloomy.

That's not possible.

-Alex, Sean, you excited?

-Very excited.

-Very.

-Do you know how the Reds got on?

-No idea.

-Brilliant.

Now, that folding chair, do you think on reflection that you would

have taken it on campaign or do you think it more garden?

Perhaps it is not well made enough to have been campaign.

-It might be a little bit too flimsy.

-Could be.

The market will decide if it is going to give it that

campaign military premium. We'll find out in a second.

Anyway, here it comes.

You may take it on campaign with you if you wish, but we suggest

it's probably more for the garden or for the house, but you decide.

Much admired, actually, on the book. I can see here already at 15 and 20.

Bidders start, already at 20 on bid now. 20 is bid.

Anybody else now? 25 here. 25.

And 30 on the book.

At 30 bid now. 30.

-Anybody else?

-He has got 30.

-At 30 bid, now 30.

-We need a little bit more.

-Yeah.

-We need 48.

At £40, I've got an absentee bidder.

At 40 on bid now. 40 bid.

The room is out now. At £40.

-At £40...

-Oh...

-Anybody else?

All done then, selling away for the chair at £40.

-Thank you.

-Minus eight pounds.

Could have been worse. Now, for the suitcases.

For the retro suitcase or the hold-all.

For you fans of that real '60s

period there. £25, matching pair.

25 will you be? 25.

£20 then, who will be brave?

£20, surely. 20.

20 on bid below me, thank you. 20 on bid here to start.

At 20 on bid now, 20.

-They are in great condition.

-Great.

Maiden bid at 20.

All it is going to be, then. Done? Here it is at £20.

-Sold.

-20 is minus 25,

which means it is minus 33.

Now, our blue-and-white babies. Let's hope for the best here.

There we are, the pair of Chinese vases modelled with

crayfish around them. Lot 136. Again, interest here.

Start me at £30 for the pair of vases. £30, put me in.

30, surely. 20, then, one of you. £20, will it be?

20 on bid at the end, thank you. 20 on bid now. 20 to start them off.

At 20 on bid here. 20 bid I have.

Anybody else want to come in or not? 20 bid. Now 20. 25. At 25.

For 25. 25 here. 30 in the room.

This is feeling very painful.

30 in the room. It is at £30. 35.

£40. At 40.

Up here. 40 on bid now.

40 bid. 40. The internet is now out.

At 40 on bid now. 40 bid.

More for anymore?

At £40, I shall sell, then.

Woman at the back, done then and away at £40.

-Well done.

-Dear, oh, dear,

that is minus 80.

Never mind. That is minus 113.

It doesn't sound too bad if you say it quickly.

Anyway, minus £113.

What are we doing with the old boot?

The jet boot. Are you going with it or parking it?

If the shoe was on the other foot,

would you be putting the boot in? TIM LAUGHS

You been thinking about that, Sean? OK, you are going to go with it?

-Yes.

-Yes, you are, you are going with the bonus buy.

I am delighted to tell you,

the auctioneer thinks it is worth £10 to £20.

He thinks it is rather sweet. He has given you a good estimate on that.

And here it comes.

This is a little miniature Victorian jet carving of the lady's boot,

there we are. Pretty little thing there.

What do you say? £25 for that?

25 to get on with it. A little lady's boot in jet. £25, surely.

20 then, one of you. £20, somebody will. £20, surely.

20 I have, thank you. At 20 bid, I have. At 20, any bid now?

At 20, doubled your money. Well done, Catherine.

At 20, on bid at 20. Five here, 25 bid now. Fresh place at 25.

I'm out already.

The bid's down here. £25.

Look at that!

And at 25 it is. More for anymore?

At £25, all done then. On my left, then, at £25...

-Thank you.

-Now, that is a result!

Plus £15,

which reduces you from a minus score

of three figures

to a minus score of two figures. How lovely is that?

-Anyway, it's minus £98.

-Not too bad.

It's not, actually.

The thing is, don't say a thing to the Reds, all right?

And all will be revealed in a moment. Marvellous. Thank you.

-Been chatting?

-CONTESTANTS: No.

Cos I know the rivalry between you lot has been intense.

And I have to reveal the results here,

and I'm slightly embarrassed because there is a great gap between the

teams. And I'm afraid the team with the whacking great rack

of losses are the Blues.

-Minus £98.

-ALL: Aw...

I'm not going to rub it in. But you did get a profit, Catherine,

which was absolutely lovely, off your lady's boot. All right?

That miserable little boot finally did it.

-BLUES LAUGH

-Didn't it?

-Plus £15, which is jolly nice, wasn't it?

-Yes.

But otherwise, you've just been brave, haven't you?

-We have.

-We took some risks.

You took some risks and, sadly, they didn't pay off.

But another time they will.

Don't let it scar you, promise?

-Promise.

-Promise.

Cos I'm going to turn to the Reds now and award them £10. Whoo!

-Ten whole pounds of profit!

-Yay!

£25 off that Chinese pepperette, whoever would have thought that?

-Yes?

-Not me.

The andirons went south,

but then you bobbled back with your revolving bookcase.

Overall, plus £10.

You went with the bonus buy, that wiped its face,

so you preserved your position.

-Aren't you clever?

-Yeah.

-Yeah!

-How many degrees exactly have you got?

-Too many.

-Oh, too many.

We're not going to go into that again.

Anyway, it has been great fun.

Thank you very much and join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

ALL: Yes!