Alexandra Palace 12 Bargain Hunt

Today, we're in North London at Alexandra Palace.

Behind these great doors,

a great antiques fair is in full swing.

So, what are we waiting for? Let's go Bargain Hunting! Yeah!

Alexandra Palace was actually reformed

out of the old International Exhibition building from Kensington.

It was literally taken to bits

and reconstructed here in 1864.

The big question today is are our teams going to be able

to construct some impressive profits and build up some excitement?

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

-Bit wacky?

-Yes.

-Yeah, something like that, yeah.

-Bit more flamboyant?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Let's go wild! That way.

So, the Reds go wild in the aisles,

whilst the Blues take a more leisurely approach.

Shall we just take an aisle? Come on.

We've got all day. Don't worry.

At £32.

And I feel the pressure at auction.

I feel I've bought into this. I feel I'm really rooting with you.

-Don't let us down, Tim.

-No, no, come on.

Let's all get acquainted, shall we?

Today's show is made up of two lovely teams.

For the Reds, we've got Wendy and Susie

and for the Blues, we have Annette and Dick.

-Hello, everyone.

-ALL: Hello!

Now, Wendy, how did you girls meet?

We met about 20 years ago when Susie interviewed me for a job as a nurse.

-Really? And she was kind to you?

-She was very nice to me.

-We've been friends ever since.

-I don't blame you.

-Now, you do a bit of dancing.

-I do, yes.

Is this for fitness purposes or just to get your feet tapping?

-Oh, I just love dancing.

-Do you?

-Yeah.

-What sort of dancing?

-It's jive.

-Is it?

-Yeah.

Go on. Give us a jive. You need some music.

-Are you sure?

-Yeah, go on. Have a bit of a go.

-JIVE MUSIC PLAYS

-So, give us a jive.

So, how are we going to go? OK, kids, let's have a ball!

Look at that! They're good, aren't they?

Syncopated dancing!

Oh, you lovely...you gorgeous nurses,

you and all your moves.

Isn't that brave?

In fact, I think it deserves a round of applause, actually.

Round of applause for our girls. How embarrassing for you!

-Yes, absolutely, but hey.

-Now, Susie...

-Yes.

..do you find nursing the most rewarding job of all?

-I do, actually, yes.

-You've got a number of roles, right?

I'm a practice nurse, I'm a cardiology lead nurse

and also I am a clinical research nurse.

-Gosh!

-And also I...

WENDY LAUGHS

..I also do baby clinics.

I do all the childhood immunisations.

-Do you? My gosh, you are a busy girl, aren't you?

-Very.

-You also like to run around a lot.

-Yes.

-Tell us about your marathons.

Actually, both Wendy and I work for the London Marathon

and my role, really, is liaising between the hospitals

to find out how the runners are doing

that may have possibly been admitted...

-Yes.

-..and giving the information to their relatives.

-But you've worked together for yonks, right?

-Yes.

-This business on Bargain Hunt is going to be a piece of cake!

-Oh, it's going to be great fun.

I mean, as far as teamwork's concerned.

Yeah, we know each other very well.

Anybody with a medical problem, you can step to the fore.

BOTH: We step over them!

ALL LAUGH

That is the right attitude, girls!

Anyway, this is going to be fun.

-Thank you very much.

-BOTH: Thank you.

I hope you enjoy yourselves. I think you will.

-Now, Annette, you have been married to Dick for 35 years.

-Yes.

So, what is the recipe for your long and successful marriage?

Not having too high expectations, I think.

Just being nice to one another, yeah?

-No, it is being nice to one another, of course. Yes, of course it is.

-That's the natural, isn't it?

-Now you're retired.

-Yes.

-And what do you get up to?

Just down the road from us, there is a Riding for the Disabled stables

-and I volunteer there one day a week now.

-Do you really?

-Yes.

-It is the most moving thing, isn't it?

-Brilliant, yes.

-I cannot tell you the joy that the child has.

-Yes, that's right.

-Quite indescribable, isn't it?

-Yes, that's right.

-No, a great charity.

-Yes.

-And you make a bit of gemstone jewellery.

-I do.

Is this an example of what you've made?

-This is an example of what I've made.

-Oh, look! I'm so sorry.

-We've got the full set.

-We've got the suite of jewellery.

-We have.

-How brilliant.

-Now, Dick, you're very much involved in volunteering too.

-Yeah.

-Tell us about that.

-I volunteer for a workshop in Epsom

that makes bespoke equipment for disabled children.

Oh, really?

So, we recently made something for a child who was going to secondary school

and she couldn't lift her arm

so we just made a little box with some flashing lights on it

so that she presses the button and the lights flash.

-How sweet is that?

-It's brilliant.

So, the teacher is saying, "Put your hand up

-"if you know the answer to X, Y, Z," she presses a button.

-Yeah.

-Fairly simply solved, but it needs somebody to do it.

-Yeah.

How delightful is that?

How do you two plan to engineer a profit today?

I think we're going to buy things we like

and just hope that two other people like them too!

I think that's a perfectly good motto.

If you like it, it's the sort of thing you'd have at home or whatever, then why not?

Somebody else will, for certain. Well, very good luck.

-Anyway, now, £300 apiece. £300, there we go.

-Thank you.

You know the rules, your experts await

and off you go and very, very, very good luck!

Wouldn't mind getting ill myself.

Strutting her stuff and her expertise for the Reds

is Kate Bliss.

And ready to part with his knowledge for the Blues, it's David Harper.

What are you going to be looking for?

-Oh, something beautiful.

-Mm-hm.

-Something different.

-But practical.

-Yeah.

-I'd love something silver.

-A little bit of sparkle, I think.

-OK, let's get in amongst it.

-Yes, let's go!

What are we going to look for?

-Something quirky and unusual, I think.

-Quirky and unusual. Love that.

-Dick?

-I think the plan is not to have a plan at all.

-Not to have a plan and agree with Annette.

-Absolutely, yeah.

OK, you go that way, you and I go this way.

So, that's the plan sorted or not, as the case may be, Dick.

60 minutes start now.

WHISTLE BLOWS

And true to their word, the Reds have spotted a bit of bling already.

-What do you think of that, ladies?

-I think it's quite beautifully made.

-It is, isn't it? Is it silver?

-I'm just having a little look now.

I can't see any marks on it.

It's a little decorative piece, as far as I can see.

A little miniature, if you like.

It looks a little bit Oriental, does it?

Yeah, I would say it's Chinese.

Possibly '30s. Maybe '50s at the latest.

-It's a little souvenir piece, if you like.

-Yes.

Difficult to say whether it's silver or not.

It feels very light in weight

and it's quite tarnished, as you can see.

If it is, it could be Chinese silver,

which is a lower grade of silver

so not sterling standard like we use in the UK.

-How much is that?

-It's £9.

-It's £9?

Well, we're going to make a profit on that.

I think that would be a nice thing to buy just as a fun...

-Something quirky, isn't it?

-I think we should make a decision.

-What do you think, ladies?

-I think so.

-Yeah, I like it.

-I think we should buy it now.

-What do we think, ladies?

-About £5?

-Well, normally, I do 10%, which would be £8.10.

-Right.

But I'll do it for £7.

-What do you think, ladies?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Yes, let's be decisive.

-Wonderful.

That's done. Thank you very much indeed.

-First one in the bag.

-Interesting.

-Excellent.

Well, no messing about there, then.

Our nurses sailed straight in and bagged their first item in minutes.

And sticking with the transport theme...

-A good-looking thing, isn't it?

-It's fun, isn't it?

-It is fun.

-I quite like aluminium.

-How old is that, then?

-I don't know. How old is that one?

-I would say '50s, '60s.

Yeah? So, what does it run on?

What kind of movement is in there? Is it just a battery? Obviously.

Yeah, yeah.

It's never going to be any, you know, fine movement.

It's not going to be a Patek Philippe

-or anything like that in there. It's a novelty thing.

-Yes.

But the market is big on novelty things, quirky things.

I've never seen that particular design before.

I think it's quite nice. I can see it on a desk somewhere.

-It's a mantique.

-It's cool, isn't it?

-It is a mantique.

Shall we have a little negotiate?

What do you think it would get in auction?

Um...it's got £68 on it.

-I'll take off a tenner.

-£58? I mean, I think it's OK.

There's nothing wrong in that,

particularly if you want to buy it for yourself.

I think in auction, it might only be estimated

at probably, what, £30-£50.

And on a good day, someone might pay £70 or £80 for it.

It's never going to set the world on fire.

I wouldn't really want to pay more than £30 for it, being a modern thing.

-It is reasonably modern.

-It's nice.

-Yeah, £30 would...

-Is that how you feel?

-That's how I feel about it.

-I don't think it's going to come for £30, is it?

-No.

-No.

-Would you do £40?

-Yeah, all right, go on.

-Oh, thank you very much.

-£40. Excellent.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-My pleasure.

-Thank you. Very kind.

Both our teams are flying today.

That's number one for the Blues as well.

We'll be finished in about nine minutes.

-Time for a coffee.

-No, we won't!

It's a great start,

but don't get too relaxed because this hour does go like that.

Now, then, fellas, stuck for some gift ideas for your beloved?

Never fear, as I am here with some top tips.

Now, if you ever have to buy her indoors

something a little special,

I do recommend you to come to an antique fair like this.

Do you like these?

Well, what we have is 42 white porcelain beads

all of exactly the same size.

And the thing that I love about them is the decoration.

Each one has what is supposed to represent,

I think, a bunch of marigolds.

There we go, look. Those orange jobbies.

Revolve the bead a bit, you've got an individual marigold

and on the far side, there is the most gorgeous, dosey-looking duck.

There is a lot of work in this string of beads.

Where did they come from? They came from the Far East.

"Are they Chinese or are they Japanese?" I hear you ask.

Well, I'm not too sure.

The colour scheme is Japanese, but the style looks Chinese.

So, I'm in a bit of a puzzle.

Don't tell her indoors,

but these 42 beads cost me the princely sum of £32.

That is not £1 per bead.

And if, as I suspect, they were made late in the 19th century,

they're more likely to be worth £10 per bead - £400.

There's the dilemma.

Knowing that, do you just want to keep them for yourself?

Well, if that's a problem, go out and find another set of beads,

like these.

Each of these beads isn't made of glass.

It's made of rose quartz, which is a semiprecious mineral.

And what's great about these beads

is the interposing links between each bead,

which is made up of little lumps of gorgeous purple amethyst

with a bit of cut glass in between.

Don't you think it's gorgeous? I think it's drop-dead gorgeous.

I would expect to pay, in a West End shop,

the top end of £300 for these beads.

On a stall, though, if you've got your eyes open,

they could be yours for £35.

That's £35 for real rose quartz and real amethyst.

How bonkers is that?

Meanwhile, it's one apiece for our teams

and the Blues have their beady little eyes on a few things.

-What do you really, really like?

-Silver, probably.

-Silver. OK.

-Yeah.

-And glass.

-And glass, yeah.

-Oh, right, OK.

So, you bought an aluminium aeroplane.

Absolutely. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, it's silver-ish.

Oh, dear. It's going to be one of those days!

-Now, you're dancers, aren't you?

-Yes.

-You do a bit of dancing in your spare time.

-Yeah, jive.

-Jiving.

No wonder I can't keep up with you!

No time for small talk, girls. Time to rock'n'roll.

-Shall we just take an aisle?

-Yes.

Come on. We've got all day. Don't worry.

TIM CLEARS THROAT

45 minutes, David.

What do you like about it? Tell me, Susie.

I just like the fact that it's a beautiful leaf design

and I actually like the...

Shall I pick it up?

..shading around it that almost looks like an autumnal leaf.

-Yes, it's not old.

-It isn't old, no.

-But it's very decorative.

-It is pretty, yeah, yeah.

-It's £8.

Would you have it on your dining room table?

I would, actually.

-And I definitely wouldn't.

-You definitely...?

Oh, this is interesting. OK, let's get...

So, shall I buy that and you buy something else?

-I think we'll have a little look round, eh?

-Yeah.

-Well, the Chinese little boat, you both loved.

-We both...

-So, that's one we're both in agreement on.

-Yes.

Why don't you like this, Wendy?

I think there's so much more out there that I would like better.

Right.

I think that's a polite way of saying, "Leave it, Suse."

-I think, if you asked the man to hold it for you...

-Yes.

Do you think could you hold it for about ten minutes?

We can't guarantee that we're going to buy it, though, but would you mind?

-To hold it for ten? Quarter to?

-Quarter to.

-Thank you.

You're brilliant. Thank you very much.

Right, that's got me out of trouble! On we go.

BOTH LAUGH

One for the backburner, then, girls.

Meanwhile, something has caught Annette's eye.

-I like that box.

-You like the box?

-Yeah.

-OK.

I like the multicoloured one.

-Oh, OK.

-I don't like that. It's messy.

-Oh, right.

-First domestic.

Consider yourself told, Dick.

-It has got a little bit of damage on the side.

-OK, lovely. Thank you.

Now, then, OK, so, there is your damage on the box there,

which isn't the end of the world.

-"The British Butler Pipe Co Ltd."

-Brilliant! A pipe box.

-It's brilliant, isn't it?

-It's absolutely brilliant.

-Absolutely love it.

-From what period?

-'30s? '20s, '30s?

-Bang on. Dick, do you agree?

-Yeah, it's lovely.

-And it's in period, isn't it?

-It's lovely.

I don't think it's just the Art Deco style.

I think it was made during the first period of Art Deco.

Is it OK if I have a little look?

-Good colour.

-It's really lovely. The hinge isn't broken, is it?

-No.

To me, who cares? It's still drop-dead gorgeous.

It is lovely. I really like it.

So, what do you think that would make in auction?

Um, it's £10-£20, £20-£30.

-Yeah, people collect early plastic, don't they?

-They do.

If you fancy it, we need to try and negotiate a bit.

What are your thoughts?

It looks a bit like it should have granny's ashes in.

Oh, Lordy!

-What could you do for us?

-I could definitely do £2 off it.

-I could do it for £20.

-Could you do £15?

Not £15, I'm afraid, no. ANNETTE: £18?

Possibly? Please?

SELLER: I could do £19 would be my very best.

-I think £19 is good.

-Yeah? You think so?

-Yeah, just under £20.

-I really like it.

-I really, really like it.

-It is lovely. Yeah, I think so.

-We'll go for it, then, shall we?

-Yes, please.

-OK.

-OK, fine, yeah.

Thank you. Cheers.

A smoking deal there for the Blues and some crude bargaining skills.

Well done. Two down, one to go.

-They are beautiful, those.

-Salad servers!

-But I'm not sure they're very old. No, they're not.

-No.

Now, a bit of a tip.

-Look out Kate Bliss because where Kate Bliss is, there is silver.

-OK.

You sure know your opposition, Mr H.

I think they're beautiful, actually.

I'd like something a bit older, though.

-You'd like something a bit older?

-Yeah.

-Solid silver.

As long as she's not buying all the good stuff first!

Well, well, well. Just look what Kate's found.

It's unusual to have it in silver.

Most larger-sized toast racks are in silverplate

and this one's in lovely condition as well, but it's also £145.

You know, that's a good chunk of our money.

Yeah, that is. And what era? About 1920s?

I think it's a little bit later.

Let's just have a look on here.

-Yes, '36.

-Right.

So, what's the best on that, just as a matter of interest?

-£120.

-£120.

WENDY: It's very practical, isn't it?

-It is practical as well as looking beautiful.

-Yeah, I quite like that as well.

For us, it would have to be a wee bit cheaper.

-Can you do anything else for us?

-I'll go to £115.

I don't think £115 is a bad price.

I'd probably put £80-£120 on it as an auction estimate

and hope that it makes the upper end or a little bit more.

-You're in the right ballpark.

-Would you take £110?

Against my better principles, yes.

-Is that a yes?

-Thank you.

-Well, that is a yes from Wendy.

Very diplomatic, Susie.

Well, I can't... You two have got to...

-No, it's fine.

-We said we'd agree to disagree so that's fine, yes.

-So, you're going to let Wendy have her choice on this one?

-Yes, I am.

-Great. It's a deal?

-It's a deal.

-Wonderful. Thank you.

We've got a deal. Thank you so much.

The gramophone's nice.

-It's not a piece of silver, is it?

-No.

-No. All right, then. OK.

I'll do as I'm told.

Well, you better be quick. Kate's buying it all!

-We've still got your vase on hold.

-Yes, we've still got that on hold.

We're still thinking about that.

-What are you feelings now about what to go for?

-Something quirky.

-Yeah, something bright.

-Something bright and...

-Bit wacky?

-Yes.

-Yes, definitely.

-A bit more flamboyant?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Let's go wild. That way.

My gosh. See, there's something I love here,

-but you don't like Oriental, do you?

-What do you like?

-This.

-I think it's horrible.

-Oh, my gosh. How can you say that?

It's absolutely stunning.

It's blanc de Chine, Chinese

and this is depicting the goddess of mercy.

-Right.

-I can't convince you to even...?

-No.

We know she's here so if we get desperate,

maybe we'll ask you to choose her for us.

Isn't that awful?

Hmm, they're not convinced, David.

But we know how you like your Oriental pieces.

-What do you like, Susie?

-This vase.

-You like that?

BOTH LAUGH

-Do you like it, Susie?

-I like it.

Oh, it's really heavy. That's some lump of glass. Murano.

It's very heavy and what I do like

is the way that you've got this white glass

that's been overlaid here.

-It's like a flower head, isn't it?

-Yeah, yeah. No, it's unusual.

I don't think it's got any great age.

I think it's certainly '70s, '80s. Maybe a bit later.

£49 is the price.

I like that because I could see flowers in that

making a beautiful arrangement.

What about finding a little bit more Deco?

-A bit more Deco?

-Yeah.

-Ooh, look out. Here we go again.

-OK.

Is this another one we're going to think about?

-Well, we haven't got much time, ladies, to think.

-No, OK.

Exactly, Kate! And the clock is still ticking.

Meanwhile, the Blues have seen something silvery

that Kate's not got her hands on.

The fall into the Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau period -

1890, 1905, somewhere around there.

-But look at that.

-That is gorgeous. I love this.

See the little stud detail around the top? Isn't that lovely?

Yeah, they have never seen a machine in their lives.

-That's good, isn't it?

-There's £120 on the ticket.

Electroplated. They're not your solid silver.

No, but they're beautiful.

But I think you're going to be shocked

-at the price this lady is about to give us.

-Aw.

-I've got to make a profit.

-Yes, you have.

I'll do £90. That is my...

-You're getting better.

-Yeah, but I'm not going to get any better.

-You're not going to get any better?

-Not even for you.

I think auction would be £50-£90.

Somebody might just fall in love with them.

I did, you did, but even so.

DICK: With the time we've got left,

perhaps we ought to see if we could put those to one side...and move on.

And how are you feeling?

-Yes, if we just spend five minutes more looking.

-Is that OK with you?

-We'll put them there for now. Thank you.

-They are lovely.

SELLER: They are very, very pretty.

For 95 quid, no matter what they make in auction,

-they're still cheap, aren't they?

-Yes, they're lovely.

-OK, thank you.

-Sorry.

-We might come back.

-Thank you.

Watch out, Blues! If you're not careful,

a certain magpie may well take a shine to them.

We didn't go right over to the other side, did we?

-OK, well, I think we should pick up the beat here.

-OK.

-Let's go.

Beat? Pick up the beat?

As you have 10 minutes left and one item to find.

-What about over there?

-Are we beginning to panic?

-Yeah, we are.

-Hmm, under 10 minutes, guys.

-OK.

He's early. He's got a lovely snout.

He's got a bit of a hump on his back, which is nice.

All his limbs are articulated.

He's made of mohair, but he is worn. Got £70 on there.

But you did really like those vases

and, you know, it's your choice, Susie.

-Wendy's had her say.

-OK.

If you would prefer to whizz back and get the vase for £8...

-I think I'd rather do that.

-Would you?

-Yes.

-Is that a decision, then?

-Yeah, that's fine. I made my decision.

-I'd like to do that.

-Happy?

-Yes.

-Are we going to go for the £8 one, see what they can do?

-Yes.

-Let's do it.

-If it's still there.

The Blues are still on the hunt for that elusive piece of silver.

Only five minutes left.

There you go. I bet you like that silver bowl.

-I do.

-Oh, that's nice.

-It's got a good shape.

-It has, like an umbrella.

-It's a good weight. London.

It's got a rubbed mark on there. I think about 1910.

-What letter is it?

-It looks like a rubbed Q.

-Is it like that?

-Yeah. 1911.

Hey, guys, sorry to disappoint you, but that's not 1911. It's 1971.

-It's £168.

-£168, I'd take...

What about £145?

-Could you do it for £135?

-WOMAN: No.

-Oh!

-Oh, the boss has spoken now.

-Where did that come from?

ALL LAUGH

-I have a manager.

-Don't we all?

-£138?

-I'd do it for £140.

-He'll do it for £140. That's it.

-Do you think it'll make a profit?

-Yes, we'll buy it.

-We like it so we'll buy it.

-Thanks very much.

-Take a chance.

-Take a chance. I love taking chances.

-Thank you very much.

Great work, Blues.

Time to relax, something the Reds don't have time to do

as they're battling their way across to Susie's vase.

Is it still there?

Have you sold it?

-No, but John just said, "Put it up cos they haven't come back."

-We are back!

-Have you done the deal?

-We haven't done the deal.

-We were just waiting for you.

-Oh, my goodness.

I've just run the whole length of the fair.

-Well, that's how you keep so slim.

-What do we think?

-It's beautiful.

-It is.

-What's your very best?

-You really want to haggle at £8?

-Yes. Yes, we do.

SHE MOUTHS SILENTLY

Perfect.

SUSIE: I think that's lovely. Thank you very much.

WHISTLE BLOWS

Right, teams, your 60 minutes are up. Let's get going.

-We're all done.

-We are.

-Wonderful. Thank you.

-Thank you.

Sneaky, sneaky, Reds.

I think it might be a good time to leave before you get into trouble.

Well done, teams. Let's check out what those Reds bought, eh?

First up, they sailed away from the fair

with the miniature silver vessel.

They paid £7.

It was the silver toast rack up next,

costing a large slice of their budget

as they paid £110 for it.

The last-minute bargain buy was the glass vase.

A very reasonable £5 was paid.

Well, you girls, not only are you well-qualified,

but you're also athletic.

-Did you move!

-We certainly did.

-That was marvellous.

-Which is your favourite piece?

-Mine is the leaf-shaped vase.

-Leaf-shaped vase.

-Yes.

-And yours is...?

-And mine is the silver toast rack.

-Silver toast rack?

-Yeah.

-Is that going to bring the biggest profit?

-I'm not sure. It's a close run...

-Is it?

..with Kate's choice. Very close.

Will your choice bring the biggest profit?

I think it will because it was the cheapest.

ALL LAUGH

How much did you spend all round, then?

-BOTH: £122.

-Yes.

-£122?

-BOTH: Yes.

-Would that be £178 leftover, then?

-Yes, it would be.

-It is.

-The maths is working.

-I know.

-£178, please.

-And a bit of shrapnel.

-Ooh!

BOTH LAUGH

It's one of your bandages.

ALL LAUGH

-OK, apply a bandage...

-Lovely. To me.

..and hand it over to Kate Bliss.

-I know what I'm going to get and it's not shiny.

-Oh.

Oh, OK. Well, we'll stand by for that.

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

Annette and Dick flew away with their first purchase -

the propeller plane clock cost them £40.

The cigar box was next up for our Blues. They paid £19.

And finally, it was the small silver bowl that caught their eye.

They bought it for £140.

-Well, you two, Speedy Gonzales, eh?

-Yes.

Now, Annette, tell me, darling, which is your favourite piece?

I think my favourite is the lovely silver bowl

we bought right at the last minute, funnily enough.

OK, fine. That's your favourite? Do you agree with that, Dick?

-No, I like the aeroplane clock that we bought.

-All right.

And which piece is going to bring the biggest profit, Dick?

The broken plastic box, I think.

Do you reckon? Do you agree with that?

-The green box, yes.

-OK, fine.

-Now, you spent up quite well. How much did you spend?

-£199.

That's around about, isn't it? Can I have £101 of leftover lolly?

There is your £100.

-Thank you very much.

-And there is your £1.

-Now, David...

-Thank you.

-..you are a man who knows about these things.

-Yes.

Got any idea what you're going for?

-I'm going to buy something I really want, Tim.

-Really?

-It's all about me.

-Is it?

-Yes.

-And why not?

-Exactly.

-OK, £101, then, and off you go.

-Good luck.

-Now, why don't we trot off smartly to the auction, eh?

Time to catch up with today's auctioneer.

Well, if you get on a high-speed train

and you travel for 40 minutes from Central London,

you could find yourself in Bedford.

And if you did, you could come to Peacocks

and you could see our auctioneer of the moment, Lindsay Vintner.

-Lindsay, how lovely to see you.

-Morning, Tim.

Now, for the Reds, they started out with this little river vessel.

Do you rate that?

I suppose it's made from little scraps of silver

so there is a silver content there.

-What's it worth?

-£15-£20.

Very nice too. £7 paid.

-That's good.

-That was a good thing bought.

Next up is the six-slice...

-And that's quite important, isn't it?

-Indeed.

-..six-slice toast rack.

-But you can use it for other things.

-Bung your CDs in it.

-CDs, yes. Hopefully, it'll make £80-£120.

Well, £110 was paid so it's in the frame,

-if you know what I mean.

-Could be there.

Last but not least is this glass vase,

-which is pretty hideous, really.

-Yes.

-Eastern Bloc glass, isn't it?

-I think so.

It's a table centre, I suppose. You could use it as a vase.

-But it's not good quality, is it?

-It's not great, I'm afraid.

-OK, how much?

-£20-£30.

-Really? They only paid £5.

God, you're generous here, aren't you, at Peacocks?

Well, on that basis, they may not need the bonus buy, but never mind.

Let's go and have a look at it anyway.

OK, Wendy, Suse, this is it, girls. You spent £122.

You gave Kate £178 of leftover lolly.

Kate, what did you buy?

-Well, it was quite a wedge you left me.

-We did.

But I'm afraid I could not resist...

-BOTH: Oh, no!

-..this fellow.

You were desperate for that one, weren't you?

Well, I think he's quite commercial and he has got...

You've got to really behave well for me now, Teddy.

He has got a growl. Are we ready?

TEDDY GROWLS

-There we go. I paid £50.

-Right.

-Which I don't think is too bad, actually.

-Is it worth £50?

-He's worth £50 to me.

-Yes.

Whether he's worth £50 to somebody at the auction is another thing,

but I would hope so.

OK, girls, you don't choose now.

You pick later, but why don't we, for the audience at home,

find out whether the auctioneer likes Kate's bear.

-There we go. Are you what I call a bear girl?

-Thank you.

I am, I suppose, in a way. This is nice.

English. Fully jointed.

They're a relatively popular seller at the moment.

-This one should make £50 or £80.

-Oh, good.

£50 paid by Kate Bliss

so she's paid the right amount of money for Old Growler.

Now, try and sit up. Don't fall over. There's a good boy.

The big question is will the team go with ted or not?

OK, that's it for the Reds.

Now for the Blues and first up for them,

we have this timepiece,

which I thought I quite liked from 25 yards,

but now I'm up close, I'm not so sure I do.

-We've actually had quite a lot of interest in this.

-Oh, have you?

Funnily enough.

You know, as a desk piece, it's quite interesting.

-The propellers are articulated so...

-Those terrible screws on the end.

-Yes, it's a little bit crude, isn't it?

-I mean, it is the worst.

I mean, it's trying to be sort of loosely '40s or '50s, isn't it?

Having said that, it'll probably make £200

and one will look very stupid.

-What's your estimate, anyway?

-£20-£30.

-I think that's right.

£40 paid. It might just struggle there.

Um, next, I think, is a much more interesting thing,

which is that green Bakelite box.

-It's a good colour. Art Deco in design.

-Yeah.

Got a little tiny chip on one of the corners,

which might put a few people off,

but I think the colour speaks louder than anything.

Very much of the period.

-So, I think that's got something about it, you know.

-Indeed, yeah.

It might just take off.

-OK, what's your estimate?

-We've said £15-£20.

OK, fine. £19 paid so that's about the right price.

And last but not least is the silver bowl.

Solid silver. London, 1971.

It's an average bowl, I'm afraid.

You've got a little bit of whiplash decoration going around the border.

-What sort of decoration?

-Whiplash, Tim. Yes.

-Is that what you call it?

-We do indeed.

Oh! In Bedfordshire, eh?

Whiplash decoration round the border very nice too,

-but it's not terribly heavy, is it?

-It's not, no.

It's relatively light in the great scheme of things

and I think it's more likely to sell for its weight in silver

than anything else, sadly.

OK, now, listen, Lindsay, be really brave, all right?

Gird yourself up to your maximum height

and give us your best estimate.

-£80-£120.

-Not good enough.

-No?

-£140 paid.

-Oh, dear. OK.

-I tell you, that is going to torpedo them.

-Yes.

-Because you could really be struggling at about £80, £85.

-Right.

They paid £140. That's a big old loss.

They are going to need their bonus buy

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

Now, Annette, Dick, you spent £199, which is magnificent.

You gave our man of the moment £101.

-So, £101. Whoops!

-Ta-da!

-No!

-You deserve her.

-It followed us.

-It's lovely, isn't it?

-Isn't it just wonderful?

-You've seen it before?

-We remember it.

-Yes, I'm afraid so.

But this is Guanyin

and this is a blanc de Chine model of Guanyin

and Guanyin is the Buddhistic goddess of mercy.

And you didn't like her why?

-She's broken. She's a dust trap.

-OK, David...

-I'm warming to it.

-You are warming to it?

-It's lovely, yeah.

Because Dave's going to tell us now why we should go for the thing.

I think she's 19th or early-20th century

later made into a lamp

and she's incredibly popular as a model.

And it is, I've got to tell you,

very normal to find blanc de Chine pieces

with nipped-off fingers and I've sold objects like that -

much earlier and better quality, admittedly -

-for many thousands of pounds in blanc de Chine.

-Ooh!

-I like it more already!

-With damage!

-She was a bargain, I take it?

-I paid £80 for her.

-Right.

And I'd pay £80 for her again tomorrow and the next day

and every day of the week.

How much will she make?

I'd think that the estimate should be £70-£90, £80-£120

and it could do quite well.

So, you clever old sausage, you don't pick now.

You can choose later depending on how you're getting on,

but for the audience at home,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Dave's blanc de Chine.

Haugh-hee-haugh.

Pow! As if by magic, Guanyin appears on your left-hand side.

Look at that.

The market for porcelain of this type is very good at the moment,

which leads people to replicate them in their thousands.

I think this one has got a bit of age.

Perhaps late-19th, early-20th century

and I think it stands a good chance, really.

You've got a few losses, which is to be expected.

And then somebody's made it into an electric lamp.

-Yeah, I don't think that's too difficult to resolve.

-No.

It's just screwed on the base.

-So, how much, then, do you think, Lindsay?

-£40-£60.

-OK, £80 paid.

-OK.

And David's very coy with his Oriental purchases.

He's ever hopeful.

-Well, we could have a surprise.

-I don't know.

-We could see it doing a bit better.

-Exactly.

I mean, cos it's such a good size.

-I don't know. It's got something about it.

-It has potential.

-It might make £150. It MIGHT make £150.

-Yes.

-And you've put £40-£60 on so that's a bit of a tease, isn't it?

-It is.

It's a common bind, really, isn't it?

Let's see what happens. Thank you very much, Lindsay.

Time to grab your gavel, Lindsay, and take to the rostrum.

-Wendy, Suse, are you good?

-We are.

-Yes, we are.

-Are you feeling nervous?

-Apprehensive.

-Are you?

-What have you got to be apprehensive about, Suse?

-No, we'll be fine.

Well, I'm just interested about the little Chinese junk.

-Are you?

-Yeah.

-You only paid £7.

She's put £15-£20 on it. I mean, you should be fine.

It's made of silver. It's a sweet little thing.

If all else goes badly,

you can fall back on Kate Bliss's bear.

Anyway, first lot up is your little sampan or junk

and let's hope it doesn't turn out to be the latter.

The Chinese silver junk there. £10 start me for it. Must be £10.

-£10, lady's bid. Thank you, now.

-Come on.

£10. £12 on commission now. At £12.

£14. £16.

-Profit.

-£18. At £18 now, it's lady's bid now. £18.

£20 to my left now. £22. £24. £26.

-At £26.

-£26! You only paid £7.

The girl's a genius!

Thank you, madam. At £28. £30.

Up £30 now. The bid's here now. £30.

-It's the lady's bid.

-She could make a living out of this.

£30. Well done. It's plus £23. That's the way to make cash. OK.

-Good start.

-Now your toast rack.

-The silver toast rack - six-slice.

Must be £50 to get on, then. Come on, guys.

Come on!

It's silver. Must be worth that. £50 bid. Thank you. At £50.

£55 online now. At £55.

-At £55.

-BOTH: Come on, come on.

-£60.

£65. At just £65, then.

-Go on!

-BOTH: Come on!

-At £65. £70.

-You won't find a heavier one!

-At £70.

Yes. £75. At £75 now. At £75.

£75 is minus £35. You did so well in that first lot.

-Minus £12.

-WENDY: So far.

-So far.

-Now, come on.

-Positive.

-We've got this flower head vase.

-Oh, yeah.

The moulded glass vase. £10 for it, surely.

£10, lady's bid. Thank you.

Doubled your money straight up.

Lady's bid now. At £10. £12 at the back here now. At £12.

£14. £16. £18. £20. £22.

-We've broken even.

-Look at this, girls! Suse!

-At £28. £30. £30.

-Oh, keep going!

Up there, it's lady's bid at £30. £32. At £32 now. £32.

-Yes!

-Are you sure, madam?

-Good girls!

-At £32 now. Are you all done?

At £32.

Look at that! Plus £27. You clever girl!

Plus £27. You were minus £12, which means you are plus £15.

-You are plus £15.

-Wow.

That is a real rollercoaster, isn't it?

-Perfect.

-That was good.

First you were up, then you were down, then you were up again.

Now, what are we going to do about the old bear, then?

Cos plus £15 could be a winning score. You know the game.

To have the money in your back pocket is an achievement.

On the other hand, if you love the bear and you trust your expert

and you think it might make money, you could go with it.

-So, what's it going to be?

-We trust our expert.

-We're going to trust our expert.

-Exactly.

-Yeah.

-Are you going to go with it?

-Yeah, we are.

-Definitely.

OK, fine. We're going with the bear now.

This sweet little teddy bear here. Nice, attractive bear.

£50 for it.

-I can't look.

-Must be £50. Lovely-looking bear, this. £30.

Deary me. £20, anyone?

-At £20, thank you. At £20. Come on, guys.

-Uh-oh.

-£22?

Thank you over here now. At £22.

-No, don't do this to me.

-£24. £26. £28.

-Oh, it's lovely.

At £28. £30.

£32. At £32 now. The bid is to my left here now. At £32.

-At £32.

-I don't like the sound of this.

-At £32.

-I can't bear it.

-£32.

-It's OK.

-Guys, I'm so sorry.

-£32 is minus £18.

-Do we have to pay YOU now?

-No, but you had £15 in your pocket.

-I know.

-Minus £18 is minus £3.

-Oh!

-Guys, I'm really sorry.

-That's not too bad.

-That's minus £1 each.

-It's only money.

-OK, well, actually, it might be a winning score.

You might still be victorious

even though you're not going home with the cash.

I'm so sorry.

Now, Annette, Dick, let's start with your desk timepiece, shall we?

-You paid £40 for that fellow.

-Yes.

The auctioneer didn't like it that much

cos she said it's actually not got any age.

Her estimate is £20-£30.

-You paid £40, but I fancy you'll probably be all right...

-Yeah.

..cos it's got that look.

-Here it comes.

-We have this desk piece here.

£20 bid straight in. Thank you, madam.

At £20. At £20. £22 behind you now. At £22. £24.

It's going. Oh, go on.

-£30. £30 to my left now.

-Go on!

-£32. £34. £36.

-Oh, yeah. Come on.

-£38. £38. £40.

It's a lady's bid now at £40. £45.

-Yes!

-At £45.

-That's in profit. Well done.

£50. £55. At £55 now.

-£55?

-The bid's on my left now. £55. At £55. Gentleman's bid. £55.

Is plus £15. That is brilliant, isn't it?

There's another container full of those coming our way. Good.

Now, the cigar box. There isn't a container load of these.

The Bakelite box there. Must be £10 to get on.

Come on, guys. Bit different, this. £10.

Lady's bid now. At £10. £12 behind you now. At £12. £14.

£16, are we?

At £14. £16. £18. £20. £22.

£24. £26. £28. £30.

-It's climbing. Come on.

-The bid's here. £32 behind you.

-£34.

-Whoa!

-£34. £36. £38.

-At £38 now.

-Come on!

-The lady's bid here now. At £38.

-At £38.

-£38 is plus £19.

-I said that the broken plastic box was good.

-Yeah!

-That is £15 and £15 is £30.

£4. Plus £34.

OK, the silver bowl. 1970s, this one. £50 straight in, then.

£50. £55. At £55.

£60, I have now. At £60. £65. £70. £75.

-Going. It's going.

-At £75 now.

It's a room bid now at £75. £80 to my left. Thank you, now. £80.

-£85.

-Come on!

-Gentleman's bid. £85.

-Still a way to go.

£90. At £90. £95.

-Come on.

-At £95.

-Good. Getting there.

-£100.

-Good man.

-£110.

-At £110 now.

-Go on!

-£110. Are you out, sir?

At £120. At £120 now. The bid is to my left now.

-£120 only.

-No!

-Keep going! Keep going!

Oh, blast it!

Minus £20, but it still means you're plus £14.

How cool is that?

Now, this is a dilemma because you're in profit.

£14 could be a winning score, OK?

On the other hand, you've got this thing

that you feel in your heart of hearts is hideous,

that you've rejected a couple of times.

-Let's go for it.

-Let's go for it.

-Take a chance?

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You don't necessarily have to, though, that's the thing.

-That's all right. I'll go for.

-Are you definite?

-Yeah.

-We trust you, David.

-Do you?

-We trust you, yes.

-For now!

-Anyway, that's it, yes? You're going with the bonus buy.

-Absolutely.

-Very good. Well, now the bad news. You've made that decision.

The auctioneer didn't think so much of it.

-She's worried about the damage. She's put £40-£60 on it.

-OK.

You've made your decision. You're very brave. Here we go.

I feel I've bought into this.

I feel I'm really rooting with you here.

-Don't let us down, Tim.

-No, no. Come on.

The Chinese blanc de Chine figure, then, of Guanyin.

Pretty impressive piece, this. £100 start me for her.

£50. £30.

-£30 is bid online. Thank you. At £30.

-Oh, it's online.

-£30 online.

-£32, lady's bid. Thank you.

-Go up in fives!

-Come on!

-£34 online now. £36.

£38. £40. £40 now. It's lady's bid now.

-It's a long way to go.

-£40. At £40. £45. £45.

£55. New bidder now at £55. At £55. £60. At £60 now. £65.

£70 online now. At £70. At £70. £75.

-Hello, China!

-At £75.

-Come on!

-That's a gentleman's bid.

-£80.

-There's no money. Come on! Yes!

-At £80 now. At £80. £85.

-Yes!

-At £85 now.

-£85. £90.

-Let's see if it makes any real money, Dave.

At £100 here. £110. £120. £130. £140.

-At £150 now.

-Come on. Let's give it a big...

-Go on. Give it a poke!

-Come on.

-It's a jolly nice thing.

-£160. £170.

-£160.

-Is it going to make £400?

-Go for it!

-Come on.

Is it going to make 22 grand?

-At £180. £190. £190.

-Come on!

-Come on, root for it!

-£200.

Get in there, baby! Get in there, Guanyin.

-Guanyin! Guanyin!

-Come on.

At £200.

-Oh, yes!

-Oh, brilliant!

-That's the business.

-£200 is plus £120, plus the £14 is £134.

-Wow!

I tell you, I tell you, I knew he was sharp, this boy.

Seriously, though, if it just happens like that occasionally...

And just think you might have said no.

You might have stuck with the £14 and now you've got £134.

-Oh, thank you.

-No, no, thank your...

-Well done. Thank you.

-No, no, my pleasure.

I mean, he found it and these things don't grow on trees, I tell you.

There's a lot of duff ones about, but that's a goodie.

-Thank you so much.

-Well, thank the expert.

-We take back all the things we said about it.

-Well done.

Thank you very much. Very exciting. Just don't say a word to the Reds.

-We won't say anything.

-We won't.

-No.

Well, well, well, what fun we've had today.

In fact, so much fun, I cannot believe from the scores

that there could be such a vast chasm between our teams today.

Anyway, the runners-up today, I'm afraid, by a chalk

are the lovely Reds.

BOTH GROAN

Oh, girls!

HE SOBS

Plus £23, you were.

-Yes.

-You got £27 for that glorious vase, right?

But overall, your score was a miserable minus £3,

which ordinarily on Bargain Hunt

would be a winning score no problem at all.

Except we're on an extraordinary show today.

-We've had fun.

-You've had fun.

-We have definitely had fun.

Look at the three of them, all looking so happy!

How lovely! Anyway, bad luck, girls.

It's been great having you on the show,

but the victors today are going home with £134.

ALL CHEER

How about that? Annette, grab that lot, darling.

£134. You did very nicely.

You made a couple of profits and a small loss

and then you went with the bonus buy.

Our glorious goddess Guanyin came to the fore.

-Don't we love her?

-Don't we love her?

£200, she sold for.

-Very well-spotted with that, Dave.

-Thank you.

-A considerable result.

-So, you had a good time?

-Had a brilliant time.

-We loved it too.

In fact, we've loved it so much,

why don't you join us soon for some more Bargain Hunting?

-Yes?

-ALL: Yes!