Anglesey 24 Bargain Hunt

In 1826, work finished on the world's first major

suspension bridge, the Menai Bridge.

This permanently connected mainland Wales to the island of Anglesey.

And that's exactly where I'm heading today as I try my hand at presenting

and, boy, have I been looking forward

to saying these famous words.

You know you want to, let's go bargain hunting.

Come on! There we go.

Today we're at the Anglesey antiques fair at the Mona Showground

in the heart of North Wales.

An expected 3,000 people will come from all over Wales

and England to hunt out an antique bargain.

But...they have competition.

So let's take a look at what's coming up today.

The Red team get carried away.

Yay!

The Blue team take cover.

-That is wonderful.

-That definitely suits you.

-It fits me.

-Strong look.

Very strong look on you.

'And it all goes mad at the auction.'

-Yes, over there.

-Yes!

-Oooh.

-Come on.

'So let's meet today's teams.'

Today's show is made up of two teams of friends, right?

-Right.

-That's right.

-I've got Bernie and Gwyneth.

-You have.

-The Red team.

And the Blues.

-I've got Geraint and David. Good morning to you all.

-Morning.

-Morning, Charles.

-Good to see you.

Now, Bernie, tell me about yourself. What do you do?

Well, I'm an occupational therapist and I work mainly with children.

And you help these children gain their independence?

I help these children gain their independence depending...

Despite what disability they have,

be it a mental health problem or a physical problem.

My role is to try and get them back doing what they need to be doing

as well as possible.

Now, Gwyneth, you're quite the creative one, right?

-Yes.

-Yes, I'm told.

And a bit of a dab hand with the paintbrush?

Yes, I do enjoy painting. Very, very much.

And tell me, what do you like to paint?

A lot of landscape and scenery but my latest thing is portraits.

So if I send you a photograph of me, you can...paint me?

-Oh, yes, no problem.

-Not too oily.

-And tell me, you've been friends for 12 years.

-That's correct.

How did you both meet?

-I moved into the village, Gwyneth was already living there...

-Yes.

-And I was part of a morris dance group.

-Wow.

And when I mentioned it to Gwyneth she was very keen to join

and through that we got to know each other really well.

And I really found out that she is just as crazy as I am

and she's a really good friend.

You see, I'm quite twitchy and I love to dance, as well.

-All right.

-I'm going to ask you the question.

Can you show me a few morris dancing moves?

We can certainly do that.

-And, actually, up my sleeve I just happened to have...

-What have I done?

-..a stick.

-Take it away.

-OK.

-BOTH:

-# My sweet Jenny Jones is the girl I adore

# La, la, la, la, la. #

Oh, bravo. Wow.

-Hey, gentlemen. What can we say to that?

-Well.

-Wonderful and that's years of practice or...?

-You can tell.

Goodness me. Now, our Blue team.

-Geraint.

-Yes.

-Geraint...

-Geraint, yes.

-..with a hard G.

-With a hard G.

-David.

-Yes.

-It's really, really good to see you.

Now, Geraint, you work for a local authority housing department

but you're also, I don't believe this,

a semi-professional singer as well.

Yes, I am. I've been singing since I was four years of age.

I've sung all over Europe and the UK.

And I can't resist asking you, can we hear a bit of that Welsh magic?

# Mae hen wlad fy nhadau

# Yn annwyl i mi. #

-Wow. Unbelievable. Now, David...

-Yes.

-Good day to you.

-Good day to you.

-Good day to you, sir.

So you and Geraint work together but you've found out

you're not just work colleagues?

That's right. I remember going up to visit my dad one evening

and I said that... I was talking about Geraint

and he said, "Is his father's name Bernard?"

I said, "Yes, he is." He said, "Well, you two are second cousins."

Our grandfathers were actually brothers.

So that was a bit of a shock,

we sort of had so much in common so that was...yeah, quite weird.

-It's a very, very small world.

-It is a small world.

What's really interesting, David,

I'm just understanding, you used to hold the role of vice sheikh...

-That's right.

-..of a very important organisation?

-It was.

It's the Sons Of The Desert,

it's the Laurel and Hardy appreciation society

so it was named after one of their films.

It's all a bit of fun but it's basically to keep alive

the memory of two great comedians and their wonderful films.

They made 106 films together,

from silent movies straight through to feature films.

-I think we're really warming up. Great friendship here.

-Yeah.

There's a great warmth around us.

And there we are, they're our teams.

And before I send you off to the fair, of course,

in this pocket here, I have the infamous £300 for you.

Oh, my goodness me, Bernie and Gwyneth, there we are, £300. Go, go.

Go, go, gone. And get bargain hunting.

Guiding the teams today we have a right pair of experts.

Hoping to deliver a profit for the Reds

is our very own Claire Rawle.

And looking to snap up a bargain for the Blues, it's Thomas Plant.

-What's the kind of campaign today?

-Oh, buy cheap, sell expensive.

That sounds good. What sort of things are you looking for?

We like pretty things, we like things like glass,

silver, a nice silver ornament.

Well, I'm quite interested in silver

-so I'm looking for quirky silver items.

-Silver items.

And for me it's just the unusual, something quirky and unusual.

-OK, teams. Your hour starts now. Fly high.

-Let's go.

-Yeah.

Let's get on and have a good look round, see what we can find.

-See what we can find.

-They're off.

And straightaway, the Reds' attention is grabbed

by lots of shiny, silver things to look at.

-Oh, bling.

-Yes, I thought you might like the bling.

-We like bling.

We love bling.

-Oh, look at the bag.

-I love the bag.

There's nothing wrong with bling, it does actually sell quite well.

Costume jewellery has become much more popular again.

The Blues are having a good look around but aren't drawn to anything.

-Right, let's move on.

-Yes.

-OK.

So neither team have been blown away just yet

but there's plenty of time on the clock...for now.

-Claire.

-Hmm.

-What about the ornaments at the back?

They're not terribly commercial these days.

Let's have a wander on and let's go a bit further up.

Politely put, Claire.

It's the expert knowledge that gets you ahead on Bargain Hunt.

-And talking of using your head.

-Always like putting on a hat.

I mean, there's no...

-That is wonderful... It fits me.

-That definitely suits you.

-It's a very strong look on you, Tom.

-It's a good look, isn't it?

-Yeah.

I'm getting fashion advice now from the gentleman.

It's not a dedicated follower of fashion

that the Blues need today, Tom, it's a fabulous finder of fortunes.

Moving on, the Reds seem to be drawn to something silver and shiny again.

I was looking at those little bowls in there.

Oh, the silver... Possibly...

I don't know if they're silver or silver plate, they're salts.

Obviously you used to have salt loose in a little bowl

-in the centre of a table.

-Right, OK.

And there's actually quite a pretty thing beside it.

Can you see that mother of pearl card case?

I've just seen that, actually.

Yeah, they are actually quite collectible

as long as they're in good condition.

Wow.

-Oh, isn't that sweet? Yeah.

-Oh, wow.

-Very, very sweet.

-It's lovely.

Very nice and lovely sort of condition

because it's sort of paper and silk lines.

Cos sometimes these pieces are sort of glued on,

they do sometimes fall off but it's in nice condition.

-Nicely engraved.

-OK.

-It's £145, so bearing...

-What do you think?

Well, we'll see what the very best price is and if we can go for...

-SELLER:

-I can't...

-She looks like a lovely lady.

Thank you very much. I can do 120.

Right, OK.

-I can see you're actually quite tempted by this, aren't you?

-Yes.

Yes. And I'm pleadingly looking at this nice lady.

-What's the very best you can do?

-Very, very best?

-Well, I'll come down to 110...

-Yay!

-I think that's made someone's day, hasn't it?

-Yes, please.

Well done, Bernie,

definitely on the case there with some great negotiating.

Eight minutes gone, that's your first purchase taken care of

and you've finally bought something silver and shiny.

-The pressure is on, Blues.

-Barometer there, Thomas?

This is... The barometer here?

-What sort of age would you reckon that is?

-What do you think, gents?

I've got an idea, early part of the 20th century.

In mahogany case and it looks very similar to, you know,

what you'd find a clock in but what's more interesting,

it is a barometer of some note.

All men have to do that, don't they?

-You've got to tap it, yes.

-Got to tap that, haven't you?

-Make sure it's working.

-Yes.

Shall we see what the very best that is on there?

You've sort of scrubbed out a price and you put another price.

-SELLER:

-I knew you were coming.

-Did you?

The best on that - 60. I can't go less.

-You can't go down any more? Just thinking maybe, £50?

-55.

You have a look, yeah.

I should have explained... It's an aneroid barometer,

which is an air pocket which is better than a mercury barometer.

Not necessarily as in better as a piece

from telling the weather conditions

but better from a commercial perspective.

You can send an aneroid barometer quite happily around the world

packed up safely.

A mercury one...because of the nature of mercury,

a little bit different.

Are you sure you wouldn't do 50 on that?

-I'm sure we can move a little bit?

-Go on, then.

-50?

-Yeah, go on.

Oh, you've done it.

First one in the bag.

First one in the bag but you've got something unusual.

-Yeah, quite happy with that.

-Well done.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Well done, Geraint, that was really good.

-Yes.

Right, let's move on.

After only 15 minutes the Blues are also storming ahead

with the purchase of the barometer.

And whilst both teams search for their second purchases,

here's an item I bought with historic value far outweighing

its commercial worth.

When this plate was made, it was made for a European market

when we couldn't actually make this magical, mystical porcelain

which at the time us Europeans valued as highly as gold.

It's finely potted, it's hard paste and made of china clay

and china stone.

When I saw this plate and looked at the mark, I thought,

"Crikey me, it's Emperor Chenghua," who was Emperor of China

in the very early Ming dynasty of around 1460 to 1480.

If this was Emperor Chenghua, wow-wee,

it would be worth around £500,000.

But it isn't.

These marks on the back were imitated by potters

in the Kangxi dynasty of around 1680 in China

when they made this humble plate imitating delftware.

Look at the glassy body, wonderful, fluid blue.

The yellow line here represents, sadly, an almighty crack

running from ten till two but it's still together.

The condition is irrelevant

because, to me, if it could talk, what could it tell us?

What collections has this brittle old plate been through?

It's got the crack, it's got the deceptive mark

and it cost me £150 and do you know what?

It's probably only worth 80 on a really bad day

but sometimes you buy history for what it represents

and this object has it in abundance.

Back with the shopping and 30 minutes has gone.

Time is ticking on for the Reds.

-What about the silver one?

-The silver plated one...

Well, it's silver plate so it's never going to be worth as much...

So what are we getting for that?

Match holder-striker, holder, double pen rest with two pens

so you're getting a complete item.

But 68 is really, really top for a silver plated one.

-Right, OK.

-I'd say...

And that's silver plated as well?

Yeah, but that's quite a nice, novel item.

But again, you're going to have to get it well worth...

-You know, well worth the money, really.

-OK.

Best write that one off then.

Over with the Blues.

And has Thomas spotted something

that'll resonate with Geraint and David?

BELL CHIMES

Look at this little bell here. What a lovely thing.

So...little child's bell or a bell for a meal.

Can you see any hallmarks on it?

There's no hallmarks.

There are marks on here which looks continental,

-quite sort of Austro-Hungarian.

-Yes, it is, yeah.

And I like the style, do you see that...those roses and the beading,

it's very sort of in the Art Deco style.

To be candid, I think that's quite a nice little object

and I would be disappointed if you didn't buy that.

What do you think? Personally, I don't think it is silver.

The sound makes me think it's not.

No, it's not but I think it's quite nice that. It's got age, it is Deco.

-What's the best price on that then?

-SELLER:

-£12.

-It's definitely...

It's period that's why I'm interested in it cos it's Deco

and there are bell collectors,

there are people who collect children's items.

For £12 it's worth considering, isn't it?

-Yes, absolutely.

-You know, we can't be rash and you know...

-No.

..spend £50 in 15 minutes, like Geraint has.

-But that is interesting.

-Yeah, it is, it is.

I think we will come back to that but I am very interested in it.

-Can we put that behind?

-Yeah, certainly.

For like ten minutes while we carry on, you know.

Cos, like...men, we are indecisive.

People think we're being decisive but we're not.

Speak for yourselves there, Blues, I'm decisive...I think.

After 30 minutes, both the Reds and the Blues have one item each

but the Blues have one in reserve.

Come on, Reds.

-Look, if you see those little sort of wishbone-shaped thing.

-Yeah.

Looks almost like a spur, doesn't it?

-But I bet it's a pair of sugar tongs.

-Ahh.

-They usually have a little spring in the back of them.

-Oh, wow.

That's quite sweet.

-What are the little envelope things?

-That probably is a stamp case...

-Ahh.

-Ohh.

-..where you'd keep your stamps, in those.

-Wow.

So I mean, it should open.

They actually are quite collectible.

Do you want to see what sort of price...?

-I'm torn between the sugar tongs.

-The tongs? Yeah.

And the...yeah, they're both...

Cos they've got sort of novelty value, haven't they?

-They have got novelty value.

-Yeah.

-OK.

For the little silver stamp envelope.

-This one?

-Yeah, OK.

-Ahh.

-It's 30 quid.

-Oh, as much as that?

As much as that?!

See, it's quite sweet, isn't it?

That's actually in not bad condition, is it?

-No, no, there aren't too many dents in it.

-Oh, I think it's gorgeous.

And being a pensioner.

-Don't believe you.

-I am.

-BERNIE LAUGHS

25 quid and that's my best price, honestly.

Can we put it back and come back later?

Yeah, have a wander round and see if you can find something better.

What about the sugar tongs, do you want to look at that, Gwyneth?

-Are they sugar tongs, the little wishbone things?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-They're beautiful as well.

-Are they silver?

Yeah, they've got to be silver.

Yeah, silver, Birmingham.

-30?

-Sorry.

-CHARLES:

-'Nice try, Gwyneth.'

-40?

-45.

-Oh.

-They are nice things.

-They are.

-They are lovely things.

-Yeah.

So we can come back. We're just going to have a little browse.

-We haven't looked at many things yet.

-No.

-We can always come back.

Yeah, you're welcome to come back.

So an item put aside for the Reds as well.

It seems it's not just the men that are indecisive today.

What do you think of those?

A lot of work's gone in that

and what's nice - they've been unpolished.

What's the best on those?

-We've got 75 but what would you...?

-That face says that's a bit crazy...

-I'm just reading body language here.

-I know you got a...yeah.

-It's a bit punchy, if you want my honest opinion.

-OK.

But I don't want to bully you...

No, well, we've got our "Keep calm and make an offer."

-"Keep calm and make an offer..."

-So if you'd like to make an offer...

-The keep calm is us.

-Yeah.

We'll make an offer with you.

-You're not sure about those?

-DAVID: I quite like those, anyway.

Well, you never know, you never know.

I might come back for a nice bonus buy.

Pairs are good, Blues, but with only one purchase so far

there's no time to waste buying that second item.

-Hats.

-Hats.

Yes, do you fancy any of those?

-Aye, aye, Captain.

-Oh, I say. Oh, yes.

I'm in charge.

I thought I was.

Hats off to you, Reds, you look great

but you need to keep moving.

And it looks as if Thomas is about to shine a light on an idea

for the Blues' second purchase.

This is from the Second World War, an ARP lamp with hood

-and it's in its original box.

-Wow.

Battery went in there, obviously, for blackout time.

-You know, it's 70 years old but never been used.

-I like it, Tom.

What about you, Geraint?

I like that, yeah, that's unusual, very quirky.

-It's history, it's quirky, it's unusual.

-But how much is it?

Well, he said 30 but I reckon I can do it for 25.

-I think we go for that one.

-What do you think that would go for?

-I think if we try and get it for 25, we've got a real chance.

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-Do want to do that?

-Yeah, let's try it.

-Let's do it, Tom.

Can I do that at 25?

-That's quite quirky...

-It is and it's very topical.

-Yeah.

-Done.

-Done, excellent.

Sold, a decisive decision made and with 45 minutes gone,

that's the second item bought by the Blues

and could this decisive move be catching?

Shall we still go for the tongs?

-Well, he said 45 on the tongs, didn't he?

-Yeah.

-I think, definitely take the tongs.

-OK, we'll have the tongs.

-And you said 45 on those?

-SELLER:

-That's my best price.

-Yeah, that's fine.

-No, that's OK.

-I quite understand.

-So there we are.

-Yes.

-Nicely marked, sweet little things.

-Second item, you OK on that?

-I am, yes.

-Brilliant, thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

'Well done, Reds, 46 minutes gone

'and that's your second item bought, as well.'

But time is running out, teams. More decisions are called for.

Personally, I think we go for that bell.

That's my opinion and I would be surprised.

-Let me confer with my friend.

-I agree, I think the bell...

There's got to be a profit in that, hasn't it?

It's delightful. Now, where was it?

-It wasn't this one, it was the next aisle.

-The next one.

The Blues look like they're on the homeward straight.

But it's worrying times for the Reds.

Is there anything at all that sort of caught your eye

as we've been wandering round?

-Well, I saw something when we were walking by.

-Oh, did you?

-Yes, I did.

-Oh, right.

-Remember, I mentioned it but we'd already moved on.

-Oh, OK.

-Shall we go and find it?

-Show us where.

-Lead on.

There's literally minutes to go.

Fingers crossed, Reds, this could be your last opportunity.

And having passed the bell once already,

the Blues could be reaching the finish line.

Right, our last and final item.

-There it is.

-The bell.

-The bells, the bells.

We're all like Quasimodo today, aren't we?

Now, £12, I think it's got everything going for it.

I think we should go for it.

I think that's going to bring the biggest profit.

-Well...

-Well, let's wait and see.

-Can we hold you to that?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Gentlemen, you've been brilliant.

Let's go get that really well-deserved cup of tea.

-Absolutely.

-Good idea.

-Come on.

Ding-dong, sold. Well done, Blues.

Third and final item bought all within 55 minutes.

But this could be the Reds' last shot

to get their third and final item.

I'm not quite sure what they are but they're very pretty.

-Oh, aren't they sweet? They're oyster-shaped dishes.

-Yeah.

-Yes.

-What have they got underneath them?

-Look there.

-Royal Crown Derby.

-Crown Derby.

-Oh, that's quite unusual because you associate Crown Derby

with a much more glitzy, imari type pattern which is gold

and black and red but these are quite delicately painted.

-They're quite beautiful, actually.

-They are beautiful.

Of course it doesn't sell that well at the moment but something unusual.

And actually, the two of them,

they look as if they're in lovely condition as well.

-So what's the price on those?

-There's no price on them.

We need to speak to the lady. I think it's the lady behind you.

Right, is it? Oh, hello, hello! These have caught Bernie's eye.

What sort of price are we looking at for those?

I've got 50 on them because they are 1880 Royal Crown Derby.

And it's rare to have a pair,

so I could do them for 30.

-You probably know what they would go for.

-Yeah, I mean...

-25?

25, that would be... That would be really good if we could.

-It's a lovely quality.

-Yeah, I could do them for 25.

-25?

-Yep.

-That's fantastic. Thank you. Claire, are you happy?

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you very much, they're beautiful.

-Thank you so much.

Unfortunately, teams, your time is up.

-Excellent, that's it. Three items, we are done.

-Yay!

Let's remind ourselves what the Red team bought.

The Reds opened up their list of purchases with a pearl card case

bought for £110.

Are wishing for a profit with the pair of silver sugar nips

bought for £45.

And shook hands at £25 on their final

purchase of the porcelain oyster shooters.

-So, Bernie and Gwyneth, how was it?

-It was good. It was good.

-Really good.

-Really, really good.

It was all very quick off the mark, wasn't it?

-Then it all slowly came to an end.

-BOTH: Yeah.

-What is your favourite item?

-I think mine was the card box.

It's beautiful.

-Would you agree, Bernie?

-I would agree. I would agree.

I did like the other two items, but...

And if I said, Bernie, what would bring the biggest profit?

I'm hoping it's the little oyster shooters that we bought.

-So you explain to them how much money.

-£180.

-Which leaves me £120.

-It does.

-Let's see it.

There is £120. You've gone quite shiny and silvery.

Claire, you are a lady of great stature, here's the money.

-Thank you, Charles.

-What is going to be your bonus buy?

Do you know, I really don't know.

There's so much to look at here so I've got a few ideas.

-I like your style, hey. I like her style.

-She's good.

-On that note, off you go, Claire.

-Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

Why don't we find out what the Blue team have bought.

The Blues hope for some more shine on their barometer bought for £50.

Look to light up the auction room with the Second World War

warden's lamp bought for £25.

And hope to ring a profit

with the miniature silver child's bell for £12.

Goodness me, gents. David, Geraint, Tom.

It seems like ring that bell, ding-dong,

or was your hour one big lights out?

-How was it?

-Fantastic.

And if I said to you, David, what was your favourite find? Talk to me.

-I would say it's the Second World War ARP light.

-Very good.

-I think that was in the original box.

-Geraint, would you agree?

-No.

-Really?

-No.

-Why?

-I think it's the barometer.

-Do you?

-Yes.

-OK, OK.

We shall see.

If I said to you, Geraint, what will bring the biggest profit?

That's what it's all about.

-Neither the lamp nor the barometer, it would be the bell.

-David?

-I would concur. Definitely the bell.

-Interesting, Tom.

I think they're quite right on the money.

They'll ring that bell and it will ring the biggest profit.

-So, gents, in total, you spent how much?

-A miserly £87.

-So that means you're going to give me £213 back.

-I am. Here we are.

And that's one big sum,

but there's one big man who can ride high in these times of austerity.

-Thomas Plant, what is the plan?

-I'm going to blow your mind on this.

Get out of here.

And on that note, we head across the Welsh border and into the English

County of Cheshire where our items are on sale at the auction today.

-Here we are in Northwich with auctioneer Peter Critchley.

-Hello.

Right, Peter, we had Claire Rawle

with Bernie and Gwen for the Red team.

First of all,

you will see a very nice Victorian mother of pearl calling card case.

-Tell me about it.

-It's a lovely thing.

We get a few of them in

but this is unusual in that there is no damage to it.

There is a silver with vacant cartouche front which is nice,

but the main thing about the item is the interior.

The interior is as new and is in fabulous condition.

-What's it worth?

-We said £80-120.

It's the top end of what we would expect these items.

They all liked it, Pete,

particularly Bernie who enthused about it and they paid £110.

£110 is towards the top end. We may not quite get there.

-I would like to see maybe £105, £110.

-It certainly stands a chance.

Good man. Now, we'll make a wish, Peter.

We'll go to their second item which Claire of course found.

She bought that very nice pair of sugar nips, or tongs.

Probably sugar nips those, the wishbone sugar nips.

Yeah, and tell me about them.

They're nice, fully hallmarked, Sherwood.

We can't find out a lot about him as a maker,

but they are nicely put together, nicely made, they're sprung,

but at the end of the day, they are a pair of sugar nips.

What I like about them,

Peter, is the fact that they've got that novelty value.

They've got that hidden concealed spring and I quite like them.

What is it going to make at auction?

I would say £20-£40.

It's not an enormous item, there's not a huge

amount of silver in there, but there are a lot of sugar nips about.

-They paid £45 for them.

-£45, it was the top end, Charles.

They might need a bit of help on that.

-Well, let's make a wish and pray.

-Absolutely.

-You never know.

Right, and finally,

Bernie was very lucky to discover these Royal Crown Derby porcelain

and people might think at home that they are bonbon dishes.

What are they?

They're the wrong shape for a bonbon dish. They are sort of oyster shaped.

They are oyster shooters that you put on your lovely table and you

shuck your oysters in there and you eat them directly from the shell.

They are nice things these, they are nice.

They really capture a great period of etiquette in society, don't they?

-We're going back to the, what, 1890s?

-Roundabout 1890s, we think.

It's sort of fine porcelain. It's a good quality item.

We'd prefer to have 12 or 16 of them rather than two.

Will they shoot away? I think they might.

We estimated them at £60-80.

This is good because they only paid £25 for these for the team.

I don't think they'll have any problems then.

-So you're predicting...?

-£60-80 we think.

-Wonderful.

So, Peter, I tend to suspect the Red team may not need their bonus buy,

but for the viewers at home

let's find out what Claire Rawle has found.

I'm very impressed. You left our delightful expert Claire £180.

Now Claire, have you gone big, have you gone bold?

More bold than I usually do, I must admit.

-I hope it doesn't cast fear into you.

-Oh!

-Oh, it's sweet!

-Oh, that's a good reaction. I had a feeling...

-Wow!

-Yes, yes.

He's a cold-painted bronze figure.

He is marked underneath Geschutzt,

if that's how you pronounce it correctly.

-Absolutely.

-They are very, very realistic.

-Your eyes are down.

-Love him.

-You love the mouse, don't you?

-Love him!

-Absolutely.

-Good. That's a good start.

-How much did you pay for him?

OK. Yeah, well, in my mind it wasn't too much.

-What would you pay for this mouse?

-About 50 quid.

-OK.

-Oh, no, no, I'd pay a lot more actually.

-Good.

-It's bronze as well.

-Sorry.

-I'd go up to 100, 110.

-That's a bit more promising because I paid £95 for it.

-Oh, wow, OK.

It was a little bit perhaps more than I sought,

so I'm hoping there will be a profit in it.

I don't think it will be huge.

You do not need to make your mind up now,

but for the viewers at home, let's find out with the auctioneer

thinks about Claire's little, naughty mouse.

-So, Peter, can you hear a squeak?

-I can, I think I can.

It's coming from over here, Peter. Look at this.

Now here is Claire's bonus buy. Tell me about it.

What do you think of it?

It's marked up, I've had a good luck at this,

-it's marked up with a Bergman stamp on it.

-Mm.

It is, however, we believe, quite a lot younger than a Bergman bronze.

It is very well cast, very well cast indeed.

We have had a fair bit of interest in it already on viewings

and I think it will do well, although it has no age.

I think I'm with you

looking at the degree of wear, but the fact is the quality is superb.

I think the dating that I would've

thought it's probably mid-20th-century, 1950s, 1960s.

However, as you know, the market worldwide online thrives on this

whole novel industry and it can be easily packed up to a global buyer.

-What's it going to make?

-We've estimated about £20 a leg.

-Really?

-So you're talking between £60 and £80.

-£80, 120.

-Oh, really? 80, 120.

I have a feeling Claire has been quite savvy here and I think

if they need the bonus buy this is one I would certainly nod to.

They paid, Claire paid £95 for it.

I think she will probably make money on that bonus buy.

I'm quite excited by this little mouse and I think this mouse

in the auction house later could really move.

I think if they need a great escape, this could be certainly the

thing to take on and with the Reds now done, let's go to the Blues.

Excellent.

David and Geraint, and they began with what I think is

a particularly spectacular barometer.

Your comments?

Well, it is a nice barometer.

It's in a nice mahogany case and it's probably,

-we believe used to be a clock.

-Used to be a clock?

We believe it is a clock case with a barometer in it.

A marriage made in Oxfordshire.

And I would've thought, what, 1905, 1910?

Maybe a little bit, tiny bit later than that, possibly.

It will be between £40 and £60, we believe.

Well, they paid 50, they won't lose too much.

But what I do like is our second lot.

To me, it's an object which just speaks volumes about social history.

-Would you agree?

-I wouldn't wax all that lyrical about it.

It is a cheaply made tin plate ARP torch, and not very attractive

-an item in our view.

-What's it worth?

-£10 to £20, Charles.

-Oh, Peter! Look at me.

-It's got a box.

-£10 to £20?

-It's worth 10 to 20. It's just a very common item.

-Really?

They were manufactured in their hundreds of thousands.

-Well, Peter, I'll tell you they paid £25.

-Right.

-Will they make £25?

-They won't.

I confidently predict. But I would hope that they would.

All eyes on you, Peter. We shall wait and see.

Finally, Thomas steered his wonderful team

to that interesting bell. What do you think of it?

I think it's a nice thing. Probably about 1910?

Yeah, I think it's an very gentile object. It's in nice condition.

-Peter, it comes down to what's it worth.

-We've reckoned £20 to £40.

Well, that's quite good, Peter.

Well, I can tell you Tom has been quite cunning

because it only cost him £12.

Well, that's not bad.

So hopefully David and Geraint are going to be quids in with that lot.

I think really judged on what they have bought, we are

fairly positive bar the blackout. So will they need the bonus buy?

Who knows?

They might not, but for viewers at home

let's find out what Tom has bought.

David and Geraint, I can't believe that you only spent £87.

However, you've left Mr Plant £213, Tom.

-Yes, that's a lot of money!

-You've gone big, surely.

-I've gone huge!

-Can't wait, Tom.

-Look, here we are.

THEY LAUGH

Tell me what you think they are.

They are silver-plated, couple of lads who look like Tweedledum

-and Tweedledee. What do you think they're for?

-Top of something.

-Sits on top of something, yeah.

-Bottle tops.

Absolutely. They are bottle tops.

They should have corks in them and they are novelty bottle stops.

-They're not silver, are they?

-No, they are silver plated.

-OK.

-And would they be antique, Tom?

-These are antique. These are 1900s.

-Really?

-Geraint, what do you think?

-They're different.

-Are they smiling at you, David?

Are they giving you a charm or some love for the auction?

They are quirky. We did say all along

-we wanted something unusual.

-And he had £213.

How much of the 213 have you spent?

You know, out of that £213, they cost me a tenner.

THEY LAUGH

-£10?

-£10?

-That's a steal, isn't it?

And what do you think they'll make?

-Oh, they've got to double their money.

-Well, excellent job.

Will the auctioneers think it's an excellent job?

As always, for the viewers at home,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Tom's little figures.

-This is what Tom found.

-Oh, right.

I think they're quite nicely cast.

They're corks lacking corks. It's a bit difficult.

They are bottle tops, probably Italian or German, do we think?

And they are quite nice. They're not precious metal.

There's no marks of any kind and so I estimated them at £20 to £40.

Let's hope they quadruple up because they only cost £10.

Oh, that's OK. They should do OK.

-Do you foresee turbulence?

-I foresee profits and losses.

Good answer.

30 with you madam, saw you first.

-Bernie, Gwen, Claire, this is it. How are we feeling?

-Excited!

Are you trembling with the auction fever?

-I'm not because I'm standing beside you.

-Can you smell a profit, Gwen?

Oh, yes.

Well, you all were very behind the first item which is a wonderful

aide-memoire, or the card case full of etiquette, full of joy.

You paid £110, it's coming up now.

This is a sweet thing.

This is a late Victorian ladies mother-of-pearl card case.

It's in very, very nice condition.

I've got two commission bids on it and I start the bidding with me

at £60. £60 I have on the mother-of-pearl card case now.

£60 I have, looking for 65.

It's a beautiful thing. £60 the bid, 65 at the back of the room.

Back of the room 65, 70 with me. 75? Very nice.

£75 with the lady and I'm out. 75 the bid is.

-Surely one more bid.

-Come on!

-Look in that room.

75 in the room. Lovely item.

GAVEL BANGS

-Oh, no!

-That's disappointing.

-It sold for £75, we are down 35.

-Right.

Here are the nips. They cost you 45.

Next item, we've got a pair of sugar nips.

These are rather nice, they are hinged wishbone,

beautifully made, put together.

I've only got £10 bid.

£10 at commission, 12, I've got 15 with me, do you want 18?

18 commission... 20, sir. 20 bid, 25, 25. 30?

-25 seated.

-Come on!

-Make a wish, buyers.

-25 seated, 25 seated, looking for 30.

-Come on!

Come on, get them moving. Come on, Mr Auctioneer.

-25 with the gentleman. Is there 30 anywhere?

-No, no, no!

-25 it is.

One last look around.

GAVEL BANGS

-Oh!

-Oh, dear.

-Oh, dear. Sold for 25. We are now down £55.

Here they come, look.

-Now, these he really rates.

-Crown Derby oyster shooters.

Now these are lovely.

These are in superb condition, still very popular

and hand painted sprigs of flowers, fine porcelain.

Start me £30. £30.

Two-piece Royal Crown Derby for £30.

£30, you have 30. I'll drop to 20.

20 back of the room.

20 bid back of the room, looking for 25 now.

Probably worth more than that surely.

-Come on.

-£20 his bid. Is there 25? 25 online.

-30, sir?

-Broken even.

-Profit!

-35 is there. 40.

35 back of the room. 35 different place

back of the room, looking for 40 now.

-£35 online.

-One more.

£35 it is and I sell.

-GAVEL BANGS ALL:

-Ooh!

Well, it wasn't bad, Claire. He got it right. We made a profit.

We made £10 on that, however we are down £45.

I'm a bit disappointed.

A little bit.

But the journey is still on. It's now that big decision. I love it.

-I love it.

-I love it.

-We'll go for it.

-Are you going to go for it?

-We'll go for it.

-Are you sure?

-Definitely.

-You're down £45.

-I don't care.

-You know what?

In the great scheme of Bargain Hunt, that could be a winning score.

-Let's go for it.

-Here we go!

A lovely lot this one.

There's no great age to it but we've got a fair bit of commission

interest on it. I have to start the bidding with me at £110.

-Yes! Come on, let's go! Come on!

-120 now.

-Yes! Come on!

110 we have on commission. We have four commission bids on this item.

Come on!

I have, I saw you first, sir. 120 with you. The bid is with you at 120.

-I have 130 online from America.

-Yes!

We are in the States. Squeak, squeak!

-140 in the room.

-Squeak, squeak!

-150.

150 online. 160, sir?

-160? Nope.

-One more!

-£150 then, online to the United States.

-Yes, over there!

-150, 160.

He's having another go, he's come back 160. America says 170.

-Come on, England, buy the mouse.

-Save the mouse for England!

-Beat the Americans, come on!

-Kick them in the cotton tree.

Right, £170.

One more, sir...online for the United States of America.

GAVEL BANGS Sold!

-Yes!

-Yay!

-Brilliant. Wow. Wow.

I can't believe it.

That gives you a wonderful profit on that mouse of £75.

Which means you are now plus £30. A great escape. You've done it.

Saved by the mouse.

-The mouse in the house is giving you a plus £30 profit.

-Fantastic.

-Congratulations.

-Thank you.

-I'm so pleased it did well.

-Wonderful.

And again, Claire, I salute you.

-Thank goodness for our expert.

-And that's...

Really, really now could be, guess what - a winning score.

-A winning score.

-So mum's the word.

15 is bid with the gentleman.

-So, Geraint and David, Tom, pretty nervous?

-Yes.

-Do you feel there's Welsh charm here?

-Just a bit.

-Love for you objects, David?

-Absolutely.

The first item coming up is that wonderful, I like it,

the inlaid aneroid barometer.

Good luck, guys.

We've got an early 20th century inlaid wooded mounted aneroid

mantel barometer there.

I've got a nice thing but I'm only bid £10 on commission.

-£10 I have looking for 12. Is there 12 anywhere? 12.

-Let's move.

-Let's move up.

-Let's move.

-At £18 now.

£15 for the barometer, looking for 18.

-18, 18 at the back of the room.

-Let's go.

18 back of the room, looking for 20 now. Is there 20? £18...

-It cost you 50.

-It did cost us 50.

-That cheap?

Anywhere? £18 is the bid then selling at 18 only.

-GAVEL BANGS

-It's good to go. I don't believe it

because that has sold for £18. That means a £32 loss.

Next lot, guys, here it comes. I love this reading lamp.

It's coming up now.

The World War II Air Raid Precautions reading lamp now. There we are.

That will be £10. 10 at the back of the room.

Back of the room has it at 10, looking for 12. 12 online.

-15, 15 in the room.

-This is a good thing, Tom.

-It is.

It's a good thing.

Superb condition. As new condition. I've got 18 online. Do you want 20?

-Let's ignite those bids.

-It's getting up there.

-20 in the room looking for 25. 25 anywhere?

-Come on.

-Come on!

£20 in the room and it is sold.

Oh! We've lost £5. It sold for 20. £37 down.

-We'll make it back.

-Cometh the hour. This bell he rate.

Little child's... It's quite a pretty thing this one.

It's an arts and crafts style little silver-plated child's bell.

I've got commission interest in it.

-We'll start out £15.

-Come on. Profit.

Do we have £18 anywhere?

Pretty little bell, this one. Ring for your Christmas dinner with it.

£15 bid. Is there 18 anywhere? 18 online.

-We've made a profit.

-20.

Is there 20 anywhere? £18 is the bid then.

Can I squeeze another £2?

GAVEL BANGS No.

£6 profit. £6 profit which means you are now £31 down.

£31, it could be a winning score.

It could be a loss.

But it all depends on whether you go, go, go

and uncork the two bottle cork stoppers.

But remember, £31 could be a winning score in this game of Bargain Hunt.

-Are we going with the bonus buy?

-We are absolutely.

-Most definitely.

-Are you sure?

-No doubt about it.

-For the first time, the second time, look at me. Yes?

-Sold.

-Yes.

We've got two silver-plated, comical novelty bottle stoppers there.

A bit of age to them, quite well cast,

just need the corks popping back in.

I've got commission interest

and I shall start the bidding with me at £20.

-Come on, double up, come on.

-Double the money!

-Come on, auctioneer.

A little bit more needed, one would suggest. It is a 25 out there?

Interesting, fun little things. Lovely bottle stoppers.

-I need your best voice. Give me a "come on."

-Come on.

£20 only. GAVEL BANGS

You've doubled your money, give him a handshake.

Give him a handshake.

-Two wrongs don't make a right.

-Nobody wants barometers.

You never know, you never know.

It's minus £21. It could be a winning score.

It could have been far worse.

You went with Tom, it was the right decision and at minus £21,

who knows, that could be a winning score.

-Let's hope so.

-Mum's the word. OK, don't let those birds in.

-Thanks.

-Well done.

-OK, teams. Have you been talking? You've got no idea?

-ALL: No.

-No idea at all? Not feeling restless?

-No.

Ready for the results?

Well, let me tell you on Bargain Hunt, we don't have losers.

Geraint, David, we only have runners up, Bernie and Gwen.

Let me tell you, the results are quite phenomenal

because we had on both teams today, minus minuses. Pluses and pluses.

We've also had wonderful results for our bonus buys.

Experts, I commend you.

But I can tell you today, the runners up are...

The Blue team!

-REDS: Yay!

-I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Because, David, Geraint, you've come a long way.

You've come over the border.

-Have you enjoyed yourself?

-We have. Fantastic.

I'm sorry I'm sending you away with nothing. So my apologies.

-No problem.

-Well done, Tom.

-Thank you.

-Well done indeed.

Now, ladies. Bernie and Gwen, Claire, looking radiant in red.

If you hadn't gone with the bonus buy, these guys would have won.

THEY LAUGH

But that mouse in the auction house, we liked it at the start

and it rocked on to make a £170.

-Which overall gave you a £30 win.

-Yay!

So congratulations. I owe you ten.

-Ooh!

-There you are, Gwen, have the 20.

-Oh!

THEY LAUGH

And between friends, share it out. Have you enjoyed yourself?

-Have you really? Yeah, look at me. You really have.

-We really have.

-Guys?

-We have.

-Experts?

-We have.

-Thank you so much.

-Join us again for some more bargain hunting, yes?

-ALL: Yes!