Peterborough 12 Bargain Hunt

It sounds unbelievable, I know, but a presenter's shoes,

I'm going to try and fill them!

So come on, best foot forward.

Let's go bargain hunting!

Today, we're in Peterborough,

a city in the heart of rural East England.

It's an area which is famously low -

in places, below sea-level.

In complete contrast, we're in high spirits!

We're up for hijinks, and hoping for high profits.

Let's go see what's coming up.

'The Red team bring their expert to his knees.'

SIGHS HEAVILY

Whilst the Blues have a go at negotiating some rock-bottom prices.

-Use your charms, but go in at 60.

-You step back, you step back.

-Watch how the experts do it.

-OK.

-You tell him.

'And I'll reveal how this piece of old brass

'had a hand in changing Great Britain, and the world, for ever.

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

Well, today's teams comprise best friends, and a husband and wife.

And, for Reds we have Sandra and Carrie,

the Blues, we've got Kate and Jonathan.

Welcome, everyone.

ALL: Thank you. Hi!

Sandra. Well.

You, I believe, have a prominent

role very much at the heart of your community.

What's all that about?

I do, yes. I started at a community centre, as a volunteer, 18 months

ago and that developed then, into a full-time position as a cook.

And it's now a cafe, it's now run as a community cafe, non-profit

organisation, but it's there for the community to come in and share

stories, share some time together and get people mixing, really.

-That sounds wonderful.

-Yes, it's great.

-A great place to be.

-It's fantastic, lovely.

-Over to Carrie.

Well, they tell me that you are pretty much 24-7

with your husband, you can't be parted. What's all that about?

Mmm. Well, I help him with his business, at home.

I take all his appointments

and he plays in a local band

and he's also a single artist, as well.

And I go along and just mix with the crowd.

-A groupie!

-A groupie.

-A PA by day, groupie by night!

-It's fabulous. Love it.

-It sounds like it.

-Love it, yes.

So, a really close relationship with your husband, but, one way or

another, you manage to squeeze in time for your friend, here.

Always, yes. We're like sisters, really.

Do we have tactics, or not?

Well, erm, we did say we'd choose one each.

One item each.

And then one together. If we can agree.

Or disagree on one together - whatever the time allows!

We'll see what happens.

-Well, good luck.

-We're just going to have fun, anyway.

-I think you'll be a right pair.

-BOTH: Thank you.

Right then, over to the Blues.

Tell me, Kate, you are another very busy lady,

-a company director, are you not?

-Yes, I am, yes.

I own an independent living and mobility shop in Chesterfield

and it's a nice job to do, because

you're helping people living independently, in their own homes.

Wonderful! Well, when you're not leading your business life,

-what do you do for kicks?

-I like going to the theatre, I like travelling.

We love snorkelling, so we tend to go on snorkelling holidays.

-A very active pair?

-Yes.

Now, Jonathan, I want to believe that there should be

no end of parents out there grateful to you for the joy you've

brought into their kids' lives! Tell me about that, what do you do?

Well, I hope so, yeah.

I design playgrounds and bespoke play equipment.

That sounds like a job with benefits, if ever I heard one.

-Tell me you product-test your designs?

-I do, yes.

LAUGHTER

We do in the office, when they're built.

Purely in the interests of quality control, of course!

Obviously. Yes, no, it's part of the job.

But tell me, what's this about? Your first date involved

a barbecue, which I get, but a bath?!

About 25 years ago, I had a new house barbie

with all my mates and things, and I invited Kate.

Kate didn't turn up.

So I was a bit, you know, a bit miserable, actually.

And I went back down to the pub with a couple of the mates

and I was going, "Well, she didn't turn up, that's it, then".

And one of them said, "Go and see her, call on her".

So I walked up to her house, about a mile away.

Dutch courage helped?

Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah!

Knocked on the door and she answered the door,

and I said, "Do you fancy coming out for a drink, then?"

And she just went, "Well, if you go home, have a bath and get dressed,

"I might consider it", and shut the door.

-And he came back!

-I came back.

-Standards, eh?

-I came back an hour later, spotless.

Well, it's an approach that worked! 23 years later,

-there was something in it, that's for sure.

-Yes.

Well, it's over to money time!

I have, for each of you,

a not inconsiderable £300.

-There you go.

-Thank you, very much.

You have experts awaiting, so off you go and very good luck!

Come on, the Blues!

I wonder if after today's shenanigans,

they'll all need a bath!

Scrubbing up for the Reds today,

it's our very dapper Philip Serrell.

And making himself presentable for the Blues,

it's the very fine Richard Madley.

So, Sandra and Carrie,

have you got any plan as to what's going to happen?

Well, we do have different opinions on things that we like.

Now, tactics today. Should I start with what are we NOT allowed to buy?

-We're not buying Toby Jugs.

-We're not buying Toby Jugs.

-We MIGHT be buying Toby Jugs.

-No. There'll be war if we have one.

-Maybe boxes, dovetails...

-I like something quirky and unusual.

-So we want something crafty and quirky?

-Silver, maybe?

-How about something sporting?

-Yeah, I don't mind sporting.

Don't mind sporting?

-Yes, sporting's very good.

-WHISTLE BLOWS

60 minutes on the clock... Time starts now!

-What I do know is, we are going to have to get on with this.

-Right, OK.

-OK, let's go bargain hunting.

-OK, brilliant.

-Come on, let's go.

Bargain Hunters, off you go!

Wow, and the Blues aren't hanging around today!

Looks like Kate's already dishing up some suggestions.

-That's lovely, isn't it?

-That is, yes.

-Yes, you like that?

-That is lovely.

-Hand painted.

-Don't drop it.

-Careful!

-THEY LAUGH

You've got to look for bigger names.

Gray's, it's a good name, but I think we can probably do better.

-Do better than that, OK?

-But we're getting your eye in. This is good.

'And hats off to the Reds for making a quick start, as well!'

-That's £65.

-I think that, at auction,

would make probably between 30 and 50, £40-£60?

It depends what you can get for it, it depends how much you like it.

-It's unusual, isn't it?

-Unusual, but I'm not very keen.

What do you think?

Put it back then, if you're not keen.

Let's try at this stage to have

a certain amount of unanimity about the job.

Don your thinking caps, ladies.

This one's not for you!

You're aiming us towards the Toby Jugs, aren't you?

-I'm just...

-I can tell!

I've been told that there is a Toby Jug collection

just around the corner, with some nice old cricket bats,

-and you and I'll be fine there, Jonathan.

-That'd be brilliant, yeah.

-Indeed.

-I like the bear!

-Yeah, I like the bear. A bronze figure.

Hmm. Can you tell us something about your bear?

All I know is that it is cast hollow bronze,

with a really unusual patination.

-I'd love him. Can I pick him up?

-Not very old, obviously.

-No?

He's charming.

He is substantial, he has got decorative appeal,

so, I think that if you could find a fellow bear lover out there,

-or somebody who just likes it sculpturally.

-Yeah.

He's a nice object, he occupies a lot of space.

The big question is...

-He's a bit expensive, isn't he?

-Well...

-For us. Ha-ha-ha!

Yeah, you know, in the nicest possible way,

-is there any movement...

-You have him at 135?

-135.

Would you do him for 90?

-95.

-95. Ooh, what would you think?

95, done.

-Is 95 OK?

-He's a good object.

-I think he's lovely.

I'd have him, yeah.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

Some 'bear-faced' cheek during that negotiation, Blues!

Well done. 11 minutes gone, and one item down.

But you're not out of the woods yet!

Two more items to go.

The Reds are still a fair few steps behind.

As daft as it looks, I like these stepladders.

-I bet you that's £50-60.

-Really? STALLHOLDER:

-£60.

-I'm good at this.

-He's right, yes.

-'Modest too, Philip!'

At auction, that's going to make probably between 20 and 40 quid.

So it's too much money for us at auction, but it's

just a nice thing.

Thank you for your time.

Come on, Sandra and Carrie!

You really need to find a way to climb ahead here.

-They are French.

-Ooh-la-la! He's good.

How did I know that?

It's got France written on the label!

-LAUGHTER

-Well, good at reading.

In terms of date, I would say these are late 19th century.

I've looked at the price and even with a discount,

I can't see us making a lot.

-I like Toby Jugs.

-Indeed.

If we have a Toby jug, we're getting a divorce.

Now, around the corner, I'm sure there's an old cricket bat, must be.

-Is there?

-LAUGHTER

If he buys a Toby Jug, I'll be using it...

You could be testing Kate's boundaries here, lads(!)

Time to move on!

Over with the Reds, and the ladies are still looking stumped.

This is a little three-legged stool.

And three-legged stools were originally called crackits.

-Crackits?

-Crackits. And then the term became cricket.

-Yeah?

-Which is where you get a cricket table from.

-Because people think it's the three stumps, but it's not.

-Oh, right.

And one of the reasons why crackits are quite sought after,

is because, in three legs,

it's always even on an old flagstone floor.

But this one's got a problem in that that link has been replaced.

In my eyes, that makes it like 15 to 30 quid's worth in the saleroom,

which is where we've got to sell it, so... He's got it priced at £110.

-110? Oh, no...

-We wouldn't get anywhere near that.

I think it's worth all of that with three legs.

Another no sale. No pressure, ladies! But the clock's against you

and Kate seems to have spotted a hidden treasure...

-What is that?

-It's very dirty, isn't it?

-There's a lot of tray there.

-STALLHOLDER:

-Doulton Lambeth.

-Doulton Lambeth, is it? Right. Impressive.

-No, that's good.

-Is it out of our league?

Erm... I don't know yet. Oh, great, great eye you have there, Kate.

-What's the price?

-Well, 480.

-Fourteen eighty?

-FOUR-eighty, £480.

-Ah, OK.

So, that's the Doulton factory when they were still in south London,

before they moved up to Burslem in Staffordshire.

Perhaps something a little bit smaller...

At 480, smaller in price, I think, Kate.

The Reds have the right idea.

They found a cheaper stool at £85.

And this one has an extra leg.

-It's too much money.

-I know.

I'll tell you what... What would you bid me for it? Forget the price.

What would you bid?

Erm, I'd bid you 20 quid for it, because at auction, it's £20-£40.

-I'll take 25.

-25?

-You need to buy something, don't you?

-Are sure you can't come down to 20 for us?

-No, sorry.

-If I were you, I should buy it.

-Yes, thank you.

But let's just have a look at this. You bought it. It's a lovely thing.

This is made out of oak. It's a lovely colour

and this'll polish wonderfully well.

Erm, you got it at 1780. It's about that.

It's around 1800 or something like that.

If you look at the bottom, this has never been touched.

-Just natural.

-It's just the way it is.

-I bought it well.

-So, he's done you a real good favour there.

-Thank you. Thank you so much.

-Thank you.

-You've done well with that.

-I like that.

-Well done.

Thank you very much indeed.

It's been a long time coming, but at last the Reds are off the mark.

Well done, team!

We've done 20 minutes, bought the bear,

we're now at the middle stage of our adventure.

-OK, let's keep going, then.

-All right!

-So, let's go.

The clock's beginning to count down for the Reds

and they look like they're grinding to a halt.

Time for me to see if I can spur them on.

Hello!

Mid-flow, mid-negotiation, mid cogitation, how goes it?

-Well, we've sort of meandered, haven't we?

-We've meandered.

Now that's given us the spur. We've got one item, two to go. Lovely!

I wish you well. You're against the clock.

-I'd better go and leave you alone. Good luck!

-Thank you!

-Goodbye.

Look out, Kate, Jonathan's spotted a Toby jug. This could be awkward.

That is... That is the man in the moon, isn't it?

It is indeed...

Yeah, it is... It's not to my taste.

I'm getting a "yeah, yeah, no" from over here...

I LOVE that vase, but...

Nice diversion there, Kate!

-This silvery vase, you love that?

-I DO like that.

-I DO like that!

-You do?

-Shall we have a look at it?

-Yes, absolutely.

-Yes.

-Let's have a look then, what have we got here?

-You take it down.

-Ooh, a lot lighter than I was expecting.

-Very 1950s/1960s...

-What do YOU think of it?

I wasn't expecting it to be WMF, I must confess.

-But that's a sign of quality. You have a look at it.

-Oh, its metal!

-Its metal.

-I thought it was going to be glass!

-Now, you see, I DO love that. I would buy that!

-Yes, I'd buy that.

-It's quite cool, isn't it?

-It's on at 85,

go in at 60. You should...

You step back. You step back.

Watch how the experts do it.

I love this vase.

You've got 85 on it.

-What would be your best on that?

-For definite, 60.

60. Absolutely def... Could you do just an eency bit more? Just 50 for us?

-Got to be 60.

-55?

-55.

-55.

-55, done.

-Brilliant. Thank you very much indeed.

-Excellent. Well done! Thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you very much.

-Absolutely gorgeous.

-It's good, isn't it? I'm pleased with it.

-It's very stylish.

-Can I take that home?

Bad news, Kate. You can't take it home.

But the good news is, after half an hour,

you've only got one item left to buy!

The Reds, on the other hand, have only bought one item.

If they don't hurry up, they could come a cropper.

-Hallmarked in Birmingham.

-Yeah?

-Silver - it's got silver on its handle.

-It's been well used, that, hasn't it?

These notches represent the hunts.

It's got crosses underneath as well as on the top.

-So, that's a well-seasoned huntsman.

-Do you know, I never knew that?

-Did you not?

-No. Is that right?

-Yeah, yeah.

Because Stamford is quite a big hunting area, isn't it?

-I think so, yes.

-Well, you clearly know more about these than I do.

So, what is that going to make at auction, do you think?

-How much is it?

-£69.

-Is it £40-£60?

-I would say 40 to 60, yeah.

If we could get it for 40, that would be good, I think.

-STALLHOLDER:

-60 is the very best offer.

-That's the finish, is it?

-That's it.

-What do you think, Carrie?

Well, I don't know anything about horse riding things. You DO.

No, but would you LIKE to buy it or not?

-Not for £60, no.

-Not for 60...

I don't think you'd get that in Yorkshire.

-I think we'll leave that by.

-Thank you.

Thank you for that, but we'll have a think, if you don't mind.

While the Reds try to get back in the bargain-hunting saddle,

I want to show you a real piece of history.

Once in a lifetime,

if you trawl enough collectors' fairs,

scan enough auction catalogues - and you're very, very lucky,

you may stumble across something that is so important,

it's too BIG, too GOOD for your collection.

It's of NATIONAL importance. What do you think of that for an intro?

Well, why, Laidlaw, when you're talking in such terms,

are you holding what looks for all the world like a piece

of plumbing or engineering on a little piece of black plastic?

Well, if we rotate this 180 degrees, the story unfolds.

And it's a big one.

It tells us that this is the cap

of the first naval shot fired

in the war, the Great War.

And if you're like me, you'd go, "I'm sorry, what?! The first...?

"This is a big statement!" Well, it goes on.

It was fired at the Koenigen Louise by Lieutenant J Fraser

aboard HMS Lance, August 5, 1914.

At around 2300 hours, 11 o'clock at night on 4 August,

Britain declared war on Imperial Germany.

In the morning of the fifth, HMS Lance

and another vessel is on patrol in the North Sea.

And it encounters, off Holland, the Koenigen Louise,

a German vessel, laying mines.

'They gave chase and when within range, Lieutenant J Fraser

'of HMS Lance, fired the first shot from the destroyer's four-inch guns.

'This shot was the first of any to be fired in anger

'by the British forces and helped to destroy Koenigen Louise.

'It was the first German naval loss of The Great War.'

Wait a minute. Are we REALLY holding

the safety cap from the FIRST naval shell

fired by the British during the First World War?

Indeed we are.

This could have been thrown away, but thankfully,

Fraser pops down to London, into Regent Street

and says, "I say, would you be so kind as to mount this?

"And would you engrave a plaque, so for posterity we will know

"what this is?" If you're like me, this takes your breath away!

Now, this turned up on an internet auction

described as a paperweight.

The price paid for this was £130.

What is it worth?

The value of this is more than monetary.

This should be in a national collection.

What's the moral in this story?

Well, if you scour enough at fairs like this,

visit enough car-boot sales and read enough auction catalogues,

you may, if you're very lucky, just stumble across

something that's of HISTORIC import.

Good luck.

Back to the shopping.

And with 45 minutes gone and only one item bought,

the Reds are starting to feel the pressure.

I think we should probably go and buy your hunting crop.

-Hunting crop?

-What do you think?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, please.

-Because you're running out of time, aren't you?

-Yes.

Let's go back for that!

They may be a bit late, but they're off!

Out of the stalls and racing towards the finish line.

But the Blues are out in front on the final stretch,

with two items bought. Will this be a clean sweep?

Or could we be looking at a photo finish?

Hi. I hope you don't mind, but we've come back.

We've had a think and... Would you still be prepared to sell for 60?

-£60.

-60? Fantastic. Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

Thanks very much for that.

Sold! Well done.

With the riding crop bought, the Reds are now in a more stable position.

As the ladies are catching up, the Blues need whipping into shape.

-Just keep moving on. Nice...

-I'm out with two bossy men!

-Two BOSSY men?

-Two bossy men.

-Well, we've listened to you.

We haven't bought a Toby jug yet. We haven't bought a cricket bat.

-I sense it's round the corner!

-Aah!

-Well, we've got plenty of time, Jonathan, haven't we?

-Yeah!

Not THAT long, team. Ten minutes to go!

-That's nice, but it's a lot of money. STALLHOLDER:

-170, I'd go 140.

I really, really like it.

There's just one question that I can't avoid asking myself.

What the hell are you ever going to do with it?

LAUGHTER I'd have a piece of reinforced glass made for the top

and have it as a table.

Can you do any better on that for us?

130. I know it's a big old lump, but it's a beautiful old lump.

I know, but do you really want to take it home with you?

-I really want to make a profit!

-Keep it for us for 15 minutes.

How much time have we got?

You haven't got any Valium or anything like that, have you?

Erm, no...what do you need that for?

Just calm me down a bit. Ease my nerves.

So, an item on hold for the ladies.

But with time against them, Philip's definitely starting to feel the strain.

-How old is it?

-Well...

-It's French.

-It's French. Great.

-I quite like it.

-That's around 1900, I'd say.

-What's the price?

-150.

-LAUGHTER

-150?!

I can come down, I can come down.

I don't think I can bear to be parted from it!

-What, you love it, as well?

-I love it, too!

Well, it could be yours for 160...

LAUGHTER

I told you he was good! Come on, teams, decisions needed.

Your 60 minutes are nearly up.

-The Blue Team aren't going to turn up with a barrel, are they?

-No. No.

-Well, there we go!

-No...

-Five minutes left, get over there.

-Right.

I think I'm OVER a barrel at the minute.

-We're driving him to distraction!

-You go and buy the barrel, my love.

-You go and buy the barrel.

-Come on, Sandra.

-Let's go for the barrel.

HE SIGHS DEEPLY

Nearly there, Philip. Nearly there.

-Let's have a look at the claret jug, then.

-We like this. Kate and I...

-Kate spotted this...

-Yeah?

-It's pretty. It's... It's nice.

-I would have it.

-..and liked it automatically and I do like that.

-You like it as well?

-I like the shape of it.

Silver-plated and then a moulded... moulded glass.

But is in good condition? Are there any chips? Always check...

-Put your finger at the top there...

-Pretty good nick.

-Good shape to you, yeah? What's the price we've got on this?

-38.

I wouldn't see us losing much money on that.

If we look at it tactically. Is it your turn now, to be nice to...?

No, I'll suggest a price to Kate

and Kate will use her lady charms.

-Woman-to-woman type thing.

-OK. Right, then.

-In at 20...

There you go.

This is why I do the negotiation - because it's with a smile!

It's neck and neck, with two items each.

But as the Blues ask for a price,

are the ladies about to make their final purchase?

-Hello!

-We've come back for the barrel. What was the best price?

-130... I can't do any...

-130, is that your last?

-Yeah.

-Well, thank you. I like that barrel.

-A good old barrel.

Sold! All done, Reds. Congratulations!

But how is Kate doing with her negotiating skills?

-STALLHOLDER:

-I can do that for 38...

-Right.

Probably thinking more in the sort of 20 region. Could you come down?

-I can't, no.

-Meet me halfway?

-No.

-30, because it's a nice round number?

-We like round numbers.

-I know, but 35 is even rounder.

-35...

There you go, 35. I think that's good!

-Thank you very much indeed. Thank you.

-That's great.

-Thank you.

Thank you very much indeed! Great! We've got all three items!

Sold! That's both teams finished.

Time's up!

Philip's had a pretty rough ride. It's now time to sit back and relax.

You haven't got one that says "wrecked", have you?

You can just strap it to my forehead...

Fill it with port for you.

The downside is that you've got to carry it back to the car.

Poor Philip! It's been a tough day. Now...

Let's put the Reds in the frame.

Sandra and Carrie hope to "churn" a profit

with a 19th-century oak milking stool bought for £25.

They hedged their bets on a silver-mounted,

leather bound riding crop for £60.

And they finished in good spirits with an oval

oak and iron Port barrel,

bought for £130.

-Sandra, Carrie, a wee birdie tells me you were indecisive.

-We were!

-Yeah...

-It was a bit overwhelming. We got there in the end.

I thought we had words about this.

LAUGHTER

-Your favourite?

-The barrel.

-The barrel.

-In unison, the barrel?

-Has the barrel got profit written all over it?

-We hope so.

-Yes.

-How much did you spend for your purchases?

-215.

-Two-fifteen! Good work!

-Don't say it TOO loud!

-I like the sound of that.

So, by my reckoning, you owe me...

-£85.

-£85.

-I like your style.

-Thank you, my friend.

-Indecisive, but heavy hitters in the end?

Well, do you know, I'm going to just try and find something

that might guide us into calmer waters.

-LAUGHTER

-Do we need it?

-Was there a hint there?

-Well done!

Well, good luck with that, Philip.

Meanwhile, let's see how the Blues have gotten on.

Kate and Jonathan got their paws on a cast-metal bear figure

with a painted marble finish for £95.

They hope to blossom with their purchase of

a silver-plated vase for £55.

And they look for a full-bodied profit with a moulded glass

claret jug for £35.

-Well, then - Kate, Jonathan, what was it like?

-It was brilliant.

-Absolutely fantastic.

-Really?

-Really good fun, yes.

I should ask you first then, Kate, favourite purchase?

-A vase, metal vase.

-OK.

-I just liked it. You know.

-Stunning.

-Are you under orders to say stunning?

-No, no, no,

I believe that. Absolutely, yeah.

-Is that going to make the biggest profit?

-Oh, who knows? Erm...

-possibly...

-The bear. I just thought the bear was the best.

-What then did all of this cost you?

-We spent £185.

That sounds prudently cautious.

-So, 115 coming back to me and I see it there.

-There we go!

-Richard.

-Not a bad budget. Any ideas?

-I was thinking about another tweed jacket,

-so perhaps...

-LAUGHTER

..a set of three...

No, on the way through, there were a few clues given

and I think I know where to go back to find something that will

-perhaps, hopefully, please you both.

-Toby jug...

-Not!

-NOT a Toby jug!

Good luck. Well, let's see what happens at the auction!

So, here we are at Batemans Auctioneers at Stamford

in the more than capable hands of auctioneer David Palmer.

Good to see you, David.

The first thing Sandra and Carrie bought was this primitive stool.

What do you make of that?

I love this and I'm glad you used the word "primitive".

I don't think it's a milking stool, but it's a lovely little

footstool that would sit next to a range or anything. Good colour.

-Love the chamfers on the legs. Brilliant.

-Good. What do you reckon?

-Only 10 to 20.

-Well, they've pitched in at 25, so we're not a country mile off.

-No, no, it's there or thereabouts.

-It might happen. Moving on.

Next, the riding crop. What think you of that?

Well, they do crop up quite... Pardon the pun!

But they do turn up in auction quite a lot around here.

-But they do go 40 to 60, that sort of price.

-Yes.

Now, they paid 60, our high estimate.

But, with the wind in our sails, might get out of it clean.

However, I suspect you may feel we'll need divine intervention

to get out of the barrel purchase clean. Or am I wrong?

Talk to me about big barrels.

They DO go. It's nice and decorative, isn't it?

The oval section, that rich, treacly patina

and the overall proportion, I think it does have the edge

-over your generic old whisky barrel...

-Oh, yeah.

..to be lopped into two platters.

Being oval and with all the metal banding on it does make it

-interesting.

-Yeah, it really does.

-50 to 80 would the estimate be.

I fear you're right. However, they've stumped up £130 for that.

So, they might need a good Bonus Buy.

Let's go see what Phil pulled out of the hat.

Carrie, Sandra, YOU spent all of £215. A very healthy sum.

-You left Phil all of £85.

-We did!

What on earth have you underneath there, Phil?

Well, I couldn't spend it all. I only spent £25.

But I thought that these two needed some guidance to calmer waters.

Oh...

-So, I bought that.

-Ah!

-Which I think is absolutely lovely.

-Oh, wow!

And it's like... You'd find this on the bridge of a ship.

It's a model by Chadburns of Liverpool.

And it's all "Ahead", "Stop" and all the rest of it there.

You surprised us, there. That's fabulous.

There's no age to it at all.

I would think it's somewhere between '50s and '60s.

The modelling, the engineering of that ship's telegraph,

that's sophisticated. And I'm impressed.

And it pertains to a specific vessel. The HMS Farndale.

-So, you tapped into real history.

-1941 to 1962.

-I think it will make between £30 and £50.

-Really?

Yeah, I'd be surprised if you lost money on it and I'd be surprised if

it made much more than 50 quid

-but in my eyes, you're between £30 and £50.

-That's quite a certain...

-We quite like that, don't we?

-Yeah, we do like that.

Now, let's see what the auctioneer thinks of it.

-What do you make of that, David?

-I think that's brilliant.

Wonderful piece.

And the bit of oak is probably some of the decking from the ship itself.

It's got to be the case, has it not? She is an interesting vessel.

This much I happen to know.

Erm, she serves in just about every theatre.

This vessel is of no mean import. So, we love this.

Estimate on that, David?

The estimate's £30-£50, but that may be a bit low.

I hope so and I suspect it could be. £25 paid. The man is a genius.

-That just stands out, does it not?

-I'm surprised he got it so cheaply.

Well, this bodes well at the end. Erm, however, the Blues...

An entirely different flavour to their purchases, is it not?

First off, well, I don't know what to make of it. Our bear...

Where are we going with that?

You stole my lines, because I was going to say

I have no clue what to make of this. It's metal, but it looks like stone.

-If this is the first one of its type, it should do well.

-Indeed!

-People hopefully will pay £50-£80 all day long.

-I reckon you're right.

-They've stumped up £95.

-Ooh! Ooh, right!

The antidote to this piece of metal work MIGHT be

the WMF Ikora vase.

-Now, do you like this?

-Funnily enough, I do! I really like it.

That would look good on a shelf next to some old bear.

PAUL LAUGHS

I think it's got brand, it's got condition and you

and I both like it. Erm, how much do you like it?

This sort of stuff has dropped in the market.

-Yeah.

-The estimate would reflect that at £20-£40.

Cautious and possibly realistic, they've stumped up 55,

which I don't think is an unfair figure. But it may be a struggle.

Let's not abandon hope. Or should we?

Because here we're left at the end with your granny's silver-plated

mounted claret jug.

How commercial is THAT?

I don't think it would have been granny's pride and joy!

It's horrible. I can't pretend otherwise.

It's cheap, old pressed metal on just pressed glass.

OK. Estimate on that?

We've had to put a figure on it. It's the lowest figure we can put on.

-£10-£20.

-They paid £35 for it. I think it will be a minor miracle.

They're going to need a Bonus Buy. What did Richard buy?

-You spent a very credible £185.

-Mm-hm.

Leaving a healthy budget of 115.

Well, with that money I thought about something that I thought

-would definitely appeal to Jonathan.

-Oh, dear!

But I'm not quite sure

if Kate's going to love this as much as he will.

-She will. She will.

-Are you ready?

-Yeah.

-Oh, God! Hideous!

-Brilliant! Oh, that's amazing!

All the way from the Congo.

-Indeed, yes.

-From the Songey tribe.

-Songey tribe?

-Indeed.

-How old is it?

How old? I think in terms of dates, let's just call it 20th century.

-I see where we're going with this, yes!

-So, it's modern.

-It's modern.

-Late 20th century.

-So, it's not going to cast a spell on anyone then, is it?

No, it's not, but it is an authentic piece,

because it will have been made by the Songey people,

to their traditional doings,

perhaps by hereditary artisans.

Whatever you paid for it was too much!

-LAUGHTER

-This is the controversy!

-How much?

-The seller was asking £115.

-Erm, and I bought it for 70.

-Oh, you were done.

-Please, can I have it?

-Of course you can!

You're not selling this to Kate at ANY price.

But what do you think it might make?

Well, I think it could make anywhere between

£80 and £120.

You don't have to decide about this now,

I'm glad to say, but for now,

let's see what the auctioneer

thinks of the mask and whether it will go for a SONGEY or not.

Now, David. Richard has speculated on that piece of ethnic art.

-Tell me about it.

-I think it's a tourist piece.

These pieces may not have age, but they have integrity,

insofar as they are made by native artisans to traditional

aesthetics, and we suspect it could be Congolese, Songey people.

These distinctive chevrons and an aggressive visage is what

we would expect from that region.

So, at the right money, you're getting something with a heritage.

-But what's the right money?

-I would suspect it's going to make

-£40-£60 in auction.

-£70 paid.

-Let's see what happens under the hammer!

-Indeed.

It couldn't be at the hands of a better man.

Fingers crossed we get out of this whole and make a profit!

Sandra and Carrie, how's the blood pressure?

-Ooh... High!

-It's going up and up!

Any regrets thus far?

-No, no.

-No.

-No, we'll stand by our lots!

-Yeah.

This is the spirit! The fighting spirit.

The first one's coming up now.

£10 to start. 10. 10 I'm bid. 10, 12. At 12 now. Here at £12. Take 15.

-Down the middle... Is that it? At 12, two bids and we're done.

-Come on!

At £12, no-one else? At 12, done then at £12.

I sell then at £12...

Oh, bless!

-I think you were unlucky.

-Unlucky. There was interest...

And then it just petered.

So, you lost £13 there.

The crop's next.

The silver-mounted riding crop.

40 anywhere? 40 quid...

£20, then?

INDISTINCT £20, the riding crop.

-Tenner, the riding crop?

-Oh, no, too cheap.

-There's hands. Come on!

-At 22, are you in at 25?

25, 28 - you're going 28? 28.

Him at 28.

And 30? In green at 28. Selling on at 28.

-The bidder's in the room here at £28 now.

-Oh, it's not expensive. Come on!

Is that it at 28? I sell, then, if that's it.

Here, then, at 28, it goes then at £28. No-one else?

That's even below the auctioneer's expectations.

He thought 40 to 60.

-Yes.

-I don't think justice was done to that lot there, or to you.

Now, fingers crossed for the barrel!

The port barrel. Start me 50 for it! Well, where you will. £30, then.

30 I'm bid. 30. Take two, now. 32,

-35, 38... 38, 40. At 40. And five. Goes in at 40.

-Come on!

At £40. I sell at 40. Make no mistake.

-45 here. In the middle at 45.

-Oh, yes, yes, yes!

At 45. I sell in the middle at 45. 50, anywhere now?

Sell then, at 45. Goes at £45. Make no mistake, I'm selling

in the middle of the room. With you, sir, at £45.

Our auctioneer is scraping the bottom of that barrel! £45.

-Oh, dear, dear, dear. That's...

-A loss of 85 on its own,

we saw it coming. We were unlucky.

Erm, giving you a total LOSS, I'm sorry to say, of £130.

-Is this a record?

-Take solace in the fact that it's NOT!

Do we get brownie points for the record?

Now, the Bonus Buy. Over to you.

-Do we? We're not even going to think about it!

-We're going with it!

The good news is the auctioneer doesn't think he's overestimated.

He thinks he's cautious at 30 to 50.

And frankly, I agree with him all day long.

Whatever it takes, we're going to know in a minute.

Start me at £50 for it. Come straight in at 50.

-20. Anybody, 20?

-Come on!

-20 on the net. The net at 20.

-What did we say? Come on!

-22.

In the room at 22. Sell in the room at 22.

25, 28, back in the room at 28.

At 28... 30... Here at 30. And two again. Go with the two. 32.

-Good man, good man!

-At 32 now, the room at 32. I'm selling at 32.

-Make no mistake. It goes, then, at £32.

-I think we've just been sunk!

You squeezed another £7 out of it,

which takes your colossal damage down

to -£123.

-That's not too bad!

-It is pretty bad!

-Kate and Jonathan, how are you feeling?

-Great.

-Great.

-Great?

So, the glass is half full, not half empty? Yeah?

We're kicking off with your lots. And it's the bear. Let's see how it goes!

-Put it in at £50. Straight in. 50 quid, the bear.

-Come on, come on!

£20, the bear, then. 20 I'm bid. Two, 25, 28. You at 28. This side at 28.

At 28. Done then, at 28. Make it 30. £30 now. 32, 35, 38. This side at 38.

And 40. 40 now. 45, 50.

Back then, at £50. Is that it at 50? 55...

60... At 60 now. Against you at 60. 5? 65.

70! At 70. 75.

-I told you!

-At 75. Goes at 75.

-The bear lover.

-Come on!

-Finish then, at £75...

That's all right!

You may have lost £20, but I think that was a good result.

Let's see how the WMF does.

£20. 20 I'm bid. Take two. Sell at 20, two if you like. At 20.

Done and finished then, at 20. You all done...

-At £20, make no mistake, I shall sell at 20.

-Don't sell at 20!

Ouch!

This is the point. It takes two.

-I think there was a happy bidder at the end of that.

-Yes.

Fingers crossed!

Lot 67 is the moulded glass claret jug. A handsome example of its type.

Come in at a tenner. £10? Anyone, 10?

Fiver! Fiver for the jug. The claret jug.

Five pounds. Five, six. Down here at six. Seven. Eight.

In the room at eight. Flip a bid. At eight, nine, 10. 10 in the room.

In the room at £10 now. Is that 12?

At 10, I'm selling in the room at £10. 12. The man at 12. 15?

With him at 15. I sell in the room at 15. It goes at 15. 18. The net at 18.

Back with the net at £18. All done at 18. No-one else at 18?

-Very well...

-£18 is -£17.

-You don't have to say that!

-I'm afraid I do.

It comes to -£72, by my reckoning.

Now, look, it's the mask. Where are we?

-We've got to go for it.

-Do we? Do we? Do we, Kate?

-We do.

-Take a punt on it. You've got to take a punt on it.

-We do, we do.

-You're sure?

-Yes. This is on Jonathan.

-Yes. It's on me.

-I trust Richard.

-And I do.

The auctioneer rates it at 40 to 60.

I think that's cautious. Here's the mask.

Straight in at 40 quid. 40 quid. £40 for the mask.

-£20 for the mask, then.

-Oh, no!

-Where's the end to this?

£10? Fiver for the mask? Five I'm bid.

At five only. And it goes at five.

Take six. At five... This is for nothing!

At five, six, seven, eight, nine. Nine, 10. At 10, now. At 10.

Net at 12. Is that it at £10? 12 on the net.

The net at 12. It's still cheap at 12. All done at £12.

No-one else at 12?

-Oh, well...

-Erm, boys, don't mention the mask.

-Is this payback for the jug?

-It's payback for the jug!

Now, I've got to run the numbers.

Running with the men's advice, Kate,

we just compounded your loss from 72 to 130.

Now, look, don't panic. Actually...panic!

-What was the loss on the mask?

--£58!

What with the loss on the claret jug?

-Erm, 17.

-Thank you. Thank you.

Vindication of some sort, I am sorry to say. Now...

I've got two weeks of this, now!

LAUGHTER

Well, well, well... Look at this.

Two teams basking in post-auction glory.

No, actually, hang on a minute! No, no, wallowing in a mire of shame!

LAUGHTER

However, the gap between yous is

all of £7!

GROANING AND LAUGHTER

Now I'm seeing little glimmers of hope in everyone's eyes.

Maybe it's not over! But there's got to be a runner-up.

And today, I'm sorry to say,

it's the Blues.

LAUGHTER

£130 down the swanny. But did you have fun?

-It was absolutely fantastic. Brilliant.

-It was brilliant.

You had fun squandering money willy-nilly!

-We really, really enjoyed it.

-It was great having you.

And thank you, Richard. Now, the victors.

Our colleagues, the Blues, lost a whopping £130.

But before the Bonus Buy,

you had also lost £130.

-How do you like them apples?

-LAUGHTER

But steaming in over the horizon came Mr Serrell

with a £7 profit, which wasn't enough...

-But it was enough to give you victory today.

-Yes!

-Good fun, yeah?

-Yes.

-Yes!

-Join us again next time for some more bargain-hunting. Yes?

-ALL:

-Yes!