Ardingly 19 Bargain Hunt

I'm certainly ready. Are you? Let's go Bargain Hunting, yeah!

Welcome to the South of England Showground here in Ardingly.

There's lots to do, so no point in hanging about.

Let's take a sneaky peak as to what's coming up.

The plucky Reds put on a good show.

# We're going to find a bargain!

# We're going to dig deep! #

The Blues have a novel way to haggle.

Heads is 60, tails 65.

THEY LAUGH

And at the auction, the Reds are raring to go.

55. 60.

£60.

And the Blues go bananas.

40.

£40.

Before all that, let's meet the teams.

Gosh, we've got some smashing teams on the show today.

For the Reds, we've got friends Sophie and Alice.

And for the Blues, Austin and Dean, best buddies.

Well, they are at the moment!

-Hello, everyone!

-ALL: Hello!

Lovely to see you. Now, Soph, how did you two girls meet?

I was searching for a flat to live in in London and so was Alice.

And we both knew a mutual friend and so, through that friend,

we met and we just started living together.

-And how long did you share the flat for?

-Two-and-a-half years.

That's a long test of a friendship, two-and-a-half years.

We came out the other side! We're not living together any more.

Did she used to nick the best bits from the fridge without telling you?

No. Actually, no.

So, you're not your typical student, are you?

-You like a bit of fine dining.

-Yes.

Do a bit of posh cooking, invite everyone round, couple of cocktails.

-Oh!

-Well, she would do the cooking, I'd just eat. And drink.

And do the washing up.

-No, good fun, though, isn't it?

-Oh, yes.

-Yes.

-Great.

-Now, music plays a huge part in your life, Soph.

-It does.

Yeah, tell us about that.

So, I'm currently a postgraduate student

at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and I play the violin.

Well done. They don't hand that out like bags of sweets, do they?

No, I guess not.

And, Alice, tell us about your musical life.

Well, I went to music school when I was 13.

And then I went off to boarding school in Somerset

and then I kind of took a different path and went into art instead.

And then, what do you do in terms of your artistic endeavours right now?

I am in my final year at Central St Martins

and I'm studying XD contextual practice,

which is research-led participatory sculptures,

immersive installations...

-What's that in English?

-Erm...

It's the kind of stuff you'd see in Tate Modern, I suppose.

Kind of big sculptures, big structures.

And it's not just in the UK that you put your skills to good use, is it?

Well, I spent a while in Paris at the Beaux Arts in Paris, the art school there,

and I specialised in bookbinding whilst I was there.

Are you going to go for books today on Bargain Hunt, do you think, if you could find some?

-We could see. You've got the eye.

-Yeah, if we see something we like.

And the technical skills. What about musical instruments?

-Are you going to go for a musical instrument?

-Yeah, why not?

We've got some experts here. Better stand by, Bargain Hunters, it's going to be fun today.

Now, Dean, tell me, how did you two meet?

We actually both worked in the same industry,

-but in competitive broking shops.

-And what's the broking business?

Ship broking. We're in the dry-bulk sector.

Are you? Which is better than being in the wet-bulk sector, isn't it?

-It's not, actually, no!

-What, you'd rather be in wet bulk, would you?

-Yes.

-That's oil and stuff like that.

There's a lot more money in that at the moment.

And how long have you been doing this ship broking lark?

I'm relatively new. I'm just shy of a year.

And what were you doing before?

-I actually studied graphic design and fancied a change.

-Good.

So, Austin, tell me some more about ship broking, because you've done it for yonks.

Yeah, I'm a little more experienced.

In general, the work's really exciting.

It's fast paced, it's international, there's a lot of travel.

We try and match, you know, ships which might come from China

-with cargo that might come from America.

-Yeah.

So you're working across time zones and...

Now, you've been known to tread the boards a bit. You're a thespian.

Yeah, well, yeah. Probably wrong tense. Was.

But when I was in university, I did a lot of it.

But, you know, it's a tough business and you've got to be real brave to do it and I wasn't.

-Was this the comedy end of it all, was it?

-Well, anything, man.

We did contemporary American plays, Shakespeare, whatever.

What are your tactics today, chaps?

For us, this is really important. Our clients trust us to negotiate for millions of dollars, so...

Like a true broker!

Anyway, on a happy note, £300 each.

-Here we go. Here comes the 300 smackers. £300.

-Thank you very much.

Happy with that? £300.

You're getting ready for this, aren't you, Soph? You're all itching for it!

There you go, £300. You know the rules.

Your experts await and off you go! And jolly, jolly, jolly good luck.

What fun!

And of course, our two tenacious teams need two exotic experts.

Easy, tiger! It's only Charles Hanson.

He'll be with the Reds today.

And getting all in a spin with the Blues, it's Charlie Ross.

What's the plan?

-We're going to look for quality items, maybe some jewellery.

-Good quality.

We're thinking maybe jewellery.

-But do know anything about jewellery?

-Yeah, Dean's from Essex!

-So, quality, the very best?

-Yeah. You've got us down to a T.

On your marks, get set, go!

-Your time starts now!

-WHISTLE

-Follow me.

-Let's go and find some jewellery, come on!

So, there's going to be a bit of a ding-dong over the bling-bling

today. So, good luck, teams.

Let's start over here. Morning, sir.

Well, well, well. And just look what our musicians have found.

-What is that, a lute, a mandolin?

-A mandolin, something like that.

Sophie'll know more about it.

Yeah, it's got four strings, like a violin.

And the mandolin is related to the violin, I think.

-Hold on, can you play it?

-Can I play it? Well...

-Can you give us a few...

-I'll give us a tune.

Give our rhythm and rhyme.

# We're going to find a bargain...

# We're going to... #

Er, yeah, I'd stick to the auctioneering, Carlos.

Now, the Blues have found themselves in a bit of a sticky situation.

-It's a bit like the Somme here.

-Pretty muddy.

-Have you got the right footwear?

I don't think you're going to find your jewellery in here, guys.

-No, definitely not.

-What is that?

It's some sort of sight. Looks like there's a fair bit missing.

Come on, boys, let's focus on the plan, eh?

Oh, good. Charles has stopped singing!

-What's the condition like? Because cracked can really affect...

-It's missing a fret.

Yes, just here is a missing fret. We can see on the inside it's marked...

-It's got a label inside as well.

-Can you see the label inside?

-Ferrari.

-Ferrari, vroom-vroom!

What I quite like, Alice and Sophie,

is this lovely, almost tortoiseshell fan-shaped inlay.

Nice sign of quality.

And if you twist it round, look at this lovely, lovely stringing here.

All in good condition on a rosewood, exotic, expensive timber.

I think it's worth at auction, before he tells us...

(between 50 and £70.)

What's that, Carlos? Between 50 and 70?

-How much, sir, is it?

-35.

-Your lovely mandolin.

-That's done it.

I'm kind of thinking we should get it.

-Ask him what his very best is.

-OK.

Kind sir, what's your very, very, very best?

I could go to 30.

30? 25?

-No, I can't. 30, 30.

-28?

-It's got to be 30.

Hand on heart, I never want to buy early,

but I think this, with our association, being together...

It's functional. You can use it. That's one of the things I want to buy, something that's functional.

-Let's do it.

-Alice, seal the deal.

-Yeah, I think we'll take it.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

Off to a record start. One item down.

-One item down, two more to go.

-In five minutes!

Well done, Reds.

You've orchestrated your first deal.

Come on, lads! You're still playing catch up.

Silver pocket watches.

18th and 19th century. They'll be a safe item.

I think you could buy a silver pocket watch for 30, 40, £50.

-They're not expensive for what they are.

-Right.

But whether you get a profit out of them...

The girls are already lining up their next potential purchase.

-We're going to go in for the kill soon.

-Sir, excuse me?

Before we go, have you got anything that's quite curious,

quite interesting?

Well, I do have a rather interesting table lighter.

-Amazing.

-Hold on...

Testing, one, two...

Oh, Lordy, not again, Charles, please!

It's a table lighter.

So, you can see, on your table you would flick that switch...

-Japan.

-Yeah, it is Japanese.

-They love karaoke.

-Oh, do they?

-They do in Japan. Really.

-Really?

I bet you didn't know that the meaning of karaoke in Japanese

is empty orchestra. A definite theme here, girls.

-It's quite tactile, as well.

-It's the kind of thing I can imagine,

like, a boutique hotel or a cocktail bar buying.

I can see this maybe making 40, £50.

-It's so novel and I haven't seen one before.

-I want to get it for £10.

-How much?

-£10. Whoa!

-Sir, excuse me?

-Let's see. Let's see.

What is your very, very, very best price on the microphone table lighter?

15, sound.

-15?

-15?

-That is kind of what we were thinking.

-Can you do it for 10?

-OK, I can't say no to a pretty lady.

-Oh, thank you so much!

-Thank you very much.

-Yeah, thank you. That's great. Cheers.

Thank you.

Hold on.

It's going, going, gone!

Well done. I think you have a fan there. That's two in the bag now.

-How much have we got left over?

-£260.

I think we're going to go for the big one. This is going to be the big one, this buy.

And when you say big, what are you looking for?

-Not necessarily big, but big value.

-High value.

-Yeah.

So, yeah, we almost, I think, knowing this antiques fair,

-the really big, expensive small items are over there.

-OK!

-In a very nice carpeted interior.

-Perfect.

Well, that's where we want to be.

A carpeted area to find a high-priced item, hey, Charles?

I like the sound of that.

I also like the idea that the Blues may be about to buy

something from a rather shy stallholder.

Ah, bless...

-Is that a calculator?

-It is, yes.

-Really?

What a fascinating thing.

Do you know if that had its original instructions...

Are the instructions missing, guv'nor?

Er, we can find them, probably.

Probably. What do you think about that?

-I like that.

-I mean, have you ever seen a calculator like that?

-Never in my life.

-It's certainly between the wars, I would say.

It's marked up at £28.

£28 is a little expensive, I think, because it is kind of, er...

-He's obviously the negotiator.

-He's straight in there.

-So, how much do you want to pay for it?

-18?

-I don't suppose it cost a lot.

-Yeah, I think 18's about...

What an interesting figure you came up with.

18. It is.

Could you sell it for £18?

It would be wrong for me to agree straightaway, so 20 would be nice, thank you.

Shall we say we'll have it for 20 if you can find the instructions?

-Oh, look!

-Look what I've found.

-Oh, brilliant.

-Oh!

-Amazing.

-We've got the calculator.

We've got the instructions. We're about to lose 20 quid.

-How about that?

-Put it there!

-Put it there!

Dean, lovely jubbly!

Wonderful to buy something with you, boys.

And that's how it's done, chaps.

Ha! Now, let's see if our teams can work some magic.

30 minutes in and the Reds have made a cracking start.

Two items in 20 minutes.

The Blues, however, are finding it all a bit much.

Just one item so far.

Come on, Charlie. Time to take charge of this situation.

One of you start there, one of you start there, work down

and give me a scream if you see something you can't live without.

Jolly good advice, Charlie, old fruit.

Meanwhile, the Reds are en route to the carpeted area.

-Everything's half-price at the moment.

-Oh, really?

-That sounds good.

-Yeah.

Especially this man, cos he's only got one leg,

-he can be half-price. He might be real plastic.

-Could be plastic?

-SHE LAUGHS

-Absolutely! I like your style.

Ooh, I got excited for a bit.

Thank you.

Now come on, guys. This is a nine carat Waltham watch.

That's a pukka job, you know.

This gentleman is not going to give you a gold pocket watch.

-650.

-£650? No, we don't have that, guys.

Come on, chaps. I think you need to lower your sights somewhat.

Now that's French.

-Or Swiss.

-Swiss.

-Swiss.

Key, how good is the enamelling?

Well, I reckon it's near-perfect.

-Take away the decoration off the back.

-Right.

-I think you've got

-60 to 80 quid.

-Yes.

-If the auctioneers were to illustrate that

-in a catalogue, can you imagine a photograph of that?

-Right.

-For sure.

-Close up.

-Yeah, that is eye-catching.

-People will be

-coming from miles around for something like that.

-Right.

-I think it's just beautiful.

-It is.

-What's the absolute...

-What is

-the best...?

-..I'm going to use a desperate expression here - death?

I hate the expression, but...

-120.

-I think what we're going to do, if we may...

-Have a look round.

We really like that. We're going to have a look round.

-If we get down to the last two minutes...

-Let's do it.

-Thank you for your help.

-..we'll sprint over and buy that

for £120. Thank you, sir.

It sounds pricey and a little more within your budget.

One for the back burner, maybe.

Meanwhile, the Reds have found the carpeted area.

Now for the high-priced item, eh?

You've got draughts, dominoes.

What I quite like is this

very well-turned chess set here.

-What do you think?

-I like it a lot. I'm just...

-It's approaching

-a big spend.

-Mm.

-Yes.

-Because, sir, how much is it?

-It's got to be 150.

-We don't have to rush anything,

-cos we can always come back.

-No. I think...

These girls are well in control, which is more than I can say for...

Right, guys. You need to concentrate like mad. So do I.

Look here, if you can't find something here,

-you won't find anything anywhere.

-What's this right here?

-I like that.

-May we look at your propelling pencil, my darling?

-You may.

-It's gold. Nine carat gold.

-Oh, yeah.

-How old is it?

It's nine carat gold. It's very Victorian, I would say.

It's unusual to have a pin on the propelling pencil.

-I think that adds to it, though. I really do.

-Well, I think

you're right. Nine carat, I imagine.

65, the best on that.

Ooh! I like that look.

-Give us

-£5. £60?

-No.

-No?

-THEY LAUGH

-Heads is 60. Tails 65.

-OK.

-ALL:

-Oh!

-Tails!

-What is it?

-Heads.

-Tails!

-LAUGHTER

-I'm honest, it was tails.

Because I'm so honest, we can have it for 60, can't we?

-No.

-Boys, that is a good price. I promise you, that is a good price.

-OK.

-Great.

-We really shouldn't lose money on that.

Flipping heck! Finally.

So, as I see it, guys, you've got two options here.

You've got one, which is to run around here

like a couple of lunatics trying to find something in four minutes

or we go off and buy the watch.

I like the watch, I'm leaning towards the watch, I think.

Money is an issue, but we are running out of options and time.

I love the watch. I want to buy the watch. I'm just not sure it's going

to make any money and I know, in shipping,

if he was a Greek shipper and we ran over there at the 11th hour

and say, "Give it to us, we need it", he'll go...

-IN GREEK ACCENT:

-"The price has doubled!"

-Well, let's go and see if that's happened.

-OK.

-Let's do it.

Oh, dear. I have that sinking feeling. Good luck, chaps.

-Is it still here?

-There it is!

-It is, if you're lucky.

-HE LAUGHS

-We're lucky.

-LAUGHTER

-It is 120, isn't it?

-Thank you.

-Freshly minted, sir.

-He's got the readies.

-One of those, sir.

-Wonderful. Thank you very much, John.

-Thank you.

I'm very pleased with that, boys.

-You like it, don't you?

-Over the moon with it.

-You love it.

-I love it.

-And we're going to win the competition.

-Dean's got a...

Ooh! That's fighting talk right there.

Would you believe, after all, that the Blues have finished

ahead of the Reds.

Come on, girls. Two minutes left.

Sir. I'm going to but in again.

Excuse me, we've seen your compendium already. The very best is 150?

-Absolutely.

-One thing that caught my eye is this nice corkscrew here.

If I just said to you, out of interest... Are you into corkscrews?

-Yes.

-Really? Do you like wine?

-Yes.

-Good. Fine.

-Who doesn't?

I think these are quite nice. OK, this is what I love.

And if we perhaps, for example, put maybe that one together with this one.

These are Victorian. I would have thought the third quarter 19th-century.

And what we could do is put the three together.

-What's the best price on these, Jeremy?

-110.

We've got literally a minute to go. A bit less. Come on, mate.

-A nice round figure.

-I'll do 100.

-Shake the man's hand, quick!

-OK.

Thanks, Jeremy. Thank you, Jeremy, you are a good man. £100.

-HORN BLARES

-That's it, time's up.

Let's hope our team have had their eye on the ball.

-Sorry about that.

-No.

-We've run out of time.

-You saved us.

-But I think these are quite good.

-Me, too.

I would guide these at 80 to 120,

and I think they might just make a profit.

Blimey, Charlie, that was a close one.

I might have to borrow one of those corkscrews and pour myself

a stiff drink, whilst we check out what the Red team bought, eh?

First up for the musical pair was the mandolin,

a plucky £30 was paid.

Check, check, one, two, one, two. The microphone lighter was next.

They paid a mere £10.

And their final, last minute buy was the collection of corkscrews.

They wound up the deal at £100.

-Well, Alice, that looked like fun, didn't it?

-It was, we had a great day.

-We did. We did indeed.

-Lovely.

-How much did you spend in total?

-BOTH: £140.

-£140.

I'd like £160 of leftover lolly, please. Who has got that?

-Exactly, I'll get that.

-She's got it.

-Thank you, Alice.

Which is your favourite piece?

I think my favourite one was our first item, which was a mandolin.

-We are both musicians.

-Beautifully played by me.

-Absolutely.

Something to twang. And, Soph?

Probably the second item, the table lighter.

Do you think that is going to bring the biggest profit?

-Unfortunately, I think it well, yes.

-So, Carlos, there you go, £160

Thanks a lot. It's got to go, because these girls are high-class.

-They certainly are.

-They are.

-And you know how to recognise high-class all the time, don't you?

-Of course I do.

THEY LAUGH

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

First up for them was the pocket calculator.

They settled on the sum of £20.

Next up, a pretty price was paid for the propelling pencil.

£65.

And, finally, they wound up with the watch. £120 paid.

Well, team. Indecisive, would you say,

-when it comes to making a decision?

-No, we just let the chips fall

where they may.

-You spent how much?

-205.

-Isn't that a magnificent amount?

-I think it's a splendid purchase.

I think it is, too. Who has got the 95, then?

OK, thank you, I'll take it off you now. Thank you very much, Dean.

-There you go, sir.

-Thank you. And which is your favourite piece, Dean?

-Probably the pocket watch.

-The pocket watch?

-Yes.

-Do you agree with that?

-Yes, we are united on that, we really liked it.

-That was a purchase from the heart.

-Anyway, over to you, then, Carlos.

-You've got 95 smacks left.

-Yes. I'm going to buy something I can see.

HE LAUGHS

-Something with big types...

-Yeah.

Good luck with that, Charlie. And better be smart about it

because very shortly we are going to be shuffling off to the auction.

Well, look at this.

We've popped from Ardingly into posh Surrey

to be with Catherine Southon at Catherine Southon Auctions.

-Welcome, Tim.

-What a thrill. Anyway, it's great to be here.

-Thank you.

The Reds will love it. They start off with this mandolin.

The really strange thing about these things is they look as

if they should be worth a tonne of money. Beautifully made.

-But they never are.

-I know, I know. And it is quite sad.

I mean, this was made by the Ferrari brothers.

They made lots of different types of instruments.

Some were better made than others. We sold one that made 120.

This is fairly ordinary,

-but if you think about the amount of work that's gone into that.

-Yes.

-What do you think it might bring, then?

-50 to 80.

-Gosh, that's generous, isn't it?

-Is that too much?

Well, I don't think it's too much, it's never too much.

-Have I been too generous?

-£30 is all they paid.

So anything over £30 and our lot will be jumping

up and down with joy.

-Next is the novelty cigarette lighter.

-Yes.

-Which I suspect is not as old as it looks.

-No.

I think that is probably about '70s.

And it is Japanese and it is quite poorly made.

-But I'm sure we'll have some fun with it at the auction.

-OK.

-How much?

-£10-£20 worth of fun.

-Fine. £10 is all they paid.

-That's all right.

-It is, as you say, just a bit of fun.

Less amusing but more valuable, I fancy,

are the collection of three corkscrews.

Well, it's a market that never fails to surprise me.

Sometimes we have one in that really just goes through the roof,

and then sometimes you look at something which you think is

exactly the same, yet it is not, it is a really niche market.

The one, the bone one at the end there has got a few nibbles.

-But that's the earliest, isn't it?

-That's the earliest one.

That one I quite like, I like the two different woods there.

But this one here, that's probably one of...the one that is most

well-known, because it is the Thomason type.

-That's the double helix.

-Some are rarer than others.

Some can make thousands of pounds.

But we've got a nice little selection there.

I've put £70-£100.

-I think they could make nearer 100.

-OK.

-Who knows?

-Frankly, they need to, because the team paid £100.

-Oh, did they?

In case it fails, though, they may need the bonus buy,

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

-Well, girls, this is exciting, isn't it?

-Yes.

It's the leftover lolly reveal moment.

You spent £140, which was pretty good, really,

and you gave £160 to your man, Charles.

What did you spend 160 on?

-I spent the entire amount.

-Wow!

-Did you?

But we bought something quite wonderful. Tim, after you.

-Ba-dum!

-There we are.

-Oh!

-Do you like her? From Italy.

Perhaps marble, maybe alabaster.

And she is of that Belle Epoque charm of the late 19th century.

-She glows.

-I like it. I like it a lot, actually.

-I like it, too.

I was so surprised to see it.

-I've never seen a bonus buy like this before.

-This isn't moulded.

This isn't mass-produced. This is an individual, one off.

We have got a minor issue, and you can see just on her neck.

It is more than likely she obviously had a suffering,

maybe her head's come off.

The restoration is quite crude.

I would still hope, with a fair wind blowing,

she might be worth between 150 and 250.

So it could be riches, but at the same time,

-if the two buys aren't in the saleroom...

-Could be rags.

It could be rags. And she might be wearing rags later.

-I really like it.

-I like it as well.

-OK.

Right, now, for the audience at home, let's find out

whether the auctioneer likes Charles's bust.

And there she sits, Catherine. A good old lump, isn't she?

I think, in the right setting, she would look amazing.

-But, and it's a big but, she has been beheaded.

-Yes.

-But on the other hand it is part of the antique charm.

-Exactly.

I think she looks wonderful, and I think she's got a really good look about her.

In the right place, on a nice plinth,

a big country house, she would look amazing.

It's handsome, it's in your auction, what is it going to bring?

It looks good. I've put 100 to 150 on.

-I wouldn't be surprised if it made top end.

-Good.

£160 the team paid.

And if you put your most bullish foot forward,

-you know and I know that it might make £200.

-I hope so.

-It might do.

That's it for the Reds. Now, cantering on to the Blues.

This is meat and drink to you

because in the old days at Sotheby's,

when all you did was scientific instruments

-and marine instruments...

-This is!

So what we've got here is a calculating rule

and this was invented by Otis King

and he was actually a grocer and an engineer

and it does multiplication and division and not actually an awful lot else.

There are other versions which can calculate the roots

and all very technical.

It's got the original case, we haven't got the lid to this,

but it's a nice instrument.

There are better, more exciting examples on the market

which will make hundreds.

This, sadly, is not going to make a vast amount,

but it's a lovely little piece.

-How much?

-£10-£20.

-OK, £20 paid.

OK, now, next is the little Victorian brooch

in the form of a propelling pencil.

-Do you like that?

-I do.

I like the fact that we've got the little turquoise beading

around the bottom of it and I like the amethyst there.

So it's a brooch and a propelling pencil in one, which is nice.

As a brooch, not terribly saleable.

-OK, so how much then?

-£40-£60.

The team paid £65 for that. That might be a struggle, I have to say.

Now, this intriguing enamelled ladies' fob watch,

which is very beautifully done, isn't it?

This is beautiful and what amazes me

is there's so much work that's gone on this on the back of it.

We've got a lovely portrait of this lady and all this enamelling,

which is absolutely super.

The lovely decoration of the flowers on the back, but it's not gold.

-It's just gilt metal.

-Is it Swiss?

It's Swiss, it's got Swiss movement and a nice piece,

a nice, attractive piece. We have had a lot of people viewing it.

-It's been quite well viewed. I think it'll do all right.

-£120 paid.

Will it bring £120 in your auction?

It might do. We've put a very speculative £50-£80.

-You're trying to tempt them.

-I am hoping to give it a bit of a push.

Well, thank you for that, but if it all goes pear-shaped,

they've always got the bonus buy to fall back on

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

Well, chaps, you spent £205, which is a magnificent achievement.

Well done, boys. And you gave £95 to Charlie Ross.

Charlie, what did you buy?

I spent half your money, just over half your money,

-and bought you a guaranteed profit. Do you like that?

-Yeah, absolutely.

It cannot lose.

There's absolutely no doubt that this will make more money than £50.

That was a bit of a face of disappointment there.

Yeah, I'm not going to lie.

It's not striking me as something I personally would like.

It's Victorian, silver topped, no chips.

Flick open the top, original stopper and it's a scent bottle

-and it's a good size.

-And you said you spent half the money?

-£50 I spent on it.

-And how much do you think it might fetch?

At least £60 and more like £80, I would hope.

For the audience at home right now,

let's find out whether it gets the ultimate accolade.

-Well, Catherine, this is what they call a whopper.

-It is.

We do have quite a few private buyers who go for perfume bottles,

but it has slowed down a little bit.

They're not as popular and what might go against this slightly

is the size, because people do tend to like the slightly smaller sizes.

-OK.

-This is quite a chunky piece.

-It is, isn't it?

Maybe a couple of little nibbles, but nothing major.

The silver is nice, it's nicely hallmarked, it's nice and clear.

I think £60-£80 on that.

Well, Charlie charmed his way to buying this for only £50

-and it's quite a good buy, isn't it?

-I think he's done well.

-OK, boy done good. Anyway, we'll find out the minute, won't we?

-We will.

-We will.

OK, Catherine, it's time to get this sale under way

and you to take your rostrum.

-How excited are you?

-So excited! I can't contain myself.

-This is her first auction.

-Is it?

-Yeah, first auction.

-But you've been loads, right?

-I've been loads, but never with my one item up for sale.

OK, well, this is going to be it.

-You've got the mandolin, yes, made by Ferrari.

-Absolutely.

It should accelerate nicely.

We have, ladies and gentlemen,

a late 19th-century Italian Neapolitan mandolin

by the Ferrari brothers.

I am looking for a mere £40 to start this one.

£40, come on, ladies and gentlemen.

£40, thank you, is bid. £40.

£40, any more? £40.

£45. £45, it is against you.

£50, thank you. £50, why not? For all those quiet evenings. £55.

No more? £55. If you play a tune, we might get another bid.

£55... MANDOLIN IS STRUMMED

Not bad. £55. £60.

-Yes!

-£60. £60. Any more? Are you bidding?

Yours at £60. Any more at £60, then? All done, £60...

-Yes!

-Yes!

-Plus £30.

-We doubled our money.

-Well done, girls.

-That's brilliant!

-That's marvellous, isn't it, yes?

-Yeah, definitely.

You were worried. What you got to be worried about?

-We were hopeful about the mandolin. The next one, we were worried.

-Are you?

Lot 31 is a 1960s Japanese novelty microphone cigarette lighter.

Every home should have one!

Come on, ladies and gentlemen, £10, please, £10 to start this.

Come on, £10. We have to have £10 for this, surely?

Thank you, £10 is bid.

-£12.

-£12!

-£15. £18.

I've lost where I am, I never bid this low!

LAUGHTER £20.

£22? Why not? £22.

-£25. £28.

-I'll call that a day.

Thank you, anyway. Any more? £28. All done?

Selling then, £28...

-Yes, brilliant!

-Plus £18.

You're plus £48. You've not started. Now, the three corkscrews...

-This is the one I'm really worried about.

-It cost us £100.

-Yes, it did.

Any interest at £50? Come on, £50.

Come on, we all drink. £50. £50?

Who's going to give me £50?

Come on, if you want a microphone, you want some corkscrews.

-I'm interested!

-£40 then. £40, thank you, £40. £40, come on.

-Come on!

-That's just over £10 a corkscrew.

-£40.

-We need you, we need you!

£45, come on. Any more at £45? £45 is bid, thank you, sir. £45. £50.

5. Come on, £55, any more?

£55. £55, I hate doing this. All done?

£55..

-£55 is minus £45. You've got £3, girls.

-We bombed!

-We've got the bonus buy.

-The choice with the £160 bust

is one of boom or bust.

-I am positive because I am naturally optimistic.

-And you are a punter.

-So are you going to go with it or not?

-Yeah, we're going with it.

-They're going with the bonus buy.

£50, any interest at £50? £50 is bid. 5.

£60. 5. £65.

Gentleman's bid at £65. Shall we go another? £70, why not? £75.

No more, are you sure? £75.

Behind you, we've got £80. £90. £95. £100.

-£110. £120.

-Come on, baby.

-Yes, come on!

-She is nice, exactly. £130.

You sure, another? £130, £130 right behind you.

Any more at £130 then?

-I will sell.

-One more, yes!

-£140.

-And again.

-Another? No more?

Thank you. £140, nearest me at £140 then.

£140, all done at £140?

-Awww!

-Sorry, team.

-No, but it's OK.

-Sorry!

Was that £140? Oh, bad luck.

Minus £20, which means you are minus £17.

-Not bad.

-Which could be a winning score.

-Yeah, it could be.

-It could be, couldn't it?

Say nothing to the Blues and all will be revealed in a moment.

-OK, team, do you know how the Reds got on?

-No.

-We think well.

-You think well?

-Big smiles on their faces.

-Yeah.

-Unfortunately!

Now, first up is the calculator.

Perhaps you'll need it to calculate your profits. Here it comes.

We have an Otis King pocket sliding calculator from the '50s.

Who's gone to give me £10? Come on. Thank you, sir. £10, but I want more.

£10. I've got £15. I got £20.

-Yes, come on!

-£20. I've got £25. £30.

£30 I've got, any more?

£30. Come on, ladies and gentlemen, £30. £35. £40.

£40, I have £40, any more at £40? £40. £45.

Oh, come on, sir, one more. You'll need one.

-You don't need to add up to do that!

-£50.

-There we go.

We have £50, any more at £50?

£50, gentleman's bed at £50. £50, then.

All done, selling then at £50...

-Plus £30.

-Put it there.

-May join in?

-Put it there.

-May I join in with you maestros?

-Now, stand by.

-OK, boys.

Lot 50 is this rather charming

Victorian yellow metal propelling pencil.

£50. Come on, ladies and gentlemen, £50.

That is very cheap at £50.

It's very charming and it will look beautiful. £50, beautiful brooch.

Come on, £50. £40, then.

40, thank you. 5.

-It's a start.

-One more?

50, thank you.

£50. Internet's interested too. 55.

60, thank you.

60. 5. One more? Can we tempt you?

-70.

-Yes!

-Well done. Splendid, boys!

-75.

Thank you, anyway. 75, I have £75 on the internet.

Any more? £75, then.

75 on the internet. Thank you, Net. All done, selling then...

-Well done, good girl, good girl.

-Cannot argue with that!

So, overall, you're plus £40. That's two profits.

Lot 151 is a lady's late 19th-century Swiss enamel fob watch.

A beautiful little pocket watch there, who's going to give me 100?

£100. 100, any interest at 100?

Is that a bit punchy to start?

OK, come on then, £70. Any interest at 70?

Beautiful little watch here, £70.

Someone, £70? £70, any interest, Letty? £70?

-Oh, they're killing us!

-Come on, Letty.

-Come on.

-Where are we bidding, £50? £50, any more £50?

-Sacre bleu!

£50. Thank you, 5. 60. 5.

70. 5. 80.

An auction is all about rhythm, isn't it, Tim?

No more, you sure? £85. Thank you.

-She was in a groove. She's just come out of the groove.

-£90.

5.

100. No? Thank you, anyway.

£100, any more at 100, then?

I will sell at 100.

£100, then, all done...

THEY SIGH

I'm very sorry, chaps. That's minus £20, but overall, you are plus £20.

What are you going to do about the bonus buy?

-Are you going to go with the delicious scent bottle?

-I think no.

-You think no?

-20 quid is 20 quid. Stick.

-It could be a winning score.

You've got £10 each, we're not going with the bonus boy,

but we're going to sell it anyway and here it comes.

And I have interest here.

I have 55, 60.

With me at £60.

-£60, but I'm sure there's more.

-Boys?

-£60. 5. 70. 5. 80.

-5. I'm out, £85.

-Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

£85, any more, surely? £85.

-Only £85, boys?

-£85. It's not much, 85.

Thank you. 90. 5. 100.

-No more? £100. Gentleman's bid at £100.

-Doubled your money!

£100, all done? 100...

-Was that £100?

-I think it was 100, wasn't it, Tim?

That would have been plus 50,

but £20 could be a winning score.

-Don't say a word to the Reds, OK?

-Fingers crossed.

It's only £50!

No, well done. Well done, Charlie.

All will be revealed in a moment. Thanks so much, chaps.

-Well, well, well, teams, wasn't that fun?

-It was, it was great fun.

It was the greatest fun!

-Have you been chatting about the scores at all?

-No.

-No idea!

Absolutely no idea.

OK, fine, I have to reveal that, of course,

we have no losers any more but I'm afraid we do have runners-up

and the runners up today by a fair old chalk are...

the Reds.

-It started off so beautifully with your mandolin.

-We did!

Your £30 profit on the mandolin.

And having made a profit on the microphone,

you then lost a tonne on the corkscrews.

You went with the bonus buy, that didn't do you any good either.

-Anyway, minus £17.

-It was a lot of fun, though.

-It could have been worse!

-It could have been a LOT worse!

Not enough to beat these fiendish boys,

who are going to go home with £20 of folding money. Here it is, £20.

You started off with £30 on the calculator,

£10 on the propelling pencil doodah.

You didn't trust your expert,

which was your big mistake, if you made a mistake at all.

You would have had a further £50 if you'd trusted him.

-They don't call them experts for nothing.

-Exactly!

-You go home with your £20. I hope you're happy.

-We're ecstatic.

-It's amazing, isn't it?

-It is!

-What you can do here in Surrey.

Absolutely. I'm sure this will buy us maybe even a round of golf.

Well, I don't know about that!

Anyway, join us soon for some more bargain-hunting. Yes? Yes!