Lincoln 5 Bargain Hunt

'Here's a quirky fact for you -

'until the middle of the 16th century,

'when a storm blew the spire off the central tower,

'Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest building anywhere in the world.

'How's that?'

A tall tale indeed.

But here's another fact for you -

our teams are revved up and ready to go

and are hoping for some sky-high profits.

So, let's go bargain hunting, yeah!

'Today our home is the very wintry Lincolnshire Showground,

'where traders are setting up despite the ice and snow.

'So, let's see if our bargain hunters

'can bag a bargain to sell at auction.

'Here's a quick peek as to what's to come.'

'The Reds are out to make Bargain Hunt history.'

I would love to go where no other expert has gone before.

LAUGHTER

'And the Blues think they're at Formula 1.'

NATASHA YELLS EXCITEDLY

Not so bad, not so bad!

'At the auction, the Reds get all stylish.'

We have been hijacked.

'And the Blues get their legs out.'

'Let's meet the teams.'

Well, we intend keeping it strictly in the family today because,

for the Reds, we have Fiona and Doreen, daughter and mother,

and for the Blues we have James and Robert, father and son.

-Hello, everyone.

-ALL: Hello!

Fiona, what do you do as a job of work?

I am a registrar of births, deaths, marriages, civil partnerships.

How many weddings do you think you've conducted?

-I've been a registrar for nine years, I think, 1,000 plus.

-Have you really?

Yeah, genuinely, because on any given Saturday I can marry up to 12

couples, so if you think about, erm, how many weekends are in nine years.

-How brilliant. You're also into am-drams, aren't you?

-Very much so.

As a registrar, essentially, I am a frustrated actress,

and so, a couple of years ago, I signed up with our local

amateur dramatics group called the Prospect Players

in Arnold in Nottinghamshire, and I have both appeared on stage

and also helped behind the scenes with props and costumes and so on.

I absolutely love it.

When it comes to antiques, what d'you know about?

I know very, very little. I know what I like,

which is generally what other people don't like,

things that are a bit weird and wonderful.

So I will be looking to my mum for antiques knowledge

because she's here as my sort of second expert.

-Your guide and mentor.

-Yeah.

Now, Doreen, you must be very proud of your daughter,

but you also do quite an important job yourself, don't you?

Well, I sit on the Mental Health Tribunal.

I work with a psychiatrist and a judge to decide

whether people should be discharged from hospital.

I find it rewarding and very challenging.

Now, what's this about you being a "chair-o-holic?"

This is what my husband says.

I go to auctions and I buy chairs.

He says wrecks, I think they're beautiful.

I strip them back, I French polish them,

and then I build them all up.

-Do you do the upholstery?

-Oh, yes.

-Do you?

-Oh, yes, I adore it.

I think that's the fun part, putting the final...

Yes, actually great fun.

What are you going to do today

when you go out shopping with the daughter, though?

I'm not going to look at chairs.

Erm, I would like to buy perhaps some silver.

We would like one big thing, we thought.

Erm, apart from that we're open. Open-minded.

Well, good luck with that.

Now, chaps.

-James, you used to be a geography teacher.

-Yes.

And then what happened?

Erm, then I took ill and had to stop working,

and became a photographer.

Had you got an interest in photography

before you gave up the teaching?

Oh, yes, I've been into photography since I was about 18 or 19, yeah.

Love cameras. Any cameras.

-Yeah, and you're into your woods?

-Very much.

Erm, like a bit of wood turning and hand carving.

Do you do this in your own shed?

Yes, in my own shed, and, sort of, not all the time,

but enough to keep the brain going and the hands working.

Now, Robert, you have, erm, an interesting job.

Er, yes, I think so. I, erm, work for Lincolnshire Police.

I take non-emergency and emergency calls.

In a typical day, how many 999 calls would you receive?

Normally you would take between 20 and 30, I would say.

Good, and what d'you get up to

when you're not dealing with the emergency calls?

I get up to quite a lot of things when not taking emergency calls.

Erm, I would say that people would describe me as a geek, erm,

absolutely, so I enjoy doing things like table-top war gaming, erm...

-Gosh, what's that?

-So, erm...

You know when you were a little boy and you played with toy soldiers?

-Yes.

-It's like that but for grown-ups.

So you collect miniatures, you paint them, erm,

you create the scenery around it, and then you play a strategic game.

-Do you?

-Yeah.

What are your tactics going to be to win on Bargain Hunt today?

Ah, well, we want to spend big. That's the main important thing.

Maybe militaria or something.

Of course you can never tell how it's all going to work out,

which is what's such fun.

Anyway, the next fun bit is the £300 a piece.

There we go, £300 each.

You know the rules, your experts await, and off you go!

Very, very, very good luck.

Let's hope we have no emergencies today.

'Helping today's teams,

'and making sure the Reds keep to time,

'it's Mark Stacey, bless him.

'And making sure the Blues don't monkey around, it's Natasha Raskin.

'Which is which?'

'Our teams have more than they bargained for.

'It's a winter wonderland here in Lincoln.'

James and Robert, tell me, are there going to be any family feuds today?

-Because we've got father and son!

-Well, erm...

-A feuds.

-A feuds, yeah.

-Competition, maybe, healthy competition.

-Yeah.

Now, I think I've got my hands full with you today

-cos you're a chair-a-holic.

-Indeed! Love them!

Does that mean you collect chairs?

No, it just means I buy them, restore them,

then can't bear to part with them.

-Oh!

-It's not really collecting.

-It's not, no.

Are you on the same page, though, with what you'd like to buy?

-Do you have an idea?

-Yeah, more or less.

-Yeah, we've talked about it.

-Something wooden.

-Yeah, something wooden.

-Wooden, OK.

-Yeah, Arts and Crafts.

-OK.

-Yeah, absolutely.

-Maybe a bit of silver.

-Saw some skis.

-We saw some skis, yeah, they could come in handy.

-And you're in am-dram?

-I do, I do a bit of amateur dramatics.

Oh, what can I say? What can I say but...

another opening, another show?

'Right, teams, don't be tempted to clown around in the snow.

'Your 60 minutes starts now.'

Let's go shopping!

-Shall we get cracking?

-Absolutely.

-That's a good idea.

We'll start out here but we might just end up indoors.

-It's Derby porcelain.

-Oh, is it?

-And it's obviously from a very large dessert service.

-Yes.

-Made around about 1820.

-Yes.

There's lovely Regency gilding all over it.

-This is all hand painted.

-Right.

You can imagine what the service would have looked like.

But it's a beautiful object, don't you think?

It's very interesting.

-Fiona, what do you think?

-I quite like it. I quite like it.

-Ah, quite. That's always a worrying word, isn't it?

-It is.

It's not priced, of course.

-No, so is it free today?

-Well, I don't know,

but I'm having to wipe the snow off cos you couldn't see the pattern.

-Indeed.

-How much is that dish?

Er, because it is early Royal Crown Derby, I want 110 on it.

'Just to confirm, that's £110.'

-Ooh!

-Oh, I certainly don't like it that much.

-No.

I mean, it is, to be honest with you, it's worth every penny,

but I don't think it's the sort of thing that's going to make us

-enough profit at auction.

-No.

So let's carry on looking, shall we?

-And if we don't keep moving, we're going to look like snowmen.

-Exactly.

It's a bit drastic out here in the snow, isn't it?

You're turning into a snowman!

-Shall we move inside?

-I think so!

-That's a good idea.

Let's hop into the buggy because I don't know about you,

-but I'm not loving trudging through this snow.

-No.

-Right, come on, boys.

-Are you ready for the ride of your life?

-Oh, yes!

-Is this wise?

The main building... I don't know!

There's no seat belts in here!

-Are you ready?

-This could end in disaster.

-Go, go!

Not so bad, not so bad.

Well, the Reds haven't moved very far.

That's really pretty, isn't it, with the shell and the dolphin.

-Where's it from, do you think?

-I think it's probably English.

-This is done by someone at home, I think.

-Right.

They've done this sort of poker work.

They've scored out the pattern and burnt it in the design.

I like it because it's quite rustic, handmade.

The dovetails are quite handmade.

I'm thinking it's probably made about 1900 or so,

-something like that.

-Yes.

-But I do like that stylised dolphin.

-I do.

-How much is that, sir?

-I was looking for about £60.

£60, you see, it's not bad, is it?

-I see that at auction as being an estimate of £40-£60.

-Yes.

-What do you think?

-It's a bit different.

-I would go to £50.

-Could you knock it just below, say £48,

-so we stand a chance? I'm sorry, am I cruel?

-You are, but I love it.

-Who can argue with that in this weather?

-You're a lovely man!

Thank you very much indeed.

So the Reds pay £48 for their first item. Not bad for a box, eh?

You're trying to make your escape before we've even stopped! Let's go.

You survived the journey then, boys.

There we are. Right, gentlemen.

Let's hope the warmth will inspire you to spend some money.

Meanwhile, the Reds have spotted something.

-I quite like the thing with the pheasant on it.

-I do. What is it?

It looks like an ashtray.

-I think that's exactly what it was originally.

-Right.

A green onyx ashtray with these sort of cold painted pheasants on them.

They feel like spelters.

They don't look like Bergman, which is the name we always look for

in these sort of cold painted figures.

The colour is quite nice.

They complement each other reasonably well.

-It's all to do with price.

-What do you think it's worth?

Well, I'd like to see it at £30.

-Do you want to go and ask him how much it is, Fiona?

-Go and ask him.

And Doreen and I can have a little chat.

Is she quite good at negotiating?

-She can be ruthless.

-Can she?

-And intimidating.

-Oh, really?

I'm thinking more £40.

Goodbye.

Oh, dear, that's you told, then.

(What happened?)

Well, he started saying £180, but said absolute best price £160.

So I think we gently replace it.

I think we gently replace it and we walk away.

-You're absolutely right, Fiona.

-Sadly.

-Sadly, but we must.

Ah, that's a shame. Walk away and find something cheaper.

Hey, that looks like a natty piece of silver for the Blues, Natty!

They call them helmets because that looks like...

That's for sauce, gravy.

-OK. How does that appeal to you?

-Is it...

-So they've got the maker.

Hallmark silver, Birmingham mark...

And the letter I means 1908.

It's a nice sinewy thing, isn't it?

It's not the lightest thing you've ever felt

and the gentleman has offered us £30.

-It does actually feel a little heavier than it looks.

-Yeah.

How much did you say, £30?

I'm sure you can do a little bit better than that.

It cost me £25, so £26.

If you're ready to go for it, then we can shake on it cos that doesn't scare me.

£26 for a beautifully crafted bit of silver doesn't scare me.

-I don't think we can go wrong with that.

-No.

-OK, right, let's do it.

Thank you very much, sir.

Well done, Blues. That seems like a cracking deal to me.

Both teams have bought their first items within 15 minutes.

So, are the Reds any closer to making their second purchase?

I like that card case. So you'd keep your business cards

and all your visiting guards.

It's actually not as old as I thought it was.

-I thought it was going to be an Edwardian one.

-Yes.

But when we open it up, we've got Links of London.

That's a sort of modern interpretation of that Edwardian one.

It's priced at about £120, I think. What do you think?

-It's quirky.

-I don't love it.

-As you say, if it was old, I would be going for it.

-Shall we leave it?

-Can we leave it?

-Yeah, we can leave that.

Yeah, but remember, girls, time is ticking

and you've only got one item. So what are the Blues looking at?

Vintage Monopoly box.

It says on the label "old Monopoly box and contents".

That's what I was keen on, the contents bit.

-Wow, look at that!

-It's got all the old money in it.

Yeah, all the old money and the cards and the pieces, the houses.

What have we got there? Thimble, top hat, is there a shoe?

And the iron.

-No-one wants the iron.

-No-one likes ironing, either.

I think it's going to be '50s.

I think we can tell from the colour of the pieces

and from also the money and the cards.

It's got that very 1950s look to it.

In fact, the cards almost have the same font as those British railway posters, you know,

it's got that kind of nice appeal.

One thing that we are missing here, what are we missing?

-The board.

-The board.

Maybe if we take that to our dealer and say,

"Monopoly without the board here.

"Seeing as we're half-empty, could it be half-price?"

If we could get that for around £12,

we might at least get close to a profit there.

-What do you think?

-Absolutely.

-Robert, you clocked this.

-Shall we leave the negotiations to you?

-I'll do my best!

Go on, Robert, throw a double six.

With 30 minutes gone,

let's see if the Reds have found something they can afford this time.

-We really do need to start finding some interesting objects.

-Yes.

We started off so well. Now, we're getting lost.

Come on, Reds, focus!

Has Robert managed to get an Old Kent Road price on the Monopoly set?

-How did you get on?

-Not too bad.

The lady has very kindly knocked a bit off it,

but not as much as maybe we wanted.

-£18 is the best that she can do with it.

-£18, it's a gamble.

-It's a gamble.

-But it's fun.

-It's fun.

-And isn't Monopoly all about gambling?

-Yes, let's roll the dice!

OK, OK! It is a bit of a gamble, but that's what Monopoly is all about.

Well, they've taken a chance.

But will they pass Go at the auction and collect £200?

So from board games to puzzles and here's a puzzle for you.

Once in a while on Bargain Hunt,

I come across a complete mystery that completely foxes me.

And today, the mystery is this - what is it?

No, it is not a fossilised banana.

No, it is not some kind of boomerang.

What it has is a very light core underneath a sheath of leather

which has been stitched up this seam. It weighs about 4oz-6oz.

A lightweight, leather-covered, banana-shaped object,

but for what purpose? It is utilitarian.

There's nothing luxurious about this product.

I think the most likely explanation

is if you were in the silver or brass engraving industry

and you needed a soft pad onto which you'd rest your wrist

whilst doing some intricate process,

perhaps engraving a piece of silver or a printer's plate,

that would have the effect of saving any strain

and that's the best and only real explanation that I can come up with.

-Hello, here comes trouble!

-What on earth have you got there, Tim?

Well, I was hoping to ask you, Mark, actually.

-What a bizarre-looking thing!

-Yes.

-Is it African or something?

-Might be!

-It's leather, isn't it?

-Leather.

-Stitched.

-I'd love to know what it is.

-So would I!

-You do pick them!

You be careful what you say, Mark. Anyway, back to your team, old boy.

There you go, it's a mystery.

MUSIC: "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars

Back to the shopping and with 20 minutes to go,

the Blues have already bought two items,

while the Reds have only bought one.

-We've really got to run!

-Are you starting to panic, Reds?

We would like to buy something that we both like.

-What have the Blues spotted, then?

-Let's find out.

Here we are - World War I artillery gun sight.

It's got its case, it's in at £125.

But that's a nice thing, isn't it?

The only thing I'm thinking of is "gun sight". Is that very niche?

-Is it much more niche than a telescope?

-Absolutely.

But is it one of these things that it's so niche that they rarely come up to auction,

or is it so niche that no-one's going to be interested in it?

We don't have a crystal ball, that's the thing,

-but it might be worth a shot.

-We'll move on and look elsewhere.

OK, we'll move on, but I have to admit I quite like that

and it falls into the category of splashing the cash a little bit too.

Absolutely. And unusual.

Now, surely the Reds have a second item by now?

Girls, I know what you're going to think about this,

but it is quirky and it is a bit kitsch.

Shall I tell you what it is?

-It's a clock.

-With a lamp.

Ah, you see, I'm not needed again!

-It's French.

-Oh, is it?

Probably 1950s, even though it's got that sort of Art Deco look about it.

But I think it's quite stylish.

You've got a seagull or a swallow riding the crest of a wave,

you've got a stylish little lamp/clock combo going on there

and I think this sort of thing done up is quite fashionable these days.

And I could see that in someone's... Can't you?

Erm, no, no-one I would know, but I would take your advice on board.

-I think, given the time, it's worth taking a punt.

-It'd be pragmatic.

-You see, I like you. I like you, Fiona.

-It's worth taking a punt.

What I didn't like with Doreen, "We'll take your advice,"

knowing full well that if it bombs at the auction, it was Mark's fault.

-No, no, no!

-She's like that.

Shall I go and find the best price first while you're looking here?

-Please do.

-And then we can make a decision, all right?

-OK, excellent.

-Thank you.

-So, do you like that?

-Yeah, actually, I do.

I can imagine it being... And if you like it, that's fine with me.

I'd have it in our spare room.

I wouldn't necessarily want it right next to my bed.

But I think it's interesting enough that I'd have it in the house.

-Let's see what he says.

-Well, it was £55.

He said the best he could do is £40.

What do you think? Shall we go for it?

-Well, you see the clock, time ticking...

-Yeah, let's go for it.

Where do you think we can go next?

I'd stay somewhere close, girls. You haven't got much time left.

15 minutes to go and the Blues are pontificating over their third item.

I mean, look at that! That is in absolutely lovely condition.

One thing I would say - how often is someone going to use a writing slope?

That's the thing. Laptops have taken that out.

But they do become very fine objects for display.

Let's have a look. Yes!

Look at the condition of that. It's absolutely stunning.

Looking at the condition of it,

it might actually not be quite as old as we think there,

it's probably more 20th century.

What would you like to offer for this?

I reckon that at an auction house,

any auctioneer would put on that £80-£120.

This would be a wee bit of a risk. Was £175, becomes £140.

We'll maybe pass on that just now?

-Aye.

-Yeah, I think we're going to check out the sight.

-You want to have a closer look at that again?

-We'll walk down that way.

Now then, what on earth have the Reds spotted here?

-Ooh!

-Oh, isn't that hideous? I think it's so hideous...

-That it's actually quite cool?

-..that it's... Yeah.

-It silences me.

-I think, it's so hideous, it might sell, you know.

Well, I quite agree with you.

I think someone would buy it for the grandchildren.

And you've got the water bath, so the water sort of flows down here.

-Yes.

-You know.

-I can see it, yeah. I can see it in someone's garden.

-And do you know, I will tell you one thing. Antique gnomes...

-Yeah.

..which were made in Austria in the sort of late 19th-century,

-to be really big...

-Yes, yes.

-..they make hundreds and hundreds of pounds at auction.

-Right.

Um, how much is it, sir?

-160.

-Oh!

-Ooh!

I would love to go where no other expert has gone before.

LAUGHTER

I think, it's so hideous, I think we have to have it, girls.

So, I'm sorry...

Please, please, please let us have it for a cheaper price.

-125.

-Oh, no!

-It cost me £100, I've got to make something on it.

How much time have we got left?

Well, we've got just under ten minutes.

So, if we can have a quick swizz down there, but keep this in mind,

-I think it's so hideous...

-Yeah.

-I think it's so hideous.

-THEY LAUGH

-Come on, let's go!

OK, well, let's bear that in mind, but I must admit, I do love it.

How can anyone turn down a gnome?

The Blues have returned to the gun sight.

What have they focused on?

Do you see the enemy? Do you see the Red Team?

-It works, the optics are brilliant.

-Yeah?

-Yeah, have a look.

-Yeah?

-The optics are really clear.

-Ooh!

-There's a good weight in it.

-Yeah.

That's a...that's a tactile item.

It's a proper piece, isn't it?

-And do you know what? It's nearly 100 years old.

-I know.

-That's as clear as day.

-It is. The optics are brilliant on it.

Meanwhile, Mark has lost his team!

WOMEN LAUGH

£125. You've got a deal.

And guess what they're buying?

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you very much.

Well, that is just brilliant.

I wandered off and started talking to myself. What have you been up to?

-Er, we've bought the gnome fountain.

-You've bought it?!

-SHE LAUGHS: Yeah!

-We did!

I don't know what to say, but I think...

-LAUGHTER

-I think we've made history

-and I think we're going to do very well with it.

-I hope so, I hope so.

Well, that's it, there's "gnome" more items for the Reds to get.

And the Blues - are they finally going to make a decision?

-It's seen action.

-Seen action.

-Yeah. What do you think?

-I love it.

-I think it's great. It just depends on the price.

James, Robert and I have both done a wee bit of haggling today.

You don't want to come on Bargain Hunt

-and not do a deal.

-Right, my turn, my turn.

-Your turn.

-I'll do it for 110.

-110?

-Hmm.

Couldn't we squeeze you down to 100?

No, you can meet me halfway and do it for 105.

-I think that sounds pretty good. 105.

-I like it.

-Yeah?

-Yeah, I'm happy with that. Are you?

-I like it, absolutely.

-Thank you very much.

-Aw, cool! Aw, thank you so much.

-It's really kind of you. Thank you for being so compliant.

-Cheers.

WHISTLE BLOWS

Right, teams, your 60 minutes is up! It's all in the balance.

Do you know what? We had the most ambling time there.

-Yeah, we did!

-And then we only had about six or seven minutes left.

Let's remind ourselves what the Red Team bought.

They flew off the starting block and bought this 19th-century box

with a carved shell and dolphin motif for £48.

Next up, they paid £40

for the 1950s French Art Deco-style clock and lamp.

And finally, the novelty gnome water feature

and paid no small price at £125. Wow!

Well, girls, in a ray of sunshine, what fun that was, wasn't it?

-It was.

-Excellent.

-How much did you spend altogether?

-£213.

£213? I would like £87 of leftover lolly, please.

-The £87.

-Thank you, Fifi La Tour.

-Which is your favourite piece?

-It has to be the gnome fountain.

Which is your favourite piece, Doreen?

I would have to say the gnomes, only because that's awesome.

-Awesome?

-Yes!

-OK, fine.

-Grandiose and awesome.

-And which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

-The gnomes!

-I'm optimistic about these gnomes!

-It's going to be the gnomes.

Perfect! Now, Mark, over to you.

-Thank you, Tim.

-A modest amount of money,

but for a man of your acumen, no problem at all.

-I think I've got something small and elegant in mind.

-We are intrigued.

Anyway, right now, though,

why don't we check out what the Blue Team bought?

First up, they paid £26 for this helmet-shaped silver cream jug.

Then, they took a chance on the wooden Monopoly box for £18.

And finally, this World War I military gun sight

in a fitted wooden case for £105.

-Aw, we got there in the end!

-Yeah.

With two nicer men I couldn't have hoped to meet!

-Ooh, here's another one!

-She is so charming, isn't she?

Anyway, well, thank goodness you did finish!

-Just about!

-Just about in time. So, you spent how much?

-149?

-149, yes.

-£149 total?

-Is that all?

-Yeah, that is all.

-Um, I'd like, therefore, £151 of leftover lolly.

-There we go.

-OK.

-Well, it goes, as they say, from one to the other.

-Yes!

-Um, 151, what are you going to do with that?

-I don't know, but just...

I'm on a high, because I couldn't have had a better hour there.

That was so much fun.

-I'll find something fitting for father and son, I hope.

-OK.

Well, very beautifully said, Natasha.

Actually, our next step is to take a little trip

to Beverley, up the road.

That's Beverley the place, not the person.

And we're heading to Beverley Racecourse for today's auction.

Well, can you believe it?

We find ourselves in Hawleys Auctions,

with Caroline Hawley herself. Caroline, good morning.

Good morning, Tim, nice to welcome you to Beverley.

Cracking to be here!

First up is this little games box,

which, I have to say, I think is fantastic.

-So do I.

-Do you?

-I love it.

-What do you like about it?

I love this beautiful shell.

The fish, the acorn, the oak leaves around it,

I love everything about it, I think it's a really nice quality thing.

What I like about it is the poker work.

-I love the red hot poker...

-Yeah.

-..that's done that incised design.

-Yeah.

And I love the fact that that's been lovingly

created by somebody in a shed.

-Yeah. Yes, it has, yeah.

-In their own little workshop.

-Yeah.

An amateur craftsman has created that,

probably for chessmen or draughts, don't you think?

-I would think so, yeah.

-A games box?

-I called it a work/games box, yes.

-So, what's your loving estimate on it?

-£40-£60.

Good girl, cos £48 is what they paid.

-Ah! Good, good, good!

-Perfect, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah? Brilliant.

Then we've got this Art Deco-style bedside lamp. It's great, isn't it?

It is. I love it! Well, as you know, I love all things French.

-This is French, 1950s.

-So, what's your estimate, Caroline?

I've put £40-£60 on it.

Well done. £40 they paid. So that's, um, pretty good, really.

-Yeah, I hope it does the top end.

-Yeah, exactly, so do I.

Now, we've got the water feature.

-We've had lots of interest in.

-Have you?

-Yeah.

We've had one lady rang up, she'd seen

the picture of it on the internet, and was absolutely thrilled,

and has a mad, eccentric aunt that she was very happy to be

-wanting to buy it for her.

-So, will she bid, do you think?

-I hope so.

-I hope it turns into a bid and not just interest.

-So, how much, then?

I've actually put, maybe rather ambitiously,

but I've put £80-£120 on it?

-So you're happy with that?

-Yes, I am.

-£80-£120?

£125 paid for by the team.

-And, you know, anything could happen.

-Yeah, absolutely.

Depending on what happens determines whether they need the bonus buy

or not, but let's go and have a look at it!

Well, this is exciting, isn't it?

You've spent a cool £213, you gave Mark Stacey £87.

-What did the old codge do?

-I bought this.

-Ooh!

-Which I thought was quite elegant.

Yes, have a look. It's a little Carlton Ware ginger jar.

I have to admit, I don't think I've ever seen a piece called

"Famille Noire". This black and gold.

And it's probably '50s, I would've thought.

-And I thought it was quite stylish.

-Mm-hm.

-Yeah.

And, you know, it's got a nice shape to it, it's got a good look,

-and it's fully marked underneath as well.

-Yes.

-Yeah.

It's a good collectable name.

-I rather like it.

-How much did you pay for it?

-It cost me £30.

Whether there's a huge profit in it, I don't know, but I'd like to see

-at least £10 or £15 profit in it, something like that.

-OK, super.

Well, it seems you've ticked all the boxes there, Mark, well done.

Um, right now, though, for the audience at home, let's find out

whether Mark is about to tick the auctioneer's box.

-Caroline, Carlton Ware.

-Thank you.

-Black.

-This is fairly plain.

-Hmm.

And, as you say, it's black, which isn't everybody's cup of tea.

-But quite rich looking.

-Oh, it is! It is rich looking.

-And it's in wonderful condition.

-Yes.

It's got this lovely iridescent glaze to the inside.

-Yeah, typical Carlton, such a good quality factory.

-It is!

-Beautiful quality.

-Um, so what's that worth?

I'm sticking my neck out, rather, and I'm saying £20-£30.

-I don't think you stuck it out at all. £30 that Stacey paid.

-OK.

-He's very keen on the stuff.

-Yeah?

-And he rates it as a bonus buy,

-so I think you'll be perfectly safe.

-Good.

-It's just got to make more than £30, OK?

-I'll do my best!

Anyway, that's it for the Reds.

Now, for the Blues, we've got the silver helmet-shaped cream jug.

Weighs just over 4oz.

It is what it is, but I think it would grace any dining room.

I like it. I put £40-£60 on it.

Well, that's smashing, cos they paid £26.

-That's cheap!

-I mean, to be able to go out and buy, retail,

a solid silver Georgian-style helmet cream jug

-for £26, solid silver, is inexpensive.

-It is.

-Now, um, did you play Monopoly when you were a nipper?

-I did!

Endlessly, Tim! And I left it set up all over the living room floor,

-much to my parents' annoyance.

-I bet you built a lot of hotels?

-I did!

-I like getting the railway stations and the utilities.

-Oh, so do I!

-Yeah.

-And when you've got all four!

-Ooh, I know!

You long for them to land on it!

-Anyway, there we go! So, that box has been later made...

-Yeah.

..to hold somebody's cherished early Monopoly set. Is that the answer?

Yes, I think so, because they always came in a cardboard box

and not a wooden box, as far as I can gather, but this I think

has been made out of the original cardboard box and stuck on here.

-Yeah.

-And, as you say, I think this has been made at home to house it.

And all the pieces are metal,

and the houses and the hotels are in wood. I think it's lovely.

It makes me want to play, but sadly, we can't, Tim,

-cos we haven't got a board with it.

-So, what's a board-less set worth?

-Well, I've only said £5-£10.

-Have you?

-Yes.

-But it's quite tempting. £18, the team paid.

-Right, OK.

-It's difficult to assess, really.

-It is very difficult to assess, but I think it's charming.

-OK.

Now, do you find the military gun sight, dated 1917, as charming?

-No.

-No?

-No, I have to say that, but that is purely my opinion.

-Exactly.

-We do have a huge base of militaria clients.

-Do you?

-Yeah. Constantly.

And they will ring, the people have been ringing today

for a condition report on it.

-So this will go.

-It may not be your personal favourite.

-No.

-But how do you value this in the auction?

-I've put £40-£60 on it.

-Ooh, Lord! They paid £105.

-Oh, gosh!

Gosh, well, that, from the research I've done, that seems a little high.

I hope it isn't, but it does seem a little high.

-It seems out of focus to me.

-It does.

-Yeah. In which case,

they'll definitely need their bonus buy, so let's have a look at it.

Now, you spent £149, and you gave Natasha £151.

-What did she spend it on?

-I've gone for little bits of Arts and Crafts.

-Oh, good!

-Do you know, I knew you'd love this.

-Yeah, it's good.

These are either genuine or they are fake, and there's no in between.

-Right.

-It's a beautiful bit of Arts and Crafts silver, with this

sort of honesty leaf shape at the top, with blue-and-green enamel.

-Very much in the style of a maker called Hukin & Heath.

-Mm-hm.

It would be great if we could say it's by Hukin & Heath,

-but we don't have a maker's mark.

-OK.

-But I absolutely love it.

We were looking for something Arts and Crafts.

If this were in Glasgow, I think

people would take a good punt at this and pay up to 100.

We're not in Glasgow, we're in Beverley. But I had to buy it!

-I saw it, the dealer couldn't give it to me for any less than £70.

-70?

I mean, I do like it. You're right, the back piece does look

a bit more modern than the front, shall we say?

I don't know if that's the case or not, but, um...

-You like it.

-Oh, I love it!

-You liked it as soon as you saw it.

-Perfect, so you love it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Great.

Well, on that happy note, let's find out whether the auctioneer loves it.

-A little test for you.

-Thank you.

How old do you think this double photo frame is?

At first glance, I would say

it's Art Nouveau, fin de siecle, 1895-1905.

But on closer inspection, I feel, sadly, it's brand-new.

And I can see that for lots of reasons. If you turn it over

-and see the back...

-It's tough, isn't it?

-..it is new.

-Here, we've got all this black muck, right?

-Yeah.

Which is the black muck that should be there from 1900.

-But it's not, it's put on to make it look older than it is.

-Exactly.

-So it's new black muck.

-Yeah.

-Yeah. That is what a faker does...

-Yeah.

..to try and deliberately deceive you into thinking that something

-is old, is to take screws and metal fittings, dip them in acid...

-Yes.

-..sometimes bury them in a manure heap...

-Yes.

..put them in a place that makes them look old and then reassemble it

-to kid you.

-Yeah. It's an awful fact, to do,

-but if it does kid someone, they'll pay the money for it.

-Exactly.

-So, as a fake, what's it worth?

-I'm hoping £30-£50?

Um, £70, Natasha paid.

She might get her money back.

It's a bit of a risky gamble for the teams to go with, but there you go.

It is, but it's a pretty thing.

And, um, of course, we're standing by for the auction, aren't we?

-Yes! Can't wait!

-With bated breath!

18. 20.

Are we done?

Thank you.

-Now, Fifi, Doreen, this is good, isn't it?

-Yes, it's exciting.

Yes, it certainly is. What's your expectation, Doreen?

-Do you think you're going to make a massive profit?

-No.

-You don't?

We'll either bomb or fly, and I hope that we're going to fly.

-OK, fine. Well, let's start off with the little games box...

-Yes.

-..with poker work decoration.

-Right.

-Beautifully made little thing.

-The auctioneer loved it, she's put £40-£60 on it.

-Gosh!

You paid £48 and here it comes.

It's a lovely little thing, you've all seen it.

Who'll give me £20?

£20? ..Thank you. 20. 22 anywhere?

-Good.

-£20! 22 anyway?

-Oh, come on, it should be a lot more than that.

Surely you've all seen it! £20, it's a cheap lot.

22. 24. 26.

28. 30.

No. £28 with you.

-I can't believe this.

-£28. 30 anywhere?

-Who's going to fill it up? £28, all done?

-Oh, God!

-GAVEL BANGS

-Minus £20.

-It is a bargain.

-Never mind. We've got two other items.

-Yeah.

-Thank you, Doreen.

-LAUGHTER

Ever the optimist!

This lovely 1950s French Art Deco-style lamp/alarm.

What a lovely way to be woken in the morning.

Lovely looking thing. I've got bids on the sheets,

I've got to start you at £45.

-Ooh, wow!

-Already passing. AUCTIONEER:

-50 anywhere?

-You're in profit there. That's nice.

-Already!

50? Thank you. 55?

All done at £50?

-GAVEL BANGS

-£50 is plus £10.

Which means, overall, you are minus £10.

Right. Cope with that. We can cope with that.

I have thought long and hard what I can say about this.

It does, of course, feature in this month's Gnomes and Gardens!

-LAUGHTER

-Boom, boom!

'Ooh! The Reds have brought their lucky hats!'

It needs a hell of "a gnome" to house it!

-Yeah!

-How marvellous.

-Now, we've had a lot of interest in this fine thing.

-Yeah!

-Good.

Who's going to give me £80?

-Come on.

-Come on!

-How much? Who said "How much"?

-LAUGHTER

They're distracted by our hats!

Care to have a bid, sir?

40. 45 anywhere?

45, thank you, madam. 45. 50 anywhere?

That's a lot of gnome for your money! 45. You know that, Madam.

45. Yes, you are in. 50 anywhere?

Are you seeing this right?

-No!

-£45...

Are we done?

No. GAVEL BANGS

-THEY GROAN

-Oh, dear!

There's "gnome" justice in the world, is there?

-THEY LAUGH

-It's gone to ground.

OK, fine, overall, kids...

-you are minus £90.

-Aw!

-Oh!

-OK? Minus £90?

If you're going out with a bang, go out with a bang.

-Exactly! What will you do about the ginger jar, then?

-Go with it!

-Go with it?

-Go with it. I really like it.

-Yes.

-Yes?

-BOTH: Yes!

-OK, fine, here it comes.

Gorgeous Carlton Ware "Noir Royale" ginger jar and cover.

Nice quality piece. £20 to start?

£20 surely for this Carlton Ware?

Thank you, madam. 20. 22 anywhere?

22. 24. 26.

26. 28?

-28, yes? That's the right way!

-Yes, yes, that's right!

-28!

30. 32?

-No.

-Come on!

-£30, with you, madam.

All done at 30?

-GAVEL BANGS

-Oh!

-£30 it is.

-Well done!

-OK.

-Well, no shame.

-No.

-Wiped face.

-So, overall, then, that's minus £90.

-THEY SIGH

-Um, it could be a winning score....

-LAUGHTER

-..if things go really badly for the Blues.

-For the two Blues.

-yeah?

-Don't tell them anyway.

-No, no, no.

-Keep that quiet.

So, chaps, have you been in communication with the Reds?

-No.

-So you don't know what their score is?

-No, not at all.

-Now, first, you've got the helmet-shaped cream jug.

-Yeah.

-£26 you pay for that.

-Mm-hm.

-The auctioneer loved it.

She thinks that's terribly cheap.

-She's put £40-£60.

-Goodness!

-And here it comes.

Gorgeous little lot. What's this worth?

-I've got bids on the sheets, I have to start you at £40.

-Wow!

-42 anywhere?

-Get on!

-Wow!

-We like that.

44. 46.

48. 50.

-55.

-Yes!

-60.

-Look at that!

-65.

-We need this as big as possible.

-70.

75. 80.

85.

£80 with the lady on my right.

85 anywhere? It's a good-looking lot.

All done at £80?

-GAVEL BANGS BOTH: Yes!

-That is plus 54.

-Very good.

-That gives us something to work with.

It does.

Lot 218 is this vintage wooden Monopoly box and contents.

£10 for the Monopoly?

£10 straight in on the internet.

12 anywhere?

All over. 12. 14. 16. 18.

-Yes! That's what you paid for it!

-16 with you, madam. 18 on the net.

-20.

-Well done.

-22.

Is the internet interested?

We're in the room at 20. 22 on the net?

No, Madam, are you not in?

It's a good game!

22 on the net.

All done at £22?

-Yes!

-Well done.

-That's plus

-£4. Good on you!

-Yeah, brilliant.

-Meaning you are plus 58.

-OK!

The World War I military gun sight by W Ottway in a fitted wooden case!

What's this worth?

-You tell me. £40 to go.

-Come on!

-£40 to go.

-Oh, no, there's no bids.

-Let's see a hand. Let's see a hand.

-Thank you, sir.

-Come on.

-Ooh!

-£30.

-That's going to go the wrong way.

-Here's a young guy in the mix.

-45. 50. 55. 60?

55 with the gentleman in the hat.

£55!

Who'll give me 60?

-Are we done at £55?

-A bit more. A bit more!

-Yes, we are!

GAVEL BANGS, ALL GROAN

-Oh, no!

-LAUGHTER

-Minus £50. Oh, dear! Oh, dear!

-Sinking of the ship there.

-Still got something.

-You've got £8 actually. £8! £8!

- £8 profit! - Oh, yeah!

-THEY LAUGH

-How about that?

-This has been such fun!

-OK...

-And it's not over yet!

-£8, £8, £8, £8!

You going to hang on to the £8 or you going to go with the frame?

- Oh, it is a proper risk, isn't it? - It is a risk.

I say we've got £8 profit.

- Let's stick! - All right, we'll stick.

-OK. Now you've decided, I can tell you what the auctioneer said.

-Yes.

-She says she doesn't think it's very old. She's put £30-£50 on it.

-Ooh!

-And, er, Natasha played 70. But the market will decide.

-That's true.

This is a very buoyant little saleroom.

You have decided not to go with the bonus buy,

-er, but we're going to sell it anyway, and here it comes!

-OK.

Gorgeous little Art Nouveau-style

enamelled Sterling silver double photograph frame.

What a charming lot!

What's this worth? £20?

20. 22 anywhere?

22. 24. 26.

28. 30. 32. 34?

32 with the gentleman.

34. 36.

38. 40.

42. 44.

46. 48.

50. 55.

60. 65.

70. 75.

-80?

-Look out, it's in profit.

-No, you're shaking your head.

75 with you, sir.

£80 anywhere?

£75! 80 anywhere?

-GAVEL BANGS

-Well done.

Anyway, you're going to park your profit at

-plus

-£8... Yeah.

-..which is very, very fair.

And that might be winning score, and all will be revealed in a moment.

Well, well, well! I've known some gaps between the teams -

even in kilts! - but this is a gap to beat all gaps.

And the lower end of the gap sits with the Reds.

ALL: Oh!

-£90 you're down the drain! That is something else, isn't it?

-Cruel!

Largely because of that gnome water feature!

LAUGHTER Aw, it was wonderful!

-Underappreciated!

-Totally.

-Underappreciated.

Minus £80. It was unfortunate, wasn't it?

The Deco bedside lamp, though, that did you a favour - plus £10.

-Anyway, minus £90.

-Hey, we do things in style.

-LAUGHTER

-You certainly do! Minus £90.

But actually, the Blues are going home with some cash.

-They're going home...

-Whoo-hoo!

-Yes!

They're going home with £8. How lovely is that?

But I'll tell you, you jest!

They made a profit of £54 on a piece of silver to start off with.

They made another profit on the old Monopoly.

-And then, they had that Ottway gun sight!

-Yeah!

-Minus £50.

-Such a shame!

-Such a shame!

-It was!

-I never liked it.

-LAUGHTER

-Anyway...and, of course,

if you'd played your cards right,

you could've had a further £5 from Natasha,

being the profit on her bonus buy,

but ye of little faith never trusted her.

-It was his fault.

-Exactly. You blame him.

-LAUGHTER

-Anyway, I'm glad you joined us.

-Yes.

And thank you very much for supporting this Celtic half of

-our programme here.

-It was amazing.

-In fact, it's been so much fun,

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

-Yes?

-ALL: Yes!