Leominster/Hay 8 Bargain Hunt

Today, we're in Hay-on-Wye, famous for being the town of books.

And books are everywhere.

Reading between the lines though,

I think it's going to be the antique shops that interest our teams

and with just one hour to scour those shops,

I have a feeling that today's programme is going to be

a real page-turner.

So, if you're ready, let's go Bargain Hunting.

Our teams today will have £300 to bag three items to take to auction,

but there can only be one winner.

It's going to be a real cliffhanger.

Let's have a gander at what's coming up.

The Reds are divided...

If you don't mind, I'm going to shake the man's hand and say yes.

OK.

-You've got a deal.

-Thank you very much, thank you, thank you. Perfect.

What have we done, Paul? Seriously, what have we done?

..and the Blues race against the clock.

This way!

Who's got a tenner?

Well, there are big surprises at auction.

Has this ever been done before?

And done. Thank you.

But before all of that, it's time to meet our teams.

And I'm so pleased to tell you, I feel like a bit of a spare wheel.

I'm joined by two lovely married couples.

To my right, in the Red Team, I've got Chris and Claire.

Welcome. And to my left, Sally and Jim.

-Hello to all of you. ALL:

-Hello!

Thank you for joining us today. I'm going to start with the Reds

and, you, Chris, actually, tell us, you've been married six years.

-How did you meet?

-We met through her uncle.

I used to come home from leave from the Army

and we used to sit round a big table in the pub

and I noticed her in the corner of my eye and

I asked her uncle if it was all right and he said yeah.

We've been together for nine years and married for six.

That's lovely. So, you said you were on leave from the Army?

So, a real Army boy. Tell us about that.

Yeah, I spent some time in the Coldstream Guards

-based over in Windsor and also in Chelsea.

-OK.

So, yeah, I had some fun doing that.

Fantastic. Fun or quite rigorous training, I would imagine?

Rigorous training, but there was a bit of fun.

Obviously, standing outside the palace and things like that.

-That was quite good fun, so...

-Did anyone ever try and make you giggle

-or anything?

-Yeah, we had that all the time.

The Horse Guards as well, they seem to almost trample on you

and they sneeze on you and things like that,

so I think they do that on purpose.

Now, tell me, because as well as your comrades,

you have some pretty slippery friends, do you not?

-Tell us about those.

-We do, we have Bruce, he's our snake.

I've always wanted one and Claire, for my birthday last year,

got me Bruce and, yeah, he's brilliant.

-He's only that big!

-He's a fat worm. He's a fat worm at the moment,

but he's getting bigger, he's getting bigger.

But now, let's move over to you, Claire.

Because you have, together, two wee ones...

-Yes.

-..which must keep you very busy.

-You're always running around after them.

-Two boys.

Yeah, Jack and Oliver. Very, very busy.

OK. Nails are a big part of your life.

I think we should have a wee look at these.

Look at that bow, that's spectacular, one on each side.

I started doing it about four years ago.

Just thought, didn't really want to go back to work full-time because of

the kids, so it can work around the kids and that.

Tell us about tactics. Obviously, you're a team as a couple,

but do you reckon you'll work well as the Red Team on Bargain Hunt?

Obviously, Claire's looking for something

-that's appealing and shiny.

-Yeah, you don't want silver, do you?

-No.

-But I do. I want some sparkly.

-Something sparkly to match your nails.

-Yes.

-Oh, fantastic.

Thank you very much for telling us your tactics.

I'm sure the Blues have been listening,

so let's move over to them.

Sally and Jim, lovely to have you with us.

Tell us, these guys are just newlyweds, six years,

you have been married for 25 years. Tell us, Jim,

the secret of your success.

Yes, I'm not sure.

We must've got married when we were about eight!

We met when we were 16 and we met when...

Sally's very talented, she's into amateur operatics.

-Oh, wow.

-And I was involved in that

in a fetching and carrying capacity, really.

And I think Sally, the one time that I was invited on stage,

I was wearing a very attractive spray-on silk suit, white silk suit.

-Lovely.

-And I think it was love at first sight.

I don't know what I was thinking.

-A spray-on white silk suit.

-Yeah, that sounds quite scary.

You just couldn't resist, could you?

-No.

-I couldn't!

That's brilliant.

Obviously, we're here on Bargain Hunt to hunt for antiques.

-Do you have any collections at home?

-My qualifications are geology based.

So, I've got a fossil collection, which...

So, age-wise, I think that's the ultimate antique.

Pretty much, isn't it? Yeah, that's a good way of putting it.

I'll be looking for something like that, if there's any today.

-Lovely, well, you'll know what you're looking for at least...

-Yes.

..with your qualifications. Now, Sally, onto you.

-What is it that you do for a living?

-I work for an

-environmental consultancy...

-OK.

-..three days a week.

-Mm-hm.

Because, obviously, I'm a mum as well, two twin daughters.

I'm interested to hear about when you were an opera singer.

That's fantastic. Do you have a favourite aria?

I don't think it was... I think Jim has probably built that up

a little bit too much. Amateur dramatics is not quite opera.

Is it something you've always been interested in, the arts?

Yeah, I like things with style, so if I see anything Art Deco,

-anything sort of

-'30s... OK.

-..appeals to me,

bit of jewellery, perhaps.

Oh, lovely. Well, these are popular genre -

jewellery, in general, and Art Deco too.

It just gets even more interesting as time goes on.

Now, you've got to go shopping, because your hour's about to begin.

In order to do that, you need some money.

So, let me give you £300, Reds.

-Thank you.

-Exciting.

Let me give you £300, Blues.

-Thank you.

-Your experts await,

so I'm going to send you in their direction!

Off you go and lots of luck!

It's going to be an all-singing all-dancing affair today,

but hopefully it won't end in tragedy.

Let's meet the experts.

Giving it some dramatic razzle-dazzle for the Reds...

And aiming to squeeze every penny for the Blues, it's...

Chris, Claire, this is it!

Now, Chris, you're in high-powered international sales, are you not?

-That's correct, yep.

-What are you like, though, never mind selling,

what are you like at buying?

I am a salesman's dream. I would buy anything for

twice the price it should be.

What?!

Now, Jim and Sally, are you excited?

-Very excited.

-Great, so what are you going to be looking for?

-Something stylish, bit like me!

-Oh, absolutely.

-What about you, Jim?

-I've got no mind,

but I really want to make some money, so a bargain,

-that's what I'm looking for.

-I'm haggling.

-You're the haggler?

-Don't let him buy, don't let him buy, at all.

-Not at all.

-Right, teams, your 60 minutes start...

now.

Picker, haggler, the team.

-Yep.

-Let's go do it!

Let's go!

With all these wee shops, you've a lot to choose from

here on Hay-on-Wye, teams.

Are we seriously window shopping now, guys?

-Is this what we're doing?

-Yeah!

You're going to love it in here.

Come on!

If it grabs you, it might grab an auction audience.

Well, um, it's your call. Hey, hey!

Boom-boom! This is a game show, not a comedy show, Jim.

I don't like it, don't like it.

What have the Blues spotted?

What do you think of that?

-Is it a brooch?

-It's not a brooch, it's actually a pendant.

-Right.

-It's quite a large pendant.

-I don't dislike it.

-It's a maybe.

-It's a maybe.

-Think about it.

-Let's keep looking.

-Yes.

-OK.

Not for now, but the Blues have started well.

While the Reds are still window shopping.

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

-Really?

-Yeah.

-No.

Reds, is there trouble already?

-What about this wooden jug?

-Do you know, I was looking at that, Jim.

-Can I take that down?

-Let's have a look, yeah.

-Do you like that?

-Well, yeah, I like wooden things.

Oh, look, it's got a lid as well.

-It's quite nice.

-Oh, it says it's a whisky grog jug.

Probably Scottish in origin.

-That's put a smile on your face!

-Yeah, that's...

It's a lot of money. 125.

It's a really nice thing of quality.

You know, you've got your oak, which was used a lot in barrels.

-Yeah.

-And really strong wood.

And then you've got this lovely brass coopering.

-I love these little rivets.

-Yeah.

You know, which hold it together and then this lovely-shaped spout

and handle and then you've got your lid on the top there.

It's certainly, I would say, you know,

late 19th century in date, Victorian.

You can get a lot of whisky in there!

You could get a lot of whisky in there!

-Shall we ask what's the best price is?

-Yes, let's.

-I'd like to, yeah.

What could you do for us on that?

-How much has it got on the case?

-So, we've got 125 on there.

125, take 100.

I'd do it for £75.

Would you?

I had 60 in my head.

-Right.

-Because it's going to auction and we need to just feel that we can

-make a little bit on it.

-No, absolutely, Sally.

-Yeah.

-What would you pay, Jim?

Yeah, I'd wonder if you'd take £60 for that?

I'd be happy with that, I think.

Er...

Go on, then.

-Shall we go for it?

-Let's have it, let's have it.

-First item.

-Very good.

-Well-spotted!

-It's my height.

-He's tall, I never look up there.

-We'll do it, yes.

-Well done!

Smooth talking there, Blues.

You've nailed your first item. Well done.

But how are those Reds getting on?

Now, we window-shopped on the way in.

May we see the desk set in the window?

Of course you can, if you can just bear with me just for a moment.

OK, yeah, so there you go.

-What is it?

-This is a desk set. Here...

we have our pen and pencil combination, perhaps.

-Yeah.

-And, even today you'd slip your...

Would it have come originally with the original pen and pencil in it?

-Would that matter?

-Perhaps, perhaps not.

-OK.

-This is a blotter, this was redundant, yeah?

One of these pens was a fountain pen and before you fold it up and stick

it in the envelope, to stop the ink bleeding and running, we blot.

-What does that say?

-"Asprey."

-That mean anything to you?

-I've heard of it, yes.

This is high-end retail, yeah?

Brand sells at auction as well as it does in Oxford Street.

-Right.

-That name is as resonant now as it was when this was due,

which I guess, was from the 1950s.

And is a ticket price of £45 anything to write home about, Paul?

I don't mind telling you I don't think it's dear,

but we're in this to turn a wee bit of a profit.

I personally don't like it at all,

but I do know the name and I do know it's a good name and I know you're

happy about it, so I'm more than happy to go with it.

Can you help us? You've heard everything I said, there.

It depends what you're offering.

-Do you want to make an offer?

-Go on.

-£20, sir.

Not a hope. Followed by, how many instalments?

Can you do 35, please?

Seeing as you've asked me, I'd do it for 35, but that is the death.

We've got a buy!

A first buy!

That's one-all and just 13 minutes in and now the Blues have found some

-kitchenalia.

-Hey, pretty little cake stand.

-Oh, yeah.

-What do you think?

-I love that.

-This one?

-I really do like that.

It looks like, because... I love the colour of this, the creamware.

Wedgwood did exactly that.

They called it creamware and it looks very much like it.

I think it's quite a bit later because Wedgwood

were producing it in the Victorian period in the 19th century.

This is sort of like a fairly modern copy of it.

But the piercing on it is so pretty, isn't it?

-It is. Do you like the odd cupcake in your house?

-Yes.

I make the odd cupcake, so I could see my cakes on there.

-Yeah?

-I could see that in a lot of modern-day kitchens as well,

a love of cream, sort of Shaker-style kitchens,

I think that would look really smart.

I'm looking for bargains, not antiques, necessarily.

Well, I think, because it's something that's practical

and looks attractive, I think at the right price,

if we can get him down from 28, you know, I think sort of £15,

that would be a good buy.

So, shall I give Paul a shout, get the best price?

-Yes.

-Let's do it.

-OK, Paul, are you about?

-Yes.

-Look what we've spotted.

Yes, very nice, isn't it?

-It's on for 28.

-Yes.

-It's a little bit steep.

Do you think you could do it for 15?

-How about 20?

-I don't know.

I think 15 would get more interest in a saleroom?

OK, you can have it for 15.

-Brilliant.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-That's fantastic.

You're more than welcome.

A piece of cake, Blues.

Now, with Blues, two, Reds, one, let's leave them shopping while I

show you something stranger than fiction.

I'm going to show you a magic trick.

Right in front of your very eyes,

I'm going to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Let me tell you a bit more about the item here.

It's a pretty standard Regency period brass snuffbox.

It's got a really nice curved shape to it,

it fits beautifully into the palm of one's hand,

the lid lifts up on its hinges and allows you to get into that snuff

area quite easily.

But if I close that lid, it's inscribed J McIntosh.

And then we have this crest.

An interesting motto it has, "Touch not the cat but a glove."

And then the emblem of a Scottish wildcat.

This is the motto of the McIntosh clan,

which came into effect around the time of the Battle of Culloden,

the Jacobite uprising and this is a warning from the McIntosh clan...

Don't come at us, because we are wildcats.

If you do, we will show you our claws.

It has on the back, a rather interesting dent.

Now, is it just me, or could that be a bullet dent?

Was this a fight to the death,

perhaps a love affair in which he was embroiled?

Perhaps he had to show his manliness and they drew pistols and boom,

it's a little bit of drama?

This snuffbox went under the hammer and raised £95.

Without that McIntosh association, what's it worth?

20, 30 or so.

So, even the most ordinary item can be elevated into the echelons of

extraordinary with just a little bit of history

and a touch of imagination.

Back to the shopping and just over half-time,

Blues are beating Reds, 2-1.

Here we go, here we go, here we go.

But the Reds might be about to change all that.

-Right then, folks.

-Oh, I like the look of this one.

He's in there already.

-What one?

-This one.

I think the detail is fantastic. It's solid silver, as well.

People that play golf and have time to play golf, have a lot of money,

have expensive cars.

They wouldn't think twice about paying £40 for this.

But it's not £40, is it? It's 68.

But if we can get it for the right price,

I think we're onto a winner.

Paul, what do you think it would fetch at auction?

Well, it is stamped 925 and sterling but doesn't have British assay marks

which would allow us to date it to a year.

Because if you come down on this idea of it being early,

then I think that's worth 50, £80 all day long.

But if it's relatively modern, then it's only worth 20, 30, maybe 40.

This is serious. I think there's a relationship on the line here.

-Definitely, definitely.

-I think you're right.

Without a doubt. Who's sleeping in the shed if this flops?

Let's hope the Reds can seal a deal then and seller, Paul,

is the man to ask.

-Hello.

-You like that one?

-No.

-You don't?

-But my husband does.

-Your husband does?

OK. I can do that for 50.

Our expert says it might only be worth 20 to 30 maximum.

We need to make a profit. We're Reds. We need to win.

I know you do.

-I want to offer 20.

-Oh, my God!

Erm, no. The best I can do on it is 40.

I can't do any less than 40.

It's my buy because you bought the last one.

-I'll put my neck on the line.

-That was Paul's buy, in fairness.

The Asprey was Paul's in fairness.

You've got the next one and you've got plenty of money left.

If you don't mind, I'm going to shake the man's hand and say, "Yes."

-OK.

-You've got a deal.

Thank you very much, thank you.

What have we done, Paul? Seriously, what have we done?

-Thank you.

-Excellent, thank you.

And your thoughts, Paul?

I'll tell you there is more resting on the sale of that brooch than on

the next Ryder Cup.

If it does not make a profit, Chris had better get used to that shed.

While the Reds try to find the last item they can agree on,

over to the Blues who are toying with life in the fast lane.

What do you think about little dinky toys?

What do you think about those, guys?

Well, don't you have to have a box and it be in perfect condition?

Yes, to get the really top prices,

it would be great to have them boxed and in mint condition,

but that's not to say that other examples make good money.

Right. Let's have a look.

-Let's have a little look.

-So that's a dinky.

Little bit rubbed on the corner there.

That's a Triumph TR4, I think.

Yes. Well done, you.

£22. How old are these then, did you think?

I would think, looking at that, that is probably late '50s, early '60s,

but without looking it up, I'm not quite sure.

So you're looking for original condition and I would say

this looks good. You've got a little bit rubbed,

but you've got your man and your transfers of the number there

-are still really nice.

-Maybe if we're going to go this way,

maybe we should get a few together.

-You want to blow some money, don't you?

-Yeah. It's too cheap.

-Is he always like this, Sally?

-This is too cheap.

-Too cheap.

-More expensive.

That's a similar sort of age.

That's an MG Midget. That's priced at 10.

I like that one because it's got the little man on it where that one

-hasn't, has it?

-True.

So what's the auction price on that, would you say?

On just that one?

I'd certainly say 15 to 25. Shall we think about that one?

-I think that is a very warm one, isn't it?

-Yes.

-I like that one.

Let's put him back but maybe come back for this one.

OK. Do you want to have a quick look elsewhere?

Yes, let's do that.

Don't hold out too long, Blues.

You've just under ten minutes to go and the Reds seem to be

planning a party.

What do you think to this? It says 1920s cut glass.

-Crystal.

-Cut glass, cut crystal. High lead crystal.

Punchbowl and cups.

I don't agree with the date. I don't think that is 1920s.

I think that is late 20th century.

-Right.

-Is that important?

No, because I hate to think what someone paid for that.

That could have been a four figure price tag without

-any trouble at all. Do you like?

-I do.

That would look amazing on a dining room table, wouldn't it?

Stunning.

-What's the damage on this, potentially?

-135.

-135.

-What do you think?

-If I was asked to put an auction estimate on that...

..do you know what I think? I'd be bullish and say £100-£200,

but that's me being bullish, make no bones about it.

-If you love it...

-I really love it but I think...

-135?

-No, 100.

Do you think 100 is too much?

A lot of money. I'm getting a sweat on.

A lot of money, isn't it? I know.

And you're not the only ones feeling the tension.

-Have you seen anything in here?

-Well, I still like the toy cars.

I think that's becoming more of a favourite.

I haven't seen anything else, yet, that I really want, so, maybe...

Maybe a couple more minutes in this place and then...

Make a decision and go back.

You like to cut it fine, don't you? Come on then.

Downstairs, quick squinny and then to the cars. Sounds a plan.

With just minutes to go, it is make your mind up time, Blues.

This way.

Come on in, guys.

The cars that we looked at. Lovely, can we have another look?

We're really short of time but we quite like these.

What do you think, guys, now you've had a second look?

What's the price that we've got on those two, then?

There's 22 on that one and 10 on that one.

Would you go 25? It's our last lot of the day.

No, I'll do 26. Meet you in the middle.

26, OK. I think 26. We've got a chance.

-Are you happy, guys?

-Seeing as though it's number 24, 25, for 26.

Look at that! It was meant to be.

Well I think that's great. Are you happy?

-Yes, I'm happy.

-Great, we'll take the two.

-Thank you very much.

-We're done. Put it there.

Well done, you. Time for a cup of tea.

-And cake.

-And some cake.

Hooray, you've clinched the deal on all three items.

Now, will the Reds get their party piece?

Here's seller, Paul.

-Hiya. All right?

-Can you do anything on the price, do you think?

I'm thinking under 100.

So, maybe 90?

-Erm, how much is that?

-135.

-135.

I'd like 100.

-Meet in the middle? 95?

-95?

-Please.

-Go on, then.

-Yes! Thank you. I love you.

-Love you too.

Your 60 minutes are up.

I'm excited.

Fantastic, Reds. All three items in the bag.

Let's remind ourselves what the Red Team bought.

They've got the posh Asprey writing set bought for £35.

Let's hope the golf pin gets a hole in one at the auction.

Ticket price, £40.

And can the cut-glass punchbowl set, bought for £95,

punch above its weight in the sale room?

Claire and Chris, how many times have you seen time run away from

contestants on Bargain Hunt? And now it happened to you.

Can you believe how quickly it went?

-Unbelievably.

-Claire, what's your favourite item of the three?

-My punchbowl.

-Ah, your pricey punchbowl, too.

-Yeah.

-And those lovely glasses, but you had to have it.

-Yeah, definitely, yeah.

-Now, it was your most expensive buy.

Do you think it holds the most profit or could that be something

-you don't particularly love?

-I think so.

-We know Claire's position.

What's yours, Chris? What's your favourite item?

-The golfing brooch by a long way.

-The golfing brooch by a long way.

-It's silver and you wanted a bit of silver.

-1920s, yes, it's spot on.

It's going to pay some of the mortgage off, I think.

Going to pay some of the mortgage? Do you reckon that's going to make

-the biggest profit?

-Without a doubt.

-You two are going to come to blows here.

-He may be in the doghouse.

-Living in the shed.

-With Bruce.

-Yeah.

We'll soon find out what happens, but I need to know what you spent.

-How much in total?

-£170.

170. Quite a princely sum. Well done.

And that leaves 130, which I'll take from you. Paul, £130.

Not too shabby. How are you going to spend it?

You guys, you want something showy, don't you?

And I'd love to deliver, but nothing is going to stand up to

that crystal punchbowl. I'll do my best.

Let me tell you, Paul Laidlaw always delivers.

And on that note, let's remind ourselves what the Blue Team bought.

First up, the 19th-century whisky jug for £60.

Will the £15 ceramic cake stand be the icing on the cake

when it goes under the hammer?

And can someone race away with the two Dinky cars?

Price paid, £26.

Well, Sally and Jim, you were off like rockets and although you ambled

around a wee bit, you got there in the end with time to spare,

so, well done. Jim, tell me, of the three that you've chosen,

which is your favourite item?

Definitely the wooden whisky jug.

-Really like that.

-How did I know you were going to say that?

So that's right up your street, isn't it?

Yes, it's wooden, it's tactile and what I was looking for, yes.

Fantastic. I'm glad you liked it, but do you think it's going to

-bring the biggest profit?

-Yes, definitely the whisky jug.

-Yes, OK.

Quite confident about that. And you quite liked it too?

I liked it, but not as much as the cake stand.

So, is that your favourite or do you reckon

-it's going to bring the biggest profit?

-Both.

Stylish, and definitely in for a profit on that one.

So a really varied collection, but not an expensive one.

-What did you spend in total?

-We spent £101.

101, which leaves 199.

Gosh, that's a lot. I'll take it from you, Sally, if that's OK -

-well, £199 is for you, Kate.

-Thank you.

Quite a lot. Has anything caught your eye already?

I might go back to the original culinary theme, maybe.

Kate sounds like she's got a plan, and let's see how it all works out.

Let's go straight to the auction.

I'm here in Malvern with the lovely Philip Serrell

at Serrell's saleroom.

-Phil, I'm delighted to see you.

-It's lovely to see you here.

-Are you well? I'm very well, you?

-I'm brilliant.

I'm ecstatic because we're starting with designer goods.

-We are indeed.

-In the Red Team, we're starting with this beautiful

Asprey London red leather desk set.

Are you as excited as I am?

I'm really excited by the name because, you know,

it's a name and a brand that's up there and it carries all before it,

but it's a bit 1973, isn't it?

It's not quite got that Victorian appeal.

It doesn't quite have the retro appeal. It sits somewhere...

It doesn't quite have the pens either, does it?

It doesn't have the pens.

Whoever buys this is just going to buy the name.

-It's £20-£40 worth.

-OK, well, the team paid £35 all-in.

-In with a sniff.

-We'll keep our fingers crossed for them.

Then we move on to this golf-related brooch.

Do you putt, pot, pitch? I don't know.

I've been known to play around on the fairway

and lots of people play golf.

Lots of ladies play golf and I think there's going

to be a bit of demand for that, and I think it's going to make...

I don't think there's a huge age to it, but I think it's going to make

-£20-£40.

-Do you know, I think you're about right.

They paid the top end of the estimates - 40.

I know that if I had been the expert,

I would've bought that, because novelty brooches,

-you're onto a winner here.

-They're cool things, aren't they?

But I don't know, had I been the expert,

if I would have gone for our third and final lot

which is this cut-glass punchbowl,

vase and glass affair. It's all just a bit much, isn't it?

Well, I know that I wouldn't have gone for it.

You definitely wouldn't have?

There's no great age to it, and glassware like that doesn't demand

huge bucks in the saleroom. In my eyes, that's £15-£30 worth.

-What did they pay for it?

-In Paul's eyes and the Red Team's eyes, £95.

That's enough, in my humble opinion. That is enough.

Well, things have been a little bit punchy with their price

so they might need to depend on Paul's bonus buy.

Let's find out what it is.

Chris and Claire, I must say, it was all very diplomatic

when you shopped because you spotted the first one together,

then you took one each.

Now you're in the hands of a Scotsman, Paul Laidlaw.

You left him £130.

Paul, what did you spend it on?

Obviously, I wasn't going to find anything to outdo the cut glass,

-was I?

-Obviously.

-But what do you think of that?

-I like it.

-I like that.

-If you're looking for an ice pail,

you're not going to get better than this.

Victorian frivolity, novelty.

Loop handle dripping in icicles.

The rim, likewise, this rather unusual moulded base.

It is silver-plated, 19th-century.

It's complete with its drainer and ice claws.

Whoever buys my punchbowl is going to buy that, aren't they?

-Of course.

-Obviously.

Could have them sitting next to each other in the auction.

-I like that a lot.

-It all seems very trusting at the moment.

You did good.

-But how much was it?

-I got that for £50.

-50?

-£50.

I think that is worth £100-£150 of anyone's money.

-Really?

-Yes, really.

-OK.

-I'm your friend again.

Well, it's time to find out whether or not Phil is hot or cold about

Paul's Victorian ice bucket.

Now, Phil, I haven't been able to convince you with the punch,

but if you were going to have some punch,

would you like some ice with it?

-What do you make of this?

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

Cool, it's icy cool.

I'm not quite sure that these tongs have got too much to do with it,

but in my eyes, that is going to make between 30 and £50.

£30-£50.

Do you know what? Paul paid the top end of your estimate - 50.

But when was the last time you saw an ice bucket with icicles dripping

all over it and rocks at the base?

-It's making me feel cold.

-It's making you feel cold?

I'd rather it made you feel excited.

Anyway, we'll move on to our Blue Team, Jim and Sally,

husband and wife. We started off with quite an usual lot.

We've got this mounted coopered barrelled jug.

It's quite an unusual thing. Is it something you're into, Phil?

I think it's got a good look. I think you could use it.

-That's a plus.

-Yes, it is a plus.

But I actually, personally, I quite like this coopered...

The staving of the barrel just down here.

-I think that is really quite nice.

-So, in that case, what do you think

-it's going to make?

-I think it's going to make between 30 and £50.

-What did they pay?

-They paid £60 for it, Phil.

-That's up there, isn't it?

-It's all the money.

-It's up there.

Then we move on to something that everyone loves.

Cake. Do you love cake?

-What do you think?

-I think you've never touched the stuff.

I personally love it and I think this three-tiered cake stand

is something that someone will want to go home with today.

I'm trying to be upbeat about it.

I think that is an acquired taste and I don't think that I've required

that taste just yet, really.

What do you reckon it's going to make, Phil?

I see that making between 10 and £15.

They paid £15 for it, so hoping you do a wee bit better.

-I'm not sure how much you love the barrel. Not much.

-No.

Not taken with the cake stand.

-Definitely no.

-But I bet you're taken with the Dinky cars.

Oh, I love the cars. I mean, we've got archetype 1950s

British sports cars. We've got a Triumph and an MG.

Collectors of these want them to be totally original.

They don't want the little bit of paint loss,

they want them in original boxes but nonetheless,

I think those are really sweet. They're going to make £10-£15.

Kate and the team paid 26 for them.

Fingers crossed there are more car enthusiasts in the saleroom

-than just you.

-Absolutely.

Well, Phil thinks this might be on the edge,

so let's see what Kate bought for the Blues as her bonus buy.

Well, Jim and Sally, you did very well.

You already have three veritable bargains

because you only spent £101.

But that means that Kate Bliss was given £199.

Now, Kate, tell us, what did you buy?

Well, we were very much drawn to things related to food and drink,

were we not? Cake stand.

So I carried on that theme and I've bought you...

..a little teacup.

Have a little closer look at it,

because this isn't just an ordinary teacup.

What do you think of it, Sally?

It's very dainty, very pretty.

It's very small, yeah.

-It is very small.

-It's for people that don't like much tea.

Or perhaps for people in the 18th-century when tea

was very expensive and it was a bit of a luxury.

OK, so this little teacup would have been the ideal size, actually,

for sipping tea in about 1770, which is when this dates from.

-Gosh, that's really old.

-It is really old.

It's a piece of Worcester porcelain

despite the very Chinese decoration it's got on it.

But this piece is particularly nice because you've got a tiny little

mark on the base there which is actually the decorator's mark.

So, you could go through the factory archives, with time,

and maybe pinpoint that to the actual decorator in 1770

with the right resources.

But the other thing is that not only

have they gone to the bother of decorating it in blue,

but they just highlighted it in gilt here and around the inside.

For an 18th-century bit of porcelain,

to have gilt decoration like that in good order

is actually really unusual,

because the gilt will rub off with age and with wear.

It's in really nice condition.

I'd like to know how much of our money that cost.

Well, you left me a good wedge, didn't you?

-We did.

-But I only blew 25.

No! Well, that seems a real bargain to me.

I thought that would be a little bit more than that,

so how much profit would that make, do you think?

Well, I would hope that it might make £30, £40, £50 on a good day.

It has got that gilt, which just gives it a little bit extra.

Well, the condition is good, the reaction was good, but will

Philip Serrell think that this early bit of Worcester is his cup of tea?

We're in Worcestershire,

so you should like this first period Worcester cup.

A little bit of gilding, nice mark on the bottom.

It is, it's lovely.

These things don't make anything like the money

that they should, really.

When you think of the age of that, we're talking 240,

nearly 250 years old.

-I think that's going to make between 15 and £30.

-15 and 30?

-No money.

-Do you think that's because people just don't

-display things like they used to?

-I think you're absolutely right.

There aren't collectors around in the way that they used to be.

You might have your work cut out, because Kate paid £25 for it.

But do you know what? I believe that you're on the rostrum today.

-I am indeed.

-Anything is possible.

Let's see Phil work his magic.

110, 120, 130, 140...

100, 110. Any more? 110 in the room. 120.

OK, Chris and Claire.

This is the ultimate test of a marriage, wouldn't you say?

Yes. It is. It's all about the golf brooch.

See how it goes today.

This is Bargain Hunt auction, real-time excitement.

-Are you feeling it?

-Petrified.

Petrified? Don't be nervous.

Asprey is the name on everyone's lips and it's there

embossed into the leather, but we need it to make 35 at least.

Here it comes.

The Asprey desk set. Bid me £50.

Oh, right, OK. Who's got £40?

Give me 30. To start.

30, I'm bid, five. One more? 40.

Perfect, profit.

At £40, down here at 40.

40 bid. At £40, I'm only bid.

It's your bid, sir. I sell then at £40 and done.

Thank you.

Yes, £40. Immediate profit of five.

Now we're onto your brooch, Chris. We need a good price, here.

Bid me for that little golfing brooch.

Bid me for that lot. 60 or £70 to start me.

Bid me 50. Who's got a tenner?

Quickly. Don't be so mean, the lot of you.

I've got £10 everywhere.

15 on the net. 15, I'll take 20 anywhere.

At £15, and done, then at 15, and done. Thank you.

£15, it sold for, which means you've made a loss of 25.

-Here comes the punch set.

-Who's got £50?

Anybody having a party?

It's amazing.

10 on what? No way, not a tenner. You can't let it go for a tenner.

15, 15, 20, five, 25 here. Gentleman's bid.

At £25 only.

It's your bid, sir. At £25 and done, then, at 25 and done. Thank you.

OK, so, that sold for 25 which is a loss of £70,

which means overall, you're minus £90.

I told you this was a marital test.

Stick with one another, and will you stick with Paul Laidlaw?

That Victorian ice bucket.

You're not allowed to ask him if you should go for it or not, but I can

remind you that Paul paid 50 for it.

-What do you think?

-Yes.

-Definitely, definitely go for it.

100%. We've got every faith in him and not in ourselves.

And here comes the auctioneer.

Who's got £20 to start?

20, I'm bid at 20. Five, 30, five, 40, five, 50, five,

60, five, 75.

Any more? 80 bid. 80. 80 bid. At £80. There's the bid. At £80.

I'm bid at 80. Any more at all?

At £80, it's your bid, sir, and done at £80, and done.

Thank you.

-OK, £80.

-Not enough.

-Paul made you £30.

It means you're minus 60 overall. Have you seen Bargain Hunt before?

-You know as well as I do, that could be a winning score.

-It could.

So, keep it to yourself and don't say anything to the Blues.

-Promise?

-Promise.

-OK.

Jim and Sally, this is it, the moment is here.

I hope you're excited, because the auction is now.

-How are you feeling, Jim?

-All right. Looking forward to this.

The first one is the lovely barrel-style jug.

Let's watch him go.

There you are. Will you bid me for that? Start me off, someone.

Bid me, I don't know, 60 or £70 for it.

Surely worth that. Got £60 on the net.

Bid at 60. 60 bid. £60 only.

At 60. Any more? Who's got 70? At £60 only.

Just one more. Well, that's it.

The maiden bid will take it, and it's done then at £60 and done.

Thank you.

-Well done, Jim!

-It could have been worse.

You can hold your head up high, but we still need to make some money.

Hopefully we will on this three-tier cake stand.

Who's got a tenner?

Well done, madam. At 10, I'm bid at 10.

10, I've got a 10 here. 15, if you like.

15. At £15.

At £15 out of that.

There's the bid. £15 only.

Any more? £15, there's the bid.

Well done, you. At £15 and done, then, at 15.

That's £15.

Again, we're still on zero.

Come on, Dinky toy. £26.

We want to make some money.

The Dinky cars. Bid me for these. Who's got...?

I don't know, £30 to start, someone.

Who's got 20?

Who's got a tenner, then? They're cheap to run.

10, I'm bid. 15 now? 15. At £15 only.

Don't want to make a loss.

-Come on.

-£15 I'm only bid.

Any more? At £15 and done at 15. Thank you.

So eventually we did lose some money.

Didn't make any profit.

So we're minus 11.

Don't worry, you've done pretty well because it is a tough, tough gig.

Here we are now deciding whether or not to go with

that first period Worcester cup.

-I think we are now, aren't we?

-I think we need Kate's help.

We obviously haven't chosen very well.

We haven't got a lot to lose, literally.

-No.

-You're going to go with it?

I think we're going to go for that. Attempt at a profit.

Let's find out if you made the right decision.

Here comes Kate's cup.

£10 bid at 10. 10 bid. £10, £10, £10, at 10.

15, 20, five, 30, with me.

At £30 here. At 30. 30 bid.

Any more? And five, 35.

Any more at all? At £35 and I sell at 35 and done.

Thank you.

Oh, my goodness. Well, Kate Bliss saved your bacon there.

You've made £35 on that.

A £10 profit, which means overall, you're minus just £1.

-No!

-The story of your shop has almost seen you break even.

-Not quite there.

-It's a brilliant story anyway.

But do you know what? Minus £1.

How many times have you seen a negative score

turn into a positive result? If you can just, you know,

keep up the good thoughts and positive vibes.

-Who knows?

-Just don't say anything to the Reds, that is all I ask.

-Do you promise?

-Promise.

-Thank you very much and well done.

Chris and Claire, Jim and Sally, experts,

I'm going to tell you why I love Bargain Hunt so much.

It's because there is never a loser, only ever runners up.

And in most circumstances, winning it involves making some money.

But neither of you did that today, did you?

-No!

-We both ended up minus numbers.

But someone, well, one team ended up losing just a little bit more

than the others. In fact, quite a lot more.

Our runners up today...

..are the Reds. Oh!

Minus 60, Reds. That's what you came in at. Minus 60.

We started off with a profit and it was just downhill from there,

and it was going to be a crystal-clear profit, was it not?

With that gorgeous crystal punchbowl.

What did it lose? £70.

But who got you out of a lot of trouble?

None other than Mr Paul Laidlaw.

You made a £30 profit on that bonus buy and it took you to minus 60.

So I don't have anything to offer you except our thanks.

You did ever so well and, of course, you've been such good sports,

so thank you for that. Wouldn't you like to know how much our winners

today...? "Winners" are the Blues.

They lost just £1.

-So close.

-It was ever so close.

Our first two lots, you broke even.

It's just almost unheard of.

Zero, zero and then minus 11 but Kate Bliss, she was your superhero.

£10 profit on a bonus buy and you came in at minus one.

Again, I've got nothing to give you except my congratulations,

because in the end, you are our winners today.

-But we all had good fun?

-We did.

-Yes.

And you too can find out everything you need to know about Bargain Hunt

by visiting the website or follow us on Twitter if you will.

But let me invite you to do something much more important

-than that. Join us next time for more bargain hunting, yes? ALL:

-Yes.