Southwell 25 Bargain Hunt

Bargain Hunt is back at the races, and today we're at an

antiques fair in Southwell Racecourse

in Nottinghamshire.

So cue in the puns.

The going is looking good and we're odds on for a cracking show.

So place your bets on the Reds or the Blues,

and let's go Bargain Hunting!

There are up to 200 stalls here at Southwell Racecourse and our

teams have £300 each,

with just one hour to buy three items which

will hopefully make a profit at auction.

Let's look at the race ahead.

-On today's show, one of our Reds is kept on a tight leash.

-Off you go.

-Off you go.

-Oh, poor Steve.

One of the Blues is kept firmly in their place.

-I do like it.

-What about you, Steph.

-No, come on, let's move on.

We've been told. Carry on looking.

By the auction, the Reds are feeling cautious.

-How do you feel?

-A bit scared.

-Nervous.

-But excited.

And the Blues are having a good old giggle.

THEY LAUGH

That's all for later. But now let's meet today's teams.

For the Reds, we have engaged couple Steve and Jane.

And for the Blues we have married couple Chris and Steph.

-Hello, everyone! ALL:

-Hello!

Now, Jane, how did you and Steve get together?

Well, I was asked along to an engagement party and

-a friend of mine set me up with three men.

-Three guys?

-Three guys.

-At the one time?

-At the one time. They all stood virtually in a row.

SHE LAUGHS

So I said, "OK, well the first one

"that gets his message on my answerphone,

"I'll go for a drink with."

And that was Steve.

-He was the lucky one.

-THEY LAUGH

-Now, Jane, you guys have been engaged for 19 years.

-I know.

-When are you going to tie the knot?

-This year, this year.

Now, Steve, you're both retired now,

but you were in the RAF for 40 years.

Yeah, yeah, I served on a Nimrod aircraft as a sensor operator,

working equipment down the back of the aircraft, and the

aircraft was involved in quite a lot of the conflicts over the years.

Things like the Falklands War and Bosnia,

the two Gulf Wars and finally Afghanistan.

So, Steve, what do you do in your spare time?

I like fly fishing so I go out and trout-fish.

Hopefully bring some trout home for Janie to cook.

And I also do some charity work with the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance.

So it's a sort of busy time, this being retired stuff?

-Oh, yeah, it never stops. It never stops.

-That's true.

-What do you know about antiques and collectables?

-Not a huge amount.

-Not a lot at all. Not a lot at all, if I'm honest.

-I know what I like.

-You know what you like.

-I know what I like.

-So what about tactics?

You've got to have a tactic.

I want to find something a bit quirky,

preferably from a stallholder that's got a lot of sympathy for us.

Oh, right.

-Who's going to be doing the dealing?

-I think it'll be Steve.

But you've got a lovely smile. You could get in there as well.

I'll try. I'll try. I'll go in and see if they'll give me a deal.

So that's it for the Red teams, and up against you today are the

Blues, Chris and Steph.

Now, you guys have been married for 44 years.

Was it love at first sight?

-No.

-Tell me how you met.

We actually met on a pontoon bridge. I saw him. And you saw me.

"Oh, he's quite nice, he's quite nice." But we didn't really meet...

-No, not for a long time.

-..until about a month afterwards, I think.

-We met at a disco and that was it.

-Fell in love.

-We must have done.

We must have done.

And we got married two years afterwards, didn't we?

-And lived happily ever after?

-Well...

THEY LAUGH

Now, Chris, you're a retired GP receptionist.

Does that mean that you were a tough cookie?

Yes, I was a tough cookie. But I was fair. I was kind and I was fair.

-Chris, are you enjoying retirement?

-I am. It's really wonderful, yes.

Not to get up at six o'clock in the morning

and have to be at work at 7.30.

Now, Steph, you're retired as well,

but you were in the shoe industry. I love shoes.

-I used to make ladies' shoes.

-Did you?

I did, yes, I made ladies' shoes for 44 years. I loved the atmosphere.

I loved the people.

-Are you enjoying retirement as much as Chris?

-I am.

Plus the fact we get to know each other now cos we worked

-different shifts.

-After all these years.

Yeah, we did, we worked a lot of shifts and we were like

passing ships in the night, really, weren't we?

She'd go to work. I'd stay home. I'd go to work when she came home.

-We never seen each other.

-It's getting to know each other again.

-So what do you know about antiques?

-A little bit. Not an awful lot.

We don't know a great deal, but we're going to go out there and

-we're going to go, "Yes."

-We'll do our very best.

-And that's it.

-And what about tactics?

-We're going to spend! Spend!

THEY LAUGH

-They're the opposite of you.

-Yes.

Well, I suppose if you're going to spend a lot,

-I'd better hand over some money to you.

-Please.

-£300.

-Oh, thanks.

-£300 here.

-Lovely.

Your experts await, so off you go and good luck.

Loving couples. Wonderful!

So let's meet today's experts.

Hoping to be in tune with the Reds, it's Raj Bisram.

And who's behind the mask for the Blues?

Oh! It's Mark Stacey.

Tell me, what are we looking for today?

Something silvery and sparkly.

-I've actually got a list.

-Oh, no, not a list. Have you?

-Do you agree with this list?

-Yes, of course.

I fancied something quite unusual,

maybe some aircraft memorabilia from my time in the Air Force?

We've got 1960s, we quite like 1960s.

-Fountain pens.

-Good Lord.

-We quite like those as well.

Action, teams! Your time starts now!

BELL RINGS

Let's go and see what we can find.

-You know you've only got £300, don't you?

-We do.

-We'll spend it all.

-We'll spend it all.

Off you go then, teams,

and it looks like the Reds and Blues are starting outside.

-Silvery and sparkly.

-It is, Jane, it's a claret jug.

But it's actually a reproduction one and I can tell why from the glass.

I spotted these. These are quite...odd.

Yeah, they're stirrups, aren't they?

-They're stirrups.

-Horse stirrups.

-I don't think there's enough oomph in that.

-Not enough oomph.

They might be good buys, Reds. We are at a racecourse.

Blues, are these stacking up?

-Do you like boxes, Steph?

-I do, yeah.

Because there is a lot over there, isn't there?

-Yes, there are.

-That's obviously a tea caddy.

-Nice sarcophagus shape.

-And that one might be as well.

That's probably a tea caddy.

I mean, these are proper antiques, you know,

-but they are completely out of fashion these days.

-OK, that's fine.

So it depends on the price.

-Would you like to go and ask how much those two are?

-We will.

If she wants something, does she bargain down?

We've had us bartering when we went on holiday a few years ago.

Did you? Well, let's see how she finds it here.

Let's see how much these are, shall we?

I like to show you this box if that's OK.

OK, can we have a look at this? Can you give us some details for it?

That one will be £100. We're talking about 185 on that one.

I think we probably need to have a think about them. What do you think?

-OK, that's fine. Yes, we'll have a think. Thank you.

-Thank you so much.

We might be back. Thank you. Thank you very much.

So the boxes aren't ticking a box for the Blues,

so what do the Reds have their eyes on?

They're lovely.

-They're lovely.

-These are mother of pearl opera glasses.

-Do people collect them?

-They do collect them.

Opera glasses are collectable.

-The box itself is brand-new.

-Yeah.

-But the glasses are lovely.

-Do you like them?

-Yes, I think they look very nice, yeah.

-They look in very good condition.

-You spotted them. Well done.

-I saw a sparkle.

-Yeah, I like those.

Well, let's see what the dealer will do.

Well, they're priced up at £38, Raj.

Try to negotiate the price with our shy stallholder.

Can I ask you what could be the very best on these?

34.

-Get down to 30?

-I can do 30.

-You can do it for 30?

-What do you think, Raj?

I think that's not a bad price.

-They come with a little box as well so...

-Yeah, OK.

-Happy?

-I think we've got a deal.

-OK, well, let's shake the man's hand.

-Thanks very much indeed.

-Thank you.

-First deal.

Well done, Reds. £8 off the asking price and

that's your first buy in just under ten minutes.

Now what are the Blues about to serve up?

What about this sort of thing, Mark?

Well, you liked that on the way in, didn't you?

-I did quite like that, actually.

-Well, why do you like it?

I don't know. It's just so different.

-The design is so different.

-And do you like it, Steph?

I like it. It reminds me of Arts and Crafts.

Actually, when you look at it, the design is very bold, isn't it?

-Yes, it is.

-You've got all this hand work here, these scrolls...

Is that what it would be, Mark? Would they be hand?

Oh, yeah, this is all done by hand, and if we turn it over,

this is all hand-done, you see. And there is a little thing there.

-Can you see? SF 1978.

-Oh, is that how old it is?

So it's actually probably 1978.

-Oh, my goodness.

-But it's a unique piece, isn't it?

-It is.

-I've never seen anything like it.

-No.

-It's got £55 on it.

Now, it's a difficult thing to value

-because nobody's ever seen anything like it.

-No.

If I was being a sort of cheeky auctioneer, I would probably

say sort of £30 to £50 or something like that.

What do you think? Shall I go and have a word with the dealers?

Yes, I think it's worth a try.

You're always cheeky, Mark.

But just how cheeky were you?

Well, I tried to get it for £30,

but the dealer was quite generous and said we could have it for 35.

-People like quirky, unusual items, these days.

-It is, it is.

It would photograph well online. So is it our first item?

-Yes, I think so.

-I think so.

-Amazing! Well done!

-Not on the list.

Not on the list.

THEY LAUGH

-It's 1970s. You said 1960s.

-I did.

-So we're close.

-We did, we did, lovely.

-Well, let's hope its copper-bottomed.

THEY LAUGH

It might not have been on your shopping list, Blues,

but nevertheless, that's your first item

with nearly 15 minutes on the clock.

Now's not the time to be held back, Reds.

-We found the perfect thing for you, Steve.

-There we go.

-That's you caught.

-Wow, I mean, this is different. A ball and chain.

-It's very different.

-Where did that come from?

These were literally from the days of, you know,

-prisoners and prisoners of war.

-Who is going to buy this?

There are people who are into dungeons,

you know, things like that.

-I'm just saying.

-OK.

-I'm just saying.

Let's just put it down.

I think Raj is encouraging you to move on, Reds.

Shall we go inside now? Yep? Let's go. Let's go inside.

Sounds like a plan, and it looks like the Blues have the same idea.

-Oh, it is a bit warmer in here, isn't it?

-Oh, that's better.

-Yes, it is.

-That's it! Get in the warm, Blues.

And are the Reds about to lift the lid on their next item?

-Now that, that is a nice piece.

-Yeah, I like this as well.

-What is it?

-It's a cheese dish.

It's for a, you know, a nice big, well, I guess, Stilton.

What have you got on it? Cos I know there's no price on it.

It's got 180 on it.

-For you guys, 100.

-100?

It's definitely something we should think about.

-It's a real big tabletop.

-Could you hang onto it for five minutes?

-Of course.

-Just whilst we...

-Ask for ten.

-Ten minutes.

-Ten minutes would be OK?

-No, not a problem.

Great, lovely. Thanks very much. See you in a bit.

£80 is a big discount, Reds. Is it wise to leave it?

Now, any idea what the Blues have spotted?

Now, this is quite interesting. What do you think it is?

I thought it was a money box.

Yeah, well, it does look like that, doesn't it?

But I think it's for voting.

Have you ever heard of being blackballed?

-No.

-You've never heard that expression?

-No.

Well, when you join certain clubs,

-the members have to vote whether they want you to join.

-Right.

And they have a different token or ball to say whether it's

a yes or a no.

And then, of course, whoever does the counting will know

-how many people voted yes or no, but they want know who voted.

-No.

So it's actually quite a fun little thing, isn't it?

I think this is probably sort of late Victorian.

-Oh, right.

-1880, 1890. Something like that.

-Oh, OK.

-You like it, don't you?

-I do like it.

-What about you, Steph?

-No, come on, let's move on.

-Oh.

-You don't like it, then?

-We'll carry on looking.

-I think it's quite unusual.

-You've been told.

-Carry on looking.

-Steph has spoken and the box isn't getting his vote.

You'd best move on, Blues.

I heard a wee rumour that Steve's a keen photographer.

At £10, this should be right up his street.

That's a Canon.

-Yes, it's a little Canon box camera.

-It's not a Canon, is it?

-No, it's a Coronet.

-It's a Coronet.

-Yeah, Coronet.

These were very, very common. OK?

Not necessarily Canon ones,

but the box brownies that you see everywhere...

I like the box brownies.

Yeah, these were one of the first cameras and there were thousands of

-them made so, to me, it just hasn't got the rarity value.

-OK.

-Jane, what do you think about that?

-I like it.

-Yeah, I like it as well.

-So you both like it?

We both like it and it looks in...

-the bellows are in good condition.

-It's different.

Students like a lot of those to put on shelves

-next to their books and that.

-OK.

-It is what it is for the bargain price of a tenner.

-Up to you.

You like it. You got me...you got me to come round and have a look at it.

-You like it.

-I like photography.

I like taking pictures of the birds and that so...

Would it be crazy of me to say would you take a little bit less?

-£9.

-£9?

-£9 would be great.

-That's very good of you.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

Item number two snapped up for the Reds in just under 30 minutes.

So, experts, how's it all going?

They're such a lovely couple. You can see they love each other.

And he was very quiet, but I loved it when

he sort of turned just now and said, "We'll move on."

-I just followed orders.

-Quite right, Mark.

And what about the Reds, Raj?

So far, we haven't bought anything that they really wanted to

start with, but they love the things that they've bought and

they're really happy with them, so that's what counts.

Plans usually go out the window in Bargain Hunt, Raj.

The Blues haven't bought a thing off their shopping list,

but are they about to pour some of their budget on this?

-That's a big jug, isn't it?

-It is.

-It's huge. I think it's Italian.

-And majolica.

-What age do you think it would be, Mark?

The difficulty with dating these is that the original style of

-this would have been 14th, 15th, 16th century.

-Right.

But this is probably much later.

I think, actually, it's probably 1890, 1900. I like that.

Can you imagine that, if you had a big country dresser or table?

Or even a loft apartment, these loft apartments,

-you can get these big vases.

-Well, in those loft apartments,

-it could be a shower room.

-It could, couldn't it?

-Can you do a good price on that, or not?

-I can come down to 80 on it.

-Oh, £80. We want it for a bit less than that, don't we?

-A little bit.

I was thinking more of 70. Can you possibly do it for 70?

-79, how's that?

-Oh!

THEY LAUGH

-That shocked me! Let's go 76.

-Go on, then.

-Yes.

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

-Well, I think it's magnificent.

-I do.

-I do. 76.

-You two are on fire.

-That's our second item in half an hour.

-Good, I'm so glad!

Let's have a saunter.

I wouldn't rest on your laurels too much, Blues,

those final 30 minutes whizz by.

There we are. Half an hour and two items bought.

-Not bad, is it?

-Not bad at all.

-Nothing on our list.

-None on our list.

Well, this is what comes of lists, you see.

-But we've got pottery and we've got brass.

-True.

-Yes.

-Now, we need cash.

-We do, we do.

-Back to it, then.

Both teams have one more item to find and 25 minutes to find it in.

Up there, you see the owl?

It's a studio pottery, and believe it or not,

-the owl is the lucky emblem of the antique dealer.

-Is it?

Yeah, a lot of people don't know that. I was told that

when I first started out in the business, donkey's years ago.

And Raj and Mark are our wise owls today.

Now, Blues, are you going to resort to the shopping list?

Do let me know if you see something you'd like.

There's one or two pieces of 1960s glass there.

-A bit specialised, really, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Oh, what about the Spanish lady lamp?

-Oh, gosh, that's hideous.

-You're not serious, are you?

-No.

-No, good.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Mark.

Reds, is there a plan?

We've still got the ball and chain on hold,

and we've got the majolica Stilton dish on hold as well. So...

Which one's the best?

I think that the ball and chain is very different and...

It's very individual.

..it's quite humorous these days and I think that somebody

-else will love it the same as you.

-Shall we go?

-Shall we do that?

OK, let's go and do that, then.

Go and hold down the ball and chain then, Reds.

And I think Mark has got his eye on the time for the Blues.

-I like this.

-What is it, exactly?

Well, what do you think when you look at that?

It's some sort of timepiece, isn't it?

-Well, there's something missing from it, isn't there?

-Yes.

-The case.

-It's a longcase clock.

-Oh, yes, of course it is. It's the face.

It's from a longcase clock. You've got Thomas Wynne here, London.

-Yes.

-So it's a London maker.

I mean, this type of brass face is very Georgian, it's 18th century.

-Yeah.

-I look at it as a very decorative piece.

-It is, very, yeah.

If you've got a nice old house,

-that would look lovely up on the wall, wouldn't it?

-Right, yes.

-Oh, 265. Ah. I didn't see that bit.

-No.

-You beauty.

-It's lovely, but it's...

-Yes, it is a little bit, isn't it?

Too much for us, isn't it? I would love to buy that, but we can't.

No, we can't afford that.

No, sorry about that. And do you know what I say?

-Time is ticking, so we'd better get on.

-We'd better get a move on.

Quickly, right.

It certainly is, Blues.

Just 15 minutes left and it looks like the Reds are talking

tactics to secure the ball and chain.

Now, before we go in for the kill, we've already seen the price,

it's £25 for the ball and chain.

-18.

-18?

-Let's start at 18.

-You think at 18.

-15.

-15.

-Work our way up.

-Let's see how it goes.

-OK, OK.

-Hi, there.

-We've come back to ask a few more questions.

-Yeah, OK.

-OK.

Shall I start off with what is the best price you can do it for?

-It's always the best question. Um, I can do it for 20.

-20.

-Go down slightly lower?

-I think so.

I'm a condemned man in November.

I've got a wedding to pay for.

-15?

-15?

-Too late for this.

15, if one of you goes off wearing it.

-OK.

-That sounds lovely. No problem at all.

-Come here, you.

-There.

-No getting away, Steve.

-No getting away. I'll try!

-Off you go.

THEY LAUGH

-# Going to the chapel and we're... #

-Poor Steve.

# Going to get married... # Job done, Reds.

So, Blues, it's down to you.

Ten minutes left.

I'm thinking off the wall. I've just seen this.

-What do you think of it?

-I quite like that.

-It's good fun, isn't it?

-It is. I did spot it on the way through.

-Did you?

-And you never said anything.

-I didn't.

-No.

Because I thought, "No, no, no," but I do quite like that.

I know why you didn't say anything because it's not old

and we're supposed to be buying antiques.

But not necessarily, because the auction world these days is

-about decorative items.

-It is.

-I love his eyes and his face.

-He's quirky.

-Can I have a look at him?

-Have a look.

You have a look, I'll find out the price. You have a look too.

-Yeah, I will.

-Oh, my goodness me.

-How much?

-The dealer actually said 35.

There's a bit of wriggle room,

but we need to get to the bare essentials.

-BOTH:

-Aw.

-Go and have a word.

-Yeah, yeah, all right, then.

-Did you get it?

-BARE essentials?

-Yes, the BEAR essentials.

It is the bear necessities now, isn't it?

Madame, the BEAR necessities.

Well, the BEAR necessities is 28.

-You can't do 25?

-No. 27.

Oh, she's being very nice.

-She's got a nice face.

-Shall we?

-Yes.

-Are you happy with that?

-We'll go for it.

-Yes, I'm happy.

-And we have got very little time left.

We have.

Thank goodness. I can't BEAR any more puns.

We've done it! Three items, with 50 seconds to spare!

That's it, teams, time's up!

-Gosh, I need a cup of tea.

-I think we do.

I think we do. OK.

Now, let's check out what the Red team bought.

First up, Steve and Jane focused on these opera glasses and paid £30.

Next, will this camera keep them in the picture? Bought for £9.

And finally, they're hoping this ball and chain

will secure them a profit.

Bought for £15.

-Well, guys, have you had a good time?

-Fabulous.

-Brilliant, yes.

A fabulous time. What's your favourite item?

I like the little opera glasses cos they had

a little bit of sparkle about them. Yes, so I like those.

But are they the things that are going to make the most profit?

I'd like the ball and chain to make the most profit.

SHE LAUGHS

What about you, Steve, what was your favourite item?

I like the opera glasses as well. They're really nice.

But I think the thing that's going to make the most profit is

probably the little camera. That's really nice as well.

-Great items...

-Yeah, yeah.

-..for not a lot of money.

-No, no, very little.

-You've only spent £54.

-Yes.

-Can I have 246?

-There we go.

-Thank you.

-Raj, that is a lot of dosh.

-It certainly is, Anita.

What are you going to buy with that?

-A surprise.

-A surprise?

-A surprise.

-Maybe a racehorse?

You never know.

Let's check out what the Blues bought.

Chris and Steph dished up this copper bowl

as their first purchase and paid £35.

Next, they're hoping profits will pour in

with this jug,

bought for £76.

And finally, let's hope it doesn't all come to

a grizzly end with this bear's head statue, bought for £27.

Well, guys, did you have a good time?

-Great time, lovely, thank you.

-Absolutely brilliant.

What's your favourite item?

-The brass and copper plate, I think.

-Steph, what was your favourite item?

-I still think it's the brass plate.

-Is it going to make the best profit?

-I think so, yeah. I hope so.

-THEY LAUGH

-Oh, I like your positive attitude.

-I hope so.

You've spent 138?

-Not bad at all. 162, please.

-162.

-Excellent, excellent.

-Now, that's a goodly wee sum, Mark.

-Indeed it is, Anita.

Have you any idea what you're going to buy?

Absolutely none, but I've got the list, and I shall be finding

-something on that list, Anita.

-You've got the list.

So, before we head off to the auction,

I'm going to the Victorian prison in Lincoln Castle.

Behind me is the magnificent Lincoln Castle.

Built almost 1,000 years ago by William the Conqueror, this castle

has seen some of the most dramatic events in English history.

I'm up here on the castle walls, and despite torrential rain,

I have a wonderful view of Lincoln Cathedral.

But I'm not here to admire the views,

I am here to visit the castle's Victorian prison.

Built within the castle walls is an extension of an earlier prison

and it has remained unaltered since it was abandoned in 1878.

I've come to meet Margaret Carstairs who's going to tell me

a little more about the history of the prison.

This particular prison was built in 1847 and occupied from 1848.

Who'd have been held prisoner here?

They would've been men, women and children.

-Children as well?

-Yes, from the age of ten officially,

but we have records here

of an eight-year-old boy being incarcerated here.

The Victorians loved building prisons and this jail is

one of 90 built or extended between the 1840s and the 1870s.

The aim was to bring a new approach - reforming prisoners.

It was called the separate system.

So the prisoners were kept separately,

-they had their own cell, and this was quite different.

-Absolutely.

The new regime thought that if they could separate people,

reform them with silence, solitude and religion, they could make

them better people.

They certainly didn't want people getting together and plotting

and actually learning skills from each other.

So at the end of the day, you should walk out of here a better person.

On the surface these cells would appear to be state-of-the-art,

equipped with a flushing toilet, central heating and running water.

So what was the catch?

-Were they ever let out their cells?

-They were, for two hours.

-Two hours a day?

-Two hours a day.

First thing in the morning, you would be let out,

a hood put over your head just with slits for eyes.

You're not allowed to see anybody else.

So even though you were with other people, there was no communication.

No, and you were punished severely

if you tried in any way to communicate.

In theory, what the Victorians thought to be a good thing

turned out to be cruel.

22 hours of solitary confinement instead of reforming

sent many prisoners mad.

How long did the separate system last?

-Here in Lincoln, virtually weeks.

-Really?

-Yes.

As soon as this prison opened, the design of the prison made

that we had fumes leaking upstairs,

people were getting ill with what they called jail fever,

it was overcrowded.

It could not be implemented here in Lincoln.

So ironically, did prisoners end up sharing cells?

Yes, we had three to a cell here in busy times.

Lincoln Prison abandoned the separation system, but prisoners

continued to be segregated in the prison chapel during

the communal act of Christian worship.

Where we're standing, this is where the male prisoners were put in.

Each man going in, the door closing behind him and so on until we get

to the end, when a locking mechanism would shut all these doors.

But of course, if we were actually

-here, we wouldn't be standing on these steps.

-Right.

I'd be down here.

Margaret.

-And you'd be down there.

-I don't like this! I don't like it.

It's absolutely terrifying and so claustrophobic.

All you can see is the vicar.

It's no wonder this system sent people mad.

Thank you, Margaret. It's been fascinating.

Well, I can guarantee our teams will be praying for huge profits

at today's auction, so it's time for me to head over to Bourne

and catch up with auctioneer Colin Young.

Today, we are at Golding Young auctioneers with

auctioneer Colin Young.

-Hello, Colin. How are you?

-Hello, Anita. Nice to see a familiar face.

Ah, yes. Well, here we are with the Red team's items.

Our first item is the pair

-of mother-of-pearl and brass opera glasses.

-Yeah.

Now, Jane wanted something sparkly.

Definitely sparkly.

But I think that's probably because they're not very old.

-Do you like them?

-I think they are fine.

We have sold so many of these things that have been imported from

the Far East over the recent years.

-They are an object and they have a value.

-Uh-huh.

And a wee bit attractive because the mother-of-pearl in them.

It is, that's the thing that sets them apart from being just

a standard polished brass.

So, yeah, nice little pairing.

What's your estimate on that lot?

-I mean, they're suddenly worth £25 to £40.

-That's wonderful, Colin.

-They only paid £30, so they have a chance...

-Yes.

-..of making a profit on these.

-Yes.

Our next item, Steve fell in love with this camera here,

and I can understand that.

-Did you fall in love with it?

-Uh, not really.

I've just sold so many of these and it's not one of the great designs,

it's not one of the rarities.

I suppose, I'd put an estimate of ten to 30.

He only paid 9 for that, so still a chance of a profit.

Absolutely.

-Our third item, the ball and chain.

-Mm-hm.

-Now, this couple have been engaged for 19 years.

-Right.

They are getting married quite soon and I was wondering if that

would maybe put them off.

Does it put you off, Colin? Do you like it?

It's not necessarily my sort of thing, but we're having

a little giggle like schoolchildren, so I'm sure exactly the same is

going to happen in the saleroom and there'll be lots of interest in it.

Good, good, good. What's your estimate on that?

-I think 25 to 40.

-Wonderful, Colin. They only paid £15.

I think that was a good buy.

-So that could be a good £15 worth.

-Very much so.

Well, your prediction is that they may not need the bonus buy,

but we're going to go and have a look at it anyway.

Steve, Jane, you spent a wee canny £54

and you gave Raj 246.

Raj, show us what you bought. Reveal all!

-Oh, yes, I recognise that.

-Oh, yes.

-A really nice majolica Stilton dish.

-Yes, we spotted that, didn't we?

-We spotted that, I recognise that.

-We debated about that.

-you were thinking about it, weren't you, as we went round?

-We did.

-I seem to remember the price as well, if I remember.

-Yeah.

What did you pay for it?

-Well, I think I got this extremely reasonably. I got this for £50.

-50?

-Did you?

-£50, yeah.

-Wow.

-You do get a big slice off it then.

Ha, very good, very good.

So how much is it going to make?

I would hope it would make £50 to £80.

So, you're happy with the item,

you're happy with the price, but you don't need to make up your mind

finally at the moment because we are going to go over and see what

the auctioneer thinks of Raj's Stilton dish.

For his bonus buy, Raj bought this Stilton cheese dish.

What do you think of that, Colin?

Well, I think he's bought something big, bold and impressive.

It's the type of thing that is highly desirable,

the original 19th-century ones. If you've got the works of Minton and

these sort of factories producing things, then you're looking at

many, many hundreds of pounds.

But if you can't afford that, this is an ideal thing to change for it.

An estimate of 25 to 40. We'll see them come through...

They've only paid £50 for that,

Colin, but you're not predicting a profit.

-I'm afraid not on this one.

-Not on this one.

OK, but you never know, we might get lucky.

Moving onto the Blues now,

our first item is this modernist copper bowl.

I think this is the type of thing that would appeal to someone

-who is interested in art. Do you like it?

-I love it.

I think it's absolutely wonderful.

It's got that sort of industrial look about it.

I just wish I could find some more out about it.

I really did struggle to find out who, when and how.

-What's your estimate on the copper plate?

-40 to 60.

-Yeah.

They only paid 35, and I think that was a very good buy.

So it looks like, with any luck, we will have a profit on that.

Hope so.

Going onto our second item, that big majolica jug.

-An impressive-looking item. Do you like it, Colin?

-I do.

It is one of my favourite types of pottery, so I've got

a little bit of enthusiasm for that, it has to be said.

It's got the look.

It has got the look and it's got the condition and I'm quite

-positive about this one.

-Mm-hm.

What's your estimate on that?

I've placed an estimate of 50 to 80, but I'll be honest,

I've had examples like this make over 100 before.

-It's all going to come down to on the day, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-They paid £76 for that, so there is a chance.

-Yes.

Our team brought the first two items very, very quickly

and they took a long time deliberating over the third one.

They didn't leave themselves a lot of time at the end, and they

bought this bear.

-Tell me what you think of that.

-Well...

-Tell me what you think about it.

-THEY CHUCKLE

I think it's got a very sweet face.

Yes. You can see this was one of those running-out-of-time scenarios.

There's not a lot to say apart from

it's modern, it's reconstituted concrete.

It's nicely moulded and it's good and decorative.

-It has a lot of positives about it.

-That's right.

It would fit in a garden

-and it would look nice once it was weathered.

-Yes.

What's your prediction on that one?

Well, £10 to £30, and I can't see it making any more than that top end

because you can literally go to a garden centre and buy another one.

-OK. Well, they paid £27 for that.

-OK.

-Positive on the first two.

-Yeah.

-Not so positive on this one.

So they may or may not make a profit overall.

They may need their bonus buy,

and we're going to go and have a look at it now.

Chris, Steph, you left Mark £162.

-Mark, reveal all!

-I will.

-Ooh!

-And it's on your list.

-It is.

-You said Chinese.

I scoured that list for ages and I found you

a period 18th-century Chinese export ware sauce boat,

-with initials on the front.

-That's beautiful, actually.

I don't think they're your initials, sadly.

-You like it, don't you?

-I do. I do cos I like anything like that.

-I love the shape of it.

-I do. It's something I would've bought.

-They are excited about it, Mark.

-Yes. That's lovely, Mark.

Yes, I do like that.

-Do you want to know how much it cost?

-Yes, please.

I didn't spend all of your money. I spent £45 on that jug.

Oh, that's good. And how much do you think it would be?

I would hope it would make at least £50 or £60.

Well, you obviously love this little item, but you don't need to

make up your mind right now.

We're going to go an find out what our auctioneer Colin thinks

of Mark's little jug.

Colin, a simple-looking item here.

-Oriental and we know that the Oriental market is hot...

-Yes.

..at the moment. Tell me what you think of that.

I think this is a really good thing to buy in the current market.

It is one of the more common pieces.

Even though we are looking at early 19th-century rather than earlier,

it's got good enamel work on it,

it's got the nice footed base to it, it's got everything going for it

and I think there's going to be plenty of people bidding for it.

What's your estimate on that?

I place an estimate of 50 to 80 on it, which I have

a lot of confidence in.

We sell a lot of them and everybody wants them.

-Mark only paid £45, so he's done a good job there.

-He has indeed, yes.

-Colin, are you taking the auction today?

-As ever, Anita.

I am looking forward to seeing you in action.

22, 25, 28 to 30 in that room, at 30. Thank you.

Well, guys, the moment of truth. We've got a packed auction here.

-How do you feel?

-A bit scared...

-Nervous.

-..but excited.

Cross everything because your first item is coming up...now!

Lot number 81, a pair of

mother-of-pearl gilt metal and brass-bound opera glasses.

£20, anybody? 20.

My bid's here 2. Bid 5. 5 bid. 28, 30, 35 on the internet...

35!

38 now surely, no? Last call then on the net.

Sells at £35.

Yes! Ha-ha!

£5 profit. That is a great start, Raj.

And your little camera is coming up next.

Lot number 82 is the Coronet folding box camera there.

First one in, £10 at the back of the room. Like a flash, £10 bid.

At 10 bid. 12 now, do I see?

Oh, come on.

At £10 bid. 11, now do I see?

Nobody else interested. It sells at £10.

-We made profit!

-A profit, it's a pound.

A pound is a pound.

Now the ball and chain.

You're a wee bit worried about that?

Yes, just a little bit worried about the ball and chain.

Lot number 83 is a prisoner's metal ball and chain at £20 bid.

Two on the net, 22, every wardrobe should have one.

At 22, 5 anywhere else there, do I see? At £22, are we all done?

Come on, come on. A bit more.

5 anywhere else now? Then surely at 22, on the net selling at £22.

Amazing what you can buy on the internet these days.

-22. A profit on all three!

-Yeah.

And that is

plus 7, which brings you

to the grand total of 13.

Not unlucky for you.

Are you going to go with the bonus buy?

-I say no.

-No.

Cos we've made some profit and we're going to give it to charity.

We're going to see what it makes anyway, and it's coming up

right now.

Lot number 87 is a majolica Stilton dish and cover. At 30 bid.

2 now, do I see? At £30 a bid.

32, 35, 38, bid 40. £40 bid, 42.

No, 42 bid, 5 surely.

At £50 a bid. 2 now, do I see it? Going then at £50.

-Ooh.

-Oh.

-£50.

-That's good, I'm pleased.

That was exciting.

Yeah, that was exciting. So we didn't lose money on anything.

-Now, you look ecstatic!

-We are.

But when you go out, I want you to calm down a little bit, all right?

Because we don't want the Blues to know it could be a winning score.

Well, guys, this is the exciting moment.

-Tell me how you are feeling?

-A bit apprehensive but excited!

-Apprehensive.

-Nervous excitement.

Your first item, that wonderful

-modernist copper bowl, is just about to come up...

-Right

-..now.

Lot number 100 is a modernist copper two-tone bowl. £30, anybody?

30 is first in, 30 is here. At 30 bid, we've started. At 30 bid.

32 now, do I see? Look at what we're selling, ladies and gentlemen.

At £30 bid. 2 again now then. Main bid, lady's bid, going then at £30.

£30. So you're minus 5 down. What a shame on that.

Your next item is that wonderful large majolica jug.

-Let's hope we can make it up on that.

-I hope so.

Lot number 101 is a large Italian majolica water jug. 30 to go then.

£30, anybody? 30.

We have 22 on the internet.

At 22, 25, 28, 30 now.

32, 35 now is on the internet then.

At £38 bid, 40 surely...

-They've got a good bargain.

-At 38...

-Oh, yeah.

At 38, are we all done then? Going at £38.

-Oh, no.

-Oh! 38.

Never mind, you might make it up on the concrete bear.

THEY CHUCKLE

Lot number 102 is the bear's head.

Who wants to start me in the room at 10?

You do? 12 is there. 15 with me. 18 now first. 18 bid. 20 now.

At £18 my bid is down here. At £18 the bid is in the front here.

At 18, are we all done?

Going then at £18.

£18!

Oh, no! That takes you

to minus 9 and an overall minus

of £52.

It's make your mind up time.

Are you going to take Mark's Oriental jug?

-It's Oriental.

-Definitely.

-Yes.

-Well, you can't not take it.

-You can't not take it.

Well let's see if we can make up and get you into profit

because it's coming up...now.

Lot number 106 is the Qianlong porcelain-footed sauce boat.

This time, who is first in? £30, anyone?

30's there, thank you.

At £30 bid. 2 now, do I see? At 2.

5, 38 on the net. 38, bid 40 now.

40 bid, no. At £38, the bid is on the net.

And then at 38, are we all done? 40 surely.

Last call then going at £38.

-No!

-£38.

That's another minus 7, I'm afraid.

Which takes you to

a not-so grand total of minus 59.

-But don't be downhearted.

-We're not.

That MIGHT be a winning score.

-Well, guys, did you have a great time?

-Fantastic.

-Great.

-Brilliant.

-Wasn't the auction so exciting?

-Very.

And you were all absolutely wonderful.

Unfortunately, there are winners and there are not winners.

And unfortunately, today our runners up are...

-the Blues.

-Oh!

And you bought such beautiful, beautiful items, but unfortunately,

you made a loss on every single one of them!

THEY LAUGH

-Which brought you to a total of minus 59.

-Ooh!

But the Reds made profits on every single item.

£5 on your little glasses,

£1 on the camera and £7 on the old ball and chain.

Yay!

You have made the grand and splendid total

of £13!

Fantastic. That's brilliant.

-I know it is for charity and every penny counts.

-Exactly.

Because you have made profits on every single item, I would like

-to formally present you with your own...

-Oh, thank you so much.

..individual golden gavel.

-Lovely, thank you.

-Brilliant.

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But better still, join us soon for more Bargain Hunting.

-Yes? ALL:

-Yes!