Newbury 7 Bargain Hunt

I'm in Hungerford and this is the Kennet and Avon canal

and here, you can find lots of fishermen

searching for their perfect catch.

Like the skills required for bargain hunting,

fishing requires focus, expertise and a little patience.

Just the sort of catch our teams need today.

So, let's go bargain hunting!

Well, Hungerford has got plenty of fish in its canal.

It's also got plenty of antique shops

on the high street and our teams have got £300

and just one hour in which to buy three items to take off to auction.

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

Coming up on today's show...

-Hello.

-It's hard to inspire the Reds...

I think that's quite refined.

I think that's really dull.

Proper dull.

..while the Blues struggle to agree.

I'm not shaking on this one, no offence.

He who dares wins. He who dares wins.

But at the auction, everyone is excited.

70 twice.

The most exciting Bargain Hunt in the history of the game.

-Ooh!

-Yes!

Well, that's all for later.

Now, let's meet the teams and for our Red Team today,

-we have mum and daughter - Dee and Leah.

-Hello.

And for our Blue Team,

we have friends and, indeed, colleagues -

-Paul and Keith. Hello, everyone.

-Hello.

-Hello, hello.

Dee, you used to be a hairdresser, didn't you?

-That's right.

-Enjoy it?

-Yes, I loved it.

-And did you end up being a counsellor?

It's really clever, because you are doing the hair and the customer is

talking to your ear while she is looking in the mirror,

-so she is talking to herself.

-Yeah.

-It's very therapeutic to talk to yourself.

-That's interesting.

-And you've taken up bridge recently?

-Yes, about six years ago, yes.

It's good for you, good for the brain.

Do you have a steady partner, a standard partner,

or do you have different partners?

I have always had a steady partner,

although recently, I have changed partners.

-Is he good enough?

-No, he's much better than me

and if I didn't say that, he probably wouldn't be my partner.

Now, Leah, you run your own business, don't you?

-I do, yeah.

-What do you do? You are known as the, "Bag Lady," I think.

-SHE SIGHS

-I sell bin bags and loo rolls.

-Do you?

-It's not even slightly glamorous,

but that is exactly what I do.

-Well, that sounds really fascinating.

-Yeah.

-How long have you been doing this?

-About two-and-a-half years now.

Do people try negotiating for loo rolls?

-Yes, they do.

-Do they really?

-Yeah.

-They try and knock you down on a loo roll?

-They want everything for nothing.

-Are you a good negotiator?

No, I'm rubbish. Absolutely rubbish.

I'm the easiest person to sell to, I'm absolutely dreadful.

This really bodes well for Bargain Hunt, doesn't it?

What about tactics? How's it going to work?

Let's see what there is and see what takes the eye.

-Spend big?

-Maybe. Who knows?

Well, it's going to be a bit of a mystery.

Well, thank you very much, Reds. Now, you two, you Blues.

-Paul, you are Keith's boss.

-Yes. I am indeed.

-How does that work?

-But not today.

-I was thinking the same thing.

I've set up two homes and we work with young people

who have left care, who we provide life skills for

and we support them.

It could be for a year, it could be up to three years,

but we give them those skills, so they can move on eventually.

-You've done some other things in your time, haven't you?

-I have indeed.

Catwalk model?

Yeah, back in my younger days, when I had a bit more hair

and was a bit slimmer.

-You've got a lot of children, haven't you?

-Yes, I have.

I've got five...five children.

-It took a bit of thinking about, didn't it?

-I forgot then.

Four girls and one boy, so they keep me busy.

Now, Keith, you're into football coaching, aren't you?

-Yes, I coach my son's football team.

-Do you? Are they good?

Very good, we won the league last year.

-Won the league?!

-Yeah, we won the league.

-Are you a footballer yourself?

-Back in the day, a long time ago.

-Not any more.

-You are still young and fit enough to be a footballer.

-Thank you very much.

-Pleasure.

You're an artist as well, aren't you?

Yeah, I do portraits of people and stuff like that.

-Paintings and stuff like that, yeah.

-Do one of me?

-I've got you, I've got you. Don't worry.

-You've got me?

-Yeah, I've got you.

-I can't wait for this.

-Whenever you're ready.

-Who's going to be boss?

-I'm the boss.

-Are you happy about that?

-No, no.

-What are you going to be buying?

Are you going to be spending big?

Well, I'm just trying to look for something unusual, something quirky,

something probably everybody will miss.

-Well, good luck to you both.

-No worries.

I hope you have a fantastic time.

What you will need, of course, is a few spondulix - £300 for you.

-Thank you very much.

-And, girls,

you didn't get a look in there, did you?

-Not even a sniff.

-£300 for you.

-Thank you.

-Right, off you go. Have a great time.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Well, the battle of the sexes.

Hm!

Let's meet today's experts.

Driving into action for the Reds, it's David Harper.

While for the Blues, it's show time with John Cameron.

Keith, Paul, we've got our money,

what sort of things are we going to be looking for today?

Well, I'm interested in any metals, silver, that sort of thing.

-Leah?

-A nice, handsome bit of glass.

-Yeah.

Maybe a bit of silver, something pretty.

-A bit of Art Nouveau.

-Yeah, Art Nouveau?

I am very much an Art Nouveau man.

Smalls, I particularly like smalls.

I like them on display, in display cabinets,

-I like them all over my house.

-Wonderful.

OK, team, your time starts...now!

We've got our money, let's go bargain hunting.

You go. Go on. This is it. Your hour starts.

Right, guys, now we've got over 100 dealers in here.

There is something for everyone,

but sometimes, I find you can't see the wood for the trees.

-So, use the time wisely. The clock is ticking.

-Yeah.

It doesn't take long for the Reds to wade in.

This is just my cup of tea.

OK, let's have a look at it and tell me about it.

-Well, it's just a little condiment set and it is rather sweet.

-OK.

There's two little swans. There's nothing wrong with that at all.

-OK, what is it made from?

-I have no clue.

-Yeah.

It's what I call, "monkey metal."

"Monkey metal"?! What's all this about?

-I don't know what it's made of.

-I've no idea.

Why did you bring your mother out with you today?

The Blues are also looking at something shiny.

What's that? It looks nice. I don't know what it is, but it looks nice.

-This one here?

-Yeah.

-That is either a tobacco pouch or a snuffbox.

-OK.

So, with the shape of that, it can go in your pocket

and it curves around your bottom or your leg there.

Do you think we could take a look at that?

-Is that worth taking a look at, Keith?

-Possibly.

I'll say let's wait. Let's have a browse first.

-Yeah, yeah.

-OK. We can come back to that.

Not shiny enough for you, Keith?

David is trying out his taste on the Reds.

It's just a bit out of the ordinary.

It's slightly unusual and it's simply a glass globe.

There it is. I think that is quite refined,

shall we say sophisticated?

I think that's really dull. Proper dull.

Come on, then, clever-pants, let's see yours.

All right, all right, all right. I'll have a little look.

I'll have a little nosey.

While Leah tries to find something she likes,

the Blues are driving things forward.

That looks like it should be from a steering wheel, doesn't it?

-Yeah.

-It looks like that goes over the wheel,

probably covers the horn for a Rover.

-44 quid.

-Yeah, OK.

-I think if it was a Jaguar

or something more of a prestige car, then you might put it into auction.

I think it's a nice thing.

-What are your thoughts, Keith?

-No, listening to the man himself.

Listen to the expert. OK, let's move on.

We are ten minutes in and Leah has spotted something.

What are we looking at, then?

Are they, like, little candle snuffers?

-Candle snuffers?

-No, they're salt and peppers.

-Are they?

But these are shaped like auctioneer's gavels, how exciting.

-Do you want to have a look at them?

-Yeah, let's have a little feel.

-OK.

-I'll go and get the key, then.

-Thanks.

-Look. Have a closer look.

They are nice. I like them.

While David goes to get the cabinet open,

the Blues seem to be heading outside.

Right, boys, here we have got all the garden stuff,

the statuary and things like that - This is where we might find

something with a bit of impact, yeah?

As John tries to convince the Blues, are the Reds shaking things up?

Oh, I say, delivered beautifully. Thank you very much indeed.

-You're welcome.

-So, there you go, you two.

I think they are better-looking in the flesh.

-They're probably 1980s, 1990s.

-Yes.

-Nice and new.

-Yeah. There's no age.

Salt and pepper pots are salt and pepper pots -

there is no great glamour to them.

But as soon as you make them into an unusual shape,

-then you add a new dimension, don't you?

-I them.

-They've got to be cheap.

-They're 25 quid at the moment.

-OK, let's bring in this lovely lady. What's your name?

-Rita.

-Rita, lovely to meet you. This is Leah.

-Hi.

-Hello, Leah.

-And Dee. So, Leah, over to you.

We quite like the look of these, but they are on for £25.

What's the best price that you reckon you could do?

-I'll call them up.

-Is that OK?

-Yes.

-Have a little natter.

-You want as little as possible, don't you?

Absolutely. Got it in one.

-I'll give them a call and I'll come back.

-Lovely, thank you.

They might even make 40 quid.

-They might.

-Shut up.

-I know, shut up!

-Shut up.

-40 quid?!

-Yeah!

As the Reds wait on a price,

have the Blues found anything striking?

What we are looking for are the up-cycling items.

Here we are, they're a classic couple of items here, boys.

Two wheels there.

I mean, look, disused, looking like nobody wants them,

-that is a classic up-cycling item there.

-Mm-hm.

They've got £75 each on those.

I'd take a chance on those if we could get them at the right price.

I just see it as two old metal wheels.

Listen, one man's trash is another man's treasure.

-I hear that.

-Listen.

-You can sell him anything.

-I got your man's blessing.

-You could sell Keith anything.

I got your man's blessing here.

I've seen that. Like I said, I've seen them.

On big houses and mansions, like, that type, sort of thing.

-If we could get them both for 100.

-Let's go for it.

-OK.

Keith, why don't you go and try and find the man that can tell us

whether we can have a deal here or not

and I'll try convince your pal here?

Right, I'll go do my Del Boy then.

Well, John has his work cut out.

Now, Reds, what news on the salt and pepper pots?

Here they are. Give them to me.

-Come on, Rita.

-I did try for you and her very best is 20.

-We'll have them at 20.

-I think we'll have them at 20.

-Yeah, let's do it.

We're going to have them at 20, thank you so much, Rita.

-You're very welcome.

-Marvellous.

Going, going, gone!

One purchase down.

How's Keith getting on with his wheeling and dealing?

So, 75 each, 150. I should be able to go down to you 130, normally.

-I can't get hold of Jane, she's the dealer.

-Mm-hm.

I feel she would go further

and my very, very bottom line is going to be £110.

To be honest, I think that's a good deal.

I mean, £40 off the original price, you can't argue with that,

I'd like to shake your hand. Deal. Thank you very much.

-Good man.

-Thank you, Alex.

-I'm not shaking on this one, Alex.

-No offence.

-He who dares wins. He who dares wins.

-OK. We'll go for that.

-You've got to love them.

Brave move, Keith.

But I don't think your boss is too happy.

Over to the Reds, where the ladies seem to be browsing alone.

-Where's David?

-That's it, where is he?

-Where is the man?

-David?

He appears to be hatching a plan with a £45 telephone.

That's great information, I must say - so 25 is the best?

-Yes, very much.

-OK, I'm going to find my Reds,

I'm going to show them something very different.

-I'll catch you later.

-OK, thank you.

While David catches up with the ladies,

have the Blues found some clarity?

John? Pretty weighty.

It is very weighty. Interestingly, the whole process of

cut glass was developed somewhat as a way of lightening the piece,

in the early 18th century there was a tax imposed on glass.

-Two taxes - one on size and one on weight.

-OK.

-By cutting, you're removing a lot of weight.

-Mm-hm.

That is a handmade piece of glass,

the hours of work that's gone into that - 25 quid.

Would you say it's a collectable item?

It's the sort of thing I get plenty of at auction,

-but it's not what I'm looking for at auction.

-Right, OK.

-Plus, I've just noticed there's a chip there.

-OK.

-You know, it's not perfect.

-We'll leave that.

-All right?

Keep trying, Blues.

So, you're halfway through your time, teams.

Now, David, are you ready to reveal all?

Right, come on, you two. Now, we've worked out so far that you have

-absolutely no taste whatsoever.

-Right.

-OK, thanks.

So, what I'm going to do is show you something devastatingly stylish,

cool and current in today's market.

-Are you ready?

-Is that it?

Hello?

That is a 1940s, possibly stroke '50s,

Bakelite field phone.

Before you say anything horrible about it, listen to this -

this is the sound of the '40s.

PHONE RINGS

-It gets better.

-Does it?

-Yes, wait.

-OK, yeah.

I know, you're gobsmacked, aren't you?

-Completely...

-I am stunned and amazed.

-Yeah. Go on.

-Hello?

I know it's crazy, but it's a good talking fun piece.

It's 25 quid.

My friend and I used to have these in our opposing houses,

because her husband was sick of us using the phone,

so he rigged up these types of phones and, yeah.

-That's brilliant.

-25 quid, I think we should suck it and see.

-And we can always blame him.

-Absolutely.

-Listen, I'm used to it.

I've been getting away with it for years. Are we going to have it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, why not?

-Fabulous.

So, your powers of persuasion worked, David.

What a team, mum and daughter, they seem to agree on everything.

The first purchase, they both liked.

The second purchase, they both hated.

Though I think Dee enjoyed the trip down memory lane.

I think considering what has been bought,

we ought to look for something a bit better, maybe silver.

-Pretty.

-Yeah. I think so. Silver, probably.

-Pretty?

-Yeah, and pretty.

-Definitely pretty.

What could go wrong?

Famous last words?

There's 20 minutes left and it's 2-1 to the Reds.

Are the Blues getting a bit rattled?

So, this is... It doesn't say silver.

The ticket is "Edwardian white metal", rattle and whistle.

-I still like it.

-Can I have a look?

-Yeah, of course, you can.

Do you think these things are still collectable?

-They are.

-It feels quite light.

They are collectable. What I'd like to know also,

in the cabinet over here, which I did look at,

there is a Chinese junk ship.

Don't worry, it's not made of junk,

it's just the name given to this style of boat.

It does say sterling silver on it.

Don't think it's got a huge amount of age,

but I think it's commercial, it's good, it's a ship, it's silver.

What I'd like to know is the very best price we can do

-on that junk ship as well.

-OK.

-Do you want to take that back?

-I'll take that with me. All right.

Do your magic, Alex.

Feast your eyes, boys, have a quick look.

It's right there in the back. I've already seen it, have a look.

-You like it?

-Yeah, I do like it.

I don't want to use the word, but it is beautiful. I like that.

-I certainly don't think it's junk.

-No.

Very funny, John. But will it make a profit?

Over to the Reds, where the ladies have taken control.

-Here it is.

-Which one?

-The one in the middle.

-Clean...

-Oh, my gosh.

-Tidy, pretty.

What I absolutely love about it is the fact that it is

-Asprey and Co. 1925.

-Wow.

-Mm-hm.

The year the term Art Deco was coined

at the Paris Arts and Decorative Fair.

-I love it, I absolutely love it.

-Yeah.

-It's the name,

you know that that name sums up quality.

You know that the glass is crystal, you know it's superb,

you know that the silversmithing is perfect,

the engraving is fabulous.

The hallmarks are crisp

and retail buy those babies, that's a beauty.

-I think we should get it out.

-Let's get it out,

-but let's make sure we do a good deal.

-OK.

-We've got to do a good deal.

-I'll stay out of this one then.

-Shall I try the deal?

-You do the good deal.

I'll try the deal. You two stay here.

-Well spotted. I take it all back.

-OK.

While David heads off to find someone to help,

the Blues are waiting on price news.

Alex is back. Alex, what are you saying?

So, the junk, we go down to £100.

The rattle - £88 on the ticket, won't be going any lower than 70.

I'd be tempted, if we're going to choose one, to go for the junk.

Because it's stating it's silver

and I think that there is only 30 quid between them.

-Let's keep the junk?

-Yeah?

And get rid of the rattle. All right.

-Shake hands then, boys. Take this man's hand.

-Nice one.

-You're getting my handshake now.

-We've got our second item,

but we've got to dash for the line now.

-How long we got?

-Ten minutes.

-Come on, then, let's go.

So, with such little time left, you really need to hurry.

Now, are the Reds still in love with their glass box?

-Don't drop it.

-Lovely stuff. Thank you very much.

-Look at that lovely engraved top, isn't that good?

-Yeah.

It looks lovely. I just think it looks classy.

OK, so, Rita, we need the best price on the planet.

-You do?

-Do you own this one?

I do not, unfortunately, but I know the man who does.

-Is he in the building?

-I'm afraid not.

-Ah, OK.

-I can contact him.

-Can you charm him?

-I can, indeed.

-Go and do it, please.

-I will.

-Oh, yes.

-Thank you.

While the Reds are on hold,

for the Blues, there's just minutes left.

-Boys, this cabinet, I think, is our last chance.

-OK.

I've seen a couple of items here.

-I like this little carved wood brush stand. It's musical.

-Yeah.

Take the brush out, it plays a tune. It's a dog,

-so those things are quite popular at auction.

-Yeah.

-We've got this Tunbridge ware box down here.

-OK.

-Those are the two items in there. And you like the horses?

-Yes.

-Let's have a word with the dealers and see what we can do.

-I'm happy with that.

Three options to choose from,

but you still need to make that deal.

Now, what news from the phone call, Reds?

-Hello.

-Hi, Rita.

The very best price is £80.

I think it's a deal. It's a lovely item.

I think we still want it.

-Do we want it, Leah?

-Yeah.

-Are we going with it?

-We want it that much.

-You're chance-takers, aren't you?

-Yeah.

-Good, OK. Rita, thank you very much, indeed.

-Thank you.

-We've bought it. Thank you.

Well done, Reds, you're all bought up.

So, listen, you two, well done indeed.

-Tea-time.

-Yeah.

-Tea-time, come on.

-Let's do it.

-Yeah.

Now, what about those Blues?

First up, Paul's favourite - the bookends.

Remember, the last one is your choice.

-Your choice.

-OK. Pressure's on. Do they look like they've been...

They don't look too bad. Hang on, that's a bit.

There's a crack right down this end also.

-So, I would leave those then.

-Sure?

-Yeah, because of the damage.

-OK.

-One choice eliminated. Next, the brush holder.

We'll look at the old dog.

-If you wind him up, he does play a tune.

-He does play a tune.

-We can see that.

-How old are we looking here, John?

It's got a bit of age to it.

I think it's early 20th century, at least.

-OK. What would be the very best...?

-65.

-65 is the very best on that.

-That's not bad.

-That's not bad at all.

-The last item is our Tunbridge ware box.

-Yeah.

That's still got a bit of damage. That one would have to be 70.

OK. And just before we go, price on the, on the...

-30.

-30 on those, right. 30, 65, 70.

No time to negotiate, Paul, you've only three minutes left.

OK. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.

-Let's go for the old dog.

-65.

-And hope we get a profit on that.

-Brilliant.

-Deal?

-Absolutely.

-OK.

-Good man, well done.

Brilliant.

Well, you've had plenty of time - your time is up.

-Nice one. Why not?

-Respect.

-Do you feel left out, John?

-I do.

-Sorry, John.

-Nice one.

Let's have a look at what the Red team have bought.

First up, the gavel-shaped salt and pepper pots, bought for £20.

Next, David is hoping the internal telephone will ring up a profit.

It cost £25.

Finally, it's the glass box, they all loved it.

But will the saleroom bidders? Price paid, £80.

Dee and Leah, have you had a good time?

-Yes, we have.

-Really good. Thank you.

-Now, what's your favourite lot?

-The little glass box.

-The Asprey box.

-The glass box. What do you think, Mum?

I love the telephone. I'm in love with the telephone.

What? Where did that come from?

But what's going to make the biggest profit?

-The telephone.

-The telephone! What do you think?

-The box.

-So, box, box, telephone, telephone...

-Yes.

-Telephone.

-Telephone!

Oh, marvellous. Well, you spent £125,

which leaves 175 left over.

Who's got that? Well done.

There we go, David. It's a lot of money.

What are you going to do with it?

Charlie, I'm going to buy something that these two

are going to absolutely love.

So, while David goes off to buy something with love,

let's just remind ourselves what the Blue team have bought.

First up, they rode into action with the cast-iron wagon wheels,

bought for £110.

Next, the glass-cased Chinese boat, it cost them £100.

Finally, just in the nick of time, they bought the brush holder.

Price paid, £65. But will it scrub up a profit?

Paul and Keith, spend, spend, spend.

-Yes.

-There you are, Keith,

looking for something glitzy and you buy a pair of old wheels?

Yes. But...

-What do you think of that, Paul?

-No comment,

that's all I'm going to say. No comment on that one.

That's when the right down to the wire, didn't it?

-It got quite close.

-How long did you have left?

-Two minutes.

-Two minutes, I think it was.

Two minutes?! That is dodgy.

What is going to make the biggest profit?

I'm hoping it'll be the ship,

but I've got a funny feeling it might be the wheels.

Ooh, the wheels. Jeopardy, jeopardy.

-I think the Chinese junk, myself.

-The Chinese junk?

-I do like it, yeah.

-Well, at the end of the day, you spent £275.

Well, I have to take my hat off to you.

You've just got £25 to hand over.

-Here we are, 25 quid.

-What are you going to do with it?

I'm going to spend every penny, Charlie. You know me.

-On what?

-Whatever I can buy for 25 quid.

-No more wheels.

-No.

-I can't promise.

So, while John goes off to spend his little £25,

I'm off to somewhere really rather interesting.

This is West Wycombe Park in Buckinghamshire,

owned by the Dashwood family for over 300 years.

The house itself can best be described as theatrical and lavish

and was created by Sir Francis Dashwood,

the second baronet,

who was also a famous politician of the 18th century.

It will come as no great surprise to you to learn

that he was something of a character.

Like some of his wealthy contemporaries,

Francis embarked on many grand tours -

both of Europe and beyond.

He was influenced by their culture and also their artefacts.

One of the major influences was the Roman Empire.

Francis loved their temples, their architecture and their art,

as well as their lifestyle of wine and free living -

which, as a young man, he simply couldn't resist.

But there's much more to this estate than meets the eye.

Sir Francis didn't just focus his mind and designs above ground -

he also went below ground, where, in the 1740s,

he excavated a labyrinth of caves underneath the estate.

And they weren't any old caves.

They've become known as the Hellfire Caves.

Jack Orr, a guide here, is going to tell me more.

So, why did he build these caves?

So, at the time West Wycombe,

a farming village, had had three failed harvests

and all the poor farmers needed employment,

they needed money and so Dashwood, who was quite a philanthropist,

saw it as his duty to the people to help them.

So, he paid them himself to dig out these caves

and they dug it out as a quarry.

He honestly really believed that it was the Lord's duty to help people

and while he was at Parliament, he pushed for bills to say,

it is our right and it is our duty

to help those less fortunate than us.

-Splendid. May we have a look inside?

-Of course.

-Thank you.

The caves took six years to excavate

and workers were paid one shilling a day.

But this wasn't just the work to keep the poor from starving -

what was Sir Francis up to?

Dashwood was having a bit of fun with this.

All the way down, it is dug out in these archways,

giving this illusion of a subterranean cathedral

and it goes a quarter of a mile down, 300 feet.

Extraordinary. And there are some interesting masks on the wall.

We have hundreds of these faces

carved in various locations in the shadows.

'And the further you go down the caves,

'the more of Dashwood's follies there are to find.'

Extraordinary. Is this a lake or river?

It's a river that's 100% man-made.

So, when they were digging it, they discovered that this is

actually the natural water board of West Wycombe.

So, with it, they channelled it,

they created it, they designed it into an S-shape.

So, if it is an S-shape, it's going to disappear around blind corners,

which gives the illusion that it continues,

but it goes nowhere, it comes from nowhere,

and is fed on rainwater.

Right, we think we've got a river, here, but we haven't really?

-We haven't.

-No.

'Along the 300 feet of tunnels,

'there are plenty of nooks and crannies,

'but Jack has saved the best till last.

'This is where Dashwood's flamboyant influences all come together.'

Wow, Jack, what have we got here?

This is our banqueting hall.

As you can tell, it's a perfect setting for a club meeting

and Dashwood was a huge fan of founding clubs.

He opened several in his lifetime.

-Did he?

-And the one that used to meet here was

the notorious Hellfire Club.

But they were, sort of, the rock and roll of the Georgian era.

Their aim was a worship of women and wine,

disciples of Bacchus and Venus.

Oh, wonderful. You can see Bacchus and Venus here, can't you?

These men, they weren't just rakes and libertines -

-they were philanthropists, they were revolutionists.

-Yes.

They were men controlling the country.

And quite a lot of them MPs?

A lot of them were MPs

and just forward thinkers in the Georgian era.

Yeah, yeah. Must've felt very different in those days in here.

Yeah, you, obviously, wouldn't have had the electric lights,

it would have all been candlelit.

The acoustics in here are incredible.

So, when you've got enough of you in here,

singing and dancing and celebrating...

# Wonderful! # It's super, isn't it?

..it would have just echoed throughout the caves.

Yeah, yeah. That's marvellous.

No doubt, our contestants are hell-bent

on a profit at the auction, so let's head over to the saleroom.

We've come down the road to Newbury and the ever-smiling Thomas Plant.

-How are you, Thomas?

-Very well, Charlie.

-Now, the Red team, Dee and Leah, here are their offerings.

-Yeah.

And, what do you think of the salt and pepper?

-I kind of like them, because they're in the form of a gavel.

-Exactly.

They're no great quality, but we like them

and we put £30-£50 on them.

Splendid, they only paid £20.

-Oh, profit!

-Yeah. Now, the next item is the telephone.

The internal, possibly military,

maybe a signals telephone, in Bakelite.

But it's not an aesthetically pleasing thing, is it?

No, but what it has got is parts -

the handle for that telephone can be used on telephones,

which you can plug in at home.

-Very good. Estimate?

-40-60.

Well, again, 25 paid.

Well, they could be into profit here.

-They're steaming on, these Reds.

-Yeah, they could, yeah.

Well, the third item certainly is quality.

-It's superb.

-Mm.

-It's lovely.

The Asprey, part of a dressing table set.

-And it's got no engraving on it.

-And it's a good date, 1925.

-Yeah.

-£50-£80.

£50-£80. Well, they paid just top end, £80.

-Probably about right?

-Yeah, probably about right. It's a quality piece.

Yeah, yeah. Well, they still might need a bonus buy.

Let's have a look at it.

Well, Dee and Leah, are you just a little bit apprehensive?

Edge of your seat.

You left this man with a lot of money, after all.

-That's true.

-What's he done with it?

OK, are you ready?

Well, look at that!

THEY LAUGH

You bought it.

I bought it. Charlie, they hated this

-when we were shopping.

-Yes!

-I loved it.

I tried to make them buy it, they wouldn't go for it.

So, I thought, you know what? I'm going to buy it myself.

And what exactly is it?

Well, think about it.

Go back in time, pre-electricity, candlelight, gas light.

Imagine a candle behind it.

This is, I think, a light magnifier.

You don't think it's a wig stand?

Well...

So, it magnifies the light.

It is how old?

It looks like it should be 19th century,

but I think it's much later. I think it is well into the 20th century.

-About 1950?

-It probably could be.

-How much did you pay for it?

-20.

-Oh, well, I suppose that's something.

-Well, there you are.

-Oh, you're handing it back?

And how much do you think we'd be able to get rid of it for?

You know, my prediction is, it's going to make at least £20,

it might make 50.

-Oh...

-Might it?

-Yes!

Well, you've been led on a bit there, girls, haven't you?

-Absolutely!

-You don't have to make any decision now.

It's at the auction you make a decision.

Meanwhile, let's see what the auctioneer

thinks of David's enormous glass ball.

Well, Thomas, I'm going to leave this one to you.

-Well, I thought it could be a magnifier for a light.

-Yeah.

It's not that old.

-No, it isn't.

-But actually, it's hand-blown.

-Estimate?

-I quite like it.

-£30-£50.

Well, he just paid £20 for it.

I don't think you can go wrong at £20, can you?

-No, not really.

-Let's move on to the Blues.

Paul and Keith have bought three very, very differing items,

and the first of these is the large cast and wrought-iron wagon wheels.

I think they're quite fun.

They are quite amazing.

Lots of people love them who have big gardens,

and their plants would grow up all around them.

They're great for the garden.

-Estimate?

-40-60.

Keith, backed up with John, paid £110 for these.

-Wow.

-But we'll see.

Now, the second item is the Chinese boat.

Well, these were picked up in the post-war period from Hong Kong,

brought over, and they're fine models, in white metal.

-Yeah.

-We can't say they're solid silver

-because they don't bear a British hallmark.

-No.

-No.

There would nowhere be any more than, sort of,

-four, five ounces in it, and that's pushing it, really.

-No.

And that's probably what you based your estimate on, is it?

£40-£60.

Yeah. Paid £100.

-Oh!

-They've been a bit punchy, haven't they?

Well, I admire them.

What do you think of item three?

Pugley, I absolutely love.

-Do you?

-I think Pugley is fabulous.

-Is he Black Forest?

-Well, he's sort of Black Forest.

-Yeah.

-And he's musical as well.

But I think, as a piece of functional ware,

we've put £50-£80 on it.

Yeah, well, paid 65.

I think they might well need their bonus buy.

Let's have a look at it.

Paul and Keith, you didn't leave him a lot of money, did you?

-Keith's the one.

-Spend, spend, spend!

I wonder if John's done the same thing.

Well, voila, Charlie.

There we are, boys. What do you think of that?

-It's nice, actually. I like that.

-You do?

-Yeah, I do like that.

It cost £25, which, as you know, was all you left me.

So, I did a bit of haggling just to get that.

It's a nice Tunbridge ware pincushion.

The nice thing about is, you slide this top to reveal

-where you store all your pins.

-OK.

-There we are.

What do you think it's going to make?

Well, I really like this.

It's Tunbridge ware and it's a pincushion as well.

I'd like to think this will make upwards of £50.

Yeah? I'm happy with that.

-100 would be nice.

-It would be very nice, actually.

Well, the boys, you think it's going to make a profit,

you think it's going to make a profit.

I wonder what the auctioneer thinks about it.

He didn't leave you on a huge amount of money, but he bought that.

-What do you think?

-Well, it's a very fine, Tunbridge ware...

-Yeah.

-..tessellated, inlaid needle box.

It's a great thing, really.

Right, so you would put a reasonable estimate?

-£40-£60.

-Very good.

£25 is all John paid for that.

Well, I think he should be in for a profit for that.

Well, I think, looking at what you put on the other items,

-they're going to need it.

-I think they are.

You'll be doing the auction, won't you?

-Of course, Charlie.

-Yeah. Excellent.

Start me at £60. 65. £70 it is.

70 once, 70 twice.

So, how are you expecting it?

Are you getting excited by it?

Let's just wait and see what happens, shall we?

Oh, that's a get-out.

But there's quite a lot of people here.

There's a good, loud auctioneer

and you've got three super items, so we'll see.

Here comes the salt and pepper.

£20 paid.

Lot number 179.

This is a pair of silver-plated salt and peppers

in the form of gavels.

Start me here at £20.

At £20. 20 I have.

£20. We have a maiden bid.

22.

Oh, you're making a profit, girls.

28.

£30.

-Go on, madam.

-Go on, madam.

-35.

-Go on, then.

-£35.

-Well done, madam.

40. Are you sure?

-£40, it is.

-Double, boom, boom, boom.

-40.

-£40 I have.

-I'm looking at you.

-All right, then.

-45 it is.

-At 45, she's gone again!

45 once, 45 twice.

-£45.

-Well done.

Plus £25.

I'm astonished.

Right, lot 180, a Bakelite telephone set.

Come on, Thomas Plant!

And here we are, this is a military one,

and I can start the bidding with me here, £20.

Start me here at £20 for the military telephone.

20 I have, thank you.

Only need one more bid to break even.

At 20 once, at 20 twice, are we done?

22 now.

-Make it 25.

-Go on.

-Oh, go on!

Please, make it 25.

25 it is.

25, 25, I have.

At 25, at 25, all done, then.

Oh...

-Money back?

-Yes, money back, it's OK.

-OK.

-We're still plus 25.

Broke even.

Lot number 181, a George V Asprey silver-top glass jar.

I have interest in this, and I can start the bidding with me here

at 95.

£100.

At 100, at 100, and ten.

-120.

-It's £120!

-Come on!

-Girls!

Against you all at £120.

Is there any advance? 120 I have.

Once, twice, all done.

-Marvellous.

-That's fabulous, girls.

Now, have you thought of taking up antique dealing?

-Yes. No!

-Because I think, on your track record, you should.

-I know. Very good.

-That's an extra £40.

You're already up £65.

-Well done.

-And just remember, hold on,

because you have the potential of David's glass ball.

-What are you going to do with it?

-Shall we do it?

-Shall we do it?

-Yes.

-Oh, thanks, you two.

Are you absolutely sure, girls?

-Yes.

-You're risking your lives with this man.

He's not done that bad.

I can tell you that the auctioneer wasn't that keen on it.

-Really?

-But having said that, he said for £20,

it's cheap, isn't it?

It could make 30-50.

-It could make, it could.

-It could make a tenner.

Here we are, lot 185, a hand-blown clear glass globe on pedestal,

possibly for magnifying light, or as a wig stand.

-That was my suggestion.

-We quite like it, though.

Start me here. £20, surely.

At 20.

-15.

-It's gone remarkably quiet, hasn't it?

15 to get this lot sold.

Ten, then. Ten I've got in front.

At ten, it's in front.

At 12 now.

At 12 it is.

15, 18.

At £18. Surely, at £18.

Is there any more at £18?

At 18, once...

-No!

-..at 18 twice. Internet, are you thinking? No?

So close.

-Well, I owe you two quid.

-That is true.

I tell you what, for the laugh, it was worth losing

-a couple of quid there.

-Wasn't it just?

It might mean all the difference, of course,

between losing and winning the competition.

-I will be in trouble, if that's the case.

-You have made £63 profit.

-Ooh!

-Which is pretty good. Might be enough, might not be.

Don't talk to the Blues about it, OK?

Paul and Keith, good fun shopping, wasn't it?

-Brilliant.

-You didn't do at all bad.

We're going to start off with the wagon wheels.

The auctioneer didn't quite go with your enthusiasm on these,

-because he thinks £40-£60 is enough for these.

-Ooh.

But you never know, you never know.

They're nice wheels. Stranger things have happened on Bargain Hunt.

Here they come.

Lot number 200,

a pair of large cast and wrought-iron wagon wheels,

great for one's garden.

-Ladies and gentlemen, I've got no bids in the book...

-Oh.

-Ooh.

-..but they've got to be worth £40.

-£40 I have.

-40!

-45.

-Hello, hello.

-55, 60.

-Go on.

-Go on, Thomas.

-I've got £60.

Are you sure? Be great for the garden.

At £60.

Come on, guys.

£60 once. 60 twice...

Are we done, ladies and gentleman?

-No, they're not.

-£60.

Oh, dear.

Don't worry, you've only lost a nifty 50.

Here's the Chinese boat.

It cost £100.

Model of a Chinese boat in white metal, in a glass case.

Start the bidding with me here, £40.

£40 for the Chinese junk.

I'll take 20. I've been offered 20.

-Oh, dear.

-No!

-22.

25, 28.

28 now, 28 it is.

30 now.

35.

-Come on, come on.

-Any advance?

Gavel's up. £35.

Oh, dear. I'm afraid that's a cheeky little £65 loss.

You've only lost £115.

And you've still got the musical clothes brush to go.

It cost £65.

And at 55, 65, 75...

I have 85, 95.

Oh, look at this. Hang on, boys.

95, £100. I've got 110 internet.

It's with me at 110.

130 now.

Oh, go on. Come on, boys.

-140 I have.

-This is astonishing!

At £140, it's in the room.

At £140, any advance?

150, 160. 160.

Come on, guys. Come on, Plant!

Any advance? 160.

-Come on, internet!

-Come on!

-170.

-170!

180 I have.

At 180, it's here.

At 180, it's in the room.

Pugley is going home.

At 180 once, 180 twice...

Yes!

-I love you.

-Brilliant.

-Thank you.

Boys, this is absolutely astonishing.

180 minus 65 is a profit of £115.

After the most exciting Bargain Hunt in the history of the game,

we're even.

I can't believe that.

-Up 115, down 115.

-What a comeback.

-Hang on, we've got to come down to earth now...

-Right.

..because you've got to make a decision

about this marvellous man's Tunbridge ware pincushion.

-I still trust you.

-I think we go for it.

-Yeah, let's go for it.

-It cost £25.

I think, he thinks, we all think, and you've gone with it,

you're going to make a profit.

Nothing to lose.

Lot number 207, Tunbridge ware.

And I can start the bidding with me here at £20.

That's all right. That's a good, solid start.

20 I have.

22, 25, 28.

-You're in profit.

-We're in profit.

40, 45, 50.

£50. Online at 50.

Any advance? Any advance at 50?

At £50. 60 now it is.

Come on, come on.

Online at 60 once, 60 twice.

All done, then.

-Very good, isn't it?

-Nice one. Nice one, boss.

-I love you again.

-Yes, mate!

A profit of £35.

He's got his job back.

Anyway, £35 overall, it's not a bad result, is it?

-No.

-Might beat the Reds, might not.

-We'll see.

-But don't talk to them about it...

-No, we won't.

..and, in just a moment, we'll find out.

I have to say, teams,

that some people go to a mint to make money -

other people just come to Bargain Hunt to make money...

-ALL:

-Ooh!

-...because, unusually,

both teams today have made a profit!

Unfortunately, of course,

one team has made a slightly smaller profit than the other team.

And the team with the smaller profit today...

is the Blue team.

GROANING

Congratulations, ladies.

Now, steady on, chaps, steady on.

What I have to say about you is,

you have perfected the finest comeback since Lazarus.

So, thanks to John, there, you're up £35.

Who's going to be holding and folding?

-I'm the boss.

-Oh, you're the boss?

All the way over.

Now, Reds, in a way, it was a disappointment, wasn't it?

Do you know why? Well, you were £1 from a Golden Gavel.

We expected worse.

-But you've enjoyed it, though, haven't you?

-Thoroughly, thoroughly.

Good, good, good. And to go home with money...

-There's 60.

-How kind.

And there's still three to come.

But for him, it would've been five.

Thank you.

Well done. It's been fantastic.

You've been great contestants.

And you, Blues. Two profits is a rare event.

Well, do have a look at our website, which is printed in front of you,

and follow us on Twitter.

In the meantime, join us for more bargain hunting, yes?

-ALL:

-Yes!