Hemswell 25 Bargain Hunt

Today, Bargain Hunt is in Lincolnshire,

famous for its military history. Lawrence of Arabia spent time here

and the Dam Busters raids flew from here.

So there's only one way to start off today's show. Take it away!

BAND PLAYS "THE DAM BUSTER'S MARCH"

What a rousing way to start the show!

Let's go Bargain Hunting!

Today, our teams will be shopping at the Hemswell Antique Centres.

These buildings were once the base for RAF Hemswell,

but now house Europe's largest indoor antiques centre.

With 400 dealers selling their goodies, there's plenty on offer.

But will our teams be marching off with profits today?

They have one hour to uncover three bargains with £300

in their pocket, but let's have a look at what's coming up.

The Reds push their expert to the limit...

I leave you alone for two minutes!

-Is it crazy?

-Please don't tell me you bought it.

..the Blues have a nose for a bargain...

SHE GASPS

Oh, my God. I just love how old it smells.

..the Reds get excited at the auction...

THEY CHEER

-Going, going...

-..and so do the Blues.

THEY CHEER

Girl power, girl power!

SHE LAUGHS

But that's all for later. Let's meet today's teams.

For the Reds, we have Jonathan and Paul and for the Blues,

we have Natasha and Tamoor.

-Hello, everybody! ALL:

-Hello!

It's lovely to have you along. Now, Jonathan, tell me, what you do?

-I'm a brand consultant.

-What's a brand consultant?

We design identities for big corporations all around the world.

And I hear you've got some odd pets, some furry friends,

tell me about those.

-We keep alpacas...

-Alpacas!

And being a brand consultant, they all have brand names

-so we've got Chino, Alpaca Chino!

-Alpaca Chino!

We've got Mac, Alpaca Mac, and Alapaca My Bags is the final one.

Oh, that is fabulous.

Now, over to Paul. Paul tell me what you do.

I work with young business start-ups in the food and drink industry.

I've been in it for about 30 years, I'm now working with

exciting and passionate young people, which is great.

-So, Paul, I believe you'll do anything for charity?

-I will.

I'm in a band and we did a charity gig

for a cancer charity and one of the guys in the audience

had had an experience connected, like most people are,

with something to do with cancer and said, "Look, if you guys play

"the second half in your underpants

"I will pay £1,500 into the charity." And he did, and we did.

SHE LAUGHS

Now, what are your tactics going to be?

I mean, you're both pretty high-powered guys,

How're you going to get on as a pair?

We're not telling you.

SHE LAUGHS

They're trying to keep their tactics a secret.

Well, you'll have to contend with the Blues so let's find out

a little about them.

It's husband-and-wife, Natasha and Tamoor.

Natasha, tell me, how did you guys meet?

We were introduced by our parents so we sort of met over

a tray of tea and the conversation just flowed and ever since then,

it's just been great, and about a year later, we were married.

Did you fall in love immediately?

Quite literally, actually,

because the second time I met him, I actually fell on my face

and the fact that he married me despite that, you know,

kind of says it all, so, yes, through thick and thin.

SHE LAUGHS

Now, it says here that you also have, wait for it, boys, alpacas.

I mean, what are the odds of both teams having alpacas?

NATASHA LAUGHS

Well, you two can talk alpacas later.

But, Tamoor, I hear that you got friendly with a monkey at one point?

Yes, we went to Bali on our honeymoon and in the centre

of Bali is this place called the Monkey Forest.

It's just free-roam forest with monkeys.

As I was walking around, a monkey decided to jump off the tree,

climb onto my shoulders and just make itself at home on my head.

So I was walking around for a good 10-15 minutes

-with a monkey on my head.

-Could you not get the monkey off?

No, he was quite comfortable.

I was just walking round and the tourists were just taking

-pictures of me with the monkey. Interesting experience.

-Yeah.

-So, you think you're going to be a great team?

-Yeah.

-I'll do the hunting, he can do the bargaining.

-All, right.

Well, I better give you some money, then.

£300 for you, £300 for you,

your experts await so off you go and very, very good luck.

This is going to be quite a competition.

Our teams need a couple of very talented experts.

Praying for a pretty profit for the Red team,

it's Christina Trevanion.

And in a spin for the Blue team, it's Nick Hall!

Paul, what are we looking for?

Well, I think we're going to buy cheap, buy sensible and make money.

What's on the shopping list for today?

Oh, I think it's some toys,

-some coins and some old military items for me, I think.

-Right.

Interesting mixed bag.

I'm interested in enamel signs, being a graphics person.

I was thinking maybe some silverware, jewellery,

maybe Tiffany's if we're lucky.

OK, teams, your 60 minutes starts now.

BELL RINGS

Let's go and get shopping, come on.

With thousands of items on offer, hopefully our teams can find

what they're looking for.

-OK. Oh.

-So, let the battle commence.

And we're on the clock so come on, let's get stuck in.

-But is there just too much choice?

-Where do you begin?

So much shiny, sparkly stuff.

And it looks like the Reds have very expensive tastes.

-1,800, is that in our budget?

-No. Sadly, no.

I think, let's, let's knock a few digits off that, maybe.

Guys, you're meant to be seeking out bargains, not blowing the budget.

What about a fire plaque, guys?

The Red team? Fire brigade? Fire?

What is it? Off a train?

No, it's a fire insurance mark so before we had the fire service,

these days, you would put a sign on your building to say that you

were insured so that if there was a fire, the fire service would

come out but it obviously had to be instantly recognisable

so you had one of these.

I think it's quite fun, it's marked up at £32.

-I quite like that.

-Yeah.

-The deal is, if you can get it for £20,

-I'd be a very happy rabbit.

-19 even better, I like the nines.

-Oh, OK, nines?

-Well, yes, because if you get £20, you made a profit.

-Let's have a go.

-He's a natural, isn't he?

-He's a professional.

-Yeah.

-All right.

-We'll see when I come back.

-Can we watch?

-Yes, please do.

-Can this be a spectator sport? Oh, good.

Hello, we're very interested in this. It's our first buy.

-No, we're not, no, we're not.

-Yeah. No, we're not.

-Quite interested.

We thought it was all right.

We're interested in asking if you could do £19?

Now, unfortunately, I can only take £2 off,

so £30 would be the very best on this item.

-Well...

-I'm a Yorkshireman, that's not good.

SHE LAUGHS

-What do you think?

-Let's think about it.

We'll think about it.

Would you like me to pop it behind the desk?

Yes, go on, please do, just give us a few minutes.

That's one for the back burner.

Meanwhile, the Blues have spotted something.

It says it's a writing box, I don't quite know what it's for but...

A writing box? I think it's for stationery, I mean,

you've got some lids missing and there should be some inkwells

in here, there should be little covers on there and the bigger issue

-is it's £120.

-Yeah!

If it was complete, then I would genuinely consider that,

but I didn't realise there was also quite a lot missing.

I think, in the current market,

and the current condition of this, you're not going to make a profit.

You would struggle to get your money back.

It's a nice thing, but it's not probably

-what's going to make a profit for us.

-OK.

-Yeah.

And profit is what it's all about.

Move on, Blues! But it looks like the Reds are still

failing to grasp the game.

I love him, but he's a fortune. He is.

-Jonathan?

-Why have I got such expensive taste?

-Well, how much is he?

-£1,000.

-Jonathan! No. Just no.

-Please, look at things in our price range.

-We can afford!

What do we think?

-This is a bit strange, it's a bit League Of Gentlemen in here.

-Hey!

-That's cool! The nervous system.

-Oh, yeah!

-I like that.

-Yeah?

-That's fantastic.

-I really like it.

-Apart from the fact that he looks...

-£120 worth.

-Yeah, but that, I mean,

the market at the moment wants this kind of thing.

I know it's sounds really bizarre, but it does want the quirky,

the unusual, this kind of medical anatomy subject is really

-quite interesting.

-I really like that.

-That's in good nick.

-£120.

-What do you think? Do you like it enough?

Well, I think I mean, there's so much here. Look, I, like you,

like love typography and I love mid-century design

and look at all those posters, I mean, that's fantastic.

That train departures,

Doncaster, 20th of June - 5th September 1964, do you like it?

From a piece of graphic design point of view,

I have to say not really. I just feel it's got any interest in it.

Tell it like it is, Jonathan.

So that's a no buy and it seems Natasha has her nose in a book.

Oh, my God. I just love how old it smells.

You don't understand. Smell it.

Smell it.

It smells like a book.

No, honestly, you have no idea.

That's one way to sniff out a bargain. Let's leave them to it.

Meanwhile, the Reds have found another timetable,

but will it appeal to Jonathan?

London and North Eastern Railway, Newcastle, Edinburgh, er...

just before the outbreak of war, 1939. "A lovely survivor."

I like that. I love that.

-That's suddenly made it a bit more interesting, hasn't it?

-Yeah, I like that.

-I like that.

-I like that date on that.

-Just pre-war, survivor.

-It's marked up at £69.

-£69.

Well, if we could get it at a reasonable price,

-I'd much prefer that one to the Doncaster.

-Do you?

-Just because of the date.

-20 minutes in, I think...

-We need to make a decision.

-I think we should go for something and I like that.

I think it's a great thing. Definitely one to go and ask about.

Shall we go and ask Tim again?

-Yes, go and get Tim.

-All right. Super. Let's go.

Whilst they investigate the price, the Blues are getting cultured.

Now, there's an interesting picture. I like the look of that.

"The New Age Domestic Agency and Wise Women's Bureau."

Probably 1920s, '30s.

Got a lovely Art Deco feel to it

and I think this is all hand-painted.

Signed as well and I guess that's 1934, so it is,

-it's absolutely bang on Art Deco.

-What is the speckling on it though?

-Is that...?

-These are little holes.

-I think it's been attached to a bit of wood that's had woodworm.

-Woodworm.

-It gives it even more character, do you know what I mean?

-It does, yeah.

-It's aged naturally, yeah.

-It's not affected the design that much.

Yeah. I'll tell you what else is quite clever. Look.

You see these strings coming from these girls' hands here?

-They're like all these characters are puppets.

-Oh, yeah.

Well, if you two take that,

-I would suggest you buy it just as cheap as you can.

-OK.

-Yeah?

-We'll see what we can do, yeah.

-Shall we?

-I'll carry on looking.

-Let me know how you get on.

-OK.

-Let's do this. Thank you.

-Haggle hard. What have you got to do?

-Haggle hard.

-Well done.

The picture is priced at £60,

so while the Blues go off to haggle hard, the Reds are also bargaining.

-£60 and you've got a deal.

-We'll shake your hand.

I couldn't, I'm afraid. It's only for 10%, so it's £7...

-So it's £62.

-Yes.

£62.

Let's just think about it.

We've got two or three now that we've got our eye on, so let's

walk the rest of the building and then we can buy quickly at the end.

That's an interesting strategy,

but 25 minutes in and neither team has made a purchase.

How are the Blues getting on?

It's beautiful, but there is a bit of woodworm.

-The best one I can do that one for is 54.

-Can we do 52 or 50?

I'm really sorry, 54 is the very best I can do for you.

-I think we should go and speak to Nic, see what he thinks.

-Yeah.

-OK, well, we're going to go and have a word.

-OK, no problem.

-Thanks for your help.

-All right. Thank you.

It's not the price they wanted, so back to consult with Nic,

but time is marching on. Are the Reds any closer to their first buy?

-Right, anything else catches your eye?

-Whoa, whoa, whoa. That vase.

-That's quite a contemporary looking piece.

-Which vase?

-Sorry, I'm being really thick.

-Yeah, the green one.

-Oh, this one.

The one that you can't really miss, that's sitting...

The one that looks fantastic for £18.

-Who's going to be brave enough to get it out?

-I will take it out.

Is he delicate with things? Oooh! Well done.

Large medina, swirl neck vase.

-Is there anything that identifies it or makes it...?

-No.

For medina, normally I would expect to see a ground-out

pontil mark on the base, where you'll see a little dish

in the glass there, you'll see it ground,

-and that's completely flat.

-Right.

Which doesn't fill me with a huge amount of confidence,

however, having said that, I think it's a really very beautiful thing.

I quite like it.

I could see that sitting on a window ledge on a stairs and landing.

I can see that in virtually any environment as well.

We are finding at the moment that ceramics and glass, low-value

-ceramics and glass are really not selling particularly well.

-Really?

But if it's cheap enough and it catches somebody's eye,

which it will, then it will sell.

-So it's marked up as £18.

-Yep.

-What would you be happy with, Christina, for that?

-Ten or £15.

-Let's go and find Tim.

-Let's go and find Tim,

-and I think, guys...

-See if he's got some good news for us.

-..A, it's crunch time and B, it's decision time.

-OK.

We've had over half our time, there's no huge amounts of pressure,

but I would like us to buy at least one thing.

-That would be quite handy.

-Fair enough.

-All right? Let's go.

-Let's go find Tim.

That's right, Christina, crack the whip.

With 30 minutes on the clock, both teams need to start buying.

While they carry on, I'm leaving the centre to hear

about an object with an extraordinary local story.

During the Second World War, the bulk of bombing raids

over Germany took off from Lincolnshire airbases like Hemswell.

But when the aircraft returned, crews faced another danger -

landing in the notorious fog that plagued this region.

I'm meeting John Ward,

Squadron Association President of RAF Fiskerton, to find out

about the ingenious system that helped them.

It was called Operation FIDO.

John, tell me what is this and what did it do?

Well, this rusty old piece of pipe was a life saver.

Birmingham University developed a system called FIDO and it was

a simple plan whereby you pumped fuel down a pipe

which ran down the side of runways,

such as the piece of concrete we see behind us here.

This was then lit and the fire and the heat then evaporated the fog

and created a tunnel for the air crew not only to be visible

for miles away when they came over the coast,

but also for them to be able to land safely on the ground.

It was a beacon to them and a beacon that saved lives.

This actual piece of metal came from RAF Fiskerton,

which was the first base in Lincolnshire to use the system.

It sounds very scary, but it was an ingenious way of getting the crews

back down on the ground. How much fuel would've been used?

Well, believe it or not, 100,000 gallons per hour

would be pumped down here when it was on full burn.

We know that it saved lives, but how many lives did it save?

2,500 aircraft landed by FIDO during the war.

11,000 lives were saved. That's a tremendous amount,

so it was worth every penny of that fuel

that was going down these pipes during the war.

What a fascinating story this humble piece of pipe has to tell,

but now it's time to get back to our teams.

We're halfway through and neither team has bought anything yet.

The Blues want that 1930s picture, but not at the price offered.

The best she could do was 54.

£54, that's not bad, it's a bit of a drop down. £54.

Look, while you've been away,

I've been browsing around on the same dealer's stand

and I found this as well.

Now, what I was thinking is if they were a little tight on

negotiating that down, if you put it to them to maybe put in an offer

for two items, you might get more of a generous discount.

-I think it's a really cool thing. Do you like it?

-What is it?

Well, it's a casket.

Obviously it's a box, a casket, but lots of interesting detailing on it.

You've got obviously this sort of medieval Renaissance

carved panelling, but then this whole area here,

these little sort of pyramidical shapes there that are reminiscent

-of that American tramp art, if you know what that is at all.

-No.

Well, it was sort of quite popular in the late 1930s,

20th century, made out of just odds and ends of bits of wood that

were left and just bolted together to make these sort of shapes.

It's not from America, but it's got that look about it,

that shape, that design which is appealing in the modern market.

All hand-carved and then lacquered as well. Probably late 19th century.

-It's definitely got character.

-Definitely, yeah.

-It's got all of that, hasn't it?

-How much is this?

-They're asking £70.

So if you're up for it, shall we go and see if we can renegotiate

a better deal, two items from the same dealer?

I think it's a good plan.

-Yeah.

-More chance of a profit.

-Let's do it.

-Let's go and find her.

That's a good plan.

Meanwhile, the Reds have got distracted on their way

-to find the price for the vase.

-Hey, here's your kind of thing.

I really like these.

I could see you having these in the kitchen

and using them to tuck in the bits of paper and...

-Notelets.

-Yeah.

-Do you know?

I've never even thought of that. That is a fantastic idea,

to have like a notepad in your kitchen, tuck recipes in.

I think graphically they're quite interesting and people have

got memories of newspaper sales on the streets saying, "Echo!"

-Yeah, "Get your daily paper today!"

-Evening Standard!

-Evening Standard!

That famous Morecambe and Wise, Morny Stannit. How much are they?

Are they the same branding as they are today?

-Well, I don't think the London Daily News exists, does it?

-No.

I love that image of Big Ben, it's fabulous.

-It's got the old-fashioned London phone number on the bottom.

-Yes.

-We're liking that. 125.

-Oh!

-I think that's because that newspaper is out of print.

-Oh, dear.

These guys seem to be drawn to big-ticket items.

They'll need to improve on that to get a profit.

Meanwhile, with almost 40 minutes gone, can the Blues do a deal?

They've offered £100 for the two items.

-Rachel, have you got some good news for us?

-I certainly have, yeah.

£100 for the both of them is absolutely fine.

For the two. So the final say is yours.

-Yeah, I think we should go for it.

-Yeah, I think so.

-Let's do this.

They've done it! 38 minutes on the clock

and they now have two items at £50 each,

but can the Reds catch up?

That was marked up as £18, so what, potentially,

could be your best on that, Tim?

-Because I know you're a generous man.

-He's going to say £16.20.

-Yes, the amount is up to £16.

-£16.

-Oh, you've rounded it down 20p, thanks, Tim.

-And then the newsstand.

-Yes, so that was marked up at £125, Tim.

-Let's have a look

what it's got on the ticket.

-That is just the 10%, so it is £13.

-OK.

-Is there any chance you could phone the dealer about that?

-Absolutely.

-I can do.

-Could you phone him and offer him £90 for it, please?

£90, I'll put it forward to him.

That would be marvellous and tell him we'd adore him forever.

Still no buys. This is getting tense.

While they find out the price of the newspaper stand,

the Blues are scouring the centre.

I think it's a little out of our price range.

It's just a beautiful book.

-But can Tim secure the new stand at £90 for the Reds?

-Go on, Tim.

-Bye. Bye.

-Is that a result?

-It is, yes. £90.

-Oh, really? Fantastic. Wow!

-Well done, my friend.

-Brilliant. Right. So, decision time.

-That's in the bag.

£90 on the newspaper board, OK?

-So are we going to go for the railway poster?

-62.

We all like that because of the date and the detail and the provenance.

152 and then how much was on this?

-That was the 18.

-You round it down to 16?

-I did, yes.

-So we've got just over ten minutes left.

-Let's have a quick whizz round, shall we?

-I think we should and then we can decide on...

-We know where we are.

-OK. You go and have a whizz round, I'll work on Tim.

-THEY LAUGH

What a relief!

They've finally bought two items,

but can they buy their third item in time?

Meanwhile, it looks like the Blues have spotted something

-on their wish list.

-Nic, I've just seen something in this cupboard.

-You've found something?

-Yeah, found some scales.

-They're nice.

Georgian sovereign scales is what they are.

For travelling tradesmen in the 18th century for weighing sovereigns,

half sovereigns, to make sure no-one clipped

a bit of gold off and they were being diddled, basically.

-Are they expensive?

-They're on for £42.

That doesn't sound too expensive, really. Let's have a look.

-Can I take the top bit?

-Of course.

-Right.

So we've got... Well, we've got a maker's name on there.

We've got Harrison, we've got the fact that that's the sovereign there

and the half sovereign there.

Everything that you should find on it seems to be there.

-Is the case intact?

-It's got the case with it.

-It should just pull apart into two sections.

-Ah!

-There we go.

So it should just then pop in there like that,

pop the lid back on and then, of course, you pop it in your pocket

for a travelling tradesmen of the 18th century.

I like that and look, there's a little detail as well

with the little flowers.

-It's on both sides, yeah.

-A bit more decorative, isn't it?

So, it sounds like you both like it. I don't mind the price, £42.

The only thing I have noticed is it says,

"Early 20th century not Georgian."

Now, maybe the dealer knows something that we don't

that it's an early 20th-century copy of a Georgian one,

but it's a nice object.

I think we should see if we can haggle it down a bit.

See what Rachel can do and just save as many pennies as you can.

-I will do.

-Go on, good luck.

-OK.

-It's all down to Tamoor.

Meanwhile, the Reds are hunting for that final item

and it appears Christina shouldn't have left them alone!

-I leave you alone for two minutes!

-Is it crazy?

-Please don't tell me you've bought it?

-No, no. We're asking your opinion.

-Best price they've come up with is £38.

-38?

-38.

-From 42?

That wasn't haggling.

-It's his idea.

-It's not my idea.

-Do you think it's going to sell, Tam?

-We've only got five

or six minutes left, anyway. I think it'll sell.

Oh, dear. Now both teams are up against it

with just six minutes to go

and it looks like the Reds have returned to the fire plaque.

You couldn't get more different, really.

You've got a fire mark and a vase. Fire mark and a vase.

-What was our best on that?

-This is repro.

-Yeah, in a general sale...

In a general sale, that vase, I like that vase.

Final decision, guys. What are you saying?

-I think we should just go for it.

-Let's do it.

-£38. That's it. Third and final thing bought.

-Yeah.

-Five minutes left, job done.

-We did it.

-Well done, guys.

-Don't leave me out.

-Well done.

The Blues have done it.

Three items with just minutes to spare

and the Reds are right up to the wire,

-but have they come to a decision?

-Vase.

-Yes?

-Yeah, vase.

-Decision made.

-I think so, yeah.

-Amazing!

-So we're done, team.

-Well done.

-Brilliant.

-Thank you.

-Thank you so much, Tim.

Thank you for your patience.

Hickory dickory dock, the mouse ran down the clock.

Time's up, teams.

Gosh, guys, you took a whole hour as well. Well done. I like it.

Let's remind ourselves what the Reds bought.

Will the enamel newspaper stand be good news at the auction?

It set them back £90.

Can the railway timetable deliver a timely profit?

It costs £62.

And will someone give the modern baluster-shaped vase a home?

It costs just £16.

-Boys, did you have a good time?

-Fantastic time.

-Yeah.

You played it pretty cool.

What's your favourite item?

-Favourite item is probably the enamel sign.

-Definitely.

Make the most money - probably the vase.

Right. OK. What about you, John?

I love the enamel sign.

And I do think Paul's ridiculous vase is probably going to be

the thing that makes the most money.

Boys, you've spent £168.

So can I have the leftover lolly of £132?

You can. There's the 130. And the £2.

Oh, excellent.

-Now, Christina.

-Thank you, my love.

What are you going to do with all that dosh?

I don't know. I'm not used to having quite so much.

Well, we certainly did look at a lot of things.

So I think I'll keep going at look at some more things.

While Christina goes off in her quest,

let's remind ourselves what the Blues bought.

Will the unique 1930s feminist watercolour attract the bidders?

It was £50.

Can the unusual card casket create a stir? It also cost £50.

And can they weigh in with a profit on the Georgian-style

sovereign scales and case?

They were £38.

Well, Natasha, Tamoor, it took you a wee while to get started,

I have to say.

But once you got started, oh, you were some kids.

Now, tell me, what's your favourite item, Natasha?

Mine's the painting.

It's really unique. It's got a bit of an Art Deco vibe going on.

-Is it going to make you the biggest profit?

-We hope so.

I think the box will make us the biggest profit.

-My favourite item is the painting.

-Oh, right.

-So you're both interested in the same kind of art?

-Hm.

But I think the box might make the biggest profit for us.

You spent £138. Could I have £162, please?

-There you go.

-Now, Nick...

-Hm.

Are you going to be able to buy something that they both like?

Whether they like it or not, doesn't matter too much,

as long as it makes a profit.

-Profit, profit, profit.

-That's the drive.

And while Nick goes off to look for his profit,

we're going to go to the auction.

Today, we're at Sheffield Auction Galleries

with auctioneer, Robert Lee. Robert, it's lovely to be here.

Nice to meet you, too.

Well, first our Red Team, Jonathan and Paul.

Their first item was this enamelled sign for the London Daily News.

Do you like it, Robert?

It's nice. It's advertising.

This newspaper was only produced for around about seven months in 1987.

It was the baby of Robert Maxwell.

-Will that make it a little bit rarer?

-Definitely.

I set a low estimate, 20-30. It was a come-and-get-me estimate.

Let's hope it does a lot better than that,

-because they did pay £90 for it.

-Ah.

-Paid quite a lot.

Will their second item do any better? It's the railway timetable.

It's 1939. Will the date make a difference in the price?

You're talking about three or four months

before the actual war started.

There won't be many of these kicking around.

-The condition will go against it, unfortunately.

-Yes.

It HAS been in the war!

-It has been in the war!

-Because of condition, we've just set £10-20.

Let's hope that's a come-and-buy-me as well,

-because they paid £62 for it.

-Crikey.

But our third item,

this beautiful turquoise vase - tell me what you think of that.

It's quite an attractive piece, but there's not much age to it,

-in my view.

-No, it's fairly modern.

-Yeah.

-I've said, conservatively, £10-20.

-10-20.

Well, they paid £16, so there's a chance there.

We're in the middle, aren't we? Well, THEY'RE in the middle.

They're in the middle.

Well, looking at all three items, it looks like they may need

their bonus buy, so we're going to go and have a look at it.

Jonathan, Paul, you left Christina £132.

What did you spend the money on?

Well, Anita, we looked at quite a few different things on our shop,

and there was one thing that we kind of kept coming back to.

-Oh, my!

-You really liked this, didn't you?

-Happy birthday!

-Well, that's great.

-We looked at it in the shop.

It's a reproduction firemark, so not an original one,

which would obviously be a 19th century one,

so a 20th century firemark,

so you would have displayed this on your property to say that you

had paid your dues, so in the event of a fire,

the fire service would come and put your flames out.

How much?

-Well, I paid £30 for it.

-OK.

I would hope, at auction, you'd be looking at £30-£50,

even as a decorative thing.

I think it's a nice displayable piece.

-Yeah, I'd pay that for it.

-Yeah.

Mind you, given what we've paid for everything else!

We might need this.

LAUGHTER

You don't need to make up your mind just now,

you wait until your first three items have been sold,

but, in the meantime,

let's go and see what the auctioneer thinks

about Christina's fire plaque.

Christina's bonus buy.

Tell me what do you think of that.

It's the sort of thing that usually does well through an auction,

anything with names on like this from the early 20th century.

I think it should do fairly well.

What's your estimate on it, Robert?

I'd have thought £30-£50.

Yeah? Well, Christina only paid £30,

-so there is hope there.

-Yeah.

Now, over to the Blues, Natasha and Tamoor,

and their first item was this watercolour.

I think this is a terrific thing.

What do you think?

It's really nice, isn't it?

Period Art Deco piece.

Don't know much about what this was all about,

but depicts the era, really nicely, doesn't it?

What's your estimate?

We've got a few faults down there with worms and that,

so maybe £15-£30.

They've paid £50 for it,

so they might have got carried away a wee bit.

Yeah. It's a unique sort of thing, though, it may get up to 50.

I've never seen one before, so you never know your luck.

That's right.

Now, their second item was this casket, here.

Elaborately decorated, tramp art, you might call it.

Do YOU like it?

It's certainly got like a Jacobean sort of look to it, hasn't it?

But it's probably, what, 100, 120 years old? Something like that.

It's not my cup of tea,

but there's a lot of work gone into it.

I was thinking £20-£40.

Well, they paid £50,

so we're not too far away on that one.

Their third item was the little sovereign and half sovereign scales.

Now, people are buying sovereigns.

Will they like that little machine?

I like it.

The condition of it is in tiptop order, isn't it?

And you've got the added beauty of it having its case as well.

What's your estimate?

£20-£40, I thought.

£20-£40.

Well, they've paid £38,

so again, we're not too bad,

we're in the ballpark.

So they may or may not need their bonus buy.

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

Natasha, Tamoor, you left Nick £162.

Nick, what did you buy?

Well, we went on a voyage of discovery, really, didn't we?

So I've gone back in time...

GASPS

-Now, what do you think about this? Do you like?

-What is it?

LAUGHTER

This is a Roman oil lamp.

-It's, I think, getting on for nearly 2,000 years old.

-Wow!

If nothing else, it's bound to be the oldest thing

in the auction today.

And I particularly like the fact

that it's got this original little cradle with it as well,

which you don't see that often.

I gave £58 for it. Not bad?

No, I think that's... It's...

-Are you sure?

-LAUGHTER

Not convinced you are.

I'm just trying to figure out, like, how does it work? What's...?

Well, it's an oil lamp, so it would have had oil in there,

and a little taper in there which would have lit,

and it would have lit one of their chambers in the evening.

-What do you think?

-I like it.

-Yeah.

I think the important question is

how much do you think it's going to make?

I would hope it would make pushing on towards three figures.

-Really?

-Really?

Should do, hopefully.

If the right people are watching online.

Now, you don't need to make up your mind just now.

You wait until your first three items have been sold.

But in the meantime,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks of Nick's Roman lamp.

Now, Nick bought this little stoneware lamp.

Will your buyers like this type of item?

Well, I hope so.

Personally, I'm not too sure of the age of them.

Are they Roman? We've put "Roman-style".

They're certainly early pieces.

I thought maybe £20-£30.

£20-£30.

Well, he paid £58,

-so he certainly thinks that they are period.

-Uh-huh.

Will you be our auctioneer?

I am.

Can't wait!

Bid now at 110, 120, sir.

-Going, going...

-BANG

Well, guys, here we are.

At the auction.

It's packed!

Have you guys been to an auction before?

-No.

-No.

-How do you feel?

-I think we're going to crash and burn.

All right!

-Is that maybe a wee bit nervous?

-Yes, we are a bit, yeah.

Nothing like a bit of positive thinking.

We're quite competitive, aren't we?

Your first item coming up is that wonderful newspaper sign.

You paid £90 for it, so good luck.

Thank you.

120. Mid to late 20th century

enamel news headlines stand.

Breaking news is we've got £30 bid

on commission.

35, we're after.

40. 45.

-CHRISTINA:

-Come on, Internet.

-ROBERT:

-Top left at 45.

Any advance? It's going to sell.

Top left at 45,

it's staying in Sheffield, at 45...

THEY GROAN

BANG

THEY GROAN

Boys, that's -£45.

Some work to do now.

Oh, some work to do there.

Oh, and I loved that sign.

Never mind, boys, we have your railway timetable coming up next.

-1939.

-So let's keep our fingers crossed, now, and it's coming up.

-Here it goes.

-Good luck!

1st May to 2nd July 1939.

£20 for it.

Tenner for him.

Ten bid. 12, we're after.

12. 15, sir. 18.

£20. 22.

Room bid at 25, so far.

28. 30, sir?

On the internet. Who's on 30?

Barely left the shunting sheds.

THEY CHUCKLE

28 bid on the internet.

Who's on £30? Any advance?

It's going to sell.

One last look. Going, going...

BANG

THEY GROAN

£28, boys. £28.

A wee bit disappointing. PAUL SOBS

A wee bit.

Now, boys, that brings you to -£79.

Oh, that's good.

LAUGHTER

But...you still have another item to go.

Glass vase. Nice piece, that.

Kick us off at a tenner, for it,

please?

£10 to get me started. At ten.

12. 15. 18. £20.

ALL: Yes!

18 on my right.

It's got to be 20, surely.

It's £20, new bid. 22.

25. 28.

28, new bid.

Selling at £28, going, going...

-CHRISTINA:

-Finally, a profit.

-ROBERT:

-30 bid on the internet.

-£30!

35, we need.

35, new bid.

40, we're after.

You're out, netters.

It's in the room.

Lady standing, at £35

Could be 40, now.

It's with the lady, top left,

at 35, going, going...

BANG

£35, boys.

-Pleased with that.

-Well done.

Well done!

Boys, that was absolutely magnificent.

LAUGHTER

That takes your overall score to -£60.

It's quite a lot, but it's not a disaster.

If you say it quickly...

You've got to decide whether you want to take Christina's bonus buy.

She paid £30 for it.

What do you think?

-I'd go for it, I like it anyway.

-Definitely.

-Let's do it.

-Oh, Lord.

-Really?

-We've decided.

-We trust you.

-We trust you implicitly.

OK, we're going to go with the bonus buy.

-Very good luck to you.

-Thank you.

Lot 130.

It's an early 20th-century

cast-iron fire plaque.

Must start the bidding at £18.

20, we're after. £20.

22. 25.

-Yes!

-28.

28 on the front left.

Must be 30, now. Anyone else?

Come on, another one!

Bid now or lose it.

Fair warning, at £28.

Hammer's dropping. Going, going...

BANG

£28.

It was worth it, it was worth it.

It was nearly there, it was nearly there.

But it takes you to the grand total...

-of -£62.

-Yes!

-Yeah.

LAUGHTER

Now, I don't want you to worry too much about that,

because, in the grand scheme of things,

it might be a winning score.

Natasha, Tamoor, auction day.

-Tell me, have you been to an auction before?

-No.

-Never?!

-No.

-How are you feeling?

-Nervous, but excited.

-Nervous, but excited.

But it's bringing a big smile to your face.

Well, your first item is

that wonderful feminist watercolour from 1934.

You paid £50 for it.

Wee bit of damage, but let's hope that there are

plenty of feminists in the room,

and that we can make a profit on it!

-Come on, girls!

-Come on, girls!

Lot number 146.

An advertisement for

the New Age Domestic Agency,

and Wise Womens' Bureau.

£30 for it.

£30 for it?

-NICK:

-Come on!

-ROBERT:

-Must start at...

Wait for it, ten.

GROANING

Ten, only bid. 12, we're after.

12. Needs to be 15 elsewhere.

18. £20.

22. 25.

28. 30.

35. 40.

35, with the two ladies.

40 bid on the internet.

-Come on!

-45, madam.

45 in the room. 50, we're after.

50 bid on the internet. 55.

-Go on!

-55.

CHEERING

You're out, netters.

One last look.

They're going to sell at 55.

Hammer's going to drop.

BANG

Girl Power! Girl Power! Girl Power!

LAUGHTER

£55!

-That is +£5!

-OK.

-OK.

Next item coming up is your casket.

You paid £50 for it. Let's hope it makes another profit for you.

£30 for it?

£30 for it?

Ten is your only bid.

12, there. Take 15 elsewhere?

15. £18.

20. 22.

25. 28. 30.

-Come on! Come on, it's climbing!

-35.

40.

45.

-40.

-Come on!

-Come on!

It's going to go at £40.

Have we finished?

BANG

£40. That's -£10.

Well, that takes your overall score,

so far, to -£5.

That is not bad, guys!

Could be a lot worse!

Your next item is

your sovereign weights.

You paid £38.

£28 is your opening bid

on commission. 30, I need.

£30. 35.

40. 40 there. I'm out.

I'm out too soon. 45, I'm after.

45, madam?

-50.

-50!

-55.

60.

65.

60, gentleman seated.

Any advance?

In yellow at £60,

it's going to sell.

BANG

-NICK:

-Yes!

That is absolutely wonderful.

Well, that takes you, all in all, guys, to plus £17.

+£17!

You're in profit!

You were absolutely wonderful,

your items were terrific.

But are you going to take the bonus buy?

I don't know. You call it.

I don't know.

-Let's go for it.

-No, I don't think we should.

-No?

I don't think we should.

-You have to make up your mind. Have to make up your mind.

-OK.

-I wouldn't.

-All right.

-You're not going to go with it?

-No.

-Are you absolutely sure?

-It...

It's £58, and we can't seem to be getting past the 50 mark.

-Good point. OK.

-You know, so...

-You're absolutely sure?

-Yes.

-You're not going to take it.

-No.

But we're going to sell it anyway,

so let's find out...

-Oh, God, I don't know!

-Too late!

..if we can make a profit on this.

-You've made your mind up!

-OK.

-OK.

Lot number 156.

Roman-type redware oil lamp.

£30 for 'em? £30 for 'em?

I'm pitching in at ten.

12, I'm looking for, elsewhere.

10, for the two.

Must be 12.

Anybody else want them?

Internets don't.

-NICK:

-You made the right decision.

-Think so.

-ROBERT:

-£18 for them?

£9 each. 15 bid on the internet.

Must be an 18 to progress.

Anybody else coming in?

One last look over, now.

We have £15.

Have we finished, at 15, only?

BANG

GROANING

£15.

-Oh, you made the right decision, there!

-Yeah.

Well done, well done, you were absolutely wonderful.

Well, teams, the results are in.

CHRISTINA GIGGLES

Unfortunately, we have to have runners-up as well as winners.

On today's show, the runners up...

..are the Reds.

GROANING AND LAUGHTER

Boys, in the end, your score was -£62.

That's not too bad in the grand scheme of things.

At least it's your money.

LAUGHTER

But our winners, today, jumping up and down...

APPLAUSE

..are Natasha and Tamoor,

and you decided not to take Nick's little Roman lamp,

-which was really the best choice.

-I'm not holding it against them.

LAUGHTER

But in the end, £17,

which is really quite a lot of money!

Well, teams, we did have a wonderful time,

and you were terrific, terrific sports.

If you would like to find out more about Bargain Hunt,

visit our website,

or follow us on Twitter,

but best of all,

join us us soon for more Bargain Hunting.

Yes?

-ALL:

-Yes!