Warwick 30 Bargain Hunt

Tickets, please!

Bargain Hunt today is coming from the British Motor Museum

here in Warwickshire -

home to the world's largest collection of historic British motor cars.

But today is also packed with antique stalls for our teams to race around.

So, all aboard - let's go Bargain Hunting! DING!

There are 300 cars in this collection.

But upstairs are 100 stalls, and our teams

are certainly going to have to step on the gas

if they're going to spend £300

on three items in just one hour.

So let's see what lies on the route ahead.

On today's show, the Reds and their expert have conflicting tastes.

-It's an interesting one...

-You don't like it, do you?

-You're not sure, are you?

-I didn't say that.

-Be honest with us.

-I've never bought or sold one before...

Whilst the Blues seem to be impressing theirs.

I like that tactic.

Slightly, you know...

-Just tuck it under, just tuck it under.

-Yeah, I like that.

But does it pay off down at the auction for the Reds...

Oh! Profit, girls!

Or the Blues?

And we have a rather special visit from a world champion -

Formula 1 racing driver Damon Hill.

-You wouldn't want to be driving the next car behind it too close, would you?

-No, no. You'd get roasted.

But that's all for later. Now let's meet today's teams.

And for the Reds,

we have rhyming sisters, Vicky and Nicky! Sounds good.

And for the Blues, we have Tim and Ken.

-Hello, all. ALL:

-Hello!

Now, I'm told you're not only sisters but best friends.

Is that humanly possible?

We're very good friends.

There was a bit of a hesitation there, wasn't there?

It hasn't always been that way.

-Has it not?

-No. Because there's a bit of an age gap between us.

Obviously Vicky's much older than I am...

Obviously!

Just to point out, there is nine years' difference,

and I'm the youngest.

So it was quite difficult when I was a teenager, and I've got this very

little sister that was clinging to my hip...

-Oh...

-..and always wanted to come everywhere with me...

I loved you!

-Cramping your style.

-Absolutely.

Is there a haircutting story somewhere in there?

Yes. I'll let Vicky tell you that one.

I was about 15.

Nicola had big, '80s style permed hair.

And not only that, it was layered.

So she said, "Can I have a trim?" And I said, "Yeah, not a problem, I'll do your hair." So she sat down.

And I was following the layers, and suddenly her hair went from here,

which she'd asked for a trim, and it was up there, and wonky.

I just remember my dad walking in and shouting at me and saying,

"What on earth have you done?"

I looked a sight. And I cried and cried.

-Oh, dear.

-She's never forgiven me.

-Have you ever got your own back?

-I'm going to.

Shopping today could be the chance, couldn't it, I think.

Now, Nicky, what do you do? You're into commercial interiors, aren't you?

-Yes, I'm a business development manager for a commercial interiors company.

-That's interesting.

So that might give you a bit of an insight today, with looking at things.

Yes, hopefully, negotiations-wise...

-Yeah.

-..I hope I'll be able to find a bargain.

-You like antiques?

-We don't really know anything about antiques.

This is really promising.

-I attend the car boot...

-Are you listening, Blues?

Any tactics, girls?

I think we're going to look for lower-end items, not spend too much money,

-in the hope...

-But one bigger item.

-One big item.

-Yes.

-Yeah.

I think the problem is we probably won't agree, as we're...

-going.

-Yes. One of us will get our own way in the end.

Yeah. And I can't imagine which one that's going to be.

Thank you, girls. Good luck.

Now, moving on to the Blues, Tim and Ken...

-That's right.

-How did you meet?

We actually met on holiday, many years ago,

and seemed to follow each other round ceramics shops.

-Really?

-In Spain.

-Yeah, in Spain. Got talking...

-How long ago was that?

-12 years.

-Probably longer than that, even.

Yeah. Now, you're both teachers, aren't you?

Or one of you is a teacher and one WAS a teacher?

-I've retired. I've retired, yeah.

-Yeah, I'm still going.

-So what do you teach?

-Kids.

GIRLS LAUGH

Sharp as a rasoir, this one, I can see.

I'm trained in French and German but I actually...

I've taught maths for about ten years now.

Bonjour.

Bonjour. Ca va?

Bien, merci. No more, please!

And I should think your lessons are fun, aren't they?

I try to make them fun and interesting.

I'd like to be in your classroom, I think.

Oh, I don't know that I'd have you, you've got to be a certain level.

You're a charmer, you.

-Ken, you've given up the teaching now.

-Yes, many years.

So what do you do with yourself now?

I run a drop-in centre at my local church...

-Excellent.

-..I go to auctions, which I really enjoy.

-Well, that's quite handy, isn't it?

-Yeah, it's handy for this.

And what about antiques? You'll both be looking for ceramics?

-No...

-Not necessarily, no.

-No?

-He bought a load of tat, you see, this is the problem.

And you bought some priceless...

I bought some priceless... Absolutely!

But we have got a little mantra, which is buy low...

Sell high.

How original(!) THEY LAUGH

I'm waiting for the day when someone comes along and says, "I'm going to buy high, and sell low!"

Well, it might happen today, mightn't it?

It normally does, I have to say.

Anyway, you'll have a lot of fun.

Now, if you're going to go shopping you will need something.

-What will you need?

-We'll need some money.

-Dosh. Loads of dosh.

Dosh. Well, I've got the dosh for you,

I've got 300 for you... Look at that.

-Thank you.

-Steady! Steady, Ken...

Right, girls - 300 for you.

-Off you go, and have a great shop.

-Thank you.

Friends and relatives...

but who will come out on top?

So let's meet today's experts.

Hoping to search out a profit for the Reds...

And will he be in tune with the Blues?

So what will our teams be looking for today?

Vicky and Nicky, have we come with a shopping list today?

I wouldn't mind getting a piece of silver.

-Bits of silver...

-Silver.

-Garden related stuff.

-Garden.

Pretty, antique-type mirror.

And I'm looking for a Victorian garden gnome.

A Victorian garden gnome.

-If we can find one.

-Oh, my gosh. It's quite specific, isn't it?

Right, teams - your time starts...

now.

WHISTLE

-Come on, let's go!

-Let's go.

Come with me.

Best of luck, teams.

The Reds aren't hanging about. They're straight down to business.

Is it a condiment set, is it?

-Oh... You've got all the terms!

-Oh...

-Yes, indeed.

-Is it really?

-It's a condiment set.

-And do they sell well?

-Not particularly, no.

-Oh, right. Well, let's...

-But good spot to start with.

Keep getting your eye in.

That's the idea, Reds.

And the Blues are in good spirits.

Bar, happy hour. Five to seven.

We're into our happy hour now.

You certainly are. And that hour soon goes.

Now - what has Richard spotted?

-That could be a number of things, that could be, Richard.

-It could indeed.

It's called a coco de mer.

It's a seed pod,

that has blown off a tree

somewhere in the middle of the Indian Ocean,

and has floated and landed up on somebody's beach.

And they are incredibly rare,

and they are also incredibly valuable.

The price would be...£2,000.

Wow!

Just slightly out of your £300 budget, Reds.

Now - have the Blues found something to write home about?

That's quite a nice desk set. It's Deco, it's Bakelite.

-How old is it? 1930s?

-It's 1930s, yeah.

-SELLER:

-We bought that in Italy,

at a small fair in a little village.

Ooh! Get you. International art dealer.

-That's a possibility.

-Yeah, it's quite a nice-looking thing, isn't it?

-We'll remember that.

At £48, they're not writing it off.

Reds - silver was on your shopping list...

Little silver condiment set there.

You see, now, unlike the other one you looked at...

-Yes.

-..being in silver, that looks really quite special.

-£350.

-Ah. Well, you see, you've got a good eye.

But we don't want to spend all our budget...

-No.

-No.

-..on one item, do we?

Well, not if you want a chance of winning, you don't.

Ken - these would work in someone's garden.

-Let's have a look at them over here.

-Are they old, is there age to them?

Yes. I think there IS age.

They have been repainted, and they are cast iron,

but, you know, there's no markings

as in...to who has made them.

-I quite like the style.

-They're functional, aren't they?

-They are.

-Edwardian...

-Somebody could make something really nice with those.

Yeah. What's on that ticket there?

-35.

-35.

What would YOU pay for them?

I wouldn't pay any more than 20.

-OK...

-Yeah, I'd have said around 20.

-Are these yours?

-SELLER:

-Yes, they are.

You've got £35 on them. What's the best?

-25.

-25.

These two fine gentleman were thinking a £10 note each for them.

Otherwise you have to take them back.

-SELLER:

-Yeah, and they are heavy.

-TIM:

-- They're heavy.

-SELLER:

-- Go on, then. £10 each.

Any chance of doing 19, just to tuck it underneath,

because we may...

They may get 20 at the auction, it just gives us a chance.

You know you want to.

- 19. - Oh, what a guy. What a guy.

Thanks ever so much indeed.

I like that tactic. Slightly, you know...

Just tuck it under, just tuck it under.

Yeah, I like that.

-Happy?

-Yeah. Happy with that.

-Item number two.

-Let's go find that now.

Some tactics coming into play from Tim.

And that's the first buy in the bag in just under ten minutes.

Reds - any ideas of what your first buy will be?

What about...watches, Richard?

-I'd steer clear of watches.

-OK.

Because if they happen not to work, if they've been over-wound,

then we've bought a problem.

Right. OK.

Richard has no time for watches.

I'd keep looking, Reds.

Thomas, what do you have there?

A curling stone inkwell.

Looks like it.

You pop your ink in there...

Should there be a container in there?

-No, cos it's glazed.

-Oh, it's glazed. Oh, I see.

-It's glazed already.

-Yeah, yeah.

-So you don't need a glass for it.

What does he say...? An inkwell, Victorian - £95.

-It's a lot of money.

-It is a lot of money for that.

-It's a lot.

-It's a lot of money.

-Is it worth enquiring, or not?

-You could always ask.

But I think we're erm... We'd be losing.

-We'd be a long way.

-OK. We'll leave it at the moment then.

Well, ask anyway.

What's your absolute best deal on that?

- 50. - How about 40?

Might give us a chance.

- OK. - Now, I'm going to be cheeky now.

Could you just tuck it underneath at 39,

cos if we made 40 in the auction, we're going to make a pound.

Tim - you've already had a generous reduction!

Instead of losing a sale, yeah, I'll do £39.

-TIM:

-Thanks ever so much.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you, gentlemen.

Thank you very much.

Fabulous. Second item down.

Well done, Blues!

So, with 15 minutes on the clock -

Reds, it's time you made an investment.

What about this one, please?

This is a combination

vesta and sovereign holder,

so you put a half sovereign in that side

and your matches in that side,

and then there's a striker on the side.

Ooh, what have you got over here?

It's only a plated one, not a silver.

Right, OK. Well, that's all right -

I'm sure the price probably reflects

it's silver-plated, not silver. And it's in the form of a book, yes?

-Yes.

-Victorian, I imagine?

With a registration mark, I see.

That's right, yes. So, about 1902

I think they stopped putting...

-Right.

-..registration numbers on.

What's the best price you could give us on that?

Got 28 on it,

and I can do 15, but that would be my very best.

Wow. Nice discount.

-Yeah.

-Well...

-But that would be my very, very best.

What does Richard think?

Well, Richard thinks that the lady has been so generous in the discount,

that we might be able to make a small profit on it

if it comes to auction. £15 IS a good price...

-Yeah.

-So, if you're happy?

-Yeah. Very happy.

Excellent. We have a deal.

-Thank you very much.

-Thanks very much.

-Let's go.

-Let's go.

A good discount for the Reds.

And that's their first buy in 20 minutes.

Roll up, roll up - have the Blues spotted their third item?

A circus set. Britains circus set,

it's quite a rare set.

And the clown.

-Is that a full set? Erm... No, not entirely full.

-OK.

-Something to think about.

-We'll have a think.

-It's not a gnome.

You're right. It's not a gnome.

Reds - is this frame in the picture?

If the picture frame has some age to it,

that is the sort of thing that I'd be perhaps suggesting to you.

Right.

-It's £12. Cast brass photo frame...

-Right.

I can tell from here that it's not old.

-No.

-In style it's Victorian,

but this looks as if it's been made in recent times.

-Right.

-Yeah.

-Having said that, you know,

look at the price. And if we're thinking about buying...

-Yeah.

-..pretty objects to go to auction to make a profit...

-That's true, actually.

-Yeah.

..I mean, that is the sort of piece

that I think we could find will make a profit.

-If we could get the price down...

-Seven or eight quid.

-Yeah.

Wow. You are optimists.

Realists! Seven or eight quid? We're paying full price!

So, I think the best thing I can do

is to go and find out how much it is. Good idea?

Yeah, absolutely, thank you.

Leave it with me - I'll take it over and ask the stallholder. I'll be right back.

-OK.

-OK. £7 or £8.

Got it.

So, now the Reds are finding their feet

and beginning to pile on the negotiating pressure.

While Richard goes off to work on the price,

I've popped downstairs to show you a car with a fascinating history.

The Midlands, of course, has a long association with the motor industry.

This special car, the Rover BRM,

was built just down the road in Coventry, and in the '60s

competed in the world famous Le Mans 24-hour race,

driven by racing stars Jackie Stewart and Graham Hill.

And we're very privileged to have Graham's son Damon -

himself of course a world champion - with us here today.

-Hello, Damon. How are you?

-Very well.

So this is the car that your dad actually drove, isn't it?

Yeah, this is it.

There weren't that many made. There was only one as far as I know.

What's so special about this car?

Well, this is a very different type of car in terms of its propulsion.

It's propelled by a jet engine, and this was the first-ever

-gas turbine car to finish Le Mans in 1953.

-Yes.

If I look at the front of it, it looks like any old car,

but then as you move back, you think something special's going on here.

Yeah, these are scoops here

and this is where the air gets sucked in,

so it's got one on each side and it sucks in all the air,

-just like an aeroplane engine.

-Yeah.

And the temperature as it comes out of the back.

Well, it super heats the air and that's what produces the power.

So you wouldn't want to be driving the car behind it too close...

No, no, you wouldn't, no. No, you'd get roasted.

Would you?

-So this car could actually have taken off.

-It really could.

I mean, he did describe it as being like you've got a 707

about to land on top of you, you know,

because when you fire it up, it's a jet engine.

Not unlike the ones we have in aeroplanes.

But, of course, it got through the 24 hours

but it wasn't entirely without mishap.

My dad went off, and it sucked in a lot of dirt and dust,

and so I think that actually got the engine quite hot,

so it had problems with overheating and...

-So they were on a knife edge. You know, it was a nail-biter.

-Yeah.

To race for 24 hours is an incredibly tough task.

So, what sort of speed was this doing down the Mulsanne Straight?

It wasn't very quick, actually. It was only about 150mph.

-Is that all?

-Yeah, cars would've been whizzing...

Jaguars and stuff would've been going past it.

Now they do well over 200mph on the straights, so...

Were you doing 200mph when you drove at Le Mans?

I was only doing about 220.

-Is that all?

-Yeah, and I was being overtaken by Jaguars then.

I did it in 1989. I didn't actually get to the finish.

Did you not? How far did you get?

I got to about four in the morning, or maybe it was six in the morning,

and then the engine blew up.

But my dad did win it in 1972 with the Matra.

Now, Damon, would you like to have driven this car?

I'm not sure. I think the risks involved in those days were huge.

-Right, yeah.

-And jet engines...

-Because there's so much fuel.

There's a lot of fuel, and they're very hot,

and, you know, anything goes wrong,

-you're going to have a bit of a fire on your hands.

-Yeah, yeah.

So, what do you like about it?

Well, it's got a very unusual interior,

it's got some sort of corduroy covering over the dashboard.

I'm not sure what that was all about but...

-Do you think that was Dad?

-Maybe!

-The sort of thing he would've done.

-Yeah, to add a bit of style.

-Yeah.

If it were ever to come to the market,

it would certainly sell for north of £1 million.

-Would it?

-Yeah.

-OK. Am I supposed to make an offer or something?

I think you probably have rights to it, really,

don't you, without paying?

I think they're best in museums, where everyone can get to see them.

-Yeah. But thank you so much for coming along.

-My pleasure.

It's been an absolute treat for you to give up your time.

It's been fun.

So, let's head back upstairs

and see if our teams are motoring on with the shopping.

Has Richard managed to get a good price on that picture frame?

Nicky, Vicky, I've been to see the stallholder.

-Yeah.

-She looked long and hard at the price of £12.

-OK.

-And I asked her what her best price was, and she said...

..£6.

-Brilliant. Thank you very much.

-Sold!

So, I can't see us going too far wrong.

-No, we're happy with that.

-Yeah.

-The auctioneer's got to ask at least £10 to start, hasn't he?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Should we buy it?

-Let's go for it.

-Yes.

-Deal.

-Deal!

-Deal.

-Deal. It's sold.

Well, the Reds seem pleased with their second buy.

So, we're 35 minutes in. How do our teams feel it's going?

-I think we've started really well. Two items, 15 minutes.

-Yeah.

But I don't want to buy another one yet.

-I want to look around...

-Have a good look, scout around.

Have a good look and then decide which one we want.

That's Ken's plan. What about the Reds?

-The final item...

-Could be the one.

-Yeah, because we want to spend a bit more money, so...

-Yes.

-..we might not quite agree...

-And we've got to be the Blues.

-Yes.

-So that's the most important.

-Yeah, that is the main thing.

The Reds are getting feisty.

Now, Blues, this looks tantalising.

-Is that a tantalus, Tom?

-That is a tantalus, yes!

With an extraordinary sort of glass in the middle,

which doesn't really belong...

-There should be three, shouldn't there?

-Should be three.

-Three in there.

-Gin, brandy, whisky.

It's very ornate, isn't it?

It is. It's a Victorian carved one.

But I do believe that these are all cut, and that's moulded.

-OK.

-Right.

-There's a difference.

We're looking at things being homogenous together.

It's not adding up for the Blues.

Is it the same for the Reds?

Do you see what's missing?

The one bit that we would really want in a dressing table set.

-The mirror.

-The mirror.

-Mirror, mirror...

Yeah, indeed, it's gone.

So, if it had the mirror,

then I'd be saying, "Yeah, let's have a look at it," but...

-But no.

-..with the most important bit missing,

then we're going to, we're going to pass on that.

We're going to struggle. Yes.

On reflection, I think you're right, Reds.

Blues, are you feeling the heat?

-Thermometer, barometer?

-Yeah, it's a thermometer,

but it's one I've not seen before,

-and I know you're interested in gardening.

-Mm-hm.

Is this is something you hang in your hothouse?

There's a bit of weight in that, Thomas.

Yeah, there's a bit of weight in it, gentlemen.

It's a bit of good copper and brass

and this very strange scale from 60 to 70.

Glass with the mercury in it at the bottom.

Joseph Long Limited, London.

-I quite like it.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Something to consider.

-It is to consider, yeah.

-What's the best price on that?

-I could do it for 37.

Is that the best you could do?

-35.

-35.

-OK...

Any chance you could go £1 under that,

because it'd make it 34 and give us a chance?

I'm afraid not, no. 35 would have to be the bottom.

-OK. I must be losing it.

-No, I think you've met your match.

I think I have, I think...

Is it possible to put that aside? What do you think, Thomas?

-I think we'll be all right.

-We'll be OK.

-I like the antique gods to look after us on this one.

-Right.

-Are you in touch with them, are you?

-I'm full of superstition.

Let's hope they're in touch with you today, Thomas.

Now, have the Reds spotted something first class?

What have you found?!

She wants that!

-You want that?!

-I want this.

You WANT that? A vintage postbox.

-In working condition.

-In working condition.

-Well, that means that the letterbox opens, does it?

-Yes.

My goodness me.

This looks like the sort of postbox

you could find inside or outside a country house,

or at the end of the drive, perhaps.

-It's an interesting one.

-You don't like it?

-You're not sure, are you?

-I didn't say that.

-Be honest with us.

-I've never bought or sold one before, so...

-But it caught your eye, and that's very important.

-Yes.

-But...

-It's 150.

Right, right.

-We can get it down a bit.

-Uh-huh...

The only way we'll find out is to ask the owner themselves.

What is the best price you could do for us today?

Well, earlier on, I had it up for 175,

but I've just, about half an hour ago, dropped it to 150.

Could you not do it for 125?

135.

130? Meet you in the middle.

Yeah. 130?

OK, 130 it is.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-Nice doing business with you.

-Enjoy. Hope you do well.

-Well done.

-Like it.

-You like it?

-Love it! And down with the Blues.

Let's go and have that well-earned cup of tea.

Well done, Reds.

Job done in 40 minutes.

So, the Blues have one more item to find,

and they've returned to have another look at the desk set.

What's the dip like, Ken?

That's quite nice, actually, isn't it?

Love the colour of that Bakelite.

It's Bakelite, is it?

Simulating a really rich, hard stone,

but in the modern form of Bakelite.

Very stylish, but the dip pen really gives it something else, doesn't it?

What's your very best on it?

I can do 40.

Starting it with a three may be along the line...

-38, but that is the absolute best.

-That's it, is it?

Wait for it, folks.

Can you not knock even a pound?

Nudge it under the 38, just to take that pound off it?

37.

OK, 37.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you.

-Happy man?

-Happy.

Right, that's it!

Nip and a tuck and that's job done for the Blues,

and there's still 15 minutes of shopping time left,

so let's call time.

Right, teams, your time is up.

Now, let's have a look at what the Red team have bought.

First up, sisters Vicky and Nicky invested £15

on this sovereign holder and vesta case.

Next, they're hoping they haven't been framed

with this picture frame bought for £6.

And finally, will they stamp their mark

with this postbox bought for £130?

Well, Nicky and Vicky, that was fun, wasn't it?

-It was.

-Yes.

-Marvellous.

-Really enjoyed it.

All that shopping with this handsome young man here.

-And a very good job he's done, too.

-Has he really?

It was quite an interesting shop, wasn't it?

Two little tiddlers and a whopper. Bit like going fishing, really.

Right at the end.

So, what's your favourite lot?

-It has to be the postbox.

-It is mine, as well.

-Is it, Nicky?

-Yeah, it is.

-The postbox.

-Same for you, Vicky?

-Oh, yeah.

-I picked it.

-You picked it?

-Yes, it is the best buy of the day.

-Best buy of the day.

-Yes.

-I would agree, I would agree.

Three of you in agreement there?

The heaviest by the day, without a doubt.

I think it could surprise us at auction.

Do you think that's going to be the biggest profit?

-Yes, I think it probably is.

-Yes.

-Well, you spent virtually half your money, didn't you?

-We did.

-Just £1 more. 151.

-That's it.

-So you should have 149.

-£149.

-Do you want to hand it over?

-I do.

-Look at that, Richard.

Oh, 149 of the very finest.

So, where are you going with that?

Well, I think I'm going to maintain

the theme of big, impressive works of art to put in the garden

to accompany your postbox.

So, I've seen something. I hope it's still there.

Gosh! Well, this is quite exciting.

So, while Richard goes off to find something ENORMOUS,

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

First up, are friends Tim and Ken sitting on a profit

with these bench legs bought for £19?

Are they skating on thin ice with their next buy,

the inkwell shaped like a curling stone?

£39 paid.

And, finally, will it be a good day at the office

with this desk set bought for £37?

Tim and Ken, king of the negotiators.

-How good was that?

-Not bad. We tried our best.

-Now, what's your favourite item?

-The curling stone inkwell.

-Yep. It's an unusual thing.

-Quite nice.

People like collecting inkwells, don't they?

We're not in Scotland, but we thought we'd give it a try.

Somebody from Scotland might be at the auction - you never know.

-Ken, what's your favourite item?

-The bench ends.

Cast iron bench ends.

-You did a good deal with those, didn't you?

-They were good.

Fantastic. What's going to make the biggest profit, Ken?

I think the curling stones.

-Tim?

-Yeah, curling stone.

-Definitely the curling stone.

Thomas, what do you think?

I think the inkwell is going to do rather well.

-Yeah.

-Yeah. It's my favourite lot.

After all, you only spent £95.

-You said you were going to be quite frugal.

-Quite right.

-And frugal you were.

-Absolutely.

So you should have about your person £205.

-There it is.

-Is that right?

-I think so.

-Have you counted it?

-Oh, yes!

Thomas, what are you going to do with that?

I've seen something in which we could all participate in.

-Is it expensive or cheap?

-No, not expensive.

Oh...

So, while Tom goes off to spend just a little bit of money,

I'm off to the auction.

I'm at Richard Winterton's saleroom just outside Lichfield,

and I'm with Richard himself.

-How are you?

-I'm very well, and you're very welcome.

Good. Well, it is lovely to be back.

Now, we've got the Vicky and Nicky team,

the rhyming sisters here,

and they've kicked off with this little vesta here.

What do you think of that?

A safe bet, I think, to start.

-It's a very standard item, isn't it?

-Yeah. But fun! They are popular.

There's always a vesta collector in every sale, isn't there?

Oh, yes, oh, yes.

-What about value?

-We've gone 15 to 30.

-Yeah. Well, they paid 15.

-That is bang on, isn't it?

Now, the second item is the frame.

-I mean, it's modern.

-And it's 15 to 30.

-HE INHALES SHARPLY

-Oh, no, don't like that.

No, I love that because they only paid £6 for it.

That's a good buy, isn't it?

How to win on Bargain Hunt - buy cheap. Yeah?

-You're pretty confident you're going to profit on that, aren't you?

-Yes.

Yeah. Now, what about this item?

It's the one that Vicky and Nicky really think

-is going to come home with the big profit.

-OK...

Well, if they bought it well, I'm not surprised.

It's a usable item, isn't it? It's there.

You could have probably gone down to

-your local DIY store and bought one.

-CHARLIE CHUCKLES

And it is what it is. They are popular.

But, obviously, everything's down to money, isn't it?

-We've gone 40 to 60.

-Have you? They paid £130.

No.

I just wonder, buying this lot,

whether they thought it was Victorian.

A Victorian one, they're £700 to £800, aren't they?

Just could be that your good self,

how ever good you are on the rostrum,

are going to lose them more than a smidgen on this.

And if that's the case,

they might well need their bonus buy.

Let's have a look at it.

Well, Vicky and Nicky, look at the size of this object.

-It's a big one.

-It is a big one, isn't it?

Well, you left him quite a lot of money, didn't you?

-We did, yes.

-£149.

I wonder if he's spent it all.

Well, I didn't need to spend it all.

And what did I find?

ALL: Oh!

-I quite like that.

-Good!

-I do.

-You like it.

-I do.

-You do. Well, good.

I bought you an armillary sphere.

Now, originally these were made in the 17th century.

This one isn't quite as old.

In fact it could have been made on the 17th day of last month.

However, it is a piece of art in itself.

Originally, these were made as sundials.

There would've been a dial inside

which would have indicated the hours in the day,

but this is purely decorative, Charlie,

and I think it would do well at today's auction.

So how much did you spend?

-Well, it was priced at £45.

-HE INHALES SHARPLY

I bought it for 30.

-That's good.

-That's good. I like it.

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

I'm hoping that the auctioneer might say it's worth £30 to £50,

so there could be up to a £20 profit in this.

Ooh!

Well, just remember girls, you don't have to make up your mind now.

-OK.

-You can make up your mind during the auction.

But you quite like his armillary sphere, don't you?

-We do.

-I hope the auctioneer does.

Well, here is their bonus buy, an armillary sphere.

It's great, good looker!

I think it's a good, solid seller.

-Yep.

-Everyone wants one of those in their garden.

-I would have it in my garden.

-Very good.

Nice when it's aged a little bit, with a little bit of verdigris.

-Yeah, fab.

-Yeah. What about an estimate?

-40 to 60.

-Jolly good. £30 paid.

Yep, all day long.

Well, that might just slightly reduce the enormous loss

you're going to make on their letterbox.

That's the Red team and on to our Blue team.

Tim and Ken kick off with the bench ends.

Always a favourite. And just being the bench ends,

everyone likes a good project

and this is a project and it wouldn't take much

to paint it up, a bit of wood,

put it together and you feel like you've done something.

-What have you put on these?

-We've put £10-£20 on that.

Well, they paid just under the top end.

They paid a rather odd sum of £19.

-OK.

-Yeah. I think you'll get them out of trouble there.

I think we're there or thereabouts, yeah.

Next we have the rather nice inkwell, the unusual inkwell.

Both Tim and Ken thought this would make the biggest profit.

-What do you think?

-I'm not surprised.

It's a fabulous-looking thing and looking at it here, I just love it.

-And it's Victorian?

-Yeah, Victorian.

Fantastic. Have you ever tried curling?

I haven't, no.

Makes you want to try curling seeing something like this.

It does, it does, but, you know, we've gone 40 to 60.

Well, they tucked in just under there at £39.

I think the nine again gives you an idea

-of how much they were negotiating.

-Yeah. It's a good buy.

-Yeah.

And what about their ink stand?

This sort of item is in at the moment, isn't it?

-It is.

-That kind of look is in.

It's got the little match striker there as well,

it's got everything going for it.

You know, we've gone 30 to 50 and we should be there or thereabouts.

Well, paid 37.

Again, in the right ballpark.

In which case, either way, they might go with the bonus buy.

Let's have a look at it.

You left this man with a huge amount, over £200.

205, to be precise.

It was £205.

Right, this is something we can all participate in.

-Some polo mallets.

-What?!

Yes! What do you mean, "What?!"

One for you, one for you...

-Don't I get one?

-There you are.

What do you think of these, boys?

I'm speechless, actually, for a change.

They are the finest polo mallets known to man.

Made in the home of polo, in the Royal County of Berkshire.

-Yes!

-Wow.

-Hmm!

-Good labels.

-How old?

I would say mid-century, 1950s, 1960s.

And how much did you pay for these?

Don't tell me he spent it all.

-They are a tenner each.

-40 quid.

And what are they going to make it auction?

-It's a really good question.

-I know it is.

It's a really good question.

I think they're going to make at least £15 each,

so I'm looking at 60 quid.

Tim, I've never seen anybody so perplexed with an item

-in all my life.

-I just don't know what to make of them, really.

-No.

They are different, they are definitely different.

Exactly, something different, something interesting.

Have you never played polo, Tim?

-Me?

-Yeah.

-Uh...

You can't play on a carthorse, can you, really?

Well, you don't have to make up your mind now, guys.

Thank goodness for that.

But let's see if the auctioneer is speechless

when he sees the polo mallet.

Richard, have you ever had any of these in your saleroom before?

I haven't and I have to say, I'm quite excited to sell them.

Yeah. They are unusual, aren't they?

They are. I think they're great things.

And they've got a maker's name on them.

-Even better.

-Salter & Son of Aldershot.

Of course, Aldershot, there is great polo grounds around there.

So it's the right place, it's the right item,

but have you got any buyers?

I think we will have.

I'm quietly confident with these.

There's a bit of interest in them and I do love them.

-That's good news. What about value?

-We've gone £50-£80.

Have you? Well, Thomas only paid £40.

-A good buy.

-Can't go wrong.

-No.

Have you tried this game?

I haven't. I would like to, though.

Do you ride a horse?

A long time ago.

Hmm, I've never ridden a horse.

I don't intend to start now, but you'll be taking the sale.

-I will be, yes.

-We'll be in safe hands.

I look forward to it.

Vicky and Nicky, are you excited?

-Yes.

-You're looking just slightly nervous, to be honest.

-Are we?

-Yes.

-I can't wait, I'm so excited.

Probably me. I'm nervous about one item.

Are you, what are you nervous about?

-My postbox...

-Your postbox.

..that I got so excited about.

Never mind.

Someone might love it as much as I did.

They might do.

We're going to start off with the book vesta.

Here it comes now.

Little book vesta, it's silver, nothing wrong with it.

Where you going to be? £20. 15. £2 I'm bid. £2. Good start.

-£2 I'm bid?

-Doesn't matter where we start,

it's where we finish, everyone.

4, 6, 8, 10, 15...

He's screaming along now.

-15 in the room.

-15 in the room.

-£20 on the right.

-HE GASPS

-25, sir.

-Profit, girls.

-£30, thank you.

£30 away.

35, madam.

35, madam, he's walking away at the back.

35 on my left.

£35?!

-All done, sold at 35.

-Oh, my word.

What an investment.

Do you know how much profit you've made?

£20 already!

Here comes your picture frame.

There's the picture frame.

It's good. It's £2 bid.

3, 4, 6, room bid, £6.

8, the internet.

-10, I'm bid.

-There's a man on the internet.

10 the bid, the room.

10 bid, the room. 10 bid, the room.

You are hovering, I can see it.

-You've nearly doubled your money.

-£10 the room.

-No, he's gone. £10, sold at £10.

-Fantastic.

So you made £4 on the frame.

You are already up 20.

£24 up!

This is fantastic.

-Golden gavel!

-Here comes the letterbox.

Here's the letterbox.

This is going to be tough.

£20. The letterbox, £20.

-Vicky.

-£20, the letterbox.

Thank you, madam. £20 I am bid.

25, 30, now you're coming.

-35.

-Girls, liven up.

-£40.

-It's only money. He's got £40.

45, £50. £50,

on my left at 50.

You're all out. £50, there at 50.

-Sold.

-Oh, dear.

Ooh!

I'm afraid you've lost £80 on that but you have 24 to take off there

which is quite good news so in fact as far as I can work out,

you are only down £56.

-If you say that quickly...

-Your bonus buy!

-No pressure.

-Yes, what about this bonus buy?

-We'll go with it.

-100%?

-Yes.

-Cost £30.

What do you think the auctioneer has put on it?

-35, 40.

-£40 to £60.

-There we go.

-You can make a substantial dent in your £56 loss.

Right, well, here it comes.

The sundial now. Fabulous thing.

Perfect for the garden. I am bid on the book, £30 straight in.

-£30 bid.

-Oh, you've washed your face already.

That's absolutely marvellous.

At £30, at 35, the internet.

-Come on!

-35, the internet.

35, the internet.

Room, you are out. I'm at 35 on the internet.

-35?

-35 on the internet.

All done.

Well, you've made a £5 profit.

Your man has done you proud.

Yes, well done.

Because it means after all that,

you've only lost £51.

£51.

-Just was that postbox, wasn't it?

-Yes.

-It's a shame.

-Wasn't it, Vicky?

-But never mind.

-Yes.

Vicky, are you feeling guilty?

Anyway, not a word to the Blues, OK?

Keep shtum. This might well be a winning score.

Seasoned pros at this, chaps?

-I'm not, he is.

-Are you?

-I've been to a few.

-Good. Reasonably confident?

-Yeah.

-I think so.

-Going to make some money?

-Hopefully.

Kicking off with your bench ends.

-Quite exciting. People love a project, don't they?

-They do.

-And here they come.

-Here's something for you to do.

Pair of the painted cast iron bench ends.

£20. Tenner to go.

Tenner to start me.

Tenner to start me.

-Oh, dear.

-Come on!

-The bench ends.

Fiver. £5.

Who wants a bit of hard graft?

Oh, my word. This is not looking good, chaps.

Five, six, seven, eight, nine, £10, £12,

£12 there, you're all out.

Oh, dear. That's a loss of £7.

I think that's disappointing.

Anyway, let's not dwell on our losses

-because we've got this wonderful curling stone.

-This is it now.

Now we go to 334.

Lovely, this is. Little Victorian desktop inkwell,

form of the curling stone.

Commission bid. £20, I'm bid.

-Well done.

-25, 30, five, 40.

-Yeah!

-£40 down here.

45, £50.

£50, front row, all done, £60, £70, £70,

-£70 on the front row.

-£70!

-£80.

It's as good as it looks, isn't it?

90. £90.

£90, internet, you're out.

Sold at 90.

90, that's extraordinary.

£51 you made on that.

Take off the seven and you are still up £44.

Oh, hang on, here comes the ink stand.

Bakelite ink stand.

Commission bids on this one.

We're at £30.

We're at 30. I'm 5, I'm 40,

I'm 5, I'm 50, I'm 5, I'm 60, I'm 70,

I'm 80,

90, internet.

90 on the internet.

I'm 90 on the internet.

I'm 90 on the internet, 90 on the internet, you're out, everyone else.

On the internet. £100 on the internet.

-THEY HOWL

-Two at it. £100.

-My knees are shaking.

-Go on!

-All done.

- Out, finished, 100. - £100!

ALL: Yes!

Do you know, that's a £63 profit on that item.

If you add that to your previous massive gains of 44,

you come up with over £100.

£107 profit.

-Yes!

-Love it.

Well done, boys.

-Well done.

-Now, guys, the polo mallets.

What do you want to do the bonus buy?

-We're in.

-We're in.

-You're in, are you?

-We're in.

-Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

-Are you going with the bonus buy?

-Yes.

I think they're going with the bonus buy.

Marvellous, well, cost 40 -

-do you want to know what the auctioneer thinks?

-Yeah.

50 to 80.

That surprises me.

-Oh.

-Oh!

-Oh!

-Here it comes now.

-A bit of fun now.

The four polo mallets.

£20, five, 30, five, 40 with me.

-Yes! Well done!

-£40.

-Go on. Go on!

-£40, I'm bid.

On the book at £40.

£40, room is out.

£40 with me.

All done, all done, sold at 40.

Never mind, never mind.

I'm slightly disappointed.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

£40 paid, £40 sold.

Fair enough.

All that effort, Thomas, for nothing.

-I know.

-But we enjoyed talking about them, didn't we?

-Absolutely.

-And after all, you've made £107, so that is not bad.

Now, do not mention a word to the Reds.

-No, absolutely shtum.

-107 might win, it might, on the other hand, lose.

Well, the idea on Bargain Hunt, of course,

is to make a profit, isn't it?

To make money.

But sometimes it doesn't work,

and this time we have what I would describe as a chasm,

a huge chasm, a difference between the two.

We have winners but we don't have losers,

we have runners-up and may I say

that today's runners-up are the Reds.

-ALL:

-Awww!

Is that sad? It was all going so nicely,

it was all quite comfortable until that letterbox.

-Yes.

-You contrived to lose £80 on a letterbox.

Richard did his best with the bonus buy

to reduce your rather sad deficit

but ultimately you lost £51.

-Have you enjoyed it, girls?

-Really good.

We've had a great time, thank you.

Marvellous. Now over to the winners.

The smug Blues.

Oh, my word!

It was all about ink, wasn't it?

-Absolutely.

-Ink, ink, ink and ink.

You made so much money out of ink, it was quite extraordinary.

You made £107 and, of course,

this is going to be seriously bolstered by Thomas's bonus buy,

which showed you a profit of nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

-It didn't lose.

-But it didn't lose money, you're quite right, Thomas.

-Have you enjoyed it?

-Fantastic.

Well, you lucky chaps.

Look at all this money I'm giving you.

£107.

It is just phenomenal.

-Fantastic.

-I notice you are keeping it all, Tim.

-Absolutely.

-Are you going to have some polo lessons?

Yes, I'm thinking about buying some polo sticks.

Well, it's been a lot of fun.

Don't forget to have a look at our website and to follow us on Twitter,

the details of which can be found on the screen.

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

-ALL:

-Yes!