Malvern 13 Bargain Hunt

Hello and welcome to Malvern,

a popular spa town in the early 19th century.

Now, we're not in the health club, nor are we in a Wendy house.

We're actually in a Victorian gentleman's lavatory!

That's what it was -

before it was transformed into one of the smallest theatres in the world.

Well, less of these theatricals, let's get this show on the road,

let's go Bargain Hunting!

-Hurray!

-Oh, thank you!

Loved by antique dealers and vintage collectors alike,

the Malvern flea market is one of the biggest of its kind in the UK,

attracting thousands of customers and hundreds of stallholders.

Armed with £300 in their pocket,

and one hour to find three items

that, hopefully, will give them a profit at auction,

time is of the essence.

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

There's no hanging around for the Reds.

-I'm impressed!

-It's your chance to be famous.

-Speedy!

-Speedy!

-Speedy or what?!

The Blues are coming out of their shell.

-Which one am I?

-Er, the crab.

Am I the crab?

Over at the auction, there are some highs...

-Yes!

-30!

-Yes!

-30!

And some lows...

This is terrible.

-It's not good!

-Terrible!

But all that's coming up later, so let's meet today's teams.

And they're all friends who share a passion for music.

For the Reds, we've got chums Neil and Paul,

and for the Blues, we've got housemates Anna and Alice.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-Hello.

So, Paul, how did you meet?

Yeah, we met way back in 1991.

I'm a... I play guitar, Neil's a bass player,

and we all played in bands together back in the early '90s.

The indie scene, and all that. So, yeah, I've known him for a long time, yeah.

-And where was this all happening?

-All in Coventry, yeah.

Coventry, right.

Home of The Specials, The Enemy, and all that.

-Oh, right.

-Yeah.

-So, it was a big scene way back then?

-Big scene, yeah.

-Amazing.

-So, nice, yeah.

-And, tell me, I know that for the past 11 years,

-you've been a postman?

-I have indeed, yeah.

Yeah, I love it. I absolutely do love it,

I've got a nice little round and nice people. So, really enjoy it, yeah.

So, Neil, we've established that you both play in a band -

but what do you do when you're not playing music?

I work, I run a software team for a small engineering company in Coventry.

I've been there for about 18 years.

I like to collect vinyl, I started doing that again recently,

I sort of rekindled my love for vinyl,

and, erm, got myself a nice, decent record player

and it's making a massive comeback.

I love that. And me and my wife also like to go round vintage shops.

We love, sort of, post-modern furniture and vintage clothes.

Even down to charity shops, anything, really, that's what we love to do.

Well, lads, what sort of tactics are you coming up with for today?

Well, being in a band, we work very well together.

So, er, I want to give him all the money...

-Yeah.

-And let him do all the decisions.

Excellent. So, that's it in a nutshell, is it?

-Yeah, that's it.

-OK. I think somebody's here for an easy ride!

We'll soon find out later.

But turning to the Blues, erm, Anna...

-Yes.

-Tell me how you girls first met.

So, we met through a mutual friend of ours at a music concert in Bristol.

Yeah, and then about six months down the line from that,

we all live together in our Temple Of Cool,

-which is what we affectionately name our house.

-Temple Of Cool.

-Temple Of Cool, yep.

-I love that expression!

-Er, favourite band?

-That would be Brand New.

Brand New?

I'm not sure I've got their latest album, but...

So, Anna, what do you do for a living?

So, I work as the artist in residence at Orchard School, Bristol.

So, it's sort of all the creative things,

part of my job is to make sure the school looks nice,

but I also work with, obviously, our kids and partnership primary schools,

doing workshops, mostly kind of pottery,

but there's other things involved in that.

And I also do community art projects.

So, Alice, tell me, what do you do for a living?

I run a pottery studio in Bristol.

It's basically where people come along and they paint the blank pottery

and then they leave it with us and we glaze it and fire it and then

they come and collect it after.

Yeah, so it's kind of like a do-it-yourself pottery place.

So, the music side of your life...

Tell me a little bit more. We know your favourite band,

but tell me a little bit more about your band.

Yeah, we've sort of just started.

Quite a lot of our friends are in bands,

and we go to the gigs all the time.

We were like, we can do that. So, we've got a little band together.

-What do you play?

-I play bass and guitar.

So, sort of, switch around with the other bassist and guitarist.

-And Alice?

-I write all of the lyrics and do the singing.

When it comes to tactics today, what have you come up with?

-I think we're here to make Bargain Hunt history, really.

-Yeah, definitely.

We want to make the biggest win, but we're prepared to make the biggest loss.

-Fighting talk, hey?

-I think it's definitely the way to go to just pick what we like.

Yeah, we're just going to go with our gut.

If we see something and we think it's nice, we're going to go for it.

Yeah. OK. So, time for the money.

£300 for the Blues.

And £300 for the Reds.

So, time to go and meet your experts.

So, off you go!

Well, a battle of the bands - who's going to be number one?

Well, the teams are going to need a helping hand along the way today.

Wheeling and dealing with the Reds is Caroline Hawley.

And didgeridoo-ing it for the Blues is Thomas Plant.

-What are you looking for?

-Something musical, I think, yeah.

I'd kind of like to find something sort of glitzy.

Yeah, something quite glitzy and kind of original.

-What about you, Neil?

-Er, something small, something shiny.

Definitely something weird and wonderful, 100%.

Things are about to heat up, teams, because your 60 minutes start now.

WHISTLE

-Let's go!

-Let's walk that way.

-That way?

-Yeah, definitely. Yeah. Let's go that way.

-Come on, then!

Well, that's quite an eclectic mix on today's shopping list.

Good luck, teams!

So, can you play anything stringed, then?

Yeah, mostly, yeah. Mostly. I've had a...

There's been quite a few things I've attempted.

-Really?

-Anything with strings, apart from shoelaces!

Well, you can't be good at everything!

Meanwhile, the Blues are jumping straight in with this vase.

-You like the frogs?

-Yeah.

It's a bit of modern art pottery.

-Yeah.

-Why do you like it?

I don't know, I just kind of like the colours.

-Yeah, quite like the frogs as well.

-We are a big fan of frogs.

Have you kissed many frogs?

All of them, yeah, every single one.

-Yeah? And they turned into princes?

-No.

-No?

-Not one.

-Not at all, no.

-Not one?!

I think you've got to kiss a lot of toads first.

So, this is £48.

Mmm.

People do collect frogs and toads and things like that.

-OK.

-So, you've got that angle going for it.

-Yeah.

-Bernard Rooke IS a name.

Yep. What's the very best on your Bernard Rooke?

I'll do it for £25.

If I can push you down to £20...?

-No. No. 25's quite good.

-OK.

-Is there a chance of a profit? Well, yes, there is.

-Yeah.

Because it's only £25.

-Yeah, OK, erm...

-Do you want to think about it?

-Yes, I think so.

-Are you sure?

-Yeah. Let's think.

-On you go, then, well, good spot.

Lovely!

One to consider for the Blues.

Now, will the Reds be giving these a home?

Can we have a look at this, please, yeah, yeah.

So, what attracted you to that, then?

-It's just quite quirky, isn't it?

-Yeah, yeah. It's quirky. Colourful.

-It has a friend.

-Oh, look, you've got the teapot as well!

-And another friend.

-And another friend, look at that!

We've got three pieces.

-Excellent.

-I've sold those lots over the years.

-Yeah.

-And they are very, sort of, pretty, interesting.

I mean, they're less popular than they were.

-Yeah.

-So, what are we looking at for something like that, then?

I can do you the three pieces for 25 quid.

-That's not bad, is it?

-For £25, that...

Would you do 20 on it, for the whole lot?

I couldn't do that, no.

I think 25's reasonable.

Yeah, 25's reasonable, yeah.

-Hey, guys!

-What do you think, Caroline?

-They're all in good nick.

-I think you made a very quick decision, yes. Are they all OK?

-You want those?

-We'll give them a go, yeah.

-Yeah.

-We will wrap it for you, OK?

-Excellent, thank you very much.

-Come here, young man, this is your chance to be famous.

-Hey, I'm impressed!

-Speedy!

-Speedy!

-Speedy, or what?!

What inspired that?

-Crikey. Yeah. Nice colours and that.

-Brilliant!

-Could be a good little seller, that.

-Brilliant.

Well done, Reds. Just five minutes in and your first purchase made!

Meanwhile, over with the Blues, what does Thomas have his eye on?

This is interesting.

It looks sort of Oriental.

-Mm-hmm, yep.

-And then we've got some writing on the base underneath these figures.

This is very sort of Art Nouveau, this design here,

and then it could look, sort of, pseudo-Japanese.

It's extraordinary, it's only £18.

I picked it up because I thought it was a throwing knife.

-OK, yeah.

-Not because I like throwing knives, I just thought,

it's a strange thing. But it's obviously a paper knife, isn't it?

-Yeah. OK, cool.

-A desk paper knife - but it needs a jolly good clean.

You can have that for a tenner if you want it.

Thank you. I think it's quite fun.

Can you see all the amazing detail?

You've got the face, you got a figure here.

-Mm-hmm.

-And then you've got this lovely flower up top.

-Yeah.

Yeah. Against this gold...

..gilt-coloured background, and the flowers down here.

-I'm quite fond.

-Yeah.

I've become quite fond of it.

-OK.

-You fond of it?

-I'm fond of it, yes, let's go with it.

-It's only a tenner, isn't it?

-It is. Yeah.

-Can't go wrong with a tenner.

Or were you thinking about spending more?

We were thinking about spending the whole lot, but I think...

Well, you've got three items.

If you spot a bargain, you kind of should...

-You should hunt the bargains.

-You should hunt the bargains.

-That was our tactics.

-Yep.

It's worth a go at a tenner, isn't it?

I reckon. Yeah, let's do it.

-Yes, please.

-We'll have that for a tenner.

Thank you very much, that's lovely. Brilliant. OK, that's very exciting.

-Cool.

-Done!

-We've been like shopping for minutes!

Well done, Blues, your first item is in the bag.

Now, will this hit the right notes with our musicians?

Oh, but it looks a little bit deficient in some way, doesn't it?

-Yeah. Yeah, it's lost a bit of wind, by the looks of it.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-No, so, not for you, no.

Er... No.

Look at that, that's just exactly what you want, isn't it?

-Ah, that's brilliant.

-That's kind of what we are!

-Yeah!

-You are not a travelling freak show!

-We could use that at home!

-We could, definitely.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

Well, you are looking for something weird and wonderful.

Meanwhile, the Reds have spotted something shiny.

-What date's that? Have you dated it?

-Not sure, I haven't dated that one.

And what price is that?

20. There's a big dent there.

-Little...

-Silver's really soft, you know, and it does dent.

-Yeah.

-But it's not too bad and it's very shiny.

-Yeah.

-We've got the full set of silver marks here,

they're a little bit rubbed,

but we can see that it's British sterling silver.

We've got a maker's mark here and I think it's made in London.

But it is just a little bit rubbed.

-Yep.

-And that's exactly what you'd expect - the original back.

That's great. What's not to like about it?

-Excellent.

-I'd have that.

-Fantastic.

Can you do better than 20?

-18.

-16?

-Yeah?

-Go on, then.

-Thank you very much.

Congratulations, that's two items down.

Your second buy done.

-Yes.

-Yeah, really happy with that.

-So, we've got shiny.

-Yeah.

-Now we need musical.

-Excellent.

-Come on.

-Thank you very much.

So, whilst the Reds are sticking to their game plan,

the Blues have spotted something fishy.

-There's a lobster here.

-Now, look. Look at these!

-Those are pretty weird.

-They are pretty weird.

-They are pretty weird.

-Wonderful.

They are. Do you want to pick them up?

-Yeah.

-See what they're made of.

Ooh!

-It's real!

-Oh, God!

-What are they made of?

-Well, they look like plastic, don't they?

-Yeah, they are plastic.

Yeah, they're plastic. They're props for a fish counter or a restaurant,

aren't they? I think they're quite fun, actually.

-I quite like them.

-I quite like them.

-Yeah, they're interesting, they're just unusual.

-Yeah.

-Got a shrimp, lobster and a crab - how much for the three?

You can have those for 12.

12. Could you round it up to a tenner?

-Go on, then.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-I love them.

-They're weird, they're wonderful, they're just crustac...

-I mean, they're from a fish counter.

-Yep.

-They're made out of plastic.

They're basically like portraits of all of us at the moment, aren't they?

-Yeah.

-Which one am I?

-Er, the crab.

-Am I the crab?!

That's brilliant. We'll buy those for a tenner. That's our second item down.

-Brilliant.

-We're smashing it.

-So, you've spent like 20 quid.

-20 quid.

-That means the next thing we can get can be really expensive.

-You can go for it, if you want!

-Let's go for it.

-Go for it! Come on, then, let's go.

-Cool!

Well done, Blues, another item snapped up.

Now, it's 2-2, with 45 minutes left.

Meanwhile, Neil has spotted some retro chairs.

-Is there any age in them?

-I don't know, I don't know.

-No.

-I'm not overkeen, but...

-No, OK, that's fine.

-I don't think they're stylish enough.

-No, no.

-But if we remember where they are...

-Yeah, move on, we've got a good bit of time left, so...

-Yeah.

-Let's move on.

Keep looking, Reds!

So, are you pleased with how it's going, Caroline?

They've got an awful lot of money left to spend

and they're looking for something, either '60s furniture,

'60s, '70s furniture, I think, or a bit of a musical instrument?

So, I mean, they could almost get a Stradivarius, couldn't they?

-We'll have to wait and see.

-We will, indeed.

So, what have the Blues found?

Barrels. They're quite nicely done. What would you use them for?

-Erm, knitting?

-They're quite big, though, aren't they?

-They are quite big. I do a lot of knitting, I think you underestimate me.

-Do you?

Oh, really? What do you knit?

-Mainly scarves.

-Yeah?

Some hats I've knitted, before.

I've knitted some teddy bears, as well, before.

-Have you?

-But they always end up looking kind of smushed.

-Smushed?

-Yeah, because I can't get the tension right on them.

So, are we interested in these or not?

-I don't think...

-You don't think so. They're not glitzy and they're not weird and wonderful.

-They're not glitzy and weird and wonderful.

-Let's go.

-So, it's a no to the barrels.

But you still have plenty of time left.

We're just under halfway and we've bought two items,

both for £10 each.

I feel a bit guilty. I sort of pushed them into both of them.

I really think this next item, we have to be careful,

but it has to be their decision.

So, whilst the teams continue shopping,

I want to show you one of my great treasures.

Now, I love all types of ceramics,

but I do love blue and white porcelain,

whether it comes from Japan,

whether it comes from England or Germany or China.

And today, I've brought along a Chinese porcelain footed bowl,

and it's one of my favourites.

I've owned it for well over 30 years

and I cannot begin to tell you how much pleasure this bowl has given,

and continues to give me.

The decoration is simply superb.

If we look, we'll see that there's a continuing frieze of figures,

but the tonal quality of the blues is quite exceptional.

This is all hand-painted.

And the remarkable thing, it's all been done first-time.

You cannot paint porcelain like this, get it wrong and rub it out.

You've got to get it right first time.

It's a remarkable achievement.

Date-wise, we are looking at an item that was made in around about

1660 to about 1720, during the reign of the Emperor Kangxi.

That's when an awful lot of Chinese porcelains were making their way

into Europe and, eventually, of course, into Britain.

On the base, you've got a mark.

Now, that mark would excite quite a few people,

because believe it or not, it's a Ming mark.

And it's a Ming that relates to the Emperor Chenghua,

who was living in the later part of the 15th century.

But the truth is, it's much later, as I said - 1660-1720.

So, why on Earth would anybody do that?

Well, the long and short of it is that these marks are said

to be a homage to the previous Ming period.

But having said that, doesn't matter one jot to me.

That, for me, is ceramic perfection.

It's an object which I bought for £50.

The reason I got it so cheap

is because it's got two hairline cracks.

But do they bother me?

No, they don't bother me, because the truth is,

had this been perfect,

I would have been paying at least £600-£800 way back then

and I would not have been able to afford it.

From a monetary point of view, is it a good investment?

Does it matter? Because it's all about pleasure.

And let me tell you now, you cannot put a price on pleasure.

Back to the shopping and it's 2-2 with 25 minutes to go.

Spirits are high.

If only the same could be said for the Malvern weather.

We can go inside in a minute, because it's dead cold.

-OK, lovely!

-Caroline, you're so warm!

We're going to stick together in this one!

Talking of freezing, look at that gorgeous fireplace!

Oh, I wouldn't mind sitting on top of that!

That is so...!

That is gorgeous!

That is so French. Just beautiful, isn't it?

-It's nice, yeah.

-I love that green as well.

-It's a great colour, it's a great colour.

-There's only one thing missing.

-The fire.

-The fire.

-Yeah.

I'm imagining it, I'm thinking about it.

I'm imagining it. Right, come on.

Keen to warm up, the Reds are also heading inside.

-Anything you see, Alice?

-Mmm...

-There is lots of glitzy stuff.

-There's lots of glitzy stuff.

-Shall we move on?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

Home-made Seville orange and ginger marmalade.

That sounds quite nice, actually.

Erm, Thomas, shouldn't you be antique shopping?

-Bit of marmalade!

-Yeah.

Whilst Thomas is distracted, Caroline is talking fashion.

I always spend a lot of money on clothes and I shouldn't do.

I'm like an old woman when it comes to clothes.

Are you? Have you got more wardrobe space than your wife?!

-I have, yeah.

-Ooh, that's annoying!

-I've got more shoes than my wife.

-Have you? No!

-I have, yeah.

-No!

-Yep.

-Ooh, I say!

I love shopping with you, but I wouldn't like to be married to you.

I couldn't fight over the wardrobe space!

Come on, teams, time's ticking.

That would have been a lovely clock.

Gorgeous thing.

It's so badly damaged.

-Yeah.

-Alabaster does crack so easily.

It's a bit, sort of, like a poor man's marble.

Oh, lovely thing!

-Yeah.

-What do you think about this?

-Oh, right, yes!

-I keep falling on these trunks.

-You're the trunk man.

The trunk man, apparently, yeah. I don't know what it is about them, I don't know.

Well, like I say, that is... You can keep stuff in it, it can be a coffee table, it's multi-use.

Yeah. It's got the original finish on it.

It's got the original finish on it.

-Do you want me to have a look inside?

-Yeah.

-Have a look inside, yeah.

-It's missing its lock.

-Yeah. Yeah, for me...

-Yeah, the lock's gone.

-No, for me.

-OK.

-And it's scrumbled.

-Waste of time looking at that. it's not for sale.

-Oh!

Bad luck, Reds!

Meanwhile, the Blues have spotted some silver.

-I wonder how much it is.

-What are you looking at?

-This one here?

-Yeah, and what do you think it is?

Erm, I'm not sure.

Well, pick it up and have a look, come on.

So, that's...going to be a cream, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Or milk. Yeah?

What's the other thing, Anna? Do you want to pick that up?

-Have a look.

-Have a look. What would you put in there?

-Sugar?

Sugar, yeah, absolutely.

And so, what do you normally have with sugar and cream?

-Strawberries?!

-Strawberries, yeah.

-Strawberries.

-What does he say on his bumf here?

It says, "stunning, superb, solid silver, strawberry set,

"made in Lindisfarne silver..."

It's £399. You haven't got £399.

-We haven't got that.

-But you've got very close to it, though.

But it is solid silver. It's rather fun, actually.

-But you haven't got that sort of money.

-Quite a high price tag. No.

-You haven't got that.

-No. We haven't. We don't, at all.

-But you've got 280 quid.

-We have got 280 quid.

-You could do a deal.

You could see what his best offer is.

-OK.

-Remember, you've got to leave me a pound.

-OK.

-Or a fiver. So, there's something.

I think we should leave you with £5.

-Something.

-Shall we...?

-Why don't you go and have an ask?

-Yeah.

-And see, present him with that.

-Yeah.

-And, you know, don't be afraid to ask for, you know,

-a good discount.

-Yeah. OK.

Off you go, girls. So, what's the plan, Reds?

You know I was talking about maths earlier

and saying that we'd done two-thirds in a third of our time?

Well, now, we've had two-thirds of our time...

Okey dokey. So, we're on track.

-Yeah, we're on track now.

-We've got 20 minutes left...

-OK.

-We've got one item to buy.

-Excellent.

-What are your thoughts?

-Help!

-Yeah! Help! Yeah!

Now, how are the Blues getting on with their negotiations?

What is the, like, bottom, bottom line?

The bottom, bottom line!

Because we're restricted with what we have.

-Yeah, you...

-Go on, then, how much have you got?

-It's 275.

-Is what we've got left.

-Wow.

-Yes.

So, if I did it at 275, would you be happy?

-Yeah, we would.

-Yeah.

-OK, I will do that at 275.

-Will you actually?

-Yeah, absolutely.

-Oh, thank you!

-That's easy, isn't it?

-Yeah!

-I'm so easy to deal with.

-Thank you!

-Thank you ever so much, thank you.

Congratulations, Blues, that's all three items done and dusted.

Well done for getting such a massive discount.

-Thank you, yeah, brilliant.

-It's amazing, isn't it?

-It is.

-Do you know what...

-Thank you.

I need... I need more than a cup of tea.

-Yep.

-I need a piece of cake, as well.

-Let's go for it!

Now, come on, Reds, you have 15 minutes left to get that final buy.

To me, it looks from the '20s, '30s...

-Yeah, yep.

-But it has a very contemporary look to it.

-Yeah.

-Would look great today, wouldn't it, anywhere?

-Yes.

Ah, now, I think this might be plated.

-In fact, I can tell by feel, that's not silver, that's plate.

-OK.

Now, this is later altogether.

That will be late Victorian, I would say.

-Sure, yeah.

-Late 19th century.

This one, without looking up the marks,

-could you see they're a bit rubbed?

-Yep.

-Yeah.

-They're very rubbed.

-It's quite a modern one. It's 1980, I think, that one.

-1980, is it?

-Yes, quite late.

-It's been very well looked after...

-It's Garrard's. Yeah, it is Garrard's.

-Oh, right, so it's a great make.

-Yeah.

What's the desirable price on that one?

-Good sir!

-The best I could do on that is 75.

-As the gentleman...

-And that's the very, very, very...

That is the very best. Very best. I did have 100 on it.

75 is my best.

I mean, that is 1920s, this one here.

Yes, yeah. But it's plate, that one, is it?

-No, that's not.

-Is that one silver, as well?

Ooh, I didn't have my glasses properly.

-There you go.

-Oh, my goodness, yes, it is, yeah.

And that's goldsmiths and silversmiths.

-That is the gold cartouche on there.

-Yeah, ah...

-And a gilded little handle on it.

-That is beautiful.

-Yes.

-And how much is that?

-The best I could do on that is 100.

-100?

-I think with the ornate part,

it's got a bit more about it than that one.

-So we're going to put this one down?

-What do you think, Paul?

-Yeah. I think that one's the better one.

-You do?

-You wouldn't take a cheeky 90 for that one?

I'll do 95 and that's my absolute bottom.

-Yeah.

-I love that one.

-Yeah, that one for me.

-Is that a yes from both?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, definitely.

-Yes!

-Yes?

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

Great stuff. I'll wrap it up.

-Cheers.

-Well done, Reds, that's your three items in the bag.

WHISTLE BLASTING

Teams, your time's up!

We've got two silver items and the little China item.

-Yep.

-Haven't got anything musical.

-No. No.

-But you can always keep your plectrums in it!

-Absolutely, yeah.

-Definitely.

-Absolutely.

-Shall we go and find that hot choc?

Yeah, let's go and get it.

Let's see what the Reds bought.

First up, for £25, was this three-piece cottage tea set.

They snapped up a 1920s silver photo frame, at £16.

And finally, a silver box, for £95.

So, gentlemen, did you have a good time?

-We had a fantastic time.

-It's been fantastic, absolutely loved it.

So, you were very decisive.

I mean, you got your first two items in quick time, didn't you?

Very quick. Very, very quick.

Gave us that extra time to get that big third item, so...

-Yeah!

-So, what's your favourite item?

-Er, the silver box, the last item.

-And what about the item that you

think is going to give you the biggest profit?

-The silver picture frame.

-Right, OK.

-And same question?

-Yeah, I think the silver picture frame

will definitely, I think, make the most money.

Our favourite item was the silver box. It's just a quality piece.

So, how much did you spend?

We spent £136.

Which means you're going to given me £164.

£164, there we go.

OK. Being the remainder, which is with me for a very brief

moment in time. Straight into the hands of Caroline.

-Yes.

-Caroline, any idea what you're going to be spending that money on?

It all happened so quickly, I haven't seen anything.

But I'm going to try very hard to get you something good.

-OK.

-Good stuff.

-So, let's now find out what the Blue team bought.

This metal letter opener cost them £10.

Next, they pinched another bargain for £10,

with these plastic crustaceans.

And finally, they splashed out on something shiny,

with this silver jewellery set, costing them a whopping £275.

So, ladies, did we have fun?

-Yeah, absolutely.

-Yeah, we had loads of fun.

-You did, as well.

I have to say, you started off small-time.

-We did.

-But you ended up big-time!

-Yep. Yeah. It's fair to say.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-So, Anna, what's your favourite purchase?

I think my favourite purchase is definitely the three sea creatures.

Right, OK, and what do you think is going to give you

-the biggest profit?

-I think maybe the letter knife.

I think it's really, really beautiful and hopefully, other people will see that, too.

-Alice, what's your favourite item?

-Er, my favourite item is probably the letter opener,

just because I think it's really nice and detailed and interesting.

And I probably think that it'll make the most profit, as well.

So, how much did you spend, ladies?

-Er, we spent...£295.

-£5, please.

Thank you very much. Thomas, do what you can with a £5 note, if you will.

I love a fiver. It's such a great bargaining tool.

-Thanks, girls.

-So, while Thomas goes to spend his £5 note,

we're going off to the auction.

Well, we've literally popped around the corner to the Malvern saleroom.

And we're with the boss, the man himself, Mr Philip Serrell!

-So lovely to see you, Phil.

-Eric, great to see you, too.

Well, let's get down to business, let's start off with the Reds. This is Paul and Neil.

Their first lot is a group of cottage ware.

The demand for these has waned a little bit.

-Yep.

-I think it would have been a little bit better

if we could have had a teapot, a milk and a sugar.

We've got a bit of a mishmash of what we've got here.

I've might put an estimate on them of £20-£40.

-What did they pay?

-£25. So, they're in with a chance, aren't they?

Absolutely, yeah. In with a shout.

OK, what about the silver photo frame?

-That's the next item.

-Well, what can't speak can't lie

and it is what it is what it is, isn't it? I mean, it's just a little hallmarked silver frame.

I think we've put £10-£15 on it and that's based on metal value, really.

-Is that right?

-Yeah.

-So, they actually paid 16 for it, so...

-Yeah.

-Again, they're in with a sniff on that one.

Yeah, in with a shout, in with a shout.

All right. And finally, for the Reds,

we've got their silver cigarette box.

That just smells of quality, doesn't it?

-Mmm.

-It's a really good quality thing.

-Got a nice engine to it.

-Yeah. It's a really good thing.

I like that. Made just after the Second World War -

I think that's going to make £50-£80.

OK, well, they took a real chance on that one,

because they paid £95 for it.

So, having said all that, Phil, it looks as though this team is

going to be looking to its bonus buy.

So, let's find out exactly what it is.

Well, Paul and Neil, you left Caroline £164,

to go out and spend for the bonus buy.

Caroline, show 'em what you bought.

-Ah!

-Ooh!

-It's an ancient ashtray!

-It is NOT an ancient ashtray!

This is a lovely piece of Art Nouveau

and do you have any idea who made it?

-No idea.

-No idea, no idea.

WMF. This company specialised in Art Nouveau metalware.

This is an ink well.

-Ah.

-So, we lift that out, it's actually missing...

It will have had a little glass container in there.

-OK.

-And it's an interesting thing for people that collect either WMF,

Art Nouveau... It's a beautiful decorative thing.

-And how much did you pay for it?

-Ah! How much do you THINK I paid for it?

I reckon about 50, 60. It looks quite nice, up close.

Right. Good! You can get as close as you like!

-25.

-And how much do you think it might fetch at the old auction?

-I think it could get 45.

-Oh.

-OK.

Well, gentlemen, you don't have to make up your minds now.

You can wait until we're actually on-site.

But meanwhile, let's go and find out what our auctioneer has to say about

Caroline's bonus buy.

So, here's Caroline's bonus buy, Phil.

Nice little Art Nouveau, sort of, ink tray, isn't it, really?

-It is.

-WMF?

-WMF, yeah, the very same.

Shall I just plonk it down? Now, I can never get this right...

-WMF stands for...

-The Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik.

-Right, OK.

-OK, all right, but you know, WMF, for the sake of it.

Yeah, WMF. I like WMF a lot, lot better, Eric(!)

-You do, do you?

-Yeah, I do.

I quite like that. It's popular stuff and I think it's going to make

-between £30-£50.

-OK, well, that's good news,

because Caroline went and paid a mere £25 for it.

Right, Phil, that's it for the Reds. Erm, here's the Blues.

This is Anna and Alice

and I think it's fair to say these ladies think outside the box.

Absolutely right. I mean, fantastic. And what a variety.

Well, the first up, actually, is the paper knife.

Little paper knife, I mean, it is what it is.

I think it's going to make £5-£10.

Oh! Well, they paid ten for it, so, you know,

let's keep fingers crossed on that one.

-Yeah.

-Second up is the crayfish, it's the lobster, it's the crab,

-I mean...

-Inspirational, Eric.

-Crustacea Are Us!

We toyed with the idea of putting these on the front cover

-of the catalogue. I mean, I just love them to bits.

-Right.

-I think they're going to make £20-£40.

-Oh!

-What did they pay for those?

-That's happy days are here again,

because they paid a tenner for the three.

-Really?

-So, yeah, that's... We'll be watching that one very carefully.

-That's good, that's good.

-But now, we've got the silver strawberry set

-in its original case.

-Well, if you want to buy quality,

this just is... it's fantastic quality.

You've got this, sort of, Lindisfarne...

It's all based on the silver that was produced at Lindisfarne.

-Mm-hmm.

-I love this band around here.

We've put £100-£150 on it, so we're quite bullish about that,

-we think.

-Well, the girls were even more bullish,

because they went out and spent a stonking £275, Phil, on that.

# There may be trouble ahead... #

There may well be trouble ahead!

But it looks like they maybe need that bonus buy,

so let's find out what Thomas bought for the Blues.

Well, a pair of big spenders, hey?!

What do we say?!

How much did we spend there, come on?!

Er, we... We went for it.

We spent £295.

And you gave Tom here, our man of the moment, such a challenge!

I mean, you go round the pound stalls, and you think, no,

I can't buy you something for a pound, I really can't.

But I managed to spend it...

-Brilliant.

-Yeah, lovely!

-..all!

Here we are, girls.

So, these are a pair of Georgian-style shoe buckles

-in marcasite.

-Oh.

-They're rather fun, aren't they?

-They are, yeah.

-They look really nice.

-Can you see them on your shoes?

-Yeah, definitely.

-Yeah?

-Yeah, 100%.

-Sparkle everything up. Now, these cost me £5.

-That's a bargain.

-They were marked up a lot more,

-but I managed to do a deal.

-Brilliant.

-Fantastic.

-Yeah?

-So, how much do you think they're going to make at auction?

-They're definitely going to double.

-OK, brill.

-Definitely going to double.

-Excellent.

There's lots of people who collect these shoe buckles out there and there's jewellery collectors, etc.

But I think these have got a very fair chance. And I love the fiver challenge.

-Excellent, you're welcome.

-We had complete faith in you.

-Thank you!

Well, as always, you don't have to make your decision until you've sold

your full three items.

But in the meantime, let's find out what our auctioneer has to say about

charming Tom's Georgian shoe buckles.

-There you go.

-They're lovely, aren't they?

-They are, aren't they?

-Yeah. And they're a proper Thomas Plant lot.

-Why do you say that?

-Well, because Thomas likes his bling, doesn't he?

-Does he really?

-Well, he's known in the trade as Thomas "Bling" Plant,

isn't he? Did you not know that?

-No!

-Oh, yeah, yeah.

-No, I'm a new boy, remember!

-Thomas "Bling" Plant.

-OK.

-I think those are really nice, actually.

-Yeah.

-Little polished steel buckles in the Georgian style -

I think they're going to make £10-£20.

OK. Well, he went out and he spent five quid.

Good old Thomas. Or Bling, as we call him.

Not bad. So, we've got a few interesting lots coming up here.

-I think so. We got a real variety, haven't we?

-Yeah. Are you going to be taking the sale?

-I am, indeed. Looking forward.

-OK. Brace yourself, everybody.

Serrell's up there with his gavel!

Any more? At £50...

You've been to an auction before?

-No, not at all.

-First timers?!

-First timers, yeah.

-So, exciting stuff, yeah?

-Oh, yes. Very.

-So, you're up for this, aren't we? We're up for it.

And so, too, is your first lot, because it's coming up now.

It's the cottage ware, OK?

-Yep.

-And so, you paid £25 for this lot.

So, coming up now...

Internet's got ten. 10 bid.

-At 10, 10 bid, £10. Is there any more?

-Yes, come on!

-£10, I'm bid.

Maiden bid taking it, at £10. At ten. Ten bid. £10. Is there any more

at all? At £10, done, then. At ten, done, thank you.

Oh! So, £10. Not the best of starts, fellas, minus 15.

OK, your second lot's coming up, it's your little silver photo frame. Nice thing.

You paid £16 for that. You should make a profit. But either way, it's coming up now.

Who's got a tenner straight in?

Ten quickly. Ten, I'm bid straight in. £10. Ten bid, £10,

-be quick.

-Come on...

-At £10, there's the bid seated at ten.

10 bid. At £10. 15 if you like. At £10, anywhere at ten?

There's the bid. At £10 and I sell, then, at £10, and...

-thank you.

-This is not good, this is not good.

Oh! So, minus 6. And so we're minus 21

at the moment. So, your final lot, is your silver cigarette case.

-Well, you paid £95 for it.

-Yep.

-It's quality. Let's see where we go with this one.

Put it in the bidding, start me off, £50 straight off.

20 to go, someone.

I've got 70 on the net bid. I don't know where that's come from,

but I've got £70 on the internet. At 70, 70 bid. 80 on the net bid.

At 80, 80 bid. On the internet, at £80 only.

90, 90 bid, at £90 on the contraption.

-At 90 bid. Is there any more at all?

-Come on.

-You're all out in the room.

Here's the bid. At £90, and I sell, then, at 90 and done.

-Thank you!

-Oh, shame!

Shame! £90!

It gives you a minus of £26.

Now, are you going to go for the bonus buy?

That's what we need know.

-We're definitely going to...

-Absolutely going for it, definitely.

OK, it's your WMF inkwell. Paid the princely sum of £25, Caroline.

-I did, indeed.

-If this doesn't make a profit, then...

-This is definitely going to be the winner.

-We can start eating hats.

Who's got a tenner, quickly? Ten, anywhere. At 10, 12, 15...

Go on! 18, 20. Five. Go on!

At £25, I'm bid. At 25. There's the bid.

-£30! £30! Go on! Yes! It's only a fiver, but it's...!

-30 bid.

At five. 35, fresh blood, at £35, I'm only bid.

Any more at all? At £35, seated, I can barely see you.

At £35, and done, then, at 35, done, thank you!

Oh, 35!

Oh, a £10 profit!

Listen, fellas, it's not that desperate.

You're only minus £16.

Oh, that's it!

All's well, that ends well.

Well, we'll find out later, won't we?

-Yep.

-OK, it's a well-worn line, but not a word to the Blues, OK?

-Absolutely.

-Not a word.

Been to an auction before?

-No.

-No, I haven't.

-No!

-First time.

-Very exciting.

-It is exciting, isn't it?

We've been doing this for donkeys' years, but we still get excited,

-don't we?

-Exactly, you still get really, really excited.

OK. Well, your first item is coming up, it's the paper knife,

you paid £10 for it, and it's coming up now.

Who's got a tenner to start me, quickly...?

£10, cheap seats.

The coffee is dearer than...

Oh, 10, I'm bid at 10.

10 bid, at £10, any bid at 10.

At £10, any bid at 10.

This is for nothing. At £10, it's your bid, seated at 10.

10 bid. Any more?

-Come on!

-At £10, and I sell, then, at 10, and done, thank you.

OK, well, you're breaking even.

Paid £10 for it.

Right, second lot coming up, it's the crustacea,

the plastic crab and the lobster and the langoustine or whatever.

You paid £10 for the three.

-We did.

-Here it comes.

-Lot number 236, the crab,

the lobster and the crayfish, I think these are brilliant,

who's got 30 quid, a tenner each?

Who's got a tenner?

Won't go any lower, 10, I'm bid at 10.

10 bid, £10, at 10, 15...

-Go on!

-15, 20.

20 bid. 20 bid.

-At £20.

-Double your money.

These have come from Brixham... At £20 only. ..he lied.

At 20, it's your bid seated.

At £20, and I sell, then, at 20 and done, thank you!

-Brilliant.

-20!

-Double your money!

-Double your money!

Well done!

OK, so... All right, well, we are in a plus £10 scenario here, OK?

So, your final lot is the strawberry set.

£275 invested, you might say.

Well, let's see if it's going to give you a return,

let's see if we can get that profit, because it's coming up now.

Put a bid in, start me off, £150 to start me.

150.

Well, I've got £80, bid at 80, 80 bid, at 80.

80 bid, at 80, 90...

90 bid, 100 with me.

At 100, net's out.

At £100, and any bid? Is there any more at all?

No money at all for it, really.

At £100, bid's with me on the book.

At £100, and I sell, then, at 100, and done.

-Thank you!

-That's terrible.

It's not good!

-Terrible.

-Well, the way that works out, we just made £175 minus.

And we were already £10 ahead, so we're in a minus 165 situation.

-That's really good.

-Yep, that's really good.

Yes. OK, all right, well, you know, you can lead these horses to water,

but you can't make them drink.

Having said that, let's talk bonus buy.

It's going to make it all back.

-Yeah?

-Yeah. Yeah.

-I believe in the bonus buy.

-We believe in you, Thomas.

Yeah, they do, yeah. Now, remember, Thomas paid £5 for this,

-this pair of buckles.

-Absolutely.

And they're coming up now.

Tenner each, 20 to go.

Who's got a tenner for the two?

This is no money. £10 for the two.

I'll lend you a fiver and take you at 10.

At 10 bid, at 10 only, at 10. 10 bid, £10.

At £10, I'm only bid at 10.

10 bid, here's the bid.

At £10, and I sell, then, at 10, and done.

Thank you!

-Yeah, we clawed back £5!

-I think that's brilliant.

So, plus £5, it takes you down to a minus 160.

But don't despair, ladies.

Don't despair!

These can be winning scores, as you know, Tom.

So, er... You know what I'm going to say next, don't you?

Not a word to the Reds.

Well, it was a school of hard knocks for both teams today, wasn't it?

-Certainly was.

-It's just that some got more knocks than others.

Erm, that's the truth of the matter.

So, the team that took the hardest knocks today, I have to tell you,

is the Blue team.

-Oh!

-Sorry, ladies!

I'm so sorry!

With a minus 160, it wasn't your day, was it?

-No.

-But you've enjoyed yourselves - please say, "Yes, Eric."

Yeah, absolutely.

-Good.

-We had a great time.

-Excellent, well, well done all the same,

well done you, Tom, anyway.

But Reds, what do I say?

You're looking a bit smug.

-Oh, yeah!

-It's been...

-Even though you were minus 16!

OK. So, there's no point putting your hand out for money,

you're not going to get any money whatsoever.

But well done, Caroline, anyway. And again, enjoy it?

Brilliant, loved every minute.

-Loved it, brilliant.

-That's all we really want to hear.

Well, that's it from us, but in the meantime,

you can catch us on the website, or follow us on Twitter.

But better still, why not join us next time for some more Bargain Hunting, yes?

-ALL:

-YES!