Peterborough 29 Bargain Hunt

Today's antique fair is at the East of England Arena in Peterborough.

And once a year, it hosts one of the largest dog shows in the UK.

Are you ready?

Like these two, our teams will have to weave through 2,000 stalls,

be prepared for plenty of ups and downs,

have tunnel vision when it comes to making profit,

and be ready to overcome all sorts of obstacles

to achieve the ultimate reward.

Golden gavels.

Yeah! Whoo! Who'll be top dog today?

Do you know? Right, let's go Bargain Hunting!

Lovely as they are and as strong as they are,

let's forget about the dogs because we're here to focus on antiques.

With just £300, 60 minutes on the clock,

our teams need to find three items that will bring them profits at

auction. And that's no mean feat.

So they'll have to put on a dazzling display.

So let's get started and take a sneaky peek at what's coming up.

There's no hanging around with the Reds.

You make a decision, would you like it?

-That's decisive.

-Yes.

And the Blues can't agree.

-I like that.

-I hate it.

You love it, you hate it.

-Yeah.

-I know, I thought we'd choose similar things.

No.

But will they all drive away with a profit at the auction?

-Come on.

-One more.

-All done.

-Oh, you dodged a bullet.

But that's all coming up later.

First of all, it's time to meet our teams.

And today, two married couples.

For the Reds, we have Simon and Debra.

-And for the Blues, Andy and Michael. Hello everyone! TEAMS:

-Hello!

Oh, you're all in fine fettle.

Now let's turn to the Reds first, and to you, Debra.

Tell me, how did you meet your lovely husband?

Over 20 years ago, I moved into the same village where Simon lived.

With an ex-husband I bought the local pub, and then a few years later,

we had the pub together.

So we've... I've had it twice.

Now you both enjoy travelling, and you've travelled all over the world.

So tell me about some of these amazing places you've been.

Well, we tend to have our main holiday in the winter.

So February is a favourite, that's our wedding anniversary.

So we like to go to the Caribbean, if we're lucky enough then.

But the rest of the year, we travel around Europe.

We get away as much as we can.

-Yes, yes.

-Now when you're not travelling around the world and around Europe,

the garden is the place that you like to be found, isn't it?

So tell me, Simon, tell me about your love of gardening.

Well, we've got a lovely garden and it's just great for entertaining.

We have vegetable gardens, fruit trees,

and our particular favourite, I think, is our sloes.

Many, many... I've been making sloe gin for many, many years.

Yeah, yeah.

And two years ago, we had such a crop.

Friends were bringing their gin and sugar to us, so we were making it.

We made about 30 litres.

30 litres? And you got through it in one night.

More than one party, but...

That sounds lovely!

Now tell me, what are your tactics on Bargain Hunt today?

We've got no real plans, have we?

No, something will say, "Buy me."

-Hopefully.

-That's what we hope anyway.

And then I'll just let Debra carry on with her haggling abilities.

Are you famed for them?

I've been known to get a few pounds off here and there.

Well, on that note, I'm going to say did you hear that, Blues?

-I think we did.

-Fighting talk.

It's time to turn to you, Andy, and Michael.

Now, Andy, you met Michael quite recently,

but you are married, so tell me about this whirlwind.

So we met online and after probably a couple of months

of chatting to each other online,

we met up for a coffee.

And then, the following year, we got married.

One coffee, one wedding.

That's exactly how it went.

And then... And that was about six months ago, so...

-Oh, congratulations!

-Relatively newly married.

Now tell me, much like our Reds, Andy, you have green fingers.

-Tell me about your allotments.

-So we grow all the kind of standard vegetables you'd expect,

but we also like to try and grow something that's a bit different.

So, last year, we had rainbow carrots

and also our cucamelons.

Sorry, what?

-A cucamelon.

-Cucamelon.

-Yes.

A little tiny fruit that's shaped like a melon,

but tastes like a cucumber.

It goes great in gin.

Oh, we'll remember that!

Now, Michael, you've got a degree in fashion,

but that's not what you've taken up as a career.

No, so I am a teaching assistant in a hospital

with autistic young people.

I just kind of fell into the role and I really love it.

It's really rewarding.

Fantastic. Now tell me about your hobbies.

Are they varied and many?

So I play the double bass, which I've played since I was ten,

when it was bigger than me and my mum had to carry it around for me.

Now tell me, how do you think you're going to be as the Blue team on Bargain Hunt today?

We know what we like. We're just going to see it, go for, buy it.

It's not usually as easy as that, but I do like your optimism.

Now, you won't be able to buy anything if you don't have a budget.

£300, Debra, for the Reds.

-And £300 for the Blues.

-Thank you very much.

-Off you go.

-Your experts are waiting for you. Best of luck!

-Thank you!

-Thank you.

Well, with all these gardeners,

it seems we have the seeds of a great show,

but who will grow the biggest profit?

Time for them all to meet their experts.

Hoping to make some dough for the Reds, it's Ben Cooper.

And ready to race ahead with the Blues, it's Gary Pe.

Simon, Debra, here we are.

-Yes.

-Now what I need to know, is what you want to buy. Debra?

I like boxes.

Whether the little carved Oriental wooden boxes,

but sort of trinkety.

So I think I'm going to be looking for some garden-related things, like...

-Tools?

-Some tools definitely.

-All right.

Large and quirky, if we can find anything like that.

I am large and quirky.

-I also like the small shiny stuff too.

-OK.

-Silver.

We've just got a dog, so something, something dog accessories.

Maybe not a lead or something, but I'm not sure what.

Something around a dog?

Right, teams, your 60 minutes start now.

HORN BEEPS

-Let's head off and see what we can find. Come on, guys.

-Right.

-One hour, you ready?

-Brilliant.

-Let's go!

-Let's go!

And they're off! Good luck, teams!

What I'd advise you to do, is just get your eye in.

Tense, ain't it? So much to see.

Looks like the Reds are going straight in,

or possibly down under with this didgeridoo.

Large and odd, you said.

-I did say large and odd.

-What does it feel like?

Do you think there's any age to it?

-It won't have.

-Does it un...? Is it in parts? Look.

-Is it all...?

-They're normally in one piece.

-Oh, so it...

-It's just...

-..screws together or something?

The easiest way is to look down inside and you'll be able to see.

It's just hewn out of a piece of...

-Complete with webs.

-Complete with webs.

-£22.

-22.

-OK.

-Do you think it has any value in it?

Can it be our silly thing

-or...?

-Well, it certainly...

-THEY LAUGH

You wanted something large and unusual.

-I did.

-You know, at auction,

I've got to admit there's not going to be a lot of didgeridoo buyers.

-No.

-At the same time, it's not an awful lot of money.

So if you're going to lose money, you wouldn't lose hundreds,

because it doesn't start at hundreds.

-If you want something odd...

-Might get if for less than 20.

-..we'll do it.

-Yeah.

-But we're not going to hang around and...

-Well...

-Do you want it or...?

-Can we come back to it?

-You make a decision, would you like it?

Oh, that's decisive.

Yes. Yes, yes.

-Let's go and have a word, Sims.

-OK.

-And then...

-You're the...

A decision can be made once we know what we're up against.

-Right.

-She's quite a tough cookie.

-Well, no, I'm conscious of the time.

That sounds like feisty fighting talk,

but no reason to rush just yet.

You're only a few minutes in.

This could potentially be our oddment item.

Something just a little different.

Would you like us to take it off your hands?

-I'd be very grateful, thank you.

-I thought you'd might.

-What do you want to offer for it?

Sort of £8 to £10 really.

-Can't do it for that, I'm sorry.

-No?

-No, I can do 16.

£14 would be wonderful.

-What do you do for a living?

-THEY LAUGH

I buy, not sell.

There's no messing with this landlady.

-OK.

-You can be our first purchase, yes?

-Thank you.

-Marvellous, thank you very much. Wonderful, thank you.

Wow! That was quick work, Reds.

Four minutes exactly and £14 for a didgeridoo.

Now, did anybody check that it works?

No, that definitely doesn't work.

You've got to circular breathe into the...

-DIDGERIDOO HUMS

-Ah!

-Oh!

-There you go.

-Feel the vibes.

SPLUTTERS

Hm, best move on. Now, are those Blues motoring ahead?

A doggie toy?

You sit your dog in here and you...

-I think we're...

-That's a bit of a design we've got there,

-what do you think?

-I quite like that.

Perfect size for Buster.

-I, I hate it.

-THEY LAUGH

Don't hold back, Andy.

You love it, you hate it.

-Yeah.

-I thought we'd, I thought we'd choose similar things.

No.

Can you sell it to me, Gary?

Well, obviously it's a child's toy.

-Yeah.

-Probably made around the 1950s,

to sort of emulate the cars that were designed in the 1930s,

such as the Ford Model T.

There's a lot of rust, but then you would expect that.

It looks a bit beaten up.

-Yes.

-It looks tired, and I'm not sure what you would use it for.

It's obviously a designer piece.

So that's what these things are used for today.

You know, people would just sort of put it out in the hallway

and leave it there, maybe put a little plant in here,

or have their dog sit on this chair and take a picture of it.

I'm still not convinced.

-What do you think?

-Yeah, I like it.

I like it, I think we should find out how much it is.

-OK. Shall we do that?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-Who's going to do the...?

-I can find out.

-Could you?

-Yes, absolutely.

-Great.

-Who's our man?

So, while Michael goes off to check its price,

the Reds are steaming ahead.

And these are obviously home-made fun toys.

Age, difficult to say, but I would have thought

-probably 30, 40 years old. Possibly.

-Right.

But they're definitely home-made. They're just made of light-weight...

-And it does actually roll, doesn't it?

-Yeah, it does roll.

-Well, it's not exactly small and shiny like you thought, is it?

-No, no.

-No.

Many people have ideas of what they want to buy

-and it can go completely...

-Off-piste.

-Yes, yeah.

-Right.

-No, I just saw some toys and I thought, "Let's look."

Move on.

Decisive, Debra.

I think these Reds have a definite plan.

Now, what's news on the toy car, Michael?

-You're back.

-So, it's £55.

-Right.

-He'll accept a £45.

£45?

That's actually not bad.

I mean, obviously it's a bit beaten up.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-But the...the design is great.

-If you really want it, we can go for it. How are we doing for time?

-Not even ten minutes.

-Would you want to leave it and come back to it?

-Yes, shall we?

Now, are the Reds having any better luck?

-Shall we walk along here, go inside and have a look?

-Certainly go inside if you want to.

I think these are much of a muchness,

so I think we ought to try and find something different really,

because nothing's really jumping out, is it? No.

-Gardeny, doggy...

-Doggy.

-I thought we were going to be really decisive.

-Yeah, me too.

Come on, lads, you need to get a move on and buy something.

The Reds move inside and spot some silver.

Now with Indian silver, it is very, very pure.

It's a very high grade, which gives it this whiteness.

Right, OK. It's got tarnished on the inside, so...

Silver will tarnish, because it's... It oxidises.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

-Napkin rings are something which I sell quite a lot of,

because they're one of those traditional gifts

for christenings and what have you.

And I noticed on this one, the cartouche, just there,

which is where initials or a name go, hasn't been used.

So, that helps with it.

Yes, yes.

It's very ornate.

It's very ornate, it's lovely quality.

And price-wise, looking at it, £30.

That's, you know, a very good, fair retail price for it.

-Yeah.

-Yes.

But the lady might be able to do a little bit more for us.

You have £30 on the ticket.

-Yeah.

-Is there any movement on this?

Yeah, there's always movement.

There's no harm in asking.

-Absolutely.

-In that case, I'm asking.

Right.

Well...30 on it.

What about the bargain price of £22?

A bargain price of 22 is quite good,

a bargain price of 20 will be much better.

Twisting my arm, are you?

-Yeah.

-If necessary.

-OK, why not?

Are you happy with £20? Simon?

-£20?

-Yes, I'm happy.

-Thank you very much indeed.

That's very kind of you. Thank you.

-Thank you.

-That's really generous, thank you very much.

-That's lovely.

-Debra certainly knows what she wants.

That's the second item bought within 25 minutes.

You've now ticked off two items from your list, what's next?

You keep on doing very well on the bargaining,

what you haven't succeeded on yet is choosing something yourself.

Well, that's not imperative, is it?

-No, that's true.

-It's because I'm not unhappy with what we've bought.

-You're not unhappy?

-No.

-Good.

-And the prices paid were OK.

We haven't spent very much.

-No, we haven't.

-We have a huge allowance.

While the Reds consider what they've spent,

the Blues haven't spent a penny.

-It's definitely different.

-Yeah.

Looks like a big garlic bulb.

It does.

-I see a smile.

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Look at that.

-I like it.

-And then, feel it.

It's a very organic shape, isn't it?

It looks sort of Italian.

Or possibly French as well.

How old do you think it is?

It's a sort of 1960s design.

It's nice, I like the colours of it.

-Yeah.

-It feels like it's textured, but it's...

-Exactly.

-..so smooth, isn't it?

Well, unanimous.

-Yeah.

-Right.

-It's a yes from me.

-So we ask the price.

-Right, we need to know how much it is.

-Yeah.

-Quite right, Andy.

Time to talk price.

This lovely piece of ceramics.

-Right.

-Probably French.

-What are you asking for it?

-30 quid.

-30 quid.

-Wow.

Can we get it down to about 25?

Not really, no.

How about 29?

I'll let you off with a quid, yeah.

-Yeah.

-I think it's a deal.

-Is it?

-It's a deal.

-Yeah, let's go for it.

-Thank you, sir.

-Not a problem, mate.

-Amazing. Thank you.

So the guys are off the mark at last.

The bulbous vase is theirs for £29 at 30 minutes exactly.

And the Reds have also tracked down some unusual vases.

I love the colours.

-Beautiful colours.

-They're fantastic, aren't they?

This type of West German pottery is now very popular at the moment.

Because you've got style, you've got design, you've got shapes.

People are liking colour.

It all dates from the 1960s through the '70s,

and probably a couple bits maybe into the '80s.

Fashions and trends are now sort of far more important than they used to

be and we've all seen different phases over the last ten years,

of different types of pottery, which have been, in effect,

discovered by the British market.

And West German pottery is one of those.

But it's... To be commercial...

and to do well, I would go more with the colours.

-The colours.

-The oranges and the lava colours, rather than the subdued.

Pick something she'd like, we can find out what kind of prices they are.

Right. You find one, get the colours right.

-Yes, OK.

-OK.

-You're a decisive lady, Debra, but with so much choice,

where do you star? The Blues in the meantime,

are hoping to tick a huge box off their list.

Talk about gardening.

I know, look at all of this!

-What do you think?

-Wow. I think we can definitely find something here.

Don't think we're going to make much profit at all.

-No.

-I think you can, if you can sort of assemble a collection...

-Oh, OK.

-..of things.

-Yeah.

-Yeah? I mean, five quid.

And they're obviously vintage.

-Yeah.

-So there's no reproductions in here.

You're both gardeners.

-Yeah.

-Pick out three, or even five, from here.

-OK.

-What do you think?

Yeah, I think that's a good plan.

-Yeah, let's go for it.

-OK.

-So I think in terms of forks...

-Right.

-..this one's standing out to me,

-I think it's the colour of the wood.

-Yes, OK.

-And I like the fact that it's a red.

-Right, OK.

-It's a nice one.

-Excellent.

I've spotted this one down here.

So this is a cultivator one.

-Right.

-You can use it for breaking up the soil.

-Yeah.

This one looks like it's had a good life.

-Yeah, I like it.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

Pitchfork, I've not seen one of these before,

so I think it's quite unusual.

I'm not sure what that one is for.

I mean, it's made for a giant.

The Blues have no trouble choosing, but what about Debra?

Has she chosen her vase?

If you notice on this vase here,

what's nice is if you turn it round -

I'll just take it here -

you can see just here, there is also the sticker from when it was...

And that's authenticity, is it?

Well, that just helps it prove its originality,

because it's not old, particularly.

-Right.

-You're looking at 40 years old.

So condition is absolutely spot on.

You've got the nice mark for West Germany and the pattern numbers.

How much is this one?

-35.

-Well, I think that's a real snip.

-Yes.

-25?

No. Not 25?

No, I think possibly 28.

30, done.

Well, I think we can go for that. I think for £30, I think...

-If you think so.

-I think the gentleman's being very fair.

-It's a lovely piece.

-£30, thank you very much.

I appreciate the discount.

Thank you.

Thank you very much indeed.

Well, there was no stopping the Reds today.

They're all done and dusted with 25 minutes left on the clock.

Speedy work, team.

Now the pressures on the Blues to get a good price on the set of gardening tools.

-£40.

-39?

-Yeah, 39. I'm not going to argue about a pound.

Let's do it! £39, thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Great, you've bagged your second lot.

Only a third to find.

It's obviously... Hm...

well, it's not an antique.

It's cheap at 35.

But it's not the thing to sell at in auction.

-No.

-I like this?

-All right.

-Yeah, I love that.

I can tell you now, missing bits.

-Yeah.

-Quite tinny.

I think it would look great in a flat, wouldn't it?

And I like the fact that this, the stand, tripod, is made of wood.

-And the price is good.

-Yeah, it's a good price.

At £45, is it worth inquiring about, Blues?

Bear in mind, you've just under ten minutes left.

-OK.

-Good luck.

The Reds, however, are relaxing with a cuppa.

ALL: Cheers!

Right, well, that was a quick shop.

So it gives us a little bit of time to enjoy our tea.

-Yeah.

-And then...

reflect on a didgeridoo.

Michael has news on the lamp.

So it's actually two separate things.

-No!

-The lamp itself is £45

and then it's on the tripod...

-Oh, no.

-..which is £55.

So it's 100 altogether.

-Wow.

-Oh, well.

-It's not quite the bargain we though.

-Not quite the bargain.

And the man isn't wavering on the price.

-All right.

-So it's 100 in total.

Guys, just a few minutes left.

Between that and the car...

-Yeah.

-..I'm more inclined towards the car.

-Are you?

-You liked the car.

-I like the car.

-If we could...

I think if the expert's saying the car at this last moment,

-then I think we've got to go for the car.

-And if we could get it down to 38?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-Should we do that then? Let's go and get the car.

-OK, brilliant.

-Let's go.

-Let's go!

-Hm, you might be pushing your luck.

The owner has already come down to £45.

Try your best though, Michael.

-Do I see a smile?

-40.

-40?

-Absolute best.

I think, I think we should do it.

-Yeah, I think so.

-We all agreed?

-All agreed.

-All right, all agreed.

-40 quid.

-£40.

-£40.

-Done.

-That's it, teams, your time's up.

-Great.

-Good one, good one!

Excellent. Oh, I'm relieved.

Let's remind ourselves what the Red team bought.

First up, they wasted no time going down under with this snake designed

didgeridoo for £14.

Next, they paid £20 for an Indian white metal napkin ring.

And finally, Debra was struck on this West German lava vase.

£30 paid.

Well, there ain't no flies on you, Reds. What was that?

35 minutes, amazing!

-Speedy.

-Speedy and decisive.

-Yes.

-You knew what you wanted, Debra.

Yes.

And did you really want that didgeridoo?

I think the didgeridoo will probably do very nicely.

Well, at £14, it's not too much of a risk, is it?

Now tell me, Debra, which was your favourite item?

My favourite item is the vase.

-The vase.

-Yes.

-OK, lovely.

-Yes.

-And do you agree, Simon?

-Your favourite?

-I do, indeed.

I do agree. The vase.

And do you think it's going to bring the biggest profit?

No, I think the silver Indian napkin ring

-might well bring the biggest profit.

-And do you agree with that, Debra?

-Yes, I'm afraid I do, actually. Yes, yes.

-Now, you spent £64.

-You had time for tea. I can't believe it.

-Yep, yes.

Your competition didn't, believe me. So I need £236.

But... Thank you, Debra.

..I won't keep it for very long.

I'm going to give it straight to Ben.

-Thank you.

-And, Ben, do you have any idea what you'll spend it on?

I don't, but I've got a lot of money

and I'd like to spend quite a lot of it.

OK. Well, read into that what you will, Reds.

So while Ben finds his bonus buy,

let's remind ourselves what the Blue team bought.

First up, they bought a modern bulbous vase.

£29 paid.

Next, the avid gardeners bought a set of vintage garden tools for £39.

And finally, with seconds left,

they were driven to buy a vintage tin toy car. £40 paid.

We got there in the end.

-Yes.

-Three items bought, not one of them for a dog.

No. We did find something doggy,

but then, it wasn't really what we wanted in the end.

Gary said no, so it went back.

-Best-laid schemes. Best-laid schemes.

-Yeah.

Now, tell me, Michael, of the three that you bought,

-which is your favourite item?

-I think probably the vase,

because it's so unusual and not something that we were looking for,

so I think it really stood out

and I think that's definitely my favourite for today.

-OK. And is it definitely going to make you the biggest profit?

-Absolutely, yeah.

Absolutely. I can't believe we got such a bargain with it.

Well, that's what you were here to do.

Now, tell me, Andy, which is your favourite?

I quite like the tools for the gardening.

So I think they're probably my favourite.

But do you think the tools will bring the biggest profit?

I think it's going to be close, but I think the vase will probably make

the biggest profit out of everything we've got.

So it's all about this vase, isn't it, Gary?

Yes, I agree, actually.

So remind me, how much did you spend again?

We spent £108.

Aha. So 192, who's got it?

-I've got it.

-Michael.

-Here you go.

-Thank you.

-There you go.

Doesn't stay with me for long. Gary, £192.

Ooh. Well, well, well.

And do you have a clue what you'll do with it?

Well, I've seen something that's stylish and colourful.

A proper description for these two.

So, while Gary goes searching for his bonus buy,

I'm off on an exploration of my own.

Stourbridge in the West Midlands has been associated with glass since the

17th century.

The plentiful supplies of coal and fire clay here in the Black Country

made it a perfect location for the industry.

Around 23 of these conical buildings dominated the local landscape

and I'm about to visit one of them, the Red House Glass Cone.

It was used to manufacture glass up until 1936.

I'm here to meet guide Dr Kate Round.

Wow, and there it is!

Kate, what a sight!

Tell me about this cone.

Oh, it's 100 feet high, 60 feet wide at the base,

it took six years to build and it was completed in 1795.

It's one of only four in the country

and we're very proud of it as a working cone house.

So, quite a rarity and it looks fantastic from the outside.

Shall we have a look inside?

-Let's go.

-Let's do it.

Well, Kate, this is seriously unique.

I've never been anywhere quite like this.

Tell me, why was this cone built?

How did this design come about?

It was industrializing the glass-making process.

In other words, they could build a factory in a chimney.

It meant that 12 pots could sit around a central furnace,

and the cone itself is sitting on three tunnels that provided an

updraft of oxygen for fuel efficiency.

How hot would it have been in here?

Oh, the furnace itself burned at around 1,400 to 1,500 degrees,

and the working floor temperature would be as many as 45 degrees.

-Really?

-The furnace never went out.

It burned seven days a week, 365 days a year.

What were the working conditions like?

They would start at six o'clock on a Monday morning and they would work

six hours on, six hours off, six hours on, six hours off.

And that would continue until the pot was empty on Friday afternoon.

There was a team of four men at each of these stations.

There would be the gaffer, who would finish the piece,

servitor, who would bring him glass,

a footman, who would make the foot and the stem of wine glasses,

and the youngster, the taker in, who would be as young as nine years old,

working here. It's a very busy and dusty, dirty, very smoky environment.

But it was the way of life, you know?

It was how they worked.

Now, were women working in amongst these men as well?

-Not in here, no.

-No.

Women weren't allowed in the cone,

but they would be working in the auxiliary buildings doing the packing,

the inspecting, the cleaning.

They contributed well to the industry.

Adding that final flourish.

Absolutely, yes.

The industry grew and evolved,

and the cut glass crystal tableware from this area was recognised as

amongst the finest in the world.

The industry slowly declined after the Victorian era.

These days, a more artisan style of glass-making has developed,

but the technique of glass-blowing is the same today as it has been for

centuries. Charlotte Hughes-Martin is a resident glass artist here.

-Hi, Charlotte.

-Hi, Natasha.

-What are you making just now?

-Well,

we're going to make a special Bargain Hunt plate.

So what I'm going to do in a second is dip this into the glass again,

take another layer on top,

and then put on a bit of red and blue on for the Red and Blue teams.

-Sounds perfect. OK, I'll follow your lead.

-OK.

So, after reheating the glass, it's ready for shaping.

I can feel the heat of the glass, but not in my hand.

No, it's really good stuff, the newspaper.

Is this a sort of new technique, wet newspaper?

It's about 200 or 300 years old.

The glass needs to be reheated every 40 seconds or so,

and once the main shape is right, it's time to add colour.

So, we just lay that into the colour there and it just sticks onto the

surface. So I shake off a little of the excess.

And then go for the blue. Every piece is a little bit individual.

Then it's ready for the main event, the glass-blowing.

-So, if you crouch down at the end...

-OK.

-..and then start blowing.

-While you're moving?

-Yep.

OK, this isn't a... I don't know, an acquired skill?

But I'll give it a shot.

-Stop.

-OK.

Yeah, the bubble looks perfect now. Well done.

After adding a base, it's then ready to be opened up.

So, with the blades I'm going to put those in the little hole there...

-Oh, yeah.

-..and start opening that up.

More heat, and the glass is ready to be spun out into a plate.

Think I'll leave this to the expert.

That's amazing!

And there we go, the plate's finished.

Fascinating to see this age-old tradition that still continues to this day.

But now time to head off to the auction.

Today, we've come to Lichfield, to Richard Winterton's auction house,

with the man himself, Richard. Thank you for having us here.

-Delighted to have you.

-I'm glad to hear it.

We want to find out if you're delighted to have these objects in

-the auction house.

-OK.

-So, let's start off with Simon and Debra,

straight in with a didgeridoo.

-And do you think it was a didgeri-don't?

-It's not the greatest of quality.

Is it a touristy thing? Do you think they brought that back, or it's been done here in the UK?

-It's hard to tell, isn't it?

-Isn't it? Yeah.

-But if it were done abroad,

it has to have been a touristy thing, isn't it?

-Yeah, yeah.

-So do you think that it will attract much attention at the auction house?

Maybe put ten to 15 on it, so, that probably tells you a story.

-£10 to £15 won't change their lives, but they only paid 14 for it, so...

-OK. Yeah.

..if they get top end, they're off to a flying start.

-Yeah.

-And then from the large to the very small.

We've got the Indian white metal napkin ring.

I mean, how do you think that's going to fare on its own?

Very well. On its own.

Set of four, set of six would be good.

-Even a pair.

-So what do you reckon it will fetch?

We've got ten to 15 again.

OK. Well, the team actually paid £20 for this one.

-OK.

-So we'll need your skills as an auctioneer for that one.

I think we'll have to work hard. Got half a chance. It's OK.

-We're at half a chance.

-And then another completely different item.

We've gone from Australia to India,

now we're off to West Germany with this lava vase.

Is this more your speed?

It's not my speed, but there are people that want this sort of thing,

and the best thing I like about that is, it's actually got a label on,

isn't it? So, yeah, I think a bit of interest in that.

OK. When you say a bit of interest, how much are you hoping it will fetch?

-OK, ten to 15 we have, so...

-That's your favourite estimate.

-It is.

-The Triple Crown of ten to 15.

Well, the team actually paid £30 for the vase, so, once again,

you're going to have your work cut out.

-Yeah.

-In fact, Richard, I think they're going to have to lean quite

heavily on their bonus buy, by the sounds of things.

So, it's time to see what Ben bought.

Well, Debra, Simon, you left Ben Cooper

a mighty sum, £236.

And now you look a wee bit nervous.

Yeah.

Nervous giggling. Yes.

-What might he have done with it all?

-Well, we're about to find out.

Ben, please reveal what's beneath the cloth.

Well, I decided to spend a lot of money.

-Yes.

-So...

-Oh.

-Wow.

It's a humidor. It's for cigars.

-Yeah.

-Right.

-So, it's not the most sort of PC thing in one respect,

but now you can use it for lots of other things.

-Indeed.

-And it's a really quality item.

So how old do you think it is, then?

About 1890.

What did you pay for it?

-What do you think?

-You said you spent a lot.

-We left you a lot.

-180?

-Spot on.

-Oh.

-Wow. 180.

-How did you do that?

-I don't know.

I mean, it's impressive, and do you think you got a good buy with £180?

I really like it.

I think profit-wise, I think it might make a little bit.

-Well...

-All right.

-OK.

Well, you look like a little bit confused, but don't worry,

because you don't have to make your mind up just now.

We'll wait and see how your first three items do at auction.

-Yes.

-And then you'll decide.

So, in the meantime, it's time to find out what our auctioneer Richard

thinks of Ben's humidor.

Well, if they do need their bonus buy, Richard, here it is.

This is Ben's offering.

The Victorian oak humidor, complete with, if I push it enough,

there we go, a match striker and the ashtray.

What do you think? This has got to be the classiest of the Reds' items.

I think it's great. Sit on the mantelpiece.

Yeah, it's the... It does the business.

OK, so, what do you think Ben's humidor is going to make?

OK, we have gone with 60 to 80.

And I have to say, I'm probably just on the tad of the cautious.

OK, well, Ben will be hoping it makes quite a lot more,

because he spent £180 on it.

Oh, did he?

-OK.

-So, hopefully it's not all smoke and no fire.

-No.

Right, it's time to move on to the Blues, Michael and Andy.

I don't even know where to begin, such a variety here,

but we will start with the bulbous vase.

Another vase.

So, do you prefer this to the lava vase of the Reds?

Do you know? When it's sitting there,

it just grows on you, doesn't it? It does grow on you.

It's a really unusual shape.

And that takes quite a lot of skill, I think,

to get it to that form.

-OK.

-I've only put ten to 15 on it, mind, but I do like it.

It's got something. Standing there next to a fireplace or...

-Yeah, it's got something.

-It's quite modern, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-It's got a certain look. But team paid £29 for it.

-Oh, OK. We're not far away.

-So, I think you could get there.

-Yeah.

-OK, so, then we've got our five vintage tools.

I mean, not quite a set, more a sort of collection.

But, I mean, do you think this is a good job lot for the auction?

You know, I wouldn't have thought they're that robust.

-No.

-But they do sell. People do want them.

What do you think they're going to make here at Winterton's?

-We've done 20 to 25.

-Well, the team did £39.

-Oh.

-Almost there.

-Yeah. Not far away.

And then we've got this toy car.

Now, you don't think it's quite as vintage as it looks.

No. It's got a plastic seat, it's a plastic steering wheel,

plastic head lamps on the front.

-Do you think it's been...?

-I think it's 1970. I think it's been, yeah, made to look old.

So, given that you think it's perhaps been aged up,

do you think it's going to have a good appeal amongst your buyers?

I think so. You know, 1970s, so it's got a bit of age to it.

We've done 30 to 35.

OK, well, the team paid £40 for it, so...

-Again, we're not far away on any of them, are we?

-I know, I know, it's all very close.

But perhaps there's not a lot in it.

So, once again, they might rely on their bonus buy,

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

Well, Andy, Michael, Gary, this is a very important part.

And are you a bit nervous?

-Excited.

-Excited?

-Looking forward to seeing what Gary's got for us.

Ah, yes, what he spent your £192 on.

Italian, studio vase, dated 1958.

From a lesser-known factory.

Stylish but small.

And colourful. What do you think?

I like it, it's very colourful.

-Indeed.

-How much did you spend, though?

-£30.

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

-Well, let's put it this way,

there are some shops in New York that sell these wares for hundreds of dollars.

So, provided it's catalogued properly

and the right people see it,

I'd like to think you would at least double that.

-Wow, good.

-Sounds promising.

-Yeah.

It does sound promising, doesn't it?

But this is not the time to decide

whether or not you go with the bonus buy.

This is the time to find out what Richard, our auctioneer,

thinks of this Italian rare beauty.

Well, Richard, just in case we didn't have enough vases,

Gary has got himself in on the act with his bonus buy.

Is it doing a lot for you, the shape?

Cos it's a kind of a weird loaf with a hole in it.

It's got something about it.

It's just that, to me, it just looks a bit dusty and a bit dull.

That's why we've only put ten to 15 on it,

because I think the appeal won't be there.

OK, Gary paid £30 for it.

-OK.

-So it needs good work from you on the rostrum.

-Yeah, yeah.

-But it's going to be a great sale, isn't it?

-Oh, yeah, can't wait.

-Let's head straight to the auction.

At £60, the internet, at £60.

The internet at £60.

All done.

Well, Debra, Simon, look at you wringing your hands.

-You're a wee bit nervous.

-No, I'm just so excited.

Is this first time at auction?

No, been to one or two.

Ah. First time as vendors?

-Absolutely.

-We're starting with our didgeridoo.

-Yes.

-You paid £14.

Can't lose much, can we?

Well, if you're ready, I'm ready. Ben, are you ready?

Right, here comes your didgeridoo. Let's go.

The modern didgeridoo.

Nothing on my book at all.

I'm in your hands completely.

Where are you going to start me? £2.

£2 he's looking for it!

Two, thank you. Four, the internet.

-Come on.

-Six, the back of the room. Eight, the internet.

Ay £8. I'll take a little one, £9.

£9. Right, £10.

We're working...hard.

£11 and going.

At £10.

Anyone else going to come?

Internet bid. £10.

Oh, can you believe it?

We thought that was a guaranteed profit.

£10, right.

You've lost £4, so all hope's on this Indian white metal napkin ring.

-Yes, that was his.

-£20 paid.

£2 to start me.

-£2.

-Oh.

-Four.

Six. Eight.

Ten. £10 I'm bid.

-At £10.

-Is that it?

Nothing on the internet.

-At the ten. Thank you.

-£10!

Well, ten thus far is your unlucky number.

You've lost another £10, so you're minus 14.

-Right.

-All right, this is it.

All hopes this time on the lava vase.

£30 paid.

£4 I'm bid. Six bid.

Ten bid. 15 bid in the room.

-We're off now.

-Good competition.

-15. £20.

-Come on, come on.

-£25.

Oh, come on, one more.

25 in the room.

-All done. Sold at 25.

-Oh, no.

Oh! Another wee loss.

-So close!

-25, so that lost five.

Overall, minus 19.

So, next question, are you going to take YOUR bonus buy?

£180 paid by Ben for the humidor.

I do really, really like it.

However, and there is a however, I think you paid top-notch.

I think... I think we could only lose more money.

So, let's be 100% sure, is that a definite no for the bonus buy?

We're not going for it. We'll not go with it.

Well, in that case, I can reveal to you what the auctioneer thinks.

£60 to £80 is his estimate.

He did think he'd been a wee bit mean, but not too mean.

This is it, here it comes.

-Let's find out who was right.

-OK.

Beautiful-looking thing, Lot 269.

Where are we going to be? £40 I'm bid. £50 I'm bid.

£60 I'm bid. £70 I'm bid.

-Look at Ben.

-£70, here at £70. £80 with me.

At £80 I'm bid, book bid at £80.

Selling then, commit your bid, at £80.

Oh, you dodged a bullet.

THEY LAUGH

Ben, you made a personal loss of £100 there, but don't worry.

I'll just lick my wounds.

Minus 19 could actually be a winning score,

so will you promise me one thing?

-You'll say nothing to the Blues?

-Oh, no.

-Nothing at all.

-Not a word.

OK, we'll see what happens.

Andy, Michael, well, look at Gary dancing around!

Are you nervous? Is this your first auction?

First auction, but excited.

-Yeah.

-Been looking forward to seeing what's going to happen.

-Have you been to one before, Michael?

-No, not before. I'm very excited.

Oh. Is anything at this moment in time causing concern?

I'm still not convinced about the car.

-But we'll see.

-We will see. It's all going to come out in the wash.

Yeah. We shall see. I'm not convinced about the car, either.

Well, if you're ready, let's get to it.

We've got our tall, bulbous vase to start off with.

You paid £29 for it.

Gentlemen, here it is.

Now, we go to 285, the big bulbous vase there.

Lot two bid, four bid, six bid, eight bid, ten bid, 12 bid.

-£12 bid.

-Oh.

-£15, I'm bid.

£18.

£20.

£20, the lady at £20.

-Oh, come on.

-At £20. £20, sold at 20.

Oh, gentlemen!

Well, don't worry, we've started with a loss of £9.

-That was our best bet.

-But you never know,

people aren't into bulbous vases, are they into vintage garden tools?

We're about to find out. You paid £39.

£15 with me.

At 15. I'm 35 up on the internet.

-35.

-Come on, come on.

-We're close.

-I'm at 35 on the internet.

Room, you're out. Internet's got it, selling at £35.

Oh, 35. Another wee loss, minus four.

So, overall, gents, you're now minus 13.

So, actually, all hopes are now pinned on the car,

about which you're not convinced.

You paid £40, gents. Fingers crossed for you.

-I'm at 30, five.

-Come on.

-45. £50 we've made.

-Yes!

-£60.

-£70.

-That feels better, doesn't it?

£70 with me.

Internet is out now.

Sold at £70.

£70. So, your car made

£30 profit.

Fantastic. Which takes you out of the red and back into the black.

You are now plus 17.

Gentlemen, well done.

Are you going to go with the bonus buy? Another vase.

-I think we should go for it.

-Let's see what happens, yeah.

Gary, we've got faith in you after the car.

-No pressure.

-Yeah.

Right, gents, you're risking your £17 profit.

Here comes Gary's vase.

£2 bid. £2 straight in.

£2 I'm bid.

-£2 I'm bid.

-No, no.

-£2 I'm bid. £2.

Four. Six.

Eight. £8 on my right.

-£10.

-Oh, come on, one more.

-12. £12. £15.

-Yes!

Oh, right, well, you're still going to be in profit.

£15, the internet. All done. All out. Selling at £15.

-Internet bid, £15.

-Well, that was the gamble.

That's auction.

It sold for 15, and that means you lost 15.

But you're still in the black.

Plus two overall. I mean, a £2 coin,

you're hardly going home with millions, but you're going home with something

and it could be a winning score.

Well, this is it, teams, the results are in.

Almost every single item made a loss.

But, crucially, one team today made one profit,

so today's runners up are the Reds.

I'm sorry! Well done, Blues.

Every item made a loss, didn't it?

So, you go away with a score of minus 19,

-but it could have been worse, couldn't it?

-Much worse.

-Oh, yes.

-But you had good fun!

-Oh, great.

-Wonderful time.

-Yes, marvellous.

-Oh, you were such good sports,

and it was fantastic having you on.

Thank you. You were just pipped to the post by the brilliant Blues,

with a huge profit of £2.

Oh, well done!

And the only item that made a profit, in fact,

today, overall, was the one item about which you were most worried,

-the toy car.

-I know. How did it happen?

-How did it happen?

But that's auction, funny things happen there.

And, funnily enough, you made £2, one each, there you go.

Nice, shiny new pounds.

-Thank you!

-I mean, you've got to be chuffed with those.

I don't know how to spend it.

Wisely.

Well, it's not going to go far, but we all had a really good time.

I'm glad you did. Thank you so much for taking part.

And if you're sitting at home thinking, "Hey, I could do better than £2,"

then why not look us up? We have got our own website and,

of course, you can follow us on Twitter.

All the details are on the screen in front of you

right now. But, more importantly,

will you join us again for some more Bargain Hunting?

-Yes?

-Yes.

-ALL:

-Yes!