Newmarket 18 Bargain Hunt

Today, Bargain Hunt comes from Newmarket Racecourse,

and here we have a statue of Charles II, keen horseman,

who helped establish Newmarket at the centre of horse racing over 350

years ago. And from here, horse racing spread throughout the world.

Horse racing might well be known as the sport of kings,

but will our teams turn in a right royal profit today?

Well, place your bets and let's go Bargain Hunting.

Well, there's no shortage of stalls here,

selling antiques and collectables, both inside and out.

And remember, our teams have £300 and just one hour in which to buy

three items to take off to auction, and hopefully make a profit.

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

The Reds feel their odds are good.

-Yes!

-Yay!

-Do you like that?

-Oh, my God!

The Blues are at odds with each other.

Emmeline's in the driving seat now, you see.

Yeah, you pick yours, I'll pick mine now.

But at the auction will it be the Reds...

..or the Blues...

..who romp home?

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

For the Red team today, we have good friends Lucille and Liz and

for the Blues, we have mum and daughter Anne and Emmeline.

-Hello, everyone. ALL:

-Hello.

Oh, that's a good, hearty start to the day.

Now, girls, how did you two meet?

I met Elizabeth in the pub.

It was her 40th birthday.

-Yeah.

-I was taken across by my...

-You can't be!

-I'm more than that now.

No! Carry on.

-And saw her in the pub...

-Yeah.

-..with all of her colleagues

and she was wearing a pair of rabbit ears,

a rabbit's tail and a pair of purple tie-on pants.

And trousers.

Oh, yes, of course, there were trousers, as well. Sorry!

I'm pleased about the last bit!

Introduced to each other

and have been very, very good friends ever since.

Oh, wonderful. How long ago was that?

11 years this year.

-It is 11! Good grief.

-Is it?

-Yes.

-Have you ever tried that costume again?

I was thinking of wearing it today,

but I thought it'd be too much of a clash, so, no. No.

What about antiques, girls?

Do you know anything about antiques?

A little, from my extensive research of Bargain Hunt...

-Yes.

-..Antiques Road Show, those sorts of things.

-Yeah.

And I have a few little bits of antique at home,

-so things that have been bought for me.

-Right.

Do you have a particular period you like or objects that you like?

Well, my partner said to me do not say this,

but I do actually like Art Deco and Art Nouveau.

I know everybody says that,

-but that's what I've got.

-There's a reason, isn't there?

-Yeah, there is. I love it.

-The best Art Nouveau and Art Deco is just

-wonderful.

-Yeah.

-And Lucille, what about you?

I don't know very much about antiques,

but I do enjoy having a good nose around...

-Yeah.

-See what's here.

-Yeah.

Eye caught by some pretty things and we'll have an expert today.

-You certainly will.

-Who'll hopefully

-be able to teach us a few things.

-You'll be leaning on the expert.

-Absolutely.

-We will.

-And what about tactics?

I'm going to be quite stern and say,

"You are going to reduce your price," and if they don't...

Please! Please, please!

Oh, how could they possibly resist?

-Give it a good go.

-Have a fantastic time, enjoy rummaging around,

spend plenty of money...

-We shall.

-Absolutely.

-Now, Blues, Anne and Emmeline,

you've been waiting a long time for this, haven't you, Mum?

We applied three years ago...

-Yeah.

-..and got a call twice every summer,

but Emmeline was working

at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival leafleting.

And you weren't going to do it without Emmeline?

No, I was waiting for Emmeline, so when the call came through

for a third time, I thought, "Well, we better take it, really."

-Fantastic.

-So, yes.

-I was like, "Oh, go on, then."

It's a bit of an honour, though, isn't it?

To be fair, I am really excited.

-It'll be really, really good, yeah.

-You're absolutely grinning.

I'm so excited to be here!

I've never seen anybody so excited to be on Bargain Hunt.

I've been telling her for the past few weeks,

-"You need to calm down," but now I'm here...

-Yeah.

-..I'm the one.

I'm like, "Yeah, bring it on!"

And what about antiques?

I go to antiques fairs and I do like to have a rummage around car-boot

sales and I watch Bargain Hunt every lunchtime.

-Every lunchtime?

-Every lunchtime.

It's an unwritten rule in our house that

-if you're out and about and you want to ring Mum...

-Yes?

..you cannot ring between quarter past twelve and one...

-Well, you can ring.

-..cos she's watching Bargain Hunt.

-But you won't answer the phone.

-I don't answer the phone.

I just don't answer the phone, no.

-It's my moment.

-I've rang before, like, "Mum, please answer,"

-and she's like, "No, Bargain Hunt's on."

-Wonderful!

Are you competitive by nature?

Yes, I am competitive.

I can't deny it, I am competitive.

Very competitive?

-Yes.

-Yes.

Yes, very competitive, yes.

You spending big, spending small?

-Going to, yes, spend big.

-Yeah, we're going to go...

-Well, we don't know, it depends what catches...

-Go hard or go home.

Now, what you all need, of course, is a bit of money.

-Oh, yes, please.

-300 for you.

-Thank you.

-Don't panic, girls, here it comes.

-300 for you.

-I'll have that.

-Off you go, have a great shop.

-Thank you.

-I think they're going to have a wonderful time,

but who will win?

Friends versus family.

We will see.

Helping our teams jockey for position are our two experts.

With his eye on the prize for the Reds, it's Colin Young.

And, in the saddle, it's Jonathan Pratt for the Blues.

-Here we are in Newmarket, then, Liz and Lucille.

-Oh.

-Oh.

-What are we looking for?

Jewellery or clocks, I think.

And do you know what you want to buy today?

I would like to buy something cute, something quirky,

maybe some little animals, some little trinkets.

-Your shopping list?

-Crockery, maybe a nice piece of furniture.

Yeah, I wouldn't like to buy anything small and quirky like a

-little animal.

-Excellent.

-I'd like glass, I like things that are blue,

-as well, so yeah.

-OK, blue and glass.

-Yeah, yeah.

But open-minded and let's see what we get, really.

Right, teams, your time starts now.

I think we ought to go Bargain Hunting.

-I think we certainly should.

-Let's go.

-Let's do just that.

I think it's odds-on for a cracking show today.

Overwhelming, isn't it, when you see it?

You'll find it's overwhelming, this whole thing,

because there's just loads of stuff to see.

Among the outside stalls, something has immediately caught the Reds'

eye and it's a book press.

-Is it a book press?

-Yeah.

-I like that.

Yep, late Georgian, beautiful colour.

I'm going to hazard a guess, we're not going to be able to afford it.

-OK.

-Why is there a drawer in there?

Why is there a drawer? Well,

you'd be able to keep anything that needs pressing.

What's the very, very bestest that you'd be looking for?

350 on the tab, 260 would buy it.

260 would buy? Right.

-That would leave us with not very much, though.

-Yeah.

-No, I know...

-Is there any more wriggle room on that?

I could go one more tenner to 250 and that would be the definite.

-250.

-Again, I like it.

I think it's great. Could just see that slight "hmm"

when you were looking at it, so...

£250 would be a substantial chunk of their £300 budget.

Now, how are mum and daughter getting on?

I actually like the "prepare to meet thy God", as well.

-Well, those things.

-Lustreware.

Yeah, this is Sunderland lustre.

-And how old is it?

-1870, 1880.

-Oh, wow, yes.

-Typically Victorian, industrial.

You know, this is collectable. People go for this copper.

They do go for it, don't they?

-Yeah.

-"In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust.

"Let me never be confounded".

-Ah, well, there we are.

-It's like being on this show, isn't it?

THEY LAUGH

-Prepare to meet thy bargain!

-Yeah.

-It's old.

-Yeah.

It's in nice condition.

It's got some story about it...

-Yeah.

-..and it's not very expensive.

Yeah, it's only £75.

-Oh, is it?

-What would your negotiation be, then?

Well, I had it on for 75 but I could do it for 60.

-Sorry...

-Not even, like, 58, 57?

-I'm rea... Oh.

58 if it helps you, yeah.

-58?

-58 if it helps, yeah.

-It's worth a punt.

I quite like it and...

-Go on, then.

-Yeah, yeah.

-There you are, go on, then.

-It's sold.

-£58, then, yeah?

-59, we said, didn't we?!

-No!

Oh, that's a good start, they've both agreed on their first buy.

One down in just seven minutes.

The race is on, Reds.

-So, what's this?

-It's what's known as an alphanumeric sampler...

-OK.

..because you can see that the person who made this was learning

all the different types of stitch.

And bearing in mind this was actually worked by somebody that was

-14 years old...

-Yeah, that's lovely.

-..you know,

an enormous amount of time invested in this.

And the date's there, of 1902.

Wow.

-I really like that.

-It's lovely. Yeah.

The positives and the negatives -

it tends to be the Georgian ones that command the bigger value,

cos obviously the older the more interesting,

but, nevertheless, that is a really good clean example of a sampler.

Sale-wise, we're going to be a long way from where retail is,

-is my gut feeling.

-OK.

-What's the sort of very best that you'd be

looking at on...?

95 would be the death.

Death on that. Yeah, yeah.

Do you think it's worth it?

Worth every penny of it is the honest answer.

Yeah, but at auction it's...

Is it going to happen?

It is going to be a gamble.

Is it something we could come back to?

-Definitely...

-One for consideration, Reds,

but you might need to work on the price.

Blues, will you agree over item number two?

So, what do you think about those?

-What, the millstones?

-Yeah.

I'd buy a millstone every day of the week.

-Would you?

-Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

Would you say a hundred for the two is too much?

-Yeah, for me, personally.

-No, I wouldn't. No, I wouldn't.

-Would you buy them for 100 quid?

-Yes.

It doesn't set my heart on fire, really.

How much are your millstones?

100 for the big one and 80 for the small.

Well, how much for two millstones?

Two millstones?

-150.

-OK, and how much is this one on its own?

-85.

I think we can still have a look around.

-We have got time, haven't we, to go and...?

-80 for that.

-80?

-80.

-We'll come back, then. If she doesn't want it,

-we'll come back.

-Yeah.

-All right, OK.

-"If she doesn't want it...!"

Oh, dear, their conflicting tastes are beginning to show.

Will it be Anne or Emmeline who gets their way?

Ah, the Reds are still looking at the £120 sampler.

Earlier they'd got the price down to £95.

So, ladies, what's happening?

-Had a chat with the lovely gentleman...

-Oh, right.

..and he has agreed to drop the price to £90,

which we think is good.

-Excellent.

-An excellent deal and we'd quite like to get that because

-it's lovely.

-Yeah.

-You really like it, don't you?

-Yeah.

-We do. We do.

-Go for it!

-Yes?

-Let's go for it. Yeah.

-Marvellous.

-OK.

-Thank you very much.

-Purchase number one.

-Thank you, sir.

-No worries.

-You're lovely.

The Reds love their first item.

Good stuff.

-THEY SIGH

-We've done it.

-How does that feel?

-It feels better, actually.

-Does it feel good?

-Yeah.

-Yes, you're over the first hurdle.

-Onwards and upwards.

-So, that puts our teams neck and neck

and we're not even ten minutes in.

So, the millstones caused ruction between the Blues.

I wonder if they can agree on these butler's trays.

-Emmeline, do you like those?

-No, I do like it, yeah.

I do like it. What do you mean, no?

It goes with the other one. You've got two of them there.

They're early 19th century and very typically...

If I had the choice, I'd buy the millstone rather than that.

You choose the next one and then she can berate that.

If we do this, then can we go inside and potentially look for cats?

-Yes, yeah.

-Is that a compromise?

And Emmeline's just added cats to the shopping list.

Reds, is that another press?

It will have a block in there and you put your paper in there

and that'll give an impressed embossed mark on it.

-That'd have their name on it?

-It's their name?

-It'll have their name, most likely, yeah.

-And we'd have to stamp it

-to see whose name it is?

-Yes.

-Ah, right. On we go.

-The Reds don't seem overly impressed.

-What about this, Colin?

-Will this fruit bowl make an impact?

It's a European design and this sort of fan is almost

a '30s Art Deco look,

but then you've got this more classical construction of the base.

It's very fragile, often damage on them.

-Is there any damage on that?

-Let's have a look.

This is really where we're going to be looking for the pain

-and the gain.

-Ooh, yeah.

-But that's all right, isn't it?

-Yes.

Rings very nicely.

And the facet design in there.

Yep.

-Quite nice, isn't it?

-It is.

In good order. Who's going to hold that?

-I will.

-OK. As long I can have it back in the same number of pieces,

-we'll be fine.

-Yes.

So, look at that. That's...

-Again, condition is good.

-Yeah.

Yeah, good-looking thing.

How much would you pay for it?

-£25.

-£25.

30 at the most, I think.

-30? 30 at the most.

-Yeah.

-Right, well, here's your tag.

-What do you think?

It is priced at, as you can see, £45.

Oh! We'd need to get that down, wouldn't we?

-You would.

-We would.

-How much do you like it?

We like it but...

-At a price.

-..we're only willing to pay 30 to 45...

Maybe if we can negotiate it down.

Who's head of negotiation, then?

-I did the last one.

-That was quick.

-That's you, then.

-I did the last one!

-Good luck, Liz.

Despite having a substantial £210 left,

they're clearly looking for a bargain.

So, what's the best price?

-We did the deal.

-You did.

We've got it for 30.

Got it for 30, well done.

-Thank you very much.

-Two down and not too long on the clock.

-Very good.

-Fantastic.

-So that's an impressive start, isn't it?

-That is.

-Now I'm really relaxed.

-Yes...

-Don't relax too much!

The last item is often the hardest to find.

But, Colin, you must be pleased with how it's going.

Dream team. Two down, 16 minutes gone.

What a giggle they are.

They love looking at everything, they love delving.

It's making shopping an absolute delight.

Right, then, we're back at the millstones,

but will Anne get her way?

We were interested in the big one.

How much did you say for that?

80 was the best offer.

-80?

-Yeah.

-We are playing a bit of a strategy,

and we understand if you say no,

but if it was £79, then we'd make a profit.

With the best sense of amusement, yes.

-Thank you.

-Thank you!

-That's very generous.

-Fabulous.

-It's a result!

Today's teams are in full gallop,

with two items each in just 20 minutes.

Anne and Emmeline are full of energy and they know what they like

and I think they're buying stuff and with a good result,

potential result. I'm really quite pleased, actually.

With everything on track, I'm off to show you something which,

like this racecourse, has a right royal connection.

I'm sure I don't have to tell you what this is -

this is a fire bucket - but the more you look at this fire bucket,

the more unusual it is.

It's half the size you'd expect it to be.

So I don't think it was used in a house or a castle.

I say castle because, of course,

it's got a crown on it and we've got an E and an R.

Edward Rex VIII.

Edward VIII.

What about Edward VIII?

Was never crowned.

He actually was king from January to December 1936 but then he abdicated

for the woman that he loved, Wallis Simpson.

Did all these things have to be thrown away or even repainted?

So it's really a very rare object.

A huge number of teacups, coffee cups, tea services,

were made in anticipation of this person being crowned,

but I've never seen a fire bucket.

And I've never yet met anybody else that's seen a fire bucket.

Now, let's go back to its size.

What was it used for?

We think - and I say we because I've asked two or three people -

that it might well have been used on the royal train,

some sort of transport.

And perhaps, as it's sand and not water, it was used for a fuel fire.

So, perhaps coal or petrol, paraffin, something like that.

So it's an intriguing object and of course you could use it in a sitting

room today. Use it as a waste-paper bin.

As regards to its value,

I bought it for a few pounds several years ago and it's been languishing

in the back of my garage,

and I've shown it to two or three valuers. They've been really

intrigued and nobody I've yet met has seen one of these.

How much? In their opinion, 100, probably 200,

possibly even more because of its rarity value.

So, there we have it, not bad for an old bucket.

Back to it. We're 25 minutes in and it's already 2-2.

Now, it looks like the Reds have been inspired

by my fabulous fire bucket.

That's a fireman nozzle.

Oh, now, I do like a fireman!

-Tell me more.

-Well,

this is wartime and you've got a triptych of them there.

There are three. 1942, you know, Second World War examples.

Made in Wolverhampton.

Made out of a good, solid bronze.

-Very, very collectable.

-Ooh...

-We did want to get a bit of jewellery.

We wanted to get something...

-Not that this isn't...

-We could make them into earrings, I suppose.

And a pendant, as well. There you go, you've got three pieces.

-Erm...

-Oh, let's ask.

-Should I ask the price of them?

-Yes.

-We'll ask the price of it.

-Let's do that.

-OK.

120 on the whole set.

If they really want them, I'll do them for £80.

What do you think they'd go for at auction?

I think they're going to be there...

We've still got so much time to shop.

-Absolutely.

-If we're five minutes from the end...

-We could have these.

-You can always come back for these.

Yeah, I mean, it's good jewellery, isn't it?

-It is.

-Yeah...

-That would be a serious bit of bling.

Back with the Blues, Anne got her way with the last buy -

will Emmeline now get a look in?

I like those squirrels.

-Do you?

-Oh, well, moving on...

-Ah,

but she's allowed to.

-No, no, no, no, don't say "moving on", she's...

-This is my thing!

-You've had your opinion.

-Emmeline's in the driving seat now, you see?

Yeah, you've picked yours, I pick mine now.

-You can see the panic in Anne's face.

-Yeah, that's right.

"Oh, no, I don't believe it!"

I don't believe we're going to look at squirrels!

Emmeline seems determined to find that quirky item from her wish list

and these squirrels could be in the running.

Ah, that's right, Emmeline also had cats on her shopping list.

Is there anything here that catches your eye? Because we have actually

been walking for probably about ten minutes now.

There's the cat there, erm...

I mean, is that something...? You're a cat person but you're not...

-You're not going on...

-You're not going on about that cat.

-No.

Not quite the purrfect feline for our girl.

-So, what, can we have a...?

-We'll keep wandering, yeah.

-Shall we keep wandering?

-So, from cats to a man's best friend

-for the Reds.

-Is it an inkwell?

-It's an inkwell.

-Oh, my word.

When would that be made?

-Oh, my word!

-Isn't it sweet? I would hazard a guess it's probably

Bavarian, Black Forest, I would guess.

I'll have a look on the bottom.

How much are you loving it for?

SHE SUCKS TEETH

-55?

-Yeah, I'd go similar.

-50-55?

-Yeah, I definitely would, as well.

-Let's see what the price tag is on it. Erm...

-Oh!

-There you go.

-75.

-Not bad, is it?

-And it's Black Forest, yeah.

-And how old is it?

-You certainly see these things from the sort of 1870s

-onwards.

-Yeah.

-It may be with those eyes in that gives it a clue that

it's 20th century, rather than 19th

-century.

-I was going to say, what do you think they're made of?

Yeah, it's just a great-looking thing.

-So we all agree on valuation at 55.

-Yeah.

-Yep.

-Who's going to be chief negotiator, then?

-You are.

-My turn?

-You do the doggy tails.

-OK, then.

-You're on it. So do you want to go and have a word with the

-stallholder and see if you can get it for 55?

-Yeah.

-Absolutely.

-I wonder if they'll be as fortunate as last time

now they're after another heavy discount.

-Is she back?

-Hello. I'm back.

-Do we have a...?

-How did you get on?

-We have offered to buy it for £60.

-So I thought maybe...

-Shall we have a holding on this one?

-Yeah, hold on that.

-Hold on this one.

-This and our fire hoses.

-OK.

-Yeah.

-And we'll see if we can find the pretty thing

that we're looking for, and if not we can...

We know we've got options.

-I think it will be fine going there.

-Fabulous.

-Come on.

-Let's have a bit more of a wander.

-Let's carry on.

So, the Reds have options.

But are both teams holding out for that final bargain purchase?

Emmeline doesn't seem to want to let sleeping cats lie.

We really like your cat.

Can you tell us something about it?

It was made by a guy in the south of France.

He's got a little cottage industry.

-Oh, right.

-And it's carrara marble from Italy and it's been moulded

and polished with real bronze.

What would be your best price?

Yeah, I think I've got 89 on that, haven't I?

-Yeah.

-So if I was to say 50 to you...

-50.

..then that's nearly half the money.

I mean, it's nice quality. You can see it's nice quality.

It's nicely made. You know, £50...

Would you do it just a little bit under 50, so we...

What would you like it to be?

-48...

-29.

-29!

Now who's being cheeky?!

-49?

-Yeah, I'll do that for you.

-Shake the man's hand. Come on.

-Yes.

CHARLIE: Yes, well done, Blues.

A considerable discount there.

Emmeline has her buy and after 40 minutes,

mother and daughter are first past the post.

Now, Reds, you're on the home straight.

You've just got one more item to find.

Do you like anything here?

-Is there anything...

-No.

..nipping you in the backside? No?

-OK.

-OK, we've got the chance to look upstairs.

-Have we?

-Shall we quickly do that?

-OK.

-Have a look upstairs?

-Yes.

Best to leave no stone unturned, ladies.

Onwards and upwards!

Those... Those look tasty.

-There we are, that was very good, wasn't it?

-It was fun. Yes, yes.

It beats running around like a headless chicken

-till the last minute.

-Yeah.

-I think this was the best idea we've had.

-Yeah. Well done.

-And the best bargain!

-Did you haggle him?

-Did you haggle over the price?

It cost £8.50!

And they certainly won't make a profit.

Reds, with ten minutes left, has anything caught your eye upstairs?

-It's fantastic, isn't it?

-It's amazing.

-A true statement piece.

-Yeah.

-But the statement is, which piece would you choose?

-That one?

-You'd go for that?

Straightaway. Straightaway you'd go in for that.

-Why?

-It appeals to me.

OK. Erm...

Which one would you pick?

I don't know. That thing there and also that one.

-It reminds me of something else.

-Were you thinking of Troika?

-Yes, yeah.

-I'll be honest with you, I wouldn't know how to guide you

through this because you really would want to spend so much time

-and we've just got those few minutes left.

-Yeah.

I think making a choice in haste just might be the wrong choice.

I think Colin might be right.

With five minutes left, it's decision time.

So, what's it going to be, ladies?

-Probably go with the dog.

-Go with the dog?

-I think...

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

Is that your final answer?

-It is indeed.

-It is.

-I didn't even have to phone a friend, she's here.

-Yeah.

-Indeed.

That's a different show, Reds.

Let's just hope the dog's still there.

So what was the best you managed?

-60.

-Let's see whether I've got an ounce of charm in my body

and see if I can actually manage to knock something out of it.

-I couldn't say no to you, Colin.

-OK.

Just give me two minutes, I'll be back.

-OK. No worries.

-Let's hope.

-Fingers crossed.

-Fingers crossed. It's still staring at me.

-Yeah.

-Woof! What do you think the eyes are made of?

-Plastic.

-Sure?

-Yes.

-Not like resin or...?

24-carat plastic.

I'd definitely say they were plastic.

So, Colin, did you get a huge discount?

You're not going to be very impressed, it was a pound.

But that pound might just be the difference

between a victory and a loss.

-So you got it for 59, then?

-£59.

-£59, very good.

-I like the sound of that.

There's going to be fear in the eyes of the Blues.

-Definitely.

-Bring it on.

-Result.

Right, teams, your time is up.

-Yeah!

-Yes!

-And relax.

Now, let's check out what the Red team have bought.

First up, Liz and Lucille paid £90 for this sampler.

But will it be old enough to make them a profit at auction?

Next, with a trot and a canter,

they swiftly bought this early 20th-century fruit bowl for £30.

And in the final furlong, they bagged this doggy ink well for £59.

That was a bit close, Lucille and Liz, wasn't it?

Just a little.

-Have you had a good time?

-Oh, fantastic.

-Absolutely brilliant.

-Was it good?

-Really fun.

-You spent quite a lot of money, didn't you?

-We did.

-£179.

-Absolutely.

-Are you pleased with what you've bought?

Yes, we are, very pleased.

You are? What's your favourite?

Mine is the Black Forest dog inkwell. Yeah

-It's lovely.

-It normally sells well, Black Forest.

-And your favourite?

-I like the sampler.

-Yes.

-Very pretty.

I love samplers.

Yeah. A bit of history.

Yeah, I just hope they'll make as much money as they used to make...

..in my day!

What's going to make the biggest profit?

-We think it might be the dog.

-Yes, I agree.

-You both agree with that.

Now, Colin, what do you think?

Out of all three, I think it's going to be one of them.

So after that lavish spend, girls, you should have £121 left over.

-We do.

-Hand it over.

-Right.

-All of it?

-All of it!

Yes, all of it. Colin, there you are.

-Thank you very much.

-Right, Colin, what are you going to do with that?

I'm going to spend as much as possible but just so you know

what I'm going to be buying, it's going to be absolute clarity for you

that the answer is going to be completely opaque.

-Marvellous.

-Marvellous.

-That all sounds a bit of a riddle from Colin.

So while he goes off to buy something opaque,

let's check out what the Blue team have bought.

Although the ladies had conflicting tastes,

they actually agreed on their first item -

this Victorian Sunderland lustre plate, bought for £58.

Next up, Anne loved this millstone and settled on paying £79 for it.

And, finally, Emmeline chose this cast resin cat for £49.

Anne and Emmeline, you're supposed to go shopping on Bargain Hunt,

-not just eat ice creams.

-They were yummy.

-They were delicious, though.

Delicious. I love a flake on a sunny afternoon.

Do you? You did well, you spent £186.

-Yes, we did.

-Pleased with that.

-You bought rather an eclectic mix.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-It got a bit tense, didn't it, round the old millstone?

Yes, it did get tense, yes.

-Slightly, yeah.

-I got my way in the end...

-As always.

-..and Emmeline agreed.

-So what was your favourite lot?

-I like the plate.

-You like the plate?

-Yeah.

The wall plate, the lustre plate?

-And your favourite lot?

-I like the plate as well

but I'm actually quite keen to see how the millstone gets on.

-I'm sure you are.

-Yes, yes.

-What's going to make the biggest profit?

I hate to say it but I think the millstone.

-Yes, the millstone.

-From what people have told me, yeah.

Every good garden should have one.

£186 you spent, which means you've got 114.

-Yeah.

-Thank you very much, indeed.

I'm just going to pass that straight over to JP...

-Fabulous.

-..who is going to buy what?

-Thank you very much.

Well, I've been listening to... You know, whilst they've been shopping,

and actually some words that were said at the very start.

-Ah.

-It's very much in that vein is what I'm going to be buying.

Oh, I like that.

I think JP's bonus buy might be something to marvel at after that.

Meanwhile, we're off to the auction.

Well, I've come east to the Diss Auction Rooms

and who have I with me?

None other than the auctioneer Elizabeth Talbot.

Hello, Charlie.

-Lovely to be here.

-Well, it's great to have you back.

Now, Lucille and Liz, good friends, start off with the sampler.

What can you tell us about that?

-Well, it's a late sampler.

-Yes.

You can't get samplers much later than the Edwardian period, really.

So, from that point of view, it's not very collectable.

-And what about an estimate?

-We put 40 to £60 on that.

Yeah, I mean, I think that's absolutely spot on,

but they paid £90.

-Yes.

-I mean, they were motoring, weren't they?

That's strong, I think, for that, to be fair.

Yeah. Now, what about the centrepiece?

Well, that's a bit of bling. A bit of bling.

It's in an earlier style.

I don't believe it's quite as early as it's perhaps bought as.

-No.

-We have seen early 20th century examples very similar.

-Yeah.

-But it's a nice statement piece.

It's got this glass bowl, which is pretty.

It's all intact, etc, so, you know, it's there to impress

neighbours and friends, if you like that sort of thing.

-Yeah, I mean, the glass has got a really good Deco look to it...

-Yes.

-..hasn't it?

-Yes, it has.

-How about money?

We've been very broad on this one.

-Have you?

-Broad?

Yeah, broad. We've put 50 to £100 as an estimate.

-Have you?

-Yes.

-They will be thrilled.

-Lucille and Liz will like that because they paid £30.

-All right.

OK. Well, hopefully we'll do a bit better than that.

Yes, yes, I'm sure you will.

I'm sure you will. Now, what about the Black Forest inkwell?

I just wish it was earlier.

It would be nice if it were.

I mean, it's a quality piece which digs deep into the traditions

of the Black Forest region, in terms of what it is,

-the way it's decorated and carved, and so on.

-Yes.

It's ticking all the boxes but it's just too recent, really.

It's not a collector's piece.

However, there are people who love anything to do with dogs.

So, I mean, the theme is strong.

It's got its liner, it's big enough to be, again,

quite a nice statement piece.

Yeah, so what have we put on this?

-We've put 70 to £100.

-Yeah.

They paid rather an odd figure, but a reasonable figure, I think, £59.

-£59?!

-Strange, isn't it?

Well, whatever happens, they might need their bonus buy.

Now, let's have a look at it.

Now, Lucille and Liz,

you left this lovely man with £121, didn't you?

-Yes, we did.

-Do you think he's done you proud?

-We think so.

-I think so.

-Do you?

-Yeah, yeah.

-What have you got, Colin?

-THEY GASP

-Yes!

-Yay!

-You said you liked that?

-Oh, my God.

-Yes, very good.

-You like that, don't you?

-I spent £81 on it.

-Wow.

-Oh.

-And Benjamin Chang

is not particularly well known within the market.

So it is an absolute gamble.

-It really is.

-It's a statement piece.

Someone will love that.

-It's a statement gamble.

-Whether you go for it will be exactly that.

It is a statement piece, but is it meant to be a bit of a state,

-who knows?

-He's brave, isn't he?

-He is a bit.

-He's very brave.

Anyway, girls,

I can tell by the way you were reacting you quite like that,

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

Let's see what the auctioneer thinks of Benjamin Chang.

This is very striking, this piece.

And, to be fair, would probably sell better in a modern design sale

of post-war artefacts.

-What about the stand?

-I don't like that particularly.

-No.

-I'm not sure... Presumably the artist Put that in that

but I don't think it does the artwork of the glass much justice.

No. What about the value? Difficult thing to value, isn't it?

It's very difficult.

We have not sold any of the artist's work before.

Benjamin Chang's work has not passed through here before

so we have no precedent that we can directly link to.

But we've put 30 to £40 on it.

-Right. Well, Colin went quite bullish and he paid £81 for it.

-£81?

If one were to buy that from a gallery,

a studio or a specialist outlet,

that's not a lot for a piece of handcrafted artwork.

Well, only time will tell with the Reds.

Now, on to Anne and Emmeline, mother and daughter.

And they bought - what would I call it? - an old-fashioned antique.

-"Prepare to meet thy God."

-Indeed. Well, when I was starting out,

I remember that sort of thing was very exciting when you saw a piece

of traditional Sunderland lustre come through.

The problem is it's the pious variety - dare I say it?

Had that been a portrait or a historical commemorative piece

or something with a bit more pizazz...

-A bit of Nelson, or something.

-Yes.

-Yeah.

-We'd have really got excited.

-Yeah.

-What about a value?

-Not high.

Not what they used to make.

No! 20 to £30.

Oh, crumbs.

They paid £58.

-Hmm.

-Anyway, from the sublime to the ridiculous, onto the millstone.

Ah, yes, a piece of architectural reclamation, which we like here.

-With moss.

-With moss. Adds...

We have dust on furniture, we have moss on millstones.

That's good. But it's not too big.

People do like them for garden features.

We put 50 to £80 on it.

Yep, yep. They paid - again, it's rather an odd figure - £79.

-Right, OK.

-They think that this will yield their biggest profit.

-OK.

-Now, what about the cat?

A whole cast bronze resin.

-Yes.

-It seems very en vogue at the moment.

And I have to say, we do see a lot of it

through the saleroom in different forms.

Now, this actual example doesn't appeal to me particularly.

-Well, what about an estimate?

-We put 60 to £100.

-60 to £100?!

-Mm-hm.

-Splendid.

-This could be their lucky lot.

Well, I thought they were going over the top.

They paid £49.

-Right.

-People like cats.

-Yes, they do.

-They do like cats.

-Yes.

Well, whether they like cats or not,

they might need their bonus buy.

Now, let's have a look at it.

Now, Anne and Emmeline,

you spent pretty well, didn't you?

-I thought we did.

-Yes.

-You did very well.

-Yes.

-You spent nearly £200...

-I know.

-..leaving JP with 114, I believe.

-Just too kind.

-Yes.

What have you done with it?

-Oh!

-Oh, right, yes.

-I like that!

-I was the one who said I liked blue glass.

-You did.

-Yeah.

-I don't like blue glass.

-You don't like that, anyway?

-What? It's all over our house.

-Tell us about it.

OK, well, look, what you have here is a late 19th-century

-blue flash glass decanter, a sort of bottle shape.

-And how old is it?

It dates from about 1880, something like that.

How much did you spend on it, then?

It cost me £100.

-Right.

-I think I'm about on the money.

I would say £80 to 120 might be a sensible estimate for it.

-I like blue glass, I collect... I do buy blue glass.

-Do you not like it?

-I like it more than I did.

-I can't work this out at all.

You don't like it, you do like it...

My initial reaction was it was something from the 1970s.

Yeah, I can understand that. Yes, I can understand that from here.

I do like it a lot more.

I don't know whether I would have spent £100 on it.

Well, you don't need to make up your mind now, girls.

-Yeah.

-Think about it, cogitate,

and then I will ask you during the sale

whether or not you want to go with the decanter.

Meanwhile, let's see what the auctioneer thinks

of this rather splendid blue glass decanter.

-Very elegant.

-Yep.

-A lovely colour.

-Yep.

A little bit unstable.

It worries me.

I fear for something that's tall and elegant like that.

It needs lots of drink in it, doesn't it?

But it wouldn't survive with lots of drink in it.

It would soon be emptied here, that's the thing.

So the good news is, I like the shape, the colour, the condition,

it's all very nice.

The bad news is that there's more supply than demand.

-What about value?

-We've put an estimate of 50 to £100 on it.

Yeah, well, Jonathan is at the top of your estimate.

-He paid 100.

-Right, OK.

We might just squeak through, yeah.

Whack it on a bit more with your gavel.

-I'll try.

-And you'll be taking the sale?

-I shall, yes, indeed.

-Good. Looking forward to it.

-Thank you very much.

I start this here at 22, a fine bowl there for 22...

Lots of people here. Lots of bidding.

-I want lots of arms up.

-You want lots of arms up.

-Lots of arms up.

-Have you been to a sale before?

-Never.

-No.

-Never?

-Never ever.

-This is our first.

A debut, what about that, Colin?

-Well, it's good.

-Colin's our first.

-Colin's your first, is he?

-He is.

The worry is it might be their last.

Anyway, what about the sampler?

-Good colours.

-Very nice colours.

I think... Colin, possibly we'd like it to be a bit earlier.

The only weakness with it is the age.

Even though it's over 100 years old,

you really want an early Victorian or a Georgian one.

-Yes.

-But strong colours. It is Edwardian.

Lot 107, the Edwardian sampler.

And I do start at £30. £30.

That's a start. You've got to start somewhere.

At 32, the lady. 35, I have.

35. The room is out.

That's a bargain.

-Oh, dear.

-That was painful.

That was painful. Never mind.

What's 55 if you say it quickly?

Here comes your centrepiece. You might get it back on this.

A polished brass table centrepiece there with this nice glass lining,

beautifully cut. It's a showstopper for your table at £50.

-How much?

-50.

-50.

25, if you will.

20 to start.

20 bid. Well done.

I've seen a lady bid with a lovely smile.

25, the lady.

Middle at 25.

£25.

£25 with the lady in the middle at 25.

Oh, dear, that's another fiver down the drain.

You're now down 60.

Having said that, we've got the lot that you both think

-will make the biggest profit.

-Yes.

The Black Forest inkwell.

Interest on the sheet with me.

I'm starting here at £32.

£32 is bid.

At 32. I'll take five now.

35. 38. 40. 2.

At 45. 48. 50. 5. 60 is now front row.

I'm out. 60, the front row.

-60?

-60 in the front row.

-We've got £1.

It's a profit of £1!

You've made £1.

Plus £1!

What about Benjamin Chang?

You're down £59.

The great man spent £81 on Benjamin Chang.

It's a gamble but in for a penny, in for a pound, so let's go for it.

-Yeah.

-You're going to go for it?

-Yes, we are.

Well, your bonus buy is on.

-Indeed.

-Right, no pressure.

It cost £81.

You're only down 59.

What can go wrong...go wrong... go wrong...go wrong?

Start me at 30.

A good piece of modern art.

£30.

-Come on.

-Hang on, someone's there.

-20.

-Someone knows her Benjamin Chang.

-Yes.

25.

28.

New bidder. 30. In the middle at 30.

Where's 2 this time?

It's a good vase for £30. A lot of glass.

It's an awful lot of glass.

Are you all done at 30?

-Oh, dear.

-Is that a loss?

That's a loss of £51.

Never mind. £110 has in the past won Bargain Hunt.

Not often.

-We came to come second.

-No, no.

It could well be a winner so no word to the Blue team and we'll find out

what happens later.

And 5. 25. And she's smiling.

Here comes the Sunderland lustre plate.

-It was a genuine antique.

-Yes.

They make reproductions of these, don't they?

-This was genuine.

-A genuine antique.

A proper Victorian item.

-I think this is a good buy.

-You think this is good?

I think it's going to do well.

-Do you?

-I like it, yeah. I can imagine it in a kitchen.

-Like, on the side. Would look lovely.

-Yeah.

I like the caption on it, "Prepare to meet thy God".

I think we're about to.

I start at 10.

£10.

That's the price of a reproduction one.

20 new bidder. 22.

25. 28. 30.

2. 35. 38.

40. Yes?

-2. 45.

-You can't stop.

Buyer to my left at 45. Where is the 8?

£45 to my left.

Bid at 45. All done?

-Oh!

-That's quite awkward.

Minus £13. That's not bad.

-That's OK.

-Here we go.

-Here comes the millstone.

-Start me at £15 on the millstone.

Oh, you would, wouldn't you?

40 bid.

We've got 40 already. That's a good start.

At £40.

Where are you at 2?

At £40.

Come on, don't be put off by the weight.

-Come on!

-I feel smug.

-I'm gutted.

-Hang on.

At £40.

40.

He's really happy, look.

That's a £39 loss.

I am very smug about that.

-Are you?

-Because I didn't want to buy that thing.

Did you know you're now down £52 with a cat to come?

-The good news about the cat is the auctioneer...

-Here's the cat.

The auctioneer has estimated the cat at 60 to £100.

-My cat!

-Come on, cold cast resin, always popular.

£50. 30, if you will.

Come on, where are the cat-lovers?

-It's a cute little cat.

-Oh, we've got a plunging cat.

-Yes.

20 to start. It's here to sell.

20 gallery. 22 below, 25.

Oh, go on, sir. It's a bit of fun.

28. 30 got.

-Yes.

-A bit more.

In the gallery, where are you?

30, all done, with the gentleman.

Agh!

That made a rather catlike noise there.

That wasn't very pleasant.

Well, you've lost £19 on the cat.

So how much have we lost altogether?

According to me, you've lost £71.

Not bad going.

Anyway, never mind, you've got a rather splendid decanter to come.

-Yes.

-Now, it cost £100.

What do you want to do with it?

-Well, I think we've got to go with it.

-What?

-Yeah, just go with it.

-Yes?

-Well...

-Yes.

-Go low.

Lot 138, we have the mid-19th-century

bohemian blue cut-glass decanter.

Where may I say for this one?

Start me at 50.

-They've all gone quiet.

-It's a lovely decanter.

-It does look very pretty, doesn't it?

-And...

30 to start.

What did you spend on this, JP?

-Too much.

-No, what?

£100.

22. 25.

28. 30 bid.

30 in the room. Commissions are out.

It's 30. Standing at 30.

Any advance? 32.

New bidder in the gallery. 35.

38. 40 bid.

40 and selling.

40. So, minus 60.

Yep, that's very good.

Right, Blues, £131 lost but not a word to the Reds.

-Our lips are sealed.

-It could be a winning score.

It could be, it could be.

Has there ever been a closer competition?

It's been absolutely thrilling.

It's a nail-biter.

It's only a nail-biter cos you have both lost so much money,

it's almost unbelievable.

Losses to the left of me, losses to the right.

Here I am, stuck in the middle of you lot.

Oh, what can you do?

I mean, we don't have losers, though, of course.

Now, the runners-up this time are indeed the...

-..Blue team.

-Oh!

Yes!

We're the best team.

They can't believe it, can they?

They were dreadful!

But they weren't quite as bad as you.

But never mind.

I don't know what you lot are looking smug about, frankly -

loss, loss, but your saving grace, you made £1 on your ink well.

One whole pound! In this pocket I have no money,

and in this pocket I have no money.

Have a look at the golden gavel

because you're only collectively about £250 from it.

But never mind. Have you had fun?

-We've had such fun.

-Yes.

-Good.

-Have you had fun?

-It's been amazing, yeah.

-Yes.

Well, it's been great fun losing so much money with you.

Couldn't have lost money with a nicer bunch of people.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Anyway, don't forget to have a look at our website

and indeed to follow us on Twitter.

In the meantime, join us for more Bargain Hunting.

-Yes? ALL:

-Yes!