Builth 8 Bargain Hunt

Bargain Hunt is back in Wales

and my first stop is this church,

where these medieval paintings were uncovered after 500 years.

MUSIC: Beethoven's Fifth Symphony

And here we have depicted some of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Like lust, gluttony and greed.

Well, let's hope that neither of our teams

fall victim to any of those today.

I'll be coming back here later on.

But in the meantime, let's go Bargain Hunting!

Today, Bargain Hunt is at the Builth Wells Showground,

where, over the years, it's been given the Royal stamp of approval.

They came to see prize-winning animals.

But today, it's antiques that are on show.

I think these are about the only Royals we'll be seeing today,

but we do have two cracking teams,

who each have £300 and one hour in which to buy three items

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

Let's check out what's coming up.

Phil is all-demanding.

You've got to buy one thing in the next nine minutes.

And it's got to be a good thing.

-OK.

-No pressure.

The Blues flex their muscles.

Careful. It's got a good weight, hasn't it?

Yes, it's heavier than I thought it would be.

And at the auction, they get into the groove...

Yes, come on, come on!

..while the Reds smell victory.

This is one of the great Bargain Hunt moments.

Do you want a chair?

But that's all for later.

Now, let's meet today's teams.

And for the Red team we have friends Christie and Angharad,

and for the Blues we have stepbrothers Nathan and Ryan.

-Hello, everyone. ALL:

-Hello.

Oh, lovely to see you here.

My word, what a tan!

-Thank you.

-Where did you get that - Costa Rica?

-Unfortunately not.

-No?

-Portugal.

-Portugal?

-Yeah.

-It's wonderful.

Did one of you go without the other?

Yeah, she didn't take me.

That doesn't sound very fair, does it?

No, I'm sorry!

-Whereabouts do you live?

-We are from Carmarthen in West Wales.

Now, Christie, what about work? What do you do for a living?

Well, we're both careers advisers.

-Careers advisers?

-Careers advisers, yes.

-We're both based in school.

-Yeah?

Is it difficult to fire up young people with enthusiasm?

-Some more than others.

-THEY LAUGH

On the whole, they're very good and they want to succeed, so, yeah.

So, when you are not working, what do you like doing?

We both really enjoy running.

-Do you?

-Yes, we do a lot of running in our spare time.

Angharad, do you really enjoy this running lark?

Yes. Yeah, yeah.

-We only started last year.

-Did you?

Yeah, we took part in a TV programme.

The international rugby player Gareth Thomas

trained us from couch to running the half marathon in 12 weeks.

How exciting is that?

What about antiques?

-We love antiques.

-You do?

-Any knowledge?

-Erm... Limited knowledge, I would say.

Angharad likes her jewellery.

And I've collected sort of antique plates and things like that.

What about tactics? Are you going to agree?

-Well...

-No, is the simple answer to that, I think!

Maybe. We're going to have our own little competition going on.

-Are you?

-Yeah. So we want...

Obviously we're going to beat the Blues.

Steady, boys! Well, all the best. Good luck with it.

-Thank you.

-I'm sure you'll get on really well.

Don't fall out while you're shopping.

-Very important.

-We'll try.

-Now we have stepbrothers Nathan and Ryan.

So where do you come from, Nathan?

I come from Porth which a small town within the Rhondda Valleys.

Yeah. And you, Ryan?

I'm from Bridgend. I used to live in the Rhondda with Nathan,

but I recently moved out.

Yeah. Good rugby-playing area, isn't it?

Definitely, yes. Yeah, produced a lot of Welsh internationals.

-So, yeah.

-Now, boxing - you're both keen on boxing, aren't you?

-Yes.

-We are massive fans of boxing.

-Tell me about boxing.

We got into it about ten years ago.

We've gone to lots of UK events and even worldwide events.

Is it expensive to go to a boxing fight?

-It can be.

-Can it?

Yes. Especially in Vegas.

Vegas? Oh, my goodness, that's a long way to go.

It can be very expensive, very, very expensive.

What happens if you go to Vegas

and there's a knockout in the first minute?

-Don't you feel a bit cheated?

-Well, luckily that hasn't happened yet.

Now, what about antiques? You collect things, don't you?

Yeah, so I collect pub memorabilia.

-Oh, do you?

-Yeah, ranging from mirrors to beer mats.

-Fantastic. And what about you, Nathan?

-Yeah, sports memorabilia.

I collect... Boxing, specifically.

Are we going to be sticking to pub memorabilia

and signed sport memorabilia

or are we going to be looking at other things?

I think Ryan's more safe, he'll probably be looking for familiar,

but I like to take a bit of risk,

spend a bit more money and see what we can find.

Something unusual, something interesting.

Well, have a great time, enjoy it.

What are you going to need, teams?

-BOTH:

-Money!

How very demure!

"May I?!" Well, I've got £300 for each of you.

-There we go. 300 for you.

-Thank you.

-300 for you.

-Thank you.

-Good luck. Have a great shop with your experts.

Running against boxing.

But who will deliver the knockout blow?

Boxers come with an entourage.

Our teams come with an expert.

He'll be the Reds' best friend - it's Phil Serrell.

And stepping up for the Blues, it's Thomas Plant.

Ryan, what are we looking for?

I'm going to be looking for pub memorabilia

-and also some sporting goods, if we can get it.

-Superb.

I like things that are quite unusual, pretty.

-Something to do with the dogs would be quite nice.

-Dogs?

-Dogs, yes.

-Silver?

-Silver maybe.

Time's pressing on, teams.

Your 60 minutes start now.

I'd like to spend all of our money.

-Yes?

-No, no, I'm going to save it.

-Right. Bit of conflict here, then!

Sport, pubs and dogs. Well, let's go!

So the ladies in Red are already disagreeing,

while our Blues brothers are in perfect harmony.

And they've spotted something sporty straightaway.

Sporting memorabilia. It's not memorabilia, it's a real thing,

-a curling stone.

-Yeah, what sort of age are we looking at there?

Let's have a look. It might have a date on it.

No, it doesn't. It's quite heavy.

Wow, there's a weight on that.

I reckon that's what, maybe 15, 20 kilos?

-Have a feel of that, mate.

-Careful. It's a good weight, isn't it?

It's heavier than I thought it would be.

These come from a very northern part of Scotland and this was a game

played on the lakes, on the lochs.

Curling stones make a rumbling sound when they travel across the ice,

giving the sport its nickname - the roaring game.

It's a fabulous thing, great sport.

Well, I think it's £95, which is rather a lot of money.

-I quite like it.

-I like it as well.

-That's a possible, I think.

-It's a possibility.

Shall we find out how...?

I think we could send Nathan in, if you're happy, Nath?

Yeah, go on, yeah. Would you be happy paying £70 perhaps for that?

A bit less.

-Yeah, would you be happy...?

-I'd go for 60.

-Yeah?

Start there and see where it goes.

-That's a nice number.

-Off you go.

-Do I have to take it with me?

-No!

While Nathan jogs off to fetch the dealer,

the Reds are talking about having a lie down.

It's called a go-to-bed.

And what you do, you undo the top and there's matches in there.

There's a bit of sandpaper on the bottom

and you strike the match on the bottom

and then you stick it in the top and then you hold it upstairs

as you go to bed and it's called a go-to-bed.

Impressive knowledge, Phil.

The Blues, though, want the curling stone and, as boxing fans,

they should enjoy this bout of haggling with the dealer.

-We're thinking more around the 50 mark.

-50 mark. My gosh.

75 and we've got a deal.

-I'll go 55.

-No, I think we've got to go a bit more.

-You're doing well.

-You're doing well but £70...

-There's little profits in these things.

-Can we say 60?

65.

Go on, then, great.

And that, we know, is better than it was going to be so well done, you.

Well done, you! Happy with that, Ryan?

-Yes, very happy.

-Cheers, John.

-Thank you very much.

-Top effort.

First item down, let's go and find the next one.

Thank you very much.

So Nathan lands an impressive blow in under five minutes

and gets a £30 discount on the curling stone.

It's lucky you like running, Reds, as you're playing catch-up,

although Phil might have found you a potential purchase.

These are trying to look like...

..Georgian, late-Georgian pole screens.

-How old do you think these are? No great age.

-Not a lot of age, no.

Ten or 20 years old?

-Something like that, yes.

-So these are reproductions of something

that would have been made 150, 160 years ago.

-Right, OK.

-Now, ladies' complexions weren't quite as good

in those days as they are today.

-Really?

-No. So they filled their faces with, like, a wax make-up,

which if they got too close to the fire, their faces melted.

-Right.

-So these screens kept the heat off them.

-To protect them?

-Yeah. If these were the real McCoy...

..ten years ago, a pair of these would have been worth

probably £800-£1200.

Today, a pair of these might be worth 200-400.

-OK.

-Now, these have got no age to them so they're going to be less.

-Do you like them?

-I do like them.

-Why?

-I don't know, there's something unusual about them,

a little bit different. Not what I expected to buy.

Angharad, what about you?

Same. I think they look nice. They're quite appealing.

I think a lot of people would like them.

So what do you think you should be paying for these?

-£50?

-£50.

-Good, sir...

-OK.

-..these ladies like these.

-I've got 100 quid on them, right?

-Yeah.

We're selling them for a good friend. He said, just sell them.

For you, 50 quid today, that's it.

-And that's your best?

-That is the best.

-Absolute best?

-It'll save me taking them home, see.

I think they're going to make between £40 and £80 at auction.

-OK.

-At £50, he's being more than fair to you.

-What do you think?

-I think yeah.

-Yeah?

-Come on, then.

-Shake his hand.

-You're a gentleman.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

-You've been very kind to us, thank you.

Thank you. You both like them. Look at that.

I'm amazed!

Well done, Reds.

It's a unanimous agreement on a pair of screens for £50.

Ten minutes gone, one lot bought,

so how are we going to carve up the rest of it?

Are you going to buy one lot each or are we going to agree?

-I think we're going to go for one each now.

-Yeah, definitely.

What's yours going to be?

Something like a little jewellery box or something like that I think.

-A little jewellery box. What about you?

-I'd like some silver.

Well, you've got plenty of time, ladies. Only ten minutes gone

and it looks like the boys have found a contender for item two.

-You like it, Ryan?

-I don't mind it, yeah.

This company - Fry's Chocolate, from Bristol, Quakers -

were the first people to make the chocolate bar.

Correct, Thomas, and they did that in 1847,

50 years before Cadbury's released their first chocolate bar.

What you have got here is a piece of confectionery history,

advertising history.

It is £78.

-It's from 1910. I like it.

-You're sold on it, aren't you?

-Do you like it?

-Not for me, but if you really, really want it.

-It's not for you?

-If you're really into it.

If you liked it also, I think I could be swayed to buy it,

-but if we're not sure on it, then...

-Oh, dear.

And Thomas was so keen!

Back to the Reds, and Phil is excited as well.

-That is fantastic.

-What is it?

Right... That is the equivalent of antique blotting paper.

It's called a pounce pot so you put pounce in there,

which is a bit like sand,

and when you'd written in glorious copperplate, your letter,

you then sprinkled this all over the paper and it dried off the ink.

And then with what was spare,

this would unscrew some way or other, I hope.

So that plug comes out there

and you'd pour the pounce that you haven't used, back in there.

Very, very rare. Very, very rare...

-..and out of our budget!

-THEY LAUGH

-£240.

-Wow!

That would leave you £10 for two items and a bonus buy.

I suggest you find something else, Reds.

What about pens, gentlemen?

Pens? Writing instruments, are you into writing?

-No.

-Always popular. No, you're not into writing?

No, we're not into writing.

Well, Thomas, that brought another one of your ideas to a full stop.

Now, have the Reds found something

to write home about with these antique card cases?

It's silver wire work, really, isn't it?

-DEALER:

-Filigree, yeah.

-And where would they have come from?

-They were made in Birmingham,

but also made a lot in the Mediterranean area.

Which do you prefer? Angharad, which one do you like best?

-I prefer this one.

-Christie?

-I prefer this one.

-See, I like that one,

but I think that's because that's more of a blokey one.

I also think that's more of an English-looking one,

whereas that's much more Continental in style.

And price, though, at £180 and £130...

There's no way Nick's going to half-price those.

The Reds certainly have expensive tastes.

Now, with less than 30 minutes to go,

could this little number keep the Blues on track?

-Oh, my gosh.

-Reminds me of my first car!

This reminds you of your first car?

-What do you like about this?

-I don't know. It's just quite quirky.

-Stands out.

-It's a bit out there, but it does catch my eye as well.

Are you sure you want to go for something like this?

Yes. I'm not keeping it.

What would, kind of, the resale on that be?

I think resale auction value, about 20 quid.

-£20?

-Might be a little bit more.

£90. I'm not going to stop you from buying it...

-No.

-..if you've really fallen in love with it.

-No, it's fine.

-It's 90 quid!

-£90!

-£90!

-Come on.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, we will leave that one, then.

-I did like it but not for £90.

-90 quid!

So, it's a no to the toy car.

Now it's back to the Reds, who also seem to have stalled.

We started off so well and we've now had over half an hour,

we've still only got one thing bought,

so you've got to buy one thing in the next nine minutes, OK?

-OK.

-We'll do it.

-I'm going to time you.

-OK. No problem.

And it's got to be a good thing!

-OK.

-No pressure.

-No pressure here.

-No.

So, while Phil turns up the heat on the Reds,

the Blues are staying cool.

-What about that picture?

-Oh, that's rather fun, isn't it?

Looks like a sailor's Valentine.

A sailor's Valentine was something which was done by a loved one

of the sailor, to remember them when they're away at sea.

This is a merchant sailor, Merchant Navy,

because we have the ensign for the Merchant Navy there.

"God is on my right," which is great, it says on there.

-And what do you think that would do at auction?

-£40-60, £50-80.

I think it would probably... You'd probably struggle

getting much off this, less than sort of maybe 50 quid.

But I can go and ask. I think it's worth having a go at.

-You can ask, definitely ask.

-I'll go and ask.

If you could ask nicely for us, yeah, thank you.

Fingers crossed, Thomas can charm the dealer.

-Right.

-Smiling faces?

-What can you do?

-£55.

-Picked the right price there, hasn't he?

-Yeah, he won't go as low as 50.

I've tried. 55, it is a risk.

I have just seen something, though.

Do you want to think about this or do you want to sort of...?

Yeah, if we could have a look at the item?

I'm interested in what you found over there.

Yeah, I did, which you might like.

-So we're going to put that down.

-Yeah.

-You seem intrigued by it.

-Stay there.

Stay there. I'll bring it to you.

I can't wait! Meanwhile,

the Reds are hoping for a eureka moment of their own.

I'm sure there must be something here for us.

-Yeah.

-Nothing in the price range, I don't think.

Don't panic! You've still got £250 to play with.

Now, Thomas, surprise us.

-Wow.

-So, this is a tobacco jar.

It's made by Doulton.

Doulton Lambeth.

There's the monkey with his pipe.

One up from Darwin, we are.

-That's it.

-This is the joke this is giving us.

-Yes.

This was made in the late 19th century.

-A bit of humour with it.

-A bit of humour to it.

In good condition as well, isn't it?

-The best thing about it is the price.

-Yeah, yeah.

-24 quid.

-Do you like that?

-Yeah, we definitely like it.

We were looking for something in that area as well.

-Do you want to forget about that?

-Yes.

-Forgotten about that?

-Fully concentrate on this.

-Yeah, I think we like this one better.

All right. Shall I try and get it for 20?

-Yes.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Or anything off that from there?

-Yeah, definitely,

if you can get anything off...

I think there is profit in that all day long.

-Stay there.

-Thank you.

Mr Plant is working hard for you today, boys.

20 quid. Thank you very much.

-Thomas is happy. He's shaken hands.

-I've shaken hands.

I've done it. I thought, 20 quid.

-It's great, isn't it?

-Yeah, we're very happy with that.

-We are, definitely.

-Right. Second item done.

-Number two done.

Let's go.

Well done, Blues. You're close to the finishing line now,

while the Reds are lagging behind

with two items to find and just over 20 minutes left on the clock.

-I quite like the little snuffbox there.

-These here?

-Yeah.

-Which one?

-I like both of those.

-That one and that one?

-Yeah.

-Which is your favourite?

-The smaller one.

-That one?

-Yeah.

-That is French.

Limoges. Priced at £45.

It's probably around...

-..£20-worth.

-Really?

-Oh, right.

-We don't want that, then.

-Well, you don't know what...

The lady might do you a deal, you never know, do you?

-OK. Yeah.

-What's the best you could do that for, my dear?

-Looks to me like it's 20 quid's worth, really.

-£40.

OK. We'll pass on. Thank you very much indeed.

What did the dealer say? £40? That's disappointing.

So, are the Blues having any better luck?

This has really caught my attention.

-But...it's not that old.

-Oh, really?

-All the scuffs, have they been done?

-They've been done.

-That's no good.

-Come on.

-Interesting item, though, wasn't it?

Caught my eye.

Talking of eyes...

Look, staring out at you like demonic eyes.

Really, really funny eyes.

Looks like it's got two different eyes.

They really look really scary.

How much are your pugs, please?

-DEALER:

-140 quid. There is some damage to them, so...

-Oh, OK, right.

-Both damaged, eh?

Yeah, damaged, it's a shame, but they're quite cool.

-Yeah, I do like them.

-Nathan loves a pug as well.

That's frustrating.

And I thought Nathan had found his doggy item there.

Meanwhile, can Phil woo the ladies with some silver?

Do you like that? That is a little Victorian silver dressing table box.

-OK.

-It's got a Birmingham hallmark on it. It's priced at £75.

The lady says you can have it for £45.

I like the flowers on the top, the little engraved flowers.

Is that a name on the top there?

Yeah, it says...Christie...

THEY LAUGH

-Nice try!

-..he lied.

-Mabel.

-Oh, right, OK.

-Yeah?

-It's quite cute. I like it. I think it's more you.

-It is, yes.

Oh, come on, tell me, then, Angharad, why is that you?

Well, it's silver, so it's what I was looking for and it's pretty.

-Small and flowery.

-Yes.

-Just like you.

-Pretty, small and flowery.

Right...

So 45, it's reduced from £75 to 45.

-Yes?

-Yes.

-Yes. Definitely?

-I think so.

-I'm going to buy.

We're up against it, time-wise.

-You go and look that way, I'll go and buy.

-Thank you.

Phew, that's buy number two in the bag with just over 15 minutes left.

Right, we've got to hurry up now.

-Come on. Come on, come on, go, go, go.

-Let's go!

At this rate, it could be a sprint finish for the ladies,

while the boys haven't even broken sweat.

There you are, you see? There is your sporting item.

-Yeah.

-You've got the painted scoreboard on there.

-Yeah.

-Plastic runners, plastic markers,

vintage snooker/billiard scoreboard - £35.

What do you genuinely think, Ryan?

I do like it, yeah. It brings you back to when you used to go down

the snooker club, have a game of snooker with your family.

-Yeah, I really like it.

-I think it's safe for our last option.

35, you've only spent £85.

This is hardly going to break the bank.

-It goes in with your theme, doesn't it?

-It does.

-It does, yeah.

Ryan, do you... Who wants to go and have a chat? Or shall I?

-I think it's Ryan's turn.

-This is all down to you, isn't it?

-OK.

Gentleman's waiting to speak to you.

Hello. Are you coming in to chat to us?

-If that's OK.

-Well, I'm going to pass you over to my associate, Ryan,

who's going to negotiate.

-OK.

-Yes, we like your scoreboard there.

-Yeah.

-What sort of price would you be looking at?

It's 35 on the ticket.

-How does 30 sound?

-Yeah, we're looking closer to 20, really.

Split the difference, 25?

-I think that's quite a good compromise.

-You happy with that?

-Yeah, we'll be happy with that.

-There he is, he's done it.

Get in. I can't believe that.

-Thank you.

-25 quid, I think that's a brilliant buy.

-It is good.

-I think that's absolutely fabulous, well done.

That's our third and final item.

A real pleasure. Thank you very much.

What a couple of champion shoppers, taking it all in their stride.

So, you happy, guys?

-Yeah, we're happy.

-Very happy.

-I'm super-impressed.

-I think it's time for a cup of tea, don't you?

-Definitely.

I thought a sports bar would be more their thing!

Talking of which, the Reds have found something

that's perfect for a pub,

although they've only got ten minutes until last orders.

Come on, then, ladies, what have you got?

What have you got? What HAVE you got?

-BOTH:

-It's a penguin!

-It's a cocktail shaker and it's a penguin.

PHIL MAKES PENGUIN NOISES

This was made yesterday.

Oh... I like it.

-You like it?

-Yeah.

-But would it make us any money?

Do you know what?

-I like it too.

-THEY LAUGH

I think it's really cool.

There are actually three different types of cocktail shaker.

The Boston shaker,

the cobbler shaker and the French shaker,

and during the 1920s, novelty designs

like penguins became popular.

-So what's your favourite cocktail?

-Well, I like espresso martinis.

What a girl!

So, it's £29.

-£29.

-What are you going to get it for?

-20?

-20. We've got to buy it, haven't we?

-I think so.

-Yes.

-I want to.

Right, off you go, tell the dealer you'll have it,

give him 20 quid and think of a Bargain Hunt cocktail.

-Off you go.

-OK.

But hurry up, Reds, because you have just minutes left to do a deal.

-Well, have you bought it?

-We have.

-Really? 20 quid?

-20 quid.

-Top job! We're finished. Three things bought. Home and hosed.

Right, teams, your time is up.

One last question, what is the Bargain Hunt cocktail?

We're not sure yet but we hope it's not going to be Red on the Rocks.

Very good, I like that.

Come on, let's go. That's been absolutely fantastic.

-That's the best way to spend an hour, isn't it?

-Definitely.

Now let's just remind ourselves what the Red team have bought.

Christie and Angharad got £100 off this pair of replica pole screens.

£50 paid.

The silver dressing table box was £45.

And finally, they all fell in love with the penguin cocktail shaker,

which cost them £20.

Christie and Angharad, isn't it a change,

-a pleasant change, to be outside?

-Not really. It's a bit cold.

-Cold!

-Cold, you'd rather be back inside shopping.

-Oh, yes.

-Fantastic.

What's your favourite lot?

For me, personally, the penguin, the penguin cocktail shaker.

Oh, for shaking penguins.

-Yes.

-Will it make the biggest profit, though?

-I don't think so.

-You don't.

No, I think the fire screens will.

You think the fire screens. They're rather nice.

-Yes, very nice.

-Do you agree?

-Yeah, definitely.

-Yeah.

-But your favourite lot is the little box.

-Yes, definitely.

-You like that little box.

-Yes.

-What did it cost, 45?

-Yeah.

-Yeah. Quite a good buy.

-I think so, too.

-Are you going to get a golden gavel?

# Dun, da-da, dun... #

Should I have mentioned that?

Now, you spent £115, so you've got £185 left over.

-We have.

-Let's have it.

-There you go.

Well done. Philip.

-Rossco, thank you.

-How are you possibly going to improve on this?

Charlie, I'm going to go and find something to put the penguin in.

So while Philip goes off to find something to put the penguin in,

I'm going to check out just what the Blue team have bought.

Nathan and Ryan secured the granite curling stone

in under five minutes, for £65.

Thomas persuaded them to purchase the stoneware tobacco pot,

which was £20.

And they finished their shop by spending £25

on the snooker scoreboard.

Well, Nathan and Ryan, you kept with that sporting theme.

Yeah, two items on the sporting theme, so, yeah,

we're quite happy with that, really.

-What's your favourite lot?

-It's got to be the tobacco jar.

-I really like the tobacco jar.

-I like the curling stone.

-You do?

-Yeah, yeah.

Do you think that will make the biggest profit, though?

I think it could be a dark horse, it could go really well.

So £110 spent.

-Yes.

-190 left over.

A dangerously large amount.

Hand it over.

Thomas Plant with £190, anything could happen.

What are you going to do with that, Thomas?

Well, I think there's one theme which has been missed out

and I'm going to make sure that void is filled.

-Great.

-So while Thomas goes off to fill that void,

before we go to the auction,

I'm going off to the Vale of Glamorgan

and to that little church, to check out the medieval murals.

St Cadoc's is a tiny church in the village of Llancarfan,

but it's of huge historical importance thanks to these...

..a unique collection of medieval paintings.

This is sensational.

And seeing this for the first time is truly moving.

This mural tells the story of St George,

a Christian crusader who saved a princess from a dragon.

And these paintings show people falling victim

to the Seven Deadly Sins.

In every case, they're being egged on by the devil.

Unbelievably, these works of art were painted over 500 years ago,

but in 2007, conservator Jane Rutherford

was brought in to uncover them.

You couldn't see anything of the paintings.

They were completely covered over, with over 20 layers of lime wash.

If you look at the far east end of the church

you'll get a flavour of what these walls all looked like.

We worked down through those layers, one layer at a time.

-One layer at a time?

-Yes.

-Using what as an instrument?

Surgical scalpel.

This is one of the many tools Jane uses

as she patiently removes the lime wash to reveal the secrets beneath.

In certain areas, the worst-damaged areas,

a square inch an hour was fast.

It gives you an idea of the scale that we're working on.

Jane and her team have been working at St Cadoc's for a decade,

and what they've uncovered during that time has caused quite a stir.

How important are all these paintings?

They are exceptional. They are internationally important.

This is the most exciting discovery of wall paintings of this kind

in the UK this century.

What an accolade for the artist who painted them.

This painter was something else.

-We don't know who he was.

-No, and of course there is no signature.

Would he have been a professional painter?

Oh, yes. I like to think he's stood over in that corner there

and he's been given this wall as his canvas

and he's looked at how he can fill it.

These paintings were used to teach Christian values

to the illiterate parishioners.

When they looked up to St George, they would see a role model,

an honourable man who spent his life spreading the word of Christianity.

But the sins were a warning about living life on the wild side.

So he's got the drama of these sins painted in the most dramatic way

I think I've ever seen in this country.

And certainly, when you look at the two beasts, George's horse,

and the dragon, and their eye contact,

the electrical charge between those two beasts is second to none.

I haven't found it anywhere else

in any other example illustration I've ever seen.

He's a complete master of theatre.

And it's the artist's depiction of St George and the dragon

that's really excited Jane.

It's got one extra feature

which makes this the exceptional discovery that it is

and that is the figure of the virgin

included in the combat scene.

We haven't yet come up with another example,

so that makes Llancarfan absolutely unique in this imagery.

How many more years' work do you think you have?

I keep discovering things!

Sadly, Jane can't tell us about those finds yet,

as they're top-secret.

So what exactly does it mean to you

to work on such an important discovery?

To be the person who sees these paintings coming out

for the first time in over 500 years,

it's every conservator's dream.

And that dream will go on here

as Jane continues the painstaking work

of unlocking the mystery of these paintings.

But now it's time for the auction

at the saleroom of Rogers, Jones & Co in Cardiff.

And as luck would have it, I'm with the auctioneer and boss, Ben.

-Hello, Ben.

-Hello. Croeso cynnes i Cymru.

Which must mean, "Hello, Charlie, have a nice day."

Not quite. A warm welcome to Wales, Charlie.

A warm welcome to Wales. Well, thank you very much indeed.

Now, Christie and Angharad went shopping with Phil Serrell

and the first item they bought...

And they are quite young, so I was quite surprised that

they bought a pair of pole screens.

-What do you think?

-Made yesterday, probably, but rather nice.

I think they've got a bit of class about them.

-They are pretty good, aren't they? What about a value?

-60-90.

Well, that's good, they paid £50.

I think we're in the black on those.

Oh, goody.

Well, that's good. Second item is a little bit of silver.

What do you think of that?

Perfectly acceptable Victorian silver box.

I think it's rather nice.

Mab's for Mabel, I suppose.

-One assumes.

-What about a value on that?

25-35, Charlie.

Yeah, paid 45.

Perhaps a little bit on the rich side.

If Mab steps into the saleroom, we are in luck, aren't we?

Now, this is quite fun, isn't it?

This is the third item, Christie really liked this cocktail shaker.

-I think it's great fun.

-Do you?

-A penguin cocktail shaker.

-Yeah.

-And cocktails, they're all the rage at the moment, aren't they?

-Are they?

-They are, or so they say.

-Yeah?

-Not on my wages, but...

It's a fun, fun thing.

What about a value? It hasn't really got any great age, has it?

No, it's not got age, but does that matter too much?

-No.

-It's just a novelty item.

Yeah. What about a value?

-30-40.

-Yeah, well, paid 20.

They are looking pretty good, aren't they?

It's a positive start.

Yeah. It may be that they won't need a bonus buy,

but in case they do, let's have a look at it.

Well, Christie and Angharad,

you are probably a little nervous, aren't you?

-A little bit.

-You've given him £185.

He's gone off to find something in which to put your penguin.

Shall we have a look at Philip's penguin home?

I think that's a lovely bit of burr walnut, 19th century.

-It's a decanter box.

-Is it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-And you said how much?

-£40?

-You're mean.

-60?

-60.

-That's quite interesting, isn't it?

-Yeah, because it cost me 50 quid.

-I really like it.

-You really like it.

You really, really like it.

-I really like it. I like the walnut.

-It's ticking your boxes.

It's ticking my boxes. I don't think Angharad will be impressed.

I'm sure she's not, I just saw the face.

Angharad, you're grimacing a little bit.

Yeah, I can't see the use for it.

I know you've already said what it's for, but...

-Necklaces?

-Charlie, I'll see you later on.

Come back, Philip. Well, you don't have to make up your mind now.

Wait until the auction.

Meanwhile, let's see what the auctioneer thinks.

Well, Phil went off shopping

and bought a traditional English antique in walnut

and I think it's a decanter box.

-What do you think of that?

-I think it's OK.

It's neat, it's got a nice outer case, which is in good condition.

Lacking a little bit of character, I think.

There's no name or anything to stand it apart

perhaps except for that campaign-style handle,

-but, yeah, rather nice.

-Value?

-40-60.

£40-60, paid £50, so smack in the middle of your estimate.

-Should be OK.

-So moving on to the Blue team, Nathan and Ryan.

They were with Thomas and they started off

by buying a curling stone.

It's OK, I mean, these are quite popular now.

-Are they?

-With doorstops and that sort of thing.

-Yeah.

-Regrettably there is just a piece missing from here

and a couple of chips around the edge.

Yeah. What about a value? Difficult thing to value, isn't it?

£40-60, we've put on that one.

Yeah, we paid 65, so...

Could be on thin ice!

Let's move on to the Doulton Lambeth tobacco jar.

It's in cracking condition, isn't it?

Yeah, lovely, and there are plenty of collectors out there

for Doulton Lambeth. A good fun thing.

-Yes, rather nice.

-What about a value?

-30-40.

-30-40. Well, only paid £20.

-In with a chance.

-Yeah, well, that's good.

Now, let's move on to the scoreboard.

I think this has got a problem.

-You tell me.

-It's just a bit ordinary, really.

It's not particularly old.

The sliders are plastic.

-Yeah.

-I think they are going to struggle with this one.

-What about a value?

-£10-15.

Well, they only paid 25, so...

We need a break.

They need a break, I think I nearly need a break,

but they might need a bonus buy.

Let's have a look at it.

Nathan and Ryan gave Thomas Plant £190.

So what do you think he's done with it?

Has he bought Phil Serrell?

Philip, are you there?

Oh, come on, boys, what does it look like?

It's a barrel.

It's a barrel.

-Well, Nathan, what do you think of it?

-I really like it.

I think it has a lot of charm.

-Yeah.

-I would certainly have it in my house.

-Would you?

-Yeah, I definitely would. I think it should do well.

Good. Ryan, you're the expert on pub memorabilia.

-Yeah.

-How does this fit in your...?

I'm actually looking for one of these as well.

-Are you?

-Yeah, it's definitely is something I like.

But unfortunately there is one big hole in this.

-It's bottomless.

-Oh, the bottom has fallen out.

You're not going to need it, to have it as a table.

-What sort of age is it?

-About 1920s, I would say, 1930s.

Yeah, it looks it, too.

What about having a stab at the value of it?

-£60-80.

-£60-80.

Yeah, probably round about 50 marker, 40-50.

-Round about 50?

-Yeah.

-Well, Thomas, what did you pay for it?

-£50.

-Nice one.

That's good. Yeah.

Anyway, chaps, you don't have to make up your mind now.

Meanwhile, I wonder if the auctioneer has fallen in love with

Thomas's rather tatty barrel.

-What do you think?

-It's a bottomless barrel.

Not in the best condition.

-What about a value?

-10-20?

Ooh. Isn't that a trifle mean?

-Do you think?

-You don't like it, do you?

Um, well, it's a bottomless barrel!

What are you going to do with a bottomless barrel?

Work on the rostrum.

I tell you why, it's because Thomas paid £50 for it.

£50?!

-Is it full of beer?

-No, no, but if it were,

-it might make nearer the mark.

-It might do.

Ben, you will be doing a cracking job on the rostrum as always.

And I have every faith in you

getting huge money for this bottomless barrel.

I'll try and earn my beer.

Well, I'm not sure he will earn his beer,

but it will be an interesting sale.

300. Five at the door.

400.

I can't work out who is more excited,

you two girls or the old boy in the corner there.

We kick off with the pole screens, which I think are super.

They're not old, but they are in fabulous condition.

The needlework is good, they cost £50, and here they are.

I have to start at £80.

£80, 90.

I had to start there, with the bids on the book.

90 and I am out.

This is sensational, girls.

At 90.

£100 by my side.

Let's say ten. 110, 120.

Do you know, they are making more money than old ones would make.

130.

130, 130.

130. 40. 140.

This is one of the great Bargain Hunt moments.

Do you want a chair?

150, 150, 150.

Everybody done, then?

150, the hammer is up.

-Oh!

-Oh, my gosh.

Girls!

You made £100 profit.

Here comes the little dressing table box.

It cost £45.

£18, 20, 22.

-Five your bid. 25 now.

-Come on!

30 bid, is there 35?

35. Is there 40?

40 bid. Is there five?

45.

45 in the room, against you.

Out online. 50, new bidder.

-You have done it.

-55, 60,

five, 70.

£70 and standing.

Is everybody done? Hammer is up at 70.

£70.

I think we're out in Cardiff tonight, Charlie.

You are up £125.

Oh, my God.

-Do you like penguins?

-I love them.

The penguin cocktail shaker.

I love it. The auctioneer loves it.

And it only cost £20, didn't it?

-Here it comes.

-Start me at £40.

Is there five? At 40.

Is there five? At 45 and I am out.

Before you, online, 45's in the room.

This is sensational.

45, 50.

-This is so emotional.

-Is there 60?

At 55, £60.

65, if you like, sir.

My pen is shaking.

At £60.

Online, the bid, is everybody done?

At 60 now.

Last call.

£60.

Do you know how much profit you have made?

£165.

Hang on, girls, you have got to concentrate on his box now.

He paid 50, you think it's worth 40.

-Yes.

-You think it's worth 60.

-Yeah.

THEY CONFER

You are definitely not going with it.

-No.

-Do you want to know the auctioneer's estimate?

-Yeah.

£40-60.

Start me at 50.

50 I have. At 50 online.

Any advance? Five, 55.

Is there 60? At 55, 60 bid.

70 if you like. £60.

Is there 70? At 60, at 60.

Nice box here at £60.

Five, 65 in the room.

£65!

70. At 70 in the US.

At £70.

Five again, sir.

75 in the UK, here in the saleroom.

At 75.

In the saleroom, then, at 75. Everybody done?

Hammer is up at 75.

You have still made £165.

Don't say a word to the Blues

because you will probably make them cry.

-OK, guys, feeling confident?

-Yes.

-Go and smash it.

You started off with the curling stone and it cost £65.

-Yes.

-Here it comes.

I have to start at £28.

Is there 30? £28, 30, anyone?

Hold on to your hats, we are straight in at £60.

60, 70 in the room. Is there 80 now?

At 70. At 70.

80 now, 90, if you like.

£80, £80, online, the bid.

At £80.

Have we all done? All done then at 80?

Online, the bid.

I think that made more money than it would have done in Scotland.

Here comes your tobacco pot.

-It only cost £20.

-Yes, I think there's profit there.

The auctioneer really likes this. Thinks it will make a profit.

-Here it comes.

-£30 for it.

£30.

Start me at 20.

I have got a lowly bid. I don't want to start there.

Start me at ten.

-I'm amazed.

-Ten bid.

Thank you. £10, better than my bid, £10 is in the room.

At £10. A disappointing bid.

At £10. Is there 15?

At £10. 12, if you like.

At ten, at ten, 12.

15, if you like.

One more? £12. 15, anybody?

At £12.

Everybody done. Hammer is up at 12.

Oh, no, no.

You have lost £8.

You are plus £7.

The snooker board. Well, it only cost £25. And here it comes.

Start me at ten.

Oh, dear.

A fiver?

-Come on.

-It has got to be a fiver, if we're going.

Five bid. At £5.

Any advance?

At five now. At five.

It's a blue ball at five, isn't it?

At five. Is everybody done at five?

Last call at five. Hammer's up.

£5.

You started off with a profit of 15, and then you lost eight,

which meant you were plus seven.

You then lost 20, which makes you -£13.

-It's not bad, is it? -£13.

-Not bad.

And you've got a beer barrel to go.

The beer barrel is the way forward.

-What do you reckon?

-Yes, definitely going to go with it.

Do you want to know the auctioneer's estimate or not? No.

I'm not going to tell Thomas

that the auctioneer's estimate is 10-20.

Oh, sorry.

£40. At £40, is there five?

It must be full of beer. At £40.

Is there five? At 40.

Where is the five now?

At 40.

Any advance? At £40.

Have we all done? At 40. Five.

50. At 50.

Everybody done then at 50?

Well done!

So you are down £13 only.

Anyway, chaps, not a word to the Reds.

As you can hear, teams,

the auctioneer is still banging out profits,

and in some cases losses.

Sometimes, both teams make a profit.

Sometimes, both teams make a loss.

Today, one team has made a smidgen of a loss

and the other team has made a thumping great profit.

And the winners are, without a doubt, the Red team!

Bravo, girls.

Anyway, boys, you didn't do badly.

You only lost £13.

I mean, it was just that snooker board.

-It was Thomas's idea to buy that!

-What?!

-But you have had fun, haven't you?

-Definitely, yes.

Really enjoyed it.

Reds, that was just amazing.

It was extraordinary.

The pole screens cost £50.

-How much did they make?

-150.

150, a £100 profit.

-Your dressing table box cost £45, made 70.

-It did.

Your cocktail shaker, which Philip loved so much, £60.

Are you thinking of taking up antique dealing?

-Definitely.

-I bet you are.

-I think we'd be very good at it.

I think you would be absolutely brilliant at it.

-They are stars.

-They are stars.

£165 profit.

-Can we touch it?

-You may touch it, and you can keep it.

-Thank you.

But of course that is a mere bagatelle

compared with what is going to happen next.

I have TWO golden gavels.

-Take them!

-Thank you.

-Pin them!

Well done, girls. We have all had fun, haven't we?

And not everybody can win.

Good, gallant runners-up. 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!