Bargain hunting ‘scandal’ as household item reaps big profits but gets disqualified | TV and radio Show and television

Bargain Hunt viewers were left in shock as they branded an episode of the BBC One show ‘outrageous’ after a controversial article was disqualified. The episode, which aired in March 2023, saw two teams take on the Westpoint Arena in Exeter.

The show’s host, Natasha Raskin Sharp, introduced the red and blue teams, each tasked with finding an item that meets specific criteria. The blue team, made up of mother-son duo Ann and James, were in search of a marine object, while friends Lisa and Helen, who made up the red team, were tasked with finding an agricultural item.

The blue team splashed £70 on a transport ship menu holder. Meanwhile, the red team discovered a mole shovel, which cost them just £18.

The red team, along with their expert Phillip Serrell, were under the impression that the shovel was designed to dig up moles, fitting perfectly into their chosen category. However, they took a hit at the auction house.

At the Ottery auction in Ottery St Mary, David Sumner inspected the shovel and declared it to be a 19th century bread peeler, used to remove breadcrumbs from the oven. David came to this conclusion after consulting other experts, who agreed that it was not a mole shovel, therefore not an agricultural item, reports OK!.

Natasha revealed that the Bargain Hunt team had also examined the shovel and agreed with David’s assessment. This led to Natasha informing the red team that she had decided to disqualify the item.

Bargain Hunt fans were left stunned when the red team item was disqualified, despite antiques expert Phillip expressing his belief that the verdict was “wrong”. When his shovel hit the auction floor, it fetched a selling price of £50, making a £32 profit for the relegated team’s shock.

The show’s decision to overturn the red team’s findings led to a number of controversial reactions from viewers, who expressed their views fervently across social media platforms.

One disgusted viewer commented to X: “An absolute scandal. The way they got them to stand there and see how to make a profit. A wicked origin story unfolds.”

Meanwhile, another merely remarked: “The disqualified shovel makes a profit.”

Despite the windfall from the disqualified item, it couldn’t prevent Lisa and Helen ending up with a £55 deficit. In a twist of fate, the Blues fared worse, finishing with a loss of 63 pounds.