BBC Bargain Hunt 'scandal' as household item makes huge profit - but gets disqualified

viewers were left in shock as they branded an episode of the One show 'scandalous' after a controversial disqualification of an item. The episode, which aired in March 2023, saw two teams venture to Exeter's Westpoint Arena.

The show's host, Natasha Raskin Sharp, introduced the red and blue teams, each tasked with finding an item that met specific criteria. The blue team, comprised of mother-son duo Ann and James, were on the hunt for a maritime object, while friends Lisa and Helen, making up the red team, were tasked with finding an agricultural item.

The blue team splashed out a hefty £70 on a menu holder from a shipping liner. Meanwhile, the red team discovered a mole spade, setting them back a mere £18.

The red team, along with their expert Phillip Serrell, were under the impression that the spade was designed for digging out moles, fitting perfectly into their chosen category. However, they were dealt a blow at the auction house.

At Ottery Auction in Ottery St Mary, David Sumner inspected the spade and declared it to be a 19th-century bread peel - used for removing crumbs from the oven. David reached this conclusion after consulting other experts, who agreed it was not a mole spade, thus not an agricultural item, reports .

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

Bargain Hunt aficionados were gobsmacked when the red team's item was disqualified, despite antiques expert Phillip expressing his belief that the verdict was "wrong". When their spade hit the auction floor, it fetched a £50 sale price, turning a £32 profit to the shock of the crestfallen team.

The show's ruling to nullify the red team's findings sparked a flurry of controversial reactions from viewers, who voiced their opinions fervently across social media platforms.

A disgruntled viewer commented on X: "Absolute scandal. The way they made them stand there and watch it make a profit. A villain origin story unfolds."

Meanwhile, another simply remarked: "Disqualified spade makes a profit."

Despite the unexpected profit from the disqualified item could not prevent Lisa and Helen from finishing on a £55 deficit. In a twist of fate, the blues fared worse, concluding with a loss of £63.