A contestant on Bargain Hunt found themselves in dismay as they processed a staggering loss on the show. The beloved BBC One series aired a fresh instalment on Wednesday (12 March), with Christina Trevanion taking the reins in Exeter.

Joining her were antique gurus Richard Madley and Ben Cooper, enlisted to guide the red and blue teams in hunting down items that would fetch a tidy sum at auction.

Misfortune struck Yan and Tracey of the red team when their selections resulted in notable financial setbacks. A dismal performance by a pair of gloves—Richard’s chosen wild card purchase—lost them £12, prompting some consolation from Christina.

“£10, Richard, that’s unlucky! That’s a £12 loss, Richard, on your bonus buy,” she announced. “Minus 92 after your three losses. But, keep positive, it’s not three figures. This is Bargain Hunt, anything could happen!” Christina encouraged.

Despite the blow, Yan and Tracey kept spirits high, managing a chuckle over their sizable deficit, even as Tracey initially cradled her head in shock at the revelation of their loss, reports Devon Live.

Later on, teammates Anna and Simon from the blue team faced their own downturns. Thanks to Ben’s guidance, they eked out a £5 gain on a single item, but suffered a £44 setback on the next.

Clawing back another £5 profit wasn’t enough to prevent ending their run of £39 down.

The day culminated with the two pairs reconvening as Christina laid out the full tally from the bidding battles. Despite being in the red, Anna and Simon left the victors amidst their shared financial woes.

Christina humorously informed the teams: “It’s been wonderful having you all as part of our teams today. Please hold onto that thought, very strongly! Because I don’t think it will surprise any of you to know that nobody today is leaving with any money.”

She praised the red team for being “great sports” despite their unsuccessful auctions, while the victorious blue team celebrated, recognising that their own items had fetched a handsome profit.

Bargain Hunt airs on weekdays on BBC One at 12.15pm