Bargain Hunt fans fume over ‘scandalous’ rule break as antique banned from show rakes in eye-watering profit

BARGAIN Hunt fans fumed over a 'scandalous' rule break after an antique banned from the show raked in an eye-watering profit.

A recent episode took place at Exeter's Westpoint Arena and saw Natasha Raskin Sharp preside over the red and blue teams.

Natasha set them both a challenge to find an item which meant a certain criteria.

The red team, consisting of friends Lisa and Helen, had to get an agricultural lot.

Meanwhile the blue team - mother and son Ann and James - had to find a maritime item.

The red team were joined by expert Philip Serrell and they picked up a mole spade for £18, and thought they had fulfilled the brief.

However, David Sumner the auctioneer at Ottery Auction Rooms in Ottery St Mary, had some bad news for Natasha, and subsequently, the red team.

He revealed he had spoken to a number of other experts and concluded it was a bread peel from the 19th Century.

Natasha told viewers the Bargain Hunt team had also inspected it and reached the same conclusion that it was not an agricultural item after all, and it was therefore disqualified.

She then informed the red team and Philip of the decision, with the expert saying it was the "wrong" call.

To add extra salt to their wound, the item then went up for auction and made an impressive £50.

It would have given the reds a £32 profit, which is a big deal in Bargain Hunt world.

Viewers were raging at the decision, with one writing on Twitter: "Absolute Scandal."

Another added: "The way they made them stand there and watch it make a profit. A villain origin story unfolds."

After their other items went to auction, the reds ended up on a £55 loss.

But in a further twist, and despite having an extra item after the disqualification, the blue team ended up with a £63 loss, meaning the reds won.

Bargain Hunt airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.