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First to show his wares to Simon Bower and Nigel Havers is Philip, who has come up from Stoke with a stake, some holy water and all the other accoutrements any budding vampire killer would need. It’s an unusual collection, so which of the dealers will bite?

Next through the doors is Ben, with a rare coco de mer seed from a palm tree that only grows on two islands in the Seychelles. They’re one of the biggest seeds in the world – there's a record of one topping the scales at 25 kilos! – but as we know, bigger isn’t always better when it comes to our bidders...

Sticking with our gothic theme are Debbie and Alisha, with a pair of mourning brooches. They were incredibly popular in mid-19th-century Britain due to Queen Victoria's public mourning for Prince Albert. Such pieces have retained an enthusiastic following among collectors, so some strong offers are expected.

Fourth, and looking to trade childhood nostalgia for cold hard cash, is Heather, with a wind-up submarine toy. It hasn’t been underwater since she got it, so a demonstration for the dealers is a risky proposition. Will it sink or swim?

Last in is Paddy from Hartlepool, a town famous for the likely apocryphal tale that during the Napoleonic Wars, they hung a monkey after mistaking it for a French spy. Thankfully, there’s no simian espionage involved in Paddy’s sale today. Instead, he’s brought something both decorative and practical for today’s busy antique dealer - a clockwork spit roast.