The instalment of the BBC One favourite that aired on Tuesday (March 10) got viewers talking

Bargain Hunt

Kate Bliss helped the winning team on Bargain Hunt (Image: BBC)

Bargain Hunt viewers all said the same thing as a “rare” piece featured on the BBC show, joking that it actually seemed pretty commonplace. The instalment of the programme that aired on Tuesday (March 10) saw two new teams of bargain hunters go head to head searching for valuable items at an antiques fair, with the red team steered by expert Ben Cooper and Kate Bliss helping the blue team. When it was time to auction off their finds, it was revealed that Kate had selected a piece of Blue John jewellery as her bonus buy.

She explained to the blue team – best friends Alex and Derrick – and host Natasha Raskin Sharp: “It is a little piece of jewellery, and it’s set with a very distinctive purpley, bluey and yellow stone. Well, it’s actually quite a rare form of fluorite, is the gemmological term.” After asking if they knew what it was, she went on: “You might know it if I say it’s called Blue John. And Blue John, in the UK, is only found in Derbyshire. It’s more usually used in jewellery, like this. It’s quite collectible.”

Bargain Hunt

Viewers were amused by the bonus buy (Image: BBC )

However, some some viewers quipped that it wasn’t that unusual to see Blue John on the programme.

One posted on X: “Blue John is rare. That’s why it’s on every episode.”

“Blue John, always described as rare, yet it pops up so often,” another person remarked on the platform, which was formerly Twitter.

“Ding ding ding… Blue John,” said someone else, as another viewer teased: “Here’s the ubiquitous Blue John!!!!”

“Blue John klaxon!” joked one fan, as the item was shown.

Bargain Hunt

Natasha Raskin Sharp hosted Bargain Hunt (Image: BBC )

However, Kate proved to have made the right call for the blue team by selecting the Blue John as her bonus buy.

She paid £15 for the piece but was hoping that it would make somewhere between £25 and £40 when it went under the hammer.

Her prediction turned out to be correct, as when the brooch was auctioned it went for £35, which helped the blue team to beat the reds (sisters Lisa and Christa) and win the episode.