Midsomer Norton

Joanna Page travels to the quintessential Somerset town of Midsomer Norton, where the river Somer and a famous connection to TV murder mysteries set the stage for a high-stakes thrifting challenge. London-based couple Polly and Callum are going head-to-head to raise money for their chosen charity, Macmillan, with the help of husband-and-wife experts Pete and Lola.

With £100 and just 60 minutes on the clock, the teams adopt polar-opposite strategies. Polly and Pete stay local, quickly uncovering high-end treasures like a pair of brand new Church’s boots for a bargain price and a vintage Next jacket. Meanwhile, Callum and Lola take a gamble by trekking to the furthest shop in town. Despite some first shop nerves from Callum, they manage to sniff out Joanna's pick of the day – a Manhattan portage bag – and a set of art deco glasses.

The competition intensifies during the upcycling phase. Polly’s £6 pink eiderdown is transformed into a trendy, one-of-a-kind quilted jacket. Callum, spurred on by a bit of spite to outdo Polly, invests half his budget in a Stag Minstrel dressing table. Furniture artist Sarah gives it a modern, showstopping makeover with bold stencilling.

On auction day, the atmosphere is electric. Polly proves to be a natural at salesmanship, even getting Joanna to model her upcycled jacket to drive up bids. Callum struggles with a severe case of the shakes, but once he gains his confidence and starts sharing the history of his finds, the money begins to fly in. With the live auction totals and online sales combined, the final result is a travesty for one but a triumph for the other. In the end, the real winner is the charity, with an impressive amount raised through savvy scouting and creative restoration.