He was talking to women both called Joan when he offered advice to two women both called Joan, who were showing him a set of Chinese metal figurines.
The women used to use them as name place holdings at dinner parties after they were bought from Hong Kong in the 1940s.
Antiques Road Trip star Mark described them as “fun decorations” as he quizzed them: “What do you think they’re worth?”
“I like to think they’re worth one or two hundred pounds, I like to think but they probably won’t be. They’re so lovely,” the first Joan answered.
The antiques dealer took in a sharp intake of breath to suggest that the little figures would not be worth as much as she estimated.
He responded: “I know, you’re quite right.” However, he warned them: “I’m going to be a little bit meaner than that but only a little bit because I think we’ve got to encourage the bidding to go on.
“So I’m going to fall back on an old auctioneer’s cliche estimate, which is 80 to 120 and fixing the reserve at £80 because I think that will give them a chance, because at that sort of price you might find somebody might bid a bit too enthusiastically and we might get 120, 140 or something?”
The valuations specialist added: “Would you be happy with that? And then hopefully we can find a new home for them.”
He went so far as to suggest that he had his eye on them, telling the women: “I’d love to put my name on them but I can’t unfortunately because I’m not allowed to buy them but I look forward to seeing you both at the auction.”
The narrator was heard telling viewers: “Well as they say, sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind and with that valuation, I hope we’ll lure in the bidders for such charming pieces.”
This evening’s episode of Flog It! was a repeat instalment and saw the BBC programme going to Lulworth Castle in Dorset.
Both Mark and fellow antiques expert David Fletcher were finding the best antiques to take to auction at the grand venue.
Meanwhile, presenter Paul Martin shone a spotlight on the work of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and their volunteers as well as the dangerous job they have to do.
Flog It! continues on BBC One on Monday at 4.15pm.
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