Irita Marriott: The Beloved Antiques Expert Redefining Treasure Hunting on BBC
Irita Marriott: When you tune into BBC One’s Bargain Hunt or Antiques Road Trip, it’s hard to miss the infectious energy and sharp eye of Irita Marriott. With her warm smile and encyclopedic knowledge of decorative arts, she has quickly become a household name among antiques enthusiasts. But what you see on screen—the cheerful haggling and the thrill of the auction—is only a fraction of the story. Behind the television persona is a powerhouse businesswoman, a devoted mother of two, and the founder of one of the UK’s few female-led auction houses.
Irita Marriott is not just a familiar face navigating classic cars through the British countryside; she is a testament to the idea that reinvention is possible at any age. Her journey from a tough childhood in Latvia to the glitz of BBC studios is paved with grit, determination, and an unshakeable passion for uniting people with beautiful objects. In an industry often perceived as a “man’s world,” she has carved out a space that is uniquely her own, all while juggling the demands of motherhood and a grueling filming schedule.
Today, she operates Irita Marriott Auctioneers in the picturesque town of Melbourne, Derbyshire, and continues to captivate audiences with her expertise. Whether she is valuing a Georgian jewelry piece or offering a gentle ear to a seller parting with sentimental items, she brings a human touch to the world of antiques that is as refreshing as it is rare. Let’s dive deep into the life, career, and philosophy of the woman who proves that every object—and every person—has a story worth telling.
From Latvian Roots to British Shores: The Early Life of Irita Marriott
To understand the resilience of Irita Marriott, one must look at her origins. Born in March 1984 in Latvia, her early years were shaped by the final, tense days of the Soviet Union’s grip on the Baltic states. She has openly described her childhood as “tough,” recalling a period of significant hardship. In a poignant interview with the Derbyshire Times, she shared a memory from when she was just four years old, listening to the radio and hearing that Germans were entering the country. She packed a handkerchief with her few belongings, tied it to a stick, and told her mother she was ready to flee. It is a haunting image that speaks to a childhood marked by instability and scarcity.
The financial struggles were real and raw. For a period, her bed was made from pallets salvaged from a bin, and her clothes came from charity shops. She remembers walking along riverbanks in the morning, hoping to find leftover food from barbecues or parties to eat. Yet, Irita Marriott refuses to view these memories with self-pity. Instead, she credits this period for forging the steel in her spine. “Everything that I’ve been through has made me stronger,” she reflected, “I don’t think I would be where I am if it wasn’t for the way I grew up”. Amidst the hardship, there was escape. She and her mother would watch ballroom dancing on television, a glittering distraction from the grey realities of daily life. A young Irita would twirl around the house, dreaming of being the girl in the feather-bottomed gown, feeling weightless and free. It’s a dream she still holds onto today.
At the age of 18, seeking opportunity and a new horizon, Irita Marriott moved to America to work as an au pair. This experience exposed her to a different world and gave her the confidence to make another leap. After a couple of years, she crossed the Atlantic once more, this time landing in England. Her first job in the UK was far from the glitz of television: she worked at a garden centre in Yorkshire. Ever the hustler, she quickly climbed the ranks from temporary staff to buyer and retail manager. Her old boss famously remarked that she “could sell snow to Eskimos,” a nod to her innate charm and persuasive abilities. Little did anyone know that this skill would one day translate perfectly to the auction rostrum.
The Accidental Auctioneer: Irita Marriott’s Entry into Antiques
The path to becoming an antiques expert for Irita Marriott was not a straight line through prestigious galleries. It began, as many great stories do, at a car boot sale. While working at the garden centre, she started putting boxes of items out at local sales, watching closely to see what the dealers were picking up. She treated it as a live market research project, figuring out which items were in trend and what people actually wanted to buy. With a small amount of capital, she would buy job lots at auctions for £30 or £40, breaking them down to sell piece by piece and turning a profit.
Her formal entry into the industry saw her working as a cataloguer and valuer at a leading auction house in Derbyshire. It was here that she honed her skills, learning to differentiate between a mere trinket and a hidden treasure. However, it was her determination that set her apart. Irita Marriott was obsessed with learning. She watched Antiques Road Trip not just for entertainment, but as a study guide. At the time, she was a small-time dealer at fairs, but she had a grand vision. Realizing that most experts on the show were “headhunted,” she knew she couldn’t wait to be found. She had to go out and find the opportunity herself.
In a move that perfectly encapsulates her boldness, she picked up the phone and called a producer of Antiques Road Trip. She asked them directly what she needed to do to get a job. This cold call led to six months of sending in home videos, undergoing interviews, and screen tests. Her persistence paid off. In 2021, Irita Marriott made her debut as an expert on the show. Interestingly, this wasn’t her first interaction with the franchise; in her early dealing days, she had actually appeared on Bargain Hunt as a seller. To return years later as the expert in the very same arena was a full-circle moment that validated every risk she had taken.
Balancing the Gavel and the Cradle: Family Life
Away from the cameras, Irita Marriott is simply “Mum” to two young boys, aged seven and nine. She is notoriously private about her husband, choosing to keep his identity and their relationship out of the public eye to maintain a sense of normalcy for their children. However, she is refreshingly open about the challenges of balancing her high-octane career with the demands of motherhood.
“It’s a fine balance – being a working mum is the hardest job in the world, then you have mum guilt on top of that,” she confessed to the Derbyshire Times. Her days are a masterclass in time management. When she isn’t required to be on location early, she does the school run, works a full day, rushes home for dinner and homework, and then, once the boys are asleep, she returns to work. It is an exhausting schedule, with days stretching to 18 hours, but she navigates it with grace.
Rather than keeping her two worlds separate, Irita Marriott actively integrates her sons into her passion. She often takes them along to antiques fairs, turning a business necessity into a family bonding activity. “Hunting for antiques with my two boys in tow,” she describes as one of her leisure activities. She loves watching their excitement as they discover things and learn the stories behind them, hoping to pass on the “bug” for history and objects to the next generation. It is a beautiful example of how she builds “memories” while also building her business.
Life on the Road: The Reality Behind the TV Glamour
Viewers watch Irita Marriott zip around the countryside in vintage cars, visiting quaint shops and charming towns. It looks like the ultimate dream job. And while she agrees that it is, she is also candid about the toll it takes. “Life on the road has two sides,” she explains. “One of excitement seeing new people and places, having adventures, and one of simply being away from home, missing my loved ones, and lots of commuting”.
The reality involves long stretches away from her family, early mornings, and the pressure of performing on camera. Yet, her perspective remains enviably positive. She chooses to view the entire experience as an opportunity to build a reservoir of memories. Whether she is doing a “good luck ritual” dance with fellow expert Danny Sebastian before entering an auction room or engaging in friendly banter with the likes of Ishy Khan, she embraces the joy of the moment.
Her competitive spirit, however, is never far from the surface. Perhaps this is fueled by one of her most surprising pastimes. Before her antique career took off, in her early twenties, Irita Marriott participated in drag racing on closed-down airports in Latvia. She would race in the pitch black, not knowing where the runway ended. “It was a thrill,” she admitted to the Express, while also cautioning, “I wouldn’t suggest anybody else doing it because it is dangerous, crazy, and stupid”. This revelation of a wilder, younger self adds a layer of depth to the composed expert we see on Antiques Road Trip.
Irita Marriott Auctioneers: A Female-Led Success Story
In 2023, Irita Marriott took the biggest professional gamble of her life. She launched her own business, Irita Marriott Auctioneers, in Melbourne, Derbyshire. This move was significant not just for her career, but for the industry at large. Out of over 3,000 auction houses in England, only a handful are run by women. By hanging up her own shingle, she positioned herself as a pioneer, determined to make the industry more accessible and modern.
“I want to continue to unite people with beautiful objects but make it easy for them to do so by buying online,” she states as her business motto. Recognizing the shift in how people shop, she built a platform that combines the traditional thrill of an auction with the convenience of digital accessibility. Her first auction took place in January 2024, and it didn’t take long for her new venture to make headlines. In only her second auction, a Roman cameo ring estimated at £200 to £300 smashed expectations, selling for an incredible £19,000.
Standing on the rostrum with a room full of people and cameras pointed at her, she admits the nerves were overwhelming. “There were times I had to move my microphone because all they could hear was my heartbeat!” Today, the business is thriving, even serving as the backdrop for her new TV show, The Derbyshire Auction House. It stands as a testament to her belief that if you build something with passion and integrity, the profits will follow.
More Than an Expert: The Therapist with a Gavel
If you ask Irita Marriott what sets her apart from other antiques specialists, she will likely tell you it’s the empathy. In a profession that deals with objects, she insists that the real focus should be on the people attached to them. “We are therapists as well as auctioneers,” she asserts. Every day, people walk through her doors who are vulnerable. They may have lost a spouse and are now faced with the daunting task of clearing a lifetime of shared memories. They may be facing financial hardship and have to part with a treasured heirloom.
In these moments, Irita Marriott understands that her role transcends valuation. It’s about reassurance and respect. She recounts stories of clients who are terrified that their mother’s cherished items will be sold for a pittance to a stranger. She spends hours on the phone, building trust and explaining the process, ensuring them that these items are desirable and will go to someone who will love them again.
“You always have to be gentle… It’s not just selling somebody’s items; it’s the journey that you go on with the customers,” she explains.
This philosophy extends to her advice for novice collectors. Irita Marriott advocates for buying with your heart, not just your head. Market trends fluctuate wildly. She points out that 30 years ago, everyone wanted Toby jugs, paying hundreds of pounds for them. Now, they are often worth just a pound. Her advice? “Buy something you love, then it doesn’t really matter what it costs you or what it might be worth in the future”. If you love it, its value to you is intrinsic and enduring.
The Changing World of Antiques: Trends and Insights
With over a decade of experience, Irita Marriott has a front-row seat to the shifting tastes of collectors. She notes that the antiques market is cyclical, but some items hold a timeless appeal. Currently, there is a significant surge in specific categories. Men’s vintage watches are enjoying a boom, and the coin market is incredibly strong. When it comes to jewelry, Georgian pieces are the most sought-after. “It was particularly well-made, handcrafted, and exquisite,” she notes, highlighting the enduring demand for quality craftsmanship from that era.
The global nature of the market also fascinates her. While British tastes may have moved on from certain styles of furniture, there is still a robust international demand. Classic Victorian pieces, such as twist leg furniture and drop-leaf tables, are still being bought by American and Korean customers, even if they don’t command the high prices they once did in the UK. This global perspective is crucial for any seller looking to maximize returns.
Irita Marriott is also a passionate advocate for the “green” aspect of the antiques trade. In an age of fast fashion and disposable consumerism, she sees her industry as the original form of recycling. “This is the greenest industry we could be in because we’re upcycling – we’re constantly finding new homes for things that people don’t want”. By rescuing items from landfills and giving them a new owner who will cherish them, the antiques trade is inherently sustainable. It’s a message she hopes will resonate with the younger generation, whom she desperately wants to attract to the profession to address the nationwide shortage of antique valuers.
Snapshot of Irita Marriott
To summarize the life and career of this fascinating personality, here is a quick reference table detailing key aspects of her public and private life.
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Irita Marriott |
| Date of Birth | March 1984 |
| Age (2025) | 41 years old |
| Nationality | British (born in Latvia) |
| Occupation | TV Presenter, Antiques Expert, Auctioneer, Business Owner |
| Known For | Antiques Road Trip, Bargain Hunt, The Derbyshire Auction House |
| Business | Founder of Irita Marriott Auctioneers (est. 2023) |
| Family | Married, two sons |
| Estimated Net Worth | £1 million – £1.5 million |
| Social Media | @iritamarriottantiques (Instagram) |
The Derbyshire Auction House and Future Dreams
Irita Marriott is currently enjoying the spotlight with the second series of her own show, The Derbyshire Auction House, which airs on the REALLY channel. The show differs from Antiques Road Trip by focusing more on the narrative of the sellers and the emotional clearance process. It highlights the “real people” with “real feelings” that she encounters daily, showcasing the moments of joy, sadness, and surprise that happen when treasures go under the hammer.
Looking ahead, while she has her feet firmly planted in the auction world, she isn’t afraid to dream. She has previously mentioned a desire to appear on Strictly Come Dancing. Although she laughs it off as a “far-fetched dream,” the reasoning behind it is deeply touching. It goes back to that little girl in Latvia, twirling in front of the TV to escape the hardness of life. To dance in a feather-bottomed gown would be to fulfill a promise she made to herself decades ago.
However, her ambitions are grounded in legacy and happiness. She wants to continue building Irita Marriott Auctioneers into a place where employees are happy, customers are satisfied, and her children can be proud of what she has built. From a childhood of scarcity to a life filled with priceless memories, she has already achieved something far greater than any auction profit could measure.
Conclusion
The story of Irita Marriott is a compelling narrative of resilience, reinvention, and genuine passion. She has navigated the tricky waters of a traditional industry, broken through its glass ceilings, and done so while remaining a devoted mother and a compassionate human being. From the car boot sales to the BBC studios, from pallet beds to the auction rostrum, her journey inspires us to look at the objects around us—and the people behind them—with a little more heart. As she continues to hunt for treasures and build her empire, one thing is certain: Irita Marriott is not just finding valuable antiques; she is creating a truly priceless legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions about Irita Marriott
Q1: Who is Irita Marriott?
Irita Marriott is a British antiques expert and television personality, best known for her roles on BBC programs such as Antiques Road Trip and Bargain Hunt. She is also the owner and founder of Irita Marriott Auctioneers, a female-led auction house based in Melbourne, Derbyshire.
Q2: Where was Irita Marriott born?
She was born in Latvia in March 1984. She moved to the United States as a young adult to work as an au pair before relocating to the United Kingdom, where she began her career in antiques.
Q3: Is Irita Marriott married? Does she have children?
Yes, Irita Marriott is married, although she keeps her husband’s identity private to protect their family life. She is a mother to two sons, aged seven and nine, and often shares stories about balancing her career with motherhood.
Q4: What is Irita Marriott Auctioneers?
Irita Marriott Auctioneers is her own auction house and valuation business, which she launched in June 2023. It is located in Melbourne, Derbyshire, and is notable for being one of the few auction houses in the UK run by a woman. The business focuses on uniting people with beautiful objects through online and physical auctions.
Q5: What TV shows has Irita Marriott appeared on?
She is a regular expert on Antiques Road Trip and Bargain Hunt. She also stars in her own series, The Derbyshire Auction House, which airs on the REALLY channel. Additionally, she has appeared on Celebrity Antiques Road Trip and Antiques Roadshow.
Q6: Did Irita Marriott have a different career before antiques?
Before becoming an antiques expert, she worked in a garden centre in Yorkshire, where she became a buyer and retail manager. In her early twenties, before moving fully into antiques, she also participated in amateur drag racing in Latvia.
Q7: What is Irita Marriott’s net worth?
According to various online sources, her estimated net worth is between £1 million and £1.5 million. This wealth has been accumulated through her television career, her antiques dealing, and her ownership of Irita Marriott Auctioneers.
Q8: What is Irita Marriott’s advice for buying antiques?
Her primary advice is to “buy something you love.” She suggests that personal enjoyment should be the main driver, as market trends are always changing. For example, while Georgian jewelry and men’s watches are currently popular, items like Toby jugs have significantly dropped in value.
Q9: What does Irita Marriott consider the hardest part of her job?
She cites the emotional aspect as both a challenge and a crucial part of her role. She often acts as a “therapist” for clients who are selling items with deep sentimental value, such as the belongings of deceased loved ones. Balancing this empathy with the business of auctioneering is a delicate task.