Irita Marriott is a British-based antiques expert, auctioneer, and television personality best known for her appearances on BBC One’s Antiques Road Trip, Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, and Bargain Hunt. Over little more than a decade, she has built a reputation as a knowledgeable valuer, a sharp-eyed dealer, and one of the few women in the UK to launch and run her own auction house.
Born in Latvia and arriving in the UK at just 20 years old with limited English and no formal background in antiques, Irita’s career is defined by resilience, self-education, and determination. Her journey from temporary retail work to founding Irita Marriott Auctioneers and Valuers in 2023 reflects both entrepreneurial ambition and a deep passion for the antiques trade. Today, she is recognised as a new-generation dealer who combines traditional auction expertise with modern media presence.
Who Is Irita Marriott?
Irita Marriott is an antiques dealer, auctioneer, and television expert specialising in decorative antiques and porcelain. She is widely recognised for her work across major UK antiques programmes and for founding a female-led auction house in Derbyshire. Her professional identity is built on practical experience rather than formal academic training, with expertise developed through years of cataloguing, valuing, buying, and selling antiques in both UK and international markets. Beyond television, she operates as a business owner and valuer, serving private clients and the wider auction-going public.
Quick Bio: Irita Marriott
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Irita Marriott |
| Year of Birth | 1984 |
| Place of Birth | Latvia |
| Nationality | Latvian-born, UK-based |
| Profession | Antiques expert, auctioneer, antiques dealer |
| Known For | Antiques Road Trip, Bargain Hunt, auction house founder |
| TV Programmes | Antiques Road Trip, Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, Bargain Hunt, The Greatest Auction, The Derbyshire Auction House |
| Business | Irita Marriott Auctioneers and Valuers |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Children | Two sons |
| Residence | Derbyshire, England |
Early Life and Background in Latvia
Irita Marriott was born in Latvia in 1984 and spent her earliest years living on a self-sufficient country farm with her siblings. Food was grown, foraged, caught, or hunted, and daily life required constant physical and mental effort. Following her parents’ divorce, the family experienced severe financial hardship, at times relying on fishing and scavenging to eat. These early experiences shaped Irita’s work ethic, independence, and resilience. While she has described her childhood as challenging rather than idyllic, she consistently credits these formative years with developing the determination that later defined her career in the antiques industry.
Education, Language, and the Move Abroad
Irita Marriott’s early education in Latvia was unremarkable by her own admission, and she did not initially view academic study as a clear pathway to success. A pivotal moment came when a teacher told her she would “be a no one” without learning English. Rather than discouraging her, the comment became a catalyst for action. Determined to change her circumstances, Irita applied for an au pair position in the United States and, within weeks, travelled to New York with almost no English-language ability.
The experience was a cultural shock. For several months, she relied heavily on dictionaries to communicate, learning English through total immersion. By living and working with an English-speaking family and caring for young children, Irita developed conversational fluency within a short period. This experience not only equipped her with a vital life skill but also strengthened her independence and confidence in unfamiliar environments.
A Change of Plans and the Journey to the UK
After nearly two years in the United States, Irita returned briefly to Latvia intending to continue her life abroad. However, circumstances changed, and she was unable to re-enter the US. With no fixed plan and little money, she made a spontaneous decision that would define her future: travelling to the United Kingdom.
At just 20 years old, Irita arrived in England and began building a new life from scratch. Without formal qualifications or professional connections, she relied on adaptability, communication skills, and a willingness to work hard. These qualities soon proved decisive in shaping her early career.
Starting Over in the UK: From Garden Centre to Buyer
Irita’s first job in the UK was as a temporary Christmas worker in a garden centre. What began as short-term seasonal employment quickly turned into a long-term role. Through strong performance and commercial awareness, she progressed to managing the Christmas department and later became a buyer.
Over the course of several years, Irita gained hands-on experience in stock selection, pricing, merchandising, and consumer behaviour. These skills would later translate directly into her work as an antiques dealer. Although she enjoyed retail management, her life took another unexpected turn after moving to Derbyshire with her husband, setting the stage for her eventual entry into the antiques trade.
The Turning Point: Discovering Antiques
Following redundancy from a retail and wholesale role, Irita found herself at a crossroads. A chance event proved transformational when her mother-in-law purchased a mixed lot of items at auction and asked Irita to sell them to repay the cost. With no prior interest in antiques, Irita immersed herself in research, visiting antiques fairs and studying objects in detail to understand their value.
Within weeks, she became captivated by the process of identifying, researching, and selling historical objects. What began as a practical necessity quickly developed into a passion. This moment marked the beginning of her transition from retail professional to antiques dealer—a shift that would define the next stage of her career.
Entering the Antiques Trade
After discovering a passion for antiques, Irita Marriott began dealing independently, initially selling items at car boot sales and small antiques fairs. These early experiences required long hours, extensive travel, and continuous self-education. She often set off in the early hours of the morning to attend fairs across the UK and Europe, balancing the physical demands of the trade with raising her young children.
This period was critical in broadening her practical knowledge. By handling a wide variety of objects and engaging directly with buyers and collectors, Irita developed an instinctive understanding of quality, authenticity, and market value. Her ability to source desirable pieces soon led to repeat customers and a growing reputation as a reliable dealer.
Auction House Experience and Valuation Career
To deepen her understanding of the antiques industry, Irita secured a part-time role at a Derbyshire-based auction house as a cataloguer and salesroom assistant. Over time, she progressed to valuing and cataloguing a wide range of items, gaining insight into how professional auction houses operate behind the scenes.
During her seven years in the auction environment, she refined her analytical skills, learned formal valuation techniques, and developed expertise across multiple collecting categories, particularly decorative antiques and porcelain. This experience complemented her independent dealing and allowed her to build a loyal international clientele. The combination of auction house discipline and entrepreneurial dealing formed the foundation of her professional authority.
The Move Toward Television
While working at antiques fairs, Irita was occasionally filmed as a seller for Bargain Hunt, which sparked her interest in television. Rather than waiting to be discovered, she took a proactive approach by contacting the production team behind Antiques Road Trip directly to express her interest.
After a lengthy audition process involving screen tests and trial filming, Irita was accepted onto the programme. Her debut as an expert aired in 2021, marking her first official role as a television antiques specialist. Her practical knowledge, direct communication style, and enthusiasm for the trade quickly resonated with audiences.
Expanding Her Media Presence
Following her successful debut on Antiques Road Trip, Irita Marriott became a regular face on British antiques television. She went on to appear on Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, Bargain Hunt, and Channel 4’s The Greatest Auction. Each appearance reinforced her reputation as a credible expert with real-world auction and valuation experience.
Television exposure not only raised her public profile but also strengthened her professional brand. It positioned Irita as a new-generation antiques dealer—one who combines traditional expertise with approachability and modern media engagement.
The Derbyshire Auction House and Business Expansion
In 2023, Irita Marriott reached a major professional milestone with the launch of Irita Marriott Auctioneers and Valuers in Melbourne, Derbyshire. The business positioned her among a small number of women in the UK to own and operate an independent auction house. For Irita, the move was not only a commercial decision but also a strategic one, allowing her to build a long-term enterprise beyond her personal dealing activities.
The auction house was founded with a clear vision: to combine traditional auction practices with a more accessible, modern approach. By drawing on her experience as a valuer, cataloguer, dealer, and television expert, Irita created a business capable of serving private sellers, collectors, and first-time auction users alike. The establishment of her own saleroom also enabled her to create a legacy business that could endure beyond her individual presence.
The Derbyshire Auction House on Television
Irita’s business venture soon became the focus of her own television series, The Derbyshire Auction House, broadcast on Really TV. The programme follows members of the public as they bring items from their homes to be assessed, valued, and auctioned through Irita’s business.
The series further cemented her reputation as an approachable expert and educator. Rather than focusing solely on high-value objects, the programme highlights the stories behind everyday items and the excitement of discovering hidden value. This role aligns closely with Irita’s stated aim of encouraging wider public interest in antiques and demystifying the auction process.
Specialisms and Professional Expertise
As a dealer and auctioneer, Irita Marriott is best known for her expertise in decorative antiques, with a particular passion for porcelain. She regularly sources items from across Europe, combining international buying trips with in-depth market research to ensure quality and authenticity.
Irita describes herself as a “new-generation dealer,” blending traditional knowledge with contemporary commercial awareness. Her professional skill set spans valuation, cataloguing, sourcing, negotiation, and client advisory work. This breadth of experience distinguishes her from purely media-based personalities and underpins her credibility within the antiques trade.
Net Worth and Earnings
Irita Marriott’s income is derived from multiple professional streams, including television appearances, auction house operations, private valuations, and independent antiques dealing. As the owner of an auction house, her earnings are tied to business performance rather than a fixed salary, reflecting both the opportunities and risks inherent in the trade.
While exact figures are not publicly disclosed, her progression from retail management to auction house ownership, combined with sustained television work, indicates steady financial growth. Importantly, her career demonstrates that long-term success in the antiques industry is built on expertise, reputation, and adaptability rather than short-term speculation.
Personal Life, Family, and Privacy
Despite her public profile, Irita Marriott maintains a strong boundary between her professional and private life. She is married and has two sons, whom she has described as a central motivation behind her drive to build a lasting business. Her husband has been a consistent source of support throughout her career, though the family deliberately keeps personal details out of the public domain.
Balancing motherhood with the demands of antiques dealing, auctioneering, and television work has been challenging, particularly during the early years of extensive travel. Nevertheless, Irita has spoken openly about involving her children in her passion, often taking them along on antiques hunts and encouraging their curiosity.
Challenges, Misogyny, and Industry Change
Irita has been candid about the challenges she has faced as a young woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Early in her career, she encountered dismissive attitudes from older dealers who questioned her knowledge, purchasing power, or experience. These experiences reinforced her determination to succeed on her own terms.
Today, she actively encourages younger people and women to enter the antiques trade. Through her visibility on television and her work as an auctioneer, she advocates for a more inclusive, evolving industry that values knowledge and enthusiasm over outdated stereotypes.
Public Image and Influence
Irita Marriott is widely regarded as one of the most recognisable antiques experts on British television. Her direct communication style, humour, and evident passion for antiques have resonated with audiences, helping to make antiques programmes accessible and engaging to a broad demographic.
Her influence extends beyond entertainment. By sharing practical knowledge and highlighting real-world auction experiences, she has contributed to renewed public interest in antiques dealing and valuation, particularly among younger viewers.
Conclusion: Irita Marriott’s Journey and Legacy
Irita Marriott’s journey from a rural childhood in Latvia to auction house owner and television personality in the UK is defined by resilience, adaptability, and sustained hard work. Without formal training or industry connections, she built expertise through experience, self-education, and persistence. Today, she stands as a respected figure in both the antiques trade and British television, representing a modern, inclusive vision of the industry. Her career continues to evolve, but her legacy is already clear: knowledge-driven success built from the ground up.
Frequently Asked Questions About Irita Marriott
Who is Irita Marriott?
Irita Marriott is an antiques expert, auctioneer, and television personality best known for her appearances on Antiques Road Trip and Bargain Hunt.
What TV shows has Irita Marriott appeared on?
She has appeared on Antiques Road Trip, Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, Bargain Hunt, The Greatest Auction, and fronts The Derbyshire Auction House.
Where is Irita Marriott’s auction house located?
Her auction house, Irita Marriott Auctioneers and Valuers, is based in Melbourne, Derbyshire.
What does Irita Marriott specialise in?
She specialises in decorative antiques, with a particular focus on porcelain.
Is Irita Marriott married?
Yes, she is married and has two sons, though she keeps her family life private.
When did Irita Marriott join Antiques Road Trip?
She joined Antiques Road Trip as an expert in 2021.
