Irita Marriott is a prominent antiques dealer, TV personality, and entrepreneur based in the the UK. With a compelling life journey from rural Latvia to founding her own auction house in Derbyshire she has become a rising star in the antiques world. She regularly appears on BBC’s Antiques Road Trip, Bargain Hunt, Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, and other related shows. Her combination of expertise, authenticity, and entrepreneurial drive has also led her to launch Irita Marriott Auctioneers & Valuers in 2023.
In this profile, we explore her estimated net worth, her age, her personal life (husband, children), and the milestones that mark her career.
Early Life, Background & Move to the UK
- Latvian roots and upbringing
Irita Marriott was born in Latvia, reportedly in March 1984. She grew up in a fairly modest, rural environment, where self-reliance, thrift, and an early awareness of objects and craft may have influenced her later interest in antiques. - Migration to the UK
Around age 20, she moved to the United Kingdom to build a new life Her early employment included work in a garden centre (especially seasonal / Christmas roles), where she rose to departmental responsibilities. Over time, she transitioned into roles in the auction and antiques trade. - First steps into antiques
Irita has spoken about “teaching herself” the trade initially working part-time or in auxiliary roles (cataloguing, valuation) for a Derbyshire auction house. As she built contacts and experience, she began sourcing, dealing, and selling her own antiques gradually scaling up.
By combining hands-on exposure with disciplined sourcing, she gradually built a reputation within the antiques world.
Career Development & Highlights
Over the years, Irita shifted from working for auction houses to becoming a full-time dealer. She specialized in decorative antiques especially European decorative arts, furniture, and collectible objects that appeal to both collectors and interior designers. Her business model emphasizes sourcing (often through travel to Europe), building client relationships, and curating pieces that combine aesthetic appeal and investment potential.
Television appearances & media profile
Irita Marriott’s media exposure has played a pivotal role in raising her profile and driving her business. Key highlights:
- Antiques Road Trip
She joined the cast of Antiques Road Trip (BBC) around 2021, bringing her expertise, approachable style, and passion to a broad audience. Her TV presence allows her to explain the stories behind objects in a down‑to‑earth way that resonates with viewers. - Other show credits
In addition to Antiques Road Trip, Irita appears on Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, Bargain Hunt, and The Greatest Auction (Channel 4) among others. She also features in a spin‑off series, The Derbyshire Auction House, that documents the operations and challenges of her auction house. - “Derbyshire Auction House” and auctioning highlights
In the BBC / Really / Discovery spin‑off, Irita faces the pressures of running a growing saleroom, dealing with consignors, auctions, and public interest. One celebrated episode involved her identifying a spoon forgotten in a cupboard that later sold for £3,300 at auction.
Her television work is symbiotic with her business: media visibility helps attract consignments, buyers, and collaborators, while her trading credibility ensures authenticity in her role on camera.
Founding Irita Marriott Auctioneers & Valuers
A major milestone came in 2023, when she launched her own auction house:
- Registration & launch
She formally registered Irita Marriott Auctioneers and Valuers in June 2023 and opened a physical saleroom in Melbourne, Derbyshire, on 16 September 2023, coinciding with the local arts festival. - Significance & positioning
Her auction house is one of only a few female‐led salesrooms in the UK. Irita has acknowledged the male dominance of the auction world and the challenges that come with launching a new operation in that space. - Operational strategy
The auction house combines traditional saleroom practices with online bidding and valuation services. She positions it as a bridge between general public consignors and serious collectors, offering open valuation days and curated auctions. - Public narrative & media tie‑in
The show The Derbyshire Auction House gives viewers insight into the behind‑the-scenes process of building a saleroom balancing logistics, client relations, marketing, and on‑camera presence.
The founding of her own auction house marks a transition from dealer to entrepreneur and investor in her own enterprise.
Age & Personal Life Husband, Children, Residence
Age & timeline
- Based on publicly available sources, Irita Marriott was born in March 1984, making her about 41 years old in 2025.
- Some profiles suggest she was 39 at a particular writing, but later sources correct to early 40s.
Marital status and children
- Irita is married, but she maintains a high degree of privacy around her husband. His full name is generally undisclosed in public sources. Some sources simply refer to him as Mr. Marriott.
- She and her husband have two sons. In interviews, she sometimes mentions incorporating them into her outings or letting them accompany her to fairs.
- The family is based in Derbyshire / the UK. Some sources list Bristol as a residence base.
Although she shares candid stories of juggling work and motherhood, Irita consciously keeps her husband and children largely away from the public eye.
Net Worth & Income Streams
Estimating net worth is inherently speculative, especially for entrepreneurs and media figures whose assets are partly illiquid. However, most sources converge on a reasonable range for Irita Marriott’s net worth, based on her multiple income streams.
Reported estimates
- Many sources estimate £1 million to £1.5 million (UK pounds) as of 2024–2025.
- Some earlier or lower‑range estimates place it between £500,000 and £1 million.
- A few outlets suggest up to £2 million, though that often appears as an upper bound rather than a main estimate.
Given her evolving business and media presence, these figures may continue to shift upward.
Main income sources
- Antique dealing and sales
As a dealer, Irita acquires antiques (often via sourcing trips across Europe) and resells them via fairs, direct clients, and her auction house. The margins on decorative antiques especially well‑chosen or rare items can be significant. - Auction house operations
Her saleroom generates revenue through consignor fees, buyer’s premiums, valuation fees, and commissions. Because she now owns the platform, her earnings enjoy more leverage than as an external dealer. - Television contracts / expert fees
Her regular appearances on Antiques Road Trip, Bargain Hunt, and other shows bring in direct payments and critically publicity that elevates her brand and draws clients. - Consultancy, valuations & speaking engagements
Given her expertise, Irita likely draws income from professional valuations for private collectors, interior designers, or heritage projects, as well as event appearances. - Brand partnerships and editorial / media tie‑ins
With growing recognition, opportunities likely exist for collaboration with design brands, magazine features, sponsorships, or content partnerships (though public sources do not deeply document these yet).
A portion of her earnings is likely reinvested into acquiring stock, maintaining auction infrastructure, marketing, and expansion, so her net equity position may include both cash and business value.
Key Achievements, Unique Strengths & Public Influence
One of Irita’s most celebrated achievements is launching a female‑led auction house. In the UK, very few salerooms are run by women; she has often positioned that as both a personal mission and a signal to others in the industry. Her public statements emphasize the symbolism: fly a flag for females in the industry.
Melding media with trade
Unlike many dealers who remain behind the scenes, Irita bridges the gap between trade and television. Her media presence amplifies her reach and authenticity. Viewers connect with her narrative an immigrant building her way up through hard work. Her approach shows how TV exposure can fuel business growth, not just fame.
Discovery storytelling & public engagement
One of her strengths is uncovering stories behind objects transforming what appears mundane into interesting histories. The £3,300 spoon episode is emblematic: an object hidden away for years that turned into a standout auction piece. Through her TV work, she gives audiences a window into provenance, valuation, and the joy of discovery.
Persistence, self‑learning & reinvention
Irita had no formal training in antiques; she describes much of her knowledge as self‑taught. She applied grit: waking early to source, traveling repeatedly, building relationships, and gradually scaling up. Her story resonates with those who pivot careers or start later.
Community & cultural consciousness
Her auction house’s location in Melbourne, Derbyshire, and its launch during the local arts festival demonstrate sensitivity to place, heritage, and local engagement. Her London or UK audiences see her not simply as a media persona, but as an operator grounded in community.
Challenges, Critiques & Future Prospects
- Running an auction house demands infrastructure cataloguing, marketing, logistics, legal compliance, venue management, online bidding, client trust. As a new entrant in 2023, she likely faces teething issues.
- Balancing television commitments and business management is demanding.
- The antiques and auction market can be volatile economic fluctuations, supply constraints, and changing consumer tastes affect margins.
Public scrutiny & privacy
Her decision to keep her husband, children, and family life private helps her avoid overexposure. Yet in public roles, personalities often invite scrutiny, and maintaining boundaries can be tricky.
Future growth levers
- Scaling her auction house (regional expansion, hybrid physical/online auctions)
- Deepening relationships with designers, art advisors, heritage institutions
- More media projects perhaps shows centered on sourcing or restoration
- Publishing a book or merchandise tied to her style and trade
- Collaborations with interior brands or heritage conservation projects
If she continues to build on her current momentum, her net worth and influence in the antiques world are likely to rise significantly over the next decade.
Summary
- Age: Born March 1984, approximately 41 years old in 2025.
- Husband & Children: Married (her husband’s name undisclosed), and mother to two sons.
- Net Worth: Estimates commonly range from £1 million to £1.5 million, though lower ranges (£500,000–£1 million) are also cited in some outlets.
- Career Highlights: Moved from working in auction houses to self‑taught dealing; TV roles on Antiques Road Trip and Bargain Hunt; founding her own auction house in 2023; gaining media spin‑offs and high‑value finds (e.g. the £3,300 spoon).
Her journey is compelling not just for the objects she handles, but for the narrative she represents: an immigrant with drive, self‐education, boldness, and a clear vision. She stands at the intersection of trade, media, and entrepreneurship and her trajectory suggests that she may yet become one of the leading voices in the antiques and auction world.
