Irita Marriott — The Journey from Latvian Roots to British Antiques Star

Irita Marriott is a prominent antiques expert, television personality, auctioneer, and dealer, best known for her appearances on BBC’s Antiques Road Trip, Bargain Hunt, and other antiques-related shows. She has built a name not just for her sharp eye for decorative antiques, but also for her compelling life story: from humble beginnings in Latvia to running her own auction house in the England.

Early Life and Background

Birth and Childhood

• Irita Marriott was born in Latvia in 1984. Great British UK Talent+3Speakers Associates+3steveorme.co.uk+3

• She spent the first years of her life on a self-sufficient farm. Her childhood was marked by modest means; her family cultivated, foraged, hunted, and lived off what the land provided. steveorme.co.uk+2Speakers Associates+2

• When she was around 6 years old, her family circumstances changed, and they moved to Valmiera (a town in Latvia). The period included financial hardships, such as walking riverbanks to see what food might have been left behind by others. steveorme.co.uk+1

• In school, she was challenged by language and academic expectations. One English teacher reportedly told her: “You will be a no one! You won’t make it in life without English.” Speakers Associates+1

Decision to Move Abroad

• Motivated in part by that discouragement, Irita applied for an au pair position in the United States. She traveled to New York with minimal English skills — reportedly carrying an English-Latvian dictionary. Over months, she immersed herself in language learning and adjusted to a demanding environment. Speakers Associates+1

• She stayed in the U.S. for about two years before returning to visit her family in Latvia. But plans to return to America were prevented when she was refused re-entry. steveorme.co.uk+1

• On a whim, she boarded a bus to the U.K. at age 20. Thus began her life in Britain. steveorme.co.uk+2Speakers Associates+2

Life in the United Kingdom & Early Work

Starting from Scratch

• Upon arrival in the UK, Irita took seasonal work in a garden centre, starting as a temporary Christmas worker. Great British UK Talent+2Speakers Associates+2

• Over time, she advanced to managing departments and eventually worked as a buyer there. Great British UK Talent+2Speakers Associates+2

• Even though she had no prior knowledge of antiques, these early retail and buying roles helped her develop a sensibility for quality, pricing, and customer tastes. Speakers Associates+2Ecomagazine+2

Entry into Antiques and Auction Houses

• Her pivot into antiques began after meeting her future husband. The move to Derbyshire marked a turning point: she took a part-time role in a local auction house as a cataloguer/valuer. Ecomagazine+3Speakers Associates+3steveorme.co.uk+3

• She worked in that auction house for around seven years, absorbing hands-on experience in valuation, cataloguing, and the operations of the saleroom. steveorme.co.uk+3Speakers Associates+3Great British UK Talent+3

• Meanwhile, she dealt on the side: starting from car boot sales and small antiques fairs, then expanding to regional and international fairs and cultivating a client base beyond Britain. Great British UK Talent+3Speakers Associates+3steveorme.co.uk+3

Television Career & Media Presence

Breakthrough in TV

• In 2021, Irita officially joined the team of BBC’s Antiques Road Trip as an expert. Ecomagazine+3HELLO!+3Speakers Associates+3

• She has appeared also on shows including Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, Bargain Hunt, and The Greatest Auction on Channel 4. Speakers Associates+2Great British UK Talent+2

• Her personal touch — a mix of warmth, humor, expertise, and an eye for interesting stories — made her a quickly appreciated addition to the roster of televised antiques experts. Speakers Associates+2steveorme.co.uk+2

Her Own Show: The Derbyshire Auction House

• More recently, she has taken on a new role as host of her own show, The Derbyshire Auction House, which follows her in helping families identify, value, and auction inherited items. Great British UK Talent+3Speakers Associates+3The Sun+3

• The show premiered in July (in the UK) and reflects her transition from being an on-screen expert to a full auction house proprietor and presenter. The Sun+1

• On this show, one notable story involved her finding a simple, tucked-away spoon that sold for £3,300 at auction — a surprise find that delighted both her and the owners. The Sun

Public Profile and Influence

• Irita is represented by speaker agencies and is available for talks and events, particularly on subjects like antiques, women in business, and motivation. Speakers Associates+1

• She’s often featured in interviews, magazine profiles and the press, with many fans admiring her grit, authenticity, and the way she preserves modesty even with growing fame. steveorme.co.uk+2Ecomagazine+2

Personal Life and Family

Marriage and Children

• Irita is married, though she keeps her husband’s identity and work largely private. HELLO!+2Speakers Associates+2

• Together, the couple live (or have lived) in Bristol, per reports. HELLO!

• They have two sons. Irita has shared that she occasionally brings them along during her antique-hunting trips, and that she enjoys seeing them discover things and develop curiosity. HELLO!+2Speakers Associates+2

Balancing Family and Career

• Irita has spoken about her commitment to keeping her family life private and separated from her public persona. steveorme.co.uk+1

• She emphasizes work-life balance, managing filming schedules around school terms when possible, and sharing glimpses of family life without oversharing. Ecomagazine+1

Philosophy, Challenges & Values

Self-Education & Learning by Doing

• Despite no formal antiques training, Irita’s success is driven by curiosity, persistence, and on-the-job learning. steveorme.co.uk+2Speakers Associates+2

• She often cites her early research, countless fairs, trial and error, and mentorship from peers as fundamental to her growth. steveorme.co.uk+1

Challenges in a Traditional Industry

• The antiques business is historically dominated by older professionals, often men. Irita has confronted skepticism about her youth, gender, or financial means. steveorme.co.uk+1

• She’s spoken about being underestimated: for example, people assuming she couldn’t afford items she looked at, or doubting her knowledge because she’s a woman or relatively young. steveorme.co.uk+1

Vision & Future Ambitions

• Irita aims to encourage more women and younger people to enter the antiques trade. She positions herself as part of a “new generation dealer” movement. steveorme.co.uk+2Great British UK Talent+2

• She believes in building something she can pass on — not just a name, but a business legacy. steveorme.co.uk+1

• She continues balancing her television work, her auction house operations, and client dealings across the UK and Europe. Ecomagazine+1

Net Worth & Financial Profile

Estimating net worth is always speculative, especially for someone with diverse income streams. But here’s what is known:

• Her revenue sources include television appearance fees, antique sales, auction house operations, valuation / advisory work, and speaking engagements. Ecomagazine+2Great British UK Talent+2

• Some media sources estimate her net worth in the range of £500,000 to £1 million (or more) depending on business growth and televised contracts. Ecomagazine

• She reinvests a significant portion of profits into inventory and expanding her business reach. Ecomagazine+1

Legacy and Impact

Irita Marriott’s story resonates for several reasons:

1. Immigrant Success: She moved countries, navigated language barriers, and built a new life from scratch.

2. Nontraditional Path: Without formal antiques education, she mastered her craft through grit and hands-on work.

3. Female Leadership: She stands among a small number of women who own or run UK auction houses.

4. Authenticity: Despite media attention, she preserves boundaries around personal life and maintains humility.

5. Inspiration: Many viewers, especially women and newcomers, see her as proof you can reinvent yourself later in life.

Conclusion

From quiet rural beginnings in Latvia to becoming a beloved face in British antiques television, Irita Marriott embodies determination, curiosity, and adaptability. She turned early challenges — language barriers, financial constraints, industry skepticism — into fuel for growth.