Irita Marriott
Early Life & Background
Irita Marriott was born in March 1984 in Latvia, growing up in very humble circumstances. Her early childhood was spent on a self‑sufficient rural farm where her family subsisted on what they could grow, catch, or forage. She later moved with her family to Valmiera after her parents’ divorce, where life grew even tougher.
In her teenage years, she was athletic and showed promise in running and basketball, but after suffering multiple concussions, her sports career ended.
At around age 20, she left Latvia: first working in the U.S. as an au‑pair with very limited English, then relocating to the UK. She arrived practically starting from scratch, with no background in antiques and little knowledge of English.
Entry into the UK & Early Jobs
Upon arrival in the UK, Irita took on a temporary Christmas job at a garden centre in Bradford and later managed two departments there. This early experience, though far from antiques, gave her a work ethic, buying experience, and exposure to retail and customer‑facing roles.
Eventually, she moved to Derbyshire with her husband and started working in a local auction house part‑time, as a catalogue assistant, to gain entry into the antiques world.
Career in Antiques
Although she began with no formal antiques training, Irita quickly displayed a sharp eye for value and authenticity. She learned on the job: cataloguing, valuing, buying, and selling decorative antiques. After working several years in auction houses, she established her own business: Irita Marriott Auctioneers & Valuers, based in Melbourne, Derbyshire.
She specialises in decorative antiques—particularly porcelain—and sources pieces from around Europe, serving both UK and international clients.
Television & Media Presence
Irita’s charisma and expertise led her into television. She is best known for appearances on:
-
Antiques Road Trip (BBC One) — she joined the lineup in 2021.
-
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip and Bargain Hunt — as an antiques expert.
-
Her own series: The Derbyshire Auction House (Really TV) where she fronts her own auction business.
Her screen presence is described as warm, engaging, and knowledgeable—qualities that have helped elevate her profile beyond the antiques trade.
Personal Life & Family
Irita Marriott is married, though she keeps her husband’s identity and details largely private. The couple live in Derbyshire, and they are parents to two sons. She has spoken about how her children sometimes accompany her to antique fairs and auctions, and how balancing business and motherhood is an important part of her story.
Her background and family life are marked by a strong sense of humility and determination. She has spoken about how her early life hardships shaped her resilience and work ethic.
Net Worth & Financial Overview
Estimating Irita Marriott’s net worth is inherently approximate given the private nature of her finances. According to recent media estimates, her net worth is likely in the region of £500,000 to £1 million.
Her income streams likely include:
-
Antique sales via her auction house and dealership business.
-
Television appearances and associated fees.
-
Speaking engagements and possibly brand partnerships or consultancy given her profile.
She appears to live a tasteful but not ostentatious lifestyle, reinvesting in the business and focusing on growth over luxury.
Key Milestones & Achievements
-
From a childhood on a self‑sufficient Latvian farm to a business‑owner and TV personality in the UK.
-
Transition from garden‑centre worker to valued antiques dealer and auction house founder.
-
One of very few female‑led auction houses in the UK.
-
TV success: appearing regularly on major antiques shows and fronting her own series.
-
Encouraging a new generation of antiques dealers: she considers herself a “new generation dealer” and advocates for more young people (especially women) entering the trade.
Strengths & Unique Qualities
-
Authenticity: Her background gives her a genuine story of self‑reliance and reinvention.
-
Eye for quality: As a decorative‑antiques specialist, she combines aesthetic flair with commercial acumen.
-
Media savvy: She straddles business and television professionally, which amplifies her brand.
-
Resilience: Transitioning countries, careers, industries—she’s manifestly adaptable and determined.
-
Role model: Particularly for women in sectors traditionally dominated by older men, and for immigrants building new lives.
Challenges & Opportunities
Challenges:
-
The antiques market can be fickle: trends, valuations, and client interests shift.
-
The balancing act between business growth, television commitments, and family life.
-
Maintaining authenticity and avoiding being “just a TV personality” rather than a serious dealer.
Opportunities:
-
Expanding online auctions and global reach in antiques sales.
-
Leveraging her TV profile to branch into publishing (e.g., books on antiques), speaking tours, brand collaborations.
-
Mentoring or developing a network of “young dealers” under her brand could diversify her business model.
Current Status & What’s Next
As of 2025, Irita Marriott continues to operate her auction house in Melbourne, Derbyshire, running regular auctions and valuation events. Her television presence remains strong. Given her trajectory, further media projects, book deals, or expansion of her business (perhaps additional branches, international fairs, or digital platforms) would be logical next steps.
Conclusion
Irita Marriott’s journey—from a rural Latvian childhood, through early retail jobs in the UK, to founding her own auction house and becoming a familiar face on antiques television—is a compelling story of reinvention, ambition, and perseverance. Her success in both business and media underscores a combination of hard work, sharp skill, and public appeal. While she keeps aspects of her personal life private, her professional accomplishments are visible and growing.
With her estimated net worth approaching a mid‑six‑figure range and her brand continuing to expand, she stands as an inspirational example to anyone looking to build a distinctive career outside the conventional path—particularly in fields as niche as antiques.