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Daily Record
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'I'm an Antiques Road Trip expert and these are the behind the scenes challenges'
The Derbyshire Auction House's Irita Marriott has become a TV favourite in recent years, but the antiques expert has opened up on the unseen challenges she faces in her role Irita Marriott, who first captured the nation's affection on BBC's Bargain Hunt in 2021, has become an endearing presence in the TV antiques sphere. Now, Irita is a well-known feature on both Antiques Road Trip and Antiques Roadshow, and recently debuted her own series, The Derbyshire Auction House, back in 2023. Currently, she's gracing our screens again with the second series of her daytime show on REALLY. However, the mother-of-two has been rather open about the less seen challenges of her profession. While promoting the latest series of Derbyshire Auction House, Irita underlined the importance of emotional intelligence in her line of work. In a candid interview with the Express, she revealed that her role extends to being a "therapist as well as an auctioneer", especially when assisting sellers who find it difficult to let go of sentimental items. She expressed: "You always have to take emotions into account with everything that we do. "We are therapists as well as auctioneers because every single day, people walk through our doors, and there will be people who are vulnerable. Whether that's people who have lost somebody, or that items have a lot of memories and attachments, so you always have to be gentle", reports Bristol Live. Irita acknowledged the intimidation that the auction setting may impose on sellers. She recalled a moment from the upcoming series where she comforted a seller anxious about parting with her late mother's possessions for the programme. Irita reminisced about a poignant moment from the series, saying: "In this series, we had a lady who was selling her mother's items, and she was very cautious. During the clearance, she was very strong and brave with it, and she said, 'No, it all needs to go'. "But then afterwards, it took us quite a few phone calls and a lot of messages and a lot of communication to reassure them that those items won't just be sold for £5 or £10. The items she had are desirable, and they will go to someone who wants them again rather than being stuck in the drawers. "So sometimes it's just talking people through the process and how it all works and what's going to happen, because when you've never sold anything in the auction, it's a scary environment." She also revealed the often hidden tension between auctioneers and sellers over item valuations, which can cause behind-the-scenes disagreements. Irita added: "As auctioneers, we all love a come-and-get-me estimate, and if there is a cheeky way of getting away with the lower estimate, we are going to say that. However, from the seller's point of view, it's about finding that trust with us and making sure that they can really believe in what we say, that there is nothing to be worried about. "That the items will sell and they will do well, but I think for a lot of people that's the scary bit – but that is also what makes good TV and what makes amazing results at auction." The antiques expert elaborated on what distinguishes The Derbyshire Auction House from other antique programmes. Irita highlighted that the show's unique appeal lies in its emphasis on the emotional ties people have with their possessions. "I suppose that's the beauty of our show," she expressed. "It's real people, it's real feeling, and everything is very much how you see it on screen. "And I think that's why people can really look at it, and I think I know exactly how that person feels, because most of us have been through that hardship of losing somebody or needing financial help and having to sell something. I always say to people, just think how lucky you are that when you need to money that you have got something to sell and you're not just selling it and getting rid of it." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Edinburgh Live
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
'I'm an Antiques Road Trip expert and this is the toughest part about my job'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Irita Marriott, one of television's beloved antiques experts, has been gracing our screens since 2021. She first shot to fame on BBC's Bargain Hunt, quickly winning the hearts of viewers nationwide. Irita has since become a regular presenter and antiques expert on Antiques Road Trip and Antiques Roadshow, before launching her own show, The Derbyshire Auction House, in 2023. Now, the Latvian antiques dealer stars in a second series of her daytime show on REALLY, which began airing on May 5. While promoting her upcoming series, the mother-of-two revealed some of the challenges of her job that fans might not be aware of. In an exclusive chat with the Express, she confessed that she often plays the role of a "therapist as well as an auctioneer" when sellers struggle to part with items they have strong emotional ties to. She shared: "You always have to take emotions into account with everything that we do. "We are therapists as well as auctioneers because every single day, people walk through our doors, and there will be people who are vulnerable. Whether that's people who have lost somebody, or that items have a lot of memories and attachments, so you always have to be gentle." (Image: PR Handout) The TV personality gave an example from the forthcoming series in which she had to reassure a client who was apprehensive about selling her mother's items on the show. Irita reminisced, "In this series, we had a lady who was selling her mother's items, and she was very cautious. "During the clearance, she was very strong and brave with it, and she said, 'No, it all needs to go'. But then afterwards, it took us quite a few phone calls and a lot of messages and a lot of communication to reassure them that those items won't just be sold for £5 or £10. "The items she had are desirable, and they will go to someone who wants them again rather than being stuck in the drawers. "So sometimes it's just talking people through the process and how it all works and what's going to happen, because when you've never sold anything in the auction, it's a scary environment." (Image: BBC) She also shed light on the occasional tension between auctioneers and sellers regarding the pricing and sale of items. BBC star Irita added: "As auctioneers, we all love a come-and-get-me estimate, and if there is a cheeky way of getting away with the lower estimate, we are going to say that. "But from the seller's perspective, it's about building that trust with us and ensuring that they can really believe in what we say, that there is nothing to be worried about. That the items will sell and they will do well, but I think for a lot of people that's the scary bit – but that is also what makes good TV and what makes amazing results at auction." The Derbyshire Auction House is available to watch on REALLY.
