logo
'I'm an Antiques Road Trip expert and this is the toughest part about my job'

'I'm an Antiques Road Trip expert and this is the toughest part about my job'

Edinburgh Live08-05-2025
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.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce finally go 'Instagram official' with 13 sweet snaps
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce finally go 'Instagram official' with 13 sweet snaps

Daily Mirror

time39 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce finally go 'Instagram official' with 13 sweet snaps

After months of dating, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have finally gone 'Instagram official' with their relationship, sharing a series of loved up snaps online After months of fan excitement and keeping a relatively low profile about his love life, Travis Kelce has finally taken things to the next level and made his relationship with pop star Taylor Swift official on Instagram. ‌ The Kansas City Chiefs' tight end embraced the modern tradition of confirming a relationship via social media, offering fans a glimpse into their blossoming romance. On Thursday, Travis shared a series of photos documenting their summer adventures together in what marked a huge milestone in their relationship journey so far. ‌ Travis, who boasts 6 million followers on Instagram, posted a collection of snaps from their recent holiday. The images showcased various moments of their relationship, from boat trips to dining at upscale restaurants. ‌ One photo captured the couple enjoying a snowy landscape, while another showed them sharing a moment on an ice rink. In one particularly sweet image, Taylor is seen tenderly holding Travis's face as they pose with friends. Captioning the post, Travis wrote: "Had some adventures this offseason, kept it 100.", reports the Express. ‌ As soon as the post was live, fans and fellow celebrities flooded the comments section, expressing their delight at this significant step in the couple's relationship. Former NBA player Chandler Parsons chimed in with: "the hard post !" acknowledging that this was the first time Taylor had featured on Travis' Instagram feed. Betty Crocker, the baking behemoth, also couldn't resist chiming in, suggesting the post might just "break the internet." ‌ Among the collection of images, one specific photo caught the sharp eyes of fans, as it unveiled that Kelce's phone lock-screen is a snapshot of the smitten pair. In a discreet tribute to TayTay, the post included a total of 13 images, which happens to be Taylor's lucky number. ‌ The 35-year-old pop superstar and American footballer Travis have been an item since September 2023 and it seems they are as hungry for each other as always. The couple have supported each other on the road - with Travis, 35, tailing Taylor on her epic Eras World Tour which finally climaxed at the end of last year, and she attending games he played for his team, the Kansas City Chiefs. The couple have been reasonably happy to talk about their romance - with Travis occasionally talking about his girlfriend on his podcast, New Heights, which he co-hosts with his brother Jason Kelce, 37. And Taylor has declared her love to Travis while on stage and collecting awards. However up until now, the couple have never officially confirmed their romance on social media, making Travis' photo carousel all the more poignant.

Keeley Hawes is a foul-mouthed James Bond in slick thriller The Assassin
Keeley Hawes is a foul-mouthed James Bond in slick thriller The Assassin

Daily Mirror

time3 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Keeley Hawes is a foul-mouthed James Bond in slick thriller The Assassin

The Assassin is a fast-paced thriller interwoven with family drama Kicking off with a high-energy opening sequence packed with fight scenes and cinematography that could rival a James Bond film, The Assassin certainly delivers, reports the Express. ‌ The six-part series centres around retired hitwoman Julie Green (portrayed by Keeley Hawes), who is reluctantly pulled back into the game for one final, potentially fatal job. ‌ However, there's a significant hitch: Julie's estranged journalist son Edward (played by Freddie Highmore) has decided to visit her for the weekend after four years, under the impression that she's a simple head hunter. ‌ What ensues is a thrilling, fast-paced drama intertwined with family dynamics as Julie and Edward truly reconnect. This series marks a distinct shift in pace for Hawes, who earlier this year portrayed Cassandra Austen in PBS and BBC's tranquil period drama Miss Austen. In fact, Hawes' last venture into Greek territory was as Louisa Durrell in ITV's heartwarming family series The Durrells, set on the picturesque island of Corfu. ‌ However, with her impressive performances in Spooks, Line of Duty and Ashes to Ashes, Hawes certainly has the action credentials to portray Julie convincingly. The Assassin sees her reunite with writers Harry and Jack Williams, following her appearance in the second series of their International Emmy-winning show, The Missing. ‌ Her on-screen partnership with Highmore is a match made in heaven as the contrasting pair compete in a battle of wits. The chemistry between the two actors is palpable, forming the beating heart of the show. Highmore effortlessly steps into the role of investigative journalist and vegan Edward, portraying his struggles while on the run with ease. ‌ The former child actor is no stranger to intricate on-screen mother-son relationships, having previously played a young Norman Bates in the modern Psycho prequel, Bates Motel. Other notable members of the cast include Jack Davenport, Alan Dale, The Tourist's Shalom Brune-Franklin, and David Dencik from Top of the Lake. ‌ However, this isn't your typical thriller - there's a wickedly dark strand of British comedy woven throughout the storyline. The sharp one-liners flow effortlessly between mother and son, showcasing the Williams brothers' razor-sharp writing skills. From Julie being dubbed a "menopausal James Bond" to Edward being cautioned that his search for his biological father "isn't Mamma Mia", The Assassin is loaded with as many witty remarks as it is with gunfire and expletives. ‌ Sometimes you'll find yourself uncertain whether to chuckle at the over-the-top scenarios, but the formula works brilliantly. The Williams duo have struck gold once more with The Assassin - this is a genuine winner. Whilst their previous series The Tourist delivered nail-biting tension, The Assassin balances the drama with considerable humour and wit, creating the perfect British action-thriller with a darkly comic twist.

Popular picks for July: SEVEN RULES FOR A PERFECT MARRIAGE by Rebecca Reid, MY OTHER HEART by Emma Nanami Strenner, THE SECRETS OF DRAGONFLY LODGE by Rachel Hore
Popular picks for July: SEVEN RULES FOR A PERFECT MARRIAGE by Rebecca Reid, MY OTHER HEART by Emma Nanami Strenner, THE SECRETS OF DRAGONFLY LODGE by Rachel Hore

Daily Mail​

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Popular picks for July: SEVEN RULES FOR A PERFECT MARRIAGE by Rebecca Reid, MY OTHER HEART by Emma Nanami Strenner, THE SECRETS OF DRAGONFLY LODGE by Rachel Hore

Seven Rules for a Perfect Marriage is available now from the Mail Bookshop SEVEN RULES FOR A PERFECT MARRIAGE by Rebecca Reid (Bloomsbury £9.99, 304pp) Moral fable meets urban romance in this tale of relationship influencers. Jessica and Jack have millions of followers, plus book and TV deals coming out of their ears. Everyone wants a marriage as wonderful as theirs. Behind the scenes, however, they're both miserable. She wants a baby while he wants his old job back at the BBC. During a moment of drunken madness, Jack unwisely reveals all. What now, as followers and publishers desert the golden couple in droves? Lots of fun media detail and some great minor characters; Jack's stingy and snobbish parents, in particular. MY OTHER HEART by Emma Nanami Strenner (Hutchinson Heinemann £18.99, 416pp) A sharp upstairs-downstairs look at the Asian-American experience. We're in Philadelphia with Kit, Japanese adopted daughter of a wealthy white couple, and her BFF Sabrina, child of a poor Chinese single mum. School's just ended and this last summer before college has some big surprises in store. While feckless, beautiful Kit flies off to find herself in Tokyo, the less assured Sabrina interns at a downtown migrant charity. In the background is Vietnamese Mimi, whose child was snatched as a baby, and Lee Lee, Sabrina's prickly ma. I loved this family drama which considers geography and destiny from a fascinating point of view – with a great twist at the end. THE SECRETS OF DRAGONFLY LODGE by Rachel Hore (Simon and Schuster £16.99, 480pp) Writer Stef's researching a book about pioneering women scientists. One is zoologist Nancy Foster, an elderly Norfolk neighbour of her mother's. Brilliant as she was, Nancy's career never reached the heights it should have, but why? Stef sets about finding out, getting to know her subject's smouldering grandson along the way. There unfolds a tale of sexism and skulduggery. The action moves between modern-day Stef and 1950s London, where Nancy studies alongside dashing and dastardly James West. Hore's novels are absorbing, calming and wonderfully sane. They should be prescribed on the NHS.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store