Inside BBC Bargain Hunt Roo Irvine's life, real name, husband and tragedy

Bargain Hunt: Roo Irvine pleases Red Team with buy

Roo Irvine has become a regular face on our TV screens thanks to her appearances on BBC shows Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip. It is amazing to think the Scottish presenter was once working in a senior role in the marketing industry before her TV stardom and she’s taken TV presenting within her stride.

With her vast knowledge of antiques and bold dress sense, she has become a favourite among many viewers on the BBC.

But what is her life away from the cameras and how did she start in the antiques world? Here we find out more about her life off-camera and how she became a TV presenter.

Her early life and real name

While the Bargain Hunt star is best known as Roo Irvine, this isn't actually her real name. Her full name is Arusha Irvine so "Roo" as she is best known, is a nickname.

Not much is known about her early life, but Roo worked many years in the corporate world and various senior positions.

Roo Irvine was approached by the BBC after filming took place at her antiques store (Image: BBC) How Roo started a career in antiques after family tragedy

Roo was working in a senior corporate role in the marketing industry in 2013 when tragedy struck. Her "wonderful" father suddenly died and her father-in-law passed away three weeks later after a long battle with cancer.

These sudden deaths caused Roo and her husband Mark to both to leave their senior corporate jobs to look after their respective mothers and be closer to their families.

But it was during this sad period that the idea for an antique store was born. Roo explained how the store was born during a difficult time on her website: "Kilcreggan Antiques came about quite by (bad) luck when suddenly, and unexpectedly, in 2013, my wonderful Dad passed away. I was heartbroken and devastated.

"Then, just three weeks later, my husband Mark also lost his father to a long battle with cancer.” She added: "We walked away from our senior corporate jobs and focused on taking care of our widowed mothers.

"I'd always loved antiques and had developed a keen eye, so my husband suggested we 'go for it' and Kilcreggan Antiques was born. Out of some of my darkest days came a sliver of light. Fate?"

Roo still runs the antique store, Kilcreggan Antiques, with her husband in her hometown of Argyll and Bute in Scotland.

Opening up about her career in antiques, she said: “I think the world of antiques found me, if anything. My husband and I both had our own marketing consultancy, and we were used to travelling a lot for work, but then both of our fathers passed away within three weeks of each other back in 2013.

Roo Irvine, real name Arusha, has been married to her husband Mark Irvine since 2012. (Image: Roo Irvine) How Roo got her big break on TV

With their Kilcreggan Antiques growing and becoming successful, Antiques Road Trip bosses contacted the couple and asked if they could visit their shop.

Shortly after the TV visit, TV bosses offered Roo a role on the show, which she happily accepted.

Roo has been one of the antique experts on the Antiques Roadshow for nine years and enjoys a successful stint presenting Bargain Hunt.

She has also appeared on many other antiques shows including Antiques Road Trip, Flipping Profit and Celebrity Antiques Roadtrip.

Outside of antiques, she has also enjoyed appearances on Mastermind, House of Games, and Pointless, launched her own podcast and video channels and presents Roo’s Rhythms on Lomond Radio.

Life off the camera and family life

Since 2012, Roo has been happily married to Mark Irvine, who shares her passion for antiques.

Mark Irvine is currently an Independent councillor representing Lomond North at Argyll Bute Council after he was elected in May 2022. Earlier this year, Irvine was appointed the new chair of the authority's Helensburgh and Lomond area committee

The couple resides in Scotland, enjoying the company of their two Maine Coon cats and running their own antiques shop in Bute named Kilcreggan.

Roo Irvine has enjoyed a successful career in antiques and tv (Image: BBC) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

window.topArticlesScript="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/js/dist/article-top-articles20240723.min.js"

Inside BBC Bargain Hunt Roo Irvine's life, real name, husband and tragedy

Inside BBC Bargain Hunt Roo Irvine's life, real name, husband and tragedy

Inside BBC Bargain Hunt Roo Irvine's life, real name, husband and tragedy

Inside BBC Bargain Hunt Roo Irvine's life, real name, husband and tragedy

Inside BBC Bargain Hunt Roo Irvine's life, real name, husband and tragedy