Roo Irvine has built a distinctive career in British daytime television. Known for her bright style, calm manner and love of old objects, she moved from corporate marketing into antiques before becoming a familiar BBC presenter. Grief, courage and a wish for more meaningful work shaped her path.
Her full name is Arusha Irvine, though she uses Roo in her professional life. She is an antiques dealer, television presenter, auctioneer, writer, podcaster and radio broadcaster. Her best-known work includes Antiques Road Trip, Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, Flipping Profit and Bargain Hunt. She also owns Kilcreggan Antiques in Scotland and is respected for her knowledge of Georgian glass.
Roo Irvine Quick Facts
| Detail | Verified fact |
|---|---|
| Full name | Arusha Irvine |
| Professional name | Roo Irvine |
| Birth month and year | January 1980 |
| Age in August 2026 | 46 |
| Nationality | British |
| Main professions | Antiques expert, dealer, presenter, auctioneer, writer and broadcaster |
| Husband | Mark Irvine |
| Home | Argyll and Bute, Scotland |
| Business | Kilcreggan Antiques |
| Specialist field | Georgian glass |
| Main television work | Antiques Road Trip, Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, Flipping Profit and Bargain Hunt |
| Charity role | Blue Cross ambassador |
| Pets | Three Maine Coon cats |
Companies House records Arusha Irvine’s birth month and year as January 1980, her nationality as British and her country of residence as the United Kingdom. This makes her 46 in August 2026.
Roo Irvine’s Early Professional Life
A Career in Corporate Marketing
Before antiques became her main field, Roo Irvine worked as a marketing manager. That role developed her skills in communication, presentation and customer service, which later supported her retail and broadcasting work.
She had loved antiques for years, but they were not yet her full-time career. A painful period in 2013 made her review what she valued and how she wanted to spend her time. In a trade interview, she explained that family bereavement made her seek a career that cared for the soul as well as the pocket.
Family Loss and a New Direction
In 2013, Roo lost her father without warning. Three weeks later, her husband Mark lost his father after cancer. The couple left their senior corporate roles and focused on caring for their widowed mothers. Mark then encouraged his wife to turn her long-standing love of antiques into a business.
This decision changed the course of her life. Kilcreggan Antiques grew from a difficult chapter, yet it gave her a fresh purpose. The shop later brought a BBC production team to her door and opened the way to television.
Roo Irvine and Kilcreggan Antiques
Building an Independent Antiques Business
Kilcreggan Antiques is based on Shore Road in Kilcreggan, Argyll and Bute. It operates as a physical shop and an online store. Its stock includes glass, jewellery, silver, gold, ceramics, art and vintage pieces. Opening times may change when filming duties clash with shop work.
The business reflects Roo Irvine’s broad taste. She enjoys objects that carry history, craft and human stories. She has said that antiques connect people with the past because each piece gathers memories as it moves from one owner to another. This view helps explain her television style: she does not treat an object as a price tag alone. She also asks what it meant, who used it and why it survived.
A Specialist in Georgian Glass
Roo Irvine is especially respected for Georgian glass. She has spoken with admiration about the Beilby family of Newcastle, whose members decorated eighteenth-century glass with fired enamel. A piece by William Beilby is one of the treasures she has long hoped to find.
Her first auction purchase was an Asprey & Co bell-shaped cocktail shaker. She has also praised glass by Japanese artist Keiko Mukaide. Two Mukaide pieces became notable buys because other bidders did not recognise them. Another strong purchase was a Victorian double goffering iron, which later drew intense online bidding and sold to an American buyer at a major profit.
How Roo Irvine Entered Television
Discovery Through Antiques Road Trip
The move into broadcasting began when Antiques Road Trip visited Kilcreggan Antiques in early 2015. After the shop feature was shown, producers contacted her in early 2016 and asked whether she would consider joining the programme’s team of experts.
The invitation did not lead straight to the screen. She completed about twelve months of meetings, study, shadowing and screen tests before joining Philip Serrell for her first journey. This preparation taught her to explain antiques clearly within the pace of television.
Roo Irvine on Antiques Road Trip
On Antiques Road Trip, experts travel through the United Kingdom, buy objects within a set budget and sell them at auction.
Roo Irvine became known for her enthusiasm, expressive clothes and warm working relationships with fellow experts. Her background as a dealer gave her practical insight into value, condition and buyer demand. Her interest in social history added depth to her object choices. She later became a regular face on Celebrity Antiques Road Trip as well.
Roo Irvine on Bargain Hunt
From Expert to Main Presenter
Roo Irvine joined Bargain Hunt as an antiques expert and later became one of its main presenters. In the programme, two teams buy antiques and try to make a profit at auction. Experts guide the teams, while the presenter leads the episode and explores a historical feature connected with the location.
Moving into the main presenting role marked an important step. It placed greater weight on timing, interviewing and storytelling. Her official biography still identifies her as a main presenter, while her management describes her as a regular BBC expert and broadcaster.
Other Television Programmes
Her television work extends beyond the two main antiques series. Verified credits include Flipping Profit, Celebrity Mastermind, Pointless Celebrities, Richard Osman’s House of Games and The Weakest Link. These programmes have shown her personality beyond antiques.
Writing, Podcasting and Radio
During the COVID-19 period, Roo Irvine launched video and podcast channels under the name #RadioRoo. The project allowed her to discuss subjects beyond objects and auctions. Her website also keeps a page for recordings made during and soon after that period.
She writes about antiques for Scotland Correspondent and local monthly magazines. She also works as an interviewer, event host and charity auctioneer. Her management highlights her ability to put guests at ease and bring out strong personal stories in television and radio settings.
In 2024, she joined Lomond Radio as a volunteer presenter. Her monthly two-hour programme, Roo’s Rhythms, focuses on music, memory and emotion. This role gives her another way to use her voice and her interest in the stories that shape people’s lives.
Roo Irvine’s Husband and Home Life
Roo Irvine lives with her husband, Mark Irvine, in a small village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Her official biography describes their home life with three Maine Coon cats. Their names are Mango Chutney, Kimchi Cherry Blossom and Miso Dexter.
Her interests outside work include food, music, fashion, animals and nature. She enjoys cooking for family and friends and is especially known for making curries. Her bold clothes are part of her on-screen identity, using colour, pattern and accessories to express character.
Charity Work and Animal Welfare
Roo Irvine is an ambassador for Blue Cross. She has supported pet rehoming, fostering, retail work, advice campaigns and fundraising events. She also donated quiz-show winnings to the charity.
One of her most demanding charity efforts was a ten-hour hula-hooping challenge. The event raised money for the Blue Cross Ukraine Pet Welfare Fund. Her cats also take part in social media work for the organisation. This partnership matches her long-standing concern for animals and responsible pet care.
Roo Irvine’s Career Income
Her income streams include television presenting, expert appearances, antique sales, auctioneering, writing, broadcasting, public speaking and event hosting. Kilcreggan Antiques remains her central business, while television has given it national reach.
This biography does not assign a salary or wealth total, since doing so would require evidence beyond her verified work. Her career value is better shown through the range and length of her work.
Latest Roo Irvine News
A notable 2026 television feature took her to Herefordshire Council’s History Store. There, she explored the Herefordshire Hoard with archaeology curator Dr Katie Miller. The Viking-period collection includes coins and jewellery, and the feature examined its history and importance.
The related Bargain Hunt episode aired on BBC One on 12 June 2026. It also included team shopping at the Secondhand Antiques Centre in Leominster and an auction at Tong’s Auction House in Wrexham.
Roo Irvine’s Legacy
Roo Irvine’s career shows how specialist knowledge, personal warmth and strong communication can work together. She began with a village antiques shop and developed into a national broadcaster without losing the local business that started her journey.
Her strongest contribution is the way she makes antiques feel human. She explains value, but she also draws attention to memory, craft and social history. Her work supports independent dealing, public interest in heritage and animal welfare. It also offers a powerful example of rebuilding after grief.
Conclusion
Roo Irvine has created a varied career based on courage, curiosity and a genuine love of history. From marketing manager to antiques dealer, from shop owner to BBC presenter, each stage has built on the one before it.
Her work on Antiques Road Trip and Bargain Hunt made her a recognised figure in British broadcasting across the country today. Kilcreggan Antiques remains the heart of her professional story, while radio, writing, charity work and auctioneering continue to widen her reach. Her journey proves that a painful change can lead to meaningful work, fresh purpose and lasting success.
FAQs
Who is Roo Irvine?
Roo Irvine, whose full name is Arusha Irvine, is a British antiques expert, dealer, television presenter, auctioneer, writer and broadcaster. She is best known for appearing on Antiques Road Trip and presenting Bargain Hunt. She also runs Kilcreggan Antiques in Scotland.
How old is Roo Irvine?
Roo Irvine was born in January 1980. She is 46 years old as of August 2026.
Who are Roo Irvine’s parents?
Roo Irvine has not disclosed the names or occupations of her parents. Her father died unexpectedly in 2013, a loss that encouraged her to leave corporate marketing and begin a new career in antiques.
Is Roo Irvine married?
Yes, Roo Irvine is married to Mark Irvine. The couple live in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, and have worked together in the antiques trade.
Does Roo Irvine have any siblings?
Roo Irvine has not shared confirmed details about having brothers or sisters. She keeps much of her childhood and wider family life private.
