After decades in the spotlight as a familiar face on British antiques shows, James Lewis has stunned fans with a deeply personal revelation — not only about his love life, but also about the woman who stood beside him for years before it all changed.
If you’ve ever watched Bargain Hunt, Flog It!, Cash in the Attic or the BAFTA-winning Antiques Road Trip, you’ll recognise James as one of the UK’s most trusted antiques experts. But behind the polished TV persona lies a story of love, heartbreak, and an unexpected new beginning.
James, now 53, was previously married to Annabel, 56 — an antiques specialist and animal lover who worked alongside him and shared much of his early journey. The pair tied the knot in 1997 and later welcomed their daughter, Arabella, who was born 11 years into their marriage.
Yet this week, it emerged that their long-standing relationship had quietly come to an end — and James has since remarried, finding love again with Ed Otter, a colleague 18 years his junior.
The couple married last September in an intimate ceremony attended by just 50 guests, including James’ now 17-year-old daughter. Originally, they had planned to elope to Yellowstone National Park, dreaming of a secluded mountain wedding. But in the end, they chose to share the moment with close family.
Reflecting on his new relationship, James didn’t hold back. He admitted that meeting Ed felt almost instant, saying it was “pretty much” love at first sight after his split from his wife and that he simply felt ready for a new chapter.
Even more striking was his candid comparison between his past and present. Speaking about working together at his auction house — where both his ex-wife and current husband have been colleagues — James openly said that working with Ed is “a lot easier than working with Annabel,” though he chose not to elaborate further.
He described Ed as “really easy” to get along with and “incredibly kind,” adding that they get on “very, very well.” Their bond, he explained, is rooted in shared passions — particularly their love for animals — something that has played a central role in his life.
In a touching detail, James revealed that his daughter Arabella now calls both him and Ed “Dad,” highlighting just how seamlessly his new relationship has blended into family life. “He and Arabella get on so well. I’m very lucky,” he said.
The couple’s story, however, wasn’t without its challenges. On their wedding day, what should have been a moment of pure joy was overshadowed by a serious health scare. James’ heart rate reportedly soared to over 250 beats per minute — far beyond the normal resting range.
This came after years of health struggles, including two cardiac arrests. In 2019, James revealed he had effectively “died for 10 minutes” before being revived by a stranger who happened to be nearby and performed CPR — a moment he has never forgotten, saying the man “without doubt… saved my life.”
Despite medical advice to avoid stress, James admitted he still plans to continue taking part in charity auctions, even if marriage might now be off the table for a third time.
Beyond television, James has built an impressive career in the antiques world, from a trial placement in Nottingham to working at Christie’s, before founding his own auction house in Derbyshire. He has also devoted over two decades to the Born Free Foundation, working alongside Dame Virginia McKenna to rescue and protect wildlife.
In fact, his passion for animals runs so deep that his daughter Arabella was named after Bella the Lioness — a lion he was helping rescue in Romania when he received the call that his wife had gone into labour.
From surviving near-death experiences to finding love again in unexpected places, James Lewis’ journey is anything but ordinary — and his latest chapter proves that sometimes, life’s biggest turns come when you least expect them.
