Adrian Higham: The Bidding Room, Wife and Illness Update

Adrian Higham is a famed art dealer and notable British TV personality well known for his roles in The Bidding Room which is the BBC reality show. He is one of the eight dealers in The Bidding Room.

Quick Info

Adrian Higham is a native of Britain

Beloved and Fan favorite Art Dealer Adrian Higham is 53 years old as of 2023. He was born on September 4, 1969, in Brookland, Kent, United Kingdom. So by nationality, he holds a British nationality and belongs to white ethnicity.

At 53 years old, he resides in East Sussex, where he runs a successful business alongside his wife, Tara Franklin, dealing in valuable vintage items.

Recently, the couple took a relaxing break in France, Though his wife says “It’s boiling hot but gorgeous here” sharing their excitement over two beautiful jugs they acquired for their collection.

Adrian Higham is Married to his wife Tara Franklin

Adrian Higham, the esteemed British art dealer, and TV personality, married his wife, Tara Franklin. The couple’s shared passion for antiquities has brought them closer together.

After his first marriage in 2003, Later Adrian Higham married Tara Franklin. Tara Franklin has been a pillar of strength for Adrian, especially during his health challenges due to weight issues. Doctors advised him to lose weight.

Apart from her role as Adrian’s loving partner, Tara Franklin is a Host and an enthusiast of antiquities. She also Engages in private auctions and contributes to the research of Adrian’s TV show, “The Bidding Room,”.

The picturesque countryside of Pays de la Loire serves as a foundation for their shared passion, while Tara’s organizational role at the Penshurst Vintage and Antiques Fair adds to their dynamic journey.

Tara really loves to collect old antique things, and she also travels a lot for collecting pieces.

Adrian Higham Engaged in the industry for over 2 decades

Adrian Higham, affectionately known as Adi, has left an indelible mark in the antiques industry with his impeccable expertise and captivating presence. His rise to fame was catapulted by the BBC1 Daytime show “The Bidding Room” alongside Hagel Havers, where his lifelong passion for antiques shone through brilliantly.

With nearly three decades of experience as an antique dealer, Adrian’s journey began at the tender age of 21 when he sold his first bike. Since then, he has immersed himself in the world of French decorative antiques, art, interior design, furniture, clothing, and classic brocante.

Adi, in partnership with his wife Tara Franklin, owns and runs the renowned UK-based antique company, Hoof Brocante. The company, located in Romney Marsh on an old RAF base in Kent, is a hub for antique enthusiasts seeking 18th-century and 19th-century French Decorative Antiques and French Brocante.

Hoof Brocante Company provides many other antique items from 18th-century and 19th-century French Decorative Antiques and French Brocante. 

Adrian’s TV presence on “The Bidding Room” captured the hearts of viewers during its pilot season in 2020 and continued to win acclaim in its second season. Alongside his TV success, Adrian’s business acumen has been equally impressive, resulting in a net worth of $1 million.

Adi and Tara’s love for collecting extends beyond the antique market, as they’ve acquired a home in the picturesque region of Pays de la Loire.

Adi Higham The Bidding Room

Throughout his time on “The Bidding Room,” Adi’s genuine passion for his craft and zest for life shone brightly. Embracing the authenticity of his character, he revealed that meeting him in person mirrored the warmth and charisma he exudes on set. For Adrian, being part of this magical TV venture came at a perfect moment in his fascinating journey, adding another dimension of enchantment to his already extraordinary life.

“I absolutely(sic) love all of the amazing messages I receive and fans of the show visiting Hoof HQ. It’s just lovely. On set, it’s so easy for me as I’m just me. Meet me in real life and nothing changes.” 

Furthermore, he continued by adding,

“I’m genuinely passionate about my job and life, and being part of ‘The Bidding Room’ has come at just the right time in my bonkers life. I absolutely(sic) love that it’s had such a wonderful reception. People seem to love it and that’s magical.”

Adrian Higham Weight Loss and Illness

The loss of his beloved wife in 2003 led Adrian Higham, the renowned antique dealer, down a difficult path as he found solace in food and gained substantial weight. At his heaviest, Adrian weighed a staggering 36 stone, putting his health at risk.

In 2017, fate intervened when Adrian was selected for the life-changing Prudential Ride London Fixing Challenge. This remarkable opportunity provided him with personalized fitness training, invaluable diet and lifestyle advice, and the motivation he needed to reclaim his health.

He said at the time:

“Two years ago, I collapsed on a ferry because I was 36 stone in weight. I’d had all the shock tactics to try to make me lose weight but I was rushed into hospital and still did nothing about it.

Adrian’s determination to break free from the grips of excess weight was fueled by his desire to defy family health patterns, particularly diabetes. Encountering the emotional and inspiring documentary “Fixing Dad” proved to be a catalyst, propelling him toward a life-altering decision.

“My family is rife with diabetes, so I decided I wanted to break the mold. I sat down in the front of the TV one night and Fixing Dad came on.

“I didn’t have a clue what it was about but I sat and watched it and was absolutely open-mouthed.

“I could not believe what I was seeing. A couple of years before, I had actually got stuck in traffic caused by the Prudential RideLondon and thought to myself, ‘What on earth are these people doing?’

Watching the journey of another participant, Geoff, cross the finish line after the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 left an indelible mark on Adrian.

“But after watching Geoff and the program, seeing him come over the line and that look on his face, I’ll never forget it.

“For years, doctors have told me that if I don’t lose weight, I will die but those shock tactics haven’t worked. But watching the program made me realize I had to do it.

“This isn’t just for me, though. I want people to see me in two years’ time and say that they want to do what I have done. It’s infectious.”

“I couldn’t believe it when I was told I had got a place on the challenge. It was shock initially but then it was excitement and I just kept thinking about the film,” Adrian said. “The amount of support that you see behind the whole process is staggering. I don’t want to let myself down and others as well. I’ve lost over five stone already since watching the film. Five months ago, I couldn’t even get on a bike but now I’m cycling every day and it’s brilliant.”

He is not even unable to get on a bike, but later he embraced cycling as part of his daily routine.