Catherine Southon is a familiar face to fans of BBC antiques programming, known for her expert eye and energetic presence on shows like Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip. Beyond the screen, she is also the founder of her own successful auction house in Kent. While millions have watched her value everything from silver to scientific instruments, many details about her personal life remain firmly out of the public eye.
Southon has been a fixture on British daytime television for nearly two decades, yet she maintains a relatively private personal life. Public records and a few select interviews provide a clear picture of her professional rise, but questions about her age, marriage, and health often go unanswered by official sources. This article consolidates the verified facts about her career and examines what is—and isn’t—known about her life away from the auction rostrum.
Who is Catherine Southon? Biography, Age, and Career
Catherine Southon is a British auctioneer, valuer, and television presenter. She is best known for her work as an antiques expert on BBC programmes, a career that began after a decade-long stint at the prestigious auction house Sotheby’s.
Full Name: Catherine Southon
Profession: Fine Art Auctioneer, Valuer, TV Personality
Known For: Bargain Hunt (BBC), Flog It!, Antiques Road Trip
Business: Catherine Southon Auctioneers & Valuers Ltd
Location: Kent, UK
The following insights summarise the key verified facts about Catherine Southon’s professional life and public profile.
- Southon is a well-known BBC antiques expert with over 20 years of experience on Bargain Hunt.
- She is the owner and managing director of her own auction house, which she founded in 2012.
- Her personal life—including her age, husband, and health—is not widely published, with limited verifiable sources available.
- The most authoritative sources for her biography are the official BBC profile and the company website.
- There is high search interest in her personal details, but formal coverage on these topics remains sparse.
- Her business is registered at Companies House as ‘Catherine Southon Auctioneers & Valuers Ltd’ (company number 08020183).
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | Not publicly disclosed (age unknown) |
| TV Start | 2006 (Bargain Hunt) |
| Previous Show | Flog It! (3 years) |
| Company | Catherine Southon Auctioneers & Valuers Ltd (est. 2012) |
| Specialization | Fine art, antiques, jewellery, collectables |
| Marital Status | Married (husband not named in public sources) |
Catherine Southon’s Personal Life: Marriage, Family, and Health
Information about Catherine Southon’s personal life is limited. She has chosen to keep her family and private health matters largely out of the public domain, which has led to speculation and unanswered questions among fans.
Who is Catherine Southon married to?
Public records and interviews indicate that Southon is married and has two children. However, no authoritative source has confirmed the name of her husband or provided verifiable details about her partner. She has referred to herself on social media as a “mum to two not-so-little ones,” according to a report by the Express, but the names and exact ages of her children are not public.
Is Catherine Southon ill?
The available sources do not confirm any illness. One source explicitly states that Southon has not publicly discussed health matters, and that claims about illness or cancer remain unverified. There is no official statement from her or her representatives on any health condition.
Claims circulating online regarding Catherine Southon’s health or an undisclosed illness should be treated with caution. No credible or official source has confirmed such reports. Southon has not made any public statements on the matter.
What is Catherine Southon’s net worth?
No reliable source provides an audited or well-sourced figure for Catherine Southon’s net worth. Any numbers found on unofficial websites should be treated as speculation, as she has not disclosed her personal finances in interviews or official filings.
How old is Catherine Southon?
Sources suggest she was born in 1972, which would make her approximately 53 or 54 in 2026, depending on her exact birthday. This information, however, has not been formally confirmed by her or her official channels.
Catherine Southon’s Auction Business: Auctioneers & Valuers
Beyond her television work, Southon is the founder of Catherine Southon Auctioneers & Valuers, a business she launched in 2012. The company is based in Kent and operates in the London and South East area, hosting auctions for fine art, antiques, jewellery, and collectables.
Her professional specialisms include jewellery, watches, silver, scientific instruments, and maritime works of art. The business is registered at Companies House under the name ‘Catherine Southon Auctioneers & Valuers Ltd’ with company number 08020183, providing a verifiable public record of its legal structure.
According to her official company website, Southon has also contributed to books such as Judith Miller’s Dictionary of Art and Antiques and writes for Antique Collecting Magazine.
Before founding her own auction house, Catherine Southon spent approximately nine years at Sotheby’s, ultimately becoming a head of department. She then moved into freelance valuation work before launching her own business in 2012.
Catherine Southon on BBC: Bargain Hunt, Flog It!, and Antiques Road Trip
Southon became a household name through her regular appearances on BBC daytime television. Her career in antiques began after university, where she studied Art History and completed a Master’s degree. Her interest in the field was sparked by a meeting with an antiques expert during her studies, which she has described as the moment she was “hooked.”
How did Catherine Southon start on Bargain Hunt?
According to her official BBC profile, Southon first appeared on Flog It! for three years. In 2006, she was asked to join Bargain Hunt as an antiques expert. She has remained with the show ever since. Her filmography, as listed on IMDb, also includes appearances on Antiques Road Trip and Flipping Profit.
Her dual role as a TV personality and professional auctioneer distinguishes her from many of her peers. She brings practical valuation experience from her own auction house directly to the television studio, a fact that adds credibility to her on-screen advice.
Career Timeline: Catherine Southon
The following timeline highlights the key milestones in Catherine Southon’s career, based on verified public sources.
- 2006: Joined BBC’s Bargain Hunt as an antiques expert.
- 2006–2012: Worked on Flog It! for three years.
- 2012: Founded Catherine Southon Auctioneers & Valuers Ltd.
- 2012–present: Runs her own auction house in Kent while continuing regular TV appearances.
- 2025: A feature article in the Liverpool Echo (October 2025) provides off-screen details about her family life.
What is Known and What Remains Uncertain
As with many public figures who guard their privacy, a distinction exists between what is established fact and what remains unconfirmed or speculative.
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Catherine Southon is a real person and TV personality. | Her exact age is not confirmed anywhere. |
| She appears on BBC’s Bargain Hunt. | Her health/illness status is unverified (no official statement). |
| She owns an auctioneering business registered at Companies House. | Her husband’s name is not published in any authoritative source. |
| The business is based in Kent. | Her net worth is a guess (no financial disclosure). |
| She worked at Sotheby’s for nine years. | No Wikipedia page exists (only a BBC profile). |
Background: The Dual Identity of an Antiques Expert
Catherine Southon occupies a unique space in the antiques world as both a television personality and a professional auctioneer. This dual identity drives two distinct types of search intent: “fan” queries about her age, marriage, and health, versus “professional” queries about her company, valuation services, and auction schedule. The absence of a central, comprehensive biography page on the internet has created a gap that fans and researchers alike must navigate.
Sources and Key Quotes
The most reliable information about Catherine Southon comes from her official BBC profile and her company’s website. These sources provide the clearest picture of her professional journey.
“I was working on the BBC’s Flog It! for three years and then in 2006 I was asked if I wanted to give Bargain Hunt a try. I have never looked back!”
— Catherine Southon, via the official BBC profile
“Est. in 2012 by the BBC antiques expert Catherine Southon. We hold auctions & valuations for fine art, antiques, jewellery & collectables across Kent.”
— Catherine Southon Auctioneers & Valuers, official website
Summary: Who is Catherine Southon?
Catherine Southon is a respected British auctioneer and a familiar face on BBC antiques programmes, with a career spanning more than two decades. She successfully built her own auction business from the ground up after gaining experience at Sotheby’s. While her professional credentials are well-documented, her personal life—including her exact age, her husband’s identity, and her net worth—remains largely private. The most authoritative sources for her life and work remain the official BBC profile and her company’s website. For more profiles on British TV personalities, you can read the Anton Du Beke – Biography, Wife, Children and Net Worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Catherine Southon’s role on Bargain Hunt?
She is an antiques expert and auctioneer who helps teams value and sell items. She has been on the show since 2006.
Where is Catherine Southon’s auction house located?
Her auction house is based in Kent, UK. The official address is registered with Companies House.
Has Catherine Southon been on other TV shows?
Yes, she appeared on Flog It! for three years and has also featured on Antiques Road Trip and Flipping Profit.
Is there a Wikipedia page for Catherine Southon?
No, there is no dedicated Wikipedia page. The most authoritative online profile is on the BBC website.
How can I contact Catherine Southon’s auctioneers?
Contact details are available on her official website: www.catherinesouthon.co.uk.
Does Catherine Southon have children?
Yes, she has two children. However, their names and exact ages are not publicly known.
What did Catherine Southon do before TV?
She studied Art History, earned a Master’s degree, and worked at Sotheby’s for about nine years, eventually becoming a head of department.
What is Catherine Southon’s company registration number?
Her company, Catherine Southon Auctioneers & Valuers Ltd, is registered at Companies House under number 08020183.
What are Catherine Southon’s specialist areas?
She specialises in jewellery, watches, silver, scientific instruments, maritime art, and general fine antiques and collectables.
Is Catherine Southon still on Bargain Hunt?
Yes, she continues to appear on the show as an antiques expert, alongside running her auction house.
Oliver Bennett is Managing Editor at ShowbizUK.co.uk, responsible for daily editorial planning, the publishing schedule, newsroom workflow, article commissioning and final editorial preparation.