Bargain Hunt star Ochucko Ojiri shares his ‘infatuation’ (Image: BBC)
Bargain Hunt is back on BBC One with expert Ochucko Ojiri offering his advice to one of the amateur teams. He is otherwise recognised for his appearances on Antiques Road Trip.
He is the former owner of an art gallery and has a passion for collecting antiques. This passion led him to open a vintage shop called Pelicans and Parrots with Juliet Da Silva.
Located in Dalston, the shop was dubbed “the coolest place in London” and sold a curated selection of contemporary furniture, houseware, and gifts. The shop closed in October 2021 as Ochuko turned his attention to new business pursuits.
He said one of his favourite things about life on the road with Bargain Hunt was “meeting new people, and breathing new life and context into forgotten and neglected treasures”.
If he had not taken up a career in antiques, he fancies himself as a trend forecaster. He added: “I love people who forecast trends; what an incredible job. You’re literally looking into the future, deciding what you’ll eat before you’re even hungry. Mind blowing.”
Ochucko Ojiri has a passion for contemporary art (Image: BBC)
Away from the series, he opened up on his guilty pleasures, sharing how he loves reality TV.
Whenever he has any free time, he likes to spend it “eating pastries and drinking red wine”.
He offered some insight into his private collections, revealing his accumulation of “contemporary art, paintings, prints, sculpture and drawings. I’m absolutely obsessed, in love and infatuated”.
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Ochucko Ojiri used to own a vintage shop and gallery (Image: BBC)
Not much is known about his family life, but he does have a daughter and his family once visited the Margate Exhibition, which was curated by Talk Art co-host and actor Russell Tovey.
The expert is known for always wearing a hat on-screen and he opened up about the eccentric fashion choice.
He told Style Savage: “For as long as I can remember, I’ve worn a hat every day. I think it goes back to growing up in the 70s and 80s and seeing these old black guys in their hats, accessorising those sharp suits.
“More than being underdressed, I feel undressed without a hat. People fail to recognise me if, for whatever reason, I am hatless. Hats are an important part of my look.”
Bargain Hunt airs on One on weekdays at 12.15pm