Homes Under the Hammer Martin Roberts' rarely-seen wife and near-death illness
Martin Roberts has been a firm favourite on screens for more than two decades - but what do we know about his life off-camera?
The TV presenter became a famous face with Homes Under the Hammer in 2003 and has gone on to be known as the BBC's UK and overseas property expert. He initially starred as host alongside Lucy Alexander, however from 2016 has been joined by Martin Maxwell.
Today, the pair examine properties in Lancashire, Kent, Surrey and the West Midlands which are sold at auction, and then take a look at how they have been restored. It comes after the telly star marked a special 20-year anniversary of being with the show last November, honoured with a star-studded double bill.
The property guru hosted the show with a range of celebrity guests, including Traitors icon Amanda Lovett and interior design guru Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. Here, we take a look at Martin's personal life behind the scenes, including how he met his wife, his surprising real age and the alarming illness that could have killed him.
Marriage and 'love at first bite'
Martin and wife Kirsty shared a sweet moment during a charity climb (PA)
The property expert recently celebrated a landmark birthday (martinrobert/instagram)Martin met his now-wife Kirsty Roberts while reporting on an NSPCC charity climb on Mount Kilimanjaro for the ITV travel show Wish You Were Here. Opening up previously about their mystical first meeting, Martin recalled: "I'd never met my wife Kirsty before, but she was on the climb too, raising money. Her granny had made her a fruit cake to take and she kept one piece for the summit.
Mum sells home for £18,000 profit after sprucing up the garden
"At the top I collapsed with altitude sickness, and out of the mist came Kirsty bearing this final piece of cake for me." Lovestruck Martin added: "I have to admit – it was love at first bite!" The happy couple, who now live near Bath, said 'I do' in 2010, and have since welcomed two children together - daughter Megan and son Scott.
Real age
Back in July, Warrington-born Martin amazed fans by revealing he'd just celebrated his 60th birthday, with many having believed him to be much younger. In an Instagram post shared to mark his landmark birthday, Martin wrote: "A big day for me today as I enter my (gulp) sixties, but the amazing things that are happening at my pub renovation in Wales, and the effects it is having on young people and the community, is completely overshadowing the fact I'm now eligible 4 a Seniors railcard."
Wishing him all the best, one fan commented: "Have an absolutely amazing day. You don't look your age at all. Sending love." Another gasped: "You look younger than 60 mate, must be the Welsh water you are drinking. Have a great day."
Health woes
Back in April 2022, Martin was rushed to hospital with chest pains, where it was discovered that fluid was "strangling" his heart, and that he had "hours to live". During an interview with OK! magazine, Martin recalled the terrifying moment doctors plunged an "eight-inch needle" into his chest, sharing: "It's the nearest thing to not being here that has ever happened to me."
He added: "In my case, it turns to something called a cardiac tamponade, which is where it fills rapidly and starts strangling the heart. And that's... that's the killer. It can result in death. I watched as they drew out syringe after syringe after syringe of this liquid. I was awake for this, but I was a bit woozy. There was a tube that went in through my chest cavity, down into the sack around my heart."
Thankfully, Martin was discharged a week later, but has since had to undergo regular check-ups after an MRI scan picked up on "residual problems".
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