star Kate Bliss has opened up about the toughest part of her job, sharing the emotional toll of leaving her family behind during filming. While the thrill of exploring new places and antiques fairs is a joy for the expert, being away from her loved ones is no easy feat.

In a recent interview with the BBC, Kate revealed: "Well, it's always a thrill to explore new places and new antiques fairs that I love. The hardest thing is leaving my family. I usually try and find them a small present if I've been on the road for a few days."

Living in picturesque Herefordshire, the busy mum shares two children, Lily and Ben, with her husband, Jonathan, who she met during her time at Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers.

Beyond her work on Bargain Hunt, the busy mum-of-two can often be found outdoors with her family, whether it's running with the family's "loopy labrador" or practicing Pilates.

The star revealed she takes advantage of early mornings to grab a bit of "me time," explaining: "I snatch short bursts of 'me time', usually early in the morning in the week, when I exercise."

And while she's fond of cooking, her kitchen adventures are not always a success. "I do love a good cook, whether baking or doing a big meal for family and friends. It can be a bit hit and miss with me though, and the children love reminding me of my disasters in the kitchen," she laughed.

Over the years, Bliss has formed memorable connections with contestants on Bargain Hunt. Reflecting on her most unforgettable team, she revealed: "That is REALLY difficult. I have made so many great contestant friends and there have been so many! I will never forget my team of Olympians though, after the 2012 Olympics. They were the most competitive team I think I have ever had."

Kate has also had her fair share of notable finds on the show, with one item standing out in particular. "I found a rather good tantalus, which made well over £100 profit," she shared. "But sometimes it's the piece you least expect - like a horse racing game!"

Her journey with Bargain Hunt started in a rather unexpected way. As she recalls, she was originally brought on as an auctioneer when female auctioneers were a rarity.

"I was the only lady auctioneer at my local saleroom and we were a bit of a novelty back then (it's going back a bit!), so I was asked to appear on the show as the auctioneer and then quickly followed as an expert," she explained.

"I will never forget turning up at my first shoot in my high heels, feeling very proud in my new suit but the fair we were filming at was outdoors and it rained the entire weekend. I ended up wearing Philip Serrell's wellies which were 3 sizes too big!"