TL;DR
- James Lewis married Ed Otter in a small ceremony.
- Their daughter Arabella calls them both ‘Dad’.
- The couple initially planned to elope to the US.
- Lewis has faced serious health issues, including cardiac arrests.
- He is a patron of the Born Free Foundation.
In a heartwarming turn of events, James Lewis, the beloved star of Bargain Hunt, has opened up about his recent wedding to Ed Otter. The couple tied the knot last September, and it seems love is truly in the air—especially when their 17-year-old daughter, Arabella, is involved. Talk about a family affair!
While attending the Born Free Foundation’s Footsteps to Freedom Ball in London, Lewis shared the delightful news. The wedding was an intimate gathering of just 50 guests, but it was a day filled with love, laughter, and a few tears. “Arabella was there for the day,” he said, and it’s clear that her presence was non-negotiable in their plans.
Reflecting on how he met his husband, Lewis reminisced, “I met my husband 15 years ago playing pool, of all things, in the local pub in Derbyshire.” He added, “Was it love at first sight? Pretty much, yeah.” After a split from his wife, the mother of his daughter, Lewis was ready for a new chapter in his life.
Initially, the couple dreamed of a romantic wedding in the mountains of Yellowstone National Park. However, reality kicked in when they realized they wanted to include family in their special day. “Arabella says, which one of you is going to walk me up the aisle when I get married?” Lewis recounted, adding that their daughter’s vision of her own wedding made their plans even more special. “She said, can we have a wide aisle, and can you both walk me up? So we couldn’t do it without Arabella.” Now that’s what we call a modern family!
But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Lewis. The Bargain Hunt star has faced some serious health challenges, including two cardiac arrests—one of which occurred on his wedding day. “I’ve had two cardiac arrests. I had one in 2013 and I had another one in 2019,” he revealed, noting that his heart rate skyrocketed to over 250 beats per minute during one of those incidents. Talk about a dramatic wedding day!
Despite these hurdles, Lewis has remained a beacon of positivity. He founded Bamfords Auctioneers with his parents back in 2002 after being made redundant, and he’s become a familiar face on daytime TV through shows like Bargain Hunt and Flog It!. He’s also been a dedicated patron of the Born Free Foundation for 24 years, raising significant funds for wildlife charities, including a whopping quarter of a million pounds during a Guinness World Record charity auction.
With love, resilience, and a dash of celebrity charm, James Lewis and Ed Otter’s story is one for the ages. Here’s to their beautiful journey together, and to all the love stories that remind us of the power of family and commitment!