We Do Love Our TV DIY Shows!
By Skip Hire Birmingham
Here in the UK, regardless of age, we all have a common guilty pleasure… home improvement shows!
Will the loving couple come in under budget on their five-bedroom abode in Dorset? Will the bespoke granite worktops arrive from Sardinia in time for the big reveal? Each week, millions of viewers tune in for the latest episodes of their favourite shows.
There’ s a reason behind why these programmes are dominating so much of the television schedule throughout the day, from 9am in the morning to the watershed slot in the evening — because we’re a sucker for them!
With so many people around the UK investing their time into turning their houses into homes since lockdown began, we thought we’d take a look at the best home improvement shows we’ve been treated to over the years, delving into the different ways they can help inspire our own property dreams.
Homes Under the Hammer
Homes Under the Hammer presenter, Dion Dublin Pic: Shutterstock
The epitome of mid-morning British television, we simply haven’t been able to resist the temptation of tuning in to Martin Roberts and the gang bringing us this BBC classic.
Now joined by Dion Dublin and Martel Maxwell, the show is the BBC’s most successful programme at the 10am slot, drawing in a regular daily 1.5 million viewers – and it’s now in its 20th year!
The show reaches out to all those looking to sink their skills and hard earned cash into a complete re-development or high-level refurbishment – as well as giving some much-needed tips before heading to the property auction.
Post-lockdown, property prices could fall, and maybe with a little inspiration from the Homes Under The Hammer team, you could get yourself onto, or climb up, that all-important property ladder!
DIY SOS
Who could fail to be moved by the emotional reveals on Nick Knowles DIY SOS? With help from the trades in the local area, miracles really do happen.
And it’s not just the the homes and interiors that are transformed – it’s the outdoor spaces too.
As gardens can add between five and 20 per cent to the value of your property, not all home improvements have to take place within the confines of your four walls.
Since lockdown began, people around the country have been turning to gardening to keep busy and physically fit. The Royal Horticultural Society reported a 500% increase in visits to their site in the first week of travel restrictions and a 500% increase in searches relating to perennial plants!
So why not draw upon the tips from the experts at DIY SOS and Garden SOS before beginning your outdoor improvements?
Grand Designs
Kevin McCloud Pic: Shuttertock
We couldn’t create a list of home improvement programmes in the UK without drawing upon the one and only Grand Designs. Kevin McCloud, the long-standing presenter, who is also qualified as a designer, has somewhat of an affliction to bi-folding doors and bay windows.
This is the ideal show for someone looking to embark on a dream project. Although most of us will never have the time or money to do this, we can’t help being drawn into the planning, groundwork and the intensive periods of construction and interior design.
The beauty of Grand Designs is that it doesn’t airbrush the complexities that come when renovating your house, offering a realistic depiction of the issues. McCloud will often touch base with homeowners when things have gone catastrophically wrong, making the final outcomes all the more satisfying.
George Clark’s Amazing Spaces
George Clarke Pic: Shutterstock
Got the perfect place but unsure what to do with it? George Clark is your man.
Admittedly, this show is as much about the “wow” factor as it is about home improvement — being able to look on in awe at what can be done with a little expert help. Expect kitchens to slide out from the wall, bathtubs to appear from under the floorboards, and beds to descend from the ceiling…
One thing lockdown has given us is considerably more time in our homes, setting up working stations and separate spaces for both professional and family life. What better way to get inspiration for making the most of your home space than from the people who’ve done it, using some of the amazing tips George has revealed along the way.
The opportunities are endless when it comes to home improvement shows here in Britain, so why not tune in and turn your dreams into reality!
And don’t forget to pick up your My Weekly every week for the latest in interior trends and DIY, on our Home Comforts pages!
Allison Hay
I joined the "My Weekly" team thirteen years ago and, more recently, "The People's Friend". I love the variety of topics we cover both online and in the magazines. I manage the digital content for the brands, sharing features and information on the website, social media and in our digital newsletters.
