What we know about Grand Designs' 25th anniversary series
Grand Designs is returning to our screens for a new series that is set to be extra special as it marks the show’s 25th birthday.
Hosted by Kevin McCloud, the Channel 4 programme started in 1999 and has become a huge favourite with viewers who gave been enthralled by the incredible building projects it showcases. It returns this autumn with a new series, which will both reflect on Grand Designs’ legacy and give fans a glimpse of some new architectural adventures.
We have a look at what we can expect from the upcoming series.
When will Grand Designs 2024 start?
The new series of Grand Designs starts at 9pm on Channel 4 on Wednesday, 11 September.
Who hosts Grand Designs?
Designer and TV star Kevin McCloud will be back as host of the show. McCloud has presented Grand Designs since it started, and when the new series was announced he said it had been “an extraordinary privilege”.
“I’ve met remarkable people, discovered hidden places on the planet and experienced amazing architecture,” he said.
McCloud has seen it all in his time on the show, and recently shared a few design bug bears. In an interview with Radio Times he suggested too many toilets was an issue, asking: “Why do people judge the status of a house by how many toilets you can offer your guests? It’s absurd.”
He also said he doesn’t like it when builds are made more complicated than they need to be, just to be “grand”, or when things are “too big”.
What will happen in the 25th anniversary episode?
The first instalment of the new series will be a special episode marking the show’s 25 year milestone.
It will include a look back at some of the projects that have featured over the years, with McCloud taking viewers through “some of the greatest and greenest self-build journeys” that have been on the show.
There will also be a look at a few of the most ambitious and troubled builds and the biggest stories to emerge on the show.
It has been reported that the special will include a look back at one of Grand Designs’ most moving builds – Chesil Cliff House. The project saw Edward Short putting everything into creating a lighthouse home, but it proved to be a huge challenge and it ended up being known as the programme’s saddest ever build.
When he appeared on the show in 2019, Short told McCloud about how his dream to build the lighthouse consumed him, explaining: “This is a baby that’s got so hungry that it’ll eat me – it’s that savage now.”
Edward ended up in debt and his marriage broke down.
“If there's one huge guilt that I have over this, it’s the impact on the family,” he said on the show. “I put her through a horrendous time with this – knocking the family home down, not building another one. I don’t think it gets much worse than that for a partner. My ambition and vanity has probably collapsed the marriage.”
What else can viewers expect from the series?
The anniversary episode will air first and will be followed by eight more new instalments “that delve into the world of sustainability, cutting-edge design and personal ambition”.
Projects will include the development of a wellness retreat and someone’s childhood home being torn down. Viewers will also get to follow the redesign of a water tower.
Channel 4 commissioner Ian Dunkley said as the series was confirmed: “The 25th anniversary is a testament to Grand Designs and the team behind it. For a generation the show has engaged audiences with the captivating stories of real people taking huge risks on innovative, sustainable and sometimes eccentric designs.
“Grand Designs continues to be a much-loved Channel 4 show and we are proud to announce a new series with a 25th anniversary special.”
Adding a little something extra this year, Grand Designs’ latest series will be accompanied by a book marking its quarter of a century on air.
Grand Designs At 25 will look at some of the most memorable builds from throughout the show’s history – plus a peek at how some of them have fared over time.
McCloud, who picked the projects to be included, said: “Writing the new book has given me new insight into the achievements of the last 25 years and if anything, this landmark moment helps us see more clearly where the series is going.”
Read more: Grand Designs
Grand Designs' Kevin McCloud reveals death of two participants during filming
Grand Designs disappoints with unfinished empty home despite 18-month build plan
Grand Designs viewers stunned as they spot 'naked man' hiding behind presenter
This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/grand-designs-new-series-start-date-kevin-mccloud-135241512.html
