Changing Rooms (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Changing Rooms is a Do It Yourself home improvement show broadcast in the United Kingdom on the BBC
between the years 1996 and 2004. The show was one of a number of home improvement and lifestyle shows popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The show was later franchised, generally under the same name, for the local TV markets in the United States, New Zealand and Australia.
, and assisting with the remodeling was Cockney
carpenter
"Handy" Andy Kane
.
, premiering at 9pm on Wednesday 4 September 1996, before transferring to BBC One
for the start of the third series in 1998. The final edition was broadcast on 22 November 2004 after a successful 8 year, 15 series run. The cancellation was announced on 27 August 2004. Former designer on the show Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen
took over presenting the show from Carol Smillie
in 2003 for series 14 and 15. Handy Andy has gone on to host his own DIY shows. The designers on the show throughout its run included:
, Cornwall
for Christmas broadcast. Designers Anna Ryder Richardson
, Graham Wynne, and Gordon Whistance took on the task of restoring the decor of homes and businesses damaged in the floods of August that year.
The episode went out on 28 December 2004.
room was being built to accommodate a large collection of teapot
s. Overnight, the shelves collapsed, demolishing the valuable collection.
The show gained popularity through the sometimes unusual designs of Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and the reactions of some participants who disliked their newly designed rooms. Famously, one room of Llewelyn-Bowen's was decorated entirely in animal prints at the advice of the neighbours. The homeowners described it as resembling "a tart's boudoir" and pointed out that the neighbours, also friends, had known of their dislike on animal prints but had suggested them to Llewelyn-Bowen as a joke.
On another famous episode, Anna Ryder Richardson designed a room for a couple where she placed framed erotic French undergarment
s around the room. Upon entering the room, the woman screamed aloud, and shouted, "why would I want this shit in my room?! I've got children!" and burst into tears. Richardson apparently blushed brightly.
One episode, after a room had been designed, it had to be redesigned because the owner of the room missed her old fireplace
.
in United States
. The original Changing Rooms is also broadcast overseas, for example, on BBC America
and featured in various US shows, Sex And The City
episode Lights, Camera, Relationship being one example.
A New Zealand
edition of the show was produced for several years, also called Changing Rooms. The show was identically formatted to the British series, with host Kerry Smith, "Handy" Andy Dye, and regular designers including Donald Grant Sunderland, Neil McLachlan, and Sally Ridge
. A handful of international shows were produced, each featuring one couple in New Zealand and one in the United Kingdom.
Australia's Nine Network
also produced a local version hosted by Suzie Wilks
who was ably assisted by Peter Everett
, James Lindsay, Catherine Morton and Tim Janenko-Panaeff. The show is now defunct.
was a material used frequently on the show. It would be untrue to say it gained cult status as a result of this, but it did become famous enough that it helped the Changing Rooms team make an appearance on British charity appeal Children in Need
. During the show, which is essentially a televised variety show
, the team performed "YMDF", a parody of YMCA
.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
between the years 1996 and 2004. The show was one of a number of home improvement and lifestyle shows popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The show was later franchised, generally under the same name, for the local TV markets in the United States, New Zealand and Australia.
Format
The object of the show was for couples to swap houses with friends or neighbours with each pair doing up one room in each other's homes. This would lead up to a finale with both couples seeing their rooms, and meeting up again - almost invariably on still friendly terms. With the show including some top designers, their ideas could be a little over the top, which led to a few tears and tantrums. Changing Rooms was originally hosted by Carol SmillieCarol Smillie
Carol Patricia Smillie is a Scottish television personality, model and actress. Smillie is well-known for presenting the award winning BBC series Changing Rooms, which won her a National Television Award for Most Popular Factual Programme in 1998.She became the hostess of the British version of...
, and assisting with the remodeling was Cockney
Cockney
The term Cockney has both geographical and linguistic associations. Geographically and culturally, it often refers to working class Londoners, particularly those in the East End...
carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
"Handy" Andy Kane
Andy Kane
Andy Kane , nicknamed Handy Andy, is a British television personality best known for his work on the BBC's DIY programme Changing Rooms.-Background:...
.
History
The show began on BBC TwoBBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
, premiering at 9pm on Wednesday 4 September 1996, before transferring to BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
for the start of the third series in 1998. The final edition was broadcast on 22 November 2004 after a successful 8 year, 15 series run. The cancellation was announced on 27 August 2004. Former designer on the show Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is a successful homestyle consultant best known for his appearances on the BBC television programme Changing Rooms...
took over presenting the show from Carol Smillie
Carol Smillie
Carol Patricia Smillie is a Scottish television personality, model and actress. Smillie is well-known for presenting the award winning BBC series Changing Rooms, which won her a National Television Award for Most Popular Factual Programme in 1998.She became the hostess of the British version of...
in 2003 for series 14 and 15. Handy Andy has gone on to host his own DIY shows. The designers on the show throughout its run included:
- Linda BarkerLinda BarkerLinda Barker is an English interior designer and television presenter.-Education:Barker studied Fine Arts at the Surrey Institute of Art & Design in Farnham. She then did odd jobs in various areas including fashion, before settling into a career as an interior designer...
- Oliver Heath
- Michael Jewitt
- Rowena Johnson
- Laurence Llewelyn-BowenLaurence Llewelyn-BowenLaurence Llewelyn-Bowen is a successful homestyle consultant best known for his appearances on the BBC television programme Changing Rooms...
- Laura McCree
- Anna Ryder RichardsonAnna Ryder RichardsonAnna Caroline Ryder Richardson , is a British interior designer and television presenter. She is known for being a designer on the BBC shows Changing Rooms, House Invaders and Staying Put.-Biography:...
- Liz Wagstaff
- Gordon Whistance
- Graham Wynne
Final episode
In November 2004, a special episode was taped in BoscastleBoscastle
Boscastle is a village and fishing port on the north coast of Cornwall, England, in the civil parish of Forrabury and Minster. It is situated 14 miles south of Bude and 5 miles north-east of Tintagel....
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
for Christmas broadcast. Designers Anna Ryder Richardson
Anna Ryder Richardson
Anna Caroline Ryder Richardson , is a British interior designer and television presenter. She is known for being a designer on the BBC shows Changing Rooms, House Invaders and Staying Put.-Biography:...
, Graham Wynne, and Gordon Whistance took on the task of restoring the decor of homes and businesses damaged in the floods of August that year.
The episode went out on 28 December 2004.
Disasters
On one episode, a Linda BarkerLinda Barker
Linda Barker is an English interior designer and television presenter.-Education:Barker studied Fine Arts at the Surrey Institute of Art & Design in Farnham. She then did odd jobs in various areas including fashion, before settling into a career as an interior designer...
room was being built to accommodate a large collection of teapot
Teapot
A teapot is a vessel used for steeping tea leaves or a herbal mix in near-boiling water. Tea may be either in a tea bag or loose, in which case a tea strainer will be needed, either to hold the leaves as they steep or to catch the leaves inside the teapot when the tea is poured...
s. Overnight, the shelves collapsed, demolishing the valuable collection.
The show gained popularity through the sometimes unusual designs of Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and the reactions of some participants who disliked their newly designed rooms. Famously, one room of Llewelyn-Bowen's was decorated entirely in animal prints at the advice of the neighbours. The homeowners described it as resembling "a tart's boudoir" and pointed out that the neighbours, also friends, had known of their dislike on animal prints but had suggested them to Llewelyn-Bowen as a joke.
On another famous episode, Anna Ryder Richardson designed a room for a couple where she placed framed erotic French undergarment
Undergarment
Undergarments or underwear are clothes worn under other clothes, often next to the skin. They keep outer garments from being soiled by bodily secretions and discharges, shape the body, and provide support for parts of it. In cold weather, long underwear is sometimes worn to provide additional...
s around the room. Upon entering the room, the woman screamed aloud, and shouted, "why would I want this shit in my room?! I've got children!" and burst into tears. Richardson apparently blushed brightly.
One episode, after a room had been designed, it had to be redesigned because the owner of the room missed her old fireplace
Fireplace
A fireplace is an architectural structure to contain a fire for heating and, especially historically, for cooking. A fire is contained in a firebox or firepit; a chimney or other flue allows gas and particulate exhaust to escape...
.
Overseas editions
The show has been franchised and variations of it appear in several other countries, sometimes with a different name - such as Trading SpacesTrading Spaces
Trading Spaces is an hour-long American television reality program that aired from 2000 to 2008 on the cable channels TLC and Discovery Home. The format of the show was based on the BBC TV series Changing Rooms. The show ran for eight seasons....
in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The original Changing Rooms is also broadcast overseas, for example, on BBC America
BBC America
BBC America is an American television network, owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, and available on both cable and satellite.-History:The channel launched on March 29, 1998, broadcasting comedy, drama and lifestyle programs from BBC Television and other British television broadcasters like ITV and...
and featured in various US shows, Sex And The City
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
episode Lights, Camera, Relationship being one example.
A New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
edition of the show was produced for several years, also called Changing Rooms. The show was identically formatted to the British series, with host Kerry Smith, "Handy" Andy Dye, and regular designers including Donald Grant Sunderland, Neil McLachlan, and Sally Ridge
Sally Ridge
Sally Ridge is an interior designer and former television presenter living in Grey Lynn, a middle class suburb of Auckland, New Zealand.Ridge was known in the past within New Zealand as a television presenter on shows dealing with interior decorating, including the TVNZ television series, Home...
. A handful of international shows were produced, each featuring one couple in New Zealand and one in the United Kingdom.
Australia's Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
also produced a local version hosted by Suzie Wilks
Suzie Wilks
Suzie Wilks is an Australian TV lifestyle presenter and host of six prime time television shows since 1997.- Professional life :...
who was ably assisted by Peter Everett
Peter Everett
Peter Everett is an Australian television host. He hosted the Australian adaptation of cook show Ready Steady Cook on Network Ten. He is known for appearing on Changing Rooms which aired on the Nine Network in 1998. He also took part in the reality figure skating series Skating on Thin Ice in...
, James Lindsay, Catherine Morton and Tim Janenko-Panaeff. The show is now defunct.
MDF
Medium-density fibreboardMedium-density fibreboard
Medium-density fiberboard is an engineered wood product formed by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibres, often in a defibrator, combining it with wax and a resin binder, and forming panels by applying high temperature and pressure...
was a material used frequently on the show. It would be untrue to say it gained cult status as a result of this, but it did become famous enough that it helped the Changing Rooms team make an appearance on British charity appeal Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
. During the show, which is essentially a televised variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
, the team performed "YMDF", a parody of YMCA
YMCA (song)
"Y.M.C.A." is a song recorded by American disco group Village People. It was released in 1978 as the only single from the album Cruisin. The song reached No. 2 on the U.S. charts in early 1979 and reached No.1 in the UK around the same time, becoming the group's biggest hit...
.
Transmission Guide
- Series 1: 6 editions from 4 September 1996 - 9 October 1996
- Series 2: 8 editions from 28 July 1997 - 22 September 1997
- Series 3: 6 editions from 10 March 1998 - 14 April 1998
- Series 4: 10 editions from 16 July 1998 - 16 September 1998
- Series 5: 8 editions from 6 January 1999 - 3 March 1999
- Series 6: 10 editions from 6 September 1999 - 20 December 1999
- Series 7: 6 editions from 5 May 2000 - 9 June 2000
- Series 8: 9 editions from 4 September 2000 - 13 November 2000
- Series 9: 11 editions from 27 November 2000 - 3 May 2001
- Series 10: 7 editions from 11 September 2001 - 22 October 2001
- Series 11: 13 editions from 25 February 2002 - 10 August 2002
- Series 12: 8 editions from 26 August 2002 - 7 November 2002
- Series 13: 12 editions from 3 April 2003 - 14 July 2003
- Series 14: 13 editions from 15 September 2003 - 15 December 2003
- Series 15: 7 editions from 5 January 2004 - 23 February 2004
- Series 16: 8 editions from 19 April 2004 - 14 June 2004
- Series 17: 12 editions from 9 August 2004 - 22 November 2004
- Special: Series 1 Highlights: 30 December 1996
- Special: Changing Rooms Stripped Bare: 5 December 1998
- Special: Christmas Special: Arran: 25 December 1998
- Special: Redecorated: 2 April 1999
- Special: The World of Changing Rooms: 30 August 1999
- Special: A Morning with Changing Rooms: 13 December 1999
- Special: Tenerife: 27 December 1999
- Special: When Changing Rooms Met Ground Force: 13 February 2000
- Special: When Changing Rooms Met The Navy: 2 September 2000
- Special: When Changing Rooms Met Ground Force 2 : 24 October 2000
- Special: Boscastle Christmas Special: 28 December 2004