AIBU to feel a bit miffed with all the house-porn programmes on TV?

[tametiger]

Having watched another episode of DIY SOS on the Beeb, I can't help feeling a bit envious of these families where Nick Knowles and his team descend like a bunch of Fairy Godmothers and turn some run-down tip into a dream home. Who are these families? Who pays for all the work - the licence-payer? What happens to the houses after the TV team pulls out? Can the family sell the fabulously finished house and keep a huge profit?
As someone who is struggling to find the cash (and the builder) to carry out a few improvements, I wonder how I can get a new house courtesy of the TV company.
Perhaps it's sour grapes on my part (well IT IS) but can't help feeling it's all a bit paternalistic and patronising for the families involved who all seem to have a heart-breaking back story. Great god TV swoops in and rescues poor struggling peasants etc.
It's the same with Renovation Man and Grand Designs, only the families featured in these are middle-class and with more cash.
(Cringes in anticipation of 'heartless bitch' posts).

What I hate is when Nick Knowles starts digging into their back story and asking them probing questions about their relationships, feelings, depression etc. I always want them to start shouting "you're a tv presenter, not a psychotherapist. Stop therapizing me Nick" a la Mark from Peep Show.

I wonder if it all starts to fall apart in a few months- the crappy cupboard doors fall off, the applied-in-haste paint starts to peel??? Does Nick Knowle's team give a 10 year warranty for the work? From the TV companys point of view it is a cheap programme to make. The costs of renovating a house are nothing like the costs involved with actually making a drama . Only one presenter to pay instead of lots of actors. Scenery is provided free by the householder. Materials often donated by suppliers in return for a 'plug' on the programme. Easy peasy!!!

Lots of people watch these programmes, bums on seats. They earn their commisions.

You're right Lizzie, episode for episode its a lot cheaper to make than drama.

Its a winner all round.

(I quite like them - apart from the backstories, just show me the before and after shots and I'm happy)

Grand Designs projects quite often run out of cash part way through and we don't see the finished house for another year! I think they just get an appearance fee.

As for the others, I wouldn't let them near my house with a barge pole. If 60 minute makeover came to paint over my wallpaper and sloppily balance a bathroom and kitchen in I would actually sue them.

DH's receptionist was on a house show (not in the UK, though). She said they were brilliant - a giant mirror one of the design contestants had installed fell off the wall and broke some ornaments, which were all replaced. They also came back and made good any snags the homeowners found with the work.

I am always a bit as to how they can let it get so bad in the first place, I mean surely if you are doing up your house you do a job at a time not strip down the whole house in one go, rip out electrics etc and then leave it all.

When my DB was almost on DIY SOS he had to say what his budget for the work was and the BBC would have doubled it. That was in the day when it was more a case of 'dad's cocked up the kitchen extension and the leaks are so bad we're all eating breakfast in wetsuits'. I saw some of last night's episode and hadn't realised it had got so misery porn recently.

Tbh... even if I needed some serious redecorating doing to my house, I'd rather save up for a tin of emulsion rather than let the BBC use me as cheap entertainment.

They are becoming a bit tedious now.

Some of the advice ill informed opinions the so-called 'experts' give make me cringe.

Aw I love all these programmes and set the reminder for Restoration Man.

mmmmm George Clarke you are delicious.

DIY SOS has changed tactic over the years hasn't it to more helping needy families usually where someone has been ill. I have to say though the one with the autistic boy was wonderful. Well really it was the boy who was wonderful. DS and I were in tears at his reaction and the fantasic relationship between him and his mum. I'm tearing up just thinking about it now.

Flight

He's called Gorgeous George in my house !

I'm just miffed with house programmes full stop. Don't get me wrong; I feel for the families helped by DIY SOS and I root for the people buying or building their own lovely homes to find/build something special. But I just get so disheartened by the fact that DH and I are stuck in crappy rented accomodation (nothing wrong with rented, but this house is crap!) due to no deposit. Wahhh!

DIY SOS are now borrowing from the format for that American show ... you know the one "Astonishing Makeover" or whatever its called, where someone has always died in the family secretly being helped and there has to be a minimum of 8 children. The makeovers there are incredible though, swimming pools, pool tables, 8 tvs in a house, etc. I guess they get their budgets from the advertisers.

I'd like George Clarke better if he didn't called himself an arch-i-tet.

bibbity

You mean Extreme Makeover (Home Edition)

They are amazing makeovers though, from what I remember. They take down whole houses and rebuild.

I haven't seen it for a long time, as I don't have the appropriate 'package' to receive the channel it's currently on, good job too, I wouldn't move all day !

With DIY SOS I think a lot of local tradespeople donate time and supplies which is how they manage to do so much...they are not paying for too much labour for a start, that in itself is donated and I expect it gives a bit of promotion to local companies.

YY to LeQueen. DH braces himself for a similar rant from me each time. Not that I, um watch it or anything. (DH has a man-crush on Nick Knowles though)

I have recently discovered Extreme Makeover... and have fallen hopelessly in love with all of it, even the schmultz.

Who was that chap who used to be with Charlie DimDuck on that garden design show? Wore braces made out of tape measures. I used to think if I had to be stuck on a desert island with someone I'd choose him (and Ian Hislip). Brawn and brains.

Hislop.

tommie walsh?

That's the man.