Grand Designs has lost it's focus. AIBU?

[SecretLocker]

I've watched this lovely programme since it began all those years ago. It's always been a fascinating programme, heavily focussed on building, design and all related subjects. There would be brief info on the people featured each week, with relevant nods when necessary to their financial situation or project setbacks etc.

This current series seems to have changed the balance, and now seems more interested in the personal lives of the couples and their extended families and friends. Too much airtime is taken away from the actual project and the progression of the build.

This week's episode was the worst by far - it just didn't get going. It kept bouncing between the relationship of the female of the project and her best friend, and the struggle of living with kids in a caravan.
Kevin just appears to be conducting interviews now. There was barely any of the building process shown, and I gave up after the second ad break.

Anyone else agree?

[MegCleary]

Nope Kevin is God

[SecretLocker]

I agree, I love Kevin, I'd just rather see him on the building sites rather than interviewing people in their various temporary houses.

[Floralnomad]

I have not watched last nights but after the first of the series I said to my dh that I feel it would be better if it was just narrated rather than having Kevin actually there IYSWIM . He spoils it for me with all his gushing .

[WeeMadArthur]

I hadn’t registered it when I watched the latest show, but now you’ve said it I think you are right OP, there used to be a lot more information on the build and the problems than there is now. It’s a bit sad to see it going the way of so much other programming (even if Kevin is a god)

[NewYoiker]

To be fair.. it did take 3 years for them to start building.. it would be a bit of a shitty program of '3 years later after many issues they're now starting the build'

We like to play grand designs bingo..
over budget
Planning issues
Unexpected baby

[StateofIndependance]

A lot of the building projects are quite dull now. However we find Kevin's layering of outdoor clothing an endless source of fascination. 2 weeks ago he had a base layer, fleece and not 1 but 2 puffas on. All in the same cyan blue colour. Beautiful.

[LakieLady]

I enjoyed last night's show. I thought the house was beautiful and showed how it is possible to build a great home without spending silly money on top-of-the -range taps and fancy windows.

I also liked the way the metal cladding echoes agricultural buildings, I thought it was appropriate for the site.

[psicat]

"We like to play grand designs bingo..
over budget
Planning issues
Unexpected baby
grin"

Us too! Although you've missed out unrealistic build length!
"we'll be in by Christmas"
(voice-over) "it's now March and the windows are still not in"

Oh oh and the classic "I have zero knowledge of project management but I'm going to quit my highly paid job to PM this build and save money"

[NewYoiker]

@psicat yes!! It's hilarious!

[lottiegarbanzo]

It's always the windows! Order them at least three months earlier than you think you need them.

Sorry OP, that's what I've learnt from GD.

I've always loved Kevin's little interviews, he has that 'knowing guilelessness' and sensitivity that encourages people to talk to him, like a toned down Louis Theroux. But, as a tiny part of the programme. I want to know about the vision, the project management and the windows!

[SecretLocker]

Yes the GD Bingo has always been a fun part of the programme.
And the theme tune makes me feel Autumn has finally arrived every new series.
Sigh, I wish it would go back to how it used to be though....
The project journeys rather than the couples personal life sagas.

[PlasticAlternative]

Ooh Grand Designs bingo
White cube
Double height ceiling
Mezzanine floor
Unexpected pregnancy/heavily pregnant at the beginning/second child by the time its finished.
No books or magazines in sight
Tiny bedrooms
No curtains or any type of privacy.
Kevin is sceptical and critical to start with but gushing by the end

[Dontfeellikeamillenial]

Yabu.

Kevin is hot hot hot baby cakes

[DuggeesWoggle]

Another Grand Designs Bingo player here too

Other squares on the Bingo card are:

• blowing the budget on a bespoke staircase/window/kitchen that takes months to arrive and then doesn't fit
• the couple 'pulling in a few favours' and get all their friends/family working for free on the build
• pissing off the neighbours by directly blocking a beautiful countryside/coastal view with a monstrous 4 storey home
• the couple running out of money and having to borrow more cash from their parents and friends
• look of schadenfreude from Kevin as they fall ever further behind schedule

- thinly veiled bickering between the couple who appear to be barely on speaking terms 6 months in

• the female of the couple spending 3 years raising 2 young children alone in a caravan (one of whom will be conceived and born during the course of the show) while the man spends every waking hour perfecting finicky details on the build

Kevin certainly seems to have an aphrodisiac effect on the couples doesn't he?

[SilverHairedCat]

I work on construction health and safety and my DH spends most of the time wryly looking at me as I rage at the TV about shocking standards on site and how to kill yourself by falling off a roof with no edge protection / cut your hands off / slow death by silicosis / being buried alive in an unshored excavation being advertised on TV as a great way to build a home. FFS.

[DuggeesWoggle]

Yes plastic no curtains/privacy at all (maybe curtains are common ) - and there's often a 'loo with a view' over woodland/sea/next door's garden

[HildaZelda]

If ANYONE can find a link to the episode featuring Northern Irish architect Patrick Bradley and his container house, can you PLEASE link it?
Have found about 10 minutes of it online, but that's all.

[ShirleyPhallus]

Kevin certainly seems to have an aphrodisiac effect on the couples doesn't he?

I worked with him on a project last year and Christ, there’s something about him that is so sexy

He said he’s used to people’s mums fancying him rather than young people

[DuggeesWoggle]

SilverHaired my DH is a geotechnical engineer and also spends much of each program tutting at their poor/non-existant designs, bad piling/foundations and terrible choice of materials. 'But...but...why would you do that?' is his usual response! You can tell within 10 minutes if he approves of the build

I imagine anyone working in the construction industry is the same!

[SausageOnAFork]

The woman on last nights one drove me to distraction.

[SilverHairedCat]

@DuggeesWoggle oh god yes! It's usually the lack of insulation that gets me! As for living in a bloody freezing static caravan in several feet of snow - put some bloody bales of hay around it FFS!

[GerdaLovesLili]

Does anyone else wonder how closely "unexpected baby" and "Kevin McCloud" are correlated? And how? I know that correlation is not causation but how many "Grand Design" babies are there?

[Jakethecob]

Ah Kevin... he gets better with age.

[Jakethecob]

The Regency Villa in Farnham was my favourite episode.