Jump directly to the content
'OH GOD NO'

Kevin McCloud slams Great British Bake Off and insists he would refuse to present show

It's probably the biggest poisoned chalice in television, but the Great British Bake Off will need new presenters when it moves to Channel 4.

With beloved Mel and Sue quitting the show, opting to remain loyal to the BBC, the search is on for hosts as favoured by the nation as they are, but it's a short list.

'This Morning' TV show, London, UK - 18 Oct 2016
12
Kevin isn't impressed with GBBOCredit: Rex Features

One C4 presenter who definitely doesn't want to host the show is Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud who can't think of anything worse.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun Online, the telly favourite said: "Oh God no. The inevitability of that happening has just set in. I think I would find myself incredibly busy if that were to happen."

Likening the show to other reality shows like Celebrity Big Brother and Strictly Come Dancing, Kevin revealed 'nonsense' like that doesn't interest him.
His first love remains design and the latest series of Grand Designs continues tonight at 9pm on Channel 4.

Recently, a couple with a fantasy of living off the land with their children have managed to build their dream home after starting the project with just £500 in the bank.

Simon and Jasmine Dale later managed to save up £27,000 to put towards the final build and are featured in this week's Grand Designs for their ingenuity.

Paul and Jasmine Dale moved to Lammas community in Pembrokeshire and built an eco home
12
Simon and Jasmine Dale moved to Lammas community in Pembrokeshire and built an eco homeCredit: Channel 4
They arrived with the aim of building a three-bed family home and be sustainable in five years
12
They arrived with the aim of building a three-bed family home and be sustainable in five yearsCredit: Channel 4
Kevin McCloud visited the couple with Grand Designs throughout the project
12
Kevin McCloud visited the couple with Grand Designs throughout the projectCredit: Channel 4

The pair built a three-bedroom eco house in the sustainable Lammas community in Pembrokshire.

In order to move into the community they had to prove they could fulfil a strict planning condition.

To be able to build on the open farmland, they had to show they could become self-sufficient within their seven acre plot within five years or be forced to move on.

Presenter Kevin McCloud spoke to Simon ahead of the building work about how he planned to live sustainability and with the land.

500-pound-house-grand-designs-161026-00_00_04_10-still002
12
The walls of the house are made up of bags full of sand and stones, which family and friends helped put inCredit: Grand Designs / Channel 4
This is their daughter's bedroom in the finally finished home
12
This is their daughter's bedroom in the finally finished homeCredit: Channel 4

He told Kevin how he planned to dig 12 feet into the hillside and build a wall along the back using sandbags filled with the dirt.

Simon planned to use timber poles he cut himself to give the home a structure, and compacted earth to make flooring.

Reclaimed glass would be used for the windows and for insulation Simon used sheep's wool, grass and straw bales.

At the front of the house the couple decided to install a greenhouse to preheat air for the house and grown food.

Kitchen fixtures and other furniture was sourced from car boot sales and eBay.

After hearing the couple's plans, Kevin said: "This won't be a cramped hobbit house, but a spacious, solid, three bed, low impact family home."

At the start of the project Simon admitted they did not have very much money for the built.

He told Kevin: "At the moment in the bank we've got five hundred-ish. We've got a few bits to come in along the way. But I think with a will we're going to get there."

The project got off to a slow start as bad weather in 2012 meant they were faced with a wet winter, and Simon had hoped to have the family in the house by October 2013.

Part of the conditions of living in the community are the setting up of a small business and the delays in building meant Jasmine's plans to create a smallholding growing vegetables were being affected.

So they put the building on hold and concentrated on setting up the business, but by August 2014 they were making progress.

As part of the contract to live in the community the couple had to prove they were able to live from the land
12
As part of the contract to live in the community the couple had to prove they were able to live from the landCredit: Channel 4
Grand Designs Kevin McCloud
12
All the furniture was either made or reclaimed through car boot sales and eBayCredit: Channel 4
500-pound-house-grand-designs-161026-00_00_38_00-still007
12
In return for food,the family had a steady run of volunteers to help build the house in the Welsh countrysideCredit: Grand Designs / Channel 4
500-pound-house-grand-designs-161026-00_00_18_15-still004
12
The project was delayed by six months due to bad weather but this meant the family could focus on the businessCredit: Grand Designs / Channel 4
Their son's bedroom in the snug and eco friendly house
12
Their son's bedroom in the snug and eco friendly houseCredit: Channel 4
The family used recycled goods and reclaimed materials to construct the home in the Welsh countryside
12
The family used recycled goods and reclaimed materials to construct the home in the Welsh countrysideCredit: Channel 4

Through horticultural courses and by selling produce they were able to add to they kitty.

Four years on they are now settled into the family home, and the couple thinks they have spent £27,000 on the build.

Kevin described this as "the cheapest house ever built in the Western Hemisphere".

Simon said: "I don;t think I could quantify it, but I can feel it in my heart when I walk around at the end of the day and see the bats flying round and hear the birds sing.

"It's been hard and I wasn't asking for an easy life. I like challenge.

"To put in a hard day's graft and be tired at the end of the day. That exhaustion is a nice feeling."

  • Grand Designs airs Wednesdays at 9pm on Channel 4

Got a story? email [email protected] or call us direct on 0207 782 4220

Topics