Move Over, Trinny And The Other One

Longterm readers will be familiar with my attitude to the horrors that present BBC Two's What Not To Wear, but I think I can safely say that they've finally been ousted as the two most arrogantly objectionable non-entities ever to con a BBC executive into giving them airtime.

Because I've now seen The Million Pound Property Experiment.

For anyone not in the know (you fortunate buggers), this is two blokes who have embarked on an experiment in buying, doing up and selling a series of properties with the aim of making a million pounds. In the latest installment, they decided to do up a place in Harrogate for a family to live in, and went about it in the most unpleasantly arrogant manner imaginable. They disregarded all the advice of the property developing expert the BBC had partnered them with, including over minor matters such as the advisability of an open fire and a hob open at two sides in a 'family home', they responded to potential buyer complaints that there was insufficient storage space in the bedrooms (i.e. none) with comments like "I hate wardrobes" (yes, but you're not going to be living in this place, are you?), and generally defended their every crap choice with the fatuously patronising comment that there's no reason why "a housewife or househusband shouldn't be entitled to a beautifully-designed home".

Every time one of this pair opened his mouth I wanted to see him smacked in it.

Posted on November 27, 2003 11:30 AM

*insert camp Scots accent* Ah Jon, you must understand they're selling an aspirational lifestyle NOT just a house. With their 'years of experience in stage design' surely they know what they're on about... .
They get on my nerves too, and I've only had the misfortune of seeing them on daytime tv! (hangs head in shame)

Posted by Trudi on November 27, 2003 02:38 PM

Sounds utterly dreadful.

I really don't like the idea of a 'lifestyle' as a consumer package. I like to think I have a life that self-constructed. Chaotic and probably not aesthetically pleasing, but it's lived, not merely passively consumed.

Posted by Gert on November 27, 2003 03:44 PM

I also forgot to mention the classic. The property developing guy, who I really liked, made the observation that the market would say whether they'd achieved their aim: If a family bought it, then they'd succeeded in creating a family home, if someone without kids bought it, then they hadn't.

So the buyers were "a professional couple with no children'....

Posted by Jon on November 27, 2003 05:31 PM

I adore Trinny and Susannah!!

I can't abide the Scots gay couple though... I think its because I can imagine them in bed... with me.... far... too... easily.

Ugh!!!!!

Whereas Trinny and Sooz are exactly like me when I get asked to take someone shopping, if you didn't want the advice you wouldn't invite me now would you?

Posted by darian on November 28, 2003 10:58 PM

I watched this the other day and was equally as bewildered by the attitudes of the two presenters.

The house, in the end was extreamly nice, but not for a family, for young proffesionals. The design was in no way appealing or suitable for a family with young children.

I would say they need to listen to the property developng guy in the future, but he, as you will see in the next episode is pulling out. Probably because he can't stand to work with them any longer.

Posted by malibu on November 30, 2003 10:11 PM

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