Changing Rooms star Laurence trashes the make-over show genre

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Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, the one-time king of TV home improvement shows, has trashed the make-over TV genre that made him famous, claiming they’re now only made for people in "need".

The design guru helped to make BBC’s Changing Rooms into a global hit in the late Nineties, with his outspoken comments, flamboyant outfits and witty asides.

Now he’s turned his back on the make-over format, launching Outrageous Homes on Channel 4 later this month.

He said: “One of the things I find very difficult about home television programmes in Britain is that there's often a big need attached to it.

“Often you know, you only get your house made over if something's gone wrong in your world.”

Asked if he meant shows such as DIY SOS, he replied: “Yes, all shows like that.”

He added: “Why not make a programme about people who just don’t care, who are happy in their own skin, that they will do whatever they want to their house because it is their house, and it should be something that they have complete control over.

“This is one of the great messages of the show that there is only one little part of our world in which we can, in fact, control without fear of judgment – and that’s the way our homes look inside.”

Outrageous Homes lives up to its title.

In the first episode he meets Dawn whose incredible home was once owned by multi-millionaire publisher, Felix Dennis

It features swashbuckling pirates, real palm trees, and is set around a gigantic indoor swimming pool.

Elsewhere, Laurence is transported back to the 1970s, where Manchester resident Estelle, introduces him to the furnishing delights of the decade and a Fanny Cradock Banana candle.

He also meets a man in Nottingham who’s created an underwater Atlantis in a 1920s semi, complete with fish from local rivers.

Said Laurence: “The idea for this show literally came out of lunch.

“It was one of those moments where I said, ‘Why don’t we make a show about peoples' bats*** crazy houses?

“Why not a giant fish tank? Why don't you become a Japanese comic character? Actually you can.”

Asked about the current housing crisis, he took “Nimbys” to task.

“Princess Anne absolutely nailed it several years ago. She said, ‘If every single community in the country built 15 extra houses, there wouldn’t be a problem’, which is absolutely right.”

Outrageous Homes, Channel 4, 20 June, 10pm.