0/5

Bigger is better on The Renovators

TEN launched The Renovators to media and sponsors on Thursday, hoping the show will do for renovation what MasterChef did for food.

TEN launched The Renovators last night in a massive warehouse in Rosebery where it staked a claim on the genre, and the message that bigger is better.

The huge space, converted from a distribution centre into the largest working television set in the country, is big enough to fit several houses, planes and then some.

300 guests were dwarfed by the displays, supplies and renovation resources that will host the challenges, undertaken by the 26 contestants on the show. TEN celebs in attendance included Matt Preston, George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan, Michelle Bridges, Shannan Ponton, Sandra Sully, Natarsha Belling, Angela Bishop and Dicko.

A sizzle reel gave the feel of a contemporary, urban, aggressive format with lashings of production style.

TEN is hopeful that the series will follow on from its successes in event television.

Chief Programming officer David Mott said, “MasterChef transformed the way the Australian public embraced cooking and we really believe The Renovators will do the same for home renovators.

“TEN’s always prided itself on being innovators and understanding trends, as we’ve seen with many of the franchises over the years, if you go back to 2001 with Big Brother, Australian Idol, The Biggest Loser and obviously MasterChef and now Renovators.

Mott added that the challenges in The Renovators will range from “a very simple hammering of a nail -and who would’ve thought there’s great drama in that- to renovating a whole street of 11 houses that we do in this warehouse.”

Host Brendan Moar judges Barry Du Bois, Robyn Holt and Peter Ho introduced the 26 contestants, who include:

– Nine renovators from NSW including a police officer turned self-taught renovator,
– Six renovators from VIC varying from a demolition expert to an owner of a family ice creamery business
– The original “Meadow Lea” man is one of three lucky renovators from QLD
– SA brought four renovators to the workbench including an intensive care nurse who saves style-deprived homes in her spare time
– Another four contestants come from WA – from a whopping 6 foot 9 wharfie to a 5 foot 2 pocket rocket amateur renovator and mum

In an all-or-nothing claim, the winner of the series not only nets the profit from the sale of their renovated house, but the combined profit of all six houses, tipped to nudge past $500,000.

The original format is already attracting overseas interest as a potential new franchise for the Shine Group.

The Renovators is expected to air across 6 nights following MasterChef, but begin with launch episodes in advance very soon.

36 Responses

  1. It’s my favourite show at the moment, thanks, Channel Ten.
    Really like the experienced judging panel.
    There is no comparison between The Renovators and ‘the block’ (the block, yes, in small capitals, was a beefed up drama with silly naffy competitions and a waste of time). There are strong diverse personalities on The Renovators that I like. The Renovators is the ticket for real renovators. Often need to watch online for what I missed. Sorry to the nice people on the block, but The Renovators is a much better format.

  2. its not appropriate to use the words “Shine Group”/Ch Ten and “production style” in the same story. they are not mutually compatible.

  3. I’m starting to get very excited about this.
    We could potentially see a massive shift with the audience slowly turning off The Block and picking up Renovators (I know they’ll mostly play at different times, but I don’t think audiences will want to keep up with both).
    I really hope that this is TV’s newest blockbuster (no pun intended).

  4. Agree with Mark, Brendon Moar is lovely… judging by the promos they are converting shipping containers and caravans etc as challenges, so it should be fun. Seems more relevant than some of the stupid challenges/diversions The Block is doing.

  5. I quite like the ads, love the descriptions for their 6 houses. I will give it a go (only thing I’ve got to give a go to, as I don’t watch 7 & 9 during primetime!)

    Re ‘diversity of cast’ what do you people want,? a list of total number of applicants broken down into each ethnicity so you can decide if they have been racist or not?

    Maybe more caucasians apply for these type of shows like someone said. Maybe people applied but failed some other part of the application. Pffft.

Leave a Reply