Grand Designs has designs on USA and NZ versions
The success of Grand Designs Australia has led to exploration on local versions in the USA and New Zealand.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under Subscription
The success of Grand Designs Australia, now 5 seasons long, has sparked interest in further local adaptations says LifeStyle host Peter Maddison.
“I heard a whisper they are trying to start it up elsewhere. I think America and New Zealand. I think they’re advancing but they haven’t produced anything yet,” he told TV Tonight.
“They haven’t found the right talent!”
UK host Kevin McCloud, in Australia for Grand Designs Live, is a big supporter of the FremantleMedia Australia production. But Maddison also appreciates the arms-length approach.
“What’s great is he gives me my space. There’s no interaction during the year much, other than social calls or we have a bit of a jab at each other. I give him the footy scores from Australia on the spot, but he really leaves us alone,” he said.
“He watches one or two a year as an interest, but he doesn’t report to me.”
The success of the series contrasts with commercial TV property shows which frequently focus on eliminations. Maddison says there is plenty of drama just by following the natural story.
“There’s nothing pumped or primed, it’s actually what’s going on.
The episode (last week) we didn’t need to build it up in any way whatsoever. We simply followed the story. It’s high drama and it’s terrific.
“I really like a house we’ve done in Graceville in Queensland.
“It’s a young couple, a farmer ‘bush cocky’ who wears the whole hat and everything. The house is extraordinary. It sits on a ridge and it launches itself out of the ridge. So it really takes advantage of the landscape, it’s very dramatic.
“The female partner owned the land and then she met a bloke who has building skills- he is a plumber and earth-mover. So they combined their skills to build this great house.
“They’re a lovely couple and it’s a beautiful landscape.”
Grand Designs Australia airs 8:30pm Thursdays on LifeStyle.
2 Responses
Americans don’t have original ideas, or care about sustainability – we look at the neighbors pile and copy it, using plastic and foam.
Surprised there hasn’t been a US version already. They did a US version of Property Ladder (the show that pretty much partnered Grand Designs here a decade ago) and it was awful as they Americanised it, and I suspect they’d ruin Grand Designs in a similar way.
Grand Designs Australia works because they just stick to the simple format of the original – different host and different country but very much the same show.