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Returning: Grand Designs

New episodes with Kevin McCloud come to ABC.

Grand Designs hosted by Kevin McCloud returns to ABC on Sunday week.

This is a 2018 series which begins in Buckinghamshire.

Young Spanish architect Jaime and his wife Mimi Fernandez embark on an epic mission to convert a Grade II* listed folly in Buckinghamshire into a family home. Originally designed to exhibit a fossil collection, but gutted by fire and left in ruins for the last 200 years, Jaime and Mimi are nevertheless beguiled by the crumbling mini-castle. Giving themselves a wildly optimistic six month deadline to finish before the birth of their second child, it’s not long before they hit trouble.

The Saxon burial ground the folly is built on throws up some macabre surprises. Their stonemasons from Madrid let them down and local builders with no restoration experience have to take on the crumbling stonework. Jaime puts all his energies and creativity into the project, using innovative 3D mapping to squeeze living spaces into the tower, but it’s an exhausting struggle. With money running out, the contract on their rented accommodation running out and the birth imminent the pressure to move in proves almost unbearable.

7:40pm Sunday February 9 on ABC.

3 Responses

  1. I am glad it is returning, The Streets was a bit different, but it is shame we have to wait for so long on ABC for the series now (I assume due to the BBC First-Foxtel output deal?).

    1. Lifestyle held the exclusive first run rights to Grand Designs UK and produced the Australian version. BBC First has deals with Foxtel and Fetch to carry their channel. I have seen the Aylesbury (first episode pictured) on cable anyway.

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