Grand Designs is back on the TV with its familiar format. While a new spin-off program still tracks renovations, it all feels very, very different. Welcome to Grand Designs Transformations, launching January 4 with eight episodes coming to ABC and iview.
News of the Grand Designs change of channel dropped some time ago, and production house Fremantle has been working for the past year on a “transformed” product as well as new episodes of Grand Designs which will drop later in 2024. The producers and its new home, ABC, have really shaken things up. In addition to the new channel, they have altered its name, secured new hosts and even fiddled with the format.
New name: In addition to new Grand Designs Australia (at a later date), viewers are getting Grand Designs Transformations.
New channel: You no longer need a Foxtel subscription to watch premiere episodes on Lifestyle. The new series can be found on ABC and iview. The format is no stranger to ABC viewers. Still on iview are episodes of the original UK series of Grand Designs alongside spin-offs Grand Designs Revisited, Grand Designs: House of the Year and the other APAC version, Grand Designs New Zealand.
Grand Designs Restoration hosts Yasmine Ghoniem and Anthony Burke
New hosts: Farewell Peter Maddison after a decade of hosting on Lifestyle. Welcome new hosts Anthony Burke and Yasmine Ghoniem. Burke is a professor of architecture at University of Technology Sydney. He is also the host of ABC’s Restoration Australia. Ghoniem is the founder of international design practice YSG which undertakes architectural builds and interior design in residential, commercial and hospitality sectors.
New format: The renovation projects on Grand Designs Transformations are smaller and less ambitious. What’s best though is viewers get two builds in every one of the eight new episodes. They can range from a bathroom makeover to bigger transformations of apartments or an old cottage.
To better understand the new program and what it offers, Mediaweek spoke with Burke.
How will the new Grand Designs format be different?
“Restoration Australia is more about the heritage, Grand Designs is about the big ideas and Transformations is in a much more familiar space,” said Burke.
“One difference is we are doing two houses per episode. We are aiming more for the average viewer who might be sitting on the couch thinking ‘we could renovate, do an extension’ or ‘pop up something out the back’.
“We are finding that even within that scale of work there is plenty of invention and design going on.
“There’s heaps of great little lessons to learn and little tricks for viewers to pick up on.”
Brand name ban
One thing that is different with the format moving to the ABC is the rules are tighter about implied commercial endorsements.
“There can be no sponsorships or product placement. Occasionally a tradie might show up with a brand on their shirt. The ABC is not allowed to promote individual businesses, but just a brand on a shirt might be ok. If they have it on their hat and their shirt and their backpack then we might ask them to change.”
Former Grand Designs Australia host Peter Maddison
Anthony Burke is no Peter Maddison
Burke has come across the previous host of Grand Designs Australia, Peter Maddison, a number of times. Not since Maddison stopped filming his episodes though. “The last time we spoke was just after Peter received his AACTA Award two seasons ago.
“He was a fantastic host and he has created such big shoes for us to try and fill. I wouldn’t compare myself to him because he has done such an amazing job for so long. We need to find a way to do it a little differently because we can’t compete on his terms.”
See also: “It’s about the human story”: Peter Maddison on 10 seasons of Grand Designs Australia
How long ago did filming start?
“We started a year ago. These sort of renovations happen much quicker than Grand Designs or Restoration Australia because the scale is smaller.
“On a Grand Designs house, you might expect a build to last between 18 months and two years from first filming to final scenes.
“With Grand Designs Transformations we are getting through them in about six to 12 months.”
Burke said that one of Yasmine Ghoniem’s houses in this first season only finished the build at the end of 2023. With post-production, the episode will only be completed shortly before the broadcast date. “It will be a really close shave,” he noted.
Grand Designs Transformations in Avalon Beach
Does every renovation project started get finished?
“In my experience, we have never gone part-way through an episode and then had to stop or write it off. However, we have done an initial meet and greet on a couple of occasions and decided it wouldn’t be a good project for the show. If the owners have changed their plans, for example, it might then become a Fremantle decision about whether that episode would be undertaken.
“We do over-program when we are casting. We will cast 12 houses when we need 10. Those extras will then get pushed into another series.”
Burke said there is never any shortage of applicants. “Our casting team have great contacts across the industry too for special projects that architects might alert us about.”
Anthony Burke and Yasmine Ghoniem
Two hosts one show
While both Burke and Ghoniem host separate builds in each episode, they do get some time onscreen together.
“In the middle of each episode, we do an explainer visit to another house or project that might run for five minutes. We have a great chat despite seeing things quite differently. As a designer, she is known for being out there with colours and textures. I am much more the classic architect, something of a modernist. I am looking for light and shadow and form. We bring very different perspectives.”
How often will Burke visit a build?
Fans of the format will know the host can’t be, and doesn’t need to be, on site every week.
“For Grand Designs and Restoration Australia the minimum visit for me is four. On top of that there will be a visit to a factory or something associated with the build.
“For Grand Designs Transformations that becomes more like three visits. Maybe two on-site and one with the homeowner to a supplier. That is because they are smaller and shorter renovations.”
Burke added: “That is just a rule of thumb. There could be more on some projects.”
Yasmine Ghoniem with renovators Karen and Stuart in Grand Designs Transformations
Show me the money: How much did it cost?
For nosey viewers who love the detail, the final budget reveal is a critical piece of the format. Is this something that is contractual with people being profiled on the show?
“Everyone expects to be asked about their budget – before and after. These days maybe over 90% of homeowners have found a comfortable way to talk about money. It can be hard for Australians to talk about money, some more than others. We might help them with the words for that segment.
“Some are reluctant to give a number, and instead give an indicative range. We really try and get to a number.”
As a viewer, does Burke ever look at other renovation/make-over programs and raise an eyebrow when he hears how much is being spent on the work?
Being careful with his reply, Burke replied: “Let’s just say those numbers can be fluid in the hands of others. Luckily there aren’t qualified quantity surveyors to check all the numbers.”
Burke hosting Restoration Australia
Restoration Australia history
The original host of Burke’s other series Restoration Australia was Sibella Court when it was produced by the ABC. The series was then made for the ABC by Fremantle with Stuart Harrison hosting for two seasons and then Anthony Burke took over. He is wrapping his third season of the format now.
With longer builds on Restoration Australia, Burke said there is a record holder for the longest. “The house in Pinnaroo, the former church which was the second episode of the most recent season. The young couple Carolyn and Campbell were working on that for seven years! They were amazing and nothing phased them.”
Restorations Australia: Watch this epic Pinnaroo build on iview: Season 5, episode 2
Anthony Burke renovator
When asked if he was a frequent renovator or if he instead acquires a property not needing work, Burke replied: “I’m a serial fiddler. I have just finished a renovation where I live in the inner west of Sydney. That will keep me happy for another 12 to 24 months. But I’m already looking for what might be my next project. There’s nothing more exciting than having a chat onsite with a builder about your own project.
“I need to do that on the side now as my university work and the TV shows keep me very busy.”