BRITAIN’S WORST DIYer - CHANNEL 5 - MENTORN
SERIES PRODUCER - 6 x 25’
Reality series nurtured from development doc to TX. Five hopeless home-improvers renovate a prime block of flats in London, with the ignominious title of Britain’s Worst DIYer awaiting the most useless of the bunch. Presented by Quentin Willson.
The key to the series is the enthusiastic handymen, who believe they are accomplished craftsmen, being nominated and accompanied by a despairing loved one. The pairs are set challenges designed to bring out their personal frustration, and highlight the cavalier attitudes to safety or professionalism they put up with at home. Even simple tasks such as tiling a splashback would ignite furious rows as the nominator berates their partner’s lack of planning, and improvised shortcuts. The contestants worked alongside two on-screen experts, interior designer Andrea Maflin, and builder, Den Detridge, who renovated their own rooms; showing us how each task should be done.
“PICK OF THE DAY: You know that bit at the start of Casualty where some idiot with a fag drops it in a room full of barrels marked Inflammable Material? Well, this is a show with a similar premise and I salute presenter Quentin Willson… The show’s found a real star in Den Detridge a proper East End builder with 60s pop star hair which is in danger of being torn out in despair… stand back and enjoy.” THE MIRROR, 22/04/05
“MUST WATCH: It’s hard to say what we love most – DIY programmes or watching idiots wreck things. This one puts the two together… a winner.” THE SUN, 20/05/05
“PICK OF THE DAY …a lot of amusing blunders.” DAILY EXPRESS 15/4/05
“PICK OF THE NIGHT. The real star of the show is straight talking East End builder Den Detridge, who attempts to remain calm while the hopeless DIYers hack through walls and try not to electrocute themselves.” EVENING STANDARD, 22/04/05
“Each of the five was asked to construct a wooden box, and did so in ways that previously only MC Esher might have imagined.” EVENING STANDARD, 18/04/05