Grand Designs’ latest series is now well underway, spotlighting more radical self-build projects and revisits to some previously featured homes.
The Channel 4 show celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024, with the anniversary special episodes attracting two million viewers. It resulted in two more seasons being announced for 2025, with the second expected in the autumn.
Meanwhile series 23 is currently being shown on Channel 4, featuring a floating home built using never-before-tested technology, as well as a pensioner with plans to create a mirror image of the beloved home that her mobility issues are forcing her out of.
Long-time fans of the show might have noticed quite a significant change that has been made to the programme that is especially apparent in recent episodes, though it appears to have passed many people by.
Presenter Kevin McCloud, who has fronted the show since its first episode in 1999, explained the huge change that has been made behind-the-scenes.
Speaking to the Mirror’s Screen Time team, he shared that they now use a cutting edge camera that allows the team to capture some truly impressive shots. The change first came in during filming of last year’s autumn series.
“We started using the same camera that they’re using [in Netflix’s Adolescence]. The reason is because it’s got a Gimbal, rather like a Steadicam, which was invented for Stanley Kubrick for The Shining… and it allows you to walk down a corridor and instead of the camera bouncing it gives a beautiful smooth [shot],” Kevin shared.
“It means we can push into a building really slowly and navigate round the building cleanly without worrying about whether we’re going to see tracks on the floor.”
He continued: “It’s an amazing camera so we’re using it quite a bit, pretty well on every location day. We call it the chicken because as you step it does this [gestures] and it’s like a chicken walking.”
Fans of the series are marking their calendars for the latest Grand Designs Live event spanning May 2 to May 5. The exhibition sees live talks from previous contributors to the Channel 4 series, as well as advice for those planning their own big build.
This year Kevin will host an event first, with the launch of the ‘Flatpack Olympics’. The event will pit people proud of their DIY skills against each other as they attempt to build everyday furniture in record time.
Kevin McCloud was speaking ahead of Grand Designs Live at London ExCeL, the UK’s premier home and design exhibition, taking place from 2-5 May.
Grand Designs returns tonight at 9pm on Channel 4
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