Homes Under the Hammer
| Homes Under the Hammer | |
|---|---|
 Homes Under the Hammer title card | |
| Genre | Factual |
| Created by | Melanie Eriksen |
| Written by | Various |
| Directed by | Various |
| Presented by |
Lucy Alexander (2003–2017) Martin Roberts (2003–) Dion Dublin (2015–) Martel Maxwell (2017–) Jasmine Birtles (guest, 2005) Marc Woodward (guest, 2005) |
| Composer(s) |
Michael Burdett Richard Cottle |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 21 |
| No. of episodes | 1020 (as of 8 May 2017) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30–60 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One |
| Picture format |
576i 16:9 (SDTV) (2003–2012) 1080i 16:9 (HDTV) (2012–present) |
| Original release | 5 May 2003 – present |
| External links | |
| Website |
www |
Homes Under the Hammer is a British factual renovation and auction television series that originally screened on BBC One as part of the BBC's morning schedule. The series has been running since May 2003, and is presented by Lucy Alexander (2003–2017), Martin Roberts (2003–), Dion Dublin (2015–), and Martel Maxwell (2017–). The series is the BBC's most successful show in the 10 am slot, regularly attaining a 30% market share for new episodes.
Presenters
Since the first series in 2003 Lucy Alexander and Martin Roberts have presented the show, though guest presenters Jasmine Birtles and Marc Woodward also presented a handful of episodes during series three, due to the limited availability of the regular presenters. Retired footballer Dion Dublin joined Alexander and Roberts in 2015 at the beginning of the nineteenth series.
On 1 July 2016, the BBC announced that Alexander had stepped down from her role on Homes Under the Hammer,[1] though Alexander later clarified that she would continue to appear on the series for "at least another few years",[2] owing to the manner in which the series is filmed. On 30 March 2017, BBC Scotland's Martel Maxwell was revealed as the new host replacing Alexander during the 21st series of the show and it was announced she would appear on screen from June.[3]
Format
Each episode of the show follows three properties (or two per half-hour show) which were bought at auction, often ones that require significant refurbishment. A cross-section of properties is featured, including residential, commercial, rural and plots of land. The programme follows a set format. One of the presenters views the property prior to going up for auction, giving their opinion on it and its potential problems as well as attractive features. A local estate agent is also invited to give their opinion on the property. The auction is then shown and the final sale price finally revealed.
The buyer is then met, and during an interview with either one of the presenters, the buyer then gives a detailed explanation of any renovation works they are going to do and how much money they expect to spend. The buyer is then left to get on with the project, with the promise that the show will re-visit the work at a later date. The programme then features another property in the same manner.
The show then returns to find out how the buyer has got on, and reminds the viewer of what the property was like prior to the auction. The results can be varied, some properties are shown fully complete, with camera shots taken in identical places "before" and "after". Other properties are shown in mid-renovation, which can give an idea of the work being done but not the final effect. Occasionally there are properties which have had no work at all done due to many factors, such as the buyer having other projects on the go or encountering hidden problems that have slowed down production.
The buyers are then interviewed once more, they are asked if they are happy with the work so far, or indeed, with the final outcome. The presenters are not present for this interview, though they do provide a voice-over. The buyer discusses their expenditures, etc., and if they felt it was worthwhile. Their expenditures do not usually include buying cost. This time, two local estate agents are invited to give their opinion on the quality of work, and whether the property is now more desirable. They then give a valuation in both the market value and rental potential. The buyer is invited to give their opinion on those valuations, and asked what they intend to do with the property. Occasionally, subsequent updates are given to the viewer.
The name of the show is a slight misnomer, as commercial and industrial property also feature on the programme in addition to residential lots. Also, they are not literally under any hammers.
Homes Under the Hammer has been criticised in many places as offering poor or unbalanced financial advice. Every episode ends with an optimistic estimate of the buyer's profit, but in many cases the contestants have gone on to sell the property at a loss, or a very small profit considering the months of effort taken up with renovation works.
Music
During the stages of viewing the property, or whilst interviewing the buyer, music is normally played which is related to the property, or person buying. For example, whilst viewing a house that may be expensive to repair or renovate, a song such as "Money Money Money"[4] may be heard. Or when buying a flat in a high rise building they may use "Moving on Up" by M People.[4] When potential homeowners viewed a house with yellow wallpaper, the song "Yellow" by Coldplay played.[4] If guests mention they enjoy a certain activity, the show plays a song to fit that activity. For example, in the 14 April 2010 episode, a buyer said he enjoyed surfing and they played "Surfin' Safari" by The Beach Boys.[4] During an episode aired 31 May 2011 AC/DC's "Back In Black"[4] was played during a segment with Roberts adding the voice over "We're back in Blackburn." Since the programme is not intended for release on home video formats, the music is included under a 'blanket licence agreement' and therefore viewers can hear tracks by high-profile artists such as Portishead and Massive Attack that would usually be 'unaffordable', uneconomic or simply refused to other higher budget BBC productions that are intended for home release. At the end of each programme, when the estate agents return to provide a final valuation on the property, their appearance is accompanied by a track entitled "Soul Food".
London-based composers Michael Burdett and Richard Cottle created the theme tune, stings and musical beds for Homes Under the Hammer.
Transmissions
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 May 2003 | 13 June 2003 | 30 |
| 2 | 3 November 2003 | 9 April 2004 | 50 |
| 3 | 3 January 2005 | March 2005 | 40 |
| 4 | October 2005 | December 2005 | 40 |
| 5 | June 2006 | July 2006 | 30 |
| 6 | 8 January 2007 | 16 February 2007 | 20 |
| 7 | 30 April 2007 | 29 June 2007 | 30 |
| 8 | 17 September 2007 | 23 November 2007 | 20 |
| 9 | 7 January 2008 | 22 February 2008 | 20 |
| 10 | 25 February 2008 | 20 June 2008 | 30 |
| 11 | 30 June 2008 | 12 September 2008 | 20 |
| 12 | 24 November 2008 | 2 February 2009 | 30 |
| 13 | 9 February 2009 | 1 March 2010 | 85 |
| 14 | 12 April 2010 | 4 February 2011 | 80 |
| 15 | 7 March 2011 | 2 March 2012 | 100 |
| 16 | 9 April 2012 | 13 February 2013 | 80 |
| 17 | 11 March 2013 | 31 March 2014 | 80 |
| 18 | 15 April 2014 | 30 March 2015 | 81 |
| 19 | 13 April 2015 | 29 March 2016 | 80 |
| 20 | 12 April 2016 | 23 March 2017 | 80 |
| 21 | 4 April 2017 | 2018 | TBC |
References
- ↑ "Lucy Alexander to step down from Homes Under The Hammer". BBC Media Centre. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
- ↑ "Lucy Alexander quits as presenter of Homes Under The Hammer after 13 years". 5 July 2016.
- ↑ "Martel Maxwell joins the presenting line-up for BBC One Daytime’s Homes Under The Hammer". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Homes Under the Hammer's Amazing Literal Music Choices". 2015-04-15. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
