When Grand Designs first aired, its host Kevin McCloud hardly expected the overwhelming success that would follow. Initially, he humbly joked that it would be a triumph if "one surveyor and his dog" tuned in.
Fast forward to today, the Channel 4 phenom celebrates its 25th anniversary, with McCloud unable to fathom a world without the hit show. Despite making a living from exploring others' abodes and delighting thousands of viewers in the process, Kevin prefers to keep his own pad private.
Kevin previously told journalists he would not share information about his private home, fearing it could spell disaster for his career. However, over time, Kevin has offered sneak peeks into his life and home during interviews.
This is inside the life of the celebrated architect and TV presenter Kevin McCloud.
Kevin won't show his own home on tellyWhile Kevin is famously tight-lipped about his personal living space, he has let slip that he lives in Herefordshire, near the Welsh borders, with his partner Jenny Jones, whom he married three years prior.
As for putting his marital home on display, Kevin has no plans whatsoever. In conversation with the Mirror, he previously said: "Why would you do that? It's like walking around with your trousers down. Why would I, knowing full well 30% of anybody out there is going to say they don't like it, and they're going to be quite vitriolic? ".
Despite being frequently approached by producers, Kevin is adamant about keeping his personal life private. "Of course, they have asked, again and again. I think professionally it's an exit strategy. If I did it, I could never get it back."
A hint of Ikea in the presenter's homeKevin did, however, reveal a small detail about his home. He has recently installed a new kitchen, courtesy of Swedish brand Ikea, inspired by a memorable Grand Designs renovation in Warwickshire.
"I was absolutely blown away by the staircase in Astley Castle, which was a wreck," he confesses. "I thought if I could have one thing, it would be that. So I'm sort of borrowing some ideas," he admitted in an interview with the Mirror.
Family Life and ChildrenKevin, a Cambridge graduate, is a father of four grown-up children. His eldest two, Hugo and Grace, have followed in his footsteps, with Hugo working as an architect and Grace as a design journalist.
Given Kevin's extensive property expertise, it's no surprise that Hugo and Grace have teamed up to buy, renovate, and sell a house. Kevin's two younger children with his ex-wife Suzanna, from whom he separated in December 2019, have pursued different paths.
Milo works as a Personal Trainer, focusing on health and fitness, while Elise is dedicated to her fashion studies. After separating from his wife Suzanna, with whom he shares three children, Elsie and Milo raised in Somerset, Kevin has sought privacy for his family.
Unlike their father's fame, Kevin's kids prefer to keep out of the spotlight.
Life on the roadHe later adopted a nomadic lifestyle during lockdown after his marriage ended, ditching hotels and public commuting due to asthma. Kevin embraced life in a caravan, facing the cold British weather on film shoots around the country.
Kevin shared his experience, saying: "I rented a camper van for three years and drove around the country living in it, just to be able to film. The cold months were particularly tough. It was in February, in the mud."
And he added with a sense of finality: "It was bloody, bloody cold. Camper vans, they're designed for summer touring holidays. Never again."
