TV tonight

[Pford75]

Not strictly 'period property', but may be relevant to those of us undertaking building work of some kind on our houses. Tonight on Channel 4 at 8pm is a programme called 'Don't blame the builder'. Encouragingly, it's hosted by Jeff Howell (sensible man)....thought you might want to make a note of it...

"Getting the builders in, like your wedding day or having a baby, can be one of the most stressful experiences of your life. Each year, more than 100,000 building jobs in the UK go horribly wrong and it's often the builders who end up with the blame. But the reality is, it's a two way street. When domestic building work goes wrong, step forward building expert and agony aunt for bricks and mortar: Jeff Howell."

 

[shelli]

Not strictly 'period property', but may be relevant to those of us undertaking building work of some kind on our houses. Tonight on Channel 4 at 8pm is a programme called 'Don't blame the builder'. Encouragingly, it's hosted by Jeff Howell (sensible man)....thought you might want to make a note of it...

"Getting the builders in, like your wedding day or having a baby, can be one of the most stressful experiences of your life. Each year, more than 100,000 building jobs in the UK go horribly wrong and it's often the builders who end up with the blame. But the reality is, it's a two way street. When domestic building work goes wrong, step forward building expert and agony aunt for bricks and mortar: Jeff Howell."

What do they mean "like having a baby"? Having a baby isn't stressful - it's normal part of life!! who writes this rubbish?
edited for feminist overtones

Will definitely be watching that one - Jeff is top bloke who really knows his stuff

 

[shelli]

well that was interesting, although I only caught the last part - the couple that took their builder to court and at the end they all ended up friends and she said she'd have him back but with a proper contract (advice that has been given on this forum SO many times!) - were there any other good bits?

 

[Pford75]

Errrrm..not really

I was going to apologise to any forum members who wasted an hour of their life watching this last night.

There was very little in the way of practical advice on working with builders or resolving the conflicts....on the contract, the advice seemed very inconclusive. One of the major problems was that the home-owner had written 'penalty clauses' into the contract, meaning that when the project ran late, there was little incentive for the builder to finish the job (since the penalties supposedly exceeded the monies he was due).

Felt like a missed opportunity of a programme....instead of practical advice and clear pointers, it went down the same route of most programmes of this nature and decided to film people shouting at each other.

What did anyone else think?

 

[Ian Bond]

Agreed pford75 - it was a ready-made conflict, which is one step up I suppose from the manufactured 'Wife Swap'-alike programmes.

Not sure who's side I was on in the end, if anyone's. But I can't see the builder returning to that particular house whatever the terms of the contract.

I'd still recommend Jeff Howell's book though - last night's couple should have read them before employing their builder. Perhaps they could have avoided some of the pitfalls of building work, but then again, there's no helping some people.

 

[shelli]

I was going to apologise to any forum members who wasted an hour of their life watching this last night.

glad i only caught the last 10 minutes now!!

Felt like a missed opportunity of a programme....instead of practical advice and clear pointers, it went down the same route of most programmes of this nature and decided to film people shouting at each other.

I think many programmes start out with good intentions and then the team involved in the making get embroiled in the drama - they don't seem to be disciplined enough to pull back and get what they want from the subject. - BBC 4 programmes are the only exception I've found - you know you'll get a thorough exploration of the subject without dumbing down (I can hardly unnerstand sum of the big words!) and only appropriate drama.

I Hate TV - OH wants to get a really big one now we've moved - I said "why bother - it won't make the programmes any better - why magnify rubbish?" - he says it's important to have a cinematic experience - is this Big Tele thing just a male phenomenon?

 

[Penners]

What did anyone else think?

I'm afraid I didn't watch it, despite your recommendation (which I'm sure was given in good faith).

I was afraid that it was going to be yet another of those TV shows that seem to exist purely to allow the great British public to gawp at people being unpleasant to each other. We've had quiz show hosts, business entrepreneurs, chefs, talent scouts... the list is endless. They've all got the one thing in common - some TV producer's carte blanche to shout at and belittle people.

I just can't see the attraction.

 

[DaveBrigg]

I wanted to watch it but couldn't; I had to finish installing a window instead, after our builder/renderer went home at 10 a.m. claiming that he couldn't possibly stand on a steel scaffold tower and throw lime at the walls in the middle of a thunderstorm. To make matters worse, the rain had stopped by 4 that afternoon.

 

[PC]

Watched last weeks and this weeks.

Best comedy Channel 4 have produced for years.

You can't take this seriously can you!

And this is presented by the same bloke who wrote a book called ....Rising Damp the Myth!

PC