friday, 7th March, 2008
Five has secured renowned architectural designer Charlie Luxton as its new face of property and architecture, it was announced today (FRI).
Charlie takes over from George Clarke to present Build A New Life In The Country when it returns for a fourth series next year and is about to co-host a new nine-part series on the channel, I Own Britain's Best Home, which transmits on the 20th March at 8pm.
As part of the newly revamped arts portfolio on Five, Charlie will also present Open House later in the year. This brand-new seven part series follows one of London's most prestigious architectural events, Open House, which takes place in the capital every September and allows the public to enjoy unprecedented access to some of the country's most celebrated buildings.
Charlie Luxton said: "I'm thrilled to have been given this opportunity to join the team at Five and am looking forward to helping the channel strengthen its already excellent reputation in architecture and property programming.
"I've always been impressed by the quality and variety of Five's programmes in this area, and I relish the challenge of bringing architecture and design to a new audience by making them accessible and entertaining. I am delighted to be embarking on a relationship with the channel at a time when its future is so exciting."
Five's Head of Features, Alex Menzies said: "We're thrilled to have Charlie on Five. His passion for people, property and architecture is infectious and the warmth and authority of his presenting style make him perfect for Five's existing output and the commissions we have lined up for 2008/2009."
Property expert Charlie is best known for presenting the ITV1 series, Homes and Property; BBC TWO's Restored to Glory; BBC THREE's Bionic Buildings and Not All Houses Are Square and Not all Bricks And Mortar for Channel 4. In 2000, he fronted the six-part series, Modern British Architects, for Five.
He was born in Sydney, Australia and has lived in England since 1983. He has an M.A. in Architecture from the Royal College of Art and is currently designing and running a number of architectural projects in the UK and abroad.
