This new nine-part series sees the owners of some
of the most beautiful properties in the country

competing for the right to say they own Britain’s
Best Home. The series focuses on individuals who
are passionate about their own homes: ordinary
and extraordinary people who have toiled over
build, design and décor to leave a personal stamp
on their properties. This episode visits a modern
flat in London’s Barbican Centre, a converted
watermill in Gloucestershire and a 1930s
bungalow in Eastbourne.
I Own Britain’s Best Home sees a team of three
enthusiastic presenters travel the length and
breadth of Britain in search of the nation’s best
residence. Property consultant Melissa Porter
(presenter of ‘Put Your Money Where Your House
Is’ and ‘Get a New Life’), architectural designer
Charlie Luxton and property developer Russell
Harris have the expertise and the eye to hunt
down truly exceptional homes.
After making their selections, the presenters
spend 24 hours in their favourite properties,
getting acquainted with the buildings and their
characters, and sniffing out the special features
that make them unique.
However, I Own Britain’s Best Home is not just
interested in beautiful design and architectural
flourishes – the series emphasises ‘the home’ as
opposed to ‘the building’, and it aims to
encompass the story of the owners’ relationship
with their properties. To this end, the presenters get
to know the owners and their families to find out
what drove them to design and build their homes.
They are keen to explore the individual charms of
the properties, irrespective of value or location.
Each programme features three properties of
different types, from thatched country cottages to
urban bachelor pads. At the end of the show, the
public have the opportunity to vote for their
favourite. The winner from each heat goes
through to the final, where one property will
eventually be awarded the title of Best Home –
and its owners presented with a cool £25,000.
Homes featured across the series include a
converted chapel in Yorkshire, a Georgian manor
house in Essex, an award-winning new build in
North London, a surprising bungalow in
Eastbourne and a footballers’ wives-style house
in Hertfordshire. Such a wealth of amazing
properties promises an extremely tough
competition – but only one home can win the
ultimate accolade.
First up this week, Melissa, Charlie and Russell
visit London’s famous Barbican Centre to find out
how two architects have added their distinctive
touch to their home. The Barbican Centre is one
of the biggest architectural statements of 1960s
London, so what happened when owners Ken
and Tracey had the chance to refashion one of its
flats? The answer is a hyper-cool, ultra-functional
family home. Ken and Tracey have created a
super-sleek space that celebrates the fabric of
the Barbican itself, whilst catapulting it into the
21st century.
The team’s next destination is in
Gloucestershire, where a Grade II-listed watermill
set in the spectacular grounds of a 17th-century
home has been converted into a comfortable
base for a family of five. Boasting seven
bedrooms, five bathrooms, a music room, a
maze, a tennis court, a wooden bridge and a
waterfall, this remarkable home’s crowning glory
is the River Leach, which runs directly beneath
the property.
The final home this week is a 1930s bungalow
located in a quiet cul-de-sac in the seaside town
of Eastbourne, East Sussex. Owner and designer
Martin Swatton has turned his home into an
open-plan bachelor pad. Working with a
surprisingly low budget, Martin has managed to
achieve designer good looks in a property that is
high on style and functionality – the ideal space
for a man in his position!