Preneur World March 2024

The host of BBC One’s “Interior Design
Masters With Alan Carr” talks about the new
series and why he sees himself as a chandelier
ew
In a new series of Interior Design
Masters, Alan Carr welcomes ten novice
designers looking for their big break in
the world of commercial interior design.
Over eight weeks they will be competing
to win a collaboration contract with
a global homeware brand to produce
their own line of home furnishings.
Design expert and former editor of Elle
Decoration Michelle Ogundehin returns
as the series judge.
The designers come from all walks of
life and have very different signature
styles, from the ‘Victorian Maximalist’ to
the ‘Elegant Brutalist’ to the ‘Colourful
Traditionalist’. Each week, either
working alone or as a team, they are set
a new challenge as they are given free
rein to redesign a range of commercial
spaces across the UK. These include
turning former nun’s cells into B&Bs,
revamping activity centres at Chester
Zoo, transforming Wembley dressing
rooms and remodelling holiday lodges at
Blenheim Palace.
Each week Michelle decides which
designers have created her ‘Stand Out
Space’ and which designers will be
sent home. She is joined by leading
figures from the world of interior design
including Abigail Ahern, Kelly Hoppen,
Sophie Robinson and Mary Portas.
Welcome back to series 5 of Interior
P Design Masters. Can you tell us what
viewers can expect from this series
and why they should watch it?
Brilliant designers, exciting locations
A and eye-popping interior design. The
show is such a springboard – that’s
what I love about it. Banjo Beale has his
own show, Micaela Sharp, Peter Irvine
and Siobhan Murphy do presenting.
Molly Coath and Fran Lee have worked
with the amazing Matthew Williamson,
and I saw a massive billboard advertising
Paul Moneypenny’s new wallpaper range
- felt like such a proud dad. This show
can change your life.
P
How is it to be reunited with
Michelle Ogundehin?
Love her. People think we are chalk
A and cheese but we have such a giggle
on the show. Plus, you learn so much
about interior design from her. Every day
is a school day with Michelle.
P
Can you tell us a bit more about the
designers taking part this year?
The key to the show success is the
A designers, it’s getting the right mix,
not just of personalities but design
styles. This year does not disappoint:
we have quirky designers, serious
designers but the one thing they have in
common is that they are designers who
are just starting out. On this show you
always think that you’ve seen everything
and then a designer comes along with
something so uniquely beautiful, or in
some cases hideously awful, but you are
always surprised whether in a good way
or bad!
In your opinion, is there a common
P design faux pas which designers
tend to make, that you have seen in
this series or across all series of Interior
Design Masters?
The most common faux pas is when
A the designers forget the client and
just do what they want to do. The
client wanted high end luxury, but you
like lime green and fuzzy felt so you
decided to pop that on the wall instead
- its madness! The amount of times we
see this on the sofa and Michelle ends
up telling them ‘It’s not about you!!’.
Obviously, it makes great telly when these
designers do it their way but we do end up
with some unhappy clients.
When you are with the designers as
P they are working on their project, do
you ever get the urge to get involved
or give your opinion?
I have to bite my tongue so badly,
A but then I do have the worst poker
face, so I end up saying it anyway.
The series has been going on so long now
that I think the designers can tell whether
I like it or not. They’ll say ‘you hate it
don’t you’ and I have to come clean. But
in my defence if I LOVE a design I will
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