It’s home on the strange
OUT there,” I hear the presenter declare at the start of a new documentary tonight, “there are people who’ve burnt the rule book and chosen to live somewhere fundamentally weird.”
And immediately I sit up and take notice, thinking: “Ooh, lovely, another show about Brighton.”
But it turns out that’s not what he means. This is architectural designer Charlie Luxton (right) and he’s here with a one-off programme called WORLD’S WEIRDEST HOMES (C4, 9pm).
Charlie, as you’d expect from his job title, isn’t a great fan of the ordinary domestic residence most of us live in.
“I’m always in awe of people who are prepared to dream with their homes,” he says, “to fight the plans, battle mediocrity…”
People, he means, such as Arizona couple Ernst and Srishti Wilhelm, who earlier this year splashed out on a place in the wilderness called Falcon’s Nest, a couple of hours outside Phoenix.
Despite it being spectacularly ugly, Ernst and Srishti had fallen in love with this towering steel-and-concrete construction from the moment they’d first clapped eyes on it while out running. They loved how crazily tall it was (124ft) and imagined it would offer spectacular views.
But they never thought they’d be able to afford it, Srishti being an artist and Ernst making his living from reading tarot cards. One day, however, fate intervened (as you’d have thought Ernst would have anticipated).
While out on their tandem, the pair were hit by a pick-up truck, leaving them with multiple injuries but, on the plus side, a huge insurance payout.
Also on the show we meet Dutchman Aad Peters who lives on a converted houseboat on the outskirts of Amsterdam. I say “houseboat” but I guess what I really mean is ark. He bought it in 2010 from a born-again Christian, who appears to have had second thoughts about becoming the new Noah.
Elsewhere tonight the candidates’ house is decked out for Christmas in THE APPRENTICE (BBC1, 9pm). Which is lovely because a merry old bearded chap is about to drop in.
Yes, it’s Santa Sugar, and he’s come with a Christmas message.
“Hey, guys, let’s drop all this greed-driven nonsense and remember Christmas’s true spiritual meaning. Here, come on, group hug…” Just kidding. No, obviously Lord S is acutely aware of the festive season’s money-making potential and so has dreamt up a way for these teams to cash in, by producing their own range of chocolates. Standing there, still in their PJs, the candidates look genuinely thrilled.
“You’ll need to brand and design the packaging,” he continues, “and create three unique chocolate flavours.”
Assigned the role of choosing her team’s flavours is Khadija, who later heads to a specialist factory in Essex. There she samples a whole range of high-end fillings, including coconut, lemon, mince pie, cranberries, chestnuts and cocoa.
And her conclusion? “I feel a bit sick.”