THETIMESTHEY AREACHANGING
Rylan Clark-Neal’s new show, You Are What Your Wear, could mark a resurgence of this once-popular television format
RYLAN Clark-Neal has landed a new job presenting a BBC fashion makeover show. The former Big Brother’s Bit on the Side host will be at the helm of a programme called You Are What You Wear. Makeover shows seem to have fallen out of favour, having been replaced in the popularity stakes by reality TV. But maybe Rylan’s new gig will mark a resurgence for the format. Here we take a look at some of the most popular makeover shows from over the years.
FACE AND BODY 10 YEARS YOUNGER
This show aimed for drastic plastic improvements. Participants were given complete makeovers – often including cosmetic surgery – in a bid to make them look younger.
The show was presented by Nicky Hambleton-Jones until she was replaced by the younger Myleene Klass.
At the start of the programme, the person’s age was guessed by 100 people on the street to get an average. That was then repeated after the makeover.
EXTREME MAKEOVER UK
Extreme was in the title and that’s the difference the makeover team were looking to achieve in this show.
Plastic surgeons, cosmetic dentists, hair and make-up artists, stylists and personal trainers set to work on transforming men and women, while viewers were given tips from experts on health, fashion and beauty.
HOW TO LOOK GOOD NAKED
Fashion stylist Gok Wan encouraged women and men who were insecure with their bodies to strip for the camera and for the picture to be shown in public in a bid to boost their self-esteem.
He never suggested participants should undergo cosmetic surgery or lose weight. It was more geared to encouraging people to feel good in themselves.
It was recently announced that the show is being revived.
FASHION WHAT NOT TO WEAR
This show, launched in 2001, made household names of Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine.
Their brutal criticisms of participants’ fashion sense, before going on to give them advice on what to wear, made for entertaining viewing. After they left, the show was presented
by Lisa Butcher and Mica Paris.
SNOG MARRY AVOID
This was more of a “makeunder” show, transforming girls who were fans of caked make-up and skimpy clothes into natural beauties. Presented by Atomic Kitten Jenny Frost and then Ellie Taylor, it featured a computer, the personal overhaul
READY FOR A COMEBACK device (POD), which supposedly only understood natural beauty.
It would conduct a poll on whether the public would like to snog, marry or avoid the participant. QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY A team of gay professionals in fashion, personal grooming, interior design, entertainment and culture would perform a “make-better” makeover.
The “Fab Five” would usually transform a straight man by revamping his wardrobe, redecorating and offering advice on grooming, lifestyle and food.
HOMES AND GARDENS CHANGING ROOMS
This popular DIY home improvement show aired on the BBC from 1996 to 2004.
Couples would swap houses with friends or neighbours and decorate a room in each other’s home. They were aided by designers such as Linda Barker, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Anna Ryder Richardson, meaning some of the creations could be pretty over-the-top.
The show was originally hosted by Carol Smillie, with work being done by carpenter “Handy” Andy Kane. 60 MINUTE MAKEOVER The daytime show set out to complete a secret house makeover in an hour.
The owner was usually in need of help and was nominated by a relative or friend. A team of decorators and builders would swoop in and renovate rooms in 60 minutes. With a tea break, of course.
It was originally hosted by Claire Sweeney and later by Peter Andre. DIY SOS The series presented by Nick Knowles started out by sending in a team of professionals to sort out a viewer’s DIY project gone wrong.
In 2010, it became The Big Build, enlisting the help of local tradesmen, suppliers and the larger community to help deserving families. The stories of why the people needed help were always tear-jerkers. GROUND FORCE This classic garden makeover series starred Alan Titchmarsh, Charlie Dimmock and Tommy Walsh.
While the owner – someone nominated by family or friends – was away, their garden would be transformed by a team over two days, ready for a surprise reveal on their return home.