Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
TV craftsman’s turntable transformation proves hit
Former teacher’s lighting creations dazzle hosts on show
A former city schoolboy turned TV craftsman created a hit out of two old record turntables on a popular BBC One show. Designer Duncan Mckean is one of the resident experts on Money for Nothing and specialises in creating quirky lighting from other household and industrial items.
In one of the latest episodes, host Jay Blades rescues a pair of 1980s record players from being dumped and gives them to Duncan to transform in his workshop in Tankerton. With a budget of £100 for each, Duncan sets about converting the decks into funky wallmounted lights - which Jay loved when he returned to collect the finished pieces. More of Duncan’s transformations are now set to be broadcast on the show in the forthcoming weeks, including tomorrow (Friday) at 3.45pm on BBC One. The 50-year-old former design and technology teacher, grew up in Canterbury and went to Arch
bishop’s School. He only set up his business, Albert & Edward, in 2017 but a slot as a guest speaker at the Grand Designs exhibition at London’s Excel gave him a huge boost.
“It started a chain of opportunities which led to me being invited to join the up-cycling experts team on Money For Nothing,” he said.
Duncan, who lives with his partner Lisa, says that as a boy he became fascinated with old quirky things and working with tools he found in his grandad’s workshop. On leaving school he started an apprenticeship as a carpenter/joiner but would regularly trawl boot fairs for old tools and things like oil cans and old boxes to tinker with.
“I started creating lighting from my collection of antiques in my dad’s workshop, which I made purely for my own pleasure but my partner encouraged me to sell some,” he said. “I’ve gone from selling at Greenwich market to appearing on BBC One, and now supplying various retail outlets and shipping worldwide.”