Homes Under the Hammer
Encyclopedia
Homes Under the Hammer is a BBC One
morning television series, which has been running since 2003. Its main presenters are Lucy Alexander
and Martin Roberts
, although in series three Marc Woodward and Jasmine Birtles
alternated presenting duties with Alexander and Roberts. The series is the BBC's most successful show that has been shown in the 10.00am slot, regularly attaining a 30% share for new episodes.
- often ones that require significant refurbishment. A cross-section of properties are featured including terraced, commercial, rural, and vacant land. The programme follows a set formula. One of the presenters will view the property prior to going up for auction giving their opinion on it and its potential problems as well as attractive features. A local estate agent
will also be invited to give their opinion on the property. The auction will then be shown and the final sale price revealed.
It is at this point we first meet the new buyer, and Martin or Lucy will interview them and find out their background, why they bought the property, whether they are happy with it given the price and what their plans are. The buyer will then give a detailed explanation of any renovation works they are going to do such as new kitchen, bathrooms or extensions and how much they expect to spend. The buyer will then be left to get on with the project with the promise that the show will re-visit the work in about 3 months time. The programme will start the sequence again with another property.
The show will then come back to find out how the buyer has got on, and remind the viewer of what the property was like prior to the auction. Dependent on the buyer and extent of renovation, there can be a wide variation in the progress of works. Some properties are shown fully complete with camera shots taken in identical places "before" and "after". Other properties are shown in mid-renovation which can give an idea of the work being done but not the final effect. Occasionally there are properties which have had no work at all done due to many factors such as the buyer having other projects on the go or encountering hidden problems that have slowed down production.
The buyer is interviewed once more, asking them if they are happy with the work so far, or indeed the final outcome. Martin or Lucy, however, are not present for this interview, though they do provide a voice-over. They will talk about how much money they have spent, etc. and if they felt it was worthwhile. This time two local estate agents are invited to give their opinion on the quality of work, and whether the property is now more desirable. They then give the all important valuation in both the market value and rental potential. The buyer is invited to give their opinion on those valuations, and asked whether they are going to sell, rent, or live in the property themselves. Occasionally subsequent updates are given to the viewer if the property did indeed sell for the asking price, but this is not always done.
The name of the show is a slight misnomer
, as commercial and industrial property also feature on the programme in addition to residential lots.
. If guests mention they enjoy a certain activity they will play a song to fit that activity, for example on the 14 April 2010 a buyer said he enjoyed surfing and naturally they played "Surfin' Safari
" by the Beach Boys. During an episode aired 31 May 2011 AC/DC's Back In Black
was played during a segment with Roberts adding the voice over "We're back in Blackburn".
In each show, when the estate agents return to provide a final valuation on the property, their appearance is accompanied by a track entitled Soul Food.
London-based composer Michael Burdett created the music for Homes Under the Hammer.
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
morning television series, which has been running since 2003. Its main presenters are Lucy Alexander
Lucy Alexander
Lucy Alexander is a British television presenter.Alexander graduated at the London Studio Centre in drama and dance. One of her friends there was actress Tamzin Outhwaite.-Presenting career:...
and Martin Roberts
Martin Roberts (presenter)
Martin Roberts is the current presenter of the BBC1 series, Homes Under the Hammer with co-presenter Lucy Alexander. Born in Warrington, Cheshire, Roberts has also presented several other programmes including Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is and How to Survive the Property Crisis, both for the...
, although in series three Marc Woodward and Jasmine Birtles
Jasmine Birtles
Jasmine Birtles is a financial and business commentator, journalist, TV presenter and radio presenter, author and humourist.Her consumer website Moneymagpie.com contains information on all aspects of making and saving money. She regularly appears on various TV and radio programmes, including GMTV,...
alternated presenting duties with Alexander and Roberts. The series is the BBC's most successful show that has been shown in the 10.00am slot, regularly attaining a 30% share for new episodes.
Format
Each episode of the show follows three properties (or two for 30-minute shows) which were bought at auctionAuction
An auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder...
- often ones that require significant refurbishment. A cross-section of properties are featured including terraced, commercial, rural, and vacant land. The programme follows a set formula. One of the presenters will view the property prior to going up for auction giving their opinion on it and its potential problems as well as attractive features. A local estate agent
Estate agent
An estate agent is a person or business that arranges the selling, renting or management of properties, and other buildings, in the United Kingdom and Ireland. An agent that specialises in renting is often called a letting or management agent...
will also be invited to give their opinion on the property. The auction will then be shown and the final sale price revealed.
It is at this point we first meet the new buyer, and Martin or Lucy will interview them and find out their background, why they bought the property, whether they are happy with it given the price and what their plans are. The buyer will then give a detailed explanation of any renovation works they are going to do such as new kitchen, bathrooms or extensions and how much they expect to spend. The buyer will then be left to get on with the project with the promise that the show will re-visit the work in about 3 months time. The programme will start the sequence again with another property.
The show will then come back to find out how the buyer has got on, and remind the viewer of what the property was like prior to the auction. Dependent on the buyer and extent of renovation, there can be a wide variation in the progress of works. Some properties are shown fully complete with camera shots taken in identical places "before" and "after". Other properties are shown in mid-renovation which can give an idea of the work being done but not the final effect. Occasionally there are properties which have had no work at all done due to many factors such as the buyer having other projects on the go or encountering hidden problems that have slowed down production.
The buyer is interviewed once more, asking them if they are happy with the work so far, or indeed the final outcome. Martin or Lucy, however, are not present for this interview, though they do provide a voice-over. They will talk about how much money they have spent, etc. and if they felt it was worthwhile. This time two local estate agents are invited to give their opinion on the quality of work, and whether the property is now more desirable. They then give the all important valuation in both the market value and rental potential. The buyer is invited to give their opinion on those valuations, and asked whether they are going to sell, rent, or live in the property themselves. Occasionally subsequent updates are given to the viewer if the property did indeed sell for the asking price, but this is not always done.
The name of the show is a slight misnomer
Misnomer
A misnomer is a term which suggests an interpretation that is known to be untrue. Such incorrect terms sometimes derive their names because of the form, action, or origin of the subject becoming named popularly or widely referenced—long before their true natures were known.- Sources of misnomers...
, as commercial and industrial property also feature on the programme in addition to residential lots.
Music
During the stages of viewing the property, or whilst interviewing the buyer, music is normally played which is related to the property, or person buying. For example, whilst viewing a house that may be expensive to repair or renovate, a suitable song such as Money Money Money may be heard. Or when buying a flat in a high rise building they may use "Moving on Up" by M PeopleM People
M People are a British house music act from Manchester, who formed in 1990 and achieved success throughout most of the 1990s. The name M People is from the initials of Mike Pickering, who formed the group.-Career:...
. If guests mention they enjoy a certain activity they will play a song to fit that activity, for example on the 14 April 2010 a buyer said he enjoyed surfing and naturally they played "Surfin' Safari
Surfin' Safari
-Musicians:*Alan Jardine - vocals, acoustic bass *Mike Love - vocals*David Marks - rhythm guitar, vocals *Brian Wilson - bass guitar, piano, vocals*Carl Wilson - lead guitar, vocals*Dennis Wilson - drums, vocals...
" by the Beach Boys. During an episode aired 31 May 2011 AC/DC's Back In Black
Back in Black
Back in Black is an album by Australian rock band AC/DC. It is the seventh Australian and sixth internationally released studio album by the band....
was played during a segment with Roberts adding the voice over "We're back in Blackburn".
In each show, when the estate agents return to provide a final valuation on the property, their appearance is accompanied by a track entitled Soul Food.
London-based composer Michael Burdett created the music for Homes Under the Hammer.
Transmissions
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 2003 | June 2003 | 30 |
| 2 | November 2003 | April 2004 | 50 |
| 3 | January 2005 | March 2005 | 40 |
| 4 | October 2005 | December 2005 | 40 |
| 5 | June 2006 | July 2006 | 30 |
| 6 | January 2007 | February 2007 | 20 |
| 7 | April 2007 | May 2007 | 30 |
| 8 | September 2007 | October 2007 | 20 |
| 9 | January 2008 | February 2008 | 20 |
| 10 | February 2008 | June 2008 | 20 |
| 11 | June 2008 | September 2008 | 20 |
| 12 | November 2008 | February 2009 | 30 |
| 13 | February 2009 | March 2010 | 85 |
| 14 | April 2010 | Ongoing | 180 |