Amanda Holden and Alan Carr experienced an “x-rated” struggle during their latest TV venture together.
The Britain’s Got Talent judge, 53, and the comedian, 48, purchased a house in Spain for their new BBC show, Amanda and Alan’s Spanish Job. The programme saw them transform a run-down property on the Costa Del Sol.
This follows a similar project where they bought a house in Tuscany for a Euro – roughly 84p – which sold for around £165,000 after renovation, according to Best magazine. However, their Spanish endeavour presented a significant challenge – neither of them could speak Spanish.
Amanda told Best: “The funniest thing was when we went to a Spanish DIY shop and tried to ask for things like a chisel or a hammer.”
Alan added: “Some of the hand gestures got quite x-rated.”
Despite the success of their first series, they revealed that BBC executives needed convincing before greenlighting the show, reports the Mirror.
While Amanda and Alan’s first series was a hit, they revealed BBC bosses took some convincing before commissioning the show. Amanda says they wanted to make sure they were “genuinely passionate” about interior design.
Since filming the first series, she has moved into a £7 million mansion in Surrey with husband Chris Hughes and daughters Hollie, 12, and Lexi, 18. She has “refurbished an entire house”, which features a Grecian-themed pool, a large kitchen, and an in-house gym.
Alan has revealed that their joint home renovation projects have given him a new appreciation for colour. He now believes that “a little bit of colour and lighting makes you feel better” and suggests that people may not realise how the décor in their favourite bars or salons “uplifts” them.
After completing projects in Italy and Spain, Alan and Amanda are contemplating their next destination. Amanda dreams of Greece but would also consider somewhere “closer to home” if an appropriate scheme was available.
The star highlights “depopulation” – the dwindling of smaller towns and villages – as a widespread issue across Europe. However, schemes to purchase properties at low cost to revitalise them “only exists in a few areas”.
Approximately 25 municipalities in Italy offer properties for a Euro. These are typically in regions with ageing populations where younger Italians are moving away in search of jobs or a more urban lifestyle.
This results in these small villages witnessing their ageing population gradually disappear, leaving homes vacant. Buyers usually have to cover legal fees and then refurbish the property, or in some instances even reside in it.
Amanda and Alan’s Spanish Job will premiere on BBC One at 8pm on Friday, January 24.
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