It can be quite astonishing when you actually do what an ‘expert’ says. Normally, anyone referred to as an ‘expert’ brings nothing but cynicism in me… with one exception. Sarah Beeny from Channel Four’s Property Ladder. For some reason, she’s just about the only TV expert I have anytime for. She doesn’t hog the camera, and seems to carry an air of authority about her which gains trust. From me at least. The show I have just watched was about a couple who took on a ridiculous task. To get a house done up in very little time with very little money. This is no doubt why Beeny was called in.

The couple starring in the show (who cares what they’re called and where they’re from) bought a huge Victorian house… and then set about demolishing it all by themselves! Including a ceiling which was seemingly about to fall in on itself… and kill all on screen. As is par for these programmes, the advice from the resident expert was for most part, ignored… leaving the presenter/expert looking a little redundant. If this was Changing Rooms they’d drop the redundant look and opt for a smuggo ‘you’ll regret it’ look.

Beeny told the couple that, in no uncertain terms, if they did as she said, they’d make a lot of money when re-selling their house. They disagreed and blindly ran down various cul-de-sacs, piddling money down their legs all the while. Finally, somewhere a penny dropped, and the couple went with the opinion of the woman who is a) STINKING RICH from selling properties and b) Hired to be on TV because she knows exactly how to sell houses and become STINKING RICH in the process. They transformed the house into something quite lovely, and made an incredible £64,000 profit.

Watching this show felt like a revelation. For the first time, a member of the public went onto a glorified DIY programme and listened to the presenter. Guess what? They’re STINKING RICH now. Let that be a lesson to us all.[Mof Gimmers]

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