The Kennels Filming for the BBC

Kennels Home

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After we had agreed to engage the builder for The Kennels we were contacted and asked if we would be willingly to have the build filmed for a programme to be aired on the BBC. The programme would be entitled 'To Build or Not To Build' and the presenter was to be Simon O'Brien. We thought it might be quite a nice record of our huge project so agreed to go ahead. We were to be paid the sum of £1 for the BBC to air the show.

Simon came to the site on the day of demolition of the old property, to talk to us about our thoughts and what we were going to build in its place. He then came once in the middle of the build and then once the house was finished and we had moved in. The cameraman and producer came at key moments in the build; when the frame was erected, when the scaffolding was taken down and the like. The rest of the time we were given a video camera to record the build and to share those videos with the production company who would edit and insert as required.

Simon, with the cameraman and sound engineer on Day 1

Setting up on demolition day and Ray talking to the builder

Filming the demolition with the builder ensuring safety

Trying not to get in the way whilst filming

Ray doing his bit when the filmcrew weren't there

Frame erection filming

Simon visits mid-build

Cameraman looking at how to film the whimsical beams

Funny story about the frame erection day
From the plans I had been asked if I wanted the cupboard that was between the kitchen and the hallway to be accessed from the kitchen or from the hall. We had been making loads of decisions before the start of the build; some that needed doing immediately and some decisions that could be thought about but decided upon at a later date. I had erroneously thought that this decision about the cupboard could be made a bit later. I had not realised that the cupboard was being built as part of the framework of the house. I realised as they were putting up the walls of the kitchen that the cupboard was included and that the doorway was being built coming into the kitchen. When I questioned the builder about it I had a mike fitted to me for the filming but hadn't realised that I was being listened to at all times. The film crew realised something was up and promptly abandoned Ray, who they were interviewing elsewhere at the time, and galloped over to where I was, with the builder who was having a go at me for not having said where I wanted the cupboard door. As he realised that the cameras were on the two of us he offered to move the door round from the kitchen to the hallway if that's what I wanted. Ray had joined us by this time and when the builder said this he said to me 'great, that can be sorted then, just make a decision' and walked off.

Whereas I had to do some rapid thinking.

If the door was in the kitchen then we could use it for vacuum, broom etc as well as the central hub for the internet network of the house, heating controls and the water tank but it would mean that there was less space for kitchen appliances and we hadn't even thought about kitchen layout at this stage. A large area of the kitchen would not be able to be used for cupboards due to the cupboard door and how it opened into the kitchen. There were also three windows in the kitchen, how much room would be left for wall cupboards.

If the door was in the hallway then it would still have the tank, controls and networking in it and would open out into the hall? Perhaps this wasn't great, or such a nice look to the hall as there would mean another door, right next to the doors into the lounge, but the cupboard could also be used as a coat cupboard for visitors maybe? Although with all the paraphernalia in there that might not be great.

When Simon O'Brien did the commentary over this piece of filming, as Ray walked off saying 'great' he said that "Well, Ray is happy; as for Wendy - perhaps not so much" - as I am standing there perfectly still, frantically going through scenarios in my head for use of the cupboard and space in the kitchen and the cameras waiting to see what was going to happen next. Eventually I asked for the door to be moved to the hall and when we came to do the kitchen layout this was exactly the right decision. Thinking on the hoof.