Homes Under The Hammer blasted for 'sucking the joy out of Britain' as viewers launch blistering attacks on BBC home makeovers
BBC viewers claimed Homes Under The Hammer is 'sucking the joy out of Britain' as they blasted the show's home makeovers.The show debuted back in 2003 - with Martin Roberts and Lucy Alexander as the original on-air team.It sees participants buying properties at auction, refurbishing them and learning the new value.Some of the audience have been left unimpressed by the makeovers and shared their thoughts online.One wrote on Reddit: 'When it's a landlord with 100 houses on their portfolio and the "transformation" is a lick of paint and energy saving light bulbs. 'Doing the bare minimum and having that documented on tv is wild. "We're back 30 minutes later and it looks exactly the f***ing same.' Homes Under The Hammer first launched on screens in 2003 and has become a staple show ever since Writing online, some viewers criticised the home renovations highlighted in the BBC One property programme The original presenters were Martin Roberts and Lucy Alexander - with Lucy leaving in 2016 and Martin remaining to this dayAnother said: 'Homes Under The Hammer is one of the most malignantly influential programmes of the last quarter century, due to its uncritical celebration of the buy to let market. 'It's probably party of the reason why no one under 40 seems able to buy their own property. 'Also the makeovers they do (turning distinctive family homes into plain white?????? or grey?????? conforming work top misery) is part of the general joy sucking of Britain.'A third chimed in: 'Paint everything white and install a cheap bathroom and kitchen, same old tired format.'A fourth commented: 'I absolutely hate property shows. Homes Under The Hammer is the very worst. 'Great to remind me I suck at life and can't buy a house, while some teenager can pay cash at an auction.'However, others took the opposite view as one said: 'It's unusual but I like it.' Multiple viewers criticised the show's makeovers, although some took the opposite viewA second person agreed: 'Well this will certainly be an unpopular opinion here, but I've always enjoyed the show. 'It's quite nice to see a derelict house cleaned up and made liveable, even if they do always look the same.'Martin Roberts, 62, has remained with the programme since the start while Lucy Alexander, 55, left in 2016.Other current team members include Martel Maxwell, Dion Dublin, Jacqui Joseph and Owain Wyn Evans.Elsewhere, a couple who appeared on Homes Under The Hammer previously spoke about their nightmare experience, after purchasing a house for just £14,500 in Wales. Graham and Lima bought one of the cheapest homes on the show when it went up for auction in 2014.But buying the Welsh property turned out to be a huge mistake that later ruined their future dreams.The one bedroom home in the Blaenau Gwent village, which didn't even include an indoor bathroom and had unstable stairs, went up to auction for £8,000.Although Homes Under The Hammer presenter Martin Roberts was pleased with the shockingly low price, he soon understood why it was so cheap.Martin said: 'It's down this little path but the word little takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to the property itself, a one-bedroom cottage. The guide price is just £8,000.'Really, what you've got is this one room, upstairs I think I'll avoid because those stairs look really, really dodgy.'This actually, believe it or not, is the only toilet and bathroom facility on the property.'At first, Graham admitted he could finish the renovation within six months.However, three years later Homes Under The Hammer revisited the pair to get an update on their progress. A couple on Homes Under The Hammer previously spoke out about their nightmare experience, after purchasing a house for just £14,500 in Wales Although Martin Roberts was pleased with the shockingly low price, he soon understood why it was so cheapThe house had been demolished with an extension added to the front and rear and a bathroom added inside.
Their budget soon increased when an archaeological survey had to be carried out on the property.Graham said: 'We've probably nearly trebled it [the budget]', as he spoke of the doubling costs of the renovation.In 2018, the show returned to find a complete transformation of the property with a brand new kitchen, indoor bathroom upstairs and new staircase.Lima said: 'From the very beginning it was Graham's baby, he's finished it to his own vision.'Overall, I think we spent around £90,000, possibly a bit more.'The property is now valued at around £55,000 to £60,000 if it went up on sale, leaving Martin 'devastated' that his property portfolio dreams were 'ruined'.Homes Under The Hammer airs on BBC One and iPlayer.
