Craig Phillips – What Was Pebble Mill?

House Trap

Gordon Whistance, Royston Horsley tucked behind Gordon, Craig Phillips. Photos from Suzie Curtlin, no reproduction without permission

Kate Hillman and Caroline Feldon Parsons, Dick Sharman in the back of shot

Esther Povey and Sam Beer

Contributors on the left, Suzie Curtlin and Robbie Williams on the right handside

Robbie Williams

Kate Hillman, Sarah Stokes

Kate Hillman and Caroline Feldon Parsons

Thanks to Suzie Curtlin for sharing these photos of the BBC1 makeover show, House Trap. The team were ‘locked’ in a house for a week and had to makeover a different room each day.

The presenters included Gordon Whistance and Craig Phillips, shown in the top photo.

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Sue Robinson: ‘I directed this and Rosemary Edwards was the Producer. I can’t remember the year but about 2000 ish sounds about right. It was a house somewhere in Hall Green.‘

Caroline Feldon Parsons: ‘It was freezing I remember. And I was actually able to walk to work as I lived in Hall Green at the time! Can’t really remember much about it now other than stressing about a kitchen reveal involving a stainless steel splashback, and Kate Hillman getting trapped in the bedroom during a live segment and having to dive down beside the bed to get out of shot!’

Kate Hillman: ‘It was probably 2001, as I’d had my first baby. This is also the only explanation as to why I’d cut my hair off and dyed it dark brown. Not really any recollection of that! It was definitely winter as we were using power tools outside in the dark and frost. Andy Payne’s fleece definitely caught fire in the bathroom, as I wasn’t sure whether to flap my clipboard or beat the flames with it! It was over the closing of the live show and he stayed steady to the end! The presenter was Charlotte someone from Watchdog. It was hard work because after we’d finished the show, before the paint was dry, we moved everything into that room to prep the next room. All presenters in sleeping bags locked in the house. Seemed like a good idea at the time!!’

Nigel Mercer: ‘Pretty certain it was after 2002, as I gave Craig the fleece he’s wearing on a Carlton TV show called Renovation Street in 2001 and I was working with the lovely Gordon Whistance on Changing Rooms in 2002.’

Trading Up in the Sun

Jo Kenyon, Colin McAllister, Justin Ryan, Sharon Fisher

The team bump in to Danny La Rue in a bar

Colin, Justin, Craig Phillips, ?, Tom Slee, ?

Colin, Justin, Craig Phillips, Robbie Williams, Tom Slee, ?

Justin with Sharon, Tom Slee in the background

Justin, with Colin in the background

Photos from Joanne Kenyon, no reproduction without permission.

The photos are from the BBC1 Daytime production, Trading Up in the Sun circa 2002. The series was presented by interior designer duo, Justin Ryan and Colin McAllister, with Craig Phillips (the Big Brother winner), doing some of the DIY. These photos are from the first series, which was filmed in the Costa del Sol.

The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Ruth Barretto: “I was the PC on that production back at base . Wasn’t it the EL PInar hotel that you stayed in. Which you all renamed. Amanda Lowe was the SP! The good old days!”

Big Strong Boys

Jake Robinson and Gavin Lowe were the original ‘Big Strong Boys’. The daytime DIY series, which succeeded ‘Big Strong Girls’.

The boys would descend on house and put right the DIY wrongs – building shelves, fitting cupboards, tiling – just whatever needed doing.

The boys were cheeky chaps, who loved to wind up the production team! I remember receiving several spoof Mr Angry type phone calls!

I series produced one series of about 20 programmes, which were presented by Anna Walker. Anna presented the programme from 1999-2001.

Deputy Daytime Controller, Alison Sharman was responsible for finding the boys, and asking Pebble Mill to develop the series, as a successor to ‘Big Strong Girls’. The series ran from 1999-2004.

The presenter in these photos is Sarah Matravers, I think.

Vanessa Jackson

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Caroline Feldon Parsons: ‘Yes it is Sarah Matravers. I worked on ‘Big Strong Girls’, with Bridget Calderhead and Elaine Walker who were partnered with vet Mark Evans, followed by these Boys, and also the second team of Boys which featured Craig Phillips (first winner of Big Brother) and Stuart Castleton. MDF madness!!’

Robert Dagg: ‘Used to watch ‘Big Strong Boys’ (and they were!) with Loran Durant and Susan Ball, coffees in hand, before the opening of the Shoulder Of Mutton at midday in Slawit :-)’

Suzie Curtlin: ‘And also Debra Veal presented with Craig & Stuart, and of course not forgetting Kate Silverton, we all know where she is now!’

Caroline Feldon Parsons: ‘I think I must have worked on nearly every makeover show going! Building MDF creations in pouring rain under gazebos, drying paint with hairdryers to make the reveal, dealing with “cheeky chappy” presenters and their particular brand of charm, yes, the memories are flooding back!’

Becky Land: ‘Painting wardrobes at 2am…. watching placentas being buried under trees… couriering tons of railway sleepers half way across England. The normal office job’s not quite the same.’