Changing Rooms to RETURN with Davina McCall and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen as hosts

Changing Rooms is set for a surprise return to screens after a 16-year break, with Davina McCall and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen as hosts.

The former Big Brother presenter, 52, will take over from the original host Carol Smillie for a reboot of the classic home makeover show, which originally aired on BBC One from 1996 to 2004.

Davina’s appointment comes despite presenter Carol hinting she’d be open to returning to the iconic series, following a resurgence in DIY in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s back! Changing Rooms is set for a surprise return to screens after a 16-year break, with Davina McCall (pictured) and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen as hosts

Confirming her appointment to The Sun, Davina said: ‘I’m so excited to be presenting Changing Rooms. It’s the perfect time to bring it back. Everyone is going DIY and decor-mad!

‘I can’t wait to see all the amazing transformations. I might even get stuck in myself if I’m allowed to be let loose with a paint brush.’

However Laurence admitted producers had to coax him back to the show after over a decade off-screen, saying: ‘It’s taken quite a lot of coaxing to get me under the Changing Rooms banner once more, but nothing like as much coaxing as it’s going to take to squeeze those leather trousers back on.’ 

He'll be back! Davina will appear alongside original host Laurence, who admitted producers had to 'coax' him back for the reboot on Channel 4

He’ll be back! Davina will appear alongside original host Laurence, who admitted producers had to ‘coax’ him back for the reboot on Channel 4

Exciting: Laurence will reprise his role on the iconic makeover series, which has been credited with whetting the viewing public's appetite for property-themed programming

Exciting: Laurence will reprise his role on the iconic makeover series, which has been credited with whetting the viewing public’s appetite for property-themed programming

Davina’s appointment comes despite Carol saying in August she’d be open to returning to Changing Rooms, telling The Sun: ‘It was definitely the favourite show of my career, without a doubt. It would be the only show I’d come back to telly for.’ 

It was reported back in August that Channel 4 were in talks to revive Changing Rooms, which has been credited with whetting the viewing public’s appetite for property-themed programming and even unscripted TV as a whole.

A source told The Sun: ‘Changing Rooms was something of a phenomenon, spawning a long line of copycat makeover shows and it still retains a cult following.

Making a comeback? Davina's new job comes despite original host Carol Smillie saying in August she'd be open to returning to Changing Rooms

Making a comeback? Davina’s new job comes despite original host Carol Smillie saying in August she’d be open to returning to Changing Rooms

‘Not only did it spawn a long line of copycat makeover shows, it still retains a cult following among a whole generation of fans.

‘C4 execs would like to tap back into some of that telly magic and exploit the current nostalgia for bygone shows.’

MailOnline has contacted representatives of Channel 4 for comment.

Carol, now 58, presented the hugely popular show from 1996 until 2003, while Laurence, 55, graduated from designer to host until the programme’s end in 2004. 

Wanted: Bosses were said to be eager to sign up Laurence, who served as a designer on the show until taking over hosting duties after Carol's 2003 departure

Wanted: Bosses were said to be eager to sign up Laurence, who served as a designer on the show until taking over hosting duties after Carol’s 2003 departure

In a 2017 interview for the Daily Mail’s Weekend Magazine, Scottish TV personality Carol described the show as ‘the best TV experience of [her] career’. 

She said: ‘In 1996 I was the original presenter of BBC2’s Changing Rooms – it was one of the first reality shows and is credited with starting the DIY craze of the late ’90s.

‘It was the best TV experience of my career – we were a happy bunch who went into it naively but came out the other end as household names with a BAFTA nomination and invitations to both Downing Street and Buckingham Palace.

‘It was the stuff of dreams, and all from watching paint dry!’

Show: (L-R) Laurence and his wife Jackie, Carol, Linda Barker and her husband Chris in 2002

Show: (L-R) Laurence and his wife Jackie, Carol, Linda Barker and her husband Chris in 2002

Back in 2018, Carol surprised fans when she popped up on The Voice, where she and her husband Ken were seen supporting their 20-year-old daughter Jodie Knight.

Despite her performing a rousing rendition of the Goo Goo Dolls’ hit Iris, the then-teen was left disappointed when none of the judges turned around for her.

Carol, who also hosted the National Lottery, said she was nervous of her daughter’s wish to become a singer.

She said during her appearance on the show: ‘I am so excited for her, but I’m apprehensive I suppose because you want to protect her as a parent.’

‘I would never hold her back as a parent as both of us feel something good will come of it,’ she added.

Original: Scottish Carol, now 58, presented the hugely popular show from 1996 until 2003

Original: Scottish Carol, now 58, presented the hugely popular show from 1996 until 2003

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