Ten potential hosts for NZ's Grand Designs

Could Dominic Bowden, Judy Bailey or Jesse Mulligan host NZ Grand Design? Photo / Supplied; HOS

TV3 is asking for budding Kiwi home builders to be part of a New Zealand version of Grand Designs. But who will be our Kevin McCloud? We look over some possibilities.

1. Te Radar: The kooky Kiwi comedian has had plenty of telly presenting experience, but it's usually in more light-hearted, sometimes surreal fare like Across the Pacific. There's no doubt he can do the more serious, doco stuff, but they'd have to give him a conservative, McCloud-style haircut, and that could be a sticking point.
Rating: 4/10

2. Judy Bailey: She's only wheeled out once a year as the host of Maori TV's Anzac Day coverage, so she's certainly got time on her hands. She also has that nice, calm, motherly appeal, a potential voice of reason when faced with a traditional Kiwi bloke's DIY disaster, so she could be just the ticket.
Rating: 9/10

3. John Hawkesby: With his everyman demeanour and ability to get along with people from all walks of life, there's potential for sure. But 'Six Million Dollar John' hasn't been on TV for aaages. And, what with his love of wine, he'd probably demand every homebuilder include a massive wine cellar.
Rating: 7/10

4. Miriama Kamo: Has an unbeatable background in current affairs thanks to her role on TV One's Sunday. She's untested in light-hearted fare, but she does have experience building her own weird home, with this Waiheke Island bach, so she's definitely a candidate.
Rating: 8/10

5. John Campbell: The TV3 current affairs host is plenty affable, with the ability to cover any topic, and he seems to know plenty about building houses what with all the time he's spent in Christchurch recently. Plus, he looks great in a pair of gumboots. But he hardly needs any more excuses to use the word "marvellous", does he?
Rating: 6/10

Jeremy Wells.

6. Jeremy 'Newsboy' Wells: He's probably too busy, what with his multi-tasking media presence as a Hauraki breakfast radio DJ, Meridian ad-boy and Late Night Big Breakfast co-host. He'd just take the piss anyway.
Rating: 4/10

7. Jesse Mulligan: He seems to be a free agent after his stint on Seven Sharp came to an end after a year. And he has history with TV3 with his previous stint as a 7 Days funnyman. But does he know more about food than architecture?
Result: 5/10

8. Dominic Bowden: Hasn't he fulfilled his limits on reality TV presenting? Doesn't there need to be song and dance routines for D.Bow to get involved? There aren't too many awkward pauses required on Grand Designs. So please, no, say it ain't so.
Rating: 3/10

9. Mark Richardson and Shannon Ryan: They've made it to the third season of The Block, so Mark and Shannon are doing something right. They obviously know a bit about building a house, seeing as they hang around other builders and point out what they're doing wrong for much of the day. And they're already TV3 property, so you can probably put a pretty decent bet on one, the other or both being involved in a New Zealand version of Grand Designs at some point.
Rating: 9/10

Haz Huavi, Tom Scott and Lui Gumaka are Home Brew. Photo / The Aucklander

10. Home Brew Crew: Erm, this would be a completely different show, one that probably wouldn't be able to screen on prime time TV. Next.
Rating: 0/10

* Apply to be on New Zealand's version of Grand Designs here.

* Who do you think will host New Zealand's version of Grand Designs? Post your comments below.

- nzherald.co.nz