A Glasgow man will be battling it out to win one of the biggest prizes on television in the new interior design competition The Big Interiors Battle.
John Jack, an actor who lives in the city centre with his dog Brodie, is one of eight talented interior designers taking part in the Channel 4 show that will see the winner walk away as the owner of a two-bedroom apartment in Sheffield.
Judged by Dara Huang, an architect, and entrepreneur, contestants will receive the keys to an apartment where they are challenged to transform a different room each week.
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The 41-year-old told Glasgow Live he applied for the show 'on a whim' after seeing an advert online.
Between acting jobs, John helps his best friend (a renowned interior designer) with projects and has picked up talents in upcycling furniture, painting, and finding priceless pieces fro vintage and charity shops.
John said he 'loves the classic, masculine, and gentleman's club, look and feel'.
He explained: "I'm a huge fan of traditional interiors and the English country house style in particular. I was very lucky in that throughout my childhood, I was taken around many of the country houses that exist in Scotland and so was able to absorb the idea of interiors being layered and added to over time.
"It's a real challenge, but that feeling of generational layering can be achieved in a very short time, and I just love the task of trying to capture that essence. Of course, I admire other styles too, particularly the industrial look, but for the beautiful Victorian, high-ceilinged tenement flats of Glasgow, the traditional country house look works particularly well."
Originally from Airdrie, John has always loved interiors and believes he would've become a professional interior designer had he not pursued acting.
He is an instinctive designer and believes that the house will tell you how to design it if you can learn to listen to it.
To anyone decorating their own homes, he explained: "Sit in the space. Let it speak to you. It sounds a bit odd, but if you really pay attention to the space you're decorating, it can guide you and inform you about the choices you make.
"Of course, there's nothing wrong in being avant-garde and brave with a space, but for me, I prefer to work in harmony with a room, rather than against it. Having said that, on the show, I'm trying to create an English country house space within an old industrial interior!
"That's not as crazy as it sounds though, because many of these ex-industrial buildings are as old as some of the famous country houses, and therefore, with a bit of tweaking here and there, that style can actually work really well."
As well as his designing abilities, John prides himself on his skills as a 'charity shop magpie' and can often be found in one of the city's many great vintage shops.
He explained: "I'm a huge fan of charity shops and antique shops and I'm lucky enough to have a real eye for a bargain. My little flat is literally crammed full of amazing finds that I picked up over the years, often for a song.
"The trick is not to expect to find treasure on your first trip, you've got to be prepared to dedicate time to it, visiting the same places again and again, to maximise the chances of finding that perfect piece at the right time, before someone else snaps it up."
If lucky enough to win the grand prize, John will be facing the impossible decision of whether to leave his beloved city and move into a new place.
He said: "I mean, it's such a huge prize, I really try not to think about winning it at all, if I’m honest.
"However, the real dilemma isn't really whether I win the flat, it's choosing between two equally wonderful cities!
"Sheffield is the most fantastic place, with great people and a lovely, laid-back vibe. My heart though has always been in Glasgow.
"Even when I lived in London for so many years, I always loved returning to what I considered my home. So, perhaps it's better not to speculate too much and leave it all up to fate.
'It would be the most wonderful dilemma to have, of course, but for sanity’s sake, I do try to keep it in a day and not let my imagination run too far ahead!"
The Big Interiors Battle will air at 8pm tonight April 21 on Channel 4.
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