Glasgow lifestyle blogger Kate Spiers has left the BBC's hit show, Scotland’s Home of the Year.
Ahead of the upcoming sixth series of Scotland’s Home of the Year, it has been announced that Glasgow architect Danny Campbell and Interior Designer Banjo Beale will take over from judges Michael Angus and Kate Spiers, who have left to pursue new projects, says the BBC.
Kate recently welcomed her first child, Dahlia James Spiers, alongside her husband Jordan in September of last year. The couple previously ran a cafe in the south side for four years before handing over they keys to new faces to take over Mount Florida's Market Coffee.
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Starting their new lives as a family of three, the pair seems to have moved to England with Kate uploading a picture of her by Brighton pier with the caption: "Decided to move beside the seaside" as people welcomed her to the community.
Talking about her time on the show ahead of their departure, Kate Spiers said: “SHOTY has been a huge part of my life for the last five years and I’m so proud I was part of this TV phenomenon! After recently becoming a first time mum, I embraced the opportunity (between night feeds) to think about a new future and new challenges – it feels like the time is right for me to move on and bid a fond farewell.
"While I will miss my SHOTY family terribly, I’m thrilled at the prospect of sitting back and judging the homes as a viewer. Thank you to everyone for making SHOTY so unique – it will always hold a very special place in my heart.”
The popular BBC Scotland property programme will return to the channel and BBC iPlayer on Monday, May 15, with the new panel including judge Anna-Campbell.
Originally from Helensburgh, Danny grew up near iconic building, The Hill House which was designed by acclaimed architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh. Danny studied Architecture at Glasgow School of Art before founding his own architectural company in 2016 at the age of 25.
Danny’s delighted to be part of the new SHOTY judging line-up: “I’m thrilled to be joining Anna and Banjo on their adventures around Scotland to crown our nation’s Home of the Year. I’ve built my career on going in and out of homes and figuring out how they can be designed better; being invited to judge some of the most unique properties is the epitome of self-indulgence for me, and I hope the viewers can share in that excitement.
“I will bring my own disruptive views on architecture to the new series and will be looking for homes that are inventive with their flow and aren’t scared to challenge what a home can be. I’m sure that the new series will be even more surprising, gripping, uplifting and fun!”
Following his guest judge role in SHOTY5, Interior Designer Banjo Beale is thrilled to take up the role permanently: “It was a highlight of my life to be a guest judge on Series 5 of such an iconic show. To get the call back to join the line-up as a regular, with Anna and Danny, well that is just the pinnacle. I’m ready and raring to neb my way around Scotland and to my P6 teacher who told me I’d never make a career out of being nosey…look at me now!”
Talking about the change in judges, Steve Allen, BBC Scotland Executive Producer and Commissioning Executive, welcomes the new judges to the SHOTY line-up.
He said: “Kate, Michael, and Anna have helped build Scotland’s Home Of The Year, into a well-loved staple for our viewers. Now, I’m really looking forward to seeing Banjo build on his success as SHOTY’s guest presenter as he and Anna are joined by Danny, a really accomplished, and fun, young architect.”
Pauline Law, Executive Producer for IWC Media, adds: “It’s great news to be commissioned for a sixth series and to celebrate once again, all the very different shapes and sizes of those special places we call home, across Scotland.
"We’re sad to be saying goodbye to two of our judges – Kate Spiers and Michael Angus – they’ve done a fantastic job giving us their valued opinions on over 100 homes in the last five years but of course, we wish them all the best for their future plans. We are delighted that Banjo Beale has agreed to become a permanent member of the SHOTY team having been a guest judge on series five and to introduce our new architecture expert for series six – Danny Campbell.”
Details on how to apply for the sixth series of Scotland’s Home of the Year can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/shoty. Applicants should include contact details, a brief description of the home and a few pictures. Please note, only primary residences can apply to take part.
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