Restoration is a set of BBC television series, beginning in 2003.

Series

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First series

30 buildings were featured in ten regional heats, with money raised from the telephone vote being added to the prize fund. Viewers chose which of a selection of the United Kingdom's most important, but neglected, buildings should be awarded a Heritage Lottery Grant of £3m. The winning building was the turkish bath section of the Victoria Baths in Manchester; however the restoration work has not yet begun as of September 2005.

The 2003 live Grand Final was co-hosted by Kate Humble.

Second series

A second series, featuring 21 buildings in 7 regional heats, appeared on BBC2 in the summer of 2004. The winner was the Old Grammar School and Saracen's Head in Kings Norton, Birmingham. Both buildings will close in July 2006 for archeological investigation, with restoration work planned to begin in October 2006.

The 2004 live Grand Final was co-hosted by Natasha Kaplinsky.

Third series

The controller of BBC2, Roly Keating, had stated that there will not be a third series, but it has since been announced that there will be and it will air in autumn 2006 ^*. Filming for it began on 3rd June 2006 at Lincoln Cathedral, with a piece to camera by Griff Rhys Jones.

Spin offs

• Restoration Village, will air in 2006
• Shown in tandem with the series
  • Restored to Glory, BBC 4 ^*
  • Restoration Nation, BBC 4
  • Restoration: You Make It Happen, Community Channel

Updates

On 4 September 2005, Rhys Jones presented a programme, updating viewers as to the progress made by the featured buildings, or otherwise.

Format

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The host of all 3 series was Griff Rhys Jones, whilst investigating each building in the heats were the show's resident "Ruin Detectives", Marianne Suhr and Ptolemy Dean.

Responses

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The Channel 4 programme, Demolition, broadcast in December 2005, was an "answer" to Restoration; instead of voting for a building to be saved, viewers were asked to vote on which eyesore should be demolished.

External links

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• Own site

BBC television documentaries