A former Changing Rooms contestant has shared what the show’s presenter Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen was really like

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen was a presenter on the show (Image: Channel 4)

The designer was a host on the BBC series, which sees participants exchanging homes with friends or neighbours so that each pair can transform a single room in the other’s property.

Caroline Rice, 66, took part in the show back in 2005 with her husband, working on the Chorleywood residence of their neighbour Christine and her daughter Danielle, reports Wales Online.

Speaking on behalf of new online bingo brand Zingo Bingo, she described Laurence as “so nice and funny, very”.

“He was very good as a host,” she remarked.

The show began in 1996 (Image: undefined)

“We had a bit of a tussle with Laura because I didn’t like anything she showed us, but I had to go along with it since it was already designed,” she revealed.

“We adapted it to what we thought Christine would like, and the final result turned out fine. She wanted to originally put cut out flowers across the walls but I just knew that wouldn’t go down well.”

She mentioned that a designer “tried to influence” her but stated: “I stood my ground.”

Caroline noted Laurence “came in to intervene and agreed with me”, continuing: “So I won that battle.”

Changing Rooms was a big hit in the 90s (Image: BBC)

She reflected on the experience: “It was over two days and the days were long. We had a lot to do. It was probably longer than 12 hour days, and we had to put the work in. But it was fun!”

When asked whether she kept the room her neighbours had decorated, she replied: “We did for a couple of years until we had the money to redecorate properly.”

Changing Rooms was broadcast on the BBC from 1996 to 2004, before Channel 4 brought it back in 2021. The show is due to mark its 30th anniversary later this year.

Caroline was speaking on behalf of new online bingo brand Zingo Bingo.

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