Johanna is excited. Truly excited. I don’t think she’s excited enough – and I certainly don’t think this is going to help House Rules one little bit. BAD. IDEA. Audiences enjoy Griggs hosting Better Homes and Gardens but she lacks the credibility required for the rigours of a program like House Rules (no matter how many houses she may have renovated with her builder husband). From the press release:
Channel Seven today announced Johanna Griggs as the host of its new home renovation series House Rules.
The much-loved presenter of Better Homes and Gardens, and keen home renovator, will front the new state-versus-state competition. From the makers of My Kitchen Rules, House Rules will see
six Aussie teams hand over the keys to their house to a bunch of strangers to completely transform their home. Each team will put their homes on the line and their skills to the test in a fight for renovation supremacy and a life-changing prize. Johanna is excited to be helming an innovative new format.“I’m truly excited about the challenge. I’ve been in this industry for 20 years now and this is the first time I’ve had a go at this style of show. I’m expecting lots of drama, lots of laughter and hopefully some incredibly creative, clever Australian skills on display. But because we are dealing with people’s own homes, I’m expecting the stakes to be high, the competition to be tough and the results incredible.”
The mother-of-two is no stranger to home renovation. In fact she is currently building her fourth home with husband builder Todd Huggins.
“We are the rare combination of two people who absolutely love home renovating. Even though this is something we love to do, I’d be lying if I didn’t say it can be extremely stressful. There are so many things you can’t control on a building site; not to mention the tension that usually arises around budgets, general fatigue and soreness when you are working towards a deadline. But the upside is that most days you can actually see tangible change. I love the fact you can look at a room and feel a great sense of satisfaction at what you can achieve. You put your heart, soul, blood, sweat and tears into what you produce and when you realise you’ve done it together it’s an incredibly satisfying and addictive feeling.”
Director of Network Production Brad Lyons says Johanna is the perfect choice for host. “Not only does she love renovating, she’s actually done plenty of it herself so she knows what our teams
are up against.” House Rules is a Seven production. It is currently filming and will premiere in 2013.
What credibility does she need? She’s hosted Better Homes for years.
What credibility does Shelly Craft have to be co-host on The Block? Why is she not singled out for her lack of credibility?
Would Jo gain credibility in your eyes if you we’re given a set visit to My Renovation Rules as you were The Block?
I’m sure you will be sucking up to her on Twitter like you do every other Australian celebrity in the vain hope of one day being more than a Z list blogger.
Hi Barry – touched a nerve, have I? Hosting BHG does not offer credibility to host such a show. Jason, however, would smash it. I offer my opinion and I’m happy to stand by it – just as you are. As I understand it, Shelley is connected with The Block from a design perspective however her role is essentially to run challenges which require little/no experience in renovation. A set visit does not maketh the opinion shaping; rather the chance to meet with someone and talk with them to hear what they’ve got to say – that makes all the difference. I don’t follow Jo on Twitter (is she even on it?) and I certainly don’t suck up to any one. I just play nice and polite… something you might consider before commenting in future.
I’m very happy being elevated to the realm of “Z list blogger” too. Thank you for your ringing endorsement.