Coutts Woman

Location location location

Phil Spencer, co-presenter on Location, Location, Location and founder of Garrington, a London-based property search agency, is still surprised by the success of his Channel 4 show. It has been running for six years, attracts an average 4.4m viewers and has revisited some searches for the third time.

For those who have never watched the show, the premise is rather simple. Spencer and his co-presenter Kirstie Allsop, daughter of Lord Hindlip, former chairman of auctioneers Christie’s, seek out three potential properties for people looking to move that they think will suit their requirements. They have found rural retreats, family houses and pubs on the Isle of Wight. Nothing daunts them.

‘We get over 1,000 applications a week from people wanting to be on the show,’ explains Spencer. ‘It is a fantastic response.’

Prospective candidates must, however, be ‘eloquent, committed to move, able and committed to pull it off, prepared to listen to our advice and keen to do so’.

In the last series, Spencer and Allsop were responsible for eight searches, seven property deals and six families moving homes. ‘The seventh deal never completed,’ he explains. ‘The eighth clients did not find anything.’

The unsuccessful search has just been screened and, although Spencer is too much of a gentleman to spill the beans, the client put offers in on two properties, only to withdraw them later.

Spencer says that he and Allsop were upfront with Channel 4 from the very start that they would not give bad advice purely to produce good television. ‘This is a business for us,’ he explains. ‘We are passionate about it. Channel 4 did get cross with us because frequently our advice seemed like unexciting TV.’

Each programme is filmed as it happens, so if the prospective purchaser pulls a disgusted face at a property that will appear on the screen. ‘What you see is what really happens,’ says Spencer.

Occasionally, however, he will be ringing Allsop – or vice versa – and the camera may only film one part because the call was unplanned. ‘That is the only place where it might get mocked up,’ explains Spencer. ‘My end might be recorded but they may have to get Kirstie to repeat her end later.’ Both hosts have become experts at jotting down extensive contemporaneous notes so that the eventual phone call will be as true to life as possible.

But one great mystery remains about Location, Location, Location. While Allsop, Spencer and their clients disappear for two or three days on their viewings, they wear the same clothes throughout. ‘Kirstie will be so upset you noticed,’ he laughs. ‘She is paranoid about it.’

Spencer explains: ‘It is for continuity reasons. We might have to do the piece for the beginning of the show later, for example. It is much easier for the show’s editors if people don’t change.’

Occasionally, however, small differences appear. Allsop might wear a different necklace or shoes. ‘It is her little way of rebelling,’ confides Spencer. ‘And on the day of filming the producer doesn’t notice anything.’