Changing Rooms’ Carol Smillie on how TV shows like Line Of Duty and Bridgerton impact the nation’s interior design choices

Former TV presenter Carol Smillie, 59, on her new job as a humanist celebrant and how TV shows like Line Of Duty inspire interiors choices.

Having spent many years presenting Changing Rooms, are you always tinkering with your own home?

Constantly! I like to make sure there are no wasted spaces and that there are no rooms we never go into. If there are, why is that? Is it the decor, are they cold or is it the lighting?

There’s so much you can do to bring a room back to life. Your home is your castle and you should use every room. Be brave. Perhaps you’ve got a carpet and there’s nothing wrong with it but you don’t really like it. Chuck it!

It’s ruining the whole room so get the colour you want and the cushions, the throws, the pictures and the lamps. You’ll be surprised what is possible.

Were you a dab hand at DIY before Changing Rooms?

I think I probably was quite adept. I wallpapered my parents’ kitchen when I was 15. What were they thinking?

I also remember making over an old wardrobe in my bedroom. I painted it white and put Laura Ashley wallpaper in the recesses in the doors.

When they moved out of that house many years later, I helped them. I told the removal men what I’d done with the wardrobe and they asked if I’d sign it. I said, ‘But we’re binning it!’ I’ve no idea where it went.

Is it true we’ve been taking our interiors inspiration from TV during lockdown?

While we’ve been cooped up in our houses it turns out that what we’re watching is having a massive influence on what we’re putting in our homes.

Habitat noticed that there was a lot of clicking on certain items. Almost half of us have been spending up to 30 hours a week watching television and one in four say they get most of their interiors inspiration from television.

What TV shows have had the biggest impact on us?

We’re buying drinks trolleys after watching Only Fools And Horses and display cabinets after watching Fawlty Towers – things our mothers had that we’d have scoffed at but they’re making a resurgence.

Changing Rooms is still making its mark too, with people getting back into their feature walls, which I feel mildly guilty about.

Even programmes like Line Of Duty are having an effect. It turns out we’re watching it and then buying office chairs, tumblers and storage cabinets.

Aren’t we buying anything a bit more exotic than storage cabinets?

People are buying four-poster beds after watching Bridgerton. Unfortunately, the Duke of Hastings doesn’t come with the bed. I’m afraid he’s an added extra that you can’t buy.

What have you gone out and bought after seeing it on TV?

My own lockdown inspiration has to be It’s A Sin – I invested in a whole host of pink cushions and pink throws after watching that.

Why did you walk away from television?

I’d been on TV for a long time. It’s a fantastic medium but it had changed massively.

I wanted to walk away with my head held high and think, ‘It’s someone else’s turn,’ rather than cling on.

I knew I wasn’t going to get offered the work that I used to so you’ve either got to accept that or move on, and I wanted to try something completely different.

I started my own business, Pretty Clever Pants, in 2012 and then sold it.

What’s your job now?

I’ve retrained as a humanist celebrant so I conduct non-religious weddings and funerals. It was another career change.

I wasn’t going back into TV and I met a girl on holiday who was a celebrant and used to be a Sky News presenter.

I thought it was an obvious use of the skills that we have and a lovely thing to do. After I sold my business I went to the Humanist Society Scotland.

I do about three funerals a week and when the weddings come back, I’ll probably have two or three of those a week.

In Scotland humanism is number one over all other faiths for funerals and weddings – people love the personal element of it and that it’s very much about telling a life story, rather than focusing on religion.

I work a year ahead and normally have 60 weddings on my books at any one time.

You were on Strictly – could you be tempted by other reality shows?

I love fun things so I’d like to do Would I Lie To You? Otherwise no. I did the very first Dancing On Ice, which was called Strictly Ice Dancing.

It was absolutely terrifying. I’ve turned down the jungle many times and I wouldn’t do Celebrity MasterChef.

I did a cookery show once a long time ago with Marco Pierre White. That was quite traumatic for me.

Do you have any outstanding ambitions?

It’s my 60th birthday at the end of this year. I’m not really into big parties so my husband and I have booked a trip to Borneo to see orangutans in their natural habitat.

Habitat has partnered with Carol Smillie to impart her tips on getting the TV look. Visit the website to see more.

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