Grand Designs shock as most stressful ever build leaves husband and wife in hospital

GRAND Designs fans were shocked tonight as the show aired what must rank as one of the most stressful builds ever attempted.

Retired couple John and Julia both wound up in hospital as the project spiralled out of control and they ran out of money.

A retired couple told of their problems building their dream home

Even the usually unflappable Kevin McCloud seemed shocked

She was seen breaking down in tears as their dream of building a beautiful home took a toll on their lives.

Julia explained: “We took it in turns to have some kind of meltdown. It ended up with me having severe chest pains which was a bit scary.

“I ended up being whisked off to hospital and tested for heart stuff. We both wished we hadn’t started on this road to be quite honest.”

The pair were attempting to realise their 30-year dream of building a new modernist home on spin-off Grand Designs: The Streets.

Earlier, John explained how he also had to be taken to hospital by his daughter after suffering a “dizzy spell” while working on the house.

His heart rate was later recorded at over 188 – but he was soon back at work.

Grand Designs builds are never smooth sailing for the ambitious homeowners trying to build them – but host Kevin McCloud explained the specific strains of this one.

He said: “All in John and Julia had expected to spend £505,000 but the overall cost is now in at £520,000.”

Julia told him: “We’re massively over budget and obviously we can’t go and get a mortgage because we’re too old.

“It’s meant John will have to dip in to his already fairly minor pension pot which is not great.”

He told her: “You’re going to be living in a modernist dream eating baked beans.”

She replied: “Yeah pretty much.”

John added that he wasn’t convinced it was worth it saying: “I may regret this. There are still some large sums of money going out to complete this.”

Julia and John both suffered what she called ‘meltdowns’

He had to go to hospital but soon returned to building work

They showed Kevin around the completed interior last night