First launched on Channel 4 in the UK in 1999, Grand Designs has been a big ratings hit ever since, consistently gaining audiences in excess of 5 million viewers.
In 2008 this peaked at 5.5 million viewers and established the programme as the number one property show in the UK, and on British television.
Grand Designs follows the progress of self builders in pursuit of architectural brilliance, highlighting the obstacles they have to overcome and their successes, failures and compromises in so doing. The show is also broadcast in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands.