Crazy week but we’re so proud!

May 19 2008 by Katie Campling, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Crazy week but we’re so proud!

MY feet still haven’t touched the ground almost a week on from winning the title of ‘Britain’s Best Home.’ On the hottest day of the year last Sunday, my partner Michael and I set off to the filming of the Grand Final in London.

ŠWe spent eight hours in a non air-conditioned hotel ballroom, together with our rivals – the owners of the other seven homes which made the final – and the show’s three presenters.

We were both unbelievably nervous the whole day, Michael more so than I as his beloved Manchester United kicked off just as filming began, in their Premiership title winning match.Š

Our PA was texting him all afternoon with updates on the scores. He was overjoyed when the result came through and could then concentrate on hopefully his second victory of the day.

We’d both picked our favourite homes to win the title and, when neither of those grabbed second or third place, we felt sure ours wasn’t in the running.ŠIt seemed like an eternity before Melissa Porter opened the gold envelope – I now know what the X Factor contestants feel like when they have to bite their nails through an ad break to discover their fate.

The producers told us they couldn’t have been more delighted about our spontaneous reaction when we realised we’d triumphed.ŠWe both surrounded Melissa and jumped up and down, squashing her in between us.

ŠI don’t think the Manchester United players could have outshone us in the celebration stakes!

The race was then on to get back home as we’d been warned the film crew would be descending on us at 8am the next morning to begin making a one-hour show, which will be broadcast on Thursday.

Even on the train journey back we were buzzing with excitement – the staff on the train even bought us a bottle of champagne as they’d seen the series and wanted to congratulate us.

We arrived home at 2.30am and you can imagine how exhausted we were and how bedraggled we looked when the show’s crew knocked on our door five hours later.

Over 20 people swarmed through the house with cameras, microphones and running orders as we wiped the sleep from our eyes.

A few cups of tea later, we were back in front of the cameras to greet all three presenters, Melissa Porter, Russell Harris and Charlie Luxton.

They needed enough footage to fill an hour long programme so we were in for a gruelling few days.

In between filming we answered dozens of phone calls from family, friends and associates wanting to know whether we had been successful.ŠWe had to let a few of them into the secret as it’s hard to smuggle an army of people into your house for two days without anyone noticing.ŠOur home is always busy with friends dropping in on us. We were under strict instructions not to speak to the media though and that was my hardest challenge!

The presenters were all great fun to work with and I felt privileged that these experts in their own fields of property design, architecture and re-development were so complimentary about the home we’ve created.

No sooner had filming ended than the party planning machine whirred into operation. We invited 150 guests to watch the result being broadcast last Thursday and hired a giant screen so everyone got a great view. The front lawn looked like the setting for a wedding and with bar staff, hunky male waiters and canapés from our favourite local restaurant 1885, we were all set for a fabulous party.

But it almost ended in disaster when we realised that our giant screen couldn’t pick up the Channel Five signal due to our house being in a valley. So we sent Stewart from the office on a ‘Mission Impossible’ style crusade to collect a DVD of the show from the studios in London and race back to Stainland in record time.

He made it just 10 minutes after the actual TV broadcast started and everyone cheered as he ran along the drive clutching the DVD as if his life depended on it.

A wonderful evening was enjoyed by all and I felt so pleased that I could share such a memorable week with my family and close friends at Britain’s Best Home.

My poor Mum missed the party as she was taken into hospital the day before. However, she kept her whole ward entertained by telling all the patients and staff about the incredible events of the week.ŠThey probably thought it was the medication talking!