THE Changing Rooms reboot will get a second series despite not achieving the expected viewing figures or glowing reviews when it returned last year.
The show was revived on Channel 4 after a 17-year break with its style guru Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen as host along with Anna Richardson.
But it didn’t enjoy the same audiences as it did in its late Nineties and early Noughties heyday when Carol Smillie was presenting.
A TV insider said: “Channel 4 are convinced it just needs to find a new audience in addition to those who might tune in just out of nostalgia.
“They always faced something of a challenge given Carol wasn’t on the show, and there was also a new line-up of interior designers and craftsmen on the reboot.
“Plus, there are so many other shows that have a similar format, and it had to compete with them.
“But the producers are determined to make it work, with filming set to start shortly and the second season airing later this year.”
Changing Rooms first aired on the BBC from 1996 to 2004, regularly watched by 11 million viewers and spawning a raft of similar TV shows.
The reboot’s first episode drew just 1.3million viewers.
The home makeover show became just as famous for its disastrous results as for its successes. But the style slip-ups only pulled in more viewers.
Perhaps this is where Channel 4 is missing a trick with its new version . . .
L-driver gig for Scarlett
HAVING failed her driving test 13 times, Gogglebox star turned TV presenter Scarlett Moffatt was the perfect person to front new BBC1 show Driving School.
Filmed in her native north-east, the show will see her help the nation’s motoring novices ditch their learner plates for good.
Scarlett said: “I know exactly how these learners feel and how much strain it puts on the person teaching you – no one will get in a car with me any more.
“I hope that my new show will give us all the confidence to finally rip up those L plates and hit the road.”
As long as she’s not the driving instructor – talk about the blind leading the blind.
