Monday, 3 December 2007

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Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

Celeb Grilling - you ask the questions

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is embracing his life as lord of the manor. When Now visits his new house in the Cotswolds, we spend the morning clay-pigeon shooting and duck herding, then head back to Poshington Palace, as Laurence, 42, calls his new pad, for afternoon tea and a natter.
Nosing round the house, which is chock-full of builders, it’s like we’ve stepped back in time to his Changing Rooms days. After a glass of Pimm’s and some gorgeous cakes served by Jackie, Laurence’s wife of 18 years, we settle down to put your questions to the decorating dandy…

What made you decide to do To The Manor Bowen?
Mae Allington, Rochester
We were moving to the country anyway, so we asked the TV company people if they wanted to film it. I find it funny when famous people complain about losing their private life. I just think: ‘That’s your job. Stop moaning about it!’ We have no private life anyway, so we thought we might as well invite the world to visit.

How have you coped with a houseful of builders?
Sammy Wight, Irchester
None of them is sane and they look like the crew of the Black Pearl. It’s funny because Jackie has a troupe of pretty boys to do the garden – and then there’s my lot doing the house, with one tooth between them.

What have been the funniest moments since you moved in?
Amy Preston, Enfield
The children had left a dinghy out on the pond, so I decided to pull it out. What I didn’t realise was that it was tied to a tree, so it dragged me in with it. I emerged drenched, with a lily pad on my head. The camera crew were gutted they’d missed it.

How have you been getting on with the neighbours?
Carole, Liphook
Really, really well. Within weeks of moving in, we’d invited everyone round. It was fantastic – turns out they’re all as mad as we are.

How posh are you really?
Karen Foster, Birmingham
You should redefine posh to suit yourself. Being ‘that bloke off the telly’ transcends class. Be glamorous on the inside – that’s the new posh.

Who wears the trousers in your house?
Maria Newman, MIddlesbrough
I’m just the man behind a powerful blonde in a beautifully turned-out pair of trousers. I have a horrible feeling that after this she’s going to be one who takes the limelight.

What’s the secret to a long and happy marriage?
Petra, Camden
We’ve got a good balance because we’re different enough, but also very similar in our goals. It’d be awful not being with someone at my age. We’re lucky, but we work hard at it. Gin is always important, too…

Have you become less flamboyant with age?
Jamie D, Bolton
I think so. As your looks go and your waistline increases, it’s inappropriate to strut around in the things you used to squeeze yourself into. My attitude hasn’t changed, though. I may be embracing tweed, but in some rather fetching colours.

Do your children [Cecile, 12, and Hermione, nine] get embarrassed by you?
Natalie Cooper, Harrow
Children are there to be embarrassed! They’re getting a bit smart now and learning that the more embarrassed they are, the more I smell blood. I’m at the stage where I have to be in the middle of Cirencester with a traffic cone on my head, trousers round my ankles and jumping around, saying: ‘I’m the naughty pixie!’ before they’ll say: ‘Oh, Dad!’

What’s the most outlandish thing a client has ever asked you to do to their house?
Emily Woods, Dereham
The bar’s constantly being raised, so I’ve become less and less shockable. I actually go out of my way to encourage my clients to do eccentric stuff. I think the most outlandish thing they’ve ever asked me to do is paint a room magnolia.

Do you ever see what you’ve done to someone’s home and feel sorry for them?
Lorna Smythe, Ashford
Nah, they let themselves in for it. I thought all the makeovers people weren’t happy about on Changing Rooms were fine. On the other hand, there were loads I thought I got away with by the skin of my teeth, yet the owners loved them. If I really felt it was going wrong, I’d paint a mural somewhere. I knew everyone loved that and it took the focus away from the brown tiles on the ceiling.

Do you ever slouch around in a T-shirt and tracksuit bottoms?
Isla Jameson, Gillingham
No, I don’t wear tracksuit bottoms. Mind you, we’re still not unpacked, so I have to dress smartly anyway because it’s all I have to hand.

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
Jackie, Dunstable
I write and paint a lot and when I was at school I was going to do law – that all changed when I realised how much work I’d have to do.

Did your wife really think you were gay when you first met?
Amanda Jenkins, Huntly
Yes, but only for five minutes. And it worked out rather well for me!

Do you have any phobias?
Shane Sparrow, Hawick
Magnolia and wood chip wallpaper. I never used to be scared of heights, but we were up a temple in Mexico last year and I couldn’t get down again. That was pretty awful.

Would you ever pose naked? What would be your price?
Hayley Thompson, Ludlow
Back when I was young and pretty, I looked into doing it for charity, but I think sharing my unclothed body now would be a bad idea. I don’t have any big hang-ups – I just don’t think anyone would want to see it! N

To The Manor Bowen is on Living TV at 8pm on Wednesdays


Prize Question

Are you the new Osbournes – or the new Peter and Jordan?
Lisa Coulsdon, West Sussex
God, I’d aspire to be either! Like the Osbournes, I’m the one stumbling around picking up dog poo while this is in fact a star vehicle for the wife. Given the choice, though, we’d be the next Johnny and Fanny Craddock.

EMAIL US… WIN £50!
Put your question to the stars. The prize question wins £50.

By Karen Dunn