Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen living arrangement and career, Digi Mart USA News: Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has been in the public eye for decades after shooting to stardom on BBC’s 1990s home makeover show Changing Rooms, where he was renowned for his love of MDF and bold designs. Since then, he has enjoyed a successful on-screen career in shows such as Popstar to Operastar, The Auction Party and The Apartment.
More recently, he was a contestant on Bear Grylls’ Netflix show Celebrity Bear Hunt and presented the four-part series Outrageous Homes with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. On Saturday, November 7, he is a guest on ITV’s James Martin’s Saturday Morning, where he will talk with the host about his work with the Royal British Legion and his career in design and television.
For the third year running, he has designed a bespoke pattern for the Royal British Legion. The latest was created from a three-poppy painting inspired by Cecil Beaton and René Gruau.
Ahead of his appearance this weekend, here is a look at his unusual family living arrangement and what he has called his career “disaster.”
Laurence, 61, and his wife Jackie have been together for over 40 years and share two children and four grandchildren. Their living arrangement has drawn attention after he spoke openly about it.
The couple live in their Cotswold mansion with their grown-up daughters, Hermione and Cecile, their respective husbands and their children.
Laurence acknowledged a mixed reaction when he first revealed the setup, despite expressing joy about his close-knit family. “I still think a lot of people think it is a bit strange,” he told the Daily Mail.
“But actually, it is a very kind of straightforward and instinctive way of a family being together.”
He argued that the idea of children leaving home is a relatively recent notion from the 20th century. “Traditionally, you stayed if you all worked on the farm together or you worked in the shop together,” he said.
“So in a funny sort of way, we just kind of reviving that, but it made great sense for us. You know, we live in a big house.
It was very much just me and Jackie. Why do we not then bring the children and their children in with us?”
Discussing how the family manages sharing space every day, he added: “There are moments where you’ve got to work quite hard. But I think that happens in any family.”
Laurence has also spoken about the criticism he faced when Changing Rooms returned to screens in 2021. Despite being widely recognized for presenting the DIY home makeover programme, he has described it as a “career disaster,” telling Best magazine that it was the end of his career as a high-end interior designer.
He joined BBC’s Changing Rooms as a designer in 1996 before taking over as main presenter in 2003 following Carol Smillie’s departure, continuing until the series concluded in 2004. Channel 4 revived the programme in 2021 with Anna Richardson as host, but it was axed again after two series.
Asked about any big career disasters, he responded: “Changing Rooms! It was the end of my career as a high-end interior designer.
I went from being ‘Lacroix’ to ‘William Morris’ overnight. But I’ve always believed you turn snakes into ladders.
I lost around 10 clients, but suddenly had eight million people watching my programmes.”
On public perceptions of him, he said: “I don’t care what people think. Bringing Changing Rooms back in 2021 was fascinating because when it ended in 2004, there was no social media.
When it returned, suddenly there was this torrent of commentary. And I loved it.”
James Martin’s Saturday Morning airs on ITV1 on November 7 at 9:30am.
