George Clarke (architect)
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George Clarke (born 27 May 1974) is an English architect, television presenter, lecturer and writer, best known for his work on the
Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...
programmes ''The Home Show'', '' The Restoration Man'', ''George Clarke's Old House New Home'', and '' George Clarke's Amazing Spaces''.


Early life

Clarke was born in
Sunderland Sunderland () is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is a port at the mouth of the River Wear on the North Sea, approximately south-east of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is the most p ...
and brought up on a council estate in
Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...
. His mother, Anne, worked at Oxclose Comprehensive School, in Oxclose, where Clarke was a pupil. His father, a printer, died at the age of 26 from a water-skiing accident; George was 7 at the time. His mother later remarried. By his own admission, Clarke was a popular but very shy child. Both Clarke's grandfathers were builders and, after spending school holidays in and around building sites, he decided he wanted to be an architect from the age of 12:
There was nothing else I ever wanted to do. When most of the kids were playing with building blocks and pieces of Lego, I was actually on building sites.
Clarke studied for a BTEC in Building and Construction at Wearside College, Sunderland, before gaining a First Class BA Honours in Architectural Studies and a Certificate in Architectural Practice from
Newcastle University School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Newcastle University School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape is a List of architecture schools, school of architecture belonging to Newcastle University in Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The school's operation was ini ...
, followed by a post-graduate diploma from London's Bartlett School of Architecture. Whilst he was a student, Clarke supported himself financially by renovating people's homes in his spare time.


Career


Architecture

After graduating in 1995, Clarke trained and worked with FaulknerBrowns in
Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle ( , Received Pronunciation, RP: ), is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is England's northernmost metropolitan borough, located o ...
, before joining world-famous architect Sir Terry Farrell, working in both London and Hong Kong. In 1998, with partner Bobby Desai, he formed his own company, clarke:desai. Clients included
Simon Fuller Simon Robert Fuller (born 17 May 1960) is a British entrepreneur, artist manager, and film and television producer. He is the creator of the Idols (franchise), ''Idols'' TV format, including the British series ''Pop Idol'' and the American ser ...
and
Jamie Oliver Jamie Trevor Oliver Order of the Star of Italy, OSI (born 27 May 1975) is an English celebrity chef, restaurateur and cookbook author. He is known for his casual approach to cuisine, which has led him to front numerous television shows and o ...
. In 2011, Clarke left clarke:desai and set up a new company George Clarke + Partners, with 25 staff. The firm was primarily involved in renovation and refurbishment projects, and it also designed new buildings. The company was dissolved in August 2023. Between 2001 and 2003, Clarke was a visiting lecturer at
Newcastle University Newcastle University (legally the University of Newcastle upon Tyne) is a public research university based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It has overseas campuses in Singapore and Malaysia. The university is a red brick university and a mem ...
. He is currently a visiting lecturer at the
Nottingham University The University of Nottingham is a public research university in Nottingham, England. It was founded as University College Nottingham in 1881, and was granted a royal charter in 1948. Nottingham's main campus (University Park Campus, Nottingh ...
's School for the Built Environment. Clarke has set up a charity organisation called Ministry of Building Innovation and Education (MOBIE) which is designed to train and inspire young people into the innovation and design of homes in the U.K. and abroad. MOBIE also designed a course in partnership with
Teesside University Teesside University is a public university with its main campus in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire in North East England. It was officially opened as ''Constantine Technical College'' in 1930, before becoming a polytechnic in 1969, and finally g ...
.


Television

Clarke's television career came about by chance. He had approached a literary agent after being asked to write a book about architecture, not realising the agency also represented television presenters. He was subsequently asked to
screen test A screen test is a method of determining the suitability of an actor or actress for performing on film or in a particular role. It is typically a secondary or later stage in the audition process. The performer is generally given a scene, or sel ...
for a new Channel 5 programme called ''Build A New Life in the Country'', which had been struggling to find a suitably charismatic building professional to front the show. Clarke was offered the job, and then went on to present two more property shows for Channel 5 before being commissioned to present ''The Restoration Man'' for
Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...
. Since 2004, he has been the main presenter for the following programmes: ''Property Dreams'' (2004), ''Dream Home Abroad'' (2005) and ''Build A New Life in the Country'' (2005–07), all for Channel 5. ''The Home Show'' (2008—), '' The Restoration Man'' (2010 —), ''The Great British Property Scandal'' (2011), ''The Great British Property Scandal: Every Empty Counts'' (2012), '' George Clarke's Amazing Spaces'' (2012—), ''Ugly House To Lovely House'' (2016–2020), ''Old House New Home'' (2016—), ''George Clarke's Remarkable Renovations'' (2021—) and ''George Clarke's Building Home'' (2025—) all for
Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...
. In the later part of 2020, he presented a six part series for Channel 4 visiting National Trust properties which were closed during the coronavirus pandemic (George Clarke's National Trust Unlocked

During early 2024, Clarke presented ''George Clarke's Adventures in Americana'', a four-part series about the various nostalgic styles of American buildings. In February 2025, the Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom), Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned an advert, for
Scottish Power Scottish Power Limited, trading as ScottishPower, is a vertically integrated energy company based in Glasgow, Scotland. It is a subsidiary of Spanish utility firm Iberdrola. ScottishPower is the distribution network operator for Central an ...
, which featured Clarke/. The ASA received three complaints that the advert was not obviously distinguishable from Clarke’s Amazing Spaces TV series. The ASA banned the advert on the grounds that viewers were "likely to believe heywere watching a programme".


Books

Clarke is also the author of several books, including: ''Home Bible'' (Orion), and ''Build a New Life: by Creating Your New Home''. Clarke's first children's book ''Building a Home'', was released on 1 February 2024.


Other positions

Clarke is perhaps best known for his role with UK Construction Week, with which he cuts the ribbon twice a year. Clarke was on the judging panel of the Affordable Home Ownership Housing Awards in 2007. In April 2012, Clarke was appointed as an independent adviser to the government to help bring thousands of empty properties back into use for families in need of stable, secure homes. Clarke is a
patron Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, art patronage refers to the support that princes, popes, and other wealthy and influential people ...
of the
Civic Trust Awards The Civic Trust Awards scheme is a British awards scheme to recognise outstanding architecture, planning and design in the built environment. It was established in 1959, and is the longest-standing built environment awards scheme in Europe. The ...
scheme. He is an ambassador for the housing and homeless charity Shelter, as well as a Building Community ambassador for the Prince's Foundation. He is also a supporter of
Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is a professional football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England. The team compete in the Premier League, the top tier of the English football league system. Formed in 1879, the club has won si ...


Personal life

Clarke grew up with three younger sisters. He met his first wife Catriona, a Spanish national, when he undertook renovation work for her brother. The couple were married for over 10 years. They had three children before separating in 2013 and subsequently divorcing. Clarke subsequently married Katie Morgan Jones in 2018, but reportedly split from her in 2022. Clarke lives in
Notting Hill Notting Hill is a district of West London, England, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Notting Hill is known for being a wikt:cosmopolitan, cosmopolitan and multiculturalism, multicultural neighbourhood, hosting the annual Notting ...
, West London and
Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( , ; abbreviated Glos.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Herefordshire to the north-west, Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to the north-east, Oxfordshire ...
. He has completely renovated his 1910 house in Notting Hill, transforming the interior into a modern home, whilst restoring the exterior to its original appearance. He still has family in Blackfell, Washington, and Sunderland, and visits the area at least two or three times a year.


Honours

In July 2012, Clarke carried the
Olympic torch The Olympic flame is a Olympic symbols, symbol used in the Olympic movement. It is also a symbol of continuity between ancient and modern games. The Olympic flame is lit at Olympia, Greece, several months before the Olympic Games. This ceremony s ...
through Camden after his brother-in-law Swiggy Drummond, who was the original candidate for the honour, died of cancer. In January 2014, Clarke became the youngest person ever to be awarded honorary membership of the
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is a global professional body for those working in the Built Environment, Construction, Land, Property and Real Estate. The RICS was founded in London in 1868. It works at a cross-governmental ...
(Hon RICS). In July 2015, Clarke was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from
Leeds Beckett University Leeds Beckett University (LBU), formerly known as Leeds Metropolitan University (LMU) and before that as Leeds Polytechnic, is a public university in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has campuses in the Leeds city centre, city centre and Hea ...
for his contribution to the arts. In September 2015, he received an honorary doctorate from the
University of Wolverhampton The University of Wolverhampton is a public university in Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, England, located on four campuses across the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, Shropshire and Staffordshire. Originally founded in 1827 as the Wolverham ...
as a Doctor of Technology and, in December 2015, he received an honorary doctorate from
Northumbria University Northumbria University (legally the University of Northumbria at Newcastle) is a Public research university, public research university located in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England, North East of England. It has been a university since 199 ...
. In July 2023, he received an honorary doctorate from
Teesside University Teesside University is a public university with its main campus in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire in North East England. It was officially opened as ''Constantine Technical College'' in 1930, before becoming a polytechnic in 1969, and finally g ...
.


References


External links


Official Website
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Clarke, George 1974 births Living people People from Washington, Tyne and Wear Alumni of Newcastle University Alumni of the Bartlett Architects from County Durham English television presenters