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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zara Woodcock

Kevin McCloud gives cautionary tale as saddest Grand Designs house ever makes return

Channel 4 presenter Kevin McCloud returns to the infamous Lighthouse in a special episode of Grand Designs airing tonight.

The Lighthouse is a £7 million build from Edward Short, who appeared on the show with his then-wife in 2019.

Edward spent 10 years transforming his family's Chesil Cliff House in Devon into an art-deco dream lighthouse.

People described the original episode as the 'saddest ever' due to the fact there were building issues, the recession as well the unfortunate end to his marriage.

His dreams were crushed by the endless struggles in his life but he was determined to complete the home.

However, things didn't go to plan and he revealed he would be forced to sell it in the hopes of a £4 million profit once it was completed.

Edward's home was put on sale for £10 million back in July.

He didn't add a kitchen, bathroom, flooring or any light fixtures as 'whoever buys it will want to do their own thing.'

It was called the 'saddest episode ever' (Tom Wren SWNS)

Thankfully, all his hard work paid off and his life is looking up again.

He shared that he met a mother-of-two, Jalia Mambasa, online and the two are getting married next year.

"11 years ago, Edward, Hazel and their daughters began their turbulent adventure on this extraordinary stretch of Devonshire coastline," presenter Kevin said in a clip shared with MailOnline.

The house was finally put on sale (Edward Short / SWNS)
It's on the market for £10 million (Knight Frank)

"In the end, this project was a sad and cautionary tale about ambition and overreaching and trying to do too much and how damaging and corrosive that can be."

Kevin was 'fearful' that Edward wrecked the site when he first saw it, but he admitted the building has 'produced quite a lot of emotion'.

Edward spoke to The Times earlier this summer and said his ex-wife was 'blown away' when she first saw the house.

Grand Designs are revisiting the home (Knight Frank)

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"I think having been unsure for so long, it's only when you get to that final moment of builders pulling out — with finishing touches done and furniture in — that it's, like, 'Yeah, now I get it'," he said.

Last year, Kevin reflected on the original unforgettable episode and told Stuff that the project spiralled in ways that no one could have imagined.

The presenter said to the publication: "That was an amazing story – things just spiralled. Many people reacted to it and thought we were (spinning) a moral tale. But we didn’t set out to push a moral tale. The build was supposed to be a beautiful folly.

"I already happened to know the architect, and it was a great location with a great group of people. It was all fitting into place. But when it did spiral, it went very badly wrong."

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct at 0207 29 33033.

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