IN THE JUNGLE AND UNDER THE HAMMER WITH MARTIN ROBERTS

Matin Roberts Im a Celebrity

IN THE JUNGLE AND UNDER THE HAMMER WITH MARTIN ROBERTS

IN THE JUNGLE AND UNDER THE HAMMER WITH MARTIN ROBERTS

Added 12 days ago. 19 October 2024

The much-loved presenter of one of TV’s longest-running shows, ‘Homes Under the Hammer’, Martin Roberts shares the stories of how he got where he is today – and what’s coming next!

Martin's media career began with radio

I did university radion whilst studying electronics, and loved it so much I decided to try for a career in the media. I got a job as a reporter on a BBC local radio station, then moved to Radio 4 where I did lots of things including the travel programme, 'Breakaway'. When I was a child, I used to put the stereo on the window ledge and play records to people passing in the street! My granny said "One of these days he will be on television". She was the only one to spot it, and I'm so glad she got to see me on TV during her lifetime. 

 

His break into TV happened very unexpectedly 

When I was at Radio Manchester, we shared the building with BBC TV. One lunchtime, I started chatting with a guy behind me in the cafeteria queue  - we were laughing over a piece of very yellow lemon meringue pie. As we were walking away, he said "If you ever fancy doing telly, I'm Peter on the fifth floor". And it turned out he was the Head of Television! I started out doing some kids' TV, and then I presented 'Wish You Were Here...?' alongside the wonderful Judith Chalmers for eight years, travelling the world.

DIY is very much in his blood 

My dad was always working on something, so I picked it up from him. When I got my first house, I did it up, sold it and made a reasonable amount of money. As the travel shows didn't pay that well, I did property projects alongside. So when a friend of mine  said, "I've got this idea for a TV show called 'Homes Under the Hammer'  and you know a bit about property, don't you?" I said "Well yeah I do!"

 

The presenting team for 'Homes Under the Hammer' could have been somewhat different...

Three girls and three boys auditioned. I auditioned with my wife, and Lucy (Alexander) auditioned with her husband. Our partners were well cheesed off when they picked Lucy and me! But obviously, it was a good choice because we worked together very happily for 13 years and made a popular presenting team.

 

Martin had no idea the show would be such a hit 

We started out having 10 episodes, then they commissioned another 10, and then 20, and now here we are on something like 2,000 episodes! It is one of the longest-running shows on television, and I'm proud to say it is still as popular as ever. I am proud to be part of it. It's a very much-loved show - I know because people come up and tell me how much they love it!

Martin faced many fears when he took part in 2016's 'I'm a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here!"

I get claustrophobia. I knew there was a lot that could potentially trigger that, but I've found that when I'm working, I can just focus on the job at hand. I was buried in a coffin with 60 snakes poured on my head! But the worst thing by far was drinking the cockroach smoothie. It was spectacularly horrible. They do a great job at getting you to a point of being seriously stressed, hungry and tired and that brings out some great television moments. 

Martin's next TV project is a documentary called 'Oops I Bought a Pub!'

I fell in love with the valleys of South Wales. I bought a house here to have a base to go mountain biking with my son. A very special place called Blaencwm at the top of Rhondda is a very special place with a very special community spirit that reminded me of my upbringing. Their pub closed down at the start of lockdown and the community had lost their heart, and I thought maybe there is something I can do here. Nearly three years on, we're in the mammoth task of trying to bring it back to a working pub and realising how complicated, time-consuming and expensive that all is. We are hoping to be open by Christmas but there is still a lot to do. The documentary will follow my adventures trying to open this place. 

Martin's late father Norman was a Wiltshire Farm Foods customer 

He lived to 91 and we were lucky he could still live at home, which was very much his special place. But the practicalities of going out, buying ingredients and cooking were increasingly difficult. The idea you can have nutritious, quality food delivered to your doorstep, that all you have to do is reheat, was a real help to him. It was a real assurance to me that I knew he was getting healthy, balanced food. He had it for about two or three years, he always looked forward to the meals and he enjoyed them. He liked the Shepherd's Pie and the Fish Pie. I remember talking about the Fish and Chips as well. He had a sweet tooth too and enjoyed some nice jam puddings with custard. 

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