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TV Quickfire: Nick Knowles on new de-cluttering show Nick Knowles' Big House Clearout

Nick Knowles' Big House Clearout is a whole different type of makeover show. We found out more from the man himself

Nick Knowles is back with his new series Nick Knowles' Big House Clearout
Nick Knowles is back with his new series Nick Knowles' Big House Clearout Nick Knowles is back with his new series Nick Knowles' Big House Clearout

HOW WAS THE PROCESS OF CLEARING OUT THE EVERITTS' HOME?

AS THE teenage son says at one point, "Mum has a memory attached to every single thing, so every time she throws something away, she feels like she's throwing away a memory", which is a tough thing, obviously. Especially when your teenage kids are heading off into the world, you want to hang on to all those memories, because they're really important. But you have to create an environment in which the teenagers want to spend time in the living areas.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU TO SEE THESE CLUTTERED HOUSES?

There is a tendency in television to go, "Oh my God, isn't this awful?" but I was very determined that we weren't going to do that because I like all the stuff that we do to be empathetic. All of us end up with too much clutter to varying degrees. I can say, "Wow, it's a bit busy in here, isn't it?" but I'm never going to be the kind of person that walks in and goes, "Oh my God, how can you live like this?".

DID YOU AND THE TEAM EVER THINK YOU'D BITTEN OFF MORE THAN YOU COULD CHEW?

If the family isn't ready to make that change, then no amount of work that we do is going to make it OK. The team is led by Gordon Whistance, who is a fantastic designer, has been the designer behind the scenes on DIY SOS for the last 10 years.

YOU SEEM TO BE VERY PRAGMATIC, NEGOTIATING BETWEEN THE FAMILY MEMBERS

I'm endlessly fascinated by people, what makes them tick. I was like a gentle umpire in the middle of it, able to suggest that maybe people take a break, and when you can see trouble bubbling up, explain to each of them how the other's feeling and why they're feeling that way – hopefully manage that family to the endpoint without them falling out too badly, so that when they do get the joy of the new place, it's something they can all share in, and they can be proud of each other.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM DOING A BIG CLEAROUT OF YOUR OWN HOME?

While it feels uncomfortable to start with, once you get on a roll with it, weirdly it becomes strangely empowering. When I did it, I got a bit carried away with it. I handed furniture to friends who have similar houses to the house I was living in in London, gave various pieces to charity shops and then literally had two skips full of stuff that I was like, "Well, I'm never going to use that, and I don't think that's going to be any use for anybody else". My lifestyle has improved dramatically because I haven't got a load of clutter.

WHAT PRACTICAL TIPS WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANYONE LOOKING TO DECLUTTER?

Say you've got too many books in the house – sort through which ones you can get rid of, which ones you can't. Then once you've done that, take the pile you're keeping and spread them all out, and do it again. And then maybe do it a third time.

Because I read constantly and research, and I'm into archaeology and quantum physics – I have all kinds of weird interests – I had hundreds and hundreds of books. I now have one bookcase, which has about 50 books on it, and all the rest I gave away to charity.

:: Nick Knowles' Big House Clearout starts on Channel 5 on Thursday August 19