Television presenter Martin Roberts expressed sheer horror over what he described as a 'vile' bathroom during the latest episode of the popular BBC property show Homes Under the Hammer. The host, known for his candid reactions, issued a stark warning to viewers about the unsightly conditions he encountered.
Property Inspection Turns Sour
During Wednesday's repeat episode, the 62-year-old host visited an end terrace two-bedroom property located in Telford, Shropshire. The house had initially been listed at auction with a guide price of £85,000. At first glance, Roberts appeared optimistic about the exterior, commenting that it looked 'remarkably sparkling' and inviting viewers to see inside.
A Shocking Discovery
However, the interior told a completely different story. Roberts immediately exclaimed 'Maybe not so sparkly!' as he entered the property. His dismay reached its peak when he encountered the downstairs bathroom, which he grimaced at while shouting 'Nasty!' to the camera.
The host emphatically declared: 'That is not sparkly at all. You don't want to see that. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Trust me, no, vile!' He then urgently encouraged the camera crew to move away from the room immediately, adding that some things simply cannot be shown on a family television programme.
Beyond the Bathroom Drama
Despite the bathroom horror, Roberts noted that the property was 'full of rubbish' but contained no obvious signs of damp or structural issues that would cause significant concern. He suggested that restoring the sparkle would primarily require 'a bit of elbow grease' and a cosmetic makeover, particularly on the ground floor where the problematic bathroom was located.
The presenter concluded his assessment by stating: 'So a house that wasn't quite as sparkly as I initially hoped. But actually, I don't think it would take too much to get it sparkling again.'
The Buyers and Their Transformation
The property was eventually purchased at auction for £123,000 by a buyer named Emma, who was accompanied by her teenage daughter Mary. This marked a return appearance for the family, who had previously featured on the programme ten years earlier for another renovation project.
Emma and her daughter set a renovation budget of £8,000 to £10,000, ultimately exceeding it by just £1,000. When addressing how they tackled the notorious downstairs toilet, Emma revealed a multi-step process that began with draining the water using several cups. This was followed by what she described as 'a mask and sledgehammer job' to completely remove the offending toilet fixture.
The renovation required the family to vacate the property for several days to allow unpleasant odours to dissipate completely.
Profitable Outcome
Following the comprehensive renovation work, the family obtained a professional valuation indicating the property could now sell for between £165,000 and £170,000. This represents a potential profit margin of £31,000 to £36,000 over their initial purchase price, demonstrating the financial rewards possible through determined property improvement despite initial challenges.
Homes Under the Hammer continues to air on weekdays on BBC One at 11:30am, showcasing similar property transformations and the occasional shocking discovery that leaves even experienced presenters like Martin Roberts visibly horrified.
