To Buy or Not to Buy
Encyclopedia
To Buy or Not to Buy was a British reality television series made between 2003 and 2010 for BBC One
in the UK. The final series was the eleventh and contained 90 episodes, in one of two formats—either 30 or 45 minutes in length. It aired on both BBC1 and BBC2. The show also airs on Saturday mornings on RTE One
in Ireland.
. The idea is to try and find a house for the participants and allow them to test it out before deciding if they want to put in an offer for the house.
The prospective buyers are then given the opportunity to inspect each property, discussing its flaws and merits with the presenters before guessing the property's price. They are then allowed to choose one property for an in-depth 'try before you buy' segment, where they can test drive
the property more leisurely. A 'mystery' surveyor often then looks at the property and finds some defects, which are then communicated by the presenters, this is considered by many to be the best part of the programme. The episode concludes with a final conversation with the prospective buyers, asking them whether they are in fact interested in purchasing the property.
, Simon O'Brien, Rani Price, Garold Howesington and Ed Hall.
The original presenter teams was Dominic Littlewood
with Kristian Digby
, who were joined by Sarah Walker
at the end of the first series, as 10 hour-long 'specials' were made, with Walker doing makeover on the contributing couples' house as they househunted with Digby and Littlewood.
For the second series, Digby and Walker paired-up, and Littlewood was joined by Melissa Porter
, and then in the first half of 2005 more changes kicked in. Simon Rimmer
and Walker made two series together and Digby presented with Simon O'Brien before moving on to his current co-star Ed Hall, until Digby's death 1 March 2010 aged 32.
, Ed Hall, Jonny Benarr, Nikki Bedi, Kristian Digby
, Dominic Littlewood
, Melissa Porter
, Simon Rimmer
, Sarah Walker
, Ian Blandford, Melinda Messenger
(Guest presenter), Sid Owen
(Guest presenter)
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
in the UK. The final series was the eleventh and contained 90 episodes, in one of two formats—either 30 or 45 minutes in length. It aired on both BBC1 and BBC2. The show also airs on Saturday mornings on RTE One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
in Ireland.
Background
The show is based on the concept of housing programmes such as Location, Location, LocationLocation, Location, Location
Location, Location, Location is a Channel 4 property programme, presented by Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer and produced by IWC Media, part of the RDF Media Group. The reality show follows Kirstie and Phil as they try to find the perfect home for a different set of buyers each week. It first...
. The idea is to try and find a house for the participants and allow them to test it out before deciding if they want to put in an offer for the house.
Format
The episodes follow a set pattern. After introducing the prospective buyers and their idea of an ideal home, including location, features and price range, each of the two presenters selects a property they feel fits that ideal. A third property, the so-called 'wild card', may not fully fit this wish list, but is believed to be adequate by the presenters.The prospective buyers are then given the opportunity to inspect each property, discussing its flaws and merits with the presenters before guessing the property's price. They are then allowed to choose one property for an in-depth 'try before you buy' segment, where they can test drive
Test drive
A test drive is the driving of an automobile to assess its drivability, or roadworthiness, and general operating state. A person who tests vehicles for a living, either for an automobile company or a motorsports team, is called a test driver....
the property more leisurely. A 'mystery' surveyor often then looks at the property and finds some defects, which are then communicated by the presenters, this is considered by many to be the best part of the programme. The episode concludes with a final conversation with the prospective buyers, asking them whether they are in fact interested in purchasing the property.
Presenters
Throughout the programme, both presenters engage in mildly disparaging yet good-natured banter, both among themselves and with the contestants. The final presenters were Jenny PowellJenny Powell
Jenny Powell , is a British television presenter.-Early life:Powell's parents are from South Africa, she attended Woodford County High School for Girls in Woodford Green and the Italia Conti school in London.-Career:...
, Simon O'Brien, Rani Price, Garold Howesington and Ed Hall.
The original presenter teams was Dominic Littlewood
Dominic Littlewood
Dominic Littlewood is an English television presenter and journalist.-Biography:Littlewood attended St Thomas More High School for Boys, Westcliff-on-Sea from 1981 to 1986. Littlewood was diagnosed as diabetic in his teenage years, and takes insulin to keep his diabetes under control...
with Kristian Digby
Kristian Digby
Kristian Digby was an English television presenter and director best known for presenting To Buy or Not to Buy on BBC One. On 1 March 2010 he was found dead in what police said were "unexplained circumstances"...
, who were joined by Sarah Walker
Sarah Walker (television presenter)
Sarah Walker, 35, is a property investor, broadcaster and freelance property writer, best known for her role in To Buy or Not to Buy.-Biography:...
at the end of the first series, as 10 hour-long 'specials' were made, with Walker doing makeover on the contributing couples' house as they househunted with Digby and Littlewood.
For the second series, Digby and Walker paired-up, and Littlewood was joined by Melissa Porter
Melissa Porter
Melissa Porter is an English television presenter, best known for her BBC programmes, To Buy or Not to Buy and Escape to the Country.-Early life:...
, and then in the first half of 2005 more changes kicked in. Simon Rimmer
Simon Rimmer
Simon Rimmer is the resident chef on BBC2's Something for the Weekend, which first aired on Sunday 8 October 2006, and is also the face of cooking video website, Eat The Chef. He is married with two children...
and Walker made two series together and Digby presented with Simon O'Brien before moving on to his current co-star Ed Hall, until Digby's death 1 March 2010 aged 32.
Past presenters
Rani Price, Simon O'Brien, Jonnie IrwinJonnie Irwin
–Jonnie Irwin is a British television presenter.-Early career:Prior to working in television, Irwin worked for business transfer specialists Christie & Co becoming associate director within three years, before going on to work for .-Television career:In 2004, Irwin was selected along with...
, Ed Hall, Jonny Benarr, Nikki Bedi, Kristian Digby
Kristian Digby
Kristian Digby was an English television presenter and director best known for presenting To Buy or Not to Buy on BBC One. On 1 March 2010 he was found dead in what police said were "unexplained circumstances"...
, Dominic Littlewood
Dominic Littlewood
Dominic Littlewood is an English television presenter and journalist.-Biography:Littlewood attended St Thomas More High School for Boys, Westcliff-on-Sea from 1981 to 1986. Littlewood was diagnosed as diabetic in his teenage years, and takes insulin to keep his diabetes under control...
, Melissa Porter
Melissa Porter
Melissa Porter is an English television presenter, best known for her BBC programmes, To Buy or Not to Buy and Escape to the Country.-Early life:...
, Simon Rimmer
Simon Rimmer
Simon Rimmer is the resident chef on BBC2's Something for the Weekend, which first aired on Sunday 8 October 2006, and is also the face of cooking video website, Eat The Chef. He is married with two children...
, Sarah Walker
Sarah Walker (television presenter)
Sarah Walker, 35, is a property investor, broadcaster and freelance property writer, best known for her role in To Buy or Not to Buy.-Biography:...
, Ian Blandford, Melinda Messenger
Melinda Messenger
Melinda Jayne Messenger is an English ex-glamour model, Page 3 Girl and a former presenter on the magazine programme Live from Studio Five. She is currently co-broadcaster of the reality show Cowboy Builders.-Biography:...
(Guest presenter), Sid Owen
Sid Owen
Sid Owen is an English actor, television presenter and former singer, most famous for playing the role of Ricky Butcher in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, which he appeared in from 1988 until 2000, 2002 until 2004 and then again from March 2008.-Career:Prior to his role in EastEnders he had a...
(Guest presenter)