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29 October 2014
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18.07.03

FACTUAL & ARTS TV


Restoration - a major 91Èȱ¬ TWO event


Starts Friday 8 August, 9.00pm on 91Èȱ¬ TWO


Press pack available


Griff Rhys Jones presents RestorationAcross the UK thousands of historic buildings are in danger of being lost to the nation forever.


Griff Rhys Jones, comedian and passionate conservationist, presents Restoration – a landmark series that gives viewers the chance to rescue from ruin one of 30 significant buildings across the UK.


Each of the 30 buildings has its own 'celebrity advocate' – such as Rory Bremner, Richard E Grant and Ulrika Jonsson – who will urge viewers to vote for their chosen building to be restored to its former glory.


"I've been involved in the Hackney Empire for about three or four years, and we've just finished raising money so I knew how difficult it was to restore buildings, but I also knew how fascinating it was," says Griff Rhys Jones.


"I've always been fascinated by the buildings at risk list and so quite selfishly I thought, what a fantastic opportunity to go and have a look at them."


Starting in August, 10 one-hour programmes will each be devoted to a geographical area of the UK, revealing the crumbling architectural treasures we could lose forever.


Drawing on the expertise of heritage bodies across the UK, each episode will focus on an in-depth profile of three properties in that region.


All styles and periods are featured, from cottages and castles to factories and chapels, dating from the earliest times to the 20th century.


Two experts – conservation architect, Ptolemy Dean and historic buildings surveyor Marianne Suhr – explore every corner of these buildings, unearthing their hidden secrets and bringing back to life the romance of their past.


Restoration also draws on the memories and knowledge of local residents, owners and conservation groups who love and value these buildings and are fighting to preserve them for future generations.


At the end of each programme, viewers are asked to cast their vote for the building they want to be saved.


Griff announces the winner of each programme from the battlements of Britain's most visited historic building – the Tower of London, a place where many a subject has awaited their fate.


The series climaxes with a magnificent live event at the Tower of London where a nationwide vote will decide which building will be restored.


To accompany the series there will also be interactive TV services, a major website, a specially produced directory of over 250 heritage events, a magazine, book and a raft of additional programming on national and local television, including a 10-part series on 91Èȱ¬ FOUR called Restoration Secrets.


Restoration has been produced in consultation with English Heritage, Historic Scotland, CADW (Welsh Historic Monuments) and The Department of the Environment and Heritage, Northern Ireland.


Many societies such as Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, SAVE (Save Britain's Heritage) and Architectural Heritage Fund and the Heritage Lottery Fund have provided further advice.


The finale of the series is timed to coincide with the National Heritage Open Days and weekends which take place every year across the UK during September.


Jane Root, Controller of 91Èȱ¬ TWO said: "On average, every day in the UK one historic building or monument is lost or destroyed. Yet we know that there is a real appetite for Britain's heritage – on a typical weekend more people visit historic buildings and monuments than go to football matches.


"Our challenge as programme-makers was to harness this interest in our heritage and enable viewers to make their mark on history by saving one of these astonishing buildings.


"In Restoration we have created a huge event that will go beyond the TV screen and into communities across the UK this summer with a whole raft of activities in local areas leading up to the Heritage Open Days across the country."


Nikki Cheetham, Managing Director of Endemol UK Productions, added: "These buildings are all in danger of becoming part of forgotten Britain and disappearing from our landscape forever. Their loss would be an irreversible erosion of our heritage.


"With Restoration we hope to reawaken interest in each one of these national gems and help create a real future for them."


Restoration is produced by Endemol UK Productions for 91Èȱ¬ Scotland and the executive producer is Andrea Miller, Head of Factual Programmes at 91Èȱ¬ Scotland.


The series will transmit on 91Èȱ¬ TWO in a peak-time slot from August.


Notes to Editors


Run-up to finale


In the week preceding the run-up to the live finale at the Tower of London on 91Èȱ¬ TWO there will be an additional three short programmes.


These will refresh viewers' memories of the 10 shortlisted buildings before the final vote for restoration.


The final vote does not include previous votes cast in the first 10 programmes.


Website and Interactive


Online viewers will be able to access virtual tours of all the Viewer Vote buildings and keep up with the latest information on which buildings are currently in the running for the live finale.


Cross-linked to all the 91Èȱ¬'s regional websites and any associated heritage charities, will provide a high-profile portal through to Restoration news from across the country.


Restoration will be fully supported across both the Web at and Interactive Television on 91Èȱ¬i, where extra footage and a chance to vote will be accessible by pressing the red button.


Pressing the red button before, during or after the Restoration programmes on 91Èȱ¬ TWO will allow the viewers to enjoy specially edited video reminders of all properties currently nominated.


The Restoration Fund


The winning building will be restored from funds raised through The Restoration Fund, a 91Èȱ¬ Appeal awaiting registration as a charity.


Donations


Donations can be made by calling: 0871 200 5050.


Postal donations to: The Restoration Fund, PO Box 7000, Manchester M60 3HE.


(Cheques should be made payable to The Restoration Fund)


In addition funding will be sought through:


• Telephone voting


• Sponsorship


• Grants from heritage organisations


Telephone voting


Viewers can vote during transmission by calling 0901 077 77 77.


A minimum of 17.9p from every phone vote (calls charged at 30p) will go towards the restoration of the winning building.


Heritage Open Days


Restoration has joined forces with the organisers of the Open Days in promoting the events and encouraging viewers to get involved in their communities and enjoy their local history and architecture.


Held annually throughout the month of September, Heritage Open Days celebrate the UK's architecture and culture by allowing access to properties that are not normally open to public view.


As well as free entry to these attractions and others that usually charge a fee, Heritage Open Days include local guided tours, town walks, plays, art festivals and children's activities.


Heritage Open Days is part of the Europe-wide initiative European Heritage Days, which takes place across 47 countries.


Full details of Heritage Open Days, including a full list of participating properties, are available from the website - .


• For information on Doors Open Days in Scotland, please visit .


• For information on European Heritage Days in Wales, please visit .


• For information on European Heritage Days in Northern Ireland, please visit .


• For information on London Open House, please visit .


The 91Èȱ¬ is not responsible for the content of external internet sites


91Èȱ¬ Information Line


08700 100 150 (open from 21 July)


Throughout August and September, leading into the Heritage Open Days in September, hundreds of heritage and conservation bodies throughout the UK are running events where people can find out more about heritage and restoration initiatives in their areas.


For further information about events and 'go further' courses, telephone the 91Èȱ¬ Restoration helpline on 08700 100 150, or visit the website at .


Book


A book published by Headline to coincide with the Restoration series – Restoration by Philip Wilkinson – takes a closer look at the buildings featured in the series with unique photography and will be available from Monday 4 August.


Restoration magazine


91Èȱ¬ Worldwide is publishing a special Restoration magazine that will be available with the September issues of 91Èȱ¬ 91Èȱ¬s & Antiques and 91Èȱ¬ History magazines.


Press pack


The Restoration press pack is available here, as a complete pack and in sections, in . You may require Adobe Acrobat Software to read PDF files which can be obtained .


Full Restoration press pack (3.39 MB)


Interview with Griff Rhys Jones (132 KB)


Biographies of buildings and their celebrity advocates (1.06 MB)
Component parts below


• Scotland (714 KB)


• South West (415 KB)


• North East and Yorkshire (336 KB)


• North West (241 KB)


• Midlands (471 KB)


• Wales (116 KB)


• East (813 KB)


• South East (262 KB)


• Northern Ireland (198 KB)


Restoration Secrets on 91Èȱ¬ FOUR (110 KB)


Heritage facts and figures (47 KB)


Biographies of presenters and experts (123 KB)


91Èȱ¬ Scotland - Factual Programmes (64 KB)


Endemol UK Production (63 KB)


Previous releases


Restoration - saving Britain's heritage (19.03.03)


91Èȱ¬ TWO viewers vote to save our national heritage (09.07.02)


For the latest releases on 91Èȱ¬ TWO's Restoration as the voting progresses go to the Factual & Arts TV index


All the 91Èȱ¬'s digital services are now available on , the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well as on satellite and cable.

Freeview offers the 91Èȱ¬'s eight television channels, interactive services from 91Èȱ¬i, as well as 11 91Èȱ¬ radio networks.


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