91热爆

A major 91热爆 TWO campaign from Tuesday 13 July, 9.00pm

Restoration fever is gripping the nation again this year with building campaigners pulling out all the stops to pull in the most votes in the hit 91热爆 TWO series.

Presented by Griff Rhys Jones, Restoration is the series that gives viewers the chance to save one of 21 historic buildings at risk in the UK.

Local campaigning kicked off following a Restoration launch programme broadcast on 8 May and even The Archers have got in on the act with Linda Snell starting a campaign to restore The Cat and Fiddle pub.

From 2,000 school children in Northern Ireland forming a ring around the walled city of Derry to highlight the plight of The Playhouse, through to dozens of MPs signing an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons in support of the Lion Salt Works, the series promises to be an antidote to a summer of sport.

"I have been lucky enough as part of my job to visit all 21 buildings. I love my job," enthuses Griff Rhys Jones.

"There are some pretty crazy structures up for consideration this year from Salt Mills to Radar Stations.

"There are some extravagantly beautiful places from aristocratic town houses to disused pumping stations.

"There are moving buildings from abandoned Medieval Archbishops Palaces to an Arts Centre in an old convent in Derry.

"I suspect that this series will be even more gripping than the last."

Tens of thousands of people from all over the country have been snapping up the Restoration campaign packs entitled So You Want To Save A Historic Building? - more than 35,000 have been distributed so far.

Roly Keating, Controller of 91热爆 TWO, said today: "Restoration really captured the imagination of the nation last year and it's great to have it back in the heart of the schedule on 91热爆 TWO this summer.

"It brought communities together in a way that was unprecedented for television, as they campaigned to save local buildings featured in the programme.

"This series gives viewers another opportunity to be actively involved in making a difference to the future of Britain's heritage."

Thanks to two commercial sponsors, Colliers CRE and the Workspace Group plc, who are supporting events at the buildings, plans are also well underway to hold a series of Open Days at the Restoration buildings during transmission to capitalise on the massive surge in public interest in the buildings following the programmes.

Starting in July on 91热爆 TWO, seven one-hour programmes will each be devoted to a geographical area of the UK revealing three new architectural and historical gems that are at risk of being lost forever.

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

Griff will announce the winner of each heat in the following programme from Hampton Court Palace where the series will culminate with a major, live event and a nationwide vote to decide which building people most want to see restored.

In a new twist to last year's series, which was won by the Victoria Baths in Manchester, the best runner-up from all seven programmes will get a second chance at winning by going forward to the final.

Dr Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said: "Restoration has shown how much passion there is for our heritage and inspired people to help to rescue some of the nation's most astonishing buildings.

"Every year the English Heritage Buildings At Risk Register publicises the plight of the most vulnerable historic assets - Restoration has helped us focus public attention on what we all stand to lose if action is not taken.

"It highlights some of the most interesting and unusual cases, explores the wider issues of why buildings fall into disrepair and raises awareness of how people can get involved before it's too late."

Restoration's two ruin detectives - conservation architect Ptolemy Dean and historic buildings surveyor Marianne Suhr - are back to explore every corner of these buildings, unearthing their hidden secrets and bringing back to life the romance of their past.

All styles and periods are featured, from country houses and gothic castles to a radar station and a water mill, dating from medieval times to the 20th century.

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.

Accompanying the series is a major website (bbc.co.uk/restoration), a fully illustrated book and a magazine supplement in the August issue of 91热爆s & Antiques magazine.

This year's series will also include a raft of additional programming on national and local television, including a seven-part series on 91热爆 FOUR called Restoration Nation and 28 local programmes throughout the UK on 91热爆 TWO.

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

Calls to the Restoration Vote Line will cost 50p and a minimum of 34p will go directly to the Restoration Fund - a charitable trust.

The public can also donate directly to the Fund by calling 0871 200 5050.

The executive producers of the series are Nikki Cheetham and Annette Clarke for Endemol UK Productions, and Andrea Miller for 91热爆 Scotland.

Restoration is an Endemol UK Production for 91热爆 Scotland.

Notes to Editors

Telephone voting viewers can vote during transmission by calling 09011 33 22 22.

A minimum of 34p from every phone vote (calls charged at 50p) will go The Restoration Fund for the winning building that is approved by the Trustees.

Restoration Nation

A seven-part series called Restoration Nation, made by 91热爆 teams from across the UK, will broadcast on 91热爆 FOUR at 10.00pm immediately after Restoration on 91热爆 TWO.

Twenty-eight Restoration Nation short programmes will also broadcast on 91热爆 TWO on Saturdays throughout the campaign.

bbc.co.uk/restoration

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 final.

Cross-linked to all the 91热爆's regional websites and any associated heritage charities, bbc.co.uk/restoration will provide a high-profile portal through to Restoration news from across the country.

The Restoration Fund

The winning building will be restored from funds raised through The Restoration Fund, a 91热爆 Appeal and registered charity.

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; and grants from heritage organisations.

Book

A book published by English Heritage to coincide with the Restoration series - Restoration 2004 by Philip Wilkinson - will feature brief updates on all the buildings from the first series, as well as stories about the 21 new buildings with unique photography and will be available on general release from 28 June.