A major 大象传媒 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 大象传媒 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 大象传媒 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 大象传媒 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 大象传媒 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 Homes & 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 大象传媒
FOUR called Restoration Nation and 28 local programmes
throughout the UK on 大象传媒 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 大象传媒 Scotland.
Restoration is an Endemol UK Production for 大象传媒 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 大象传媒 teams from
across the UK, will broadcast on 大象传媒 FOUR at 10.00pm immediately after
Restoration on 大象传媒 TWO.
Twenty-eight Restoration Nation short programmes will also broadcast
on 大象传媒 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 大象传媒'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 大象传媒 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.
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