The search for Northern Ireland’s House Of The Year is on again with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and a team of expert judges

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The search for Northern Ireland’s House Of The Year is on again with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and a team of expert judges

House Of The Year returns to BBC iPlayer with the first five episodes available to watch from Monday 5 January. In each episode, three new homes will compete for one of five places in the grand final where they could be crowned – House Of Year.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is once again joined by a team of expert judges – award-winning architect Jane Larmour, interior designer James Fairley, and interiors business owner Patricia McGinnis – who are tasked with deciding which five homes make the final shortlist.

Laurence says: “I am very proud of House Of The Year and was involved in the first iteration back in 2010 and it was, and still is, a brilliant way of showcasing a kind of aspirational vision of the housing landscape in Northern Ireland.

“What I love about coming back to it now, is the fact there is such an immense ramp up in terms of individuality, personality and creativity. I think people no longer feel they must do things in a ‘grown-up’ way.

“People are letting their ‘freak flag’ fly and are doing things their own way!”

In episode one the judges must choose between a 1970s bungalow which has been given a dramatic new lease of life, a semi-detached home which has been reimagined with flair for a young family, and a penthouse apartment overlooking a golf course, which has been tailored to meet the needs of its owners.

From Belfast to rural county Tyrone and the coastal Ballycastle, Laurence and the judges visit a variety of properties, including carefully crafted new builds, a terraced home bursting with colour, a cottage built using traditional craftmanship, an ‘upside-down’ property designed around spectacular sea views and an ‘eco’ house.

It is down to the three judges to decide which five homes deserve a place in the grand final and they reveal what audiences can look forward to in the new series.

Jane says: “Home means something different to everyone, and I love seeing how people shape the spaces that make them happy. This year, I’m looking for homes that balance beauty with practicality, are rooted in their surroundings, and feel effortlessly liveable.

“I think about how a home will feel over time – how it will age, adapt, and gracefully weather everyday life. Natural light, durability, comfort and character all matter, but above all a home must be well planned and genuinely useful, because when a house works for the people who live in it, beauty naturally follows.”

James says: “I’m delighted and honoured to have been asked back to be part of the latest series of House of The Year with Jane, Patricia and, of course, Laurence.

“I was blown away by the variety and quality of homes in the previous series. In this series we’ve discovered even more hidden gems and I can’t wait for audiences to hear the stories behind these beguiling homes.”

Patricia says: “This season, we have a wide range of different houses, so there is going to be something to appeal to every taste, and such a great reflection of the types of houses that real people live in! Expect Laurence to be on top form as usual, with even more wise cracks, keeping us all on our toes.”

House Of The Year starts Monday 5 January on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer. The first five episodes are available to watch on BBC iPlayer after episode one airs on Monday 5 January. The grand final will broadcast Monday 9 February on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer.