Not so long ago, Kirstie and Phil could do no wrong round these parts. Their sensible yet slightly superior attitude to the hapless and deluded clients on their property shows was something many people applauded and they were the people most people would want as their token posh friends.
However, the times they are a-changing. When the new series of Relocation Relocation debuted last Wednesday, many of our forum users were no longer full of love for the pair, but declared themselves to have ‘gone right off’ them.
So what’s gone wrong for the former Channel 4 darlings? There appear to be several causes: the endless series of the Location and Relocation programmes, their pushiness, the programme last year where they went on and on about abolishing stamp duty, their openly Tory leanings, their encouraging people to buy, buy, buy before the credit crunch, and the fact that programmes like this are still being made given that very situation.
So are these criticisms valid? Whilst I can’t bring myself to share in the Kirstie/Phil hate, I did find the aforementioned stamp duty issue stuck in the throat. I also got sick of the endless ‘new’ series (see also most other programmes in 4’s lifestyle portfolio). But what of this current run?
After watching tonight’s show, honestly, it seems pretty badly timed on Channel 4’s part. Regardless of your opinions of Kirstie and Phil themselves, people generally don’t want to watch picky customers buying homes here and abroad and whinging about their budget, especially when many of us can’t afford mortgages, or are struggling with the ones we have. La G described it as ‘kind of a period piece for early 2000s craziness already’, which sums up the general mood.
So what can Kirstie and Phil do to be loved again? Perhaps take a year off. Then return with a series that looks at lots of people’s budgets, not just the rich and moany, and including the budgets of people who are renting. Stop giving political opinion. And team up with The Beeny. We still love her.
