First episode of Bucknell's House

Bucknell’s House started on 14 May 1962. Over the course of 39 weeks the series offered a comprehensive practical guide on how to modernise an old house. It was presented by the pre-eminent television DIY expert Barry Bucknell, The interest generated by Bucknell’s House was such that the finished project featured on the national news.

Bucknell’s House was a Victorian end terrace in Ealing, West London. The series was made at a time when people could recall the smog that pre-dated the 1956 Clean Air Act, so there was little nostalgia for original features such as fireplaces. They were removed or boarded over and electric heaters installed in their place.

Other modernising touches included covering panelled Victorian doors with hardboard to give them a streamlined appearance. But Bucknell dealt with every aspect of the renovation; replacing rotten boards, moving the staircase, dealing with plumbing and electrics, building furniture, and decorating.

Bucknell helped to transform DIY into a popular pastime, although his particular style of home improvement fell out of favour. He died in 2003 but not before seeing a renewal in interest in home improvement programmes. Shows such as Home Front, Changing Rooms and DIY-SOS all developed the genre in new and entertaining directions.