Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud breaks down in tears

by · Mail Online

Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud broke down in tears on tonight's episode as a couple built their 'little piece of heaven' after facing a devastating cancer diagnosis. 

In the latest installment of the Channel 4 series, Tony and Ara seek to build a 'wellness' house in a woodland clearing near Henley-on-Thames.

But the couple were met with a series of difficult obstacles along the way, including a tight budget, Tony suffering a fall - and the sobering news that Ara had been diagnosed with cancer on top of her already fragile health. 

But in November 2023, after five years of building and after it seemed all hope had been lost, the couple finally finished building their 'little piece of heaven'. 

And as Tony broke down in tears over his worries that he hadn't been able to look after Ara properly, Kevin also began to cry. 

Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud broke down in tears on tonight's episode as a couple built their 'little piece of heaven' after facing a devastating cancer diagnosis

In the very moving scenes, he told the couple: 'I'm in awe of the pair of you. It's very tough'. 

Meanwhile Ara confessed: 'It's been the hardest thing I've ever done... there's been times I've been resentful. But I live in a little piece of heaven. I'm happy.'  

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Against all odds, Tony managed to complete the 'health house' all on his own, and having spent £1million - £200,000 over their original budget. 

It had also taken five years to complete - rather than the initial year and a half Tony had proposed. 

But the final product was 'astonishing', according to Kevin, featuring two separate wings and a central atrium with the intent to 'bring nature into the living space'. 

Featuring sun lights to mimic daylight, minimalist appeal, and the calming influence of the surrounding woodland, Tony hoped their new home would give Ara the space she needed to be able to recover. 

The structure of the building was entirely unique - with the couple occupying their own separate quadrants, with the remaining half of the site to be used for wellness projects.  

But the building process had been far from simple as Tony took on the project management and building work himself - even discarding his architect's plans, despite his 40 years of experience. 

In the latest installment of the Channel 4 series, Tony and Ara seek to build a 'wellness' house in a woodland clearing near Henley-on-Thames
Ara and Tony built their dream 'little piece of heaven' on the latest installment of the Channel 4 show. Pictured: The final result
As Tony broke down in tears over his worries that he hadn't been able to look after Ara properly, Kevin also began to cry
Tony and Ara's project was thrown into chaos when they received the devastating news she had been diagnosed with cancer
The finished product was very interconnected with nature, with views of the surrounding forest
Tony had fitted the central atrium with outdoor pool and wide open space
The project ended up taking five years - instead of the planned year and a half
The idea of the central atrium was to promote interconnection with nature and its healing properties
The building, to promote health and wellness, had various measures to focus on fitness
Ara and Tony hoped to repay some of the building costs by hosting wellness sessions for guests in the property
The quarters Tony and Ara would live in were relatively simple - again to put wellness at the centre
The unique atrium with the pool made the final result 'astonishing' in Kevin's eyes
In November 2023, after five years of building and after it seemed all hope had been lost, the couple finally finished building their 'little piece of heaven'

Ara's cancer diagnosis in September 2022, coming on top of an autoimmune condition, threatened to derail the project entirely, with Kevin saying he 'wouldn't blame them' for abandoning it. 

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To cut costs, Tony said he would 'learn on the job', but just months in, he was faced with a roof that wasn't water tight and mounting prices.

The project descended into 'chaos', with Tony suffering a fall, and endangering Ara's health even further. 

But through it all, Tony remained calm in his philosophy that 'if you enjoy the process, it doesn't really matter how long it takes.'

At the start of the episode, Tony and Ara walked through his parents' house for the last time -before knocking it down. 

In order to achieve their dream home the couple were forced to sacrifice the home of Tony's late parents, John and Betty. 

A moving video showed the moment the couple and host Kevin walked through the 1960s bungalow for one of the final times, reflecting on the 'memories' they made there. 

This is the emotional moment a couple on Grand Designs walked through the man's parents' house (pictured) for the last time - before knocking it down
Tony (pictured) makes the difficult decision to knock down the bungalow for his partner's health

Looking at the panelled walls and unique mosaic floor with a clock at its centre, Kevin couldn't help but comment: 'That's rather beautiful'. 

Ara added: 'It's all been done with love, and you can feel it.' And pointing to the room next door, she even revealed: 'We got married in that room!' 

The couple had moved in with John and Betty seven years ago to take care of them - with the house holding a 'treasure trove of memories'. 

But Tony, a health researcher, said: 'I think for me, I've worked on a strategy to be able to let go.'

The couple wasted no time with starting the demolition process and beginning to build the new home, with work beginning in 2019. 

Tony said: 'For so many years both practically and psychologically I felt a little bit hidden in the shadow of what my dad had done, but now it's really my project.'

Tony and Ara had moved into the home seven years ago, to care for Tony's parents John and Betty (pictured)
Ara (pictured) suffers with increasingly fragile health due to an autoimmune condition, so Tony decides to build her a 'wellness house' to heal
Host Kevin McCloud praised the memories the old home held, including a mosaic floor featuring a clock
The couple and Kevin strolled through the old home for one of the final times - an emotional moment
Kevin said the old home was 'beautiful' during his tour of the before property

Last week, Grand Designs viewers were 'moved to tears' by the 'best episode ever'. 

Kara, Jonny and their young family won over hearts across the nation in their bid to build an accessible home in the Pennines in West Yorkshire. 

Kara was left paralysed after suffering a seizure on a holiday to Spain in 2019, after which she was unexpectedly left in a wheelchair for life. 

The mother-of-two was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), an autoimmune condition that flares up and threatens damage to the nervous system. 

Last week, Grand Designs viewers branded the episode the 'best ever' after Kara (pictured), who was left paralysed for life, achieved her dream home
During the episode, she and Jonny built their dream home (pictured) featuring stunning interiors and sweeping countryside views

During the episode, she and Jonny built their dream home featuring stunning interiors and sweeping countryside views - while accessibility features meant she could regain some of her former independence. 

After Kara emotionally broke down in tears confessing she'd been able to get her 'freedom' back, viewers also found themselves sobbing and branded it the 'best episode ever' of the show.  

They took to social media to write: 'In all the years of #GrandDesigns we have a winner!! The house.. The couple.. The work ethic.. The styling.. The amazingly fabulous dog.. All bloody brilliant';

'Stunning design and attention to detail to deliver an incredible home. This is what Grand Designs is about. One of the best builds in the 25years of the show';

'I've never rooted harder for anyone on Grand Designs than I did tonight';

Grand Designs airs at 9pm on Channel 4 on Wednesday.