George Clarke has admitted that he was a very reluctant TV star to begin with – but now can’t believe some of the experiences it has given him.

The architect presents Channel 4 show George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, where he travels the UK and other parts of the world to see the impressive home design projects that amateurs have taken on.

But he said that his plan had not always been to star on the small screen: “I had no ambition to be on TV at all. I was lecturing at the time at a number of universities, I had my practice and I was asked to write a book on architecture so I got a literary agent.

“She called me up a few days later and asked me if I’d be interested in telly. It took her a couple of days to persuade me. Even after I got offered the job, I didn’t know if I wanted to do it. But I took the plunge and the rest is history really.”

George Clarke
George Clarke (PA photo/handout)

However, while George reckoned he wouldn’t care if it all came to an end, he said that he was constantly surprised by being paid to do something he loved.

He said: “For me, architecture and building isn’t a job, it’s like a hobby, a genuine, real passion. You just have to look at people like Jamie Oliver, he’s a brilliant TV presenter, but first and foremost he just loves being a chef. If his media empire ended tomorrow, he would still just love his job being a chef, and I’m the same really.

“To be able to travel all over the country – in fact all over the world with Amazing Spaces, I’ve been to Texas, Italy and we’re just about to go to Germany this year – and travel and see buildings and talk about them and be paid for it is just ridiculous really. I love it.”

George Clarke is an ambassador at this year’s Ideal Home Show sponsored by Anglian, which is returning to their original venue, Olympia London, on March 20. For tickets, visit www.idealhomeshow.co.uk or call 0844 858 6763.