EXCLUSIVE: Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud has shared his reaction to the news that the ‘saddest’ ever home to feature on the Channel 4 show has finally sold after 15 years

Matt Davies Trendswatch Reporter

07:30, 01 Oct 2025

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CAPTION: Grand Designs’ Kevin McCloud wowed as ‘saddest house ever’ gets ‘superb’ makeover

Kevin McCloud has offered a touching reaction to news that Grand Designs‘ “saddest” house has finally been sold, freeing the family from a “heavy burden”. Speaking exclusively with the British designer, who is due to feature on the Channel 4 reality programme tomorrow (October 1), Kevin voiced his joy that the infamous property had found a buyer and even called it “fantastic news”.

Back in August, it emerged that Chesil Cliff House, a striking clifftop lighthouse in Croyde, North Devon, had been sold, bringing to a close a gruelling 15-year ordeal that featured a staggering 12 years of renovations.

The build left Edward Short, the property’s owner, £7 million out of pocket with the now-infamous project ultimately running several million pounds over budget. The mammoth undertaking would bring further heartbreak beyond financial ruin.

It also destroyed Edward’s marriage to his wife, Hazel, with the episode (broadcast in October 2019) later being branded the “saddest ever” by viewers.

Edward Short The sale of Chesil Cliff House marks the end of a15-year saga for owner Edward Short

When invited to share his thoughts about the sale of Chesil Cliff House (now called The Crest), Kevin disclosed that it was the first occasion he’d learned of the positive development, stating: “Well, I didn’t know it had. Has it?

He added: “If that’s the case, and I pray it is, because when somebody says it’s sold, you never know whether or not it’s accepted. “Well, I didn’t know it had. Has it?

He continued: “If that’s the case, I am so pleased for Ed and for his family, for Hazel too, because they’ve been waiting so long to be freed from that…that, well, what should we call it?”

Kevin added: “That yoke, that heavy burden, really, of living with it, wondering, worrying whether or not it will sell. So, oh, that would be such fantastic news.”

Chesil Cliff House in Croyde, Devon. 10/10/2019 See SWNS story SWPLcroyde. A controversial luxury home in one of Devon's most stunning locations has appeared on Channel 4's Grand Designs tonight - in what has been described as one of the saddest episodes in the show's history. Viewers and locals took to social media to share their thoughts on Edward Short's Chesil Cliff House, an eye-catching development on Down End Point in the exclusive surfing village of Croyde in North Devon. Even by presenter Kevin Mcloud's standards, he admitted this £3.2m was something "very special". But there was bad news from the start as restricted lending from the banks meant the start date for the project was pushed back by four years. The plans changed, the designs altered, the money ran out - in fact, almost everything that could go wrong did.The notorious build ultimately exceeded its budget by several million pounds
(Image: SWNS)

On 19 August, Edward expressed relief that the Chesil Cliff House had finally sold, jokingly stating he would buy a lottery ticket in hopes of one day buying it back.

When informed about this amusing detail, Kevin added: “Well, it’s certainly the case that for him, I mean, it must be what, 12 or 15 years he’s been involved with that project. So, that’s a lot of your life, a lot of your time and your emotional connection.”

He concluded: “There’s no doubt that he has a complicated relationship with the building. It’s not transactional. And this was a passion project for him that didn’t quite work out for the family, but which he’s still passionate about.”

Chesil Cliff HouseKevin revealed that it was the first time that he’d heard the uplifting news

Kevin added that he hopes Edward has “found some resolution”, although he conceded there would be “very mixed emotions” as he was “so attached to the place”.

Kevin was speaking ahead of Grand Designs Live 2025 Birmingham, taking place at the NEC from October 3 to 5. It’s the UK’s premier home and design exhibition.