Kevin McCloud's divorce warning to couples taking on self builds

Kevin McCloud, the presenter of Channel 4's Grand Designs, has issued a candid warning for couples planning to embark on ambitious self build projects in 2025: think twice about doing it as a team.

He said that whilst he has witnessed some truly incredible homes being built, he delves behind the scenes claiming many fail to realise the strain these projects can place on relationships.

Speaking on the Fuelling Around podcast, McCloud didn’t mince his words when offering advice to couples considering a self build adventure: "Be absolutely sure that you’re not going to get divorced."

'Don’t sign up for building a house together'

McCloud warned of the emotional toll that self build projects can take on couples by drawing on his extensive experience filming Grand Designs.

“Nobody at the altar says: ‘To love and to cherish and build a house together,’ because nobody in their right mind would,” he joked.

McCloud shared a story of one couple who successfully converted a barn but admitted that the process had tested their relationship to its limits.

“I honestly think it’s not something you sign up for in a relationship,” McCloud added. “It stresses people beyond imagination, and you discover the big areas of disagreement, stress, tension, and dislike. Why do that?”

The challenges of building a house together

McCloud’s advice stems from witnessing the emotional toll such projects can have on relationships.

He believes that the process of designing and constructing a dream home often amplifies stress and exposes differences in priorities, which can strain even the strongest of partnerships, as shown in the infamous Grand Designs Lighthouse episode.

“I honestly think it stresses people beyond imagination,” he said. “You discover the big areas of disagreement, stress, tension, and dislike. Why do that?”

Having split from his wife of 23 years, Suzanne, in 2019, McCloud has personal insight into the complexities of relationships. However, he refrained from drawing direct parallels to his own experiences during the podcast.

Instead, he kept the conversation focused on the broader challenges faced by couples navigating the ambitious demands of self-building.

A presenter’s perspective

Despite the emotional intensity he’s observed over the years, McCloud was quick to clarify that he doesn’t take on the role of a marriage counselor during filming.

“I try not to do the marriage counselling,” he joked. “I do the building thing, but it doesn’t really matter what advice I give people because they don’t listen anyway.”

McCloud also highlighted his responsibility as a presenter to ask the questions viewers at home are likely wondering. “If there’s a responsibility, it’s that: to ask the questions that you think the viewers are thinking,” he explained.

As Grand Designs continues to inspire and challenge self builders in its 25th year, McCloud’s words serve as a thoughtful reminder to couples: building a house is a monumental endeavor, and it’s vital to prepare not only the blueprint but also the emotional foundation before taking the plunge.