EXCLUSIVE: The first UK commission for Reese Witherspoon‘s Hello Sunshine has landed itself a second series without its star presenter and with the Oscar winner no longer exec producing.
Channel 4 has officially greenlit Renovation Rescue Season 2 with Vogue Williams and ex-Love Island contestant Luke Mabbott replacing Season 1 host Stacey Solomon, who led what was then titled Stacey Solomon’s Renovation Rescue earlier this year. The first ep of that series was watched by more than 1M viewers.
In Renovation Rescue, contestants apply to have their home renovated and presenters help them keep costs down with money-saving skills, design inspiration and DIY techniques anyone can try at home. The first season also spotlighted Solomon and husband Joe Swash’s own home renovation. Reports emerged earlier this year that Solomon, who presents a similar award-winning BBC show, Stacey Solomon’s Sort Your Life Out, would not be returning for Season 2. Yesterday, the BBC unveiled another new Solomon series, a reality show following her and her husband titled Stacey & Joe.
Williams, who has hosted multiple shows including Joanne & Vogue’s Sex Drive for E4 and who has degrees in construction design and management and quantitative surveying, will be joined by Love Island Season 6 contestant Mabbott – a trained heating and plumbing engineer.
Witherspoon is no longer EPing Renovation Rescue. Sarah Lazenby, who runs Hello Sunshine unscripted in the UK, is EPing with Sara Rea.
“I’ve done a lot of exciting projects in my career, but I am so delighted to be given the opportunity to roll up my sleeves and get stuck into the second series of this truly brilliant show,” said Williams. “Home renovation is a huge passion of mine, and I am excited to put my degrees in construction to the test.”
Lazenby said Williams and Mabbott “exude warmth and humour,” with an “infectious on-screen chemistry.”
The show was commissioned by Channel 4 Senior Commissioning Editor Clemency Green and Head of Daytime and Features, Jo Street. Casting is now open.
Hello Sunshine is owned by Candle Media. In the U.S., it has produced huge hits including Big Little Lies and The Morning Show. Lazenby, who used to work for Channel 4, joined the new UK unscripted division just over two years ago.
