Kevin McCloud is something of a national treasure, having graced our screens on Grand Designs for over 20 years. But how did he get into presenting, and what is his background?
Who is Kevin McCloud?
Kevin McCloud is a TV presenter best known for his work on the Channel 4 series Grand Designs.
After graduating, McCloud trained as a theatre designer and then set up his own lighting design practice, McCloud Lighting. He worked on projects at Harrods, Ely Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle and other hotels and venues.
His first TV appearance was as a guest presenter on BBC Two’s Homefront, an interior design makeover show. He then went on to write and present Grand Designs, a show covering major architectural homebuilding projects. He has continued to present Grand Designs, and is editor-at-large of Grand Designs Magazine and is heavily involved with the exhibition Grand Designs Live.
He has presented other shows including Kevin McCloud’s Grand Tour, Kevin McCloud: Slumming It, Kevin McCloud’s Man Made Home, Escape to the Wild and Kevin McCloud’s Rough Guide to the Future.
Is he a trained architect?
No, Kevin McCloud has trained as a theatre designer, specialising in lighting design.
How long as Grand Designs been going?
Grand Designs had its TV debut in April 1999, and has been running ever since.
Where is he from?
Kevin McCloud was born in Bedfordshire, attending Dunstable Grammar School – which later became Manshead CE Academy.
How old is Kevin McCloud?
He was born on 8 May 1959
Did he go to university and what did he study?
Kevin McCloud studied singing at the Conservatory of Music in Florence, Italy for a year, and was offered a three-year course there but returned to the UK to take up a place at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge to study languages. He then changed to a philosophy degree, before finally settling on the history of art and architecture. It was here that he worked alongside Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, working as a costume and set designer for the Footlights.
Where does he live?
Kevin McCloud used to live in Frome in Somerset, with his then wife. In 2024, it was revealed that McCloud had spent the last few years renovating a farmhouse in Herefordshire.
Who is he married to?
Kevin McCloud married businesswoman Jenny Jones in 2022, several years after separating from his ex-wife Suzanna.
He was married to Suzanna McCloud from 1994 until they separated in 2019. They have two children together, Milo and Elsie, and McCloud has two children, Hugo and Grace from previous relationships.
Top image credit: Getty Images