Otley Student has ‘Grand Designs’ on Future After Appearing on TV Show

An Otley College student will be appearing on a popular Channel 4 property show on Wednesday May the 2nd.

Marc Davis - from Thelnetham in Suffolk - is currently on a plastering course at Otley. He was involved in the TV show Grand Designs - a programme hosted by design guru, Kevin McCloud. (Grand Designs is a TV series that tracks the progression of unusual architectural house building projects).

He was invited onto this particular episode in Little Downham near Ely for two days.

This is because he had previously worked for the owner of the project that was being filmed.

Marc – who currently runs his own plastering business – came to Otley to further his understanding of a trade that he loves working within. And the fact that he has gained an experience of working on a programme that is watched by millions was an offer to tempting to turn down.

He said, “I was on a two day shoot although I doubt if I will get a huge amount of exposure.”

“I got involved in some clay plastering on this project - which I had never previously experienced - and enjoyed my fifteen minutes of fame.”

On Kevin McCloud, he added,” He was a really nice bloke who really knew his stuff. He is very enthusiastic about the show and the buildings that he works on and was a genuine type of chap, which was nice.”

Marc’s lecturer at Otley, Michael Bloom, said, “Marc is a great student and I am sure this experience will add to the considerable knowledge that he has gained since working in the plastering profession and studying at Otley.”

The show will feature an eco friendly timber framed building that is the shape of a hexagon. The staircase is one of the highlights of this project and will be built out of the foundations of a tree stump.