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Channel 4 commissions IWC to make holiday hire makeover show
MUMBAI: Channel 4 has commissioned Banijay owned production outfit IWC to produce TX pilot, Hire My Home, a factual entertainment format.
Channel 4 daytime head Hub & Glasgow head Jo Street greenlit the project. Hire My Home will be distributed globally by Banijay Rights.
Featuring two skilled interior designers, Anna Campbell-Jones (Scotland’s Home of the Year) and Zeena Shah, this show takes bland rentals and turns them into unique holiday lets. Each designers are assigned a property in the same area of the UK and are given a budget by the owner to transform it. It will be their job to give each property a stunning makeover, drawing inspiration from the character and culture of the surrounding area and creating a stand-out style would-be holidaymakers can’t ignore. The rejuvenated rentals will then be judged by 100 Brits via a Hire My Home app, with photographs and price point uploaded.
The show has been commissioned in the summer where many are opting out of foreign travel and holiday rentals in the UK. For thousands of homeowners who advertise their properties online, there has never been a better time to make sure it stands out from the crowd. Whether it’s a first-timer who has never listed their place or someone who wants to refresh a rental that has seen better days, Hire My Home is ready to turn their property into a design dream.
IWC executive producer Gerard Costello said, “Letting our designers loose on some of the UK’s holiday lets is a great way to see some exciting and characterful transformations. This format will not only give Channel 4 viewers great inspiration for their next staycation, it will be full of creative ideas for their own homes.”
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
