Channel 4 commission Phil Spencer: Find Me A Home

Channel 4 have commissioned Glasgow based indie, Raise The Roof Productions, for a one-off special, Phil Spencer: Find Me A Home.

This current affairs special is a departure for Phil, who spends most of his time property hunting for people with healthy budgets and lengthy wish lists for their dream home. This time, Phil is searching for homes on behalf of low paid families and the young who are increasingly amongst the hidden victims of the housing crisis.  These are ordinary families who do not have high social support needs and do not correspond with simplistic notions of welfare dependency.

When Phil embarks on the searches he isn’t prepared for the challenges that face him and is shocked by the reality of what is available to them. Can he negotiate his way through the mire of red tape? With the full weight of his property finding prowess will he be able to pull off the impossible and find decent homes for people that the government and local authorities can’t, or won’t help?

Phil Spencer said: “We are living in the midst of a housing crisis and the number of people facing homelessness is increasing due to a shortage of affordable housing stock, unstable job markets, and soaring rents. I was shocked by the reality of what is available to hard-working families whose luck has turned on the flip of a coin.”

Sarah Walmsley, Creative Director, Raise the Roof Productions, said: “This is a hugely important and timely look at a topic that affects hundreds of thousands of people in the UK. It makes for powerful viewing when Phil asks the questions we all want answers to and discovers first-hand the challenges homeless people face when looking for a property.”

Daniel Pearl, Deputy Head of News and Current Affairs, Channel 4, said: "This new project with Phil Spencer offers a unique mix of current affairs and property hunt television – bringing together the best of populist investigative journalism and features programmes which reflect people’s everyday lives. It is a great opportunity to implement Phil’s talents to demonstrate how complex the housing system can be and to really get to grips with the issues that face the victims of the housing crisis.”

Phil Spencer: Find Me A Home is a Raise The Roof Production.  Executive Producers are Sarah Walmsley and Jo Scott. Producer/Director is Katy Bird. The programme was commissioned for Channel 4 by Daniel Pearl Deputy head of News and Current Affairs.