WHEN Suzy Allard and Richard Reynolds took the brave step of buying a derelict house they never dreamt their efforts to renovate it would be slated on national television.

But a slating was what the couple got when they agreed to take part in the Channel 4 television show Other People's Houses.

Richard and Suzy bought their derelict Georgian terraced house in York Place, Worcester, in November last year, after deciding to move to the city from Stourbridge.

Suzy, aged 28, said: "It was a complete mess. It didn't even have electricity or water and had fallen into ruin, having been owned by an elderly woman.

"But we completely fell in love with it. We thought it had bags of potential and character and the location was wonderful."

After finding an architect to help the couple turn the dilapidated building into the home of their dreams, they were contacted by Channel 4 bosses wanting them to take part in the show.

Suzy and Richard, 34, had seen the show before and heard of the reputation of the programme's sharp-tongued presenter Naomi Cleaver.

And true to her form, strict Naomi was quick to dispense her criticism to the Worcester couple when they made their appearance on the show last Wednesday.

Suzie said: "We were warned what she was going to be like, that she could be antagonistic and insulting, so we were prepared for it and we thought she was pretty soft on us.

"It was lots of fun and quite exciting, but it meant we couldn't relax as we were being filmed so much. It made me feel even more anxious about what we were doing to the house."

She said camera crews would invade the house once every two weeks, obtaining footage of the couple and how the renovation was developing.

"Naomi would only come once a month," said Suzy. "Maybe I shouldn't tell you this, I am probably giving away trade secrets, but they would film us wearing two different outfits to make it look as if it was shot on different days."

The couple stayed in a rented log cabin in Bewdley while they spent every day renovating the house. They are still adding the finishing touches.

The rooms featured on Other People's Houses had been designed and decorated by the couple themselves. The ground-floor living room was converted into a plush Georgian parlour, the bedroom was inspired by the colours of New England, and the basement given a contemporary new look with new kitchen and conservatory.

Suzy said: "Naomi hated the kitchen. She said it was bland and boring.

"She thought the tiles were too rustic, but I disagreed and did tell her I thought she was being a bit insulting, especially after she said she thought my sofas looked like they were off the set of a children's television show!"

But Suzy, a diabetes specialist nurse, and Richard, a business analyst, got their own back after telling Naomi she couldn't wear her beloved stiletto shoes in the house as it was damaging their new flooring.

The couple bought their house for a bargain at £126,000 and after the work they have done it is estimated to be worth around £210,000.

Suzy added: "We are so thrilled with what we have done.

"It's the first time we have done anything like this.

"I would do it again, but maybe not with Naomi or the cameras around!"