2010 was the first year for me at the show and it was also the first year of it being under the new ownership with event organisers, Media Ten. The transformation was incredible.

We worked incredibly hard in a short space of time to reinvent the show and drag it into the 21st century. Visitor number went through the roof and the team were rewarded with a collection of prestigious event awards. The Ideal Home Show is a great British institution and I can honestly say that I’m proud to be part of it.

This year is going to be even bigger and better. As you have probably seen in recent press I’ve redesigned No.12 Coronation Street.

There are over 25 million existing homes in Britain that are incredibly ‘eco-unfriendly’ that are wasting energy and producing levels of carbon emissions that are just too high. It really doesn’t take much to make a big difference, but we simply aren’t doing enough to make our massive existing housing stock more ecological and to reduce our own energy bills.

I chose one of the most famous streets in Britain to make my point.

No. 1 Coronation Street has been transformed into the ‘Ideal Home Show Eco Refit’ where the public can experience a familiar home that has been given an ecological makeover. Whether your own eco budget is £50, £500, or £5,000 there will be a products in the Corrie home that are affordable and worth the investment.

Sitting alongside the Corrie house are a number of other show homes including ‘The Natural House’ by The Prince of Wales. This is a new build sustainable home that has been developed by The Prince and The Prince’s Foundation for The Built Environment.

With over 700 exhibitors at the show and seminar programmes covering everything from Home Improvement to Food, Gadgets and Fashion The Ideal Home Show really does have something for everyone.

Check out my diary on my website to see which days I’m there giving talks and signing my new book, The Home Bible. The show runs from the 11th-27th March. It’s a brilliant day out so don’t miss it.