Worthing man to star in BBC Two’s Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr

Jon Burns, 45, will be one of ten talented new designers all looking for their big break in the fast-paced world of commercial interior design – and land a career-defining contract with one of the UK’s top boutique hotels.

Design expert and former editor of Elle Decoration, Michelle Ogundehin, returns as the series judge, while Alan Carr will take over from Fearne Cotton as host.

Jon, who lives in Worthing, described his style as ‘bold, engaging and colourful’.

Explaining why he decided to apply for the show, he said: “I’ve never wanted to be on TV, but Interior Design Masters got my blood pumping with excitement so much and I just had this feeling inside of me that I had to be part of this.

“I wanted to challenge myself, perhaps this was my mid-life crisis, after all I’ve got the tattoos and shaved head already!”

Going into the series, he said: “I expected to be challenged and for my brain to hurt learning new stuff, trying firsts and meeting some great inspirational people.

“I underestimated the backache, sore fingers and paint covered clothes.”

His designer inspirations include Kelly Hoppen, Sophie Robinson, Jonathan Adler and drag culture.

“Kelly Hoppen has such a high end aspirational look and uses beautiful materials that are so calm and luxurious,” he said.

“Sophie Robinson is the queen, no the goddess of colour and pattern and celebrates colour beautifully, and Jonathan Adler creates stunning accessories and dramatic interiors that make me feel glamorous just by looking at them.

“I’m also inspired by drag culture. Drag is about self-expression and I believe interior design is.

“I see Drag as a kaleidoscope of expression and I love it and it enables me to think differently.”

He added: “I think my style might be the love child of Kelly Hoppen, Sophie Robinson and Jonathan Adler.

“My style is about pattern, colour, expression, luxury, texture, drama and glamour whilst still being practical and liveable…that’s the lovechild.”

Jon said the biggest challenge he faced during the competition was his self-confidence.

“I felt out of my depth, scared, inadequate, like I hadn’t tried hard enough, and I wanted to prove to myself and to anyone watching that if you can find the belief in yourself you can achieve anything,” he said.

“And ultimately that is what I did but it was a journey, as you will see!”

He said he learned a lot from his fellow designers, including ‘upholstery, carpentry, that shellac is not just for my nails, how to put wallpaper on doors, how to see materials differently and how to drive a van through central London’.

Every week, the designers will be set a new commercial design challenge, to take on the interiors of show homes, offices, hotels, shops, beach huts, salons, restaurants and luxury holiday villas.

Jon said the first eliminations were ‘horrific’: “Not knowing what the judges thought and that I could be going home and the excitement stops, sweaty palms, waiting to hear if my name is called and is it good or bad news and draining, so much adrenaline pumping.

“I hope that doesn’t give anything away!

Series 2 of Interior Design Masters will start on BBC Two on Tuesday, 2 February at 8pm.