Christchurch residents are expressing great excitement this afternoon after international television distributor ABC announced that a special edition of its famous Extreme Makeover: Home Edition series would be coming to the quake-stricken city.
The television show, which typically features a team of enthusiastic renovators building a personalized home for a troubled family, will be filming in Christchurch starting next month.
The two hour special will centre around the reconstruction of the destroyed Christchurch Cathedral, and the show’s enthusiastic hosts, led by the excitable but humble Ty Pennington, will be canvassing Christchurch residents about what “fun things” they like to do, in order to help guide a design for a new cathedral.
“We are awed and inspired by the strength and resilience of the people of Christchurch” said Pennington in a video announcing the show. “When we heard what happened, all our hearts broke. But you guys were so strong and you came together and really showed us what community is all about. So now we want to do something for you, Christchurch. We want to give back by helping you to build a new cathedral, and not just any cathedral either. We want to build something that is uniquely you.”
“We’ve heard that some people in Christchurch like fast cars” he added. “So we’re thinking a room themed like cars.”
The show’s producers made the decision to film in Christchurch after receiving an emotional video plea put together by the city’s Anglican church. The video, hosted by Bishop Victoria Matthews, featured striking images of destroyed cityscapes and crying children.
The Extreme Makeover hosts were captured on film as they watched the video and cried.
“When we saw that video, we were so overwhelmed” said host Marlee Matlin. “We knew right then that we had to do something. We knew we had to come and ask what kind of obscure interests your children have so we can try to incorporate them into your city’s most iconic building.”
While the church is excited that its calls for help have been answered, some in the city are displeased by the show’s intentions, such as the coordinator of the Restore Christchurch Cathedral campaign Mark Belton, who said he would rather the building be restored to its historical state as a majestic death trap for potentially hundreds of people.