RDF to Document Building of Britain’s Most Expensive Home for Channel 4

RDF, a Banijay Group Company, today announces it has been commissioned by Channel 4 to make a 1×60’ prime-time documentary following the building of billionaire businessman, John Caudwell’s, lavish new home in London’s Mayfair.

In Britain’s Most Expensive Home: Building for a Billionaire, RDF has exclusive access to the building site of one of the most epic homes ever to be renovated in the UK. The documentary will tell the story of this complex project, covering almost 50,000 square foot that must be carried out in the narrow confines of historic Mayfair.

Over budget and behind schedule, the build is far from plain sailing. Self-made billionaire and philanthropist John Caudwell, who sold Phones 4u in 2006 for just under £1.5 billion, is at the heart of the film, cajoling builders and designers alike to deliver on his vision for his new home. With access to the trades people and interior designers who must answer to one exacting client the film follows their work as a they try to meet the new deadline for completion.

Unique engineering tasks and challenges include a vast subterranean basement that joins two mansions together, housing a mechanical car stacker that can store eight cars at the click of a button, and a second floor dining room featuring a river with live fish.

Dan Barraclough, Executive Producer, RDF said: “This incredible access gives us a glimpse into the world of the truly mega wealthy, where every whim can be realised, but where things can still go wrong, as on any building site. At the heart of the programme is the intriguing character of Caudwell himself – A tough taskmaster, but also a committed philanthropist. He is a man with huge wealth, but one who still counts the pennies, the boy from Stoke who has set his heart on a home in the ‘old money’ world of Mayfair. It makes for a fascinating character portrayal.”

Britain’s Most Expensive Home: Building for a Billionaire was commissioned by Jonny Rothery, Commissioning Editor for Features & Formats at Channel 4, and is Executive Produced by Dan Barraclough at RDF. RDF is part of the Banijay Group, and all worldwide rights to Britain’s Most Expensive Home : Building for a Billionaire are owned by Banijay Rights.