When the pandemic hit, it threw television into disarray as productions were delayed as the sector scrambled to be safe. But finished series were affected too. Family Home Overhaul, HGTV Canada’s latest series, was originally slated to debut back in April, but that was scuttled to Sunday. Host Cheryl Hickey is totally fine with the switch.
“I think this show is needed more than ever right now,” Hickey says during a phone interview. “We need a show that reminds you that your neighbour might be going through something you don’t know about. It’s about compassion and giving outside of yourself and it is airing at exactly the right time.”
Debuting Sunday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada, Family Home Overhaul is exactly what it sounds like, with a bit of a twist. Instead of homeowners pledging to have their homes renovated, they have been put forward by others in their community. These selfless families have put others before themselves, and the program—and its stars—is giving back.
In Sunday’s first episode we meet Sarah and Kevin, who are deeply involved in their community and volunteering worldwide to train medical practitioners on the unique needs of child patients and coaching sports for disabled kids and adults. The parents of two boys, Landon and Hayden, 12-year-old Landon has required round-the-clock care his whole life because of a rare developmental disorder. The result? Their older home is falling into disrepair and has workarounds that aren’t working at all. Enter Kortney and Dave Wilson, who work with Hickey to refresh the home and bring it up to date.
Each week, a pair of HGTV Canada’s talent join Hickey, including Scott McGillivray, Tiffany Pratt, Sebastian Clovis, Kortney and Dave Wilson, Brian McCourt, Mia Parres, Kate Campbell and Dave Coleman, Sarah Keenleyside, Joey Fletcher and Dave Kenney, Samantha Pynn and Tommy Smythe.
Hickey may be more known for her hosting duties on ET Canada, but she dives into the fray on Family Home Overhaul, helping with the renovations, conversing with homeowners and designer/contractors and speaking to the homeowners’ friends and family, building a picture of who these people are and why they deserve others’ giving back.
“I jumped at the chance to do this,” Hickey says. “Everything that I do starts and ends with family. I started a business called Cheryl’s Home and Family and if you follow me on social, it’s all about my family. So it made sense. The idea of giving back, to me, was just such a beautiful idea, I was all for it.”
Family Home Overhaul airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada.
Images courtesy of HGTV Canada.
