Kevin McCloud has presented Grand Designs since 1999.

Kevin McCloud began presenting Grand Designs 26 years and the first ever episode aired on Channel 4 in 1999. The show has had plenty of heartwarming moments throughout its time on air with a strong focus on human-led stories behind the grand renovation projects. However, viewers have also seen some heartbreaking moments which have brought tears to people's eyes.

Kevin, 66, has previously dished on why Grand Designs has been so successful. He told Hello! :"Grand Designs has a really broad spectrum audience that doesn't happen in television. Our programme appeals to all groups, and not just in small numbers. One of the most gratifying things about my job is when I go to Grand Designs Live, I get 33 year olds and 38 year olds coming up to me, saying, 'I started watching when I was a kid with my parents and I'm now an architect, or a surveyor or in engineering, because you were there for me along the way'."

Express.co.uk are taking an inside look into some of the tragedies aired on the programme from devastating death news to the "saddest house ever".

Tributes pour in after tragic death

Tributes poured in for a Grand Designs star, Pep, after the Channel 4 renovation programme revealed that she had died during filming after a brave battle with cancer. During the episode of the reality series that aired in October, viewers were introduced to Malene and her partner Pep, who was living with terminal cancer while passionately spearheading the project to build their dream home. They were building their take on a Viking Hall in a touching nod to Malene's Danish heritage.

From the start of the project Pep took on an assertive role spearheading the project to watching from a window. The renovations were far from over but her health began to deteriorate. Kevin revealed she had entered palliative care.

Sadly, with the renovation incomplete, Kevin later confirmed: "Just short of three long years, Pep faced down her cancer diagnosis with a courage and determination that was inspiring, but in the closing weeks Pep finally reached the end."

Malene continued with their project amid the devastating loss and five months completed the renovation.

Most heartbreaking house

In 2023 Grand Designs visited Graeme and Mel. The couple met through heartbreaking circumstances after both their teenage daughters lost a parent. Graeme and Melanie then envisioned building a three-bedroom three-storey home for their new, blended family.

With a maximum budget of £450,000, the couple quickly ran into money woes, and in September 2023, it looked like their dream home would not become a reality.

In total they spent £550,000 and began to rely on family and friends for contributions.

Thankfully, when Kevin returned this year their family home had finally been completed.

'Saddest ever' Grand Designs home

The "saddest ever" house featured on Grand Designs has finally sold after 12 years of renovations. Chesil Cliff House was bought by construction owner Edward Short, 57, but left him with a staggering £7m debt.

The building of the house took 12 years and went several million pounds over budget due to the recession, and it ultimately led to the end of his marriage to former wife Hazel.

The property was showcased on Channel 4's Grand Designs, with many viewers labelling it the "saddest episode" since it was broadcast in 2019. The five-bedroom Devon property has since been purchased for £5.25m after it was put back on the market in 2024.

Viewers were left in tears

Grand Designs viewers branded a 2024 episode the "best ever" leaving many in tears. The show followed Kara, Jonny and their young family, who won over hearts across the nation in their bid to build an accessible home in the Pennines in West Yorkshire.

Kara was left paralysed after suffering a seizure on a holiday while in Spain in 2019, after which she was unexpectedly left in a wheelchair for life. The mother-of-two was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), an autoimmune condition that flares up and threatens damage to the nervous system.

She and Jonny built their dream home featuring stunning interiors with gorgeous countryside views with accessibility features allowing Kara to gain some independence again.

Heartbreaking loss

Kevin discussed the heartbreaking loss of one guest and explained that "personal issues" had come up several times when filming their episodes.

The Channel 4 presenter said Nat McBride, who was a sustainability campaigner, and Lucie, a teacher, were going to build a chalet bungalow with amazing architecture.

"On day one he announces on camera that he's got stomach cancer," he told New Zealand publication Stuff.

"He passed away six months later, and we had one day's filming in the can. And then 18 months later, Lucy rang up and said, ‘I'm going to do this by myself', with her two children."

Tragedy struck

A couple were left devastated upon discovering that they had been burgled, resulting in the loss of £5,000 worth of goods.

The popular Channel 4 programme saw Kevin McCloud visit an ambitious Northamptonshire pair, Adam and Tassy, who were converting a towering water structure into an extraordinary home, envisaging a dwelling with curved walls, slides, secret rooms, a firefighter's pole, as well as a swimming pool and a top-level sky garden.

Chilling CCTV footage displayed the moment their residence was targeted by thieves. A distressed Tassy confesses, "We got robbed," disclosing the theft of numerous tools belonging to Adam from within the tower.

Scenes revealed hooded culprits making futile attempts to enter the couple's securely locked shed. The stolen goods cost the couple £5,000.

Dream home collapse

Richard Hawke and wife Sophie built their "gravity defying" dream home near Maidstone, Kent and was filmed in 2009. But the eye-catching structure resulted in damages of £200,000 after it was claimed the builder forgot one of the most important rules.

The arch that showcases the eco house was unsupported and constituted of Plaster of Paris and tiles, which were 100mm thick. But problems were soon apparent and while presenter Kevin McCloud was talking to the camera, the structure behind him collapsed.

The collapsing of the roof added £200,000 to the project's bills and an extra week onto the timescales as the problem was rectified.

Speaking to The Sun, homeowner Richard said: "I was standing by the camera person looking at the camera. You hear this almighty crash.

"One of the things they were told not to do was lean on the first layer of tiles. It's extremely delicate. It's the subsequent layers that make it stronger. [The stonemason] leaned too much. It made part of it fail and whatever that was left fell with it. So that was dramatic."

The contractor suffered a grazed head as he fell through the roof and was "crying and really upset" after the accident.

He was then tasked with rebuilding the collapsed roof as, Richard said, it "was his responsibility." There was a relief on the site that none of the other 15 people working had been hurt.