He also spoke about the family member that inspired his career
GEORGE Clarke has opened up about the family tragedy that left him bereft as a child.
The Channel 4 interior design expert has now made it big in the world of telly, but life wasn’t always easy for him.
When he was seven years old George’s dad died during a water skiing accident, and he struggled to cope.
During an interview with the Guardian, he shared that it was “a really tough time”, and he found it “devastating” when family members moved on without talking much about the bereavement.
The Amazing Spaces host added: “I reached a crossroads after Dad died: I could either crumble and lose the plot, or find the best in an awful situation.
“The grief was horrific – I still carry it with me every day –but I accepted that everything happens for a reason. My dad only had 26 years on the planet, so I was going to make the most of every day.”
Although his father passed away while he was still young, George revealed his grandad had a huge influence on him and may be the reason he has his career today.
The older man was a builder, and bought him a book about architecture when he was 12.
From then on George knew he wanted to be involved in some form of construction work.
His passion on the subject was what eventually landed him a job with Channel 4.
He joked that his shy personality almost meant he wasn’t hired as a show host, but his love for the craft won out in the end.
The presenter told the Guardian: “The first thing they said to me at the screen test was: ‘Tell us about yourself.’
I must have sounded really rude. I said: ‘What do you want to know?’ You don’t ask a lad from Sunderland to talk about himself.
I think they were expecting me to say: ‘I’m brilliant, I’m amazing.’ I couldn’t do that.
The exec’s next question was: ‘Tell me why you love architecture.’ I don’t think I shut up for 20 minutes.”
