What Not To Wear (UK TV Series) - History

History

What Not to Wear originated on BBC Two in 2001, hosted by fashion gurus Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine who also co-authored several fashion books based on the show. The first ever episode was broadcast on 29 November 2001.

In 2002 during the show's second series, Jeremy Clarkson and Lesley Joseph appeared in a special episode, where Constantine and Woodall gave them a fashion makeover. After Clarkson appeared on the show, he commented "I'd rather eat my own hair than shop with these two again". During the process of choosing which celebrity to give a makeover, Constantine and Woodall compiled a list of who they thought were the worst dressed celebrities. Also in 2002, Constantine and Woodall won a Royal Television Society Award, for being the best factual presenters. The show was also nominated for the Features Award at the BAFTAS in both 2002 and 2003 but was beaten both times.

Trinny and Susannah did a spin-off show in 2003; What Not to Wear on the Red Carpet which featured comedienne Jo Brand and news presenter Sophie Raworth having a special makeovers to attend a BAFTA Award ceremony. By the end of series three, viewing figures had reached a respectable 2.8 million on BBC Two.

Following a ratings success, What Not to Wear was promoted to BBC One in 2004 to air its fourth series. The format was changed slightly, where a 30 minute show with one makeover was replaced by a 60 minute show featuring two makeovers. The series that aired for the first time on BBC One began on 29 September 2004, and had success with viewing figures which peaked at 5.26 million during the episode aired on 20 October 2004. For a Christmas special aired on 22 December 2004, Trisha Goddard was madeover by Constantine and Woodall, where the episode generated 7.42 million viewers. Other What Not to Wear specials saw them giving David Baddiel and Ingrid Tarrant makeovers. Tarrant however, did not wear what Constantine and Woodall had selected, and changed her dress in the back of the taxi whilst driving to the award ceremony. The fifth series began on 19 October 2005, where viewing figures still remained strong. On 16 November and 23, 2005 ratings reached 4.91 million and the series averaged with 4.8 million viewers. In 2005, Britney Spears revealed that she was a fan of the show where she commented "The girls are so dramatic in the makeovers, you just get caught up in it. Would I go on the show? Never say never.?"

In April 2006, it was announced that Lisa Butcher and Mica Paris would take over as presenters of the BBC show, after Constantine and Woodall signed a contract with ITV to host their new show Trinny & Susannah Undress. The new series hosted by Butcher and Paris managed to reach viewing figures of 4.26 million on 19 October 2006 and the first show of the series attracted 4.2 million viewers. The seventh series, which consisted of eight episodes, was aired on BBC One starting in August 2007. The first episode claimed 3.1 million viewers, about 1 million less than the first episode of the last series.

The UK version of What Not to Wear has been broadcast around the world on BBC Entertainment. It is also repeated on Really in the United Kingdom. Constantine and Woodall have also been frequent guest fashion and makeover experts on The Oprah Winfrey Show in America. An American version (What Not to Wear (US version)) airs on TLC and is hosted by Stacy London and Clinton Kelly.