TV's bossy boots could soon be walking
Sunday February 22 2009
If it were part of their TV show, this would be the moment where Kirstie Allsopp could crow at Phil Spencer's failure.
And on their show Location, Location, Location, Phil would look suitably chastened for a moment, before moving swiftly along to the next bit of expert advice for homehunters in need.
Sadly for Phil, however, it's not going to be so easy to move on from the real-life collapse of his property business this week.
This isn't just a case of backing the wrong property, or misjudging a TV client's taste, this is laid-off staff and the loss of a livelihood, not to mention the loss of face that surely must occur when an expert is proved fallible.
Mark my words, this is no ordinary bust business, this is the beginning of the end for the experts, the bossy boots who have been teaching our grannies how to suck eggs in recent years.
TV chef Antony Worrall Thompson has been forced to close four of his restaurants, Gordon Ramsay is said to be feeling the pinch due to huge debts incurred in expanding his restaurant empire and now, property guru Phil has been shown to be rather less all-knowing than we previously believed.
Phil's business, Garrington Home Finders, worked with ordinary folk and the likes of Keira Knightley, locating homes for them and helping with the buying process. That is, exactly what he does on the telly. And does so well, with such authority.
We thought he knew better but now he's bust. Whether he'll dare continue to boss us around on the telly remains to be seen. The guy has to earn a living and feed his family, but who will now believe he knows any better than the rest of us?
Welcome to the new world, where no one knows anything for sure. And so long, experts.
Sarah Caden
- Sarah Caden
