Career: McCloud's first tome, Kevin McCloud's Decorating Book, was published in 1990. The Techniques of Decorating and Kevin McCloud's Lighting Book hit the shelves five years later. The Complete Decorator followed in 1996. He went on to present Home Front, Home Front in the Garden, and Don't Look Down. His big break came in 1999 when he hosted the first edition of Grand Designs, and helped turn it into one of Channel 4's most popular lifestyle shows; various spin-offs have also been produced, including the hugely popular Grand Designs Live show. He's also fronted Demolition and coverage of the Riba Stirling Prize. McCloud has designed lighting for Ely Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle, two European palaces and the Savoy and Dorchester hotels. He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Design from Oxford Brookes University in 2005.