Millions watch Homes Under The Hammer and it’s been going for 20 years. So why, asks presenter Martin Roberts, after 1,500 episodes have we NEVER won a single award?

Call me a hopeless optimist, but last week I was on the train to the Television and Radio Industries Club Awards and I was so excited that I was rehearsing our team’s acceptance speech in my head.

In retrospect, it may have been naive of me to make a video message to the regular daily viewers of Homes Under The Hammer asking them to keep their fingers crossed.

I’m biased, but I know how much people love the show. It’s a unique combination: a chance for viewers to rummage through other people’s homes, experience the excitement of the auction room, and pick up tips on how to make money in real estate.

This time I really had high hopes of winning, although I realised the competition was tough. The other contenders in our Daytime category were two excellent TV shows: BBC One’s Escape To The Country and Channel 4’s A Place In The Sun — and Ken Bruce’s daytime radio show.

A few hours later and guess what? Congratulations Ken – I admire his sheer broadcasting brilliance. But I felt personally disappointed and also devastated on behalf of the entire team who work so hard to get the show on air.

I have been one of the presenters of the programme since its inception and over the past 21 years I have worked on more than 1,500 episodes and visited approximately 2,000 locations.

But we’ve never won a prize, it’s rare that we’re even nominated.

Although BBC One attracts millions of viewers every weekday and BBC iPlayer many more, I try not to take it personally. But after more than twenty years of success, don’t we at least deserve an award for our longevity?

Looking back at the TV schedules from the time of our very first broadcast in November 2003, I saw that BBC One was still showing Neighbours.

To what then should I attribute the show’s enduring appeal and longevity… apart from its cheerful and knowledgeable presenters?

Homes Under The Hammer has a simple structure: for each fair we select a number of properties that can be auctioned. These properties always need a makeover or complete redevelopment.

The buyers discuss their ideas and budget with me or one of the other speakers. When the work is done, we come back with an agent to hear how much more the house is worth.

I think many people love the idea of ​​restoring a wreck. Homes Under The Hammer offers inspiration and honest advice.

It features buyers you can relate to. Sometimes they are overly optimistic, with catastrophically inadequate budgets. We wish them the best, but fear the worst. Other times we marvel at their ingenuity, design talent, and frugality.

Auction properties are often inherently interesting and varied — from old churches to toilet blocks, two-up-two-down terraces to country houses. We’ve featured every type of building imaginable over the years.

And then there’s the fantastic background music, sometimes with a subtle link, sometimes hilariously fitting to the images on the screen.

You might recognize a clip without really knowing why it’s there. ‘What’s that song?’ you think over your chocolate Hobnob. Then you realize it’s the instrumental section of The Jam’s Going Underground… with accompanying images of drain pipes.

Many ordinary people, not professional developers, have gained the confidence to go to the auction room after watching the show. They are of course armed with the Hammer’s golden rules: always read the legal information, always visit the property beforehand and always stick to your budget.

Above all, Homes Under The Hammer is like a comfortable pair of slippers. In a world of uncertainty, it is warmly familiar, eternally cheerful and fun to watch. Many people I meet, of all ages and from all walks of life, admit it is their guilty pleasure.

I have one trophy on my desk, from the National Television Awards [NTA]But I must admit that it is not quite what it seems.

In 2016 I was a contestant on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here. That was the year Scarlett Moffatt was crowned Queen Of The Jungle and the show won an NTA for Best Entertainment Programme.

I was so happy to be part of a winning team and a little annoyed when I realised there was only one trophy… which Ant and Dec took home to add to their collection. I called the organisers and asked if I could have a replica as I was on the winning team.

Apparently that’s an unusual request – in fact, no one had ever asked before. But they were very helpful and agreed to post one out… for £900.

So what was I to do? I coughed up the £900 and it now takes pride of place on my mantelpiece.

The truth is, Homes Under The Hammer has a few things that mean much more than any trophy: dedicated and loyal fans.

I am happy to say that besides millions of viewers, the show has also received the support of a number of celebrities.

Sir Paul McCartney likes to watch it during his morning workout at the gym, I’m told. And Meryl Streep, the last time she was on Graham Norton’s talk show, called it her favorite show.

Daytime television can be a reliable comfort in difficult times. My job is to add a little sparkle, laughter and shine to someone’s day, and I love it. And we often inspire others to take the leap and change their lives for the better.

I know it works because people often stop me and tell me that, and sometimes it’s not in the circumstances you would expect.

The fondest memory, which makes me cry every time, is of a young woman named Felicity, who was a huge fan of the series.

About ten years ago I got an email from a man telling me that his 19-year-old sister was in a coma after being hit by a car. He asked me if I would record a message for her.

Of course I immediately sent a video of me talking to the camera and Felicity telling her how much everyone wanted her to get better, and I also made a few lame jokes.

Two weeks later, her brother called, bubbling with excitement. Felicity was awake. They had played my video for her, over and over again—and just as I laughed at one of my own jokes, Felicity smiled and opened her eyes.

Of course, there could have been many other reasons why Felicity regained consciousness, but if so, it was a very happy coincidence.

I’ve met her since then and it was an incredibly emotional experience. There will never be an award that can top that feeling. But one would still be nice.

Maybe one day.

Martin Roberts’ children’s book Sadsville, written in support of the NSPCC, helps seven to ten year olds better understand their emotions and how to get help. Go to sadsville.co.uk