As one half of a Hollywood power couple in The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills, Paul ‘PK’ Kemsley is a celebrity in the US along with his American wife Dorit.
The London-born businessman is one of the husbands on the reality show who must deal with the fallout when their glamorous wives exchange insults as cutting as their manicured claws.
Now PK is relaunching his career on this side of the Atlantic after his infamous departure 15 years ago. PK lost its £500m UK real estate empire during the 2008 financial crisis and was declared bankrupt before reinventing itself in America.
In his jet-setting days, he was vice-chairman of Tottenham Hotspur and, as a friend of Alan Sugar, one of The Apprentice’s stalwart interviewers. But then the bubble burst. “When I left in 2009, I didn’t think Britain would give me another chance,” says PK, 56.
“I was really knocked off my pedestal and had to rebuild,” he says. “It humbles you. I knew that America was the land of comebacks and I took my second chance.’
‘PK’ Kemsley, a London-born businessman, is relaunching his career on this side of the Atlantic after his infamous departure 15 years ago. On the photo with wife Dorit
In the US, PK became an entrepreneur and investor, but also the manager of Boy George and, since last month, that of Lulu.
“I’ve had a burning ambition to come back and do real estate in Britain again,” he says. “I thought, ‘What if I took everything I learned in America and found a new way back into the business?’
‘I have bought and sold more than a thousand buildings. I’ve had huge ups and downs in the industry, so I have a lot to teach the kids.”
His new Channel 4 show, Selling Super Houses, is a mix of The Apprentice and the glitzy US real estate series Selling Sunset and sees him as an Alan Sugar type looking to cut a diamond in the rough to hire as a luxury London real estate agency RIB, in which he has bought a 50 percent share.
He sets up weekly tasks for the eight contestants (including a fashion designer, a photographer, and a single mother), such as holding an open house for potential buyers and decorating a property that will appeal to buyers. He critiques the contestants’ performances and eliminates one each week.
But if you’re expecting Apprentice-style boardroom fireworks, you’ll be disappointed, as PK seems more like an indulgent uncle than a finger-prick tyrant.
PK claims to have bought and sold over 1,000 buildings and says he has a lot to teach the kids
A scene from PK’s new show, married twice, Selling Super Houses, Tuesday, 9pm, Channel 4
“That behavior is disgusting,” he says. “Many of these children have social and mental health problems. I am a father and I talk to these people the way I would expect someone to talk to my children. The idea is to build them up, not tear them down.’
PK did not ask Lord Sugar for advice on his new TV venture, as the pair were no longer close. ‘But I have a very good relationship with Alan’s son Daniel. Alan and I are in competition. Why should I go to him?’
PK ropes into Dorit and Boy George for a fun task. The candidates must give a tour of the house to a demanding owner, with bizarre conditions, such as urging the real estate agents to wipe down every surface they touch and remain silent in the yoga room.
But it’s all made up: it’s Boy George’s mansion and he and Dorit watch it all on hidden cameras.
Paul ‘PK’ Kemsley, one half of a Hollywood power couple in The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills, is a US celebrity along with his American wife Dorit (pictured)
“George is very supportive of what I do,” says PK. “He’s part of our family and I wanted to capture the chemistry between him and Dorit in a job that was about learning to respect owners’ ridiculous wishes.”
Twice-married PK, whose children range in age from seven to 28, says losing everything has taught him valuable life lessons.
“It’s fair to say I’m worth a fraction of what I was, but I don’t need a big amount in the bank. It’s not what gets me out of bed anymore.
“If I can help someone achieve what they want to achieve, it’s much more satisfying than selling a building and making a million.”
- Selling super houses, Tuesday, 9pm, Channel 4.