Raise the Roof marks official launch of Glasgow office with announcement of two new Kirstie and Phil shows

Raise the Roof – the production company set up in early 2010 by Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer officially opened its Glasgow office on Monday 6th December and announced two new series for Channel 4: Kirstie and Phil’s Perfect Christmas and Kirstie and Phil: Holidays (working title).

Kirstie and Phil’s Perfect Christmas will air across the week of 6 December 2010,  with the travel show on our screens from the Spring. In Perfect Christmas, Kirstie and Phil show us how to celebrate the festive season in style. From decorations and presents to food and drink, whether you want a sophisticated grown-up Christmas or a colourful children’s party, they’ll have it covered.

In Holidays, the pair will be travelling the globe in search of perfect getaways. From Marrakesh to the Maldives, Iceland to Ibiza, they’ll be road-testing budget and luxury options to give us the low-down on where to stay and what to do when you’re there.

The company's new headquarters was officially opened by Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport and Climate Change and Kirstie herself.

Raise the Roof was set up earlier this year by Kirstie Allsopp, Phil Spencer, Jane Muirhead and Sarah Walmsley. Sarah and Jane run the Scottish-based company from their Glasgow office, which is located at The Hub in the city's Digital Media Quarter. Sarah is creative director, Jane is managing director and Kirstie and Phil are board directors. All four had previously worked together on Channel 4 programmes including Location Location Location, Relocation Relocation, Relocation: Phil Down Under and Kirstie’s Homemade Home.

The company has signed a development and distribution deal with BBC Worldwide. Raise the Roof will produce all new projects presented by Allsopp and Spencer, as well as developing new formats for other talent. The new company's launch in  Scotland has been supported by a Regional Selective Assistance Grant from Scottish Enterprise. 

Stewart Stevenson said: "This is an exciting opportunity to create 14 permanent media jobs in Glasgow, supported by a £238,000 Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) Grant from Scottish Enterprise. As we look to sustain the economic recovery that is underway in Scotland it is vital to use all the tools at our disposal, including RSA, to support new ventures and job creation."

Anne MacColl, interim chief executive, Scottish Development International, said: “This is a very exciting project for the creative industries sector. We've worked closely with Raise the Roof Productions to encourage them to locate in Scotland. RSA funding is one of the key tools we can use to encourage both indigenous and foreign companies to invest in Scotland, and is part of the wider package of business support available from SDI and Scottish Enterprise. We understand that Raise the Roof Productions were looking at a number of different options so this is fantastic news that they've chosen to locate their new company in Scotland and are aiming to create 14 sustainable full-time jobs. That household names like Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer have led their company here is a fantastic boost for the creative industries sector and we're really looking forward to working with them in the future."

Jane and Sarah commented: “Today marks our official opening and the fact that we are in a position to announce two new prime-time series for Channel 4 is fantastic. We set the company up to develop new formats using the cream of local talent, so we're delighted to be employing two large and very busy productions teams already!  Glasgow is a great city to be based in with its vibrant creative sector.  We’ve had a huge amount of support from Scottish Enterprise, Channel 4 and the BBC to help us realise our ambitions as a company.”

Kirstie Allsopp said: “Raise the Roof is such an exciting new venture for us. Having our own outlet for all our new creative projects is something we've always wanted. Everything we know about television has been learned from some of the best programme-makers in Scotland so to be able to base our own production company in Glasgow means the world to us.”

Phil Spencer said: “We're delighted that Raise the Roof is already in such good shape. We have two big commissions under our belts and it looks like there are more in the pipeline. Holidays is one of the most exciting shows I've ever been involved in, I just can't wait for it to hit the screens.”