'Going on Interior Design Masters was a whirlwind'

A woman has described taking part in the latest TV series of the BBC's Interior Design Masters as a "whirlwind".

Frankie Ratford from Burley in the New Forest, Hampshire, will be competing against nine other designers in series seven of the popular BBC One series.

In the first episode, airing on Tuesday evening, presenter Alan Carr will task the designers with transforming beach huts on Avon Beach in Dorset into their signature styles.

Weymouth's Carr says the episode is "full of standout moments".

Ratford, who has visited 100 countries, said the "whole experience has been very outside my comfort zone", having "never wanted" to be on TV before.

After an extensive global career in graphic design for 20 years, Ratford pivoted into interiors and branding spaces for herself and clients in 2025.

She said she found the pace of the show "really good".

"It's funny cause I've renovated my own spaces and I'm a very impatient person, so I work very quickly," she told the BBC.

"I found having like a carpenter and a painter on hand was just the biggest dream because you could come up with your creative ideas and they could implement them straight away."

The van enthusiast, who has a love of dopamine decor, said working with "legend" Carr was "so fun".

Speaking about episode one, Carr said: "Gorgeous beach, glorious weather and 10 beach huts to transform on the south coast - what's not to love?

"They might look like a simple hut, but they are deceiving.

"There's not much space, they have to be multi-functional, and you really need to think on your feet as a designer.

"I was so impressed with the designers, and I knew right there and then that it was going to be a brilliant series."

Interiors guru and head judge Michelle Ogundehin added: "This series feels more confident than ever.

"The level of talent is high, but what I really love is the range of perspectives.

"You're not just seeing people decorate, you're seeing how differently people think about space, and how those decisions play out under real pressure."

The episode will air at 20:00 BST on Tuesday on BBC One and on BBC iPlayer.