20 October 2023 , 13:00
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As the face of Channel 4's A Place in the Sun, Ben Hillman spends his working days helping others find their perfect property overseas, prompting many viewers at home to daydream about new lives in sunnier climes. The professional interior designer, who studied product and furniture design before kickstarting his TV career, has plenty of wisdom to share when it comes to buying property, so viewers will naturally be curious about what his own home life looks like behind the scenes.
With this in mind, we take a look at Ben's private life away from the cameras, including his beautiful home filled with tasteful interiors, and his relationship with rarely-seen wife.
Ben and Gaby tied the knot in 2011 (instagram.com/benhillmantv)Life as 'home bod' husband and dad
Although Ben's career certainly takes him to some fabulous destinations, the presenter is a self-confessed "home bod" who loves nothing more than spending time with his wife Gaby, and their two daughters Hope Blossom and Honour Willow. Ben previously told the Daily Express: "I'm a real home bod, I love being around my family and being around my kids, they're the number one thing in my life."
Ben has been married to NHS worker Gaby since 2011, and he credits her for giving some sound advice when he was struggling with mental health concerns during the coronavirus lockdown. Speaking with the Express, Ben revealed: "I would literally get depressed but Gaby would be like, 'You need to find something to do with your time'. And then as soon as I was onto something else… it was just the distraction which kept me going, so yeah it became really important for me I think."
Ben is a self-confessed 'home bod' (instagram.com/benhillmantv)Family bonding over home renovation project
In 2016, Ben and Gaby purchased a beautiful 1934 four-bedroom house in Shoreham-By-Sea, West Sussex, and set about renovating it into their "forever" family home, complete with a wraparound extension, and a new, larger kitchen. According to Ben, he and Gaby were able to make frugal swaps when it came to decorating, saving them thousands. Explaining his newfound thrifty mindset during an interview with Metro, Ben shared: "I had spent so much money on the house [in the past] but lockdown made me reassess what money I'm chucking at it. We went from spending £15,000 on a bathroom to £500. But even though it's super-budget, it's great and just as pleasing. Lockdown has taught me to be more inventive."
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Ben stuck a budget when turning the property in his family's forever home (instagram.com/benhillmantv)
Ben's two daughters appear to have caught the DIY bug (instagram.com/benhillmantv)It would also appear that Hope and Honour are taking after their famous dad when it comes to DIY, with the two girls enjoying helping their parents transform the property. Ben continued: "They are my DIY girls and join me on my adventures. During the build I did the A Place In The Sun walk round with them, saying, 'Imagine how it's going to look like when it's finished.'"
The interiors incorporate plenty of splashes of colour, including a turquoise palette in the kitchen, as well as various influences from Ben's travels around the globe.