A remote Scottish island, a crumbling Regency mansion and two design dreamers with big hearts and even bigger ambitions.
That is the captivating premise behind Banjo and Ro’s Grand Island Hotel, a brand new six-part series from BBC Scotland.
The programme follows interior designer Banjo Beale and his husband Ro as they embark on the challenge of a lifetime.
Their mission is to transform Ulva House, an abandoned and decaying mansion on the Isle of Ulva, into a breathtaking boutique hotel.
The Isle of Ulva, tucked just 150 metres off the west coast of Mull, was once home to 800 residents.
Today, only 14 people live there.
At its centre stands Ulva House, a once grand Regency home that was the residence of Lachlan MacQuarrie, the first Governor of Australia.
Left empty for years, the house fell into ruin until it was bought by the local community in 2018.
Now, cameras will follow Banjo and Ro as they tackle the trials of bringing this historic home back to life, in the hope of creating a destination that could help revitalise the island.
The couple, along with their beloved dog Grampa, a brood of chickens and a few spirited pigs, have fully relocated to Ulva for the project.
Facing the challenges of remote island life, an unforgiving budget and the house’s deteriorating condition, their journey promises plenty of passion and perseverance.
Banjo says with a smile:
“This is my biggest project yet with an absolute nightmare of a client, myself.
“Ro and I have officially lost the plot.
“We are attempting to rescue a crumbling, abandoned manor on this wild and windswept island.
“With only 16 residents, no roads and no clue how we will pull it off, it is going to be my boldest and muddiest adventure yet.
“Expect midges, madness and hopefully a miracle or two.”
Ro adds his own humorous take:
“I thought we were just here for a quiet escape.
“Next thing I know, I am knee-deep in filth, chasing pigs out of the hallway and somehow tasked with sourcing vintage chandelier crystals from 1855.
“Banjo calls it a vision, I call it grounds for divorce.”
The series is a Hello Halo production for BBC Scotland, directed and produced by Joe Sharpe.
Executive producers Wendy Rattray and Joff Wilson (Hello Halo) and Steve Allen (BBC Scotland) promise a show filled with emotion, creativity and determination.
Wendy Rattray says:
“An abandoned house in a wild and untamed landscape with no road access, no running water and barely any electricity.
“Banjo and Ro may have lost the plot, but they certainly have no shortage of dreams.
“We are thrilled to join them on this high-stakes transformation in one of the UK’s most magical locations.”
Steve Allen adds:
“This series will be pure escapism for our audiences.
“It will blend the nation’s love of interior design with the breathtaking scenery of the Hebrides.
“The weather may not always be warm, but the welcome on Ulva certainly will be.”
Filming runs from June through to October, with the series set to air on BBC iPlayer and BBC Scotland in 2026.
