Contestants from Kent join TV interior design show

Sheree Millington from Margate says her "eclectic" family influences play out in her style

The new series of the BBC's Interior Design Masters will feature two contestants from Kent.

Sheree Millington and Jess du Preez, both from Margate, will be among ten novice designers looking for their big break in the world of commercial interior design.

Ms Millington, 36, said the show brought people together who would never otherwise have met.

She added: "You couldn’t meet a more different bunch of people."

The designers come from all walks of life and have very different signature styles.

Ms Millington, a copyrighter, said her "eclectic" family influences play out in her "colourful Scandi" style.

Originally from Leeds, she was living in London when a visit to Margate persuaded her within minutes to move to the coastal town.

She recently bought a Victorian terraced house that she is renovating herself.

She said: "Margate has everything I loved about London, but with a beautiful beach."

Jess du Preez co-owns Camp in Margate

Ms du Preez, an upholsterer, moved to Margate after she joined the events team at Dreamland theme park.

She is a co-owner of the Margate gay bar, Camp, where she has designed the interior in a Memphis style.

The fifth series of Interior Design Masters, hosted by Alan Carr, will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 12 March.

Over eight weeks the contestants will compete to win a collaboration contract with a global homeware brand to produce their own line of home furnishings.

Michelle Ogundehin, a design expert and former editor of Elle Decoration, will return as the series judge.

Ms du Preez and Ms Millington said all the contestants on the show became very close.

Ms du Preez said: "You go through a really intense experience together and it does form this really beautiful bond with everyone."

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