Colin and Justin to take on epic makeover project in Great Canadian Escape on Channel 5

Interior designers Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan will face their biggest challenge yet in a new Channel 5 series.

Colin and Justin’s Great Canadian Escape will follow the couple as they buy and transform a run-down hotel in rural Nova Scotia and attempt to turn it into a luxury high end boutique hotel.

The four-part series will see the pair take on “the riskiest venture of their lives” as they move to a small Canadian town and become hoteliers for the first time.

Channel 5 share: “With the aim of opening in early summer 2022, this observational documentary series will track this ambitious undertaking as the duo buy and transform a 21-room, old fashioned and tired hotel which includes a restaurant and beach house.

“Not only will this series follow their attempts to renovate the hotel, it will also document their personal journey settling in to the local community as these city boys try to get the town on board, hiring local tradespeople and suppliers, from lumber merchants to blacksmiths and hotel staff. We’ll also get a flavour of what life is like living in remote Canada.

“With beautiful landscapes cut against the reality of a rural town, the series gives a peek into small town living, the strength of community and a charismatic couple following their dream.”

Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan said: “We’re super excited to be returning to Channel 5 with this series that follows our Canadian hotel adventure. It started in the early part of the pandemic when we felt locked out from our regular lives in Glasgow, London and Toronto.

“When we stumbled across an exciting a hotel for sale in Cape Breton, in need of major updating but with so much potential, we emptied our bank account and ploughed our pension into the purchase.

“What we quickly learned is that there’s no such thing as a bargain. Have we made the wrong decision, and can our relationship weather the storm? As hoteliers with no experience whatsoever, some might say we’re in over our heads, ring leading our toughest challenge ever, but we can’t wait to see what happens next.”

The four-part series will air on Channel 5 with a start date to be announced.