Before Lee Juggurnauth delved into property presenting, he worked in a completely different field with some well-known singers like Take That.
The 35-year-old TV presenter joined Channel 4's beloved property show, A Place in the Sun, in 2021 and now helps house hunters find their dream homes abroad. Lee, who jets off to Greece in today's programme, has a passion for interior design but started his media career in the music industry.
The star once worked as an intern and managed some big names in the business, including Scottish singer Lulu and Billy Ocean. Speaking about his career history with C4, Lee said: "I had always been drawn to the music and TV worlds but I hadn't known the right avenues to get into them."
He continued: "I panicked and did a law conversion course for a year but knew deep down it wasn't me. I became an unpaid intern at a music company and began to work with great people - like Lulu, Take That and Billy." Lee, who grew up in Windsor, later embarked on property development projects all over the world, including Ibiza and Mauritius - where his family is from and he lived for a few years as a child.
Sharing his excitement to join the C4 family in 2021: "I'm honoured to be working on such a prestigious show alongside an incredible team. I can't wait to help house hunters turn their dream into a reality." He told Radio Times at the time: "I love property, I love interiors and it's something that I've kind of taught myself in the last 10 years. So, being able to help other people on the show is great."
Ex-Ryder Cup golfer Barry Lane dies aged 62 as tributes pour inAs well as showing houses, Lee also has a keen eye for fashion and runs his own fashion business on the side called Juggurnauth Clothing. The website sells T-shirts, shirts, trousers and jogger sets as well as a candle, all ranging from £30 to £150. The brand describes itself as 'one-of-a-kind' and "the epitome of modern fashion and design". Its website reads: "Seamlessly blending luxury fabrics and careful consideration into a minimalist, gender-inclusive aesthetic."
The TV star is also passionate about promoting diversity on-screen and fighting for racial equality. Channel 4 reported: "Diversity is hugely important to Lee who prides himself on being an activist fighting for racial equality. When growing up, Lee couldn't really identify anyone on TV that looked like him. Representation is extremely important to Lee who also helps to mentor young people, especially those of colour to achieve their potential."
During a podcast shortly after his 30th birthday, Lee spoke about seeing a life coach to help him through a tricky period. "Everything that could have been thrown at me, was thrown at me," he told Azalea Reason on her podcast, The Three. "I wasn't comfortable with who I was and what was going on. I remember that. That was a rough period of time. It was a rough year."
Lee said that society made him dread turning 30 and he felt pressure to make it the best year of his life - but it turned out to be the worst. "It was hard for lots of reasons," Lee admitted. He explained that seeing a life coach was a real turning point before he became part of the A Place in the Sun presenting team.
- A Place in the Sun: What Happened Next? is on Channel 4 at 3pm today.