‘Interior Design Masters win down to taking my own advice’

Sarah Spina-Matthews

BBC News, Manchester

Teacher John Cooper has said he used the advice he gives his students about perseverance to spur him to victory in Interior Design Masters.

The design and technology teacher from Stockport was named the winner of the BBC One show’s sixth series, capping off his journey to the title with a Mediterranean-inspired transformation of a cottage in Portmeirion, Wales, in the final.

Across the series, he faced elimination four times, as judge Michelle Ogundehin had him explain his design choices “on the couch” to convince her to let him stay.

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, Cooper said each time it “would have been so easy to put my hands up and think, I can’t do this any more, but he recalled that at such moments, he told his pupils “don’t give up, persevere, and all that sort of stuff”.

“I had my fair share of time on the sofa and I told myself ‘come on, take your own advice’,” he said.

“I thought, what is the best example I can be here?

“In the back of my head I was thinking about the students and what I tell the students – don’t give up, persevere, and all that sort of stuff.”

He said he had to “keep quiet and go back to my normal life” after filming wrapped in September 2024.

However, he said that became more difficult once his students started watching the show in April.

“I would get a grilling when I’d go in, like ‘you’ve been on the sofa again’ or ‘tell us who the winner is’,” he said.

He said now his victory had been revealed, he was sure they would be pleased, but had not yet seen them.

“I’ve been on half term, so I don’t know how they’re going to react when I see them,” he said.

He said that along with the advice, it was the show’s host, comedian Alan Carr, who helped him get through the tough times.

“He’s so, so funny 100% of the time,” he said.

“When he rocks up and you’re stressing… he comes along and he makes you smile and he makes you happy.”

Cooper trained in design, before embarking on a career in teaching.

He said that after 19 years in the classroom, he was going to finish the present school year and then leave to pursue a full-time career in interior design.

“That’s been the dream for all this time and it’s actually becoming a reality now,” he said.