See inside Alan Carr and Amanda Holden’s Greek villa renovation

After conquering Sicily, Tuscany and a Spanish townhouse in Moclín, Amanda Holden and Alan Carr packed their tool belts once again and headed to Greece.

Alan’s just off the back of winning the first ever UK Celebrity Traitors, and the pair have used the latest series of their BBC show, Amanda & Alan’s Greek Job, to tackle a stone villa in Kokkini. It’s a village up in the Corfu hills, not far inland from Kassiopi, and the house had been empty for years.

Now renovated, the house’s Rightmove listing has drawn plenty of attention. We’ve even seen Corfu rise to the top of our rankings for most-search overseas location since the BBC One show first aired in January.

As with the homes renovated in previous series. they’ve named it ‘Alamanda’. Think stone floors that have been there for decades. Views across to the sea. Rooms where the main activity is sitting down with something cold and letting time pass slowly…

A house with character (and challenges)

This Mediterranean villa renovation required a lot of work. Years of neglect meant the traditional features were buried under dust and damage. But Amanda and Alan have never been ones to pick the easy option, and they saw past all that to what the building could become.

A local developer helped with the work, someone who really knows the area and its buildings. The idea was to keep the bits that make these old houses special while making sure it’s comfortable to live in. Not always easy to get right, but they’ve managed it here.

There’s nothing here that feels forced or fake. The house knows what it is – a traditional Corfiot village home – and it leans into that rather than trying to be something slicker or more modern. That’s what gives it its charm.

Step inside ‘Alamanda’

There’s a garden around the house that’s been landscaped and fenced. You see it first when you pull up, which sets the tone nicely before you’ve even got to the door. Then you step inside and, a bit unusually, you’re straight into the kitchen rather than a hallway.

The property has high beamed ceilings that open up the space, custom-built units with marble worktops, and windows that let in stacks of light. The old stone floor has been restored and put back down, which gives the whole room a lovely rustic feel.

Go down a couple of stone steps and you’re into the living room. It’s big enough to do two things at once – there’s a proper dining table at one end where you could easily seat six or eight people, and then comfy seating at the other end for lounging about. The beamed ceiling and light tiles keep it all feeling open and relaxed. You can tell this is a room designed for lingering.

Upstairs sanctuary

The bedrooms are upstairs, but you get to them via an outside staircase that goes up to what’s called a ‘bodzo’ – essentially an open terrace. There are two double bedrooms, both with the bonus of having sea views which you’ll never tire of waking up to.

The bathroom also deserves a mention. A big circular bathtub that’s been custom-built, and they’ve gone for colourful tiles everywhere. It’s certainly not your standard white bathroom suite – there’s real character in there.

Location, location, location

Kokkini sits in a sweet spot. You’re in a proper village with local life happening around you – tavernas, neighbours, that slower pace you come to Greece for. Agios Stefanos and the beaches are only a few minutes away. Kassiopi, with all its restaurants and the harbour, isn’t far either. So, you’re in a quiet village but you’re not isolated. You can have a slow morning locally, head to the beach for the afternoon, then go out for dinner by the water.

A home with a bigger purpose

All the money from selling ‘Alamanda’ will go to charity. Half to Comic Relief, half to BBC Children in Need. Whoever buys the place gets a beautiful home and gets to support two great causes at the same time.

It’s also worth mentioning that interest in their previous renovations went through the roof. After the Spanish project aired, searches for Moclín on Rightmove jumped by 800 times compared to the year before. Meanwhile, the Tuscany renovation saw a 40% increase in searches. People clearly love following along with these projects – and plenty seem keen on the idea of buying one too.

Take a closer look

‘Alamanda’ is up for sale on Rightmove now. There’s 326m² of land, the house has been completely renovated but hasn’t lost what makes it special, and you’ve got sea views. Whether you want a holiday place, you’re thinking about moving to Greece full-time, or you just want somewhere to disappear to occasionally, it covers all those bases.

Want to see this celebrity home renovation for yourself? Explore the full property listing below.