Latest news with #FlatpackWorldChampion
Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I built Ikea's Billy bookcase in 9mins - men always make the same mistake with flatpack'
A woman has been crowned Flatpack World Champion at the Grand Designs Live show in London. The DIY expert from Wigan gives her tips on how to successfully assemble furniture – and reveals what men got wrong in the competition A woman who can build a Billy bookcase in under nine minutes has been crowned the first ever Flatpack World Champion – and claims she won because men never read the instructions. 'It was such a brilliant day and I am absolutely thrilled,' says Hayley McAuley, 37, from Wigan, who was awarded a golden Allen key by Grand Designs Live host Kevin McCloud. Up against blokes who fancied themself as DIY experts, Hayley says, 'They were putting things in the wrong places. And some of them were missing screws and lots of them didn't even finish. 'There was a guy next to me on my first build, one of his pieces was missing and he was looking for it, it was sitting by me, so I picked it up and gave it to him!' The Flatpack World Championships, which is in its first year, saw eight competitors speed build flatpack furniture at the opening of Grand Designs Live at ExCel London on Friday. The contest was split into two timed rounds and involved participants making Ikea Billy bookcases – and then in the final making a bedside table. Ikea says its Billy bookcase takes an hour to build for most people, but Hayley managed it in under nine minutes. Then the flatpack queen took just nine minutes and 33 seconds to build the bedside table – quicker than most people take to realise they're missing a lock nut – and demolished her male opponent. 'Kevin was trying to talk to me but I was so focused on doing my job,' she says, and admits it was nerve-wracking building in front of a big audience at the show. 'It was a lot of pressure, I mean, I was shaking.' It was the first time Hayley had been to Grand Designs Live, and she made a trip of it by coming down for the day from Wigan and staying overnight. She says, 'When I first heard about the competition from my friends, I jumped at the chance to enter as I've always thought I'm a bit of a machine when it comes to building flatpack furniture.' Factory worker Hayley loves assembling furniture so much, she even does it professionally now as Hayley's Flatpack Assembly Service after posting pictures of her own self-assembled furniture on social media. Hayley, who lives with her bricklayer partner Martin, is now currently building a shed, but says she's always been handy with an Allen key. 'When I was a child I went to Lake District with my mum and dad and I built our six-man tent! My dad says I once came in from playing and he was building a wardrobe, and apparently I stood there for a couple of minutes then said, 'It's on upside down that.' And Hayley revealed the secret of her success. 'Read the instructions. Not doing so sets you up for failure. And get all your screws and everything out together and ready. It's all about staying calm.' But even Hayley has found her build nemesis. 'I tried to build a kids trampoline in the rain once – and it's not difficult, but it was hard work.' Grand Designs Live host Kevin McCloud congratulated Hayley, saying, 'It was great fun and hugely amusing. And wonderful to see who took this seriously, and who accidentally sabotaged their own attempts to win!' There's no doubt this will turn into a very popular annual event, and already Hayley is planning on wiping the floor with the blokes again. 'I will definitely be there. It was such a fun day,' she laughs. This is the 20th Grand Designs Live and the show runs until Monday May 5.
STV News
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Woman ‘thrilled' after becoming first person to become Flatpack World Champion
A woman has said she is 'thrilled' after becoming the first person to be crowned Flatpack World Champion. The Flatpack World Championships, which is in its first year, saw eight competitors battle it out to build flatpack furniture as speedily as they could, at the opening of Grand Designs Live at ExCel London on Friday. The contest was split into two rounds and involved participants making bookcases and bedside tables. Competitors taking part in the flatpack contest / Credit: Sam Frost Photography/PA Taking a mere nine minutes and 33 seconds to build a bedside table, Hayley McAuley proved she had the speed and determination needed to become a champion. 'It's been a rollercoaster of a morning, and I am absolutely thrilled to have been crowned Flatpack World Champion,' Ms McAuley, from Wigan, said. 'When I first heard about the competition I jumped at the chance to enter as I've always thought I'm a bit of a machine when it comes to building flatpack furniture. 'Everyone truly did a fantastic job.' (from left to right) Hayley McAuley and Kevin McCloud / Credit: from left to right Ms McAuley was awarded with a golden Allen key medal and congratulated by Kevin McCloud, who was the host of the event and is best known for presenting Grand Designs. McCloud said: 'This was great fun and hugely amusing. 'It was wonderful to see who took this seriously, and who accidentally sabotaged their own attempts to win. 'We had a really spectacular audience who found it hugely entertaining.' The furniture pieces are to be donated to the charity British Heart Foundation. Grand Designs Live will run from May 2 to 5 and is in its 20th year. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
ITV News
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Wigan woman ‘thrilled' after being crowned first 'Flatpack' world champion
A woman has said she is 'thrilled' after becoming the first person to be crowned the first Flatpack World Champion. Hayley McAuley from Wigan was among eight competitors to battle it out to build flatpack furniture as fast as they could, at the opening of Grand Designs Live at ExCel London on Friday. The contest was split into two rounds and they had to make bookcases and bedside tables. Taking just nine minutes and 33 seconds to build a bedside table, Hayley McAuley proved she had the speed and determination needed to become a champion.' It's been a rollercoaster of a morning, and I am absolutely thrilled to have been crowned Flatpack World Champion,' Ms McAuley said. 'When I first heard about the competition I jumped at the chance to enter as I've always thought I'm a bit of a machine when it comes to building flatpack furniture.' Everyone truly did a fantastic job.' Ms McAuley was awarded with a golden Allen key medal and congratulated by Kevin McCloud, who was the host of the event and is best known for presenting Grand Designs. McCloud said: 'This was great fun and hugely amusing.' It was wonderful to see who took this seriously, and who accidentally sabotaged their own attempts to win. 'We had a really spectacular audience who found it hugely entertaining.' The furniture pieces are to be donated to the charity British Heart Designs Live will run from May 2 to 5 and is in its 20th year.
BBC News
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Wigan woman thrilled to become Flatpack World Champion
A woman who took just over nine and a half minutes to build a bedside table has said she was "thrilled" to become the first person to be crowned Flatpack World inaugural Flatpack World Championships saw eight competitors battle it out to build flatpack furniture as speedily as they could, at the opening of Grand Designs Live at ExCel McAuley from Wigan said it had been a "rollercoaster" but after taking a mere nine minutes and 33 seconds to build a bedside table, she proved she had the speed and determination needed to become a said she was keen to take part in the race as she had always been "a bit of a machine" when it came to flatpack furniture. 'Hugely amusing' The contest was split into two rounds and involved participants making bookcases and bedside tables."It's been a rollercoaster of a morning, and I am absolutely thrilled to have been crowned Flatpack World Champion," Ms McAuley said."When I first heard about the competition I jumped at the chance to enter as I've always thought I'm a bit of a machine when it comes to building flatpack furniture."Everyone truly did a fantastic job." Ms McAuley was awarded with a golden hex key medal and was congratulated by Kevin McCloud, who was the host of the event and is best known for presenting Grand Designs on Channel said: "This was great fun and hugely amusing."It was wonderful to see who took this seriously, and who accidentally sabotaged their own attempts to win."We had a really spectacular audience who found it hugely entertaining."The furniture pieces are to be donated to the charity British Heart Foundation. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer
Powys County Times
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Woman ‘thrilled' after being crowned first Flatpack world champion
A woman has said she is 'thrilled' after becoming the first person to be crowned Flatpack world champion. The Flatpack World Championships, which is in its first year, saw eight competitors battle it out to build flatpack furniture as speedily as they could, at the opening of Grand Designs Live at ExCel London on Friday. The contest was split into two rounds and involved participants making bookcases and bedside tables. Taking a mere nine minutes and 33 seconds to build a bedside table, Hayley McAuley proved she had the speed and determination needed to become a champion. 'It's been a rollercoaster of a morning, and I am absolutely thrilled to have been crowned Flatpack World Champion,' Ms McAuley, from Wigan, said. 'When I first heard about the competition I jumped at the chance to enter as I've always thought I'm a bit of a machine when it comes to building flatpack furniture. 'Everyone truly did a fantastic job.' Ms McAuley was awarded with a golden Allen key medal and congratulated by Kevin McCloud, who was the host of the event and is best known for presenting Grand Designs. McCloud said: 'This was great fun and hugely amusing. 'It was wonderful to see who took this seriously, and who accidentally sabotaged their own attempts to win. 'We had a really spectacular audience who found it hugely entertaining.' The furniture pieces are to be donated to the charity British Heart Foundation. Grand Designs Live will run from May 2 to 5 and is in its 20th year.
