The Painting & Decorating Show

Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel react to a new BCIS report showing that the cost of decorating work rose by 4.1% in the year to early 2026 — more than double the increase recorded the previous year. They’re joined by commercial decorator James Reeve from Royal Spa Decoration and domestic decorator Bryan Dennett to find out what they've been experiencing.

Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel look back at the decorating jobs that went wrong, became a nightmare, or simply turned out to be far more trouble than they were worth. They’re joined by decorators Ashley Woodcock and Heather Isherwood to hear about the jobs they’d never want to take on again, the challenges they’ve faced on site, the moments they’ve come close to giving up, and the worst things they’ve experienced with customers and projects. Joel and Todd also share some of their own examples - both within the trade and before they got into Painting & Decorating!

Todd Von Joel and Joel Bardall tackle the paperwork, admin and other jobs that come with running a trade business. Todd admits he’s been struggling with a mental block when it comes to keeping on top of the back end of his business, so they speak to fellow business owners Chris Ordinaire and Danny Webb about how they manage everything from invoicing and quotes to bookkeeping, emails, ordering materials and keeping records. They share the systems they’ve developed, what they’ve learned through trial and error, and some of the common traps that can make business admin even more difficult.

From dealing with customers who want to watch you work, colour-matching between different brands and damaged dust sheets, to awkward cancellations, cash payments, van damage, negotiating discounts and accidentally sending a message about a customer to the customer themselves... Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel discuss what they would do in each situation, drawing on their own experiences and debating where they would draw the line.

Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel are joined by Jason Savage of Novitas Decorators, a successful South East London-based painting and decorating business. Jason talks about growing his business, taking on and managing a team of decorators, the challenges that come with running a busy decorating company, and the positives of bringing other people into the business. The conversation also gets into Jason’s specialist work, including Lincrusta, high-end wallpapering and spraying, as well as the courses and upskilling that have helped him develop his skills and take on more specialist projects. Finally, Joel, Todd and Jason discuss reputation — from word of mouth and social media to Google reviews — and how building a strong online presence can help generate new business and attract the right kind of clients.A great episode for decorators looking to grow their business.

Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel look into some new products, tools, workwear, materials and ideas that are on the market, that some in the trade might not be aware of. Wayne De Wet, who is well known for his honest reviews and product testing joins the show to give an exclusive on workwear and shares an insight into good uses of new materials and finishes. Ryan Painter from Rocket Decorating shares some paints that have surprised him recently and more.

Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel talk to fellow Decorators about what to do if you get second feelings about a job - either in the quoting phases or once you've taken it on. Joel also shares a recent postive from a job and there's some great stories from guests too. Guests: Jason Savage (Novitas Decorators) & Wesley Knight (WKPD)

Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel are joined by two Decorators who have been invited on to help Todd with a tricky upcoming exterior project. Guests: Bryan Dennett & Steve Timbrell.

Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel talk to fellow Painters & Decorators about how far you take the finish and dealing with those "while you're here" requests. Is it people pleasing or are you just a perfectionist? Guests: Stuart McClean, Joanne Hay & James Reeve.

Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel talk about their use of ladders on exterior and interior projects. There's also some chat about trial and error with ladder set ups and past mishaps as well.

Todd Von Joel and Joel Bardall talk about going above and beyond for little reaction or the times where you work longer than you quoted for. Could you build that time into the quote and feel confident in explaining why? What about handling those 'while you're here' requests?

Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel look into the approach to getting what we need for the work. They talk about shopping around, whether we get stuff ourselves or leave it to the client, shopping online vs at the merchants, a chat about trade prices and also what happens when you reccomend something that then starts failing on you. Guests: Jon Graham (JG Decorator) & Alex Woodward.

Joel and Todd talk to Ashley Woodcock (A Woodcock Decorators) & Andy Hamilton (AR Decor) about the worst places they've ever worked. There's stories about unhinged customers, awful working conditions and more.

Todd Von Joel and Joel Bardall talk about the common and hidden hazards faced by decorators. They talk about breathing in bad stuff, working in grotty houses, working from height and other hazards faced and how to navigate them.

Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel find out about the approach to taking on the trade in the US as well as some of the innovation and exciting products coming to the UK from America. Colin Bidwell from Paint Shack joins first to talk through some new products making there way to the UK. Painter, Ben Hildre from Minnesota joins the boys to talk about his 25 years experience working in the trade in America and shares the incredible story behind the invention he created.

In this episode, Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel chat with decorators who are using their skills to make a real difference through community projects. They catch up with Jen The Decorator about her experience working on DIY SOS - how she got involved, what the experience was like, and why giving back mattered to her. They also hear from decorator Karis Fear about her work with Band of Builders. Karis discusses the projects she’s been part of, and the personal experiences that inspired her to get involved, including her daughter Amelia’s journey with dyskinetic cerebral palsy and the challenges of accessing life-changing therapy and support. Later in the episode, Joel and Todd also share their own thoughts on community projects in the trade, what can stop people from getting involved, and why these positive stories deserve far more attention.

Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel are joined by travelling mural artist Kathleen Dieux to explore how she uses VR technology to design and deliver large-scale artwork around the world. They discuss her creative process, pricing, materials and standout experiences from working internationally, before Joel and TVJ debate whether they’d ever use VR in their own work and the appeal of travelling abroad for jobs.

In this episode, Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel discuss tools, materials and anything new they have been looking into. From improvements with existing tools, to VR - this episode explores what works, and what doesn’t. Ultimately, Joel and Todd question: have we hit a bit of a dead end when it comes to innovation?

Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel invite Chris Ordinaire and Peter Clark to join them and share three game changing/career defining changes they made to their business. Joel and Todd share an example or two of their own and Joel talks about two very different clients he's been working for.

Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel talk to Dan and Sarah from 'The Ugly Duckling Kitchens' talk about their story and journey with the business over the past 13 years. Dan talks about how he developed his skills after leaving the Armed Forces and trying a variety of different jobs. Sarah talks about the business growth and how they targeted the market with their niche. Dan talks about his approach to completing the work with tools and finishes and Sarah explains the quoting phase and where it will go from here.