Advertise on podcast: The Painting & Decorating Show

Joel Bardall catches up with Ashley Woodcock, who is making the switch to a cargo bike for his business. We find out why he’s taking this approach, how he plans to transport his kit and whether it could be a realistic option for other tradespeople. Joel chats again with young Decorator Charlie Cooper, who is on a mission to visit all 44 European countries while continuing to work in the trade.  Producer note: Todd Von Joel was unable to join Joel for the interviews - but will be back with Joel on the podcast on the next episode!

We did it! Painters & Decorators have been crowned Britain's number one trade in Fix Radio's Great British Trade Off! To celebrate, Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel took to the streets of Central London for a special open-top bus parade, joined by fellow decorators, familiar faces and previous guests from the show.

Todd Von Joel and Joel Bardall explore the risks of occupational dermatitis and the importance of protecting your skin on the tools. Dermatologist Dr Derrick Philips explains the common causes of skin irritation, the early warning signs to look out for and how decorators can protect themselves before problems become more serious. Fellow decorator and Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2026 finalist Bex Haley also joins the conversation to share her own experiences with skin irritation and the changes she's made to protect herself at work.

Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel put the age-old saying to the test and explore what it really means for painters and decorators dealing with customers, complaints and unreasonable expectations. From handling complaints professionally and deciding when to return to rectify a problem, to dealing with rude clients and recognising when an issue isn’t your fault, Joel and Todd share their own experiences and practical advice from the trade.

oel Bardall and Todd Von Joel are joined by Dan Peacock, founder of Painters Paradise, to get an insider’s perspective on how some decorating merchants operate, how margins and mark-ups work, and why some products are costing decorators more than ever. They also discuss whether it makes sense for customers to buy their own paint and how Decorator's might be able to find more profit from their work while prices continue to rise.

Danny Cable from Pickett & Cable joins Todd Von Joel and Joel Bardall for a chat about his career in Painting & Decorating. We hear about Danny’s journey into the trade, memorable projects, the challenges of running a business while working on the tools, and how social media has become part of his business.

Todd Von Joel and Joel Bardall are joined by decorator Jason Savage from Novitas Decorators to discuss how he’s adapting his business — from shopping around for materials and finding new work to deciding whether it’s time to put his prices up. Todd and Joel also share the changes they’re making in their own businesses, including using social media to attract new customers, improving the way they work and dealing with the challenges of growing a business in a difficult market. Plus, the guys discuss what they want to see from the Government’s upcoming Budget and whether decorators should be preparing to increase their rates in 2027.

Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel look into whether now is the time for tradespeople to make the switch to an electric van. The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders has reported that electric van registrations rose by 22% in July while fuel prices continue to soar. They’re joined by Carl Brookes from Trade Vans UK to discuss the rise of electric vans in the trades and what’s still holding people back, plus Painter and Decorator Wesley Knight to find out whether he’d consider making the switch.

Joel Bardall and Todd Von Joel look at the impact of unplanned time off - and how losing days on the tools can quickly mean losing money too. They’re joined by decorators who have experienced unexpected time away from work for different reasons, while Joel shares his own recent experience of unplanned time off and the impact it had on his business.

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.