Colin and Justin

One minute we're in Armani looking at a heather-coloured shirt and the next we're in a remote glen looking at heather the same colour as that shirt…

We love the immediate proximity of Glasgow to Scotland's majestic glens and proud lochs. 

When we're working, we spend several days in London each fortnight but there is always a pint of milk in our Glasgow home and a return air ticket in the pocket of our jackets. We could never give up Glasgow.

Spiritual Home 

We will never leave Scotland. It's our spiritual base, we have a wonderful house here, some of our closest friends and our Mums live here and our late fathers are buried here.

People respond wonderfully to the fact we are Scottish. We firmly believe that, as we scrabbled about in the early stages of our career, being 'northern' gave us an extra 'unique selling point'.

Our TV careers came via a rather circuitous route. After university and stints singing, acting, modelling and dancing, our professional turning point came when we eventually secured small parts (ok, we were extras!) in Billy Connelly's film The Big Man and then later in Bent with Mick Jagger, Jude Law and Clive Owen.

Scottish Television 

Eventually our flat was featured on The Homeshow, a lifestyle TV programme made by Scottish Television. Further slots on other Scottish TV shows came up and we were eventually invited to screen test for a new network BBC show called Trading Up. 

Again, intended as a one off slot but we asked to present the entire series, then series two, series three and series four. Soon we were presenting others such as Real Rooms, Housecall, Chatsworth and many other BBC daytime lifestyle shows.

At the same time we helped create and present the popular show The Million Pound Property Experiment. This was a global TV first that saw us buy and sell our way from a £100,000 Birmingham flat to a million pound home in Belgravia, London. The resulting profits of around £300,000 were gifted to Children in Need.

The Scottish Duo 

We suppose that in professional terms we'd arrived…

We've recently been told by various producers with whom we worked back then that they'd say things like 'The Scottish duo would be good for that show'.

We're convinced that being Scottish pushed us further into our careers and for that we will always be eternally grateful. To this day we still get asked all about our country everywhere we go. People seem to genuinely care for Scotland and want to learn all about or background.

Warmth and Honesty 

We both like the honesty of Scotland and its people. Up here we rarely get hassled because we're on the television.

There are never any problems. Only warmth and a pat on our backs as we get on with it.

We love Scotland's burgeoning film and TV industry and it's music scene. We're proud of a booming property market (although we hope that a balance can be found so everyone can afford good housing) and we're proud of our Scottish Parliament.

Everything is so convenient. Travel is affordable. People seem to smile more… even when it's raining.

We try not to miss Scotland too much and when we're away, we take it with us in our hearts.

Favourite Places 

We don't have a favourite place in Scotland as such. We have several. Glasgow, obviously. The top of Ben Nevis, on a clear day, is a sight seldom equalled. It's just so beautiful.

We also have to report we really like Edinburgh and that marching around Scotland's capital during the Festival (particularly if the weather is kind) is a wonderful treat. Perhaps it's the international buzz that makes it feel so exciting and cosmopolitan.

We've been together as a couple for 21 years. We firmly believe that coming together was the assembly of two lost parts. The new Civil Partnership law that allows same sex couples to be legally joined is long overdue. It brings same sex couples one step closer to equal rights. These partnerships, however, do not equal marriage but they're certainly a start.

Getting Hitched 

Having initially said we wouldn't be tying the knot we're now having a rethink. As a prominent gay couple it mightn't do any harm to get hitched and if we are considered role models for others, that makes us proud.

For anyone thinking of coming to live or work in Scotland we'd say beware. This place will get a grip of you. It'll get under your skin. You won't want to leave. We'd advise anyone that is wary of travelling the distance, that the distance is insignificant.

We just feel proud that this is our part of Great Britain. Come and give it a try. You might just like it. In fact you'll probably love it...

Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan are interior designers and TV presenters. Their new television programmes Colin and Justin's Wedding Belles and How Not to Decorate can be seen on Scottish television over the coming months.

Information correct at December 2007