Secret Celebrity Renovation is an American reality series that premiered on CBS on July 9, 2021. Developed by Juma Entertainment, the show features a feel-good format focused on repaying personal debts through home renovations. CBS had previously tested a similar concept in 2018 with Superstar Renovation, which echoed ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and HGTV’s Celebrity IOU. The series aired three seasons before concluding in 2023.
Each episode follows a celebrity who plans a surprise renovation for someone who helped shape their career. A design team handles the technical aspects of construction, while cameras capture the celebrity’s planning and decision-making. The series builds toward an emotional reveal when the recipient sees the finished space for the first time. Episodes typically run a full hour, though the show has also aired supersized two-hour premieres.
Nischelle Turner, a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight, has hosted the series since its 2021 debut. Interior designer Sabrina Soto and contractor Jason Cameron formed the original design team in season one. Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano, a Survivor veteran who appeared as season one’s featured celebrity, replaced Cameron in season two.
Featured celebrities included NBA veteran Chris Paul, Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, Grammy winner Eve, and comedian Wayne Brady. Season three brought appearances from Fire Country actor Max Thieriot, comedian J.B. Smoove, and NFL player Damar Hamlin. The show’s most recently aired episode featured Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts renovating his father’s Nashville home.
