The story behind House Rules' most emotional renovation

The McPake family tugged on the nation's heartstrings on Sunday's episode of House Rules when they revealed how their newly-renovated home was devastated by a fire.

And homeowner Graeme said he couldn't believe his eyes when a Channel Seven producer asked him if he wanted his house renovated by this year's contestants.

'I didn't have any [house] insurance. At the time I was down and out and I got a message out of obscurity - it was someone from Seven,' he told New Idea. 

The story behind House Rules' most emotional renovation: Father-of-four Graeme McPake (pictured with his wife, two of his children, and Joh Griggs) 'couldn't believe it' when producers asked him if they could transform his home after it was destroyed by a fire in November 2018

The story behind House Rules' most emotional renovation: Father-of-four Graeme McPake (pictured with his wife, two of his children, and Joh Griggs) 'couldn't believe it' when producers asked him if they could transform his home after it was destroyed by a fire in November 2018

'You don't know whether to believe it, because of what you're going through. You don't know if you're allowed to,' he added.

'To hand over my keys with the hope of getting even just a little bit was amazing.'

Graeme had spent three years renovating his home in Campbelltown for his partner Mary and their blended family before it was destroyed by a fire in November 2018.

Nightmare: 'I didn't have any insurance. At the time I was down and out and I got a message out of obscurity - it was someone from Seven,' he said Pictured: Mary after the fire

Nightmare: 'I didn't have any insurance. At the time I was down and out and I got a message out of obscurity - it was someone from Seven,' he said Pictured: Mary after the fire

After the fire, the gutted home was targeted by burglars and, in a further tragic twist, Graeme's family was forced to live separately.

His two daughters from a previous relationship, Lily and Sky, went to live with their mother, while his two children with Mary, Cole and Jade, were forced to live in a cramped room at Mary's parents' home.

Speaking to TV Week, Graeme explained that his family being separated and the mammoth clean-up task took an emotional toll on him.

'During that period I was trying to do everything I could. I'd

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