Yeap, same thing with "find my dream house" shows in America. I think the major difference is that instead of the people being in their 40s, it's usually people in their 20's. The source of the funding is ultimately the same, rich parents. The likely difference is between trust fund kids in the US and just people whose parents have finally taken their much awaited dirt naps in the UK.

I think rich parents are basically a prerequisite to owning a home for anyone under 40 nowadays. I'm one of the only people in my friend group of people in their late 30s who owns a home, and that was due to what I consider a minor miracle.

I was lucky and bought an abandoned house from the bank for 30k after the last recession, and that was only possible because I got a loan I probably shouldn't have qualified for through USAA. So, still a bit of nepotism, but because my dad was in the service, not because he was wealthy.