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Tributes have been pouring in for a woman who starred in an episode of Grand Designs following the heartbreaking revelation that she passed away during filming. In Wednesday's (October 22) episode of Channel 4's renovation programme, viewers were introduced to Malene and her partner Pep, who was living with terminal cancer while passionately spearheading the project to build their dream home. The couple were crafting their version of a Viking Hall, a touching nod to Malene's Danish heritage. Presenter Kevin McCloud visited the pair, who, along with a dedicated construction team, were working tirelessly to finish the house as quickly as possible, allowing Pep to enjoy her remaining time in the completed home. Speaking about their goal with Kevin, Pep said: "Nine months is a good time, you can make babies in nine months, so we hope to make a building in that time. We need to get through it because I need to have as much time to live in it as possible." However, as the episode unfolded and the renovations were far from finished, it was sadly revealed that despite undergoing chemotherapy, Pep's health was deteriorating. Kevin disclosed that she had entered palliative care, reports the Mirror . Kevin shared: "Right from the beginning, Pep and Malene were absolutely clear. Pep was living with a serious illness, and the pair of them were managing their way through it, with, of course, Pep's treatment for her cancer. "However, in the last week Pep has had one of those meetings with her doctors that any of us would dread, in which she was told that they would be stopping her treatment and they would be moving her to palliative care." As the episode progressed, it was clear that Pep's condition was worsening. She transitioned from actively supervising the renovations to watching from the window, with Malene noting: "She's less outside because she really feels the cold now. I know how much pain she's in." Sadly, Kevin later confirmed that Pep had passed away before the renovation could be completed: "Just short of three long years, Pep faced down her cancer diagnosis with a courage and determination that was inspiring, but in the closing weeks Pep finally reached the end." The heartbreaking episode left viewers in tears, with many taking to Twitter to pay their respects. One viewer wrote: "The saddest #GrandDesigns I've ever seen. In tears here. Rest in peace lovely, brave lady." Before the news of her death was announced, one viewer had an ominous feeling, saying: "I've got a bad feeling about this one... there are no 'after' photos of the build with Pep." Another upset viewer remarked: "Oh, #granddesigns is a terrible tearjerker." A third viewer agreed, commenting: "Bloody hell, #granddesigns is very poignant tonight." One person described the episode as: "A truly emotional tribute," while another added: "This has been a rather sombre #granddesigns episode." Returning to Surrey Hill after five months, Malene revealed she was determined to finish the build without Pep and declared: "It's extremely important for me to finish the project for Pep's legacy." Fighting back tears, she added, "I am going to make sure that build gets finished."
