Ben Napier Says It ‘Felt Good’ To Hand ‘Home Town Takeover’ Spinoff to New Hosts—and Explains Why He and Erin Couldn’t Host It

HGTV’s smash show “Home Town” is officially international with the debut of “Home Town Takeover Canada,” and the accomplishment has left original host Ben Napier feeling very sentimental. 

The new series premiered on Oct. 25 and is hosted by Bryan and Sarah Baeumler, whom reality TV fans will recognize as the hosts of “Renovation Island.” 

Ben told People magazine the Bauemlers are “the perfect hosts” for the show. 

“Bryan and Sarah are rock stars,” he said. “They’re crazy popular, and it felt good handing it off to them.” 

Set in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, the newest installation is part of the “Home Town Takeover” spinoff, which previously saw Ben and his wife and co-host, Erin Napier, traveling to transform small towns across the United States. 

“This was never something that we even dreamed of, being on TV,” Ben said. “And so, the fact that this show about us working to bring back our little town has now gone to multiple states and now across the border to Canada is just crazy.” 

While the Napiers hosted the spinoff of their original show for the first three seasons—focusing on Wetumpka, AL, Fort Morgan, CO, and Sebring, FL—they could be involved in “Home Town Takeover Canada” only as special guests, due to legal restrictions. 

“Our production company is Canadian. The people who make our show, they’re passionate about this Canadian takeover,” Erin told Cinemablend. “But because we are Americans, we are not legally allowed to host the show. We can only be in it as, like, guest stars.” 

“Yeah, a Canadian broadcast show has to be hosted by Canadian talent,” Ben confirmed. 

Ben likened the experience of traveling to Canada to launch the series to being “on vacation,” as he and Erin were required to take a backseat for this particular set of projects. 

“There were several times I jokingly told Bryan or Michael, who’s the project manager—they would ask me about something—and I would throw up my hands and say, ‘I’m on vacation. This is your little red wagon,’” he said. 

Bryan and Sarah also opened up about the new series and the experience of putting their own mark on the legacy the Napiers had begun—which they have “so much respect for.” 

“Erin and Ben have built something people love. As Canadians, getting to shine a light on a Canadian community makes it especially meaningful,” they said. “We wanted to bring that same heart to the show, along with our own approach to construction and design.” 

Sarah also gave the Laurel, MS–based couple a special shoutout in an Oct. 26 Instagram Story.

“Thank you Ben and Erin for welcoming us into the Home Town Takeover family,” she wrote, sharing some photos of the couples on-set in Port Alberni.

In a preview for the series, Bryan and Sarah gush over their excitement “to tackle the biggest project—by far—of our lives,” noting that they had just three months to help “transform” the town, breathe new life into small businesses and residential homes, and give “back to people who are working hard to move it forward.” 

“Home Town Takeover Canada” is not yet available to watch in the United States, but airs Sundays on HGTV in Canada and can be streamed on a Canadian service called Citytv+. 

According to an Aug. 1 social media update from Erin, fans can expect more stateside “Home Town” on the way in the near future, as production is underway for Season 11 of the show—which debuted its first season in January 2016.

“When is more ‘Home Town’ coming? Soon!” she teased in a caption alongside an Instagram Reel breaking down the family’s daily routine during a “typical day” of filming, which she added “runs year round,” although they had previously been on a brief hiatus for the “summer break.” 

While an official release date has yet to be confirmed, “Home Town” has historically set season premieres for December or January.