A COUPLE are celebrating victory in the popular Four In A Bed show that pits rival B&Bs against each other in friendly competition - despite a fire alarm going off in the middle of the night!

Kenny John and Ben Price transformed a Monmouth Old Quarter property into boutique B&B, eaterie and art gallery Creates during the pandemic.

And on Friday when the final episode of the week of the daily Channel Four show aired, they were declared overall winners.

As part of the programme, B&B owners stay in each other’s premises and mark them. And even the fire alarm rousing guests from their beds at the Monmouth B&B couldn’t stop them claiming top spot.

Ben posted after the show: “Well we did it! We won Four in a Bed! Honestly cannot believe it. We are so, so grateful.

“One of the best things we have ever done… met some brilliant people and have some amazing memories… friends for life, all of you.

“What an experience. I hope we came across well… we believe we were fair and honest… fingers crossed this is a massive boost for the business... absolutely over the moon.”

Kenny said about appearing on TV: “It came completely out the blue. Channel Four got in touch last summer to say they wanted us to be on the show, and my initial reaction was definitely no.

“But Ben talked me into it - he thought it was too good an opportunity to turn down, and I knew he was right.

“We had an absolute blast filming the show and we made some lovely friends along the way.”

While things started off well for the pair as their guests enjoyed afternoon tea and Welsh cakes, the 3.30am fire alarm could have blown their bid out of the water before breakfast.

One of their rivals even ended up marking the couple down by five for the inconvenience in her feedback form, which earned her a fair amount of criticism on social media.

Ben and Kenny said they were “mortified” that the alarm had gone off “on the night that meant the most to them”, and apologised to their guests, told them it had been “out of their control” and promised to do all they could to make up for it.

While they were only able to open the eight-bedroom B&B for four months last year because of the pandemic, they have spent the time running a takeaway food service and renovating the rooms with a Wye Valley woodland theme, and are delighted to be able to welcome guests again.

You can see the couple winning Four In A Bed on the My4 catch-up service.