Erin and Ben Napier‘s HGTV series Home Town is getting a spinoff — that they aren’t “legally allowed” to host.
The couple spoke with Cinemablend earlier this month about why they won’t be on screen in the upcoming season of Home Town Takeover.
“Our production company is Canadian. The people who make our show, they’re passionate about this Canadian takeover,” Erin, 40, told the outlet. “But, because we are Americans, we are not legally allowed to host the show. We can only be in it as, like, guest stars.”
Ben, 42, meanwhile, confirmed that logistically they had to work around production rules, saying, “Yeah, a Canadian broadcast show has to be hosted by Canadian talent.” Erin noted that they were still “excited to go to Canada” because she has “never been before.”
“It would be magical, in the summer especially,” she added before Ben teased who would be the primary host of Home Town Takeover, “We know who it is, and I can say that we really like them. It’s another husband and wife team.”
Home Town Takeover previously followed Ben and Erin as they “revitalize a small town by renovating the homes of the town’s changemakers, businesses and community spaces,” according to the network’s synopsis. Since finding success, the spinoff has pivoted to Canada for the first time ever.
Erin and Ben Napier. HGTV
The update on the hit Home Town franchise comes after HGTV previously caused concern when it canceled five shows: Battle on the Beach, Farmhouse Fixer, Married to Real Estate, Bargain Block and Izzy Does It. HGTV subsequently ordered 450 new episodes of current and new TV shows.
The network announced in October that they ordered 50 episodes of Botched Homes, Neighborhood Watch, World’s Bargain Dream Homes and Property Brothers: Under Pressure. HGTV also picked up nearly 400 episodes of House Hunters and House Hunters International.
“With this programming order, HGTV is delivering more of our tried-and-true formats that drive consistent ratings for the network, while also featuring new talent and concepts to engage our devoted fans and attract different audiences,” Warner Bros. Discovery’s Chief Creative Officer of U.S. Networks Howard Lee said in a statement.
HGTV previously announced over the summer that it will “bolster its 2025-2026 slate with over 100 episodes” of original content, including new seasons of The Flip Off, Love It or List It and Renovation Aloha. There are also new shows coming to HGTV, such as Home Town: Inn This Together, Cheap A$$ Beach Houses and Tropic Like It’s Hot, in addition to holiday shows Hoarding for the Holidays (working title) and White House Christmas 2025.
“HGTV’s passionate fans tune in for our signature home renovation, real estate and design expertise, and they also want content that’s unfiltered, escapist and fun,” Lee said at the time about the future of the network. “The network’s large order of new and returning series has something for everyone.”
Ben and Erin’s TV empire has continued to evolve with a new season of Home Town in early 2026, as well as a spinoff titled Home Town: Inn This Together.
“The renovation experts, who have successfully revived many outdated homes and historical locations in their small town of Laurel, Mississippi, will now join forces with their family and friends Jim, Mallorie and Josh to restore the dilapidated 1930 Kress building in downtown Laurel,” read the synopsis. “The trio believe the 25,000-square-foot space will be the perfect setting for a hotel, food venue and storefront, but they’ll need Ben and Erin’s magic touch to make their dream a reality.”
