Escape to the Chateau DIY (2018–2021): Season 2, Episode 20 - Episode #2.20 - full transcript

I'm Dick Strawbridge,

and along with my wife Angel
and our two children,

we've spent the last 4 years
turning an abandoned chateau

into our dream home.

No way!

Dick, voice-over: It's not just
where we live.

Angel: And you're in charge
of the kitchen.

Dick, voice-over:
It's where we work...

We're in business.

Dick, voice-over: and it turns
out we're not the only Brits

who have crossed the Channel
for the chateau life.



[Ding]

Dinnertime!

Dick: Now Angel and I
are back,

guiding more owners
on their chateau adventure.

How big's your pot of gold?

Not big enough, I'm afraid.

Angel: If you stand
from where I'm standing,

I think it looks quite lovely.

Go, go, go!

Dick: We'll work with some
familiar faces...

Welcome.

Dick, voice-over: and some who
are new to chateau life

as they battle to renovate
their homes...

Come the next nuclear holocaust,
this will be what's left.



Dick, voice-over: and make them
work as businesses...

You've got everything
done on the list?

No.

Ta-da!

Dick, voice-over:
There'll be ups and downs.

If this glass breaks,
there's going to be

more Euros in my swear jar.

[Crack]

Dick: but however hard
the going gets...

[Clatter]

for these plucky Brits,

their homes really are
their castles.

[Cheering]

Today...

Angel: A glamourous box
of cake! Hi!

Dick: Angel gives
a new chateau owner

some top baking tips.

Remember, it's crumb management.

Dick: And the couple need
a quick fix

to show their chateau
at its best.

JB: It doesn't look too bad.

Dick: One chateau owner
lets a new wedding planner

take charge...

Woman: Obviously, we need
to talk about weather,

potential for
any bad weather tomorrow.

Dick: but can he really
hand over the reins?

Man: I'm not gonna be
difficult in any way.

I am hanging in the background

so that I can see
what's happening.

Dick: A new exercise studio
is in the spotlight.

It looks fabulous
from the outside, but...

Dick: There's trouble
with the catering.

May: These look awful.
Jade: They don't look great.

Why couldn't you have
shaped them nicer?

Dick: More and more people
are seeing the appeal

of owning a French chateau.

Dick: Got the rope, team?
Angel: Yeah.

Dick, voice-over: Like Angel
and I,

they're doing up buildings
and setting up in business.

This is why we work
as a team.

Angela makes it happen,

and I just have to say,
"Yes, darling."

Dick: Erin and her
French-born fiancé

Jean-Baptiste, known as JB,
only moved

into Chateau de Bourneau
two months ago.

Actually, it's not
particularly heavy.

Dick: This fairytale castle
is in the renaissance style

but built in the 19th century.

It has around 50 rooms,
its own moat,

and lies just over 100 miles
south of our place

in the Loire Valley.

Erin: So we've made a start
of the chateau renovation.

Still a long way to go.

JB: The list of things to do
is actually very long.

Dick: They're currently renting
out the 4 gites

in the grounds
and preparing the chateau

as a wedding and events venue.

Such ambitious ideas mean
they've been very busy.

JB: Everything is doable.

You just don't panic
and keep going sort of thing.

Dick: So far, they've made
a start on the honeymoon suite,

and I gave them a hand
with the doors and windows

in the solarium.

They've upgraded
the kitchen facilities

to suit the catering side
of their business.

It's got a wine rack.

Dick: And they've restored
some glamour

to the ballroom

and painted one
of the staircases.

Erin: This chateau has been
shut up

as a private residence
for so many years.

None of the locals
have ever been in it,

they've never seen it.

Dick: Now they want to host
a party

for the mayor and locals
to launch their new business

and show
the chateau's potential.

Erin: Doing our first event
for the mayor

is really important for us,

and although we have
an events business,

we've never actually
organized an event.

Dick: So with 50
on the guest list,

they're planning
a quintessentially

English afternoon tea
with a French twist.

Erin: Creating a really
beautiful vintage tea party

will be lovely.

It's something that
the French don't have.

Dick: Neither JB or Erin
are experienced bakers,

so where better to get
cake decorating tips

than here at our chateau
with my Angel?

I'm gonna go and say hello.

Dick: Erin's brought along
a couple of simple sponge cakes

ready for Angel's
magic touch.

Angel: Oh, I love it. Ha ha!

A glamourous box of cake.

- Hi. nice to meet you.
- Lovely to meet you, too.

- Oh, aren't you gorgeous?
- Ha ha ha!

Right. This is for me.
Let me take this.

Come up. Right. Come in.
Want a cup of tea?

Beautiful. Oh, I'd love
a cup of tea.

OK. So today, let's do
some icing of some cake.

Can you ice cakes?
How much--

Well, I haven't done it before,
but...

- Are you quite creative?
- I'm quite creative.

I love painting
and making things and...

Brilliant. Brilliant.

But, uh, yeah, I haven't
done it before,

but I'm willing to learn.

Welcome to our kitchen.

In fact, welcome
to Dick's kitchen. Ha ha ha!

Dick: Erin wants to create
what's known

as a naked cake.

Angel: Let's get these
bad boys out.

Dick: So instead of covering
the sponge

in thick icing,
the cake is given

a lighter frosted finish.

Angel: Part of the key
in doing a naked cake

is crumb management

and getting the icing
sort of really,

really nice and smooth.

Little things like
having the right tins

will make a difference.

Like having a straight tin
will be better than having--

- So there's not that lip?
- Yeah.

And also this has got
a bit of an angle to it

and a lip, as well,
but it's OK.

Always have a ruler on you.

It's 3 centimeters.
Now for a layer,

I would say 2 1/2,
3 centimeters anyway, OK?

I'm going to serrate
all the edges first,

and it's a really simple thing,

but you've got to saw.

So I'm moving the turntable

and doing a little
sawing action. Ta-da!

- Beautiful.
- OK. So there now

we have got our first
top cake

that we can eat later.

Dick: Time for Erin to try out
her knife skills.

And you can hold this,
as well, however,

and then you start
moving this around.

Bigger sawing now.
I feel like you're

pushing too much, so...

That's it. Gentle. Yeah.

OK. Let's do it.
Let's take it off.

Great. Now put it over
in the grave.

Remember, it's crumb management.
Great. OK.

So when you get
to this stage,

you're gonna ice it,
and if you've done a lemon cake,

you might have put a curd in,

or if you've done
a Victoria sponge,

you might have put
strawberry jam in or a jam.

- Let's use one of our jams.
- Perfect. Sounds good.

Dick: So after adding
a layer of buttercream

made with icing sugar
and softened butter,

it's the jam.

- That's it. You're a natural.
- Ha ha ha! I don't think...

- Great.
- All right. OK.

Angel: That's it.

Dick: And to finish,
a thinly spread layer

of more buttercream icing.

Angel: You see already it starts
looking great, doesn't it?

You're such a natural.
Brilliant. Honestly.

Oh! Ha ha ha!

Erin: Ha ha ha!
You said it too soon.

Dick: Let's hope Erin masters
the art of icing

before the mayor's tea party.

100 miles south of us
in the Loire Valley

is the 17th century
Chateau Saint-Loup,

now owned by ex-lawyer
Charles-Henri.

He bought the place
almost 30 years ago

for £1.2 million.

One of its claims to fame is
that the marquis

who built it was the inspiration
for a character

in the fairytale
"Puss In Boots."

Charles: Well, my link
to the chateau is

something of a fairytale itself.

One day, I just happened
to drive past the chateau

on the hill,
and I stopped to look down,

and I thought to myself,

"Now this is the most
beautiful chateau

I've ever seen in my life."

Dick: Sitting in 120 acres
of parkland,

it has 25 en suite bedrooms

and was built on the foundations
of a medieval fortress.

Charles: As you can see
to the left,

the remainder
of the medieval bit,

the square tower in particular.

Dick: Charles gave up a career
as an international lawyer

to dedicate himself
to renovating

this beautiful building.

Charles: My family didn't think
very much of what I did.

They thought I was
completely mad,

but, oh, well, it's my life,
and I'm pleased where I am.

Dick: Living in a chateau
this spectacular comes

at an eye-watering price.

Charles: Running
the chateau costs

100,000 Euros a year.

We're talking about
operational costs.

Dick: To pay those bills,
they've built

a successful business running
events and guest accommodation,

plus they keep outgoings down
by employing

only a handful of staff.

Charles: This house used to
be run by 100 staff.

There were 45 gardeners
in the 18th century

and 60 people in the house.

I live here with my wife,

and then we have two gardeners

and then a governess
for the house.

We're the Jack of all trades.

We do the garden in the morning
and the rooms in the evening,

and to us, it's heaven,
but I'm sure

to a lot of people,
it would be hell,

so you've got to know who you
are and make your choices.

Dick: Today, Charles is working
with wedding planner Sarah,

who's organizing everything
for the bride and groom

Tina and Samuel
from Canada.

- Hello! Hi.
- Hello!

Dick: Sarah has
an impressive CV,

including a stint
at Prince Charles' palace

in London,
but she's still untested

by this Charles.

Samuel: Thank you
for having us.

Dick: And she's keen
to make a good impression.

Sarah: Right. So we've moved
the lunch back to 12:30,

so that gives us 45 minutes,
so we'll do a walk-around

because obviously you've
not been here before.

Obviously, we need to talk
about weather,

potential for any bad weather
tomorrow,

and talk
about the contingency plan.

OK?

Will you please come then?

Dick: The weekend
weather forecast is mixed,

so they're working out
dry and wet weather options

for the two-day event.

Sarah: So obviously, you've
got quite a busy schedule

this afternoon. Ha ha ha!

The biggest pressure I feel
is living up

to their expectations
and ensuring that

they're happy with everything.

After you.

You have to make sure
that every single wedding

is the best wedding
you've ever done

because if you slip up,
then you're going to lose

a lot of contacts.

We want to do a cocktail inside,

and then it will go out to here.

Dick: This is the first time
the couple

have seen
around the chateau.

Charles: Oh, yes.
It's a real house.

It's not Walt Disney.

Sarah: We absolutely
adore this venue.

It's obviously
incredibly beautiful.

We would love to work
here again,

and of course, that all lies
on us doing an amazing job.

Dick: It's in this stateroom
that Sarah's got

tonight's welcome party planned.

Sarah: Right. So everybody will
come down to here for 7:00,

and then we'll then bring
you through to dinner,

so we'll go back
to the front of the chateau.

Right. So for tomorrow
in a good weather scenario,

ceremony this side
or the other side?

Now to answer that,
you probably want to see

the other side,
so let's walk through.

Charles: Anything that goes
wrong will not be

the fault of the supplier.

It will be the fault
of the chateau,

so that's why it's important
to be nosey.

Sarah: You could walk down here
to come to the ceremony.

Charles: I'm not gonna be
difficult in any way,

nor too nosey,
but I am hanging

in the background so that
I can see what's happening.

Sarah: Now Faith is going to
be putting flowers

around these stairs.

Perfect for photographs
for your group photographs.

Then we would probably
then move you round

to the front
for the canape reception.

Perfect.

Dick: With the location sorted,

it's now down to Charles
and Sarah to make it

all run smoothly.

The 19th century
Chateau de la Vigne

in the Loire Valley is
the French home

to May Simpkin and family.

May: Welcome.
You have all made it.

Dick: During
the off-peak season,

with the help of daughter Jade
and son Jack,

May runs a yoga
and health retreat.

May: Let's pass those
brownies round, as well.

Don't be shy.

Dick: After extensive
restoration works,

they now have a dedicated
yoga studio

in one of their out buildings,

and guests on health
and well-being retreats

will have daily classes there.

May: Seems to have
actually happened.

It's materialized.
I have got a yoga space,

so I'm so excited about that.

Dick: The only slight hitch
is a wall in the middle,

which means it's not quite
the open space

she was hoping for.

With classes due to start,

yoga teacher Jamie is
checking it out.

May: What do you think?

It looks fabulous
from the outside,

but the inside's just wow!

- Aw.
- You've done such

a good job with it.

- Oh, I'm so pleased.
- Yeah, it's fantastic.

There's a good thing
about the wall,

which is that you can
actually use it

rather than think about it
as being a disadvantage

because in lots of my classes
I teach inversions,

headstand, handstand

and actually can use the wall
to support people,

so instead of it being
something detrimental

to the space,
it could be advantageous.

Also, what really distracts
people in a yoga class

is looking at each other.

- Is looking--yes. Absolutely.
- Yeah.

So because the wall's there,
it adds this element

of not privacy, but--yeah,
it limits distractions.

- Oh, I love it.
- So that's another positive.

So positive.

Jamie: I'm gonna continue
to think

more and more positive things
about that wall.

May: Perfect, perfect.
Jamie: Yeah. Are you proud?

May: Oh, I'm really proud.
I'm very excited, as well.

I can't wait to run
the first class.

- Me, too.
- Really excited.

Dick: With Jamie totally
on board,

the studio's ready
for the first yoga class.

Jamie: And we'll bring
our palms together.

Just rest the hands
against the chest.

Dick: There's added pressure

as among the guests is
journalist Louise Atkinson,

who's reviewing the retreat.

Jamie: I just want you
to breathe naturally

for a few breaths.

Dick: May's there, too,
checking that all is going well.

Jamie: Try to release any
tension from the shoulders.

May, voice-over: I've been
waiting for this moment

for a very long time,
and I cannot believe

we've actually arrived.

Just incredible.
I'm so thrilled to have

that dedicated space
that I dreamed of,

and I think they all love it.

Dick: Anesthetist turned
chateau owner Erin

is in our kitchen
with Angel

adding cake decorating
to her range of skills.

It's a dress rehearsal
for the mayor's tea party

that they're holding
in a few weeks' time.

Great. OK.

Dick: Now they're ready
to add the final layer

of crumb-free buttercream icing.

Angel: Do the top.
Erin: OK.

Go out to the edge, yeah,

and then go round the sides,

and it's literally just
a final, quite thin skim.

- OK.
- You want to have a go?

- All right. Yes.
- Go on. Do it, do it.

Look. For me,
you can't go wrong.

No, you can't.

So it needs to be
a really thin skim now, OK?

Done like a pro.

- This is a crumb-free topper.
- Yes.

Feel like you're getting
a little bit more confidence

to scrape a bit harder,
as well?

Erin: Yeah, I think so.

Angel: Listen. If you saw
that in a shop,

you'd want to buy it,
wouldn't you,

or you'd certainly
want to eat it!

[Both laugh]

You are a natural.
You just did the wrong career.

Shouldn't have been a doctor,

saving people's lives
or any of that.

Dick: With the cakes iced,

it's time
for the decoration,

using some flowers straight
from our garden.

Angel: Bit of floristry tape.

Really simple to use.
Put it on,

put it around.

OK. Just make sure you cover
all of the stem.

I think you're a little bit
more creative than you let on,

so I don't need to
show you this,

but let's do it together.

Things look always slightly
nicer asymmetric, as well.

Mm-hmm. We're gonna get
a little bit more

of sort of the botanical.

Bring it round the side.

I know Dick takes the mickey
out of me all of the time.

It kind of needs to do this.

It looks good. A cascade.

But if it does,
you're fine.

I wouldn't even go
too much more messy

on that now.

I think it looks quite sweet.

I think the point is
is that

it's just about having
a bit of fun, isn't it?

So fine. Lovely.

- Good looking.
- Yeah.

I feel like really
I should high-five you.

- Yeah.
- Well done.

Dick: Great job.

I reckon that's a cake
fit for a mayor.

Erin: Thank you so much.
It's been really great.

- Aw. Lovely meeting you.
- Thank you.

Do you feel like you've
got some of the tools?

Yeah, I do. It's been
really, really useful.

Angel: Great. You know what?
If you've got confidence,

that's all you need.

Because you've got
some skills. I've seen.

Erin: Aw. That's
very kind of you.

Best of luck.

Erin: Angel spending
that time with me today

is--yeah, it's given me
a bit of a boost

that I'll hopefully be able
to pull it all off.

Fingers crossed. Heh.

Dick: At Chateau Saint-Loup
in the Loire Valley,

owner Charles
and wedding planner Sarah...

OK. I think we're done
on that one.

Dick: are preparing
for the 29 guests

attending tomorrow's wedding.

So it's 14 chairs
on each side.

That's OK here.

Dick: It's the first time
Sarah has worked with Charles,

and he's keeping a close eye
on progress.

The two here at least,
I'd say, should go down.

Sarah: OK. Let's move
this one and see.

Charles: For the moment,
I'm quite happy

with what Sarah's done.

It's the first time
she's come,

and so we've got to get
used to each other.

We're not very far
so that we can have

a peep and say
when things happen.

Dick: Before Sarah can
start decorating areas,

she needs to know whether
that overcast sky

might put pay
to an outdoor ceremony.

Fiona, could you just check
your weather forecast?

It's going a bit blustery.

Only intervals
and moderate breeze.

Sarah: OK. So this is just
the moderate breeze

I'm feeling.

It's not a storm on its way.
Ha ha ha!

Dick: But Sarah's not
convinced by the forecast.

This will be the storm
coming in probably. Ha ha ha!

I'm getting a little worried
given the change

overnight in the weather
forecast for tomorrow.

It's definitely of concern.

Dick: Sarah's got another option
up her sleeve just in case.

Sarah: There's a plan B we get
everything inside the chateau.

Ha ha! Into one
of the reception rooms.

With these numbers,
it's not such a concern

because we can move those
between us pretty quickly

if we had to,
but we'll make that call

a little bit later.

Dick: For now, though, there's
a more pressing problem.

The bridegroom's parents
have an issue

with their bedroom.

- The parents of Samuel...
- Yes.

Their room, want
to add two more beds.

Sarah: Bats? Bats in the room?
OK. I'll leave you--

Charles: They've left
the lights on

and the window open.

Sarah: Was the window open
with the lights on?

- No, no, no.
- So the bats have gone

into the room,
or they were already

in the room?

Charles: No.
They definitely came in.

Sarah: OK.
Charles: I'm sure there were

no bats before.

Woman: Maybe it's too soft.

- Oh, the beds.
- Oh, the bed!

Sorry. Ha ha ha!
I thought you said bats

had come into the room.

Woman: Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

Sarah: The bed. OK.

Dick: Ah, the perils
of international communication.

Glad they got
to the bottom of that problem.

Charles: You want
an extra bed in there?

Woman: Yes. Extra. Two.

Two extra beds?
How many are you in there?

Woman: Just two.
Second woman: Just two.

Woman: But this is
too soft for them.

Charles: All right.
See what we can do.

Sarah: See what you can do.

Dick: Charles agrees to put
in another bed,

leaving Sarah to concentrate
on tonight's

welcome celebrations.

- I'm good.
- OK. Ha ha ha!

Dick: Upstairs, Charles
is busy housekeeping

with his wife Sophie.

We were asked to put in
an extra bed,

so we're doing it.

Dick: Tonight's meal
is outside,

but it's still not clear
whether the ceremony

will also be
in the open air tomorrow.

Sarah: I'm hoping that
the high winds

that we've had today
have actually blown

the storm through
a bit quicker.

We'll find out
in the morning, I suppose,

when we wake up and see.

Dick: At Chateau de Bourneau,
Erin and JB

are preparing a tea party
for the mayor

that will also launch
their events business.

What do you think is
the better one?

Do you think that one's
nicer for the top?

Dick: Erin is making
the centerpiece for the party,

a Victoria sponge.

JB: Are they both
the same thickness or...

Erin: Um...no because
I haven't got even tins.

JB: I'd say that one
is the nicest.

We invited quite a lot
of people, local people,

neighbors, people
who've helped us along,

people who we'd like to
work with,

and the problem is we don't
actually know

how many people are coming.

It could be 5,
or it could be 45.

Dick: JB's doing his bit
and making biscuits.

It's also going to be
the first time

we're gonna meet
a lot of our direct neighbors,

which is quite important
because obviously

we want to organize events here.

Erin: This chateau has been
the center of the community

for, like, many years,
and then when it became private

again, no one was allowed in,
and it's a bit of a shame,

and we want to share it,
and we'd love

to have, you know,
the [speaks French] parties

and the harvest festivals
and things like that again.

I wonder if they expect
this place to be

entirely done up by now.

Erin: I don't think so.
People know we've--

I hope not.

- It needs to be tasted.
- Yeah, you're right.

- Mmm!
- Good? Approved?

JB: Mmm. If you need
more help with, um,

you know, the crumbs
that you don't want, I'm here.

Erin: Yeah. Great.
So when I went to Angel's,

she gave me lots
of really great top tips

about how to sort of decorate
a naked cake design,

and she taught me
all the ingredients

and things that I needed
to make sure

that I could do this properly,

so I duly went and ordered it,

and obviously being
in rural France,

nothing's arrived,
so I'm making due

with what we found
around the house.

Dick: As we know
only too well,

being able to improvise
is an essential skill

for chateau owners.

Erin: And I have to say
the fish slice

is not the easiest device
to be using here,

but that's all right.

JB: Do you want a trowel?

Dick: Erin and JB
want to impress

and plan to show off
the areas they've renovated

ready for their wedding
and events business,

but there's still
a lot to do

to get the honeymoon suite
and solarium ready for tomorrow.

Erin: I think the worst
thing would be

if we have nothing to showcase.

We don't want
the tourism office

to come here and think,
"Oh, my God."

Absolutely not.

Dick: To make matters
even trickier,

neither of them has
much experience

when it comes
to interior design.

Erin: We're like two scientists
trying to be

interior decorators,
so this is not--

JB: It's gonna be
very well organized.

Erin: Ha ha!

Let's thread some of this
so it looks like

it going up it.

Dick: That's just the sort
of touch my Angel

would go for.

I like it.

Erin: Nothing like leaving
it to the last minute, eh?

JB: Life would be boring
otherwise, I guess.

Dick: In the honeymoon suite,
there's another job to do.

The plaster frieze they found
is renovated

and ready for installation.

Be lovely to think
it was from this room,

but a sort of hapless romantic
in me quite likes the idea

of using something that
was original

and putting it back
in its rightful place

so it's not forgotten
and lost forever.

Oh. Well done.

Dick: There's nothing
more satisfying

than bringing a little bit
of chateau history back to life.

Next, on to decorating
the ballroom,

where they'll be serving tea.

JB: How are we gonna fix
the wisteria to the boiserie?

Dick: Upstairs, they've got
loads of artificial flowers.

Could look quite dramatic,
couldn't it?

JB: Let's go.

Erin: Do you want me to
help you with that?

JB: It's fine.
Erin: Let's clear the space.

JB: I will need you
to open doors.

Erin: Yeah. That's right.

JB: Can't see anything.

Erin: Careful
on the marble staircase.

JB: Mm-hmm.

Erin: Do you want to
carry it sideways

and you can actually
see where you're going?

JB: I'm covered in flowers,
like, literally

covered by flowers.

Erin: Heh heh heh.

Do you want to just adjust it
so you can see?

JB: I can see my left shoulder.
That's very useful.

I hope you know
where we're going.

Dick: Great teamwork, guys.

When you said right,
I didn't know if it was

right "turn right"
or right "you're right."

OK. Let's try
and unwind this. Well done.

Dick: At Chateau de la Vigne,

the yoga and health retreat
is in full swing.

Jamie: Yeah. I just want you
to breathe naturally

for a few breaths.

Dick: Whilst chateau owner May
joins in

with stretching an flexing
at the early morning class,

son Jack is in charge
of providing

all the nutritious meals
for guests.

Yeah. 90% of my day is
here in the kitchen,

and actually when the guests
are busy doing something,

like a yoga session,
it gives us

the time and space we need
to run around

and get stuff sorted.

I say us. Jade's still in bed,

but she'll be
with us shortly I hope.

Dick: Jack's getting ahead
and prepping lunch

while he waits for Jade
to emerge.

Jack: Making me cry,
these onions.

A typical--properly cry
on these ones.

A strong French onion.

I've been up
an hour and a half,

and I hope she's still
not in bed.

[Line ringing]

Good morning.

Jade: Yes. I now
answer the phone.

You just woken up?
Get over here

because breakfast
is in 20 minutes.

Jade: Do I have to look
presentable?

You do have to look presentable.

Of course you have to
look presentable.

Get over here quickly.

Wow. She sounds
very asleep.

Straight by looking
at the arch side.

Bend your knees a bit more.

Just be aware that
the front of your chest

is resting on your knees.

Jack: Do you know
what I might do?

I might deliberately put
the napkins

facing the wrong way
just so Jade

can complain about it
just so I can tell her,

well, she should have
been here.

Do napkins even have
a wrong way?

I'm clutching at straws.

Anyway, we're getting there.

Dick: Class dismissed,
they're ready for breakfast.

Jack: Morning.

Dick: And May's daughter
finally shows up.

Jack: Here she is.
May: Jade.

Jade: Breakfast was ready.

Jack: She new breakfast
was ready, so she got lazy.

Jade: I'm here now.
Jack: Right.

May: Breakfast is served.

Would you all like
to come and sit down?

So we've got
a Bircher muesli,

or an overnight oats.

So these are oats
and chia seeds,

almond milk,

and a little bit
of coconut water

and a little bit of orange juice
and cinnamon,

and I've got lots
of different toppings.

Dick: Journalist Louise
is recording details

of the food ready
for her review of the retreat.

Jack: Enjoy your
breakfast, yeah.

Jade: Mm-hmm.
Jack: Yeah. Don't go hungry.

On the right.

Dick: And later there's
a trip to a local vineyard...

Woman: Hey. We're cycling
for wine.

[Laughter]

Dick: leaving Jade and Jack
time to come up

with a healthy treat for later.

The thing is I read
on the recipe--

should I get the recipe out?

Jack: Are these cookies?

- Raw cookies, not baked.
- Yep. Nice idea.

Yeah. It says,
"Then add the fruits

or cacao nibs,
or filling of choice."

So we can put whatever
we want in it, I think.

Dick: They may be going out
on a limb here.

So just little nice
chunks in it.

Dick: So let's hope
Mum approves of the result.

Jack: Cherries.

That's done.

Dick: At Chateau Saint-Loup,

it's the morning
of the big day.

Sarah: Band are up
on the end carpets.

- How many are there?
- 4.

Dick: In a room set aside
for the bar,

owner Charles
and wedding planner Sarah

are setting up the reception
for bride and groom

Tina and Samuel.

Sarah: Put those on the bar.

Dick: The couple had hoped
for an outdoor ceremony,

but rain clouds have
scuppered that idea.

Sarah: Stress has mounted today.

I mean, already we had
the weather,

which we were prepared for,

but it is definitely
additional stress

just to make sure that
everything runs smoothly,

especially going
with a plan B option.

Dick: They have just 5 hours,

and plan B means moving
everything

for the wedding supper
into the orangery.

Good luck, guys.

So then you push
that in there.

Oh, no.

Dick: And not everything's
going to plan.

- Other way round.
- Heh! Guilla.

I'll have to move them.

Because the bottles
are that side.

So we need to--

Yeah. I need to turn it around.

Dick: Outside, Charles
has spotted

an unsightly blot
spoiling the view

of the chateau,
and he wants the lorry moved.

Charles: See, it could have
been on the side

and been nicer.

Sarah: OK.
Charles: Thank you.

Dick: Back inside,
Charles is worried

that the delicate ring
of fresh flowers arranged

to frame the wedding ceremony
is in danger

of shriveling up from the heat
of the roaring fire.

Let's move two chairs
and push it back there.

It's bearable for the moment,
so if you go

one yard that way,
you should be all right.

Well, I've convinced the florist
to move the ring provisionally

by one yard
towards the end of the room,

and now the fire can go,
and we will move it back

just for the wedding.

That's OK. Then at the last
moment, push it back.

- Exactly.
- Perfect.

- Lovely. Thank you.
- Thank you.

Dick: No sooner has Charles
solved one problem

then he spots the fact
that the offending lorry

has sneaked back.

I have a very small request.

Please move that lorry
out of the orangery way

either forward, either backward,
as you wish,

put please not
in front of the gate,

s'il vous plait.

- OK.
- Merci beaucoup.

Charles: I asked several times
lorries to be removed

from the site
as bride and groom rented

a wonderful historic chateau
for its ambiance,

and so you don't need
to see lorries.

Dick: With
the final touches added,

it's almost time
for the ceremony to begin.

As soon as they've done
the buttonholes,

I'm gonna go.

Dick: And Sarah will officiate.

With Charles watching
nervously from the sidelines,

she leads the wedding vows.

Sarah: Tina and Samuel,
you have exchanged your vows

in front of your friends
and family,

and so with our blessing
and joy,

I declare you to be
husband and wife.

You may now kiss the bride.

[Applause]

Congratulations. Heh heh heh.

Samuel: When it comes
to the actual event,

it's been amazing.

Awesome!

Samuel: At the end of the day,
it just exceeds

our expectation,
and we love the experience.

Sarah: I'm absolutely delighted
because the client

this evening thanked us,
thanked the team

for all the work that we've
done, and I could see

they were genuinely
very happy,

so, yeah, job done.

Really, really pleased.

Thank you, Samuel.
Thank you.

[Cheering and applause]

Charles: It's the first time
we were working with Sarah,

the wedding planner.

She's absolutely lovely
and full of energy

and somebody who knows
what she's doing.

What really, really matters
in the end is

if the client is satisfied.

That matters a lot to me.

- Thank you.
- Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Dick: As the evening draws
to a close,

it looks like Charles
and Sarah could have

the makings of a great
working relationship.

At Chateau de la Vigne,
guests at May's

yoga and health retreat
are on an outing to a vineyard.

Man: What is here
is white wine and red wine

and some of the sweet wine.

Do you want to have
a smell of it?

Dick: May doesn't serve
alcohol on the retreat...

Woman: I remember
that smell now.

Dick: so the group seem keen
for a little wine tasting.

- Wasted on me.
- I know, luv.

Woman: It's not wasted on me.

Dick: While back at the chateau,
May's children

Jack and Jade are preparing
raw cookies for later.

I hope these taste nice.

Dick: The recipe uses natural,
unprocessed ingredients,

and the cookies are set
in the freezer.

It's just quite weird.

Like, apple butter is weird.

Jack: Everything we make
is weird.

May: You can see why I don't
do this on day one.

Dick: While the promise
of wine is going down well...

Yes?

Dick: May gets a call
about the sweet treats.

OK. Does it taste nice?

"Kind of."

Jade, it needs to
taste nice.

Put more chocolate,
raw cacao.

OK? All right.
Well done. Bye. Bye.

Man: The vineyard's been
well known

to get awards
on this wine.

Dick: At last, reviewer
and journalist Louise,

along with fellow
retreat members,

get to taste
the final product.

Man: Go for it.
Make some noise.

May: This is their first
touch of alcohol

since they arrived.

Anyway, we say in French sante.

- Sante.
- Sante.

OK.

Dick: Wine tour finished,
May returns

to the kitchen
and is straight on

to quality control.

Why couldn't you have
shaped them nicer?

These look awful.

They don't look great.

- It's really weird.
- What are they?

Look. There's some
that are, like, rock hard,

and then those are,
like, super squigdy.

That one's squidgy.

Maybe we'll just serve
the ones that are hard.

- Actually, they're really good.
- Are they?

Mmm. I really like it.

Jade: We need to put
something on them at least.

May: Put the rest of that
chocolate.

Dick: Chocolate sprinkles.

Could this be
the magic ingredient?

Jade: That looks a bit
better, doesn't it?

I cannot believe
we're serving this.

Oh, well. I'm sure
they'll love it.

May: Come and try these.

Woman: Oh, wow.
Look at those.

May: Those are raw cashew
and banana,

and those are banana
and cherry.

They're beautiful.

Woman: We were treated
to wonderful--

I mean, amazing food.

She makes magic
with the ingredients.

It's as simple as that.

Different woman: May's been
a fabulous host,

the food has been terrific.

I think it all works together
just as a really lovely package.

Dick: Praise indeed
from the guests...

but May's hoping to get
just as big a thumb's up

from journalist Louise...

and a month later,
she gets a chance

to read Louise's review.

May: Actually
a little bit nervous.

I'm actually reading it
for the first time,

so I have no idea what
she will have written.

OK. "The yoga retreat
that replenishes

your body AND mind."

Well, that's a good start.
That's brilliant.

"Nutritionist May Simpkin
has been running retreats

"at her delightful
family chateau

"with a mission to provide
a relaxed

"and inviting environment
where guests

"can enjoy her clever cooking,

"relax, but at the same time
be more active

than they've probably
ever been before."

Aw. So clever cooking.
Fantastic.

So going forward, I hope
that having

such a lovely review
is gonna help me

develop my retreats,
whether it's a health retreat

or a yoga or photography
or cycling retreat.

There were definitely moments
where I doubted

Whether we would get
the studio ready in time,

but now that we have,
I'm so happy.

Dick: Well done, May.

The future looks rosy
for Chateau de la Vigne.

At Chateau de Bourneau,
Erin and JB

are launching their
events business today

by hosting their first
public event,

a tea party for the mayor.

4 hours to go before everyone
or no one arrives

because we still haven't had
any RSVPs.

I thought this morning
we might have

a barrage of e-mails indicating
that people are coming,

but we haven't.

Dick: There's additional
pressure

because they've invited
the local community,

including people they'd like
to work with in the future.

Erin: I'm most nervous
because obviously it's the mayor

and we want to impress him,
but also

these excellent caterers
who live around here

we really want to work with,
and they're coming, too,

so catering for chefs is
a little bit nerve-racking.

Dick: Erin and JB's afternoon
tea includes

traditional English
cucumber sandwiches

and classic French madeleines.

Erin: And I think I could
double up the teacups

so they're piled up.

Dick: But they still need to
get the renovated rooms

ready to view.

Erin: Time's ticking on.
We need to make sure

the two rooms upstairs
look presentable enough.

Dick: Erin has noticed that
their newly restored solarium

has some unsightly cracks
in the windows.

They need a quick fix.

Erin: The aim is just to
cover the pane of glass

that we haven't had
a moment to change yet.

Dick: Erin's found some curtains
that could be perfect

for the job.

Erin: I'm so sorry
I had to--

I just like to have a bar,
and you spread.

JB: Hey. It doesn't look
too bad,

and I think more importantly,
it's hiding the fact

that I can't clean windows.

Erin: Yeah. Well.
JB: Ha ha ha!

Dick: Now all the hard work
since they've moved in

only a matter of weeks ago
is on show.

The solarium is
a light breakfast room

for future guests.

The honeymoon suite has been
cleverly renovated

and given a period feel
with romantic touches,

and the grand ballroom,
once the scene

of many a splendid party,

is again ready to welcome
and entertain guests,

but back in the kitchen,
they're running behind.

[Doorbell ringing]

Ooh! That is the doorbell.
Right. OK.

Ahh. Hello! Bonjour.

Dick: It's the local chefs
that they're keen to impress.

Oh, thank you.
Thanks so much for coming.

Hello!

Erin, voice-over: And our first
guests arrived,

and we totally weren't ready.

So typical, isn't it?

It's the people you want
to impress and too look good,

and I haven't even got
my shoes on.

Dick: And it's not long
before others start to arrive.

Erin: Oh. Bonjour, Eddie.

Eddie: Irina my fiancée.

I'm impressed. I honestly
thought we would have

5 people, but we have
quite a lot of people here,

and the mayor is here.

He has arrived with his wife.

Seeing our neighbors
and people who have

a bit of a connection
to the chateau

and want to sort of have
a look inside,

so it's lovely.

Dick: With the party
in full swing,

it's time
for Erin's centerpiece,

the Victoria sponge.

Erin: It might not be
completely perfect,

but I quite like
the rustic berries.

Victoria sponge.

Dick: Despite Erin's
hard sell,

not everyone's biting.

At least it's thumb's up
from one of the chefs.

You like it?

Ah. Merci. Merci beaucoup.
Oh. Merci. Ha ha!

That was another compliment
from a French--

she used to work
in the chateau,

and her father used to be
the chef in the chateau

when it was an institute,
so that's a very big compliment.

She enjoys my cake,
so great.

Oui, oui, oui.

Dick: News spreads that
Erin's cake

is worth trying.

Woman: Merci bien.

Cake's going down well.

[Ding ding ding ding]

Dick: It's time to see what
the mayor and his wife think

of Erin and JB's renovations
so far.

Erin, voice-over: This is
the first time we've done

a real party here,

so it was really a pleasure
to show people

and have a genuine reaction
of "Oh! Wow!

Actually this looks nice."

JB, voice-over: People were
quite pleased to see

that again the doors
of the chateau were open.

We have plans.
This is gonna be open.

I think we got the seal
of approval today.

Yeah, I think we did.

Erin, voice-over: I think
today is definitely

a high point.

We've had our first booking
for a wedding.

Dick: That's fantastic news.

It looks like the events
business really is

up and running
at Chateau de Bourneau.

JB: We are now at a stage
when we can start

welcoming parties.

This is what this place
was made for.

Dick: Next time...

Take your throne, your highness.

Dick, voice-over: I let
Angel's dad Steve

loose on one of my toys...

Dick: Remember, far away.
Steve: Hang on.

Dick, voice-over: but he's
not digging it.

Steve: I'm not very successful
at the moment.

Dick: A couple explore
their latest chateau.

Look at this.
Look at the sheer size

of the thing.

Nicole: Wow. That's
beautiful, isn't it?

Dick: One owner gives
her chateau

a long overdue spring clean.

This has definitely
not been swept

since the 1860s.

Dick: And another pair gets
stuck into

their mammoth
renovation project.

Johnny: She's a bit like
the Terminator.

Put a tool in her hand,
and off she goes.