Escape to the Chateau DIY (2018–2021): Season 3, Episode 5 - Episode #3.5 - full transcript

Dick, voice-over:
I'm Dick Strawbridge,

and with my wife, Angel,
and our two children...

Arthur: Ha ha!
Dick: Don't crash!

Dick, voice-over:
...we're nearly 5 years
into our French adventure,

restoring this
once-abandoned chateau.

Dick: Got one! Ha ha!

Dick, voice-over:
It's been a lot of hard work...

Dick: Oh, that's heavy.

Dick, voice-over:
...but a lot of fun, too.

Dick: To family.
All: Family.

Dick, voice-over:
And all over France, there are
other intrepid British families



doing exactly the same.

Woman: I'm just randomly
drilling holes in the wall
at the moment.

Dick, voice-over:
Now Angel and I are once again

lending a hand
to other expat chateau owners.

Angel: That's working for me.
Billie: I love it!

Dick, voice-over:
We'll meet some new faces...

Alex: Ta-da!

Woman: Uh! Oh!

Dick, voice-over:
...and some old friends.

Woman: Ha ha.

Dick, voice-over:
And we'll reveal more

about our own chateau life.

No, monsieur Dick!

Angel: Ha ha!



Dick, voice-over: There will be
plenty of highs...

Angela: Yay!

Dick, voice-over: ...and lows.

Man: You can't ruin
the wedding meal

by eating outside in the rain.

Dick, voice-over:
But however hard it gets...

Angela: Whoa!

Dick, voice-over:
...they're all battling

to transform
these abandoned buildings...

Man: It's not the size
of the wine press that matters.

It's what you do with it.

Dick, voice-over:
...into extraordinary homes
and businesses...

Woman: This is wonderful.

Dick, voice-over:
...to live the dream

as custodians
of their very own castle.

Today rain stops play
for one plucky couple.

Hopefully it's just going
to blow through.

We're going to be
fashionably late,

as a bride should be.

Dick, voice-over: I recruit the
children to help in the garden.

Dick: We have to go
all the way...

all the way up to here.

Dick, voice-over:
...but Arthur has other ideas.

Arthur: Hey! Hey!
I can't see!

Dick, voice-over:
This couple are hoping
to finish their B&B suite

if the livestock will allow.

Amy: Stop it.
Pack it in!

Rebecca: No, no.

Dick, voice-over: And things
are reaching breaking point

for this overworked pair.

Rebecca: I'm so fed up
with this house.

Dick, voice-over: This
is the beautiful 24-room
Chateau de la Ruche

The lucky owners are
Lincolnshire couple
Tim and Rebecca

and their two sons.

[Laughter]

Dick, voice-over:
They've spent nearly two years

transforming
this once derelict building

into a beautiful B&B.

Rebecca: Most people when
they arrive are really excited

and love how it looks.

Tim: We both quite like
showing people around

because you get the reaction
for the first time.

Rebecca: It just makes it
all feel worthwhile really.

Dick, voice-over:
Located just 50 miles from us

in the Pays de la Loire region
in northwest France,

they've recently opened up
their third bedroom suite.

Rebecca: We've got quite a few

back-to-back bookings
over the summer actually,

so we're going to have
to get good at this.

Dick, voice-over: With bookings
now at an all-time high,

they've started renovating
the kitchen

to keep up
with the demand.

Tim: Oh!

Rebecca: I think
it will be a battle

that's ongoing
for a long time.

Dick, voice-over: And with
the help of Mrs. Strawbridge...

Angel: It's a bit of jazzy color
this one.

Dick, voice-over: Rebecca got
some creative money-saving tips.

Angle: Well done.

Rebecca:
It's definitely important

to have a fully functioning
kitchen.

It just make preparing
the meals for guests

so much easier
and much more efficient.

Dick, voice-over:
With a minimal budget to spend

on the whole
kitchen refurbishment,

to keep costs down...

Tim: Is that heavy?

Rebecca: It is quite heavy,
yeah.

Thanks for offering
to carry it.

Tim: No worries.

Dick, voice-over:
Instead of buying new cabinets,

they decided to just replace
the old doors.

Tim: I found them online
for £5 each,

which was a bit of a bargain.

So I managed to buy 4 doors
we needed

and ship them over to France

for about 2/3 of the price
of one door

that Rebecca was looking at
originally.

Dick, voice-over: However,
Tim's thriftiness hasn't been
a complete success.

Rebecca: They are gross.

They're just--There's nothing
to like about them.

Tim: Be cool with some
lovely handles to go on them.

Rebecca: Yeah, that will help.

It should be fine.
It should be fine.

And if it's not, we haven't
spent loads of money on them.

They're just not my taste,

so I'm hoping that
with a coat of paint,

they're going to look
a lot nicer.

But we shall see.

Dick, voice-over:
Keep the faith, Rebecca,

it's amazing how things
can look totally different

with a lick of paint.

Just ask Angel.

Rebecca: There's a lot of
the really interesting things
in the kitchen,

and these will just blend
into background.

Cool.

Tim:: I think that looks nice.
Rebecca: Yeah.

Should be all right.

I'll reserve judgment
on the final door...

Tim: Yeah?

Rebecca:
...until I see them all painted.

Tim: Cool.

Dick, voice-over: That sounds
like a cautious thumbs up to me.

These two may be
pinching the pennies,

but there's one thing
in the kitchen that Rebecca
won't compromise on.

Rebecca: Right. Uh, flat tops.
Tim: Yep.

For me, they need to be
super clean, super hygienic.

I wanted something
that is kind of bulletproof,

and I'm very glad that we found
a within-budget solution.

Dick, voice-over: Rebecca
splashed out £2,600
of their budget

on hard-wearing granite,

so Tim and live-in mate Dale
are measuring up.

Tim: I think if we just lift up,

we should be able
to just sit it.

Dale: There we go.

Tim: Are we happy with the
overhang and stuff like that?

Rebecca: I think so, yeah.

Tim: Yeah? So just literally
just go for that side.

Rebecca: Yeah, that side.

Getting these measurements right
is really important

because the granite
is expensive.

And I've been allowed it

because we've managed to find
somewhere online

that does it cheaply
if we measure it ourselves.

Which is slightly stressful

because obviously there's
no leeway in granite at all.

So that's why we bought
an inexpensive worktop,

and so we've actually got
a physical template

to make sure that the
measurements are exactly right

so that when the piece
of granite turns up,

we should just be able
to slot it in.

That's the theory.

Tim: So that's 60,
and these are 62.

Rebecca:
If you get this wrong...

Tim: To be honest,
if we do get them wrong

and it's a bit of granite,
it will be a world of pain.

Dick, voice-over: Let's hope
there aren't any hiccups.

90 miles south and a world away
from granite worktops

is the 19th-century beauty
Chateau la Grande Maison.

Sitting in 3 acres
of wooded grounds

on the banks of the River Dives,

it's home to musicians
Ben and Billie,

who have spent 8 years
renovating it

into a luxury guest house
and events business.

Billie: Living in a chateau
is definitely hard work.

it's not for the faint hearted.

You have to have
a big imagination

and a lot of energy.

When times get tough,
we just pinch ourselves

and remind ourselves
that we're so privileged
to be in a place like this.

Dick, voice-over: Located
close to the Loire Valley,

the couple are preparing for
the biggest event of the summer:

the wedding of Billie's brother,
Pete.

Billie: As soon as my brother
and his fiancee asked if they
could have the wedding here,

we didn't have to think twice.

We said yes.

I mean,
this place comes alive

when people fill it with love
and laughter and music.

I couldn't be happier.

Ben: It's the most important day
of their lives,

and to be asked to do it
was always an honor.

Dick, voice-over:
It's Saturday morning,

and with the wedding
in just two days' time,

preparations are underway.

Ben: Everyone feeling fit?
Getting strong?

Dick, voice-over: As some of
the guests have already arrived,

they've been roped into help,

and that includes
groom-to-be Pete,

who's been drafted in
to help stock the bar.

Ben: These on the bottom maybe.
Pete: Yes.

Ben: Heartbeat of a wedding,
the bar.

Some people say it's the church,
but...

Pete: The most important part
today, isn't it?

Ben: Yes, yes, I think.

Dick, voice-over:
With 60 guests

and all the pressure on the
chateau's electric that entails,

Ben needs to make sure
that fridges stay cold.

Ben: These electrics
are 7 feet off the ground,

which makes it a bit tricky
to work them,

I don't know why they put it
there, but they did anyway.

Dick, voice-over: As if things
weren't busy enough,

Ben and Billie are hosting
a pre-wedding barbecue
this evening.

Billie: I woke up this morning
and remembered,

oh, yeah,
house full of people,

oh, yeah, breakfast,

oh, yeah, massive list of jobs
for the wedding weekend.

[Yawns]

Lie in?
No. Not an option.

But really excited
because everyone's gathering

and we're starting
to see our family.

They're amazing because
they've all just mucked in
with all the jobs.

Ben: Yeah. Be great to have this
amount of staff all the time,

wouldn't it?

Be easy then.
Billie: It would, it would.

Dick, voice-over: With everyone
pulling their weight,

even bride-to-be Sam
has turned up to help.

And with just 4 hours
until the barbecue,

there's still plenty to do.

Ben: Well, I'm going to be ok
for the evening,

I don't know about
everyone else.

Lovely.
Billie: Cheers.

- Cheers.
- Cheers.

Billie: Darling, I want you
to have a nice rest.

There you go. Enjoy.

Dick, voice-over:
So with a well-stocked bar

and a house full of guests,
the barbecue can begin.

Pete: I think Ben's work
has paid off.

Sam: Yep, the celebrations
have begun.

The weather has been beautiful.

Pete: I'm excited.
Are you excited?

Sam: Really excited.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

- So hopefully everything is
going to go according to plan
on Monday.

Just a few days to go.

Ben: Cheers.
All: Cheers.

Dick, voice-over: But with the
wedding the day after tomorrow,

Ben and Billie can't afford
to rest on their laurels

as there's still masses to do
for the big day.

This is the stunning
medieval Chateau de Rosieres.

British writer Amy
and French Husband Mark
moved in a year ago

and have big plans
to turn this 13th-century gem

into a relaxation center
and holiday destination.

Amy: I'm really looking forward
to getting stuff into the actual
retreat center.

The luxury bed and breakfast
is fabulous,

but my passion is at starting
on some of those projects.

Dick, voice-over: Situated
an hour and a half's drive
from Lyon,

Amy and Mark have already
started to restore the chateau

back to its former glory.

Amy: Oh!

Dick, voice-over: Although
the continuing renovation work
during the winter

has somewhat tested
Amy's resolve.

Amy: I'm not doing
another winter like this.

We have come to some agreement
after some very calm discussions

that we will--ha ha!

That we will not live
in a building site again.

Mark: Amy's very good
at calm discussions.

Amy: Ha ha!

Dick, voice-over:
Their latest project

is the creation
of a luxury guest bedroom suite.

Having already sanded
the floor...

and stripped the old tiles
from the en-suite bathroom,

Amy's attention turns
to making a cabinet

for the double sink
they found in the barn.

That means up-cycling some old
and rather tired-looking doors.

Amy: I'm a tiny bit skeptical
about these actually

seeing them in the light.

Because they're
incredibly eaten,

but they're very pretty.

They're old, and they'll give it
a really rustic look in there.

Ah ha!

I'm going to sand them,
do some wood filler

I might treat the woodworm,

and then the fun bit will be
trying to bring them to life

with a bit of color.

[Blowing]

It's the detailed jobs that
give you the most satisfaction,

ones where you get to work
in the tiniest little bit
of a feature

and really bring it back to life
bit by bit by bit.

I think that's where I get
my satisfaction from.

Although demolishing large walls
is also pretty satisfying.

Dick, voice-over: I agree,
but you got to treat
the woodworm first.

Before applying a much-needed
woodworm treatment,

Amy needs to make sure the doors
are completely dust free.

Joey:[Honks]

Amy: Do you approve?
What do you think?

[Honking]

Dick, voice-over: Which she does
with a little help
from friend Joey.

Amy: Are you coming to help?
Come on, then.

Ha ha!

Ha ha!

She's nibbling my leg.
Ha ha!

Joey: [Honking]

Pack it in!

This is an over-amorous goose!
Ha ha!

Stop it!

Dick, voice-over: Is this what
we call a wild-goose chase?

Mark: So how's it going?
Amy: It's going very well.

I like doing it one-legged.

Joey's not helping hugely.

But I've nearly done
the woodworm treatment now.

[Laughing]

Dick, voice-over:
Well done, Amy!

A little bird tells me
you're doing a fantastic job.

At our place, we've tried hard
over the years

to make the most of what we have
at the chateau.

Dick: Fresh rhubarb.

Put it in for summers.
Here we go. Here we go.

I like it.

Dick, voice-over:
But it's not just about

growing your own fruit and veg.

Dick: Little peas.
Hello, ladies.

Dick, voice-over: We can't
get enough of our wildlife.

And that includes our own geese.

Angel and I find
the perfect home for them

in the 150-year-old piggery.

Angel:
Ah, god, it's magical.

But, baby, I thought you wanted
to live here when we argue.

Ha ha!

It is lovely, isn't it?

Dick, voice-over: After a spot
of D.I.Y. goose pen design...

Dick: A new take
on breaking and entering.

Dick, voice-over: ...we
transformed it into a palace

fit for the layers
of golden eggs.

I like it.

Dick, voice-over: Now our geese
have a roof over their heads,

I want to give them freedom
to run around.

Dick:
This is really exciting.

Dick, voice-over: And I've got
two small helpers.

Dick: They can't wait
to get out

because when they get outdoor
they can eat.

Arthur: What?
Dick: The grass.

Dick, voice-over:
But with hungry animals
hiding in the bushes,

I'm putting up an electric fence
to protect the geese.

Now, now, now, now.
How's this going to work?

You keep walking.
Keep walking.

No, no. Keep it like that.
Keep walking.

Oh, man!
Arthur: Oh, no!

Dick: It's quite a long way!
Keep going!

Arthur: Dad!
Dick: Yes?

Arthur: That's quite long!

Dick: I need you to help me.
We're not finished yet.

This is going to be the start.
There, how's that?

Arthur, can you pick up that one
and walk over there?

What's this fence for, Arthur?

Arthur: So animals
can't eat our geese.

Dick: It keeps them in,
but it also is going to
keep the foxes out.

That's important.

Dick, voice-over: I want
the children to help me with
the second roll of fencing.

However, that becomes
a physical challenge.

Arthur: Hey! Hey!
I can't see! Whoa!

Dick: Here we go,
another one to go out. Come on.

No, no. Go to your left.
Which side's your left?
That side.

Yes. Pull harder.

Well, this is the edge
of their cage, you see.

We have to go all the way,
all the way up to here.

The idea is this whole area,

we weren't sure if we kept them
in that short grass

because the geese will eat it.

So cheaper eggs, grass cut,
and you can eat them at the end.

Just balances out.

Look at this.
Look, here's our geese.

They can't believe their luck.

Look, the geese are so happy.
Look.

That's what we like.

Oh, look, they're eating
the grass, Arthur!

Dick, voice-over:
And if it means
I get free labor,

I don't mind who cuts the grass.

Just 50 miles away
at Chateau de la Ruche,

Tim and Rebecca's
granite worktops have arrived.

They've spent a big portion
of their budget on them,

so to save money,
they've decided to
install them themselves...

which has caused
a major problem

during the fitting
of the first piece.

Tim: It cracked.
Rebecca: Mmm. Yeah.

Tim: Well, then..

Rebecca: That is
a good afternoon's work.

Tim: I don't think
it looks too bad.

Rebecca: Mmm.

Dick, voice-over:
Although incredibly durable,

granite is made up of minerals
pressed together

that can fracture on natural
boundaries if not supported.

Tim: We have discovered
that if you drop the granite

or it pops on the floor,
they break

because we broke one.

Rebecca: No, no, no, no.
Tim: I broke one.

Rebecca: Thank you.

I managed to let go of it
at the wrong time,

and it fell over and broke.

Rebecca:
The most amusing thing was

that I kind of wasn't shocked
that it happened.

- It will be fine.
- Yeah.

Dick, voice-over:
Don't worry, chaps,

it's all part of the character.

With a bit of careful filling,
you won't even notice the break.

There are so many cracked and
chipped things in this house.

As long as it looks fine
and it's hygienic,

I'm kind of happy.

Dick, voice-over: Having broken
the first piece of granite,

to avoid it happening again,

Tim and Rebecca have rooked in
mate Dale

to help with
the next section.

Rebecca: You're doing
a brilliant job.

Ha ha!

Dick, voice-over: The plan this
time is to carry the granite
slab through the door

on a wooden frame
that Tim has built.

Tim: We going to put it
on the frame first to move it?

No, I think we move it--
Dale: Move it by hand.

Tim: Because it's in its strong
base at its strongest.

I actually have, like, anxiety
about this.

Dale: Ha ha!

Tim: Just pop it on there
and carry it around?

Rebecca: Yeah.

Tim:
Let's get this next to it,

and we'll carry it out,
and then we'll lie it down.

Dick, voice-over: The idea
is that the weight will be
evenly distributed.

Tim: So we've just got to try
and lift it.

Yeah.

Tim: Ready?
Dale: Yeah.

Tim: And go down.

And so I think
we just lie it down now.

Rebecca: Yeah?
Tim: Yeah.

1, 2, 3.

Right.

Dale: Hang on,
there's a big crack here. No.

Dick, voice-over: I'm not sure
this is the right time
for jokes, Dale.

Rebecca:
I'm acting as ballast.

Dale: I don't know what the fuss
was about. That was easy.

Tim: Leave it.

Dale: That's fine.
Rebecca: Can I move some--

Dale: Shall I go--
I'll go all the way around

so then it's at the right angle
to go in.

Ready?

Rebecca: Perfect. I'm
impressed with the frame.

I think that's made
a big difference.

It's still in one piece,
which is nice.

Dick, voice-over:
Tim's plan has worked...so far.

Tim: I'm going to go
and get the saw now.

This piece here, this kind of
diamond-shaped piece

is coming out.

Dick, voice-over: Tim plans to
cut out the hole for the hob,

which will be tricky

as this area is the weakest part
of the granite.

Rebecca: We need to get off
these blue things.

Tim: Yes, because the blue
things are holding the granite.

Rebecca: Ok.

Tim: Be careful doing this.
No, don't tear that one out.

Dick, voice-over: To do this,
they want to remove
all the wrapping.

Unfortunately most of it is
trapped between the worktop
and the wooden frame.

Rebecca: The plastic,
we need to get it out
from underneath it.

Tim: It's easiest
probably to tip it up.

So if me and Dale tip it
on one side...

Dale: And push it towards the
middle and then tip the other
side and pull it out, yeah.

Dick, voice-over:
This is a risky idea.

Tim: You with us?
Rebecca: Yes.

Tim: Are you sure?
You don't look like you're...

Rebecca: So you're going
to lift it up.

Tim: So we're going to slide it
across a little bit,

tip it up, anything that's along
that edge, just push down,

and we'll lie it
back down again,

slide it the other way,
tip it up.

Dick, voice-over:
Easy does it, chaps.

[Crack]

Rebecca: Ah!

No. No. Absolute no.

No. Argh.

Tim:
So the plan hasn't worked.

Dale: That surprised me
how easily that broke.

Tim: Mmm.

Rebecca: At least
that's the back edge.

Tim: It's not.
It's the whole thing.

Rebecca:
Has the front gone, too?

Jesus.

Can't we just cut the hole out.
We can move it in two pieces?

And we'll fix up the two.

Because we don't have a choice.

Oh, I just want to cry.

there will soon be tears
of a very different kind.

The big day has arrived.

Musicians and owners Billie
and Ben are hosting a wedding

for Billie's younger brother,
Pete, and fiancee Sam.

Billie: We're really excited.

Ben: Yeah, we're all in
very good shape.

We've been keeping an eye
on the weather

for the last sort of 10 days.

At the moment,
we're due rain first thing,

and then it should clear by the
time we're out to the church.

But you only need
the weather forecast

to be wrong
by a couple of hours,

and we could have a bit
of a problem.

We'll wait and see.

Billie: Everything is set up
to be outside.

So we're just hoping
that it's going to work.

It's a hard thing
to make a call on,

but, yeah,
hopefully be all right.

Dick, voice-over:
As final preparations
are being put in place

for the 60 wedding guests,

as predicted,
it started to rain,

although plans to eat al fresco
continue

as bride Sam gets ready.

Sam: Anxious but excited.

I just kind of want
to get it done now.

Um, yeah.

[Indistinct chatter]

Dick, voice-over:
Not even the rain

can put a damper
on the bride's mood.

Billie: The 3 muses.
Oh, beautiful.

Sam: Oh!

Billie: Oh, it's gorgeous,
absolutely gorgeous.

Dick, voice-over: However,
as the champagne is uncorked...

outside it's the heavens
that have opened.

It's not going to ruin
everything,

but it's slightly inconvenient
that it's now raining.

Hopefully it's just going
to blow through.

We can be fashionably late,
as a bride should be.

Dick, voice-over:
Luckily the local church

is just a 5-minute walk
from the chateau.

And as it continues
to rain outside...

the ceremony can begin.

Sam: I, Samantha
Elizabeth Johnston,

take you, Peter Joseph Godfry.

With my body I honor you,
all that I have I give to you.

Pete: Samantha,
I give you this ring

as a sign of our marriage.

Dick, voice-over:
Congratulations, Peter and Sam.

[Cheering]

Dick, voice-over:
And the rain,

which held off long enough for
a little confetti throwing...

son forces the wedding party

back into the shelter
of the church.

Billie: It's been more like
April showers,

but you know, we're in France,
we do get rain sometimes.

Dick, voice-over: With
the al fresco wedding meal
now in jeopardy,

all the wedding party can do
is wait.

At Chateau la Rosieres
in southeast France,

Amy and Mark are in the midst
of renovating

their first guest suite.

Amy's getting creative,

and like Mrs. Strawbridge
at our place,

has decided to design
her own tiles.

Amy:
This is my grand mural idea

for the back of the shower
in the fancy bedroom.

This is my rough idea
of the design.

So I'm currently doing
a full-scale version of it,

and then I'll trace it
and put it onto the tiles

and then paint them.

The problem is that the tiles,
paints, and firing

are extremely expensive.

I mean, each pot of paint
is worth about £12.

So I have to make sure
it's right before I do it.

Ha ha!

I've never done anything
like this before.

I hope it looks good

and not like a 5-year-old
did it.

Dick, voice-over: As the paint
changes color in extreme heat,

Amy's key to avoid
any expensive catastrophes...

Amy: I'm just setting
the program now.

Dick, voice-over: ...by testing
out a tile in a kiln

bought especially for the job.

Amy: I have worked out
all my colors.

I've painted
each one of my paints.

One layer, two layers,
one layer, two layers.

So I can see how many layers
I need to make it opaque.

I really hope it changes color,

but I hope that
it's the right colors.

I hope the colors don't
all bleed into each other,

and I hope the tile
doesn't melt.

Dick, voice-over:
I hope it doesn't melt, too.

While Amy perfects
her peacock painting skills,

work continues
in the guest bathroom

where Mark is installing
plaster board.

Mark: I'm going to put
a little piece of insulation

behind the toilet

just for the soundproofing so
that when we flush the toilet,

you can't hear it
on the other side.

The toilet drain is right
against the plaster board,

so I need to cut
a little space.

Uh! Whew!

Uh...

Amy!

Dick, voice-over: Mark soon
realizes that maneuvering
plaster board

is easier with two people.

Mark: Amy?

Amy: What do you need
my help with?

Mark:
I think you deserved it.

I'm going to pull it
from the top

and then need you to put
the little spacer underneath
in this corner.

Amy: Yeah.

[Drill whirring]

C'est tout?
You're a brave soul.

Mark: It could have gone
horribly wrong.

It didn't.

The finishing will be
to grab to the wall,

and I need to put some bonds
to join the plaster boards

and cover the screws.

Dick, voice-over:
Fully agree, Mark.

You have to tape the joints
before you plaster.

Amy's test tile is ready
to come out of the kiln

after 8 hours firing
and 12 hours cooling.

Amy:
It's all nice and cool...

and it's looking good.

Mark, come and see.

Mark: Oh, that's nice.

Amy: Aw, that's even better.

Oh, look, it matches
the hydrangeas.

I'm really pleased
with the colors,

the way that they've popped out.

I'm really happy that
I obviously don't need
an overglaze for it,

so it's all lovely and shiny
without that

because that would have been
a whole other level of, firstly,

technical ability
that I don't have.

I'm just going to draw
the drawing onto the tiles,

and then crack on paint it.

Mark: Good.

Amy: How long do you think
it will take me?

Mark: Couple of hours.

Amy: Couple of days.

Dick, voice-over:
Well done, Amy.

It's always best
to test things out first.

Just over 300 miles north,

Rebecca's dream kitchen
is causing her nightmares.

Rebecca: As tempting as it would
be to take a sledgehammer to it,

we can't.

Dick, voice-over:
The granite worktops,

which are the biggest cost
of the entire kitchen budget,

are at risk of
not being installed at all.

Rebecca:
I'm so fed up with this house!

Dick, voice-over:
The first job

is to work on how they can
support the cracked area

to stop damaging it
any further.

Rebecca: We need to put
something on the front there

to support it.

We'll fix it. We always do.
And it'll be fine.

It just takes longer.
It'll be fine.

Dick, voice-over:
And it looks like Tim
may have found a solution

by simply reusing
an old shelf bracket

to support the broken front edge
of the new worktop.

Dale: The flex you've got
is that way,

but that's not going to matter
when it's screwed in.

Dick, voice-over: Hopefully
this should solve the problem.

Tim: My confidence
is not high today,

so I'm pretty sure
something is going to go
catastrophically wrong.

Dale: I think the worst
has happened.

I think we're plain sighted.

Rebecca:
Oh, can I have a dog hug
to make me feel better?

Dick, voice-over: The big test
will be putting the worktop
into place.

Rebecca: You're all right.

Dick, voice-over: Here's hoping
they don't do anymore damage.

Dale: It needs to go that way
a tiny bit.

Tim: Ok, on 3.
1, 2, 3.

Dick, voice-over:
Fingers crossed it fits.

Perfect!

Tim:
I think it looks good.

In an ideal world it wouldn't
have another crack in it,

but all things considered,
I think it's all right.

Dick, voice-over:
Well done, matey.

Here's to the rest of
the kitchen renovations
going more smoothly.

Back in western France,
after a torrential downpour,

newlyweds Pete and Sam
and the wedding party

have made it back to
the Chateau's orangery
for the reception.

But hosts Ben and Billie

are still uncertain
about the likelihood

of having the wedding breakfast
in the marquee outside.

Ben: Well, we're going to get
a few volunteers,

dry the places,
dry up the seats.

Ok, now it will stop raining.

Dick, voice-over:
Let's hope so.

It's now 1:00, and the meal
is due to be served at 2:30.

Ben: We're going
to put the sides on

because it's still letting out.

And we're hoping as soon
as we puts the sides on,

the sun will come out.

Dick, voice-over:
It will take a bit more
than soggy French weather

to dampen the spirits
of this lot.

Woman: Slightly aside.

Say cheesey!

All: [Cheering]

Billie: It's great! I feel like
I'm wearing two hats today

because I'm kind of part guest
and part host,

so this half of me
has a glass of wine,

this half is business only.

Dick, voice-over:
2:30 has arrived,

and with the rain holding off,
Ben makes an executive decision.

Ben: Come on,
take all the sides off.

I think it's going to be fine.
Let's hope so.

There's a bit gray sky around,
bit of blue sky.

It's a go.

Dick, voice-over: So with
the rain finally stopping,

the sun begins to smile

as the guests take their seats
for the wedding celebrations.

Pete: Massive thanks
for these two, Billie and Ben,

because this is their place,
they hosted us.

We obviously got mate's rate.

[Laughter]

And there's a bouquet
of flowers.

[Applause]

Billie: I've got
a new sister-in-law, Sam.

She's absolutely wonderful.

It was an absolute honor to host
the wedding for my brother.

It was really, really special,
really personal,

and very emotional

It was a really
special, special occasion.

Pete:
My best friend, come on!

Woman:
The venue is stunning.

Well, what is there
not to like about the venue?

It's just absolutely amazing.

Sam: It is all beautiful,
and it's just made the day.

So huge thanks
to Billie and Ben
for everything they've done

because it was just fantastic.

[Music playing]

Dick, voice-over:
Congratulations!

Mother Nature threw you
a few curve balls,

but that was a good job.

Well done.

[Cheering]

Dick, voice-over: Ben and Billie
have had a busy 6 months.

Angel: Let's just take
that corner off

and put this back on.

Dick, voice-over:
With a little help from Angel...

Angel: Lovely.
Dick, voice-over:
...and myself...

This is a big old bill!

Dick, voice-over: ...they've
turned an old storeroom

into a wonderful library
for book club events.

Next on the to-do list
for this busy pair

is restoring their boat house.

With people
already showing interest
in their book club events

and with a busy upcoming year,

it's clear chateau life
suits Ben and Billie.

Billie: Oh, I need that.

After 8 years,
we've come so far.

We work hard,
but we're all here together.

That's really, really special,

and it just gets better
and better, doesn't it?

Ben: Yeah.

Dick, voice-over:
In southeast France,

work on Amy and Mark's
guest suite is almost complete.

Mark: Beautiful.
Amy: Beautiful.

Dick, voice-over: The final job
is the installation

of specially produced
hand-painted fabric panels,

designed to capture
the exotic places

Amy and Mark
have visited together.

Amy: The last panel
is the one that goes
over the bathroom door,

and so it's done in two pieces,

and the idea is
to make the bathroom door
look like a secret door.

Mark: Oh, no...

Amy: Can we get them up...

Dick, voice-over:
As it's quite a fiddly job,

Amy calls on neighbors
Didier and Sonya

to give a helping hand.

Amy: Can you see
exactly where the one--

Only the bamboo is important.

The problem is
trying to marry up

the small piece
with the big piece.

The next thing we have to do
is cut the door section out,

so it's quite critical
that we get this bit right.

Because if we cut it
and then change our minds...

Dick, voice-over: With
the fabric finally lined up,

it's time to cut out the hole
for the bathroom door.

Mark: Amy?
Amy: I can't watch you.

I'm not watching.

Mark: One.

Amy: It's not straight, Mark.
It's on the wonk.

Mark: I know it.
Amy: No, no, the other way.

Dick, voice-over: Leaving
the boys to get things back
on the straight and narrow,

Amy checks on her painted tiles
for the shower

that have been firing
in the kiln.

Amy: They're only the second lot
I've done.

Each tile has taken me between
1 1/2 and 3 hours to paint,

so if it didn't go well,
it's a bit sad for me.

This has been
such a long process.

It took me a week just to
transfer the pattern
onto the new tiles.

Yes, that's there.

Oh, ho, ho!

Now for the peacock's foot.

That looks all right.

The idea is that it looks like
sort of a stained-glass window.

Could you help me
by putting these around,

especially around that side.

Mark: Beautiful.
Amy: They are, aren't they?

- Not bad.
- Beautiful.

That's before firing,
and that's after.

I was a bit concerned
when I first did it

that they looked really
kind of wimpy, the colors.

but they're really nice.

I would love to have
had these up on the wall
in the shower today,

but I know I can do it,
I know it's going to look great.

And I just have to be
a bit patient.

Dick, voice-over: They do say
patience is a virtue,

but while waiting to complete
the bathroom mural,

Amy and Mark have time
to finish off the guest bedroom.

Amy: When Mark finds birds
that have been hit by a car
or hit a window,

he gets them stuffed.

Dick, voice-over:
6 months ago,

this room was dated,
dark, and dingy.

Now it's been brought to life

with beautiful
hand-painted fabric panels...

a delicate lace bed canopy,
and lovely antique furniture

transforming it
into a luxury tropical oasis

ready for guests.

Amy: Oh, it's just so lovely.

I just feel like
sitting in here forever

and staring at it.

Dick, voice-over: This
bathroom may still be waiting

for its peacock mural,

but this once-outdated room
is now a bright, beautifully
painted en-suite

with reclaimed marble sink

and up-cycled
rusted cabinets doors

found in their very own barn.

Amy: I'm really pleased
with this marble top.

It was never something
I would have chosen,

but it just goes so well.

It's so bright.

This whole are
is just delightful.

Dick, voice-over:
You've had an amazing 9 months.

As well as the suite,

you started your massive
eco-friendly sewage system.

Amy: The sewage system
was really impressive.

That was a huge learning curve.

Dick, voice-over: And even
discovered and restored
a medieval fireplace.

Amy: We need to finish
the bathroom,

and then next year we'd like to
open it up for luxury weekends.

Dick, voice-over: Mark and Amy
plan to open a yoga retreat

in the not-too-distant future.

They've plenty more ideas
for this wonderful house.

Amy: We've got the yoga barn,

We want to do a meditation
platform up in the forest.

We need to do the cafe
and the coach house.

Mark: We are now
going to sleep for a week.

Amy: Ha ha!

Dick, voice-over:
Better get that sleep now

as before the arrival
of their first holiday guests,

there's another much more
important arrival on the way.

Amy: We worked and worked
and worked through the winter.

And then I fell pregnant,
and so that has been
completely terrifying.

We've gone from
relying on each other

to him having to do everything.

Dick, voice-over:
Congratulations.

But don't forget
to keep smiling.

300 miles away
at Tim and Rebecca's,

the new kitchen is complete.

All that's left to do now
is a few finishing touches.

Tim: I think the kitchen
is as close to done
as it's going to get.

There's probably
a few little bits and pieces.

I'm sure Rebecca will find some
bits and pieces that need doing.

Like we've got some extra lights
and stuff to put up,

but I'm also making a big mess
upstairs and taking floors up,

so I'm saving that up
for when I've really
got nothing else to do.

Dick, voice-over:
Rebecca, meanwhile,
is putting to good use

those personalized
tea towels.

And is already reaping
the benefits of their
much bigger kitchen.

Rebecca: It's amazing
for the business

because it just means that
everyone is now out of here

so I can get on and cook

without people being in my face
the whole time

and us juggling the renovations
of the kitchen

with trying to feed everyone
in the chateau,

and it's much easier
to keep clean.

It's just much more organized,
everything works.

It's made a huge difference.

Dick, voice-over: When
they moved in two years ago,

the kitchen was spread
over two adjacent rooms.

Now on just a shoestring budget
it's been transformed

into a stylish and elegant one

that will serve as
their guest suite brilliantly.

By doing
all the work themselves,

they've saved a fortune.

Rebecca: I'm so, so pleased
with how it turned out.

It's been a bit of a journey,
but we've gotten to the end,

and it's kind of better
than I imagined it would be.

Tim: It is as per the first
drawing we did of the kitchen...

Rebecca: Yeah.

Tim: ...a month after
we arrived here,

so it's a plan
that has come to fruition.

Rebecca: Yeah.

Tim: Like it?
Rebecca: Yes. New kitchen.

Tim: Cheers.
Rebecca: Very nice.

Tim:
I think it looks very nice.

Rebecca: Yeah.

Dick, voice-over:
And with some resin,

they've even managed
to do a great job

of fixing up the cracks
on the granite worktops.

Tim: I think the granite
looks lovely.

It finishes it off, really.

Rebecca: It does, yeah,
and it part of the story

and a part of the journey
of the kitchen.

Dick, voice-over:
In the last 7 months,

Tim and Rebecca have made
huge strides forward,

from struggling financially and
fearing a return to the U.K...

Rebecca: It's survival mode.

We're kind of eking things out

to get us through
to next spring.

Dick, voice-over: ...to being
booked up all summer.

Rebecca: Hello! Ha ha!

Dick, voice-over: They've also
added a family guest suite,

which will help increase
their income.

Tim: We're definitely happy

that we've managed
to do the work on the house

and the business is working,
so, yeah, the plan is working.

Dick, voice-over:
They've done a great job,

and are working on renovating
more rooms

and having even bigger projects
in mind.

Tim: Turning one of
our outbuildings into a gite.

There won't be
any granite worktops.

- No, there won't.
- Yeah.

Dick, voice-over: Next week,
a whole new bunch of intrepid
chateau owners get to work.

- Oh!
- Ha ha!

Dick, voice-over:
There are some curious findings

for one chateau owner..

- No way! Giant Mushrooms!
Ha ha!

Dick, voice-over: At our place
I save a few pennies...

Cheap as chips.

Dick, voice-over: ...to light up
Angela's work room.

- That's it. Done, isn't it?
- Yeah.

Dick, voice-over: Another couple
make the most of the gorgeous
French weather...

Man: Here's the pool,
here's the solar farm,

here's the sun.

Woman: Wow! It's so hot!
That's too hot.

Dick, voice-over: And one
busy pair have a smashing time.

[Crash]

Woman: Ah!

Uh-oh. Ha ha!