Escape to the Chateau DIY (2018–2021): Season 5, Episode 6 - Episode #5.6 - full transcript
Dick, voice-over:
I'm Dick Strawbridge.
Along with my wife Angel
and our two children...
Boy: Welcome aboard, mateys!
Dick, voice-over:
we're now 5 years...
Angel: Whoo!
Dick, voice-over: into restoring
this once-abandoned chateau.
Angel: This is beautiful.
Dick, voice-over: It's brought
its challenges...
[Crash]
[Angel screams]
Dick, voice-over:
And some amazing rewards.
Angel: Thank you for my
flower garden, Mr. Strawbridge.
Dick, voice-over: And across
France, there are
dozens of other Brits
who are on their own
chateau adventure.
Woman: Yay!
Dick, voice-over: We'll meet
some old friends...
Woman: Smile!
Man: I am.
Dick, voice-over: and new faces.
Man: These rooms really haven't
been touched in 60 years.
Dick, voice-over:
And we'll reveal more
about our own chateau life.
Angel: It is so much better
in real life.
Dick, voice-over:
There'll be highs...
Woman: Yay!
Dick, voice-over: and lows...
Man: Oh, no!
Woman: Oh!
Man: God, what a disaster!
Dick, voice-over:
as these plucky Brits...
Woman: Time is money.
[Clattering]
Dick, voice-over: transform
these once-unloved buildings
into incredible homes...
Woman: I just cannot believe
how much work you put in
for us.
Dick, voice-over:
as well as businesses...
[People cheering]
Dick, voice-over:
and get to live the dream
as custodians of their
very own castle.
Woman: Cheers, everybody!
Dick, voice-over: Today...
Woman: Oh, my goodness.
Man: Look.
Dick, voice-over: New
chateau owners
take on more than
they bargained for.
Woman: OK, there's a lot to do.
[Laughs]
Dick, voice-over:
I do some dinosaur DIY.
Dick: Why don't we give him
a robot leg
that's maybe a metal leg
like that?
Dick, voice-over: But Arthur
questions my ability.
Arthur: Daddy, I like it,
but I don't want it
to fall apart.
Dick, voice-over: One couple
have a mountain to climb.
Woman: We need to do
a lot of restoration work.
Fix everything up, reupholster,
paint everything.
Gosh. Actually,
we're not quite done.
[Laughter]
Man: No. As you're talking,
I'm like,
are we--are we in the same room?
[Laughs]
Dick, voice-over:
And at another chateau...
Woman: Don't panic, but...
Woman 2: You're going.
Dick, voice-over: The wedding
hostess goes into labor.
Woman: Feels like
I'm getting a contraction.
Dick, voice-over:
Last year alone,
some 8,000 Brits
bought properties
such as chateaus in France.
Turning them into dream homes
is a tremendous commitment,
but as we know, it can be
immensely rewarding.
This beauty is
Chateau Gonneville.
Set in 15 acres of grounds
with 16 rooms
and 4 outbuildings,
it's now home to
fashion designer Anna
and her Italian
filmmaker husband Philipp
along with daughters
Lily and Ella.
Anna: Philipp woke me up
and was like,
"I've had an epiphany.
"I think we need
to sell our house
"and buy a chateau
and make it into, like a bed
and breakfast, wedding venue."
I was like...
"Oh, yeah, actually,
that's a great idea," you know?
Philipp: It was exactly
the same feeling she had
when she met me.
Regretted it much later.
[Laughter]
Dick, voice-over: Having lived
together in and around Paris
for 7 years, the couple
have put their careers on hold
to trade city life
for country life.
Anna: For me,
it's like returning
to what I had as a child.
Apart from the chateau,
the lifestyle in the countryside
is not something
completely foreign.
Like, I experienced that
when I grew up,
and that's kind of what
I want for my girls,
so, I think it's
gonna be brilliant.
I think it'll be just...
Philipp: Yeah.
Anna: A dream life.
Dick, voice-over:
Located in Normandy,
over 100 miles from Paris,
they've sunk all their money
into buying this chateau
for 900,000 pounds,
and had to negotiate a loan
for almost half of it.
Philipp: We paid more than
we originally intended to,
so, we used most of
our renovation budget
to buy it.
Dick, voice-over:
After 6 months of waiting,
they finally got the keys,
but with a massive loan
to pay back
and plans to give up work,
there's a lot at stake.
[Indistinct chatter]
Dick, voice-over:
Anna's parents Jenny and John
have come over from the U.K.
to see what Anna and Philipp
have bought into.
Jenny: It's so gorgeous.
Oh, my goodness.
John: It looks lovely.
[Jenny laughs]
Philipp: For me, it's not
an additional pressure.
Actually, it's good,
because I know that my
father-in-law is
an excellent gardener
and he doesn't know yet how much
work will await for him,
and that I really intend
to make him work.
Anna: Dad, have you noticed
the state of the shutters?
John: Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Jenny: There you are, John.
That's your job.
Anna: Shall we go in?
Jenny: Let's.
Anna: Come on, then.
OK, side door,
'cause there's no lock on
the front door.
Dick, voice-over:
Anna hasn't been inside
since her last viewing
7 months ago.
Philipp: ...the chateau.
Anna: You ready?
[Jenny laughs]
Anna: Yeah.
[Anna gasps]
Oh, my goodness.
OK, there's a lot to do.
[Laughter]
Anna: This is the kitchen.
Jenny: Good space.
Anna: I fell in love
with the windows and it's--like,
there's so much light in here.
Dick, voice-over:
The plan is to open as a B&B
in 10 months' time,
and use this kitchen to cater.
It's one of 6
ground-floor rooms,
including a breakfast room
and salon.
They all need a lot of work.
Philipp: Where is it?
Will you show me?
Where do we have to go?
Lily: Upstairs.
Philipp: Upstairs?
Dick, voice-over: Two floors up,
the attic space
will become
the family apartment.
Anna: Which one's
your room, Lily?
Which one do you want?
Is it this one?
Yeah? Aww.
This is--
oh, wow, that's a real
princess bed.
Philipp: Definitely
a princess bed.
Jenny: Yeah.
There we are.
Anna: Ella, I think you're
gonna have the other room then.
Dick, voice-over:
Then it's into what will be
the master bedroom.
Anna: Actually, it doesn't look
too bad in here, does it?
Philipp: No, this...
Anna: The paintwork
and everything is OK.
Philipp: This looks the best.
Anna: Yeah.
Philipp: That's why it's
gonna be our room.
[Laughter]
Philipp: Yeah, that's our room.
Anna: I think we'll have
the bed here
with the chimney
and then the windows.
Jenny: Oh, lovely.
Where does that go?
Philipp: That's the bathroom.
Yeah.
[Anna laughs]
[Indistinct chatter]
Jenny: Cozy.
Anna: Yeah, but
I--we've seen that there is...
Jenny: Oh.
Anna: quite a big space there,
so, I think what we're
gonna do is...
Jenny: Knock that out.
Anna: Yeah.
Dick, voice-over:
Anna and Philipp certainly have
a vision for the attic.
As well as creating 4 bedrooms,
they also have their sights set
on the tallest
corner of the house.
Anna: This is the attic space
that we're gonna turn into
our living space.
So, we'll start with that part
to begin with,
and then once we've got
the money at some point,
so, that will be stage two
of the project.
Dick, voice-over: It's not only
the attic that requires work.
To bring in an income,
they plan to open it
as a B&B by next spring--
a tall order when the whole
first floor needs renovating.
Philipp: This is
the electrical installation...
John: Ah...
Philipp: After the newest
French style.
[John laughs]
Dick, voice-over: Despite
no practical experience,
Philipp has decided to work on
the electrics himself.
Philipp: I spent the last two
months basically researching
on how to--how to do
an electrical system,
and I went online and started
electrical installation.
What could possibly go wrong?
Dick, voice-over:
There's a fair bit, matey.
John: It has a lot
of potential.
It looks to be
a massive undertaking
and a lot of time
and a lot of money, but
maybe I'm just a little bit
older and more skeptical.
Anna: I can't wait
to get started.
Philipp: Yeah.
Dick, voice-over:
Well, good luck.
It's a gigantic project.
Jenny: We're very proud.
We've very proud of Anna
but we're also very proud
of Philipp as well,
because it is very much
a joint project for them.
John: It's not an easy
option, is it?
Jenny: It isn't an easy option,
and--but it's
very much about their lifestyle
and their family life,
so, you know, we're very hopeful
that it's going to have
a really good outcome.
Anna: Shall we have
some champagne?
Philipp: Yeah, it's probably
the last bottle
we can afford, anyways,
for a long time.
Thank you.
Lily: Mama,
if we drink champagne,
we get tipsy.
[Jenny laughs]
Anna: I think it's OK for today.
Philipp: Cheers, my love.
Anna: Cheers, Dad.
Philipp: Cheers, Dad.
Anna: Thank you for coming.
Philipp: And thank you so much
for coming.
Anna: Thank you.
Philipp: And thank you
for all the months
that you will spend here.
[Jenny laughs]
Dick, voice-over:
Yes, I think you two
are going to need
all the help you can get
with this undertaking.
Just under 100 miles away
at our place...
Dick: What does the monkey say?
Arthur: Arrr!
[Laughter]
Dick, voice-over:
We've spent the last 5 years
making sure that our children--
Arthur and Dorothy--
have a magical upbringing,
chateau-style.
Angel: I want to Dick to build
a helter-skelter.
I'm gonna tell him and he's
gonna [softly] go nuts. [Laughs]
[Drill whirring]
Dick, voice-over:
It's important for us
not to forget the children
while busy renovating...
and sometimes, that has meant
making time for
the little DIY jobs.
Arthur: ...bite his leg off.
Dick: A dinosaur bit
his leg off?
Arthur: Yeah.
Dick, voice-over:
Humphrey the T. Rex
was Arthur's most
treasured possession,
and after a run-in with a door,
he ended up with a missing foot.
Dick: We got a choice.
Put him a wooden leg on,
'cause we want him
to stand up, don't we?
Dick, voice-over: Arthur
doesn't look convinced.
Dick: I was thinking,
why don't we
give him a robot leg that's
maybe a metal leg like that?
Arthur: Yeah.
Dick: Or that's
an old piece of mechano.
It's an old bridge.
We can use some of
the bits of metal.
Arthur: Daddy, I like it, but
I don't want it to fall apart.
Dick, voice-over: I've done up
a chateau, Arthur.
Trust me!
It won't fall apart.
Arthur: No.
I'm not going to use it.
And I'm gonna use
a bit of [indistinct].
Then I'm gonna put
the same size [indistinct]
and then it can make a leg!
Dick: Right. OK.
See this hole here?
We'll put a screw in there.
It could be peg leg.
[Drill whirring]
Now look at his foot.
He's standing up.
Arthur: I know.
Dick: We could give him a foot
if you want to give him a foot.
I'll give him--we'll give him
a piece of wood for a foot
Arthur: No.
Dick: Oh.
Well--ahh.
How about
that for a foot?
That looks pretty good,
doesn't it?
[Drill whirring]
Arthur: It's just like
Captain Hook.
Dick: It is a bit like
Captain Hook, isn't it?
Arthur: Yeah.
Dick: Look at that!
So, we got a repaired dinosaur.
Arthur: Yeah.
Dick: One repaired dinosaur.
[Arthur growling]
Dick: Well done.
Well done.
He's fixed.
Another victory.
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Well done, big boy.
Dick, voice-over:
Well, no two chateau days
are ever the same,
and clearly, no DIY job
is too small.
260 miles south is the elegant
18th-century
Chateau de Lomenie,
a former winery sitting in
15 acres of land
and boasting 21 rooms.
It was snapped up
for 412,000 pounds
18 months ago by
London artist Johnny
and his American partner Ashley,
who works in TV.
Ashley: As soon as we walked
in here, we just--we knew.
There are just so many different
things that we could do
with--with the space
that, I mean,
it was love at first sight.
[Johnny laughs]
Ashley: Wasn't it?
Johnny: Yeah, it's true.
I feel I'm living
the absolute dream.
I've got my babe next to me,
I've got the chateau
that we live in,
I've got the animals
that I care and love for,
and I can work where I live.
I can't ask for anything
more than that.
Dick, voice-over:
Located 40 miles southeast
of Bordeaux,
they spent last summer creating
an al fresco dining room
in the carriage house...
Ashley: I adore this room
so much.
Johnny: It's a beautiful place.
Dick, voice-over:
and they started renovating
the library, but
everything came to a halt
as Ashley had to
go away for work.
Ashley: This year,
I've managed my work schedule
so that even though
money's coming in from work,
I don't have to be gone
as often,
and so, this is the year
to finish everything.
I'm gonna be here
all summer, so,
there's really kind of
nothing stopping us.
And the goal is to have
the chateau make some money
so that I don't
have to always be gone.
Dick, voice-over:
Now the couple are determined
to run the chateau as a business
to ensure Ashley can
stop working abroad.
They plan to turn an outbuilding
into an art gallery for Johnny
and the orangery into
an antiques emporium
for Ashley.
Ashley: My plan
for the antique shop,
it's gonna be a place
where people can come,
they can have a cup of tea,
a cup of coffee,
and they can sit on chairs
that are for sale.
They can drink from little
teacups that are for sale.
So, essentially,
everything's for sale.
Johnny: What we'd love
to do is to have
the gallery
and the antique emporium
decorated, up and running,
bringing clients in
by mid-July, the latest.
Ashley: Come on, Abernathy.
Dick, voice-over: Johnny's
self-imposed 3-month deadline
is a big challenge, so, today,
they're making a start
on the emporium project.
Ashley: I want to do this one.
Dick, voice-over: They've
collected hundreds of antiques
that have sat idle
in an outbuilding.
First to go in the orangery
are the tables and chairs.
Ashley: Oh, here's another one.
Johnny: [Indistinct] that one.
Ashley: Yeah.
Johnny: Dainty, huh?
Ashley: Yeah, I think
these'll be good.
Johnny: So, it doesn't matter
if they're
an eclectic mix, right?
Ashley: No, I want
an eclectic mix.
Johnny: Sure.
Treasures, Ashley.
Ashley: Treasures. Yeah.
Johnny: Treasures.
Dick, voice-over:
Despite having no windows
and left open to the elements,
Johnny and Ashley
are confident the orangery
is the right setting
for the emporium.
Johnny: It's gonna look
wonderful, but
at the moment, it's looking
really bizarre.
Ashley: I know.
Johnny: I quite like that.
It's like an empty attic.
This is...
Ashley: But I can--
I have a vision for it.
Johnny: No, I know, sweet,
I know, but what I'm saying is
it's like someone's died
and just walked away...
Ashley: Yes. OK.
Johnny: Just looking forward,
there's quite a lot of work...
Ashley: Yeah, I know.
Johnny: Particularly for you.
You want to do
the chairs, right?
Ashley: Yes. Yeah.
Johnny: Stuff like this.
That's the thing.
You can easily
get distracted, right?
Start looking, pulling.
Ashley: Oh, yeah.
Johnny: OK.
We'll peel that off.
Ashley: OK. All right.
Uh, le boudoir.
Johnny: Le boudoir? OK.
Ashley: Yeah.
Ashley: The sign comes from
an old lingerie shop
in Paris called Le Boudoir,
and so, I definitely
want to hang this
on one of the walls, 'cause
I just love the sign.
[Crashing]
Oh--oh, oh!
[Johnny sighs]
Dick, voice-over: Everything
in the emporium
is meant to be for sale,
but Johnny's having
second thoughts.
Johnny: To part with that
would be difficult for me,
because I just love it,
because it's unique,
because of the curve
and the writing, the signage.
Ashley: But for the right price,
I would sell.
Johnny: For the right--yeah,
that's the thing.
For the right price.
Ashley: The chateau is
not cheap to run,
so, at some point,
we have to make money.
Johnny: A catch-22.
Ashley: Yeah.
Dick, voice-over: Seems like
Ashley has the head
for business
and Johnny's the dreamer.
Johnny: Imagine someone
sitting here...
Ashley: Yeah.
Having their little coffee.
Johnny: And they're
just, like, beholding
the artwork, et cetera.
How awesome is that?
Ashley: I know.
Johnny: And they say,
"You know what? I love that.
Let's buy that, too."
And I'm like, "No,"
and Ashley's like, "Yes."
[Laughter]
Johnny: We're not gonna sell
anything, are we?
[Laughter]
Dick, voice-over:
Well, that wasn't
the business plan, Johnny.
Ashley: We brought most of
the big pieces in.
Now we need to do
a lot of restoration work.
Fix everything up, reupholster,
paint everything.
And then at that point,
we have to build--ha ha!--
build some tables,
bring some armoires in.
Gosh. Actually,
we're not quite done.
[Johnny laughs] No.
As you're talking,
I'm like, "Are we--are we
in the same room?"
[Laughter]
Dick, voice-over: You're
certainly a long way from
being done, if you're planning
to open the emporium
in 3 months' time.
In an old vineyard
in southwest France
is the palatial 15th-century
Chateau Lagorce.
Once the residence of some of
the region's top wine producers,
this 22-bedroom palace
with a pool and its own chapel
is home to Brit Edward...
Edward: Good.
his [indistinct] wife Anna,
and their son Charles.
Edward's parents bought
the chateau 16 years ago,
and now Anna and Edward run it
as a wedding venue.
Edward: We feel very proud to--
and privileged to live here.
We've done a lot of work
at the place as a family
and we've got our own
piece of history now.
Anna: Something gets
out the door,
something gets changed, and it's
better and better all the time.
Dick, voice-over: Located in
Haux, just outside Bordeaux,
when we met them last time,
Anna was heavily pregnant,
so, Edward took over her job,
running the first wedding
of the season.
Edward: We can't ruin
the wedding meal
by eating outside in the rain,
and it quite clearly
will be in the rain.
Dick, voice-over:
Now a couple of months later,
it's their 20th wedding
of the summer.
Whilst Edward may have
learned the ropes,
there's another added pressure
to contend with.
Edward: Anna is due tomorrow,
and we also have a really big
wedding on tomorrow,
so, it's gonna be
an interesting day.
Anna: Tomorrow, I hope to
deliver two successful events.
First the wedding and after,
hospital and the baby.
Edward: Yeah.
Anna: And in
that order, ideally.
Dick, voice-over: Wow, Anna.
That is commitment.
A new dawn, and it's
the wedding day
for Bristol couple
Natalie and Chris.
Preparations are in full swing.
[Hair dryer blowing]
Woman: Should I put the confetti
into it
so it'll look pretty?
Woman: Yeah.
Really, really plush.
Dick, voice-over: The day
might only be getting started,
but Anna and Edward have already
had an eventful night.
Anna: Last night, we--
we thought we were
ready to go to the hospital.
Contraction lasted about
35 to 40 minutes
and they were quite close,
so, we were like,
pretty much, OK, ready,
we're gonna go, and then
they stopped. Relief.
Dick, voice-over: Despite
Anna's restless night,
she's determined to keep
everything on course.
Anna: Edward knows me
too well that
even if he says I have to--
I have to go and sit down,
I won't do it.
I have to get things
like I want them to be
and then I'll be able to--
to rest and to continue.
Edward: I'm trying my best to
help her out with the wedding,
but there's really nothing I can
do about the contractions.
Just keep my eye on her,
make sure she sits down
a little bit as well
and have something to drink,
but apart from that, I do feel
a little bit useless
on that front.
Dick, voice-over:
But one job Edward can do
is look after the bridal party.
Edward: Hey, girls.
Somebody said you were thirsty.
Woman: There we go.
Bubble time. [Laughs]
Woman 2: We can't drink
champagne from wine glasses.
I'm so sorry, girls, but
that is not happening.
Edward: I'll go grab
some wine glasses.
Don't worry.
Women: Champagne.
Edward: Champagne.
Dick, voice-over: While Edward
gets the right glasses...
outside, groom Chris is having
a photo opportunity
with his two sons.
Chris: I'm feeling
slightly--yeah, buzzing.
Buzzing.
Been a long time coming.
Dick, voice-over: While bride
Natalie has her makeup done.
Natalie: You can't eat.
You won't get in your dress.
[Laughter]
Natalie: I'm feeling
really good, actually.
I'm not nervous.
Feeling good.
Dick, voice-over: Amazingly,
Anna is still busy
making sure everything
is on schedule.
Anna: [Indistinct].
Woman: Right.
Anna: They'll be here
just before 3 anyway.
Woman: OK.
Man: So, they're being
picked up 2:45.
Anna: 2:45 they're
being picked up.
Dick, voice-over: It's all cool,
but for Edward,
there's always time
to check on Anna.
Edward: How are you feeling
[indistinct]?
Anna: I've been getting
a few contractions.
Edward: You need to
take it slow, yeah?
Once we get this sorted,
have a sit-down for
a little while, OK?
Anna: I will.
Dick, voice-over: Upstairs,
the bride is blissfully unaware
of the contractions drama
behind the scenes.
Natalie: When I arrived,
I had a shock
when I seen Anna was pregnant,
and she said, "Don't panic,
but I'm due today or tomorrow."
I didn't panic 'cause she--
I know that she would have had
everything perfect in place.
Anna: I haven't had my chance
to take a rest yet,
but I'm hoping, like,
once the ceremony starts,
I'll be able to.
Dick, voice-over:
I hope so, too.
Anna: What would you like,
my sweet?
Dick, voice-over: But with
the wedding just about to start,
determined Anna is still
at her post.
Anna: We're going down
in literally 5 minutes
and no glasses down there.
Edward: I'm a little worried
about Anna at this stage
because this is typical Anna.
It's busy, you know, and Anna
just jumps in on everything
and starts
doing everything for everybody.
She needs to just stop
a little bit,
so, we'll try
and get her to slow down.
Anna: We just over--I'm good.
Woman: [Indistinct].
Man: Can we ask you
over the next 5 minutes
to move from this center area
back to where the service
is gonna be held.
Dick, voice-over: As the wedding
party makes its way
onto the lawn for the ceremony,
Anna finally gets
a chance to sit down.
Anna: Feels like I'm getting
a contraction.
Dick, voice-over:
Almost 30 miles away,
there's not so much pressure
on Johnny and Ashley.
Today, they've come to
their local haberdashers
to buy material to upcycle
some of their antiques
for the emporium.
Ashley: I'm looking for linen.
Johnny: Linen.
Ashley: Linen.
Love this one.
That's really nice.
Of course, I got
the most expensive one.
Dick, voice-over:
At 23 euros a meter,
that's around 20 pounds.
Just make sure
you don't waste any.
Johnny: Things like this
would be too...
too delicate, right?
Ashley: Um, let's see.
Oh, yes.
Definitely. I think
I'm gonna get some of this.
The other one.
And I just want to
see what else they have.
Johnny: Come on, babe.
Come here, baby.
There we go. Ahh.
[Johnny and woman
speaking French]
Johnny: What's it for?
The chairs?
[Woman speaking French]
Johnny: Sweetheart.
Ashley: Mm-hmm.
Johnny: For the chairs?
Ashley: Yeah. Possibly.
Johnny: But you need 4 meters.
That's really wide.
Ashley: I know, but I really--
Johnny: One chair's gonna
be about here, right?
By the time you tack some down.
I think you get 3 chairs
at the width.
Times that by 4 meters,
that's huge.
That's enough to reupholster
a couch, babe.
[Ashley and woman
speaking French]
Ashley: I'm not sure that I'm
gonna use this for the chairs.
I just like it.
Johnny: OK.
Ashley: I'll use it
for something.
Johnny: Like what?
Ashley: Like what?
Johnny: 'Cause she's gonna
cut it down to two meters.
Gonna be restrictive.
Are you thinking
table runner, I mean?
Ashley: Ha ha ha!
I'm not sure.
We'll see.
Dick, voice-over: It's always
a good idea to do
your measurements first.
Hopefully, you've got enough
material this time.
Ashley: I think I won't know
until I
put it next to the chairs.
I have some similar fabrics
already that are like this,
so, I think what I'm gonna do
when I get back
is I'm gonna take
all the fabrics out,
put them up, and see
which ones I like.
The natural one is just
sort of a backup,
just in case these are too busy.
Johnny: Yeah.
Dick, voice-over: Back at
the chateau, it's time for
novice upholsterer Ashley
to get to work
on the first chair.
Ashley: So, I chose
the simplest ones
because it's my
first time upholstering,
and it looks really simple.
I mean, we'll see
once I get started, but
it really doesn't look like
it's gonna be too hard,
and I think it'll be
a good test run
for all the other ones
that I have to do.
My goal is really to turn
a 10-year-old chair
into a 125-year-old chair.
Dick, voice-over: So,
even taking into account
materials and labor,
that should be a nice profit.
Johnny: Just be careful with
the tacks, that we collect them.
Reuse them.
Dick, voice-over:
Underneath are the remains
of a previous makeover.
Johnny: I love this fabric.
Would you consider
leaving it like this?
Ashley: No.
I'm not changing my mind.
Johnny: No, no...
Ashley: I have a plan. [Laughs]
Dick, voice-over:
Maybe just keep those thoughts
to yourself, Johnny.
Johnny: That's gonna need
a stir or two.
Ashley: No, no, I'm gonna use
the brush. It's fine.
Johnny: Oh, no, please.
Just stir it.
Ashley [indistinct].
She loves to just
dive in, you know, with paint
that's been sitting--ha ha!--
since date of manufacture.
It does need a stir.
Otherwise, you're not
gonna get it consistent.
It's all gonna be oil on top
and then--
Ashley: It's OK.
[Johnny whistles]
Abbie, come on. [Kisses]
Ashley: Johnny drives me crazy
because--ahh--
he loves to
come and bother me--oops--
while I'm doing my projects,
and then he'll come
and he'll inspect.
Dick, voice-over: Looks like
a good job to me, Ashley.
Ashley: There.
It's gray.
Yeah, I love the color.
Dick, voice-over: One chair
painted, 11 more to go.
That's even before
upholstering them.
Over 300 miles north,
at Chateau Gonneville,
Anna and Philipp
have enlisted the help
of local architect Emmanuel
to find out if there's
any urgent work
they'll need to do.
[Emmanuel speaking French]
Dick, voice-over: If they want
to stick to their plan
of opening as a B&B
in 10 months' time,
they need Emmanuel to
help them prioritize the work.
Philipp: This is
the essential first step
for our renovation work.
We need to--we need to apply
for a planning permission,
and only an architect
can help us
and can fill out all
the forms needed
to--to get that
planning permission.
If you don't get that planning,
we can't start renovating.
Dick, voice-over: And having
sunk most of their money
into buying the chateau,
they're hoping they
don't come across
any costly surprises.
[Emmanuel and Philipp
speaking French]
Philipp: Right. Right.
[Anna speaking French]
Philipp: No.
Dick, voice-over: No, it isn't.
Dry rot can easily spread
through a building.
But these problems should all
be in the survey
you get before you buy.
[Anna and Emmanuel
speaking French]
[Emmanuel and Philipp
speaking French]
[Philipp laughs]
Dick, voice-over:
Obviously, though,
the more work you can
do yourself,
the more money you'll save.
[Philipp speaking French]
[Emmanuel speaking French]
[Anna speaking French]
[Emmanuel speaking French]
Dick, voice-over:
I'm beginning to wonder
if Anna and Philipp
have bitten off
more than they can chew.
Anna: I'm a bit overwhelmed
right now, to be honest.
I was like...yeah.
I was in shock
'cause I--I feel like, yeah,
when we came to look at it,
I really didn't see
all of those problems.
[Emmanuel speaking French]
Philipp: Seems that we
underestimated quite a--
quite a lot the cost of
redoing the facade.
Dick, voice-over:
While Anna and Philipp
may have underestimated
the amount of work needed,
it doesn't have to
all be done at once.
They need to prioritize
getting the place ready
for paying guests
and bringing in some money
for renovations.
[Emmanuel, Anna, and Philipp
speaking French]
Anna: It was a lot to take in,
especially when
it's all in French
and it's very sort of
technical things.
Philipp: I thought--it was
so difficult to get the loan
that I thought once
we have the loan,
everything will be
peachy and easy.
Maybe that was not...
Anna: I think this is
gonna be a marathon.
I don't think it's a sprint.
It's gonna be a test
at every stage.
I have a feeling.
Dick, voice-over: You're nearly
right there, Anna.
It's a marathon sprint.
There's nothing like a chateau
restoration project
to test your stamina.
Over in southwest France
near Bordeaux,
Anna and Edward are hosting
a wedding for 100 people,
but 9 months' pregnant Anna
is due to give birth today.
Anna: Feels like I'm
getting a contraction.
Dick, voice-over: It's also a
big moment for bride and groom
Natalie and Chris.
Man: Chris, you can, you must,
you are allowed
to kiss your wife.
[Crowd cheering]
Dick, voice-over: As
the reception gets underway,
Anna's still holding the fort
despite regular contractions.
Man: So, when's the baby due?
Not long? Days?
Anna: You mean today?
Man: Not today.
Ha ha ha!
Anna: No, I'm not joking. Today.
Dick, voice-over: She does mean
today, and in fact,
the baby is looking set
to make an appearance.
Anna: So, I'm just
timing contractions.
OK. We get to go.
Dick, voice-over:
Anna is in labor.
Anna: Well, now it's like
3 minutes after.
Edward: Go get your stuff.
Off you go.
Anna: You go and get my stuff.
Edward: Yeah.
Dick, voice-over:
With her contractions
just 3 minutes apart
and the hospital
a 45-minute drive away,
you'd better get your skates on.
But there's still someone
Anna wants to see.
Anna: I say don't panic, but...
Natalie: You're going.
You have to call it Natalie.
Take care.
[Anna laughs]
See you later.
Anna: See you later.
Drinks and canapes
have gone well.
I've checked on the guests
and my contractions
are getting closer,
so, it's gonna be--
Edward: I think it's time to
stop talking and get moving.
Anna: Go time.
Natalie: I can't believe
Anna's gone into labor.
I just hope they
call it Natalie.
Chris: Or Chris.
Edward: Here you go.
Dick, voice-over:
More's the point,
let's hope they get
to the hospital in time.
Nearly 30 miles southeast,
things are a little calmer
at Johnny and Ashley's.
Ashley: Hi, Abernathy.
Dick, voice-over: With plans
to open an antiques emporium
in 3 months' time,
Ashley's still in the process
of upcycling the first
of 12 chairs.
Now the paint has dried,
she's trying her hand
at upholstering
for the first time.
Ashley: So, I'm gonna
put this--look--
where there's no detail,
like that.
How cute is that?
Johnny: All right, so, it's
quite a long fringe, right?
Ashley: Yeah.
Where there is detail,
I'm gonna use this.
Johnny: Oh, I see.
Dick, voice-over: Ashley's using
the covering from an old seat
as a template to get the most
out of the new material.
Johnny: Good luck.
Ashley: OK. Here goes nothing.
Yeah, perfect,
and the little lambs
are right in the middle,
right where you want them.
Johnny: The other thing,
I'm just thinking forward.
If we do it mega-mega-tight, OK,
then when someone sits on it,
is it gonna pull it up
a little bit?
Ashley: No.
Johnny: It doesn't, does it?
Ashley: No, no, no.
It needs to be.
Johnny: So,
we don't need no
slack on it.
Ashley: No.
[Stapler punching]
Ashley: There.
Dick, voice-over:
Now for those tricky corners.
Johnny: Sorry, before you
put that into it,
you want to try to fold it over.
Ashley: No, [indistinct].
[Stapler punching]
Dick, voice-over:
The chair's ready
for Ashley's
piece de resistance--
the fringing around the seat.
Ashley: Come on, Abernathy.
Look.
Dick, voice-over: As there's no
electricity in the orangery yet,
they've moved outside to work.
Ashley: So, I got all this
from a brocante,
and it was just sitting
in a box in a corner.
I can't remember--
I think it was maybe
30 euros for the whole lot.
What's happening
is that it's drying
really fast, the glue is.
I'm trying to be gentle,
not get glue everywhere,
and actually get it to stick.
Johnny! Help!
I think I have to figure out
a different way
to stick this on,
because the glue,
the glue does not seem to work.
I think I'm gonna have
to tack the bottom part on
and then glue the top.
Johnny: How's it going?
Ashley: Not very well.
Johnny: What's up?
Ashley: Well, the glue does not
seem to, um...it doesn't stick.
Johnny: Well, I've got
upholstery tacks here.
Ashley: Yeah, that's, I think,
what I need to do.
[Hammering]
There. Ahh.
A little pink fringe-y chair.
It's really cute.
I like it.
I kind of want it in
my dressing room
because it's just--it's
so sweet.
Dick, voice-over: Remember,
you've got an emporium
to fill, Ashley.
Johnny: Oh, I love that.
For your first attempt, Ash,
I think that's amazing.
So, how many more to go?
[Laughter]
Dick, voice-over: Only 11.
But don't forget
all the other items
you have in storage.
You need to get a move on
if you want your emporium
to be open in 3 months' time.
Over 300 miles away in Normandy,
Philipp is taking on
the challenge of a lifetime.
He's about to start renovations
before Anna and their girls
move in in 4 weeks,
and there's a tremendous
amount to do.
Philipp: The idea is to get
the second floor ready
as our family apartment.
It will have master bedroom,
it will have two bathrooms,
and it will have 3
spare bedrooms for
our two daughters
and for guests.
Dick, voice-over:
First job--the master bedroom.
Philipp: Room is a bit, um,
is a bit small
and has unnecessary spaces, so,
we're gonna up two walls.
Knocking down this wall
will be like the first--
the first big thing.
[Hammering]
I made a big mistake because
all our tools are in storage
and for some reason,
I didn't think
to keep the tools when we
moved out of our old house,
and now I'm missing
half of my tools,
so, I don't have any
electrical saw or anything.
Dick, voice-over: Ooh.
What a mistake there.
Luckily, this is all
stud wall,
so, just a hammer
should do the trick.
Philipp: We are in the older
part of the house,
so, it's 18th-century at least,
and I'm pretty sure
that this wall is
here right from the beginning,
so, yeah, it's
over 200 years, 250 years.
It could feel strange
to destroy something that old,
but at the same time, these
buildings, they always evolved
and people would come in,
they made some changes,
and I think as long as you
respect the soul of a building,
and you have to make it work for
you in order to preserve it.
It's a house to live in.
I feel excited to give it
a new life and a new purpose.
Dick, voice-over: I understand
your excitement,
but there's still another wall
to take down,
plumbing, electrics,
3 more bedrooms,
and two bathrooms to do,
and that's just your floor.
Philipp: Apart from all our
money and all our belongings,
it's also the dream
and the excitement
that this chateau means for us,
and it has to work.
We want to make it work.
So, there's pressure.
Dick, voice-over:
In southwest France,
Anna has gone into labor.
She and husband Edward
made the 45-miute
dash to the hospital
in the middle of hosting
a wedding for 100 guests.
Edward: Uh, Anna's been
taken in.
It's 4--she's dilated
4 centimeters
and she's about to have
her epidural now,
so, I've gotta move my car
and get back in there
to support Anna.
Dick, voice-over: Just 5 hours
after leaving the wedding,
Anna gave birth
to their baby daughter.
Edward: So, after an emotional
and exhausting 24 hours,
we want to present to you
the new chatelaine
Emma Scarlett.
Dick, voice-over: Back at
the chateau 5 days later,
Anna, Edward,
and 4-year-old son Charles
have been getting to know the
newest member of the family.
Edward: We're feeling
a bit tired, aren't we?
Anna: We're feeling...
Edward: You more than me.
You've not had sleep
for how many days now?
Anna: Is this 4 day--
I've lost count.
Edward: 5, 6 days.
But she's getting better,
isn't she?
Anna: Yeah.
Edward: And now it feels
complete, doesn't it?
Our family's complete and we're
really lucky, 'cause,
you know, for the foreseeable
future, these two are
gonna be growing up
in a chateau,
and we're gonna get
to watch them.
Anna: And they'll
be best friends.
Dick, voice-over:
And looking to the future,
Anna and Edward
are thinking about
how they may need to adapt
chateau life a bit.
Edward: I'd like to employ
another--another
wedding planner.
I think we're doing enough
weddings a year now
to--to be--and we're
well enough established
to have another
wedding planner with us,
you know, and just
have family time.
Dick, voice-over: It sounds
like you two can have
the best of
both worlds, Edward.
Anna: We're hoping, like,
eventually, everything
will be--will get
slightly easier
and then one day,
I'll be able to...
Edward: Let go?
Anna: Yeah, a bit more.
Let go a bit more.
Dick, voice-over: Sounds lovely,
but for now,
you've both got your hands full,
looking after the little ones
and keeping
your business running.
Back in Normandy, two months
since they got the keys,
Philipp's done what work he can.
Although there's
a lot more to do,
now that Anna's left her job,
she and the girls are moving in.
[Man and Anna speaking French]
Anna: Very excited to have
all of our stuff here finally
and, um...yeah.
It's quite crazy.
Can't believe it, really.
Now I feel like I can
finally be here
with, you know,
all of us together
and helping Philipp,
'cause he's been
working on his own, basically,
solo renovating.
[Philipp speaking French]
It's a big day for us.
I mean, for me, I've been here
for almost two months on my own,
trying to get the place
as ready as possible.
Yeah, so, it's fun to be here
all together.
It's a new chapter, it's a new
chapter of the chateau history.
Dick, voice-over: The second
vanload of their possessions
arrives from storage.
[Anna speaking French]
OK. OK.
He's coming in but then he's
gonna go park over there,
'cause the other van's
in the way.
[Man and Anna speaking French]
Philipp: It's actually--
it's a bit early
for us to move in
with all our stuff,
but you know, keeping the stuff
in the--in the storage,
it would just be
another cost to--
had to--had to move in.
That saves us
quite a lot of money.
You have the cushion.
Ahh. Uhh.
Dick, voice-over:
Heavy lifting done,
the removal guys
call it a day...
just as Anna's dad arrives.
Perfect timing, John.
Anna: He's come ready to do
a bit of gardening or
whatever Philipp needs.
Dick, voice-over: Not sure if
Philipp had this in mind.
John: Yeah, it smells.
Philipp: So, you drove with
4 bags of horse manure
from the U.K. over to here.
John: Yeah.
Philipp: It's good. Thank you.
[Laughs]
John: They didn't stop me...
[Philipp laughs]
Dick, voice-over: It's finally
time for Phillip
to show everyone
the progress he's made
in the family apartment.
Anna: This way.
Philipp: So, last time
you've been here,
it was a dusty building site,
whereas today, it's a dusty
building site, but, ha ha ha.
Anna: But there's
no more floor, yeah.
John: Looks better.
Philipp: It looks much
better, doesn't it?
And these rooms, they're
pretty much just waiting
for electrics
and--and the flooring.
Dick, voice-over:
After buying some tools,
he's concentrated
on the master bedroom,
where he's knocked down
two walls
and made space for
an en-suite bathroom.
Anna: Wow. Look.
Philipp: Ha!
Anna: That's amazing!
Look what Papa's done, Lily.
Philipp: Yeah.
Anna: What do you think?
John: Good, good, good, good.
Anna: Papa's a builder.
I'm so impressed.
That is--
John: Yeah.
Anna: Proper building work.
John: Yeah, it's really good.
Anna: How did you do that?
[Philipp and John
talking at once]
Philipp: One of my many talents.
John: Oh, you were gonna--
we were gonna put
a spirit level on it.
Anna: Ah, you're gonna
try to [indistinct].
John: That's perfect.
Philipp: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Anna: Well done, my love.
Philipp: Yeah.
It's a start.
Dick, voice-over: It's been
hard graft getting this far.
[Cork pops]
Woman: Whoo! Ha ha!
Dick, voice-over: And now
Philipp's mum has arrived,
it's certainly
time to celebrate.
Anna and Philipp: Cheers.
Phillip: Cheers [indistinct].
Dick, voice-over:
Drink up, chaps.
Remember, you're opening
as a B&B in 8 months.
But enjoy this family time.
Next time...
Ashley: I mean, you can't
get more French than this.
Dick, voice-over: Johnny gets
his tongue in a twist...
Merci, Madame.
Monsieur, pardon. Merci.
[Laughs]
Dick, voice-over: a landscaping
project 10 years in the making
begins at Chateau Lagorce...
Edward: All these little
circles here are trees.
Anna: Once it's finished,
it's gonna look really nice.
Dick, voice-over:
And Anna and Philipp...
Philipp: Now run.
Dick, voice-over:
Start replumbing
their whole chateau
from top to bottom.
Philipp: No leak here.
High five.
Anna: Well done!
I'm Dick Strawbridge.
Along with my wife Angel
and our two children...
Boy: Welcome aboard, mateys!
Dick, voice-over:
we're now 5 years...
Angel: Whoo!
Dick, voice-over: into restoring
this once-abandoned chateau.
Angel: This is beautiful.
Dick, voice-over: It's brought
its challenges...
[Crash]
[Angel screams]
Dick, voice-over:
And some amazing rewards.
Angel: Thank you for my
flower garden, Mr. Strawbridge.
Dick, voice-over: And across
France, there are
dozens of other Brits
who are on their own
chateau adventure.
Woman: Yay!
Dick, voice-over: We'll meet
some old friends...
Woman: Smile!
Man: I am.
Dick, voice-over: and new faces.
Man: These rooms really haven't
been touched in 60 years.
Dick, voice-over:
And we'll reveal more
about our own chateau life.
Angel: It is so much better
in real life.
Dick, voice-over:
There'll be highs...
Woman: Yay!
Dick, voice-over: and lows...
Man: Oh, no!
Woman: Oh!
Man: God, what a disaster!
Dick, voice-over:
as these plucky Brits...
Woman: Time is money.
[Clattering]
Dick, voice-over: transform
these once-unloved buildings
into incredible homes...
Woman: I just cannot believe
how much work you put in
for us.
Dick, voice-over:
as well as businesses...
[People cheering]
Dick, voice-over:
and get to live the dream
as custodians of their
very own castle.
Woman: Cheers, everybody!
Dick, voice-over: Today...
Woman: Oh, my goodness.
Man: Look.
Dick, voice-over: New
chateau owners
take on more than
they bargained for.
Woman: OK, there's a lot to do.
[Laughs]
Dick, voice-over:
I do some dinosaur DIY.
Dick: Why don't we give him
a robot leg
that's maybe a metal leg
like that?
Dick, voice-over: But Arthur
questions my ability.
Arthur: Daddy, I like it,
but I don't want it
to fall apart.
Dick, voice-over: One couple
have a mountain to climb.
Woman: We need to do
a lot of restoration work.
Fix everything up, reupholster,
paint everything.
Gosh. Actually,
we're not quite done.
[Laughter]
Man: No. As you're talking,
I'm like,
are we--are we in the same room?
[Laughs]
Dick, voice-over:
And at another chateau...
Woman: Don't panic, but...
Woman 2: You're going.
Dick, voice-over: The wedding
hostess goes into labor.
Woman: Feels like
I'm getting a contraction.
Dick, voice-over:
Last year alone,
some 8,000 Brits
bought properties
such as chateaus in France.
Turning them into dream homes
is a tremendous commitment,
but as we know, it can be
immensely rewarding.
This beauty is
Chateau Gonneville.
Set in 15 acres of grounds
with 16 rooms
and 4 outbuildings,
it's now home to
fashion designer Anna
and her Italian
filmmaker husband Philipp
along with daughters
Lily and Ella.
Anna: Philipp woke me up
and was like,
"I've had an epiphany.
"I think we need
to sell our house
"and buy a chateau
and make it into, like a bed
and breakfast, wedding venue."
I was like...
"Oh, yeah, actually,
that's a great idea," you know?
Philipp: It was exactly
the same feeling she had
when she met me.
Regretted it much later.
[Laughter]
Dick, voice-over: Having lived
together in and around Paris
for 7 years, the couple
have put their careers on hold
to trade city life
for country life.
Anna: For me,
it's like returning
to what I had as a child.
Apart from the chateau,
the lifestyle in the countryside
is not something
completely foreign.
Like, I experienced that
when I grew up,
and that's kind of what
I want for my girls,
so, I think it's
gonna be brilliant.
I think it'll be just...
Philipp: Yeah.
Anna: A dream life.
Dick, voice-over:
Located in Normandy,
over 100 miles from Paris,
they've sunk all their money
into buying this chateau
for 900,000 pounds,
and had to negotiate a loan
for almost half of it.
Philipp: We paid more than
we originally intended to,
so, we used most of
our renovation budget
to buy it.
Dick, voice-over:
After 6 months of waiting,
they finally got the keys,
but with a massive loan
to pay back
and plans to give up work,
there's a lot at stake.
[Indistinct chatter]
Dick, voice-over:
Anna's parents Jenny and John
have come over from the U.K.
to see what Anna and Philipp
have bought into.
Jenny: It's so gorgeous.
Oh, my goodness.
John: It looks lovely.
[Jenny laughs]
Philipp: For me, it's not
an additional pressure.
Actually, it's good,
because I know that my
father-in-law is
an excellent gardener
and he doesn't know yet how much
work will await for him,
and that I really intend
to make him work.
Anna: Dad, have you noticed
the state of the shutters?
John: Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Jenny: There you are, John.
That's your job.
Anna: Shall we go in?
Jenny: Let's.
Anna: Come on, then.
OK, side door,
'cause there's no lock on
the front door.
Dick, voice-over:
Anna hasn't been inside
since her last viewing
7 months ago.
Philipp: ...the chateau.
Anna: You ready?
[Jenny laughs]
Anna: Yeah.
[Anna gasps]
Oh, my goodness.
OK, there's a lot to do.
[Laughter]
Anna: This is the kitchen.
Jenny: Good space.
Anna: I fell in love
with the windows and it's--like,
there's so much light in here.
Dick, voice-over:
The plan is to open as a B&B
in 10 months' time,
and use this kitchen to cater.
It's one of 6
ground-floor rooms,
including a breakfast room
and salon.
They all need a lot of work.
Philipp: Where is it?
Will you show me?
Where do we have to go?
Lily: Upstairs.
Philipp: Upstairs?
Dick, voice-over: Two floors up,
the attic space
will become
the family apartment.
Anna: Which one's
your room, Lily?
Which one do you want?
Is it this one?
Yeah? Aww.
This is--
oh, wow, that's a real
princess bed.
Philipp: Definitely
a princess bed.
Jenny: Yeah.
There we are.
Anna: Ella, I think you're
gonna have the other room then.
Dick, voice-over:
Then it's into what will be
the master bedroom.
Anna: Actually, it doesn't look
too bad in here, does it?
Philipp: No, this...
Anna: The paintwork
and everything is OK.
Philipp: This looks the best.
Anna: Yeah.
Philipp: That's why it's
gonna be our room.
[Laughter]
Philipp: Yeah, that's our room.
Anna: I think we'll have
the bed here
with the chimney
and then the windows.
Jenny: Oh, lovely.
Where does that go?
Philipp: That's the bathroom.
Yeah.
[Anna laughs]
[Indistinct chatter]
Jenny: Cozy.
Anna: Yeah, but
I--we've seen that there is...
Jenny: Oh.
Anna: quite a big space there,
so, I think what we're
gonna do is...
Jenny: Knock that out.
Anna: Yeah.
Dick, voice-over:
Anna and Philipp certainly have
a vision for the attic.
As well as creating 4 bedrooms,
they also have their sights set
on the tallest
corner of the house.
Anna: This is the attic space
that we're gonna turn into
our living space.
So, we'll start with that part
to begin with,
and then once we've got
the money at some point,
so, that will be stage two
of the project.
Dick, voice-over: It's not only
the attic that requires work.
To bring in an income,
they plan to open it
as a B&B by next spring--
a tall order when the whole
first floor needs renovating.
Philipp: This is
the electrical installation...
John: Ah...
Philipp: After the newest
French style.
[John laughs]
Dick, voice-over: Despite
no practical experience,
Philipp has decided to work on
the electrics himself.
Philipp: I spent the last two
months basically researching
on how to--how to do
an electrical system,
and I went online and started
electrical installation.
What could possibly go wrong?
Dick, voice-over:
There's a fair bit, matey.
John: It has a lot
of potential.
It looks to be
a massive undertaking
and a lot of time
and a lot of money, but
maybe I'm just a little bit
older and more skeptical.
Anna: I can't wait
to get started.
Philipp: Yeah.
Dick, voice-over:
Well, good luck.
It's a gigantic project.
Jenny: We're very proud.
We've very proud of Anna
but we're also very proud
of Philipp as well,
because it is very much
a joint project for them.
John: It's not an easy
option, is it?
Jenny: It isn't an easy option,
and--but it's
very much about their lifestyle
and their family life,
so, you know, we're very hopeful
that it's going to have
a really good outcome.
Anna: Shall we have
some champagne?
Philipp: Yeah, it's probably
the last bottle
we can afford, anyways,
for a long time.
Thank you.
Lily: Mama,
if we drink champagne,
we get tipsy.
[Jenny laughs]
Anna: I think it's OK for today.
Philipp: Cheers, my love.
Anna: Cheers, Dad.
Philipp: Cheers, Dad.
Anna: Thank you for coming.
Philipp: And thank you so much
for coming.
Anna: Thank you.
Philipp: And thank you
for all the months
that you will spend here.
[Jenny laughs]
Dick, voice-over:
Yes, I think you two
are going to need
all the help you can get
with this undertaking.
Just under 100 miles away
at our place...
Dick: What does the monkey say?
Arthur: Arrr!
[Laughter]
Dick, voice-over:
We've spent the last 5 years
making sure that our children--
Arthur and Dorothy--
have a magical upbringing,
chateau-style.
Angel: I want to Dick to build
a helter-skelter.
I'm gonna tell him and he's
gonna [softly] go nuts. [Laughs]
[Drill whirring]
Dick, voice-over:
It's important for us
not to forget the children
while busy renovating...
and sometimes, that has meant
making time for
the little DIY jobs.
Arthur: ...bite his leg off.
Dick: A dinosaur bit
his leg off?
Arthur: Yeah.
Dick, voice-over:
Humphrey the T. Rex
was Arthur's most
treasured possession,
and after a run-in with a door,
he ended up with a missing foot.
Dick: We got a choice.
Put him a wooden leg on,
'cause we want him
to stand up, don't we?
Dick, voice-over: Arthur
doesn't look convinced.
Dick: I was thinking,
why don't we
give him a robot leg that's
maybe a metal leg like that?
Arthur: Yeah.
Dick: Or that's
an old piece of mechano.
It's an old bridge.
We can use some of
the bits of metal.
Arthur: Daddy, I like it, but
I don't want it to fall apart.
Dick, voice-over: I've done up
a chateau, Arthur.
Trust me!
It won't fall apart.
Arthur: No.
I'm not going to use it.
And I'm gonna use
a bit of [indistinct].
Then I'm gonna put
the same size [indistinct]
and then it can make a leg!
Dick: Right. OK.
See this hole here?
We'll put a screw in there.
It could be peg leg.
[Drill whirring]
Now look at his foot.
He's standing up.
Arthur: I know.
Dick: We could give him a foot
if you want to give him a foot.
I'll give him--we'll give him
a piece of wood for a foot
Arthur: No.
Dick: Oh.
Well--ahh.
How about
that for a foot?
That looks pretty good,
doesn't it?
[Drill whirring]
Arthur: It's just like
Captain Hook.
Dick: It is a bit like
Captain Hook, isn't it?
Arthur: Yeah.
Dick: Look at that!
So, we got a repaired dinosaur.
Arthur: Yeah.
Dick: One repaired dinosaur.
[Arthur growling]
Dick: Well done.
Well done.
He's fixed.
Another victory.
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Well done, big boy.
Dick, voice-over:
Well, no two chateau days
are ever the same,
and clearly, no DIY job
is too small.
260 miles south is the elegant
18th-century
Chateau de Lomenie,
a former winery sitting in
15 acres of land
and boasting 21 rooms.
It was snapped up
for 412,000 pounds
18 months ago by
London artist Johnny
and his American partner Ashley,
who works in TV.
Ashley: As soon as we walked
in here, we just--we knew.
There are just so many different
things that we could do
with--with the space
that, I mean,
it was love at first sight.
[Johnny laughs]
Ashley: Wasn't it?
Johnny: Yeah, it's true.
I feel I'm living
the absolute dream.
I've got my babe next to me,
I've got the chateau
that we live in,
I've got the animals
that I care and love for,
and I can work where I live.
I can't ask for anything
more than that.
Dick, voice-over:
Located 40 miles southeast
of Bordeaux,
they spent last summer creating
an al fresco dining room
in the carriage house...
Ashley: I adore this room
so much.
Johnny: It's a beautiful place.
Dick, voice-over:
and they started renovating
the library, but
everything came to a halt
as Ashley had to
go away for work.
Ashley: This year,
I've managed my work schedule
so that even though
money's coming in from work,
I don't have to be gone
as often,
and so, this is the year
to finish everything.
I'm gonna be here
all summer, so,
there's really kind of
nothing stopping us.
And the goal is to have
the chateau make some money
so that I don't
have to always be gone.
Dick, voice-over:
Now the couple are determined
to run the chateau as a business
to ensure Ashley can
stop working abroad.
They plan to turn an outbuilding
into an art gallery for Johnny
and the orangery into
an antiques emporium
for Ashley.
Ashley: My plan
for the antique shop,
it's gonna be a place
where people can come,
they can have a cup of tea,
a cup of coffee,
and they can sit on chairs
that are for sale.
They can drink from little
teacups that are for sale.
So, essentially,
everything's for sale.
Johnny: What we'd love
to do is to have
the gallery
and the antique emporium
decorated, up and running,
bringing clients in
by mid-July, the latest.
Ashley: Come on, Abernathy.
Dick, voice-over: Johnny's
self-imposed 3-month deadline
is a big challenge, so, today,
they're making a start
on the emporium project.
Ashley: I want to do this one.
Dick, voice-over: They've
collected hundreds of antiques
that have sat idle
in an outbuilding.
First to go in the orangery
are the tables and chairs.
Ashley: Oh, here's another one.
Johnny: [Indistinct] that one.
Ashley: Yeah.
Johnny: Dainty, huh?
Ashley: Yeah, I think
these'll be good.
Johnny: So, it doesn't matter
if they're
an eclectic mix, right?
Ashley: No, I want
an eclectic mix.
Johnny: Sure.
Treasures, Ashley.
Ashley: Treasures. Yeah.
Johnny: Treasures.
Dick, voice-over:
Despite having no windows
and left open to the elements,
Johnny and Ashley
are confident the orangery
is the right setting
for the emporium.
Johnny: It's gonna look
wonderful, but
at the moment, it's looking
really bizarre.
Ashley: I know.
Johnny: I quite like that.
It's like an empty attic.
This is...
Ashley: But I can--
I have a vision for it.
Johnny: No, I know, sweet,
I know, but what I'm saying is
it's like someone's died
and just walked away...
Ashley: Yes. OK.
Johnny: Just looking forward,
there's quite a lot of work...
Ashley: Yeah, I know.
Johnny: Particularly for you.
You want to do
the chairs, right?
Ashley: Yes. Yeah.
Johnny: Stuff like this.
That's the thing.
You can easily
get distracted, right?
Start looking, pulling.
Ashley: Oh, yeah.
Johnny: OK.
We'll peel that off.
Ashley: OK. All right.
Uh, le boudoir.
Johnny: Le boudoir? OK.
Ashley: Yeah.
Ashley: The sign comes from
an old lingerie shop
in Paris called Le Boudoir,
and so, I definitely
want to hang this
on one of the walls, 'cause
I just love the sign.
[Crashing]
Oh--oh, oh!
[Johnny sighs]
Dick, voice-over: Everything
in the emporium
is meant to be for sale,
but Johnny's having
second thoughts.
Johnny: To part with that
would be difficult for me,
because I just love it,
because it's unique,
because of the curve
and the writing, the signage.
Ashley: But for the right price,
I would sell.
Johnny: For the right--yeah,
that's the thing.
For the right price.
Ashley: The chateau is
not cheap to run,
so, at some point,
we have to make money.
Johnny: A catch-22.
Ashley: Yeah.
Dick, voice-over: Seems like
Ashley has the head
for business
and Johnny's the dreamer.
Johnny: Imagine someone
sitting here...
Ashley: Yeah.
Having their little coffee.
Johnny: And they're
just, like, beholding
the artwork, et cetera.
How awesome is that?
Ashley: I know.
Johnny: And they say,
"You know what? I love that.
Let's buy that, too."
And I'm like, "No,"
and Ashley's like, "Yes."
[Laughter]
Johnny: We're not gonna sell
anything, are we?
[Laughter]
Dick, voice-over:
Well, that wasn't
the business plan, Johnny.
Ashley: We brought most of
the big pieces in.
Now we need to do
a lot of restoration work.
Fix everything up, reupholster,
paint everything.
And then at that point,
we have to build--ha ha!--
build some tables,
bring some armoires in.
Gosh. Actually,
we're not quite done.
[Johnny laughs] No.
As you're talking,
I'm like, "Are we--are we
in the same room?"
[Laughter]
Dick, voice-over: You're
certainly a long way from
being done, if you're planning
to open the emporium
in 3 months' time.
In an old vineyard
in southwest France
is the palatial 15th-century
Chateau Lagorce.
Once the residence of some of
the region's top wine producers,
this 22-bedroom palace
with a pool and its own chapel
is home to Brit Edward...
Edward: Good.
his [indistinct] wife Anna,
and their son Charles.
Edward's parents bought
the chateau 16 years ago,
and now Anna and Edward run it
as a wedding venue.
Edward: We feel very proud to--
and privileged to live here.
We've done a lot of work
at the place as a family
and we've got our own
piece of history now.
Anna: Something gets
out the door,
something gets changed, and it's
better and better all the time.
Dick, voice-over: Located in
Haux, just outside Bordeaux,
when we met them last time,
Anna was heavily pregnant,
so, Edward took over her job,
running the first wedding
of the season.
Edward: We can't ruin
the wedding meal
by eating outside in the rain,
and it quite clearly
will be in the rain.
Dick, voice-over:
Now a couple of months later,
it's their 20th wedding
of the summer.
Whilst Edward may have
learned the ropes,
there's another added pressure
to contend with.
Edward: Anna is due tomorrow,
and we also have a really big
wedding on tomorrow,
so, it's gonna be
an interesting day.
Anna: Tomorrow, I hope to
deliver two successful events.
First the wedding and after,
hospital and the baby.
Edward: Yeah.
Anna: And in
that order, ideally.
Dick, voice-over: Wow, Anna.
That is commitment.
A new dawn, and it's
the wedding day
for Bristol couple
Natalie and Chris.
Preparations are in full swing.
[Hair dryer blowing]
Woman: Should I put the confetti
into it
so it'll look pretty?
Woman: Yeah.
Really, really plush.
Dick, voice-over: The day
might only be getting started,
but Anna and Edward have already
had an eventful night.
Anna: Last night, we--
we thought we were
ready to go to the hospital.
Contraction lasted about
35 to 40 minutes
and they were quite close,
so, we were like,
pretty much, OK, ready,
we're gonna go, and then
they stopped. Relief.
Dick, voice-over: Despite
Anna's restless night,
she's determined to keep
everything on course.
Anna: Edward knows me
too well that
even if he says I have to--
I have to go and sit down,
I won't do it.
I have to get things
like I want them to be
and then I'll be able to--
to rest and to continue.
Edward: I'm trying my best to
help her out with the wedding,
but there's really nothing I can
do about the contractions.
Just keep my eye on her,
make sure she sits down
a little bit as well
and have something to drink,
but apart from that, I do feel
a little bit useless
on that front.
Dick, voice-over:
But one job Edward can do
is look after the bridal party.
Edward: Hey, girls.
Somebody said you were thirsty.
Woman: There we go.
Bubble time. [Laughs]
Woman 2: We can't drink
champagne from wine glasses.
I'm so sorry, girls, but
that is not happening.
Edward: I'll go grab
some wine glasses.
Don't worry.
Women: Champagne.
Edward: Champagne.
Dick, voice-over: While Edward
gets the right glasses...
outside, groom Chris is having
a photo opportunity
with his two sons.
Chris: I'm feeling
slightly--yeah, buzzing.
Buzzing.
Been a long time coming.
Dick, voice-over: While bride
Natalie has her makeup done.
Natalie: You can't eat.
You won't get in your dress.
[Laughter]
Natalie: I'm feeling
really good, actually.
I'm not nervous.
Feeling good.
Dick, voice-over: Amazingly,
Anna is still busy
making sure everything
is on schedule.
Anna: [Indistinct].
Woman: Right.
Anna: They'll be here
just before 3 anyway.
Woman: OK.
Man: So, they're being
picked up 2:45.
Anna: 2:45 they're
being picked up.
Dick, voice-over: It's all cool,
but for Edward,
there's always time
to check on Anna.
Edward: How are you feeling
[indistinct]?
Anna: I've been getting
a few contractions.
Edward: You need to
take it slow, yeah?
Once we get this sorted,
have a sit-down for
a little while, OK?
Anna: I will.
Dick, voice-over: Upstairs,
the bride is blissfully unaware
of the contractions drama
behind the scenes.
Natalie: When I arrived,
I had a shock
when I seen Anna was pregnant,
and she said, "Don't panic,
but I'm due today or tomorrow."
I didn't panic 'cause she--
I know that she would have had
everything perfect in place.
Anna: I haven't had my chance
to take a rest yet,
but I'm hoping, like,
once the ceremony starts,
I'll be able to.
Dick, voice-over:
I hope so, too.
Anna: What would you like,
my sweet?
Dick, voice-over: But with
the wedding just about to start,
determined Anna is still
at her post.
Anna: We're going down
in literally 5 minutes
and no glasses down there.
Edward: I'm a little worried
about Anna at this stage
because this is typical Anna.
It's busy, you know, and Anna
just jumps in on everything
and starts
doing everything for everybody.
She needs to just stop
a little bit,
so, we'll try
and get her to slow down.
Anna: We just over--I'm good.
Woman: [Indistinct].
Man: Can we ask you
over the next 5 minutes
to move from this center area
back to where the service
is gonna be held.
Dick, voice-over: As the wedding
party makes its way
onto the lawn for the ceremony,
Anna finally gets
a chance to sit down.
Anna: Feels like I'm getting
a contraction.
Dick, voice-over:
Almost 30 miles away,
there's not so much pressure
on Johnny and Ashley.
Today, they've come to
their local haberdashers
to buy material to upcycle
some of their antiques
for the emporium.
Ashley: I'm looking for linen.
Johnny: Linen.
Ashley: Linen.
Love this one.
That's really nice.
Of course, I got
the most expensive one.
Dick, voice-over:
At 23 euros a meter,
that's around 20 pounds.
Just make sure
you don't waste any.
Johnny: Things like this
would be too...
too delicate, right?
Ashley: Um, let's see.
Oh, yes.
Definitely. I think
I'm gonna get some of this.
The other one.
And I just want to
see what else they have.
Johnny: Come on, babe.
Come here, baby.
There we go. Ahh.
[Johnny and woman
speaking French]
Johnny: What's it for?
The chairs?
[Woman speaking French]
Johnny: Sweetheart.
Ashley: Mm-hmm.
Johnny: For the chairs?
Ashley: Yeah. Possibly.
Johnny: But you need 4 meters.
That's really wide.
Ashley: I know, but I really--
Johnny: One chair's gonna
be about here, right?
By the time you tack some down.
I think you get 3 chairs
at the width.
Times that by 4 meters,
that's huge.
That's enough to reupholster
a couch, babe.
[Ashley and woman
speaking French]
Ashley: I'm not sure that I'm
gonna use this for the chairs.
I just like it.
Johnny: OK.
Ashley: I'll use it
for something.
Johnny: Like what?
Ashley: Like what?
Johnny: 'Cause she's gonna
cut it down to two meters.
Gonna be restrictive.
Are you thinking
table runner, I mean?
Ashley: Ha ha ha!
I'm not sure.
We'll see.
Dick, voice-over: It's always
a good idea to do
your measurements first.
Hopefully, you've got enough
material this time.
Ashley: I think I won't know
until I
put it next to the chairs.
I have some similar fabrics
already that are like this,
so, I think what I'm gonna do
when I get back
is I'm gonna take
all the fabrics out,
put them up, and see
which ones I like.
The natural one is just
sort of a backup,
just in case these are too busy.
Johnny: Yeah.
Dick, voice-over: Back at
the chateau, it's time for
novice upholsterer Ashley
to get to work
on the first chair.
Ashley: So, I chose
the simplest ones
because it's my
first time upholstering,
and it looks really simple.
I mean, we'll see
once I get started, but
it really doesn't look like
it's gonna be too hard,
and I think it'll be
a good test run
for all the other ones
that I have to do.
My goal is really to turn
a 10-year-old chair
into a 125-year-old chair.
Dick, voice-over: So,
even taking into account
materials and labor,
that should be a nice profit.
Johnny: Just be careful with
the tacks, that we collect them.
Reuse them.
Dick, voice-over:
Underneath are the remains
of a previous makeover.
Johnny: I love this fabric.
Would you consider
leaving it like this?
Ashley: No.
I'm not changing my mind.
Johnny: No, no...
Ashley: I have a plan. [Laughs]
Dick, voice-over:
Maybe just keep those thoughts
to yourself, Johnny.
Johnny: That's gonna need
a stir or two.
Ashley: No, no, I'm gonna use
the brush. It's fine.
Johnny: Oh, no, please.
Just stir it.
Ashley [indistinct].
She loves to just
dive in, you know, with paint
that's been sitting--ha ha!--
since date of manufacture.
It does need a stir.
Otherwise, you're not
gonna get it consistent.
It's all gonna be oil on top
and then--
Ashley: It's OK.
[Johnny whistles]
Abbie, come on. [Kisses]
Ashley: Johnny drives me crazy
because--ahh--
he loves to
come and bother me--oops--
while I'm doing my projects,
and then he'll come
and he'll inspect.
Dick, voice-over: Looks like
a good job to me, Ashley.
Ashley: There.
It's gray.
Yeah, I love the color.
Dick, voice-over: One chair
painted, 11 more to go.
That's even before
upholstering them.
Over 300 miles north,
at Chateau Gonneville,
Anna and Philipp
have enlisted the help
of local architect Emmanuel
to find out if there's
any urgent work
they'll need to do.
[Emmanuel speaking French]
Dick, voice-over: If they want
to stick to their plan
of opening as a B&B
in 10 months' time,
they need Emmanuel to
help them prioritize the work.
Philipp: This is
the essential first step
for our renovation work.
We need to--we need to apply
for a planning permission,
and only an architect
can help us
and can fill out all
the forms needed
to--to get that
planning permission.
If you don't get that planning,
we can't start renovating.
Dick, voice-over: And having
sunk most of their money
into buying the chateau,
they're hoping they
don't come across
any costly surprises.
[Emmanuel and Philipp
speaking French]
Philipp: Right. Right.
[Anna speaking French]
Philipp: No.
Dick, voice-over: No, it isn't.
Dry rot can easily spread
through a building.
But these problems should all
be in the survey
you get before you buy.
[Anna and Emmanuel
speaking French]
[Emmanuel and Philipp
speaking French]
[Philipp laughs]
Dick, voice-over:
Obviously, though,
the more work you can
do yourself,
the more money you'll save.
[Philipp speaking French]
[Emmanuel speaking French]
[Anna speaking French]
[Emmanuel speaking French]
Dick, voice-over:
I'm beginning to wonder
if Anna and Philipp
have bitten off
more than they can chew.
Anna: I'm a bit overwhelmed
right now, to be honest.
I was like...yeah.
I was in shock
'cause I--I feel like, yeah,
when we came to look at it,
I really didn't see
all of those problems.
[Emmanuel speaking French]
Philipp: Seems that we
underestimated quite a--
quite a lot the cost of
redoing the facade.
Dick, voice-over:
While Anna and Philipp
may have underestimated
the amount of work needed,
it doesn't have to
all be done at once.
They need to prioritize
getting the place ready
for paying guests
and bringing in some money
for renovations.
[Emmanuel, Anna, and Philipp
speaking French]
Anna: It was a lot to take in,
especially when
it's all in French
and it's very sort of
technical things.
Philipp: I thought--it was
so difficult to get the loan
that I thought once
we have the loan,
everything will be
peachy and easy.
Maybe that was not...
Anna: I think this is
gonna be a marathon.
I don't think it's a sprint.
It's gonna be a test
at every stage.
I have a feeling.
Dick, voice-over: You're nearly
right there, Anna.
It's a marathon sprint.
There's nothing like a chateau
restoration project
to test your stamina.
Over in southwest France
near Bordeaux,
Anna and Edward are hosting
a wedding for 100 people,
but 9 months' pregnant Anna
is due to give birth today.
Anna: Feels like I'm
getting a contraction.
Dick, voice-over: It's also a
big moment for bride and groom
Natalie and Chris.
Man: Chris, you can, you must,
you are allowed
to kiss your wife.
[Crowd cheering]
Dick, voice-over: As
the reception gets underway,
Anna's still holding the fort
despite regular contractions.
Man: So, when's the baby due?
Not long? Days?
Anna: You mean today?
Man: Not today.
Ha ha ha!
Anna: No, I'm not joking. Today.
Dick, voice-over: She does mean
today, and in fact,
the baby is looking set
to make an appearance.
Anna: So, I'm just
timing contractions.
OK. We get to go.
Dick, voice-over:
Anna is in labor.
Anna: Well, now it's like
3 minutes after.
Edward: Go get your stuff.
Off you go.
Anna: You go and get my stuff.
Edward: Yeah.
Dick, voice-over:
With her contractions
just 3 minutes apart
and the hospital
a 45-minute drive away,
you'd better get your skates on.
But there's still someone
Anna wants to see.
Anna: I say don't panic, but...
Natalie: You're going.
You have to call it Natalie.
Take care.
[Anna laughs]
See you later.
Anna: See you later.
Drinks and canapes
have gone well.
I've checked on the guests
and my contractions
are getting closer,
so, it's gonna be--
Edward: I think it's time to
stop talking and get moving.
Anna: Go time.
Natalie: I can't believe
Anna's gone into labor.
I just hope they
call it Natalie.
Chris: Or Chris.
Edward: Here you go.
Dick, voice-over:
More's the point,
let's hope they get
to the hospital in time.
Nearly 30 miles southeast,
things are a little calmer
at Johnny and Ashley's.
Ashley: Hi, Abernathy.
Dick, voice-over: With plans
to open an antiques emporium
in 3 months' time,
Ashley's still in the process
of upcycling the first
of 12 chairs.
Now the paint has dried,
she's trying her hand
at upholstering
for the first time.
Ashley: So, I'm gonna
put this--look--
where there's no detail,
like that.
How cute is that?
Johnny: All right, so, it's
quite a long fringe, right?
Ashley: Yeah.
Where there is detail,
I'm gonna use this.
Johnny: Oh, I see.
Dick, voice-over: Ashley's using
the covering from an old seat
as a template to get the most
out of the new material.
Johnny: Good luck.
Ashley: OK. Here goes nothing.
Yeah, perfect,
and the little lambs
are right in the middle,
right where you want them.
Johnny: The other thing,
I'm just thinking forward.
If we do it mega-mega-tight, OK,
then when someone sits on it,
is it gonna pull it up
a little bit?
Ashley: No.
Johnny: It doesn't, does it?
Ashley: No, no, no.
It needs to be.
Johnny: So,
we don't need no
slack on it.
Ashley: No.
[Stapler punching]
Ashley: There.
Dick, voice-over:
Now for those tricky corners.
Johnny: Sorry, before you
put that into it,
you want to try to fold it over.
Ashley: No, [indistinct].
[Stapler punching]
Dick, voice-over:
The chair's ready
for Ashley's
piece de resistance--
the fringing around the seat.
Ashley: Come on, Abernathy.
Look.
Dick, voice-over: As there's no
electricity in the orangery yet,
they've moved outside to work.
Ashley: So, I got all this
from a brocante,
and it was just sitting
in a box in a corner.
I can't remember--
I think it was maybe
30 euros for the whole lot.
What's happening
is that it's drying
really fast, the glue is.
I'm trying to be gentle,
not get glue everywhere,
and actually get it to stick.
Johnny! Help!
I think I have to figure out
a different way
to stick this on,
because the glue,
the glue does not seem to work.
I think I'm gonna have
to tack the bottom part on
and then glue the top.
Johnny: How's it going?
Ashley: Not very well.
Johnny: What's up?
Ashley: Well, the glue does not
seem to, um...it doesn't stick.
Johnny: Well, I've got
upholstery tacks here.
Ashley: Yeah, that's, I think,
what I need to do.
[Hammering]
There. Ahh.
A little pink fringe-y chair.
It's really cute.
I like it.
I kind of want it in
my dressing room
because it's just--it's
so sweet.
Dick, voice-over: Remember,
you've got an emporium
to fill, Ashley.
Johnny: Oh, I love that.
For your first attempt, Ash,
I think that's amazing.
So, how many more to go?
[Laughter]
Dick, voice-over: Only 11.
But don't forget
all the other items
you have in storage.
You need to get a move on
if you want your emporium
to be open in 3 months' time.
Over 300 miles away in Normandy,
Philipp is taking on
the challenge of a lifetime.
He's about to start renovations
before Anna and their girls
move in in 4 weeks,
and there's a tremendous
amount to do.
Philipp: The idea is to get
the second floor ready
as our family apartment.
It will have master bedroom,
it will have two bathrooms,
and it will have 3
spare bedrooms for
our two daughters
and for guests.
Dick, voice-over:
First job--the master bedroom.
Philipp: Room is a bit, um,
is a bit small
and has unnecessary spaces, so,
we're gonna up two walls.
Knocking down this wall
will be like the first--
the first big thing.
[Hammering]
I made a big mistake because
all our tools are in storage
and for some reason,
I didn't think
to keep the tools when we
moved out of our old house,
and now I'm missing
half of my tools,
so, I don't have any
electrical saw or anything.
Dick, voice-over: Ooh.
What a mistake there.
Luckily, this is all
stud wall,
so, just a hammer
should do the trick.
Philipp: We are in the older
part of the house,
so, it's 18th-century at least,
and I'm pretty sure
that this wall is
here right from the beginning,
so, yeah, it's
over 200 years, 250 years.
It could feel strange
to destroy something that old,
but at the same time, these
buildings, they always evolved
and people would come in,
they made some changes,
and I think as long as you
respect the soul of a building,
and you have to make it work for
you in order to preserve it.
It's a house to live in.
I feel excited to give it
a new life and a new purpose.
Dick, voice-over: I understand
your excitement,
but there's still another wall
to take down,
plumbing, electrics,
3 more bedrooms,
and two bathrooms to do,
and that's just your floor.
Philipp: Apart from all our
money and all our belongings,
it's also the dream
and the excitement
that this chateau means for us,
and it has to work.
We want to make it work.
So, there's pressure.
Dick, voice-over:
In southwest France,
Anna has gone into labor.
She and husband Edward
made the 45-miute
dash to the hospital
in the middle of hosting
a wedding for 100 guests.
Edward: Uh, Anna's been
taken in.
It's 4--she's dilated
4 centimeters
and she's about to have
her epidural now,
so, I've gotta move my car
and get back in there
to support Anna.
Dick, voice-over: Just 5 hours
after leaving the wedding,
Anna gave birth
to their baby daughter.
Edward: So, after an emotional
and exhausting 24 hours,
we want to present to you
the new chatelaine
Emma Scarlett.
Dick, voice-over: Back at
the chateau 5 days later,
Anna, Edward,
and 4-year-old son Charles
have been getting to know the
newest member of the family.
Edward: We're feeling
a bit tired, aren't we?
Anna: We're feeling...
Edward: You more than me.
You've not had sleep
for how many days now?
Anna: Is this 4 day--
I've lost count.
Edward: 5, 6 days.
But she's getting better,
isn't she?
Anna: Yeah.
Edward: And now it feels
complete, doesn't it?
Our family's complete and we're
really lucky, 'cause,
you know, for the foreseeable
future, these two are
gonna be growing up
in a chateau,
and we're gonna get
to watch them.
Anna: And they'll
be best friends.
Dick, voice-over:
And looking to the future,
Anna and Edward
are thinking about
how they may need to adapt
chateau life a bit.
Edward: I'd like to employ
another--another
wedding planner.
I think we're doing enough
weddings a year now
to--to be--and we're
well enough established
to have another
wedding planner with us,
you know, and just
have family time.
Dick, voice-over: It sounds
like you two can have
the best of
both worlds, Edward.
Anna: We're hoping, like,
eventually, everything
will be--will get
slightly easier
and then one day,
I'll be able to...
Edward: Let go?
Anna: Yeah, a bit more.
Let go a bit more.
Dick, voice-over: Sounds lovely,
but for now,
you've both got your hands full,
looking after the little ones
and keeping
your business running.
Back in Normandy, two months
since they got the keys,
Philipp's done what work he can.
Although there's
a lot more to do,
now that Anna's left her job,
she and the girls are moving in.
[Man and Anna speaking French]
Anna: Very excited to have
all of our stuff here finally
and, um...yeah.
It's quite crazy.
Can't believe it, really.
Now I feel like I can
finally be here
with, you know,
all of us together
and helping Philipp,
'cause he's been
working on his own, basically,
solo renovating.
[Philipp speaking French]
It's a big day for us.
I mean, for me, I've been here
for almost two months on my own,
trying to get the place
as ready as possible.
Yeah, so, it's fun to be here
all together.
It's a new chapter, it's a new
chapter of the chateau history.
Dick, voice-over: The second
vanload of their possessions
arrives from storage.
[Anna speaking French]
OK. OK.
He's coming in but then he's
gonna go park over there,
'cause the other van's
in the way.
[Man and Anna speaking French]
Philipp: It's actually--
it's a bit early
for us to move in
with all our stuff,
but you know, keeping the stuff
in the--in the storage,
it would just be
another cost to--
had to--had to move in.
That saves us
quite a lot of money.
You have the cushion.
Ahh. Uhh.
Dick, voice-over:
Heavy lifting done,
the removal guys
call it a day...
just as Anna's dad arrives.
Perfect timing, John.
Anna: He's come ready to do
a bit of gardening or
whatever Philipp needs.
Dick, voice-over: Not sure if
Philipp had this in mind.
John: Yeah, it smells.
Philipp: So, you drove with
4 bags of horse manure
from the U.K. over to here.
John: Yeah.
Philipp: It's good. Thank you.
[Laughs]
John: They didn't stop me...
[Philipp laughs]
Dick, voice-over: It's finally
time for Phillip
to show everyone
the progress he's made
in the family apartment.
Anna: This way.
Philipp: So, last time
you've been here,
it was a dusty building site,
whereas today, it's a dusty
building site, but, ha ha ha.
Anna: But there's
no more floor, yeah.
John: Looks better.
Philipp: It looks much
better, doesn't it?
And these rooms, they're
pretty much just waiting
for electrics
and--and the flooring.
Dick, voice-over:
After buying some tools,
he's concentrated
on the master bedroom,
where he's knocked down
two walls
and made space for
an en-suite bathroom.
Anna: Wow. Look.
Philipp: Ha!
Anna: That's amazing!
Look what Papa's done, Lily.
Philipp: Yeah.
Anna: What do you think?
John: Good, good, good, good.
Anna: Papa's a builder.
I'm so impressed.
That is--
John: Yeah.
Anna: Proper building work.
John: Yeah, it's really good.
Anna: How did you do that?
[Philipp and John
talking at once]
Philipp: One of my many talents.
John: Oh, you were gonna--
we were gonna put
a spirit level on it.
Anna: Ah, you're gonna
try to [indistinct].
John: That's perfect.
Philipp: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Anna: Well done, my love.
Philipp: Yeah.
It's a start.
Dick, voice-over: It's been
hard graft getting this far.
[Cork pops]
Woman: Whoo! Ha ha!
Dick, voice-over: And now
Philipp's mum has arrived,
it's certainly
time to celebrate.
Anna and Philipp: Cheers.
Phillip: Cheers [indistinct].
Dick, voice-over:
Drink up, chaps.
Remember, you're opening
as a B&B in 8 months.
But enjoy this family time.
Next time...
Ashley: I mean, you can't
get more French than this.
Dick, voice-over: Johnny gets
his tongue in a twist...
Merci, Madame.
Monsieur, pardon. Merci.
[Laughs]
Dick, voice-over: a landscaping
project 10 years in the making
begins at Chateau Lagorce...
Edward: All these little
circles here are trees.
Anna: Once it's finished,
it's gonna look really nice.
Dick, voice-over:
And Anna and Philipp...
Philipp: Now run.
Dick, voice-over:
Start replumbing
their whole chateau
from top to bottom.
Philipp: No leak here.
High five.
Anna: Well done!