Escape to the Chateau DIY (2018–2021): Season 6, Episode 4 - Episode #6.4 - full transcript
[theme music playing]
[narrator] Across France
there are thousands of
beautiful château,
many forgotten and abandoned...
Look at this.
[narrator] Now they're being
brought back to life...
By adventurous Brits.
Oh, ow.
[laughing]
[narrator] They're taking on
the challenge...
I'm sure you both think I'm
bonkers for making you do that.
...to transform these
once-unloved buildings...
[woman] Has anything fallen off?
Nothing serious.
...into incredible homes.
And businesses.
It's been better than
we could ever imagine.
There'll be triumphs...
Another big step forward.
...and setbacks...
[man] Oh! Don't get it
on the side.
Do not get it on the top.
...but however hard
the going gets...
[screams]
...those who've made
the move...
That's a perfect fit.
...get to live the dream
as custodians
of their very own castle.
Today...
Oh, that's a good one!
...familiar faces return
with romantic plans
for a new honeymoon suite.
[woman] When you said
that we could start
stripping in the bedroom
I did think it was going
to be more interesting.
[man laughs]
Well the night is young, dear!
[narrator] New château shoppers
start the search
for their dream French manor...
-Oh! [laughs]
-The bathroom is hidden
-behind the wallpaper door.
-That's hidden.
I wonder if that was
a corridor one
[narrator]
And luxury wedding hosts
battle the elements.
Within two minutes, we got rain
and everything got drenched,
especially the top table
so pretty worried actually.
[theme music plays]
[narrator]
The elegant 19th century
Château La Grande Maison,
has 45 rooms,
set in three acres of woodland
on the banks of the river Dive.
Bought nine years ago
by musicians Ben and Billie
from Brighton,
they initially ran it
as a boutique B&B,
but over the last two years
they've been expanding the
business to host luxury events.
[Billie] A château life
is pretty special,
but we've worked solidly
to get to this point.
I mean we've never let
a season go by without
trying to evolve into the next
chapter and the next chapter.
[narrator] Located a stone's
throw from the Loire Valley,
last time we saw them,
they added
château-quality glamping
to their accommodations.
I'm going to live here now.
How lovely is that?
[narrator] Now they're looking
to take the weddings side of
the business to the next level,
with an opulent new offering
for the bride and groom.
Our big project is
the honeymoon suite.
The main room is obviously
the bedroom itself,
which we've got
lots of plans for including
a lovely château bed.
And then the other big feature
is we're going to do
a luxury Jacuzzi bath room
just off the honeymoon suite.
[Billie] That's going to
create a space that
we didn't have before
which is a really premium
luxury romantic suite.
It's going to be about being
very pampered really
so perfect for lovers.
-Yeah.
-Perfect for couples.
And we'll have a date.
Play your cards right!
[narrator] Ben and Billie
are aiming for a really
high-end finish
to both rooms,
so this renovation
is going to be a major job.
Their most ambitious plans
are for the bathroom,
which Ben and his mate,
also called Ben,
have completely gutted.
And typically for
a 170-year old château,
that's uncovered a problem.
[Ben] We've measured
the floor and the walls,
and the walls are out
in every corner.
Basically, we haven't got
a single 90-degree corner
in the whole room.
So, what we're going
to have to do is build
a kind of room within a room
of metal stud work
to give us nice
90-degree corners
just so we don't have
disappearing angles
when it comes to tiles
and things like that.
[narrator] But before they can
deal with the wonky walls,
they need to put up
a false ceiling
and they've got just the tool
to give them straight lines.
[Ben] If you'd told me
as a 7-year-old boy in the 70s
I'd be playing with lasers,
so I've been well chuffed.
So, very high-tech laser
set up here
gives us a nice level line
all the way around the room
all four walls
and now Ben can put
a hanger in each corner
and make sure they're all level.
[narrator]
As the new ceiling goes up,
Ben's taking
the opportunity to improve
on what was originally there.
[Ben] One of the things
you need to do in an old
building like this is
that every opportunity, every
time you make a void anywhere
just fill it full of insulation.
That's a big room.
We don't want to waste any
heat through the ceiling.
The windows are nice
and double-glazed
so should be nice
and efficient in here.
[narrator] While the Bens
crack on in the bathroom,
Billie is thinking about how
to transform the plain bedroom
into a luxurious
romantic space.
And she's hoping
a figurine she's found
at the local charity shop
could become a stylish
accent piece.
I think I'm going to put him
on a plinth.
I think that's where
he deserved to be.
I might even try and turn him
into a bit of a cupid character
with maybe some wings.
But what I'm going to do first
is repair him and clean him
and then see how
I feel about him.
[narrator] Billie has
a cheap and cheerful way
of getting rid
of decades of grime.
A really good degreaser
is vinegar.
And to make the vinegar stick
it's really easy
if you use ketchup,
so that's got vinegar in it.
You have to just...
-throw it on. [laughs]
-[bottle farts]
That holds a vinegar on
and then that can start
breaking up the grease a bit,
hopefully.
[narrator] Now that
her Cupid is clean...
I'm having way
too much fun doing this.
...Billie can give him
a nice new paint job.
This is going to tickle!
[giggles]
I'm pleased with that.
This is a nice thing to do
while Ben's slaving away
up in the bathroom.
[Ben] Okay.
Yep.
It's all going really well,
got some of the bigger bits in.
This is a final big bit
in the room
and we're done for
the day I think.
[Billie] Oh that looks like
real progress.
[drill whirrs]
Quite ready to have
a Jacuzzi just yet.
[narrator] Not quite yet!
At least stage one of
this big job is complete.
But there is still
a long way to go
if they are going to have this
and a new bedroom
ready for the start
of wedding season.
Hundreds of château
all over France
are in need of new owners
and loving restoration.
Luckily there's no shortage
of Brits
keen to cross the channel
to make a castle
not just their home
but also their business.
Meet interior designer Lydia
and her husband,
software company owner, Gary,
who want to up sticks from Kent
to live the dream
in the French countryside.
What is there not to like about
France to be honest.
I mean, the language is such
a romantic language in itself.
The cuisine the wines,
the general joie de vivreis
a perfect recipe for you know,
the rest of our lives really!
[narrator] And this couple's
most important ingredient
is their new home.
[Lydia] I love old buildings.
I love original features.
I'd love a château with...
dated glamour.
[narrator] It also needs
to work as a business
and they're not short of ideas.
[both]
Definitely bed and breakfast.
Obviously, bed and breakfast.
Definitely some events,
I mean we have
thought about doing weddings.
[narrator]
And Lydia has plans to cater
for some four-legged
guests too.
I believe donkeys
are really overlooked
so we also want to run
a donkey sanctuary
and we know that it might not be
a great big money earner,
but it's just some lovely idea.
[narrator] So, with plenty of
land and outbuildings
on the wish list,
a budget of 700,000 Euros,
around £600,000,
and driving their own
piece of French history,
the search is on.
They're kicking it off in
the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region
60 miles southeast
of Bordeaux,
at 19th century
Château la Gazaille.
-Amazing!
-Yeah.
La Gazaille Château!
Let's see inside.
It's amazing.
[narrator] Built in 1850,
this grand pile offers 17 rooms
spread over four floors.
It's surrounded by nearly
20 acres of land
and is on the
market for 685,000 Euros.
comfortably within
Lydia and Gary's budget.
Very impressive isn't it?
Wow.
-[Gary] I love the balcony.
-Look at this.
I love that balcony.
That's right.
You can sing to me out there,
can't you?
-[Gary] It's like coloured.
-You could sing!
[narrator] Their meeting estate
agent Anne for a guided tour.
Welcome to La Gazaille
-very nice to see you.
-I'm Gary. Nice to see you.
Welcome and I'll show you
into the reception.
-Yeah.
-Thank you very much.
[narrator]
The château is already running
as an established guest house
and could start earning the
couple an income straight away.
Oh wow!
So, you've got the old original
tiles on the floor.
It was an old maison de maître
landowners house so there's...
[Gary] Yeah, it looks
like it would have been
...a lot of the old features
are still left in place.
[Gary] Impressed already
and I've only just walked in.
[narrator] There are
plenty more period features
to please Lydia.
Okay, this is
coming into the breakfast room.
We've got a marble
fireplace in here.
We've got the lovely
old parquet floor...
-[Gary] Parquet floor.
-...which is really nice.
-This is original as well.
-This is original. Yeah.
-And the panelling on the wall.
-[Gary] What year is this?
-[Anne] 1850.
-1850.
[narrator] Across the hall,
the spacious dining room
has also been
sympathetically refurbished.
[Anne] It's got really
nice old floors.
Yes, a lot of ceiling rose,
-Yes. Very impressive.
-Yeah.
-[Anne] It is lovely.
-[Lydia] Yeah.
And what's that interesting is
a little cupboard over there?
[Anne] That would have been
a serving hatch.
[Lydia] Interesting.
That would have been
from the olden days
because behind here
you've got the kitchens
and the storage areas
so they would have served
through here into
the dining room.
Oh, that makes it classy.
You can serve my dinner
through there.
-Yes.
-I shall do,
we shall get that functioning!
[narrator] Next, Lydia & Gary
are keen to investigate
the bedrooms.
[Gary] Oh I love these stairs.
[narrator] Spread over
the first and second floors,
there are 12 in total,
Five of which
are let to guests
at an average cost
of £63 a night.
-This is the Soleil suite.
-Oh, this is nice.
-The Soleil suite.
-Oh, lovely.
East side again so
you've got three windows,
lots of light.
You're looking over the pool
on to the riverside.
That's park.
[Lydia] That's brilliant,
isn't it?
Yeah, this is--
it's a lovely room.
This is really lovely.
I think this would be my room.
-I don't where you're sleeping!
-[chuckles]
[narrator] All the bathrooms
have been newly refitted,
potentially saving
Lydia and Gary thousands.
And while most of the bedrooms
have clearly been modernized,
at least one is still
very traditional in character.
This one is called The Suite,
Le Suite.
Very French with its wallpaper,
but as well,
it has a feature here.
Oh!
The bathroom is hidden behind
the wallpaper door.
-That's hidden.
-Okay?
I wonder
if that was a corridor one.
You've two doors here going
out onto a little balcony
all the way up onto the front.
Aha. Oh, look at this.
Come and have a look.
Oh, yes.
This is where you can
sing to me, see.
[Gary] Fantastic.
I like this one.
[Lydia] Yeah I do like this one.
[narrator] It seems
the interiors have won over
Lydia and Gary,
but for it to work
as an events business
and animal sanctuary too,
the château will need
more than just nice bedrooms.
Coming up...
Oh, wow!
[Billie] Room fit for a king.
...Ben and Billie
get royally inspired.
You'd never want to get out of
bed if you look up, would you?
[both laugh]
[narrator] And one couple's
wedding venue...
Come and have a look guys!
...isn't smelling of roses.
Oh!
Oh, yeah, don't even want
a little whiff of this
anywhere near our wedding.
[narrator] This is
the impressive 15th century
Château Lagorce.
It has 22 bedrooms
and is surrounded
by rolling vineyards.
The lucky residents
are Stockport-born Edward,
his Kosovan wife Anna,
and their children, Charles
and one-year-old baby Emma.
Since taking it over,
the château has been run
as a luxury wedding venue.
For us it is important for
the wedding to be exceptional
and to be exactly what
the couple wants.
[Edward] So, the wedding
industry is a cutthroat business
and you really have to be
at the top of be your game
to actually be successful.
[narrator] Situated near
the city Bordeaux...
Anna and Edward
spent most of the off season
creating a new
stylish pool area
and an atmospheric wine venue
in the château's caves.
But now the wedding season
is here,
it's all systems go for their
first big event of the year.
We have been working non-stop.
I am a bit rusty
and a bit tired
and a bit not used
to pretty much running around.
So, more coffee and hopefully
a bit more maybe an energy
drink to keep me going.
[narrator]
They are expecting 65 guests
for the big day tomorrow
and there is a lot to do.
Not only do they need
to finish preparing
the château's 22 bedrooms...
they're also planning to host
a welcome party on the terrace,
as most of the guests
are arriving tonight.
Because of all the bed making
my back is in pain now
and the day is not finished yet.
[narrator] And if there wasn't
already enough to do,
some of the wedding party
are already here.
[Anna] Hi, how you doing?
Finally!
[narrator] While Anna
helps them settle in...
Edward's at the back of
the château
with an urgent problem
to tackle.
The sewage pipe work
is in danger of wafting
unwanted odours from
the septic tank
towards the terrace
during tonight's party.
[Edward] I am looking at
a problem I've got
where I'll get
kind of drain smell
heading up towards the château
in the pipe work.
So, last year
I installed a pipe
into the woods
about 50 meters
and put a pump on the end.
[narrator] But that pump's
failing to pull enough of
the whiffy air away,
so Edward desperately needs to
increase the system's suction.
So, today, I'm fitting a pump
right at the start
so there's no way in this world
that smells can
go up towards the château.
[narrator] With the wedding
welcome reception in just
a couple of hours' time,
it's a good job Edward has
a nose for the job.
Oof!
Oh!
Aw, well, okay.
So, we want the air
going away from the tank,
[narrator]
The pump cost just £60
and needs to be
fitted with strong glue.
[bottle farts]
[laughs] That is t
he glue not the tank!
Better out than in!
[narrator] Pump in, it's just
a matter of wiring it up
and hoping it
solves the problem.
Okay.
The last thing anybody wants
is a drain smell at a wedding.
Don't even want
a little whiff of this
anywhere near her wedding.
So, I'm gonna run
and put that on.
[narrator] With power coming
from the nearby outbuildings,
this is the test of
Edward's handiwork.
Here we go, all right.
Oh, come on.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, it's a silent pump.
I went all out this time
and got silent pump.
Okay.
[narrator] There's just one
last thing to check,
and that's to see
if the offending odours
are being successfully sucked
deep into the woods.
Oh, that's.
Ah!
Well, it's working!!!
Oof!
Ah, that is
working extremely well.
I got within three meters
and it was stinky-stinky.
[narrator] Thankfully,
it's mission accomplished.
So, the glamorous side
of living in a château.
[narrator] While Edward
has been making sure
the air is sweet-smelling
for the wedding party...
Anna has been busy preparing
an extravagant
feast on the terrace.
Go and have a look guys!
Go.
Thank you so much.
-Thank you for being so sweet.
-Thank you.
[narrator] And it seems it's
got the seal of approval
from the bride and groom.
The party is in full swing and
the food is going down a treat,
but there's a serious shadow
starting to loom over
the all-important
Big Day tomorrow.
I am just looking
at the weather
and there might be
possibility of--
[speaks French]
You know, kind of storms
last thing we needed really,
but it is what it is.
Can't, can't change the weather.
[whimsical music plays]
[narrator] Half an hour south
of the Loire valley,
Ben and Billie
are taking a break from DIY.
At the magnificent
Château d'Oiron,
they're looking for inspiration
for their new honeymoon suite,
which they want to be their
most opulent yet.
Billie's brought her sketchbook,
I brought my camera.
We want to kind of
capture a few images
that we can use as part
of the mood board
for the whole project.
[narrator]
The 16th century château
was once the prestigious home
of notable French dignitaries.
This room's nice isn't it?
Oh wow.
[narrator]
A couple of centuries later,
it gradually fell
into disrepair
until the government
rescued it in 1941,
and later opened it
to the public as a museum.
That is just unbelievable.
[narrator] The room
they're most keen to see
is known as the King's suite.
-Oh!
-Oh, wow!
[Ben] Got bedroom envy.
[narrator] This sumptuous suite
is rumoured to have been built
for the extravagant
King Louis 14th
when this was the home of one
of his mistresses
Madame de Montespan.
You'd never want to get
out of bed if you were
looking up at that ceiling.
[both laugh]
[Billie] Room for a king.
Yeah, absolutely.
Wow.
Blue and gold and cherubs...
[camera shutters]
...but there's
a quite a lot of, um,
flesh on display up there,
isn't there, Ben.
[narrator] With room after room
of Renaissance frescoes
and 17th century
blue and gold wood panelling,
there's no shortage of
stunningly opulent features
to inspire the couple.
Wow!
-[gasps]
-What a space.
Look at that!
-[Billie] Oh, so credible.
-Wow!
You know, when I say
something is jaw-dropping...
-Yeah.
-...my jaw actually dropped.
Wow!
[narrator] The challenge will be
scaling the look down
to fit their considerably more
modest château and budget.
We could look for frames
similar to that,
-with a motif at the top.
-Yeah.
I think we could do
that really.
Right.
Great. Great, great, great.
It's certainly inspiring,
the royal blue again,
leaf motifs,
gold edgings on things.
Coming here has been
really inspirational
and I think we can take
a lot of ideas away from here.
And I think it's going to be,
it's going to be a great
worthwhile day I think.
[narrator]
Back at their own château...
It's beautiful wood, isn't it?
-Really beautiful.
-[Billie] It is!
...And inspired by
their visit to the museum,
Ben and Billie have found the
centrepiece for their new
honeymoon suite.
A beautifully detailed
antique château bed.
[Ben] We bought the bed
in a lovely little brocante,
got it for a really,
really good price,
but we've only seen it in bits.
So, hopefully
everything's there.
[narrator] The 170-year old
cherry wood bed
cost just £35,
but its design
is based on the style
of 18th century
King Louis the 15th
and once assembled,
it should set the tone
for this grand suite.
[Billie]
It's such a classic piece
and these sort beds
are so romantic isn't it?
Perfect for a honeymoon.
Romantic sweet, Isn't it.
Nice and strong as well?
Okay. Not for that I'm sure.
[narrator] And Ben and Billie
have another brocante bargain
to give the bed
its crowning glory.
[Billie]
So, we found this thing,
which probably was--
Do you reckon
that's like a whole table.
[Ben]
I think it's a little table.
You see these swirls like
leaf front and swirls,
a very similar to,
similar to those.
This is-- [laughs]
You know what, it's amazing.
It's a classic thing again.
Well, I think that's
going to go with that
and sometimes you don't quite
realize why,
but that's almost identical!
[narrator] The uncannily
matching old table
will become the corona
of a ciel de lit canopy
above the handsome bed,
making it truly fit
for a king and queen.
If you can't have
a crown in a château,
-where can you have a crown?
-Exactly.
[narrator]
The key piece of furniture
in the honeymoon suite
is settled,
so it can be packed away,
as there's still a lot of work
to do on the bedroom décor
before they can offer it
to newlyweds.
Back in the south-western
Nouvelle Aquitaine region,
Kent couple Lydia and Gary
are continuing their hunt
for their dream home
with a budget of 700,000 Euros.
The 19th century
Château la Gazaille,
with its five ready-to-let
B&B suites,
has already impressed...
[Lydia]
Think this would be my room,
don't know where
you're sleeping!
...but the couple also
want enough space for events.
Right. So, you're going
right up now to the very top.
This is a bit that's not been
renovated as yet.
This is an excellent space.
Oh, wow.
Let's look you've got
all your lovely round windows.
Look at this.
Look at this, this is lovely.
My imagination
is going wild now.
I know, there's so many uses.
Do you know when
the beams are replaced?
They've been done within
the last ten years,
-the beams here.
-Last ten years so
they've obviously got
all the treatment.
You can see where
there's still old beams
and then they put new ones in
to support where was necessary.
But the structure
looks really good, isn't it?
The structure
is absolutely fine,
-Yeah.
-you got this lovely stone--
You can see it's very strong.
It looks very strong.
[narrator] Once refurbished,
this flexible top floor space
could be a perfect venue
for small events.
[Lydia] I love this space.
Love it.
Good. Good, good.
[laughs]
Definitely one to think about,
this room.
[narrator] But to host weddings
they'll need more than
a spacious attic,
so next they need to explore
what other large spaces
the château has to offer.
[Anne] Here we've got
a big stone barn,
but then you've got a nice area
here that it's got a stage.
-Have a look.
-[Lydia] And I see that.
-Yeah.
-[Gary] Let's have a look.
Wow! The wood work.
[Anne] It got special
with wine barrels.
[Gary] Oh, yes.
[Anne] So, what do you think
you could use this for?
Musicians bands.
[Gary] Music events.
[Lydia]
Yeah, music events, gigs.
[Anne]
Even just if it's a rainy day
it gives you an
inside space to use.
Yes.
-Good space for you and ideal.
-Ideal space, a good space.
Yeah.
[narrator] But there's
one important thing
they still need to know...
is there room for a
donkey sanctuary for Lydia?
[Gary] We've seen
quite a bit of land
visible to the eye.
Where does it extend?
How far does it extend
how many hectares?
[Anne] Well, this actually is
7.8 hectares of land here.
-Really.
And it's all flat land
and it's all enclosed
so for your donkeys
-it'd be absolutely perfect.
-[Lydia] Yes. Yeah.
Down beyond the gardens
and the orchard
-there's a huge flat field.
-Down there.
[narrator] 7.8 hectares
is around ten football pitches,
plenty of space for donkeys.
-Nice to meet you.
-Nice to meet you.
[narrator] This château
has certainly given
Lydia and Gary
food for thought.
It's in our budget,
I think it's
a serious contender.
Yeah, it ticks a lot of boxes.
I definitely think that
we would give it
some consideration.
[narrator] It's been
a very positive first viewing,
but the next château
on the list
could throw a cat
amongst the pigeons.
Coming up...
Cheers!
...Wedding day
for Edward and Anna...
[glass clinks]
...is a balancing act.
I think we are probably
about 15-20 minutes behind.
[narrator] And Ben and Billie's
bedroom plans
start to fall apart.
Ben, look.
You've broken the château!
[Billie cries]
[theme music plays]
[narrator] In the heart of
the Bordeaux wine region,
it's the day of
Anna and Edward's
first wedding of the season.
I think I'll turn this one here.
[narrator] But one
of several rainstorms
forecast for the area
has already caused
havoc with the preparations.
We set up all the tables
with the tablecloths
with the name tags
and within two minutes
blue sky, no warning.
We got rain
and everything's got drenched,
especially the top table.
So, we're changing
the tablecloths
because everything
has to look right.
[narrator] The wedding is due
to start in just two hours...
[all] Cheers!
...and rain clouds can quickly
sweep in again
from the nearby Atlantic coast.
Bride-to-be Louise is refusing
to let it dampen her spirits.
It was a bit worrying,
but I trust Anna,
she said the weather
would be fine so,
the sun's out,
so yeah,
I just need to get ready.
[narrator] There is hardly a
cloud in the sky now,
but a second downpour
would spell disaster.
[Anna] If it happens again,
that means we don't have enough
to change the tablecloths,
to make sure that it's seamless.
So, I am pretty
worried actually.
[narrator] And having
to re-lay all the tables
means they're now
also playing catch up.
I think we are probably
about 15-20 minutes behind.
On most days the bride's
probably 20, 20 minutes
half an hour late anyway
so we just need to go
a little bit faster
and catch up the pace.
[narrator] But there's an
important job still to be done
that can't be rushed.
[glass clinks]
[narrator] The bride and groom
have requested a dazzling
champagne tower
for the reception.
But it's off to a bad start.
[Edward] Yeah, basically,
we have professional glasses
for making these
Champagne towers.
Client support their own glasses
shouldn't a problem.
The problem is these are big
like champagne cups
with tiny little faces on them,
which makes it very hard to make
so I'm going to just make
sure that we manage to get
this up as it should be
and then I'm going to give it
a bit of a test.
I think once it's well placed it
should be all right.
It's just going to make our job
a little bit harder.
[narrator] Anna has her doubts.
Ed.
One has already fallen
because the bottom is so small,
unless we--
So, I can get it up,
give the table a shake,
-look, can you see.
-Okay. Well, we can't.
No, no, no--
We'll get other glasses
if we can't do it
with these ones
because it was the bride's
cousin that gifted them to her,
but it's not possible.
They need to be a certain type,
and this isn't the type.
[indistinct chatter]
[narrator] The guests are
starting to arrive...
and Anna's hoping that this is
the last setback they'll face.
It's looking good,
we managed to do it 22 minutes
before the ceremony starts.
The guests are all here.
It's pretty much go time.
When we do weddings here it
pretty much reminds me
of our wedding here
like watching people on the
steps coming down the ceremony,
the flowers, everything.
It's like reliving your best
day over and over again.
I get emotional
every single time.
[narrator]
The groom Sam is ready.
So the guests take their seats.
And wait for the bride.
Finally got here, first wedding.
[Anna] Yeah.
Emotional.
It makes me feel emotional.
[Pastor] Sam and Louise
commit themselves today
to each other in sacred trust.
[narrator]
With the nuptials underway,
Anna and Edward's
thoughts turn to the reception
and the threat
of another storm.
[Edward] We just need to get
them eating really, don't we?
Obviously there's
the canapés and champagne,
but bang on time to table
just so we know.
But we don't take any risks
with the weather.
No, we can't.
[narrator] They've got
through the ceremony.
Now all they can do is hope
the reception isn't a washout.
45 miles away,
between Bordeaux and Toulouse,
Lydia and Gary
are continuing the search
for their dream French home...
Oh, wow look at this.
...with a viewing
at Château de Grenier.
They're looking for a property
with business potential
for B&B, events
and space for
a donkey sanctuary.
[Gary] Oh, that looks nice.
[Lydia] Look at the ornate
window at the top.
Yeah, l love that.
Look at that across there,
it's amazing.
[narrator] This grand
18th century home
has 12 bedrooms
and 16 acres of parkland.
[Lydia] Look at the grounds!
[Gary] Helping our business,
so much scope there.
I'm really keen
to see what that is
because that's really
interesting.
[narrator] But at 780,000 Euros,
it's 80,000 over budget,
so will need
to really pack a punch
to convince Lydia and Gary
it's the place for them.
-Bonjour!
-Bonjour!
-Nice to meet you!
-Nice to meet you.
Bonjour, monsieur.
[narrator] Owner Patrice
and agent Sylvie
are here to show them around.
Oh wow!
-Oh, wow, this is good.
-This is lovely.
[Gary] This is a charming little
entrance hall, isn't it.
Now, we are going to
the dining room.
[narrator] The carefully
restored ground floor rooms
all flow off
the central hallway
and offer stunning
views across the gardens.
[Patrice speaks French]
Look at the terrace.
[Patrice speaks French]
[Lydia]
And the view is manifique!
Look at the fireplace.
It's lovely.
[speaks French]
We.
[narrator] The high price
of this château
would limit Lydia and Gary's
renovation budget,
so it's a big bonus these rooms
are in such good condition.
Oh this is nice isn't it!
[Gary] This is where
the work gets done.
The working fireplace.
It's very pretty.
[Lydia] And the tiles,
look at the tiles,
very cosy, for a big house.
Isn't it, it's very cosy.
[narrator] Next, they need to
investigate the B&B potential,
so it's upstairs
to the first floor.
There are four bedrooms
on this floor.
[Lydia] And these are
for bed and breakfast for--
-Yeah, for the--
-[speaks French]
[Patrice] Well, the first one
they're looking...
[Lydia] This is lovely.
-...on the park.
-Look at this.
[Gary] It's a nice bright room
again lovely and bright.
[Lydia] Well, isn't it.
And this room
have air conditioning.
I love this space because,
you know,
it has built-in storage
and the double aspect,
the view,
the marble fireplace.
What is there not to like it.
-It's amazing.
-It's just the general ambience.
I would love to
stay here myself.
[narrator]
Like at the first château,
an established B&B business
means the couple could start
earning straight away.
Guests here pay
an average £112 a night.
Almost twice the rate
at Château la Gazaille.
So, there's a lot to weigh up.
[Lydia]
Oh my goodness, two sinks!
[Gary] His and hers.
Again, nice and light
beautiful views.
It's a treasury, very nice.
-I love it.
-Love this one.
Yeah.
[narrator] This place may tick
their B&B box,
but it is well over budget,
and Lydia and Gary
are yet to see whether
it delivers for events
or for donkeys!
[whimsical music plays]
Back near the Loire Valley
in Western France,
Ben and Billie
are in the thick of renovations
to create a high-end
honeymoon suite.
The next job is we're
working in the luxury bathroom.
You believe it's a luxury
bathroom, is that right?
[Billie]
Isn't very much like it now.
We're going to put down a new
floor bit of a tricky job
because all the walls
aren't straight.
So, I've got a lots of
different angles to work with
so that could be an
awful lot of swearing today.
[narrator] Before building
his room-within-a-room
to square off
the bathroom walls,
Ben needs to lay a new floor.
And his first challenge
is to find a way
of cutting the boards
to fit the château's
wonky angles.
So, I'm going to make, well it's
very much like a set square,
but it's obviously not a square
because it's not a square--
90 degree angle.
But I'm calling it a jig
so as I'm going
to set this piece
flat against this wall
as a nice flat surface here,
and I'm going to set this piece
completely parallel
with this joist,
which stays the same
distance away from the wall
all the way along.
So, if it's in line
with this joist
it'll be in line with the wall
so this angle should be correct
if it all goes to plan.
[narrator]
While Ben has his work cut out
in thebathroom,
Billie's hoping for
an easier time in the bedroom,
removing the old wallpaper.
I am going to need
the steamer definitely.
When you said that we could
start stripping in the bedroom
I did think it was going to be
much more interesting.
-[Gary laughs]
-Honestly.
Well, the night is young dear!
[laughs]
[narrator] Using his
home-made square tools
that are far from square,
next Ben needs to cut
his floorboards.
Just set a measure
and because we got both angles
heading in different directions
the actual board is not big
enough to put it in
one piece because
we can end up with this gap.
So, what I'm going to do
is put it in two pieces.
It's bit of a shame.
I'd like to get
the first two pieces in one go
it would made
it slightly quicker,
but it's no big deal really.
It's just one of those things
got changed--
Gotta change the design
as you go.
[narrator] Things are
rarely straightforward
when it comes
to renovations in a château...
Oh, that's a good one.
...but at least Billie
is making progress
in the bedroom.
Oh, that's more like it!
Come on!
That's better.
[narrator]
Until her stripping uncovers
another all-too common
problem in old buildings.
Right.
This is the kind of thing
I was dreading actually though.
The steamer is also shown up
the vulnerable bits of plaster
and when you knock, you know,
the plaster has different sound
when it's not good.
So, I did suspect that
and the steamer is
just like bought that.
Ben look.
[Ben] You've broken the château!
Oh, look. Yeah.
This is a replastering job,
isn't it?
-Yeah.
-[Billie cries]
This is a typical isn't it,
redecoration becomes a rebuild.
-Yes, a day's work, yeah.
-Yeah.
[narrator] With the walls,
tiling and fitting still
to be done in the bathroom
and the plasterwork
to replace before they can
decorate the bedroom,
completing the honeymoon suite
is a way off yet.
Coming up...
Lydia and Gary find
an unexpected extra.
This is really lovely space,
isn't it?
Yeah.
[both] We could have
a wide variety of uses.
[narrator]
And Anna and Edward's
weather woes...
Let me just make sure
she's alright.
are not over yet.
[Anna] That's the part
I can't control
and that is the
most annoying part.
[narrator] An hour
southeast of Bordeaux,
Lydia and Gary are viewing
the fully-restored 18th century
Château de Grenier
set in 16 acres of land.
It's an established B&B
that's already impressed.
Donc la terrasse.
-Look at this terrace.
-Oh, yes.
-Oh, wow.
-This is so nice.
[Lydia] Well, can you
just imagine us sitting here
with a glass of wine.
-Glass of wine, yeah, Champaign.
-After we've
-put on an event or something.
-There's barbecue going.
[narrator] But at
£80,000 over their budget,
this property needs
something extra.
This looks very interesting.
After you.
[Lydia] Oh, wow.
The workshop.
[Gary] Well, it's tidier
than a workshop.
It's more like a gallery.
[laughs]
This is really lovely
space isn't it?
Because it have a wide...
[both] Wide variety of uses.
[narrator] Once a coach house
and stables,
this fully-converted
exhibition space
is perfect for events,
and interior designer Lydia
has spotted even more
earning potential.
[Lydia] You could use this as
an interior design workshop,
but also it can
make a really good gîte.
-If you--
-Isn't it?
[Gary] Yeah, it could.
If we divide it,
I mean it's huge.
-Mmm, food for thought.
-Lovely.
I'm getting lots of inspiration.
[Gary] Yeah.
[narrator] Time has run out on
this trip across the channel,
but Lydia and Gary
will be returning home
with lots to consider.
A few months later
and back in Kent,
travel restrictions
have meant Lydia & Gary
have been unable
to return to France.
So they're continuing
their search for the perfect
château online.
[Gary] Look at that potential
that is so ornate,
nice little
archway through there.
[narrator] And they've
had time to reflect
on the two they've visited.
[Gary] Château Gazaille,
that was an impressive château.
I really liked it.
The house have huge potential,
didn't it?
-Have a huge potential.
-The balconies and the bedrooms.
[Gary] Yeah. There was certainly
enough hectares for a donkey--
It already had two ponies there.
Had two ponies there.
The second
one the Château de Grenier,
it was immediately something
you could call home.
The interior of
that château had been done out
to a fantastic degree.
[Lydia] For me it was beautiful,
but it didn't inspire me
because it has already...
Ah, well that's your interior
designer coming out
because there wasn't
much left for you to do,
but I was happy
because there wasn't much
left for me to do either.
-You're right.
-You want to do the work.
You don't want to sit under
an apple tree, do you,
all day and do nothing.
[narrator] But something
they are both in agreement on
is returning to France
as soon as they can.
We definitely do
need to see more chateaus.
Yeah, I think it's easy
to get carried away
with what we've seen
be blown away by that,
but we do need to ensure that,
you know,
we're going to make
this decision.
That it's the right decision,
in the right château,
-in the right place.
-Yes.
[narrator] Back in Bordeaux
at Château Lagorce...
Anna and Edward are hosting
their first wedding
of the season.
[applause]
[narrator] So far,
the rain has held off
and with the
happy couple hitched,
the party can begin.
And thankfully, Anna's switched
out Champagne glasses
are creating
the desired effect.
[Anna] I am very pleased
the Champagne fountain
worked perfectly and it
didn't just like crumble down
and felt like it was pretty much
going to happen before
that was-- that was a good call
to change it at the last
possible minute.
[narrator] The guests are being
treated to a sumptuous
five-course meal...
And Anna & Edward are
getting it out quickly.
After heavy rain this morning,
and with more predicted later,
they don't want
to take any chances.
That's the part that
I can't control
and that is most annoying part.
But we just make sure
she's all right.
Are you all or not?
[narrator] But for now, the
problem of all things
seems to be the sun.
How is that?
Is that a bit better?
The sun is coming from
over there so just
like a few chairs
that I understand.
So, we keep on moving
the parcels.
It's back and forth
back and forth.
But at least the sun is shining.
Can you just move forward?
It was just--
just being awkward
just make you look silly.
Now you're all right there?
-Okay.
-[woman] We're planning
to take the--
Right. And the sun will
start going down soon,
so all those will take care
of you soon.
[narrator]
As the sun begins to set,
the lights go on
and the celebrations move
to the lower terrace.
But with another storm forecast
for this evening,
Anna and Edward
want to bring forward
the firework display,
which is normally the grand
finale of the night.
[Edward] We've just about made
the first dance before
the heavens start to open.
It's just about dark enough
to start doing
fireworks and so
fingers crossed.
Bruno!
[narrator] The hosts
have been careful not to let
their weather worries
spoil the mood for
newlyweds Louise and Sam.
It's been better than we could
ever imagined.
It's been a unreal, isn't it?
Yeah, the wedding is surpassed
all expectations.
It is like fairy tale, isn't it?
It's like a fairy tale.
It's surreal, it's been the best
thing to ever happen.
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
[narrator] High praise indeed,
and now the sky is dark enough,
the big day can go out
with a bang.
[explosion]
[crowd cheering]
[narrator] It's a huge relief
for Anna and Edward.
[Anna]
We think it went really well.
We were worried.
We battled pretty much all
the elements today.
[narrator] Now, Edward has
just one more romantic moment
to pull off,
and it's not for
the bride and groom.
Anna, I've got you
a little surprise.
Come one.
Come on sit down.
You worked really hard today
and we never celebrated
our wedding anniversary,
so let's have
a glass of champagne.
[narrator]
It might be a few days late,
but with 30 weddings a year,
it's a wonder they find any
time for themselves at all.
[thunder rumbles]
Sadly, that looming storm
isn't going to let them
savour the moment.
No rest for the wicked.
We're going to have to go
and close all the shutters.
You gotta to chuck it down.
Quickly grab your glass.
[thunder rumbles]
[narrator] Next time...
[woman] Go round me,
go round me.
[narrator] The end is in
sight for Ben and Billie's
honeymoon suite.
-Got it.
-Yeah, I've got it.
I've got it. I've got it.
[narrator] Familiar faces
grapple with a new challenge.
I got to get in straight.
-And new faces...
-[coughs]
...tackle an enormous project.
I hate this.
You know I hate this.
[laughs]
[theme music playing]
[narrator] Across France
there are thousands of
beautiful château,
many forgotten and abandoned...
Look at this.
[narrator] Now they're being
brought back to life...
By adventurous Brits.
Oh, ow.
[laughing]
[narrator] They're taking on
the challenge...
I'm sure you both think I'm
bonkers for making you do that.
...to transform these
once-unloved buildings...
[woman] Has anything fallen off?
Nothing serious.
...into incredible homes.
And businesses.
It's been better than
we could ever imagine.
There'll be triumphs...
Another big step forward.
...and setbacks...
[man] Oh! Don't get it
on the side.
Do not get it on the top.
...but however hard
the going gets...
[screams]
...those who've made
the move...
That's a perfect fit.
...get to live the dream
as custodians
of their very own castle.
Today...
Oh, that's a good one!
...familiar faces return
with romantic plans
for a new honeymoon suite.
[woman] When you said
that we could start
stripping in the bedroom
I did think it was going
to be more interesting.
[man laughs]
Well the night is young, dear!
[narrator] New château shoppers
start the search
for their dream French manor...
-Oh! [laughs]
-The bathroom is hidden
-behind the wallpaper door.
-That's hidden.
I wonder if that was
a corridor one
[narrator]
And luxury wedding hosts
battle the elements.
Within two minutes, we got rain
and everything got drenched,
especially the top table
so pretty worried actually.
[theme music plays]
[narrator]
The elegant 19th century
Château La Grande Maison,
has 45 rooms,
set in three acres of woodland
on the banks of the river Dive.
Bought nine years ago
by musicians Ben and Billie
from Brighton,
they initially ran it
as a boutique B&B,
but over the last two years
they've been expanding the
business to host luxury events.
[Billie] A château life
is pretty special,
but we've worked solidly
to get to this point.
I mean we've never let
a season go by without
trying to evolve into the next
chapter and the next chapter.
[narrator] Located a stone's
throw from the Loire Valley,
last time we saw them,
they added
château-quality glamping
to their accommodations.
I'm going to live here now.
How lovely is that?
[narrator] Now they're looking
to take the weddings side of
the business to the next level,
with an opulent new offering
for the bride and groom.
Our big project is
the honeymoon suite.
The main room is obviously
the bedroom itself,
which we've got
lots of plans for including
a lovely château bed.
And then the other big feature
is we're going to do
a luxury Jacuzzi bath room
just off the honeymoon suite.
[Billie] That's going to
create a space that
we didn't have before
which is a really premium
luxury romantic suite.
It's going to be about being
very pampered really
so perfect for lovers.
-Yeah.
-Perfect for couples.
And we'll have a date.
Play your cards right!
[narrator] Ben and Billie
are aiming for a really
high-end finish
to both rooms,
so this renovation
is going to be a major job.
Their most ambitious plans
are for the bathroom,
which Ben and his mate,
also called Ben,
have completely gutted.
And typically for
a 170-year old château,
that's uncovered a problem.
[Ben] We've measured
the floor and the walls,
and the walls are out
in every corner.
Basically, we haven't got
a single 90-degree corner
in the whole room.
So, what we're going
to have to do is build
a kind of room within a room
of metal stud work
to give us nice
90-degree corners
just so we don't have
disappearing angles
when it comes to tiles
and things like that.
[narrator] But before they can
deal with the wonky walls,
they need to put up
a false ceiling
and they've got just the tool
to give them straight lines.
[Ben] If you'd told me
as a 7-year-old boy in the 70s
I'd be playing with lasers,
so I've been well chuffed.
So, very high-tech laser
set up here
gives us a nice level line
all the way around the room
all four walls
and now Ben can put
a hanger in each corner
and make sure they're all level.
[narrator]
As the new ceiling goes up,
Ben's taking
the opportunity to improve
on what was originally there.
[Ben] One of the things
you need to do in an old
building like this is
that every opportunity, every
time you make a void anywhere
just fill it full of insulation.
That's a big room.
We don't want to waste any
heat through the ceiling.
The windows are nice
and double-glazed
so should be nice
and efficient in here.
[narrator] While the Bens
crack on in the bathroom,
Billie is thinking about how
to transform the plain bedroom
into a luxurious
romantic space.
And she's hoping
a figurine she's found
at the local charity shop
could become a stylish
accent piece.
I think I'm going to put him
on a plinth.
I think that's where
he deserved to be.
I might even try and turn him
into a bit of a cupid character
with maybe some wings.
But what I'm going to do first
is repair him and clean him
and then see how
I feel about him.
[narrator] Billie has
a cheap and cheerful way
of getting rid
of decades of grime.
A really good degreaser
is vinegar.
And to make the vinegar stick
it's really easy
if you use ketchup,
so that's got vinegar in it.
You have to just...
-throw it on. [laughs]
-[bottle farts]
That holds a vinegar on
and then that can start
breaking up the grease a bit,
hopefully.
[narrator] Now that
her Cupid is clean...
I'm having way
too much fun doing this.
...Billie can give him
a nice new paint job.
This is going to tickle!
[giggles]
I'm pleased with that.
This is a nice thing to do
while Ben's slaving away
up in the bathroom.
[Ben] Okay.
Yep.
It's all going really well,
got some of the bigger bits in.
This is a final big bit
in the room
and we're done for
the day I think.
[Billie] Oh that looks like
real progress.
[drill whirrs]
Quite ready to have
a Jacuzzi just yet.
[narrator] Not quite yet!
At least stage one of
this big job is complete.
But there is still
a long way to go
if they are going to have this
and a new bedroom
ready for the start
of wedding season.
Hundreds of château
all over France
are in need of new owners
and loving restoration.
Luckily there's no shortage
of Brits
keen to cross the channel
to make a castle
not just their home
but also their business.
Meet interior designer Lydia
and her husband,
software company owner, Gary,
who want to up sticks from Kent
to live the dream
in the French countryside.
What is there not to like about
France to be honest.
I mean, the language is such
a romantic language in itself.
The cuisine the wines,
the general joie de vivreis
a perfect recipe for you know,
the rest of our lives really!
[narrator] And this couple's
most important ingredient
is their new home.
[Lydia] I love old buildings.
I love original features.
I'd love a château with...
dated glamour.
[narrator] It also needs
to work as a business
and they're not short of ideas.
[both]
Definitely bed and breakfast.
Obviously, bed and breakfast.
Definitely some events,
I mean we have
thought about doing weddings.
[narrator]
And Lydia has plans to cater
for some four-legged
guests too.
I believe donkeys
are really overlooked
so we also want to run
a donkey sanctuary
and we know that it might not be
a great big money earner,
but it's just some lovely idea.
[narrator] So, with plenty of
land and outbuildings
on the wish list,
a budget of 700,000 Euros,
around £600,000,
and driving their own
piece of French history,
the search is on.
They're kicking it off in
the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region
60 miles southeast
of Bordeaux,
at 19th century
Château la Gazaille.
-Amazing!
-Yeah.
La Gazaille Château!
Let's see inside.
It's amazing.
[narrator] Built in 1850,
this grand pile offers 17 rooms
spread over four floors.
It's surrounded by nearly
20 acres of land
and is on the
market for 685,000 Euros.
comfortably within
Lydia and Gary's budget.
Very impressive isn't it?
Wow.
-[Gary] I love the balcony.
-Look at this.
I love that balcony.
That's right.
You can sing to me out there,
can't you?
-[Gary] It's like coloured.
-You could sing!
[narrator] Their meeting estate
agent Anne for a guided tour.
Welcome to La Gazaille
-very nice to see you.
-I'm Gary. Nice to see you.
Welcome and I'll show you
into the reception.
-Yeah.
-Thank you very much.
[narrator]
The château is already running
as an established guest house
and could start earning the
couple an income straight away.
Oh wow!
So, you've got the old original
tiles on the floor.
It was an old maison de maître
landowners house so there's...
[Gary] Yeah, it looks
like it would have been
...a lot of the old features
are still left in place.
[Gary] Impressed already
and I've only just walked in.
[narrator] There are
plenty more period features
to please Lydia.
Okay, this is
coming into the breakfast room.
We've got a marble
fireplace in here.
We've got the lovely
old parquet floor...
-[Gary] Parquet floor.
-...which is really nice.
-This is original as well.
-This is original. Yeah.
-And the panelling on the wall.
-[Gary] What year is this?
-[Anne] 1850.
-1850.
[narrator] Across the hall,
the spacious dining room
has also been
sympathetically refurbished.
[Anne] It's got really
nice old floors.
Yes, a lot of ceiling rose,
-Yes. Very impressive.
-Yeah.
-[Anne] It is lovely.
-[Lydia] Yeah.
And what's that interesting is
a little cupboard over there?
[Anne] That would have been
a serving hatch.
[Lydia] Interesting.
That would have been
from the olden days
because behind here
you've got the kitchens
and the storage areas
so they would have served
through here into
the dining room.
Oh, that makes it classy.
You can serve my dinner
through there.
-Yes.
-I shall do,
we shall get that functioning!
[narrator] Next, Lydia & Gary
are keen to investigate
the bedrooms.
[Gary] Oh I love these stairs.
[narrator] Spread over
the first and second floors,
there are 12 in total,
Five of which
are let to guests
at an average cost
of £63 a night.
-This is the Soleil suite.
-Oh, this is nice.
-The Soleil suite.
-Oh, lovely.
East side again so
you've got three windows,
lots of light.
You're looking over the pool
on to the riverside.
That's park.
[Lydia] That's brilliant,
isn't it?
Yeah, this is--
it's a lovely room.
This is really lovely.
I think this would be my room.
-I don't where you're sleeping!
-[chuckles]
[narrator] All the bathrooms
have been newly refitted,
potentially saving
Lydia and Gary thousands.
And while most of the bedrooms
have clearly been modernized,
at least one is still
very traditional in character.
This one is called The Suite,
Le Suite.
Very French with its wallpaper,
but as well,
it has a feature here.
Oh!
The bathroom is hidden behind
the wallpaper door.
-That's hidden.
-Okay?
I wonder
if that was a corridor one.
You've two doors here going
out onto a little balcony
all the way up onto the front.
Aha. Oh, look at this.
Come and have a look.
Oh, yes.
This is where you can
sing to me, see.
[Gary] Fantastic.
I like this one.
[Lydia] Yeah I do like this one.
[narrator] It seems
the interiors have won over
Lydia and Gary,
but for it to work
as an events business
and animal sanctuary too,
the château will need
more than just nice bedrooms.
Coming up...
Oh, wow!
[Billie] Room fit for a king.
...Ben and Billie
get royally inspired.
You'd never want to get out of
bed if you look up, would you?
[both laugh]
[narrator] And one couple's
wedding venue...
Come and have a look guys!
...isn't smelling of roses.
Oh!
Oh, yeah, don't even want
a little whiff of this
anywhere near our wedding.
[narrator] This is
the impressive 15th century
Château Lagorce.
It has 22 bedrooms
and is surrounded
by rolling vineyards.
The lucky residents
are Stockport-born Edward,
his Kosovan wife Anna,
and their children, Charles
and one-year-old baby Emma.
Since taking it over,
the château has been run
as a luxury wedding venue.
For us it is important for
the wedding to be exceptional
and to be exactly what
the couple wants.
[Edward] So, the wedding
industry is a cutthroat business
and you really have to be
at the top of be your game
to actually be successful.
[narrator] Situated near
the city Bordeaux...
Anna and Edward
spent most of the off season
creating a new
stylish pool area
and an atmospheric wine venue
in the château's caves.
But now the wedding season
is here,
it's all systems go for their
first big event of the year.
We have been working non-stop.
I am a bit rusty
and a bit tired
and a bit not used
to pretty much running around.
So, more coffee and hopefully
a bit more maybe an energy
drink to keep me going.
[narrator]
They are expecting 65 guests
for the big day tomorrow
and there is a lot to do.
Not only do they need
to finish preparing
the château's 22 bedrooms...
they're also planning to host
a welcome party on the terrace,
as most of the guests
are arriving tonight.
Because of all the bed making
my back is in pain now
and the day is not finished yet.
[narrator] And if there wasn't
already enough to do,
some of the wedding party
are already here.
[Anna] Hi, how you doing?
Finally!
[narrator] While Anna
helps them settle in...
Edward's at the back of
the château
with an urgent problem
to tackle.
The sewage pipe work
is in danger of wafting
unwanted odours from
the septic tank
towards the terrace
during tonight's party.
[Edward] I am looking at
a problem I've got
where I'll get
kind of drain smell
heading up towards the château
in the pipe work.
So, last year
I installed a pipe
into the woods
about 50 meters
and put a pump on the end.
[narrator] But that pump's
failing to pull enough of
the whiffy air away,
so Edward desperately needs to
increase the system's suction.
So, today, I'm fitting a pump
right at the start
so there's no way in this world
that smells can
go up towards the château.
[narrator] With the wedding
welcome reception in just
a couple of hours' time,
it's a good job Edward has
a nose for the job.
Oof!
Oh!
Aw, well, okay.
So, we want the air
going away from the tank,
[narrator]
The pump cost just £60
and needs to be
fitted with strong glue.
[bottle farts]
[laughs] That is t
he glue not the tank!
Better out than in!
[narrator] Pump in, it's just
a matter of wiring it up
and hoping it
solves the problem.
Okay.
The last thing anybody wants
is a drain smell at a wedding.
Don't even want
a little whiff of this
anywhere near her wedding.
So, I'm gonna run
and put that on.
[narrator] With power coming
from the nearby outbuildings,
this is the test of
Edward's handiwork.
Here we go, all right.
Oh, come on.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, it's a silent pump.
I went all out this time
and got silent pump.
Okay.
[narrator] There's just one
last thing to check,
and that's to see
if the offending odours
are being successfully sucked
deep into the woods.
Oh, that's.
Ah!
Well, it's working!!!
Oof!
Ah, that is
working extremely well.
I got within three meters
and it was stinky-stinky.
[narrator] Thankfully,
it's mission accomplished.
So, the glamorous side
of living in a château.
[narrator] While Edward
has been making sure
the air is sweet-smelling
for the wedding party...
Anna has been busy preparing
an extravagant
feast on the terrace.
Go and have a look guys!
Go.
Thank you so much.
-Thank you for being so sweet.
-Thank you.
[narrator] And it seems it's
got the seal of approval
from the bride and groom.
The party is in full swing and
the food is going down a treat,
but there's a serious shadow
starting to loom over
the all-important
Big Day tomorrow.
I am just looking
at the weather
and there might be
possibility of--
[speaks French]
You know, kind of storms
last thing we needed really,
but it is what it is.
Can't, can't change the weather.
[whimsical music plays]
[narrator] Half an hour south
of the Loire valley,
Ben and Billie
are taking a break from DIY.
At the magnificent
Château d'Oiron,
they're looking for inspiration
for their new honeymoon suite,
which they want to be their
most opulent yet.
Billie's brought her sketchbook,
I brought my camera.
We want to kind of
capture a few images
that we can use as part
of the mood board
for the whole project.
[narrator]
The 16th century château
was once the prestigious home
of notable French dignitaries.
This room's nice isn't it?
Oh wow.
[narrator]
A couple of centuries later,
it gradually fell
into disrepair
until the government
rescued it in 1941,
and later opened it
to the public as a museum.
That is just unbelievable.
[narrator] The room
they're most keen to see
is known as the King's suite.
-Oh!
-Oh, wow!
[Ben] Got bedroom envy.
[narrator] This sumptuous suite
is rumoured to have been built
for the extravagant
King Louis 14th
when this was the home of one
of his mistresses
Madame de Montespan.
You'd never want to get
out of bed if you were
looking up at that ceiling.
[both laugh]
[Billie] Room for a king.
Yeah, absolutely.
Wow.
Blue and gold and cherubs...
[camera shutters]
...but there's
a quite a lot of, um,
flesh on display up there,
isn't there, Ben.
[narrator] With room after room
of Renaissance frescoes
and 17th century
blue and gold wood panelling,
there's no shortage of
stunningly opulent features
to inspire the couple.
Wow!
-[gasps]
-What a space.
Look at that!
-[Billie] Oh, so credible.
-Wow!
You know, when I say
something is jaw-dropping...
-Yeah.
-...my jaw actually dropped.
Wow!
[narrator] The challenge will be
scaling the look down
to fit their considerably more
modest château and budget.
We could look for frames
similar to that,
-with a motif at the top.
-Yeah.
I think we could do
that really.
Right.
Great. Great, great, great.
It's certainly inspiring,
the royal blue again,
leaf motifs,
gold edgings on things.
Coming here has been
really inspirational
and I think we can take
a lot of ideas away from here.
And I think it's going to be,
it's going to be a great
worthwhile day I think.
[narrator]
Back at their own château...
It's beautiful wood, isn't it?
-Really beautiful.
-[Billie] It is!
...And inspired by
their visit to the museum,
Ben and Billie have found the
centrepiece for their new
honeymoon suite.
A beautifully detailed
antique château bed.
[Ben] We bought the bed
in a lovely little brocante,
got it for a really,
really good price,
but we've only seen it in bits.
So, hopefully
everything's there.
[narrator] The 170-year old
cherry wood bed
cost just £35,
but its design
is based on the style
of 18th century
King Louis the 15th
and once assembled,
it should set the tone
for this grand suite.
[Billie]
It's such a classic piece
and these sort beds
are so romantic isn't it?
Perfect for a honeymoon.
Romantic sweet, Isn't it.
Nice and strong as well?
Okay. Not for that I'm sure.
[narrator] And Ben and Billie
have another brocante bargain
to give the bed
its crowning glory.
[Billie]
So, we found this thing,
which probably was--
Do you reckon
that's like a whole table.
[Ben]
I think it's a little table.
You see these swirls like
leaf front and swirls,
a very similar to,
similar to those.
This is-- [laughs]
You know what, it's amazing.
It's a classic thing again.
Well, I think that's
going to go with that
and sometimes you don't quite
realize why,
but that's almost identical!
[narrator] The uncannily
matching old table
will become the corona
of a ciel de lit canopy
above the handsome bed,
making it truly fit
for a king and queen.
If you can't have
a crown in a château,
-where can you have a crown?
-Exactly.
[narrator]
The key piece of furniture
in the honeymoon suite
is settled,
so it can be packed away,
as there's still a lot of work
to do on the bedroom décor
before they can offer it
to newlyweds.
Back in the south-western
Nouvelle Aquitaine region,
Kent couple Lydia and Gary
are continuing their hunt
for their dream home
with a budget of 700,000 Euros.
The 19th century
Château la Gazaille,
with its five ready-to-let
B&B suites,
has already impressed...
[Lydia]
Think this would be my room,
don't know where
you're sleeping!
...but the couple also
want enough space for events.
Right. So, you're going
right up now to the very top.
This is a bit that's not been
renovated as yet.
This is an excellent space.
Oh, wow.
Let's look you've got
all your lovely round windows.
Look at this.
Look at this, this is lovely.
My imagination
is going wild now.
I know, there's so many uses.
Do you know when
the beams are replaced?
They've been done within
the last ten years,
-the beams here.
-Last ten years so
they've obviously got
all the treatment.
You can see where
there's still old beams
and then they put new ones in
to support where was necessary.
But the structure
looks really good, isn't it?
The structure
is absolutely fine,
-Yeah.
-you got this lovely stone--
You can see it's very strong.
It looks very strong.
[narrator] Once refurbished,
this flexible top floor space
could be a perfect venue
for small events.
[Lydia] I love this space.
Love it.
Good. Good, good.
[laughs]
Definitely one to think about,
this room.
[narrator] But to host weddings
they'll need more than
a spacious attic,
so next they need to explore
what other large spaces
the château has to offer.
[Anne] Here we've got
a big stone barn,
but then you've got a nice area
here that it's got a stage.
-Have a look.
-[Lydia] And I see that.
-Yeah.
-[Gary] Let's have a look.
Wow! The wood work.
[Anne] It got special
with wine barrels.
[Gary] Oh, yes.
[Anne] So, what do you think
you could use this for?
Musicians bands.
[Gary] Music events.
[Lydia]
Yeah, music events, gigs.
[Anne]
Even just if it's a rainy day
it gives you an
inside space to use.
Yes.
-Good space for you and ideal.
-Ideal space, a good space.
Yeah.
[narrator] But there's
one important thing
they still need to know...
is there room for a
donkey sanctuary for Lydia?
[Gary] We've seen
quite a bit of land
visible to the eye.
Where does it extend?
How far does it extend
how many hectares?
[Anne] Well, this actually is
7.8 hectares of land here.
-Really.
And it's all flat land
and it's all enclosed
so for your donkeys
-it'd be absolutely perfect.
-[Lydia] Yes. Yeah.
Down beyond the gardens
and the orchard
-there's a huge flat field.
-Down there.
[narrator] 7.8 hectares
is around ten football pitches,
plenty of space for donkeys.
-Nice to meet you.
-Nice to meet you.
[narrator] This château
has certainly given
Lydia and Gary
food for thought.
It's in our budget,
I think it's
a serious contender.
Yeah, it ticks a lot of boxes.
I definitely think that
we would give it
some consideration.
[narrator] It's been
a very positive first viewing,
but the next château
on the list
could throw a cat
amongst the pigeons.
Coming up...
Cheers!
...Wedding day
for Edward and Anna...
[glass clinks]
...is a balancing act.
I think we are probably
about 15-20 minutes behind.
[narrator] And Ben and Billie's
bedroom plans
start to fall apart.
Ben, look.
You've broken the château!
[Billie cries]
[theme music plays]
[narrator] In the heart of
the Bordeaux wine region,
it's the day of
Anna and Edward's
first wedding of the season.
I think I'll turn this one here.
[narrator] But one
of several rainstorms
forecast for the area
has already caused
havoc with the preparations.
We set up all the tables
with the tablecloths
with the name tags
and within two minutes
blue sky, no warning.
We got rain
and everything's got drenched,
especially the top table.
So, we're changing
the tablecloths
because everything
has to look right.
[narrator] The wedding is due
to start in just two hours...
[all] Cheers!
...and rain clouds can quickly
sweep in again
from the nearby Atlantic coast.
Bride-to-be Louise is refusing
to let it dampen her spirits.
It was a bit worrying,
but I trust Anna,
she said the weather
would be fine so,
the sun's out,
so yeah,
I just need to get ready.
[narrator] There is hardly a
cloud in the sky now,
but a second downpour
would spell disaster.
[Anna] If it happens again,
that means we don't have enough
to change the tablecloths,
to make sure that it's seamless.
So, I am pretty
worried actually.
[narrator] And having
to re-lay all the tables
means they're now
also playing catch up.
I think we are probably
about 15-20 minutes behind.
On most days the bride's
probably 20, 20 minutes
half an hour late anyway
so we just need to go
a little bit faster
and catch up the pace.
[narrator] But there's an
important job still to be done
that can't be rushed.
[glass clinks]
[narrator] The bride and groom
have requested a dazzling
champagne tower
for the reception.
But it's off to a bad start.
[Edward] Yeah, basically,
we have professional glasses
for making these
Champagne towers.
Client support their own glasses
shouldn't a problem.
The problem is these are big
like champagne cups
with tiny little faces on them,
which makes it very hard to make
so I'm going to just make
sure that we manage to get
this up as it should be
and then I'm going to give it
a bit of a test.
I think once it's well placed it
should be all right.
It's just going to make our job
a little bit harder.
[narrator] Anna has her doubts.
Ed.
One has already fallen
because the bottom is so small,
unless we--
So, I can get it up,
give the table a shake,
-look, can you see.
-Okay. Well, we can't.
No, no, no--
We'll get other glasses
if we can't do it
with these ones
because it was the bride's
cousin that gifted them to her,
but it's not possible.
They need to be a certain type,
and this isn't the type.
[indistinct chatter]
[narrator] The guests are
starting to arrive...
and Anna's hoping that this is
the last setback they'll face.
It's looking good,
we managed to do it 22 minutes
before the ceremony starts.
The guests are all here.
It's pretty much go time.
When we do weddings here it
pretty much reminds me
of our wedding here
like watching people on the
steps coming down the ceremony,
the flowers, everything.
It's like reliving your best
day over and over again.
I get emotional
every single time.
[narrator]
The groom Sam is ready.
So the guests take their seats.
And wait for the bride.
Finally got here, first wedding.
[Anna] Yeah.
Emotional.
It makes me feel emotional.
[Pastor] Sam and Louise
commit themselves today
to each other in sacred trust.
[narrator]
With the nuptials underway,
Anna and Edward's
thoughts turn to the reception
and the threat
of another storm.
[Edward] We just need to get
them eating really, don't we?
Obviously there's
the canapés and champagne,
but bang on time to table
just so we know.
But we don't take any risks
with the weather.
No, we can't.
[narrator] They've got
through the ceremony.
Now all they can do is hope
the reception isn't a washout.
45 miles away,
between Bordeaux and Toulouse,
Lydia and Gary
are continuing the search
for their dream French home...
Oh, wow look at this.
...with a viewing
at Château de Grenier.
They're looking for a property
with business potential
for B&B, events
and space for
a donkey sanctuary.
[Gary] Oh, that looks nice.
[Lydia] Look at the ornate
window at the top.
Yeah, l love that.
Look at that across there,
it's amazing.
[narrator] This grand
18th century home
has 12 bedrooms
and 16 acres of parkland.
[Lydia] Look at the grounds!
[Gary] Helping our business,
so much scope there.
I'm really keen
to see what that is
because that's really
interesting.
[narrator] But at 780,000 Euros,
it's 80,000 over budget,
so will need
to really pack a punch
to convince Lydia and Gary
it's the place for them.
-Bonjour!
-Bonjour!
-Nice to meet you!
-Nice to meet you.
Bonjour, monsieur.
[narrator] Owner Patrice
and agent Sylvie
are here to show them around.
Oh wow!
-Oh, wow, this is good.
-This is lovely.
[Gary] This is a charming little
entrance hall, isn't it.
Now, we are going to
the dining room.
[narrator] The carefully
restored ground floor rooms
all flow off
the central hallway
and offer stunning
views across the gardens.
[Patrice speaks French]
Look at the terrace.
[Patrice speaks French]
[Lydia]
And the view is manifique!
Look at the fireplace.
It's lovely.
[speaks French]
We.
[narrator] The high price
of this château
would limit Lydia and Gary's
renovation budget,
so it's a big bonus these rooms
are in such good condition.
Oh this is nice isn't it!
[Gary] This is where
the work gets done.
The working fireplace.
It's very pretty.
[Lydia] And the tiles,
look at the tiles,
very cosy, for a big house.
Isn't it, it's very cosy.
[narrator] Next, they need to
investigate the B&B potential,
so it's upstairs
to the first floor.
There are four bedrooms
on this floor.
[Lydia] And these are
for bed and breakfast for--
-Yeah, for the--
-[speaks French]
[Patrice] Well, the first one
they're looking...
[Lydia] This is lovely.
-...on the park.
-Look at this.
[Gary] It's a nice bright room
again lovely and bright.
[Lydia] Well, isn't it.
And this room
have air conditioning.
I love this space because,
you know,
it has built-in storage
and the double aspect,
the view,
the marble fireplace.
What is there not to like it.
-It's amazing.
-It's just the general ambience.
I would love to
stay here myself.
[narrator]
Like at the first château,
an established B&B business
means the couple could start
earning straight away.
Guests here pay
an average £112 a night.
Almost twice the rate
at Château la Gazaille.
So, there's a lot to weigh up.
[Lydia]
Oh my goodness, two sinks!
[Gary] His and hers.
Again, nice and light
beautiful views.
It's a treasury, very nice.
-I love it.
-Love this one.
Yeah.
[narrator] This place may tick
their B&B box,
but it is well over budget,
and Lydia and Gary
are yet to see whether
it delivers for events
or for donkeys!
[whimsical music plays]
Back near the Loire Valley
in Western France,
Ben and Billie
are in the thick of renovations
to create a high-end
honeymoon suite.
The next job is we're
working in the luxury bathroom.
You believe it's a luxury
bathroom, is that right?
[Billie]
Isn't very much like it now.
We're going to put down a new
floor bit of a tricky job
because all the walls
aren't straight.
So, I've got a lots of
different angles to work with
so that could be an
awful lot of swearing today.
[narrator] Before building
his room-within-a-room
to square off
the bathroom walls,
Ben needs to lay a new floor.
And his first challenge
is to find a way
of cutting the boards
to fit the château's
wonky angles.
So, I'm going to make, well it's
very much like a set square,
but it's obviously not a square
because it's not a square--
90 degree angle.
But I'm calling it a jig
so as I'm going
to set this piece
flat against this wall
as a nice flat surface here,
and I'm going to set this piece
completely parallel
with this joist,
which stays the same
distance away from the wall
all the way along.
So, if it's in line
with this joist
it'll be in line with the wall
so this angle should be correct
if it all goes to plan.
[narrator]
While Ben has his work cut out
in thebathroom,
Billie's hoping for
an easier time in the bedroom,
removing the old wallpaper.
I am going to need
the steamer definitely.
When you said that we could
start stripping in the bedroom
I did think it was going to be
much more interesting.
-[Gary laughs]
-Honestly.
Well, the night is young dear!
[laughs]
[narrator] Using his
home-made square tools
that are far from square,
next Ben needs to cut
his floorboards.
Just set a measure
and because we got both angles
heading in different directions
the actual board is not big
enough to put it in
one piece because
we can end up with this gap.
So, what I'm going to do
is put it in two pieces.
It's bit of a shame.
I'd like to get
the first two pieces in one go
it would made
it slightly quicker,
but it's no big deal really.
It's just one of those things
got changed--
Gotta change the design
as you go.
[narrator] Things are
rarely straightforward
when it comes
to renovations in a château...
Oh, that's a good one.
...but at least Billie
is making progress
in the bedroom.
Oh, that's more like it!
Come on!
That's better.
[narrator]
Until her stripping uncovers
another all-too common
problem in old buildings.
Right.
This is the kind of thing
I was dreading actually though.
The steamer is also shown up
the vulnerable bits of plaster
and when you knock, you know,
the plaster has different sound
when it's not good.
So, I did suspect that
and the steamer is
just like bought that.
Ben look.
[Ben] You've broken the château!
Oh, look. Yeah.
This is a replastering job,
isn't it?
-Yeah.
-[Billie cries]
This is a typical isn't it,
redecoration becomes a rebuild.
-Yes, a day's work, yeah.
-Yeah.
[narrator] With the walls,
tiling and fitting still
to be done in the bathroom
and the plasterwork
to replace before they can
decorate the bedroom,
completing the honeymoon suite
is a way off yet.
Coming up...
Lydia and Gary find
an unexpected extra.
This is really lovely space,
isn't it?
Yeah.
[both] We could have
a wide variety of uses.
[narrator]
And Anna and Edward's
weather woes...
Let me just make sure
she's alright.
are not over yet.
[Anna] That's the part
I can't control
and that is the
most annoying part.
[narrator] An hour
southeast of Bordeaux,
Lydia and Gary are viewing
the fully-restored 18th century
Château de Grenier
set in 16 acres of land.
It's an established B&B
that's already impressed.
Donc la terrasse.
-Look at this terrace.
-Oh, yes.
-Oh, wow.
-This is so nice.
[Lydia] Well, can you
just imagine us sitting here
with a glass of wine.
-Glass of wine, yeah, Champaign.
-After we've
-put on an event or something.
-There's barbecue going.
[narrator] But at
£80,000 over their budget,
this property needs
something extra.
This looks very interesting.
After you.
[Lydia] Oh, wow.
The workshop.
[Gary] Well, it's tidier
than a workshop.
It's more like a gallery.
[laughs]
This is really lovely
space isn't it?
Because it have a wide...
[both] Wide variety of uses.
[narrator] Once a coach house
and stables,
this fully-converted
exhibition space
is perfect for events,
and interior designer Lydia
has spotted even more
earning potential.
[Lydia] You could use this as
an interior design workshop,
but also it can
make a really good gîte.
-If you--
-Isn't it?
[Gary] Yeah, it could.
If we divide it,
I mean it's huge.
-Mmm, food for thought.
-Lovely.
I'm getting lots of inspiration.
[Gary] Yeah.
[narrator] Time has run out on
this trip across the channel,
but Lydia and Gary
will be returning home
with lots to consider.
A few months later
and back in Kent,
travel restrictions
have meant Lydia & Gary
have been unable
to return to France.
So they're continuing
their search for the perfect
château online.
[Gary] Look at that potential
that is so ornate,
nice little
archway through there.
[narrator] And they've
had time to reflect
on the two they've visited.
[Gary] Château Gazaille,
that was an impressive château.
I really liked it.
The house have huge potential,
didn't it?
-Have a huge potential.
-The balconies and the bedrooms.
[Gary] Yeah. There was certainly
enough hectares for a donkey--
It already had two ponies there.
Had two ponies there.
The second
one the Château de Grenier,
it was immediately something
you could call home.
The interior of
that château had been done out
to a fantastic degree.
[Lydia] For me it was beautiful,
but it didn't inspire me
because it has already...
Ah, well that's your interior
designer coming out
because there wasn't
much left for you to do,
but I was happy
because there wasn't much
left for me to do either.
-You're right.
-You want to do the work.
You don't want to sit under
an apple tree, do you,
all day and do nothing.
[narrator] But something
they are both in agreement on
is returning to France
as soon as they can.
We definitely do
need to see more chateaus.
Yeah, I think it's easy
to get carried away
with what we've seen
be blown away by that,
but we do need to ensure that,
you know,
we're going to make
this decision.
That it's the right decision,
in the right château,
-in the right place.
-Yes.
[narrator] Back in Bordeaux
at Château Lagorce...
Anna and Edward are hosting
their first wedding
of the season.
[applause]
[narrator] So far,
the rain has held off
and with the
happy couple hitched,
the party can begin.
And thankfully, Anna's switched
out Champagne glasses
are creating
the desired effect.
[Anna] I am very pleased
the Champagne fountain
worked perfectly and it
didn't just like crumble down
and felt like it was pretty much
going to happen before
that was-- that was a good call
to change it at the last
possible minute.
[narrator] The guests are being
treated to a sumptuous
five-course meal...
And Anna & Edward are
getting it out quickly.
After heavy rain this morning,
and with more predicted later,
they don't want
to take any chances.
That's the part that
I can't control
and that is most annoying part.
But we just make sure
she's all right.
Are you all or not?
[narrator] But for now, the
problem of all things
seems to be the sun.
How is that?
Is that a bit better?
The sun is coming from
over there so just
like a few chairs
that I understand.
So, we keep on moving
the parcels.
It's back and forth
back and forth.
But at least the sun is shining.
Can you just move forward?
It was just--
just being awkward
just make you look silly.
Now you're all right there?
-Okay.
-[woman] We're planning
to take the--
Right. And the sun will
start going down soon,
so all those will take care
of you soon.
[narrator]
As the sun begins to set,
the lights go on
and the celebrations move
to the lower terrace.
But with another storm forecast
for this evening,
Anna and Edward
want to bring forward
the firework display,
which is normally the grand
finale of the night.
[Edward] We've just about made
the first dance before
the heavens start to open.
It's just about dark enough
to start doing
fireworks and so
fingers crossed.
Bruno!
[narrator] The hosts
have been careful not to let
their weather worries
spoil the mood for
newlyweds Louise and Sam.
It's been better than we could
ever imagined.
It's been a unreal, isn't it?
Yeah, the wedding is surpassed
all expectations.
It is like fairy tale, isn't it?
It's like a fairy tale.
It's surreal, it's been the best
thing to ever happen.
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
[narrator] High praise indeed,
and now the sky is dark enough,
the big day can go out
with a bang.
[explosion]
[crowd cheering]
[narrator] It's a huge relief
for Anna and Edward.
[Anna]
We think it went really well.
We were worried.
We battled pretty much all
the elements today.
[narrator] Now, Edward has
just one more romantic moment
to pull off,
and it's not for
the bride and groom.
Anna, I've got you
a little surprise.
Come one.
Come on sit down.
You worked really hard today
and we never celebrated
our wedding anniversary,
so let's have
a glass of champagne.
[narrator]
It might be a few days late,
but with 30 weddings a year,
it's a wonder they find any
time for themselves at all.
[thunder rumbles]
Sadly, that looming storm
isn't going to let them
savour the moment.
No rest for the wicked.
We're going to have to go
and close all the shutters.
You gotta to chuck it down.
Quickly grab your glass.
[thunder rumbles]
[narrator] Next time...
[woman] Go round me,
go round me.
[narrator] The end is in
sight for Ben and Billie's
honeymoon suite.
-Got it.
-Yeah, I've got it.
I've got it. I've got it.
[narrator] Familiar faces
grapple with a new challenge.
I got to get in straight.
-And new faces...
-[coughs]
...tackle an enormous project.
I hate this.
You know I hate this.
[laughs]
[theme music playing]