Escape to the Chateau DIY (2018–2021): Season 6, Episode 8 - Episode #6.8 - full transcript
Across France there
are thousands of
beautiful Chateaus...
Many forgotten and abandoned.
Now they're being brought
back to life...
By adventurous Brits.
Wheeey!
They're taking on
the challenge...
It does scare
the life out of me.
To transform these
once-unloved buildings...
Yeah. Oh god, that's bright.
Just lovely!
Into incredible homes...
Thank you, the French way.
And businesses.
Let's hope they all like haggis!
There'll be triumphs...
Shall I wear this one tonight?
...and setbacks...
We won't be having
a second stab with this,
I can assure you.
...but however hard
the going gets...
Argh!
...those who've
made the move...
Cheers!
Get to live the dream
as custodians of their
very own castle.
Today...
Should have done my Pilates.
New chateau owners
have their work cut out...
It's testing. It's not
going quite to plan.
...As their latest project
hangs in the balance.
It's kind of too far.
I think we're going to
have to let it out again.
One family face
a challenge in the garden ...
It's a brand-new chainsaw,
so this shouldn't happen
And for one couple
it's Burns Night...
Take your medicine lassie.
As they host a Highland fling.
In honor of Robbie Burns
and the Haggis!
There are around 150,000
Brits living in France.
And for those lucky enough
to have their own castle,
getting it up and running
is often the hardest part.
This is the stunning 38-room
Chateau La Briance,
which sits in six
and half acres of land.
The new owners are Dorset
couple, Matt and Helen
who bought it just 10 months
ago for £476,000.
We have renovated our
last house in Poole,
but nothing on this scale.
The scale of this is immense.
This is a big property and
the room sizes are wonderful.
So, I am sure the guests are
going to be wowed by them.
Located just a stone's throw
from Limoges in central France,
Matt and Helen are transforming
it into a luxury B and B
and wedding venue.
They are planning to welcome
their first paying guests
in two weeks' time
and are busy getting
the rooms ready.
Today, they want to make
a start in the west turret,
in what will be the bridal
suite on the second floor.
So, this is one of
the turrets and this is
going to be the 14th suite,
which will be our bridal suite.
Obviously, this is going to
be the most beautiful room
in the chateau, lots of luxury.
We want something stunning
for people to stay in.
Matt and Helen already
have an ambitious plan
for the impressive
6-metre-high ceiling.
We want to do something
a little bit different.
We want a roust ceiling,
the effect of almost like a
very ornate cushion
with like a button
in the center of it.
To create the ceiling,
Helen's chosen a velvet fabric
she bought in the UK for £400.
It's not very expensive.
It just looks very luxurious
and that's why we chose it.
The fabric needs cutting
into thirteen three
meter strips,
which will be draped
across the ceiling.
All right.
This is the last one.
-All right Charlie.
-All right.
Thank you. All right.
We will cut.
Are you ready for this?
Not really, but let's
give it a go.
First step is to staple
the strips to the perimeter
of the ceiling.
We'll start here and
then we'll work around,
we'll go left anticlockwise.
All right. I should
have done the Pilates.
Okay. Let's start here.
It's a job that needs
a head for heights,
for novice DIYer Matt.
We need to just work
out each one.
There are thirteen of those.
The material will be attached
straight to the plaster,
but we have got some bat
and round, some of
the stone wrap
that we did not think is
safe for those who're going to.
It's obviously all new to us,
so we're hoping for no dramas.
But nothing's straight
forward when doing DIY.
Is the staple gun
working alright?
[he laughs]
-[indistinct]
-It's got a lock on it.
Has it got a lock on it?
I will pass it down,
see if you can work it out.
-See that there.
-Yeah.
-It has got a lock on it.
-Has it?
Yes, there you go.
Is that what it was?
-Yeah.
-That one bit. All right.
Sorry, the trousers
have to get done each time.
I don't want to give you
a nasty shock down there.
Problem solved. They can
finally crack on...
But with 13 pieces to put up,
Matt may be there some time...
260 miles north is the
beautiful La Fleur
set in 15 acres of French
countryside,
the chateau is home
to fashion designer Anna,
her Italian film-maker
husband Philip
and their two daughters,
Lily and Ella.
They snapped up
the 16-roomed Chateau
6 months ago for £900,000.
I always wanted to
have a chateau...
And I thought he was crazy.
And I might be little bit crazy,
but at one point
you were as crazy as me,
as we went for it.
You convinced me.
Located just 100 miles
from Paris, it cost
them their life savings
and now, they're
racing to transform
it into a luxury B & B.
When we met them last summer,
Anna and Philip
were busy working on
their private apartment,
installing insulation,
replacing window frames
and starting the decoration...
-It think that's a...
-That's a hi-five.
Well done.
And getting the chateau's
plumbing up and running.
We've basically done
a lot of the plumbing.
We have almost finished
on our private family apartment
on the second floor
and as soon as we have moved up,
we can start on the rooms.
It feels like it
a never-ending project right now
and I don't know when
we will finish.
I hope it will
not be in 10 years
Wasn't it the point to
have a long-lasting project
that will give us meaning
and purpose for many,
many years to come?
Now, it's winter.
It's the perfect time to do
some work in the grounds.
To create privacy,
Anna and Phillip want to plant
225 meters of hedging
around their land.
We decided to put in
a fast-growing dense
laurel hedge,
because it's an evergreen.
There will be another thing
that we can take off the list
because we've got
a long list of things to do,
so it's good. Dad!
Anna's dad John's driven
over from the UK
to lend a hand
together with mom, Jenny,
and family friends,
Jane and Joel.
Philip's more into
gardening and my dad as well.
He is a really good gardener.
So, I have just kind
of left them to it.
-This is going to be quite slow.
-Okay.
We've got to get all the
brambles out and things like
that until it goes along.
Today, they plan to clear the
land and some old wire fencing.
Phillip is hoping his trusty
chainsaw will do the trick.
Has it got enough fuel in it?
Yeah.
It's not a good start.
It's a brand-new chainsaw,
so this should not happen.
Your father always managed it.
I was doing it, yeah.
Problem sorted.
Watch that they don't
fall on your head.
I never did anything
of this kind before.
A lot of land and
a lot of fencing,
a lot of brambles to go!
There's a lot to do to clear
the land next to the main road.
One day, when we will
finish the renovations,
I think Phillip would dream
to be spending his days
in the garden,
and I guess like, you know,
power tools and things
like that,
it's all good fun, isn't it,
for men like that sort
of thing I guess.
They've also hired a digger,
to prepare the land
for the bushes.
Main job for us will be to get
everything ready for the digger
because there are so many trees
and bushes and stuff like
that that shouldn't be here.
It will take quite some time.
A lot of these are sycamore,
which are thousands of
them almost wild here.
I think that the groove got
wide. So, we're going to
fell that
and then the digger driver,
he can push out probably,
push the roots or
dig around the roots.
I think it's going really well.
I mean with so many people,
this part is going
quite quickly.
Yeah, we have just found
underneath 20 years
of clematis growth
and this beautiful old gate.
I first thought it was
completed rusted, which it is,
but I think it is repairable,
because I like the mechanism.
I like the metal thing
and I think we could re-use it.
We can fix it.
We just need to
learn how to weld.
It's always lovely to
find an original feature.
Yeah, I will excuse to get
more tools and power tools.
Well, it's cheaper
than a new gate.
After much hard work,
the ground is finally ready
for the digger to flatten
the land for planting.
But they will need to
tread with care...
This tree is entangled
into the electric line
and that's probably the mains
for the whole village.
So, we need to be a bit careful
when we take that tree down.
Time to bring in an expert.
We've got a gardener here today,
who is with his diggers.
So, he's obviously chopping
down the ones which
are little bit precarious,
because we have got
electricity cable just
running right next to them.
So, he's been helping to chop
down the trees where there's
a little bit of danger involved.
They've lost valuable time,
but at least they can now make
a start on the planting.
As the day draws to
a close, only 25 trees
have been planted.
It was a lot more work than
I think we'd anticipated.
We got everything cleared,
planting the rest should
hopefully be a bit quicker now,
as long as we have
no more problems.
With 100 trees left
to plant along the road,
everyone is certainly going to
be busy finishing off the job.
Coming up...
Familiar faces host their
first event of the year.
Let's hope they all
likes Haggis.
Matt and Helen deal with
a low-hanging ceiling...
-Is that me wobbling the line?
-No, that is me shaking
probably.
[laughs]
...and Anna struggles to cook
for her army of tree planters
It's a bit scary
doing that, but --.
-We only used it for
the first time last night.
-Exactly.
This is the impressive 17th
century Chateau de Saugé
which sits in
four acres of land.
It was bought by construction
director Paul
and property consultant
Donna 15 months ago
for just £279,000.
Are you enjoying the sunshine?
The chateau also comes with
its own 450 square meter lake.
We walked down at the bottom
of the lake and we
looked up at the house
and we are already
smiling before we turned and
looked at each other and think,
actually this is still
a version, this is our version.
How did we achieve this?
It does take your breath away.
It's an incredible old place.
Located 50 miles east of
La Rochelle in western France,
the 400-year-old chateau is
being converted from four
separate apartments into a B&B.
Get out from underneath it.
Donna and Paul have also
created a beautiful tea room
to help boost their cash flow,
and to use as an events venue.
I think in the tea room,
it's our intention to do
probably at least one,
possibly two, themed
events per month.
We've got a lot of space
here to accommodate them.
So, it's just an opportunity
lost if we didn't do that.
Today, the chateau's tearoom
will host its first
event of the year,
a Burns Night Dinner for 12.
The occasion's centerpiece will
be Scotland's national dish,
Haggis -- minced sheep offal,
oatmeal and suet.
It always tastes better
than it looks. I love Haggis.
I realize some people don't.
I really like it.
I am pretty confident,
but, yeah, okay.
I'll cut that a bit...
Let's hope they all like Haggis.
As usual, the menu is pretty
much first for everything.
I always kind of throw in that
challenge, just to make it
a bit more stressful for myself.
Mate Chrissie has been brought
in to help with the decorating.
Got a bit of a fairy
muffin going on here.
What do you think about that?
Can use that as a sporran.
Oh dear.
Lots of tricks. What
we've to wear with it.
-Oh dear, I am so
laughing today. Donna?
-Yeah?
Can I just borrow you for
a second? So, we've got
the bunting up, new bunting.
-Yeah.
-It's just going on.
It looks very nice, isn't it?
We're going to re-use that
in the highland sweater.
-Yeah definitely.
-Can't get more Scottish.
Just need a man in a kilt now.
We'll have one of them later.
That will be Donna's
husband, Paul, when he's
finished the decorating.
So, these are my new investment,
rings to do my Haggis
neeps and tatties.
Never done these before.
Donna plans to create
circular Haggis towers layered
with traditional neeps,
made from turnips and
tatties, which are potatoes.
I really need something like
a plunger to push that down,
but I don't think I have
anything of the right size.
-Chrissie?
-Yes.
What can I use as a plunger?
So that I can kind
of level it out?
Oh, yeah, they are too small
you see.
Aren't they? Mm...
so I have to
make it up as you go along.
This is your department, Donna.
I am afraid,
that was the own way.
[laughs]
Oh, that's working, there we go.
As neeps are big, in
Donna's native Hartlepool,
she's roped in proud
Scotsman Paul to help.
It's like mixing mortar
and cement for the bricks.
Hopefully, this will
taste a bit better.
For their Burn's Night event,
it's important that everything
is perfect
Okay. I need to take these
up to the apartment.
Okay, I'm going.
Some of the guests will
be staying the night.
So, Donna's preparing
the rooms.
All right. It goes there.
Guests are in there
at the moment.
I think that got everything
in there they're going to need.
Now, I need to go and finish
off the bits of prep
for tonight,
make sure I've got all
of that serving plates and that,
so that everything
is on hand ready to do
one after another.
And then, hopefully, we might
be able to have an hour of
breather -- that's the plan.
Sounds a good idea...
Hello there!
...but they have some
unexpected arrivals
at the tearoom.
For right now, we've had a
walk-in guest for the salon
for the tea.
So, Donna has stopped
what she is doing immediately,
has gone and attended
to the guests.
Would you like to sit?
I will get you your menu.
Probably an additional
bit of stress.
Depends what they want.
If they want a full
afternoon tea, then I might need
to put my pinny back on
and give her a hand
if she needs it.
With their dinner party
only a few hours away,
it looks like any plans
for a breather have just
gone out the window.
90 miles further east
at Chateau La Briance,
DIY novices Matt and Helen
are ready to start creating
the ruched ceiling
in their lavish bridal suite.
So, what we are going to do now
is bring each of the pieces
of the material
into the center and
then the ruch effects
starts to take shape.
I am hopeful that
within a couple of hours,
we can have those across
and it will give the effect that
we're looking for.
Come from the window,
then I can get that one.
To help pass up the material,
Helen has a ready-made tool.
-Our cobweb cleaner for
our turrets for this...
-[laughs]
-Keep going.
-Is something that is letting
me to pass it isn't it?
You see when that comes there,
that is how it will look.
Although draping
the velvet to the ceiling
is a different challenge.
This one's not
quite hanging correctly.
So, I am going to have to
move this one just a little.
That previous one is hanging
down a bit lower than this one,
so it right just needs
tightening up slightly.
I see what you're saying,
but it is going to drape a lot.
You see the difference
there, it should be ruched,
but not by my stomach.
-[laughs]
-Yeah.
This isn't happening at the
moment.
We're losing four to five
foot at the top of the ceiling.
I actually feel we should
take that down and trim 15 cm
of every single sheet.
Okay. Take then down.
-Taking down.
-Okay.
It looks like this job
has just got even longer.
We could have done without
this, couldn't we?
That's trial and error,
is what we said.
If you can grab that piece of
material
-at the point where
the red line is.
-Yeah.
Matt and Helen are using
builder Darren's laser level
to ensure the strips
are evenly cut.
Right. That's your marker
then Hel. That is your cut line.
Is that me walking around,
that's wobbling the line?
It was me shaking probably.
Yep better?
Yep.
One down, 12 to go.
If this was the wall
we could make knickers
out of these, couldn't we?
You could have
big knickers, Hel.
You'd like that.
Yeah I'd love that.
Moving swiftly on.
A bit more -- that's
it, yeah that's it.
Next one?
-Turn your hand that way.
-Turn my hand.
You've got a bit
of a crossover.
I mean that gives us one inch.
Yeah, a little bit
tighter if you can
It's testing, it's not
going quite to plan
or as we would have liked it,
we've kind of only back to where
we were nearly three hours ago.
It's stressful for us,
especially when you
get time constrained,
when you know people
are coming and you don't
want them to be disappointed,
it really puts the pressure on.
They'll certainly
have their work cut out
to get this huge job finished.
In northern France,
at Le Fleur,
it's Phillip and Anna's
second day of hedging.
One there and one here.
So, you'll better --.
We will just put
that like that.
They only managed to plant
25 of the laurel trees
along the road
on their first day.
So, with 100 trees to go,
it's all hands-on deck.
This is the edge of the road.
Today, as well as Anna's
dad and family friends,
they have brought in
reinforcements,
Phillip's mom, Hildegard.
It's supposed to be this
far apart -- yeah so we.
They're spacing the
plants using the tried
and trusted stick method.
This is the approved
length, was it 600 mm?
-No, it is 700 mm.
-700 mm between the plants?
-Yeah.
-So, hopefully, they'll
fill out in between.
So we will keep them
nice and even.
They are, obviously, going to be
a little smaller to start with.
They'll grow quickly,
fingers crossed.
Indoors, Anna's mom is helping
her prepare a special lunch.
Our friends Joe and Jane
leaving today and they came
here, especially to help us.
So, yeah, we're just
preparing a nice goodbye,
thank you lunch for everybody.
It's good to be a part
of it and be able to help.
We're really lucky, it wouldn't
have been possible if they
didn't. Oh, what have you got!
Anna's dreams of running
a luxury B & B
will depend on
high quality catering,
so it's good practice.
I'm not really used
to lighting gas ovens.
So, a bit scary
doing that, but --.
We only used it for
the first time last night.
Exactly!
Outside, the others
are making good progress
and have nearly completed
planting the 75 meters
of laurel trees,
which will separate
the chateau from the main road.
Are we far enough away from
the road here, John?
Don't think it'll
be any nearer, is it?
-Oh, wow.
-Wow, what do you think mom?
Oh yeah, looking good.
Dinner's ready,
and so are the workers.
Aaw! Look at this.
Sit wherever you
like. Dad, wine?
Oh, a little bit.
No, thank you.
Lily, would you like
a little bit of gravy?
Yeah, I am not sure
that you won't come
back again after this.
We will.
-Will you? Aaw!
-We will.
Just want to make a toast to
say thank you very much Joel,
Jane,
Dad and Mom and Hildegard
for all your help.
Thank you so much for coming and
you've been amazing. Thank you.
[all] Cheers.
A very well-deserved toast
and a great way to reward
all that hard work.
Coming up...
Donna and Paul's Burns Night
preparations cause burn out.
I've had no breaks at all since
we got up at 7:00 this morning.
I've not even
had a toilet break.
Matt's hopes of moving
his four-poster bed
hang by a thread.
Leave that to chop the feet off.
And Anna and Phillip's
re-wiring gets labor intensive.
When I shout, you push,
as hard as you can.
At Chateau de Saugé,
Donna and Paul only
have a few hours
before they host
their special event,
a Burns Night
dinner for twelve.
One Yorkshire tea,
one mug of coffee
and another piece of cake
and one lemon cake.
Ready when you are.
But right now,
they've got their hands full,
serving a tearoom
full of customers.
I think we're under control.
I don't want
Donna panicking too much.
So, I can really give
a hand of support to
help Donna and then
we've two sets of walking guests
that were unexpected today,
which is good for
the tea room, but just adds
an additional level of chaos.
At least Donna's friend
Chrissie is on hand to prepare
the evening's decorations.
-Hello!
-Hello. How're you getting on?
Good. I'm really good.
I just wanted to go
through with you and
show you what's out here.
-Oh it's not bad out here!
-Oh it's not bad out here!
now, it's good.
So, wanted to show you what I've
done.
So, I put a bit of a highland
touch in there
with the feathers,
can't go wrong with
the feathers you know.
Don't forget to
light your candles
Yep.
And have your man in his kilt.
-Bob's your uncle.
-And your paper.
And he's your aunt.
Paul's not in his
kilt just yet,
but he's managing to stir
up some Highland spirit.
So, this is the base
for the Balmoral sauce,
which is whisky base gravy
in essence,
but because we have
a vegetarian this evening,
we've also got
vegetarian Haggis.
So, we made it with
the vegetarian stock.
-How's it getting along?
-It's all right.
Vegetarian stock. I don't like
whisky that's the thing.
Take your medicine, lassie.
-I don't like whisky.
-Take your medicine.
Mm.
Hot on the lips.
Want some more?
I can't actually taste that.
I know, that's
what I said to you.
Paul's sauce is ready
to accompany the main
course of chicken,
but Donna is still
far from finished.
I still need
to complete the dessert.
I've still got all of the
assembly of all
the starches to do.
But I need to do that
kind of last minute,
'cause I don't want
the cakes to go soft.
The DIY probably has not
achieved as much as we had
hoped in all honesty,
just because we are being,
you know, on standby for it
and I'm dropping my nail bag
and picking up my pinny.
Juggling renovation
and catering is anything
but a piece of cake.
I'm ready for a sit
down at the moment.
I have not had any breaks since
we got up at 7:00 this morning.
Right not a toilet break.
Right, can I go
and leave you to it?
Yes dear.
So, the black pudding
a little bit of butter.
I know how we cook
black pudding, hun.
-Aah.
-I know how to cook
black pudding.
Right. I will see you
soon, thank you.
All hands to the pump,
whatever needs to be done. So.
While Donna gets changed,
Paul's left in charge
of the appetizers --
oat cakes and black pudding.
I think that meets the
brief -- lightly toasted.
Fine, that's done, that's done.
That seems to be done.
I will see where the wife is.
Must be my turn to get changed.
Paul's been a builder
and a chef,
now it's time to play
the role of host... in a kilt.
In Normandy, it's an important
day for Anna and Phillip.
Today, they hope to
ditch the chateau's old
electricity system
and switch to a brand new one.
I am connecting all the lines
and that's going to be
the last thing I have to do
before I can do the nig swap
from the old electrical network
to the new electrical network.
For the past four months,
Phillip has had
the mammoth task
of installing new wiring
throughout the 16-room chateau
and then linking it all
up to a new fuse box.
I have an old fuse box here,
which is kind of understated
for a chateau
and now, today, we have to
switch to the new network,
that means we see if
all the installation works.
There's a lot riding
on the big switch.
If it works, it will be
another step towards Anna,
Phillip, and the children
being able to move out of
their makeshift accommodation
on the first floor
and into their purpose-built
family apartment at the
top of the chateau.
Yeah, I just cannot wait --
we are camping at the moment.
We have currently got electric
extension cables
for going upstairs because
we don't have
electricity out there.
All of our clothes
are in boxes because
we don't have any storage.
If it works out, we
can move upstairs.
We have electricity,
we have light, we have heating.
If it doesn't work,
I don't know.
First, Phillip needs to
cut the wires connecting
the old system to the mains.
It goes to that saying
that when working on electrics,
it's vital to make
sure the main electrical
source is turned off.
Five minutes to get,
the cable is off the wall and
there is no more electricity
because I am still here
and going to touch them.
So, that is how you know.
Next, the main wires must
be joined to the new system.
It is a delicate operation.
Phillip's put a hole in
the pipe into the wall
to feed through the wires.
That is going to be
the tricky part because
if I don't get them through
where they are supposed
to go through,
I don't know I have to
dig another trench or
drill another hole
in the outside wall
and that wall is like that.
So, I am really, really
hoping that works.
-Anna.
-Yeah.
-I need your help.
-Okay.
We need to get
that cable in there.
We have to push it through,
there is a bend just like this.
So, I am not sure whether
it is even possible.
So, I am going to go inside,
I am going to pull,
and whenever I shout,
you push as hard as you can.
-Am I pushing and you pulling?
-You're pushing
and I am shouting.
Okay.
-Okay. I count up to three
and then you push, okay?
-Okay.
One, two, three. Push.
Okay again -- hold on, hold on.
One, two, three. Push.
It's not moving. It's not
moving at all Phillip.
-That wasn't a success.
-Phillip?
Okay. We need a new strategy.
I need to destroy some
of the bricks outside.
On a renovation I think
of this scale
and with the amount of
jobs that need to be done,
there's always going be
setbacks, as you kind of
used to and you expect to,
obviously, we have a lot of
pressure on today, or Phillip
has a lot of pressure himself
to you know get the new
electrics working and so,
we have a bit of a tight
window of time on how
to get it finished
before it gets dark.
Otherwise, we are going to be
going to bed
in a dark chateau
with candle light.
Let's just hope Phillip can
manage to pull it off in time.
In Central France, Matt
and Helen's bridal suite
is starting to come together.
All right.
Can you get that one in.
The carpet has been laid and
the ceiling has finally been
ruched.
Just one second and I'm done.
Oh, god. Fear of height,
my tummy would be going
if I stood at the top of that.
Now, Matt wants to add
the crowning glory,
a centerpiece cushion
and chandelier.
That's how I'd love it.
Unfortunately,
the cushion is drooping.
How about if we would put
something in through the zip?
-Yeah.
-From one corner to the other
and same the other way.
We will make it a cross to
support it a little.
Yeah, that's what I am thinking.
It's a simple solution
that might work.
They're stiffening
up the cushion with
plastic packaging strips.
All right Hel. Try and see
if it will give us
more stability into
the cushion itself.
That looks better.
Got it.
Please tell me it works.
-You see the hook all right?
-Yeah.
-All right.
-Well done.
It seems his master
plan has worked a treat.
How do I come up with
these things? I honestly.
Just a bit plastic.
It's just incredible what you
can do with a bit of plastic.
It's been a bit of a struggle,
but their luxurious ruched
ceiling is finally complete.
With the ceiling done,
it's time to put in
the grand four poster bed,
-currently stored in
an out building.
-This one?
But it's huge and won't fit
through the Chateau's doors.
It's about 8 inches too big.
So, we've got to take
up through the window
This could be a tricky job.
Luckily, Matt and builders,
Dave and Steve have a plan,
they're going to use a winch
to lift it through the window.
This was the only alternative
even that one was to
chop the feet off.
We are hoping this is
going to work first time
as long as we have
our measurements right,
we should be okay.
With the winch in position,
the first section of the bed
can slowly be lifted up...
It's all right Dave,
you okay there?
And Matt's in charge
of the controls,
Just a few more!
Oh, good.
So, there we go,
that's the first part done.
Let's hope the final
piece goes as smoothly.
Here we go.
-Just going to slide, or?
-I think right.
I think we are going to
have to let it out again.
Time it too far.
Looks like they've winched
this one in too much,
but nothing a loosening
of the cable won't sort.
Right, ready, in! And again,
another couple of inches.
All right. We're done.
Success!
It's another step forward,
but with their first paying
guests due soon they
need to get cracking.
We are just struggling
like crazy, but it is
going to be great
seeing people walk
around the chateau.
And that's going to
be something else.
Best of luck guys.
You're certainly
going to need it.
-Coming up ...
-Lots to do!
Paul and Donna pull out the
stops for their special event.
In honor of Robbie Burns
and the Haggis.
And Phillip risks life
and limb to stop his chateau
plunging into darkness.
Of all the ways I
could have died today,
that would probably be
the most ridiculous one,
falling from a cupboard.
In Normandy, Anna and
Phillip are desperately trying
to connect their new
electricity cables to
the mains before the sun sets.
It's not going to work
like that, but I'm just
seeing if works at all.
The hole made to pass
the mains wires through to
the chateau was too small,
now it's up to the onsite
masons to make it bigger.
It's no easy job when
trying to get through
200-year-old walls
that are two feet deep...
Let's just hope the
larger hole, is now big enough
for the wires to go through.
Do you want me to, no can't
get it through the
other side, can you?
No, do that one time
if you could --
Because there is also
an angle at the top here that
is not just straight up.
Yeah but the angle
is almost there.
-Ah.
-Ah.
[speaking in French]
I need to get that cable
now and see if it works.
It is long enough to get
out of the chimney first
and then I need to get
it behind the wall paneling
towards the fuse box.
-All right?
-Yeah.
-One, two, three.
-Okay.
They may have got the
cable through the wall,
-Okay.
-they're not finished yet.
Now that the cable is inside,
we just have to run it to
behind the chimney
and then into the fuse box
on the other side
of the cupboard.
So, that should be
a straightforward job.
Famous last words.
It's not really stable up here.
Alright. By all the ways,
I could have died today.
That would be probably
the most ridiculous one
falling from a cupboard.
Aah.
I think, yeah.
It is coming here.
I can see it, yeah.
Hang on and now, I thought
it got the ladder in the way.
-Okay.
-I need to use the ladder.
-Are you saying I'm in the way?
-Yes.
-Okay.
-All right.
It has been a bit of mission,
but Anna and Phillip are
finally ready to attach
the cable to the new fuse box.
Now, we're going
to check whether we
have electricity or not.
And most importantly,
really hope that I didn't
get the set up wrong.
So, if everything to right,
that should show
in between two phases,
we have 400.
-Yeah!
-Yeah.
-Amazing! Well done my love.
-This is really good.
It's great news. According
to Phillip's multimeter,
the electricity coming
in is being correctly
distributed into the chateau.
-When I turn this switch on --.
-Yeah.
We will learn if it's say,
from here to here --.
It's going be dark soon,
so let's hope it works.
-We have light!
-We have lights.
-Oh, well done.
-Look at this.
Wow. I think we should open
some wine or some champagne.
I think it is really,
really good.
-Well done my love.
-I am really, really happy.
-Well done my love. Well done.
-That's new electricity.
Okay, now we have
to do all the rest.
Now, we have to go all the rest.
-How many rooms?
-Aah, just 40 rooms to go.
And a couple of
connections to do. Ok.
Come on!
It's such a great achievement
and another big job
ticked off the list.
In western France,
Donna and Paul have less
than an hour
before their guests
arrive for Burns Night.
There's a table of four.
So, Jonathan's table. Oh yeah.
Donna's friend Debbie is on
hand to make sure
their first event of
the year goes smoothly.
There's a table of three.
Upstairs, Paul is racing
to change from builder
to highlander.
So, I've managed to grab a quick
shower after today's DIY.
I am starting the process
of getting the kilt on.
Important, I need to check
sock alignment.
Scotland's traditional kilt
and sock combo
is thought to date
back to the 1800s.
I call that done.
As much as I'd like to share the
next bit with you,
this is the bit where
the bottom goes on.
So, my pajamas come off.
So, that's a private
moment and thank you.
Right, that's it. Lots to do.
Coming in.
Oh, beautiful!. [laughs]
It is a long time since I have
seen him looking like that.
Looks very nice.
You're the one
making me bend down.
What are you doing for
the arrival cocktail?
I don't know, I was thinking
should we put a little touch
of whisky in and top
it up with prosecco.
I want to try one and I'll see
whether -- see if it takes good.
Like a whiskey spritz.
And then, I will give you
a second opinion, right.
What's cheers in Scottish?
-Slainte.
-Slainte.
-Not enough whisky.
-[laughs]
With the cocktail
packing a punch,
they can start prepping
the food as the guests
are due any minute.
But there is still no sign
of the piper they've booked.
We thought she should
have been here by now.
So, I'm starting to panic
that she's not going to be,
With time ticking, they might
have to do without one...
-Welcome...
-Hello. Hi there. How are you?
But moments later
she finally arrives...
Relieved that
the piper has just arrived.
I was kind of looking at
the time and kind of worried
and that she would not be here
on time. So, so that's good.
As the guests start to arrive,
Donna can now relax a little...
Please.
-It is a lovely evening,
isn't it?
-It is indeed, yes.
With everyone here and
the food already laid out,
Paul dishes out
his special cocktails.
Prosecco and whisky
at the entrance
-Prosecco and whisky?
-Yeah.
They seem to be a hit.
Now, the ceremonies can begin.
[bagpipe music]
Starting with Paul's
own address to a Haggis.
Ladies and gentlemen,
welcome to Chateau de Saugé.
Tonight's feast is in honor
of Robby Burns and the Haggis.
[all] Hooray.
[laughter]
Scottish flavor.
For starters, the guests
have a seafood oatcake trio.
Miniature prawn cocktail,
rainbow trout,
and smoked salmon.
You see the little
amuse-bouche, compliments of us.
Sounds like pudding.
Hearing the pipes is
always emotional, you know.
It always stumps up
these historic emotions
that laid dormant for years
and generations,
but when you hear the pipes,
it makes the hairs on
the back of the head stand up.
With luck, the dessert
will have the same effect,
a traditional raspberry
cream and oat dish
called cranachan.
We're enjoying it.
It is absolutely superb.
Lovely to have a Scottish feast
in the middle of France.
I think we feel happy that
I think some of the guests
can enjoy the evening.
I think it went well.
I think probably Donna's
pretty meticulous panning,
I think I must add.
So, everything on
the spreadsheet detailed.
But, obviously, the proof
is in the pudding and the
pudding was nice as well, so.
Hah. He's after brownie points!
You clocking them up?
Yeah.
It's been a big success
and hopefully, a good start
to this years' events.
Next time...
I'm giving it a quick clean.
Martin and Helen face
a race against time...
I am just trying gauge how
many you need for 16 people.
As they launch
their high-end B&B.
-Thank you very much for coming.
-Cheers!
Cheers!
Donna and Paul take on
a delicate new project...
The problem is really that
the walls are not straight
and the ceilings
are not straight.
And Anna and Philipp
have a massive challenge...
We need to get it absolutely
watertight, last thing
you want is a leaky shower.
As they attempt to get
their business off the ground.
How is she going to fit in
here with her wedding dress?
So. it's going to be
a bit of squash, no?
are thousands of
beautiful Chateaus...
Many forgotten and abandoned.
Now they're being brought
back to life...
By adventurous Brits.
Wheeey!
They're taking on
the challenge...
It does scare
the life out of me.
To transform these
once-unloved buildings...
Yeah. Oh god, that's bright.
Just lovely!
Into incredible homes...
Thank you, the French way.
And businesses.
Let's hope they all like haggis!
There'll be triumphs...
Shall I wear this one tonight?
...and setbacks...
We won't be having
a second stab with this,
I can assure you.
...but however hard
the going gets...
Argh!
...those who've
made the move...
Cheers!
Get to live the dream
as custodians of their
very own castle.
Today...
Should have done my Pilates.
New chateau owners
have their work cut out...
It's testing. It's not
going quite to plan.
...As their latest project
hangs in the balance.
It's kind of too far.
I think we're going to
have to let it out again.
One family face
a challenge in the garden ...
It's a brand-new chainsaw,
so this shouldn't happen
And for one couple
it's Burns Night...
Take your medicine lassie.
As they host a Highland fling.
In honor of Robbie Burns
and the Haggis!
There are around 150,000
Brits living in France.
And for those lucky enough
to have their own castle,
getting it up and running
is often the hardest part.
This is the stunning 38-room
Chateau La Briance,
which sits in six
and half acres of land.
The new owners are Dorset
couple, Matt and Helen
who bought it just 10 months
ago for £476,000.
We have renovated our
last house in Poole,
but nothing on this scale.
The scale of this is immense.
This is a big property and
the room sizes are wonderful.
So, I am sure the guests are
going to be wowed by them.
Located just a stone's throw
from Limoges in central France,
Matt and Helen are transforming
it into a luxury B and B
and wedding venue.
They are planning to welcome
their first paying guests
in two weeks' time
and are busy getting
the rooms ready.
Today, they want to make
a start in the west turret,
in what will be the bridal
suite on the second floor.
So, this is one of
the turrets and this is
going to be the 14th suite,
which will be our bridal suite.
Obviously, this is going to
be the most beautiful room
in the chateau, lots of luxury.
We want something stunning
for people to stay in.
Matt and Helen already
have an ambitious plan
for the impressive
6-metre-high ceiling.
We want to do something
a little bit different.
We want a roust ceiling,
the effect of almost like a
very ornate cushion
with like a button
in the center of it.
To create the ceiling,
Helen's chosen a velvet fabric
she bought in the UK for £400.
It's not very expensive.
It just looks very luxurious
and that's why we chose it.
The fabric needs cutting
into thirteen three
meter strips,
which will be draped
across the ceiling.
All right.
This is the last one.
-All right Charlie.
-All right.
Thank you. All right.
We will cut.
Are you ready for this?
Not really, but let's
give it a go.
First step is to staple
the strips to the perimeter
of the ceiling.
We'll start here and
then we'll work around,
we'll go left anticlockwise.
All right. I should
have done the Pilates.
Okay. Let's start here.
It's a job that needs
a head for heights,
for novice DIYer Matt.
We need to just work
out each one.
There are thirteen of those.
The material will be attached
straight to the plaster,
but we have got some bat
and round, some of
the stone wrap
that we did not think is
safe for those who're going to.
It's obviously all new to us,
so we're hoping for no dramas.
But nothing's straight
forward when doing DIY.
Is the staple gun
working alright?
[he laughs]
-[indistinct]
-It's got a lock on it.
Has it got a lock on it?
I will pass it down,
see if you can work it out.
-See that there.
-Yeah.
-It has got a lock on it.
-Has it?
Yes, there you go.
Is that what it was?
-Yeah.
-That one bit. All right.
Sorry, the trousers
have to get done each time.
I don't want to give you
a nasty shock down there.
Problem solved. They can
finally crack on...
But with 13 pieces to put up,
Matt may be there some time...
260 miles north is the
beautiful La Fleur
set in 15 acres of French
countryside,
the chateau is home
to fashion designer Anna,
her Italian film-maker
husband Philip
and their two daughters,
Lily and Ella.
They snapped up
the 16-roomed Chateau
6 months ago for £900,000.
I always wanted to
have a chateau...
And I thought he was crazy.
And I might be little bit crazy,
but at one point
you were as crazy as me,
as we went for it.
You convinced me.
Located just 100 miles
from Paris, it cost
them their life savings
and now, they're
racing to transform
it into a luxury B & B.
When we met them last summer,
Anna and Philip
were busy working on
their private apartment,
installing insulation,
replacing window frames
and starting the decoration...
-It think that's a...
-That's a hi-five.
Well done.
And getting the chateau's
plumbing up and running.
We've basically done
a lot of the plumbing.
We have almost finished
on our private family apartment
on the second floor
and as soon as we have moved up,
we can start on the rooms.
It feels like it
a never-ending project right now
and I don't know when
we will finish.
I hope it will
not be in 10 years
Wasn't it the point to
have a long-lasting project
that will give us meaning
and purpose for many,
many years to come?
Now, it's winter.
It's the perfect time to do
some work in the grounds.
To create privacy,
Anna and Phillip want to plant
225 meters of hedging
around their land.
We decided to put in
a fast-growing dense
laurel hedge,
because it's an evergreen.
There will be another thing
that we can take off the list
because we've got
a long list of things to do,
so it's good. Dad!
Anna's dad John's driven
over from the UK
to lend a hand
together with mom, Jenny,
and family friends,
Jane and Joel.
Philip's more into
gardening and my dad as well.
He is a really good gardener.
So, I have just kind
of left them to it.
-This is going to be quite slow.
-Okay.
We've got to get all the
brambles out and things like
that until it goes along.
Today, they plan to clear the
land and some old wire fencing.
Phillip is hoping his trusty
chainsaw will do the trick.
Has it got enough fuel in it?
Yeah.
It's not a good start.
It's a brand-new chainsaw,
so this should not happen.
Your father always managed it.
I was doing it, yeah.
Problem sorted.
Watch that they don't
fall on your head.
I never did anything
of this kind before.
A lot of land and
a lot of fencing,
a lot of brambles to go!
There's a lot to do to clear
the land next to the main road.
One day, when we will
finish the renovations,
I think Phillip would dream
to be spending his days
in the garden,
and I guess like, you know,
power tools and things
like that,
it's all good fun, isn't it,
for men like that sort
of thing I guess.
They've also hired a digger,
to prepare the land
for the bushes.
Main job for us will be to get
everything ready for the digger
because there are so many trees
and bushes and stuff like
that that shouldn't be here.
It will take quite some time.
A lot of these are sycamore,
which are thousands of
them almost wild here.
I think that the groove got
wide. So, we're going to
fell that
and then the digger driver,
he can push out probably,
push the roots or
dig around the roots.
I think it's going really well.
I mean with so many people,
this part is going
quite quickly.
Yeah, we have just found
underneath 20 years
of clematis growth
and this beautiful old gate.
I first thought it was
completed rusted, which it is,
but I think it is repairable,
because I like the mechanism.
I like the metal thing
and I think we could re-use it.
We can fix it.
We just need to
learn how to weld.
It's always lovely to
find an original feature.
Yeah, I will excuse to get
more tools and power tools.
Well, it's cheaper
than a new gate.
After much hard work,
the ground is finally ready
for the digger to flatten
the land for planting.
But they will need to
tread with care...
This tree is entangled
into the electric line
and that's probably the mains
for the whole village.
So, we need to be a bit careful
when we take that tree down.
Time to bring in an expert.
We've got a gardener here today,
who is with his diggers.
So, he's obviously chopping
down the ones which
are little bit precarious,
because we have got
electricity cable just
running right next to them.
So, he's been helping to chop
down the trees where there's
a little bit of danger involved.
They've lost valuable time,
but at least they can now make
a start on the planting.
As the day draws to
a close, only 25 trees
have been planted.
It was a lot more work than
I think we'd anticipated.
We got everything cleared,
planting the rest should
hopefully be a bit quicker now,
as long as we have
no more problems.
With 100 trees left
to plant along the road,
everyone is certainly going to
be busy finishing off the job.
Coming up...
Familiar faces host their
first event of the year.
Let's hope they all
likes Haggis.
Matt and Helen deal with
a low-hanging ceiling...
-Is that me wobbling the line?
-No, that is me shaking
probably.
[laughs]
...and Anna struggles to cook
for her army of tree planters
It's a bit scary
doing that, but --.
-We only used it for
the first time last night.
-Exactly.
This is the impressive 17th
century Chateau de Saugé
which sits in
four acres of land.
It was bought by construction
director Paul
and property consultant
Donna 15 months ago
for just £279,000.
Are you enjoying the sunshine?
The chateau also comes with
its own 450 square meter lake.
We walked down at the bottom
of the lake and we
looked up at the house
and we are already
smiling before we turned and
looked at each other and think,
actually this is still
a version, this is our version.
How did we achieve this?
It does take your breath away.
It's an incredible old place.
Located 50 miles east of
La Rochelle in western France,
the 400-year-old chateau is
being converted from four
separate apartments into a B&B.
Get out from underneath it.
Donna and Paul have also
created a beautiful tea room
to help boost their cash flow,
and to use as an events venue.
I think in the tea room,
it's our intention to do
probably at least one,
possibly two, themed
events per month.
We've got a lot of space
here to accommodate them.
So, it's just an opportunity
lost if we didn't do that.
Today, the chateau's tearoom
will host its first
event of the year,
a Burns Night Dinner for 12.
The occasion's centerpiece will
be Scotland's national dish,
Haggis -- minced sheep offal,
oatmeal and suet.
It always tastes better
than it looks. I love Haggis.
I realize some people don't.
I really like it.
I am pretty confident,
but, yeah, okay.
I'll cut that a bit...
Let's hope they all like Haggis.
As usual, the menu is pretty
much first for everything.
I always kind of throw in that
challenge, just to make it
a bit more stressful for myself.
Mate Chrissie has been brought
in to help with the decorating.
Got a bit of a fairy
muffin going on here.
What do you think about that?
Can use that as a sporran.
Oh dear.
Lots of tricks. What
we've to wear with it.
-Oh dear, I am so
laughing today. Donna?
-Yeah?
Can I just borrow you for
a second? So, we've got
the bunting up, new bunting.
-Yeah.
-It's just going on.
It looks very nice, isn't it?
We're going to re-use that
in the highland sweater.
-Yeah definitely.
-Can't get more Scottish.
Just need a man in a kilt now.
We'll have one of them later.
That will be Donna's
husband, Paul, when he's
finished the decorating.
So, these are my new investment,
rings to do my Haggis
neeps and tatties.
Never done these before.
Donna plans to create
circular Haggis towers layered
with traditional neeps,
made from turnips and
tatties, which are potatoes.
I really need something like
a plunger to push that down,
but I don't think I have
anything of the right size.
-Chrissie?
-Yes.
What can I use as a plunger?
So that I can kind
of level it out?
Oh, yeah, they are too small
you see.
Aren't they? Mm...
so I have to
make it up as you go along.
This is your department, Donna.
I am afraid,
that was the own way.
[laughs]
Oh, that's working, there we go.
As neeps are big, in
Donna's native Hartlepool,
she's roped in proud
Scotsman Paul to help.
It's like mixing mortar
and cement for the bricks.
Hopefully, this will
taste a bit better.
For their Burn's Night event,
it's important that everything
is perfect
Okay. I need to take these
up to the apartment.
Okay, I'm going.
Some of the guests will
be staying the night.
So, Donna's preparing
the rooms.
All right. It goes there.
Guests are in there
at the moment.
I think that got everything
in there they're going to need.
Now, I need to go and finish
off the bits of prep
for tonight,
make sure I've got all
of that serving plates and that,
so that everything
is on hand ready to do
one after another.
And then, hopefully, we might
be able to have an hour of
breather -- that's the plan.
Sounds a good idea...
Hello there!
...but they have some
unexpected arrivals
at the tearoom.
For right now, we've had a
walk-in guest for the salon
for the tea.
So, Donna has stopped
what she is doing immediately,
has gone and attended
to the guests.
Would you like to sit?
I will get you your menu.
Probably an additional
bit of stress.
Depends what they want.
If they want a full
afternoon tea, then I might need
to put my pinny back on
and give her a hand
if she needs it.
With their dinner party
only a few hours away,
it looks like any plans
for a breather have just
gone out the window.
90 miles further east
at Chateau La Briance,
DIY novices Matt and Helen
are ready to start creating
the ruched ceiling
in their lavish bridal suite.
So, what we are going to do now
is bring each of the pieces
of the material
into the center and
then the ruch effects
starts to take shape.
I am hopeful that
within a couple of hours,
we can have those across
and it will give the effect that
we're looking for.
Come from the window,
then I can get that one.
To help pass up the material,
Helen has a ready-made tool.
-Our cobweb cleaner for
our turrets for this...
-[laughs]
-Keep going.
-Is something that is letting
me to pass it isn't it?
You see when that comes there,
that is how it will look.
Although draping
the velvet to the ceiling
is a different challenge.
This one's not
quite hanging correctly.
So, I am going to have to
move this one just a little.
That previous one is hanging
down a bit lower than this one,
so it right just needs
tightening up slightly.
I see what you're saying,
but it is going to drape a lot.
You see the difference
there, it should be ruched,
but not by my stomach.
-[laughs]
-Yeah.
This isn't happening at the
moment.
We're losing four to five
foot at the top of the ceiling.
I actually feel we should
take that down and trim 15 cm
of every single sheet.
Okay. Take then down.
-Taking down.
-Okay.
It looks like this job
has just got even longer.
We could have done without
this, couldn't we?
That's trial and error,
is what we said.
If you can grab that piece of
material
-at the point where
the red line is.
-Yeah.
Matt and Helen are using
builder Darren's laser level
to ensure the strips
are evenly cut.
Right. That's your marker
then Hel. That is your cut line.
Is that me walking around,
that's wobbling the line?
It was me shaking probably.
Yep better?
Yep.
One down, 12 to go.
If this was the wall
we could make knickers
out of these, couldn't we?
You could have
big knickers, Hel.
You'd like that.
Yeah I'd love that.
Moving swiftly on.
A bit more -- that's
it, yeah that's it.
Next one?
-Turn your hand that way.
-Turn my hand.
You've got a bit
of a crossover.
I mean that gives us one inch.
Yeah, a little bit
tighter if you can
It's testing, it's not
going quite to plan
or as we would have liked it,
we've kind of only back to where
we were nearly three hours ago.
It's stressful for us,
especially when you
get time constrained,
when you know people
are coming and you don't
want them to be disappointed,
it really puts the pressure on.
They'll certainly
have their work cut out
to get this huge job finished.
In northern France,
at Le Fleur,
it's Phillip and Anna's
second day of hedging.
One there and one here.
So, you'll better --.
We will just put
that like that.
They only managed to plant
25 of the laurel trees
along the road
on their first day.
So, with 100 trees to go,
it's all hands-on deck.
This is the edge of the road.
Today, as well as Anna's
dad and family friends,
they have brought in
reinforcements,
Phillip's mom, Hildegard.
It's supposed to be this
far apart -- yeah so we.
They're spacing the
plants using the tried
and trusted stick method.
This is the approved
length, was it 600 mm?
-No, it is 700 mm.
-700 mm between the plants?
-Yeah.
-So, hopefully, they'll
fill out in between.
So we will keep them
nice and even.
They are, obviously, going to be
a little smaller to start with.
They'll grow quickly,
fingers crossed.
Indoors, Anna's mom is helping
her prepare a special lunch.
Our friends Joe and Jane
leaving today and they came
here, especially to help us.
So, yeah, we're just
preparing a nice goodbye,
thank you lunch for everybody.
It's good to be a part
of it and be able to help.
We're really lucky, it wouldn't
have been possible if they
didn't. Oh, what have you got!
Anna's dreams of running
a luxury B & B
will depend on
high quality catering,
so it's good practice.
I'm not really used
to lighting gas ovens.
So, a bit scary
doing that, but --.
We only used it for
the first time last night.
Exactly!
Outside, the others
are making good progress
and have nearly completed
planting the 75 meters
of laurel trees,
which will separate
the chateau from the main road.
Are we far enough away from
the road here, John?
Don't think it'll
be any nearer, is it?
-Oh, wow.
-Wow, what do you think mom?
Oh yeah, looking good.
Dinner's ready,
and so are the workers.
Aaw! Look at this.
Sit wherever you
like. Dad, wine?
Oh, a little bit.
No, thank you.
Lily, would you like
a little bit of gravy?
Yeah, I am not sure
that you won't come
back again after this.
We will.
-Will you? Aaw!
-We will.
Just want to make a toast to
say thank you very much Joel,
Jane,
Dad and Mom and Hildegard
for all your help.
Thank you so much for coming and
you've been amazing. Thank you.
[all] Cheers.
A very well-deserved toast
and a great way to reward
all that hard work.
Coming up...
Donna and Paul's Burns Night
preparations cause burn out.
I've had no breaks at all since
we got up at 7:00 this morning.
I've not even
had a toilet break.
Matt's hopes of moving
his four-poster bed
hang by a thread.
Leave that to chop the feet off.
And Anna and Phillip's
re-wiring gets labor intensive.
When I shout, you push,
as hard as you can.
At Chateau de Saugé,
Donna and Paul only
have a few hours
before they host
their special event,
a Burns Night
dinner for twelve.
One Yorkshire tea,
one mug of coffee
and another piece of cake
and one lemon cake.
Ready when you are.
But right now,
they've got their hands full,
serving a tearoom
full of customers.
I think we're under control.
I don't want
Donna panicking too much.
So, I can really give
a hand of support to
help Donna and then
we've two sets of walking guests
that were unexpected today,
which is good for
the tea room, but just adds
an additional level of chaos.
At least Donna's friend
Chrissie is on hand to prepare
the evening's decorations.
-Hello!
-Hello. How're you getting on?
Good. I'm really good.
I just wanted to go
through with you and
show you what's out here.
-Oh it's not bad out here!
-Oh it's not bad out here!
now, it's good.
So, wanted to show you what I've
done.
So, I put a bit of a highland
touch in there
with the feathers,
can't go wrong with
the feathers you know.
Don't forget to
light your candles
Yep.
And have your man in his kilt.
-Bob's your uncle.
-And your paper.
And he's your aunt.
Paul's not in his
kilt just yet,
but he's managing to stir
up some Highland spirit.
So, this is the base
for the Balmoral sauce,
which is whisky base gravy
in essence,
but because we have
a vegetarian this evening,
we've also got
vegetarian Haggis.
So, we made it with
the vegetarian stock.
-How's it getting along?
-It's all right.
Vegetarian stock. I don't like
whisky that's the thing.
Take your medicine, lassie.
-I don't like whisky.
-Take your medicine.
Mm.
Hot on the lips.
Want some more?
I can't actually taste that.
I know, that's
what I said to you.
Paul's sauce is ready
to accompany the main
course of chicken,
but Donna is still
far from finished.
I still need
to complete the dessert.
I've still got all of the
assembly of all
the starches to do.
But I need to do that
kind of last minute,
'cause I don't want
the cakes to go soft.
The DIY probably has not
achieved as much as we had
hoped in all honesty,
just because we are being,
you know, on standby for it
and I'm dropping my nail bag
and picking up my pinny.
Juggling renovation
and catering is anything
but a piece of cake.
I'm ready for a sit
down at the moment.
I have not had any breaks since
we got up at 7:00 this morning.
Right not a toilet break.
Right, can I go
and leave you to it?
Yes dear.
So, the black pudding
a little bit of butter.
I know how we cook
black pudding, hun.
-Aah.
-I know how to cook
black pudding.
Right. I will see you
soon, thank you.
All hands to the pump,
whatever needs to be done. So.
While Donna gets changed,
Paul's left in charge
of the appetizers --
oat cakes and black pudding.
I think that meets the
brief -- lightly toasted.
Fine, that's done, that's done.
That seems to be done.
I will see where the wife is.
Must be my turn to get changed.
Paul's been a builder
and a chef,
now it's time to play
the role of host... in a kilt.
In Normandy, it's an important
day for Anna and Phillip.
Today, they hope to
ditch the chateau's old
electricity system
and switch to a brand new one.
I am connecting all the lines
and that's going to be
the last thing I have to do
before I can do the nig swap
from the old electrical network
to the new electrical network.
For the past four months,
Phillip has had
the mammoth task
of installing new wiring
throughout the 16-room chateau
and then linking it all
up to a new fuse box.
I have an old fuse box here,
which is kind of understated
for a chateau
and now, today, we have to
switch to the new network,
that means we see if
all the installation works.
There's a lot riding
on the big switch.
If it works, it will be
another step towards Anna,
Phillip, and the children
being able to move out of
their makeshift accommodation
on the first floor
and into their purpose-built
family apartment at the
top of the chateau.
Yeah, I just cannot wait --
we are camping at the moment.
We have currently got electric
extension cables
for going upstairs because
we don't have
electricity out there.
All of our clothes
are in boxes because
we don't have any storage.
If it works out, we
can move upstairs.
We have electricity,
we have light, we have heating.
If it doesn't work,
I don't know.
First, Phillip needs to
cut the wires connecting
the old system to the mains.
It goes to that saying
that when working on electrics,
it's vital to make
sure the main electrical
source is turned off.
Five minutes to get,
the cable is off the wall and
there is no more electricity
because I am still here
and going to touch them.
So, that is how you know.
Next, the main wires must
be joined to the new system.
It is a delicate operation.
Phillip's put a hole in
the pipe into the wall
to feed through the wires.
That is going to be
the tricky part because
if I don't get them through
where they are supposed
to go through,
I don't know I have to
dig another trench or
drill another hole
in the outside wall
and that wall is like that.
So, I am really, really
hoping that works.
-Anna.
-Yeah.
-I need your help.
-Okay.
We need to get
that cable in there.
We have to push it through,
there is a bend just like this.
So, I am not sure whether
it is even possible.
So, I am going to go inside,
I am going to pull,
and whenever I shout,
you push as hard as you can.
-Am I pushing and you pulling?
-You're pushing
and I am shouting.
Okay.
-Okay. I count up to three
and then you push, okay?
-Okay.
One, two, three. Push.
Okay again -- hold on, hold on.
One, two, three. Push.
It's not moving. It's not
moving at all Phillip.
-That wasn't a success.
-Phillip?
Okay. We need a new strategy.
I need to destroy some
of the bricks outside.
On a renovation I think
of this scale
and with the amount of
jobs that need to be done,
there's always going be
setbacks, as you kind of
used to and you expect to,
obviously, we have a lot of
pressure on today, or Phillip
has a lot of pressure himself
to you know get the new
electrics working and so,
we have a bit of a tight
window of time on how
to get it finished
before it gets dark.
Otherwise, we are going to be
going to bed
in a dark chateau
with candle light.
Let's just hope Phillip can
manage to pull it off in time.
In Central France, Matt
and Helen's bridal suite
is starting to come together.
All right.
Can you get that one in.
The carpet has been laid and
the ceiling has finally been
ruched.
Just one second and I'm done.
Oh, god. Fear of height,
my tummy would be going
if I stood at the top of that.
Now, Matt wants to add
the crowning glory,
a centerpiece cushion
and chandelier.
That's how I'd love it.
Unfortunately,
the cushion is drooping.
How about if we would put
something in through the zip?
-Yeah.
-From one corner to the other
and same the other way.
We will make it a cross to
support it a little.
Yeah, that's what I am thinking.
It's a simple solution
that might work.
They're stiffening
up the cushion with
plastic packaging strips.
All right Hel. Try and see
if it will give us
more stability into
the cushion itself.
That looks better.
Got it.
Please tell me it works.
-You see the hook all right?
-Yeah.
-All right.
-Well done.
It seems his master
plan has worked a treat.
How do I come up with
these things? I honestly.
Just a bit plastic.
It's just incredible what you
can do with a bit of plastic.
It's been a bit of a struggle,
but their luxurious ruched
ceiling is finally complete.
With the ceiling done,
it's time to put in
the grand four poster bed,
-currently stored in
an out building.
-This one?
But it's huge and won't fit
through the Chateau's doors.
It's about 8 inches too big.
So, we've got to take
up through the window
This could be a tricky job.
Luckily, Matt and builders,
Dave and Steve have a plan,
they're going to use a winch
to lift it through the window.
This was the only alternative
even that one was to
chop the feet off.
We are hoping this is
going to work first time
as long as we have
our measurements right,
we should be okay.
With the winch in position,
the first section of the bed
can slowly be lifted up...
It's all right Dave,
you okay there?
And Matt's in charge
of the controls,
Just a few more!
Oh, good.
So, there we go,
that's the first part done.
Let's hope the final
piece goes as smoothly.
Here we go.
-Just going to slide, or?
-I think right.
I think we are going to
have to let it out again.
Time it too far.
Looks like they've winched
this one in too much,
but nothing a loosening
of the cable won't sort.
Right, ready, in! And again,
another couple of inches.
All right. We're done.
Success!
It's another step forward,
but with their first paying
guests due soon they
need to get cracking.
We are just struggling
like crazy, but it is
going to be great
seeing people walk
around the chateau.
And that's going to
be something else.
Best of luck guys.
You're certainly
going to need it.
-Coming up ...
-Lots to do!
Paul and Donna pull out the
stops for their special event.
In honor of Robbie Burns
and the Haggis.
And Phillip risks life
and limb to stop his chateau
plunging into darkness.
Of all the ways I
could have died today,
that would probably be
the most ridiculous one,
falling from a cupboard.
In Normandy, Anna and
Phillip are desperately trying
to connect their new
electricity cables to
the mains before the sun sets.
It's not going to work
like that, but I'm just
seeing if works at all.
The hole made to pass
the mains wires through to
the chateau was too small,
now it's up to the onsite
masons to make it bigger.
It's no easy job when
trying to get through
200-year-old walls
that are two feet deep...
Let's just hope the
larger hole, is now big enough
for the wires to go through.
Do you want me to, no can't
get it through the
other side, can you?
No, do that one time
if you could --
Because there is also
an angle at the top here that
is not just straight up.
Yeah but the angle
is almost there.
-Ah.
-Ah.
[speaking in French]
I need to get that cable
now and see if it works.
It is long enough to get
out of the chimney first
and then I need to get
it behind the wall paneling
towards the fuse box.
-All right?
-Yeah.
-One, two, three.
-Okay.
They may have got the
cable through the wall,
-Okay.
-they're not finished yet.
Now that the cable is inside,
we just have to run it to
behind the chimney
and then into the fuse box
on the other side
of the cupboard.
So, that should be
a straightforward job.
Famous last words.
It's not really stable up here.
Alright. By all the ways,
I could have died today.
That would be probably
the most ridiculous one
falling from a cupboard.
Aah.
I think, yeah.
It is coming here.
I can see it, yeah.
Hang on and now, I thought
it got the ladder in the way.
-Okay.
-I need to use the ladder.
-Are you saying I'm in the way?
-Yes.
-Okay.
-All right.
It has been a bit of mission,
but Anna and Phillip are
finally ready to attach
the cable to the new fuse box.
Now, we're going
to check whether we
have electricity or not.
And most importantly,
really hope that I didn't
get the set up wrong.
So, if everything to right,
that should show
in between two phases,
we have 400.
-Yeah!
-Yeah.
-Amazing! Well done my love.
-This is really good.
It's great news. According
to Phillip's multimeter,
the electricity coming
in is being correctly
distributed into the chateau.
-When I turn this switch on --.
-Yeah.
We will learn if it's say,
from here to here --.
It's going be dark soon,
so let's hope it works.
-We have light!
-We have lights.
-Oh, well done.
-Look at this.
Wow. I think we should open
some wine or some champagne.
I think it is really,
really good.
-Well done my love.
-I am really, really happy.
-Well done my love. Well done.
-That's new electricity.
Okay, now we have
to do all the rest.
Now, we have to go all the rest.
-How many rooms?
-Aah, just 40 rooms to go.
And a couple of
connections to do. Ok.
Come on!
It's such a great achievement
and another big job
ticked off the list.
In western France,
Donna and Paul have less
than an hour
before their guests
arrive for Burns Night.
There's a table of four.
So, Jonathan's table. Oh yeah.
Donna's friend Debbie is on
hand to make sure
their first event of
the year goes smoothly.
There's a table of three.
Upstairs, Paul is racing
to change from builder
to highlander.
So, I've managed to grab a quick
shower after today's DIY.
I am starting the process
of getting the kilt on.
Important, I need to check
sock alignment.
Scotland's traditional kilt
and sock combo
is thought to date
back to the 1800s.
I call that done.
As much as I'd like to share the
next bit with you,
this is the bit where
the bottom goes on.
So, my pajamas come off.
So, that's a private
moment and thank you.
Right, that's it. Lots to do.
Coming in.
Oh, beautiful!. [laughs]
It is a long time since I have
seen him looking like that.
Looks very nice.
You're the one
making me bend down.
What are you doing for
the arrival cocktail?
I don't know, I was thinking
should we put a little touch
of whisky in and top
it up with prosecco.
I want to try one and I'll see
whether -- see if it takes good.
Like a whiskey spritz.
And then, I will give you
a second opinion, right.
What's cheers in Scottish?
-Slainte.
-Slainte.
-Not enough whisky.
-[laughs]
With the cocktail
packing a punch,
they can start prepping
the food as the guests
are due any minute.
But there is still no sign
of the piper they've booked.
We thought she should
have been here by now.
So, I'm starting to panic
that she's not going to be,
With time ticking, they might
have to do without one...
-Welcome...
-Hello. Hi there. How are you?
But moments later
she finally arrives...
Relieved that
the piper has just arrived.
I was kind of looking at
the time and kind of worried
and that she would not be here
on time. So, so that's good.
As the guests start to arrive,
Donna can now relax a little...
Please.
-It is a lovely evening,
isn't it?
-It is indeed, yes.
With everyone here and
the food already laid out,
Paul dishes out
his special cocktails.
Prosecco and whisky
at the entrance
-Prosecco and whisky?
-Yeah.
They seem to be a hit.
Now, the ceremonies can begin.
[bagpipe music]
Starting with Paul's
own address to a Haggis.
Ladies and gentlemen,
welcome to Chateau de Saugé.
Tonight's feast is in honor
of Robby Burns and the Haggis.
[all] Hooray.
[laughter]
Scottish flavor.
For starters, the guests
have a seafood oatcake trio.
Miniature prawn cocktail,
rainbow trout,
and smoked salmon.
You see the little
amuse-bouche, compliments of us.
Sounds like pudding.
Hearing the pipes is
always emotional, you know.
It always stumps up
these historic emotions
that laid dormant for years
and generations,
but when you hear the pipes,
it makes the hairs on
the back of the head stand up.
With luck, the dessert
will have the same effect,
a traditional raspberry
cream and oat dish
called cranachan.
We're enjoying it.
It is absolutely superb.
Lovely to have a Scottish feast
in the middle of France.
I think we feel happy that
I think some of the guests
can enjoy the evening.
I think it went well.
I think probably Donna's
pretty meticulous panning,
I think I must add.
So, everything on
the spreadsheet detailed.
But, obviously, the proof
is in the pudding and the
pudding was nice as well, so.
Hah. He's after brownie points!
You clocking them up?
Yeah.
It's been a big success
and hopefully, a good start
to this years' events.
Next time...
I'm giving it a quick clean.
Martin and Helen face
a race against time...
I am just trying gauge how
many you need for 16 people.
As they launch
their high-end B&B.
-Thank you very much for coming.
-Cheers!
Cheers!
Donna and Paul take on
a delicate new project...
The problem is really that
the walls are not straight
and the ceilings
are not straight.
And Anna and Philipp
have a massive challenge...
We need to get it absolutely
watertight, last thing
you want is a leaky shower.
As they attempt to get
their business off the ground.
How is she going to fit in
here with her wedding dress?
So. it's going to be
a bit of squash, no?