All language subtitles for Escape to the Chateau DIY S03E11.540p.HDTV.x264-GTi.English

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

I've got him.
..we're nearly five years

into restoring this
once-abandoned chateau.

There's something quite
majestic about it.

Feel like you're in the clouds.

It's been demanding...

..yet truly fulfilling.

It's made me feel a bit mushy
and a bit emotional.

And with thousands
of chateaux in France,

we're not the only Brits
buying into the French fairy tale.

Oh, my goodness, it's amazing.

Angel and I are once again
helping our fellow expats...

This is a big, old build.

..as they embark on a brand-new
set of chateau adventures.

Oh! Oh!

And we'll reveal
more about our own chateau life.

You're Monsieur Dick!

It'll be a roller-coaster ride.
Whoa!

SURFACE CRACKS
SHE GASPS

No. No.

But no matter what...

I'm just going to try not to cry.

..these plucky Brits...

We're doing this with all
the technological

accomplishment of the ancient
Egyptians.

..are determined to transform
once-unloved buildings...

..into the most spectacular homes...

That is amazing.

..to live the dream as custodians
of their very own castles.

Today... I did it.

..we revisit some familiar faces...

If the worst comes to the worst
and they don't turn up

on time on Saturday, I'll go
and get mushroom heaters.

..as they battle to get
everything finished

before the wedding
party arrives.

We're still planting

and it's literally 20 minutes
before the clients get here.

A would-be chateau owner checks
out what's on the market...

Wow! This is absolutely
unbelievable.

It's like a fairy tale castle.

..but he's a hard man to please.

I want it to be, like, bigger.

Like that, both ways.

And brand-new chateau owners...

Yes! Here we are.

..struggle to crack the lingo.

How's your French?

"Ne pas" is... Door?

That "menu" throws me. Yeah.

Across France, there are many
chateau-owning Brits who have

built up businesses so they can
afford to live in elegant

surroundings steeped
in extraordinary history.

Like Edward from Stockport,
his Kosovan wife, Anna,

and their four-year-old son,
Charles, who live in the stunning

15th-century Chateau Lagorce
that they run as a wedding venue.

We are part of their special day.

We make friends for life.

We love it.

One thing you can't control
is weather.

I know. Or the wedding dress that
doesn't fit, but let's not go there.

It's happened.

Located in Haux,
just outside Bordeaux,

the 22-bedroom chateau was bought
by Edward's family 16 years ago.

When we first met them last summer,
they were in the midst

of the wedding season, which came
with its set of challenges.

Normally, we are meant to have a
surprise fireworks display at 11pm.

We have to make it happen,
no matter what.

Ed usually looks after
the buildings,

whilst Anna is chief wedding
planner.

However, this summer, the couple
are facing a new challenge.

We have a little one on the way,

so Anna's not going to be able to
do all the weddings.

She's going to have to take
more of a back seat

and I'm going to have to be doing
a bit more of the coordination.

I'm going to find it really hard
because I'm very picky.

It's hugely important that Anna can
relax towards the birth...

..if you can relax towards a birth!

With 30 weddings already booked in,

Edward has big shoes to fill
as the new chief wedding planner.

She's really much more
attention to detail.

I'm hoping he's going to be
able to...

..to do things my way.

"Control freak" kind
of springs to mind. Yes.

The wedding season
starts in only a month,

but they've had a cancellation
and want to secure another booking.

Hello! Hi, guys, nice to meet you.

Their latest potential
couple are Georgia and Adam,

so it's over to Ed to persuade them.

See you in a little bit, guys.
Thank you.

Are you guys looking for a ceremony
on site, rather than in a church?

Yes, ideally. Yes. OK.

So, normally, we'd have the ceremony
set up in a semicircle.

Let's go down and have a look.

He started talking about the
ceremony here, when normally

you talk about that down there,
but that's personal choice.

With Anna watching closely,

the pressure's on Ed to sell
the chateau as the perfect venue.

The pool's actually heated.

Oh, the kids will love that. Yeah.

So this is where the
ceremony would be.

This is a private lake.
I like how peaceful it is.

I think now it's possibly about the
lake because you can fish there.

That's, like, something
I go about briefly,

but that's not
essential at a wedding.

I'm pretty sure he's
talking about that.

You're a fairly large number,
150, yes? Yeah.

So, it might work better to
have your canapes down here. OK.

Oh, wow.

It's hard when someone else is
taking over

and everyone does things their way.

It's almost a blanket of green. Yep.

Yeah, it's beautiful.

Maybe his way's not bad,
but it's not completely my way.

When we got married, we had
our portrait photos here.

So, if you wanted to do
some portrait photos,

it's a perfect place to do them.

The tour was fantastic.
The chateau is amazing.

It's beautiful. It's got so much
space and we love it.

It's not final,
but we're very, very,

very happy with what we've seen.

Let's see if Anna is just
as impressed by Ed's
tour-guiding skills.

I'm feeling a little bit nervous
about the situation, but it is

getting slightly better, especially
seeing a smile on the couple's face.

All they can do now is
wait for a decision from the couple.

In the meantime, they need to turn
their attention

to the first wedding of the season,
in just a month's time.

The British are big
investors in French property,

snapping up around a third of those
sold to international buyers.

Hoping to join the growing
band of expat chateau owners

is interior designer
Adam from Warwickshire.

You're getting a lot more for your
money out here,

the architecture is insane, the
cuisine is really, really good,

I like the people.

Since renting out his UK home
and moving in with his mother,

Adam's ready to use his savings

and a mortgage to fund up
to £800,000 for the right place.

I'm wanting, from a chateau,

a home that I can decorate and make
it look luxurious.

And I just want to be able to get
everything out of storage

and make a lasagne
in a nice kitchen.

And, don't get me wrong, I'm really
relaxed at my mum's house.

I love it, it's so lovely,
but I've put on weight

because obviously she's cooking
lots for me, which is not great.

Adam has ambitious plans

and wants to find a chateau with
space for his business ideas.

A design school, a yoga retreat,
maybe, an artist's retreat -

any kind of inspirational
creative space.

I'm going to live the French dream.

The first chateau Adam's
viewing is La Boissiere,

just 33 miles south of our place.

His friend Lisa is helping him.

Oh, my goodness, Lisa.
It's absolutely unbelievable.

They're meeting estate agent David.
Good to meet you.

It's phenomenal,
what a great building.

And welcome to the chateau.

Thank you very much.
A step back in time.

Sympathetically
restored by the current owners,

the 14th-century Chateau de la
Boissiere has a stunning

circular staircase, leading to rooms
with an abundance

of original features and five
spacious bedrooms.

You have to imagine this going
back to the 1200s...

OK. ..when this was just a
watchtower.

At that particular point in time,
France was quite fragmented,

so, to the north, we had the
Bretons. Yeah.

To the south, we had the Anjous.

It was added to, over the next
couple of hundred years,

to be in a proper,
defensive position.

And is that a balcony at the top,
up there?

That is a balcony
and that overlooks the countryside.

Wow. And you can see for miles.
OK, OK.

Set in 11 acres of land, the chateau
is surrounded by a moat

and has several outbuildings
that can be perfect for
Adam's business ideas.

And, at just under £518,000,
it's below budget.

This part here wasn't there
until the 1850s.

OK, OK. So what used to
be along here would be the ramparts,

and what was put up in its place was
a traditional stone farmhouse. OK.

You can make as many
bedrooms as you want,

going all the way to the very end.

Interesting.
It's definitely got me thinking.

Definitely. Yeah, it's definitely
got me thinking.

So far, so good.

Now for a peek inside.

Wow! This is absolutely
unbelievable.

Fantastic staircase.

This is phenomenal.

It's like a fairy tale castle.

Coming up... Here we are.

..brand-new owners find that chateau
life

might not be all
it's cracked up to be.

A crack, there.

Let's cover it back up.

In a role reversal, pregnant Anna
lets Ed take charge of the shopping.

Ed chose these.

I wouldn't have gone for them,
but why not?

And laying electrical cables proves
tricky over at my place.

Oh, Richard!

I've got a man in the water,
here, one down!

The impressive 17th-century
Chateau de Sauge,

with four acres of land,
11 outbuildings and 45 rooms

was recently snapped up for
£279,000 by Donna and husband Paul.

The couple, who've spent the last
decade living and working in Dubai,

are moving in today.

We fell in love with
the architecture.

Where else could you buy
a piece of history like this

for the money we've paid?

Situated 50 miles
east of La Rochelle,

the chateau needs some major
restoration work,

but Paul and Donna are determined
to make it a B&B and events venue.

We're optimistic by nature. I think
anyone that takes on a project

like this needs to be.

Our friends and family
think we are totally crazy.

Don't they?
But I think they always have.

Having given up their jobs,
they need to be up and running

and generating an income
in just six months' time.

Everything that we've worked
for up to now is going in to

make this a success and
that's why it can't fail.

It's not an option, failure.

Today, their hopes and
plans become reality.

The chateau is theirs
and there's no turning back.

You got the box of keys?

I've no idea which one fits.

With so many keys, finding the
right one could be tricky.

Porte.

Porte principal? Principale?

No? That one?

Oh, that's progress.

Is it? Yes!

Here we are.

They've renovated a 400-year-old
cottage in Scotland,

but nothing can quite prepare
you for the full-blown

neglected chateau experience.

That's not so great, but...

Oh, yeah.

There's obviously
been some damp issue.

One of many, I'm sure. Yeah.

SHE LAUGHS

Let's go and find all the
other damp issues. Yeah.

That needs work.

Yeah.

Oh, cobwebs.

The electrics are...

Pretty bad.

Crack, there.

And here, as well.

Let's cover it back up.

They need to get at least
two of the eight bedrooms

converted into en-suite rooms

and kick off their B&B business
before their savings run out.

As well as the mammoth
renovation project,

the pair have another challenge on
their hands, and one almost as big.

How's your French?

Learning the language.

"No entry, door menu."

"Do not enter."

"Ne pas" is...

Door. Yeah.

Perfect.

The "menu" throws me. Yeah.

Hmm, take it from me,
learning French is essential.

125 miles north, at our place,

we know all about starting
a renovation from scratch.

Often one of the first hurdles
for a chateau owner is getting

electricity to power the building.

I have now got one socket
in the whole chateau,

but, whoa, whoa, whoa,
we have electricity.

We may have had electricity,
but the chateau did have issues.

Supposed to have 230 volts,
we've got 196 volts,

that is absolutely abysmal.

As well as low voltage,

we didn't have enough power for
the coach house,

which we converted into a
home for Angel's mum and dad,

Jenny and Steve.

There is absolutely
masses of work to be done.

We had the electricity company
increase the power into the chateau,

then we'd have enough to
share with the coach house.

Now, Jenny and Steve will have
enough power to turn the kettle on,

turn some bits and pieces on.

We've got enough power to still
be stingy, but to use it.

I might just go and put
a fan on or something.

With our electrics up to strength,

the challenge was
laying 40 metres of cable

around the edge of the
moat to the coach house.

We've got an underground,
very heavy cable,

that's going around to join them.

We get twice as much energy as
we've ever had in the chateau,

Jenny and Steve get some,
cos we spoil them,

and if we need more in the
chateau, we'll just turn them off.

We could have taken the whole
thing underground all the way,

but we don't know where
our telephone lines are,

that's your internet
and everything else,

nobody can tell us where it is,
so we just stayed away from it.

I roped in worker Richard

to help clear undergrowth
at the edge of the moat

to attach the new cable.

SPLASHING

Oh, Richard.

Just hold on a second, mate.

The tractor's coming with a rope.

Come on, Steve, get a move on.

I've got a man in the
water, here, one down.

Back very slowly, very slowly.

Keep going, keep going, keep going.

International Rescue,
another day for Thunderbirds.

He was wet anyway,
so Richard finished the job

and we laid the cable
right round the moat

and into the coach house, ready
for me to start the internal wiring.

I need to get all the sockets on,
so they can just start building.

So my job is to make sure that
all the wires go to the right place.

They have little boxes on
the end, ready to go.

And I think we're just about there.

Right. There we go.

Four months later,

and Jenny and Steve's new home had
enough power so that lighting

and electrical mod cons can
all be on at the same time.

Worth that extra effort,
and an accidental dip for Richard.

Over 240 miles away
at Chateau Lagorce,

Anna and Ed are busy making it look
its best ready for their first

wedding of the season
in just two days' time.

OK.

Whoops.

I'm Mr Clumsy.

OK.

Anna is six months pregnant
and is supposed to be taking things

easier, but there's always
new challenges to deal with.

I've had a message from the bride.

Mm-hm?

Because of the weather, she
would like some mushroom heaters.

OK.

It's pretty cold, I mean,
it's only 17, 18 degrees.

And to sit down and
have dinner outside,

they can be there for three hours,

so the bride called us and
she wants mushroom heaters.

We get these ones
delivered on Saturday.

Six of these, delivered
on Saturday? Yeah.

I think that would make more sense.

Normally, things like this are
arranged at least one or two months

in advance and we are not even 40
hours before the wedding, so it's...

..it's tricky.

If the worst comes to worst and they
don't turn up on time, on Saturday.

You're going to have to go out.
I'll go and get mushroom heaters,
but I can't stand mushroom heaters.

Well, neither can I, but,
there's nothing I can do.

OK, so I've ordered these
ones, 2,100 watts.

Worst case, if we can't get
those, that means,

as the wedding is happening,

Edward's going to have
to leave me on my own

and try and find whatever he can.

We're going to have to have cables
going across the terrace, though.

Well, there's nothing I can do.

That's extra stress
Anna doesn't need

when she's meant to be
reducing her workload,

with Ed taking on more
of her responsibilities.

An important step is a lesson for Ed
in shopping for wedding essentials.

What colours are you needing?

Very wedding-y ones.

We need white, cream, we'll go for
two of these, and then,

when we run out, you know
where they are,

so you can always
come and get some more.

You know what, I'm gonna
take photos of that.

Excellent idea.

Ed's really trying to remember
everything, so "A" star for effort.

I knew we were coming for ribbons.

I hadn't got a clue what they were
for, it is such a small detail

and Anna's just so on top
of all of those.

It is gonna be really hard,
hence why I'm taking photos.

Quite a lot of
knowledge she has there.

Look at that one here.

Yeah, they'd do for the
buffets, cheeses and fruits.

Yeah? Yeah. OK.

I like it.

What else do you need now, then?

So the shopping trip is going
a bit differently this time,

because Ed is checking
everything I'm choosing.

This looks cute.

I think it's gonna break. Already,
that's not wood, that's...no.

He's been more controlling.

He's been more me.

We also need wine glasses.

You like those?

I can just get two.

It's not what I wanted, but, yeah.

Looks like Anna's managing
to let Ed take charge.

We got some of the things we needed.

Ed chose these.

They're different, I wouldn't
have gone for them, but why not?

We have some couples that have
come for a real good time,

and we've got them in stock, now.

I'm definitely trying to be
more "easier Anna",

and "taking a step back Anna".

"Easy Anna" doesn't look very easy.

Keep trying, Ed.

Just over 200 miles
north in Mayenne,

in our neck of the woods,

interior designer
Adam and friend Lisa

are viewing Chateau de la Boissiere.

It's on the market at
just under £518,000.

And the outbuildings seem to have
the right potential

for Adam's interior
design school idea.

Now they're ready to see if
the inside of the chateau

can pass muster.

Wow, this is absolutely
un...believable.

Fantastic staircase.

Slate stairs, all the
way to the very top.

This is phe...nomenal.

It's like a fairy-tale castle.

Shall we go upstairs? Yeah.

After you.

This 14th-century chateau has the
main reception room

on the first floor.

Wow, this is an amazing room.

Stunning.

Massive great big beams.

Massive fireplace.

Can just imagine a big hog roast on
there, rolling round, rolling round?

And you can see down on to the moat.

I love how the moat goes all the way
round, David. That's phenomenal.

I'm just gobsmacked by it.
It's amazing, it's beautiful.

It's very fairy-tale.

Adam's looking pretty
impressed so far.

Wow.

This is a really cute kitchen.

This wasn't a kitchen,

this would have been something
completely separate,

this would have been
a storage area. OK.

And indeed, just over here would
have been the access to the toilet.

Nice. That's a really lovely
touch, isn't it?

It all ended up in the
moats back in the day.

Oh, OK, that's, quite gross.

Don't worry, Adam, the chateau's
been modernised over the last

30 years, so I'm sure there's
some proper flushing loos, too.

I like it, it's got a
great feel to it.

It gets better. OK.

Come on. Let's have a look.
Can we go upstairs?

We can go upstairs.

I love this width of staircase.

OK, and what is now a bedroom.

Wow, great room.

Massive bedroom.

I'm not convinced yet it's
going to be big enough.

I just don't know whether I
want it to be like, bigger.

Like that, both ways.

And I wanted the bedrooms to
be relatively en suite.

Traditionally, few fairy-tale
chateaux came with en suites.

But I love it, I
think it's phenomenal.

I'm not making a judgment
just yet, I'm just verbalising.

Time to check the
top of the chateau.

Wow, what an amazing view.

I can see now why it
was a watchtower.

Un...believable.

The 14th-century tower and
terrace, a stunning feature.

In an ideal world, Lisa,
would you buy this?

I think I would. Lisa loves it.

I think it's fabulous,
but I'm not in love with it.

If I'm honest, I'm not.

And it's a bit high.

It's a bit too high
and I'm going in.

THEY LAUGH

I'm quite a tricky, picky person

and I know exactly what
I do and don't like.

Architecture's not
quite right for me,

and this isn't quite in
the right location.

And I think I also feel a bit
landlocked here as well, in a way.

I think I'd quite like
to be, maybe, by the sea.

Still a lot to clean. Oh, God.

It pays to understand the location
and architecture you're after

before you start looking.

Lisa, are you up for this?
It could be a long one.

Coming up...

Donna and Paul enjoy the glamour
of chateau life with a first meal.

Paul, do you want to find the
couple of bits of cutlery we have?

You mean two forks and two knives?

Adam's second viewing
starts off well.

I love the panelling.

But then hits a glitch.

It's a tiny, tiny kitchen,
I don't like it at all. Oh, lord.

And the pressure's on Anna, when the
florist gets the delivery wrong.

There's flowers missing.

I can't believe this.

50 miles from La Rochelle,
brand-new chateau owners Donna

and Paul are visiting their local
DIY store.

It's going to give them
their first taste of ordering

materials in French,
a language they are yet to master.

It's too early to be doing
interiors.

It's at times like this,
a little French can go a long way.

I was going to ask this guy to cut
some of this material,

so we can use it for the windows.

Someone needs to cut it, then.

Can we cut?

So, deux length?

Two metres?

I hope Paul realises he's
bought two metres.

That's for you.
Merci, au revoir.

Now, the small matter of paying.

Non.

Can we get one? A card?

We don't have one,
but we'd like one.

We shall take this
and we shall read.

Don't worry, guys,
you'll get the hang of it soon.

People have been very friendly
and helpful.

Even if our French is limited,

we've managed to get, you know, what
we went in for.

You just need to embrace it.

There's no point being
scared about it, just embrace it

and they'll help when they can
and, if not, we'll find a solution.

Back at Donna and Paul's,
before starting on more renovations,

they need to prep
a room for Donna's parents,

who are arriving from the UK
in four days' time.

I just want to check the bed
and that for my mum and dad,

just to make sure it's
comfortable enough.

To me, it's sloping towards the wall
by an inch, an inch and a half.

I think the bed's fine,
it's probably the floor.

Oh! I can already tell your head
is way below.

Yeah, it is.

You'll have all the blood
running to your head!

They won't wake up!

You can really feel this is lower.

It's a lot lower than my feet.

No, that's not good.

Oh, yeah, that's tons better.

I think this is fine.

I'm excited about them being here.
I've not seen them since March.

I want to share this with them,
you know,

share this experience with them.

It's the end of the first
day in their new home - time to eat,

if they can rustle up
the essentials.

Paul, do you want to find the couple
of bits of cutlery we have?

The two forks and two knives?

Yeah, I'll find them.

It's nice, this is our first meal,
it's...

..it feels more like home, now.

And that is a cause for celebration.

CORK POPS

Well done, guys, you've made
your first foray into chateau life.

Cheers, sweetheart.

Cheers, to Chateau de Sauge.

Chateau de Sauge.

Just under 120 miles south,
near Bordeaux,

it's two days before Ed and Anna's
first wedding of the season.

With guests arriving tomorrow,
Ed is off on a shopping

trip for barrels to use as supports
for a bar,

while Anna's decided to try and fix
a broken toilet seat

in one of the guest rooms.

I'm going to struggle.

Six months pregnant,
Anna is meant to be

taking it easy and she's no DIYer.

I'm having more respect for Ed,
I thought this would be much easier.

This is really hard.

One done.

I thought I would like DIY,
but I hate it now.

Oh!

Ed? Yeah?

I was trying to help you with
the toilet seat,

but part of the attachment,

it just went down the toilet. Oh!

Oh, OK. Is it...? Oh!

Gosh. Well, just don't flush the
toilet. OK.

Ed's finally back, after a
three-hour shopping trip,

with barrels,
ready to assemble the bar.

My God, it's heavy!

How's that toilet seat going?

I did it! I never felt so proud!

I think that might be quite a
positive spin you're
giving there, Anna!

Oh, my God!

I might just get a whole new one
and start again.

Why? I didn't throw anything.

Ah!

OK, so that's meant to be like that.

Toilet fixed,
but there's no time to rest,

the wedding flowers have arrived.

Super, super.

Mother-in-law Barbara is
helping out,

but, a stickler for detail,
Anna has spotted a problem.

I didn't order this.

I love the colour,
but that's not what we ordered.

I ordered red and I never ordered
those with the white bits.

Because I ordered 36 like this.

I can't believe this.

There's flowers missing.

We're going to have to go back out
now to get some other flowers,

because, otherwise,
we can't do the window ledges.

We're going to have to send my
mother-in-law to the garden centre.

They're going to be four or five
times the price.

I thought the toilet seat was hard,
but this is more annoying,

cos the thing that is
my favourite part,

I can't get right,
because they got it wrong.

With the bride
and groom arriving tomorrow

and expecting the chateau to be
ready for their outdoor reception,

let's hope Anna and Ed can get
the replacement plants in time.

Over 300 miles north,
interior designer Adam and friend

Lisa are continuing their search
for the perfect chateau to buy.

They've travelled to Normandy to see
their second property,

this impressive 19th century
petit chateau.

Estate agent Jill will show them
round.

Jill? Hi. I'm Adam, nice to meet
you. Hi, Adam.

Nice to meet you, this is Lisa.
And you. Hi, Lisa, how are you?

This looks amazing!
I know.

Set in just four acres, it has eight
bedrooms arranged over two

floors and several outbuildings,
with business potential for Adam

to develop into a design school,
or a yoga retreat.

Looking at it online,
it looks better in the flesh.

The photographs were good,
but you don't get the scale. No.

I'm dying to get in. Yeah? Come on,
then. Thank you.

At just over £500,000, it's well
within Adam's £800,000 budget.

But, as Adam admits, he's quite
picky

and it takes a lot to impress him.

Wow! Such a lovely wide hallway.

I love these double
doors either side.

So, this floor would
potentially be original?
I would have thought so.

Yeah, it's beautiful. Yeah, yeah.
And I love black and white.

OK, let's have a look through here.

I love the panelling.

This is fantastic, Jill, the whole
of it is panelled with fabric, the
whole room.

It is. That's unusual, isn't it?
It's unusual.

I just like all the woodwork,
all the original doors.

I love the symmetry of the rooms.

They're not enormous,
but because of the high ceilings,
they feel very glamorous.

Yeah. Do you like it, Lisa?
Fantastic, what we've seen so far.

I like the symmetry.

This is going remarkably well,
so far,

and, across the hall, the dining
room is equally impressive.

Look at that wood burner.
Yeah, that's fantastic.

That heats most of the downstairs.
It's enormous.

It really does throw out the heat.

Can I actually see the kitchen,
how it is, now, please?
Of course you can. May I?

Is it through this here?
This way.

It's tiny, Jill.
It's tiny, tiny kitchen.

I don't like it at all.

Oh, Lord! Yeah. Urgh!

So I think you need to live in a
place like this,

before you decide what changes you
want to make.

I think I've decided already.

I think I know what
I want to do, Jill.

Cos I get it, I just get the space.
It's what I do, is space planning.

OK. And I walk in and I just know
exactly how my vision is.

Great. Yeah.

What would you do with this, then?

I know this bit's added on. Yeah.

Part of me in my head is just
thinking take it down altogether.

Oh, no! Knocking this down?

Do you not think that's a good idea?
Not at all.

Great big skip on the drive
and get this kitchen out.

Oh, God! Get it gone.

I mean, it's functional,
but, if you had a choice,

I wouldn't want to be in here.
No, I understand.

Saying that, Jill, I don't really
cook. OK. So...

..so I might not really need
it anyway.

OK, come on,
let's have a look at the bedrooms.

Upstairs, there are plenty
of bedrooms that could be

perfect for B&B guests.

That's if they meet Adam's
exacting standards.

So what do you think of this?

This is a really good-sized room,
beautiful floor,

height of ceiling fantastic,
windows amazing.

Fireplace good,
size of the room, good.

And the decor?

My gut feeling is that it almost
needs to be de-modernised in places.

Yeah. Really, in a way,
I would like en-suite bathrooms.

I think the bedroom's probably big
enough to put in a shower room
and toilet.

Could be done easily. Yeah.

I'd have to really think about it,
but there's something,

there's enough space to fit one in.
To do something? Yeah.

There's enough space to fit
something in.

But, the bare bones are there,
which is good.

If you don't love it, don't buy it.

It's phenomenal.

I want it maybe to be a bit
more "chateau-y".

To be a bit more "le grand chateau".

Maybe. I don't know.

I want to keep looking and don't
know whether to just go up a size.

So, next, I'm thinking,
potentially...

The palace?
The Palace of Versailles.

But, that aside, I'm thinking maybe

the Pyrenees for the skiing.

I'm weighing up ski/beach.

I'm going to drive you
mental over it...

..if possible.

That's already happened.

Well, two down and Adam hasn't
found his perfect chateau.

So, he's visiting the Pyrenees
to see if he can strike lucky.

Coming up...

Bonjour.

..Donna and Paul give her parents
a warm welcome...

This is your list of jobs.
Oh!

..and Ed and Anna face a race
against time,

before the bride
and groom arrive.

We're still planting

and it's literally 20 minutes
before the clients get here.

50 miles inland from La Rochelle,
new chateau owners

Donna and Paul are just beginning
to settle in.

Oh, it's a lovely view from here.

Today, Donna's parents are flying
in from England and they may

decide to move in permanently,
so their room needs to be ready.

I think that's fine, isn't it?

Other than the poor wallpaper

and the jaunty floors and the
leaning bed. Could be a lot worse!

Until the renovations are done,
the facilities are rather basic -

like their bathroom up the hall.

What height's your mum?

I couldn't put it any higher.
Not that short.

Well, it'll do as a temporary
measure, won't it?

Temporary?

There's so much still to sort out
and Paul and Donna

are getting their 'to do' list for
the entire project down on paper.

Wallpaper.

What a list!

It's essential to capture
absolutely everything.

Weatherproof.

Yeah, and secure.

Secure.

Donna's hoping to get her
parents involved in

the renovations as much as possible.

Given that there's going to be
four of us working on this,

at any time, any of us
can see what's needed doing

and can pick up a job,
or, hopefully, cross off a job.

I get it, but isn't this list going
to scare Mum and Dad?

Five hours later, after their long
journey from Hartlepool,

Donna's parents arrive at the
chateau.

Bonjour! Bonjour.

They've stuffed you in the back,
have they, Dad? Yes.

You've got him
in the back like a sardine.

Hiya. Hiya, Dad.

Aw! Urgh!

Are you all right? Tired.
Bit worn out. Yeah.

Come and see if you can remember
what it looked like.

Paul and Donna don't waste any
time before sharing their chores.

What's this?
What you're going to do?

No, this is your list of jobs!
Oh!

Each day, you have to pick a job.

Do we get a badge as well, if we do
that? You can have a badge,
if you want.

Go on, then, there's more
than one room. Keep on walking.

And wait till they see the full
extent of the work.

This is the one with
the fabulous fireplace.

It looks like something
that should be in a kitchen.

I don't know why it's upstairs.

Isn't it lovely?
Look at those beams.

Ah, yes, splendid.

The views are beautiful.

Look at that tree, there.

The house is impressive,

but I'm not sure they're going to be
quite so impressed

with the bathroom facilities.

So this shower, we didn't want to
go to the expense of putting

a whole new screen in,
cos this is all going to come out.

Yeah. So, between us, we came up
with kind of

a net hook and a bit of
tablecloth. Yeah?

It doesn't give you full coverage,
but it stops the spray

of water all over the floor.

Yeah, could be worse.
Yeah, it could be worse?

Stick my feet in the basin.

Yes.

That sounds like a tick,
it's a pass!

This is your room.

Oh, yes.

You get a carpeted room. Oh!

Wow, that's nice.

Is that OK? Oh, yes.

You've got the sunshine coming
through the window.

Yeah.

We've been looking forward to it,
haven't we? Yeah, we have.

And it'll be nice to be back
with our daughter,

we've always got on well,
it will be great being with them.

Yeah.

Now they're here,
it's becoming more and more real.

It's great.

Families should be
together as much as possible.

To Chateau de Sauge!
And new guests.

And to us. And to yous.
And cheers.

It's good to see a happy
family reunion

and I hope it stays that way,

as these four have a lot of hard
work ahead of them.

Back at Anna and Edward's,
it's the day before the first

wedding of the season
and things aren't going to plan.

The wedding couple desperately want
to have an outdoor ceremony

and reception, but tomorrow's
weather forecast is bad.

To make matters worse,
the florist has delivered the wrong

coloured geraniums to dress
the courtyard.

We still need to go out and get some
deep red ones,

instead of peachy, orangey ones
and pink ones that they sent.

So that's still not done.

Ed's mum has gone to pick up more
plants, because the bride

and groom are due to arrive soon.

I've got the bar to do, so it
should be a quick job.

Let's see.

Ed's building a bar with a front
made out of old wine cases.

There we go.

In between the two barrels,
we're going to hide any wine,

glasses, bins that we have behind
the bar

and then just put a simple
oak top on top.

OK, so we've got all these
already in here.

He'll fix them onto a large
piece of plywood,

which will front
the bar between the barrels.

Let's see how it's looking.

Et voila.

Come and have a look.

So, will it meet Anna's standards?

It's looking really nice.

If I can get everything tidied
up before the bride

and groom arrive,
I'll be really happy.

Ed's mum is back from the garden
centre, with plants to replace

those that Anna wasn't happy with.

Thank God for that.

The first thing they're going to
see is this courtyard

and this has to look right.

There we go.

The pressure's on to get
the courtyard decorated

ahead of the bride
and groom's imminent arrival.

We are still planting

and it's literally 20 minutes
before the clients get here.

Final push, and they're done.

Just in the nick of time -

here's the bridal couple,
ahead of their big day tomorrow.

Nice to see you.
Ah, you too.

And that is, another guest.

Bride and groom Vicky and Gordon and
their families are soon settled in.

We knew from the beginning that we
wanted to do something abroad,

so we were looking at Italy,
then we were looking at France.

We did a ton of research,
you did a short list,

that was very detailed,
which included this place,

and then I think by the time we came
over we and met Ed and Anna

and we came to see this place for
the first time,

it was a no-brainer,
wasn't it?

It was amazing, I mean, we booked
it before we'd even actually seen
the venue.

For the couple to have the outdoor
wedding they want,

the weather has to be right -

extra stress for Anna and Ed.

So there's a 40%, it says, chance
of rain at 2pm,

which is the time where we're meant
to have the ceremony.

It adds on extra pressure, even
though we try to protect the tables,

we could still get everything wet
and that would be a catastrophe.

Let's hope that sun comes out.

Next time, relentless DIY

becomes a sore point for new owners
Donna and Paul...

My hands are sore, they have
been for the last five weeks.

Everything's sore.

Yeah, I found muscles that
I didn't know existed.

Oh, my God.

..clouds gather over the start of
Anna and Ed's wedding season...

We can't ruin the wedding
meal by eating outside in the rain

and it quite
clearly will be in the rain

and look at that massive wave
coming behind.

It's not this, it's worse than this.

..and Adam may finally have
found his dream chateau.

It's understated charm, but then it
has this amazing presence about it.

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