All language subtitles for Escape to the Chateau DIY S04E03.540p.HDTV.x264-UK.English

I'm Dick Strawbridge,
and along with my wife, Angel,

and our two children...

Welcome aboard, mateys!

..we're now five years...

Woo!

..into restoring
this once abandoned chateau.

That is beautiful.

It's brought its challenges...

..and some amazing rewards...

Thank you for my flower garden,
Mr Strawbridge.

..and, across France,
there are dozens of other Brits

who are on their own
chateau adventure.

Yay!

We'll meet some old friends...

Smile! I am.

..and new faces...

These rooms really haven't been
touched in 60 years.

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

It is SO much better in real life.

There'll be highs... Yay!

..and lows. Oh, no!
God, what a disaster.

..as these plucky Brits...

Time is money.

..transform these once unloved
buildings into incredible homes...

I just cannot believe how much work
you've put in for us.

..as well as businesses...

Woohoo!

..and get to live the dream as
custodians of their very own castle.

Cheers, everybody!

Today...

Just a whisker more,
just a centimetre more.

..these owners start work
on a new garden...

I've got to get all my plants round
here, I've got to get them planted,

I've got the bassin to do,
so the pressure's on for me.

..which turns out to be
an arduous exercise.

Ah, gardening aerobics. Here you go.

As this chateau marks
a grand anniversary...

There we are! Have to have it
all...nice and straight.

..there's a case of confetti
cannon confusion.

Does the top come off?
Do you take the top off?

Do we take the top off as well?

You don't take the top off, do you?
No, you don't.

And one couple put their new
events space to the test.

Is that good enough, do you think?
It's up to you.

You are the creative director.
Oh, God! Don't say that.

But will it scrub up
as well as they do?

Everything seems to be
under control,

so what could possibly go wrong? Ow!

Sorry. I could burn myself!

Making the move across the Channel

and getting a chateau business
off the ground

is a serious challenge.

But despite the ups and downs,

it can also be
incredibly fulfilling.

Take the enchanting
Chateau de Bourneau.

Built in the 1400s and abandoned
during the French Revolution,

it was re-modelled
in the 19th century.

It boasts 50 rooms...

..40 acres...

..and two new owners,

former anaesthetist Erin

and her French fiance, engineer JB.

I think the little girl princess
in me

has always wanted to live
in a beautiful house.

When we have visitors, friends,
and we see the look on their face,

we are like,
"Oh, yeah, yeah, it is true.

"It is a beautiful place
and we are so lucky to be here."

Sitting in the Pays de la Loire,
Erin and JB's grand plan is

to create guest accommodation
and run an events business.

This is obviously
going to be a challenge.

Despite an income from
four holiday lets, money's tight,

so they've decided to focus on
events to get cash flowing in ASAP.

Yeah, it looks nice. It does look
good, it looks really good.

They've been converting
their abandoned orangery into what

they hope will make
the perfect event space.

I think there is something
very romantic about a ruined,

forgotten building,
and I envisage it with fairy lights

and candles, and I just thought,

"Yes, this could be a really
beautiful space for events."

Whereas JB thought, "Ooh,
this would be a lovely garage."

THEY LAUGH

I'm not giving up!

Before they launch
the orangery for paid events,

they want to give it a test run

and are planning
a Midsummer Night's Dream party

for eight friends from the UK
in two weeks' time.

The pressure's on a little bit

because the quicker
we get it finished,

the quicker we can host events

and bring in more money
to do up the chateau.

With a lot of work ahead
to get the empty orangery ready,

there's no time to lose...

What's happening?

..and I'm glad to see Erin's got
her priorities right.

You know I had this idea of having
a bar... Mm-hm. ..inside here?

Wait, just... Yeah, no, no, no,
no. ..sceptical... I'm listening.
Sceptical face!

Erin's bagged these second-hand
19th-century French dressers

for around £100 - a bit of a steal.

My plan is to have the main dresser,
back to the wall,

and have whiskey and gin bottles,
that sort of thing, to display -

and the glassware -
all in that dresser. OK.

And then I found this other piece,

which...it's not actually part
of the set,

but I think it kind of goes
quite nicely.

So I think that dresser is going
to end up being the bar in front.

I've got a navy-blue paint,

which...what I want to do
is use that to

paint the inside of the bit
where they used to hang up plates.

Oh, OK. Yeah, yeah.
And then use that same paint

just to accent the bar in front,

so it's sort of links the two pieces
of furniture. That's my plan.

Erin is our creative director
in this project.

She's got a much better vision
than I do, when it comes to style.

What I love about this paint is that
you don't have to prime anything,

so it just takes a little less time
as well, getting that paint on.

It is a bit bright, isn't it?

It actually dries a lot darker.

I trust her.

The next day,
and a lot of paint later,

Erin's creative vision
is starting to take shape.

I'm just trying to pick out a little
bit of the detail of these
old carvings.

We'll see if JB approves,
cos I'm not sure he was totally

set on my idea of painting this
blue, so we'll see what he thinks!

Hello. Bonjour.

Oh, it's looking nice.
Oh, do you like it? Yeah!

That's a relief! And now he's here,
Erin can put JB to good use.

Ooh!

Are you there? Yep.

So there's that little lug, there.
Yep.

OK... All right?

That's in place. Yeah. Cool.

Isn't that nice?

I really like the bar.

Erin has done a good job to find
a matching style of furniture.

Bit of colour makes it also
a bit more modern.

Good, that's what I wanted to hear!

So far, so good,
but with the orangery still nothing

but an empty shell,
you've got a lot to do

before the night of the party.

Nearly 300 miles south

is the spectacular
Chateau du Puits es Pratx.

Set in seven acres of land,
it has 39 rooms and is run as

a hotel and wedding venue
by Londoners Tim and Sasha,

their daughter, Lily,
and her boyfriend, Luke.

We've got six kids between us,
and to have just one of them

wanting to work with us
is a privilege, absolute privilege.

They look fabulous, sweetheart.

Luke is incredible, and we're
very lucky that he's come along.

There we go.

Located in
the Occitanie countryside,

they've spent the down season
upgrading the hotel spa.

We're done! We're ready.
We're ready.

I think it looks magical.

Now, with this year's
wedding season approaching,

they want to finish it off
by turning the area

outside the spa
into a wellness garden.

Our plan for the wellness garden
is to provide guests with

somewhere quiet and peaceful
so they can get away from the crowd.

It's like a secret garden.

It's really important
that we get finished tomorrow -

we've got wedding guests arriving,
and the spa and wellness garden

is something that we're trying
to attract

as an extra to everybody's wedding.

Tim and Sasha intend to utilise
the chateau's original bathing pool,

known as a bassin,

which has sat empty for the
15 years they've been here.

The pool is the original pool,
built at some point in the 1800s.

It's quite special, and we wanted
to celebrate that in a way

with something worthwhile.

We finally decided we were going

to buy an ornamental olive tree
and plant it.

The olive tree is going to go
in the middle as a centrepiece.

I've been growing irises,
which we'll put around.

And then, around the edge of that,
I'm going to put herbs.

It's a big space to fill.

Then you'd better get cracking!

And out front, Luke is already
taking delivery of

the 11 tonnes of gravel that'll be
used as drainage in the bassin,

though Tim's spotted
a potential hitch.

My only concern right now is
that their crane isn't long enough

to stretch over the pool,

which could be interesting.

And sure enough...

So they can't go any further
than that.

The weight is not letting them
take it further,

so we're going to have to shovel
the gravel in ourselves... OK.

..from that point onwards.
I'll delegate.

Very wise, Tim. And as the rest
is hoisted over the wall,

the delivery crew set to work

getting the gravel in
the old-fashioned way.

A little while later,

it's time for Sasha to check out
those delegation skills.

That's good. Look at that.
That's cool. Wow!

But there's a snag
with the next stage of the garden.

It's transpired that the shop that
sold us the topsoil, that the guys

have got a van load full of, is only
one third of what we actually need.

But because the shop
is closed today,

we can only put that first third in

and the other two thirds will be
picked up tomorrow. What's today?

Today's Thursday, so we can't...
And they're closed?

We live in France, come on.

Oh, dear! Looks like you're going
to need to move heaven

and lots of earth
to get the garden finished tomorrow.

Coming up, this chateau owner
is taking no prisoners...

There's lots of dungeons,
and this would have been

one of the small holding cells
within the castle.

..as she makes a start
on a new wine cellar.

The castle will fall down now!

Erin and JB get busy
in the orangery...

What do you think?
I can do that all day.

..but party planning proves
not to be a bed of roses.

We've had an enormous leak,

so that means we only have
one bathroom for ten people.

# La-da-da-da-da! #
Come on, you guys.

And Sasha gets down in the garden.

Come and join the dance.

This is the magnificent 12th century
Chateau du Masgelier.

With 13 bedrooms
and 12 acres of land,

this splendid pile belongs to Fiona.

A property renovator back in the UK,

she now lives here with
her 11-year-old son Louis.

What's it like living in a chateau?

It's a privilege,
of course it is a privilege.

But it's really hard work.

Located in the rural Limousin area,

Fiona has spent the last six years
restoring the chateau

with the aim of bringing it
back to its former glory.

I specifically wanted to
buy a medieval chateau.

They don't come up very often, the
medieval castles,

and most of them are
really in complete disrepair,

you know, like, the outer
walls and no roof or floors.

So, I was very lucky.

The chateau's illustrious history
is important to Fiona, and this

year, she's planning
to throw the old girl

a birthday party to remember.

Chateau Masgelier will be
eight hundred and...45 years old.

845 years, she's still standing,
she's still here, I think

she deserves a bit
of a whoop-whoop-whoop!

The party is in three days' time,

when the local mayor will unveil
a plaque to mark the occasion.

And as part of her bigger
plan to renovate the chateau,

today, she's converting
a little historical

treasure into something that should
come in handy on the big day.

There's lots of escape tunnels,
lots of dungeons, and this would

have been one of the small holding
cells within the castle.

And then doing research,

it transpires that it was last
used as a wine cellar in the 1920s,

1930s, so I think it would be
lovely to recreate that again.

When Angel and I moved into our
place, we discovered our wine

cellar came complete with
racks of dusty old bottles.

The local brew here is called Calva.

It's like an apple brandy.

I can see these bottles,
cleaned out, filled with Calva,

cork in the top, dipped in red
wax and set back on the shelf.

I'll gradually work my way through.

It was one of my favourite
discoveries of those first

few months in our new home.

I'd buy the chateau for this place.

Cool and about the right humidity,
I reckon Fiona's wine will be

much happier down in this dungeon
than some of the previous occupants.

What I want to try
and do is not make it too new,

keep it very rustic as possible.

First job, fitting
the wooden wine racks,

but it may not be as
straightforward as it sounds.

Thing is, I've got to drill
through the granite, which is

not the easiest thing to do.

Granite is one of the hardest rocks,
great for construction,

but it requires the proper tools

and appropriate safety
equipment to work with.

Glasses over my glasses.

Fiona's up for it.

If you were just to try and drill
into this, probably the drill will

slip, so it's always best to try
and cut in a little bit of a groove.

Precise.

Castle will fall down now.

By chiselling into the rock,

Fiona will give her
masonry bit more purchase.

Make sure the drill's
done up properly,

don't want that flying off.

For drilling all the holes,
she needs a decent hammer drill.

I really want it to go in properly,
because the last thing

I want to do is have all of
the wine fall off the wall.

Can you imagine all of the bottles
crashing to the floor?

Look at that - that
will be nice and secure.

That's the wine sorted - now for
the strong, metal champagne rack.

What I want to do is,
because, obviously,

the bottles are incredibly heavy,
I want to make sure I'm using

real big-boy wall plugs.

I've already drilled the granite.

I've got the drinks
in for the party.

All of the invitations
have gone out.

The Mairie is going to come
to present the commemorative

wall plaque, which
I'm very excited about.

Fingers crossed it will
arrive tomorrow.

Let's hope so - commemorating
the chateau without

the commemorative plaque
would be a tad awkward.

I'm very pleased,
these look very, very nice

and I can consider
it as another room done.

Whoa, whoa, what about the wine?

Right.

I look forward to seeing it fully
stocked in time for the party.

Over 200 miles south,
at Chateau du Puits es Pratx...

Is anybody coming to help?

..Tim and Sasha have
a busy day ahead.

We've got clients arriving from
two o'clock in the afternoon,

so, I've got to get
all of my plants round here,

I've got to get them into position,
I've got to get them planted,

I've got the bassin to do,
so the pressure's on for me.

Right, back for some more.

But, hey, rock and roll.

Un, deux, trois.

First, Tim and Sasha want to
make sure the wellness garden

centrepiece is, well, centred.

We just want it moved just
a little tiny bit more.

Just a whisker more.

A centimetre more.

Parfait, superbe.

Thank you.

I know we're fussy,
but it's worth it.

It's like Mount Vesuvius.

With the topsoil,
which has finally been delivered

and added to the bassin,
Sasha now needs to get the garden

finished before the guests
arrive this afternoon.

The gardeners have gone to lunch,
we are behind schedule

and Tim has now disappeared.

This is going to be fun.

Before she can plant anything, Sasha
decides to add special crystals to

help the soil retain water through
the long French summer to come.

This is not going to
be dignified, but, hey.

And she's perfected
her own unique method.

So, I might as well
start stamping, mightn't I?

I'd like to think that
I wasn't heavy enough to make

a difference, but I think I am.

Gardening aerobics, here you go.

Da-da-dah.

What happens after this is, I fill
up with the rest of the topsoil,

and we'll be planting the irises
right the way round here.

Sort that out later.

Come on, you guys.

I can't do this all myself.

You're doing fine.

And you've not got
the right shoes, either.

You look very funny.
I know I look very funny.

This is going to
be very embarrassing.

I've got a stomper, stumper...thing.

Just get in.

Come and join the dance.

This is compact enough, isn't it?

Dah-di-dah, di-dah.

Just one last layer of soil

and the wellness garden will
finally be ready to plant.

But the garden as a whole has
got a long way to go.

And with those guests
arriving in a few hours,

they'd better get a move on.

Back at Erin and JB's,

it's the day before their
test event in the orangerie -

a Midsummer Night's Dream-themed
party for eight friends from the UK.

We've had a few little hiccups.

Erm, so, the first massive one
is, our guests were supposed to be

staying inside the chateau,
and we've had an enormous leak,

so that means we only have one
bathroom for ten people.

So, I've got to break the news to
everyone that unfortunately,

they can't stay in the chateau.

Really luckily, our manor house
has no holiday bookings this

weekend, thank goodness, so everyone
is staying inside the manor house.

Hopefully, everyone
will be happy with that.

Because of this unexpected, planned,
change of sleeping arrangements,

I've had to now make up all the beds
in the manor house, so I did

that this morning, which has put
us significantly behind schedule.

We still have the orangerie to
fully decorate, we've got to find

a table to move in there, all
the chairs have got to go in there.

Lots of things.

Better make a start, then.

And first up are the decorations.

So... What is the task?

You know how we have tonnes

and tonnes of this wisteria
from my cousin's wedding?

What I think might be quite nice is
to make a sort of flower wall, so

literally just hang it simply, so it
drapes, just in the central portion.

Otherwise, you've just got
this totally bare wall.

If tomorrow's party goes well,

Erin and JB will be able to use
it as a template for future paid

events, but, on their shoestring
budget, they need to be resourceful.

Is that holding?

Ah, c'est bon.

And using donated decorations
is a good place to start.

Do you want another
one in the middle?

Oh, I see, to make
it sort of a double.

It's up to you,
you are the creative director.

Oh, God, don't say that!

I can do that all day.

What do you think? I don't know,
it was just a suggestion.

You know what? Let's just leave it
like that, it saves banging another

nail into the wall, doesn't it?

Another good way to
decorate on the cheap is to forage

from your own garden, especially
if it happens to be 40-odd acres.

The theme is A
Midsummer Night's Dream,

and I just really like the idea
of sort of windy ivy, I think

it's really romantic
and kind of understated.

And I have these lovely candelabras
which I think actually,

if I wound these round, they could
look quite lovely and romantic,

so that's my plan.

And also, it's a good task

because this ivy is
destroying our moat wall.

So, it needs to be kept
at bay, so actually, it's a

double-win job here.

And she's also after
another, more exotic plant.

This is the bamboo forest.

Quite a lot of it, as you can see.

I think it started off as a baby
patch of it and it's just...

There we go.

Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing
plants in the world, making

it an excellent renewable resource.

There we go.

Ugh.

Right - now, the fun bit begins.

So, my idea is to have
almost like entrance posts,

so, adding to the wisteria, as well,
so you've got a bit more greenery.

Like you're entering a sort of
Midsummer Night's Dream wonderland,

that's my idea.

This building has been so sad and
neglected for such a long time, I

think it's lovely to make it look a
little bit cosy for once, actually.

Great.

I'm really pleased.

Simple.

And all that hard work
has earned a reward.

Cocktail o'clock?

For JB, at any rate.

Erin has created a bespoke
cocktail for the party,

and she needs a guinea
pig to test it on.

I made a lot of sloe gin...
Mm-hm. ..last year, with sloes

we actually picked from the estate.

So, I'm going to use
it as a gin base,

and then topped up
with local bubbly.

Should probably take a seat. Yes!

Ta-dah.

My idea is it's a Borneau Bellini,
so something different for here.

Great colour.

Is it going to pass
the French judgment?

What do you think?
Borneau Bellini?

Borneau Bellini has been approved.

It's approved?
Yep. Oh, good. Cheers.

Cheers.

Cin-cin, you two, but go easy,

there's still a lot to do in the
orangerie to be ready for tomorrow.

Coming up....

Oh, wow.

..Fiona gets a delivery.

It's even better
than I even imagined.

And it seems bigger
than I imagined as well.

But that's good. Big is good.

Erin and JB put
their guests to work...

Where were you guys
when we moved the gates, honestly?

..and break some bad news.

Slight technical hitch and I hope
you're not too disappointed,

but we've had a massive plumbing
leak in the chateau.

And in the south of France...

I've never planted
an iris in my life.

I barely know what they look like.

..Tim's in trouble.

What? No! You said to split them.

No, you split the whole pot.

I told you not to go away. Honestly!

I disappear for one minute.

In Central France,
at Chateau du Masgelier...

There we go, look at that.

..it's just three days

until Fiona hosts a party to mark
the chateau's birthday.

845 years - that is a really,

really long time for this castle
to be standing here.

Big medieval defence,
built by the Knights Templar.

She was stormed
during the French Revolution,

the Nazis stormed
the castle as well,

cos a lot of the OSE, French
Resistance was based here.

If these walls could talk.

Despite its many military
skirmishes,

the chateau is still going strong,

something Fiona plans to celebrate.

Right.

Look at that -
doesn't that look super?

Even though it's a practical room,
you know me,

I couldn't just sort of stick a
couple of crates on the floor here.

I just want a little
bit of designer touches.

The new wine cellar looks
the business, though it's a little

early for the contents to help calm
Fiona's pre-party nerves.

I honestly don't know how many
people are coming to the event.

I really don't.

And all of the French people,
they don't reply.

They just kind of rock up
on the day, they just all rock up.

So, you know,
I can't be caught short.

I don't think there's much
danger of that!

Oh, God, I've got so much.

The main thing is the racks
haven't fallen off the wall.

The girl can put up a damn good
shelf, can't she?

OK, there we go.

I am so pleased with it. I think
it looks fabulous.

And so you should be.

Just how I imagined it to be.

It's the day before the party.

Fiona's invited the local mayor to
unveil a plaque she's had

especially commissioned to celebrate
the chateau's history,

and it's just arrived.

Obviously, everything is centred

really around the commemorative
plaque,

so I'm very excited to see how it's
turned out, from the design.

It's even bigger
than I thought it would be.

SHE GASPS

Wow.

Oh, wow!

It's even better than
I even imagined.

And it seems bigger than
I imagined as well, but that's good.

Big is good. Big is good.

Over the years, Fiona's spent hours
researching the chateau

and the plaque features symbols
relating to her discoveries.

It's 845 years of epic
French history.

That's all in French.

Obviously, 1174,
when she was first built in stone.

The fleur-de-lis, which is
King Louis XIV,

who owned the chateau,
the Knights Templar.

Oh, wow, look,
the eagle has come out fantastic.

And to serve and defend
and to protect. Because, to me,

that's what she was built for.

I think everyone at the unveiling
are going to be really blown away.

Now to figure out where to mount it.

What my thoughts were was to
actually place it somewhere here,

on the King's Tower,

and then the mayor will be able to
get easy access to unveil it.

That'll be absolutely perfect, yeah.

I'm liking that a lot.

It looks like there's going to be
plenty to celebrate tomorrow.

I expect lots of oohs and aahs.

Good job the new wine cellar is
fully stocked.

At Tim and Sasha's
in the south of France...

This is a plant called
the Red Dwarf.

..the new wellness garden is
ready for planting.

Well, almost.

There's a lot to do,
and I'm not going to worry about it.

Much.

I've been looking after gardens
and flowers for forever.

I love it.
It gets me out, it keeps me fit.

Tim and Luke have been tasked
with the final prep,

but with guests due to arrive
this afternoon...

..Sasha's concerned about the amount
of work left to be done.

It's not going to be perfect.
I can't see...

Of course it will be.
Can we get the lights up, at least?

Oh, that's the very last
thing, my darling.

Well, that's what I mean.

At the end of the day, we'll get the
lights up. Of course, yes.

Everything has to be done
a stage at a time.

Soil first, then plants,

then the statue, and then lights.
In that order.

OK.

We've got two hours to
get it done by. OK.

They need to get on with planting.

And right on cue is Lily with
Sasha's precious home-grown irises.

Woo!

He's going to mark
a circle around the olive tree

and then we'll dig a small trench
and plant a circle of irises.

And I'm hoping that these, because
they've been grown in compost,

are going to divide very easily.

Hoping. I will be back in a couple
of minutes,

I have to check on some
souris d'agneau.

Back in a minute.

While Sasha's in the kitchen
checking on the lamb shank,

it's down to her garden gnomes to
carry on where she left off.

So what are we doing with
the irises?

Give me the low-down, Tim.
I wish I knew.

Something about splitting them.

What could possibly go wrong?

I've never planted
an iris in my life.

I barely know what they look like.

It looks like a piece of ginger,

but I think that's an iris.

So, one iris for you, sir.

When we said split, I'm hoping that
will be obvious.

There, like that.

Look. OK. That actually...

Hang on. No. No?

What? No. You said to split them.

No, you split the whole pot.

I told you to come.

SHE SIGHS

I told you not to go away.
Honestly.

You said split the irises.

No, the whole pot.

What do you mean, the whole pot?

I disappear for one minute,
and he's pulling the flowers out.

It's in compost, so it's not diff...

Look, there you go.

Perfect. Woohoo!

Horticultural disaster averted,
they can press on...

SHE EXHALES

..and add the garden's
piece de resistance.

We have a very rude statue.

I think it would be an insult to the
olive tree. Let's try. All right.

Oh, that's very good.

Sorry, move to one side, will you,
please? Don't spoil my view.

It's a bit naff and a bit kitsch,
but I don't care.

All that's left now is to plant
some aromatic herbs.

And for Tim and Luke
to add a bit of sparkle.

Well, the job is complete.

Just two days ago, the chateau's
bassin was a bit of an eyesore.

Now, with the planting
of the beautiful cloud olive tree,

surrounded by Sasha's irises,
the pool has been

transformed into an idyllic
wellness garden that will

give their guests a tranquil corner
of the chateau to sit and relax.

Ah. Doesn't that look nice?

I think it's time for a drink. Yeah!

How long have
we waited for this to be filled?

15 years? 15 years. Wow.

Thank you very much, Tim. Slainte.
Well done, guys.

Cheers, beers and scallywags' ears.

If you say so.

When we wanted to create this
garden, it wasn't

to financially boost our business.

It was more to enhance
the property that we have

so that it would be enjoyable
for many people.

We've got a beautiful wellness
garden where people can relax

and just enjoy the surroundings.

Bravo, Tim and Sasha.

Cheers! Woohoo. Woo!

The wellness garden will be
a fantastic addition to the chateau.

Nearly 300 miles north,
it's the day of

Erin and
JB's Midsummer Night's Dream party.

THEY LAUGH

So I reckon we should use this
table for tonight. OK. I think

it will go with the bar look.

Most of their friends have
already arrived.

A water leak in the chateau has
forced them into

Erin and JB's gites for the weekend,

but that hasn't affected morale.

Backup has arrived.

Reinforcements are set
straight to work.

OK.

Breathe in, everyone.

VOICEOVER: We have quite a long
list of things to do

and our other friends are about
to arrive in literally an hour.

So kind of need to get things going
because Laura, one of my friends, is

actually an official events planner
for a big corporate group, so we are

most nervous about what she thinks
of our current party planning.

No pressure, then.

Two, one, go.

First order of business is to
get a table JB has

refurbished for the party
up to the orangery.

Where were you guys
when we moved the gates? Honestly!

I suppose getting your guests to
lug their own table

and chairs is one way for them
to work up an appetite.

I think many hands make light work.

Cos that would have taken me ages.

Well done, team.

And the legs have stayed on.

So excellent workmanship, JB.

Yeah, watch the step.
Maybe come this way a little bit.

Yeah, that's nice.

Moving furniture is obviously
thirsty work,

so it's time to hit the bar.

Is that going to fit? No.

Erin's painted dressers are already

in position in the corner
of the orangery.

This is the first time we've tested
out putting anything on the bar,

or using it at all,
so this is really nice.

Seeing it getting dressed up

and actually looking
what I wanted to achieve.

With the bar almost set,
Erin has other matters to attend to.

Hello!

ERIN LAUGHS

Her events-organiser friend
has just arrived.

Hi, Laura. Oh, my God. Hi.

How are you doing? Good to see you.

I actually can't believe it.

Do you like it?
I mean, yeah!

It is gorgeous.

Fingers crossed she's happy not
sleeping in the chateau.

Oh, my God, I can't wait
to have a look around.

Slight technical hitch - I'm hoping
you're not too disappointed,

but we've had a massive plumbing
leak in the chateau,

so everyone is
staying in the manor house.

OK. That's fine.

Right.

All going well so far.

Oh, this is so lovely.

Now all Erin and JB need to do is
impress with the party.

Erin had told me about the orangery
and organising this dinner

there and I guess I was a little
apprehensive, just hearing about

it and seeing some photos, thinking
that it was going to be very rustic.

Maybe not the kind of venue I'm
used to working in.

Well, let's hope
the orangery passes muster.

Coming up - as Fiona prepares for
her big moment...

Bonjour, ladies and gentlemen. Would
you like to gather round, please?

..a key member of the
plaque-unveiling committee

goes missing.

I've lost Louie.
Where is he? Louie?

ERIN: A lot of candles tonight,
so let's get on it.

And will the final act of Erin

and JB's Shakespearean party
merit applause?

Your friends should arrive any time
now. We have, what is it,

50, 60 candles to light?
So let's get on.

At Chateau du Masgelier, Fiona's
big day has arrived.

Party day!

It's all coming together.

The band's arrived, and they're just
doing a sound check at the moment.

It's getting all exciting.

With good reason.

The new wine cellar is fully stocked
and the mayor will soon be arriving

to unveil Fiona's commemorative
plaque.

OK, that looks beautiful

and I think it's in a really,
really good position.

Now I'm going to just get a cover
and then it makes it easy

for the mayor to just pull off.

Fiona's rustled up a simple curtain
to cover the plaque

until the big moment.

So, I've gone for red so we've got a
bit of red, white and blue.

No-one will even realise, pay
attention, but there you go.

I need it to come off quite easily
with the mayor.

That's good.

Whoops.

So, that works. That's good,
isn't it?

Job done.

I have to have it all nice and
straight.

As the band strikes up,

and after a quick change out of her
work clothes,

Fiona and son Louie can greet their
guests.

Hello, bonjour, hi.

From the steady stream of people
arriving,

it looks as though some of the
locals did get

their invites after all.

Hello, Mrs Lipstick.
How are you?

Always red lips. I'm good, I'm
really good. Hello!

This is Theresa. Fiona.

Fabulous turnout, and the wine
cellar seems to be keeping

everyone well-watered.

The evening's going really
fabulously.

We'll just fill everyone's glasses
up

and the mayor is going to
reveal the plaque.

I think what might be quite nice as
well,

if my little Louie also reveals the
plaque with the mayor as well,

as he's the little master of the
house.

The man of the house. And he can
take on the financial burden

after his mother's long gone.

To make sure the big reveal
goes with a bang,

Fiona's got her hands on some
confetti cannons.

Does the top come off?

Do you take the top off?

But they're causing some confusion.

Put one hand below the arrow area.

Get your glasses on.

That might be an idea!

I think you don't take the top off,
do you?

No, you don't.

The cannons are passed out...

Hold it in the middle and turn.

..and the big moment is almost upon
them.

Shall we do this, then?

I need my little boy. He's gone
missing.

OK.

I've lost Louie.

Where is he?

Louie, we're going to reveal
the plaque now.

So all you have to do is hold it
and pull it

at the same time as the mayor.
That's easy.

That is easy, yeah.
OK, cool.

ON LOUDSPEAKER: Bonjour, ladies and
gentlemen.

Would you like to gather around,
please?

Time for the mayor to take
centre stage.

And with that...

Do you want to hold the plaque?

Ready?

..Louie gets his big moment.

And with confetti filling the air...

Thank you so much.

..everyone seems to be just as
delighted celebrating

the chateau's history as Fiona.

Tonight went fabulously.

I'm really, really pleased,
a lovely turnout.

Revealed the plaque,
that's fantastic.

Really glad that I took the
additional time out

and created the new wine cellar,

and really looking forward to the
next stage

and moving ahead with the chateau,
carrying on with the restorations.

We're rooting for you too, Fiona!

The chateau is lucky to have you.

Back at Erin and JB's, it's also
party time.

Before their soiree begins in the
orangery,

there's just time for a few last
finishing touches.

A lot of candles to light,
so let's get on it.

Our friends should arrive
any time now,

so we have, what is it,
50, 60 candles to...?

To light? So let's get on.

What could possibly go wrong?

Ow!

Sorry.

I could burn myself.
HE LAUGHS

Um.

Oh, no, everything seems to
be under control.

Oh, they're so nice, these twinkling
lights, aren't they?

But I think it's just these little
touches

which do take the time setting up,
but it does make it look special

and I really want it to be a magical
moment

for people who've come all the way
to see us.

Good.

Isn't that lovely?

Looks amazing.

Just three months ago, Erin and JB's
orangery was a dilapidated shell.

Now, with a new concrete floor,
painted bar,

and beautifully decorated with
greenery and candles,

it's become a magical event space
fit for

a Shakespearean fairy queen.

Bonsoir, Madame.

You're looking beautiful.

Bonsoir, what a gorgeous dress!
Come in.

You're looking fab.
Wow.

This looks incredible.

Do you like it, Laura?
I love it.

I think it looks amazing.

Do you? So even, honestly, with your
events planner eye?

No, it looks amazing. It looks
really, really good.

It looks really, really impressive.

Cool.
I'll recruit you from London.

This is so nicely done.

Well, sante.

Cheers, sante.

Sante!

I had seen pictures, but it just
doesn't do it justice.

It's so pretty, so romantic.

I think this is a great venue for
someone to propose to,

do a drinks reception, I want to get
engaged here.

It's just lovely. Really,
really beautiful.

While everyone enjoys a Bourneau
Bellini,

Erin and JB are keeping things
running smoothly

in the makeshift kitchen they've set
up outside.

First up, the entree.

The best option would be if we had a
proper kitchen here.

Because, if it was raining, we would
be in a little bit of a problem.

Hopefully the gin-cured salmon goes
down well.

Oh, Oscar is coming to join us.

Wow.
So this is Scottish salmon,

it's a sort of nod to our
Scottish years

and to our Scottish friends.

Bon appetit.

Cheers.

Looks like someone else has his eyes
on the fish course!

Excuse me, sir.

After a lot of hard work that's gone
into putting the floor

into the orangery, doing up the bar,
making the gate,

and all of the various little
problems

that happened along the way, this is
why it's worth it.

The orangery actually is going to be
extremely important

to support us and it's also such
a great venue

in that it's got the right feel,
right tone, the right vibes

that we want for this place.

The launch of the orangery tops off
a busy few months for Erin and JB.

They've begun renovation work on
their south wing...

Not quite screaming chateau
chic just yet.

..and put on their first ever paid
event in the chateau itself.

Now the orangery is up and running,

hosting events is something they
hope to do much more often.

I think having this space, now with
a functioning floor,

with a proper entrance makes this a
space that can host many events

and I think that's really
a wonderful thing.

But also really very helpful for our
business.

I couldn't agree more.

Our orangery is really important to
our business.

I hope yours will start to generate
the income you need

to crack on with your renovations.

Next time.

One couple has a bird-brained
plan for their aviary...

Water comes in through the hole in
the roof.

That's why I want you to fix it.

..but will it come back to bite
them?

What are the chances of there being
snakes in this stuff?

No.

Fiona starts a new renovation
project.

Time is money.

Time is money, isn't it?

And as a heatwave strikes
the south of France...

I reckon we're looking at 45
degrees.

..Sasha loses her cool.

My problem is I haven't got enough
time to do what I need to do.

SHE SIGHS

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