Chateau DIY Season 10 Episode 13
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00:00France is home to thousands of chateaux, with many left derelict and unloved.
00:08We're not standing in the swimming pool area.
00:11Some courageous individuals...
00:13Oh, my word.
00:15...are reviving these old buildings.
00:18All this is gonna go boom.
00:20...and bringing them back to life.
00:23It's just unbelievable.
00:25It isn't always a smooth ride.
00:28What if I fall through, Phil?
00:30When restoring historic castles...
00:33I think we just realised there's no easy way to strip wood, is there?
00:36...into fairytale homes...
00:38This is like surgery, isn't it?
00:40...and thriving businesses...
00:42Our first wedding is in a week's time.
00:45And I'm going...
00:46Ah!
00:47...but those who have the ambition and drive...
00:51To see the final result, it's worth every second.
00:54...often get to enjoy the rewards...
00:57Oh, it looks amazing in here.
00:59Oh, wow.
01:00...as they get to live out their dreams...
01:03I could never have imagined chateau life would be this much fun.
01:06Real, by the way.
01:07...as keepers...
01:09...well done.
01:10...of their very own chateau.
01:16Today...
01:17I definitely can't support the entire way by myself.
01:20...one couple are feeling the strain...
01:23So what I've done now is I've snookered you.
01:25Yes.
01:26...and this is why we don't do DIY.
01:31Another chatelang has to face his fears...
01:34Okay, you can get me down now.
01:36That's it, we're here for the night now.
01:37Yeah, you can get me down.
01:38Yes.
01:40...and it's move-in day for two new owners.
01:44The gates are open.
01:46Look at the gates.
01:47Look at the gates.
01:48Look at the gates.
01:50Welcome to the chateau.
01:58In the heart of the Vienne département in Western France...
02:02...lies the characterful 15th century Chateau Mareil.
02:09It boasts a medieval donjon or watchtower...
02:14...17 luxury rooms...
02:17...and a swimming pool.
02:21It's home to former catering manager Belinda...
02:24...and lighting engineer Lee...
02:27...who bought the chateau in 2015...
02:30...for £378,000.
02:34One of the best things of living here...
02:36...when you look at it and you approach it from the road...
02:39...it's like arriving at a fairytale princess chateau.
02:45And I think for me it's the wonderful views that we've got here...
02:48...the surrounding countryside, I mean the fresh air.
02:51I really genuinely every day wake up...
02:54...and really appreciate that aspect of my life.
03:00Located just an hour from the famous city of Limoges...
03:05...Belinda and Lee run the chateau as a B&B.
03:10Oh wow!
03:14As well as hosting events.
03:16The last time we saw them, they laid on a British coronation party...
03:23...for 40 guests.
03:25They're literally just made now.
03:28They're freshly made.
03:30They're currently preparing to host a very special occasion...
03:35...and need the chateau to look its best.
03:37In just over a month's time we have another wedding here.
03:44However, there are certain things that have to be done...
03:47...before that wedding.
03:49There's the fencing.
03:50A, it looks terrible.
03:53And B, it doesn't keep the sheep out basically.
03:56So that is a real must-do job.
03:59There is a big old hole in the roof of our donjon.
04:04Now our donjon, which is the ancient watchtower, is our party barn.
04:09And the wedding party wants to be in the party barn for their wedding.
04:14I'm slightly anxious about the roof repair on the donjon.
04:18I have a aversion to working up at high level...
04:22...but I've resigned myself to the fact that...
04:25...we will need to be getting a cherry picker in.
04:28It's not frilling me at the moment.
04:32It's a specialist repair job...
04:35...and Lee has called in his friend and roofer, Steve, to help.
04:39Steve and I are going up in the basket.
04:44We're just gonna do a quick recce, a survey of what's on the ridge tile.
04:49Determine what we need so we can go and get materials and fix it.
04:53I know that Lee really doesn't like heights at all.
04:59I think he's been really brave today actually.
05:01But I imagine his stomach's feeling a bit queasy.
05:04So this is the problem area here, isn't it?
05:07Yeah.
05:09There's probably...
05:11...one, two...
05:13...five tiles there.
05:15Which we're gonna need three.
05:17That one will go back there and that one will go up there.
05:19But there's at least three missing.
05:21But yeah, as you can see...
05:23...it's gonna need a little bit of work.
05:26OK, you can get me down now.
05:28I see we're here for the night now.
05:29Yeah, you can get me down, yes.
05:31Did you check the diesel on it, Lee?
05:32Have we got enough to get down?
05:34Yeah, I think so, yes. Hurry up.
05:35Who is? Hurry up.
05:39While Lee heads back to safe ground, down in the field,
05:43Belinda needs to stop their neighbour's sheep
05:46from making an unwanted appearance at the wedding.
05:49We have a very, very broken down fence and it's badly in need of some repairs.
05:56So we're going to try and reuse some of the timbers here,
06:00but we've got some new concrete posts which we're gonna put in.
06:03And there's also...
06:04We've got some wire mesh which is going to be restored as well,
06:07so that will keep the sheep out.
06:10She's called in friend Terry to lend a hand.
06:15Terry, you know, what little I know about fences,
06:18what I do know is that this needs a repair and is really, really badly broken down.
06:23Repair maybe too much.
06:26Do you think so?
06:27Yeah, it's...
06:28I think it needs a replace.
06:29Total replacement.
06:30Okay. And why is that? Is that because they're rotten?
06:32Absolutely rotten. Okay.
06:33Give it a little wobble and you'll see how loose it is.
06:35Okay. Oh yeah, it's like a rotten tooth.
06:37And a few gusts of wind and that could...
06:40Yeah, and it's gonna be gone.
06:42With the fence a bigger task than they thought,
06:45and the roof still not weatherproof,
06:48Belinda and Lee's chateau is far from wedding ready.
06:58An hour's drive east, in the Centre-Val de Loire region,
07:03sits the fairy tale's 16th century Chateau de la Lande.
07:11It has 50 sumptuous rooms,
07:15spread across two wings.
07:18Outside, in its 60 acres,
07:22there's a formal courtyard,
07:27picturesque turrets,
07:29and a chapel.
07:33I like this.
07:36You clearly have a lot more frustrations to get out than I do.
07:39It's the home of former opera singer Stephanie,
07:43who now lives here with fiancé Philip.
07:49She bought the property with a friend in 2005 for £600,000.
07:56I've been here for nearly 20 years, I can't believe it when I say that.
08:00It's amazing.
08:02And it's been quite a rollercoaster.
08:03I knew that this was the chateau I wanted to buy from the moment I came down the drive.
08:08And then there's towers. I mean, how can you not fall for a turret?
08:11And then I saw the chapel and the woods with the little stream going through.
08:14By the time I'd walked to the other end of the garden, it was a done deal.
08:16Located two hours from Poitiers, Stephanie runs the chateau as a luxury B&B.
08:29The last time we caught up with her...
08:32It's the cutting that is often the bit that goes a bit wrong.
08:35She had turned her artistic eye to decorating a bedroom for chateau chef Maria.
08:43In you come!
08:44Oh, wow!
08:46I really, really like it, actually, a lot.
08:49This year, Stephanie has grand plans for one of the busiest parts of the chateau.
08:55One of the projects coming up is tackling our kitchen corridor,
09:01which is the mankiest, dingiest, most horrible corridor in the entire chateau,
09:06and definitely the one we use most every day.
09:08So I can't believe it's taken me nearly 20 years to get round to it.
09:14She wants to upcycle a large mirror and bench,
09:17as well as decorating in her trademark luxurious style.
09:21But first, she and fiancé Philip need to empty the clutter.
09:28When do you think it was the last time of this was cleared out?
09:30I honestly don't know. I can't remember a clear out here.
09:35Thanks.
09:37Oh, the tiny ones!
09:39Yeah.
09:41Oh, it feels good seeing it get clear.
09:47This is quite new for us.
09:48We don't tend to do DIY together.
09:52Yeah, that's out.
09:53Do you want to see if you can just sort of put it on the ground?
09:56I probably can't.
09:57OK, then I...
09:58I definitely can't support the entire weight by myself.
10:01So what I've done now is I've snookered you.
10:04Yes.
10:05And this is why we don't do DIY.
10:08With Philip stuck, Stephanie needs a plan B to take the weight.
10:13This is probably too low, but I thought...
10:14How is that going to work?
10:15At least at the beginning, just in case it drops.
10:19Well, I suppose I can at least put my...
10:21I need something a bit taller, but I have no idea what.
10:25If it breaks the marble, it breaks the marble.
10:28Can you put the one with the cushions on?
10:29Yeah.
10:31OK. Great.
10:32It can't be too fluffy, because otherwise...
10:34Well, it'll still hold it.
10:36No, otherwise, because the marble is...
10:39...smooth, it might...
10:41How do you say that?
10:42Get your fingers out.
10:43Yeah, that's what I'm trying to do.
10:44There we go.
10:45Oh, thank God.
10:47All right, it's coming out now.
10:51Got it.
10:53That's who knows, Philip.
10:55Friend Grant lends an extra pair of hands,
10:58as the mirror is extremely heavy and awkward.
11:04Just put it on the ground there, and then...
11:06Are you good? Yeah.
11:11You OK with your fingers?
11:12Yeah.
11:13OK, there we go.
11:15Great!
11:16All right.
11:17So easy.
11:18I don't know what we're worried about.
11:19Thank you, Grant.
11:20Thank you so much.
11:22OK, look.
11:23It looks as though it's smooth wood underneath this weird coating.
11:28The next challenge is to strip the many layers of damaged paint.
11:35I have used this a long time ago on a wardrobe.
11:38I don't quite remember how I did it.
11:41And I might try a test area first.
11:46I think I'm going to need several coats of this.
11:49So we'll leave the first coat to work, see how much comes off,
11:53and then do another one.
11:58The paint stripper works its magic,
12:01but Stephanie still faces an uphill struggle.
12:04I've started scraping, and this is not going to be as easy as I hoped,
12:08because the yellow is coming off like a treat,
12:11but the white is not budging at all.
12:15So I think I'll get all the yellow off now,
12:18and then I'm going to put another massive coat of paint stripper
12:22and see if we can start making indents into the white.
12:24It seems the mirror is going to be far from a speedy job,
12:31and with the bench to transform and all the decorating to do,
12:35there's a lot for Stephanie and Philip to tackle.
12:41Coming up...
12:43Here we are.
12:44Two new owners inherit more than they bargained for.
12:48There's so many odd artefacts in here.
12:54And at Belinda and Lee's...
12:57That tile is not going to fit and replace the ones that are missing.
13:00There's trouble brewing.
13:03We've got to find a solution, there's no choice.
13:05Across France, there are thousands of spectacular chateaux,
13:17in all shapes and sizes,
13:19and it's the dream of many to own one.
13:24For Suffolk couple Jane, an intellectual property manager,
13:28and Rory, a plumber and actor,
13:30that fantasy is about to come true.
13:36We're extremely excited to say
13:39that we are buying our chateau tomorrow.
13:42We're getting the keys tomorrow,
13:44we're moving in tomorrow.
13:46Tomorrow is perhaps the biggest day of our lives.
13:53It really is everything we wanted.
13:54Last time we saw them.
14:04That is very pretty.
14:06Very fairytale.
14:09They spent a week viewing five different chateaux.
14:13Ooh, heck.
14:14Spongy.
14:15Do you think that's termites?
14:17They dreamt of a future home,
14:20packed with character.
14:21Oh, that's just adorable, isn't it?
14:25That would also bring in an income,
14:28as a wedding and events venue.
14:31This would have been the master suite.
14:34It's got a really nice warm feel to it, hasn't it?
14:36Yeah.
14:42Having seen another three chateaux over the last year,
14:46their search finally brought them to the Occetanie region,
14:51an hour and a half's drive from Toulouse,
14:54where their new home is situated.
14:59And the gates are open.
15:01Look at the gates, look at the gates.
15:03Yeah.
15:05Welcome to the chateau.
15:06Chateau.
15:08On the outskirts of the village of Saint-Médard
15:12stands the stunning 19th century Chateau de Picon.
15:19It stands amid six and a half acres,
15:22including a private lake,
15:25orangery,
15:27barn,
15:29and a cottage.
15:31Inside are 31 rooms,
15:34a first-floor conservatory,
15:37and a roof terrace.
15:40For just £470,000,
15:45all this is now Jane and Rory's.
15:49Go on then, Bonnie. Go on.
15:52Go on then, Bonnie. Go on.
15:55As animal lovers,
15:57they've brought dogs Bonnie and Bunty with them.
16:00And their cats and two horses
16:03will also be joining them.
16:10OK.
16:12Ta-da-da!
16:14Wow. Thank you.
16:16Here we are.
16:18Where do you want to go first?
16:22Uh, well, obviously, the grand salon.
16:25Okie dokie.
16:27And the bibliothèque.
16:29This is just staggering.
16:31I can't help but walk into the rooms and go,
16:33look at the corners.
16:35Yes, look up. Look up and see the wonder.
16:40So these rooms are obviously the really beautiful
16:45ground ones, really high ceilings.
16:48It's got this amazing parquet floor,
16:51which isn't just herringbone.
16:53It's all quite intricate.
16:55And then the gorgeous fireplaces.
16:57These are the showpiece rooms definitely,
17:00or they will be when they're, you know,
17:02at their best.
17:03The chateau has been sold with almost all of the previous owners' belongings still in it.
17:12So one of their first tasks will be sorting out what to keep.
17:17There are some lovely things, but there's too many.
17:20There's so many odd artefacts in here.
17:22It's...
17:27Everyone's a critic.
17:31But as they continue to look around their new home,
17:35not everything they find will be music to their ears.
17:44Five hours north,
17:46Stephanie's kitchen corridor makeover is well underway.
17:50The mirror has been stripped.
17:55But with more work needed,
17:57and the bench to begin,
17:59Stephanie's called in family friend Jerry to help.
18:03Today we've called in the cavalry,
18:06because I think the paint stripping nearly killed Philip and me.
18:09So now we're going to be sanding the mirror.
18:11Yep.
18:12It's like Groundhog Day with a mirror.
18:14It never finishes.
18:16And then after that we can fill it and paint it,
18:17and have that part of the job done.
18:19And then we're going to start on the bench.
18:21Fantastic.
18:26Okay, so this time I've had it with hand power.
18:29We're using the power tools.
18:31No more struggling.
18:35Choose your weapon.
18:36I don't mind.
18:37Choose whichever one you want.
18:38Okay?
18:40Um...
18:42What could possibly go wrong?
18:44I'm already muddled.
18:46You say that every time.
18:48Every time I find out exactly what could possibly go wrong.
18:52After making a good start, Stephanie's words come back to haunt her.
19:01Oh.
19:02Oh, dear.
19:04Pretty sure this one's broken, actually.
19:05It just keeps coming off.
19:07Well, don't put your fingers in it.
19:09Still plugged in, Gerald.
19:11Ah, right, Stephanie, you can see.
19:12Yes, sure not.
19:13You're shared.
19:14Yeah.
19:15What were you saying at the beginning?
19:16What could possibly go wrong?
19:17What could possibly go wrong?
19:18All right.
19:19You know, Stephanie, you're great to work with, but at times you're a jinx.
19:25Oh, dear.
19:28There is some good news, though, as Philip has arrived back from a shopping trip with DIY supplies.
19:37Oh, look at that vision.
19:40What a beautiful thing.
19:42You got sandpaper?
19:43Yes.
19:44Got sandpaper.
19:45Yes.
19:46Sandpaper.
19:47Let me fill it.
19:48We're hugging you.
19:49I think this is almost ready to paint.
19:52What about the...
19:53It's rustic.
19:54What about the filling of the...
19:55Well, we haven't done that, because I don't know how to do that.
19:58Shouldn't that have been done before the sanding?
19:59No.
20:00Can we put you on filler, Philip?
20:02No.
20:03Philip on filler.
20:04No.
20:05Yeah, go on.
20:06Come on.
20:07Seriously, because I'll just be like...
20:08Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob.
20:09You'll be all like...
20:10How does it work?
20:11I don't know.
20:12I've never done it.
20:13All right.
20:16Leaving Philip to the filling, Jerry and Stephanie head out to remove the old fabric from the bench cushion.
20:24So, this material here, as you can see, is all threaded.
20:29So, Stephanie's going to use her magic hands.
20:32What?
20:33This?
20:34Is that my magic hand?
20:35And this is the magic tool.
20:37That's the last one, Gerald.
20:38Yes, darling.
20:39Famous last ones.
20:40Mmm.
20:41We won't be salvaging that.
20:42Why?
20:43Put it through the wash machine, it'll be fine.
20:44You know, this is lovely.
20:45Well, you think that is going to be the finished look?
20:46Why not?
20:47Because it's a disgusting plastic.
20:48Oh.
20:49No.
20:50No.
20:51No.
20:52No.
20:53No.
20:54No.
20:55No.
20:56No.
20:57No.
20:58No.
20:59No.
21:00No.
21:01No.
21:02No.
21:03No.
21:04No.
21:05No.
21:06No.
21:07No.
21:08There is zero chance of this being the finished look.
21:14It's been a busy afternoon, but with the mirror filling done, and the bench makeover underway,
21:21many hands are making light work.
21:24Stephanie, what's that I can smell?
21:26Oh, Gerald.
21:27Don't say it.
21:28No, what's that I can smell?
21:29Not answering you.
21:30Team spirit!
21:31Yeah, I knew it.
21:32I knew it.
21:33PIM SPIRCC And so.
21:36Further west, in the Vienne département,
21:44Lee and Rufus Steve have safely removed the loose tiles
21:49they'll need to refit to the Don John.
21:52I'm not going to be careful. He's got gold dust as well.
21:55Lee has also sourced a replacement for the three missing tiles,
22:00which he hopes will match.
22:02So, basically, this is one of the original ones.
22:05Yeah.
22:05And this is the new one that you've got.
22:06Now, if you imagine, this is like a jigsaw puzzle.
22:09If the new piece doesn't fit, so can you see,
22:12when that hook's on there, it's a completely different size.
22:15So what it means is that tile is not going to fit
22:19and replace the ones that are missing.
22:21What we really need to do is find three tiles, like this, old ones.
22:26The current situation is we need three tiles of the old-fashioned style
22:38to complete the roof.
22:41We've found two on one short.
22:44And so what I'm doing is phoning around people that live locally
22:47who've got similar roofs to see if I can have some off of them.
22:51And everyone I'm phoning that might have some spare slates lying in their garden,
22:56I'm going straight to answer phone.
23:00With Lee making phone calls,
23:03Belinda and friend Terry have begun work on the damaged fence.
23:08Are you ready?
23:09Yeah.
23:09Their first job is to dig holes for the new posts.
23:29That's really good.
23:33Do you know what?
23:33I'm quite enjoying it.
23:35This is quite good fun.
23:35Next, the concrete posts need to be securely fixed into position.
23:43So I will get you to hold the post and level it.
23:44I'll hold it straight and then you can pour the mix in, yeah?
23:47Yeah.
23:47OK.
23:47So you take the weight.
23:49That's it.
23:50Oh, gosh, yeah.
23:52Right.
23:53This is a level for fence posting.
23:55Gosh.
23:55You line the bubbles up.
23:58So what next?
23:58So clearly you need to put some sort of cement into the hole.
24:02Send the cement in the hole.
24:04Yeah.
24:04Dry.
24:05Are we still level?
24:10Yeah.
24:12Do we not mix this with any water?
24:14No.
24:14There's no need.
24:15It's just dry?
24:16It's dry and it will absorb the moisture from the ground.
24:19Graciously, that's wonderful.
24:21That's it.
24:24That belongs in there.
24:25Looking good.
24:26Yes.
24:27One down.
24:29How many to go?
24:30Quite a few.
24:30Belinda may have made a good start on the fence, but Lee's roof repair has stalled.
24:39I've managed to contact a couple of local farmers that I've called in on, who have been very helpful, but they don't have tiles.
24:47If we can't get this done, we're going to have to come up with a plan B very, very quickly, otherwise it could jeopardise the opportunity for the bride's group to have a celebration in the donjon.
25:02So we've got to find a solution, there's no choice, but it's just galling.
25:06What's preventing us from finishing this roof today is one tile.
25:11It's a delay they can't afford, and with a long list of wedding jobs ahead, Lee needs to get his thinking cap on, and fast.
25:29Still to come, Jane and Rory face an unexpected delivery.
25:35Bit of a panic.
25:36We've only just arrived.
25:37We haven't even moved in, and the horses are arriving.
25:41While two's a crowd at Stephanie's.
25:45I don't think we're very good at working together.
25:48I like working with you, but I can hear now that that's not reciprocated.
25:52Oh!
26:00In central France, at Chateau de la Londe, Stephanie's kitchen corridor is ready for painting.
26:08But there's an important decision to make.
26:12So I like the dark to have a little bit more of the grey in it.
26:18Something sort of between the two would be ideal.
26:21But telling you, the more I look at it, I'm starting to think maybe the light one.
26:25I like both, though.
26:26Well, let's see if we can get it done before Christmas.
26:28I'm really starting to like the colour now, because it is drying darker.
26:37So it's getting to exactly the colour that I wanted.
26:40I'm going to hide that dark blue, so they'll never even know it was there.
26:45So I noticed you're going sideways, Gerald, so I'm doing sideways as well for our first coat.
26:49Oh, yeah, yeah.
26:50This is called the horizontal stroke, and after, I'll teach you how to do the vertical stroke.
26:55Thank goodness I'm with an expert, you see.
26:57Well, you know, you learn something new every day.
27:04Later, while the paint dries, Stephanie turns her attention back to one of her upcycling projects.
27:11Right now, I'm trying to cut the fabric out for the bench, and sadly, it's not quite long enough.
27:19So I need to sew two bits together, and I'm just trying to work out if I have enough fabric to do that with the pattern repeat.
27:28I have done a vast amount of sewing here over the years, and I've always found the planning to be the hardest bit.
27:36Once I've started, it's great, but trying to work out the geometry is really, really difficult for me.
27:42Philip joins for the moment of truth, as the pieces are sewn together.
27:48All right, here we go.
27:50A bit concerned about it.
27:56Do you want to look on the other side as it comes out, see if it looks at all matched?
28:02All right.
28:03I don't have 100% faith in this.
28:07I think we're okay, actually.
28:10The couple staple the new seat cover carefully into place.
28:15I think that we're very good at choosing designs together, but I don't think we're very good at working together.
28:23Rude.
28:24That's true, though, because I think we both like being in charge.
28:28I think you very much enjoy being in charge.
28:31Very much so, and as you refuse to let me be in charge, because you also love being in charge, that makes it quite tricky.
28:39But I think we like the same things, the same fabrics.
28:43I like working with you, but I can hear now that that's not reciprocated, so...
28:46Oh!
28:46I think we're done.
28:54Good.
28:56There we go.
28:58Doesn't it make you want to sit down?
29:00Not quite yet, sir.
29:01And have a cup of tea?
29:03I don't know if the table can handle it, so maybe just contain yourself.
29:08It's a big job ticked off the list, but with a mirror still to finish, and more decorating to do,
29:15they can't kick back and relax just yet.
29:19Nearly 300 miles south, near Toulouse, Rory and Jane have just got the keys to their very own chateau.
29:33It's a statue of me.
29:37The previous owners have left behind almost all of their belongings, as well as some unusual 1980s decor.
29:46I love the idea that they've taken the exterior pebble-dash concept, and they've moved it inside.
29:53I hope it's not too difficult to get rid of.
29:57And then we're into what could be an option for a bridal suite.
30:01Right.
30:03The Lion, the Witch and the Latrine.
30:05Secret bathroom.
30:07Oh, yes.
30:08Nice.
30:12With three large suites spread across the two top floors,
30:15this chateau has plenty of business potential.
30:22So this is another option for the bridal suite,
30:25because who wouldn't want their very own roof terrace?
30:29I certainly would.
30:32A glass of wine and a nice comfy chair sitting out here on a warm night.
30:38Definitely.
30:38Downstairs, the open-plan kitchen diner has some striking architectural features.
30:50Raspberry ripple pillars.
30:52They definitely aren't staying raspberry ripple.
30:54I don't know if I can tolerate them painted white, or they've got to come out.
30:58And what's in here?
30:59There's no doubt it's a lot for Rory and Jane to take in.
31:14Unfortunately, although some of their own belongings have arrived,
31:22they can't make themselves at home just yet.
31:25Bit of a panic.
31:27We've only just arrived.
31:29We haven't even moved in, and the horses are arriving, so...
31:33They're coming early.
31:34They're coming, yeah, they're coming a day or two earlier than I was expecting.
31:38Yeah.
31:39Six more.
31:41I'm going to start putting these roughly in the right place.
31:44Right.
31:45The company transporting their two horses from Suffolk
31:49have just called to say they will be arriving in a matter of hours.
31:54We don't have many stakes.
31:56I don't really just need to put them out and see how far we think they stretch.
31:59Now the clock is ticking,
32:02as the couple desperately need to build an electric fence
32:05to contain the horses before they get here.
32:15Back near Limoges, at Chateau-Marie,
32:19wedding preparations are in full swing.
32:24Lee has been hunting for replacement tiles to fix the party barn.
32:29And roofer Steve has come bearing gifts.
32:35I happen to have some second-hand ones in stock
32:37that are very similar.
32:39Yeah.
32:40So they're just slightly longer, but they seem to lock together OK.
32:43Thank you, Steve.
32:44That's all right, no problems.
32:45They're just a few second-hand ones I had.
32:50As Steve heads up to fit the stack of tiles,
32:53Lee is very happy to be grounded.
32:56Because of the weight limit on the carriage, I can't go up,
33:01which is a bit of a relief for me, to be quite honest.
33:08Look at how that's swaying.
33:10Look at it.
33:11Look at it move.
33:13I've learned the lesson here.
33:14Next time we have a cherry pick,
33:16I'm going to make sure I've won a Belinda's Cakes the night before.
33:20I won't fit in it.
33:21OK, there we go.
33:25That's the best I can do.
33:26It looks great.
33:27It looks really good.
33:28It doesn't quite fit perfectly, but it's not far off.
33:31With the Don John roof finally repaired,
33:38Belinda and Terry need to finish the fence
33:41to stop their neighbour's sheep
33:42from becoming unwanted wedding guests.
33:46I'm going to get both hands on this.
33:48I'm going to make sure I get it in the right place.
33:50And push!
33:53Getting hands on in the field
33:55is a far cry from their old lives in London.
33:58Right, I'll just get you a couple of screws.
34:01I think life here is better than I expected it to be
34:05in terms of, I think, the quality of life.
34:08You can only see that, actually, after a period of time.
34:11So we've lived in France for about seven years.
34:14So I'm more used to the slower pace of life,
34:17the beautiful weather, the beautiful countryside,
34:20the quality of the food,
34:22and this is definitely better than I ever expected it to be.
34:27There you go.
34:27So this fence, although it looks nearly completed,
34:34clearly it's got some very big gaps in it
34:36which sheep can easily jump through.
34:40Particularly young lambs could gamble through these holes.
34:43So the next step now is Terry's reusing some of the wire,
34:47which is actually going to stop the sheep coming through, basically.
34:50Because the last thing we want at the wedding in a month's time
34:55is for sheep to be wandering around the garden with the bridal party.
34:59I don't think that would go down too well.
35:02Those sheep aren't getting in here, I can tell you.
35:05Fence fixed.
35:06Belinda can check on the Don John progress.
35:09How's it going?
35:11Well, you can see for yourself, we've done it.
35:14We've achieved it.
35:14Look at that, that's amazing.
35:15It's done.
35:17You must be pleased.
35:17Yeah, I'm very pleased.
35:18I did not have a hole in your Don John anymore.
35:20No more holes in the roof.
35:22Fantastic.
35:23OK.
35:24Just a hole in my wallet.
35:25They now have a venue, fit to host the wedding reception.
35:32But with rooms to prepare, gardens to tend to,
35:36and 24 guests arriving in just two weeks,
35:40Belinda and Lee still have a lot of work ahead.
35:48Coming up, Jane and Rory's plans, short circuit.
35:53It's doing nothing right.
35:55It's not ideal.
35:58And Stephanie faces a risky maneuver.
36:03Will I hold its weight, do you think?
36:06Whoa, whoa, whoa.
36:07I'm thinking of everything that could go wrong at this point.
36:10With your fingers.
36:18In Occitanie, at the chateau they've moved into just this morning,
36:23Rory and Jane are frantically preparing
36:26for the unexpected arrival of their horses
36:29in just under an hour.
36:31How much land are you giving them?
36:34Well, this is my rectangle.
36:37Just got here and we're already having to sort things out,
36:41out of order.
36:44Horses before us.
36:45We don't even have a duvet for tonight.
36:53With time of the essence,
36:55they desperately need to erect an electric fence
36:58to keep the horses safe.
37:00We haven't really got quite enough stakes for the area,
37:05but it'll have to do.
37:06But yes, as long as there's something.
37:09I couldn't find the charger.
37:10Hopefully, Rory can find it.
37:13I can find my skydiving jumpsuits,
37:16find a wedding dress,
37:18find cat food,
37:21but I can't find the energizer.
37:24We found it!
37:29Okay.
37:30Okay, great.
37:32Sorted.
37:32All they need to do now
37:36is connect the solar-powered energizer
37:38to the fence.
37:42Is it doing something?
37:44No.
37:46It's doing nothing.
37:47Right.
37:49It's not ideal.
37:51Knickers.
37:54All that effort.
37:57I'm getting nothing.
37:58I'm getting nothing.
38:00Right.
38:01Okay, well,
38:02we might need to read the instructions.
38:06But there's no time
38:07to work out the mechanics
38:08as their horses have just arrived
38:11all the way from Suffolk.
38:16Oh, good girl.
38:19Good girl.
38:19Hello, Penny.
38:21Good girl.
38:22Good, Penny.
38:22Taking a first glimpse
38:24at her new home is Penny.
38:27Come on.
38:28Come on, this way.
38:30This way.
38:31Good girl, Penny.
38:32Come on.
38:35Followed by Harry.
38:37Good boy.
38:39Good boy, Harry.
38:41Good boy.
38:43Oh, he's a clever boy.
38:45Clever boy.
38:46Clever boy.
38:48Oh, what a long drive.
38:50What a long drive you've had.
38:52Yes, good boy.
38:54And they're soon ready
38:56to begin their life
38:58at the chateau.
38:59Brilliant.
39:01We're all here.
39:03Yay.
39:04I think they like it.
39:07Turn on the electric fence.
39:10It's on.
39:11Now fully charged,
39:14the solar electric fence
39:15can do its job.
39:17Oh, that's lovely to see.
39:22Oh.
39:24I feel exhausted.
39:26Yes, me too.
39:27Their first day
39:30at the chateau
39:31has been long
39:33and full of surprises.
39:35But with the horses
39:36now settled,
39:38Jane and Rory
39:39can finally
39:40let the reality
39:41of their stunning
39:42new home
39:43sink in.
39:44It's a dream come true
39:47to be here,
39:48to be here with Jane,
39:50to start this
39:51exciting adventure together.
39:53Yeah, definitely.
39:55I mean, I think
39:55I wouldn't be doing this
39:56without you.
39:57It's wonderful
39:58that we're taking
39:59such a huge leap
40:01to do something
40:02just completely different
40:03before we feel
40:04we're too old
40:05and cringy
40:05to bother.
40:08Building a new life
40:10together in France
40:11will be an epic task.
40:13But this pair
40:15are ready
40:16for their future
40:17to begin.
40:22Further north
40:24in the Centre-Val de Loire
40:26Stephanie's kitchen
40:27corridor makeover
40:29is on the home straight.
40:31And the new
40:33bright colour scheme
40:34is coming together.
40:36We're doing
40:37our usual system
40:39of up and down
40:40for the first coat,
40:41horizontal for the second coat
40:43and then we'll do
40:43the third coat
40:44up and down again.
40:44I think that we're
40:46getting quite used
40:46to this not using
40:47a role of business.
40:48The wall on the other side
40:50is still a work in progress
40:52but there's now
40:54an unexpected deadline.
40:56We're nearly there.
40:57It's just so frustrating
40:58that it's not finished yet.
41:00But at least we can
41:01move the bench
41:02and get the mirror up
41:03and finish off that area
41:05before my mother gets back
41:06because she's coming today
41:07and I like it looking tidy
41:08when she arrives.
41:11All right, here we go.
41:13With her mother due
41:15in just a few hours
41:16and the heavy mirror
41:18to hang,
41:19Stephanie enlists
41:20everyone she can
41:21including her cousin Amory.
41:25OK, we might need it.
41:27Ready?
41:27Will it hold its weight,
41:28do you think?
41:29Oh, I'm thinking of everything
41:33that could go wrong
41:34at this point.
41:34With your fingers?
41:37Yeah.
41:37Yeah, my hand's here.
41:38You, okay, with your hand.
41:40Yeah?
41:41Yeah.
41:41You happy there?
41:42Yeah.
41:45Once lifted,
41:47the mirror is secured
41:48into place.
41:50I love it.
41:50It looks as though
41:51it's always been there.
41:52Yeah.
41:55Then the reupholstered
41:57and freshly painted bench
41:58is brought in.
42:00Oh, it's a good bench.
42:03It's a lovely bench.
42:03We did a good job of that.
42:12Oh, perfect, Stephanie.
42:14Yeah, it's really nice.
42:16See some cushions?
42:18Yes.
42:19And then we can get
42:20the wellies back.
42:21Well, you know,
42:21take your time.
42:22I'll just have a bit
42:23relax here, shouldn't you?
42:25Yeah.
42:28With some practical accessories
42:31and a few hints of colour,
42:34this part of the space
42:35is complete.
42:39Previously,
42:40this corridor
42:41was cramped and cluttered,
42:44full of odd boxes
42:45and old boots,
42:47with peeling paint
42:48on its only feature.
42:50It's now been transformed
42:57into a light,
42:59inviting space.
43:01The enormous mirror
43:02has been carefully stripped
43:04and given a new coat
43:06of gleaming white.
43:09The tired bench,
43:11freshly painted,
43:13and its seat lovingly reupholstered
43:15in a perfectly matched fabric,
43:17decorated with extras
43:20that add colour
43:21and comfort.
43:22It's a welcoming place
43:24for residents
43:25and guests alike.
43:28Are you very excited?
43:30Yeah, yeah.
43:31Finished just in time
43:33for the arrival
43:33of Stephanie's mother,
43:35Isabel.
43:37Oh, it's delightful.
43:40Oh, that is lovely.
43:42You see, there's a spot
43:43for your hat, honey.
43:44Yes, it's wonderful.
43:45Except for that one,
43:46that is definitely Jerry's.
43:47That's a busy time.
43:49Oh, lovely.
43:54It's summery, it's fresh.
43:56It's delightful.
43:58I love it.
43:59Well done.
44:05Everyone who's walked
44:06through the corridor so far
44:07just comes out with a smile.
44:08They all seem really happy.
44:10It's definitely lifted
44:11all of our spirits.
44:13I think people are going
44:13to love it
44:14and I know it will be used
44:15all the time.
44:16It's genuinely where people
44:17are going to sit down,
44:18put their boots on
44:18to go outside,
44:19grab an umbrella,
44:20grab a hat.
44:21It's going to get
44:22constant use.
44:26It's another part
44:27of the chateau
44:28that's been transformed.
44:30But with the business
44:31to run
44:32and a special party
44:33planned soon,
44:35Stephanie has
44:36a busy summer ahead.
44:38next time.
44:46One couple
44:46do an expensive
44:47balancing act.
44:50It's a lot of money
44:51sat on here.
44:54Another's mammoth project
44:55gets out of control.
44:57It's way bigger
44:59than what I expected
45:00it to be.
45:01It's a shadow,
45:01isn't it?
45:02You have to scale it up.
45:02And Belinda and Lee
45:04race to get their
45:05garden wedding ready.
45:07It needs to be
45:08a bit more manicured
45:10than it is at the moment.
45:11It needs to be picture
45:11perfectly,
45:12actually,
45:13not just manicured.
45:14It needs to be
45:44because of what it is
45:45to be considered
45:46adamند
45:46loving
45:59and
46:00surely
46:00like
46:01it
46:01happens in
46:01a moment.
46:02It needs to be
46:02narrowly
46:02aba peat
46:06to the
46:09Daar
46:09some
46:10scaven
46:11As
46:12a
46:12Let's
46:13wait