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00:00Light, fancy baubles, tinsel and fairy lights. Job done.
00:07Unless you're decorating this, or this, or this.
00:14There are three things that hold Christmas up at Castle Howard.
00:17Chicken wire, glue gun sticks and cable ties.
00:21One crack team of Christmas crafters are responsible for bringing the festive season
00:27into some of Britain's best-loved buildings.
00:31The logistics is a little bit more than moving boxes of baubles around.
00:36For Dave...
00:38Safety first.
00:39Laura...
00:40Ta-da!
00:41Brian and the rest...
00:43Juliana, Eve, Theodora, your end down.
00:46...Christmas is a full-time job.
00:49Always get there in the end, through panic or coffee or gin.
00:52This is the bit that no-one ever sees backstage.
00:55Top of the tree...
00:56Cute.
00:57...designer, an ex-theatre producer, Charlotte.
01:00How do we feel about buying a kilometre of green lights?
01:03...and business partner, former costume designer, Adrian.
01:07If they'd been purchased at full price, it was over £7,000.
01:10Right.
01:11OK.
01:12Eight years of Christmas installations just keep getting bigger.
01:15Well, it totally looks like it's not going to fit.
01:18Bonder...
01:19I'm just worried about that statue.
01:20...and riskier.
01:21Just stop! Just stop!
01:23Sidestepping priceless antiques and cautious clients...
01:30How can they make an armoury...
01:32...Christmasy, yeah!
01:33...the clock is ticking...
01:35Three, two, one...
01:37...to doors opening...
01:38God, it's fabulous!
01:39...for Christmas.
01:40Next year's ambition is...
01:41...not to break the teeth.
01:45Bambra Castle on the Northumberland coast.
01:52A mind-boggling mix of Anglo-Saxon foundations, Norman fortifications and Victorian restoration.
01:58Home to kings, knights, legends and ghosts, this fairytale castle has seen more than a thousand Christmases come and go.
02:13But there's no doubt that last year's was the one with the most glitter.
02:28I'm so thrilled with what we did last year at Bambra. It was decadent, wasn't it?
02:37Making the most of the castle's history, a Christmas through time thrilled visitors...
02:42...with everything from a banquet for Henry VIII...
02:46...to a full-size Viking ship.
02:50The fact we do it in four days, it's such a fast turnaround.
02:52It is.
02:54It was the fifth Christmas Charlotte and Adrian have conjured up for owners the Watson Armstrong family.
03:01The loveliest family to work with.
03:03They're quite upfront in telling us if they don't like something.
03:06But then once it's signed off, it's like, over to you Charlotte and Adrian, you're the experts.
03:11When you come over the hill and you see the castle in front of you, the heart swell.
03:21Frankie and Claire don't just own this piece of history, it's actually their home.
03:28And already they're wondering how to turn an 11th century battleground into something a bit more festive, yet again.
03:36It's so difficult, isn't it, to think how can they make an armoury...
03:42...Christmassy.
03:43...Christmassy, yeah.
03:44How will Charlotte and her team transform it into a non-weapons room?
03:49Weapons, yes.
03:50They're very clever, fantastic.
03:53I don't know what goes on in their minds, it's incredible.
03:57Bambra Castle is open all year round.
04:00But Christmas is their busiest time, providing almost 30% of its annual revenue.
04:07And at 1,000 years old, it's a bit of a money pit.
04:12It's not a sob story, but we get nothing from any external sources for looking after Bambra Castle.
04:18And the thing's getting more expensive.
04:20In the Great Hall, we're doing a roof.
04:22And, you know, that's going to be seven figures, something to repair that roof.
04:25Scaffolding is going to be well into the six figures.
04:28So, you know, it's massive.
04:30That's money that we are spending, that the visitors are bringing into the castle.
04:35Without them, there would be no castle.
04:44It's early summer.
04:45And at Christmas headquarters in Yorkshire, this is where the magic begins.
04:51Juliana's got 60,000 baubles to sort.
04:54Along with Claire and Chrissie in floristry, Erin in costume, and Dave in the workshop.
05:01Everyone's determined to make Christmas at Bambra the best one yet.
05:05Safety first.
05:07Charlotte and Adrian have decided that a fairytale castle deserves the fairytale treatment.
05:13Some of the smaller rooms would pick up nice stories.
05:16Like the Golden Goose.
05:17Yeah.
05:18Jack and the Beanstalk is an obvious one.
05:20Yeah.
05:21Well, Hook would be great, wouldn't you?
05:23Hook with his treasure.
05:24Nice nautical theme as well.
05:25Rumble silkskin and...
05:26Spinning gold.
05:27Spinning gold.
05:28Aladdin's cave.
05:30Of course.
05:32There's a lot of stories about gold.
05:34Christmas treasures, isn't it?
05:36Treasured tales.
05:37Treasured tales.
05:38There we go.
05:39One of the teams said that they had an Aladdin's lamp.
05:44Again, I think I saw a picture of it, just not with any reference to size.
05:48And a big magnifying glove.
05:55There's just four months until Bambra's Christmas fairytales opens to the public.
06:02The display will be spread throughout the castle, taking in many of its most prestigious rooms.
06:09Charlotte's got to make sure the vision matches up to the splendour.
06:13This is the lovely third chamber and it's softer than most feminine, I guess, of rooms.
06:18So this is going to be our mermaid scorched oak.
06:21There'll be ten stories, including the Emperor and the Nightingale in the 15th century armoury.
06:28Jack's Beanstalk will be planted in the keep.
06:30And Captain Hook in the billiard room.
06:35This room is Frankie's favourite.
06:36So Captain Hook is like Christmas mad, right?
06:39So it's just, honestly, you cannot move for stuff.
06:41And obviously he's a thief, right?
06:42So he's got all his amassed loot.
06:45Everything was signed off with owner Frankie weeks ago.
06:48But Charlotte might be about to blow plans for the ornate King's Hall right out of the water.
06:57King's Hall, we were going to do Treasure Island.
07:00Yes.
07:01But since I've been back this morning, there's been a little idea that's been brewing and stood there today,
07:07I thought actually we should go for it because I think there is something else.
07:12Last year, the grand finale was nearly a complete disaster.
07:17We did have a bit of a moment last year, didn't we?
07:20We did, Charlotte, yes. There was meant to be that long ship.
07:23Yeah, it was in fact...
07:25A short ship.
07:29Because there wasn't much of it that turned up as planned.
07:32What was meant to be a full Viking ship ended up half sunk.
07:37It was a bad moment, I have to say.
07:39So Charlotte's big idea could be very difficult to sell to Frankie.
07:45So.
07:46So.
07:47The King's Hall.
07:48The King's Hall.
07:49So we had discussed and agreed.
07:52Yes.
07:53Treasure Island.
07:54Yes.
07:55Which will still happen.
07:56Yes.
07:57But I think, rather than Treasure Island taking up all of this space,
08:02Treasure Island should be in the cross chamber.
08:06Cross, yeah.
08:07So you come in, so you see the island.
08:09Yep.
08:10And you're seeing the island from the deck of the Jolly Roger.
08:17That takes up this entire space.
08:19The whole space.
08:20The whole room.
08:21So basically, when we come into King's Hall.
08:25Yep.
08:26It's like we're stepping onto the deck of the Jolly Roger.
08:32I think it'd be fantastic, because it literally will be like we're sailing...
08:36Have the visitors got access to go on the Jolly Roger?
08:39Yeah, no, they'll walk through it.
08:40Oh, okay.
08:41So it'll be like a, you know...
08:42So they're actually immersed in the ship itself.
08:44Exactly.
08:45They're on the Jolly Roger.
08:49Do we feel, or more importantly, do you feel that that's going to work in this space?
08:54Do you like the idea of that?
08:55I can see it now.
08:56I can see it.
08:57I think it's fantastic.
08:58This hall is absolutely designed for stuff like that.
09:01So yes, I can picture it and I love it.
09:05The Jolly Roger isn't the team's only big ambition.
09:09In the Norman Keep, Dave's planning an enormous metal-framed beanstalk for Jack to climb.
09:16So, if the King's Hall wasn't bad enough, what's the height of this ceiling?
09:21One second.
09:23You've already measured this, haven't you?
09:25On laser.
09:26It was five and a half.
09:27Yeah.
09:28Five and a half metres.
09:30And do we really think we can get something that tall?
09:34I can build something that tall, but that is the problem.
09:41Everything has to come up this tiny flight of steps.
09:44By way of a weirdly shaped door.
09:48So it's this that's the issue?
09:49Yeah.
09:50And are you going to tell me why it's that shape?
09:53The milk bottle door, that's so, back in the day when there was an emergency and you'd have a guard, like a watchman.
09:58Yeah.
10:00And they need to get that message in there as quick as possible.
10:04Yeah.
10:05It's that shape because they would literally be on horseback and go straight through the door.
10:10So that's wider there to get the horse through?
10:13Yeah, the horse.
10:14And he ducked?
10:16He'd have to duck.
10:17He'd have to duck, yeah.
10:18But, yeah.
10:20That's why it's that shape.
10:21Doesn't help beanstalks though, does it?
10:23No, it doesn't.
10:24No, it doesn't.
10:25No, it doesn't.
10:26No, it doesn't.
10:27No, it doesn't.
10:32For eight years, the team at Christmas HQ have been building, buying, storing and reusing all the props and decorations they need to dress stately homes across Britain.
10:43So eight of these might work.
10:50Oh, no.
10:51This year, they have six properties to fill and they're running out of suitable storage.
10:56Right, so this little shop of horrors in here, this, this, well, there are many reasons, but this is one of the main reasons why we need a much bigger, less leaky, less pigeon ridden space.
11:11Nice, right?
11:13And in there is where the missing interns live.
11:20You okay?
11:21It was only a matter of time before there was an accident.
11:27You all right, Joanna?
11:28Yeah.
11:29Oh, it's you.
11:30Chippy Bryan and design assistant Theodora are on hand to save Adrian from a brush with Christmas past.
11:38Do you need a hand?
11:39Do you need a brush?
11:42It's a dangerous game, this Christmas thing, isn't it?
11:44Most people have just the one or two boxes in the loft with decorations and we have a whole farm.
11:51This place is bursting at the seams.
11:57And here comes more.
11:59A delivery for Bambra.
12:03Thankfully, not all of our suppliers come in in articulated vehicles.
12:09But when they do, it's, it is, it's a little, it's a little bit chancy, because we're, we're kind of tucked away behind a working farm, which wasn't really designed to have articulated lorries come to its back door.
12:25PHONE RINGS
12:29You good?
12:33So this delivery is on pallets, which makes it a little bit easier, provided the pump truck power is working.
12:40Well, that's just asking for trouble.
12:45Eight fake trees, 400 glass baubles, 500 pounds worth of faux flowers and almost definitely three French hens just have to get the last 100 metres to their new home.
13:00PHONE RINGS
13:01Oh, no.
13:02One out of power.
13:03God damn it.
13:04Does that mean it's just completely inoperative?
13:05I'll get them all to the back and down, but I'll leave all I've cut out.
13:06I'll take it all to the back and down.
13:07I'll take it all to the back and down.
13:08I'll take it all to the back and down.
13:09I'll take it all to the back and down.
13:10PHONE RINGS
13:11Oh, no.
13:12One out of power.
13:13God damn it.
13:14Does that mean it's just completely inoperative?
13:15I'll get them all to the back and down, but I'll leave all I've cut out.
13:30I'll take it all to the back and down.
13:35No-one said Christmas was easy.
13:37There are just three months to go, and at Christmas HQ, work is underway to create a fairytale Christmas for Banborough Castle.
14:01In modelling, Mark's made a flying start on a bird for the Emperor and the Nightingale.
14:06This isn't modelling polystyrene. It's just packaging we're reusing.
14:12We're going to heavily paint it and then cover it in jewellery.
14:17Next door, Dave's tackling his giant beanstalk, welding it in sections in the hope it will fit up a tiny staircase in the castle's Norman Keep.
14:29This is where I keep my welding gloves on because this is where I forget where I've just welded and I usually just pick it up and my skin comes off with it.
14:44But it's harder to pick up with welding gloves on.
14:50And this is where I burn myself, see.
14:52The team's flat out, and not just for Banborough.
14:55They've got another five properties to decorate.
14:58That's a lot of baubles.
15:07Wow.
15:09Look at this.
15:11Adrian and Charlotte have taken a drastic step.
15:14That's lovely with the lanterns on the tree.
15:17They've come all the way to Amsterdam.
15:20For their first ever visit to one of Europe's biggest Christmas suppliers.
15:24Welcome to gaming.
15:27Wow.
15:28Finally got us here.
15:29It looks amazing.
15:30It's incredible.
15:31Yeah.
15:32So this must be, are you like the biggest Christmas show?
15:34Yeah.
15:35Well, we're a very big Christmas company.
15:36Yeah.
15:37We have here 7,000 metres of pure Christmas.
15:40Wow.
15:41And there's 15,000 products here.
15:43Gosh.
15:44And it follows the local fashion trends and trends across Europe.
15:46So yeah, very exciting.
15:47Amazing.
15:48Can we walk down?
15:49Yeah, please.
15:50This is stunning, right?
15:55This place supplies decorations and faux trees to stately homes, shopping empires and royal palaces in over 90 countries.
16:07Do you want to set me up with a scanner so I can go shopping?
16:10Yeah.
16:11I'm not allowed a scanner.
16:12No.
16:13She points at things and I'm like, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
16:15And then she ignores me.
16:16And I just don't scan it.
16:17Yeah.
16:18I'm going to get you a little scanner later.
16:19Yeah, exactly.
16:20Exactly, exactly.
16:21Don't tell him.
16:22Yeah.
16:25OK, what do you want to go and have a look at your big balls?
16:28Let's just keep going round and we'll do big balls last.
16:31OK.
16:32Charlotte and Adrian have been working together for over a decade.
16:38Step away from whatever that is.
16:40OK.
16:42It's a long time for any relationship.
16:46Are we good for grapes?
16:47We're good for grapes.
16:49Yeah?
16:50You sure?
16:51Yeah.
16:52Mm-hmm.
16:53We've got a lot of grapes I'm not rekening on.
16:55This is nice.
17:00We've got so much clip and colours there.
17:02If the man...
17:04I said to Laura...
17:05If the man says we have, we have.
17:07To Laura, not buying any more clips and she was like...
17:11Like the floor to ceiling four times over.
17:14Step away from the clips.
17:18The happy couple aren't just looking for statement pieces.
17:21Where do we want to use Rotating Tree this year?
17:24So what about giving Hook a rotating tree?
17:26Oh, yeah.
17:27When in doubt, give it to Hook.
17:30They're also hunting for stock suitable for Bambera's gift shop.
17:34Don't know that we need a lot of woodland.
17:37I feel that's too rustic.
17:38That's too rustic.
17:39Anything shouting out at you?
17:42Brits blow an estimated 630 million quid a year on Christmas decks.
17:47I don't think there's anything here that's right for us this year.
17:51Any of that spent at the castle would be a welcome contribution towards its upkeep.
18:00A yurt bauble.
18:01Oh, a yurt bauble.
18:02That's amazing.
18:03That is amazing.
18:04Finally, they've found something they both like.
18:08Novelty.
18:09Look at this.
18:11Rainbow lips.
18:15Rainbow deflated balloon.
18:17It looks like a strange hot water bottle.
18:21And if they must have an excuse, well, it's pirate plunder.
18:25Surely Captain Hook would have a bejeweled croissant.
18:30Where can I put an iguana?
18:31I'm sure Captain Hook has iguanas.
18:34Is it an iguana or is it a chameleon?
18:37Anybody?
18:38I think it's a chameleon.
18:39It's a chameleon.
18:45Summer is nearly over.
18:50In just two and a half months, ten Christmas fairytale rooms have to be installed at Banborough Castle.
18:56Every bauble, nightingale and beanstalk needs transporting up the basalt cliff, past three fortified walls and along ancient passageways into some of the oldest and grandest rooms in Britain.
19:13But a hundred miles south at Christmas HQ, there's still a lot to do.
19:17In the loft, Erin and Adrian are starting a costume fit for a king.
19:26Let me do his little neckline there.
19:29I'm just doing this by eye because I've cut many necklines on many shirts, on many things.
19:38I could not do this by eye.
19:40I would have to measure, I'd have to put it onto paper, cut out the paper and then layer it.
19:47And make sure it's flat.
19:49It is so impressive to me that he is doing this by eye.
19:52And that just comes from experience.
19:54I started off, I would use super cheap fabrics.
19:57Yes.
19:58Just to kind of play around and then not feel guilty if it went horribly wrong.
20:01Yeah.
20:02Which it used to on quite a regular basis.
20:05And still does sometimes now.
20:07The only problem is that now I'm cutting into 30 pound a metre silk.
20:11This kimono's for the emperor and the nightingale.
20:13But if you imagine that that's then going to do that.
20:17Gorgeous.
20:19Yeah.
20:20Perfect.
20:22The feathered half of the story is being touched up by Juliana.
20:26It took two days to actually make the bird and then another two days to stick all these blingy bits on.
20:35Dave's finished the framework for the giant beanstalk.
20:39But it can't be fully assembled until it gets to Bambra.
20:43OK then.
20:44Just have a look, see what we've got.
20:46Claire and Chrissie have chicken wire, fabric, fake leaves and a couple of hundred cable ties to try to make each section a little more lifelike.
20:55Just thought if we'd just make piles of the different products to see what we've actually got.
21:00Because it's a while since we've looked at all this isn't it.
21:03This is Dave's beanstalk version 2.0.
21:06This, yeah this is the base of the first one that I made.
21:12So it's a lot wider.
21:15Erm.
21:17But I didn't really, I didn't get the, like the effect that I wanted.
21:25With this second one, because it's a lot narrower I've kind of been able to go off in angles and give it that kind of twisty feel.
21:33Of a beanstalk.
21:35All the way up to the ceiling.
21:37Does this look alright Claire, from your side? I'm not pulling it too tight.
21:39So I'm hoping this one looks, looks a bit more animated.
21:43And then what I'll do is just go inside and weave it back through the other way.
21:46At five metres high, this will almost touch the ceiling of the Norman Keep.
21:51Is there any cable ties out there?
21:53If Dave's got his measurements right.
21:58The first time that I'll actually get to put this full beanstalk together will actually be on site in Banborough.
22:06I know the individual parts fit, but I've just not seen it complete from top to bottom.
22:18Getting the beanstalk up is Dave's responsibility.
22:22Because Adrian and Charlotte will be away with another Christmas client during installation.
22:27Oh, there's one, one golden goblet.
22:30Theodora will be in charge of Captain Hook's table.
22:34Do we want this cutlery? Is this a sign for him?
22:36That's a sign for him, yeah.
22:38It'll be an owner of Frankie's favourite haunt, the billiard room.
22:41But they still haven't worked out what it will look like.
22:45No, the bread rolls are for the crew.
22:48He's not having bread. He's having ice cream.
22:53Maybe the crew get a raw turnip each.
22:56Or a carrot. A carrot and a bread roll.
22:58A carrot's quite funny. A carrot and a bread roll.
23:00Although scurvy, I don't think they should.
23:02No, because he's treating him too well then.
23:04Theodora's only been with Team Christmas for two years.
23:07Do you want to take some of your own photos?
23:09Yeah.
23:10It's the first time she's been given such a big responsibility.
23:15No pressure then.
23:17We're doing this now because Charlotte and I will only be at Bamburgh for about 24 hours.
23:22So the more that the team are briefed on and kind of get a head start on, the better.
23:30I'm very flattered to be trusted with getting this started.
23:32I didn't trust you with it, it was Adrian.
23:34I hope I can do it good justice, but yeah, I'm super excited.
23:39I think I've been demoted when I wasn't looking, basically.
23:43It's about developing the team's talents, Charlotte.
23:46See this fork?
23:57It's October.
23:59In one month's time, Bamburgh Castle opens its doors for Christmas.
24:04And in the grandest room of all, the King's Hall, the team have promised a full-size pirate ship.
24:11It's a tall order.
24:1680 miles down the coast, in the historic port of Hartlepool, Dave's trying to work out whether it's even faintly possible.
24:25Permission to come aboard, sir?
24:27Permission granted.
24:31Wow.
24:33It's huge.
24:35He's come to look at HMS Trincomalee, the oldest British warship, still afloat.
24:40I couldn't have this one, could I?
24:41Yeah.
24:42Over 200 years old, and a whopping 180 feet long, there's a lot to take in.
24:50And Dave's not the yachting type.
24:53So this one, Dave, this is the main mast, as you can see, this is the tallest one in the middle of the ship.
24:57Yeah.
24:58We've got the foremast, which is there, and then the mizzenmast at the back.
25:02So we have a foremast, main, and...
25:04Mizzenmast.
25:05Yeah.
25:06Mizzenmast.
25:07Mizzenmast.
25:08Mizzenmast.
25:09M-A double-z again, mizzenmast.
25:11OK, not rear.
25:12No.
25:13Mizzenmast.
25:16With Charles and Adrian tied up with Christmas in five other stately homes, the helm for this one falls to Dave.
25:23There's a lot of rigging. You don't know how many miles of rope there is, do you?
25:2715.
25:2815 miles of rope?
25:29Yeah, yeah.
25:30Because you think up and down, up and down, up and down, and then across.
25:33Then all the supports from the masts as well.
25:36They must be quite heavy.
25:37They are indeed.
25:38Yeah.
25:39Because it's thick rope.
25:40Yeah.
25:41That knot alone is probably like a couple of kilos.
25:44Absolutely.
25:45Yeah.
25:46A ship sounded great on paper.
25:48But the reality is proving a little more daunting.
25:51It's huge, isn't it?
25:55Erm...
25:57Yeah, I...
25:58I don't know how I'm going to do all this.
26:06Dave needs to come up with a solution, and fast.
26:12And I love how chunky and sturdy it all looks.
26:15I mean, it'd be great to make it look this full.
26:17What I'm thinking is that I might, I can get the chunkier stuff and just have it almost like thrown over barrels and coiled up on the deck.
26:27Instead of building the whole thing, shipping in a load of props would be much more sensible.
26:32Barrels.
26:33I'm going to need quite a few barrels, I think.
26:35So, I love these.
26:37That's going to really work for a Christmas setting.
26:40Absolutely.
26:43A bell would be quite good.
26:45Absolutely.
26:46We've got a bell.
26:47If you want to look at the bell, you can have a go.
26:49I'll have a go at the bell.
26:50Right.
26:51If you can order that bit.
26:52Aye aye, Captain.
26:53And give it a good pull.
26:54This bit.
26:55That bit.
26:56This bit.
26:57Lunch.
27:02The only thing missing from Dave's pirate ship plan is a parrot.
27:10Luckily, the castle has one of its own.
27:12Can you see a parrot?
27:16Nice.
27:17Jacob's helping castle owner Claire sign off on marketing for their festive fairy tales.
27:22So, here's a little rescue parrot.
27:24And I've discovered it's more peaceful if he joins in, because if he just stays on the floor, he shrieks.
27:34The rest of the castle team are also readying for the arrival of Christmas.
27:38I thought I would say it at Harm, really.
27:40Castle steward, Stuart, is moving family heirlooms out of Harm's Way.
27:47And in the gift shop, it's pack-up time for pumpkins.
27:50This is the start of, we've been covered in glitter for the next, what?
27:54Three months?
27:55Three months.
27:56Three months, certainly.
27:58Julie and Julie have got boxes of baubles to break open.
28:01Look at that.
28:04That's a beautiful one, Jo.
28:05Wow.
28:06That is gorgeous.
28:07This was a tip from Adrian, actually, wasn't it?
28:10Yeah, it was.
28:11He said to try and keep the same style of baubles in, like, a clump instead of putting one there and one there.
28:17Yeah.
28:18And it actually works really well, doesn't it?
28:19It does, yeah.
28:20And odd numbers if you can, threes, fives or sevens, same as flower arranging, apparently.
28:25Oh, right, I didn't know that.
28:26Yeah.
28:27That one was lost on me.
28:29Oh, we'll learn it every year.
28:30We'll learn something new every year, don't we, Jules?
28:32They're nice, Julie.
28:33Make a nice set of earrings for them.
28:34Oh, they are lovely, aren't they?
28:35Yeah.
28:36Pat Butcher earrings there.
28:37That phrase, more is less, is untrue.
28:38More is more at Christmas.
28:39Oh, that's nice there, Julie.
28:40Beautiful.
28:41Nice.
28:42So far, so tasteful.
28:43Four different colour snowflakes.
28:44But visitor manager, Karen, has just received the shipment from Holland.
29:01This is just the best bit, because you've got all these boxes and you're wondering what
29:04on earth is in them.
29:06Oh, we've got a little, a little toucan.
29:09How sweet, it's very sparkly.
29:12Oh, look at these.
29:14November's wages, they're spent on things from the shop, aren't they?
29:19They are.
29:20Because we like that much of the stuff.
29:22The gift shop tops up Christmas takings here.
29:26And in this place, every penny counts.
29:30Bambra Castle is over a thousand years old and has been in the Armstrong family for five generations.
29:40But when they bought it in 1894, it was a ruin.
29:46Lord Armstrong revived it as a home and local landmark, pouring his fortune into the restoration.
29:53Frankie grew up here with his parents and sister, inheriting it when he was just 21.
29:59He's dedicated his life to preserving it.
30:02Dad's death was a sudden death.
30:04It wasn't expected.
30:05So I think my mum obviously took it badly.
30:07But you pick yourself off the floor and you've got to get on with it.
30:10There's no time to mess about mourning.
30:12Well, that's the sort of person you are, aren't you?
30:14You're very good at just sort of leading and getting on, rolling your sleeves up and that's it.
30:18And cracking on and I just, you know, I'm so proud of you.
30:22I really am and what you've achieved and done.
30:25Is it daunting?
30:26Yeah, it's terrifying.
30:28Well, it's a big responsibility, isn't it?
30:31You keep the place standing.
30:39It's the start of November.
30:41In just six days, a fairytale Christmas opens at Banborough Castle.
30:48But first it has to get there.
30:50Get the big scenery on and then back him down to the containers and we'll start emptying the tent.
30:58The clock's ticking and Theodora's still at work.
31:03I'm basically making a really quick jack-in-the-bean stalk.
31:07I want to make a little outfit for him.
31:10But, yeah, it's got to be a quick job today, hopefully to get it done.
31:16A lot to do and not a lot of time.
31:22Three vans are waiting to be loaded, but Dave's spotted a problem.
31:25It's just 3.5.
31:28That's 11.2.
31:3011.2 feet?
31:31Yeah.
31:32A couple of years ago we had a van turn up for Banborough.
31:35I think it was two of them, actually, and they didn't actually fit.
31:38There's a huge kind of a block gate that you go through and they actually didn't fit through at all.
31:43This is one of those vans that won't fit through.
31:47There's no time to order a different van.
31:52We're going to have to load this one up and then outside the castle we'll transfer everything that's in here into the smaller one so that can come through the gate and up.
32:03So it's never easy.
32:04When installation's finished, much of this will be beyond the reach of prying hands.
32:12Right now, months of handiwork is taking a battering.
32:20I think there's going to be a lot of zhuzhing of product today.
32:23Sorry.
32:24That's fine.
32:25Sorry.
32:26It's fine.
32:28Most of it's all right.
32:31It's falling to pieces.
32:33No, we're all good.
32:34It's all going on.
32:45This is very, very delicate.
32:49They're quite effective from a distance.
32:52It's only close up you can see the polystyrene.
32:57Try and carry it by this, not the banister, because the banister will break.
33:02Exactly what I didn't want to have happen.
33:12Well, it's just a case you can't really lift them from the...
33:16I didn't.
33:21This year will be Banborough's biggest Christmas yet, but more decks means less space in the vans.
33:26We've had incidents where we just have underestimated how much van room we're going to need, and have had to then get an additional vehicle the following day, and I'm just touching words that that's not going to happen this day.
33:40Next up, the Little Mermaid's big pool.
33:58This could be an issue.
33:59We're going to ditch this piece of scenery, because we've got more important stuff to get on this last vehicle, and it's taking up too much space.
34:17Right.
34:20But will the sacrifice make room for this year's biggest installation?
34:27We're on the last vehicle for Banborough, vehicle number four, and it's going to be a tight squeeze.
34:34The last thing that has to go on is the beanstalk.
34:37This was meant to be one of the high points at Banborough, but it's beginning to look like it may never get there.
34:54Oh, we can just put it on a tiller and then just kind of till it down.
34:57Is that taller than two metres inside?
34:59That's it, yeah.
35:00So we've been talking about getting the beanstalk in the castle, and the issue right now is will it get on the other hand?
35:17Go on, go on.
35:25In.
35:31Success.
35:33Now for the voyage to Banborough Castle.
35:48Five hours later, and every item of fairytale magic has to be unpacked again and carried into the castle,
35:56where it will wait under lock and key until morning.
36:00Then the team will have just four days to install this year's Christmas display.
36:14Christmas is in.
36:16Lock up for the night.
36:18Night-night ghosties.
36:20Look after everything for me.
36:22And we'll let the fun begin tomorrow.
36:31At Banborough Castle, the vans have been unpacked and their contents piled high.
36:39With the last of the valuables being moved to safety, it's a race against time to work out where everything goes.
36:47We've got a tricky situation now because we've got several properties all happening at the same time.
36:55Which means we're very reliant on the team because Charlotte and I were just jetting in and out, so we're completely trusting the team to get it right for us.
37:02It's literally so much. It's overwhelming.
37:08In the keep, Stuart is putting up a scaffold tower to help build the giant beanstalk.
37:20The smallest sections make the tight squeeze through the bottle door, up the steps and round the corner.
37:37Now it's time for the biggest piece.
37:43Now it's time for the biggest piece.
37:46The best option.
37:51Ready?
37:52One, two, three.
37:56Stay with your hands in on it.
37:59Stay with me.
38:03Hang on, Tom.
38:05Are you worried about four years?
38:06Yeah, I've got it.
38:11Just let me get on the right side of it.
38:14Ready?
38:15It's not going to go. It actually isn't going to go.
38:31And it's through.
38:42Thank you, gents.
38:45Yeah.
38:47Now we've just got to make sure that we've actually made it the right size.
38:56In the rest of the castle, work is in full swing.
39:01Claire and Chrissie are trying to take the edge off the weaponry in the armoury.
39:05Tons of product to go in, so it'll be really full by the time we're finished.
39:10Just to try and soften things a little bit.
39:13In the King's Hall, there's the first signs of the Jolly Roger.
39:22Theodora's decorating a tree for the Emperor and the Nightingale.
39:25When I go home, my mum does it. I don't get her looking on my own Christmas tree.
39:31My mum takes over. She's not handed over the reins.
39:37Are you beneath me this side?
39:39Yeah.
39:40Right, we're going to start lowering it slowly.
39:42Yeah.
39:43Back in the keep, Dave's drafted in Henry to help piece together the beanstalk.
39:48Yeah.
39:50Yeah.
39:51Yeah, that's good.
39:52It's meant to be 5.3 metres tall.
39:56Next one?
39:57Yeah.
39:59In a room only 5.5 metres high, they'd better hope Dave's got his measurements right.
40:03Well, it totally looks like it's not going to fit.
40:11That's all right, doesn't it? I agree.
40:21It's just catching as well everywhere.
40:24Two mil. Honestly, just a tiny bit.
40:26That's it? That's it.
40:39That is literally touching the ceiling.
40:46It's just 18 hours until Bamburgh Castle's fairytale Christmas opens to the public.
40:51And it's been a busy day.
40:54Theodora's been trying to remember how to lay Captain Hook's banquet.
40:59Just ridiculous difference in what he's willing to give to his crew.
41:05Ultimate gluttony.
41:10The Little Mermaid is all clam glam, even without her rock pool.
41:14The Emperor's Nightingale's ready to burst into song.
41:27And even the banisters are getting glittery.
41:29In the King's Hall, Dave's rigging the Jolly Roger.
41:34Why does that look so bad?
41:36It looks like a bed sheet.
41:38The team's making great progress.
41:41And Adrian and Charlotte have arrived to help finish their creation.
41:45It originates with us, doesn't it?
41:48So you've got to see it through and you've got to sign it off.
41:51Because at the end of the day, it's got, you know, your name.
41:54You've got to have the final, final tweak.
41:58It's late.
42:00But finally, the Jolly Roger is looking ship shape.
42:08Heave!
42:10And no fairytale pirate ship would be complete without a skull and crossbones.
42:15Ideally, a glittery one.
42:17I mean, I can hold it here.
42:21Aye.
42:22Can you get it there?
42:23Get a wee bit further in there so I can push it in.
42:25Get it off the skull so you're safe.
42:27Put your hand.
42:28Right, you happy there?
42:29Happy here.
42:30Right, you're going to move a wee bit.
42:32They've just got to get it up, without breaking it.
42:35Oh, there he is.
42:37Easy, easy.
42:40Hang on.
42:41Hang on, hang on.
42:43Stuart, wait, wait.
42:45Wait.
42:47What's happened here?
42:48Hang on.
42:49Wait, Stuart.
42:50Wait.
42:53Wait.
42:54Stuart!
42:55Alright, sorry.
42:56I thought you were saying no key.
42:57No.
42:58It's caught.
42:59It's wrapped around itself.
43:00Do you want me to back off?
43:01No, there you go.
43:03Bit higher.
43:07Yeah.
43:09Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
43:10That's it.
43:11That looks really good.
43:12Ha, ha, ha, ha.
43:13School's at Christmas.
43:14Ha, ha, ha.
43:15Hey, you did good.
43:16Morning.
43:17November the 8th.
43:18The thousand-year-old fairy tale castle now has a new set of treasured stories to tell.
43:31After 11 months designing, building and installing, it's nearly ready to open to the public.
43:48At the end of the day, we couldn't do any of this without our incredible team, and they are, yeah, they're amazing.
44:03We love the work that they do, but the big thing is, will the client love it?
44:10This is a piece to resist.
44:12Oh.
44:13My.
44:14Woof.
44:15Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
44:16Cracking.
44:17Ha, ha, ha, ha.
44:18Oh.
44:19Wow.
44:21Oh, I love it.
44:22Look at this going crossbones.
44:24Oh, I love that.
44:29Oh.
44:30It's very good.
44:33Oh, look.
44:34Brilliant, isn't it?
44:35Do you know those coins are chocolate?
44:37You can't have one.
44:46Oh, that's incredible, isn't it?
44:47That's quite impressive, isn't it?
44:48That's, I mean, it's just bonkers.
44:51How'd they get it in here?
44:58Christmas at Bamburgh is officially open.
45:03Enjoy.
45:04Enjoy.
45:19When I came in, I just thought, wow, absolutely amazing. Best, best yet.
45:24The attention to detail is just wonderful.
45:25The attention to detail is just wonderful.
45:37There's nothing but this, I mean, there's a completely differentways.
45:41Choose from the beginning.
45:42Over the days, I'll be wrestling with the 你看.
45:43Remember now.
45:44He's new to the beginning.
45:45I'm sorry.
45:46I'm the one who can observe this song.
45:47Welcome to the beginning.
45:48Let's get into it.
45:49We'll be turning home.
45:50We'll be turning to the beginning.
45:55Bye.
45:56Bye.
45:57Bye.
45:58Bye.
46:00Bye.
46:01Bye.
46:03Bye.
46:04Bye.
46:05Bye.
46:06Jonathan Ross and Alison Hammond
46:13live any kid's biggest dream
46:14with the world's most in-demand
46:16under-the-tree treats.
46:17Hammondly's top 100 toys of all times,
46:19half seven Monday night.
46:20Tomorrow at 8pm,
46:21brick-building brilliance requires
46:22cranes, canines and quite the steady hands
46:25to bring the season to life.
46:26Head inside Legoland at Christmas.
46:29That's all new and so's a fiery flirt
46:31at the First States Beach Club
46:32next night.
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