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00:01Many of us dream of making a break for the countryside.
00:05Oh, look at that!
00:07Oh, my goodness!
00:08And it doesn't matter who you are, we're here to help.
00:12Oh, my God!
00:15That is amazing!
00:17We venture to the four corners of the UK,
00:19searching for peaceful country properties...
00:22Couldn't be more stunning, could it?
00:24Sold!
00:25We're moving tonight, yes.
00:26...in truly spectacular scenery.
00:29It is absolutely stunning, isn't it?
00:31Wow!
00:32I want to get inside and have a look.
00:33There's sheep in the field.
00:35It's an adventure of a lifetime.
00:38My heart is pounding in my chest, it really is.
00:40Wow!
00:42Oh, my goodness me!
00:44Oh, come on!
00:46Paving the way to a brand-new lifestyle.
00:49It's a pinch-me moment, so to be able to say it's mine
00:53does feel just surreal.
00:56So join us as we catch up with those
00:58who transformed their lives when they escape to the country.
01:02Peace, quiet, and space to relax and just take it all in.
01:12The countryside really is a powerful tonic for mind, body and soul.
01:27So, when TV health expert and NHS professional Dr Ranj asked us to help him cure his city blues and find a home surrounded by greenery, we knew just what to prescribe.
01:44On today's very special episode, I'm catching up with Dr Ranj, who back in the October of 2023...
01:54Lovely to see you!
01:56Oh, nice to see you!
01:57...set me the challenge of curing his urban ailments by finding him a new home in the Peak District.
02:04Fresh air and countryside surroundings were the recommended prescription, as was a home with character.
02:10But he didn't want to give up the mod cons he enjoyed in his city pad.
02:14It was a tough ask.
02:16But this nurse was up for it.
02:18Get it?
02:20Denise Nurse!
02:21That's my name!
02:22Never mind.
02:24This is my little apartment in London. Casual BAFTA just lying around.
02:35At the time of his appointment, Dr Ranj was juggling a busy life in London working in the NHS with his television career, which saw him regularly travelling to Manchester.
02:47I've always been a city boy. I love the hustle and bustle of city life. I live above a rounder.
02:54It can't get busier than that.
02:56So, if I come home after a night shift and I need to get some kit, this is what I'm faced with.
03:03I might want to sleep, but London doesn't.
03:07After some expert self-diagnosis, Dr Ranj felt a remedial injection of countryside living was called for, to offset his urban and hectic work life.
03:19We know through loads of research that actually getting out into green spaces doesn't just look nice. It actually feels good because it's good for your brain.
03:31The location Dr Ranj chose for his search was the peak district, closer to his work in Manchester and with the space and fresh air of the countryside he craved.
03:43Supporting him on his search was friend, artist and Manchester resident Tom.
03:48It'll be a bit of a shock to the system for Ranj swapping his cuban heels for wellies.
03:52But when he's in a more natural and calm environment, he really, really enjoys it.
03:57Dr Ranj was after a countryside pad with a large sociable kitchen, a couple of additional reception rooms, at least two bedrooms plus scope for a home office.
04:09He also wanted some easy to maintain outdoor space and he had a budget of up to £550,000.
04:19Just 15 miles from Manchester in the hamlet of Bleak Hay Nook.
04:23My first option awaited the doctor's assessment, a three storey 18th century stone built specimen.
04:30Oh, it's cute.
04:37It's giving sort of old school country.
04:40Is it, is it going to have loads of spiders?
04:42I'm, I'm a modern sort of gadgets and gimmicks kind of inside persons.
04:48But behind the grade two listed exterior, modern interiors gave off no creepy crawly vibes.
04:55Come this way.
04:57There's the kitchen.
04:59This is lovely.
05:01I'm looking for spinners and there aren't any.
05:03I know.
05:04No.
05:05There's no spiders.
05:06No.
05:07This is great.
05:08One more.
05:09I want a little bit more.
05:10Just a little.
05:11Just a little.
05:12Is there a little bit more please, Denise?
05:13Somewhere to sit down.
05:14Come on then.
05:16Completing doctor's rounds on this floor was a snug cum office with a shower room.
05:22And then there were two further levels to examine, starting a flight above in the main bedroom.
05:28Cannot wait to see what you think of this.
05:30There's a sofa in it.
05:31Yeah, it's coming.
05:32So we've got these lovely wardrobes.
05:35You've got plenty of storage and wardrobe space.
05:38You've got those amazing mullion windows again.
05:41They look like a mullion dollars.
05:44Very good.
05:48I sent Dr. Ange off with Tom to conduct further exploratory tests of this middle floor.
05:54What houses?
05:55Look at this.
05:56It's got like a ledge.
05:57You're a ledge.
05:58I know.
06:00Well, I could sit here whilst you're in the bubble bath.
06:02I've had nightmares about that.
06:06Oh, look at this.
06:07It's really modern as well.
06:08Look at this.
06:09There's loads of room in it.
06:10Yeah.
06:11There's so much more that you can do.
06:12You could have a decorating party.
06:13We could all come and be like...
06:15That's what I'm worried about.
06:16And on the top floor was the additional living space the doctor ordered.
06:23Oh, my word!
06:24What?!
06:27You were saving this, weren't you?
06:30Feeling hard.
06:32Look at that view.
06:34So, out of ten, what do you think is the house for Ranch?
06:38I think it's wonderful as well.
06:39Nine, ten?
06:40I'm like nine.
06:41Nine out of ten.
06:42I'm going to be stingy.
06:43This is a good eight.
06:44If I didn't have to redecorate, then it would be a nine or a ten.
06:47Okay.
06:48So, the house is a strong eight.
06:49Yeah.
06:50But let's not forget where we are as well.
06:51Got to be looking at a roundabout.
06:53Right?
06:54Right?
06:55I know.
06:57Outside, the pretty garden floats seamlessly into the endless views of the neighbouring moors.
07:05We've got deer coming up here, horses.
07:09You know what?
07:10Something like this is manageable.
07:11And actually, it's done really well, isn't it?
07:13It's nice.
07:14You could do a lot here.
07:16But first, you have to buy it.
07:18And that means you have to put a price on it.
07:20Six hundred and fifty thousand.
07:22We're not in London.
07:24Dorothy.
07:25No, we are.
07:26Not anymore.
07:28Not anymore.
07:29This property is on the market for five hundred thousand pounds.
07:35I delivered the space, but my celebrity medic balked at the decorating he felt was needed.
07:41And the silence of the surrounding moors.
07:45It's so quiet.
07:46It's strange.
07:47It's strange.
07:48I'm not used to this level of quietness.
07:51I think maybe the remoteness of it is sort of, he's a bit daunted by that.
07:57My next option in the village of Upper Mill was a more gentle introduction to rural life.
08:03Located close to the buzz of bars and cafes.
08:07House number two.
08:09We're looking at it here.
08:10And the shops are just down there.
08:12Exactly.
08:13So you get a bit of that kind of city vibe.
08:15Yeah.
08:16But you are most definitely in the countryside.
08:17Okay.
08:18From the outside, it seems like it's going to be lots of space.
08:21And it's tall, so it goes up.
08:23I love three-floored houses.
08:25I don't know what it is.
08:26Very townhouse-y.
08:28And this attached grade two listed former weaver's house did not disappoint inside.
08:35This is lovely, isn't it?
08:36And it's been styled so beautifully.
08:38It has been styled so well.
08:42We stepped through into a dining room with open-plan access to the kitchen.
08:47Plus, a separate utility with a cloakroom.
08:50I think you might like this ranch.
08:53Oh, what a lovely space.
08:57So it's quite a quirky layout, I think.
08:59Oh, my gosh.
09:00Imagine having Christmas dinner around a giant round table with all the chairs around it.
09:03Do you host Christmas?
09:04I would like to.
09:06Okay.
09:07Oh, you imagine having loads of, like, cocktail-y stuff all down here.
09:10All around here.
09:11And snacks.
09:12Chopping and stuff.
09:13So even if you're in the kitchen, someone could be stood over here having, like, helping out.
09:15And you're not in the way.
09:16Music's on.
09:17Yeah, yeah.
09:18Friends over there.
09:19We were doing the macaroon.
09:20Yeah.
09:21And there was more to throw into the cocktail shaker.
09:29Upstairs, a large room to the front was being used as an office.
09:33Then, at the back, the first of the bedrooms.
09:37It's cosy, but there's still space around here, isn't there?
09:39Yeah.
09:40You don't need lots of things in here.
09:41This is country, but it's not too, like, you know, dusty and old.
09:48I think the style of this house is really suiting, Ranj.
09:51Oh!
09:52Oh!
09:53This is good.
09:54Oh!
09:55This is nice!
09:56Oh!
09:57It's nice to have windows in the bathroom.
09:58Hello.
09:59I like to keep saying hello.
10:00Hello!
10:01Oh, this is...
10:02Yeah, this is me.
10:03And let's see what he thinks when he discovers the suite on the top floor.
10:08Oh!
10:09Oh, come on.
10:10Oh, that's nice.
10:11This is lovely.
10:12Oh, this is a nice room.
10:14It's good, isn't it?
10:15I can see myself here.
10:16Yes, this home took indulgence up a level, with a floor entirely dedicated.
10:21to a principal suite.
10:24Look at that view!
10:25Wow.
10:26You can see literally over the top of every single thing.
10:30But some potential views were less warmly embraced.
10:34Hang on, is that the neighbours?
10:36Hiya.
10:37Oh, yeah.
10:38Keep it up.
10:39God, you give me giblets on display.
10:42You can just count doing circles in your robe, with your coffee.
10:47Look at that.
10:49Outside, in the back garden...
10:51Oh, look at that!
10:53..a pathway led to a particularly private and partly wooded plot of around a quarter of an acre.
11:00It's like you're out in the woods.
11:02It's a lot of maintenance.
11:03Is it, though?
11:04You could keep it kind of rough and ready.
11:06Just like me.
11:07I think it's brilliant.
11:10From looking at it from the outside, you have no idea what's in store.
11:15And it's...
11:16Genuinely, I'm chuffed.
11:18I'm impressed.
11:19How much do you think you'd have to pay for it?
11:22I feel like this is going to be pricey.
11:25600,000.
11:27I'm going to say 460.
11:30460,000 pounds.
11:32Well, this one goes to...
11:35You, Dr Ranj.
11:37You are right.
11:38Almost.
11:39It's at 575,000 pounds.
11:41The entertaining and luxury aspects, plus proximity to a buzzing village, appealed to Dr Ranj.
11:48But the 575,000 pound asking price was a financial stretch.
11:54It's a lot of great space, isn't it?
11:57But...
11:58It's...
11:59It's top end of my budget.
12:01It's on at 575, which is a bit pricey.
12:05Could you live in there how it is now and go, oh, lovely town?
12:08Yeah.
12:10Yeah.
12:11Yeah.
12:12Dr Ranj was responding well to our first day's dose of greenery.
12:17I'd shown him two great homes, each with the contemporary spin on country character he was itching for.
12:24But we still had one very special appointment to make.
12:29And for that, I took him and Tom to the area of the West Pennine Moors, near the village of Greenmount.
12:37This is lovely, isn't it?
12:39Nice, yeah.
12:40Let's see the sun out as well.
12:41I reckon she's found us a nursing home.
12:45Just 15 miles north of Manchester Piccadilly Station, a nearby tower commissioned by a group of 19th century mill owners honoured the first British Prime Minister from an industrial background, Sir Robert Peel.
12:58My mystery, built for one of those same patrons, made quite the vertical statement.
13:05Oh, look at that.
13:07Oh, my word.
13:11It's a castle!
13:12It's a castle!
13:13Hold!
13:15State your purpose.
13:16We've come to see the mystery house.
13:18All right, then.
13:19Just come down here and come through the gate.
13:21I'll see you down there.
13:22All right, babes.
13:23The turret once had a practical purpose as a water tower, but now formed part of an attached and one-of-a-kind home, parts of which rose up across five storeys.
13:38We started in the single-storey wing of the ground floor, where I couldn't guarantee shining nights, but there was a sparkling kitchen diner.
13:48It's quite cool in here, isn't it?
13:50Mmm.
13:51You're really taking on this kingdom already, aren't you?
13:53I'm redesigning it in my head.
13:56Let's have a look across the way at the living room, and then we'll tackle those floors.
13:59It's got all the bones of a fantastic place, but it just needs to be modernised a bit.
14:07Let's get your stepometers going.
14:09Watch yourself.
14:10Off you go, and I will find you later on.
14:12OK.
14:13Discover you on the penultimate floor.
14:16Come on.
14:18I cannot wait to see their faces.
14:21The level above was all about bedrooms and bathrooms, with two of each.
14:26And on the second floor was a wardrobe fit for a king.
14:30You can even put your crowns and tiaras up here if you're in your own castle.
14:34I'm going to put them somewhere.
14:35Right.
14:36Let's go to the next floor.
14:41Look at this!
14:44Welcome!
14:46Darlings.
14:48It's a bit of a boudoir, isn't it?
14:50It's your boudoir, your main bedroom, yes.
14:52With that view out of that window.
14:54Look at that.
14:55Look at all these huge windows on the sides.
14:57I don't need curtains, because apart from here, no one else is going to see in.
15:01Right!
15:02And we haven't finished yet.
15:04You ready for another floor?
15:05Yes.
15:06Come on.
15:07Let's do this.
15:08Go on.
15:10We're nearly there.
15:12Oh, my word.
15:13The next floor.
15:17Come on.
15:18Keep going.
15:19The floor's a different house.
15:20It is.
15:21Sorry, do you need to check my ID before?
15:22Oh, yeah.
15:23Absolutely.
15:24Drinks, dispensers.
15:25You can...
15:26Oh, my word.
15:27They have a popcorn machine in here.
15:28And guess what?
15:29And a slushy makeup.
15:31There's one more floor.
15:32There's another floor.
15:33There's another floor.
15:34There's another one.
15:35And then I promise it's over.
15:36Come with me to the fifth.
15:37Right.
15:40It's the mystery house.
15:42Of course.
15:43It's got its own roof terrace, garden, and a 360 view.
15:51Oh, my gosh.
15:52They are actually silent.
15:56Yes.
15:57Your kingdom, your realm, includes countryside aplenty,
16:02and then over there, Manchester City.
16:05Do you know what?
16:06I need one more thing.
16:07What?
16:08A crown.
16:09A crown?
16:10Yes.
16:11You do need to be crowned king.
16:12It's funny you should say that because...
16:18Hello.
16:19I get to put my own flag up.
16:21Yes.
16:22Yeah, when you're home, the flag's up.
16:23I have a feeling this is Spenny.
16:26How much?
16:30680?
16:32I'm thinking 700.
16:34What about £550,000?
16:37Are you joking?
16:39I'm not joking.
16:40This is real.
16:41I'm not joking.
16:42Hold on to me.
16:45With its regal standing, panoramic vistas, and an asking price bang on budget,
16:50my mystery really did seem to have taken the crown.
16:54It took me a while to earn the title of Doctor, I'm not going to lie,
16:57but I'd be quite happy swapping that for King.
17:00King?
17:01King range.
17:02King range.
17:03You could be one of my subjects.
17:06I'm always the subject of something.
17:09And when else are you going to live in a castle?
17:12It's a castle.
17:13Our tour of the Peak District and beyond had offered Doctor Ranj a range of remedies for his urban fatigue,
17:22some more remote than others.
17:24But he could only give one, the royal seal of approval.
17:28If I'm a city boy, and being out in the open, being in remote areas, albeit surrounded by beautiful countryside like this,
17:39it's a bit of a scary thought.
17:41I don't know how you've done it, but you've managed to turn my mind completely around,
17:47and I'm going to put in an offer.
17:50Blow me down!
17:52We've decided I'm going to go for it, I'm going to go for the castle, and we're going to renovate it ourselves.
18:04And I'm going to be there at the first cocktail party.
18:08Can you come back and have a drink at the top of the castle with us when it's done?
18:13Cheers!
18:14True to his word, Ranj put in an offer on the Mystery House.
18:22And I'm delighted to say it was accepted.
18:25It's been seven months since we left him.
18:28And his hopes of doing a quick DIY cosmetic job on a new home with Tom...
18:33Careful!
18:35..have not quite gone to plan.
18:38Blimey!
18:39Oh!
18:40Have you ever told me at the end of 2023, when we put the offer in,
18:44that four, five, six months later it's going to be like this, and this much work?
18:51The former water tower has sprung several serious leaks,
18:56and there's damage from top to bottom, all calling for major repairs.
19:02Walls have had to be ripped out.
19:04Most of them, yeah.
19:05Most of them, yeah.
19:06Scaffoldings on the outside, rewiring's being done, boilers new!
19:10Yeah.
19:11Yeah, that went pretty quick, didn't it?
19:13Two weeks, yeah.
19:14And there's still more to go.
19:16The home's insides have had to be stripped back to the brick,
19:20tanked with waterproofing membrane, and covered with layers of insulation.
19:26Some of the walls have even undergone intense surgery.
19:30There was a giant crack down this corner, where the building was literally coming apart,
19:35and they had to stitch it back together behind it, and then obviously seal it,
19:40and now we're going to, like, insulate it all, and board it, and plaster it,
19:44and forget that it ever existed.
19:47It's gorgeous, isn't it?
19:51Oh, my Lord.
19:52Oh, no.
19:53It'll get hurt.
19:54Between the unwelcome stress and expense of remedial work, Dr. Ranj is helping the medicine
20:04go down with some treats, ready for those finishing touches.
20:08I think it's come all the way from China.
20:11Oh.
20:13Hang on.
20:20Oh, my gosh, it works!
20:22That's great.
20:26I can't wait to get onto the cosmetic bit.
20:28Yeah, you didn't expect to take the walls down with the wallpaper.
20:30It was supposed to be pretty, um, a bit of paint.
20:33Oh, my word.
20:34It's been a lot, but I think it's heading in the right direction.
20:39I'm...
20:43It's been well over a year since I was last here,
20:46and Dr. Ranj has been hard at work putting his stamp on his mystery house
20:51with the help of his good friend Tom.
20:53But it's not finished yet.
20:54It is still a work in progress.
20:56So I've come armed with one of these to see how they're getting on
20:59and maybe help out a bit.
21:03Well, the scaffolding at the front is down.
21:06Hello!
21:11I'm back!
21:13Come on in!
21:14Oh, good to see you.
21:15Oh, good to be back.
21:16I love it.
21:17Let me show you around.
21:18Come on.
21:19Right, follow me.
21:21Wow, Tom, so good to see you as well.
21:23You too.
21:24Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
21:25He just hangs around.
21:27The inside may still be a work in progress, but structurally,
21:32the ground floor has been opened up by removing the wall from the stairs
21:36to create a larger reception room.
21:40My goodness.
21:41This is not quite what I thought was going to happen after you bought it.
21:44Yeah.
21:45Little cosmetic change here and there.
21:47As you remember, I said, I just, I don't want anything that needs fixing or doing.
21:51I just want somewhere that's ready to go.
21:53And then we saw this place and thought, fantastic, let's do a cosmetic refurb.
21:58We're still going.
21:59We're still going.
22:00That's the statement of the actual year.
22:02He was like, Adamant, that's definitely not what I'm doing.
22:04Nobody projects.
22:05I even came ready to help.
22:06There's a bit down there that needs to, if you don't mind.
22:09So it's very different out here already.
22:11It's still a work in progress at the moment.
22:13Well, I need to have a look around.
22:14Bottom to top or top to bottom?
22:16Oh, let's go up.
22:18OK, let's do it.
22:19Go on, Tom.
22:20Upstairs.
22:21Hopefully it'll be like, yeah.
22:22Next stop, the third floor main bedroom.
22:28Oh, my legs.
22:31Where a year ago, we admired the view.
22:34How many sets have we got in this place?
22:36A sensible 72.
22:39And now I can admire how much work's already been done.
22:43It's nice and warm.
22:45It's nice and dry.
22:46So I've heard you've had some issues.
22:48So what happened?
22:49So the day I got the keys, it was pouring down with rain.
22:53Came up here to explore.
22:54Obviously looked around and saw some water coming down one of the walls in the corner.
22:59Thought, that shouldn't be there.
23:01And what do you do?
23:02You poke the ceiling, don't you?
23:03Obviously.
23:04So I literally poked the beast and the ceiling came down in that corner.
23:08Turns out there was a massive leak from the roof that had gone down the side of the building
23:13and started to affect the floors.
23:16It just came down and slopped, didn't it?
23:17You just poked it with the curtain pole.
23:19How did you feel about that?
23:21When you bought the place not wanting to do much.
23:23Yeah.
23:24It was a bit of a heart-sink moment.
23:25Because despite getting a survey, which had shown that there was already lots of damp that needed sorting out,
23:30what I didn't appreciate is how much work it was going to take to sort it out.
23:34Show me some more.
23:35Oh, let me show you the other bedroom.
23:37Yes, please.
23:38Back down on the first floor is the ensuite guest room.
23:43I don't know if you remember it, it was quite dark and it had that giant shag park carpet in here.
23:49And it had lots and lots of damp.
23:52So as you can probably tell, definitely still a work in progress.
23:55I ended up replacing all of the radiators with these column ones, which are currently off whilst we decorate.
24:02But it's going to be completely revamped.
24:04But I think it's going to be worth it.
24:06It's wonderful.
24:07I can feel that you're quite close now then, I should imagine.
24:10No?
24:11Well, I had planned on finishing it six months ago, so it's going really well, isn't it?
24:16And now what you have to do now is show me the kitchen, because that's going to be the heart of the home.
24:20Right.
24:21And we need to know what's going to happen in there.
24:22I'll show you where we're at with that.
24:24OK.
24:29The kitchen certainly looks more spacious and brightened by some additional skylight windows.
24:36But, well, I can see there's a lot to do before Ranj is ready to host.
24:42How much of this work have you done yourself? How involved have you been?
24:45Hmm.
24:46Well, the problem is a lot of it is specialist work.
24:49So I've had to have a lot of tradespeople in, and that's been costly.
24:52I was going to say, how's the costs going, the budget?
24:55Oh, so I had a really healthy budget for a cosmetic refurb.
24:59I thought, fantastic, that's going to be a doddle.
25:02My budget has had to more than double, which I didn't plan for.
25:07But I did negotiate really hard on the asking price, and then I dropped it down again after the survey.
25:13But I have, unfortunately, ended up spending a lot more than I planned to get.
25:17Back up to the value it was on before, probably.
25:19Yes.
25:20Has there been a point where you've thought, oh, have I made a mistake?
25:23Yeah, along the whole way, I've really questioned, did I take on too much?
25:28Did I have a bit enough more than I can chew?
25:31I've been like the little angel on the shoulder, so when he's like, just look at it, I'm like, it'll be so worth it, it's so gorgeous.
25:38And the feeling that you get when you walk in, it's just, I'm in love with the building.
25:44I've actually got an appointment to pick a kitchen today.
25:48I picked the right day!
25:50Yeah, yeah, I'd love your viewpoint, actually.
25:54I'm delighted to be joining Ranj for something he's been looking forward to since he took on his 200-year-old castle.
26:03Oh, I love a showroom.
26:06Some fun design choices guided by senior designer Ben Westgarth.
26:11The lovely Ben is helping me design and decide on a kitchen.
26:17Have you seen the water tower?
26:19I have indeed.
26:20So, what we want to do is give you that really grand feel in a slightly smaller space.
26:25On a practical side, what are things people should be looking out for when they are designing their kitchen?
26:30Storage is a big one, and really making sure the spaces work for you long term.
26:34How many people are using the kitchen at once?
26:36Are you getting in the way of each other?
26:38And then, of course, you know, we can all sort of like, you know, be rash.
26:42We want it to be really dramatic, or we want it this or that.
26:45We try and give you more time as kitchens.
26:48You're telling me not to get carried away, aren't you?
26:51So, your brief was dark and sexy?
26:53Yes, dark and sexy, but still welcoming, a bit like me.
26:59Ben has mocked up a design for Ranj's approval.
27:03And has some samples for the finish of the focal piece island.
27:08So, what are you being drawn to at the moment?
27:10I do really love this moody, dark one.
27:13But I feel like that's going to be really expensive, and I'm a bit worried about cost.
27:16Yeah. I mean, it's where am I going to be investing the money?
27:19And is there a cheaper alternative?
27:20I'm all over budget.
27:21We've got appliances to think about.
27:24We've got all of these other factors.
27:26Yeah, yeah.
27:27This is probably going to be a bit more cost effective.
27:29I like that.
27:30It's a nice contrast as well.
27:32Against the dark colours, actually, that could be that little pop.
27:35It's a light, lovely big island.
27:38You've got the light coming in from the extra skylights you've put in.
27:42And then the drama.
27:43Then the drama.
27:44And for once, it's not just me.
27:45It's not going to be you.
27:46It's your kitchen.
27:48I love it.
27:49Well, I can see it already.
27:51It's going to be fabulous.
27:52Just like its owner.
27:56Back at the house, artist and friend Tom has something else to solve the sting in the tail of the unplanned mammoth renovation project.
28:05So, you've been really a big part of this whole project.
28:08And you were so creative as we went round.
28:11And now, it looks like you're bringing some of that creativity to the home.
28:15Well, I feel like there should be a little part of me that's staying here.
28:19So, I decided to gift this piece to go on the top of Castle Water Tower.
28:24I love it.
28:25The Queen Bee.
28:26Oh, there we go.
28:27We were thinking of names.
28:29So, what's the inspiration behind this then?
28:32Well, being just outside Manchester, we thought, well, the Manchester Bee is a great icon.
28:37The sort of the worker being.
28:38I think we've put our work in on this one.
28:40So, it was very appropriate.
28:41We're just going to cover it in iconography of Manchester, things, range, things, the castle, things like local to the area.
28:49And make it really part of here.
28:51I love that.
28:52Part of the story.
28:53And maybe a little flag montage of moi waving at you.
28:57That would be so sweet, wouldn't it?
28:58I'm still here.
28:59What a gift.
29:01What's it been like watching range go through this journey?
29:04It was never the plan, was it?
29:06You can see that it's been stressful.
29:09And there's been lots of surprises along the way.
29:12But I think he's really grown with the property as well.
29:14And, like, we would have never thought, would we, this time?
29:17Oh, gosh.
29:18Yeah, no.
29:19The ranch, I know.
29:20Doing all of that work.
29:21Can you imagine?
29:22I know.
29:23And this is going to be the ultimate symbol.
29:24The cherry on the top of the castle.
29:25The cherry on the top.
29:26How hard it's worked.
29:27Something sweet on top.
29:28So how much longer do you think it will take you to finish this?
29:30I think it's going to take quite a while, but I think we've got a while.
29:34And however long it takes, I'll be back for that housewarming.
29:49The last time I was here, about seven or so months ago, Dr Ranj was still in the thick of remodelling his already impressive mystery house.
29:58Well, we've had the call and it's done.
30:01The last lick of paint has gone onto the walls.
30:04The new kitchen is in.
30:05But, before the big reveal, I've come to his local country park to meet up with him and find out how he's settling in.
30:15This beautiful setting is just ten minutes from Castle Ranj.
30:20But is he reaping the benefits of being a world away from his hectic life in London?
30:25Well, Ranj, it's so amazing to be back here with you.
30:31Oh my gosh.
30:32Two years to the day.
30:33I can't believe it.
30:34Two years to the day.
30:36Two years to the day.
30:37Until we showed you our mystery house.
30:39Yeah.
30:40And you bought it.
30:41It's all your fault.
30:42I know.
30:43But you're all done now.
30:44You're all done.
30:45Yes.
30:46I still think that I'm going to tweak stuff, but I can't wait for you to see it.
30:52It's very different to two years ago.
30:58It's very different to the last time you came.
31:01Yeah.
31:02I hope you like it.
31:03But it's not just the house that's different, is it?
31:05I mean, look where we are.
31:06Yeah.
31:07And the whole thing for you was about moving away from a roundabout.
31:11Yeah.
31:12In London.
31:13With all the traffic and the noise and the stress of travelling and your jobs.
31:17Yeah.
31:18I'm going to get more of this.
31:19So have you been able to get some more peace and quiet and good countryside air?
31:25I love that you said it was to try and reduce my stress.
31:28These last two years have been very stressful at times.
31:32There's been a lot going on with the house that needed sorting out.
31:36I've not really had much of a chance to enjoy a lot of this yet.
31:40But I can't wait now.
31:42I want to get out and do a lot more of this.
31:45That's why we brought you here.
31:46Please.
31:47But now that it's done, I'm really looking forward to just relaxing.
31:52I can't wait for you to see it.
31:54Well, let's go see it then.
31:55Come on.
31:58We've taken the doctor out of the city.
32:00But taking the city out of the doctor is proving to be more than a walk in the park.
32:05Still, I am enjoying the anticipation and role reversal of Ranj leading the tour of his now fully renovated home.
32:15I remember doing this walk with you, but obviously I was showing you.
32:20Yes.
32:21There she is.
32:22Look.
32:23Oh.
32:26The turret is flying the rainbow flag, proudly celebrating its owner's award-winning advocacy for the LGBTQ plus community.
32:36Welcome to the new hat.
32:38The opened out hall is now in its fully decorated glory with tantalising glimpses to what lies beyond.
32:52The reception room has been stripped back and now feels luxuriously spacious with welcoming soft furnishings and a sophisticated black feature wall.
33:15I can see me just curling up on that sofa.
33:19Right, having a nap.
33:20You're the first proper guest to see this.
33:23Like, last night I did 24 hours.
33:25Yes.
33:26All-nighter getting this stuff in here and getting it together and getting it made.
33:30It's like making a house a home with the things because it was just a space.
33:33I'm blown away.
33:34What on earth have you done with the rest?
33:36What?
33:37Just wait.
33:38I want to see the kitchen, please.
33:39Oh, you need to see the kitchen.
33:40OK, come on, come on, come on.
33:41Come on, come on, come on.
33:44Oh, my goodness.
33:48What?
33:51After ripping out the old units and adding more skylights, Ranj's vision of a dark and sexy kitchen is made real.
34:01The dining island is ready for socialising, adding the pop of white Ranj was after.
34:07How have you conjured so much more space here?
34:11I mean, it was a good-sized kitchen, but it feels luxury.
34:15I've added two more skylights, roof lights in, lots of, like, extra lighting, wall lights, mirrors everywhere.
34:23I think putting big things in has made it feel bigger, because this is pretty large, isn't it, for the size of the kitchen?
34:29That's what it is. It's dramatic.
34:31Yeah.
34:32But, yeah, it's cosy, and everything feels good, and I have to say, the colour, genius.
34:38Right?
34:39I think this is a triumph.
34:41Yeah, but you've only seen the ground floor.
34:43I know.
34:44We've got four more floors to get through.
34:46Come on.
34:47Yay!
34:51Even the first-floor landing has been given a facelift.
34:54Look at this.
34:55Everything about this place is luxury.
34:58In the main bathroom, the bog-standard suite is gone, making way for a freestanding bath and monochrome modernity.
35:07Whilst the first of the two guest bedrooms is now a snug come-study.
35:12Oh, again, you've chosen such great materials.
35:16Melvety, blush, texture, cosy.
35:19Gorgeous.
35:20So, I had a little idea.
35:22Okay, let's have a look.
35:25Oh!
35:27Fabulous!
35:28You've got a little office in it.
35:29That is so gorgeous.
35:31So, that wallpaper that's in there, I did that.
35:33Well, in fact, I did all the wallpapering in this house.
35:36Actually, you're just loads of stuff.
35:37You're painting, straight lines, you didn't tear the paper.
35:40I was, like, very impressed.
35:41Yeah.
35:42It really is a castle fit for its king.
35:46But Ranj hasn't neglected space to give overnight visitors a right royal welcome.
35:52This is what I'll call my guest bedroom.
35:54Let's call it that.
35:55Well, I don't mind if I do.
35:57Thank you very much.
35:58The bed was in a different place.
36:00Wardrobes were a different colour.
36:02It's unrecognisable.
36:03We've completely changed it.
36:05As if you were staying in a hotel.
36:07Especially your cushions.
36:08That's a good plumping there.
36:09That's a good old job.
36:10You're going to be sleeping on the floor in here, aren't you?
36:12There's no chance of getting into that.
36:14If I was supposed to get a double and I ended up getting a king.
36:17I will sleep very well when I stay over.
36:20Have you seen your old bathroom?
36:22There's more.
36:23I've forgotten about the bathroom.
36:25This is my favourite bathroom.
36:26I am in love with this house.
36:28I'm really seeing Ranji's signature style shine through everywhere here.
36:35More stairs.
36:36I want to show you this.
36:38There's lights that we put into the wall.
36:40My electrician thought I was bonkers.
36:42And then we just laid all these lily pads on it.
36:44It feels quite futuristic.
36:46Yet, it's all about nature.
36:50In the former dressing room, there are more surprises.
36:57Ooh!
36:59This is amazing.
37:01And it's got a stand-alone bath in here.
37:03Stand-alone bath.
37:04And we've got a giant three-metre tall wardrobes.
37:07So, you will be keeping all of your clothes in here.
37:09This will be a wardrobe.
37:10Absolutely.
37:11Plus some.
37:12And a bit of Tom's stuff is here as well.
37:14Oh!
37:16I'm curious about how this vision came together.
37:19I'm not an interior designer.
37:21I just like houses and things.
37:23Obviously, Tom's really artistic, so he's been a great sounding board.
37:26I think spending time in here has made a massive difference
37:29because it took so much longer than expected.
37:31And I think if we'd have had a short amount of time,
37:33you'd have just done what your original idea was, perhaps.
37:36It is one of the things I do recommend to people
37:38when they buy a house, not to rush the decorating.
37:42I know.
37:43To live in it.
37:44Yeah, that makes sense.
37:45To spend time in it.
37:46Really understand the space and how you feel.
37:47Yeah.
37:48I think you get a much better job.
37:50Where can we go next?
37:51Well, you make your way up to the main bedroom.
37:54I'll lead the way.
37:55Oh, all right.
37:57Where once I appeared from behind a black curtain...
38:00Welcome!
38:01Hello!
38:03And Ranj discovered that ominous, unwelcome leak...
38:08...is a beautiful principal bedroom
38:10that's now a watertight cocoon of serenity and comfort.
38:15Wow!
38:16Eyes immediately drawn upwards.
38:18To the lights.
38:19That organic kind of feeling to it,
38:21and then you're looking out the windows you see in the country.
38:24And it makes you feel calm, doesn't it?
38:26Well, when we first kind of saw this place, I needed a change.
38:31And the universe said, here you go, plonk.
38:33Here's a giant 200-year-old watertight, I'll sort that one out.
38:37Now you can just be like...
38:38On the fifth floor, the dartboards and bar have made way for a TV room.
38:45And a reminder of what Ranj is here for.
38:52Topping it all off, the now-repaired roof is a luxurious spot to enjoy the panoramic view or to welcome company.
38:59But it's those cosy sofas in the ground floor reception that I really think are crying out for a road test.
39:14It feels heavenly to be sitting down with you in this living room.
39:19It's a pinch-me moment for me.
39:20I didn't grow up in environments like this.
39:23So to be able to say it's mine does feel just surreal.
39:30Two years ago to the day you first laid eyes on the tower.
39:35Yes.
39:36I was in awe of it when you showed us it the first time.
39:38And I feel like I've given something back to it.
39:41Cos it deserved it.
39:43It's got a story.
39:44And now, hopefully, it's got a new story.
39:46Even though it's taken a lot of work, every aspect's been thought out with, like, longevity in mind as well.
39:52When I got it, it's energy performance certificate rating was an E, which isn't very good.
39:58It's gone to a B.
40:00That's fantastic!
40:01Not only have you brought the house back to its grand state, but we've actually made it more energy efficient.
40:08And hopefully it's going to last for hundreds of years to come.
40:12What do you hope it gives to Ranj now? Cos he's given this house so much.
40:16A space to relax.
40:17He should, like, just take it all in and take a minute and just go, do you know what, I worked really hard to have that and be able to do that.
40:25And that's, that's you that's done, you know what I mean?
40:27Oh, that's really nice.
40:28You should be proud.
40:29Well, I am honoured to have been the first guest at the tower.
40:34I hear you've got some more guests coming.
40:36Yes, we're going to have a little party.
40:38It's been quite the journey, but Castle Ranj is fully transformed into a warm, welcoming, sociable space that truly reflects its host.
40:52Well, I couldn't come empty-handed, could I?
41:00I declare this tower officially opened, my friend.
41:03And all who sail in here.
41:05Woo!
41:07Now that was a cool pop.
41:10Cheers, everyone.
41:12Cheers.
41:13Thank you for coming.
41:14Cheers, cheers, cheers, cheers.
41:16Friends and neighbours can't help but be impressed.
41:19It's iconic.
41:20This location is iconic and it's absolutely blown me away.
41:22Exactly.
41:23But for the minute I've set foot in, it takes your breath away.
41:26We'll not be booking in.
41:27We will, we will.
41:28Now proudly the king of his castle, Ranj wants to raise more than a glass.
41:34Given that you are the reason we found this place, right?
41:37You are responsible for all of this.
41:39I thought maybe I should surprise you with something.
41:42Oh.
41:43I'm so with me.
41:44I'm getting nervous.
41:45You know we've got a flag, right?
41:47Yes.
41:48Well.
41:49Oh!
41:50I thought, why don't you raise our own one?
41:52Yeah!
41:53That is amazing!
41:55Would you like to raise it?
41:57No, I think it should be you.
41:58Go on.
41:59Let's do it together, come on.
42:00No, you pull, you pull.
42:01All right, here we go.
42:02I'm steady.
42:03I'm steady.
42:04There they blow!
42:05There they blow!
42:06There they blow!
42:07There they blow!
42:08There he is.
42:10There he is!
42:11There he is!
42:12There he is!
42:13There he is!
42:14Oh!
42:15Oh!
42:16Oh!
42:17Two years to the day!
42:20i'll leave them to it well it appears that an escape to the country really is just what the
42:35doctor ordered after years of handing out prescriptions to help others dr range finally
42:41took hours one spectacular dose of a mystery house surrounded by the countryside and the results
42:48well they speak for themselves because dr range really is living proof that nature's medicine
42:55works wonders if you would also like to escape to the country in england northern ireland scotland or
43:04wales remember you don't have to be famous so why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part
43:18so
43:25you
43:40you
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