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00:01Across France are thousands of breathtaking chateaux.
00:06Many fallen into rack and ruin.
00:09Oh my goodness.
00:11Now being brought back to life by plucky new owners.
00:17Careful! He doesn't have any idea of danger.
00:21They're taking on the challenge.
00:24These floorboards are gone. The only thing they're good for is the fire.
00:27To transform these once unloved buildings.
00:31Hands down, recommend a cherry picker to anyone.
00:34Back into incredible homes.
00:37Holy chandelier!
00:39This is just phenomenal.
00:41And businesses.
00:43Thank you so much. You're welcome.
00:46There'll be successes.
00:47I'm a bit giddy. Giddy? Giddy?
00:51And setbacks.
00:52Oh my God, what's that? It's a bat.
00:54But however hard the going gets.
00:58Oh my poor patio.
00:59These intrepid DIYers.
01:02No, not on the...
01:03I know, I know.
01:05Get to live the dream.
01:08As kings and queens of their very own castle.
01:15Today.
01:17That must be Darren.
01:18You said it was number nine.
01:20One couple take on a colossal project.
01:24Look at our list.
01:25We could be here forever just putting one unit together.
01:28These two chatelins face an ambitious new challenge.
01:33Did I mention I'm terrible at DIY?
01:35Which is why you are putting little toy houses together whilst I do the complex painting jobs.
01:41And tempers flare for this pair.
01:44I'm going to paint it there. If you don't like it, you can paint it again yourself.
01:54In the beautiful region of Brittany in northwest France lies the dilapidated Moulin du Cuenon.
02:02This historic building has parts dating back to the 13th century and has been neglected for over 40 years.
02:13Spread over five floors, this crumbling former flour mill used to store tons of grain and comes with its own
02:22gite.
02:25Taking on the challenge of bringing the property back to life are experienced chateau renovators Donna and Paul.
02:35Ready?
02:36Yep.
02:36Un, deux, trois.
02:39It's going to be a home and being in Brittany it means we are far closer to the UK so
02:46our families can come across and spend time here so that's really important to us as well.
02:51Although they don't want to come across at the moment because they're frightened they might get a job, which they
02:55would.
02:56Yeah, that's too much work for them at the moment.
03:03Located 30 miles southeast of Saint-Malo, Donna and Paul bought the property for under £100,000 in 2024
03:15and have so far transformed the derelict gite into a habitable place to temporarily live.
03:26The last time we saw them, they began creating a utility room in the main building.
03:33We do want to be in the mill as soon as possible, even though we will be camping in it.
03:37So if we use that utility area as a kitchen for now, it'll be fine, won't it?
03:43Yep.
03:44So far, they've ripped out the old decaying floorboards.
03:49I'm going to throw you this tape.
03:54Oh, you are kidding me.
03:57And despite a mishap with the tape measure, successfully installed a brand new floor.
04:04I can't get over how big it looks now.
04:07Looks good?
04:08Looks very good.
04:12Today, with the foundations in place, Donna has everything else meticulously planned.
04:20So I'm going to have the dishwasher here.
04:24Yep.
04:24Next to the sink.
04:30So dishwasher there.
04:32Sockets next.
04:33Yep.
04:33Yep.
04:34So I've got my blue marker.
04:38So if I put a double here.
04:42Yep.
04:43So another double there.
04:44Okay.
04:45The main issue is that obviously the wall's not straight by any means, but that's kind of Paul's issue as
04:50normal.
04:52I just kind of talk about the finished result.
04:56Despite being given the short straw again, experienced builder Paul loves a challenge.
05:04I'm just creating some strips so we can then glue them to the wall and take out the belly.
05:11Just hold it there.
05:12Yep.
05:29It does need to be perfect then.
05:32Starting about here?
05:34Yeah, you need to push it in a lot.
05:36Keep going, still see the line.
05:38OK.
05:39OK.
05:40OK.
05:42We've taken out the worst of the debt which is at the top of the wall.
05:45So we've obviously put some strips of board on and we've dabbed it onto the wall.
05:49We're ready to start plasterboarding now.
05:59Today's the start of the excitement.
06:01This is where we start to create what the rooms are going to look like.
06:05I've been planning each and every room in my head and on paper for so many months now.
06:11I can already see where the units are going to go and what equipment's going to go in here
06:16and how it's going to be used.
06:19I kind of really want to keep Paul focused on this room now so I can kind of get it
06:23done.
06:34That's kind of the miracle cover, isn't it?
06:37It hides all of the rubbish.
06:39Yeah.
06:41It's surprising how quick it kind of comes together, doesn't it?
06:58I think we made a good start.
06:59We managed to get, what, three, four boards up.
07:01Yeah.
07:02And then the first fix is electrics, which is a bit of a bonus.
07:04And then once we get this wall done, then we can get the ceiling and then...
07:07Yeah.
07:08And then I'll be done.
07:09Woo-hoo!
07:12Donna and Paul have made a good start.
07:16But with the fixtures to add, walls to finish and a kitchen to install, they won't be moving
07:23in any time soon.
07:35In the stunning Loire Valley in central France lies the magical Chateau de la Lende.
07:44Dating back to the 16th century, this majestic turreted property comprises 50 flamboyantly decorated rooms and comes with over 60
07:58acres, including a formal courtyard and its own wedding chapel.
08:07The lucky owner is former opera singer Stephanie, who lives here with fiancee Philip.
08:15Ever since I was a little girl, I had desperately wanted to live in a chateau.
08:19The exterior is so perfect, with the sort of fairytale towers as well.
08:25I think there's something special in the area in a chateau.
08:27All those layers of history just attracts wonderful people.
08:30I even found love because of this chateau.
08:32My fiancee arrived as a volunteer to help out here and we fell in love.
08:36So, La Lende's doing most of the work.
08:43Located 60 miles from the city of Limoges, Stephanie bought the chateau with a friend in 2005 for £600,000
08:54and runs it as a thriving luxury B&B business.
09:00All right, here we go.
09:02And when we saw them last summer, they upgraded the tired, cluttered kitchen corridor.
09:10I love it. It looks as though it's always been there.
09:14By transforming it into an inviting space to welcome friends and family.
09:21Oh, it's delightful.
09:25Oh, that is lovely.
09:27You see, there's a spot for your hat.
09:28Yes, it's wonderful.
09:30How lovely.
09:35Today, with a new season almost upon them, Stephanie and Philip are turning their attention to the outside,
09:42where they want to upgrade and start reusing their tired, chateau-sized chicken coop.
09:49It feels so weird not having chickens here because we've had chickens for the last 20 years.
09:53They were always really safe because they're in the walled garden.
09:55And then suddenly, I don't know how, the fox has worked out how to get into the walled garden until
10:00we built Chicken Fort Knox, which has been done.
10:04But I feel that it's not up to chicken standards yet.
10:08It needs a bit of blinging up.
10:09The chicken run may be safe and secure, but the huge hen house hasn't been touched in years.
10:17And Stephanie and Philip have lots of grand ideas.
10:23I'm going to paint the doors, the windows.
10:25Good.
10:25You've got the nesting boxes.
10:26I mean, this is what we actually have to have for them.
10:28But then I'm thinking curtains.
10:31That'd be adorable.
10:33OK, let's get this blinged up.
10:37This is not the way to mix paint, but I can't be bothered to go into the chateau to get
10:41something to mix it with.
10:42So I found a twig on the ground.
10:44We are going for a perfect rustic finish, though.
10:53I am not very good at painting.
10:55I'm very impatient.
10:57The only thing I'm quite good at is freehand edging.
11:01And you go over anyway.
11:03I never go over the lines.
11:06Actually, Philip.
11:08How does one always have spare parts?
11:11Did I mention I'm terrible at DIY?
11:14All I'm saying, Philip, is that we've divided the jobs according to skill levels,
11:19which is why you are putting little toy houses together whilst I do the complex painting jobs.
11:24If you were defining this amongst our skill level, then I would definitely not be doing this.
11:32I think that having chickens, if you've got any sort of nice outdoor space,
11:36it just brings the whole home to life.
11:39To be able to go and get your own eggs in the morning,
11:40once you're used to that, it's really hard to go back.
11:42I love the Polish ones with the big hairdos
11:45and the ones with the big fluffy feet as well, different colours,
11:49and also the ones that lay pale blue eggs.
11:52They are very, very cool.
11:53But we'll see what we can find.
11:57There we go.
11:59The coop may be coming together.
12:02I think it's getting there.
12:03Fit for the world's poshest chickens.
12:05But it could take a good while to turn it into the poultry palace
12:11Stephanie and Philip are hoping for.
12:19Coming up, Donna and Paul's problems start to mount.
12:23It doesn't mention any shelves and we don't seem to have any fixings.
12:28And this couple take on a fragile restoration project.
12:33It doesn't look very healthy, does it?
12:35I think it's pretty darn rotten.
12:44In the region of Occitanie in the south of France is the delightful Château de la Fard.
12:53Set in a charming woodland, the property boasts 35 rooms and is built around an impressive 12th century tower.
13:05It's home to Australian born Janet and husband Philip, a former senior coachman at Buckingham Palace, who are gradually restoring
13:17it to its former glory.
13:20We are essentially preserving French history.
13:24So many local people who have travelled up and down this road for the last 30, 40, 50 years,
13:30now write to us and say, the Château is coming back to life.
13:35And I think it looks truly magical.
13:42Located near the city of Nîmes, Janet and Philip bought the Château in 2012 for £318,000.
13:52And last summer, transformed the whole of the derelict tower suite into an elegant guest apartment.
14:01Complete with an impressive kitchen diner.
14:06And stylish salon.
14:10What we've managed to achieve here, I think is incredible, considering what we started with.
14:16I'm actually really excited by it.
14:18Hmm.
14:20This year, before the new season starts, they're planning a lavish afternoon tea party for their friends.
14:28And want to restore the tired dining room, which hasn't been touched in over a century.
14:37What makes this dining room unique is that it has a beautiful barrel vaulted ceiling, which is hand painted.
14:43We want to preserve it. It's a bit of a specialist job.
14:47That's one of the big challenges.
14:49With only a week to make the ceiling shine, they don't have much time.
14:55Now for the test a few patches and see if I can make it work.
15:01Janet's just hoping she's chosen the right colours to match.
15:06This is where I really wish I was an artist, but I knew about paint tones.
15:13So this will be a first coat.
15:15And then there'll be obviously another layer.
15:18I've basically got to go the whole way round and patch things up.
15:24To think that I'm restoring anything that is part of the heart and soul of this chateau is a fantastic
15:31feeling.
15:37I'm actually pretty happy with the colour match.
15:43It looks really good.
15:46Absolutely it is, yeah. Absolutely.
15:49Shall we have a go at this skirting here?
15:53Yeah.
15:54The original skirting boards are decaying and all need to be replaced.
16:01OK, you can do the first blow.
16:03I'm hoping that it comes off.
16:07Oh, gee, it's not very...
16:09OK, I reckon I can do that.
16:13Probably just pull it now.
16:15Wow, Phil.
16:16Did I do a good job or what?
16:20It doesn't look very healthy, does it?
16:23In actual fact, I think it's pretty darn rotten.
16:30Look, one fell blow.
16:32This is your sort of job, isn't it?
16:35Absolutely.
16:40It's a very satisfying mess.
16:45Having made an initial impact, handyman Philip wants to begin creating new ones.
16:52I've done this technique before, so it's worked fine.
16:58I'm going to glue this piece of timber onto here and screw it on to mimic the skirting that was
17:04there before.
17:05What could go wrong?
17:08It's so far running like clockwork, but with the whole room to restore, dress and furnish, Janet and Philip just
17:18have to hope they're not cutting things fine.
17:33In Brittany, at Moulin du Quenon, the plasterboarding in Donna and Paul's utility room is gradually progressing.
17:43The back wall is complete and the ceiling is almost done.
17:53So you're going to, what, continue with the beam?
17:56Yeah.
17:56I've got three quarts of it done.
17:58I need to do the last section there.
18:00Put at least another sheet on, then I can set the slight point.
18:04OK.
18:05There's a lovely oak beam with some kind of old metal hooks it's sat on, isn't it?
18:10Yeah.
18:10So I'm actually restoring that because it would be such a crime to kind of cover that up.
18:18While Paul carries on with the new ceiling, Donna's eager to finish off her mini restoration project.
18:29We're obviously trying to, you know, retain as much of the character of the building as possible and against, you
18:36know, a brand new kitchen.
18:38Just keep that history in this room.
18:46I can't see actually any holes in it, like wormholes, you know?
18:50Well, it's oak.
18:51It's the big gnashers to chew through that.
18:53Yeah, it's in great condition.
18:55I'm really pleased with it.
18:56It looks really pretty.
18:58In the hope of preserving it for centuries to come, Donna wants to give it a new layer of protection.
19:06I'm using one of my favourite products, which is beeswax.
19:11Previously I've used it on slate and things like that, and it really brings kind of the luster back into
19:17the material.
19:18I'm looking forward to this bit. This is the best bit.
19:32Look at that!
19:35All this indentations are showing, and the different colours of the wood are coming out, so it's looking really pretty.
19:44What do you think, Paul?
19:47Yeah, it looks great. Taking years off it, like a facelift.
19:54With Paul almost done with the plasterboards, their utility room is inching a little closer.
20:08You can see where areas are starting to kind of dry in, so over the next few days we'll kind
20:13of see how it goes.
20:14But otherwise I'm really, really pleased with it.
20:17It's a case of so far, so good. But with the fittings still to install, kitchen units to build, and
20:26the room to decorate, they're set to be busy bees for a good while yet.
20:40In central France, at Chateau Lalande, it's all systems go.
20:48Stephanie has almost finished freshening up the chicken coop, and Philip's eager to add his own stamp.
20:57Look, Steph.
20:58In the form of a royal male bird box.
21:01Oh, that is adorable!
21:04Do you think they're going to have a lot of correspondence?
21:06It's for egg spreads delivery.
21:08So where are you thinking?
21:09Well, either here, but I think it's a bit cramped maybe.
21:13Yeah, it's cramped.
21:13So then, here?
21:15I love it. And also, the curtains I'm making are red gingham.
21:23The moment of truth.
21:29That is absolutely adorable.
21:32Isn't that cute?
21:33Adorable.
21:34I love it. It's perfect. It's perfect.
21:36It'll look really good with the curtains.
21:38Yeah.
21:39Their unique vision is taking shape, and Stephanie has come up with a novel way of creating the curtains.
21:47Here I've got a beautiful gingham tablecloth.
21:51I'm just going to cut it in half along here.
21:54That will give me two panels.
21:56And then, if I just hem this edge, and then along the top, make a little pocket that can go
22:04over the wire above the window.
22:06It's going to be the simplest sort of curtain you can possibly make, but chickens love simplicity.
22:14We are all so excited about getting chickens.
22:17There's nothing nicer than walking out to the vegetable garden, collecting some eggs,
22:21maybe even picking a bit of sorrel on your way back in and making a quick sorrel omelette.
22:25It's just, it's heaven.
22:33There we go.
22:35With the curtains complete, they just need trying out for size.
22:41I made it far longer than we need so that we can just adjust it in place.
22:46It looks so pretty.
22:47Do you think so?
22:48Mm-hmm.
22:50Right.
22:51Okay, I think it's done.
22:52Look, darling.
22:53Look at that.
22:54It looks really pretty.
22:55They are amazing.
22:57I love it.
22:58Let's go and see that side.
23:02Oh, that looks really cute.
23:04It's perfect.
23:05Just a few little things and we're done.
23:06We're nearly there.
23:11And that's my way of doing it.
23:14All right.
23:16Well, good luck spreading that.
23:17Come on.
23:18This is the fun bit, Philip.
23:21There we go.
23:22Done.
23:24There.
23:25Is that safe?
23:26Yeah, that's safe.
23:27That's solid.
23:28And now the finishing touch in here.
23:31I have been saving this portrait that someone sent of me.
23:36Really, it looks a little bit like Marie Antoinette here.
23:39And it made me think, the minute I saw it, of Marie Antoinette's Petit Amour,
23:43the little toy farm that she had.
23:45And so I've been saving it because we've been looking forward to this chicken coop for years.
23:49And now that we have it, she is going to have pride of place in here,
23:54watching over the chickens so that she can make sure that they are laying in the morning.
24:00I am so happy with the result.
24:02I think it is the cutest chicken coop in the world.
24:04I'm going to put that out there.
24:05It's adorable.
24:06And I can't wait to get the chickens tomorrow.
24:09It's only taken them a couple of hours to transform this space.
24:13And with their chateau coop now fully blinged up, all that's left is for their chickens to check in.
24:26Still to come, Donna and Paul get tied in knots.
24:31It's trial and error until we get used to the poet instructions.
24:35And this chateau pair take on a risky new challenge.
24:38I wish I could help, Lee, but I can't, can I really?
24:50In the south of France, at Chateau de la Farre...
24:54I think we're almost there.
24:55Philip and Janet are making great strides restoring their dining room.
25:01For an afternoon tea party, they're hosting for friends.
25:06Philip never ceases to amaze me with what he can do.
25:10He can make it look original.
25:15Now we're finished.
25:18Looks good.
25:22With the new skirting boards in place and the vaulted ceiling fully repaired,
25:29today's challenge is to spruce up its original rose.
25:34You can see it's too white.
25:37And it doesn't gel well with the rest of the colours in the roof.
25:41If it was similar to the colour there, the light colour there,
25:45that would be good, I think.
25:46OK, Mr Clever Clogs, can you reproduce that for me then?
25:50No, but that's where you come in.
25:52Thanks, darling.
25:54With such a subtle change of colour,
25:57Janet is hoping her leftover paint will be enough to please Philip.
26:03This just looks creamy white.
26:06But I know it's what I painted the walls
26:08and it's definitely got sort of a bit of a buttery colour to it.
26:13I think it needs to be a bit darker.
26:17A little bit of acrylic to deepen it slightly.
26:20I might just put a bit on there and just see if I can even see a difference.
26:29Doesn't look any different whatsoever.
26:31That looks almost exactly the same.
26:36Well, I've mixed what I think is the perfect colour.
26:40That looks pretty good, actually.
26:42Which bit have I painted then?
26:45You haven't painted any yet.
26:46It's a trick question, isn't it?
26:48No, it wasn't a trick question.
26:50I've painted a little bit.
26:52Oh, around the outside you have.
26:53Just a little bit.
26:54It's a fraction more creamy.
26:56But that's okay.
26:57It's not stark white.
26:58Well, it wasn't stark white to start with.
27:00I am going to deepen it just slightly.
27:02Okay.
27:03Because I'm not getting this thing done then you saying you don't like it.
27:07I need more yellow in it.
27:11I think that's just got a shade more depth to it.
27:20This is more like a creamy putty colour.
27:23I prefer the colour you put on firstly from the big paint tin.
27:28That colour.
27:29Not this beautiful, luxurious colour that I mixed up.
27:32Correct.
27:34Yeah.
27:34Great.
27:36This is the colour I think is best.
27:38Yeah.
27:39I'm going to paint it that.
27:40If you don't like it, you can paint it again yourself.
27:45Having eventually won the battle, Janet can only hope Philip will come around to her way of thinking.
28:01Taking on the task of maintaining and restoring French Chateau is not always for the faint hearted.
28:09Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
28:10I'm afraid I can't even look at it now.
28:13The sheer scale of these colossal castles often means even the simplest of jobs take a lot of effort.
28:22See the size of this place and that's the size of my brush.
28:26And in the Vienne region at Chateau Marais, owner Lee has the epic challenge of repairing the huge front doorbell.
28:37The bell was actually up there and it was working at one point.
28:41The arm that went through had stopped rotating like this, which is what causes the bell to swing.
28:46And the reason was, you can see the wood is actually completely rotten.
28:50I'm 90% sure what I'm going to do is going to be okay.
28:54But until it's actually up there and it's working, you don't know.
28:59It's a complex task, which Lee has spent weeks carefully planning.
29:05What I'm going to do is take this upper ladder and the idea is that the bell fits in this
29:12hole.
29:14This bolt goes through the hole and straight through the bell.
29:19The chain hangs there and as the chain pulls, this does that.
29:25And the bell is captured in here so the bell also swings with it and rings.
29:30That's the hope.
29:32While Lee fine-tunes his master plan,
29:36in the kitchen, wife Belinda is planning a surprise treat
29:41by making him one of his favourite puddings using peaches picked last year.
29:48I'm going to make a sort of peachy puree with them
29:51and then I'm going to make some ice cream for dessert.
29:54I'm just trying to take some of the skins off these
29:56because the skins are quite tough.
30:00So the peaches came from a neighbour who had an enormous glut.
30:04It took as many as I possibly could.
30:11With the fruit skinned and chopped,
30:14Belinda adds in sugar, lemon zest and juice.
30:19Put that in.
30:21And that shouldn't need much more.
30:23We'll just make a nice peach compote.
30:26While the mixture is left to simmer,
30:28she has a cunning plan for the ice cream.
30:32This is a real cheats ice cream, making it with condensed milk,
30:35which is a very easy way of doing it.
30:37No eggs, no faffing about.
30:40I've got a teaspoon of vanilla and some salt.
30:45After adding double cream, it's all whisked together,
30:50ready to pour into the ice cream maker.
30:54It's looking good, isn't it?
30:56Looking good!
30:58With everything running smoothly,
31:01Lee hopes installing the bell will be just as simple.
31:07I'm just now concentrating on just getting this piece done
31:13before I start worrying about how I'm going to get the bell up here.
31:17It's so heavy.
31:20There you go.
31:21That's not going to go anywhere.
31:23Yeah.
31:25With framework in place...
31:28Let's get this baby up there.
31:31..it's the moment of truth.
31:35I wish I could help, Lee, but...
31:38I can't, can I really?
31:44I think I've got it.
31:46I've just got to bolt this up now.
31:48That was a feat of engineering.
31:51Do you know what?
31:52Last week I couldn't spell engineer and now I are one.
31:56That's really good, Lee.
31:58I'm really impressed.
31:59Well done. Fantastic.
32:02All that's left is to try it out.
32:06Give it a tug.
32:07Is anybody home?
32:09Oh!
32:11Go on, give it a good tug again.
32:14Oh!
32:19The bell has tolled and hopefully that'll last for another 300 years now.
32:26I've actually had a lot of fun and enjoyed it.
32:28And I'm a bit worried because I may have invented something
32:31that enables Belinda to call me at will.
32:34Now she knows that there's a bell there and I'm going to hear the bell.
32:38That's a really good idea.
32:39Yeah, no, it's not a good idea.
32:41It's been a job well done and it definitely deserves a tasty treat.
32:49Wonderful.
32:51And no matter how the bell is used in the future, one thing is for sure.
32:57It will be ringing proudly for many years to come.
33:10In Brittany in North West France, Donna and Paul have a new mission.
33:18With their utility room taking shape, today they want to start constructing the shelving units.
33:27There's no instructions. There must be another path to it.
33:30Of course there is. I need the shelves and side bits and a kit of parts.
33:36Despite being experienced builders and having already dismantled most of the building,
33:42they're struggling with the flat pack guidelines.
33:4613 must be the end panel.
33:48That's this end.
33:49Yeah, I was thinking it was...
33:50That must be their end.
33:52No.
33:53She said it was number nine.
33:54That's going here.
33:56But they're all the same.
33:58They're all cupboards.
34:02So that's the other side.
34:04I'll just have a look and find out which one fits.
34:08Realising they're missing the shelves...
34:11Just got to be one of these.
34:13..it's back to the drawing board.
34:17There are drawers.
34:20Don't make it easy, do they?
34:22We should have some shelves.
34:23But it doesn't mention any shelves.
34:27And we don't seem to have any fixings.
34:32There's four of them here.
34:34That's them.
34:36Underneath the sink.
34:38With the puzzle finally solved,
34:41the much bigger challenge...
34:43My God.
34:44..is to figure out how to put the unit together.
34:49We're all less.
34:50It's like we could be here forever just putting one unit together.
34:56G's are either end.
34:58And then F in there, F there.
35:01Put them in.
35:03You'll need to hammer them.
35:08Is there a...
35:10..up or down, or...?
35:13Erm...
35:14Possibly.
35:15Cos this is the back, yeah?
35:17Yeah, but which is the top?
35:18Is it this one or the other one?
35:20Cos there's the finished side on that.
35:21Did you see the map?
35:24It's trial and error on this first one
35:26until we get used to, er...
35:28..kind of...
35:29..the poet instructions.
35:34Despite a few teething problems,
35:37the battle is almost won.
35:41This back could come to me a bit more.
35:48Got it?
35:49Yeah.
35:50Right.
35:56Yay!
35:57Of course it's tall, isn't it?
36:00You're going to need a step ladder to get up there.
36:01I will, I'll need a little pair of ladders.
36:03I'll put all the expensive stuff at the back so you can't reach it.
36:06A roll of chocolate up there.
36:08Shall we put it roughly where it's going to go?
36:09Yeah.
36:11It may have proved more complicated than they'd hoped,
36:15but at least it takes them another step closer to moving in.
36:21You can now kind of get a feel of what it's going to look like.
36:25I would love to be actually in the mail, probably by summer.
36:29Hopefully.
36:30Which one?
36:32I always think a deadline's good to aim for.
36:36They're gradually heading in the right direction.
36:39But with more units to build,
36:42walls to paint and fixtures to install,
36:46Donna's dream is still a long way off.
36:55Coming up, the alarm bell rings for Stephanie.
36:59I'm getting quite panicky. I haven't seen any chickens.
37:01I'm sure they'll be around.
37:02And it's showtime for Janet and Philip.
37:05Ladies and gentlemen, would you come into the Salamanger, s'il vous plaît?
37:17In the stunning Loire Valley in central France,
37:22it's a big moment for Stephanie and Philip,
37:25as today, with their blinged up chicken coop complete,
37:29they're finally hoping to add some feathered friends.
37:35We're about to go to the market in Saint-Houtte,
37:37which is a local market here, which actually we've never been to.
37:40We're looking for fluffy feet.
37:42Fluffy hairs.
37:43Fluffy heads.
37:44Amazing, like little wigs.
37:45Also, personality.
37:47Very important in a chicken.
37:48You don't want a chicken without personality?
37:50No.
37:56I'm so excited.
37:57Me too.
37:58Finally have chickens again.
38:00They're heading just 20 miles away, where for more than a century,
38:05stallholders gather weekly from all over the region.
38:10I love herbs.
38:11I love vegetables.
38:12But where are the chickens?
38:13I'm getting quite panicked.
38:14I haven't seen any chickens.
38:15I'm sure they'll be around.
38:17Despite its vast size, it doesn't take long to seek them out.
38:24Hello.
38:26They're perfect.
38:27Absolutely adorable.
38:29You have the silkies.
38:32Yes.
38:33I don't know what this is.
38:36A viandote.
38:37A viandote.
38:38It's only a poule.
38:40Yes.
38:40It's not a coche.
38:41It's important.
38:42Yes.
38:43And this one?
38:44It's a pecan.
38:46A pecan mille fleur.
38:48It's green or green.
38:50It's a pecan.
38:51But they're absolutely adorable.
38:53I think I'd like to take them all, if it's possible.
38:56I bought all the chickens.
38:58But come on, they are the cutest chickens on the planet.
39:01And there's only nine of them.
39:03And we did say ten was our max.
39:05We've got silkies.
39:06We've got a viandote.
39:08She's tiny and adorable.
39:10We've got two leg horns, which apparently lay white eggshelled eggs,
39:16which is going to be gorgeous.
39:17And we also have three pekings.
39:19They're perfect.
39:25Having sealed the deal, and with the chickens safely boxed up...
39:31Voilà.
39:32Merci beaucoup.
39:33...it's back to the chateau, to introduce them to their extravagant new abode.
39:40This is it, ladies.
39:42Welcome home.
39:45What do you think of them?
39:47They're adorable.
39:49I'm so happy.
39:51The chateau is complete again.
39:54We have to leave them in there for 24 hours before we can open the door to their run,
39:58so they learn to roost in there.
40:00And that means that in future, when we open the door to their run,
40:03they'll automatically come back at night.
40:05They'll know it's their home.
40:06And I think, well, in a few days' time, we might start to get our first egg.
40:11With the chickens already starting to settle, it's been a seamless transition to a successful project.
40:19And with Stephanie and Philip having a new family to look after, it's another feather in their chateau cap.
40:37In the region of Occitanie in the south of France...
40:41I think it looks good.
40:43It now matches the tones of the rest of the roof.
40:47...Janet's finally won over Philip after repainting the ceiling rose in the dining room.
40:53There was only a small disagreement about the colour.
40:58And luckily, for my sake, I agreed with my wife.
41:03Because, of course, I was right.
41:05Which is just as well as their afternoon tea party starts in a couple of hours.
41:12And they still need to dress the room.
41:15OK. Yep.
41:18Which they want to fill with second-hand antique treasures
41:22and nods to their past royal working life.
41:26These are actually really sweet little commemorative plates
41:29of both the Queen's 90th birthday and the Diamond Jubilee.
41:34They were gifts to us as staff members from the Queen.
41:37And we cherish them.
41:41This actually happens to be wedding cake from William and Catherine's wedding.
41:48And this is actually a piece of cake from the Queen and Prince Philip's 60th wedding anniversary.
41:56So they're just really, for us, wonderful mementos of our life at the palace.
42:03It's a lovely personal touch.
42:06And a Chateau afternoon tea party wouldn't be complete
42:11without some mouth-watering delicacies befitting kings and queens.
42:19That looks good.
42:23Just a week ago, their dining room was dark, dire, and dated,
42:29with rotten skirting boards and peeling paint.
42:36Now, it's been transformed into a light, bright, and inviting space to eat,
42:44with freshly painted walls and a fully restored vaulted ceiling,
42:50bringing back the charm and character.
42:52With the addition of unique furnishings, special memories,
42:58and a sumptuous table display,
43:02making it the perfect setting to host any party.
43:08With the guests arriving, it's time to find out if their hard work has paid off.
43:15Ladies and gentlemen, would you come into the Salamanger, s'il vous plaît?
43:20Wow!
43:22Come in.
43:23Come right in.
43:24Come in.
43:25What do you think?
43:27It's super, so much lighter, isn't it?
43:30So the roof has been repaired.
43:32Skirting was rotten, so we've replaced all the skirting as well.
43:36Oh!
43:38Marvelous!
43:39Oh!
43:40Incredible!
43:53The room has been restored perfectly.
43:58We are very happy you're here.
44:00We're really pleased with the result.
44:03So let's just raise a cup of tea, in a very English fashion, to Restoration.
44:10Cheers!
44:12I am very, very proud.
44:16To see the response from the people there, just makes it all great.
44:20The main aim for us was to retain the dining room's authenticity.
44:25We just wanted to bring it back to life.
44:27Now I feel like that dining room is shining again.
44:30Hmm.
44:31It's proved to be a triumph, and with a new season almost upon them, Janet and Philip have all the
44:40ingredients for another successful year.
44:48Next time.
44:50So you'll have to be very careful when you dig in.
44:53One couple are in for a shock.
44:55It can be lethal when you've got electric, so I'll have to be careful and just make sure I don't
44:59hit any power lines.
45:01Donna and Paul are on the brink of a breakthrough.
45:04For us, it's the first room that we'll complete.
45:07It's the start of a new life for us.
45:10It's really nice down here though, isn't it?
45:12Yeah.
45:12And two new Chatelain, strike gold.
45:15We have eleven and a half thousand bottles of this.
45:42I can't wait.
45:46Oh, it's great, and we have a new passion.
45:48I'm glad I need to give a little opportunity.
45:48Bye.
45:48Bye.
45:48Bye.
45:49Bye.
45:49Bye.
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