Escape to the Chateau DIY is a Channel 4 reality television series which follows the stories of various British families who are renovating châteaux in France, or looking at ones to purchase. It is narrated by Dick Strawbridge who, along with his wife Angel Adoree, provides help and advice to some of these owners. The programme was spawned from the associated series Escape to the Chateau. For series 6 onwards, the programme was renamed Château DIY.
| Escape to the Chateau DIY | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Reality television |
| Narrated by | Dick Strawbridge (series 1–5) Adjoa Andoh (series 6) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 6 |
| No. of episodes | 95 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Production location | France |
| Running time | 46 minutes |
| Production company | Kindling Media |
| Original release | |
| Network | Channel 4 |
| Release | 9 April 2018 – present |
| Related | |
| Escape to the Chateau | |
Episode list
Series 1
| Number | Description | Initial Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dick and Angel provide advice to Johnny on buying a Chateau without it becoming a financial liability. | 9 April 2018 |
| 2 | Jonathan and Michael start their business by booking a wedding for American couple. Dick and Angel give assistance to Jonnie and Ashley in their continued search for a chateau. | 10 April 2018 |
| 3 | Philip and Angelina are visited by Dick, along with his engineering skills, who assists them to with building a new bridge for the chateau. At the same time, Jonnie and Ashley continue their hunt for a dream Chateau. | 11 April 2018 |
| 4 | Jonathan and Michael look for a treasure in the caves of their Chateau, in the form of wine that may have been stashed in World War II. Fiona begins renovations of her dining room. | 12 April 2018 |
| 5 | Jonathan and Michael get help from their investorsto keep their chateau renovation afloat, however the investor meeting about their goats does not go well. Philip and Angelina work to repair the toilet during their anniversary party. | 13 Apr 2018 |
| 6 | Mandy and Steve decide to construct a swimming pool for their chateau in the Dordogne. Michael asks for Angel’s help to do an afternoon tea for local residents. | 16 April 2018 |
| 7 | Jonathan and Michael first chateau booking for a wedding nears. The wedding preparation brings several problems; a problem with the sewer threatens all of the first floor. Steve and Mandy have problems with their new pool. | 17 April 2018 |
| 8 | The wedding guests for the series' first wedding arrive. Angel, Michael and Jonathan discuss tips on keeping wedding costs down, without sacrificing quality. The pool at Mandy and Steve's chateau continues to present problems. | 18 April 2018 |
| 9 | A new couple, Tim and Kys in the Dordogne, join the series. Colette and Paul design and introduce a new menu. Donna thinks that a cache of ancient armour has been hidden in the lake of her chateau. | 19 April 2018 |
| 10 | Dick and Donna continue to search for the armour hidden in the Chateau lake . Tim and Krys work at getting their attic renovations done in time. | 20 April 2018 |
| 11 | Dick's constructs a composting toilet to use at outdoor weddings, Billy and Gwendoline decide to rent the out for weddings, while Tanith and Clive try to curry favour with the locals. | 23 April 2018 |
| 12 | Billy needs to repoint the chimney, however, the task is a lot more difficult than it sounds due to the fact that he is afraid of heights. Meanwhile, time is running out for Marian and Tanya, plus Clive and Tanith get stuck into some hard labour. | 24 April 2018 |
| 13 | Billy, Gwendoline and Michael want to finally move into their chateau, however, the kitchen is still not finished. Paul and Karen from Chateau La Perriere devise a plan to get more bookings. Clive and Tanith try to bring a couple together. | 25 April 2018 |
| 14 | Billy and Gwendoline have a boar that's making a mess off the property, which needs hunting. Clive and Tanith utilise their garden by making a dish out of its content. Paul from Chateau La Perriere attempt to convert their water tower, to use it as an office. | 26 April 2018 |
| 15 | Billy and his dad do some DIY with levelling the patio. Paul and Karen from Chateau La Perriere finish their office conversion. Meanwhile, Clive inspects a strange nest in his orangery. | 27 April 2018 |
| 16 | Tim and Margreeth cook up a plan to offer 'gite timeshares', which is a form of holiday renting to increase income and returning customers. Nicole and Stephan choose to build a tearoom in their hall. Alison and Paul are adding to the chateau features by creating a 'wedding terrace'. | 30 April 2018 |
| 17 | Nicole asks Angel for some styling advice about wallpaper. Easter is coming and Tim and Margreeth are getting prepared. Meanwhile, Paul and Alison show off their new wedding terrace with a party. | 1 May 2018 |
| 18 | Tim and Margreeth concentration is on refurbishing a caravan in their park. Paul and Alison haven’t given up on the possibilities that secret tunnels exist on the property. | 2 May 2018 |
| 19 | Dick and Angel give some advice and plans for Tim and Margreeth’s business in hospitality. Stephanie gets ready for her single’s weekend event. Sophie and James search for needed funds to keep their chateau afloat. | 3 May 2018 |
| 20 | Tim and Margreeth get started on their new business venture with research. Stephanie's singles weekend event is here. Sophie and James hold a walking event near their chateau. | 4 May 2018 |
Series 2
| Number | Description | Initial Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dick Strawbridge helps Elaine and David in their search for the ideal chateau. Tim and Krys as they prepare to re-launch their business. | 18 February 2019 |
| 2 | Couple Tim and Krys work quickly to prepare the chateau for guests; Elaine and David make a visit to a former priory 17th-century in Normandy; and Steve and Angela work to improve a master bedroom. | 19 February 2019 |
| 3 | Belinda visits Dick and Angel's chateau where they learn about decoupage, and potential chateau owners Elaine and David make a visit a 19th-century chateau that has 18 rooms along with two gites. | 20 February 2019 |
| 4 | Dick gives Tim a lesson on how to stage a gourmet weekend; Angel and Krys discuss their chateau lives. Belinda and Lee welcome their first guests. | 21 February 2019 |
| 5 | Tim and Krys' first gastronomic weekend arrives; Belinda and Lee play host to their largest event so far, including dancing and a serious meal; Dick visits Angela and Steve to give them a hand. | 22 February 2019 |
| 6 | Tim and Rebecca get help from Dick with their dilapidated, no plumbing chateau. Edward and Anna plan for the 185 guests who will arrive at their fairy-tale chateau, but the outcome does not match the plan. | 25 February 2019 |
| 7 | Tim and Rebecca get their friends to help them with renovation work. Dick and Angel are hosts to a special wedding for their close friends. Motorcycle-obsessed couple Martin and Kim look for their perfect chateau. | 26 February 2019 |
| 8 | Tim and Rebecca fight to get the chateau in tip-top shape for a visting tour operator. Martin and Kim continue to search for their chateau, while Karen and Paul from Chateau La Perriere return with their children. | 27 February 2019 |
| 9 | Tim and Rebecca get a booking and then prepare for their first revenue guests. Martin and Kim take intensify their chateau search. Paul and Karen from Chateau La Perriere build a movie screening room. | 28 February 2019 |
| 10 | Anna and Edward put on another big wedding, but Edward's is of action. Dick visits Tim and Rebecca when the couple run into problems. Karen and Paul from Chateau La Perriere tries to do all they can to get their first wedding. | 1 March 2019 |
| 11 | Ongoing chateau work includes maintaining an elevated pool and a maze, and the preparations required for the fast-approaching season of weddings. | 4 March 2019 |
| 12 | Dick and Paul cut Vitrolite vintage tiles to be used in an art deco bathroom, while Abbie paints bedroom furniture. Julia visit more chateaux with her sisters. | 5 March 2019 |
| 13 | Mariam and Johnno move into their new chateau, along with their teenage son Monty, but discover there is no running water. The builders are at work in every room. | 6 March 2019 |
| 14 | Emma and Paul are desperate to fill the lake, to make it ready for the upcoming artists' retreat. Angel helps Abbie and Karen with money-saving tips for their new wedding business. | 7 March 2019 |
| 15 | Emma and Paul invite the mayor and local residents to see the work they've been doing on the face of their chateau. Paul designs, builds and fits two rather heavy balconies. | 8 March 2019 |
| 16 | Dick helps Erin and JB, new chateau owners. Tim and Margareeth begin another venture to make money. | 11 March 2019 |
| 17 | Dick works on his temperamental van. Erin and JB begin work on the honeymoon suite and the solarium/sun room at their chateau. Alison and Paul make a discovery. | 12 March 2019 |
| 18 | Erin and JB are hosts to a 90th birthday party. May, along with her family, work to turn a dilapidated outbuilding into a new yoga retreat. Tim and Margareeth welcome their wedding party. | 13 March 2019 |
| 19 | Dick helps Erin and JB to repair their rusted hinges. Wedding season ends at Tim and Margareeth's chateau. May and her son Jack prepare the new yoga room. | 14 March 2019 |
| 20 | Erin and JB launch their new chateau business by hosting a tea party. Charles, owner of Chateau Saint Loup, who was the inspiration for Puss in Boots, is introduced. | 15 March 2019 |
| 21 | The British artist Johnny, with his girlfriend Ashley, stage a plan to have artist workshops. Ben and Billie, both musicians, decide to put on foodie events. Nicole and Stefan are back with a new business idea. | 18 March 2019 |
| 22 | Nicole and Stefan start working on the old gatehouse. Billie makes a visit to Angel to gather ideas for natural designs. Johnny and Ashley speak with Dick about the best plan for working on their library. | 19 March 2019 |
| 23 | Dick helps restore Ben's traditional wine press. Johnny and Ashley finish the library ceiling with a nude painting of Ashley. Stefan has a last-minute dash to finish an apartment. | 20 March 2019 |
| 24 | It's National Monuments Day at Nicole and Stefan's castle and the gatehouse refurbishment is put on hold. Wendy and Marcus launch their wedding business with a raucous hen party. | 21 March 2019 |
| 25 | Nicole and Stefan continue their renovation of their historic chateau in Lucheux. Ben and Billie host their foodie evening with a pop-up restaurant in their orangery. | 22 March 2019 |
| 26 | Stephanie builds her mother an apartment in her 16th century chateau. Jayne and Steve prepare four themed bedrooms as part of their new business. | 25 March 2019 |
| 27 | Dick makes a visit to Stephanie to help her to get the bread oven working. Annabelle and Justin come back from their holiday only to find that the chateau has been infested by bees. Jayne and Steve finish work on the nature room. | 26 March 2019 |
| 28 | Angel helps Stephanie to add frames to her father's artwork. Justin and Annabelle mount their shutters. Jayne and Steve finish the small French room. | 27 March 2019 |
| 29 | Dick makes a visit to Stephanie's chateau to see the new boiler that will be used in her mother's apartment, but the news is not good and mum Isobel is displeased. Jayne and Steve fight with a huge four-poster bed. | 28 March 2019 |
| 30 | Stephanie finishes her mother's apartment. Jayne and Steve complete the Oriental Room, making them ready for paying guests. We meet Tim, Sasha and Lily, who operate a wedding business in their chateau. | 29 March 2019 |
Series 3
| Number | Description | Initial Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The first winter guests arrive at Tim and Rebecca's chateau. Amy and Marc are turning their chateau into a base for yoga retreats and as a B&B. Ben and Billie start renovating their final room, currently a junk room but was a small library. | 28 October 2019 |
| 2 | Amy and Marc need a sewage system and want to make an eco-friendly version. Tim and Rebecca are creating a first family suite. Ben and Billie show off their fossil rich landscape and visit Angel for advice regarding a display table. | 29 October 2019 |
| 3 | Dick shares ideas with Ben and Billie. Tim and Rebecca re-gravel their nearly kilometre-long driveway. Amy and Marc find a medieval fireplace behind a modern fire and wall. | 30 October 2019 |
| 4 | Amy and Marc work on a bathroom stuck in need of modernising or restoring. Angel provides Rebecca with advice and ideas for kitchen renovation. Ben and Billie need to be ready for Billie's brother's wedding. | 31 October 2019 |
| 5 | Ben and Billie welcome some sixty guests to their chateau. Tim and Rebecca are rationalising their two kitchens, but it takes a lot of work. Dorothy and Arthur, Dick and Angel's children house their geese. | 1 November 2019 |
| 6 | Lee and Belinda plan an event for Christmas. Stephanie and assistants plan to use the bread oven and an old range to prepare two birds for Christmas dinner. Jayne and Steve have much to prepare for a family and friend's soiree. | 4 November 2019 |
| 7 | After a storm affects Lee and Belinda's chateau, a hole in the roof means Lee must face his fears in order to save money. A testing wallpaper mural mounting project tests both Jayne and Steve. Stephanie enlists advice from Angel with reviving the new B&B en-suite. | 5 November 2019 |
| 8 | Stephanie's B&B requires assistance to get it finished. A first wedding booking looms for Lee and Belinda. Jayne and Steve send for their friends. | 6 November 2019 |
| 9 | Lee and Belinda work some more on their outdoor venue. Stephanie and friends get to restore their greenhouse. Jayne and Steve find a use for the disused orangery at one end of their chateau. | 7 November 2019 |
| 10 | Stephanie's renovations start in a stable to create an art studio. Lee installs a solar panel system from scraps to heat the outdoor swimming pool. Jayne creates a mural up a grand spiral staircase in advance of their first guests' arrival. | 8 November 2019 |
| 11 | Dick and Angel relive their laying electrical cable outside their chateau. Edward and Anna need to prepare for the new events season. New chateau owners Donna and Paul make the move into their new but dilapidated home. | 11 November 2019 |
| 12 | Adam's quest to buy a chateau takes him to the Pyrenees. Donna and Paul find scores of dead bees in one of their chimneys. Dick expounds on how to enjoy chateau life. | 12 November 2019 |
| 13 | Alex and Ithaca have inherited a 300-year-old chateau – but need to maintain it against all challenges. Dick's children Arthur and Dorothy rescue baby toads at their chateau. Edward and Anna have to negotiate with their guests regarding a downturn in the weather. | 13 November 2019 |
| 14 | Donna and Paul take on their most challenging project so far. Alex and Ithaca raise cash with garden events, particularly targeting the repair bill for their chateau's roof. | 14 November 2019 |
| 15 | The Strawbridges travel to the beaches at Saint-Malo. Donna and Paul have a grand opening for the new tea room at their chateau, and the mayor is invited. | 15 November 2019 |
Series 4
Series 4 commenced on 23 March 2020 and was scheduled to run to 30 episodes. Covid-19 interrupted filming and editing, so only 20 episodes were broadcast up to 17 April 2020.
| Number | Description | Initial Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fiona fights with the sub-zero weather. Tim and Sasha attempt to improve their income during the low-season. | 23 March 2020 |
| 2 | Erin and JB start their transformation of the chateau's ruined orangery, trying to turn it into a top-tier venue. | 24 March 2020 |
| 3 | Tim and Sasha work on a plan to use their chateau's empty bathing pool. | 25 March 2020 |
| 4 | Tim and Rebecca work to transform their aviary. Fiona begins work to renovate a luxury suite. | 26 March 2020 |
| 5 | Dick and Angel give a makeover to their magnificent five-metre-high staircase. | 27 March 2020 |
| 6 | Stephanie makes plans for her mother's wedding, while Debbie and Nigel start their new new French life. | 30 March 2020 |
| 7 | Over at Château de Brives, Sarah and George's builders unearth a secret room thqt they think could be hiding vintage cognac. | 31 March 2020 |
| 8 | Stephanie hosts her mother Isabelle's wedding at Château de la Lande. | 1 April 2020 |
| 9 | Debbie and Nigel's have their renovations halted by a last-minute unexpected booking. | 2 April 2020 |
| 10 | Sarah and George encounter problems, while Stephanie has unexpected scheduling difficulties. | 3 April 2020 |
| 11 | Mariam and Johnno build a French parterre garden. Emma and Paul begin their renovations. | 6 April 2020 |
| 12 | Phillip and Janet work madly on the bridal suite for their daughter Penny's wedding. | 7 April 2020 |
| 13 | Emma and Paul get ready for an important booking. Mariam and Johnno begin a transformation of their chateau's grand salon. | 8 April 2020 |
| 14 | Emma and Paul begin a new garden project. The costs of Karen and Paul's roof are beyond what was expected. | 9 April 2020 |
| 15 | Mariam and Johnno begin the restoration of the original bread oven. Angel discovers a unique cover for a radiator. | 10 April 2020 |
| 16 | Debbie and Simon are ready to move into the chateau; Wendy and Marcus's have their willpower tested. | 13 April 2020 |
| 17 | Wendy and Marcus work to renovate the barn, wet weather may cause problems for Belinda and Lee's upcoming fashion show. | 14 April 2020 |
| 18 | Wendy and Marcus get ready for a VIP visitor, while Amy and Marc discuss the plans for their new retreat centre. | 15 April 2020 |
| 19 | Ben and Billie begin building their glamping site. | 16 April 2020 |
| 20 | Amy and Marc work to get the barn and café ready, with an eye to the upcoming yoga classes. | 17 April 2020 |
Series 5
Series 5 commenced on 30 November 2020.[5]
| Number | Description | Initial Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clive, Karen, Ross and Abbie work to give the pool house a desperately needed makeover. Tim and Krys start work on their barn. Tim and Margreeth work to transform the tired library. | 30 November 2020 |
| 2 | Clive, Karen, Ross and Abbie being preparations for the season's first chateau wedding. Tim and Krys get rid of the unsightly render in their barn. Tim and Margreeth make a potager garden. | 1 December 2020 |
| 3 | Julia calls in her sister to help take on work at her new home. On a quest for self-sufficiency, Tim finishes the greenhouse as a sirprise for Margreeth's birthday. | 2 December 2020 |
| 4 | Julia starts renovating the dining room, with the hope that she will be able to host her family at Christmas. Joshua and Lee from Manchester search for the perfect château. | 3 December 2020 |
| 5 | Tim and Margreeth play host to their first fine dining and floristry weekend. Dick and Angel work to renovate the coach house's patio at their chateau. Julia finds out that her château has an ancient system of caves below it. | 4 December 2020 |
| 6 | Anna and Philipp receive the keys for their new château. Johnny and Ashley discuss their plans for their chateau's orangery. Pregnant Anna goes into labour, and Dick starts some dinosaur DIY. | 7 December 2020 |
| 7 | The English-French language problem almost causes Johnny and Ashley trouble. Anna and Philipp investigate their ancient well. Anna and Edward's start on their landscaping. | 8 December 2020 |
| 8 | After searching for six years, Iain and Kate may have found the perfect château. Johnny and Ashley leave some work until the last minute while launching their new art gallery. | 9 December 2020 |
| 9 | With winter coming, Anna and Philipp start work on the bedrooms for their girls. | 10 December 2020 |
| 10 | Mark, Becky and George try to see if they can use a well on their property as a water source for a gîte. Is Iain and Kate's search for a château finally over? | 11 December 2020 |
Series 6
In December 2020 Channel 4 ordered 60 new episodes from Spark Media Partners for broadcast in 2021 and 2022.[7] The programme was renamed Château DIY following the decision by the Strawbridges to withdraw from the DIY offshoot and retain the brand "Escape to the Château". Series 6 began airing on 27 September 2021 on Channel Four, presented by Adjoa Andoh.[8]
List of châteaux
- Abbaye de la Bussière
- Château Caillac
- Château de Bois Giraud
- Château de Bourneau
- Château de Brametourte
- Château de Brives
- Château de Dohem
- Château de Jalesnes
- Château de Joli Bois
- Château de la Basmaignée, Pays de la Loire
- Château de La Fare
- Château de la Motte-Husson
- Château de La Ruche
- Château de La Vigne
- Château de Lalande, Centre-Val de Loire
- Château de Lomenie
- Château de Lucheux
- Château de Montvason
- Château de Rosières
- Château de Saugé
- Château de Seguenville
- Château de St-Ferriol
- Château de Thuriés
- Château des Lys
- Château d'Humières
- Château du Bailleul
- Château du Doux, Limousin
- Château du Masgelier
- Château du Puits es Pratx
- Château Flore (Château d'Humeroeuille)
- Château Gioux
- Château Gonneville sur Honfleur ("Le Fleur"), Normandy
- Château La Briance
- Château La Grande Maison
- Château La Perriere
- Château Lagorce, Aquitaine
- Château Les Bernards
- Château Madame de Miremont
- Château Mareuil
- Château Mas du Pradié
- Château Monteil
- Domaine de La Salle, Charente Maritime
- Le Vieux Château, Basse-Normandie
References
- ^ "Escape to the Chateau: DIY - On Demand - All 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
- ^ "Escape to the Chateau: DIY - On Demand - All 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
- ^ "Escape to the Chateau: DIY - On Demand - All 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
- ^ "Escape to the Chateau: DIY - On Demand - All 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
- ^ "Escape to the Chateau: DIY - On Demand - All 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
- ^ "Escape to the Chateau: DIY - On Demand - All 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
- ^ House Beautiful: Chateau DIY: Channel 4 orders 60 new episodes to air in 2021 and 2022
- ^ Spark Media
- ^ "Finder – Chateau DIY".
- ^ [1]