Chateau DIY
Château DIY (known as Escape to the Château DIY until 2020) 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 was narrated by Dick Strawbridge who, along with his wife Angel Adoree, provides help and advice to some of these owners until 2020. The programme was spawned from the associated series Escape to the Chateau. For 2021 onwards, the programme was renamed Château DIY with new narrator Adjoa Andoh.
Chateau DIY | |
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Also known as | Escape To The Chateau DIY (2018-2020) |
Genre | Reality television |
Narrated by | Dick Strawbridge (2018-2020) Adjoa Andoh (2021-) |
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 |
Release | |
Original network | Channel 4 |
Original release | 9 April 2018 – present |
Related | |
Escape to the Chateau |
Episode list
Series 1
Number | Description | Initial air date |
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1 | Dick and Angel provide advice to Johnny on buying a château without it becoming a financial liability. | 9 April 2018 |
2 | Jonathan and Michael start their business by booking a wedding for an American couple. Dick and Angel give assistance to Jonnie and Ashley in their continued search for a château. | 10 April 2018 |
3 | Philip and Angelina are visited by Dick, along with his engineering skills, who assists them with building a new bridge for the château. At the same time, Jonnie and Ashley continue their hunt for a dream château. | 11 April 2018 |
4 | Jonathan and Michael look for a treasure in the caves of their château, 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 investors to keep their château 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 château in the Dordogne. Michael asks for Angel's help to do an afternoon tea for local residents. | 16 April 2018 |
7 | Jonathan and Michael's first château booking for a wedding nears. The wedding preparation brings several problems; an issue 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 château 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 château. | 19 April 2018 |
10 | Dick and Donna continue to search for the armour hidden in the château lake. Tim and Krys work at getting their attic renovations done in time. | 20 April 2018 |
11 | Dick constructs a composting toilet to use at outdoor weddings. Billy and Gwendoline decide to rent their château 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 château, however, the kitchen is still not finished. Paul and Karen from Château 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 is making a mess of the property, which needs hunting. Clive and Tanith utilise their garden by making a dish out of its contents. Paul from Château 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 Château 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 'gîte 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 château 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's concentration is on refurbishing a caravan in their park. Paul and Alison have not 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 singles weekend event. Sophie and James search for needed funds to keep their château 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 château. | 4 May 2018 |
Series 2
Number | Description | Initial air date |
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1 | Dick helps Elaine and David in their search for the ideal château. Tim and Krys prepare to re-launch their business. | 18 February 2019 |
2 | Tim and Krys work quickly to prepare their château for guests; Elaine and David make a visit to a former 17th-century priory in Normandy; and Steve and Angela work to improve a master bedroom. | 19 February 2019 |
3 | Belinda visits Dick and Angel's château where they learn about decoupage, and potential château owners Elaine and David make a visit a 19th-century château that has 18 rooms along with two gîtes. | 20 February 2019 |
4 | Dick gives Tim a lesson on how to stage a gourmet weekend; Angel and Krys discuss their château 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 château with no plumbing. Edward and Anna plan for the 185 guests who will arrive at their fairy-tale château, 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 château. | 26 February 2019 |
8 | Tim and Rebecca fight to get their château in tip-top shape for a visiting tour operator. Martin and Kim continue to search for their château, while Karen and Paul from Château 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 intensify their château search. Paul and Karen from Château 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 Château La Perriere tries to do all they can to get their first wedding. | 1 March 2019 |
11 | Ongoing château 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 châteaux with her sisters. | 5 March 2019 |
13 | Mariam and Johnno move into their new château, 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 have been doing on the face of their château. Paul designs, builds and fits two heavy balconies. | 8 March 2019 |
16 | Dick helps Erin and JB, new château owners. Tim and Margreeth 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 château. 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 Margreeth welcome their wedding party. | 13 March 2019 |
19 | Dick helps Erin and JB to repair their rusted hinges. Wedding season ends at Tim and Margreeth's château. May and her son Jack prepare the new yoga room. | 14 March 2019 |
20 | Erin and JB launch their new château business by hosting a tea party. Charles, owner of Château 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 is National Monuments Day at Nicole and Stefan's château 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 château 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 château. 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 château 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 château 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. Tim, Sasha and Lily operate a wedding business in their château. | 29 March 2019 |
Series 3
Number | Description | Initial air date |
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1 | The first winter guests arrive at Tim and Rebecca's château. Amy and Marc are turning their château into a base for yoga retreats and as a B&B. Ben and Billie start renovating their final room, currently a junk room but previously 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 60 guests to their château. 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 château, a hole in the roof means Lee must face his fears in order to save money. A 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 château. | 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 château. Edward and Anna need to prepare for the new events season. New château owners Donna and Paul make the move into their new but dilapidated home. | 11 November 2019 |
12 | Adam's quest to buy a château takes him to the Pyrenees. Donna and Paul find scores of dead bees in one of their chimneys. Dick expounds on how to enjoy château life. | 12 November 2019 |
13 | Alex and Ithaca have inherited a 300-year-old château – but need to maintain it against all challenges. Dick's children Arthur and Dorothy rescue baby toads at their château. 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 château'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 château, 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 |
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1 | Fiona fights with the sub-zero weather while putting up wallpaper in a room she's renovating for her daughter. Tim and Sasha attempt to improve their income during the low-season with a New Year's Eve party, while Erin and JB begin to tackle their south wing, which was last used as a nursing home. | 23 March 2020 |
2 | Erin and JB start their transformation of their château's ruined orangery, trying to turn it into a top-tier venue. Fiona continues working on her daughter's bedroom, and Sasha and Tim install a jacuzzi into their spa. | 24 March 2020 |
3 | Tim and Sasha work on a plan to use their château's empty bathing pool. Erin and JB host a Midsummer Night's Dream party for friends from the UK, and Fiona prepares her château for a party to celebrate its 845th anniversary. | 25 March 2020 |
4 | Tim and Rebecca work to transform their aviary into a bijou brocante. Fiona begins work to renovate a luxury suite. Tim and Sasha battle the summer heat as they tend to landscaping issues before the wedding season kicks off. | 26 March 2020 |
5 | Rebecca and Tim begin to create a new 2-bedroom guesthouse, then pivot to clearing the barn and preparing for a last-minute workshop booking. Fiona finishes her luxury suite and Angela and Steve run into a number of problems in updating the poolhouse kitchen. Angel and Dick give a makeover to their magnificent 5 metres (16 ft) tall staircase. | 27 March 2020 |
6 | Stephanie restores a carriage for her mother's wedding, while Debbie and Nigel start their new French life and begin to prepare their château to host guests. George and Sarah meet with a wedding planner to begin the process of turning their château from a home into a space suitable for hosting weddings. | 30 March 2020 |
7 | Over at Château de Brives, George and Sarah's builders unearth a secret room that they think could be hiding vintage cognac. Stephanie continues to prepare for her mother's wedding, and Debbie and Nigel count down until their first guests arrive. | 31 March 2020 |
8 | Stephanie hosts her mother Isabelle's wedding at Château de Lalande. George and Sarah lay a concrete floor and prepare their coachhouse to host events, and Debbie and Nigel transform the conservatory at the back of their château. | 1 April 2020 |
9 | Debbie and Nigel have their salon renovations delayed by a last-minute unexpected booking. Stephanie begins to update a self-contained apartment in the oldest section of the château while George and Sarah book and prepare for the first wedding at their property. | 2 April 2020 |
10 | Sarah and George encounter electricity problems during the wedding. Stephanie has unexpected scheduling difficulties, and so pivots from redecorating the Renaissance-style gîte to finishing off a more modern one. Debbie and Nigel update their garden and roof terrace. | 3 April 2020 |
11 | Johnno and Mariam build a French parterre garden. Emma and Paul begin their renovations. Janet and Phillip move into Château de la Fare. | 6 April 2020 |
12 | Phillip and Janet work madly on the bridal suite for their daughter Penny's wedding. Emma and Paul complete their Mackintosh-themed bedroom. | 7 April 2020 |
13 | Emma and Paul get ready for an important booking. Johnno and Mariam begin a transformation of their château's grand salon, while Karen and Paul transform the old stable. | 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, and Johnno and Mariam launch their château as an events venue. | 9 April 2020 |
15 | Mariam and Johnno begin the restoration of their château's original bread oven. Karen and Paul prepare for a special party in their renovated coach house and stable block. Emma and Paul work on renovating another bedroom in their west wing, incorporating different Art Nouveau and Art Deco elements. Angel discovers a unique cover for a radiator while bargain hunting. | 10 April 2020 |
16 | Debbie and Simon are ready to move into their château; Wendy and Marcus's have their willpower tested. Belinda and Lee expand their events portfolio. | 13 April 2020 |
17 | Wendy and Marcus work to renovate their barn; wet weather may cause problems for Belinda and Lee's upcoming fashion show. Debbie and Simon prepare for a trial weekend of their new Chinese cooking classes. | 14 April 2020 |
18 | Wendy and Marcus get ready for a VIP visitor, while Amy and Marc plans and begin to transform outbuildings for their new yoga retreat centre. Belinda and Lee work to upgrade the floor of the donjon (their château's keep), which serves as their event space. | 15 April 2020 |
19 | Amy and Marc battle brambles and needlework as they continue to develop their estate, this time clearing space for guided meditation outlook. Ben and Billie begin building their glamping site. Wendy and Marcus give their wedding venue a temporary facelift to match their clients' steampunk aesthetic. | 16 April 2020 |
20 | Amy and Marc work to get the barn and café ready before their baby arrives, and host their first yoga class. Ben and Billie get to work on their boathouse, and Wendy and Marcus host a hen night, but struggle with transportation delays and language barriers. | 17 April 2020 |
Series 5
Series 5 commenced on 30 November 2020.[5]
Number | Description | Initial air date |
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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 château 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 surprise 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 château. Julia finds out that the ancient system of caves below her château will cause delays in updating her septic system. Joshua and Lee find a very promising property. | 4 December 2020 |
6 | Anna and Philipp receive the keys for their new château. Johnny and Ashley discuss their plans for their château'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 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. Anna and Philipp continue to work on the family apartment. | 9 December 2020 |
9 | With winter coming, Anna and Philipp start work on the bedrooms for their girls. Iain and Kate continue their château-hunting. | 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? Anna and Philipp have a disagreement on taste. | 11 December 2020 |
Château DIY
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.[8]
Series 1
Series 1 of Château DIY, presented by Adjoa Andoh, with 15 episodes, began airing on 27 September 2021 on Channel 4.[9]
Christmas 2021 series
Four Christmas-themed episodes were broadcast on Channel 4 commencing on 20 December 2021.[10]
Series 2
Series 2 of Chateau DIY began airing on Channel 4 on 30 May 2022. Fifteen episodes were broadcast.[11]
Series 3
Series 3 of Chateau DIY began airing on Channel 4 on 22 August 2022. Thirty episodes were broadcast.[12]
List of châteaux
- Abbaye de la Bussière
- Chateau Trois Cloches
- 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 Barde, Périgueux
- 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 29 October 2018.
- "Escape to the Chateau: DIY - On Demand - All 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- "Escape to the Chateau: DIY - On Demand - All 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
- "Escape to the Chateau: DIY - On Demand - All 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- "Escape to the Chateau: DIY - On Demand - All 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- "Escape to the Chateau: DIY - On Demand - All 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- "Chateau DIY: Channel 4 orders 60 new episodes to air in 2021 and 2022". House Beautiful. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
- "Chateau DIY – Series 6". sparkmedia. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
- "Chateau DIY: From crumbling ceilings to time-worn turrets, British families discover what it takes to buy and renovate beautiful chateaux in France". Channel 4. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
- "Chateau DIY: From crumbling ceilings to time-worn turrets, British families discover what it takes to buy and renovate beautiful chateaux in France". Channel 4. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
- "Chateau DIY: From crumbling ceilings to time-worn turrets, British families discover what it takes to buy and renovate beautiful chateaux in France". Channel 4. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
- "Chateau DIY: From crumbling ceilings to time-worn turrets, British families discover what it takes to buy and renovate beautiful chateaux in France". Channel 4. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- "Wake Up Feeling Like Royalty". Escape to the Chateau DIY. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
- "Finder – Chateau DIY". Chateau DIY. Retrieved 2 August 2022.