Spark Media North and Channel 4 are delighted that the latest series of Chateau DIY will be broadcast from Monday 31st March at 5pm every weekday!
France is famed for its beautiful chateaux. Sadly, many of these grand buildings are falling into a state of disrepair. Thankfully, passionate DIYers are taking on the challenge, of bringing these once forgotten treasures back to life.
For the next six weeks, Channel 4 will follow brave owners right across France. We’ll witness the highs and lows of restoring a Chateau, as custodians pour everything they have into stunning renovation projects.
Join them as they transform abandoned historic buildings, into gorgeous family homes and successful businesses.
Narrated by Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh, Château DIY promises more twists and turns than a debutante ball.
Behind the Scenes
Filming the series takes a huge team, our researchers, editors, producers, directors, composers, graphic designers and more all have to roll up their sleeves to create the show before it airs on Monday. To film our 30+ Chateaux across France we had 12 teams beginning in January and finishing in July crossing the French countryside to capture all the DIY moments from beginning to end. Our teams on location know better than anyone what life in a Chateau in dire need of renovation is really like. We asked Laura one of our location researchers what it’s like to be on the road for weeks and being welcomed inside these magical properties.
‘As a location researcher for Chateau DIY, I get to witness all the amazing work our Chatelains do first hand! Alongside a Shooting Producer, we travel across the stunning French countryside, visiting different families all in varying stages of their restoration journey. Our aim is to capture both the rich history of French Chateaux, and the dedication of their custodians who are working hard to bring them back to life.’
‘We normally spend two to three days with a family at a time, filming all things DIY; from demolishing a termite infested wall, to making hand crafted cornices, or upcycling an old set of drawers into a bathroom sink, the creativity of our Chatelains never ceases to amaze me! As there’s often so much going on at each Chateau, it’s our job to make sure we capture the beginning, middle and end of any projects we’re featuring on the show, so that the audience has a true understanding of the process.
Depending on the size and nature of the project, crews can then visit every few weeks to film the continuation of work, and over the course of our visits we get to know the Chatelains really well. Alongside seeing the practical work, I love hearing their stories; a Chatelain’s path to castle ownership is never dull, and it’s such a privilege to hear about their journeys, challenges and triumphs as they breathe new life into their historic homes!’
