Build a New Life in the Country
S05:E01 - Nottinghamshire - Michael and Lisa Farnsworth
Michael and Lisa and their two children, Thomas (4) and Lucy (3) have bought Bankwood Barn in Nottinghamshire. Built in the 1600’s, they want to convert this derelict building into a contemporary home with eco features. They already have ducks, chickens and geese and want to start growing their own food. The Farnsworths plan to work alongside the builders as much as possible in order to create their perfect home.
S05:E02 - Eastbourne - David and Barbara Shaw
David and Barbara are determined not to have a boring retirement! They have bought the Belle Tout Lighthouse near Eastbourne which they plan to convert into a luxury B and B. They paid £500K for the unusual building and plan to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds bringing it back to its former glory. But when the access road which leads to the lighthouse starts to fall into the sea and the renovation costs spiral out of control, it looks as if their dream may never happen.
S05:E03 - Essex - David and Hilary Body
The Body family have always had a passion for boats so when David and Hilary Body got fed up with working long hours and spending little time with their two teenage daughters, they decided to pursue their dream of renovating a boat and running cruises on the canals of Burgundy. They’ve bought a Dutch barge which they plan to renovate themselves in Essex. But when the recession hits and the Channel crossing gets choppy this madcap scheme looks unlikely to succeed.
S05:E04 - France - Keith and Antoinette Fairhurst
Since meeting six years ago, have always had the ambition of moving their young family to France. The couple have bought an 1800’s chateau style house in the picturesque thermal spa village, Alet Les Bains, in the south of France which they want to convert into a family home and B and B. But with a tight budget and Keith working back in the UK, Antoinette is left to manage the build on her own while also looking after her four young children.
S05:E05 - Barbados - Dawn and Marcus Hardie
Dawn and Marcus Hardie want to give their three daughters an amazing childhood in the Caribbean. They are fed up with their busy stressful lives in London and want a more relaxed pace of life. Dawn’s mother is from Barbados and they have inherited a plot of land on this paradise island where they plan to build an open plan home with a two bedroom apartment and its own pool. But when their building costs spiral due to the poor exchange rate and the hurricane season approaches they begin to wish they had never embarked on this project.
S05:E06 - Wales - Hugh and Jude Crawford
Hugh and Jude are looking forward to the next chapter in their lives. They have given up Surrey life to create a more sustainable way of living in North Wales. They have bought a 15 acre smallholding with a rundown farmhouse which they will renovate and extend to create their home and also derelict barns which they will turn into holiday lets to provide essential income for their retirement. If this wasn’t enough of a challenge they also want to get one of the barns ready to host their eldest daughter’s wedding.
S05:E07 - Shropshire - Mark and Patsy Norman
Mark Norman used to spend 70 hours a week working as a car salesman and missed out on his children's toddler years. He’s now retrained as a teacher and during the school holidays plans to build his own home with his wife Patsy. They bought a dilapidated bungalow on the edge of a forest in Shropshire which they’ve demolished and are now building a huge family home for their three children. But with a budget of only £60k the Normans are hit by the recession and don’t know how they are ever going to be able to finish their build.
S05:E08 - Buckinghamshire - Rebecca and James Constantine
Rebecca and James lived in south London until 2003 when they moved to Buckinghamshire to stay with Rebecca’s mother following the death of her father. The move soon became permanent and three years ago they bought a 1960’s bungalow on a plot of land in the village where Rebecca grew up. They demolished the bungalow and in its place are building a Georgian style house for their four young children made from reclaimed materials that Rebecca has bought from across Europe.
S05:E09 - Canterbury - the Kennedys
The Kennedy family have decided to leave behind their city lives to renovate and restore a “once in a lifetime” property in Canterbury, Kent. They have bought a 500 year old grade 2 listed building on the banks of a river. A complete overhaul is required and because of its age the building has to undergo an archaeological dig before the builders move in. But they have to stick to very strict guidelines due to its listed building status so this is certainly going to be a labour of love.