Season 1

2008-12-09

Cothay Manor is hidden away in deepest Somerset, it’s one of the finest medieval country houses in England. Fifteen years ago, Mary-Anne and Alastair Robb bought it as an empty shell. Since then, they’ve spent all their time and money restoring Cothay. But now it’s haemorrhaging money, causing rifts in the family ... and they’re running out of time. Can businesswoman Ruth Watson save this treasure for the nation, and help secure Cothay’s future?

2008-12-16

Elmore Court is a Grade II listed mansion in the Cotswolds, the centrepiece of a twenty-five million pound estate. But behind the beautiful façade, whole wings are crumbling. The bedrooms and bathrooms are from a bygone era and the disused rooms are crammed with junk. It costs forty thousand pounds a year just to pay the basic bills here, and there’s no money to repair anything.

2008-12-23

Chesters is a 215-year-old Palladian style country house on the Scottish Borders. Owners John and Ellie Henderson desperately want to live here but are trapped in London jobs to pay for its upkeep, while the house crumbles. Can businesswoman Ruth Watson rescue this national treasure from ruin?

2008-12-30

Four years ago, Nigel and Jennifer Whalley bought Albury in Surrey but have since amassed debts of £4 million. Now the bank wants its money back. Can businesswoman Ruth Watson rescue this historic house from repossession?

2009-01-06

In the wild and beautiful landscape of South Ayrshire, Scotland, bordering the Galloway Hills and Forest Park, lies Black Clauchrie House. Built in 1901, in the Arts and Crafts style, Black Clauchrie was originally a hunting lodge, designed for leisure and country pursuits. Four years ago, builder Adrian Goodall fell in love with this remote spot and decided to relocate his family from Halifax in North Yorkshire. His partner, Caroline, her son Rob and their daughter Georgie left their busy lives behind to start again in this secluded part of Scotland.

2009-01-13

Pentillie is a £25million, Grade Two listed castle and 2,000 acre estate in Cornwall. It was built in 1698 in a commanding position overlooking the River Tamar. For nearly 30 years, Ted and Sarah Coryton have lived just a mile from Pentillie, wondering if one day it would be theirs. It belonged to Ted's cousin Jeffrey, but to inherit, the deal was that Ted would run one of Pentillie's farms and gradually take over the estate. However, when Jeffrey died unexpectedly in 1980, his widow, Kit withdrew from the world and banned Ted and his family from the castle. The news was devastating for Ted and Sarah. Over the next 27 years, their family grew up in the shadow of Pentillie, which remained out of bounds and became a subject too painful for discussion. But in September 2007 Kit died and left everything to Ted. Having been the cause of so much heartache, the Corytons planned to sell Pentillie and take the money, but when Ted, Sarah and their three grown up children gathered at the castle, they fell under its spell.