Channel 4 Launches High-Stakes Competition Series Chateau DIY: Win the Dream

Image: Channel 4 Press

By Jon Donnis

Channel 4 is set to turn dreams into reality with a thrilling new competition series, Chateau DIY: Win the Dream. Building on the success of the beloved daytime series Chateau DIY, this ambitious spin-off promises to give one lucky pair of contestants the chance to win their very own French château. Produced by Sheffield-based Spark Media North, the show will see aspiring chatelains go head-to-head in a series of demanding challenges, with the ultimate prize being a historic castle worth up to £250,000, less than the average cost of a home in the UK.

Since 2018, Chateau DIY has followed determined Brits leaving their lives in the UK behind to restore crumbling French estates into stunning homes and thriving businesses. Now, Win the Dream takes the concept to the next level, inviting twelve pairs of contestants to compete in heats designed to test their design skills, renovation abilities, and business acumen. Guided by familiar faces from the original series, the competitors will learn the ropes of château living from experts who have already walked the same path.

Over three weeks of heats, contestants will tackle complex challenges, from revamping interiors to planning sustainable revenue streams for their prospective properties. The most successful teams will progress to the final week, where one pair will claim the life-changing prize, ownership of a sprawling château, complete with multiple bedrooms, grand living spaces, and outbuildings bursting with potential.

Commissioned by Channel 4's Jayne Stanger and Jo Street, and produced by Joff Hatfield-Powell at Spark Media North, the series aims to capture the blend of escapism and gritty determination that has made Chateau DIY such a hit. Stanger said, "Chateau DIY has been one of Channel 4's most popular daytime series, and we're very excited to bring this grand competition to life. It will offer the perfect blend of glorious escapism and real-life twists and turns that our viewers love to follow."

Hatfield-Powell added, "We are delighted by the continued success of Chateau DIY over the last seven years and to have Channel 4's support in producing this ambitious extension. This new series is our most ambitious yet, a high-stakes competitive reality show that will captivate audiences and offer one of the biggest prizes in daytime TV history."

With casting already underway, hopeful contestants dreaming of château life can apply online. Distributed by Cineflix Rights, Chateau DIY: Win the Dream promises to be a heartwarming, high-stakes series that will inspire viewers to imagine their own French fairytale. For those willing to roll up their sleeves and take a risk, the opportunity to own a slice of history awaits.