Despite my obvious bias, I genuinely really, really enjoyed the preview copy of tonight’s opening episode of Country House Rescue. Why?
Mainly, it must be said, because I find Ruth Watson brilliant to watch. Her blunt, money-driven brain makes her at times seem unsympathetic to the traditions and heritage of the properties she’s trying to transform. But it’s quite simply a case of being cruel to be kind, with her sole aim being to ensure these wonderful properties can pay for themselves, preserving them for future generations to enjoy and admire.
Tonight’s country house owners, Mary-Ann and Alistair, have the dubious privilege of owning savings-swallowing Cothay Manor, a sprawling 15th-century manor house with impeccable gardens in deepest Somerset. Shrill, eccentric and painfully posh (their eldest daughter doesn’t want to inherit Cothay because she has her husband’s 900 acre estate to care for) makes this pair essential viewing. The work they’ve done to restore the once-dilapidated gardens is simply magnificent, while fiery Ruth’s profiteering advice doesn’t always sit well with our protagonists, meaning good telly all round.
Watch out for refined country granddad Alistair’s description of their 500-year-old wall paintings as ‘old-world bling’. Priceless.
Country House Rescue begins tonight at 9pm on Channel 4.
Commentsoldest first
This sounds interesting, thanks for the previews, I’ll definitely be watching though have to admit to not being a fan of the presenter
Hi Peter – I’d definitely recommend it – nice bit of escapism and some really, truly beautiful old houses and gardens. Some nice escapism and entertaining to boot. Hopefully Ruth will win you over – she’s not so blunt as she was in Hotel Inspector so a bit more tolerable for those of us who found her a bit much before!
Was this program a one off or is it on each week?
Hi Mike
The show is every week although this coming Tuesday’s episode is the last one of this series! You may be able to catch the others on 4oD, Channel 4’s catchup service.
Relocation Relocation look around you!
I was utterly appalled at the treatment of the couple on tonight’s show. Its seems Kirtsy and Phil are more deluded than any of this years couples. They seemed to be oblivious to the fact that the housing market is massively different to market when they started their programme. Yes …people in good buying positions can be fussy and expect a price reduction on most properties. Whilst tonight’s couple were keen to buy they were also rightly cautious as 2008 was possibly to worst year to purchase a house in decades. They would have seen 10s of thousands wiped off in months. If others had been wiser they wouldn’t have sleepless nights because they can’t afford to pay the mortgage…and then expect the Government to get the bailiffs off their backs.
Leave a comment
* Required field.