Couple Wins Lavish French Château in Channel 4 Competition, Plans Dream Wedding
A British couple who secured a magnificent £250,000 French château as the grand prize in a Channel 4 competition are now preparing to host their "fairytale" wedding at the historic property. Natasha Manners and Xavier Bhoyroo, both aged 36 and residing in Weybridge, Surrey, triumphed over eleven other competing pairs in the television series 'Château DIY: Win The Dream' to claim ownership of an exquisite six-bedroom, 18th-century residence nestled in the picturesque Normandy countryside.
From Dream to Reality: Securing a French Estate
The ambitious DIY enthusiasts have long harboured aspirations of living in France but previously lacked the financial means to realise this dream or consider it as a viable wedding location. After demonstrating their capabilities through a series of demanding challenges that tested their aptitude for managing a luxurious French estate, the pair are now poised to embark on an idyllic new life in the charming village of Ceaucé, located within the Orne region of north-west France.
This remarkable three-storey property, distinguished as Channel 4's most substantial daytime prize to date, features four bathrooms, two spacious lounges, and five additional rooms. The extensive grounds also include two barns, meticulously maintained formal gardens, and a productive orchard, all of which the soon-to-be-married couple intend to enjoy when they exchange vows at the sprawling estate.
Overwhelming Victory and Wedding Plans
Reflecting on their monumental achievement, Xavier described winning the historic prize as "mind-blowing," admitting that the reality has yet to fully sink in. He expressed profound admiration for the "really impressive property in a beautiful, quaint French village," likening the experience to having "won the lottery."
Bride-to-be Natasha revealed that the couple shares a deep "affinity" for France, initially hoping to rent a French château for their nuptials. However, the prohibitive costs cast doubt on this possibility. Natasha, who serves as head of e-commerce for a beauty company, explained, "Xavier used to holiday there as a kid in a camper van and speaks a bit of French, and we both love fine dining and nice wine."
She elaborated, "Our plan was to rent a château in France to get married in. We had an Airbnb wish list of fairytale châteaux we could not nearly afford to book, and now we have won the venue, it has brought our wedding forward by two or three years at least. And it is our own house, so we have the opportunity to put our own stamp on it for the wedding."
Journey Through DIY Renovation Challenges
The amateur renovators, who are parents to three-year-old Esme and one-year-old Jude, endured six intensive weeks learning to renovate rooms under the guidance of head judge and designer Max McMurdo. Recalling their decision to enter the competition, Natasha noted, "I was on maternity leave and Xavier had just been made redundant. So we thought, 'We have nothing to lose. Let's go to France.' Our only goal was to avoid being the first couple to go home."
The couple, who met in 2021 after matching on the dating app Bumble, had previously undertaken only minor DIY projects together at Natasha's former Edwardian flat, which was "nothing on the scale" of the extensive renovations required during the competition. Managing the demands of filming while caring for their young children during the initial heat proved particularly challenging. Natasha recounted, "We'd be getting home from the site, getting them fed, bathing them and putting them into bed, and we wouldn't be in bed ourselves until midnight. Then we'd spend hours watching YouTube tutorials to figure out what we'd be doing the next day."
Future Aspirations and Business Ventures
Following their six-week DIY education, the couple now intends to convert the château's attic into two additional bedrooms to create even more space. They are also eagerly anticipating crafting an enchanting environment for their children to grow and play in, having already told their daughter that she will be a "princess in a castle." Natasha expressed confidence, stating, "I'm not daunted by any of the DIY. Being on the show taught us that we can do any of that. It's mostly just excitement about giving our children the ultimate bedrooms."
Xavier, who works as an advertising operations director, disclosed that the couple hopes to integrate into the local French community while continuing their current professions through remote work in France. Furthermore, they have devised innovative plans to launch an events business at the château. Xavier revealed, "We will hold weddings at the château, but we also wanted to think outside the box. We love Traitors and are planning to hold murder mystery fine dining weekends. There would be a cocktail party, and as the weekend goes on, you find little clues, and it all comes to a head at the dinner party where you find out who did it and why."
Generous Gesture to Fellow Competitors
In a heartwarming display of camaraderie, the couple entered into a pact with fellow finalists Josh Hawkins and Josh Wild, both from Cumbria, agreeing that the winners would permit the runners-up to marry at the château free of charge. Natasha shared, "The two Joshes also wanted to get married. They have been dear friends to us, and we would love nothing more than for theirs to be the second wedding at our château." This generous arrangement underscores the strong bonds formed during the competition and highlights the couple's commitment to sharing their extraordinary good fortune.
