Crisis At The Castle

Sudeley Castle

Season 1, Episode 1 of 3

Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire is one of England's most beautiful historic houses. It is the home of the Dent-Brocklehurst family, a family made rich by the industrial revolution. The Dent-Brocklehursts are one of the more glamorous aristocratic families. Son Henry is a close friend of Liz Hurley (who recently got married at Sudeley). Daughter Mollie is a mover and shaker in the rarefied world of modern art. But like many aristocratic families the Dent-Brocklehursts have struggled to maintain Sudeley in recent years. When Henry and Mollie's father, Mark Dent-Brocklehurst, inherited Sudeley in the 1960's it was a mess. Mark and his new and very glamorous American wife, Elizabeth, set about restoring the castle and turning it into a visitor attraction. Unfortunately, Mark died shortly after they set about the restoration. Lady Ashcombe (as she became) struggled with huge debts and the problems of running Sudeley to make it into a successful visitor attraction. Now in her 60s, it is time for Lady Ashcombe to hand over Sudeley to Henry and Mollie but the handover has not come at a good time. Over the last five years, visitor numbers have been plummeting and castle is losing money every year. The family can't agree on how to take the castle forward and as the season progresses tensions grow beneath the glamorous facade. Will the family be able to put aside their differences and save the house?

Previously Aired

Day
Time
Channel
11/27/2008
2 p.m.
6/25/2009
2 p.m.
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