Building the Dream

In the first of the new series, Charlie's in south London, where self-building duo Caroline and Chris are hoping to deliver an urban marvel on a tight plot, and a tighter budget. Chris is an architect, so you'd think achieving perfection on time and on budget should come second nature. But a string of budget-busting gremlins suggest this build has other ideas. And just when they think things can't get any more complicated, life throws them a curveball which racks the pressure even higher.

Charlie Luxton's in East Yorkshire, where Nick and Jane are transforming an old bungalow into a contemporary home on a very small budget.

Charlie Luxton heads to Woking in Surrey to meet couple Jason and Philippa, who plan to redevelop a house by demolishing half of it during the refurbishment.

Charlie catches up with Steve and an eco-efficient, straw-baled, self-built home set in a woodland glade

New couple Rob and Jan aim to build a vicarage-style home in rural Northamptonshire. If Charlie can actually get them to agree on anything.

Charlie mets a Linlithgow couple who are building a traditional Scottish cottage. But the weather puts pressure on their ambitious build.

Charlie heads to Cambridgeshire to meet two self-builders creating a family home that needs to be both techie, but also blingy. Can the two desires be reconciled?

Charlie Luxton meets Ben and Nicola, in Caterham, Surrey. The self-building couple have spotted the huge potential of a dilapidated bungalow, which they plan to reimagine as a contemporary split-level home. The project is a bit hectic though. Can Charlie instil some stability and keep the pair from becoming overwhelmed?

Charlie Luxton's off to rural Cambridgeshire, where Darren and Luisa are embarking upon a voyage of discovery, building a picture-perfect waterfront home. But problem after problem threatens to scupper the build and the couple struggle to delegate. Charlie is forced to deliver some hard home truths to ensure the project doesn't meander forever or leave the couple bankrupt and with nowhere to live.