The Restoration Man

George meets James and Lois Denning, who inherited an historic estate which has been in James' family for the last 234 years. The castle and stately home that used to belong to his family have been given to the National Trust, so they've decided to convert a stunning and only recently abandoned oast house. George is on hand to advise them with the epic restoration of this beautiful old agricultural building into a grand nine bedroom family home.

Using an inheritance from his late father, artist Keith McIntyre and his wife Sheena bought a listed, Thomas Telford-designed church in the remote island of Berneray in the Outer Hebrides. Keith and Sheena plan to convert the church into a holiday home and artist's studio, where they can bring their art students and musician friends to be inspired by the amazing light and rugged, desolate landscape. In restoring this roofless ruin, Keith and Sheena face challenges from the extreme weather and have to keep the neighbours on side while managing the build 400 miles away from their home in Newcastle. Meanwhile architect George Clarke uncovers the church's turbulent history.

It was love at first sight when theatre producer Vanessa Ford Robbins and her partner Nik Huddy saw Longhurst Lodge, a Victorian gate lodge nestled on the boundaries of a country estate in Surrey. This unusual two up, two down has been derelict for nearly 50 years. Nik and Vanessa want to bring this fairy tale building back to life, but they desperately need more living space and face mounting planning issues over extending the Grade II listed building. The couple tackle the project with huge drive and determination, doing all the build work themselves, but living in a caravan on site during winter. George Clarke is on hand to help advise and support the couple and also discovers some of the estate's bloody history.

Four years ago Dave and Margaret came across a picture of a watermill in the north east. The mill had been abandoned for 50 years and they decided to bring it back to life. The couple put their hearts into the restoration, with experienced amateur builder Dave even designing the new mill water-wheel to generate hydro-electric power from the force of the river. George Clarke is on hand to help the couple as they tackle this huge project. But, with floods and Margaret's life-threatening illness to contend with, will they ever achieve their dream of calling this historic building home?

David and Judith Ward take up the challenge of restoring a dilapidated pig barn across the road from their daughter's farmhouse in order to be nearer to their grandchildren. David is a charismatic preacher and has faith that even in this challenging market they will manage to sell their old home, pay back the loan and raise the funds to finish the restoration. George Clarke is there from the start, giving practical advice and guidance. But will their hopes for a happy retirement in the bosom of their family ever become reality?

George Clarke returns to North Yorkshire to catch up with the retired policeman and his wife who took on the challenging restoration of a railway water tower at Settle station