Chaos at the Chateau
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Use British English Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Infobox television/Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Infobox television".Script error: No such module "Infobox television disambiguation check". Chaos at the Chateau is a reality television program that ran from March to May 2007 on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. The show follows the lives of Ann and David Darrell, originally from Essex, who decided to renovate an old chateau in Slovakia and turn it into a luxury boutique hotel. As well as looking at the problems the couple faced in finding, renovating and running the hotel, it also deals with their relationship.[1]
The show is a continuation of the series A Place in Slovakia, which followed the couple's attempts to find a suitable chateau. It was described by the Sunday TimesTemplate:' Peter Conradi as a "real life Fawlty Towers".[2]
Controversy surrounded David Darrell when it was revealed, following the transmission of the programme, that he was being pursued for £950,000 for alleged fraudulent practices that occurred during his time as an Insolvency Practitioner. He was removed from the Register of Insolvency Practitioners in 2003 because of concerns regarding work that he had been invoiced for, but allegedly not carried out.[3]
In March 2008, the Darrells put their Slovak chateau on the market for €3,000,000.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Authenticity
The show is presented in fly-on-the-wall documentary style. Appearing on the talk show Richard & Judy, Ann Darrell stated that "It's all real" and held her head in embarrassment at some of the events.
However, debate existsScript error: No such module "Unsubst". about how much of the show is staged for the cameras, due to the apparently implausible events that take place, and the perception that the characters are acting (albeit playing exaggerated versions of themselves), plus various technical aspects of the production, such as camera positioning. Some suggestScript error: No such module "Unsubst". that the show is loosely based on real events but re-shot in an exaggerated manner to provide higher comedy value.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
It should be mentionedTemplate:Why? however that filming takes place over a long period of time, and thus events from several weeks are combined into a single episode, making it so eventful (and therefore unrealistic). In addition, the earlier series about the couple, A Place in Slovakia, also contained many comedic elements, and there were no suggestions that this was scripted.Template:Or inline
Episodes
References
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External links
- Chaos at the Chateau at Channel4.com
- "The Chateau" (official website, previously hijacked by a get rich quick scheme)