0:00:02 > 0:00:03Meet Viscount John Crichton...
0:00:03 > 0:00:06You know John Crichton and I am very happy to talk.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09- ..a thoroughly modern aristocrat. - I think that is right, C.
0:00:09 > 0:00:14- Living in London...- Grazie. - ..with his beloved dog, Piglet.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16He has a successful property business...
0:00:16 > 0:00:18Do you think hit them with a million?
0:00:18 > 0:00:22- ..and a great circle of friends. - Long time, no see.- I know!
0:00:22 > 0:00:25Yet despite his everyday life in a two-bedroom flat,
0:00:25 > 0:00:28his real home is here.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40The ancestral seat of the Crichton family for over 400 years,
0:00:40 > 0:00:45Crom Castle in Fermanagh, which John will inherit from his father.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49- We live in a semi-detached castle! - But there is a problem.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51We have got astronomical bills.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54Will letting his home for weddings...
0:00:54 > 0:00:58Lock them in for the afternoon!
0:00:58 > 0:01:01- ..for TV filming...- Now.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05- ..even American tourists... - You probably will go on the bus. - I probably will, actually!
0:01:05 > 0:01:10..be enough to help John keep this much-loved family home?
0:01:25 > 0:01:28- In you go.- Good, the place is looking good.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30How was your trip from London?
0:01:30 > 0:01:32It was good. The trip wasn't very good.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35The trip to London was great, but the actual journey was a nightmare
0:01:35 > 0:01:38because they delayed my flight and then the M1 got closed.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41- I don't believe it.- Yes. So... - What time did you get back?
0:01:41 > 0:01:4512.45 this morning. And you can't really wind down.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49- You have sort of half an hour to wind down.- Did you get any breakfast?
0:01:49 > 0:01:51I think I had something, Dad!
0:01:58 > 0:02:01Crom Castle is currently the permanent residence
0:02:01 > 0:02:04of John's father, the sixth Earl of Erne.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Sadly, my father was killed in 1940.
0:02:07 > 0:02:12I was born in 1937, so I was only two when I inherited.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16I came here to live when I came of age in 1958,
0:02:16 > 0:02:20to find a castle completely empty with no electricity
0:02:20 > 0:02:25or any central heating and rather modest acres.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29I have spent a lifetime looking after this place
0:02:29 > 0:02:30and I love it like...
0:02:30 > 0:02:33I can't describe how much I love it.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Having grown up at Crom, Lord Erne's son, Viscount Crichton,
0:02:38 > 0:02:41often returns to stay at his castle in Fermanagh.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45I don't know what your thought is about the blank wall,
0:02:45 > 0:02:50- were you thinking of a mirror or not? - No, I suggest jasmine.- Jasmine.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54And it doesn't need an idiot's guide to be able to water some plants and do it properly.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57No. And if you open the door and the birds get in,
0:02:57 > 0:02:59especially if everything is laid up,
0:02:59 > 0:03:03you don't want birds leaving their signature all over the tablecloth.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05No. Exactly! Not good.
0:03:10 > 0:03:15I was brought up that it would be mine to look after one day
0:03:15 > 0:03:18and I was always looking forward to that.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Home I came at 21 and I bought some heifers
0:03:22 > 0:03:25and a bull and started to farm.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30But surrounded by water, the land at Crom wasn't easy to farm.
0:03:32 > 0:03:37As time went on, it became more and more difficult financially.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41And thankfully, as far as we are concerned,
0:03:41 > 0:03:42the National Trust arrived.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48With farming proving difficult, Lord Erne gave the estate lands
0:03:48 > 0:03:53and historic outbuildings over to the National Trust in 1987.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56It meant he was free of the financial responsibility,
0:03:56 > 0:04:00but it also meant that for the first time in the Crichtons' history,
0:04:00 > 0:04:02members of the public could enter the grounds uninvited.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10Lord Erne did retain the castle as a private family home,
0:04:10 > 0:04:11but with no income from the estate,
0:04:11 > 0:04:15and the ever-increasing cost of living, the family have had
0:04:15 > 0:04:20to seek out alternative ways of making the building pay for itself.
0:04:20 > 0:04:25Luckily, my son John was very happy and anxious to take on
0:04:25 > 0:04:28what we call the West Wing of Crom Castle.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32And he does a bit of commercial in his side of the house.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37We live in the south side, and that is completely private,
0:04:37 > 0:04:42but he does weddings and dinners and anything he can
0:04:42 > 0:04:47in order to make a bit of money to keep the castle going.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53We've got a wedding this weekend which Noel is going to set up.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57- Do you know where they are from? - I think they are local.- Oh, good.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00County Tyrone way, which is great,
0:05:00 > 0:05:04- so not a huge amount of fuss to get here.- And do you know how many?
0:05:04 > 0:05:08- Yes, we are nice and comfortable. We are about 45 to 50.- Oh, perfect. - Which is great.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14Unable to rely entirely on weddings, John's entrepreneurial spirit
0:05:14 > 0:05:18is always on the lookout for other ways of making money.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21- You know we are talking slightly about more American groups here?- Yes.
0:05:21 > 0:05:26Well, I had a lovely chat with some people up on the east coast.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30- At Ballywalter?- At Ballywalter, yup. - How were they?
0:05:30 > 0:05:34Well, you know they are cousins through mums. Quite interesting.
0:05:34 > 0:05:39They want to form some sort of alliance with Crom
0:05:39 > 0:05:42so the Americans would come and do three days with them,
0:05:42 > 0:05:45see Giant's Causeway, the Ards Peninsular, Mount Stewart,
0:05:45 > 0:05:48all of that section of the North,
0:05:48 > 0:05:52and then come down to Crom for three days and do lovely Fermanagh,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55- do the lake, do Florence Court, Castle Court...- With you?- With me.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59- Crichton Tours!- Crichton Tours, and we would be there...
0:05:59 > 0:06:01- And you will go on the bus with them?- I don't know.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04- You probably will go on the bus. - I probably will, actually!
0:06:04 > 0:06:06- With a microphone. - With a microphone.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14I mean, a huge number of people seem to come here and say,
0:06:14 > 0:06:18"I didn't know this place existed." We are not run of the mill.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22We are not a guesthouse, we are not a hotel.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25It's your home one side, and my home the other.
0:06:25 > 0:06:30- In fact, we live in a semi-detached castle!- That is what I tell people. They love that.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35Of course, it was not always a semi.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39Crom castle in Fermanagh was once one of the grandest family homes
0:06:39 > 0:06:44in Ireland, welcoming lords, ladies and even royalty through the doors.
0:06:44 > 0:06:50The first Crichton to arrive from Scotland, in the early 1600s,
0:06:50 > 0:06:54married Bishop Spottiswoode's daughter.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57Now, Bishop Spottiswoode and the old castle at Crom,
0:06:57 > 0:07:03and the lands of Crom... We were granted as a family huge lands
0:07:03 > 0:07:07stretching out to Mayo and up as far as Donegal.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11But nothing stays the same for ever.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14While Lord Erne's side of the castle remains a private family home,
0:07:14 > 0:07:18John's side needs to keep busy with the commercial ventures.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22Nobody knows about the changes better than Noel Johnston.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25As manager of the west wing, he is also the latest generation
0:07:25 > 0:07:29of a family who have worked for the Crichtons for over 200 years.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Back in Mum's time at the castle, it was not a business, it was
0:07:34 > 0:07:38a home and it was entertaining and you know, the 12 full-time staff.
0:07:38 > 0:07:43It was really full on as entertaining.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50The emphasis back then was very much on family life,
0:07:50 > 0:07:52and the Crichtons would have had butlers, gardeners,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55cooks and nannies to look after everyone.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Of course, the family still require help,
0:08:00 > 0:08:04but these days, the full-time staff list is down to just one.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10There's me and we are running a business and maintaining it,
0:08:10 > 0:08:11so it's not easy.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15And sometimes you feel like, my God, what am I doing?
0:08:20 > 0:08:23But, for Noel, this isn't just a job.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25Having grown up on the estate,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28the Crichtons to him are almost like family.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30We are very different
0:08:30 > 0:08:34but yet intermingled into each other in a very unique way, I suppose.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38My mum worked in the castle for over 56 years.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41My two sisters were nannies for Lord Erne's children
0:08:41 > 0:08:44and indeed, for Viscount Crichton when he was a boy.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46And, I mean, all the children.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Lord Erne actually gave me my first job in the castle
0:08:48 > 0:08:51when I was about nine or ten years old.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53Bringing all the sticks to the fireplace at that time.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56There were 14 fireplaces going at that time.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59He would give me a few pounds each week and I used to do that
0:08:59 > 0:09:02before I went to school and when I came home from school.
0:09:02 > 0:09:07So the castle has been part of my life for such a long period of time as well.
0:09:07 > 0:09:08This has all been painted now,
0:09:08 > 0:09:11so from the last time you were here this has also been painted.
0:09:11 > 0:09:16And you remember where the water came down. That stain has dried up.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18- The painters have sorted that out. - Good.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20And this has all been re-carpeted.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25- And then the yellow drawing room. - Do you know, it looks as if it's always been here.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27Yes, it has blended in well.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30And remember the stain, the big stain that was on the carpet here?
0:09:30 > 0:09:34It has completely gone and all the carpets have been changed.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37The last red wine spill that was there has gone. It has come out OK, so it is fine.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40It's just one of those things, and do you know, it is so weird,
0:09:40 > 0:09:42Noel, that when I go to stay in private house parties
0:09:42 > 0:09:46all over, people still say, please, no red wine in the drawing room.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49It's not because they think you are going to misbehave,
0:09:49 > 0:09:51it's just that it is the killer.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53When is this being done again?
0:09:53 > 0:09:55With his property business in London,
0:09:55 > 0:09:58looking around houses is a recurring theme in John's world,
0:09:58 > 0:10:01albeit in very different circumstances.
0:10:01 > 0:10:06The contrast is great, because you leave the hustle, the bustle,
0:10:06 > 0:10:12the excitement and rather smelly, populated, crowded, noisy London.
0:10:12 > 0:10:17And drive here. It couldn't be more different.
0:10:17 > 0:10:18So, if you are having two lives,
0:10:18 > 0:10:23which I seem to have at the moment, better to have two complete extremes
0:10:23 > 0:10:25and you look forward to doing both.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28And after a bit of time, yep, you need a bit of London.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32When you have had too much London, my God, you need a bit of Crom.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35This was actually my bedroom when I was much younger.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37This was the night nursery.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39I remember two single beds in here,
0:10:39 > 0:10:42one for my nearest sister in age and one for me.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46Betty would have slept here. Although it was slightly different.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50- I think she slept in the rose room. - Joan was in the rose room.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Betty was here.
0:10:52 > 0:10:57These are Noel's two sisters who literally looked after me, poor things!
0:10:57 > 0:11:00They never got over it. They were traumatised!
0:11:00 > 0:11:03They are still getting over it now. So am I!
0:11:03 > 0:11:04Great.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09- So that is it all done. - No, it is looking great.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11As the only boy in a family of five children,
0:11:11 > 0:11:15Viscount Crichton's destiny was sealed at birth.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19His fate was to inherit the castle from his father.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34Lady Rosanna is Lord Erne's older sister,
0:11:34 > 0:11:38and recently returned to Crom to live in a cottage on the estate.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42Having seen the castle passed through the hands of two generations already,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45she is well aware of the challenges John faces.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53My grandfather was killed in the First World War and the estate
0:11:53 > 0:11:58became in the hands of trustees, because he was a minor,
0:11:58 > 0:12:01when his father was killed,
0:12:01 > 0:12:05and the trustees said this place is a white elephant.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07You haven't got a chance to keep it,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10you haven't got enough money to keep it.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13My father, when he came of age, said, "I'm going to have a go,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16"I'm going to try."
0:12:16 > 0:12:20And he had a job in London, so he hoped that that would help
0:12:20 > 0:12:24towards keeping up the place and it wasn't enough.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28Then he got killed in the Second World War,
0:12:28 > 0:12:32and the trustees said to my brother,
0:12:32 > 0:12:36"You haven't got a chance to keep this place, get rid of it."
0:12:36 > 0:12:39And he said, "I love it, I want to try."
0:12:39 > 0:12:44And my goodness, we are still here, in a sort of very, very different sort of way.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52- Rose.- Hello! Welcome!
0:12:52 > 0:12:54Thank you so much for looking after Piglet.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56- Well, she was very good. - Where has she gone now?
0:12:56 > 0:13:00When he's back from London, John enjoys spending time
0:13:00 > 0:13:03with his aunt and the opportunity to plunder her kitchen garden.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06- The hydrangeas have come on. - Those are amazing.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09What you have done to this garden since you've been here...
0:13:09 > 0:13:14- Put it in a glass of water. - Immediately?
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Take the lower things off, just so it keeps them fresh.
0:13:17 > 0:13:22- Well, I'm going to make it quite soon.- Yes.- Look at your sweet peas.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24- They are still out.- They smell nice.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27- You can put a little posy in their bedroom.- I must remember.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30That is to go with the prawns and that is to go in the bedroom, not the other way around.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33- Yes!- What is this sweet pea doing in my prawn?
0:13:34 > 0:13:37- That is really nice.- There you are. - Perfect.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40The dill will hopefully make it into a dinner that John is cooking
0:13:40 > 0:13:42for his sister, Lady Katherine,
0:13:42 > 0:13:46who is back with her husband and children for a fleeting stay
0:13:46 > 0:13:48in the family cottage on the estate.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51My God, you've made it! As the rain, the heavens come down.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53My darling!
0:13:53 > 0:13:56- So good to see you!- Welcome home!
0:13:56 > 0:14:01Now, you are upstairs. Mum and Dad are down here.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03I'm just above...
0:14:03 > 0:14:07- Have you spoken to any of the sisters?- Tarsi is in Greece, I think.- Oh, yes!
0:14:07 > 0:14:12- And all well on the work front, are you busy?- Very busy up in the wing.
0:14:12 > 0:14:13- Good.- Lots going on.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16We've got a booking for Christmas, which is fantastic
0:14:16 > 0:14:19because it means December is slightly covered.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22John's sisters have always known that, as the only boy,
0:14:22 > 0:14:26their little brother will one day have responsibility
0:14:26 > 0:14:27for the entire castle.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33I am the third girl and I knew as soon as John-John was born,
0:14:33 > 0:14:36that this was going to be his place and he would inherit
0:14:36 > 0:14:38and we have always been brought up to believe that and know that.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41It is so lovely for us to be able to come back and enjoy it
0:14:41 > 0:14:45and not have the responsibility of looking after a large place
0:14:45 > 0:14:47which I know is hard at times.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50But to be able to come back and see John-John when he's back
0:14:50 > 0:14:52and all of the people on the estate that I grew up with,
0:14:52 > 0:14:55we are very, very lucky to be able to do that.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02When the time to inherit comes, whether John can continue
0:15:02 > 0:15:06to keep the castle for the family to enjoy, remains to be seen.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09But for now, he has to keep up a dual existence
0:15:09 > 0:15:11between Fermanagh in Northern Ireland and London.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16So of course, it is great to be on the Fulham Road.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19You have literally got everything on your doorstep.
0:15:19 > 0:15:24Pubs, you've got restaurants, you've got a health gym, cinema,
0:15:24 > 0:15:28but I am quite further down, which means I am quite quiet.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32But still within walking distance to the razzmatazz. Which is great.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Making the most of his London life, John is having friends round later
0:15:35 > 0:15:37for supper on the roof terrace.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41- Hey, how are you doing? - How are you?- Very good.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43I would like to buy some supper, please.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47I would like some prosciutto and some ham.
0:15:47 > 0:15:4910, 15 slices of each.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52I need to get some salad now. Have you got some red peppers?
0:15:52 > 0:15:54You've got some red in there as well.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58Can you mix it up with the red as well? Thank you very much. Grazie!
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Even in his London flat,
0:16:08 > 0:16:12Viscount Crichton's Northern Irish roots are all around.
0:16:12 > 0:16:17So, I'm going to prepare some dinner for my guests.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21I've got a lovely flatmate, Nicola, who has been living here for about three years.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25I can't believe she still wants to live here after three years with me,
0:16:25 > 0:16:29but it is wonderful. We are the greatest friends. There she is.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31Hello!
0:16:31 > 0:16:35Funny enough, you probably find me more domesticated at Crom,
0:16:35 > 0:16:39- than London.- That is true, actually. He is a very generous host.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43I find myself at home much more caring
0:16:43 > 0:16:47and probably more respect for the house, even though this has got all
0:16:47 > 0:16:51my things in it, and to me, this is as much of a home as it is at Crom.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55But Crom seems to be a bit more special than that.
0:16:55 > 0:16:56- Hello!- Hi, you!
0:16:57 > 0:17:00- Long time no see! - I know, I know, I've been mad.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03I have been, as you know, away here and there and everywhere.
0:17:04 > 0:17:05Thank you.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10- Did you make these mozzarella balls yourself?- I didn't.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13I can honestly tell you that I have spent the past seven months
0:17:13 > 0:17:18- in my house, and I have not cooked one meal. Not one.- Why not?
0:17:18 > 0:17:21- Because I don't do cooking, JJ! - You're very good.- No, I'm not.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25- What was the weather like in Beirut? - Hot.- Very hot?- It was lovely.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27Really, really good.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30And I took your advice and I looked and I learnt,
0:17:30 > 0:17:34and I went to museums and I saw the most extraordinary things.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37We went wine tasting for Chateau Musar, which was lovely.
0:17:37 > 0:17:38I brought some back.
0:17:38 > 0:17:43We all love our wine, but I never realised how good Chateau Musar is.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46But nights like tonight are becoming less common
0:17:46 > 0:17:49and it's not long before John is back in Northern Ireland,
0:17:49 > 0:17:51overseeing the business of Crom.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59JAZZ MUSIC
0:18:02 > 0:18:05To succeed in his efforts to keep the castle,
0:18:05 > 0:18:07John knows he must diversify.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10So when the opportunity to make more money by renting it out
0:18:10 > 0:18:13to a television crew arose, he jumped at it.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16With his father's blessing, the entire castle
0:18:16 > 0:18:21was turned into the set for the BBC comedy drama series Blandings.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24With cast and crew making themselves at home in the west wing,
0:18:24 > 0:18:28John and Piglet moved into the family cottage on the estate.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Do you want some supper? Yes, you do. Come on.
0:18:34 > 0:18:39Good girl, yes, you love being back at Crom, don't you?
0:18:39 > 0:18:41Proper country dog now, aren't you?
0:18:42 > 0:18:46Now, do you want to go outies walkies? Let's go for a wander.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48Shall we go and see the production trucks, Piglet?
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Here we are. Wardrobe there.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57And make-up there. Hi, girls!
0:18:57 > 0:18:58Hello!
0:18:58 > 0:19:01What time am I ready for wardrobe at?
0:19:01 > 0:19:03The dress will be ready up here.
0:19:04 > 0:19:05That's Piglet!
0:19:05 > 0:19:08LAUGHS
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Sorry, filming mayhem!
0:19:11 > 0:19:12Come here.
0:19:14 > 0:19:19Now, one may or may not be surprised to know that Viscount Crichton
0:19:19 > 0:19:22also happens to have a history of amateur dramatics
0:19:22 > 0:19:24and a passion for performing.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26So much so, that there was even a time
0:19:26 > 0:19:28when he considered acting as a career.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32I suppose, was my heart really in it?
0:19:32 > 0:19:35I think the fantasy and the love of the theatre and all that was there,
0:19:35 > 0:19:39but I don't really think it was probably the work cut out for me.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43But the whole lifestyle of it was quite appealing.
0:19:43 > 0:19:49And I was a runner for a TV commercial company back in the early '90s.
0:19:49 > 0:19:54Being up there among cameras and, you know,
0:19:54 > 0:19:58the clapper man or the clapperboard, whatever you call him,
0:19:58 > 0:20:02is all a bit sort of nostalgic, really.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07So I'm going to play it by ear for the next six weeks.
0:20:07 > 0:20:12I can't ignore London, so I will probably go back periodically,
0:20:12 > 0:20:14check in with my clients.
0:20:14 > 0:20:20I have actually got someone who does exactly the same as me. Excuse me.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24I think that is right, C.
0:20:27 > 0:20:33There might be a small role... Extra.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Because they know I like the theatre.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38So I have got to maybe look at that and see
0:20:38 > 0:20:42if that would fit in with me being in London or back here.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46Somehow I think I will probably make the effort to come back for it!
0:20:46 > 0:20:50It would be quite fun to be a butler in your own house, wouldn't it?
0:20:56 > 0:20:59While waiting in the wings for a possible part,
0:20:59 > 0:21:02John is more than happy to be hands-on around the house
0:21:02 > 0:21:05and run errands that help with the day-to-day business at the castle.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14It is such a lovely Fermanagh sight, the man on the tractor.
0:21:14 > 0:21:19They all wave to each other. If you put a little nod up, up we go, how are you?
0:21:19 > 0:21:20It doesn't matter who it is.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26Oh, God, there's a dead badger. That is very sad.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40- Hi, Joan!- Morning, John-John. How are you?- Are you all right?
0:21:40 > 0:21:43- Yes, very well. How are you?- I'm brilliant, I'm very good, thank you.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46- Welcome home again. - You are very kind, thank you.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49- Just reading about you in the paper. - What's happened?- Blandings.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52Is that the Fermanagh Herald? I think I'm quoted in it, aren't I?
0:21:52 > 0:21:53Yes, you are.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56Joan was my nanny when I was much younger
0:21:56 > 0:22:00and she is Noel's sister, so very much part of the Johnston family.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04- And we had a lot of fun, didn't we? - We did, John, we had good fun in the nursery.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07You were always the naughty one with me, I think...
0:22:07 > 0:22:10- You were always the naughty one! - Anyway, listen, I'm rambling.
0:22:10 > 0:22:15- Can I get a book of first-class stamps, please?- A book of six?
0:22:15 > 0:22:16Yes, six.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20- There you go.- Thanks, Joan. - Not at all. It is good seeing you.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23I hope to get out now, one of these afternoons.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25Listen, tell me when you're coming out
0:22:25 > 0:22:27and I'll see if I can sneak you up on set.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30- And maybe come and meet some of the cast or something?- I would love that.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33- All right, Joanie, love to the family.- All right, see you.
0:22:33 > 0:22:34- Take care, bye-bye.- Bye, bye, bye.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42I love coming home, it's a lovely excuse to escape London,
0:22:42 > 0:22:45and even when I drive towards the castle,
0:22:45 > 0:22:50I still get a wonderful heartbeat misses when I see the house.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54It's just lovely to be home. Crom is home. Crom will always be home.
0:22:54 > 0:22:59Yes, my possessions, my things are all in London,
0:22:59 > 0:23:01but from a feeling point of view,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04it's definitely Crom, without a doubt.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09But to ensure Viscount Crichton succeeds
0:23:09 > 0:23:12at keeping his castle in Fermanagh as the family home,
0:23:12 > 0:23:16he needs to get back to the bread and butter business of weddings.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19What a lovely colour. Have we had this colour before?
0:23:19 > 0:23:20It is certainly one of my favourites.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26All go today. Filming in one part, setting up a wedding in the other.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30We're having a double whammy at Crom today in the west wing.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33And as his conservatory gets all dressed up for the wedding,
0:23:33 > 0:23:37John can't help but be drawn to the filming action out on the terrace.
0:23:37 > 0:23:38They must be freezing.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42Have you finished now for the day then?
0:23:42 > 0:23:45I'm sure London doesn't know what's hit it this week,
0:23:45 > 0:23:48- when you're not about, socialising. - What, London?- Yes.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51What are all the ladies going to do over there?
0:23:51 > 0:23:53LAUGHS Everyone's away.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56I could have had people to the cottage, probably, but there is
0:23:56 > 0:23:59quite a lot going on here at the moment, so I couldn't concentrate.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02You couldn't concentrate on the women, they'd distract you!
0:24:02 > 0:24:03Now, now, you!
0:24:03 > 0:24:06You want to pinch yourself. There you are, sitting in a room,
0:24:06 > 0:24:09with Jennifer Saunders, Tim Spall
0:24:09 > 0:24:12and Mark Williams, and you think, whoa, what is going on here?
0:24:14 > 0:24:17- Isn't it lovely?- Hard life.- It is.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20John is not the only one with a hard life,
0:24:20 > 0:24:23as Noel gets to grips with some last-minute maintenance.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29You can see we had a burst pipe here yesterday in one of the toilets.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32So by the time I got into the roof space to get the water turned off,
0:24:32 > 0:24:34you can see the mess on the trapdoor.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36So somebody is lying in the bath or sitting on the toilet,
0:24:36 > 0:24:39the last thing you want is looking at the whole place really dirty,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41so we have to get that painted.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44We literally only have three hours now or two-and-a-half hours
0:24:44 > 0:24:46before the guests arrive.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49So everything is pretty much on a tight schedule.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54So this is the bits that the bride and grooms don't see.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56It is important to me.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59Obviously, everybody is excited about the filming
0:24:59 > 0:25:00and of course, why not?
0:25:00 > 0:25:03But to me, the weddings and the people who are here at the minute
0:25:03 > 0:25:07is the most important, and that's what I sort of concentrate on.
0:25:07 > 0:25:12And the rest of the stuff, we will get done as we can get it done.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17I mean, I remember, Dad thought I was mad.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21On a Sunday in London, I would say, Dad, can we go to the theatres?
0:25:21 > 0:25:23And he would say, they are closed.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26I said, "No, can we just look at the outside of them?"
0:25:26 > 0:25:30And, you know, where they have the pictures of the shows outside them.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32I was fascinated by the stage door and all of that.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34I think I had the bug when I was about four or five.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47That's not too bad. Another bit done.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Then after school, I went to France for a year,
0:25:52 > 0:25:54to the Loire Valley, which is lovely.
0:25:54 > 0:25:59And I learned French and actually, I did OK there.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02And I came back after a year and I tried for LAMDA and RADA,
0:26:02 > 0:26:04and Central. And I was coached.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07But I just don't know if I had it really in me.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09I wanted it so badly but I don't know
0:26:09 > 0:26:12if I pushed myself enough to do it.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16Oh, hold on, there's dust on the top of that, I seen it this morning.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25I think that the irony, not the irony, but the fun of playing
0:26:25 > 0:26:28a member of staff in your own house, I think would be hysterical.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32As long as it's a recurring part!
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Now, Norman, is it a cash bar tomorrow
0:26:38 > 0:26:40or is the bride's father forking out?
0:26:40 > 0:26:42- No, there's no alcohol.- No alcohol?
0:26:58 > 0:27:01With the venue well on its way to becoming the backdrop
0:27:01 > 0:27:04for a wedding knees-up, Noel and John join forces
0:27:04 > 0:27:08to welcome the bride and her family to the castle.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10Lovely to see you. Are you all right?
0:27:10 > 0:27:13- Oh, yes, I'm very excited!- Good, I'm very glad you don't mind this.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15No, it is absolutely gorgeous.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17I hope it might become a feature here actually,
0:27:17 > 0:27:19- because I think she is lovely. - It sort of makes the most of.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22And look at that. Isn't that amazing, too?
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Lovely. And at the end as well.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27A day like that tomorrow is what you want.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29It's just taking a lot to... Taking it all in.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33- When did you first come down to see Crom?- When were we down?
0:27:33 > 0:27:36- September, was it, end of August? - Was I there as well or not?- Yes.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39- We did meet.- Sorry. - You brought us some Jaffa cakes.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42- I brought you some Jaffa cakes, good! - A cup of tea and Jaffa cakes!
0:27:42 > 0:27:45That is very important. That obviously won it over, didn't it?
0:27:45 > 0:27:47- It's my lasting memory, yes. - That's won it over for you.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50It's not the scenery, it was me doing the Jaffa cakes.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Absolutely!
0:27:52 > 0:27:55But there is more to the viscount than biscuits.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57And with more paying guests in his home,
0:27:57 > 0:28:01John graciously gives up HIS bedroom.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04This is my room when I'm here. Not that I'm here, obviously.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08- I will come and stay for the weekend! - Is there another one down here?
0:28:08 > 0:28:12- Yes, these are the only two on this side.- Upstairs?- Just down to the end.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14And you have got the staircase going up.
0:28:16 > 0:28:21And there is actually a room here, there is a bar here if you want your own.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23In fact, I will open it now. Have you seen this?
0:28:23 > 0:28:27This is the most important room in the house.
0:28:27 > 0:28:28Ta-da!
0:28:28 > 0:28:30How long are we going to stay in here?
0:28:30 > 0:28:33In you go, we will lock you in for the afternoon!
0:28:33 > 0:28:35LAUGHTER
0:28:38 > 0:28:41When you see the place, it is absolutely amazing. Stunning.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44I mean, it's brilliant. I'm getting excited now.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46I have been really calm all along, now I am excited!
0:28:47 > 0:28:50It makes me feel really happy, when you get people like this,
0:28:50 > 0:28:55who come in, who maybe don't know the castle at all, and you can see
0:28:55 > 0:28:58on her face, she is really excited and actually, the day has arrived.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00You know, lovely.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04Alana, that is the key of the front door.
0:29:04 > 0:29:08So you are now the official owner of Crom Castle. So look after it.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10It is a lot of responsibility.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13When weddings are taking place in the west wing,
0:29:13 > 0:29:17life generally carries on as normal for John's father in the south wing.
0:29:22 > 0:29:26Where Dad is, is a long way from where the west wing is.
0:29:26 > 0:29:30I think, in the evening, when they are in the library,
0:29:30 > 0:29:34maybe relaxing after dinner, they might hear a sort of thud-thud
0:29:34 > 0:29:36from the discotheque or whatever,
0:29:36 > 0:29:39but again, we are only 70, 80 people maximum.
0:29:39 > 0:29:41It does get turned off at about 11 o'clock.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43We make that quite clear
0:29:43 > 0:29:45because it is a private family residence as well.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56They say if you accept change, you never grow old.
0:29:56 > 0:30:01I don't know about me, but one tries to move with the times.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04And I can't think of a house of this size
0:30:04 > 0:30:07that isn't open to the public in some form or another.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14In a bid to keep his privacy,
0:30:14 > 0:30:18Lord Erne rarely strays from his side of the castle during weddings.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20Even in the midst of all the activity,
0:30:20 > 0:30:23Noel remains loyal to the family.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27- Go ahead, Lord Erne. - Can you check our oil?
0:30:27 > 0:30:29Yes, I will do. I'll do it today.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32It is our home and very much our home
0:30:32 > 0:30:35and if everybody sticks to the rules,
0:30:35 > 0:30:36it works very, very well.
0:30:36 > 0:30:38The only thing that can go a bit wrong
0:30:38 > 0:30:41is if people start charging into our bit when they are not supposed to
0:30:41 > 0:30:44or things like that, but on the whole it's a huge success.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48What do you think of the fountain, the way it's done? Did you see it?
0:30:48 > 0:30:50With the big woman, or the Buddha?
0:30:50 > 0:30:52- NOEL LAUGHS - Decorated.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55- Decorated, yeah.- Fantastic.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58I'm delighted to see the brides and I always say hello to them.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01As long as they stay down John's bit it works
0:31:01 > 0:31:04because I think everybody's entitled to a little bit of privacy
0:31:04 > 0:31:07and there is 1,000 acres to walk in
0:31:07 > 0:31:10and we only want a tiny bit to ourselves, that's all.
0:31:17 > 0:31:18They're all happy in here.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20As the wedding ceremony edges closer,
0:31:20 > 0:31:24Noel makes it his business to get the bride to the altar on time.
0:31:24 > 0:31:25- You look lovely.- Oh, thank you.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28- I'd nearly marry you myself! - BRIDE LAUGHS
0:31:28 > 0:31:31Go on and head out. That's it.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33I didn't realise you could do that.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36Keep it well up and then you'll not trip. Take your time.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39Give me your flowers. OK, go on ahead.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49- Take your time. - I just don't want to trip.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52My manly image just goes out the swanny
0:31:52 > 0:31:54when all these weddings goes on.
0:32:14 > 0:32:18Of course, weddings like this one are financially rewarding for the castle,
0:32:18 > 0:32:21but could his hard work in the West Wing
0:32:21 > 0:32:24turn the Viscount into his father's neighbour from hell?
0:32:26 > 0:32:30'If we're constantly fully booked up with people,
0:32:30 > 0:32:34'we're not going to enjoy it and then you've got to think also my parents,
0:32:34 > 0:32:36'who are still very much here...
0:32:36 > 0:32:39'As soon as we have a wedding here, it impacts on everybody
0:32:39 > 0:32:43'and they have to make their plans and they can't enjoy
0:32:43 > 0:32:44'the lawns and the grounds'
0:32:44 > 0:32:48with their friends if there's 50, 60 people running around.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50It's a fine balance.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53GUESTS CHEER
0:32:54 > 0:32:56But it seems John and Noel have no other option
0:32:56 > 0:33:00but to get the right balance between commercialism and privacy.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05What goes on here at Crom commercially
0:33:05 > 0:33:06is essential for the house.
0:33:06 > 0:33:11We've got astronomical bills every year to pay
0:33:11 > 0:33:15and if we didn't commercialise it, we wouldn't be able to be here.
0:33:15 > 0:33:16Simple as that.
0:33:16 > 0:33:20You know, it's down to the sad thing about money, isn't it?
0:33:20 > 0:33:25And we, as a family, do not have a magical pot of lots of money.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28It's just not there,
0:33:28 > 0:33:32so we have to use our castle in order to keep us here.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45Could it be that inheriting a castle
0:33:45 > 0:33:48is far from the fairytale one might imagine?
0:33:49 > 0:33:52Perhaps it's more a case of being trapped by birth.
0:33:53 > 0:33:58I think in life when one gets older, you are...
0:33:58 > 0:34:00You can have more responsibility.
0:34:00 > 0:34:05My father is turning 75 this year and I feel that he needs
0:34:05 > 0:34:11to withdraw back a bit and let me take over his good work.
0:34:16 > 0:34:21It's not a playhouse, you know, it's something that's heritage,
0:34:21 > 0:34:23it's been passed down from our forefathers
0:34:23 > 0:34:27and I strongly believe that we have a duty to keep it up.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33With over 400 years of family history at stake,
0:34:33 > 0:34:37John needs to make sure he isn't the one to drop the ball.
0:35:04 > 0:35:10There isn't normally as many cars of a Wednesday morning about here.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14Mum's little bungalow here on the left-hand side
0:35:14 > 0:35:16and obviously Mum was one of the families that
0:35:16 > 0:35:20when Lord Erne gave the place over to the trust 25 years ago,
0:35:20 > 0:35:23she was one of the members of the families
0:35:23 > 0:35:28of the ones that worked here that got to keep her house.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31- You're not sleeping? - HE LAUGHS
0:35:32 > 0:35:35Didn't I have them for you, but?
0:35:37 > 0:35:41Gorgeous morning, isn't it? Beautiful. Thank God to see it.
0:35:41 > 0:35:43- You making tea?- Yep.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59Gorgeous weather.
0:35:59 > 0:36:03Isn't this TV crew in Crom blessed with the weather so far?
0:36:03 > 0:36:05That's what I was saying.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07Lord Erne's mother always told me
0:36:07 > 0:36:10if Crom wanted what was going on, the sun shone.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13If it didn't want it, it rained.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25Well, I remember there was a function up there at the castle,
0:36:25 > 0:36:27about three or four years ago,
0:36:27 > 0:36:30and I was speaking to a man that was over from Scotland at it
0:36:30 > 0:36:35and he said to me, "Violet, these places are fabulous,
0:36:35 > 0:36:42"but these places cannot run without people like you or your generations."
0:36:42 > 0:36:47You know, I thought, "Well, maybe he's right." You know?
0:36:47 > 0:36:51Because he said, "These places have everything,
0:36:51 > 0:36:55"but it takes the people there to work for them."
0:36:57 > 0:36:59So let's hope I've done my bit!
0:37:10 > 0:37:15Noel's son Luke is also continuing the Johnston legacy
0:37:15 > 0:37:19and the family's contribution hasn't gone unnoticed by Lord Erne.
0:37:20 > 0:37:26They're a very remarkable family and I love them all deeply.
0:37:26 > 0:37:32Violet's exactly my age and we have no secrets and she's wonderful
0:37:32 > 0:37:36and her children have been amazing and practically all of them have
0:37:36 > 0:37:41worked for me in the past one way or another, either in the house
0:37:41 > 0:37:46or when Noel worked on the estate and they're all my greatest friends.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49I really do consider them my very greatest friends
0:37:49 > 0:37:51in the whole wide world.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20- Evening, ladies.- Hi, John-John.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23John's decision to stay in Fermanagh
0:38:23 > 0:38:26during filming of the TV series Blandings paid off
0:38:26 > 0:38:30when he finally got the chance to play a butler in his own house.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33I've got socks on. Nice colour, that all right?
0:38:33 > 0:38:36- Let me give you black socks. - Black socks.
0:38:40 > 0:38:45Gosh, I think everything was a bit tight in the period drama in that era...
0:38:47 > 0:38:48..or I've put on weight.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51Right, off to make-up.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55- Hello!- Hi, Linda. How are you doing?
0:38:55 > 0:38:59- Watch the door, it doesn't shut. How are you?- I'm very well, my love.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01- Come and sit down. - Thank you so much.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12- Lovely.- Thank you.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15- My pleasure. - Amazing, thank you so much.
0:39:15 > 0:39:16We'll have a fiddle up there.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18- Thank you so much, Linda.- No bother.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28Butler! Can you go and get me a glass of wine, please?
0:39:28 > 0:39:31It's a waiting game. It's a waiting, waiting, waiting game.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33So what time are you on at now?
0:39:33 > 0:39:35They keep on saying it's now
0:39:35 > 0:39:38and now they're saying it's going to be the last scene of the day.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40I've just seen them marking out the hallway,
0:39:40 > 0:39:42- but that's for another scene. - Who are you doing that with?
0:39:42 > 0:39:45- Do you know who you're doing it with?- With the team.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48All the staff and Jennifer Saunders and Mark Williams.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51- In the front hall or the drawing room?- In the front hall.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53They're drilling us about something.
0:40:07 > 0:40:11The crew appear to have broken for lunch, but clearly ready for action,
0:40:11 > 0:40:15Viscount Crichton passes the time by getting into character.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19That would have been what they'd have to do -
0:40:19 > 0:40:21make sure it was all nice and clean,
0:40:21 > 0:40:23otherwise they'd probably get fired...
0:40:23 > 0:40:25if the house wasn't tidy and clean.
0:40:27 > 0:40:28Well, John didn't get fired.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30His moment on camera arrived
0:40:30 > 0:40:34and the good news is that his performance made the final cut.
0:40:36 > 0:40:43Good. Now, listen to me, ALL of you.
0:40:45 > 0:40:52I have reason to believe we can expect an intruder,
0:40:52 > 0:40:54a certain undesirable person.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57Jimmy Belford, who is a cowboy,
0:40:57 > 0:41:00may seek to make contact with a member of the family.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04If you see anybody acting suspiciously...
0:41:08 > 0:41:09< Sorry.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22But John knows he can't stay in the make-believe world for ever
0:41:22 > 0:41:26and so it's back to London to get on with real life as Viscount Crichton.
0:41:26 > 0:41:31You don't use Viscount Crichton in person, that is the courtesy title
0:41:31 > 0:41:36that the first son of an earl is given, but I would hardly use it
0:41:36 > 0:41:39if no-one's educated about it - why should they be?
0:41:39 > 0:41:42It's sort of becoming a bit of a dying breed, really.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49After two months in Fermanagh,
0:41:49 > 0:41:54Piglet and her master quickly got reacquainted with London park life.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58This little one - got to speak slowly cos I don't want her to hear -
0:41:58 > 0:42:01was the runt of the litter...
0:42:01 > 0:42:06But I did this thing where I lay on my belly and this one came to me.
0:42:06 > 0:42:10I don't know why, I just...felt, "You look like a little piglet."
0:42:10 > 0:42:12And she was.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15Everyone thought it was a bizarre name to call a dog, but actually,
0:42:15 > 0:42:20the more and more you see her, the more she behaves, she is a piglet.
0:42:25 > 0:42:29Leaving Piglet back at home, it's not long before John gets back
0:42:29 > 0:42:33to the business of finding upmarket properties for well-heeled clients.
0:42:34 > 0:42:36What sort of budget are we looking at?
0:42:36 > 0:42:39- We're looking at a minimum of four million.- OK.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42- Up to about six.- OK.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45From the spacious corridors of Crom Castle, he finds himself
0:42:45 > 0:42:49checking out small but perfectly formed apartments in Knightsbridge.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52The thing which I have always understood is that people
0:42:52 > 0:42:56don't go mad over kitchens because they are here for such a short time,
0:42:56 > 0:43:00- they come in, they prefer to eat out...- Probably never use them.
0:43:00 > 0:43:04I've been into so many flats that have probably been, you know,
0:43:04 > 0:43:07owned for years and no-one's used the oven.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10Well, I know for a fact that my clients come and go out
0:43:10 > 0:43:13and sample the restaurants locally and all of that.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16My client was worried about the small hob there, but as you say,
0:43:16 > 0:43:19people living around here are not really going to be using it.
0:43:23 > 0:43:25Whilst dealing with other people's property dilemmas,
0:43:25 > 0:43:29John can't afford to forget about his family castle back at home.
0:43:30 > 0:43:33Crom is a huge responsibility, of course it is,
0:43:33 > 0:43:35so it does weigh on one's mind.
0:43:35 > 0:43:41But I've obviously twigged that it's incredibly important
0:43:41 > 0:43:43to play more of a role there now,
0:43:43 > 0:43:46especially with Dad taking more of a back seat
0:43:46 > 0:43:49and it's become quite natural.
0:43:49 > 0:43:50I only find it unsettling
0:43:50 > 0:43:53when I've arrived in one of the two places and suddenly
0:43:53 > 0:43:56I need to turn around and come back because something's happened.
0:43:56 > 0:43:58That's when it gets unsettling,
0:43:58 > 0:44:03but both are as important as each other at the moment.
0:44:08 > 0:44:12Wherever he is, Viscount Crichton is keenly aware of his family heritage,
0:44:12 > 0:44:16even when it comes to getting ready for an evening out.
0:44:16 > 0:44:18Probably try to put it in this way round
0:44:18 > 0:44:21so that the actual emblem can be seen on the right side
0:44:21 > 0:44:26and if you look here, this is a stud box which was given to me
0:44:26 > 0:44:30by my sisters for my 21st, which is obviously my surname
0:44:30 > 0:44:34and a coronet - nine balls on the coronet denoting a Viscount
0:44:34 > 0:44:39and if you look in here, I've got more than enough cufflinks.
0:44:39 > 0:44:43What do you think, Piglet, do you want cufflinks? Hup-hup-hup-hup!
0:44:43 > 0:44:48Go on. One, two, three. Good girl. Yes! That's it.
0:44:48 > 0:44:50Yes. Yes, darling.
0:44:50 > 0:44:54Yes. You have to be everywhere, don't you? Oh, you do.
0:44:56 > 0:44:59Good girl. You enjoyed your walk today, didn't you?
0:44:59 > 0:45:03She had a bath yesterday, so she's just forgiven me.
0:45:12 > 0:45:15- Hi, darling.- Oh, hello. - Congratulations.- Thank you very much.
0:45:15 > 0:45:16Well done you.
0:45:16 > 0:45:20With London all decked out for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations,
0:45:20 > 0:45:22John is ready to join the party.
0:45:22 > 0:45:25- Could we propose a toast to Her Majesty the Queen?- Here, here.
0:45:25 > 0:45:28- The Queen. - ALL:- The Queen.
0:45:28 > 0:45:31THEY APPLAUD
0:45:43 > 0:45:46Well done, everybody. Looking well.
0:45:47 > 0:45:50While Viscount Crichton enjoys the Jubilee Weekend in London,
0:45:50 > 0:45:54back in Fermanagh, the castle is also marking the event
0:45:54 > 0:45:56under the watchful eye of the Johnston clan.
0:45:59 > 0:46:02- No tongues, now! - THEY LAUGH
0:46:04 > 0:46:05Very good.
0:46:07 > 0:46:08Well done.
0:46:11 > 0:46:15With the Crichtons' blessing, Noel invited 60 ladies from Crom Church
0:46:15 > 0:46:20to host a good old-fashioned Jubilee tea party in John's West Wing.
0:46:20 > 0:46:24Grabbing the offer with both hands, they've turned out in style
0:46:24 > 0:46:27and with enough tea and cake to sink a Lough Erne cruiser.
0:46:27 > 0:46:30- NOEL:- Oh, aye, I got that all right!
0:46:35 > 0:46:40Lord Erne's father was equerry to the King
0:46:40 > 0:46:45and that's how Lord Erne come to be page at the Queen's Coronation.
0:46:45 > 0:46:49So it was such an exciting thing for a 15-year-old to be part of
0:46:49 > 0:46:50and a huge honour
0:46:50 > 0:46:55and Lord Erne's godfather was King George VI as well,
0:46:55 > 0:46:57so there's a huge part of history
0:46:57 > 0:47:00associated with the castle and the Crichton family.
0:47:04 > 0:47:07WOMEN CHATTER
0:47:08 > 0:47:11To mark the day for prosperity,
0:47:11 > 0:47:14Noel rounds up the ladies for a photo opportunity on the lawn
0:47:14 > 0:47:17before inviting them to check out the Viscount's bedroom.
0:47:17 > 0:47:20Well, ladies, this is the Crichton Room
0:47:20 > 0:47:22and this is Lord Erne's son's bedroom when he comes home.
0:47:22 > 0:47:24When we opened for business as well, you know,
0:47:24 > 0:47:28John-John used to come home when he wanted and he still does that,
0:47:28 > 0:47:30but he actually has to put it into the diary now
0:47:30 > 0:47:33cos we've become that busy, he just can't come home when he wants
0:47:33 > 0:47:35and hopefully that his castle's here for him.
0:47:35 > 0:47:36I'm just looking around here,
0:47:36 > 0:47:40there's bound to be girls not married in this group, is there?
0:47:40 > 0:47:43- Just one.- Only the one?
0:47:43 > 0:47:46Well, if you're thinking of getting married, come here,
0:47:46 > 0:47:50and Lord Erne's son John-John's not married, so if you know any...
0:47:50 > 0:47:52eligible ladies as well.
0:47:52 > 0:47:54The other things about this room is the Adams fireplace.
0:47:54 > 0:47:55They're very, very rare.
0:47:55 > 0:47:58It's the first thing I check after the guests leave
0:47:58 > 0:48:00that the Adams fireplace is still here.
0:48:00 > 0:48:02- Still here!- Yeah.
0:48:05 > 0:48:07Although no longer working at the castle,
0:48:07 > 0:48:09it appears true that old habits die hard
0:48:09 > 0:48:13and Noel's mum Violet still can't resist mucking in in the kitchen.
0:48:13 > 0:48:16There's a whole new meaning for Crom now, isn't there?
0:48:16 > 0:48:20A whole new meaning for it when the weather shines on it.
0:48:20 > 0:48:22As I said to you, when Crom wants it, the weather will shine.
0:48:22 > 0:48:26The sun will shine for Crom. And that'll be it.
0:48:50 > 0:48:53Regardless of whether Viscount Crichton's time at Crom
0:48:53 > 0:48:55is for business or pleasure,
0:48:55 > 0:48:59Lord Erne is always glad to have his son and heir back where he belongs.
0:48:59 > 0:49:01- Hello!- Hi, Dad!
0:49:01 > 0:49:03- How are you?- I'm all right. How lovely to see you.
0:49:03 > 0:49:06- Did you have a good journey?- Yeah, thank you. Do you want some coffee?
0:49:06 > 0:49:08- Yes, please.- Good, good. I'll go and make you one.
0:49:08 > 0:49:14It's a slight, fleeting visit, I'm afraid, cos I've got a brand-new client starting on Monday.
0:49:14 > 0:49:17- Good. What are the bookings like? - This time last year... Well, we're up.
0:49:17 > 0:49:19- Well done.- For next year.
0:49:19 > 0:49:24- Good.- A slight disappointment with the Christmas booking...- Oh, well.
0:49:24 > 0:49:26- I know.- You can't win them all.
0:49:26 > 0:49:29We can't, but it would have to be that one that cancelled
0:49:29 > 0:49:31because that's the one that we really needed for December.
0:49:31 > 0:49:35- Well, at least it gives us Christmas to ourselves!- Yes, it does.
0:49:35 > 0:49:38- Which I rather like.- I know you do! JOHN LAUGHS
0:49:38 > 0:49:39I need the money!
0:49:45 > 0:49:48The family may have given away much of the land around the castle,
0:49:48 > 0:49:52but privacy has always remained important to Lord Erne
0:49:52 > 0:49:55and as the wedding season draws to a close, John and Noel have come up
0:49:55 > 0:49:59with a seemingly perfect solution to protect him from intrusion.
0:49:59 > 0:50:02We're having a wee bit of problems, Lord Erne,
0:50:02 > 0:50:06- with people actually crossing where we normally keep the chain...- Yes.
0:50:06 > 0:50:10So we were thinking of putting a fence up somewhere in this area,
0:50:10 > 0:50:13we don't know quite where, but that's something maybe that
0:50:13 > 0:50:16you could tell us where you would like it or where you would suggest.
0:50:16 > 0:50:20Well, I think probably, sort of, the divide between our bit
0:50:20 > 0:50:24- and your bit is roughly that drainpipe, isn't it?- Yes.
0:50:24 > 0:50:28But it would need to come this way a bit. What do you suggest?
0:50:28 > 0:50:32I think this bay window should be within...
0:50:32 > 0:50:36What I don't want is people to come out of the West Wing door
0:50:36 > 0:50:37and suddenly see a fence.
0:50:37 > 0:50:39What we were chatting about there,
0:50:39 > 0:50:42if Lord Erne has guests in and people are here, you know,
0:50:42 > 0:50:46at the chain, they can't see directly into the library either,
0:50:46 > 0:50:49so it still gives that bit of privacy for Lord and Lady Erne.
0:50:49 > 0:50:52- That's very good. I'd like black wrought iron.- Always smart.
0:50:52 > 0:50:56- And then it would have little, sort of...- Spikes on it? - THEY LAUGH
0:50:56 > 0:51:00- That'd catch anybody trying to step over.- Razor-sharp.- Whoa!
0:51:00 > 0:51:04No, that would be splendid because however many signs you put up,
0:51:04 > 0:51:08people after a few glasses of champagne don't really notice, do they?
0:51:08 > 0:51:11And if anybody crosses it, God help them!
0:51:12 > 0:51:15- I'll be able to set my new Jack Russell puppy on them.- Oh, yes.
0:51:15 > 0:51:22It's about this size. Oh! Hup-hup-hup-hup! Yes, Flora.
0:51:22 > 0:51:26Yes, Flora. Oh, the little Flora. Oh, the little Flora.
0:51:26 > 0:51:31Do you want to be a movie star? Do you want to be a movie star? Do you?
0:51:31 > 0:51:34Do you want to come and see the movie? Such a little Flora.
0:51:34 > 0:51:38There's the little movie. Now, what do you think of my new puppy?
0:51:38 > 0:51:41It really has very, very sharp teeth.
0:51:41 > 0:51:43Good morning, did you sleep well, Flora?
0:51:43 > 0:51:45Yes, now, you've got to behave yourself
0:51:45 > 0:51:47cos you're a very naughty little Jack Russell.
0:51:47 > 0:51:49Yes, you are, and you're called Flora.
0:51:49 > 0:51:53Oh, dear. You can see it's trouble, can't you?
0:51:53 > 0:51:56I must take it back, otherwise there'll be trouble more.
0:52:04 > 0:52:07Necessity dictates that John's trips home are often
0:52:07 > 0:52:10concentrated around his commercial concerns,
0:52:10 > 0:52:14but unlike in London, when his working day ends at Crom,
0:52:14 > 0:52:17he often has only himself for company.
0:52:27 > 0:52:30Take sort of anyone in the same situation as me -
0:52:30 > 0:52:32they've got a house maybe of this size...
0:52:34 > 0:52:38Their advantage is that it's probably a couple of hours
0:52:38 > 0:52:42from London down the M4 and they may work and live in London.
0:52:42 > 0:52:47During the week the children go to school and they go to the country at the weekend
0:52:47 > 0:52:51and that is a very easy, very popular way of living.
0:52:51 > 0:52:54The problem I've got is location here.
0:52:54 > 0:52:56If I come back here with my family,
0:52:56 > 0:53:01I have to make sure that everyone's happy on a full-time basis.
0:53:01 > 0:53:06Does my future wife have enough girlfriends in the county
0:53:06 > 0:53:08to meet up with?
0:53:08 > 0:53:10The answer would be no
0:53:10 > 0:53:14because of the age group... unless I marry a 60-year-old!
0:53:15 > 0:53:20But you know what I mean, and I think until you probably get to Dad's age,
0:53:20 > 0:53:22where you are so relaxed
0:53:22 > 0:53:25and you don't have as much responsibility and you can retire,
0:53:25 > 0:53:28then this is the dream.
0:53:28 > 0:53:32But I think at the moment one has to be realistic, you know,
0:53:32 > 0:53:36it's all right saying you're making enough money here,
0:53:36 > 0:53:42but that's just to sustain the house, what about my needs? My wife's needs?
0:53:42 > 0:53:46The children's education? A holiday now and again?
0:53:46 > 0:53:52Cars? You know...life?
0:53:53 > 0:53:58And that cannot be sustained from the income of Crom.
0:53:58 > 0:54:01I don't draw a penny from Crom, for my own use.
0:54:01 > 0:54:06Crom pays Crom, London pays my existence.
0:54:15 > 0:54:18Noel will continue to do whatever he can to help Viscount Crichton
0:54:18 > 0:54:21strike the balance between his two lives
0:54:21 > 0:54:23and keep the castle in the family name.
0:54:26 > 0:54:30And just as he has taken over from his mother Violet,
0:54:30 > 0:54:33he hopes to be able to pass his role on to his own son one day.
0:54:46 > 0:54:49You see the white house just in the distance there now in the trees?
0:54:49 > 0:54:53That's where my granny and my great-granny was born.
0:54:54 > 0:54:57That's Curragh House, known as, and that's done up now,
0:54:57 > 0:54:58the National Trust has done it up as well
0:54:58 > 0:55:01and that's used as a cottage, and obviously
0:55:01 > 0:55:04they would have come down and went to the school, the old school here.
0:55:04 > 0:55:06And then kicked left from that quay,
0:55:06 > 0:55:08to go to this quay here to go to church on a Sunday as well.
0:55:08 > 0:55:12So it's all very much in a small area and all part of the estate.
0:55:22 > 0:55:26I don't want to force any of my sons or anyone to do something that they don't want,
0:55:26 > 0:55:30but I genuinely hope that some of my sons definitely take a huge part in it
0:55:30 > 0:55:32and keep the tradition going
0:55:32 > 0:55:37because I know it's all about nowadays people diversifying
0:55:37 > 0:55:40and doing different things, but this is in our blood
0:55:40 > 0:55:43and we've been at the castle for hundreds of years.
0:55:43 > 0:55:46We don't want to really stop that, we want to try and keep that going,
0:55:46 > 0:55:50so I genuinely hope that some of them do keep it going and look after it.
0:55:54 > 0:55:56Yeah, you'd love that!
0:55:57 > 0:56:01- But the tennis court isn't looking too bad.- No, but it's...
0:56:01 > 0:56:03I think it needs to be power hosed...
0:56:03 > 0:56:06As Lord Erne steps back
0:56:06 > 0:56:09and Viscount Crichton becomes more hands-on at the castle,
0:56:09 > 0:56:12it's important to remember that this isn't just the tale
0:56:12 > 0:56:15of a family bound by history and obligation,
0:56:15 > 0:56:20but of a father and son trying to look after one another.
0:56:21 > 0:56:24- Aren't the crocuses wonderful? - That's just bizarre at this time of year.
0:56:24 > 0:56:27- They are so extraordinary, autumn crocuses.- There you go.
0:56:27 > 0:56:32- There you go.- Shows you how much I know about flowers. Dear swan...
0:56:34 > 0:56:36What did you say, where did...?
0:56:36 > 0:56:39They're a nice couple, aren't they? Lovely, I like them having dogs.
0:56:39 > 0:56:43- A nice dog.- That's the sort of people you want here at Crom.- Yeah.
0:56:46 > 0:56:51Do you know I think this is one of my favourite spots at Crom
0:56:51 > 0:56:53because it reminds me of the sailing days.
0:56:53 > 0:56:57We used to sail right up the bay and we had a buoy at the end,
0:56:57 > 0:57:01and we'd go round that and there was usually a south-west wind,
0:57:01 > 0:57:04so it was a question of tacking all the way up
0:57:04 > 0:57:07and coming back before the wind, it was just so wonderful.
0:57:15 > 0:57:17Ultimately, John stands to inherit
0:57:17 > 0:57:20over 400-years worth of family history.
0:57:21 > 0:57:26But as the latest generations have come to accept, times have changed
0:57:26 > 0:57:30and these days keeping this majestic pile of stones in the Crichton name
0:57:30 > 0:57:32comes at a huge price.
0:57:33 > 0:57:36Is he really prepared for what lies ahead?
0:57:36 > 0:57:40I'm very keen, you know, as a son, to keep things going,
0:57:40 > 0:57:45but what would your advice be to me to maintain
0:57:45 > 0:57:50and some of your passions that you've banged on about and done for so long?
0:57:50 > 0:57:54Well, I think what is first of all absolutely wonderful is that
0:57:54 > 0:57:58you are prepared to come home and look after the West Wing
0:57:58 > 0:58:01and eventually the whole house, which means more to me
0:58:01 > 0:58:03than anything, that really is fantastic
0:58:03 > 0:58:06and make it commercial and you'll be very good at it
0:58:06 > 0:58:09because you're very good at parties and people.
0:58:09 > 0:58:12But the most important thing is to make as much money
0:58:12 > 0:58:14as you possibly can in London and keep coming home
0:58:14 > 0:58:17and you and I are probably biased but we think Fermanagh's
0:58:17 > 0:58:19the best county in the whole of Northern Ireland.
0:58:19 > 0:58:22Without a doubt, you've only got to look at that. Where else do you get that?
0:58:22 > 0:58:27You know, not on the Fulham Road, I can tell you! Long may it continue.
0:58:27 > 0:58:29And maybe onto another generation.
0:59:02 > 0:59:05Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd