The eternally industrious Sarah Beeny returns with her family for another season of rural redevelopment, proving once again there’s no rest for the domestically ambitious. This time, the project involves a rather audacious plan: constructing a thatched boathouse on their picturesque, if slightly algae-ridden, pond. One can’t help but feel a twinge of vicarious exhaustion just contemplating the logistics.
Apparently inspired by a jaunt along the River Thames, the Beenys decided their own humble body of water required a similar touch of elegance. Never mind that their pond likely houses more frogs than swans. The episode chronicles the usual blend of back-breaking labor, creative differences, and inevitable weather-related setbacks that fans have come to expect. Will the boathouse resemble a charming Victorian folly or a slightly lopsided garden shed?
Beyond the primary build, the Beeny offspring engage in a bit of sibling rivalry involving woodworking, the results of which may or may not be structurally sound. And because no episode of bucolic life would be complete without a touch of rustic charm, the family gathers around a Swedish torch for some al fresco cooking. One imagines marshmallows are involved, although knowing the resourceful Beenys, they’re probably roasting foraged mushrooms or something equally wholesome.
This marks the fourth season of Beeny’s country chronicles, documenting five years of transforming a Somerset farm into their ideal home. While the scale of their projects might seem daunting, there’s a certain charm in watching the family tackle each challenge with a mix of pragmatism and good humor. One can’t help but wonder what ambitious scheme they’ll concoct next. A miniature steam railway, perhaps?
Sarah Beeny’s New Life In The Country airs Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 5:10 PM on Channel 4.
