Life

TV Quickfire: Charlotte Church on return of Charlotte Church's Dream Build

Charlotte Church's Dream Build returns to our screens this week. We found out more from the star about her quest to turn a derelict seven-bedroom country house into a beautiful retreat...

Undated Handout Photo from Charlotte Church�s Dream Build. Pictured: Charlotte Church. See PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Quickfire Church. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Really/Rekha Garton. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Quickfire Church.
Undated Handout Photo from Charlotte Church�s Dream Build. Pictured: Charlotte Church. See PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Quickfire Church. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Really/Rekha Garton. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SH Undated Handout Photo from Charlotte Church�s Dream Build. Pictured: Charlotte Church. See PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Quickfire Church. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Really/Rekha Garton. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Quickfire Church.

TELL US ABOUT THE PROPERTY

I BOUGHT it two years ago and have been engaged in a massive renovation project ever since.

My hope, if I get planning permission, is to make it a retreat centre, which is focused on nature connections, sound healing and ceremony. One of my big plans for it is that it's affordable, or at least to have some options which are very affordable for people.

WHY RHYDOLDOG?

It was never in my plan to buy something like Rhydoldog. I was looking for a field so I could start a glamping business. But as soon as I saw Rhydoldog, I fell madly in love – it was an obsessional relationship for a while. It didn't then take long to build the vision – literally every second I spent away from the place, I was just thinking about it constantly.

It was something about the waterfalls that just felt so deeply peaceful and cleansing. That's when I started thinking about a retreat centre.

IN THE FIRST SERIES WE'VE SEEN YOU BEING VERY HANDS ON WITH THE PROJECT

I've had to turn my hand to a million different things and I've also had to keep it all in my mind, which has almost broken my mind at different points.

Especially having a young baby, trying to balance my family life and my other work commitments – it's really been a lot. One of the things that it has really taught me is that we all need to figure out how to have a much healthier work-life balance.

YOU'VE HAD YOUR FAMILY WITH YOU FOR THIS JOURNEY, THAT MUST HAVE BEEN VERY SPECIAL.

It has been such a journey. I've been on such a wild learning curve.

I know it sounds really cheesy and everybody says it, but I honestly couldn't have done it without my family by my side.

They really helped me keep the faith and dream. But also keep me in line, if I've gone away to somewhere that was unreasonable or somewhere beyond the realms of possibilities.

Particularly with my dad, if it didn't make financial sense then he would question me more and ask me to reflect. He really was that sounding board and kept me honest, I suppose.

HAS THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF THINGS BEEN STRESSFUL?

Yeah it's been quite stressful. But in a way, I'm only experiencing what everybody else experiences.

I've always been in an incredibly privileged position, where I've not had to worry about money. And so now I have to worry about money.

What I suppose I'm saying is that it's all about perspective. Whilst it has been risky, really nerve-racking and very stressful in making myself so vulnerable financially, I also know now that it's going to work, because we've had thousands of people getting in touch who really want to come and stay.

HAVE YOU LEARNED ANY NEW SKILLS?

To be a leader. I think I've always been really strong in my convictions about what I want, but I've not always taken full responsibility.

As a leader, I am really learning how to navigate lots of different worlds, whilst staying true to myself and my personality and who I am and what I think is important about myself.

But also when it's required, putting my foot down and saying 'this is my project, I am putting a lot into this, I am risking a lot and so, therefore, this is what I need from you'. That has been a really interesting process.

:: Charlotte Church's Dream Build airs from 9pm on Wednesday October 5 on Really and discovery+