Great British Castle Rescue follows presenter Rick Edwards as he ventures inside some of the UK’s most spectacular and endangered castles. From crumbling medieval towers to collapsing royal chambers, engineers and historians battle to stabilise these epic structures before they're lost forever. Each rescue unlocks extraordinary stories of warrior kings, civil wars, brutal betrayals and forgotten lives.
Blending cutting-edge engineering, adventure and vivid historical AI reconstruction, the series reveals how these fortresses shaped Britain, and whether they can survive for future generations.
EPISODE 1
In the series premiere, Rick Edwards arrives at Fyvie Castle in Aberdeenshire to meet project director Annie Robertson, who faces the daunting task of saving the childhood home of Charles I from near-collapse. Together, they consult stonemasons, historians, and archaeologists to understand Fyvie’s structural challenges and rich history. With expert advice and examples from other castles in mind - such as how Lincoln Castle preserves the Magna Carta or how Hay Castle manages crumbling walls - Rick and Annie begin to plan strategies to restore Fyvie, safeguarding its heritage and making the castle accessible to future generations.
EPISODE 2
In Episode 2, Rick Edwards visits Gwrych Castle, where restoration has been a lifelong passion for Mark Baker, who set up a trust to save the castle at just 12 years old. Once a sanctuary for Kindertransport children escaping WWII, Gwrych now lies in near-ruin. Mark has reconnected the castle with descendants of the family who once owned it, who now help him track down pieces of art that belonged to Gwrych. Drawing inspiration from Muncaster Castle, where King Henry VI once took refuge, and a major restoration recently completed in Norwich, Mark finds hope that Gwrych’s revival is possible.
EPISODE 3
Rick Edwards visits Lowther Castle, once a centre of Norman power in Cumbria and later a summer retreat for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Now, Jim Lowther, son of the late 7th Earl of Lonsdale, is determined to remove the castle from the at-risk register. Scarred by WWII, Jim’s father stripped the roof and sold the contents, leaving it an empty shell. Rick searches for inspiration at Lews Castle, home of the Lewis Chessmen, and Astley Castle, where a modern structure was built within the ruins. Armed with these examples, Jim unveils his ambitious plan to save Lowther.