A GOTHIC mansion in the Moorlands, which has been the setting for many famous films, is to be featured in a television documentary.

Heath House at Tean has undergone a dramatic change in fortunes after a visit from Channel 4's Country House Rescue programme makers.

The Victorian House and its 200-acre estate has been transformed thanks to the formidable Ruth Watson, below

.

She realised the huge potential of Heath House and recommended the family open it for weddings, corporate entertaining and private events.

Owners John and Flavia Philips had been forced to put their ancestral home up for sale when they could no longer find the money or the energy required to keep it going.

With an asking price of more than £3 million it stayed unsold for three years as the property market crashed.

Ruth's production company stumbled across the estate agent's particulars while searching for suitable candidates for the show.

John said: "When they first called I was really quite taken with the idea. A lot of people advised me not to get involved but I thought, I will, and I did, and I have no regrets."

The couple have seen a sneak preview of the programme and are pleased with it.

Mr Heath said: "It was really quite good. The storyline was that the house was on the market, there were few offers, and our son wanted to take it over."

Mrs Heath said: "It was all very positive. There was nothing controversial and it was all very factual. It should make for very good viewing."

Ruth met the family and explained how current market values would make a sale difficult and they had nothing to lose in trying to establish the house as a going concern.

The biggest change is the presence of Ben Philips, the couple's eldest son who has accepted the mantle of responsibility from his father.

Ben, aged 42, said Ruth had been very bossy, but had to admit that more often than not she was right.

He added: "We had this one filming session that pretty much took all day and at the end of it we were all gathered in the dining room for Ruth to deliver her verdict.

"She said we'd spent too long procrastinating and dithering and we just sat there like naughty schoolchildren being told off."

Ruth said the family had made Heath House a good candidate for the programme.

She said: "Heath House has been incredibly interesting as the family are such characters. John is so quirky and opinionated and really ruled the roost. It was quite difficult to persuade him to let Ben have a go at running the place, as he really wants to have a crack at making it work."

Joyce Plant, who grew up at the house where her mother was employed as one of the cooks was delighted the house was staying in the family.

She said: "The family have put a lot into the community. I really hope it is a success for them."

Viewers can see the programme on Channel 4 on Thursday, March 25, at 8pm.