Join Viscount and Viscountess Hinchingbrooke behind the scenes of living on a vast country estate - and it's not always decadent dinner parties, vintage champagne and being waited on hand and food.

Luke and Julie Montagu draw back the curtain at Mapperton House and reveal their lives as 21st century aristocrats.

There are leaking roofs, decaying tapestries and eye-watering repair bills. Maintaining a historic house is no picnic, even for the family that invented the sandwich.

Starting April 1, Luke and Julie welcome us into their home with the launch of Mapperton Live - mappertonlive.com - a new online membership service filmed and streamed from the manor.

As presenter of the Smithsonian Channel's 'An American Aristocrat's Guide to Great Estates', Julie is no stranger to the camera, but this time it is a little closer to home.

She said: "We're incredibly lucky to live in such beautiful and historic surroundings. However, it's definitely not Brigerton.

"These days we all need to roll up our sleeves, whether fixing pipes, mowing the lawn or scrubbing the lavatories. But many of the projects are also great fun, such as my yoga retreats ad latest efforts to produce apple juice."

Luke's background in film and education has also helped. He founded the Met Film School, now the largest in the UK.

He said: "Mapperton House has always welcomed visitors, but for the past year our doors have been shut. So, last summer we began offering virtual online tours and discovered a new global audience.

"Thanks to a grant from the UK Government's Culture Recovery Fund, we have been able to invest in proper production equipment, a new internet connection and even a studio.

"Places like Mapperton always need to find new ways to generate income, and this project will help support the endless repairs and maintenance."

Mapperton Gardens are now open to visitors, but the house remains closed until later in the year, so Mapperton Live is a golden opportunity to look behind the scenes.

Mapperton is of course used to the limelight. Many movies have been filmed there, including the recent Netflix production of Rebecca, starring Lily James, as well as Far from the Madding Crowd with Carey Mulligan, Emma, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Restoration, starring Robert Downey Jnr.

Members of Mapperton Live can watch weekly episodes covering restoration projects, behind-the-scenes tours, family history and archives, as well as wildlife safaris led by Nestor, Luke and Julie's 14 year-old son. Luke's parents, the Earl and Countess of Sandwich will host tours of the house, the church and the award-winning gardens.

Members can also sign up to special events such as concerts, while Julie will present live cooking, yoga and wellbeing experiences. She's even planning to ask her father-in-law to reveal the recipe for the original sandwich.

Mapperton Live launches on April 1 and members can join here.

Mapperton Gardens are open Sunday to Thursday from 11am to 5pm and plan to reopen the Coach House Café for outdoor service on April 12. Tickets can be booked in advance here. Visitors are advised to check the website for any updates before visiting the gardens.

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