The Great Pottery Throw Down judge proposed during a live show in Cardiff, and the couple now hope to marry in May 2027 at the historic chapel featured in Channel 4’s Our Welsh Chapel Dream.
Television presenter Keith Brymer Jones and actress Marj Hogarth are planning to marry at their historic chapel home in north Wales after becoming engaged during a live performance in Cardiff. The couple, whose ambitious renovation project features in Channel 4’s Our Welsh Chapel Dream, hope to hold their wedding in May 2027.
Brymer Jones, best known as a judge on The Great Pottery Throw Down, revealed the plans in an interview with BBC Wales published on October 23, 2026. The ceremony is expected to take place inside Capel Salem, the Grade II-listed former chapel in Pwllheli that the couple purchased in 2022.
The announcement gives the couple another important reason to complete work on the 19th-century building. Their restoration project has already become the focus of three television series, with a fourth planned for 2027.
A Surprise Proposal During a Welsh Performance
Brymer Jones proposed to Hogarth earlier this year while the couple were touring the United Kingdom with their stage show, Us, Pots and a Welsh Chapel.
The proposal took place at the New Theatre in Cardiff, where the couple were sharing stories about their relationship, creative work and efforts to restore their unusual home.
Brymer Jones explained that he wanted the proposal to happen in Wales, a country with strong connections to his family.
“I just thought I ought to really propose to her on Welsh soil,” he told BBC Wales.
The moment was particularly appropriate for Hogarth, an experienced actress who is comfortable performing before an audience. Brymer Jones arranged the surprise during their live show, getting down on one knee and presenting her with an engagement ring.
Hogarth accepted, and the couple subsequently shared photographs of the occasion with their followers.
Their wedding plans bring the story back to Pwllheli, the coastal town where they have established their permanent home. Rather than choosing a conventional wedding venue, they intend to use the building they have spent years bringing back into use.
Couple Hope to Marry at Capel Salem in May 2027
The couple hope to hold their ceremony in the main hall of Capel Salem during May 2027. The date has not been publicly finalized.
The building was constructed in 1862 and served generations of local residents before falling into disrepair. Its long history includes religious services, weddings, funerals, christenings and community gatherings.
Brymer Jones and Hogarth purchased the property for approximately £200,000 in September 2022 after discovering it while searching online.
They visited the chapel and quickly became interested in its possibilities. Despite its deteriorating condition, they believed the building could accommodate a home, a pottery studio and a space for public events.
Capel Salem consists of a main chapel and an adjoining former Sunday school. Together, the buildings cover approximately 8,500 square feet.
The couple have converted part of the Sunday school into residential accommodation while undertaking repairs throughout the larger property.
Their wedding is intended to take place in the main chapel hall, an area they also hope to restore for exhibitions, performances and community activities.
Restoration Has Presented Major Challenges
Viewers of Our Welsh Chapel Dream have followed the couple as they tackle the practical and financial difficulties of renovating the historic building.
The project has involved repairing damaged rooms, removing deteriorated materials and addressing extensive dry rot.
One of the more unpleasant discoveries was a large accumulation of pigeon droppings in the former Sunday school hall. The contamination required considerable cleaning before renovation work could continue.
Dry rot proved especially troublesome because it had spread into different parts of the structure.
The building’s Grade II-listed status also requires careful decisions about alterations and preservation. The couple have sought to retain important architectural features while adapting the property for modern use.
In an earlier interview with BBC Wales, Hogarth explained that the building has strong emotional connections for local residents and that restoration work must respect its history.
The couple have approached the project as both a private home renovation and an effort to preserve an important landmark.
They are now working on the roof of the main chapel, an essential step toward reopening the hall for public activities.
Welsh Heritage Influenced the Couple’s Move
Brymer Jones has spoken frequently about his family connections to Wales and how those links influenced his decision to settle in Pwllheli.
His parents came from Swansea and Cardiff, and he spent time visiting Wales during childhood.
Those experiences also influenced his interest in pottery. He has recalled traveling through the Welsh countryside with his mother, who was enthusiastic about ceramics.
Moving to the Llŷn Peninsula has given him an opportunity to reconnect with that part of his background.
The couple have lived at Capel Salem for approximately a year and a half and say they have been warmly welcomed by the local community.
Brymer Jones has described the chapel as their permanent home rather than a temporary renovation project.
Their television popularity has brought additional attention to Pwllheli. Fans occasionally visit the property hoping to see the couple, although they have asked visitors to respect their privacy while work continues.
Plans Extend Beyond Their Wedding
The couple’s long-term ambition is to make Capel Salem a community resource as well as their residence.
Brymer Jones intends to establish a working pottery studio and hopes to train local apprentices. The project could create opportunities for people interested in ceramics and traditional crafts.
The main chapel hall is also being prepared for exhibitions, performances and gatherings.
Brymer Jones has argued that historic chapels across Wales deserve new purposes when their original congregations can no longer maintain them.
Repurposing such buildings can preserve local architectural heritage while providing spaces that continue serving their communities.
The couple’s experience has also become a successful television format. Our Welsh Chapel Dream began on Channel 4 in May 2024 and returned for subsequent series documenting the restoration.
Their live stage tour has allowed them to share additional stories about the renovation and their personal lives with audiences across Britain.
The couple have confirmed that filming for a fourth series has finished, with the program expected to air in 2027.
For now, the wedding remains a future event rather than a completed ceremony. Brymer Jones and Hogarth are working toward a May 2027 celebration inside Capel Salem, while continuing repairs that will help determine when the historic hall can welcome guests again.
IMAGE: Author Gordon Hatton Source Geograph Britain and Ireland Attribution: Capel Salem by Gordon Hatton CC2