1 week Ago By [email protected] (Ryan Paton)
Dick and Angel Strawbridge spoke to the ECHO in an exclusive interview Dick and Angel Strawbridge have lifted the lid on whether they'd ever re-open their doors for another episode of Escape to the Chateau. The couple's efforts to restore a derelict 19th century chateau in France captured the hearts of fans of the hit Channel 4 programme. Viewers were devastated when the family called time on the programme after nine series in 2022 so children, Arthur, 11, and Dorothy, 10, could grow up without the constant presence of camera crews in their life.
However, the family are still in the public eye as they are about to go on a tour of the UK with their Forever Home show. The tour stops off at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on October 12 and the couple spoke to the ECHO in an exclusive interview ahead of the show. Angel shared an exciting update as she admitted the family would never rule out a return to Escape to the Chateau in the future.
The 46-year-old told the ECHO: "Having the cameras here for a couple of weeks and having a Christmas special. In the future, we would definitely be open to that when the time is right." Dick agreed, but insisted the couple have no regrets on bringing an end to the programme.
He told the ECHO: "[Ending the show ] felt the right thing to do. A couple of years on, in hindsight, we absolutely made the right decision, but we haven't taken [Arthur and Dorothy] out of the media world. "They're still in our books, they're on our tour.
It's not's the same as having a camera around all the time and worrying what people are saying. This is us just being a family." Dick and Angel hit back at claims they had considered selling the chateau and insisted the fairy-tale castle in Pays de la Loire will always be their forever home.
Dick said: "We were sat in bed and we read the headlines that we sold the chateau. I'm looking at Angela and Angela is looking at me. It's not like we were divorced or moved to Australia.
" Angela added: "We're here, we are in France . This is completely our forever home. This is where we have invested everything.
It's the family home, it's our business. We've got a lot of friends, a lot of family, a lot of the chateau community based in the UK so when we come home, it's really nice to see everybody." They also set the record straight on their current situation with Channel 4.
The broadcaster issued a statement in May last year to announce it would no longer be working with the couple after a leaked audio emerged of Angel aiming a rant at one of the show's producers. However, the two have since made their comeback to Channel 4 with show, Secret France, and they insist there was never a fallout with the broadcaster . Dick said: "We haven't said a single thing.
What we did is we completed what we said we were going to complete and we told everyone that it was the end [of Escape to the Chateau]. "The end of Escape to the Chateau had been planned and that was six months before anything happened so there was no fallout." The retired army officer added: "We're talking about 7/8 years ago when Angela had that thing with the person that made the news.
It was ancient history." The family are not considering an Escape to the Chateau return in the immediate future as they are busy with a number of other projects as a book and the new season of their hit podcast is also on the way later this year. Their UK tour will give fans the opportunity to catch up with them about what has gone on at the castle since the show ended in 2022.
Dick said: "Every series we did was a year of our lives. It got cut down to seven 40 minute programmes, but a lot more happens in our world." It has been a big time for the family away from the screen this week as Dick celebrated his 65th birthday and Arthur enjoyed his first day at senior school.
Dick admitted he was nervous about Arthur making the transition to high school as he told the ECHO: "The biggest thing that happened was just before the summer holidays, the headmaster of Arthur's new school got back to us and said he was delighted that Arthur had the opportunity to go on tour with us. "Our biggest fear was in primary school, the headmistress was very enlightened by that. She said take the children, it will be an education for them.
They've been to Australia, New Zealand, America, Canada and the UK with us. "At primary school, you don't think it's so serious. But when you get to senior school, you get a bit worried about whether people are going to allow it.
" The parents are proud of the opportunities Escape to the Chateau has opened up for their children. However, Angel said Arthur and Dorothy will only truly reap the benefits when they're older as she emotionally spoke about how special Escape to the Chateau is to the whole family. She said: "We've got a lovely home movie and documentary of our lives.
My dad, when we were growing up, had a Cine 8 attached to his arm and we kind of joked around with him at the time. But when we were grown up - and we got the chance to look back and see these pictures of your grandparents, great grandparents, you as babies. Those memories will have you in tears.
"Arthur and Dorothy haven't seen that much of Escape to the Chateau because whenever it would come on TV, we're an hour ahead, so it was always quite late for them. When it will be really special is in 20 years when they are showing their children and that's when it's really going to shine." Dick and Angel: Forever Home arrives at the Philharmonic Hall on October 12.
You can find out further details on how to get tickets here ..
