Dick Strawbridge announces new work project as he finally addresses Escape to the Chateau axe controversy

Dick Strawbridge announces new work project as he finally addresses Escape to the Chateau axe controversy

WATCH NOW: Dick Strawbridge and Angel Adoree address Escape to the Chateau ending

ITV
Alex Davies

By Alex Davies


Published: 25/10/2023

- 12:20

Updated: 20/03/2024

- 14:18

Escape to the Chateau came to an end after nine series on Channel 4

Dick Strawbridge and his wife Angel Adoree are making a return to mainstream media almost a year on from the finale of their Channel 4 show, Escape to the Chateau.

Strawbridge, 64, and Adoree, 45, are launching an all-new podcast together as they look to put the controversy surrounding the end of the series behind them.


Despite the light-hearted scenes on-screen, Escape to the Chateau's ending was marred by rumours of a "deteriorating relationship" between production company Two Rivers and Strawbridge and Adoree.

According to Deadline, Channel 4 ordered an independent HR investigation following concerns raised by Two Rivers and the network ultimately took "the decision not to work with Dick and Angel on any new productions in the future".

But Strawbridge and Adoree are now heading on to pastures new, announcing in their newsletter that they were looking forward to launching their all-new podcast.

Adoree wrote in the joint mailer: "Picture this. Dick and I sneak up to the apex of our house, we pour a cup of tea or a gin depending on the time of day and have a cosy chat.

Dick Strawbridge and Angel Adoree

Dick Strawbridge and Angel Adoree were the faces of Escape to the Chateau for nine series

CHANNEL 4

"We talk about the week, the children, and the things that have made us smile. We take a trip down memory lane and re-live moments from our past. It’s intimate, warm and a very special hour for us...we have even joked that it feels like a date!

"We are over the moon to be launching our new podcast with Global. The incredible team and our wonderful producer Joe are a joy to work with and we've having lots of fun.

"If there's anything you've ever wanted to ask us, where it's a DIY dilemma or a crafting conundrum, the podcast is your opportunity," they added. "You can send your questions to us - whether it be a Dick Tip...or an Angel Delight...we want to hear from you!"

The first of their podcasts will arrive on all major platforms on November 1 and the pair joined Christine Lampard on ITV's Lorraine to discuss the new work venture - as well as publicly address the controversy surrounding ETTC's axe.

Strawbridge said: "It's interesting because we were on Lorraine before Christmas explaining the end of the ninth series.

"You see Arthur [their son], Arthur kisses his mum on the forehead on the programme because he's bigger - he's about to go to senior school, and as a family we made a decision that last year was going to be the finale of Escape to the Chateau.

"So we finished and with that, we told everybody at the beginning of the year and everybody knew it was finishing.

"When people started talking about the end of what we were doing, it wasn’t news, it was something that happened a long time in the past. We made the decision just not to get involved in any of the conversations because..." Strawbridge continued before Adoree weighed in.

Dick Strawbridge

Dick Strawbridge addressed the show's ending on Lorraine

ITV

She continued: "You know, our Queen said, 'Never complain and never explain'. I think that was just the best way, for us, none of it made sense because we had made that family decision a long time ago that it was the right time that Escape had come to its natural end."

Strawbridge then claimed the decision to end the show was as a result of his children growing up as well as their hectic work schedules away from filming.

"We knew that Arthur and Dorothy had got to an age in their life... when they were little they just didn't understand what was going on - it's a very different world we're living in," he told Lampard.

"And us as a family, this year we finally caught up with the weddings post-Covid and that's ridiculous how long that's been," he added before hinting that their "silly busy" schedule would have made filming an almighty challenge.

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