Restoring an old and several-years-neglected mansion in France proved to be captivating reality television with hands-on hosts Angel and Dick Strawbridge. More than just a home renovation saga, Escape to the Chateau is a true romance tale between a vintage event entrepreneur and a military officer/engineer whose shared passions led to rehabbing a historic estate while bringing up two small children. The nine-season series unfolded on BBC (now available in the US on Peacock), but there are still many chapters left, including their upcoming tour, “Dare to Do It,” in February and March 2024.
The slogan “Dare to do it!” certainly embodies the spirit of, the Strawbridges bring us on their journey of restoring a mid-19th-century, 45-room mansion that came with a lengthy list of repairs and replacements—and that was just to make it livable. Undaunted by lack of working plumbing, heat, or electricity, Angel and Dick saw the potential.
