Escape to the Chateau

Has Angela got a new dressing gown?

If I was in charge, the Strawbridges would be on every week, they are better than a tonic. We love this family, they are so clever and kind, appear to be very happy and the children are adorable. And the photography is stunning - last night there was a simply glorious shot just of trees reflected in the moat, but it's all wonderful.

How do they protect the children from falling in the moat? Children and water!! An accident waiting to happen? or perhaps protective fencing is removed for the programmes!!

Even though it’s put together from previous programmes/series, I still love it.

I believe the previous Mrs Strawbridge is also remarried, so everyone’s happy.

Very enjoyable programme. Love the whole family and shall look forward to this. Thanks for the heads up

Not sure if there's a newer thread about this, but I've just watched last Sundays episode. I watch lots of diy etc type programmes and I think Angel is the most creative person I've ever come across....

I bet they have screaming rows off camera. Don't worry about the kids as I'm sure the grandparents are almost permanent babysitters. It's amusing but don't you find them annoying, affected, artificial, and acting to the camera - or is it just me?

I think it might be just you, Hetty. For me it's a chance to relax, daydream and just enjoy watching a happy family enjoying life.

They've struck gold with Channel 4 so who can blame them for making the most of it. I do wonder if they have a sense of relief over the Brexit delay though.

I think it’s just you! I’m watching the latest episode on catch up now and I’m just amazed at how organised they are and how much they get done - it takes DH weeks or months to do anything in the house. We both work full time, granted, but still - D & A have achieved so much in the few years they’ve been there and they genuinely seem to love every minute of it.

I was married to an engineer for many years and, in my experience they complete tasks in a work environment but their home is full of unfinished projects. Maybe a television programme changes that, though. Angels 'visions' though are amazing; to me a bare room is a bare room. I do think that she and I have similar tastes when it comes to acquiring bric a brac though; it's just that I don't have a chateau to store or put it in.

...I am worried about how fat Dick is getting. He must eat an awful lot considering how much energy he uses up renovating the place.

Their little boy could do with losing some weight as well.

I was thinking that, too....[he's very cute, though...]

Indeed - every time I see that boy I think: stop the tarte tatin right now before his weight gets out of hand!!

….plus the ice cream...

I'm with Hetty! It's not just her.

I love this program it is pure escapism for many of us. I don't even think about how they may be off camera.

They are a beautiful family and i adore the two children, love Angel's hair and Dick is the master of DIY.

Perfect Sunday evening entertainment, long may they renovate!!!!

I'm with your travelsafar.. They are both so, so talented and yes so what they MAY be acting for the camera but their knowledge of DIY is incredible. For me it's nice to see them getting on with their life in France, they work very hard and their children oh what memories they shall have when they become adults. Nice to sit and watch a family programme and learning too.

They must have had some sort of contract with Ch4 right from the start, because they filmed them looking for a property [possibly helped them find it, too].

Oh....... I just melt into this like going to bed on a cold night when the electric blanket is on .
But this time , recovering and in ouch from a knee replacement , I found Arthur Donald in need of a good hard smack ! Dick gave him a sharp look too , so I'm not alone !
Looking forward to tomorrow night , love it all ....

Funny thing is, if that was my house with so much work to do I'd be a wreck, but as it's someone else's house I find it so relaxing. It's real 'comfort' tv, isn't it.

When it originally started I thought "What on earth has Dick done? Who is this weirdo he's married? " By the second episode I was completely hooked and entranced by Angel's creations. Love sitting here on a dreary November afternoon watching them in the sunshine.

We enjoy the series too, even though we also bought a semi-ruin in France and spent years "doing it up".
It's greatly romanticised. All the hard bits like french property taxes and various other bureacracy problems omitted. Such as official permissions to do this and that. I still don't know how they got round the sanitation problem, with that moat outside. Which as someone said is a risk for children. It must have cost them a fortune. I once read that Dick spends months in the year earning money to pay for it
But they seem to be a nice family.

I remember her as Angela Newman on Dragon's Den and he on Hungry Sailors with his older son.

She can't be much older than his son, now I think about it!