Escape to the Chateau is a Channel 4 reality television series, which follows the story of couple Dick Strawbridge and Angela ("Angel") Adoree and their family as they bought and renovated the 19th-century Château de la Motte-Husson, in Martigné-sur-Mayenne, France, while simultaneously raising two young children and starting a business hosting weddings and other events.
The first season followed Dick and Angel's quest to restore the derelict château from its uninhabitable state by installing running water, heating and electricity in the 45-room château, which had not been lived in for forty years. The later seasons of the program continued the story as they established their special events business, at the same time as renovating the château and its grounds. It also documented family events and milestones.
Ten series of the programme have been produced. Initially, series nine was described as the final season. However in October 2025, a tenth series was announced, with the first episode airing 31 May 2026.
Following the completion of series 9 of Escape to the Chateau, Dick and Angel Strawbridge launched a weekly podcast titled Dick & Angel’s CHAT…EAU. The first episode launched on Global Player and other major podcast platforms on 1 November 2023, and is titled 112 Steps, 2 Turrets & 1 Tip. It involved the couple looking back at how they found their chateau and knew that it was "the one".
Cast information
Dick Strawbridge Formerly a Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army, engineer Dick Strawbridge appeared on numerous television shows, including It's Not Easy Being Green (2006), Coast (2006), Scrapheap Challenge (2009), The Hungry Sailors (2011), Saturday Farm (2011) and Dirty Rotten Survival (2015). In Escape to the Chateau, his engineering and cooking experience is highlighted, with his can-do attitude and mechanical expertise at the fore, as work on the château and its surrounding land continues through the seasons.
Angela ("Angel") Adoree Adoree was born 7 April 1978 as Angela Newman and grew up on Canvey Island, where her family ran a jewellers' shop. She runs a hospitality business called The Vintage Patisserie, for which she sought investment when she appeared on the reality television business programme, Dragon's Den, in 2010. In 2015, the business relocated to Chateau-de-la-Motte Husson.
Adoree provided a creative factor and flair for the show, adding her style and interior-decoration skill to the château renovation, as well as sharing her interest in hospitality and entertaining.
The couple has two children, Arthur and Dorothy.
Episode list Series 1
+Episode ListSeasonNumberOverall NumberTitleDescriptionInitial Air Date111Hole in the WallAfter years of searching we found our forever home, the derelict 19th century Chateau de la Motte Husson. Complete with a moat, pepper-pot turrets, and 200 pages of purchase documentation listing why not to buy The Chateau. This truly was 'The Beginning'!5 June 2016122They're Our FliesIt was time for us to move into The Chateau and the transformation of bringing life back into those substantial walls began. We have a wedding to plan and a Chateau to renovate all in 9 months which we quickly realized is not really that long away at all!12 June 2016133Angel's Palace of DreamsWalls are being knocked through and turrets transformed into museums. Dinner is served in our new downstairs kitchen and the kids have a new helter skelter to explore.19 June 2016144A Pineapple Chandelier, a Moat & a WeddingOur wedding is drawing ever closer and we are determined to renovate nearly 3 floors of The Chateau into beautiful rooms before our big day.26 June 2016
Series 2
+Episode ListSeasonNumberOverall NumberTitleDescriptionInitial Air Date215Pig Roaster and Versailles LooThe couple begins to grow their events business at the chateau. Dick prepares for their first paid event by making a DIY pig-roaster. Family life also expands with their three-year-old son Arthur’s first day at school. Angel creates a Versailles-inspired downstairs toilet.27 November 2016226Fishing, Foraging and an ElevatorDick and Angel want to enhance their money-making prospects with the possibility of fishing in the moat and installing a lift in the turret.4 December 2016237Christmas at the ChateauChristmas is coming. Angel prepares the Christmas festivities and Dick prepares the food, in time for the family coming from England.11 December 2016
Series 3
+Episode ListSeasonNumberOverall NumberTitleDescriptionInitial Air Date318Only 20 Rooms to GoAngel and Dick keep working on the 20 rooms that still need fixing.24 September 2017329SpringDick tries to tackle his walled garden. Angel creates a boudoir in the castle. Guests propose during a food event.1 October 20173310The Wedding SeasonThe wedding season is approaching, so Dick needs to clean out and prepare the barn for the events.8 October 2017
Series 4
+Episode ListSeasonNumberOverall NumberTitleDescriptionInitial Air Date4111Weddings, Stables & StaircasesA busy summer with seven weddings and 14 food-lovers' weekends to prepare, as well as fixing the stables and gardens.18 March 20184212Harvest and BirthdayAngel plans for a floating geodesic dome over the moat. They celebrate Dick’s birthday.25 March 20184313A Floating DomeDick tackles the chateau's crumbling stucco while Angel finishes the geodesic dome over the moat. The family use it well with a campout under the stars.1 April 2018
Series 5
+Episode ListSeasonNumberOverall NumberTitleDescriptionInitial Air Date5114GlampingDick and Angel throw open the shutters of their French chateau for a new season, as they work to create a luxury glamping experience and contend with frequent rainshowers.11 November 20185215In the AtticAngel plans a stunning attic studio. She and Dorothy go on a mother-daughter trip to Paris and Dick's busy in the outbuildings. There's a surprise birthday event - with popcorn.18 November 20185316Parkour & TurretAngel creates a series of rooms in the chateau's pepper-pot turret. Dick opens up a parkour fitness trail in the grounds, but he hits an unexpected snag.25 November 20185417Peak SummerIt's the height of summer and the heat is on for Dick and Angel, with the peak of the events season, wedding cakes melting, school holidays, a boating lake, and a leaky boat.2 December 20185518Cafe GrandmaBefore winter sets in, Dick ploughs the wildflower meadow and joins with Angel in bringing the dilapidated coach house back to life, in a bid to create 'Cafe Grandma'.9 December 20185619Harvest TimeIt's harvest time at the chateau. But there's still time for family wheelbarrow races, to give the basement a swish makeover, and to convert the old piggery into a coop for geese.16 December 20185720... at ChristmasDick and Angel are preparing for a magical Christmas at the chateau, with festive treats for family and friends, including Dick's walnut wine and a super-sized Christmas tree.23 December 2018
Series 6
+Episode ListSeasonNumberOverall NumberTitleDescriptionInitial Air Date6121Winter ReturnsThe 'down' season gives Dick and Angel time to construct an events kitchen from utility area and some dumping areas in the basement. One of the challenges: inserting an enormous oven. 3 November 20196222A Boat in the MoatAngel has bought a small canal boat that needs repair because it currently doesn't float. She also records some ancient wallpaper found under the stairs in the basement. Dick needs to finish the wild flower meadow.10 November 20196323Weddings & AviariesA circus tent arrives although it is the wedding season. Dick and Angel now have two giant aviaries and a water lily pond.17 November 20196424The Party of a LifetimeIn the heat of the French summer, if they didn't have enough to do, Dick and Angel are planning the party of a lifetime: 100 guests to celebrate Angel's parents' 50th wedding anniversary. Meanwhile, Dick travels to Wales to fetch a new vehicle.24 November 20196525Camper VanAn end of summer event is due with a host of Citroën vans. Whilst Dick and Angel are preparing their latest acquisition - an ex-wedding bus they call 'Mademoiselle Daisy'.1 December 20196626Autumn RenovationDick and Angel turn the chateau's old tack room into a grand entrance; they need to demolish walls and lay a new floor.8 December 20196727RiverboatDick and Angel embark on a new project: converting their newly-acquired riverboat into guest accommodation.15 December 20196828Escape to the Chateau at ChristmasChristmas comes again to the chateau with more Christmas crafts and fare; and with family, friends, and guests. 22 December 2019
Series 7 Series 7 takes place during lockdown in France due to the COVID-19 pandemic and there are no weddings or events at the Chateau. +Episode ListSeasonNumberOverall NumberTitleDescriptionInitial Air Date7129Supersized WorkshopIt's been a long, hot, challenging summer and with no guests, weddings or events at the chateau, Dick and Angel tackle their never-ending to-do list, starting with one of the old outbuildings.15 November 20207230Sloe Gin, Library & Ceiling RoseDick is determined to make sloe gin with the last of the berries. Angel gets to work creating a library in the pepper pot tower and brings a ceiling rose back to its former glory.22 November 20207331Wash House, Trench & Vintage BikeDick and Angel start work on turning the old wash house into a bathroom for their boat on the moat. Angel's imagination runs wild when they discover a huge trench. And a vintage bike gets a refurb.29 November 20207432Orangery, Daybeds & Unexpected HistoryWith no guests to entertain, Dick and Angel get to work on the orangery with the help of a roofing expert and some pre-loved Welsh slate, and discover some unexpected history beneath their feet.6 December 20207533Pop-Up Restaurant, Orangery, CelebrationThe whole family help to build an open kitchen and create a pop-up restaurant in the orangery to celebrate Dick and Angel's fifth wedding anniversary. Plus: a special fairy-tale carriage delivery.13 December 20207634Escape to the Chateau at ChristmasIn this festive special, the Strawbridges take inspiration from Christmases past in a 19th-century ledger that they find in the attic, and create a winter wonderland complete with an ice rink.25 December 2020
Series 8