Escape to the Chateau

[7Zhivago7]

I used to like Escape to the Chateau; however, as the years passed, it has turned into something else. Frankly, they don't seem to immerse themselves in the French lifestyle. You rarely see them interact with French people except for the occasional lay person. Do they have any French friends? Has Angel attempted to learn the language? They have turned into a commodity. Selling things online, getting people to pay for The Salon. For me, it has become a bit distasteful.

@Katiejanej

I really don’t like them at all. Years ago I watched an episode where they did a stairwell and I can’t be sure I’m remembering right, but I’m pretty sure they papered over rot, and it made the whole chateau seem like a bodge job to me, and any pleasure I might have had by just looking at the house was ruined by the thought that they’d not done it properly, and every loud chintzy print was hiding a multitude of structural problems. And that sort of describes them as people. The faux make do and mend, the 50’s clothes, the gender stuff, the smugness. Who even are they? I don’t like people who wear fancy dress as a mask everyday in lieu of showing their genuine personality. It’s far braver to wear (and I hate to use the word normal) - but normal, non shouty, non look at me, aren’t I kooky clothes and be real as a person.

How on earth do you know that's not how they are as people?

This thread is horrid and not really in the spirit. I like the show, of course you can have an opinion on it, but then if it's so awful don't watch it surely?

This thread is just a lot of personal insults on them as individuals which is not very nice.

@Minceandonions

I can't bear to watch it now. All of their projects are just dreamt up to create content, rather than being genuinely needed or wanted. I also find Angel slightly unhinged with her frantic obsession with "family time" and "making special memories". God help her when the kids move out. And I hate how their parenting style, and the way the show is edited, reinforces gender stereotypes in the extreme. The boy is being groomed to be an engineer like his dad - and to be interested in creating things and exploring nature and the outdoors. The little girl is only allowed to be interested in fabrics and makeup. And it's always framed that air-head Angel (who's a qualified accountant and successful business woman), living on cloud cuckoo land and with zero common sense, comes up with some silly idea, and then Dick rolls his eyes at the camera and has to use his big manly brain to make it happen. It makes me cringe.

You summed up what I see too!

@Getyourarseofffthequattro

I don't see how liking 50s clothes isn't showing your personality. To me it shows the exact opposite.

You’re absolutely right, they are real people, and what I said was uncalled for. The few times I have caught the show, they’ve almost seemed like actors playing a role, and it’s their telly personas that I struggle with, as people I don’t know them and can’t judge.

I haven't seen anything she's done which I haven't thought was awful - everything seems so slapdash, there's no coherence to the designs and they really don't suit a 19th century French chateau.

I agree entirely, OP. I used to like it.
I find them a bit unbearable now.

@harverina

Is there a new series? We love it! I really do admire them for going for it. I know they have a TV series behind them and other bits but I don’t think they have a lot of money and seem to have to do the work a bit at a time.

We probably don’t really see their day to day life on the programme either - I remember one episode where it was one of the kids birthdays and they had their friends round for the party - seemed to be all french friends so I imagine they are immersed in french life more than we see

They must surely have had a fair bit of cash to take it on in the first place. There’s a reason many chateaus are cheap compared to a lot of U.K. property - you need very deep pockets, they absolutely eat money.

A relative of dh has a lovely one, not as big as theirs - he once told me that the heating oil alone cost €50,000 a year.

I've known very good interior designers who weren't necessarily qualified. They moved in the right circles though.

Have found Angel quite encouraging actually and have tried to do some craft type things as a result, so I am grateful!

[quote TowandaForever]@Getyourarseofffthequattro

I don't see how liking 50s clothes isn't showing your personality. To me it shows the exact opposite. [/quote]
Exactly

@Peoniesandpeaches

In addition to accusations of bullying there has also been a bit of a scandal about one of the designs they are selling in sainsburys (the one with the beehive) . One of their ex employees Michael Petherick basically says it was his design and he was pressured into signing away rights to it for a token amount and then sacked.

I bought curtains in that fabric from Wayfair - I absolutely love the design and the curtains were cheap and the perfect but had no idea it was from their range.

Never watched the programme as it doesn't interest me, but they have found a way of earning a living that suits them and they seem to work quite hard at it. They are not the only immigrants who don't integrate that much with the host community (so far as we know).

However, rather them than me. I couldn't imagine wanting to share my life (and that of my DCs) publicly in that way and sooner or later people will get bored and they will have to come up with something else.

Chateaus must be 10 a euro, there’s so many on the show. All in state of crap repair. It would drive me insane to have that much to do

I love Angel. I think her ideas are great. She has always loved the vintage style right from back when she went into Dragons Den. I find them both very inspiring and have heard positive things about them as people. They will have off days like the rest of us. I couldn't be running that sort of business I just don't have the energy, money etc but I do love vintage and make do and mend so I guess I'm drawn to them in that way. The only thing I can criticise is how she keeps her hair that beautiful red! It's such an upkeep, I'd love to know her secret!

I really enjoyed the first series and a few episodes since but I find them very irritating. Not least because she says everythinK not everythinG 😂

I have loved the series over the years, however I'm now finding it irritating.
I don't like the way Angel refers to everything as ' very special'. I also think those kids are kept very young.

I also agree that the sky bar was awful.

I love the series and I think they are very talented and hard working. The chateau is a huge project and they should be very proud of what they have achieved so far.

I enjoy it. It’s a bit of easy evening TV to just watch and I always wish I was there in the summer episodes so I suppose it’s escapism.
Of course a lot is manufactured to make the Show otherwise it would be a bit dull just watching every day life.
I do think some of the parties for the children go a bit OTT but then they have the money and space so why not plus again it’s for the show.
I thought they came across as lovely and friendly on the Series helping people with their DIY.

The kids are only 7 and 8. I think they always appear older (especially as it will be filmed six months behind).
I like Angel. I think it's good she doesn't pretend to know anything about wine, admits her way of doing things is not necessarily the right way etc.
I preferred the early series when they were genuinely doing it up. Now it does feel a bit all for the sake of the telly but can't blame them.
Oh and I'm sure Steve the builder and his wife do live locally

It's essential viewing for me. I preferred the earlier series, but I still watch it. Even when they irritate me, it's in an enjoyable way.

@DrManhattan

Someone said she looks like Matt Lucas and now I cannot unsee.

You're right! Will always see her as Matt from now on!

I quite like watching as it puts all the DIY I have to do into perspective.