Escape to the Chateau anyone?

[BeforetheFlood]

I have such a love/hate relationship with this programme. On the one hand - clocks have changed, evenings are dark and there's nothing nicer than settling on the sofa for some gorgeous house envy. And it is SUCH a gorgeous house.

On the other hand, I feel the projects are now transparently tv-fodder and the ideas are getting increasingly batshit. Tiles decoupaged with paper napkins? I give those 6 months. (But then, they're selling up so they don't care!)

Anyone else watching?

I don't think dicks children talk to him much.. years ago he did another similar programme with his previous family when the boys were younger. and I think he had an affair and fucked off with angel. He separated from his 1st wife in 2010 and met angel in 2010 😬

Another one finding this series more irritating than the previous. It's also more worrying as the son is very obese and they seem to be featuring him alot cooking and eating deep fried food each week. I wouldn't be doing that and I say that as a very overweight parent myself.

I'm also getting increasing irritated at the way Dick officiates at weddings. It comes across as being more about him than the couple getting married.

I thought the same. That poor woman’s bday yesterday was all about the strawbridges. When Angel said that the birthday girl would just want to share her cake I thought I bet she bloody doesn’t and anyway why not ask her 😂?

also find it a bit ironic that the series dick did first was ‘it isn’t easy being green’ and was all about sustainability. I appreciate they recycle a lot, but they also PRODUCE a lot for a family of four.

they certainly have more than their fair share and it def isn’t sustainable producing all that merchandise.

I must admit, that's what I was thinking. They're quite close in age.

I assume the birthday girl and friends get a free stay if the Strawbridges can advertise their event hosting services because that's what this series is now. It started off as feeling as though you were following them on an adventure but now it feels like a more cynical selling pitch.

Can I just say that I think that the comments on here about the Strawbridge’s young dc to be totally out of order. Especially those commenting on weight or appearance.

Fwiw I think they are terrific children. They both have slightly mischievous enquiring characters and that’s what is important.

It's out of order to comment on content they are choosing to put into the public domain?

Yes you can say it but it doesn’t stop it being true.

These last two series seem to be marketing opportunities rather than following their journey . They seem to be dreaming up projects for filming purposes ; the tower , summer kitchen and the bath house thingy which is now never mentioned. Angela faffs about dressing these creations after Dick has bust a gut designing and building them but when are they likely to be used and doesn't everything get damp and mouldy in the winter and surely they have a 45 room chateau to find hideaways in , why make more spaces to have to look after , and who does all the cleaning , presumably the free labour.

Dick and James have done several programmes together, including one in which they sailed round the coast, cooking for locals using local produce. I though James was looking very like his father yesterday, particularly because his moustache is getting to be like Dick’s.

I think Dick’s first wife is remarried, but there doesn’t seem to be contact with his eldest daughter,

The first few series were interesting, but the PDA is unnecessary and he’s so over jolly. I’m sorry it’s disapproved of to comment, but Arthur is really getting bigger and bigger and he looks as though he has trouble running around.

He's a controlling arse, isn't he? Dick I mean. When he was telling his son how to dig.

Daffodilsandtuplips that ws Erin and JB in a different chateau. Stephaneeee is now with her much younger, very camp ex-volunteer.

That’s what I picked up on! There was definitely friction between the two of them over the horseradish!

It's an annoying series because there's nothing to say any more. There wasn't last series either but it's lovely easy viewing.

Dick is the mansplaining king though. That's what's so irritating about him.

Of course not and fwiw I disagree with putting children on TV full stop. But that wasn't the Strawbridge's children conscious choice was it? They cannot fully consent at their age and even if they think it is fun now, they have no idea of the wider ramifications of being on television.

And pps making personal comments about children on-line on a public forum which they or their friends will be able to access in a few years time, if not right now, imho, is totally out of order. It's not their fault that they are exposed to public comment. Nor, being children, are they responsible for the clothes they wear or the food they eat. They are real children with real feelings fhs!

You have posted some really negative and unpleasant comments on here. If that is the sort of person you want to be, please crack on.

Please post incriminating evidence of your most slanderous accusation. I think you’ll find that my comments are no more negative than anyone else’s. They certainly are not unpleasant. I happen to live the strawbridges which is why I’m here in this thread. It doesn’t change the fact that I do hold the valid opinion that dick and son are very overweight.

I haven’t said it in a goady or nasty way.

Brigit remarried five years ago.
she’s probably more eco conscious now than Dick and Angel. Her book ‘dancing with bees’ is wonderful. Makes own wonder if she was the green part of inebg.
Charlotte is still active if you Google her.

Someone commented about what Angel thinks of of James. I sometimes wonder this seeing as she’s only about four years older than him.

I tend to agree about their son being overweight. They need to help him now or he will run into problems later.
It’s not responsible parenting to just let him continue overeating and gaining like that!

I haven't watched them in ages but I remember thinking the son presented as quite autistic. Don't know if that is still the case, but it might be that he has issues with food rather than them not being mindful, as the daughter was never overweight.

I think the Strawbridges are brilliant. Hard working, entrepreneurial, artistic. I’m just jealous to be honest. Great programme and escapism from all the depressing crap!

I remember the original series, I was really chocked that after appearing all lovey doves with his first wife he shlepped off with Angel.

when it first aired i loved the programme but do feel it's run it's cause

i find dick so patronising the way he talk's to the kids and everybody really and he comes across as a total know all look how he spoke to his adult son last week

They seem to be dreaming up projects for filming purposes ; the tower , summer kitchen and the bath house thingy which is now never mentioned. - oh god though, next week they've built a 'convervatoire' out of the side of the Chateau? And now a little deathtrap Renault runabout that's probably 60 years old! Just - Why? Why put your children in something that runs on 3star+oil, has no proper brakes, no ASB or A/C or catalytic converter...Not exactly 'green'?

No one would have so many 'projects' unless they are needed for a TV series. New things, all the time. New ideas, New interest. Must cost an absolute bomb.

I used to like them, and Angela has immense creativity, but Yes Dick is a controller - As a Lt Cnl in the Army will do that; it's a necessity, and my father was exactly the same. Found it very difficult to curtail his controlling nature.

A PP said that she got 'ASD' vibes from the young lad, and I do too. He maybe seems very young for his age, and seems to laugh just a bit too much (like he's trying to gain favour/attention from his parents?) and shout just too loud. (I have a ASD DS too and he was exactly the same)
Although I get so sick of Angela screaming and shrieking and whopping. She is just like the 9 year old girl 2 doors down who cannot do anything without shrieking and screaming at the top of her lungs. i have to mute her. (angela I mean, I wish I could mute the girl 2 doors down...)

This used to be my favourite programme but I stopped watching it after Angel ripped off a drawing from a local British designer living nearby and passed it off as her own - the beehive design that is on a lot of their merch.

However it gave us the impetus to buy our own place in France and move there permanently (at least we will in 2024) so I thank them for that.

I still love the programme featuring the other chateau owners.

Hmm.
She’s definitely overweight.

And I’m judging the parents here not the children.

He’s autistic because he’s a bit immature and laughs a lot? Really?