Escape To The Chateau - General Discussion

[Chit Chat]

I saw the episode where they put a new roof on the Orangery.  That turned out really well.  I kept thinking that there had to be a more efficient way for Angel to cut all of those tiles, but if there were, Dick would've thought of it.  I applaud her hard work in shaping all of those tiles.  The funniest part of that was when the roofer told Dick that Angel's hands would be so strong that she could crack a walnut in them, and then told them both to be careful!  ;)  

It was a great idea to recycle the old roof tiles into mulch.  I was concerned when they planted the bamboo next to the building.  We have some bamboo in our backyard and it's very invasive.  Maybe there are kinds that aren't, but when we first moved here and saw that we had a big cluster of bamboo near the house  (it's great shade), I Googled 'how to take care of bamboo'.  The first sentence read: Don't plant it!!   They will need to watch it so that it doesn't damage the foundation of the Orangery.  It spreads out quickly!  

Anyway, I could picture the women from a hundred years ago sitting in the Orangery having tea or coffee.  I'm glad they were able to make the repairs on it.  

 

[Chit Chat]

Anybody else watching Season 8?  I've been able to see them on YouTube.  The new attic skylights turned out well.  It's really nice seeing all of the things they add that make it fun for  their kids.  I'd love to sit up there and stare at the stars!   The roofer working up there with no harness system made me nervous though!

I liked the episode with Angel & Dick remodeling their bedroom and them finding another pattern of wallpaper.  I wonder why the previous owners closed that space up.  That seemed odd.  I also wonder why Dick & Angel chose such a small bedroom for themselves.  Dorothy and Arthur's room is a bit small too.  Maybe it had to do with them wanting to be close to the kids for safety and practical purposes. The kids were much smaller when they moved there, so I can understand them wanting to be just down the hallway from them.   The smaller rooms will be easier to heat too.  I'm not sure how many of the other bedrooms they will be/are renting out.  They are such a lovely family.  

They are all so darn creative!  I loved all of the cute touches to the jams, etc. they put in the pantry.  Angel just oozes creativity!!   

 

[Kiddvideo]

13 hours ago, ChitChat said:

Anybody else watching Season 8? 

Thanks for mentioning it was available! I only watched S7 recently, so it was a nice treat to not have to wait another year.

Their Preserves Room had me drooling.

I read somewhere else they weren’t able to have any weddings in 2021, either. I hope they’re making enough money with the TV show. (And more than enough to survive, enough so they’re not stressed about another year without events.) They’re so likeable and they’ve worked so hard for so many years. I want them to be an incredible success!

Edited December 5, 2021 by Kiddvideo

[Chit Chat]

4 hours ago, Kiddvideo said:

I hope they’re making enough money with the TV show.

I figure that since they went ahead and had the Chateau's roof replaced, they must be doing okay!  They sell products and I think they have some other ventures they're into, so they'll probably be okay until they can start hosting weddings and parties again.  

I've got the Peacock app on my TV, so I'm catching up on the early seasons, but it's not showing the new ones.  I happened to look on YouTube, and surprisingly, season 8 is being shown.  

One thing that helps them is how much of the work Dick & Angel can do themselves.  Although he had to hire the roofers, Dick was the one who engineered a little gadget to punch holes in the 40,000 new slates going on the roof.  Can you imagine how tedious that was, but what a time/cost-saver for the roofers!  

[MsTree]

On 12/4/2021 at 1:57 PM, ChitChat said:

Anybody else watching Season 8? 

Where or what app are you watching S8?  Peacock only has up to S7 listed.

[Kathy]

I am now watching season 8 on youtube.   Thanks for mentioning it is on youtube here on this forum as I have been also watching Peacock and already finished the 7 seasons.

Love this show!

 

[BradandJanet]

PBS is running the original show on Saturdays at 7:00 p.m. (except for weeks when it's not on without explanation).  My husband and I have seen the episodes so many times, but we're watching again. It's a chance to sit down on a busy weekend and watch a charming fantasy of living in the French countryside. Sigh. 

[badhaggis]

Is anyone else watching the newest and last series? I will miss this family a lot!

[DoctorAtomic]

Is it still on PBS? I didn't see it.

[Chit Chat]

55 minutes ago, badhaggis said:

Is anyone else watching the newest and last series? I will miss this family a lot

I lost track of their show.  I thought it wasn't airing here anymore.  I've been out of the loop for a while, so I probably overlooked it. 

[badhaggis]

1 hour ago, ChitChat said:

I lost track of their show.  I thought it wasn't airing here anymore.  I've been out of the loop for a while, so I probably overlooked it. 

Its only on Peacock this season.

[DoctorAtomic]

I got Peacock for soccer. Bonus!

[badhaggis]

I adore Dick and Angel. I love that the children are raised in a home where they are taught they have a voice. Arthur and Dorothy seem to be having an idyllic childhood. Their family makes me happy.

[Chit Chat]

Have they made any major changes to the castle lately?  If we ever sign up for Peacock again, I'll go back and watch what I've missed.  

[badhaggis]

6 minutes ago, ChitChat said:

Have they made any major changes to the castle lately?  If we ever sign up for Peacock again, I'll go back and watch what I've missed.  

They are very busy doing weddings again. Angel wanted Dick's old workroom converted for storage of china and other wedding accoutrement. They did a lovely job getting it set up. 

[Chit Chat]

1 hour ago, badhaggis said:

Angel wanted Dick's old workroom converted for storage of china and other wedding accoutrement.

Was that the space on the ground level that's underneath the main entrance?  Where did he move his stuff to?

[badhaggis]

9 minutes ago, ChitChat said:

Was that the space on the ground level that's underneath the main entrance?  Where did he move his stuff to?

That's the one! They made a huge shop for him in one of the outbuildings last season. 

[desertflower]

On 4/11/2023 at 7:36 PM, badhaggis said:

Is anyone else watching the newest and last series? I will miss this family a lot!

Yes, we just started season 9 on Peacock. We’ve only watched one episode so far. Trying to drag it out a bit!! I’m sad this is the last season but I hear they are going to be doing a show about hidden places in France. I think that will be fun. 

[Kathy]

I just finished season 9 on Peacock.  I love this series.

[badhaggis]

49 minutes ago, Kathy said:

I just finished season 9 on Peacock.  I love this series.

Me too!

[desertflower]

Just watched season 9 episode 3 where they redo the folly in the garden. That loft for the kids was so cozy. What a magical childhood those kids are having!! And how nice they will have the show to look back on when they are older so they can see how much effort their parents put into everything. 

[Soapy Goddess]

Does anyone know: was Dick a widower or is James' mother still around??

 

Edited November 14, 2023 by Soapy Goddess

[Pine]

Still around as far as I know.

On another note.  WHO IS GOING TO THEIR AMERICAN/USA TOUR IN 2024?

 

[badhaggis]

2 hours ago, Pine said:

Still around as far as I know.

On another note.  WHO IS GOING TO THEIR AMERICAN/USA TOUR IN 2024?

 

I sure with they would go to Phoenix. I would go in a second!

[Soapy Goddess]

7 hours ago, Pine said:

On another note.  WHO IS GOING TO THEIR AMERICAN/USA TOUR IN 2024?

 

Where is it being held? Agenda?

[Pine]

https://thechateau.tv/us-tour-2024

Edited November 21, 2023 by Pine

[BradandJanet]

I'm near Boston. I might try. 

[badhaggis]

33 minutes ago, BradandJanet said:

I'm near Boston. I might try. 

If you do please come back and tell us all!!!!!

[pasdetrois]

I'm so glad to see these posts. I lost the show and have found it again. I started watching it on random YouTube videos years ago, and then it popped up on PBS, then it wandered over to OnDemand, then it was gone. I don't pay for a Peacock subscription, but somehow I can see nine seasons now. I've dived back in starting with season 6.

Unfortunately I spotted some videos on YouTube claiming that there has been trouble in Paradise. Something about Dick and Angel being difficult to work with...and thus Channel 4 ending production of the show.

ETA: is it true they will sell/have sold the chateau? Another YouTube video says so.

Edited December 2, 2023 by pasdetrois

[BradandJanet]

On 12/1/2023 at 10:18 PM, pasdetrois said:

I'm so glad to see these posts. I lost the show and have found it again. I started watching it on random YouTube videos years ago, and then it popped up on PBS, then it wandered over to OnDemand, then it was gone. I don't pay for a Peacock subscription, but somehow I can see nine seasons now. I've dived back in starting with season 6.

Unfortunately I spotted some videos on YouTube claiming that there has been trouble in Paradise. Something about Dick and Angel being difficult to work with...and thus Channel 4 ending production of the show.

ETA: is it true they will sell/have sold the chateau? Another YouTube video says so.

I've heard about Channel 4 dropping them.  As for selling the chateau, I'd say no. They've put too much work into the place and definitely plan to pass it to their children, who presumably, will want no professions other than chateauing.

The wedding business seems strong, and this tour will bring in some money. The cheapest tickets are about $100. There's also the online store. I think the Strawbridges are flush. 

[pasdetrois]

Here's an article that provides more details and indicates they have closed the chateau to business (not sold it). https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/escape-to-the-chateau-castle-close-strawbridge-b2372637.html

I'm a repeat home renovator, and I think they easily spent at least a million on their renovations. They may have overextended themselves, not knowing we would have a pandemic that would kill many businesses. I assume the traveling shows and book are to generate some much needed income.

Edited December 5, 2023 by pasdetrois

[BradandJanet]

I just bought tickets for the March 3 tour in Boston. The center orchestra seats are mostly sold out, but there are still seats available. 

[Pine]

I am totally hooked on CHATEAU DIY!!!  Anyone know if Peacock is going to do the Christmas Chateaus? 

[badhaggis]

14 minutes ago, Pine said:

I am totally hooked on CHATEAU DIY!!!  Anyone know if Peacock is going to do the Christmas Chateaus? 

We love that series too!! I love seeing all the different chateaus.

[Pine]

On 12/12/2023 at 7:01 AM, BradandJanet said:

I just bought tickets for the March 3 tour in Boston. The center orchestra seats are mostly sold out, but there are still seats available. 

You will have to come back on here, and please fill us in on everything!  Like, are they coming back on tv?  Are they open for guests?  

[BradandJanet]

I'll do that. I should probably take some notes!

[Chit Chat]

I used to follow Angel & Dick on FB, but I've just skimmed over those posts for a long time.  I lost interest once their show wasn't being aired.  I hope they can keep their castle.  I'll pay more attention to their posts!

[BradandJanet]

Hello, Chateau fans. Last night, I went to Dick and Angel's tour "Dare to Do It" in Boston. The theater was filled with adoring fans. 

Dick and Angel and their children walked on the stage at 7:35 to great applause. Angel appears to have lost weight, but she was in a loose caftan. Dick looks exactly like he does on TV. Arthur is almost as tall as his father. Dorothy is simply beautiful. Dick then introduced Angel's parents; Steve came on stage. 

After everyone sat down, D & A, on stage alone, recognized people in the audience who had written to them. It was a good warmup. Then they did a true/false bit about what had been written about them, but Angel's accent was hard for me to understand, so I didn't catch everything. In short, they are not selling the chateau, they are not getting divorced, and Angel did yell at a producer because he "deserved it" as an "awful man." I don't think the show will come back, but I wasn't clear if the chateau will open for business again. It's too big just to sit there, so I suspect it will. Anyway, they seem to be making a good living from the tours and their online store at the moment.

The next part was their personal stories: Dick with his many siblings in Northern Ireland, Dick joining the military, Dick advancing in the military and receiving an honor from the Queen, Dick's three children (his wife at the time was never mentioned), Dick's TV career engineering things from scrap and eventually winning Master Chef. Angel's story had baby and childhood photos, her move to London, her love of vintage items, her career as an accountant, her successful Tea Party business, and her appearance on the British Shark Tank and getting a 100K deal to invest in her business, which she ended up not using. She was probably in her early thirties in the clip, with her signature red hair, very pretty and articulate. 

They told of their meeting each other twice; the second meeting stuck. They had their two children (Dick mentioned his "oops brother," so he made sure they stopped at two.) They were deciding where to live and seeing what they could afford. Angel saw some property ads for chateaus in France, and off they went. Angel knew what she wanted, and it took four years to find it. They bought it immediately. They decided to pitch a TV show about renovating the building, and the show was picked up. That gave them a camera crew from the start. 

After intermission, they were back on stage with a "bingo" game with prizes only a super-fan would love: a watercolor from Dorothy, a tile from the roof, and a magazine from the attic. I thought they mentioned a stay at the chateau as a prize, but it didn't happen, so maybe I misunderstood. 

 The last part was a filmed walk-through of the chateau by floor, showing how the rooms were connected. It's a maze of connected rooms. They mentioned that the chateau had only one bathroom when they moved in, and it didn't work very well. There were outhouses and closets with jars to pee in. Plumbing in the many modern bathrooms was a huge undertaking. They showed Dick's private office, and Angel's new sewing room. Her previous sewing room was turned into a laundry. It appears every inch of the building has been redone. They also discussed the famous lift, but added that the family didn't use it themselves. There are a lot of stairs involved in living in this building. 

The show ended at 10:10. Angel's voice was beginning to show strain. The next stop was going to the lobby to sign books and other merchandise. The line for that was incredible, so they probably didn't finish until 11:30. These people work hard. We left before they got to the lobby, so I didn't get to see them close up.

I'm glad we went. It was a long, but entertaining evening, for anyone who loves the program. I wish our PBS station would show the reruns again. 

 

Edited March 9 by BradandJanet

[badhaggis]

1 hour ago, BradandJanet said:

Hello, Chateau fans. Last night, I went to Dick and Angel's tour "Dare to Do It" in Boston. The theater was filled with adoring fans. 

Dick and Angel and their children walked on the stage at 7:35 to great applause. Angel appears to have lost weight, but she was in a loose caftan. Dick looks exactly like he does on TV. Arthur is almost as tall as his father. Dorothy is simply beautiful. Dick then introduced Angel's parents; Steve came on stage. 

After everyone sat down, D & A, on stage alone, recognized people in the audience who had written to them. It was a good warmup. Then they did a true/false bit about what had been written about them, but Angel's accent was hard for me to understand, so I didn't catch everything. In short, they are not selling the chateau, they are not getting divorced, and Angel did yell at a producer because he "deserved it" as an "awful man." I don't think the show will come back, but I wasn't clear if the chateau will open for business again. It's too big just to sit there, so I suspect it will. Anyway, they seem to be making a good living from the tours and their online store at the moment.

The next part was their personal stories: Dick with his many siblings in Northern Ireland, Dick joining the military, Dick advancing in the military and receiving an honor from the Queen, Dick's three children (his wife at the time was never mentioned), Dick's TV career engineering things from scrap and eventually winning Master Chef. Angel's story had baby and childhood photos, her move to London, her love of vintage items, her career as an accountant, her successful Tea Party business, and her appearance on the British Shark Tank and getting a 100K deal to invest in her business, which she ended up not using. She was probably in her early thirties in the clip, with her signature red hair, very pretty and articulate. 

They told of their meeting each other twice; the second meeting stuck. They had their two children (Dick mentioned his "oops brother," so he made sure they stopped at two.) They were deciding where to live and seeing what they could afford. Angel saw some property ads for chateaus in France, and off they went. Angel knew what she wanted, and it took four years to find it. They bought it immediately. They decided to pitch a TV show about renovating the building, and the show was picked up. That gave them a camera crew from the start. 

After intermission, they were back on stage with a "bingo" game with prizes only a super-fan would love: a watercolor from Dorothy, a tile from the roof, and a magazine from the attic. I thought they mentioned a stay at the chateau as a prize, but it didn't happen, so maybe I misunderstood. 

 The last part was a filmed walk-through of the chateau by floor, showing how the rooms were connected. It's a maze of connected rooms. They mentioned that the chateau had only one bathroom when they moved in, and it didn't work very well. There were outhouses and closets with jars to pee in. Plumbing in the many modern bathrooms was a huge undertaking. They showed Dick's private office, and Angel's new sewing room. Her previous sewing room was turned into a laundry. It appears every inch of the building has been redone. They also discussed the famous lift, but added that the family didn't use it themselves. There are a lot of stairs involved in living in this building. 

The show ended at 10:10. Angel's voice was beginning to show strain. The next stop was going to the lobby to sign books and other merchandise. The line for that was incredible, so they probably didn't finish until 11:30. These people work hard. We left before they got to the lobby, so I didn't get to see them close up.

I'm glad we went. It was a long, but entertaining evening, for anyone who loves the program. I wish our PBS station would show the reruns again. 

 

The reruns are on Peacock. They also have a show "Renovating the Chateau" that follows others renovating their chateaus. Dick and Angel are on it for the first few years. My husband and I really enjoy it too.

Edited March 9 by badhaggis
Name

[Pine]

CNBC has been running daily Chateau DYI.  I really enjoy it, even more than Escape.   Hope that they keep it up for a few years!  :)