Dick Strawbridge has two grown-up children from his first marriage.
Dick and Angel Strawbridge are back on our screens with their new Channel 4 travel series, Secret France. The show follows the couple beyond the gates of their 19th-century château, exploring some of the lesser-known corners of France.
The former army officer and businesswoman first rose to fame through their documentary series Escape to the Château, which ran for nine seasons before concluding in 2022. Their two children, Arthur and Dorothy, also appeared on the show, delighting viewers as they grew up looking remarkably like their parents.
The family clearly share a close bond, with Dick’s eldest son, James, from his first marriage, occasionally appearing on screen as well. Here’s a closer look at Dick and Angel’s children, as well as their blended family.
Arthur Strawbridge, 11
Arthur has grown considerably since his debut on Escape to the Château in 2016. Now 11, he is preparing for his first year at senior school. In an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine in October 2023, Angel revealed that Arthur is embarking on an exciting new chapter in his education.
Angel revealed that many of her and Dick’s decisions are guided by what’s best for their children. She explained:
“Every year we ask ourselves, ‘Is this going to be all right for the family?’ ‘Is this going to work?'”
She added, “[Arthur and Dorothy] are still young, but Arthur starts senior school next year. They also face different pressures, from social media and everything else.”
It’s shaping up to be a big year for Arthur, who made his parents proud when he represented their French village during the arrival of the Olympic flame ahead of the 2024 Paris Games.
Sharing several photos from the special occasion on Instagram, Dick and Angel wrote in a joint post:
“It’s been a special couple of days welcoming the Olympic flame to Laval, and congratulations to Arthur who represented our village to hand over the pennant! Apologies for gushing parent photos… we just couldn’t help ourselves!”
Dorothy Strawbridge, 10
While Dorothy might be the youngest of the bunch, she recently marked a major milestone by turning ten years old!
Her doting parents celebrated the occasion with a special post on social media in April. Alongside a collage of Dorothy’s childhood photos, including one from her tenth birthday celebrations, the couple penned: “The last decade flew by…but also played out in slow motion…how does that happen!?!
“It’s been a true pleasure to watch you grow. Your determined, funny, creative & caring nature fills our hearts. Happy Birthday darlin gal…carry on being the beautiful you!”
Angel has clearly passed down her creative flare to her daughter, who is a keen photographer. In April, Angel shared a stunning photo taken by Dorothy, showing the sun setting on their family home.
Fans were hugely impressed by the youngster’s talent, with one person commenting: “Well done Dorothy, what a beautiful photo,” while another added: “What a great picture, well done Dorothy.”
Dick’s children from his first marriage
Before he met Angel, Dick was married to his first wife Brigit Strawbridge Howard for 28 years. They wed back in 1982 and stayed together until 2010. The pair share two grown-up children: James and Charlotte. Meet them below.
James Strawbridge, 40
James is a chef, author and food photographer. He lives on the South Cornish coast with his wife Holly and their three young children. The 40-year-old works for a wide range of food and drink brands from his garden photography studio and development kitchen. He’s also written a number of cookbooks, with his latest release, Salt and the Art of Seasoning, shortlisted for the Guild of Food Writers Awards 2024.
When he’s not busy crafting his latest culinary creation, James enjoys foraging for wild foods with his family, sea gig rowing with his local club, and painting the Cornish countryside, according to his website.
Following in his father’s footsteps, James is no stranger to television. In 2022, he hosted his own BBC food show, Strawbridge Over The Drawbridge, where he showcased his cooking skills at some of Northern Ireland’s most stunning country estates.
Charlotte Strawbridge, 38
Creativity clearly runs in the Strawbridge family. Dick’s daughter Charlotte is a portrait photographer and contemporary artist. Based in Edinburgh and Girona, she works on oil paintings inspired by nature and movement, while also capturing natural portraits through her photography.
Charlotte regularly shares her artwork on social media and maintains her own website to showcase her creations.