By any measure, Dick Strawbridge has lived more than one lifetime. Soldier, engineer, environmental advocate, television presenter, château renovator — his story is a portrait of British industriousness wrapped in charm, eccentricity and a famously formidable moustache.
Born Richard Francis Strawbridge in 1959, in what was then Burma, he spent his early years between Southeast Asia and Northern Ireland, eventually settling near Ballyclare. As one of seven children in a lively household, he grew up with a fascination for how things worked — and a habit, by his own admission, of taking machines apart long before he developed a talent for putting them back together again.
Strawbridge’s sense of direction appeared early. After school he entered Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College, a route designed specifically for future military engineers, before earning a place at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. In 1979 he was commissioned into the Royal Corps of Signals, embarking on a military career that would take him around the world.
Rising through the ranks with characteristic discipline and enthusiasm, Strawbridge served in diverse postings including Germany, the Middle East, the Caribbean and the UK. He earned a reputation for calm leadership and technical capability, ultimately achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1993, he was made an MBE for his service in Northern Ireland — recognition that he has always described with humility.
But after more than two decades in uniform, Strawbridge decided to reinvent himself. Leaving the Army in 2001, he briefly stepped into industry as a programme manager. It was a logical move for a man with a mind wired for systems, problem-solving and engineering. Yet a different opportunity soon beckoned — one that would bring him into millions of living rooms.
A chance audition landed him a place on Channel 4’s engineering-challenge series Scrapheap Challenge. His hands-on expertise, booming laugh and natural warmth made him an immediate viewer favourite. Before long he had moved from competitor to presenter, becoming one of the defining personalities of the programme’s run.
More shows followed, many with an environmental or educational slant. He fronted It’s Not Easy Being Green, a BBC series chronicling his family’s attempt to live sustainably in a rural home. He later explored food, farming, history, engineering and adventure in a variety of television projects, frequently joined by his son. Off-screen, he built a reputation as an energetic advocate for pragmatic environmentalism: less lecturing, more rolling up sleeves.
But perhaps the most surprising twist in Strawbridge’s story arrived in 2015, when he and his wife, entrepreneur and designer Angel Adoree, purchased a grand but crumbling 19th-century property: the Château de la Motte-Husson in northwest France. With 45 rooms, a moat, no heating, no electricity and barely functional plumbing, it was a romantic but daunting undertaking.
It was also irresistible television. Their renovation journey became the hit Channel 4 series Escape to the Chateau, which ran for nine seasons. The programme followed Dick as he tackled structural rescues, rewired systems, installed everything from water supplies to heating networks, and restored forgotten craftsmanship — often under extraordinary time pressure. Angel brought creative direction and style, turning derelict rooms into elegant spaces and the château into a thriving events venue.
The partnership, both personal and professional, struck a chord with viewers. Their dynamic the meticulous engineer paired with the imaginative designer gave the series its heart. Along the way they raised two young children at the château, blending family life with monumental renovation.
Though the television chapter at the château has since concluded, the Strawbridges continue to inspire with their combination of ingenuity, resilience and humour. Dick’s career remains a reminder that reinvention is possible at any stage of life. His path has never followed a straight line, but it has been consistently driven by curiosity and a willingness to tackle the improbable.
From commanding soldiers to coaxing warmth out of a 150-year-old boiler, from environmental experiments to rebuilding a French castle, Dick Strawbridge has crafted a life that defies a single label. What ties it together is a commitment to making things better by hand, by heart and with unmistakable gusto.
But What Does He Have and Do Now?
Today, Strawbridge’s story has entered a new, more settled chapter but hardly a quiet one. He still lives at Château de la Motte-Husson, which remains the family’s “forever home.”
Although the original run of Escape to the Chateau ended in 2022 after nine seasons and decades of their château renovation dream Dick and Angel have continued building on their lifestyle and legacy.
Their life today involves a mix of creative, entrepreneurial and family-oriented activities:
They’ve diversified into business ventures: homeware, design and events related to the château and their personal brand.
They continue to share their lives, ideas and projects through media — including a weekly podcast, books (such as their latest titled A Taste of the Chateau), and social-media updates about renovations, family and future plans.
Public appearances remain part of their schedule: in 2024 they hosted a VIP segment at a countryside festival, sharing cooking, craft and renovation know-how with fans.
And while they are no longer filming their long-running TV renovation show, they recently announced a return to screen for a new installment of Escape to the Chateau a “Series 10” in production for 2025 giving long-time fans renewed hope of glimpsing more of life at the château.
So, at this point, Dick Strawbridge has what many dream of: a family home that’s more than a house a restored château full of history and hard work; a family; multiple creative and business ventures; and a way of life that, though far from ordinary, is rooted in personal values, purpose and persistence.