After three turbulent years marked by controversy, silence and stubborn resilience, Dick and Angel Strawbridge are finally celebrating what they call their “best news” yet.
The couple — once the wholesome faces of Channel 4’s runaway hit Escape to the Chateau — have announced a major career revival, reigniting their bond with fans after the show was dramatically axed amid allegations of bullying behind the scenes.
Taking to social media, Dick and Angel revealed they are officially relaunching their podcast, returning to the familiar surroundings of their beloved French chateau — the very place that first made them household names nearly a decade ago.
And judging by the reaction, fans have been waiting.
🌿 A Decade After Fame — And Three Years After the Fall
First airing in 2016, Escape to the Chateau followed the couple as they uprooted their family to rural France to restore a sprawling, abandoned château — all while juggling parenthood, finances, and a growing wedding and events business.
The show ran for nine seasons and 50 episodes, before coming to an abrupt end in 2023 after Channel 4 confirmed it would no longer work with the pair following an independent investigation into alleged behaviour on set.
The broadcaster described the couple as “spiky and volatile”, a claim both Dick and Angel have consistently denied.
The decision ended one of Channel 4’s most successful factual entertainment franchises — and left the couple effectively exiled from mainstream television.
🎙️ “It Feels Like A Date With Each Other — And With You”
Now, three years on, the Strawbridges are re-emerging on their own terms.
Announcing the podcast revival on Instagram, the couple wrote:
“After a little break from the world of podcasting, we’re back in the ‘Chateau Studio’ recording and filming our brand-new podcast.
Yes — we’re filming it this time too!
It honestly feels like having a date with each other… and with you.”
They also invited followers to submit questions — reopening a direct line to the loyal audience that never left them.
Within minutes, the comments flooded in:
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“This is the best news — I’ve missed you so much.”
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“HALLELUJAH! Our favourite family is back.”
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“It feels like coming home.”
⚡ The Scandal That Changed Everything
The couple’s fall from grace was triggered by the leak of an audio recording in which Angel was heard angrily confronting a producer, using explicit language while demanding he leave her home.
Speaking publicly about the incident for the first time last year, Angel admitted she lost her temper — but insisted it was provoked.
“I was wrong for losing my temper,” she said.
“But I will not apologise for defending myself and my family.”
She described a pattern of behaviour she found “disrespectful, upsetting, and unacceptable”, claiming the confrontation was secretly recorded during a moment of extreme stress.
The fallout, she said, felt “disproportionate” — particularly because the incident itself had occurred years earlier, long before it resurfaced publicly.
👨👩👧👦 Why Walking Away Was “The Right Thing”
Despite the professional blow, Dick and Angel have remained defiant — insisting they have no regrets about stepping away from television.
Speaking previously about life after Escape to the Chateau, Dick explained:
“Before our children faced the pressures young people deal with today, it felt like the right time to walk away.”
The couple said removing cameras from family life allowed them to focus on their children’s education and wellbeing — a decision they stand by.
🌟 A Comeback — Without Asking Permission
This comeback isn’t glossy TV contracts or red-carpet redemption.
It’s quieter. More controlled. And entirely theirs.
By relaunching their podcast independently, Dick and Angel are reclaiming their narrative — reconnecting with supporters without broadcasters, investigations or headlines standing in the way.
For fans who never stopped believing, it feels less like a return… and more like justice.
As one follower summed it up perfectly:
“You didn’t disappear. You just waited for the right moment.”
And now, that moment has finally arrived.
