Dick and Angel Strawbridge flooded with support as they break social media silence after Channel 4 announces Escape To The Chateau spin-off without them

Dick and Angel Strawbridge were flooded with support as they broke their social media silence after Channel 4 announced a new Escape To The Chateau spin-off without them.

The married couple are best known for starring in the popular reality show, which saw them renovate their 19th-century Château de la Motte-Husson in France. 

Escape To The Chateau aired 50 episodes over nine seasons, before wrapping up in 2022 after it was dramatically axed due to behind-the-scenes bust-ups.

Earlier this week Channel 4 revealed a first-of-its-kind new property show in wake of the programme’s explosive axe – and the pair aren’t involved in any capacity.

On Wednesday Dick and Angel took to Instagram after the news to share a snap of one of their house designs – opting not to address news of the new show at all.

They wrote: ‘A very good morning to you! 

Dick and Angel Strawbridge (pictured) flooded with support as they break social media silence after Channel 4 announces Escape To The Chateau spin-off without them

The couple took to Instagram to share this image on their profile – and fans all said the same thing in the comments section

‘We’re busy…lots of changes and lots of activity at the Chateau! Any guesses?

‘To keep up to date with what’s happening in our world, sign up to our newsletter! 

‘Link in bio! Have a terrific Tuesday! Xxx.’

Some rushed to the comments section to say the same thing.

One wrote: ‘We definitely need a new series! Please.’

Another added: ‘We’re gunna need more episodes.’ 

‘We need to have a new series to find out!,’ a third pointed out. 

A fourth questioned: ‘New series? Please make a new series.’ 

Escape To The Chateau was dramatically axed shortly after bullying accusations were made in 2021. 

Fans were gutted when the show came to an end three years ago, but now they will be happy to know that there is going to be new a spin-off series. 

On Monday Channel 4 revealed that they are joining forces with Spark Media North to work on a daytime show called Chateau DIY: Win The Dream.

The programme will give one of 12 pairs the chance to win their own chateau in France. 

On Monday Channel 4 revealed that they are joining forces with Spark Media North to work on a daytime show called Chateau DIY: Win the Dream 

Channel 4 said that it: ‘Will see aspiring chatelains compete in challenges to prove they have what it takes to win a life-changing prize: an authentic castle in France with multiple bedrooms, living quarters and outbuildings which could be worth up to £250,000 – lower than the average price of a home in the UK.

‘The challengers will compete in a series of heats testing their skills in design, renovation, and business acumen: essential traits they’ll need for running their own property. 

‘Each challenge will be guided and judged by the familiar faces of Chateau DIY’s main series, who will share their vast and varied expertise of renovating and running these magnificent properties with the competitors.

‘After three weeks of heats, a selection of successful candidates will be put through to the finals week where one lucky pair could win the prize of their dreams.’  

Channel 4’s Jayne Stanger said: ‘Chateau DIY has been one of Channel 4’s most popular daytime series and we’re very excited to bring this grand competition to life with Spark Media North. It will offer the perfect blend of glorious escapism and real-life twists and turns that our viewers love to follow.’

Spark Media North’s Joff Hatfield-Powell added: ‘We are delighted by the continued success of Chateau DIY over the last seven years and to have Channel 4’s support in producing this ambitious extension, which promises more of the very same thrill and wonder en route to a life-changing prize for one skilful pair of chatelains.

‘As proven suppliers to Channel 4, we take pride in delivering daytime shows with primetime values. 

‘This new series is our most ambitious yet – a high-stakes competitive reality show that will captivate audiences and offer one of the biggest prizes in daytime TV history.’

Chateau DIY: Win The Dream follows on from Chateau DIY, which is associated with Escape to the Château. 

Chateau DIY, which hit our screens in 2018, follows the lives of families who are renovating their properties in France. 

There have been eight seasons, with the last on our screens in December 2024. 

Back in October it was revealed that Chateau DIY and its festive spin-off Chateau DIY has been commissioned for another two years. 

And fans will be happy to know that instead of 30 hour-long episodes, there will now be 45 instalments for the next two years.

Chateau DIY underwent a rebrand in 2021, after it was originally created as a spin-off of associated series Escape to the Chateau.

Hosts Dick and Angel Strawbridgewere dropped by Channel 4 three years ago, after being engulfed in a bullying scandal. 

But it was revealed in May 2023 that Channel 4 had cut ties with them following an independent investigation into their conduct.

The TV channel confirmed they would no longer work with the pair on any new productions ‘following a review’ after they were branded ‘spiky and volatile’.

A leaked recording revealed Angel branding a producer a ‘F***ed up little c**t’.

In June, she spoke out for the first time defending herself over the foul-mouthed rant as she explained she fell into a pre-laid trap.

The poplar daytime series follows families’ journeys in purchasing and restoring various chateaux across France (Chateau DIY At Christmas pictured)

While the main show historically had 30 hour-long episodes per season, the broadcaster has increased the order to 45 episodes each series over the next two years (Tim and Krys on show)

The TV star admitted that while she wishes the incident hadn’t happened, she will not apologise for what she did. 

Speaking on Elizabeth Day’s podcast How To Fail, Angel confessed in that moment she saw red: ‘I was the one in the wrong for losing my temper, but do you know what, I will not apologise – he was so disrespectful in our house, he was so upsetting to me, my family, and I stand by what I did.

‘If I was to apologise and say “I’m sorry for using bad language and chucking you out,” it would just be disingenuous to me.’

She added: ‘Would I like to erase that? Yeah, I’d love to. But I would also like to erase what he was doing, because my rage just didn’t pop out of nowhere.

‘It grew over time and it was provoked and therefore I’m not ashamed of what happened in the end, I just wish it hadn’t happened.’

Speaking about the backlash that followed her rant, Angel previously said: ‘The actual incident, it actually happened a long time ago – so it happened about six years ago.

‘We had so many amazing people filming Escape To The Chateau, but in this particular quite small timeframe, we had someone that wasn’t particularly very nice.

‘His behaviour was completely unacceptable, but it didn’t just happen in one little moment, it happened over lots of different occasions.

Chateau DIY underwent a rebrand in 2021, after it was originally created as a spin-off of associated series Escape to the Chateau (Dick Strawbridge and Donna McDougal on show)

The couple found fame renovating their home over nine series of Escape to the Chateau, alongside their two children

‘It was a high point towards the end of filming a series. We set a lot of stories in parallel activity. We were particularly busy, and I think that’s why we just didn’t have the head space to address his behaviour.

Recalling his behaviour she explained: ‘He was not very nice, he was doing these weird pictures of Dick killing animals and posting them on his Instagram. He was so horrible with the children.

‘There was this one incident, and I actually, truly believe that because he knew he was caught, I think in my heart, that is why he set up this filming.

‘Because the way that he was acting was how he’d never acted with me before. You don’t accidentally film someone when you’re not filming. Completely happened secretively and on purpose.

‘He broke all of the kids’ fishing rods and the next day I was upstairs and he came up in a really very out of character way for him and was really in my face, in a really angry, like he’d lost it kind of way.

‘I’ve not listened back, it makes me feel a little bit sick if I do. But obviously all of my friends have, and they’re like “I can hear you” – he actually took out what he said – “I can here you gradually getting more angry, more angry, more angry”.

‘And then I just say like “get out of my f***ing house”. I can’t even remember what I said. I think I said a really bad word beginning with c, I think that’s how p***ed off I must have been.’

Angel said the fallout after the incident felt really ‘disproportionate’, adding: ‘There was so much noise going on on one side. 

But it was revealed in May 2023 that Channel 4 had cut ties with them following an independent investigation into their conduct (pictured last October)

The TV channel confirmed they would no longer work with the pair on any new productions ‘following a review’ after they were branded ‘spiky and volatile’ 

‘And on the other side there was this sort of like outpouring of love and understanding, and people saying “you know what, it’s okay to be human”.

‘But when you have children you have to be able to zone this out, because the kids pick up on everything.

‘But for me the children put everything into perspective. And also this went global. I couldn’t believe the momentum that everything took.

‘I just had to focus on the family, the business. And looking back I probably did feel a little bit ashamed that the kids would listen to it, or someone at the children’s school would listen to it.

‘But I also think that anyone with a little bit of understanding or common sense, could possibly understand what happened.

‘I just regret that I didn’t do it sooner and probably in a calmer way. If I’d just taken a breath two weeks beforehand and thought to myself “we need to get him out and get a new person in”, then I think it would have played out differently.

‘We don’t teach our children to use bad language, but when you’re pushed that far and are seeing red, it’s kind of hard. 

‘I don’t want to say I regret using it. I stand proud for just defending myself at that moment against his behaviour. I probably wish that I hadn’t said the c-word. I don’t even like that word.’

A leaked recording revealed Angel branding a producer a ‘F***ed up little c**t’. In June, she spoke out for the first time defending herself over the foul-mouthed rant as she explained she fell into a pre-laid trap 

Speaking on Elizabeth Day’s podcast How To Fail, Angel admitted that while she wishes the incident hadn’t happened she will not apologise for what she did

Asked if she might have been treated differently if she was a man, she said: ‘There’s a lot of people that make a great living out of that. There probably is a bit of truth in that.

Last October, Dick and Angel dodged questions about the hit Channel 4 show’s bullying scandal during an appearance on Lorraine. 

As Lorraine host Christine Lampard made reference to the scandal, Angel explained: ‘You know the saying “Never complain and never explain”, I think that was just the best way. 

‘None of it made sense because we had made that family decision a long time ago that it was the right time for Escape to come to its natural end.’

Dick insisted that it was their decision to leave the show and it was decided almost two years ago. 

He said: ‘As a family, we made a decision that last year was going to be the finale. We told everyone two years ago, so this, it wasn’t news for us.’

Steering clear of directly addressing the bullying claims, he said: ‘We made the decision just not to get involved in any of the conversations.’ .

In May last year, sources claimed Two Rivers Media, the company that produces Escape to the Chateau, raised concerns about the presenting duo, according to Deadline.

In May last year, sources claimed Two Rivers Media, the company that produces Escape to the Chateau, raised concerns about the presenting duo, according to Deadline

The exact nature of the allegations is not known, but the publication reported that three of their former colleagues alleged the couple have clashed with producers.

A source said at the time: ‘There has been a deteriorating relationship between Two Rivers and Dick and Angel’s Chateau TV for various reasons and it all came to a head.’

‘People who try to remote manage them from the UK, that doesn’t work, or people who come into their house and boss them around, that doesn’t work either,’ the source added.

‘Producers turn them into this perfect, brilliant, funny couple, they’re that on camera, but that’s about it.’

A Channel 4 spokeswoman told MailOnline: ‘Following a review, we have taken the decision not to work with Dick and Angel on any new productions in the future.’

A spokesperson for Two Rivers added: ‘We can confirm that we will no longer work with Dick and Angel and cannot comment further at the moment.’

Sources close to the couple told MailOnline that their behaviour on set was nothing like their ‘gorgeous’ on screen personas. 

A source said: ‘Dick and Angel come across on screen as the most gorgeous and lovely couple, literally like butter wouldn’t melt, but they’re not like that off screen.

‘It’s a full-on show, production is with them at the chateau for weeks so they can’t hide their real characters – they can’t turn it on for two hours of recording and then not go back to their real persona.

‘They’re just spiky and volatile people and, as you can imagine, that’s a nightmare to work with.’

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