‘Just have a go!’

ESCAPE TO THE CHATEAU: MAKE DO AND MEND Intrepid renovators Dick and Angel Strawbridge on how their series can help us realise our DIY dreamsé

NEW THURSDAY / C4 / 8PM / EP 1 of 4 / FACTUAL

Over the past four years, practical presenter Dick Strawbridge and his vintage-loving wife Angel have unleashed their creativity to renovate and redecorate a run-down French chateau.

We’ve followed the couple, and their children, Arthur, seven, and six-year-old Dorothy, every step of the way as they transformed their 45-room property into a majestic wedding venue and holiday home in C4’s life-affirming hit series Escape to the Chateau.

Now, in new lockdown-inspired spin-off, Escape to the Chateau: Make Do and Mend, Dick and Angel will share their top tips for families looking for imaginative ways to solve DIY dilemmas using what they have to hand.

Here, in an exclusive interview, Dick, 60, and Angel, 42, tell TV Times what we can expect from the four-parter…

What was the thinking behind making the show? DICK: We receive so many emails asking how we do certain things in Escape to the Chateau and the numbers went up in lockdown because people suddenly had time to do things. We said, ‘Why don’t we help?’ ANGEL: It’s all about using what you’ve got round the house. If we can do it, then everyone else can with the right mindset! We’ve had immense satisfaction watching other people do the work!

Is this series about helping people realise what they’re capable of, as well as teaching them new skills?

ANGEL: Yes. In the first episode, a lady called Miriam was doing up her bathroom and didn’t have much confidence. But we did mood boards together and she ended up doing dark tile grouting and even made a macramé shelf. It was wonderful. She said, ‘I’m going to tackle the whole house now.’ Giving someone that confidence is a bigger gift than showing someone how to grout. DICK: Some people have tackled really ambitious projects such as creating a garden from scratch. Just have a go and whatever comes out, take ownership and it’ll be special.

Did you find any of the projects particularly moving?

DICK: One lady did up a broken stereogram and a record she found to play was a song her granny used to sing. Everyone was crying! Another young lass of 13 got her bedroom done up and that made Angel cry because she was thinking of Dorothy in a few years. ANGEL: I cry at everything! Another lady styled up a drinks trolley beautifully and put a photo of her grandma on it. When you make something yours, you attach a memory and that layer of life is lovely.

Have any of the projects inspired you to replicate them at the chateau?

ANGEL: Two guys redid their front door and it looked amazing, so I want to do our door!

DICK: Another job on the to-do list! With everybody doing tasks at home, we did the same at the chateau.

One little girl designed a chicken house on her allotment. It was ‘Cluckingham Palace’ with disco balls and rainbows, so now I’ve also got a rainbow-coloured chicken shed – you can see it from space! ANGEL: I’ve never crocheted before, but I’ve learnt to from doing it with a lady who was turning an air-raid shelter into a craft room.

Due to lockdown restrictions, you filmed this series yourselves – how did you find that?

ANGEL: I had to ensure Dick

wasn’t looking too dishevelled before going on camera! We’ve also had to make sure a dozen things were working before every single shot – a couple of times we forgot to turn a camera on!

DICK: We’ve had proper camera lessons and it was a great experience. And for our voice-overs, we’ve built a recording studio in a room upstairs. It’s sound-proof, so now nobody can hear you scream at the chateau!

How have you both found lockdown personally?

DICK: We’ve been really lucky and happy. As a family we do lots of stuff together anyway. ANGEL: Yes, the children are just doers. We’re probably not going away on holiday this year, so we asked them what their dream summer would be and Arthur replied, ‘I just want to do more cooking and gardening.’ They’ve been amazing, they’ve not left the house since March but they’re still singing to themselves and have a bounce in their step.

And you’ve got a new addition to the family – gorgeous Kerry blue terrier puppy Petale, who makes her debut in the series…

DICK: We got her two days before France shut down. She’s six months old now and big and fluffy. She’s part of our pack and goes everywhere with us and on adventures with the kids. But Angel worries about what she’s thinking!

ANGEL: I’ve never had a dog and I don’t know if they’re happy or sad! I wasn’t ready for a dog until now as I have so much responsibility and I didn’t really want any more, but the timing was exactly right for the family. It’s been lovely!