Escape to the Chateau Dick and Angel's wild love story, near split and ultimatum
Fans have loved watching Dick and Angel Strawbridge's fairytale story.
The Escape to the Chateau hosts put their hearts and souls into transforming a gorgeous 45-bedroom Château in France - and have taken viewers with them each step of the way, from their very own wedding day to the completion of the incredible renovation.
However as they appear to wind down their castle company following a reported fallout with Channel 4, they're now taking their family on the road for a mammoth UK tour.
While the connection between the pair is undeniable, their romance hasn't been straightforward given their 19-year age gap.
It was love at first sight for the reality couple when they met by chance in 2010, when Angel was in her early thirties.
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Dick and Angel Strawbridge met at a birthday partyThe reality stars were introduced by their mutual agent at a 40th birthday bash, that Angel, now 45, was hosting.
Their connection was instantaneous, as the red-headed interior designer - whose real name Angela Newman - admitted 'blushing' through her brief chat with the former British Army lieutenant-colonel.
While Dick, 63, who has also appeared in Coast and Scrapheap Challenge, couldn't take his eyes off her.
"The first thing I saw when I met Angel - I call her Angela - was her smile. It's phenomenal," he previously told The Times.
"We barely spoke that night, but we knew that there was something at first sight. And we fell in love very quickly."
Dick has two other children from his first marriage to Brigit - James, 38, and Charlotte, 36.
But by the time of his encounter with Angel, they had been separated for six years.
Dick was afraid to ask Angel's age (Channel 4)
They originally bought Chateau-de-la-Motte Husson for £280,000 (CHANNEL 4 PICTURE PUBLICITY)Not long after they met, the pair started dating long-distance, as Dick was based in Cornwall while Angel was in London.
He spoilt her rotten with unique vintage finds but there was one question he was afraid to ask in their early days because he wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.
"I was over 50 when I met Angel, and I didn't ask her age because that was a scary thing to do," he told the Daily Mail.
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With an age gap of almost 20 years, he feared there would be no long-term future and as such, tried to end the relationship so Angel could find a younger man to start a family with.
He admitted to the Times: "After spending Christmas together we knew we had to have the conversation. I said: 'Damn, girl, this is wonderful, but we really have to think about ending this.'"
They later married in 2015 and started a family together (Channel 4 Picture Publicity)And in a separate interview, he explained how he thought it would be the best decision for Angel.
"Angel and I had our fun, then I told her it was time for her find a young man, have children, because I felt I shouldn't keep her from that," he said.
However, Angel had other ideas.
"What she said, bloody woman, was that she actually wanted me," Dick continued, saying it made him realise, "you're a long time dead. Why wouldn't you just jump in and live life?"
Committed to starting a family with Dick, 16 months into their romance, Angel offered up an ultimatum, handing him a calendar with the words 'impregnate me by this date' written on it.
He beat the target by seven months and the delighted couple welcomed son Arthur, nine, followed by Dorothy, eight.
Viewers have watched Dick and Angel, along with their kids Arthur and Dorothy, live out their dream fairytale (Instagram)In a move that would change their lives forever, in 2015 the couple swapped their two-bed home in east London for a dilapidated 45-room chateau in France's Pays de la Loire region.
The moated property cost just £280,000 and has since been transformed into a dreamy wedding venue, commanding fees of up to £38,000 a pop.
The same year, the happy couple tied the knot at the grand pad and shared their special day with Channel 4.
The programme followed their energetic quest to renovate the property, and while Dick might be two decades older, Angel has always remained in awe of his can-do attitude.
"It [the age gap] just didn't matter. I didn't think about it really," she previously told The Sun.
"Age is but a number, and Dick's always had a really wonderful energy and he's a doer.
"He is just so passionate about life. Everything Dick has done in his life, he's got the most out of it. I just love that about him."
Last month, Channel 4 told the Mirror they had decided to part ways with Dick and Angel "following a review" after years of working together.
The pair hit back at the castle wind down claims (@escape_to_the_chateau/Instagram)It came amid claims they 'bullied' producers whilst filming, but Dick and Angel have insisted there are 'two sides to every story'.
Today, the couple sent a clear message that they're not going anywhere by announcing a UK tour - where they plan to 'set the record straight'.
Confirming the tour on Instagram, the couple said: "It's been nearly a year in the planning and we simply could not wait to tell you that we are hitting the road for our biggest ever theatre tour!
"Taking our family on the road has been an honour and a complete pleasure. Our first theatre tour in 2020; Dare To Do It, was a complete unknown.
"It was humbling, not only for the number of you that came to see us, but for the stories you told us when we had a chance to have a hug afterwards!"
They added: "In the new Tour, we explore Why & How we dared to do it, delve deep into our classic myth-busting and click-bait segment (always a favourite of ours, as we get to set the record straight!).
"It will be an interactive evening of fun and games, especially now we can have you back on stage!!
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