Dick Strawbridge

Richard ‘Dick’ Francis Strawbridge was born on September 3, 1959, in Burma, and grew up in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. He attended Ballyclare High School and Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College before enrolling at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. In 1979, he was commissioned into the British Army’s Royal Corps of Signals. He steadily rose through the ranks, becoming a lieutenant in 1981, a captain in 1985, and a major in 1991. For his distinguished service in Northern Ireland, he was awarded an MBE in 1993. He achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1999 before retiring from the army in November 2001. After his military career, Strawbridge worked as a programme manager and troubleshooter for a multinational company, eventually transitioning into television.

Strawbridge transitioned to television, initially gaining recognition as a contestant on ‘Scrapheap Challenge’ in 1998, where his team ‘Brothers in Arms’ won the series three trophy and the ‘Junkyard Megawars’ trophy in 2003. He later became the main presenter for the show’s 11th series in 2009. His passion for sustainability was showcased in ‘It’s Not Easy Being Green’ (2006-2007) for BBC Two, where he and his family adopted an environmentally friendly lifestyle. He also appeared on BBC Two’s ‘Coast,’ examining engineering marvels and historical events. In 2011, he co-presented ‘The Hungry Sailors’ with his son James for ITV, a series exploring local cuisine across Britain’s coastline. He further expanded his television presence with ‘Dirty Rotten Survival’ (2015) for National Geographic, filmed in the United States.

His most notable television project began in 2015 with ‘Escape to the Chateau,’ alongside his wife Angel Adoree, documenting their renovation of Château de la Motte-Husson in France. This popular Channel 4 series, which ran for nine seasons until 2022, led to spin-offs like ‘Escape to the Chateau: Make Do and Mend’ (2020-2021) and ‘Escape to the Chateau DIY’ (2018), where they assisted other expatriate château owners. Although a new series with the working title ‘Secret France with Dick and Angel’ faced production challenges, a three-episode series aired in June 2024. Strawbridge has authored books, including ‘Preserves’ (2012) and ‘Practical Self-Sufficiency,’ and received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Plymouth University in 2010.