Angel Strawbridge, beloved for her role alongside husband Dick Strawbridge on Channel 4’s Escape to the Chateau, has revealed the emotional challenges she faced after becoming a mother. The 47-year-old television personality spoke openly about feeling isolated following the birth of her first child and the adjustments required when relocating to France.
Angel and Dick, who are known for their remarkable restoration of Chateau de La Motte Husson, have built a life balancing family and their passion project. Dick, 65, entered their marriage with two adult children, and together they have two young children, Arthur, 12, and Dorothy, 11.
During a heartfelt discussion on the parenting podcast Sweat, Snot and Tears, Angel reflected on the profound changes motherhood brought into her life. Speaking with hosts Annie and Wendy, she described the emotional impact of becoming a parent. “The biggest change when I did feel a little bit isolated was when I had my first child. Because then I just was like: right, your whole life changes completely,” she admitted.
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This shift in perspective came before the family’s move to France, which Angel says she approached with a new mental readiness. “By the time I moved to France I was in a different mental state from before I had children. I was ready,” she explained. “If you’re going to make a move to somewhere like this, you really have to be prepared.”
Despite settling her children comfortably into the French schooling system, Angel described feeling out of place among their affluent neighbours frequently dubbed the “Chateau Set.” Known for her sociable nature, she confessed she found it difficult to integrate. “I felt really uncomfortable, it was weird,” she said, sharing that she and Dick agreed the lavish dinner parties typical of local high society were not suited to them.
Angel and Dick’s relationship began in 2010 after they met through a mutual television agent, marrying five years later. Since then, they have become internationally recognized for their captivating home makeover series. Although Escape to the Chateau ended two years ago amid reports of tensions with Channel 4 producers, the couple continue to connect with fans by sharing their ongoing adventures on social media.
Angel’s candid reflections highlight the often unspoken struggles of parenthood and adapting to new surroundings, underscoring the importance of readiness and self-awareness during life’s big transitions.