Escape to the Chateau DIY (2018–2022) User Reviews

Nice Dick and Angel shame about the Recapping! & "Coming ups".

[davidhiggins-89756 · 8/10 · 25 April 2018]

I'll give it an 8 just for having Dick and Angel in it, but wish the production company hadn't put so many recaps in the show and all those "Coming up" previews. Some popularized American thing we're very very sadly adopting. Recaps interrupt the flow of the show, as do these previews, the first 2m 10s of the show is best avoided as it spoils the 'surprise' of the show. And all the subsequent, "Coming up" numerous previews throughout, it is dumbing down the audience, spoon feeding the show for those who have a need to know what the show is going to be in 10 mins time before they've even seen it. Viewers will either watch the show all the way through, or not bother at all, do we really need to know what happened 10 mins ago or what will happen in 10 mins time.

All these Americanization program gimmicks are ruining our programs in the UK. Such a shame it has blighted this one. Maybe the show was made to be sold off to that market as well, hence the dumbing down of the show to suit those conditioned to such a format.

Location great, people in it great, presenters great, the show is great, a lot of hard work went into making the show no doubt, well worth a watch!, but there are just too many recaps & coming ups. Any further shows produced by this production company about anything, just cut down on the recaps & coming ups.

Good but Could Be Much Better

[xpax-04520 · 7/10 · 30 September 2018]

We love seeing Dick and Angel with Dick's narration including seeing the Chateau's with the local flavor. If only the producer would cut out the recap on every come back from commercial it would be a much better show as others have mentioned. We look forward to it coming back very soon. Hope it will come back again in 2018.

Great show!

[donsartography · 9/10 · 29 September 2019]

This is a great series. Being the owner of a two story brick Victorian built in 1855, we can identify with the trials and tribulations of bringing an old house back to life, and still having money to eat on. I don't understand how they can afford to keep going unless they are being compensated to some degree by the producers of the series. Anyway, they are definitely brave hearts to take on the challenge.

Recaps

[jeannebedon-99967 · 10/10 · 9 February 2021]

It's interesting to hear the comments about the recaps being an American thing. I believe someone said it was "dumbing down" for the American audience. I am American and I thought it was a British thing because it is most frequently seen on British shows such as Grantchester, Endeavour, Midsomer Murders, etc. I enjoy all of the programs and just ignore the recaps. I'm sure American television shows are too dumbed down to be watched in the UK. It's not like British viewers would enjoy dumb American shows like Stranger Things, Friends, Big Little Lies, CSI or Breaking Bad, right? If you don't like the recaps or coming ups just fast forward.

Well worth following

[brigittebarnes · 10/10 · 5 July 2018]

I am not a chateau owner but I followed the original series with Dick and Angel and enjoyed it immensely. Even more interesting to see other British people buying up these beautiful houses and returning them to life after many years of being abandoned. A lot of hard work goes into restoring these places and requires a lot of dedication.

In each episode there are several homes being featured on each episode and the owners are seen tackling various restoration work, some of which causes a lot of stress due to timescales for events booked. Yes, there is a fair bit of recapping, but to be honest I do not mind this, seeing the houses become lovely family homes after years of neglect. A thoroughly enjoyable series, there is a lot of humour and quite often Dick and Angel Strawbridge appear to give advice. Ten out of ten.

Fabulous

[mshaverin · 10/10 · 30 April 2018]

Many people dream of moving to France or having a holiday pad there. We are lucky, we have a holiday pad and I have to say that we have loved watching this series. Yes, getting work done in France is extremely hard and yes, it is very expensive so you do learn. Seeing how others have been (brave or stupid?) enough to take on even more of a project and to risk more than we dared to risk has been amazing. It is entertaining, informative, light hearted, realistic and so much more. It helps that the production team have also been able to demonstrate how down to earth and likeable the chateau owners are too - it really has made those watching the program feel part of what is going on and this has been helped by the interactive facebook group which all owners appear to be participating on too. This has also added to the vibe. Yes, the reminders after the advertisements or when they swap to another chateau can be a little annoying but this seems to be the UK 'thing' now. If it was safety related I'd suggest it was implied in legislation somewhere which the UK would take to the n'th extreme and which the French would probably ignore ;)

Absolutely addicted to this show!

[jeannebedon-99967 · 10/10 · 9 February 2021]

I LOVE this show! The recaps are unnecessary but they don't really bother me. Some of the homeowners are more appealing than others. I do question the serial procrastination and suspect that it is done to create television drama. Once I got past Dick's moustache (please trim) I am very impressed by his skill and find him very amusing. Angel is incredibly clever and artistic. I have stopped questioning her plans because I know I will like it in the end. The wallpaper museum is an example. What is the story with the turbans? Not especially flattering. In season 2, episode 28, the couple doing up the bedroom suites did a lovely job. The curtains made for the ciel de lit were gorgeous but did they really not press the sheers? It ruined the entire look of the room.

Fantastic

[jonmurphy-01027 · 5 May 2018]

I really enjoyed this program, Dick and Angel are the perfect couple to present it. Apart from the entertainment value I have really enjoyed the insight to being a Chateau owner. Really hopeful that there will be a series 2 in the very near future.

Fantastic

[fridge8888 · 10/10 · 30 December 2019]

Very enjoyable...have watched all episodes .. highly recommend 👍

Love This Show!

[gmak-70756 · 10/10 · 22 August 2023]

I think it's fascinating to see people take these chateaus and turn them back into the beautiful structures they once were. We are all about ripping down culture and building a contemporary box with no character so it is refreshing to see that people actually value the blood, sweat and tears of the people from hundreds and hundreds of years ago not to mention how grand these chateaus are, built hundreds of years ago with archaic tools. It is quite amazing to think that people were capable of what they did with what they had. It is also lovely to see how people took pride in their home something we don't see that much of today.

Please keep making more seasons!!

Enjoy the Show but constant recapping is irritating

[scollie-83577 · 6/10 · 28 April 2018]

As previous review contributors mention, this program of 45 minutes could easily be compressed to 25 minutes if it were not for constant recapping of scenes and narration. The scripted events, are amateurish and highly unrealistic - 14 guests are to arrive within two hours and one of the chateau owners is off in the forest searching for potting soil - do the producers believe we are of marginal intelligence?

The scenery is beautiful but the production is weak - but still better than the garbage produced for US television.

In agreement with David Higgins....

[michaelellisjones · 6/10 · 26 April 2018]

David Higgins says it all for us, a terrific series for lovers of France but completely spoilt by the recaps and to-ing and fro-ing between the various locations. A much better idea would be for each episode to concentrate on one Chateau and follow the story through with no recapping after the adverts. Most people have a memory span longer than the adverts. I have complained to c4 about this but of course no one has bothered to reply.

ALOT OF THIS PROGRAM ARE REPEATS.

[mickytanky · 2/10 · 30 January 2020]

Yes we watch this program it's funny the silly coe with her french mum Scottish dwarf doing jobs in high heel shoes hopeless ,and the London couple putting up garden wedding arch,does he not realise future patentual customers may be watching and with his idiotic don't give a s*** attitude ,may put customers off, all of the recent couples featured are idiotic, they don't realise Chan 4 favour them because they are so incompetent, at least that large lady angel wears boiler suit when painting ,oh and if you lot read this useing stencil use minimal paint,it will give cleaner finish. The DIY part we find comical ,people that say they are artists ?? ,Ok if they say so ,we find the whole thing laughable reddicullouse , they have not a clue. The gay couple that are going into bankrupsy have not a clue ,and really should not be attempting to do weddings, this series is now confuseing views of dicks chatour trees lopped next view all in leaf,it is a very poor ameture cut and chop ,channel 4 you are putting people off this program.

awful music

[shirleycanner · 7/10 · 20 June 2018]

Love this show and dick and angel ,but the awful music spoils this show its really off putting