The Strawbridges go head to head in the battle of the books with Dick’s (very dishy) son: Couple will compete with chef James in bestseller charts as they release third title – with his cook book also on the shelves
Escape to the Chateau stars Dick and Angel Strawbridge are looking to build on their TV success by launching a new book – but face competition in the sales charts from their own flesh and blood.
The former Channel 4 stalwarts will publish The Chateau: Forever Home, their third release, later this autumn.
Yet their quest for domination in that field will see them having to go head-to-head with Dick’s lookalike son, James, who released Salt and the Art of Seasoning just a few weeks ago.
The chef has long been reminded of his likeness to his father and has fronted a BBC programme of his own – Strawbridge Over The Drawbridge – where he visits stately homes to cook up a storm for the Lords and Ladies of each manor.
James spoke of their relationship in an interview with Hello! magazine last year, in which he joked that he had ‘a better-groomed moustache and beard’.
Escape to the Chateau stars Dick and Angel Strawbridge (pictured together) are looking to build on their TV success by launching a new book
However, the couple face competition in the sales charts from their own flesh and blood, Dick’s son, James (pictured together)
The former Channel 4 stalwarts will publish The Chateau: Forever Home (left), their third release, later this autumn, but their quest for domination will see them having to go head-to-head with Dick’s lookalike son, James, who released Salt and the Art of Seasoning (right) just a few weeks ago
He added: ‘In terms of the way I cook, I always used to rebel against him and say that I’m going to do more fine dining techniques and then he’d just do a real rustic slow-cooked family one pot meal and people would always gravitate towards that.
‘I wouldn’t tell him this, but I have learned some of his cooking tricks now and they do work.’
James made a guest appearance on Escape… last year and also previously featured with his father and mother Brigit Weiner in the BBC series It’s Not Easy Being Green in 2006, which followed their family’s attempt to live as green a life as possible.
Dick and Angel shot to fame after buying a run-down 45-room chateau in France’s Martigné-sur-Mayenne for just £280,000 in 2015 and transforming it into a stunning wedding venue, since valued at £2m.
Their renovation journey was charted over nine series of the Channel 4 show between 2016 and 2022, publishing ‘A Year at the Chateau’ and ‘Living the Chateau Dream’ in between.
Now they have completed their third book, The Chateau: Forever Home, in which they recount the challenges of keeping their dream life alive throughout Covid.
It touches on everything from the cancellation of the wedding season, to living in an isolated bubble whilst continuing to film their TV series, to being separated from family back in the UK, and finally life after the pandemic.
Meanwhile James has published a string of recipe guides in recent years, including The Artisan Kitchen and The Complete Vegetable Cookbook.
Dick gives his son James a kiss during an appearance on Escape to the Chateau in 2019
James won a legion of fans of his own as viewers pointed out similarities between him and his father, Dick
James spoke of their relationship in an interview with Hello! magazine last year, in which he joked that he had ‘a better-groomed moustache and beard’
He also worked with his father on the Made at Home series of cook books, which looks at eggs and poultry, preserves, vegetables and curing and smoking.
His latest release, Sat and the Art of Seasoning, profiles different salts from around the world and interrogates useful techniques – such as brining, curing, charring and preserving, to help cooks bring out a world of hidden flavours.
Perhaps recognising the competition from James, Dick and Angel are trying to entice customers by offering 20% off their books and DVDs until July 25.
As well as competing in the book market, the couple are embarking on a new UK-wide tour, which will see their young children Arthur and Dorothy join them as they tread the boards across the country next year.
In a Facebook post announcing the 33-date blitz, the pair said each theatre show will have a ‘click-bait segment’ that will allow them to ‘set the record straight!’
Source: Read Full Article