Dick Strawbridge

Dick Strawbridge is a former army lieutenant colonel, engineer and celebrated television presenter who specialises in resourcefulness, innovation and sustainable living. Rising from Troop Commander to Lieutenant Colonel over 20 years whilst completing his engineering degree, he transitioned from military service to become a household name through shows including Scrapheap Challenge, It's Not Easy Being Green, and most notably Channel 4's Escape to the Chateau, where he and his wife Angel transformed a derelict French chateau into a thriving events venue. Through engaging keynotes and after-dinner speeches, he empowers organisations and audiences to embrace creative problem-solving, effective leadership and practical teamwork, drawing on his unique blend of military discipline and inventive spirit.

When Dick Strawbridge joined the Army in 1978, he began a two-decade journey that would see him rise from Troop Commander to Lieutenant Colonel while simultaneously completing a degree in Engineering. This dual commitment to military leadership and technical expertise laid the foundation for a career defined by resourcefulness, problem-solving and the ability to turn ambitious ideas into reality. After leaving the armed forces in 2001, he transitioned into industry whilst running leadership and teamwork courses, eventually finding his way to television through a family-encouraged audition for Channel 4's Scrapheap Challenge, where his engineering skills, commanding presence and distinctive moustache secured him a role across all ten series.

Dick's television career expanded rapidly, encompassing programmes that showcased his unique blend of practical engineering and environmental innovation. From presenting Crafty Tricks of War and co-presenting The Re-Inventors with his son James, to the BBC 2 series It's Not Easy Being Green, which documented his family's sustainable living experiment in Cornwall from 2006, Dick demonstrated how ecological principles could be applied in everyday life. His work on Planet Mechanics saw him build Britain's first street-legal air-driven motorbike and power a farm using renewable energy, whilst later projects including Dirty Rotten Survival, The Great Flying Challenge and The Biggest Little Railway in the World cemented his reputation as a presenter who could make complex engineering accessible and entertaining. However, it was Escape to the Chateau, which ran from 2016 to 2022, that brought Dick and his wife Angel to international prominence as they transformed the derelict 19th-century Château de la Motte-Husson into a thriving family home and events venue, inspiring millions with their determination and creativity.

Today, Dick continues to share his expertise through keynote speeches, after-dinner presentations and leadership workshops, drawing on his military background and decades of hands-on problem-solving to help organisations embrace innovation and effective teamwork. His client list includes Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, The British Council, The National Trust, Siemens and The RSPB, reflecting the broad commercial relevance of his insights. Whether addressing corporate audiences on British innovation, speaking at conferences about sustainable practices, or lecturing at schools and colleges, Dick empowers people to think differently about challenges, demonstrating that with ingenuity, collaboration and a willingness to adapt, even the most daunting projects become achievable. His presentations combine practical wisdom with engaging storytelling, leaving audiences equipped with tangible strategies for leadership, resourcefulness and creative thinking that they can apply immediately in their own professional and personal lives.