Escape to the Chateau's Dick Strawbridge risks PC fury with BBC D-Day confession (2024)

Dick Strawbridge previously worked with the BBC on projects (Image: Getty)

Dick Strawbridge has revealed the lengths he went to in order to secure interviews with D-Day veterans on behalf of the BBC. Admitting that he was risking the wrath of the politically correct brigade, he recalled working on coverage of the 60th-anniversary commemorations for the BBC on the Dick & Angel's Chat...Eau podcast with wife Angel Adoree.

The Escape To The Chateau star reflected on attending the recent events for the 80th anniversary and explained how while attempting to find a parking spot he spotted a bar that reminded him of the events of 20 years previously. "When we were doing the 60th anniversary, every news channel was there and I was working for the BBC at the time," he began.

"And they're all saying, 'You're gonna have to find a way to get interviews and talk to veterans because everybody's going to want to talk to the veterans'. And I said, 'That's not difficult'... Remember, when I was there, the youngest was 78 at that stage and they went up for another 10 years on top of that, 78 to 90 was the age group.

"And they were all coming along and on the ferry coming across to Normandy, they partied and scared the young people. These blokes were partying like it could've been the last party.

"So they [the BBC] was saying, 'Well, how are we going to get interviews when everybody wants interviews?' And I said, 'It's nice and simple'.

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Dick Strawbridge has opened up about his time covering D-Day commemorations for the BBC (Image: Channel 4)

"I went and took over this bar and I put my credit card behind the bar and said, 'Anybody who comes in here who's a veteran gets a drink, say the BBC bought it'," he continued.

However, that wasn't the only trick he had up his sleeve for getting the veterans on side, although he admitted the rest of his plan wasn't very politically correct.

"And so - and I'm not allowed to say this probably - I said, 'I would like to have a young, buxom assistant help me please to help wave in the soldiers to come along to our bar'.

"And Fleur, who was a lovely, lovely lady, she was bilingual and young and she was the age they would've been when they landed on the beaches and she was so fun and lovely and lively.

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Angel Adoree and Dick Strawbridge now host a podcast together (Image: Channel 4)

"All the old blokes who still thought they were 18, they were all coming into the bar and having a chat with us.

"One of them turned up on the back of his grandson's motorbike! In his complete Normandy blazer, medals and everything! Stopped outside, came straight in. And you know what, it's one of the (biggest) privileges I've ever had," he intimated.

The couple took to their Instagram page during the recent 80th-anniversary commemorations to share touching images from the event as Dick posted a poignant message.

"In 2004, I was privileged enough to be part of the 60th Commemoration of D-day. Yesterday, as the children are now old enough to understand, the family joined 1000s of others at Arromanches-les-Bains to remember…. It’s just so important we do not forget the bravery and sacrifice….," he penned.

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