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Escape to the Country

(82 Posts)
overthehill Sat 21-Jul-18 23:30:38

Is this programme a fake? I just dip into this now and then. Generally, quite dare I say, senior couple, middle class view the properties.

They always want loads of bedrooms, so the family can visit, loads of land and out houses for workshops/horses/craft rooms etc.

They never end up buying any of the properties despite enthusing over them.

Thinking of myself and DH we certainly wouldn't want to take on such vast places like that at our time if life. We want less to do not more.

All this makes me wonder if the show is just that, a show.

vintage1950 Tue 24-Jul-18 17:02:51

I think Alistair Appleton is very diplomatic and keeps his thoughts to himself. I liked Denise Nurse but wonder whether the strain got to her - hence the giggle.
Do you remember the woman who had a phobia of spiral staircases? She and her husband decided to stay in London after all.

MawBroon Tue 24-Jul-18 17:10:19

I can’t stand Denise Nurse because she is so easily impressed by frankly rather indifferent houses and interiors- ”this fantastic kitchen”(when it clearly isn’t,) and tells us how the viewers love a property when it is obvious they are only just being polite!

harrigran Wed 25-Jul-18 17:39:21

The people on the programme are for real, I know a couple who were on, they bought a large four bedroom house in the middle of nowhere, sadly the house burnt down before they could move in. The insurers are dragging their heels, fortunately they have a property abroad too so they are not homeless.

Franbern Fri 27-Jul-18 10:25:46

I did enjoy this programme in its original form. Mch more normal families looking to move. Presenters sent them information on a laptop of about five or six houses and then they had to choose two to actually visit. Also, much more normal . I now prefer Location, Location to ETtC as it is about much more normal people, usually with not quite nough money for what they think they want.
I can remember on Escape.... watching one quite elderly couple enthusing over a house that had many steps up to it and stairs all over indoors and wanting someone to point out to them that perhaps this would not be a suitable purchase at their time of their lives!!

Jalima1108 Fri 27-Jul-18 11:05:44

I agree - so many of them are 'empty nesters' moving from the Home Counties to the imagined idyll of the countryside and I find myself asking 'but what about when you're too old to cope with the acres of steep gardens (lovely views), the distance from the doctors' s etc.

However, it is very enjoyable and interesting to see the properties, especially if we recognise some of them. One smaller and cheaper house was one that one of our relatives had viewed (didn't buy it).

The difference with 'Wanted Down Under' is that the presenter is nowhere near the visiting family - Nikki is on a lovely beach and that's all we see of her. Perhaps she records them all in one filming session then they send her home again.

Jalima1108 Fri 27-Jul-18 11:07:42

Visiting families