Alistair Appleton, the host of BBC One’s Escape to the Country, highlighted a significant “mistake” in the latest episode of the popular show.
The programme returned on Tuesday, 1 April, featuring Alistair assisting Sylvia and Tom in their quest to find their dream home in Dorset. The pair were keen to move from Buckinghamshire, having developed an affinity for Dorset after numerous visits.
With £550,000 at their disposal, Sylvia and Tom set their sights on a house with at least three bedrooms, a generous garden, sufficient space for a workshop, and ideally situated near the sea.
The first property showcased was an 18th-century cottage, complete with four bedrooms and a sizeable kitchen. Priced at £450,000, it was a mere 15-minute drive from the coast and nestled within a village.
Despite being charmed by the “quirky” nature of the cottage, Sylvia and Tom concurred that it was too compact for their needs and the garden wouldn’t accommodate their plans, reports Dorset Live.
The second house they toured was in Ryall and listed for £525,000. It boasted up to four bedrooms and two bathrooms and stunning panoramic views.
However, Sylvia confessed she didn’t feel a “warm feeling” towards the property, which required “so much doing to it.”
Lastly, they visited a sprawling property adjacent to the sea. With three bedrooms, two bathrooms, room for a workshop, and a spacious kitchen, it seemed to meet all of Sylvia and Tom’s requirements.
During the tour of the multi-level home, Sylvia and Tom were mesmerised by the panoramic scenes, which they described as “spectacular.”
Sylvia enthused: “To wake up to that every single morning, that would just be heaven.”
Show host Alistair caught up with the couple later, sharing his suspicion about an error in their property wish list, which he communicated to the Escape to the Country team.
“So, I wondering whether the word ‘quirky’ was a mistake?” he said with a chuckle, leading Sylvia to concede: “I shouldn’t have said quirky!”
Alistair quipped in response: “Because, if you tell Escape to the Country you want ‘quirky’, you’re going to get like, massive quirky!”
Despite their initial plans for another look at the third home, news emerged that Sylvia and Tom ultimately decided to buy a house near Bridport, not featured on the television programme.
Escape to the Country airs on BBC One on weekdays at 3pm
