Escape to the Country presenter Alistair Appleton was taken aback on Friday (February 7) when a house hunter made an unexpected request.
In the latest episode of the popular programme, Alistair met with Jon and Jo, a married couple who had dramatically altered their lifestyle six years prior.
Following their children’s departure from home, the duo chose to sell their nearly two-decade-long residence and embark on a global journey. Now, having returned from their travels, they were searching for a more permanent dwelling in Wiltshire.
“It just felt like the right time to find a base. We don’t intend to stop our travelling and our house-sitting adventures, we just need a base, and we’re going to carry on doing it to a lesser degree,” Jon elaborated.
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A buyer made an unusual request on Friday’s (February 7) Escape to the Country (Image: BBC)
Jo chimed in: “We want a bit more consistency and have friends and family over. We’ve missed our sons, and they’ve looked after us by hosting us a number of times, and we want to return the compliment and maybe have over some of the people who’ve been so kind to us when we’ve been between travels,” reports .
Their property wishlist was relatively modest. With a budget of £325,000, they sought a characterful village property boasting at least two bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen/diner, and a small garden.
After viewing a property in Kington St Michael, Alistair escorted Jon and Jo to Quemerford, a southeastern suburb of Calne.
They arrived at a quaint courtyard filled with agricultural buildings, including a humble 2007 barn conversion that had recently undergone refurbishment. Upon entering the property, Jo immediately identified a potential issue.
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Escape to the Country host Alistair Appleton was left slightly perplexed (Image: BBC)
“Might struggle to have a table and a sofa,” she noted, going on to express her preference for ditching the oversized television in favor of creating dining space.
“In some ways, I’d sacrifice a sitting room for a kitchen and dining area because it’s always been the heart of our home,” Jo elaborated, taking Alistair by surprise with her inclination towards a communal domestic hub.
Alistair then proposed an alternative: “You could get a nice table in here if you took out the sofa,” as they continued their tour of the residence.
The show’s presenter later admitted that the house was a bit of a “gamble”. Nevertheless, it was evident that their visit had given Jo considerable “food for thought” regarding the feasibility of adapting the living area to suit their needs.
Escape to the Country airs weekdays at 3pm on One