Escape to the Country

Escape to the Country
Escape to the Country opening title card
Created by	Talkback Thames
Written by	Various
Directed by	Various
Presented by	Jules Hudson (2007 - ) Alistair Appleton (2007 - ) Denise Nurse (2008 - ) Jonnie Irwin (2008 - ) Nicki Chapman (2008 - ) Aled Jones (2010 - ) Melissa Porter (2008 - )
Narrated by	Presenters on their own shows
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Production
Executive producer(s)	John Comerford
Running time	45 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC Two
Picture format	PAL (576i, 16:9)
Original airing	2002 - present
External links
Website

Escape to the Country is a daytime television programme aired on BBC Two. It is currently presented by Jules Hudson, Alistair Appleton, Nicki Chapman, Denise Nurse, Aled Jones and Jonnie Irwin. Previous presenters include Tim Vincent, Catherine Gee, Nick Page and Melissa Porter. In 2010

General information

There are two versions of each episode produced. A shorter 45-minute version with only 3 houses shown and a longer 60-minute version. The short version usually airs on BBC Two weekday afternoons (in the 15:00, 15:45 or 17:15 slots) and the longer on BBC One weekdays at 10:00 or BBC Two evenings at 19:00. Escape to the Country is often credited as being the forerunner of other shows such as A Place in the Sun. Repeat episodes are shown on Home.

Series 1 to 5

Produced by Talkback Thames and shown to air from 2002, the basic premise of the show is that a person/family wishes to relocate from their current city home to a more peaceful and rural retreat. It is then the job of the show's presenter to find four houses for the family to view via laptop computer in their own homes. The family must then choose two out of the four houses to go and view for themselves. In addition, there is also the option of choosing the presenter's 'mystery house'.

Series 6 to 9

The format of this popular daytime/early peaktime show changed in series 6 to accommodate viewer demand to see more houses and more local information. Contributors now view all four houses, of which the fourth is the mystery house. The mystery house usually has something unique about it that will either make the contributors fall in love with or hate it. Added to the show is a taster day in which the contributors sample local delights, gain historical knowledge and visit local attractions to get a feel for the area they are planning to move to. Series 6 aired in August 2007 on BBC One, while series 7 and 8 aired back-to-back in autumn 2008. Series 9 began on 23 February in a new slot of 15:45 on BBC Two.

Series 10 to 12

The format was modified yet again. The number of houses the couples viewed were reduced to three, with the third house being the mystery house. Series 12 also finally saw new titles and credits produced for the 75 programme-run, broadcast from November 2011 on BBC Two.

Transmissions

Series	Start date	End date	Episodes
6	26 November 2007	21 December 2007	20
7	6 October 2008	31 October 2008	20
8	3 November 2008	28 November 2008	20
9	23 February 2009	16 June 2009	25
Compilation	6 April 2009	15 June 2009	15

International broadcasts

In Australia, Escape to the Country airs on the HOW TO Channel, Sunday nights at 6:30pm and Seven Network's free-to-air digital channel 7Two at 8.30pm Friday and Sunday nights. Seven is currently airing Series 7.

In Sweden, Escape to the Country airs on TV8, Monday to Thursday nights at 8:00pm (7:00pm local time).

In the Netherlands, Escape to the Country actually (i.e. since april 2011) airs on SBS6 on Saturday nights at 5.00 pm (6.00 pm local time). Additionally, most viewers in the Netherlands can watch the show on the BBC channels that are distributed by cable operators.

External links

• Escape to the Country at BBC Programmes
• Escape to the Country at UKTV
• Escape to the Country at the Internet Movie Database
• Escape to the Country at Talkback Thames