Escape to the Country

One of our favourite shows to watch while eating lunch. The hosts are all so gracious and the buyers are so polite, so British, lovely.

We live in Canada and watching this program, we have learned so much about the British Counties that we definitely want to vacation in some of them.

Although we like all the hosts, Alistair, Jules, Nicki and Sonali are our favourites . They have incredible charm and character.

Comparing that to the USA homebuyer shows which often show extremely bad mannered people.

The only thing I would love to see is a follow up to see what people ended up buying and getting a brief update.

Out here in Oz, Escape to the Country is our favourite end of week show, screening @ 8.30pm. My favourite host is Catherine Gee. Once you adjust to a very small percentage of the people on the show actually buying anything it's fine. Generally I watch and tape this as for some strange reason it doesn't look like DVDs are available. Generally have a British atlas next to the TV so pinpoint where they are looking.

Some episodes are better than others. It all comes down mainly to the type of houses and areas the people are looking to move to. That's about 80% of the appeal, 20% the contestants themselves. Whether or not it's because most of the people are yet to sell, the buy rate feels like about 5%.

I can't believe some of the properties these people pass over.

After Escape there's another guilty pleasure, another English show "60 minute makeover" Hosted by Claire Sweeney whose very easy on the eye, warm and charming the challenge is to redecorate a number of rooms in a house in 60 minutes. Generally a team of about 30 contractors descend onto a house under the guidance of a weekly designer, many of whom reappear throughout the series.

Quite like some of the designers and some of the outcomes (done in two thirty minute bursts with a tea break in between) are stunning.

Have watched this show for many, many years as I enjoy seeing properties and areas in various parts of the country. But like every other property show on TV the presenters insist on saying, 'this is the dining room SPACE' or 'this is the kitchen SPACE' or ' this is a lovely SPACE' instead of saying room, it drives me mad, why do they have to use this poncy overused word every 5 minutes. I assume the presenters are told to say this as it's considered trendy and arty. But it makes me switch off as it gets on my nerves so much. It has spoilt one of my favourite programmes, but they are not alone as it seems to be the property show disease! Get a new word or stop using it altogether as it's getting really boring and aggravating.

I love this show. It makes me want to move there. But sometimes the clients have ridiculous expectations. I don't know what they consider a large kitchen, but they seem to think all the kitchens are too small. Also, they want a "character" or "period" property that they should know by now tends to have low ceilings and beams. Then don't like them when they see it. I give great credit to all the hosts. They are all so good natured and patient. The mystery houses are usually awesome! I watch this show to help me relax and dream I am the one who is house hunting.

This series is easily my favourite of all the home/ house series shows and watch it when ever possible.bi automatically dream of having the opportunity to be in a position to buy in areas in a house they show on each show, such beautiful country sides. Highly recommended to anyone loving the English country side...