Escape to the Country
Series 23
TV-PG
Series 23 saw the last appearance of Jonnie Irwin, one of the longest serving members of the 'Escape To The Country' presenting team, having joined in 2009 alongside Nicki Chapman for the programme's 10th series. Irwin's untimely departure was due to him developing lung cancer, which he ultimately died from just a few months after his final episode aired.
This series also saw the return of Denise Nurse, who had last appeared as a presenter back in 2014 for the programme's 15th series.
This series also saw the return of Denise Nurse, who had last appeared as a presenter back in 2014 for the programme's 15th series.
Where to Watch Escape to the Country • Series 23
54 Episodes
- CornwallE4
CornwallCornwall, the call of the sea and Steve Brown beckon a young, water-loving couple who are looking to escape to the coastal county with their young daughter. They have £620,000 to spend on their new Cornish home. Steve also gets the chance to take to the water with a sailing school who support people of all abilities to develop their nautical know-how. - North YorkshireE5
North YorkshireSonali Shah helps a young couple wanting to swap town life in Halifax for country life in the wonderful surroundings of North Yorkshire. Taking a break from the properties, Sonali visits one of the largest farm shops in the UK, where she discovers from its customers and staff just what they think sets it apart from the supermarket chains. - PowysE6
PowysJules Hudson is in the Welsh county of Powys with a couple whose property wish list includes an annexe for their parents, along with at least half an acre of land for their budget of £650,000. Jules also meets a man who scours space with his telescopes, looking for large, undiscovered objects that could be on a collision course with Earth. Fortunately, he hasn’t found any... yet! - DevonE7
DevonDevon is today’s destination, where Nicki Chapman helps a couple from south London with a £500,000 budget to search for their dream home in the countryside. Wanting to help out in the community, Nicki takes them to Appledore to meet the brave men and women who volunteer at the village's RNLI station. - SomersetE8
SomersetTwo sisters want to combine their resources in Somerset to find a secluded house that has enough land to start their own music festival, though on a slightly smaller scale than the one the county is famous for. Alistair Appleton escorts them on their search and has time to visit the village of Stoke St Gregory, where an old pub has been transformed into not just the local watering hole but a community shop and café too. - North YorkshireE9
North YorkshireHaving spent 30 years living and working in Hong Kong, today’s escapee teams up with Jonnie Irwin in North Yorkshire with a house-hunting budget of £350,000. Away from the property shopping, Jonnie heads to the Yorkshire Dales to discover what is being done to restore and preserve one of the most environmentally important landscapes in Europe. - CornwallE10
CornwallWanting to be close to the coast, a couple from Birmingham have decided that Cornwall is the perfect destination for their escape, and Sonali Shah is on hand to make their dream come true. And when is a brick not just a brick? Sonali finds out by visiting a company creating habitats for solitary bees. Their method can also be used in the construction of homes for humans. - AngleseyE11
AngleseyFeeling an affinity for Wales and in particular the island of Anglesey, a Canadian couple ask Briony May Williams to find them the stone cottage they’ve always dreamed of owning for their budget of £450,000. Briony also visits the island’s sea zoo to learn about their work conserving endangered marine life, including the sedentary seahorse. - GuernseyE12
GuernseyIt’s a first for Nicki Chapman and the Escape to the Country team today as they head to glorious Guernsey in the Channel Islands. They’re there to help find a fabulous family home for a young couple and their three children. Nicki also meets some of the island’s most famous four-legged inhabitants, a herd of Guernsey cows. - AyrshireE13
AyrshireIn Ayrshire, Jonnie Irwin helps a retired couple who want to reconnect with their Scottish roots. They have a budget of £500,000 and a view over water is a property priority. Whilst in the region, Jonnie also learns about an ancient technique used to produce salt using sea water and an impressive tower of blackthorn branches. - West YorkshireE14
West YorkshireIn West Yorkshire, Steve Brown supports an artist who is looking to leave London to realise her ambition of living life in the countryside. Steve also visits the town of Todmorden and discovers a remarkable community project encouraging the planting and growing of food in public spaces for anyone to harvest and enjoy. - GloucestershireE15
GloucestershireA soon-to-be retired vicar and her husband need Sonali Shah’s help to find a new home in the beautiful countryside of Gloucestershire. Sonali also visits Adam Henson, who, as well as being the nation’s favourite farmer, is also the custodian of his father’s legacy - a farm dedicated to the conservation of some of the rarest livestock breeds in the world. - Argyll and ButeE20
Argyll and ButeAn adventurous young couple from Nottinghamshire are looking to move county and country to Argyll and Bute, where Sonali Shah has some splendid Scottish properties waiting to show them. In an action-packed few days, Sonali also takes to the water on a paddleboard and to the air in a seaplane, delighting at the spectacular views on offer from above. - CornwallE21
CornwallDenise Nurse is in the coastal county of Cornwall today, helping a couple to turn their favourite holiday destination into their permanent home on a budget of £475,000. Away from the search, Denise visits a new development that’s tackling the county’s housing crisis by prioritising the needs of local Cornish people. - West SussexE22
West SussexToday, we have a marvellous multi-generational move to consider as Alistair Appleton guides one family, spread over four generations, to find two houses in one village. It’s a tall order, but Alistair presents a whole host of interesting property options, including the mystery house that promises to bring them closer together than they ever imagined. - OxfordshireE23
OxfordshireNicki Chapman teams up with an author from west London who wants to pen an exciting new chapter for herself in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside. Away from the property hunt, Nicki visits a small village in the county to find out why it was recently named ‘the kindest village in Britain’. - CumbriaE24
CumbriaSteve Brown is on hand to help a couple of newlyweds who are looking to escape south London and set down roots in the stunning countryside of Cumbria. They have already discounted a dozen properties, so the pressure is on Steve to deliver somewhere that can become their very first home together. - CambridgeshireE25
CambridgeshireA keen singer from south east London, accompanied by her good friend, needs help to find a new home in Cambridgeshire with her budget of £360,000. Sonali Shah is only too happy to offer some guidance, and together they explore a range of interesting property possibilities, potential new communities and plenty of countryside. - SomersetE26
SomersetA couple from urban Hertfordshire with a £550,000 budget have their sights set on moving to the Somerset countryside, and Jules Hudson has some splendid properties lined up to tempt them. However, Jules has a big surprise up his sleeve as he questions not the type of new home they’re looking for, but the location of it. - WiltshireE27
WiltshireThe pressure is on Nicki Chapman to find today’s couple their perfect property in wonderful Wiltshire, as they have already sold their London home. Away from house hunting, and being no stranger to the airwaves herself, Nicki pays a visit to one of the county’s local radio stations to find out how it helps to keep the community connected. - Argyll and ButeE28
Argyll and ButeIt’s destination Argyll and Bute today. Sonali Shah tours this region of Scotland in search of a new home for a couple from a Warwickshire town who have a budget of £340,000. Sonali almost takes to the water on Loch Lomond, as she lends a hand to help a group of volunteers restoring the last paddle steamer to be built in Britain, a treasured relic of Scottish history. - PowysE29
PowysSpace for holiday lets or glamping is the priority for a couple today who are chasing a complete change of lifestyle in Wales. Steve Brown kick-starts their Powys property journey with a great selection of countryside homes with business potential. He also takes time to visit a local reservoir that was built by the Victorians but looks every inch part of the natural landscape. - DorsetE30
DorsetIn true Escape to the Country style, today’s couple (both former international rugby players) want to leave London in search of a rural idyll in Dorset, and Alistair Appleton is the man to help them on their way. Aside from property, Alistair learns about the health benefits of watercress at a farm that specialises in growing this delicious and nutritious crop. - SuffolkE31
SuffolkThe devoted owners of no fewer than six Irish wolfhounds are in desperate need of more space for them and those countless muddy paws, so have set their sights on Suffolk for a bit more elbow room. Briony May Williams is there to guide them as they tour a selection of beautiful homes. Briony also gets to mess about on a stunning million-pound wooden yacht, a sister vessel to the ones featured in James Bond. - HerefordshireE33
HerefordshireWith the recent arrival of grandchildren, today's globetrotting escapees are returning home for good from Malaysia and want to put down permanent roots in the Herefordshire countryside. Nicki Chapman is on hand with some great property options plus her expert advice to help plant them firmly in this lovely county. - Isle of WightE34
Isle of WightWith a budget of £440,000, today’s couple are looking forward to retiring from the Buckinghamshire commuter belt to a new home on the majestic Isle of Wight. Steve Brown helps them with their house hunting and also discovers why the island is an ideal location for growing dozens of varieties of tomatoes. - CheshireE35
CheshireCheshire may be a world away from Miami, where today’s couple are moving from, but to them, it’s a county that feels like home, and Alistair Appleton is on hand to help them settle in. As an area once famed for its silk production, Alistair also takes the opportunity to visit a factory specialising in hand-printed luxury garments. - DevonE36
DevonA couple from the largest town in Dorset want to escape the urban sprawl to establish a new country life in Devon, and Sonali Shah is on hand to help them kick-start their property search. Sonali also learns the importance of the role local newspapers play in keeping their communities connected and informed. - WiltshireE37
WiltshireNicki Chapman helps a buyer with a budget of £450,000 who wants to escape her ex-council flat in south London and create a new life in the Wiltshire countryside. She’s after somewhere with a bit more space for herself and her young daughter. Taking a breather from property, Nicki also discovers why the county’s chalk streams are the perfect habitat for trout when she pays a visit to a sustainable fish farm. - Peak DistrictE38
Peak DistrictSteve Brown meets a pair of cycling enthusiasts on the hunt for the perfect rural idyll in the Peak District. They have a budget of £450,000 to swap city life in Essex for the wooded valleys and open moorland of the national park. Steve also takes to the water when he visits one of the country’s top destinations for accessible fishing. - CumbriaE39
CumbriaAlistair Appleton meets a couple who are looking for a complete change of lifestyle in the Cumbrian countryside. Their relocation is driven by a desire to be closer to their daughter, who has already made the move there. Alistair also visits one of the region’s forests and takes in some spectacular views on an exciting two-wheeled safari. - Devon and DorsetE40
Devon and DorsetNow that her sons have fledged the nest, today’s buyer wants a new lease of life in a rural home that has business potential. She’s set her sights on either Devon or Dorset, where Briony May Williams has some wonderful property options to show her. Briony also meets another entrepreneurial couple who’ve converted an old railway carriage into a fine dining destination. - WiltshireE41
WiltshireIt’s an emotional journey today as Alistair Appleton helps a buyer with a £260,00 budget to escape her small flat near Heathrow airport. She is desperate for some peace and quiet, and is hoping that the Wiltshire countryside will deliver the cottage she’s been dreaming of. Talk turns from property to agriculture when Alistair meets a group of young farmers to discuss their views on the future of the industry. - NorFolkE44
NorFolkSonali Shah is house-hunting in Norfolk with a buyer who has holidayed there throughout her life and now wants to make the county her home and business address. She wants to establish holiday lets and also rehome dogs in need, so Sonali takes her to a sanctuary to find out what it takes to look after the thousands of rescue animals in their care. - CornwallE45
CornwallNicki Chapman is in captivating Cornwall, where she has some wonderful Cornish homes lined up to tempt a buyer from suburban Surrey who is looking for a fresh start for him and his grandson. Whilst in the county, Nicki pays a visit to Newlyn Harbour and discovers how sustainability and traceability are at the forefront of the local fishing industry. - NorthumberlandE46
NorthumberlandFinally able to search for their forever home and a more settled way of life, a former royal marine and a retired civil servant have £375,000 to spend and the expert guidance of Jules Hudson. Jules has a tempting selection of countryside properties to unveil for the couple, who’ve chosen to relocate closer to family in the wonderfully evocative county of Northumberland. - SuffolkE47
SuffolkGinny Buckley is in Suffolk, helping a retired couple from Essex find a new home in a thriving village as close to the county’s coast as their £475,000 budget will allow. Ginny also visits a farm during asparagus season, but before she gets to sample some freshly picked vegetables, she must learn first how to harvest them. - West SussexE49
West SussexAlistair Appleton relishes being in his home county of West Sussex today as he shows off some of its many delights, including a selection of beautiful properties. He’s with a married couple who want to follow in Alistair’s footsteps by escaping London in search of a new life and home in the countryside. - NorfolkE50
NorfolkHaving fallen in love with Norfolk a little more with each visit, today’s couple have decided to make the county their home. Denise Nurse is there to help them find their forever house. Denise also gets the opportunity to take the helm of a newly restored boat that played a part in Operation Dynamo, the 1940 evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk. - LancashireE51
LancashireAfter 16 years down under, Jules Hudson helps a couple to relocate back to Blighty. Their £450,000 budget might not stretch quite as far in Lancashire as it did in Oz, but Jules still has a great selection of properties that are reminiscent of the home they left behind. He also manages to squeeze in a visit to a nature reserve that was created at a quarry used to build the UK’s first motorway. - DorsetE52
DorsetHaving outgrown their town flat, two newlyweds with a budget of £400,000 need Ginny Buckley’s help to find a new home in the Dorset countryside that has enough space to keep bicycles, golf clubs and surfboards out of sight. On the world-famous Jurassic Coast, Ginny also meets a lifelong fossil hunter whose impressive treasures are now housed in a purpose-built museum near the coast where they were discovered. - YorkshireE55
YorkshireJules Hudson is in his element as he explores the glorious countryside of North and West Yorkshire with a couple from a market town in West Sussex. Jules has a superb selection of properties to show them, and key to their wish list is a big workshop where it’s hoped a woodworking hobby will become a profession.