10 November 2023 , 15:02
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For the first time in the history of the show the BBC have announced its first ever celebrity special of Escape To The Country.
The spin-off show, which will comprise of five episodes will follow the journey of a host of celebrities including a pop star, an I'm A Celebrity winner and a well known quiz sensation from The Chase, along with Strictly stars. The focuses on the stars as they embark on finding their dream country home. Panto favourite Christopher Biggins who won I'm A Celebrity in 2007, is one of the celebrities joining the line-up as well as Bucks Fizz star Cheryl Baker, Strictly's Janette Manrara and Aljaž Škorjanec.
BBC announce celebrity special of Escape To The Country (David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)Also, The Chase's Jenny Ryan will also be searching for her very own country pad. The show first aired in 2002 and has been the BBC's longest running property show, which showcases rural Britain's idyllic property market. In the usual format, participants are looking to quit urban life and are in search of a home in the country. Guided by the property experts including Nicki Chapman and Alastair Appleton, buyers have to decide whether or not to swap the busy life of a city for the tranquil environment of the country.
Celebrity Escape to the Country will see celebrity house hunters explore the landscapes and lifestyles of the Home Counties, Cheshire, the Peak District, Lancashire, Kent and Sussex. John Comerford, Head of Naked West, said: "We love helping prospective rural dwellers find their dream homes and we’re delighted the BBC have commissioned this special series giving us all an insight into our favourite celebrities’ lives as they look to swap the city for a new home in the country."
And Julie Shaw, Commissioning Editor, BBC Daytime and Factual, added: "Escape to the Country has been a staple in the BBC daytime schedule for 21 years. Audiences love this programme and watching the journeys the house-hunters go on, so it was about time we got to go house hunting with some famous faces. I can’t wait for this to land in the schedules." The celebrity specials will be on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in December.
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But it was only recently that presenter Jules Hudson shared that he hoped to be part of the show for as long as he can, amid the uncertain future of the show. Back in August, he told The Express: "I hope to do Escape to the Country for as long as I'm able and for as long as the show will have me." The Escape to the Country star, who has worked on the programme for nearly 17 years, added: "For me, country life is absolutely who I am and it's who I was before I came to present Escape to the Country. It's a massive step for lots of people, so having the chance to share that, that experience, those tips and tricks, it's very much a way of life for me. I absolutely love it, it's a show I'm incredibly fond of. It's very dear to me."