THE BBC were in Hawkeridge last week, filming an episode of the popular BBC2 show ‘Escape to the Country’.
Presenter Jules Hudson visited 1 Hawkeridge Village to show the property to prospective city escapees Jon and Jenny Roscow on Thursday.
The show features couples who want to move to the countryside from a town or city for a quieter pace of life. The Escape to the Country team then shows them four houses in their desired area and budget, which they think could fit the bill.
Jules said, “We’re here to find Jon and Jenny a house as they want to move out of London but still be near towns. We’re looking at this lovely 16th century build which is apparently the oldest building in Hawkeridge. It has been very sympathetically restored and upgraded.
“The West Country is always a very popular area with escapees.”
Angela Ashford, who lives at the house with her husband and two children, said, “It’s a bit strange really. We’ve been marketing the property for about a month, and got a call last week from the BBC saying they were interested. I jumped at the chance, but it’s been a bit of a rush to get the house up together for the TV! I’m excited to see it in March, it’s probably going to be very strange, particularly if we haven’t sold it by then. I love the period features of the house, it’s quirky and quaint, an archetypically English cottage.”
Prospective buyer Jon said, “So far we’ve found the house very impressive. We’re still looking around and taking a lot on board, but I’m getting to like it.”
Jenny added, “It’s definitely given us a lot of food for thought. It’s not what I expected or imagined but I’m getting a real feel for it, it’s beautiful.”
This will be second time that one of Angela’s houses has been on Escape to the Country; a former home of hers in Bath was featured on the show when the next owner put it up for sale.
The programme has proved a hit since it first hit our TV screens in 2002, and is now in its 9th series. Angela’s cottage will be featured in series 10, which is due to be aired in the spring.