Escape to the Country heartbreak as family torn apart by two devastating deaths during move to dream home

A FAMILY who appeared on BBC’s Escape to the Country in search of their forever home were struck by a heartbreaking tragedy while filming the episode. 

House hunters Jenny and Steve went on the show in 2017, and were  looking to finally find their perfect countryside home with the help of Jonnie Irwin when they received the bad news.

During the Escape to the Country episode, Jonnie showed the retired couple - who were looking to relocate from an urban area to the rural outskirts - a series of breathtaking properties with everything they required. 

Jenny and Steve had a budget of £900,000 and mentioned to the host that they wanted to find a spacious three-bedroom property with land for Jenny’s horses and a separate annexe for Steve’s elderly parents to join them. 

At the time, Steve said: “I just want to give back to my parents what they gave to me when I was young.";

Unfortunately, the couple’s attempt at trying to find a multi-generational home was soon shattered after they were hit with two personal deaths. 

Before they could move, Steve’s mother sadly passed, with his father dying 18 months later.

In 2021, presenter Sonali Shah revisited the couple and shared how they didn’t buy any of the houses on the programme and didn’t move until two years after appearing on the BBC show.

At the time of that episode, Steve explained: “Unfortunately, my mum died just before my father moved, she never got up here, unfortunately. My dad joined us, but he was never the same after my mum died.

“We tried to give him the best life we could here, but he just wasn't the same person without my mum.”

In 2019, the couple bought a countryside farmhouse for £780,000, which was £120,000 under their budget. 

The couple now own a barn and land which is housing various animals, including two cows, ducks and turkeys.

During the revisit, Sonali asked Steve, “Is it still the right move for you as a family of four? Would you have done anything differently?"

The house owner admitted that he didn’t think he’d change anything, while offering advice to anyone who was considering to make the big move to the countryside.

Steve warned: “Don't walk into it thinking it's all going to be roses because it is not. You'll have ups, and you'll have downs – it's great, but it's also a hard slog."

Although the family suffered a double heartbreak, fans of the show were delighted to learn later that Jenny’s mum and stepdad planned to move from Kent to Norfolk to be closer to them.

Most recently, another couple on the BBC property show got the shock of their lives when they saw a couple touring a house they had already put an offer for on TV weeks before moving in.

The property was in a stunning location with breathtaking views and within walking distance of three beaches.

Everything seemed to be going to plan with their purchase - until they turned on the TV a weeks later to watch Escape to the Country.

Escape to the Country is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.