Wanted Down Under - new series

[Breward]

Starts on Monday 2nd Jan @ 11am (new time) each day.

DH always says, "You can tell it is the new year when this deluded escapism is on!"

I for one will have it on series record. Anyone else joining me to escape to Oz each morning?

[Mrsderekshepard]

Love this programme thanks for the heads up

[Schoolchauffeur]

Love thus show as I've lived there for a few months as have both DH and DS, although partly I love playing WDU bingo! Will they want more family time? Go outside more? Visit zoos? Realise they can't afford to live there? Discover their uk qualifications are useless? Realise they might only see family once a year and it'll cost them a fortune?
Still look forward to it though!

[Vagndidit]

Yay! Highlight of the New Year!

Hope this will be the year to bring us a revisited update with Poor Brendan...

[Heatherbell1978]

Just watched today's episode on catch up. Nice enough couple but it still amazes me how little these people know about the housing market in Oz. Genuinely surprised at what £250k would buy them in Perth. That's what the internet is for!!! Argh....

[RebootYourEngine]

So glad this is back on. $100,000 a year for fitting floors.

[Breward]

How did you get on with WDU bingo today? Not quite a full house but definitely a few ticked off. I thought they were a really nice family. I preferred the 2nd house with the lovely garden. The 3rd house was definitely a show home and you are paying for the interior design that you could do yourself... given time. Kid in Oz aged 5 and 8 will want a garden not huge bedrooms.

Have you discovered the WDU facebook page that gives you an update on the families?

Today's update:
"When the Ramoth family returned from Australia, they applied for their visas and sold their house straight away. They have booked their flights and are heading to Perth on a permanent basis at the end of this month.
We wish the family all the best for their new life down under."

Tomorrow's family:
"Single mum Lisa and her ten year old daughter Jessica are finding life in the UK a bit of a struggle. A childcare centre manager, Lisa’s often forced to rely on financial support from her father to keep their heads above water. And the realisation she can’t provide Jessica with the lifestyle she thinks she deserves is getting her down.
Desperate to turn things around and secure a happier, brighter future for her daughter, Lisa believes their situation could be greatly improved by moving almost 10,000 miles away to Australia. But having never set foot in the country before, will the reality of life on Australia’s Gold Coast prove just the ticket they need – or take Lisa and Jessica back to where they started?"

Eyes down !

[Mrsderekshepard]

Omg as if I forgot! I've just put it on series link 👍🏻

[Vagndidit]

So glad to have it back! I have missed all the tutting.

Some aspects had me rolling though-- i.e, the upgrade to the official Wanted Down Under calculator. They clearly still cannot afford to upgrade the sad laminated flags for "twirling" their decisions, however.
And There seems to be an even longer pause for suspense before learning the house prices.

"Whilst the children are looked after by a childminder..." cue two kids stuck in to their iPads. Again. although that image mirrors my own son's experience over the holiday, so no judgement here

[Vagndidit]

Strikeout fail. Bah

[dingit]

I love it when they find a great house down under then find out their uk house is worth nowt.

[WinterWander]

Nice family.
Couldn't figure out if she was going to be working full time - she was quoted $68k salary as a midwife, he was quoted $100k as a floor fitter. Surely her salary should be the higher of the two considering hers requires a degree and technical knowledge. Maybe her shifts wouldn't equate to full time though.

[LIZS]

Surely if they can't afford Edinburgh they can't afford a Ramsay street house with pool! Are childcare managers sought after in Oz?

[Hillingdon]

Not sure why people don't do some googling before thinking that Oz will give them everything that want. Can we see some people with a bit of money occasionally. Rather fed up with the view that they can move from a bog standard house (which they over value) to a house with a pool and large number of bedrooms..

Am I being a bit mean to say that young girl needs to watch her weight?

[Hillingdon]

How they are going to have a dog if she is working!

[LIZS]

I thought same not sure she'll escape bullying though. Surely there are outdoor spaces, beaches and animals in Scotland! It seemed a lot to put on such a young girl to endorse mum's decision.

[Hillingdon]

I sort of agree but for me it would be the weather in Oz and also the houses were nice. I do think all of this would have been resolved by doing a little research as they clearly cannot afford it.

Maybe they wanted a free holiday..

[RebootYourEngine]

I found the mum in todays quite switched on. She spoke like she had done some research.

The thing that would pull me to australia would be the weather. It is shit in scotland even in the summer.

[TammySwanson]

For fans of this there is also a new series on Channel Five (called A New Life in Oz - started this evening) which is basically Wanted Down Under when they actually make the move (and a whole hour of it). The family today went without even having jobs secured! (but it worked out OK in the end.) Worst part was his nan (who literally raised him) - after about 6 months in Australia they were only Skypeing her every fortnight! Poor lady. (won't spoil the rest in case you want to watch it)

[Heatherbell1978]

Tammy I watched that last night on channel 5. Good to see the families actually settling in rather than making the decision as you get to see the ups and downs of it all.

It's pretty normal not to have a job before you go though, I think in this day and age it's rare to be offered a job while in the U.K. I'd be interested to know what visa they got there on as neither seemed to have an occupation heavily in demand. Hers may have been but she didn't have all the certificates she needed. We're emigrating next year and going through the visa process which is why I wonder! And it's my worst nightmare to have our container delayed 5 months especially with young children...hope that's not normal!!

[SwedishEdith]

Don't like him. "Want to take her away from her family", "You're never happy" - sees this as a battle to win. Controlling.

[Vagndidit]

Anyone watching live this morning? Matthew seems a right arse, tbh. Don't do it, Philippa(!)

[Heatherbell1978]

She hasn't stopped whinging since she got there! What does it matter if their rental property for the week doesn't have grass or if the house they're looking at doesn't have a carpet! And a budget of £190k isn't gonna get you much!!

[LIZS]

Reality check on cost of housing.

[SwedishEdith]

"You could be washing up whilst I watch telly". Bet it's "banter".

She'll burn easily - will need to cover up all the time (I know everyone should but...).

[LIZS]

Chckens ?