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Original poster

Escape to the Country annoyances.

286 replies

DontEscapeToTheCountry · 21/10/2023 10:14

Why is there a new part where they show them standing on their doorstep chatting like a couple of vagrants?

Why when they show an elderly couple a kitchen or living room that you could host a barn dance in, do they say that it's much too small? What are these people doing in their kitchens that requires so much space?

And why, when they say that they want a 3 bedroom home with no stairs and a small garden, do they show them Chatsworth House?

OP posts:
RoseLavenderBlue · 21/10/2023 18:36

Does anyone recall an episode of ETTC where the couple had a motorhome (that they had actually named Henry or Roger or something), so needed space for parking it. The presenter kept asking them ‘Do you think this would be suitable for Henry? ‘ as if it was an actual person. It just sounded so ridiculous!

ReadingSoManyThreads · 21/10/2023 18:42

ChessieFL · 21/10/2023 14:39

Something else that irrationally annoys me about ETTC (and I haven’t seen recent episodes so this might have stopped now) is the voiceover at the end that says ‘if you want to escape to the country in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland…’ - what not just say the UK?! Why list all the countries?!

Probably due to the high number of people who seem to be clueless that the UK is more than just England and Wales.

Robotalkingrubbish · 21/10/2023 18:53

SeaPool · 21/10/2023 16:40

A host of local amenities = a book swap in a decommissioned telephone box.

Going in through the kitchen door 'Because we ARE in the country after all'.

Plenty of wardrobe space for her and one drawer for him - ha ha ha sigh.

Ohhhh, they're definitely buying it because they're planning where to put the Christmas tree.

I said I wasn't going to cry (fans face). Oh, don't start, you'll have me going in a minute.

I've been watching this for long enough to have seen Jules turn from a fresh faced public school boy into his own tweedy uncle.

I love all of your post, spot on.

Robotalkingrubbish · 21/10/2023 18:55

RoseLavenderBlue · 21/10/2023 18:36

Does anyone recall an episode of ETTC where the couple had a motorhome (that they had actually named Henry or Roger or something), so needed space for parking it. The presenter kept asking them ‘Do you think this would be suitable for Henry? ‘ as if it was an actual person. It just sounded so ridiculous!

We have a motorhome, we call it the motorhome. I’m aware though that many people do name their motorhomes. Takes all sorts.

FortheBeautyoftheEarth · 21/10/2023 18:59

People turning their nose up at houses that basically meet all their criteria inside because they lack 'the wow factor' outside.

Is it a house you want for a happy and secure family or just something to make your so-called friends 'jealous' of?! 🤮These are the types of people I try to avoid IRL.

Thmssngvwlsrnd · 21/10/2023 19:01

If it's a couple of retirement age, I always find myself looking at the stairs wondering if they'll be able to fit a stairlift on them. I'm not being ageist, it's just that a lot of these country houses aren't practical at all when you're likely to not be at your fittest.

FinallyFinalGirl · 21/10/2023 19:18

I remember reading about a couple who auditioned for a BBC game show but the producers thought they would be more suited to ETTC instead. They had no intention of buying a house...just wanted to be on TV.

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 21/10/2023 19:29

I get irritated when at the end of the show they state that they have to put their current house on the market. Why on earth haven’t they done that before looking at potential purchases? Imo, it just shows they have very little intention of actually moving.

superplumb · 21/10/2023 19:43

Hate hate this programme
My husband watches it and I need to leave the room when its on. I hate it all, the annoying presenters, shit music, making them do a random hobby. The 20s somethings with 2 million pound budget

roarrfeckingroar · 21/10/2023 19:49

I'm watching it now. This thread has inspired me

Lastarse · 21/10/2023 19:50

As soon as I see a shot of a balcony cue the inevitable “ooh nice for a glass of wine in the evening”.
’wow factor’ ‘feature wall’ and ‘double aspect’ aka 2 fucking windows should be banned from English language.
”It’s soooo Us” say dull couples regularly.

that said I love the programmes…

Showdogworkingdog · 21/10/2023 19:54

Ah yes. Those who say they want a country cottage and then, when shown a cottage, complain the rooms are too small and the ceilings too low. Just wtaf do you think a cottage is? At least if I watch it on iplayer I can skip through the excruciating bit where they try out a local country craft, that usually riles me. Oh and my eyes start rolling to the back of my head when they start gushing about how they’re going to grow their own vegetables. Course you are.

My DS and I play a house programme bingo when we’re watching. There’s points for “It’s a good size”, “ it’s light and airy”, “forever home”, “bringing the outside in” and “wow factor.” It’s exceptionally rare to get through a whole episode without them all coming up.

Celibacyinthesticks · 21/10/2023 20:07

LittleGuinea · 21/10/2023 18:13

No, but it's unlikely the two of them will be using all those rooms. I suspect they will end up closing the doors to quite a few and only using them when they have multiple guests to stay - like a lot of people I know with large houses. Heating will be astronomical in that particular house too. I always wonder what people think they will do with all the extra rooms in very large houses.

Show quote history

It doesn’t really matter if they use the rooms or not, if they can afford to buy it and run the property it’s up to them how they live in it, anyone who is wealthy, whether they have children or not, are going to live in a property that reflects their status.

rc22 · 21/10/2023 20:08

I live in the countryside now. My dream is to retire to somewhere where I can walk to pubs, shops, restaurants, theatre, cinema, the doctors, the post office and the bank!!!

Goonergirl14 · 21/10/2023 20:13

The blooming man caves and wanting to keep chickens..absolute guff but definitely escapism!

feellikeanalien · 21/10/2023 20:22

Excellent thread. I love ETTC and am currently working my way through loads of old episodes.I love the music. It reminds me of Sunday evening telly back in the 80s and should be followed by Miss Marple or Darling Buds of May.

I especially like it when Alistair is on although I like Jules too. The one that really had me open mouthed was the one a couple of weeks ago where they wanted to move to Caithness from somewhere in the south of England. That really is somewhere you need to visit in the winter before buying. I love Caithness because I was born there but I think they were really going to be in for a bit of a culture shock.

I also agree that they should cut out the silly local craft bit and just show them more houses.

I obviously have an addiction to these shows as I also like Place in the Sun and Location Location Location.

I was having trouble with my Sky box once and when the engineer came out she went into my recordings and found they were nearly full as I had series linked all the above so had something like 300 episodes from all the different channels they were on.😁

MrsMoastyToasty · 21/10/2023 20:26

I think that ETTC passes the French and Saunders Test. (Basically, can F&S do a piss take of any given show?....I imagine Jennifer as the middle class home counties wifey and Dawn French as the bubbly presenter or local estate agent).

CurlsandCurves · 21/10/2023 20:42

MrsMoastyToasty · 21/10/2023 20:26

I think that ETTC passes the French and Saunders Test. (Basically, can F&S do a piss take of any given show?....I imagine Jennifer as the middle class home counties wifey and Dawn French as the bubbly presenter or local estate agent).

Yes! They would absolutely nail this, as the kids say.

This thread has reminded me. My folks are in their 70s. A few years ago my dad suggested to mum, why don’t we sell up and buy somewhere with a bit of land? I fancy owning some land. This is the man who doesn’t even mow his own lawn anymore, he pays people to do it! Mum soon shut him down.

RenoDakota · 21/10/2023 20:44

The local crafting / cottage industry segments are dire indeed. But they did have a very interesting spoon whittling segment once. And the spoon whittler was a woman, and very nice.

SeaPool · 21/10/2023 20:52

they did have a very interesting spoon whittling segment once

21 years, 1,200 episodes and this has been the highlight. Damned with faint praise!

Yetanothernewname101 · 21/10/2023 20:53

Thmssngvwlsrnd · 21/10/2023 19:01

If it's a couple of retirement age, I always find myself looking at the stairs wondering if they'll be able to fit a stairlift on them. I'm not being ageist, it's just that a lot of these country houses aren't practical at all when you're likely to not be at your fittest.

When I bought my flat, having come from a disaster of a relationship, one of my things to check was whether I'd be able to get a stair lift fitted later in life. I think I was 30 at the time!

SunsetOverEasterIsland · 21/10/2023 21:02

I also laugh at the Place in the Sun where people want a holiday home where they can take their dogs - how long would their journey to that Greek island be, given they can’t take the dog on a plane?!
Not in Greece, but know several people who have holiday homes in Spain that drive over via the tunnel or ferries to take their dog(s) with them.

Make me laugh on these programmes when they look at a house and reject it because neighbours are too close or is overlooked and then are shown the one they say is 'perfect' and has even closer neighbours and properties overlooking them.

Passepartoute · 21/10/2023 21:03

I haven't seen many of the more recent ones, but I get the impression that they're cutting down on the local craft segments in favour of a quick tour around what's on the housing market in the relevant area.

izzywizzywont · 21/10/2023 21:13

I have had 5 people tell me i look like "Him of the telly that sells houses " Jules Hudson i am actually about ten years older. My car i had did have a private plate with HDN on the number buying petrol one day i thought this .laughing .lady was going to run off with me or something . Paul .

MissHoney85 · 21/10/2023 21:24

For me it's the boomers who are retired from very average jobs and have a 3 bed semi in Essex to sell, with a budget of £1m.

Also the way that a village hall is always mentioned like it's some kind of really exciting and unusual attraction.

Oh and I'm always confused as to how programmes like this are still a thing in the age of Rightmove. Surely they've seen all these properties online already?