A Place in the Sun returns to Channel 4 with a fresh series, and Scottish presenter Jean Johansson has opened up about the poignant narratives and behind-the-scenes interactions with participants.
The Glaswegian host journeyed to South West France and Spain, where she met NHS workers Rooman and Richard, as well as an ex-police officer and his partner.
In an upcoming episode, Jean takes Rooman and Richard to Fuengirola, Spain, aiming to locate their perfect holiday retreat, while also sharing a heartfelt connection with them off-camera.
Jean disclosed: "Richard and Roo I'm very much still in touch with, it's kind of a show where the stakes are a little bit higher."
She reflected on the timing of the show: "We were just out of Covid, life was just getting back to normal and I can only imagine what this doctor and nurse had been seeing. They needed a place to escape to, a place to relax, I really wanted to help them with that."
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Jean mentioned spending "a lot of time with the couple off-camera", enjoying meals and drinks together.
Expressing her admiration for healthcare professionals, she remarked: "We all have respect and love for the NHS but after we had just come out of the pandemic I really wanted to do right by them," adding that such dedication is what sustains the show's longevity.
Jean concluded by sharing a personal connection: "Roo and Richard were quite a similar age to me so we would have a glass of wine after wrap, we have a lot in common."
"We just really clicked on and off camera so it's been nice to keep in touch with them because they do such great work."
"They are busy guys but we always make time for a text or phone call."
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In her career, Jean has also had the privilege of assisting another house hunter, a former police officer grappling with PTSD.
She detailed: "He was a policeman who retired early because his job was hard going and he had a bit of PTSD as well."
"It was really personal, it was someone who had to get away from the UK and all the triggers of his previous job, so it's a lot of pressure on that one."
"It was 'I need to change my life, I need to get away from all the stresses and the things that trigger my PTSD. I want a quiet life in France'."
Further elaborating on the stress she felt to ensure everything was perfect, she added: "It needed to be quiet, peaceful, everything their previous life wasn't."
"It was a search where the stakes were much higher for me. Without giving anything away there's a beautiful ending where all three of us were in tears."
A Place in the Sun airs on Channel 4 at 3pm
