A Place In The Sun's Jean Johansson's off-screen life and favourite place to 'switch off'

TV presenter Jean Johansson has been globe-trotting for Channel 4's A Place in the Sun, but there's one destination that holds a special place in her heart - Finland. In an exclusive chat with the Mirror, Jean revealed that she owns a holiday home in the Scandinavian country, which serves as her "sanctuary and hideaway".

Her husband's Finnish roots mean that Scandinavia is a region with strong family connections.

Jean explained: "Because I've got that place I can go and escape to from my very busy life, I completely understand what the house hunters are after. We have got a house in south west Finland and I'd say that's probably one of my favourite places in the world."

"I really do switch off and turn my phone off. In the summers we enjoy really late nights when it's still light and in the winters it'll be dark at two in the afternoon."

"There's cosy winters with lots of snow."

Jean's love for living near water, which she also does in Scotland, was a major draw to Scandinavia.

"Anywhere I've lived it's been in proximity to the water, that was a big draw for me," she said.

This year, Jean will be spending Christmas in Finland, as she and her husband take turns spending the holiday with their parents.

She's particularly fond of Finnish winters, saying: "The days are so short, it starts getting dark around 2pm and you have got that 'let's get cosy, dim the lights, eat hot food'."

The celebrity eagerly anticipates the festive season, claiming: "I'm looking forward to that from the busy year I've had. Christmas for me is no phones, family time and quiet."

Amid her bustling schedule, she has wrapped up recording for a Christmas series set to grace BBC iPlayer later this year.

Exuding excitement over her holiday plans, the star will soon be in front of the camera once more, filming for an STV New Year's Eve special, where she quipped: "It's the weirdness of my life but I absolutely love it and it's just a joy to get into the Christmas spirit."

The ambition to claim Lorraine Kelly's coveted TV spot doesn't elude her as she confessed: "It has always been a dream of mine."

With aspirations high, she divulged details about possible career moves, saying: "Lorraine is a broadcast hero of mine, maybe that's something I'll be pursuing next year, there have been meetings with ITV."

Constantly conjuring up future prospects is part of her ethos, as she shared: "As a presenter, you have always got to keep thinking about the next year, things you can add in and putting yourself out there.

"Maybe Lorraine will read this and call me up. I'll definitely be making moves to make myself known to them."

In admiration of the renowned TV personality, she reflected: "I've met her and she is lovely and exactly as she is on the telly, and that's the gift when you can be so open and warm-hearted."

She acknowledged her influence, adding: "She has been a big influence of mine, she comes from a working-class background and she's a Scottish broadcaster who became a household name and I guess that would be my dream for the future as well."

A Place in the Sun airs on Channel 4 at 3pm