BBC Escape to the Country star halts property search as she says 'forget it'

Escape to the Country's Anita Rani stopped her hunt for the perfect home just moments into the viewing when a crucial detail caught her eye.

The hit BBC series graced our screens with a star-studded episode on Friday (December 27), featuring celebrity guest Anita. She was joined by Alistair Appleton, who pulled out all the stops to locate her ideal countryside haven.

With nearly a decade of presenting Countryfile under her belt, broadcaster and writer Anita is no stranger to the charms of rural living. She was searching for tranquillity away from her east London roots, setting her sights on the serenity of Kent and Sussex's coastlines.

Joining her on the quest was her interior designer buddy, Shaun Clarkson, who had a good grasp of the area. Anita was equipped with a £875,000 budget to secure a two-bedroom property that boasted both quirkiness and a view that would ignite her creativity for writing, reports Wales Online.

Equally paramount for Anita was ample space for entertaining her near and dear ones. While she was game for a fixer-upper, proximity to London within a 90-minute radius was non-negotiable.

Alistair had lined up various homes to look at, but he faced a formidable challenge, with Anita conceding: "The truth is I don't really know what I want yet, so I'm probably quite a difficult brief for Alistair."

But moments into exploring a quaint home in Hastings, East Sussex, it rapidly became apparent that this domicile might not fit the celebrity's requirements.

The two-bedroom detached cottage, built in the early 1900s, was priced just under £600,000 and featured an inviting open-plan kitchen and dining space.

Anita and Alistair's property hunt got off to a promising start as they ventured into a picturesque conservation area right next to a well-trodden footpath. Anita couldn't contain her excitement, exclaiming, "Look at that. That's what I'm talking about; that's spectacular."

She gestured towards the breathtaking view, adding with enthusiasm: "It's all about that, Alistair. This is gorgeous. I get to watch the seasons, and I get to see the trees."

But the mood shifted when a passerby strolled past, prompting Anita to quip, "Oh, hello. Oh, there you go, there is a man walking past."

Shaun seized the moment for a bit of cheeky banter, commenting: "So you couldn't be in here naked." In response to the unexpected company, Anita humorously declared the house hunt over, saying: "Damn it, it's off, forget it."

After viewing multiple properties, Anita ultimately decided not to make an offer on any of them, thus the quest for her idyllic residence goes on.

Escape to the Country airs weekdays on BBC One and iPlayer