Escape To The Country viewers rage ‘are you kidding me BBC?!’ as they share livid grievance simply minutes into Christmas episode

Escape To The Country viewers raged ‘are you kidding me?!’ as they shared their furious complaints just minutes into the Christmas episode on Sunday.

The latest instalment of the BBC programme saw Sonali Shah, 45, meet a couple called Nicky and Gavin, who wanted to find their dream home in Dorset for £550,000.

The pair were keen to move away from Southampton because their kids had grown up and they wanted a change.

They had a number of things that Sonali had to tick off the list, including finding a property that had three bedrooms.

But the instalment left a number of fans reeling because the episode originally aired back in April 2022, and many were expecting a celebrity special instead.

Some TV guides stated that it was Linford Christie’s special, while some said that it was the Dorset episode.

Many took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to complain. 

‘#escapetothecountry What happened to today’s advertised episode?’

‘BBC really spoiling us this evening with an episode of #escapetothecountry from 2021.’

‘#escapetothecountry 4 year old programme repeat. Sunday night entertainment at its best………’

‘This isn’t the advertised episode???’ 

Linford’s episode previously aired on Christmas Eve last year.

The synopsis read: ‘On your marks for an Escape To The Country of Olympic proportions, as Linford Christie, Britain’s most decorated sprinter, heads down the track towards the countryside for a slower way of life. 

‘Enlisting the property expertise of Alistair Appleton as well as the support of his daughter Briannah, they tour a range of stunning homes in the rolling hills of the Chilterns. 

‘The trio also take a trip along the Thames at one of the world’s most elegant country homes and cook up a storm with an exclusive outdoor dining experience, fully immersing themselves in the Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire countryside. 

‘Linford considers whether the tranquility of rural life can compete with the convenience of the town.’  

It comes after Janet Street Porter left Escape To The Country host Alistair Appleton scrambling with a blistering swipe after viewing a number of properties on Tuesday’s episode of the celebrity version of the BBC show. 

The Loose Women star, 78, who owns an apartment in central London, wanted help finding her dream home in East Anglia that she can share with her husband Peter.

Janet, who was joined by her friend designer Christopher Woods on the programme, explained that she wants peace and quiet, distance from neighbours and a view of the sea – and had a budget of £1 million to spend.  

Before heading out on the house hunt, Alistair told viewers: ‘I am going to let you in on a little secret. Just because the search starts here, doesn’t mean that it is going to finish here. So watch this space!’ 

The trio visited a modern bungalow priced at £960,000 in the village of Levington which Janet didn’t like, followed by a £895,000 beach house in the coastal village of Thorpeness. 

Despite liking the second property, Janet brutally told Alistair: ‘The bottom line is neither house offers me solitude, they offer me the sounds of the sea and seagulls, but I think you have failed.’

Alistair replied: ‘What we’re struggling with is that there is not enough isolation…

‘I think we are going to have to go further, I think you mentioned Scotland. How do you feel about Scotland?’

Janet said: ‘Thrilled. Come up with something – there is your challenge.’  

So the trio headed up north to Scotland.

Escape To The Country airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.