Jasmine Harman, presenter of A Place In The Sun, has shared a heartbreaking tribute to Annette Kilgore, a former participant on the Channel 4 show who is feared dead after wildfires ravaged the Spanish village of Bédar. The 69-year-old moved from Cornwall to Bédar with her husband, Malcolm Timbrell, 70, after appearing on the programme in 2023. The blaze, which tore through the province of Almeria in southern Spain on Thursday, July 9, 2026, has left at least 13 people dead.
Harman's Emotional Instagram Tribute
Writing on Instagram, Harman expressed her sorrow: "Some awful news. You may have seen on the news that Spain has been experiencing some terrible wildfires, and I was so sad to hear of the tragic deaths of several people in Bédar. Sending deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones. Especially to Malcom who previously appeared with his wife Annette on A Place in the Sun. I don't really have the words to say how very sorry I am for your loss Malcom. I know we have never met, I can't imagine what you are going through right now. Sending thoughts and prayers."
Survivor's Account of the Tragedy
Malcolm Timbrell, who became separated from his wife and 12 friends and neighbours as flames approached their home, spoke to the BBC about the devastating loss. "We have had an amazing life together and now it's stopped," he said. "If we had done the sensible thing and gone the other way and let our cats die, we both would be alive. But when you've got animals, you don't think like that." He added that he is "waiting for DNA clarification" and will "probably just fall apart" when the results are shared.
Their Dream Home in Spain
Annette and Malcolm found their dream home in Bédar with the help of A Place in the Sun presenter Leah Charles-King three years ago. At the start of their episode, Annette, a retired mental health professional, expressed her desire to enjoy the Spanish way of life. "We've started kayaking, which is great fun. I haven't fallen in. I now know that I don't panic when I fall in, so that's a good thing," she said in 2023. Although they had never visited the Almeria region before, they were certain it was the perfect spot for them and their beloved cats, Charlie and Misty. "It's not as commercialised, it's smaller areas of villages, so it just seemed the perfect place," Annette noted, with Malcolm adding, "It will extend our adventure."
Purchase of the Stone Cottage
The couple had a budget of £200,000 and found a stone cottage in Bédar listed at £215,746. After a "cheeky" initial offer of £175,000 was rejected, negotiations led to a final sale price of £200,000. Malcolm said at the time, "I couldn't be happier at the moment," while Annette added, "We've just bought that Spanish beautiful stone cottage up on the top of a mountain. And that isn't what we came for? It's what we've bought, because it's what we fell in love with."
Wildfire Conditions and Identification Efforts
The fire spread rapidly on Thursday afternoon due to scorching temperatures, incredibly dry ground, and powerful winds, with the mercury hitting 44°C in some parts of Spain. Spanish authorities are now using DNA to identify victims, as many suffered severe burns. Relatives of the missing have been asked to provide samples to the Bédar civil office.
