Alistair Appleton, known for helping others swap city life for the countryside on BBC's Escape to the Country, has opened up about the stressful period that led him to leave London behind. More than a decade ago, the presenter found himself needing to make that very change in his own life after a difficult time left him struggling with anxiety, exhaustion and sleepless nights.
Writing about the period on his website, Alistair explained that he became unwell around 2012 following what he described as a "very stressful break-up".
A difficult wake-up call
He said: "Around 2012, I got ill. After a very stressful break-up, working crazy hours, finishing an intense therapy training and buying and renovating a London home." The combination proved overwhelming as Alistair admitted that, at the time, he did not recognise what he was experiencing as anxiety. Instead, he found himself unable to sleep, constantly tired and worrying about almost everything.
He added: "At the time I didn't know it was anxiety, but I couldn't sleep, felt constantly tired and worried about everything." It was a difficult wake-up call that ultimately forced him to reconsider the life he was leading in the capital.
A new life on the Sussex coast
By 2013, Alistair had made the decision to leave London behind and relocate to East Sussex, trading the noise and pressures of city life for the coast. His new home offered a very different pace of life, surrounded by the landscape and sea that had always held a special place in his heart.
Alistair now lives with his husband Daniel and their dog, Ben, and has occasionally given fans glimpses of their life together. Although he has generally kept his relationship away from the glare of the spotlight, the presenter has spoken about the support he has received from his husband. He has described his current home as a 1930s French sea captain's cottage in the port of Newhaven.
A lifelong connection to the coast
His connection to the coast stretches back much further than his move to Sussex. Growing up, Alistair spent time with his mother's family near Titchfield and remembers fondly the summers he spent there. While he enjoyed the countryside, it was the sea that particularly caught his attention.
He has previously recalled swimming, exploring the coastline and trying his hand at windsurfing, as well as developing a fondness for the chalk downs and shingle beaches around Hillhead and Alverstoke. Escape to the Country is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
