BBC One viewers expecting a festive treat were left feeling anything but merry on Sunday, as a promised celebrity special of Escape To The Country was replaced with a repeat episode, sparking a wave of fury on social media.
Christmas Schedule Sparks Confusion and Anger
Instead of the advertised episode featuring Olympic sprinter Linford Christie, the programme that aired was a repeat from April 2022. The episode featured presenter Sonali Shah, 45, helping a couple called Nicky and Gavin search for a three-bedroom dream home in Dorset with a budget of £550,000. The pair wanted to leave Southampton after their children grew up, seeking a change of scenery.
However, within minutes of the broadcast starting, fans realised they were watching old content. The confusion was compounded by conflicting TV listings, with some guides promoting the Linford Christie special and others listing the Dorset episode.
Viewers Vent Fury on Social Media
Disappointed viewers quickly took to X, formerly Twitter, to voice their complaints under the hashtag #escapetothecountry. One exasperated fan wrote: 'BBC really spoiling us this evening with an episode of #escapetothecountry from 2021.' Another demanded: 'What happened to today's advertised episode?' A third sarcastically commented on the '4 year old programme repeat', calling it 'Sunday night entertainment at its best'.
The Linford Christie episode, which viewers had anticipated, originally aired on Christmas Eve last year. Its synopsis promised a tour of the Chilterns with the champion sprinter, his daughter Briannah, and presenter Alistair Appleton, considering a move from town to countryside.
Recent Programme Tensions
The scheduling mishap follows another notable episode earlier in the week, where Loose Women star Janet Street Porter, 78, left host Alistair Appleton scrambling. On Tuesday's celebrity edition, Janet, hunting for a £1 million seaside retreat in East Anglia, bluntly told Appleton he had 'failed' to find her a sufficiently isolated property. The search subsequently moved to Scotland at her suggestion.
Escape To The Country continues to air on BBC One and is available for streaming on BBC iPlayer. However, this Christmas gaffe has certainly provided an unwelcome surprise for its dedicated audience, highlighting the perils of holiday scheduling and the high expectations of loyal viewers.
