Escape to the Country star reveals big change to show – and the areas everyone wants to move to | The Sun
ESCAPE to the Country star Sonali Shaw has spilled all on the secrets of the hit BBC property show after 10 years hosting the show.
Sonali looked back on her time on the programme during an appearance on the BBC's Morning Live where she chatted to show hosts Gethin Jones and Jeanette Kwakye about how the show has evolved.
She admitted that a huge change which has occurred in recent years is the amount of property hunters wishing to move to the countryside after the pandemic opened up to the opportunity to work from home.
Sonali revealed that more buyers have been seeking a rural home to both live and work in as they increasingly seek to set up home offices.
Speaking on the new property shift, she revealed: "More and more people are taking an interest in it, moving to rural areas as property prices come down following the boom during the height of Coronavirus.
"Everyone reassessed their lives over the pandemic, there was a realisation that you can live in different places and still work, so that's why the market was really hot."
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She also added: "People are moving a lot earlier. People who are thinking why am I waiting until I retire, can I not do it right now?"
The TV favourite further admitted that as a result of homeowners needing designated spaces for working in, it has seen a shift in the style of property they opt for.
Sonali admitted that less and less prospective buyers are requiring open-plan living which has gone against the trend in recent years.
The star said: "It used to be always about open plan, that was the trend.
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"But actually people need home offices now don't they, they need separation in case they are working from home."
With Devon remaining the top draw location on the BBC daytime show, Sonali revealed that more location up north are becoming desirable as she told the show how variety in location is now becoming the norm.
She said: "People are now thinking outside the box, so somewhere like Shropshire.
"We used to go two to three times a year, now we're going five to six times a year.
"And we're definitely coming up north a bit more, Yorkshire, Northumberland."
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