BBC Escape to the Country buyers 'blown away' as host unveils 'interesting' mystery house

A shock twist unfolded on Escape to the Country when a pair of buyers took a sudden U-turn on a "risky" mystery house on Wednesday (May 7).

In the fresh episode of the hit BBC show, presenter Alistair Appleton was joined by Grace and Joe, a married couple who had made the big move from Miami to find their dream home amidst Cheshire's stunning landscape.

Grace, originally from Manchester, had spent 25 years in the US before nostalgia called her back home. Joe was also keen to nestle into the charming British countryside after previously living in the UK.

With a substantial £800,000 budget, the pair were in the market for a detached abode featuring an open-plan layout, a spacious kitchen, three or four bedrooms, and a garden suitable for their pets.

Additionally, they insisted on being within an hour's reach of Grace's family in Manchester and were firm on procuring a modern dwelling, reports .

Having inspected two homes that ticked most of their boxes, Alistair aimed to shake things up with his choice of mystery house.

"I'll be frank, this is going to be a risky mystery house because it feels to me that Grace and Joe really want to move their Miami house over into Cheshire, but it sort of misses a trick," he confessed.

"Because what we've got here is an amazing slice of Victorian Cheshire with great period bones, and that's gonna challenge them aesthetically, but I think it could be a really interesting option."

Set in the shadows of an ancient Iron Age hill fort, the large Helsby property came complete with three reception rooms, six bedrooms, and a well-secured garden.

While standing outside the detached Victorian home, Alistair confessed, "I've got butterflies showing you this."

Joe humorously remarked, "It's haunted... It's a bit of a shock," while Grace expressed her fascination, noting that she was "definitely intrigued" by the "grand" nature of the house.

Despite some initial doubts, the couple found themselves "pleasantly surprised" by the charm of the red brick home, recognising that they might have been overly restrictive in their hunt.

Reflecting on the visit, Grace revealed, "It's got great bones. I mean, the inside was spectacular. Everywhere you looked there was something new that took you by surprise.

"It wasn't what we had asked for but it really took us by surprise and has definitely got us thinking."

Joe added: "I was walking around and thinking, 'This could work,' I'm blown away at the possibility of accepting something like this."

Escape to the Country airs weekdays at 3pm on BBC One