Naked West (a Fremantle label) has announced that Richie Anderson will be joining the roster of presenters for the upcoming 26th series of the BBC long-running daytime institution, Escape to the Country.
With the new series spanning 50 episodes, the show offers plenty of opportunities to showcase the stunning rural landscapes of the UK, as viewers join the presenter and prospective buyers to gain a view at some of the UK's most charming country homes, as they look to leave the hustle and bustle of city living and escape to the country.
Richie is a well-loved, familiar face, presenting his own show on Radio 2. Richie is also a regular on The One Show and has been part of the BBC’s Eurovision Song Contest coverage for the fourth consecutive year. In Richie’s first episode of Escape to the Country, he will be seen helping a couple of born and bred Brummies, to find the perfect character property on his home turf of the rural Midlands.
Commenting on the announcement, Richie said: “It’s a real honour to be joining such an iconic TV programme and a brilliant family of presenters. Escape to the Country is one of the reasons I moved out of London for a quieter more rural way of life. I’m excited to pass on my love of the countryside to our house hunters and it’s a privilege to share such a personal experience with them and help tell their story. My first episode is in my stomping ground in The Midlands, an area that is often overlooked when it comes to country life so I can’t wait to show you some hidden gems.”
John Comerford, Head of Naked West (a Fremantle label) said: “For over two decades, Escape to the Country has brought heart and heritage to viewers. It celebrates the character of the British countryside and the nation’s superb historic rural housing stock. The series also helps real people take a leap into a whole new life. We’re excited to welcome Richie to the Escape family of fantastic presenters.”
Richie joins regular Escape to the Country presenters Alistair Appleton, Briony May Williams, Denise Nurse, Ginny Buckley, Jules Hudson, Nicki Chapman, Sonali Shah and Steve Brown who will all feature across the new series.
Escape to the Country will return with its 26th series to BBC One and iPlayer later this month.
Escape to the Country is commissioned for BBC One and BBC iPlayer by Commissioning Editor, Caroline O’Neill. Escape to the Country is a Naked West (a Fremantle label) production, the Series Editor is Emma Smith, and the Executive Producer for Naked West is John Comerford.
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For further information please contact:
Mya Bailey | mya.bailey@fremantle.com
Naked (a Fremantle label)
Naked creates and produces high quality, innovative factual and entertainment programming for the UK, US, and international markets. Current and recent productions include Buying London (Netflix), The Apprentice (BBC One), Grand Designs (Channel 4), BAFTA-nominated The Rap Game UK (BBC Three), Tonight with Target (BBC Three), Brian Cox: How the Other Half Live (Channel 5), Secret Crush (ITV2), Hot Mess Summer (Prime Video), The Unofficial Science of… (Sky Max), Couple to Throuple (Peacock) Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile (ITV), Planet Sex (Hulu and BBC Three), Great British Railway Journeys (BBC Two), and Celebrity Escape to the Country (BBC One).
Fremantle UK
Fremantle UK is the British production arm of global entertainment group, Fremantle. Made up of labels TalkbackThames, Naked, 72 Films and Wildstar Films – each with its own creative signature - Fremantle UK produces best-in-class programming for UK television networks and global streaming platforms. Content produced by Fremantle UK spans a wide range of genres from talent shows, gameshows and panel shows through to documentary, reality, lifestyle, features, natural history and drama.
Fremantle UK is home to some of the UK’s best known, best loved, and most talked about series including The Apprentice (BBC One), Britain’s Got Talent (ITV), Too Hot To Handle (Netflix), The Rap Game UK (BBC Three), Grand Designs (C4), QI (BBC Two), Never Mind the Buzzcocks (Sky Max), Rob Beckett’s Smart TV (Sky Max), Buying London (Netflix), Queens (Disney+), 007: Road To A Million (Prime Video), Hospital (BBC Two), Saving Lives In… (BBC Two), All or Nothing: Arsenal (Amazon), Epic Adventures with Bertie Gregory (Disney+), and Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne (Hulu and BBC Three).
For more information, please visit www.fremantle.co.uk, follow Fremantle UK on X and Instagram @fremantleuk or visit Fremantle’s LinkedIn page
