BBC Escape to the Country couple from Australia torn during search ahead of show 'first'

A British couple, who have spent decades in Australia, were left astounded during their appearance on the latest episode of Escape to the Country. Ruth and Jeff, a couple for six years residing in Tasmania, are planning to move back to the UK and purchase their first shared property.

With family ties in Bath and Newport, they've set their sights on the Wye Valley as their ideal location. Armed with a budget of £375k, they were seeking a characterful two to three-bedroom property.

Entering the garden of the first property - a detached stone cottage with a slate roof near Cinderford - Ruth expressed her awe to host Sonali Shah, saying: "Oh what a fantastic garden - I don't have any words for this."

Jeff chimed in with: "It's amazing." Ruth then added: "It's just so cute. This is like countryside storybook," reports Gloucestershire Live.

Their enthusiasm only grew as they explored the interior of the 1850s-built property. Ruth said: "It's like a doll's house." While Jeff observed: "It actually fits Ruth perfectly - this is her kind of house."

The bedrooms upstairs were also a hit, with Jeff exclaiming: "I didn't think it could get any better" and Ruth describing it as "magical".

Upon learning that the property was precisely within their budget at £375k, Ruth declared it was "worth every penny".

Despite their initial affection for the first property, they went on to explore a £340k Grade II listed townhouse in the market town of Coleford. Although it didn't spark as much excitement as the cottage and the lack of parking was a downside, they were still taken with it, particularly appreciating the open plan layout.

The final property, dubbed the mystery house, was an end-of-terrace country cottage in Upton Bishop, Herefordshire. The ample outdoor space and rural setting left them awestruck, with Ruth declaring: "It's idyllic."

Upon entering the country kitchen with its wooden beams, Jeff confessed to Ruth: "I love it."

When decision time arrived, Sonali was unsure which way they would lean, asking the couple: "You both look like naughty teenagers, what's happened? " Jeff responded: "We've just been talking intensely since we left the mystery house, weighing things up."

Ruth added: "Having seen the mystery house and being so bowled over by house number one yesterday I'm completely non-plussed."

However, the pair decided to revisit both the first property and the mystery house, prompting Sonali to reveal that this was a "show first" for her. She exclaimed: "Two second viewings - that may well be a first for me."

As the programme concluded, she announced that Ruth and Jeff had decided to put an offer in on the first house.

Escape to the Country ius on BBC One weekedays at 3pm and on BBC iPlayer