Former Strictly Come Dancing star confirmed as new Escape to the Country presenter
The series is back for its 26th season!
Richie Anderson will be joining the presenting line-up for the upcoming 26th series of Escape to the Country.
The long-running series will feature a whopping 50 episodes this year, offering 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.
For many viewers, it may be Richie's voice that is more familiar, with him being a mainstay across BBC Radio 2, where he presents his own show.
The presenter is also a regular on The One Show and has been part of the BBC's Eurovision Song Contest coverage for the past four years. This year, Richie joined Sara Cox in the commentary booth during the semi-finals across Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. And in 2022, he took part in Strictly Come Dancing.
Now joining Escape to the Country, Richie's first episode will see him helping a couple of born and bred Brummies to find the perfect character property in the rural Midlands.
Richie said of joining the programme: "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."
Richie joins series regulars 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.
John Comerford, Head of Naked West (a Fremantle label) commented: "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."
Escape to the Country returns to BBC One and iPlayer later this month.
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Authors
Katelyn Mensah is the Senior Entertainment Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.
