Strictly pros among stars announced for first ever Celebrity Escape to the Country

Virgin Radio

10 Nov 2023, 12:11

Two Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers are among the famous names revealed to be taking part in the BBC’s first ever Celebrity Escape to the Country.

A total of five episodes will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this December, including one which will feature Strictly couple Janette Manrara and Aljaž Škorjanec.

Janette and Aljaž have been married since 2017 and share one child together, who was born in July 2023.

Celebrity Escape to the Country will also star The Chase’s Jenny Ryan, aka The Vixen, Bucks Fizz singer Cheryl Baker, TV doctor Dr Ranj Singh and TV presenter Christopher Biggins.

The house hunting show will see the six stars all go on a quest to find their dream country homes, in locations including the Home Counties, Cheshire, the Peak District, Lancashire, Kent and Sussex.

Julie Shaw, the BBC’s commissioning editor for daytime and factual shows said of the special episodes: “I can’t wait for this to land in the schedules.”

She also said: “Escape to the Country has been a staple in the BBC daytime schedule for 21 years. Audiences love this programme and watching the journeys the house-hunters go on, so it was about time we got to go house-hunting with some famous faces.”

John Comerford, head of the show’s production company Naked West, added: “We love helping prospective rural dwellers find their dream homes and we’re delighted the BBC have commissioned this special series giving us all an insight into our favourite celebrities’ lives as they look to swap the city for a new home in the country.”

Celebrity Escape to the Country will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in December 2023.