Escape to the Country star hits back at couple in tense show first 'Are you for real?'

On presenter Denise Nurse couldn't hide her surprise at an "extensive" set of requirements in an unprecedented move. During a previous episode of the series, Denise met married couple Mark and Steve, who swapped their home in Cheshire for dreams of the serene Cumbrian landscape.

The couple was in the market for a three-bedroom home with a budget of £380,000, including parking space for a minimum of two vehicles, an art room, and a big garden to host their yearly Eurovision parties, as well as being close to a railway station. However, the demands didn't stop there. Mark and Steve had a slew of deal breakers: no tiny windows, an open and large interior, a kitchen made for socialising, and ample space for their dazzling Eurovision costumes.

Denise remarked ontheir property requirements as she said: "Steve and Mark have a very extensive wish list, and when I say extensive, I mean extensive! This list is bigger than anything I've ever seen on Escape to the Country," she admitted.

"So, I can't wait to find out how committed they are to this, and if they're really ready to swap that holiday vibe for their full-time lifestyle."

With expectations high, Denise joined Mark and Steve at Lake Windermere in the Lake District, unfurling a lengthy paper outlining their checklist.

"Before we get started, I need to get to the bottom of something. This wish list," Denise began with amusement, before she reeled out the couple's extensive wish list decorated with a touch of irony.

"Space for Steve's car, space for Mark's car, access to a train station, access to a village or a town but not in the centre of a village or a town, of course! Close to a pub, close to a second pub in case the first pub is closed, come on you two! Have you thought of everything?"

Steve chuckled and replied that they were "very sociable" people and even expressed their fanciful hopes to accommodate an alpaca or two. With a comedic incredulity, Denise countered, "Are you for real? I love big dreams, but this is quite a list."

Denise showcased options like a quaint farmer's cottage in Haverigg and a charming semi-detached in Stank before whisking them off to the surprise home in Gleaston.

After touring a series of stunning homes, in the end, it was clear that Mark and Steve were prepared to cast aside their exhaustive list for the unpredictable allure of finding a place that truly felt like home.