Escape To The Country shared a show first as host Alastair Appleton invited viewers inside his stunning electricity-free home worth an eye-watering £1m during Monday’s episode of the show.

The latest instalment of the BBC programme saw Nicki Chapman help couple Andy and Michael find their very first home together in the East SusSєx countryside. 

Towards the end of the episode Nicki pointed out that the area is a very popular place for celebrities to live – including the likes of Tom Cruise, Hugh Bonneville, Dame Julie Walters and Zoe Ball have lived in the area past and present. 

Nicki said: ‘As I am in the area, how can I not pop by and say hello to my chum from Escape To The Country?’ 

She continued: ‘For the last two years, our very own Alistair Appleton has been living off-grid in a remarkable 200-year-old coastguard’s cottage with his partner Daniel, a ceramicist and potter.’ 

Catching up with the pair, Nikki said: ‘This isn’t a normal property is it?’

Escape To The Country in show first as host Alastair Appleton (pictured right) invites viewers inside his stunning electricity-free home worth an eye-watering £1m – with his partner making rare TV appearance

The couple’s house boasts a large country kitchen, two guest bedrooms, a bedroom in a cabin and stunning views

Alastair explained: ‘It’s off-grid. So there’s no electricity. So for the first year we were only candles’

Alastair explained: ‘It’s off-grid. So there’s no electricity. So for the first year we were only candles, right?’

His partner Daniel said: ‘Yes. Just candles.’  

He continued: ‘It’s often used for film shoots and the film shoot came and they left a light, because we’ve got one plug with the solar panels, and we were like “Ah there’s a light!” 

‘It completely changed our life.’ 

Daniel explained: ‘So in the summer we have so much light. I mean, it’s beautiful. The house is designed to let light in from every angle.

‘But in the winter, it’s the opposite. And then we lose the light because of the topography of the cliff behind us at about 2/2:30pm. So that can feel quite limiting in a way.

‘The first year we were here, I hibernated. I went to bed at half past four.’

Alastair chimed in: As soon as it got dark at four o’clock, we were like “Should we go to bed? There’s nothing else to do!”.

Daniel explained: ‘So in the summer we have so much light. I mean, it’s beautiful. The house is designed to let light in from every angle’

The TV star has been living off-grid in a remarkable 200-year-old coastguard’s cottage with his partner Daniel, a ceramicist and potter

Alistair told Nicki: ‘I just couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t be in the city. I couldn’t sleep, I was super anxious. I did the proper Escape To The Country, Nicki’

The telly star explained that living off-grid does ‘take getting used to’ but confessed that the winters are ‘magical’ because of the fires, wearing lots of woolies and lovely candles.

The couple’s house boasts a large country kitchen, two guest bedrooms, a bedroom in a cabin and stunning views. 

Alastair is also able to run his therapeutic meditation practice from home, while Daniel has his own studio. 

Walking along the coast, Alastair told Nicki: ‘So this is my happy place.

‘Actually, this whole thing is my happy place.

‘It’s been so glorious living here, Nicki.’

Nicki replied: ‘I remember you living in London.’

‘I just couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t be in the city. I couldn’t sleep, I was super anxious. I did the proper Escape To The Country, Nicki. 

Walking along the coast, Alastair told Nicki: ‘So this is my happy place. ‘Actually, this whole thing is my happy place. It’s been so glorious living here, Nicki’

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‘But it was actually a lot to do with my mental health. 

‘Why would I live in a really hectic city when I can live out in the countryside and do everything I want to do in one place with the sun shining and blue skies.

‘The sun always shines in SusSєx.

‘Did you know that Nicki? Always shines.’ 

Alastair has been a presenter on Escape To The Country since 2007.

He’s also appeared in the likes of House Doctor, Escape to the Continent, Cash in the Attack, and Fantasy Homes in the City. 

 Alastair has been with his partner Daniel for a number of years and they are married. 

Alastair (pictured left) with Anita Rani on Escape To The Country – a show he has been on since 2007

The pair do like to keep their relationship out of the spotlight.  

Alastair and Daniel are joined in their amazing house by their dog Ben and cat Joni. 

Although they keep their relationship private, Alastair has been supportive of his career on social media. 

He wrote on Instagram: ‘So proud of my beautiful husband The Pilgrim Potter. This weekend is his first pottery fair.

‘He’s showcasing at the prestigious Towner Gallery no less. this weekend! After all the kerfuffle, with its share of mishaps and victories – he’s made it!! And it looks amazing.’

Escape To The Country airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.