An Escape to the Country couple faced an unexpected setback after making the life-changing decision to return to the UK18:16, 13 Aug 2026An Escape to the Country couple were left facing a major dilemma.‌The duo finally found a property they loved during their search for a new home in the UK but things didn’t go to plan.‌Emma and Sean have spent the past 20 years living in Canada with their three children, but decided it was time for a dramatic change and began planning their return to the UK.‌However, the couple had already sold their family home in Toronto, meaning there was plenty riding on their property hunt.During Thursday's (August 13) episode of the BBC show, the couple revealed they were hoping to find a more remote way of life in Worcestershire or Warwickshire, despite admitting they knew very little about the area.Their eldest son is staying in Canada to attend university, while younger children Brody and Harrison are preparing to make the move across the Atlantic with their parents.‌Emma explained that Worcestershire had been chosen largely because of its schools, but admitted the area was completely unfamiliar to them."We know nothing about this part of the UK, so it's all very unfamiliar," she said.‌With a budget of up to £1 million, the couple were hoping to find a four-bedroom detached character property with enough space for Sean to work from home. A nearby pub was also high on their wish list.Presenter Chris Bavin pulled out all the stops and arranged three properties for them to view. It was the second house, however, that immediately caught their attention.The Georgian property in Powick, Worcestershire, was on the market for £950,000 and appeared to tick many of their boxes.‌The home boasted a spacious country kitchen, five double bedrooms and a large study, while a converted coach house offered even more space.But despite falling for the character property, Emma and Sean soon spotted a significant problem. The couple realised the house was simply too big for what they actually needed.‌After spending years planning their return to the UK, they had hoped the property could become their forever home. Yet the sheer size of the Georgian house left them questioning whether it was really the right fit for their family.Chris's carefully planned house hunt therefore failed to produce the happy ending he had hoped for, leaving Emma and Sean back at square one.Reflecting on their search, Emma said the experience had helped them understand exactly what they were looking for.‌"This has been a really great journey. The next part is just going out and really starting to look, knowing now what we really do want," she said. "Hopefully, we'll find something in the next few months or so."And their priorities had already changed. "Before, we were really focusing on a village or town but that's actually changed. We'll now maybe go remote," Emma added.The couple's search for their dream UK home therefore continues – and after their experience with the £950,000 Georgian property, they now know that bigger doesn't necessarily mean better.Article continues belowYou can stream Escape to the Country on BBC iPlayer