Escape To The Country viewers watch Bishop’s Stortford woman Sue Last’s emotional return to home county of West Yorkshire

The yearning for her home county was too much for Sue Last when her life was turned upside down – and help from a BBC One daytime show brought that dream closer to reality.

Sue’s quest for a new start by moving from her family home in Rye Street, Bishop’s Stortford, to West Yorkshire after her marriage broke up was featured on Escape To The Country on Monday afternoon (Nov 18).

Viewers were warned by presenter Nicki Chapman: “Some country moves can be very emotional – and when I say emotional, I mean emotional.”

Originally from Leeds, the lure of the rolling hills and pretty villages of the landlocked county was too much for theatre programmer and jobbing actor Sue.

“After 30 years my marriage has come to an end so I now find myself in a position where I have to move and to a property where I’ll be able to manage on my own,” said the mother of two daughters.

“It’s really important to me that I move somewhere to be closer to my family and friends – and that is Yorkshire.” She also wanted a property which had space for her daughters to come and stay.

Accompanied by Julie, one of her best friends, the first house shown to Sue was in the Calder Valley town of Mytholmroyd – and on seeing the 1920-built cottage, the tears already began to flow.

“It’s just beautiful and I didn’t think it would be in my budget – it’s a very good start!” she said.

On viewing the cottage, Sue reflected on how her future would pan out. “For years I’ve put everybody else first – now it’s time to put me first.”

The show popped in to Sowerby Bridge, where Sue and Julie spoke to staff at the Fire Station Theatre, with Sue becoming enthusiastic about treading the boards there. She revealed she recently performed a one-woman show in London’s Soho Theatre and she felt it would work well at this new haunt.

Then it was on to the next property in the country town of Meltham. Sue didn’t take to the 19th-century semi-detached house, saying: “It hasn’t grabbed me the way the first property did.”

After a tour inside, that view was confirmed: “It’s a really lovely home – but it’s just not the one.”

The last, “mystery” house viewed appeared not to fit into Sue’s wish list of a semi-detached or detached property. But although the two-bedroom mid-terrace home, one of a row of clay miners cottages, was more remote than she had wanted, the “stunning” views made up for that.

There was a surprise in store at the rear of the house. When she saw the extensive garden with views across the valley, with a studio for her to work in, once again she became tearful.

“It’s so beyond my expectations – the mystery house has just blown me away,” she said, and with the owner asking for offers around £265,000, it was within her price range.

Presenter Nicki was stunned by the reaction. “I don’t think I have ever, ever seen emotion like that when I’ve shown someone a property and a garden,” she said.

And that was Sue’s choice when asked at the end of the show which property she wanted. “The mystery house – that was a complete revelation. You don’t need a big house when you’ve got that outside.”

A second viewing the next day was promised and Chapman told viewers that Sue had put in an offer which was provisionally accepted, but she’s still waiting for a buyer for her Stortford house.

Sue had a message for people in her position. “Hang in there,” she said. “Be strong, you’ll get there.”