Escape to the Country’s Jules Hudson’s life off-screen including devastating loss and scam distress

Jules Hudson, the much-loved BBC presenter from Escape to the Country, Springtime on the Farm, and Countryfile, has had his fair share of financial woes, including a whopping £60,000 loss due to scammers and the pandemic.

Despite being a familiar face on our telly for nearly two decades, Jules enjoys a peaceful life away from the limelight in Herefordshire with his wife, Tania Fitzgerald, and their son Jack. The couple, along with their two Labradors Teddy and Lolo, relish the rural life, far from the city’s hustle and bustle.

At 53, Jules has candidly talked about his financial struggles, especially the significant loss he endured due to fraudsters. Diving into his personal life, we take a look at Jules’ journey through financial hardship and his life behind the scenes with his rarely-seen wife, Tania.



Jules Hudson and his wife Tania
Jules Hudson and his wife Tania

Living with Tania in the tranquil setting of Herefordshire, the duo, who tied the knot in 2016, treasure their countryside lifestyle, complete with a period house and large garden that Jules loves to renovate. A self-confessed ‘keen countryman and craftsman’, Jules appreciates the peace and space that the countryside provides.

In a candid chat with The Times back in 2020, Jules revealed his need for the tranquillity of the countryside over the hustle and bustle of London life. “I found London very claustrophobic. There’s an energy about it that I absolutely love, but I need green fields and space. We knew what we were looking for – something with space, something with outbuildings. And having its own plot was really important to me.”, reports the Express.



Jules Hudson on Escape to the Country
Jules Hudson on Escape to the Country

Jules has shared his idea of the perfect day, which is all about taking it slow and enjoying the simple things with his loved ones. Speaking to the Express, he said: “My perfect day is a nice, warm, sunny Sunday with myself, my wife, my son and our dogs all out gardening having a really lazy day,”.

He cherishes those moments when life slows down. Jules said: “I love it when there is no one to ring, no one to bother with and we are just immersed in the practicalities of being outdoors, getting mucky and transforming the garden.”

Despite his success, Jules has faced his share of financial worries, especially during the height of the pandemic. He opened up to The Scottish Mail in 2020 about the significant hit to his wallet, calling the experience ‘financially devastating’ as he saw ‘a lot of expected income’ disappear.

He reflected on the missed opportunities due to the pandemic, saying: “Normally, I’d now be filming Escape to the Country and I was planning to go on a tour to promote my latest book,” he shared. “But, of course, all of that has been cancelled. This quarter I’ve lost between £50,000 and £60,000 of anticipated income.”



Jules Hudson on Escape to the Country
Jules lives an idyllic life in the countryside

This wasn’t the first time Jules had spoken out about his financial woes. Back in 2020, he told the Financial Mail on Sunday falling victim to an online scam, which left him out of pocket without recourse.

“I once bought a quad bike for £1,600 on eBay thinking it was too good to be true and it was. I was ripped off by a scammer in Spain,” he shared. “I transferred the money directly into his account and learnt a hard lesson. That bike never existed.”

The ordeal was a blow for Jules, who takes pride in being financially savvy, much like his parents. “My parents are careful with money and I have tried to follow their example and not take too many risks,” he explained.

Jules’ upbringing was filled with hard work; his dad was an engineer and his mum ran a bed and breakfast. He revealed to the publication that despite attending boarding school, they weren’t rolling in cash: “we were by no means wealthy”, he made clear, adding “we weren’t the sort of family who went to Spain every year”.



Escape to the Country’s Jules Hudson’s life off-screen including devastating loss and scam distress
Jules Hudson with his Escape to the Country colleagues

In a candid chat, Jules opened up about his domestic life and the challenges posed by his BBC role.

“Anybody with any busy life will tell you that the balance between your working life and family life can be tricky. I’ve got a young son, we’ve got our own life here in Hertfordshire that is very dear to us, so you know, trying to balance it all can be difficult but it’s a partnership, it’s a team effort through the family,” he told the Express.

“We all understand it, we have mortgages to pay and bills to pay and all the rest of it, it is our working life. It’s not easy but that’s the trouble every family in the country faces let’s be honest, you just have to work hard and play.”

The doting dad shared: “I hope to do Escape to the Country for as long as I’m able and for as long as the show will have me. For me, country life is absolutely who I am and it’s who I was before I came to present Escape to the Country. It’s a massive step for lots of people, so having the chance to share that, that experience, those tips and tricks, it’s very much a way of life for me. I absolutely love it, it’s a show I’m incredibly fond of. It’s very dear to me.”

View news Source: https://www.ok.co.uk/tv/escape-countrys-jules-hudsons-life-32654640

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