It’s supposed to be a dream opportunity: swap dreary Britain for sun-soaked paradise with the help of Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun. But for some hopeful buyers, paradise comes at a price – and not just financial.
In one jaw-dropping episode, a presenter was left speechless after a couple vanished mid-filming following a heated off-camera row. The drama unfolded after tensions between the pair reached boiling point during a house tour.
According to host Danni Menzies, the row was so explosive it ended with one half of the couple storming off – leaving the crew in full panic mode. “We had a couple who had the biggest barney ever,” Danni told Metro. “When we finished filming one day, one of them disappeared and we were like, ‘Oh my God, we’re not going to be able to finish the show, where are they?’”
Thankfully, the runaway was found – eventually – but it’s far from the only time things have gone pear-shaped under the Spanish sun or Greek skies. Here’s a look at some of the most iconic meltdowns and dramatic moments in the show’s history.
Danni Menzies once faced a walkout when couple Shane and Sharon took one look at a two-bed Costa del Sol apartment and bolted. Despite its prime location near the beach and golf courses, Shane branded it “claustrophobic” and refused to even see the rest of the home.
The couple had a budget of £135,000 – but they expected much more for their money when viewing the apartment. The home, a two-bedroom flat in Riviera del Sol, was on the market for £137,888.
Presenter Ben Hillman didn’t hold back when house hunters Ali and Sue rejected property after property, even those that met their exact brief. When Sue moaned about a house being only slightly under budget, Ben quipped: “Oh goodness, you’re hard work” – to which Sue simply agreed.
The couple had a budget of just £70,000 despite hoping to find a two-bedroom villa that had plenty of space for their German Shepherd dog. They were taken to four different properties in total, but nothing seemed right for them.
“It’s our first property under budget, just under £69,000,” Ben said. He was met with silence before quipping: “Don’t jump up and down all at once.”
Sue quickly hit back: “Well it’s not a lot under budget, is it?”
“Oh goodness you’re hard work,” Ben told her and Sue agreed: “We are hard work.” He persisted: “You’ve still got these beautiful views, you’ve still got this peaceful tranquil environment.”
“I’m going to let you look at this one on your own. I’m trying my best but if it’s not one thing, it’s another.”
In a hilarious moment, Jacqueline and husband Chris stunned host Scarlette Douglas with their ever-growing list of demands. A sea view, a private pool, space for bikes – even binocular-level views were dismissed.
Jacqueline, visibly flustered, told her husband: “Flipping heck! How many?” as the wishlist spiralled.
But despite their long list of demands and butting heads a little, Scarlette quickly got to work with five fabulous property that fitted the bill.
Jean Johansson was visibly rattled when Kamlesh and Sukhwinder slammed her carefully chosen homes as “tight” and “closed in.” Jean defended her picks, stressing: “I worked hard to find this one,” before pointing out its ideal location and transport links.
But the couple remained unimpressed and left Spain empty-handed. She told the cameras after the couple had walked away: “I’ve managed to deliver on most of the criteria but I just don’t think they’re feeling it.”
Donagh, on a search in Valencia, brought his best friend Amy along for the ride – and instantly regretted it. As Amy listed her dream features for his apartment, Donagh bluntly reminded her: “It’s my apartment, not yours, alright?” Ouch.
In an amusing episode of A Place in the Sun, host Jasmine Harman was faced with a surprising response from house hunters during their property search. Viewers saw Jasmine return to take British couple Ronnie and Jill around France’s scenic regions in pursuit of their perfect abode.
The duo, whose children are now adults, were ready to start afresh in a charming French home. The property quest turned humorous when Ronnie and Jill instantly baulked at encountering an overly vibrant red kitchen.
Jill did not mince words, immediately declaring: “We can’t possibly have a red kitchen.”
Danni Menzies was left squirming when she found herself stuck in the middle of a married couple’s tiff on A Place in the Sun.
The Scots host was doing her best to help a pair of prospective buyers find their dream home abroad when they ended up “at loggerheads” over their preferred property.
Mike said of his preferred place: “The property itself is the best we’ve seen so far.” But unconvinced Lynn described the size of the master bedroom as “quite small.”
And when Danni asked how this final property was comparing to his favourite, Mike admitted: “It’s still in my mind… It’s not discounted.” Turning to Lynn for her opinion, Danni said: “Is this your frontrunner?”
Lynn replied: “Yeah, this would be my frontrunner and the one Mike likes would be second.” To which Mike woefully commented: “Oh the argument starts…”
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