Escape To The Country host Alistair Appleton has offered a fascinating peek into his life away from the cameras.

The BBC presenter, who originates from Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent, was assisting a young couple in their search for an ideal property in North Somerset after departing the student-dominated city of Bristol.

During the visit, he referenced his own residence, recommending they consider installing solar panels. He said: "I live off-grid, so I'm all about not having to get electricity, you can just get solar panels."

Alistair, 55, has previously discussed his distinctive residence in Cuckmere, Sussex, which he shares with husband Daniel.

The home occupies a breathtaking position on a cliff edge with views across the surrounding waters, and has previously appeared on Escape To The Country, reports Kent Live.

"It's off-grid. So, there's no electricity. So, for the first year we were only candles," he previously revealed.

"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."

During the episode, Daniel also shared: "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."

Calling his home and the coast his "happy place", Alistair admitted their way of life does take "getting used to" but can be "magical".

Alistair opted for this quieter life after leaving London, explaining on his website that a health scare caused him to transform his life.

He said: "Around 2012, I got ill. After a very stressful break-up, working crazy hours, finishing an intense therapy training and buying and renovating a London home. At the time I didn't know it was anxiety, but I couldn't sleep, felt constantly tired and worried about everything.

"In the last 10 years, I've worked hard to understand and transform my anxiety. And that's one of the things I help other people to overcome too. Following my own advice, I escaped to the country from London in 2013 and live near the sea in East Sussex."

As well as presenting on Escape To The Country, he has started his own meditation business and trained as a psychotherapist.

He told Great British Life: "I loved that work so much that I started to get a bit disenchanted with all the crazy schedules of TV filming and I decided five years ago to re-train as a psychotherapist.

"That was the best decision of my life and I think I've hit my 40s in much better shape than I hit my 30s."

Escape to the Country is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.