BBC Escape to the Country's Jules Hudson's life off-screen with rarely-seen wife

Jules Hudson, the much-loved BBC presenter recognised for his roles on 'Escape to the Country', 'Springtime on the Farm', and 'Countryfile', has experienced significant financial hardship, including a shocking £60,000 loss due to scams and the pandemic.

Despite being a familiar face on our televisions for almost two decades, Jules enjoys a peaceful life away from the spotlight in Herefordshire with his wife Tania Fitzgerald and their son Jack. The family, along with their two Labradors Teddy and Lolo, relish the rural lifestyle, far removed from the hustle of city living.

At 53, Jules has openly spoken about his financial struggles, particularly the substantial loss he incurred due to fraudsters. We delve into his personal life, exploring Jules' navigation through financial adversity and his life outside of television with his rarely-seen wife, Tania.

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Living with Tania in the tranquil surroundings of Herefordshire, the couple, who tied the knot in 2016, treasure their countryside existence, complete with a period property and large garden that Jules takes pleasure in restoring. A self-confessed 'keen countryman and craftsman', Jules appreciates the peace and space that rural living provides.

In a candid chat with The Times back in 2020, Jules voiced his unease with the hustle and bustle of London, stating: "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 has described his perfect day off, away from the constant demands of his work life. "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 told the Express.

"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 successful career path, Jules hasn't been spared from financial difficulties, especially during the height of the pandemic. He admitted to The Scottish Mail in 2020 that the impact on his finances was severe, labelling the situation as 'financially devastating' due to the loss of 'a lot of expected income'.

"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 expressed regretfully. "But, of course, all of that has been cancelled. This quarter I've lost between £50,000 and £60,000 of anticipated income."

This wasn't the first time Jules had spoken about financial difficulties. Back in 2020, he told the Financial Mail on Sunday about a time he was conned online, which resulted in a significant loss of money.

"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."

Jules, known for his prudent approach to finances, was deeply affected by the incident. "My parents are careful with money and I have tried to follow their example and not take too many risks," he explained.

He grew up in a family accustomed to hard work; his father an engineer and his mother running a bed and breakfast. Despite attending boarding school, Jules made it clear they weren't rolling in cash: "we were by no means wealthy", he insisted, adding that holidays to Spain were not a yearly occurrence for them.

In an intimate discussion, Jules revealed the struggles of juggling his home life with the demands of his job at the BBC. "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 admitted to 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."

This proud dad mused: "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."