A Place in the Sun buyer reduced to tears by 'secret garden' plan

A Place in the Sun returned to Channel 4 and saw Jean Johansson attempt to find another couple their dream home.

The host was in the French region of Mayenne with Martin and Mandy. The pair from Ayrshire wanted to plant roots in the region after visiting countless times and falling in love with the area.

Their starting budget of £50,000 meant they were looking at a project rather than somewhere move-in ready but they told the Channel 4 host they were up for that challenge. They added that they'd like somewhere with two bedrooms, an outdoor space to use as a workshop for their motorbikes and a garden for green thumbed Mandy.

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The search got off to a rocky start with options being on the small side or needing more work than they'd be prepared to take on. But, one house appeared to check all the boxes and more.

It even reduced Mandy to tears when she explained exactly why she wanted from the open land that wrapped around the former barn. She said: "My mum passed away in 2020 and I took a lot of her flowers from her garden.

"We knew we were going to move here and they're all in pots at my house. This'll make a nice little secret garden for me and my mum, and also my dad that passed away four months later."

Tears quickly turned to smiles as the couple walked through the shell and imagined what they could bring to life inside. They were told by Jean that the previous owners started the conversion process but never fully completed it - but did "lots of the hard work" already.

The land featured two large outbuilding that had potential to become the bikers workshop. Inside, they were stunned by the surprisingly modern kitchen and living space that had been fitted as part of the conversion.

The smaller barns attached to the main heart of the home were described as having "bundles of potential" to become more bedrooms or, in this case, an all-important space for Martin and Mandy's pet parrots.

After mulling over the decision, the couple went for the converted barn as they "saw potential right away". After a "cheeky" offer of £48,000 the couple quickly accepted a rather specific counter bid by the estate agents of £50,336.

A Place in the Sun airs weekdays at 3pm on Channel 4 and All 4. Receive newsletters with the biggest and breaking TV and showbiz news by signing up here