Escape to the Country's Alistair Appleton has been a regular face on British TV for many years now, but the presenter has recently ventured in a new direction and has now hinted it could turn full time.
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The BBC presenter, who has fronted many shows throughout his career such as Cash in the Attic, House Doctor and Stately Suppers, was speaking to yoga blog Mind-Spring.org about his time on the lifestyle show, but hinted that his therapy and meditation career could soon take up most of his time.
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"Television always comes with a shelf life anyway... Nothing goes on forever," he said. Alistair then explained that any future TV stint would have to have a "mental health" or "therapeutic angle".
© Photo: BBCAlistair has trained as a psychotherapist in recent years
Reflecting further on his TV career, Alistair added: "You know, in my 20s all I wanted to be was a famous TV presenter, and by the time I turned 30 I was already seeing that was a very dangerous path for me because I knew that it would just mean more anxiety, more laying value on external looks."
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Alistair spoke about training to become a psychotherapist back in 2012, telling Hampshire 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."
Opening up to Mind-Springs about the reasons behind his career change in his younger years, he explained: "I was pretty unhappy. I was drinking a lot, doing a lot of drugs, going out a lot.
© Photo: BBCAlistair has presented the show since 2004
"And so I think the better part of me just sensed that was not a path I wanted to pursue through my 30s so I gave it all up. I have quite a strong will really."
Alistair has been keeping busy in lockdown while offering his followers free online course in meditation along with his husband, Daniel, a yoga teacher. In one post on his website, he wrote: "My husband Daniel, a yoga teacher and I are offering free meditation and yoga to keep us grounded and happy during these extraordinary times. All welcome."
He added: "I am lucky to have found love and have a very understanding and supportive husband, Daniel... We're currently in a 1930s French sea captain's cottage in the port of Newhaven. And we live there with our very big dog Ben."
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