A BASINGSTOKE couple’s love story was the focus of a BBC television programme.

Julie and Nick Sylvester appeared on BBC2’s Escape to the Country to search for a new home in Cornwall, having rekindled their relationship nine years after getting divorced.

The couple, from Old Basing, got back together in February 2015 after Nick offered support to Julie following the death of the family’s dog.

Julie said: “Nick came to hold my hand and has been there ever since.”

But their home in Old Basing held difficult memories for Nick, and so the couple decided to search for a new home in Cornwall where they have enjoyed holidays over the years.

Filmed outside Bartons Mill, in Old Basing, Nick said: “It is a strain to come back to the matrimonial home again.”

Julie added: “Moving to Cornwall and being with Nick would be the ultimate goal and something that will make us so happy and put all the sadness behind us.”

The programme, filmed in March, saw Nick and Julie view three different houses with presenter Ginny Buckley, before guessing the price of each.

With a budget of £700,000, the couple, who have two grown-up sons, fell in love with a converted farm building with four bedrooms, on the market for £650,000, and decided to revisit the property after the programme.

But they ended up putting in an offer in on a different property - a house near Truro, which was accepted, and they are now hoping to move later this month.

The couple, both aged in their 50s, are planning to marry for the second time next year, with a celebration held at their new Cornwall home, marking 25 years since their first wedding.

Julie, who has just handed in her notice after 18 years working at Paramount Pools in Hook, said taking part in the programme was “a lot of fun”.

She said they had decided to apply to feature on Escape to the Country because they are both huge fans of the show.

Referring to their new home, she said: “It’s amazing. Nick put an offer on it without me having even seen it.”