Wanted Down Under Revisited

Having moved to the UK from Australia almost half a century ago, Simon MacLean had spent most of his adult life longing to return. He believed the time was right to make the move, but he needed to convince partner Jane to leave everything she loved in the UK, including her mum. Simon and Jane lived in Chester with their dog Harry. They had been together for three years, were very happy together and loved each other to bits. Simon had Australian citizenship, and the subject of moving had been a constant thread throughout their relationship. Although Jane wasn't opposed to emigrating, she was feeling under pressure to do it sooner than she wanted. As an only child Jane could barely conceive the idea of leaving her elderly mum. The trial week was Simon's long-awaited chance to convince the love of his life, but was it enough, and did Jane buy into Simon's Australian dream?

Back in 2015 the Huddart family were living in London - Dad Nik, mum Sofia, then five-year-old Aliza, Izzie, who was nearly two, and Idris, who was then three. After a career in IT Nik had spent the last two years as a stay-at-home dad, which gave him plenty of time to enjoy his beloved London and spend time with the children. Sofia had concentrated on her medical career, but the shifts were demanding. The couple had started to think about New Zealand as a destination that would give them a better quality of life. Sofia had got very keen on the idea, but Nik was much more cautious. If a move didn't work out, moving back to London would be hard as house prices would rocket, making it impossible for the family to get back on the property ladder. Their trial week was meant to decide where they should call home. Could Sofia get the job she would need, and would Nik fall in love with the lifestyle enough to leave London?

In 2011 the Buchanan family faced a huge decision - whether to leave their family in Scotland to start a new life down under. Angie and Jason had been married for six years, but since the beginning Jason had just one dream for his family. Angie, on the other hand, had very different ideas about their future - she wanted it to stay in Scotland. However, concerns about her children's future had pushed Angie towards considering a move to Australia. One of the main reasons was her first child Jordan. He was born with special needs, and his physical disabilities were so improved in the sunshine in the UK that a warm life down under could improve his life dramatically. But it was Angie's daughter Sophie who was resisting the move the most. She couldn't face living on the other side of the world from her dad. Six years after a trial week, where do the Buchanan family call home?

Jessie Samra and Kevin Raison wanted the best future possible for their children but had become increasingly concerned about their family's prospects if they stayed put in the UK. Though they had never been,they had set their sights on a new life in Australia. Ahead of them was a week to discover if the country could live up to their high expectations.

Hedydd Jamieson had harboured dreams of living in Australia for well over a decade. She and her husband Steven were desperate to cast off the shackles of running a restaurant to carve out more family time withtheir children. She believed that a life in Australia would restore equilibrium to their work-life balance, but she had just one week to convince Steven and eldest son Leon that a better life could await them down under.

In 2011 the Andrews embarked on their trial week. Two flights, 9,000 miles and 22 hours gave them plenty of time to think about the journey ahead. It was a week that had the potential to change their lives forever, a long way from their home in Folkstone in Kent.

The Stirk family wanted to find out if emigration could offer them a better future.

In 2012 Viv and Darren Stirk lived with their three children in Cleckheaton in West Yorkshire. Darren was a telecommunicationsengineer, Viv a school administrator, Daniella a student midwife, Emma a keen gymnast at 16 and Ben 12.

David McGuinness had talked about moving to Australia with his wife Jeanette since their very first date. But could he convince her to uproot their young family from their tight-knit Liverpool home? That wasthe major decision facing them in 2011.

Ten years ago Lee Ramoth tried to convince wife Lauren their life would be better on the other side of the world. But fast forward to 2016 and the shoe was on the other foot. The tables had turned and it wasLauren trying to persuade Lee to give up his very successful business and close family ties in the UK to pursue a future he once dreamed about in Australia.

Nine years ago a near-fatal road crash left Paul Nicholls fighting for survival. Given a second chance at life, he was determined to make the most of it - by moving his family to New Zealand. So where are they all now?

In 2012 Julie Godfrey's job working away from home had turned life into a nightmare, and her husband Alan couldn't take any more. A life down under beckoned, but in the end did they go?

After years on the move Mathew Royle Evatt was searching for somewhere to call home, and he believed that could be Australia. But did a week down under see his fiancee put up a fight?

Having survived challenging times, Gareth and Zoe Lloyd were hoping to make a fresh start in Australia. When their son Riley was born a move looked impossible, so where are they now?

Two near-death experiences had cheated Nazeem Mungur of the life he once knew. He was convinced moving down under could help him be the dad he once was, but did he persuade his wife to go?