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Escape to the Country star Alistair Appleton speaks candidly about unhappy past

The TV personality admitted that he wasn't on the path he wanted to be on 

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Emmy Griffiths
TV & Film Editor
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Escape to the Country star Alistair Appleton is a much-loved TV personality, and also works as a therapist and meditation teacher, but in an interview back in 2019, the star revealed that he was "pretty unhappy" in his early 30s. Writing on his site Mind-Springs.org, he admitted: "I was pretty unhappy. I was drinking a lot, doing a lot of drugs, going out a lot. 

WATCH: Have you watched Escape to the Country yet?

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." 

He began exploring Buddhism and took up Ashtanga yoga, and even ended up considering becoming a monk. He said: "I went to Thailand and was thinking of becoming a monk. I was considering it very seriously," before revealing a friend had talked him out of the idea. 

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Alistair lives in the port of Newhaven

Alistair is now happily settled with his husband Daniel, and the pair offer free meditation and yoga classes. On his website, he wrote: "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."

MORE: Escape to the Country's Alistair Appleton reveals surprising career path he almost pursued

MORE: Escape to the Country's Jules Hudson makes rare comment on family life

Alistair has also previously spoke about training to become a psychotherapist, telling Hampshire Life back in 2012: "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."

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