Wanted Down Under

'The Biggest Decision of their Lives'

Moving to the other side the world is a difficult decision to make, as we keep saying on the show. The idea for Wanted Down Under came from a BBC producer who lived in New Zealand for a while and considered making a permanent move. But she spent ages trying to work out if it was the right thing to do.

So we decided to see if we could follow others as they tried to do the same thing. It's the real-life handling of such tough decisions which make such fascinating television.

Yes, the BBC does pay for the family to fly out to Australia or New Zealand, and for their accommodation. Otherwise we couldn't make the show. And the next question is how do we pick the families?

As in any form of programme making we research our contributors carefully and are most vigilant about making sure those we choose are serious about emigrating, and not just after a holiday at the licence-payers' expense. They must also appreciate that in return for the chance to have a trial trip paid for by the BBC they have to undertake all the filming required to make the show what it is. This takes at least five days out of the 'week' they are there, and is tiring when the producer is continually asking questions and you are quite jet-lagged.

In order to make the sequences about affordability, we need families to declare personal financial details such as salaries, the size of their mortgage, savings and general spending. We also need their extended family - mothers, fathers, grandparents and friends - to take part, telling us how they feel about being separated from their loved ones. All these elements are essential for the programme to work. It can be an emotional journey for everyone, and we expect to be able to keep the cameras rolling throughout the tears.

Over the years we have truly helped families decide one way or the other about emigrating, as our 'Revisited' programmes show. Sometimes it helps persuade a doubtful husband or wife, sometimes it proves that the move would just not be viable financially, and sometimes it is plain to see that the move down under has been exactly the right thing to do.

And of course it is not just about the families taking part; we all watch whilst asking ourselves the same questions - would the cities of Melbourne or Christchurch attract us, do we feel we want to change our lives so dramatically, and could we move so far away from loved ones?