A woman who appeared on A Place In The Sun a decade ago has revealed how the experience changed her life.
Janice appeared on the popular Channel 4 show back in 2014 to find her perfect home in Costa Calida, Spain, and enlisted help from property expert Laura Hamilton, 42.
Laura showed her a number of properties which ticked her boxes of having to be a ground floor apartment, have two bedrooms and an open plan kitchen.
She ultimately fell in love with a semi-detached three-bed villa in Sucina and was over the moon when her £60,000 offer was luckily accepted.
Despite it being 11 years since her appearance, Janice revealed she still feels rich after buying her property, speaking about the experience on A Place In The Sun: What Happened Next?.
Laura jetted to Spain for a catch up with Janice and was keen to know how much the apartment had gone up in value.
During a chat in the pool, Laura said to Janice: ‘I tell you what is fantastic, over the years that has passed, the market has changed incredibly.
Janice (centre) who appeared on A Place In The Sun a decade ago revealed how the experience changed her life during a chat with Laura Hamilton (left) and pal Jackie on A Place In The Sun: What Happened Next?
Janice (pictured above) and her best pal Jackie appeared on the show in 2014 in a bid to find Janice’s perfect holiday home
‘So when you bought this property, you did get it for an incredible price.’
Janice replied: ‘Not far off £60,000.’
Her best pal Jackie, who appeared on the show with her 10 years ago during the original search, added: ‘Furnished!’
An intrigued Laura continued: ‘So do you have any idea what it’s worth now? Any of the neighbours put anything on the market at all?’
Janice explained: ‘Well one went not so long ago and it was one £140,000!’
‘How does that make you feel?,’ Laura asked her.
And Janie didn’t hold back and replied: ‘Rich!’
The trio started giggling at her comment and Laura shouted: ‘Yay! Cheers to that!’
Laura showed her a number of properties which ticked her boxes of having to be a ground floor apartment, have two bedrooms and an open plan kitchen
Janice fell in love with a semi-detached three-bed villa in Sucina (pictured), which had an asking price of £63,488, and her offer of £60,000 was luckily accepted
Janice has gone on to totally transform the apartment by adding her own touch to the place.
She has built a swimming pool, added new kitchen units and decided to use the second bedroom as a utility space instead.
Janice told the host: ‘I’ve made lots of new friends. I do get lots of invites to places. which is really nice. Makes you feel you’re liked.’
Laura pointed out that despite moving away from her family, it is great that she doesn’t feel lonely.
Janice made a cheeky confession and replied: ‘I have made a special friend…’
A shocked Laura asked: ‘You’ve made a special friend?!’
Janice confirmed: ‘A special male friend.’
She added: ‘He’s called Derek. Well I socialised with Derek for three or four years, and then we got together about four years ago.’
Janice confessed that she’s found a ‘special male friend’ since moving over to Spain – and he even got to meet presenter Laura
Laura wanted to know how they met and Janice explained: ‘Saying hello, and then Derek would say “Would you like to join us? Would you like a drink?”‘
Later on in the episode Laura, Janice and Derek went for a walk with her dog Bonnie so that Laura could meet him.
Derek said of his partner: ‘We just like each other’s company. We can sit and talk all day.’
Right at the end of the segment, Laura was keen to know what Janice would tell others who want to be in the same shoes as her.
Janice said: ‘Do it. Do your homework. I did that, I’d never been to the middle of Spain, always north to south. I probably would have come sooner.
‘No regrets at all. There is no comparison. I’m here. I live here. We just enjoy life.’
Watch A Place In The Sun: What Happened Next? on Channel 4.
