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Moving to Australia had been Hannah's project since 2012. She believed her reluctant husband just needed to see for himself the opportunities it could provide. Would a week in Brisbane prove her right? Young couple Hannah and Zameer were struggling in the UK to make ends meet, Hannah worked 13-hour shifts, sometimes without breaks, and Zameer was constantly doing overtime to increase his family's income. Hannah truly believed he would thank her for moving the family down under - he just needed to see for himself the opportunities it could provide. For Zameer though, Australia was just the latest in a long line of Hannah's grand plans which may not work out for the best. Now three years later, did the Gaj family decide to remain in the UK or take the gamble and move down under?
Growing up, Rebecca Ellis listened to dashing sea-faring tales at her grandfather's knee, hearing about the beauty and excitement of the south seas and Australia, which captivated the young Rebecca. She had been determined to move there ever since and wanted to make a fresh start down under with her children and partner Kylie, but that meant leaving the kids' dad behind in Sunderland in the north east of England.
A trial week in Brisbane gave Rebecca, Kylie and the family a chance to sample the sort of life they could lead and afford if they were to move. Any decision had to be unanimous, so a year later, where do the family call home?
In 2015, singer Victoria Underwood longed to move her young family to Australia so she could live on the same continent as the older sister she idolised. When Emma had emigrated eight years previously, Victoria had been utterly devastated, and the pain of living on opposite sides of the world hadn't eased with time. Husband Rob, however, had serious reservations about turning his back on their life in the UK - especially as it would mean breaking close ties with his 18-year-old son Billy, who was living in London. An entertainer too, Rob also feared a move would mean an end to the regular gigs he and his wife had built up in Grimsby.
A trial week in the Gold Coast gave the couple their first taste of what Australian living would be like for them and their two young children. Three years later, have the Underwoods been able to settle their differences and make a life together down under, or are they still in the UK?
Single mum Lisa and her ten-year-old daughter Jessica found life in the UK a bit of a struggle. A childcare centre manager, Lisa was often forced to rely on financial support from her father to keep their heads above water, and the realisation she couldn't provide Jessica with the lifestyle she thinks she deserves was getting her down.
Desperate to turn things around and secure a happier, brighter future for her daughter, Lisa believed their situation could be greatly improved by moving almost 10,000 miles away, to Australia. But having never set foot in the country before, would the reality of life on Australia's gold coast prove to be just what they need?
Nicki Chapman catches up with mum Perse and partner Debbie, who sampled a week in New Zealand. One year on, cameras reveal whether they decided to make the move.
Catching up with former Olympic diver Ben Swain, who had hoped to persuade wife Katie to move to Australia, a country he fell in love with while competing at the Commonwealth Games.
Zoe Whylie had fought hard to build a life for her family. She wanted to give them the lifestyle she never had. She felt her children were growing up too fast in the UK and thought Australia could be the answer. But was a move half way around the world the way to do it - especially when the eldest child fought her all the way?
Meet the Whylie family from Halifax, West Yorkshire. Mum Zoe, 15-year-old, soon-to-be-16 Courtney, her sister Taylor, nine, and youngest of the family Harley, who is eight. Zoe always had big dreams for her family even though it has been a tough ride. Having Courtney at 16 and becoming a single mum made her a target for bullies. But the taunts only made her stronger, and by the time Taylor and Harley were born Zoe was determined to make a better life for her and her children.
She studied hard, got to university and is now a social worker in Bradford and adores - and is very good at - her job. But she was still dreaming of a better life and thought Perth would give them that. She had been planning and saving for four years and Australia could now become a reality. There was just one problem - her daughter Courtney. She didn't want to go and Zoe wouldn't make the move without her. So 12 months on, where are the Whylie family living now?
Back in 2009 Sally Mills wanted to bring her family to Australia. Jem and Sally Mills ran a successful psychotherapy business in Sussex and wanted to see if they could do the same in the surfers' paradise of Byron Bay. Did the harsh employment realities and the cost of living down under put an end to their dream? Nine years later, are the Mills living in the UK or Australia?
Nicki Chapman catches up with a woman who planned to move to New Zealand following a painful divorce, discovering if she persuaded her second husband to join her in starting over.
18-year-old Richelle and her Mum Lorraine did everything together, but Richelle's dream to move to New Zealand meant the pair could spend the rest of their lives on opposite sides of the world. Richelle had one week in Auckland to persuade Lorraine that moving to New Zealand would be worth leaving her mum behind in Wales. And that's not all - for Lorraine, starting a new life at the age of 50 was a daunting prospect. Would Lorraine's concerns be addressed or would Richelle and Lorraine's close bond be broken for good? Five years later are the Barkers living on the other side of the world in New Zealand or close to home in the UK?
Catching up with Simon MacLean and his fiancee Jane, who spent a trial week living in Perth, Australia, to see if they decided to make the move to the other side of the world.
Catching up with the Hansons, who two years ago spent a trial week in Melbourne as part of husband Keith's attempt to persuade wife Mary to move to Australia permanently.
Life was hard on the Holroyds. Dad Simon's working week started at 2.45am on a Monday morning and didn't finish until after 8.00pm on Friday night. When he did eventually get home, he was too tired to spend any quality time with his family. It was a routine which loving wife Helen said drove her to tears every day, and threatened to tear her family apart. Desperate for change, she believed a fresh start for her family in Australia could be the solution. But would Australia provide what the Holroyds needed to transform their family life? And would Helen really be able to leave the one person who had always been there for her at home? Two years later we find out which side of the world the Holroyd family call home the UK or Australia?
Uprooting the family goes with the territory when you are in the military, but after 20 years of relocating, the Thom family were desperate to settle down in their forever home. The only problem was mum Lori and dad Kevin could not decide where that should be. Kevin thinks it should be close to his nearest and dearest in his Scottish hometown, while Lori has her heart set on planting those roots much further away – in Australia. Meet the Thom family. Dad Kevin, mum Lori, sons Niall, who is 11, and Lochlan, 18 months. Lori and Kevin married after a whirlwind romance and then travelled the world - together and on their own they were deployed all over the world.
Originally the one pushing for a move, Kevin’s latest posting to RAF Lossiemouth has changed all that. Born and bred in the local area, for Kevin it’s a return home to friends and family. The fact it’s a healthy work promotion as well is a welcome bonus. But now retrained as a PTSD counsellor, Lori has never thought of the north east of Scotland as being where she should put down her roots.
It’s not only Kevin who is stalling. Son Niall has settled into his fifth school in almost as many years and loves it. He is on the football team and is pretty good – local soccer scouts are showing a fair bit of interest. An added plus for the two boys is this is the first time they have their doting grandparents nearby to spoil them. And as for Kevin - leaving his job is difficult enough, but the thought of leaving his parents is virtually unthinkable.
Could a trial week in Melbourne convince the whole family otherwise? Or will the pull of home be just too strong? There is a lot up in the air for the Thoms - the time has come for this RAF family to decide once and for all where their dream landing should be.
Daryl Brenton from West Yorkshire thought moving to Australia would give him and his family the perfect life. However, he was nearly at the age limit for getting an Australian visa and his wife Jenny was not sold on leaving her family and friends behind. Could Daryl convince Jenny during their week in Melbourne to make the move to Australia or would his dream run out of time? Now eight years later we find out whether the family stayed at home or took the leap to move down under.
