What began as a hopeful journey to build a better, quieter life in the countryside ended in heartbreak for one former BBC guest.
Emma Izzard, who once appeared on Escape to the Country in 2021 to find a fresh start, has sadly passed away after a long and difficult battle with alcoholism.
From Luton to Norfolk in Search of a New Chapter
Back in 2021, Emma appeared on the popular BBC show alongside her then-partner Kym Lofthouse.
The couple, who were living in Luton, Bedfordshire at the time, dreamed of trading in their busy lives for the peace and fresh air of rural Norfolk.
They enlisted host Ginny Buckley to help them find the perfect home, drawn to the region’s “clean air” and slower pace.
Eventually, they settled in North Walsham, and even after their romantic relationship ended, Emma and Kym stayed close friends.
A Quiet Struggle Behind the Scenes
But while her countryside dream came true, Emma was quietly dealing with something much harder.
An inquest this week at Norfolk Coroner’s Court revealed that she had been battling alcohol addiction, a struggle that intensified in July 2022 after her mother became seriously ill.
According to Kym, Emma began drinking more heavily during that stressful time and soon found herself caught in a cycle she couldn’t escape.
“She didn’t want to drink,” Kym told the court, “but it had taken a strong hold of her.”
Emma had gone through multiple stints in rehab, and while she made efforts to stop, the relapses became more frequent and severe.
A Sudden Emergency and a Heartbreaking End
On November 19, 2024, Emma was rushed by ambulance to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital after vomiting blood.
Her condition was serious, and while she was undergoing a gastroscopy procedure, her body went into cardiac arrest.
Despite doctors’ efforts, Emma died the next day, on November 20.
The official cause of death was recorded as a variceal and oesophageal bleed linked to alcohol-related liver disease.
The inquest also noted that she was suffering from acute alcohol withdrawal when she arrived at the hospital.
A Family History and a Repeated Pattern
Tragically, the coroner also revealed that Emma’s struggles mirrored those of her late father, who had also battled alcoholism and passed away when she was still a teenager.
Coroner Johanna Thompson concluded the inquest by stating Emma had a “history of excess alcohol consumption” and was already suffering serious liver complications by the time she arrived at the hospital.
Her death was officially ruled as alcohol-related.
A Story That Reflects a Silent Epidemic
Emma’s journey is a heartbreaking reminder that sometimes the biggest battles are the ones fought quietly behind closed doors.
She wanted a peaceful life. She made the move.
But addiction doesn’t respect geography—and even in a picture-perfect countryside home, the pain she carried followed.
Her story, as shared through the inquest and by her loved ones, highlights the urgency of better access to mental health and addiction support—and the importance of compassion for those who are struggling, even when they seem to be living their dream.