BBC Escape to the Country couple Anna and Jack recently shared their hefty £850,000 budget for their first shared home, surprising viewers and sparking outrage on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Residents of St Albans, Anna and Jack set their sights on their dream home in Buckinghamshire, inspiring some backlash for their perceived privilege.

Civil servant Anna and consultant Jack revealed their home desires which included a large outdoor space, four bedrooms, a utility room and a big kitchen.

Their ideal location also featured a neighbourhood pub they relished as the heart of the community.

Host Briony May assisted the pair in their hunt, but their hefty budget stirred up quite a reaction online.

Anna and Jack confessed, in an exclusive interview with The Mirror, that their substantial budget was the result of an inheritance received under devastating circumstances.

Jack struck back at the backlash, encouraging critics to focus their ire on property prices and the political complacency surrounding it.

"The real story here is that a budget of £850,000 doesn’t even get you the average detached house in Buckinghamshire," Jack said.

He lamented the prohibitive prices of homes throughout the country, blaming successive governments for failing to build enough houses.

This failure, according to Jack, has caused a rapid increase in property prices that has surpassed wage growth for nearly fifty years.

Jack asserted that the high prices were a disgrace, pointing out that their budget could only afford a small apartment in London.

Jack urged those angered by his and Anna’s circumstances to redirect their outrage towards politicians who have long ignored the housing crisis.

He warned of an impending economic and demographic catastrophe unless regular working people can afford homes.

Citing rumours about his and Anna’s situation, he confirmed that their budget was a result of inheritance – circumstances nobody would opt for – and also garnering well-paid jobs.

Critics didn’t shy from voicing their displeasure online.

One exclaimed their disbelief at the couple’s budget, while another expressed their anger at the couple's fortune.

More critics questioned how anyone could amass such wealth in the current climate.

However, some defended the couple, stating that Anna and Jack were a charming duo who appreciated the countryside, lifestyle, and architecture.

Another pointed out that their wealth could be the result of hard work or challenging inheritance scenarios.

Despite the house-hunting journey, the couple did not settle on any of the properties shown on the show.

Despite this, Jack told The Mirror that the couple had purchased a home in Hertfordshire and were happily living there with their dog, Dexter.

"We now live in rural Hertfordshire with a very happy dog.

"Our village is served by two very fine country pubs," Jack shared.