A Little Bit of Rough and Rutland Water feature on Channel 4 show Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig

Rutland has taken centre stage in an episode of Channel 4 show Extraordinary Escapes.

The show follows presenter Sandi Toksvig as she goes on staycations across the country with a friend.

In the fourth episode of the series, which centres around the Midlands, she brings with her comedian and writer Rosie Jones, who is performing at Stamford Corn Exchange on October 27.

The episode starts with the pair tricycling through the Rutland countryside to the five-star getaway A Little Bit of Rough near Uppingham.

Explaining the choice of accommodation to her friend, Sandi said: “There is nowhere else like it in the world.”

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Built from three reclaimed grain silos and four shepherds huts and connected by oak framed glazed links, the lodge sleeps six people and features a wood-fired hot tub, pizza oven and barbecue area.

The final silo has a copper bathtub in the centre of the room with a mirror ball hanging from the ceiling and a carved country house fireplace.

After a tour of the lodge Rosie said ‘I love it’ and praised the history behind all of the recycled materials used to furnish it.

Nick Jackson created the woodland retreat with his wife Sarah in a bid to encourage a simpler way of living and allow tourists to enjoy the county of Rutland.

The Rocket Lodge featured on George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces earlier this year after the pair applied for their design to be on the show.

However this time it was producers from Extraordinary Escapes who approached them.

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Nick said: “It was a really good experience.

“The crew were a lovely bunch of people, as were Sandi and Rosie.

“They were very happy to chat and we never felt like we were rushed or in their way.

“We also got involved working with the camera crew.”

The 48-year-old believes they were asked as the retreat is ‘unique and architecturally interesting’.

“It is distinctly different – there is nothing else like it,” he said.

“The location and views are also spectacular.”

The Rocket Lodge is located in a 20-acre woodland site near Uppingham but the exact location is only revealed to people once they have booked a stay in a bid to keep it as exclusive as possible.

There are four other lodges on site – with another being built – but Rocket Lodge is the biggest.

After turning on the wood-fired hot tub the episode shows Sandi and Rosie heading out to Rutland Water.

Sandi explains to viewers that the Anglian Water reservoir was created in the 1970s due to not enough water being available in the Midlands, and is now a beauty spot boasting hundreds of species of wildlife.

The pair boarded the Rutland Belle boat, joined by skipper Matt Broadhead and reserve manager Joe Davis, for a trip around the reservoir.

Speaking about how being on TV shows affects tourism, Joe Davis said: “I think that people appreciate the region more and know what is on their doorstep.

“More people are coming to enjoy Rutland.”

Matt showed Sandi how to dock the boat while Joe spoke to Rosie about the wildlife that Rutland Water is home to.

Joe also told the pair about the Rutland sea dragon, which he discovered in 2020, but the conversation didn’t meet the final cut.

“They were both really personable and nice to chat with,” he said.

“It was very natural and I warmed to them very much.

“They were interested in the wildlife, Rutland Water and the ichthyosaur. Sandi knew a bit about it as she is a very talented and intelligent individual.”

The episode which features the Rocket Lodge and Rutland Water – series three episode four – can be watched on catch up on All 4.