Noel Edmonds and wife flee New Zealand home after terrifying ordeal

Noel Edmonds and his wife Liz had to make a hasty escape from their New Zealand abode following a harrowing experience. The iconic Deal or No Deal host left the UK behind for a new life in New Zealand back in 2018.

He snapped up the vast 800-acre River Haven estate with grand plans to launch a retreat, cultivate a vineyard, and open a quaint pub dubbed the Bugger Inn. His adventures have been chronicled in Noel's Kiwi Adventure. It marks a television comeback for Noel, who has been notably absent from our screens since his stint on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2018.

Yet, the journey hasn't been all smooth sailing for the former Swap Shop presenter as he settles into Kiwi life. In the second instalment of his show, Noel admitted that he was "haemorrhaging money" over the venture.

Moreover, Noel has had to come to terms with New Zealand's formidable climate. He's particularly had to get used to the frequent earthquakes in the Southern Hemisphere.

In an interview with The Sun, he recounted: "You get landslips. And the sun? It'll burn you within ten minutes in the peak season. Oh, and earthquakes. We've had three.

"During the first one, we were sitting outside with a glass of wine, and I noticed the surface of the wine rippling. That was a mild one.

"The biggest one really shook the house - the cutlery drawer rattled, and Liz and I each grabbed a dog and ran outside."

Despite the tremors, Noel reported that, fortunately, River Haven came through the quakes unscathed. But it's not just the seismic activity that he's had to adjust to.

The TV presenter has opened up about the stark contrast in weather conditions compared to his life in Devon, where he was used to merely "drizzle" but now faces "tropical rain" in New Zealand.

On top of adapting to the extreme weather, Noel revealed that it's taking a toll on his venture. During his ITV One series 'Noel's Kiwi Adventure,' he explained: "When you come to New Zealand, you change your view about your relationship between the weather and the economy."

He also disclosed the financial strains it's causing: "We're haemorrhaging money at the moment because you have to take staff on in anticipation of the guests coming. We're going to have to have a spectacular November and December to balance the books."

At 76, Noel is pondering over the long-term sustainability of his enterprise at River Haven. Expressing his apprehensions, he said: "New Zealand is a great place to come to but it's not the easiest place to set up a business."

He added with a hint of hopefulness: "We've done a fascinating thing with the River Haven adventure. Will it be the move that sustains us for years to come? Watch this space!".

Viewers can catch the latest developments as Noel and his partner Liz confront frost damage in the upcoming episode of Noel's Kiwi Adventure, airing tonight at 9pm on ITV One.