FOR the Reeve family, it is a personal dream come true, but millions of people will be sharing their new life when they swap East Anglia for Australia.

FOR the Reeve family, it is a personal dream come true, but millions of people will be sharing their new life when they swap East Anglia for Australia.

The Reeves are emigrating from Halesworth in less than a week and BBC relocation programme Get A New Life will be following their progress.

Debbie Reeve, 43, and her husband Kevin, 45, first discussed the idea of emigrating more than three years ago.

But it has taken the couple, who have two sons, Nick, 20, and Louis, 17, until now to fulfil their dream.

“There is a real mixture of feelings. I am really looking forward to the move, it is a great place to go and it is very exciting, but saying goodbye to friends and family has been extremely painful,” said Mrs Reeve.

“We know so many lovely people here, it will be hard to leave them behind, however much we're looking forward to a new life in Australia.”

It is two years since the family applied for a skilled migration visa, allowing them to live and work indefinitely in Australia.

“It has been a nightmare of a process and if we'd known it was going to be hard we would have thought twice about starting. There were times when I felt like giving up,” admitted Mrs Reeve.

“But I would not advise anyone against it. In fact, we're trying to persuade some friends to go for it too. Obviously there is some apprehension now, but we're all really looking forward to going.

“Nick and Louis had their doubts at first, but we've visited a few times and they know they have a fantastic life waiting for them there.”

Mrs Reeve said the family first got involved with the television show after the popular first series.

The programme follows families through the process of upping sticks to a new country and the subsequent settling in - or not, as some cases turned out to be.

The Reeves recorded a test video and then the producer visited them two weeks ago.

“There was a knock on the door and we were told to all go and answer it. The whole camera crew was there and we were told we were going. It was such a shock. Now the crew are here most of the time,” said Mrs Reeve.

The family have set a deadline of October 11 for a move, but that was brought forward two weeks after they were accepted for the programme.

“It has made time seem suddenly short. We have so much to do. Our house sale completes two days before we go, but we'll get there,” said Mrs Reeve.

The family moves out on Sunday and the show is due to be screened in the spring.