In 1999, Appleton returned to the UK, where he scored roles on Sky's Hot TV (2000), Five's "House Doctor" (2000–03), BBC Two's "Rhona" (2000), the Travel Channel's "Travel On" (2001), BBC One's "Garden Invaders" (2001), "Cash in the Attic" (2002–05), BBC Food's "Stately Suppers" (2005) and had an appearance as himself on the 2006 "Doctor Who" episode "Army of Ghosts".