Described perhaps inevitably, but correctly, as ‘a classic’, it’s pretty close to perfection.
That’s not so much because of the discreet studio, where a white grand piano takes pride of place, but because of the captivating, white-shuttered 18th-century house which looks out, across a terrace arrayed with statues, to the Mediterranean — and which is even blessed with its own chapel, carved into the hillside above.
But though it may be a dream South of France property, I can reveal that Julian Lennon has decided to walk away from it — albeit for £22 million.
That’s the price tag which musician, photographer and philanthropist Julian — only child of John Lennon’s marriage to his first wife, Cynthia — has put on the house which he’s owned for the past 25 years or so.
Described as a ‘passion project’, the four-storey home, which has five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and numerous balconies, is the sort of architectural gem which could have appeared in a play by Noel Coward or a novel by Somerset Maugham.
Julian Lennon has decided to walk away from the South of France property — albeit for £22 million
John Lennon pictured with his son Julian in 1965 at his Weybridge home
Lennon, 61, ensured that original frescos and a Venetian mosaic floor were preserved, while creating what’s described as a ‘double suite’ for himself on the top floor.
But perhaps the grounds, with swimming pool and pool house, are an even greater glory, with a succession of terraces leading down to the sea, just a two or three-minute walk away.
Lennon tucked a cinema room into the studio, which has recently been renovated, and built two new garages, while taking care to ensure that they weren’t blots on the landscape.
Quite why he’s chosen to motor away from this idyllic place is not known. But after releasing his latest album, Jude, in 2022, he said it was ‘the end of a chapter’.
He now devotes much of his time to his White Feather Foundation, whose goals include bringing clean water to those who lack it — 3.5 million of whom die each year in consequence.
Now Suki is back on song for festival…
Clearly motherhood isn’t slowing Suki Waterhouse down. Just a few weeks after the actress, model and singer gave birth to her first child with The Batman and Twilight star Robert Pattinson, she’s already preparing to get back on stage.
The 32-year-old actress, model and singer gave birth to her first child with The Batman and Twilight star Robert Pattinson
Ahead of her performance at this weekend’s Coachella festival in California, she shared this snap from on set of her latest music video, My Fun.
Earlier this week, Suki, 32, posted a selfie in grey post-partum underwear, explaining: ‘I’m proud of everything my body has achieved.’
As Sir Richard Branson’s net fortune has reportedly been halved to a mere £3 billion, his son, Sam, seems to be facing financial challenges of his own.
HiddenLight Productions, the documentary company Sam established in 2020 alongside Hillary Clinton and daughter Chelsea, racked up losses of almost £4 million in the year to last June.
Sir Richard Branson’s net fortune has reportedly been halved to a mere £3 billion
According to documents published this week, HiddenLight has a total debt of nearly £10 million.
The firm has produced six films aiming to bring ‘trailblazing women’ on to people’s screens — including Kim Kardashian and the former U.S. Secretary of State herself.
A spokesman tells me: ‘The figures reflect our global ambitions and the significant investments we have made in projects.’
A clever Korea move by Charles
Here’s one engagement King Charles may be relieved not to have carried out in person.
‘By command of the King’, Alistair Harrison, Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, ‘called upon’ Choe Il, outgoing ambassador of pariah state North Korea, on Wednesday.
Last year, Kim Jong Un allegedly executed a general by throwing him into ‘a piranha-filled fish tank’
In contrast to other embassies, Kim Jong Un’s mission is housed in a modest, home by the North Circular in suburban Ealing.
No doubt, Harrison was diplomatic with his chit-chat. Last year, Kim Jong Un allegedly executed a general by throwing him into ‘a piranha-filled fish tank’.
Vegan Heather goes soft
Militant vegan Heather Mills wants to take a softer approach with meat eaters.
The former model, 56, who was married to Sir Paul McCartney, went vegan more than 25 years ago after being told the diet would help her recover from her leg amputation.
The former model, 56, who was married to Sir Paul McCartney, went vegan more than 25 years ago
She is the executive producer of a new film I Could Never Go Vegan and tells me at a London screening: ‘When I first became vegan it was like being a born-again. You go, ‘Are you stupid, why wouldn’t you be vegan and how can you kill animals?’ I was one of those hated extremists that wanted to shoot everyone that ate meat.’
Michael Portillo became tearful on camera as he recalled family tensions during his childhood outside his Uncle Victor’s home in Madrid for his new Channel 5 series.
Michael Portillo became tearful on camera as he recalled family tensions during his childhood outside his Uncle Victor’s home in Madrid
The former Tory Cabinet minister was relating how his late father, Luis, fell out with Victor after they fought on opposing sides during the Spanish Civil War.
Making an episode of his Long Weekends show, Portillo broke down, before asking the cameraman: ‘You’re not filming?’ He then regained his composure to finish the story.
No pots of cash for Poots
Imogen Poots must have thought she’d landed the role of a lifetime when she was cast in the film Baltimore as wealthy heiress Rose Dugdale, who became an IRA terrorist.
Imogen Poots must have thought she’d landed the role of a lifetime when she was cast in the film Baltimore as wealthy heiress Rose Dugdale
But despite the publicity from Dugdale’s death at the age of 82 just days before the film’s release last month, Baltimore has failed to star at the box office, making little over £180,000 in three weeks.
That’s less than half the ransom Dugdale demanded for the art heist she carried out on the Russborough House estate in County Wicklow 50 years ago.
Producer Joe Lawlor tells me: ‘We made a very good film. We’re competing with Kung Fu Panda and King Kong.’