Jamie Oliver is rapidly discovering what landed gentry have always known – that historic country homes are money pits.
The ‘Naked Chef’ spent £6million on Spains Hall, a magnificent Elizabethan stately home, in 2019.
Now, he’s discovered that the windows and doors are rotting, with rain dripping in, and the red-brick facade is crumbling.
Oliver, 49, has been forced to seek permission to fix the problems because Spains Hall, near Finchingfield in Essex, is a Grade I listed building.
It has 12 bedrooms, ten bathrooms, two drawing rooms, a great hall and is one of the most important buildings of its kind in Britain.
The rain in Spains: Jamie Oliver 49, has been forced to seek permission to fix the problems at his country pile near Finchingfield in Essex, because it is a Grade I listed building
The TV star has asked planners at Braintree District Council to be allowed to go ahead with ‘repair works to windows, glazed doors, masonry, coping stones and ancillary works’
The TV star has asked planners at Braintree District Council to be allowed to go ahead with ‘repair works to windows, glazed doors, masonry, coping stones and ancillary works’.
These works comprise, ‘sensitive repairs to Georgian timber sash windows and French doors on the South wing of the house.
‘Sensitive repairs and repointing to brickwork [and] replace rotten 20th-century timber pentice boards and string course on the South wing using like-for-like materials and mouldings.’
Spains Hall has 12 bedrooms, ten bathrooms, two drawing rooms, a great hall and is one of the most important buildings of its kind in Britain
A report sent to town hall bosses says some of the windows and doors have swollen shut because of rainwater and others leak and masonry has begun to drop off parts of the building’s facade, which needs urgent attention.
Spains Hall, which dates from the 16th century, was previously owned by the Ruggles-Brise family for almost 260 years.
Baronet Sir Timothy’s eldest son, Archie, manages the 2,000-acre estate which the family retained.
Oliver has hosted a three-day ‘culinary journey’ at Spains Hall for £2,000 a head, hosted by top chefs and suppliers.
Groups of about 14 people take part in cooking classes, demos and dining experiences and a tour of his home.
Sweet success for Wonka star
Congratulations to Wonka star Paterson Joseph on being awarded an honorary doctorate by Roehampton University.
‘I was branded educationally sub-normal as a kid, so it means a lot,’ says the 60-year-old actor at the Royal Festival Hall, London.
Wonka star Paterson Joseph was awarded an honorary doctorate by Roehampton University
Debbie can’t conjure up love
She was memorably asked by comedian Caroline Aherne on The Mrs Merton Show: ‘But what first, Debbie, attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels?’
Now a wealthy widow, ‘the lovely’ Debbie McGee says she she hasn’t had one single approach from a man since the magician’s death nine years ago.
‘Men want young totty and I am getting older,’ sighs Debbie, 65, who reached the Strictly Come Dancing final in 2017. ‘I haven’t had many offers.’
Even competing on Strictly didn’t do the trick: ‘It puts people off… I don’t know why.’
Perhaps they were scared off by her dance partner, Giovanni Pernice, who has since left the show amid controversy?
Not a lot: Debbie McGee admits she hasn’t had one single approach from a man since her magician husband Paul Daniels died nine years ago
Maureen’s ‘fiasco’ memory
Dame Maureen Lipman’s revelation that she has just become engaged to David Turner, a business consultant, brought back memories for her Coronation Street co-star Rula Lenska about her own former fiance.
Dame Maureen says: ‘My friend Rula told me when she was with the late Dennis Waterman her mother introduced him as, ‘…and this is my daughter’s fiasco.’
Maureen Lipman recalled a humourous anecdate concerning her co-star Rula Lenska and the late Dennis Waterman
Rosie takes on granny pants
With Bridget Jones soon to be back on our screens, could we also expect frumpy underwear to make a return?
Not according to model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who is determined to make big knickers fashionable.
‘For a very long time the idea of wearing shapewear was like a dirty sort of secret [much like] Bridget Jones-like knickers or suck you in things that look very ugly.’
However, the mother of two, who has launched her new M&S Rosie ContourWear range, said: ‘We’ve been able to take the technology of contour wear but make it look very beautiful.’
Big is beautiful: Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is determined to make big knickers fashionable
Poet Ayres her grievances
Sir Keir Starmer, who promised to place the arts at the centre of a Labour government, has inspired poet Pam Ayres to compose this ode: ‘Dear Mr Starmer/ Have this old anorak/ It isn’t very glamorous/ But I don’t want it back/ I like to help the needy/ But glasses have I none/ So have this pair of hearing aids/ I’ve got another one/ To help you hear them chattering/ In bitter weather cruel/ The teeth of chilly pensioners/ Without their winter fuel.’
Pam gets political: Sir Keir Starmer, who promised to place the arts at the centre of a Labour government, has inspired poet Pam Ayres to compose a special ode
Why red carpet isn’t for Fry’s guy
Although polymath Stephen Fry, 67, is rarely seen with his husband, Elliott Spencer, a comedian 30 years his junior, this is not because they are unhappy.
‘There are people in the public eye who like turning up to premieres and in front of the cameras, and good luck to them, but Elliott is not one such and I rather respect that,’ Fry says.
The actor added: ‘He understands that there is a world in which promotion and self publicity is necessary [but it’s not for him].’
Stephen Fry is rarely seen with his husband, Elliott Spencer on the red carpet
Deborah’s drama off-stage
Olivier Award-winning actress Deborah Findlay failed to captivate at least one theatregoer during a performance on the West End stage.
‘There was this groaning from the audience,’ the 76-year-old recalls.
‘The St John Ambulance [soon] arrived. It turned out a man in the audience had just fallen asleep.’
Not quite captivating: Deborah Findlay (second from right) had one theatregoer fall asleep during her performance
Isabella gins and bears it
There was an awkward moment at Fortnum & Mason, the King’s grocer in London’s Piccadilly, where a party was being held to celebrate the launch of a new Salcombe Gin product.
When a cocktail named ‘Alexander’ was served, eyes fell on Isabella Charlotta Poppius – the ‘It’ girl who recently split with Alex Ogilvy, once described as ‘the hottest royal you’ve never heard of’.
A guest tells me: ‘Isabella gave a cheerful eye roll.’
They broke up before the 27-year-old grandson of Princess Alexandra joined military academy Sandhurst earlier this month. Isabella, 27, told pals: ‘He is so down to Earth – he doesn’t act like he’s royal at all.’
Isabella Charlotta Poppius – the ‘It’ girl who recently split with Alex Ogilvy
Alex Ogilvy, once described as ‘the hottest royal you’ve never heard of’