Muppet Show mogul's widow and girlfriend at war over £7m fortune

Telegraph

26-03-2025

The widow and girlfriend of the TV mogul who helped bring The Muppet Show to the UK have gone to court over his fortune.
Justin Bodle died in July 2019 from a brain haemorrhage while on holiday in the south of France with his long-term partner Lucinda Bodle. He was 58 years old.
Bodle, who played a key role in licensing the TV rights to The Muppet Show in the UK and produced 2007 disaster movie Flood as well as other films, left an estate initially valued at £29 million – comprising assets including a Chelsea townhouse, his French villa and a stately home in Kent.
But after expenses and tax, that figure was cut to £7.1 million when Kinga Hazai, his estranged wife and executor, applied for probate in 2021 of his will, written in 2013, that left her everything.
Ms Bodle, the mother of two of his children who changed her name to match his by deed poll, is now applying for a multi-million pound payout from his estate as 'reasonable provision' to provide for herself and their children.
But Ms Hazai, by whom he has an adult daughter Elsa, said there is not enough of the fortune left, claiming it has shrunk further with only £320,674 to be distributed, as a result of the money owed by the estate, administration expenses and other payouts.
A further £1million has been held back in case of possible claims by other people against the estate, she has claimed.
The two women will argue their case in court, with Ms Bodle's lawyers demanding reports on how the money was spent and an explanation as to why his former home was sold for less than its original valuation.
Edward Hewitt, Ms Bodle's barrister, claimed the will 'did not reflect his testamentary wishes' as it was drawn up before their children were born and some years before he asked her to marry him.
He said: 'Justin and Lucinda had been in a relationship for just under six years at the date of his death and had two children together.'
Mr Hewitt also claimed Bodle and Ms Hazai were in the middle of divorcing when he died.
But Ms Hazai, 55, claimed that Ms Bodle, 38, was mistaken about the extent of her partner's fortune, insisting his financial affairs were left in 'an almighty mess' when he died.
Bodle, hailed by colleagues as a 'born dealmaker', started out selling advertising space after a spell in the Army before going on to forge a career as a media negotiator and then producer.
In 1987, he created the first 'barter deal' for The Muppet Show in Europe and was also involved in Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock.
Later, he founded his own company, Power Television, producing dramas such as Henry VIII with Ray Winstone.
He acquired his iconic Grade-I listed stately mansion Groombridge Place, a 17th century moated manor house set in 200 acres near Tunbridge Wells, in 2001.
The redbrick Jacobean stately home has been used as a location for period movies including The Draughtsman's Contract and the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice.
After buying it, Bodle transformed it into his family home, as well as a mini theme park, complete with pirate ship and mermaid adventures.
Ms Bodle, who previously earned £38,000-a-year as an executive assistant for her partner, wants £1.6 million to cover her and her children's housing needs, plus enough money to invest and generate an income of £9,497 per month.
'There can be no doubt that Lucinda has a very strong claim for reasonable financial provision from Justin's estate,' Mr Hewitt said.
'Indeed, Kinga has admitted as much in open correspondence. The only issue between the parties is therefore how much Lucinda should receive.
'Her financial security and that of her and Justin's two young children depends on the outcome of this claim.'
The case will return to court at a later date.