Inside Lenny Henry's life including 25-year marriage to Dawn French and his real name
Sir Lenny Henry has been a staple on our telly for years, having built an impressive career as a comedian, writer, and actor.
The 66 year old is perhaps best known for his role in The Lenny Henry Show, as well as co-founding Comic Relief with Richard Curtis, which led to the launch of Red Nose Day.
Here, we explore the comedian's life, from his diverse career to his marriage to Dawn French....
Lenny Henry's childhood
Lenny was born in Dudley in August 1958 to parents Winston and Winifred. His full name is Lenworth George Henry, and he was named after the doctor who delivered him at Burton Road Hospital.
He is the fifth of seven children and was the first child of the family to be born in the UK. Lenny eventually discovered his biological father to be a man named Albert Augustus Green, known as Bertie, with whom his mother had a brief relationship when she first arrived in England from Jamaica, reports Surrey Live.
Lenny attended St John's Primary School and The Blue Coat School in Dudley before continuing his studies at W. R. Tuson College in Preston.
Lenny Henry's career
Lenny's career began with stand-up performances in working men's clubs, with his first television appearance on the New Faces talent show in 1975, where he wowed audiences with his remarkable impersonations.
He later joined The Comic Strip and BBC Radio 1, continuing to make regular appearances on television. The Lenny Henry Show made its debut on the BBC in 1984 and ran for an impressive 19 years.
In 1985, Lenny co-founded the charity Comic Relief alongside Richard Curtis, with the inaugural Red Nose Day taking place three years later.
Over the years, Lenny has featured in TV programmes such as The Syndicate and Doctor, lent his voice to characters in children's TV show Big and Small, and participated in game shows like The Masked Singer.
Away from the small screen, he's penned two autobiographies and a pair of young adult fantasy novels, co-produced the blues album New Millennium Blues, and starred in theatre productions.
Lenny Henry's marriage to Dawn French
Lenny crossed paths with Dawn in 1980 when they were both part of the comedy show Comic Strip.
The couple exchanged vows in a beautiful ceremony in London's Covent Garden in 1984, followed by a lavish reception.
In 1991, Lenny and Dawn adopted their daughter Billie when she was just two weeks old. Now 34, Billie prefers to stay away from the limelight.
In 2010, Dawn and Lenny made public their decision to separate. They released a joint statement explaining that the split was amicable, with a mutual intention to remain close friends and prioritise co-parenting their daughter.
Over the years, the pair have spoken highly of one another in interviews and have indeed maintained a strong friendship.
In a 2016 interview with the Daily Express, Lenny shed light on the reasons behind their separation. He reflected: "There's generally a situation where one partner wants the marriage to finish more than the other.
"I think maybe one of us did, then the other one did, and then the other did over a period of time, and then, in the end, we thought, 'Oh, actually maybe we both do'. We knew it wasn't possible to continue."
Lenny Henry's marriage to Lisa Makin
Lenny has since moved on and found love again in a long-term relationship. In 2012, he began dating casting director and theatre producer Lisa Makin.
Lisa's work in the entertainment industry is notable, with credits on IMDb for miniseries such as Peaches, Mine All Mine, Aberfan: The Untold Story, among others.
Although Lenny and Lisa often attend red carpet events together, they generally keep their relationship private. Meanwhile, Lenny's ex-wife Dawn has since married therapist Mark Bignell.
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Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
I starred in Only Fools & Horses and Lock, Stock… now I run Kray twins crime tour & sell cannabis from the Caribbean
MEAN MACHINE I starred in Only Fools & Horses and Lock, Stock… now I run Kray twins crime tour & sell cannabis from the Caribbean 'SO HAS the interview started yet?' Vas Blackwood asks, as wind chimes rattle softly in the background. He's speaking over the phone from the Caribbean where he's polishing a film script which he plans to star in. Advertisement 32 Actor Vas Blackwood splits his time between London and the Caribbean Credit: Vas Blackwood 32 Vas running a Kray twins tour in East London Credit: BRIT MOVIE TOURS 32 During his breakout performance in Only Fools and Horses as Lennox Gilbey Credit: IMBD 'I'm pleased with it, the funds have gone into bond, so we'll see what happens,' he explains. The 62-year-old is not necessarily an actor that everyone knows by name - but many of his characters have achieved cult status. His one-off turn as Lennox 'The Shadow' Gilbey in a 1986 episode of beloved BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, for one. Another is gangster Rory Breaker in Guy Ritchie's 1998 film debut Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Advertisement The director told him during casting that he'd been a fan ever since he saw him as Winston in The Lenny Henry Show in the late 80s. 'Lennox!' When he's back in the UK, where he has a North London base, he says he gets stopped all the time by people shouting 'Lennox!'. I tell him he's a British TV and film icon and he laughs, saying: 'I feel blessed every day.' A jobbing actor all his life, dad-of-three Vas never stops working. Whenever he's not shooting, he can be found running a Kray twins tour in East London's underbelly. Advertisement 'I start at the Blind Beggar and roll from there,' he explains. 'I bring in the whole gangster thing, but it's centred on Ronnie and Reggie. 'There's a couple of locations from Lock, Stock and I talk about modern gangsters - by the time we're done, you are a gangster,' he adds, laughing. Gary Lineker tops BBC best-paid list with Naga Munchetty among biggest earners amid 'bullying' row as salaries revealed "It's all fun with Uncle Vas." But there's another reason for him being in the Caribbean: he's putting the finishing touches to his latest venture - a medicinal cannabis brand named after his Lock, Stock character. Advertisement 'The Caribbean's going to be like Rory's sauce - Rory's sauce is coming from the Caribbean,' he says. 'I'm ironing out things whilst I'm here. It comes straight from the film - they take my cannabis and try to sell it back to me. It's a declaration of war! 'I'm working on slogans for it, I've got one: 'I'll chill ya',' he says. Rory's sauce It's currently illegal to sell products in the UK containing THC, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, but Vas is planning ahead. Advertisement In several Caribbean nations, for example, the drug has been legalised for medical purposes. 'We'll start with CBD oils, things like that, without THC,' he says, referring to his plans for the UK market. 32 Vas is possibly best known as Rory Breaker in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Credit: IMBD 32 Vas with his Lock, Stock cast mates, including Jason Statham Credit: Handout Advertisement 32 Vas and Jones remain close friends Credit: Roger Donovan 'In the Caribbean it's legal, in the sense you can apply and get a licence to use medicinal marijuana and then go to your chemist. 'This is what's going to be happening in the UK in the not too distant future. This is for life.' He goes on to say: 'It's so structured with the THC, it's very controlled. You don't have to hang around with someone on a street corner to score a bit of weed, you can go to the chemist.' Advertisement Vas adds: 'Rory Breaker is going with the guidelines - but don't worry about that, as soon as we're allowed, the Rory Breaker strain of cannabis will be the most popular.' I looked at them and all the lines in my head went - I was a fanboy about to watch an episode. Vas Blackwood He explains how he was a 'ganja baby' in his teens, growing up around Highgate, but he took his acting career 'very seriously'. 'I vision boarded it, and you become what you are. I became what I am.' His big break, so to speak, came about with his Only Fools guest part when he was just 24. Advertisement He'd been to drama school and done fringe theatre, as well as a few TV spots - and he was a huge fan of the show. 'I looked at them and all the lines in my head went - I was a fanboy about to watch an episode,' he said, recalling first seeing stars David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst in costume on the set. Unusual for the BBC show, The Longest Night episode from season 5 saw a guest star take centre stage. 32 Vas is about to launch a medicinal cannabis brand Credit: VAS BLACKWOOD Advertisement 32 He is regularly stopped in the street by people shouting 'Lennox!' Credit: IMBD 32 Vas' tour starts at the Blind Beggar pub Credit: BRIT MOVIE TOURS Filmed in front of a live audience, it was set almost entirely on one room, with Vas - whose character took the leads hostage in a supermarket back office - in almost every shot. They'd done rehearsals for five days in a hall in Chiswick before doing the technical rehearsal at Television Centre, and then the next day the proper shoot. Advertisement Recalling his sudden hit of anxiety, Vas says: 'I had to kick myself from within my soul, my centre, my core, all the way up. 'You're Lennox, you're Lennox'. 'David, when he saw me, did the shoulder roll. He said 'alright there, Lennox', and I just went, I was laughing to myself. 'The concentration level had to be very high. You'd start laughing if you dropped out of character.' As an actor you have to hold your own. They might be difficult but that's nothing to do with you. You're not here to be their friend. Vas Blackwood As for his co-stars, Vas was full of praise, saying there was 'no ego', adding: 'They made me feel a million dollars. Advertisement 'They could've treated me a lot different. The industry can be like that sometimes. 'As an actor you have to hold your own. They might be difficult but that's nothing to do with you. You're not here to be their friend.' During earlier rehearsals he remembers during a break Jason turning to Lyndhurst and asking 'how's the flying going?'. Vas says: 'I was thinking flying, okay, what's that about? Well, Nicholas Lyndhurst actually flies an aeroplane, and he was learning to fly at that point. Advertisement 32 Twin brothers and organised crime bosses Ronnie and Reggie Kray in 1964 Credit: Getty 32 Vas is still close friends with director Guy Ritchie Credit: Andrew Sims - The Times 32 Only Fools and Horses stars David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst and Buster Merryfield Credit: BBC 'It hit me, they're so not like Del and Rodney, these two.' Advertisement Vas still has copies of rehearsal scripts they used. 'It was a big moment for me as a young actor, I was very fortunate, but you've got to give yourself a pat on the back,' he says. 'It was like a theatre performance and we had an audience. Theatre is my thing, most actors worth their salt love a bit of theatre. You hold the moment, it was great.' Being called to Television Centre Despite being a huge fan of Only Fools, he admits it was touch and go whether he would even take the part after it was offered. He was on the verge of being cast as a regular in a new Channel 4 show when he was called into White City by show producer Ray Butt. Advertisement Many stars of the day had been impressed by Vas' performances in fringe theatre productions, and he'd already appeared with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders in ITV sitcom Girls on Top the year before. He believes he had also already been around the BBC at the time, though can't remember exactly how he came to the attention of Butt. 'It was all very peculiar how I got offered the job,' he recalls. The producer - looking every bit like Del Boy himself, wearing a flat cap and smoking a cigar - welcomed him into Television Centre and took him to a little office on the fifth floor. Advertisement Handing him the script, he said he'd be back in 45 minutes. 32 Vas also appeared in Mean Machine with Jones in 2001 Credit: UIP 32 Vas was called into BBC Television Centre by Only Fools producer Ray Butt to read the script Credit: Alamy 32 Vas was full of praise for Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst Credit: Doug Seeburg - The Sun Advertisement Vas says: 'From the first page I was laughing, especially when he pulls the gun and says 'open the safe!'' When Butt returned, he excitedly asked what he thought, to which Vas replied: 'It's brilliant, Ray.' When he revealed he had another offer, Butt confidently told him: 'Don't worry about that, you'll do this - it's much better.' Vas says his thinking was: 'Getting a TV series would be worth more to me than working one-off for the BBC.' Butt wasn't deterred and as he led him out, Vas said he was thinking 'who is this man?' Advertisement He dashed to a phone box and called his agent, who told him the Channel 4 producers were 'still making their mind up' - they wanted him but they were still deciding on the rest of the cast. 'A week or two later Ray was pressuring my agent,' Vas continues. 'In the end, I just decided to do Only Fools and Horses. It's little things like that - and I tell you what, I dunno whatever happened to that Channel 4 show, but this was the best thing that ever happened to me and I thank my lucky stars every day. Vas Blackwood 'It's little things like that - and I tell you what, I dunno whatever happened to that Channel 4 show, but this was the best thing that ever happened to me and I thank my lucky stars every day.' The show, despite coming to a finish after more than two decades in 2003, continues to top all-time favourite British TV charts, and is repeated almost daily on the likes of UK Gold. Advertisement 'I go places everyday and people say 'ah Lennon, Lennox! Say the line!' Do you know how many times I've said it?' Without any prompt, Vas says: 'They seek him here, they seek him there, those policemen seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven or is he in hell, that damn elusive sha-a-dow.' 32 Vas worked with Lenny Henry in the 1980s after he spotted him in fringe theatre Credit: Rex 32 Vas worked with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders early in his career Credit: Rex Advertisement 32 Vas was not surprised that Jason Statham became a huge star in Hollywood Credit: Getty He adds: 'I get people in stitches every time - I look at it as a bit of a blessing, the stars looking down on me and saying you're still in this to win it, or whatever the case maybe.' The Only Fools performance was followed by the regular role of Winston in The Lenny Henry Show, as well as an episode of French & Saunders, and then three seasons of teen comedy Spatz. Through the 90s Vas also appeared in the likes of The Bill and Casualty before landing possibly his biggest role as gangster Rory Breaker. Advertisement The black comedy crime caper, made for less than a £1million, was met with critical acclaim and major commercial success. 'To have worked with Guy on his first film, it set me in stone there and then. It's an iconic role, it's all there,' says Vas. To have worked with Guy on his first film, it set me in stone there and then. It's an iconic role, it's all there. Vas Blackwood 'Watching that film just reminds me of London,' he continues, laughing. 'If you know the streets how I know them, there's all these characters, they might be shady but they have a sense of humour. 'It's all a mix-up and that's London to me.' Advertisement Vas based Breaker on two people he knew growing up, one was Gilbert Wynter, a jeweller and enforcer for the Adams crime family who disappeared without a trace the same year Lock, Stock was released. 'I went to school with Gilbert, he was a soft touch, really, but a character,' says Vas. The other inspiration was Trevor Smith, a bank robber who rubbed shoulders with 'loveable rogues' in high end Chelsea. 32 Ronnie and Reggie Kray, seen here at home after helping police with their inquiries into a shooting in 1966 Credit: Getty Advertisement 32 The Blind Beggar pub on Whitechapel Road in Mile End, East London, where the Krays used to regularly drink Credit: Getty 32 Vas hopes to work again with Ritchie - seen here shooting The Gentlemen season 2 Credit: Click News and Media The casting had been a bit of a mishmash. The film had been due to be shot the year before but then the investment fell through. Vas says: 'I wasn't attached at first. When the money came through again a lot of the actors cast had moved on to different jobs so there was availability. Advertisement 'I can't say they got second best because it's such a successful film,' he says, laughing. 'It's all about timing. It wasn't the right thing with the first cast.' Lock, Stock casting process He remembers Ritchie telling him how much he loved his performance as Winston in the Lenny Henry Show, and how he'd watch it when he got home from college. 'He had me in mind from that role,' explains Vas. At one stage during the audition, Ritchie asked him to run his lines and began filming him from different angles. Advertisement 'He knew he wanted me to do it, but he was more interested in the camera than what I was saying,' says Vas. 'He was fitting faces in his mind.' He recalled as they headed into another office, Ritchie began asking him about taxes. 'It was due to him being a young director and not understanding everything, so I gave him advice and he was happy and we were on,' Vas says. Advertisement 32 Vas in 2004 film Creep Credit: check copyright 32 Vas and Jones at the premier of Mean Machine, at the Odeon in Glasgow, with then Celtic players Steve Guppy and John Hartson Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 32 Vas promoting the Change For Kids campaign Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 'I just knew he was special, there was something about him.' Advertisement He says the energy on set was electric, but everyone 'would come in ready to give 110%' each day. 'We all got our heads down and delivered for Guy.' Vas goes on to say: 'The shooting schedule was broken up unusually - it was how Guy wanted to work.' He remembers Ritchie sitting by a monitor rather than behind the camera on set for his scenes. 'He never once came and talked to me about my performance. I'd say 'Guy, how was that?' and he'd reply 'that's great, no problem'. Advertisement 'It was all in the edit for him and I was doing exactly what was on the paper.' However, there was always room for ideas. Having grown up around Cypriots in Kentish Town, Vas had suggested he speak some Greek in the film - which Ritchie allowed, and even came up with the idea for Breaker's iconic wig. 'I met my character's minders and they had bald heads and I was bald, so I said 'maybe it would have more impact if I was wearing a wig',' says Vas. 'Guy said 'leave it with me'. I turned up on set to get my make up and costume sorted and they had a wig,' he says. Advertisement Vas was due to appear in Ritchie's follow-up movie Snatch two years later but other commitments meant he was forced to drop out. 32 It was Vas' idea for Rory Breaker to wear a wig Credit: Polygram 32 Vas with Gary Lineker in comedy show Spatz in 1991 Credit: Thames Television 32 Vas based Breaker on two underworld figures he knew growing up Credit: Polygram Advertisement While further Ritchie projects, which he didn't reveal, 'didn't fit quite right'. But the pair remain close. 'Guy's like a brother to me, we talk as often as possible,' says Vas. 'I'm sure we'll do something else - it's all about the style of the role. 'If it fits, it fits. They don't need to audition me, if they know there's something I could master. We don't beg for anything, it's how our relationship is. We're always batting and balling with things like that.' Advertisement Working with Jason Statham In 2001, Vas would go on to appear in Mean Machine, reuniting with Lock, Stock castmates Vinnie Jones and Jason Statham, the latter of which was already making waves in the US. 'Jason was working his way up,' he says. 'He came over from America to do the role - he was very close with Vinnie. He was on that trajectory. 'Jason Statham has an appetite for learning. That's why he is where he is now, he takes everything on as mute, he doesn't take things for granted.' Vas says it was actually Jones who ensured Lock, Stock even got made. Advertisement 'Not a lot of people know this but Vinnie was the seed investor for Lock, Stock,' he explains. 'He put 100 grand up. When he left football he was very serious about the acting and he was looking for stuff.' 32 The actor has continued to act regularly since the 1980s Credit: Rex Features 32 Vas appeared with James Buckley in The Comedian's Guide to Survival Credit: Rex Advertisement 32 Vas provided voices for the video game Fable II Credit: Handout Ritchie and producer Matthew Vaughn were 'running around' with the script trying to find funding and it came by Jones, and he loved it, says Vas. 'He put the first 100k down, then more investors followed. The rest is history.' Vas had first met Jones through footballer pal Jon Fashnu, with Fashnu and Jones being part of Crystal Palace's infamous 'Crazy Gang'. Advertisement 'With Vinnie Jones, you can be walking in a forest with him, or down a street - he'll say 'what tree's that?'' says Vas. 'If it's got apples you'll say 'an apple tree'. But he'll know exactly what tree it is and what birds live in it. 'He likes the outdoors and bit of the hunting. And with trees, if it's an apple tree he'll tell you what type of apple it is. 'A lot of people are talking about saving the planet, but they can't do that.' Advertisement Vas would go on to star in the likes of horror film Creep (2004) and provide voice work for video game Fable II (2008) and TV series Thunderbirds Are Go, among other live action roles, including two White Collar Hooligan films and Inbetweener James Buckley-starring The Comedian's Guide to Survival (2016). He got involved in Brit Movie Tours in around 2018. His Lock, Stock co-star Stephen Marcus, who played Nick the Greek, had initially run it before relocating to LA. After a little hesitancy, Vas agreed to take it on for select dates when he's back in London. 32 Vas took over the Kray twins tour in 2018 Credit: BRIT MOVIE TOURS Advertisement 32 The tour takes in various spots in the East End Credit: Vas Blackwood 'I get 50 plus people,' he says. 'I get loads of people, they love it. I do it like a theatre performance, you get value for your money.' Many customers want him to recite lines from his famous performances and he's happy to oblige. 'They say, 'can you say that line?' I say 'why not?' and pretend like they're the first-ever person to ask. If the lines were terrible they wouldn't say anything, so I don't mind.' Advertisement He adds: 'You get dads and mums coming with their kids who are die hard Only Fools and Horses fans, and I'm thinking 'that's another market there'.' He's always fascinated by how much interest there is in infamous bad guys like the Krays. His daughter went on a Pablo Escobar tour in Columbia which is run by the drug king pin's son and which ends at his grave. 'You can have a line of coke on his grave,' he says. 'Not that she did.' Advertisement Describing his own interest in the Krays, he explains: 'Whatever they got involved in, there's a lot of folklore, with a lot of bad there comes a lot of good. 'We shouldn't judge too hard. If you commit a crime and go to prison, who am I to judge you? 'You've been locked up for a period of your life and that's your punishment.' Referring to the Krays, he says: 'I've fallen in love with the in-between bits. Advertisement 'We're all just getting on with our lives in our own way.' Do you have a story? Email
Metro
3 days ago
- Metro
Montana Brown's reveal about rude celebrity sparks huge investigation
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Montana Brown has set the internet alight with a story about a rude encounter with a certain celebrity. The Love Island star rose to fame on the ITV dating show's third series, during which she was coupled with Alex Beattie. Now boasting well over one million followers across her social channels, she's about as influential as it comes with influencers, sharing insights into her home life with fiancé Mark O'Connor and their two young children. Her lifestyle, of course, entails showbiz events and interactions with big names, which can lead to some pretty juicy stories. Montana, 29, took to TikTok this week with a rant, admitting she was 'fuming' after allegedly being snubbed by someone she used to be close with before they 'surpassed' her. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. 'I feel like I just need to get it off my chest,' she began. 'So, imagine this: I meet said girl at a Comic Relief or a Sport Relief event, and she's doing well, but she's not got loads of followers … she was so shy, and I have this thing, whenever I see someone in the corner or on edge or anxious, I feel like I have to go and make friends with them. 'So we got chatting, I made a real effort, and we became friends. I messaged her on Instagram afterwards because she followed me first, and I followed her back because I'm nice like that.' What followed was seven to eight years of replying to one another's Insta Stories, sending complimentary messages, and genuine friendship, with Montana only noticing recently that she had been unfollowed. 'I just thought, like, 'Who do you think you are?',' she raged. 'That's so rude!' Diving deeper into matters, Montana claims she last saw the former pal at a concert at London's O2, where they bumped into one another. 'She looked at me like a piece of s**t,' she blasted, alleging that the woman also snubbed her other friends, who had been 'huge fans' of hers. Despite having plenty of other famous friends, Montana accused this now foe of having a 'humongous ego', adding that even upon meeting the likes of Cher and Meryl Streep, they made her feel 'like the only woman in the room'. Montana didn't go into further specifics, but her frustration was clear in the video, with thousands of comments soon flooding in, speculating about who she might be referring to in somewhat of a Coleen Rooney/Rebekah Vardy-style plot. Consequently, Montana responded in several other posts, shutting down rumours that the individual was Vick Hope, Molly-Mae Hague, Chloe Burrows, or Sophie Piper. 'It's no one from Love Island; it's someone else. I'm trying not to give too much away,' she teased. 'But they now have over two million followers, but they had 80k when I first met them.' After her first TikTok went viral, Montana found herself forced to deny to her string of influencer friends that she was talking about them. And after gossiping with other industry pals, such as Olivia Attwood, she discovered that her own ex-friend has a 'reputation' of not being a 'nice person'. 'It doesn't make sense to me, because there are people much bigger than said girl with way more grace and [who] are just polite to people and are a joy to work with,' she said in another TikTok. 'So, moral of the story, always be kind because your reputation will always precede you.' Montana has now even had strangers approach her in public demanding to know the woman's identity, to which she's told them: '10 out of 10 for effort, but I cannot disclose that information because I will be done for bullying, and I don't want that; this was literally supposed to be a bit of a joke.' So, the social media sleuths must continue their investigation, which hasn't stopped many from growing irritated at Montana being so cryptic. 'Why did you tell us, IF UR NOT GOING TO TELL US😭', commented @shangarde. More Trending 'Think I'm gonna start a petition to find out who it is or start a go fund me for you 😂🙌 … how can we bribe you into telling us the tea?', wrote @lynsey1987. Fellow celebs and influencers have also appeared in Montana's comments section, declaring how 'invested' they are in the saga, such as Zara McDermott, Scarlett Moffatt, and Amber Davies. And while she's not helping people narrow it down, Montana has outright denied several other identities thrown into the mix. These include Saffron Barker, Perrie Sian, and Oti Mabuse. Detective hats back on, people. We've got work to do… Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Love Island star 'quits villa' after Women's Aid issues statement against ITV series MORE: Strictly star Tasha Ghouri issues fiery statement after public spat with ex Andrew Le Page MORE: Tasha Ghouri reveals brutal truth behind Andrew Le Page split 5 months later
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Beauty queen's £6m Omaze dream home could be partially demolished
Omaze is fighting to avoid having to demolish parts of a £6million home won for just £10 in a prize draw by submitting a retrospective planning application for areas that were built without approval. The dream home was offered in a link-up with the BBC to raise funds for Comic Relief , with backing from stars including Davina McCall , Lenny Henry and Rylan Clark . But discrepancies between the approved development and what had been built emerged before the sweepstake closed and plans to announce the winner live on the night were shelved. The winner, former Miss Wales finalist Vicky Curtis-Cresswell, is yet to receive the keys while the legal wrangle rumbles on. Omaze has now submitted the application, revealing the extent of the problems at stunning Larkside in Blakeney on the trendy north Norfolk coast – billed as its biggest ever prize draw. The three-bedroom mansion is designed in the style of the exclusive homes found in The Hamptons area of Long Island. The company has asked North Norfolk District Council if it can keep a single-storey extension to the eastern wing, a four-bay garage, summerhouse, tennis court with 'associated enclosure and landscaping' and outdoor swimming pool. All of these could end up being razed to the ground if the local authority's planning officials and councillors refuse permission. A council spokesman confirmed the retrospective application from Omaze was received on Tuesday. He added: 'The application is currently in the process of being validated. Once validated, all the relevant documents will be available to view on the public portal. 'If valid upon receipt, it is expected to appear on the portal as early as next week but will be longer if there are further requirements.' Local residents and other relevant local authorities will be able to comment formally once the plans are made available publicly. They will then be voted on by the council's planning committee at a later date. The council launched a probe in February – a month before Red Nose Day - after an eagle-eyed member of the public spotted potential issues with the property, which was built in 2020. If retrospective planning permission was not granted for the areas under scrutiny, Omaze could appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. Ms Curtis-Cresswell, 38, has revealed she plans to sell the mansion – although the planning breaches have delayed her plans and threaten to affect its value. When she won, she was looking for a rental home while living with her husband Dale, 41, and young daughter at her in-laws' three-bedroom house in Wales. Speaking at the time, the 2008 Miss Wales entrant said: 'It's crazy. One week, we're worrying about our old car breaking down, the next thing we've got a £6 million house.' A £250,000 cash prize came with the 5,000 sq ft house, which has access to a secluded pontoon and has £165,000 worth of furnishings. Letting agents estimates it could be rented out for £5,500 per month. North Norfolk District Council concluded earlier this year that the property had 'not been completed in accordance with the approved plans' after an investigation which including a visit from officers. Jamie Minors, managing director of local estate agents Minors and Brady, said then: 'This will massively affect the chance of sale, as some people will be put off and will not want to buy it. It could also affect the value. 'Selling it will definitely be more difficult and challenging, as solicitors will definitely advise against it.' However, he added the high-end property market also attracted wealthy people who would 'try and find a way to resolve any problem'.
