Latest news with #PaulOGrady
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Paul O'Grady's widower slashes price of star's £3.5M Edwardian mansion by 30% in a bid to sell following dispute with neighbours - just months after being reduced by almost £1million
Paul O'Grady 's widower Andre Portasio has slashed the price of the star's £3.5 million Edwardian mansion by 30%, it's been reported. The comedian, who shot to fame as Lily Savage, had lived at Knoll Hill House near Ashford from 1999 until his death in March 2023 aged 67. His husband later inherited the estate. The sprawling property initially hit the market for £3.5 million in September but sparked little interest from buyers, resulting in the asking price dropping by almost £1 million to £2.65million in January this year. However, following a fierce dispute with neighbours over his plans to convert a security hut, Andre has now reduced the price of the property even further. The lavish home is now on the market for £2.4million, with the new price advertised on property sites including Zoopla as well as estate agents Strutt & Parker who are managing the property. Knoll Hill House comes with a sprawling 20 acres of land, boasts impressive views of the Romney Marsh in Kent and has previously been described as 'the kind of house you'd find in one of those Enid Blyton books' by O'Grady's former partner Brendan Murphy, who died in 2005. Once owned by fellow comedian Vic Reeves, the property mixes traditional elegant characteristics like French doors with quirkier qualities such as bookcase wallpaper and a Gypsy caravan in the garden. Estate agent Strutt and Parker said: 'Knoll Hill House sits in a breathtaking position at the top of the escarpment above the Romney Marsh which affords the most sensational far-reaching views, looking across the marsh to the coast and the sea in the distance. 'Built in 1910 the house has much charm, providing a comfortable and spacious space in which to live and entertain against this stunning backdrop.' Ballet dancer Andre had previously angered neighbours in the quaint village of Adlington by trying to turn a security hut on the site into a separate two-bedroom house and make it three times bigger. After losing his initial bid, he later won another battle to turn it into a holiday let instead. However, locals were further angered by him cutting the price in January, accusing him of 'cashing in' by flogging the seven-bedroom Kent farmhouse for the then reduced price of £2.65 million. Neighbours and locals said the former Lily Savage star was popular, but since his death they have been upset at goings-on connected to the property. One told MailOnline: 'We've not seen Andre much at all. It just feels like he's trying to cash in on the property after Paul died with all these various plans. Andre had previously angered neighbours in the quaint village of Adlington by trying to turn a security hut on the site into a separate two-bedroom house and make it three times bigger [Andre and Paul in 2018] 'It's really sad. Now he's lowered the price. There's a big difference between the sort of people who would pay £3.5 million and £2.65 million, in my opinion. 'It's worth more than three million, I would say. I wish he would just decide what he wants to do with it and get on with it. 'It's an absolutely stunning property and I am sure Paul had many cherished memories there.' While Fred Jaeger, 77, who has lived opposite the property for 40 years, described the latest row as 'really sad'. He said: 'I thought the holiday let plan was very bad. It would have cheapened the area a lot. I did not agree with that at all. 'It's a really unique property. I think it's the best house in Kent. I just wish Andre would decide what he wants to do with it. 'It's not good that it has been lowered in price. I cannot understand why it would not be sold. It's absolutely breath-taking. He should have kept it at the value it was originally.' The 50-acre estate mixes traditional features like French doors with quirkier aspects such as bookcase wallpaper and a Gypsy caravan in the garden. The mansion, which boasts a 'Witches House' in the garden, is situated in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and comes with four acres of woodland. The kitchen is arranged around an island and benefits from an Aga with French doors which open to the terrace and the gardens beyond. On the first floor are five bedrooms, four of which face the Romney Marsh, while the main bedroom has a dressing room with French doors opening to a balcony and an en suite bathroom. Two of the other bedrooms also enjoy access to a balcony. As well as Knoll Hill House itself, the estate boasts a swimming pool and several outbuildings, including two self-contained cottages, a barn and stables. The cottage, which is now a dance studio, gym and steam room with a kitchen, bedroom and living space upstairs, is the largest of the outbuildings. A timber-clad cottage, nicknamed 'the Woodland Hut', provides additional room and has been described as a 'charming and whimsical building', with a wood burner, exposed brick walls and a galleried bedroom. As many as 14 sheep, three dogs, two pigs, hundreds of rescue chickens, ducks, alpacas, goats and barn owls all call Knoll Hill home thanks to O'Grady, a keen animal lover.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Inside Paul O'Grady's £3.5m mansion as late star's widow slashes price by 30% in bid to sell after neighbour row
PAUL O'Grady's £3.5m mansion is up for sale with the price of it now slashed by 30% in a bid to sell it quick. The much-loved TV presenter, who died in 2023 aged 67, lived in a now-for-sale seven-bedroom farmhouse in Kent with husband Andre Portasio - which has had its for sale price slashed several times. 5 5 5 5 Paul and Andre tied the knot in 2017 after first getting together in 2006, with them residing together in the stunning home. His widow has now slashed the price on the property, which is up for sale, following a row with neighbours after Paul's passing. Last June, The Sun revealed Brazilian ballet dancer Andre had lost his battle with his neighbours. Paul's widow wanted to turn a security hut on the grounds of their home into a separate two-bedroom house THREE times bigger. He was later granted permission to turn it into a holiday let instead of a bigger house. In October 2024, a year after Paul's death, Andre decided to put the posh pad up for sale for £3.5m. It was on the market for £3.5m, then £2.65m as we reported - and now has been dropped even more. The Sun can now reveal that the lavish pad is now up for sale for £2.4m. The house boasts of four reception rooms, a large kitchen and breakfast room and a master bedroom with dressing room and en suite. It also has four further bedrooms with an en suite and a family bathroom. Paul O'Grady's widower shares final video of star taken just 20 MINUTES before his death Also on the grounds is a cottage that has been turned into a dance studio and gym. The cottage also has a kitchen and a steam room inside. There is a second timber cottage, too, which is described as a "charming and whimsical building". Outdoors is just as amazing as indoors, and boasts of having a huge swimming pool, a barn, stables, an orchard and paddocks. Four years ago, before his death, Lily Savage star Paul was given the go-ahead for a ground keeper's outbuilding, gym and dance studio at his rural estate. But following his death in March 2023, his widower inherited the estate and launched a bid to turn the security hut into a separate two-bedroom house. He applied to the local council for a "change of use" of the security lodge which has an office, kitchen and shower, and lies next to the family pet cemetery. But neighbours blasted his plans and accused him of trying to build a new home "by the back door". In a letter of objection, a neighbour said: "The present application is in direct contravention of the original planning conditions and in my view amounts to an attempt to gain planning permission for a significant residential development by the back door, and one which will no doubt be sold on separately to the main building. "Given that the estate is very large, there surely must still be a need for a groundskeeper and gardeners and, indeed, for the workshop that was constructed for them." Andre later applied to transform the lodge into a holiday let. He received the go-ahead by Ashford Council. Planning officer Sally Hodgson said: "Central government guidance supports sustainable business, enterprise and tourism in rural areas, both through the conversion of existing buildings and well-designed new buildings. "This is endorsed by the Local Plan which seeks to encourage the sustainable growth of tourism." Late great TV star Paul bought the seven-bedroom farmhouse for £650,000 in 1999.
CBS News
01-07-2025
- CBS News
Video shows Yonkers police officer get struck by fleeing driver
Yonkers Police officer recovering after being hit by fleeing driver Yonkers Police officer recovering after being hit by fleeing driver Yonkers Police officer recovering after being hit by fleeing driver Body camera video captured the moment a Yonkers Police officer was struck by a driver who then fled the scene. That officer is now recovering from a painful leg injury. Police check on sleeping man turns dangerous It happened around 3 a.m. Tuesday on Nepperhan Avenue as Officer Paul O'Grady and his partner checked on a man sleeping in his car. Video shows the man, identified as 24-year-old Edward Arias, refusing to interact with the officers, then suddenly putting the car into drive and fleeing the scene. O'Grady was struck as Arias drove off. "He was pinned between two vehicles, so it's a significant injury," Yonkers Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza said. Sapienza says it's an example of how quickly routine can become risky. "You're looking at the great unknown. You don't know what you're facing on the other side of that car," he said. Suspect arrested after allegedly striking officer The officers did not give chase. Instead, technology helped them track the suspect to New Rochelle, where Arias was taken into custody. The suspect's car didn't come back as stolen, so police aren't sure why he fled. Arias is now charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injury and assault. O'Grady is expected to fully recover from his leg injury.
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'Near-perfect' crime series starring Coronation Street legend finally hits Netflix - as viewers hail it as 'a refreshing change' for the genre
A 'near-perfect' crime series starring a Coronation Street legend has finally hit Netflix, as viewers hailed it 'a refreshing change' for the genre. The Madame Blanc Mysteries, which dropped on the streamer on Wednesday, stars Sally Lindsay, known as Rovers Return landlady Shelley Unwin in the ITV soap. The cosy crime show, which started on Channel 5 in 2021 to massive success, follows Sally as Cheshire antiques dealer turned armchair detective Jean White. Set in a fictional village in southern France, it sees amateur investigator Jean, helped by a cast of locals, solve her husband's murder - and an array of other mysteries. The four series were co-written by Sally, with long-time writing partner British actress Sue Vincent, who also stars as local garage owner Gloria. It also features an array of guest stars, including Les Dennis and the late Paul O'Grady - and its avid fans will be delighted to now be able to stream it all on Netflix. The cosy crime show (pictured), which started on Channel 5 in 2021 to massive success, follows Sally as Cheshire antiques dealer turned armchair detective Jean White One dubbed the series 'almost perfect' in a review left on film cataloguing site IMDb: 'Really enjoying this comedy-drama-mystery so far. 'It's great to have a show written by and predominately starring over 50s that is clean enough for all generations to watch together.' Another wrote: 'Silly fun in a light entertainment format. Of course it's not meant to be taken seriously. Of course the actors are hamming it up. 'It's still an entertaining little package best enjoyed with a nice glass of red French wine.' Someone else commented: 'Really enjoyed this. Great location. A bright, sunny and refreshing change. 'The ongoing mystery is intriguing and the self-contained weekly case to be solved keeps things ticking along nicely. A lovely change.' One user was keen to see more: 'I would like to see more of this. A mystery without the over dramatising. 'I like the characters and there is a lovely mystery to solve. The background of France is so entertaining also. A nice break from England and the US.' Its avid fans will be delighted to now be able to stream it all on Netflix The show starts with her husband Rory's (Peter Gaynor) death in a car crash while at holiday home in the fictional village of Saint Victoire. As she puts his affairs in order, she realises to her horror that all her assets have been pawned off, leaving her penniless - so she heads to France to try to sort things out. She soon suspects foul play in Rory's death, as well as the possibility he was leading a double life, with another woman and family entirely. Not only that, his priceless ring has gone missing - creating a clear motive for a potential killer. She is not tackling the investigation alone though, joined by taxi driver and potential new love interest Dom (Benidorm's Steve Edge). Expat chateau owners Jeremy and Judith (Robin Askwith and Only Fools and Horses' Sue Holderness) are also there to help. They are joined in their crime fighting by The Chuckle Brothers' Paul Chuckle as local man Trevor and Blackadder's Tony Robinson as Dom's uncle Patrick. And each episode of the series brings a new case for the gang to tackle. A festive special of the sun-soaked series, filmed in Malta, has already been commissioned, to warm the winter months. And four series in to The Madame Blanc Mysteries, Sally has said she will keep writing it as long as there is appetite for it. She said ahead of the fourth season's release early last year: 'I'm not under any, "Yes, I'll quit when I'm on a high". No, I won't. 'I love it so much. I will do it until they want me to not do it, to be honest, because it's such a special thing in my life. And it's such a part of our lives now.' It comes after viewers recently revisited another enjoyable sun-soaked project from Sally, now also available on Netflix. Love Rat - first released to Channel 5 in March last year - follows Emma, played by Sally, a woman at a crossroads in later life. Just divorced from husband Pete (Men Behaving Badly's Neil Morrissey) and estranged from her daughter, she grows tired of mundane everyday life. In search of escape, she travels to Cyprus on holiday where she quickly embarks on a whirlwind romance with handsome, rich hotel owner Niko (Gerald Kyd). But not all is as it seems as Emma suddenly finds herself scammed out of her life savings - and enlisting her ex to help get them back. Fans have taken to film review and catalogue site IMDb to admire the four-part series, initially seemingly some fun in the sun, which turns into a psychological thriller. One commenter said: 'When you first watch episode one, you think it's going to be about a general love rat romance on holiday, stealing money etc. 'It's from episode two onwards it then becomes so much more!' Another added: 'It's one of the drama highlights of 2024 and certainly one of Channel 5's better drama offerings. 'I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not often these days do I binge watch a show. 'Full of twists and turns. Expect the unexpected. It's loaded with suspense and keeps you guessing until the very end.' Someone else, who could recommend watching it one sitting, said: 'A realistic scenario of psycho narcissistic abuse lurks behind the series' true plot twist. 'This series has moments of suspense well-played. Well done to [the] actors involved in this... Great series.'
