He was beaten to the role of James Bond by Daniel Craig, but Clive Owen hopes to make a killing on the property market.
I can disclose that the Hollywood star has put his London home on the market for £7.85million – more than twice what he and his wife, Sarah-Jane Fenton, paid for it in 2006.
Described by estate agents as a ‘charming country house’, the five-bedroom mock-Tudor house is near Hampstead Heath in the north of the capital. Appropriately, it includes a bedroom cinema and a garage gym used by the actor, 60, whose hit films include Sin City, Closer and Children of Men.
Spanning almost 5,000 sq.ft, the property also features a grand reception hall, reception room, drawing room, breakfast room and master bedroom with a dressing area.
A 29ft garden room with floor-to-ceiling glazed doors overlooks a terrace and extensive secluded grounds, surrounded by a high-stepped brick boundary wall.
Clive and Sarah-Jane, an actress-turned-academic who had film roles in The Tall Guy, A Good Man In Africa and The Bachelor, bought the house for £3.7million.
The couple met on a production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet while they were students at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
In 2009, they won a battle with neighbours to build a garden room extension and chimney.
Clive Owen has put his ‘charming country house’ near Hampstead Heath, north London on the market for £7.85million
Clive and his wife Sarah-Jane Fenton (right) met on a production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet while they were students at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Ar
Half a dozen locals objected to the ‘visually intrusive’ development in the designated conservation area but officials at the local council gave the go-ahead.
They ruled: ‘It is considered that the works would not adversely impact on the amenity of the adjacent properties with regards to overlooking, visual bulk or sense of enclosure.’
At 76, this Dragon will not be tamed
Duncan Bannatyne is enjoying growing old disgracefully.
The health club tycoon and former Dragons’ Den star celebrated turning 76 with a wild night out at Kiki Miami at the weekend.
An animated Bannatyne was presented with a cake featuring sparklers by his third wife, Nigora, who is 32 years his junior.
The Clydebank-born entrepreneur met Nigora, who has described him as ‘someone who never fails to brighten my day’, while she was working as a Harley Street dental hygienist.
Duncan Bannatyne celebrated turning 76 with a wild night out with his third wife, Nigora, at Kiki Miami over the weekend
Emilia’s joy at on-screen nuptials
Emilia Fox, who recently revealed that her boyfriend, producer Jonathan Stadlen, proposes to her every day, is jumping for joy that her character in hit BBC crime drama Silent Witness is finally due to be married.
The actress, 50, shared a photo of herself in costume as Dr Nikki Alexander in coveralls – with wedding veil and ‘Bride to be’ sash. The caption read: ‘Get me to the church.’
Dr Nikki is due to tie the knot with fellow forensics expert Jack Hodgson, played by David Caves. In real life, Fox says of Stadlen: ‘We’re not officially married. Just saying we love each other each day has been enough for us.
Emilia Fox (pictured as Dr Nikki Alexander) revealed her boyfriend Jonathan Stadlen jumped for joy at her character in Silent Witness being due to be married
Fox with Stadlen at Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo at Royal Albert Hall. The actress said in real life it was enough for them to say they ‘love each other each day’
Pundit Nicholas on a sticky wicket at Lord’s
Suave television commentator Mark Nicholas has been attracting some decidedly Bodyline-style complaints from members of Marylebone Cricket Club after asking them to donate £1million to ‘advocate for global equality’.
Nicholas is the chairman of MCC and sent its members a pleading email, asking them to support a ‘global refugee cricket fund’, for campaigning against world poverty. The move has been whacked for six by several members who feel their club has become ‘ridiculously right-on’ and ‘insufferably woke’.
‘MCC has been taken over by a claque of rich and legalistic hand-wringers who want to turn Lord’s into a show ground for centre-Leftism,’ says one MCC veteran. ‘It’s like being at an editorial meeting of The Guardian.’
Ladies’ man Nicholas may soon be wishing he had stayed in the pavilion.
Mark Nicholas at Lord’s Cricket Ground, where he has asked members to contribute to a ‘global refugee cricket fund’
There’s still heat in the MasterChef kitchen
The BBC might have ditched oafish greengrocer Gregg Wallace, but don’t believe for a minute that MasterChef is now all milk and honey.
For starters, Jay Rayner has attacked fellow judge William Sitwell. ‘You have to be honest, but you have to find language which isn’t cruel – sometimes William chooses that route, and derision is brought down upon him,’ Rayner says. ‘If you don’t mind the Great British public hating you, then go for it.’
Speaking at Olympia London, Rayner adds: ‘I’m employed not just because I know about food, but because I can shape a phrase that will be editable and true. My main job is to come up with phrases editable and true and better than anything William says.’
Jay Rayner (centre) on MasterChef: Battle of the Critics with now fellow judge William Sitwell (far left) in 2023
Marianne grateful for financial help
Marianne Faithfull, who died last week aged 78 – months after resorting to selling off personal artefacts at a Sotheby’s auction, was frank about her financial struggles.
Having moved to a retirement home in 2022, Marianne gratefully revealed: ‘Keith [Richards] has helped me. And Marlon, his son. And Bono…I’ve had a lot of money problems, and they’ve helped me so much.’ No mention of former beau Sir Mick Jagger…
Marianne Faithfull performing in 2007 in Chalons-en-Champagne in eastern France
Zoe was shunned for lead roles before Emilia Perez
Tipped to win best supporting actress at the Oscars for her performance in Emilia Perez, Zoe Saldana, 46, was left feeling ‘impotent’ after being shunned by Hollywood for lead roles due to her age.
‘Before this role came, I felt not considered and I felt belittled by environments,’ Saldana tells me at the film’s screening in London
Zoe Saldana (pictured) has revealed was left feeling ‘impotent’ after being shunned for lead roles due to her age
