Jamie Oliver, the beloved celebrity chef and advocate for healthy eating, recently shared a humorous story about how his family’s brush with pop superstardom ended up souring what could have been a lucrative house sale. In a tale that blends comedy with a touch of pop culture awkwardness, Oliver recounted the time Harry Styles, former One Direction member and global sensation, visited his London home for a potential purchase.
Oliver explained that while he isn’t exactly on a first-name basis with Styles, he has crossed paths with the singer a few times. “One time was when I had put my house up for sale and he came for an inspection,” the chef recalled. What neither Oliver nor Styles anticipated was the rather peculiar—and inadvertently comedic—scene waiting upstairs. “He didn’t know that my daughter had a life-sized cardboard cut-out of him in her bedroom,” Oliver chuckled. As Styles toured the home, he encountered the cardboard likeness, did a quick double-take, and exclaimed, “Argh!” before making a swift exit from the property.
Needless to say, Styles did not proceed with the purchase. When asked whether the pop star ended up buying the house, Oliver’s response was a simple, “No, he didn’t.” Instead, the eight-bedroom North London mansion was sold to a far less glamorous buyer: the estate of the late Paul Raymond, known as the “King of Soho” due to his business empire of strip clubs and adult magazines. The final sale price? A hefty £15 million, netting the Olivers a tidy profit on the £8.95 million they paid for the property in 2015.
This intriguing mix of high-profile buyers, family antics, and unexpected celebrity encounters is emblematic of the colorful lives led by Jamie and his wife Jools. The couple, both aged 49, have three daughters and two sons, who frequently feature in their anecdotes and public life. While Oliver didn’t specify which of his daughters was responsible for the cardboard Harry, it seems likely that it was Daisy, now 21, who has been publicly noted as a devoted Styles fan. In a candid confession, Jools once revealed her own participation in Daisy’s adoration. “I once took Daisy to sit outside [Harry’s] house after school,” she admitted. “We sat there for ages in the car and got really excited when he came out.”
The Olivers have since traded their urban lifestyle for a more pastoral existence. They now reside at Spains Hall, a sprawling 16th-century mansion in Finchingfield, Essex, purchased for £6 million. The property, steeped in history and countryside charm, offers a stark contrast to their previous London residence—and, hopefully, a reprieve from any further pop star mishaps.
In the meantime, another figure of moral contemplation has entered the spotlight. Reverend Fergus Butler-Gallie, Vicar of Charlbury in Oxfordshire, is taking a stand against Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, calling for his resignation over perceived mishandling of a sexual abuse case. Butler-Gallie, a priest well-known among the Chipping Norton set—which includes prominent figures like former Prime Minister David Cameron and television host Jeremy Clarkson—argues that “forgiveness requires sacrificial action.” His call for Welby’s resignation underscores the turmoil and reckoning faced by the Church of England.
In a lighter corner of the city, the new Lord Mayor of London’s spouse is making waves of her own. Florence Walker, a Formula 1 writer and former contributor to Jeremy Clarkson’s DriveTribe, is now the wife of Lord Mayor Alastair King. With ties to other media personalities, including Pointless host Alexander Armstrong and presenter Giles Coren, Walker brings a fresh and unconventional flair to her role, even crafting colorful cushions adorned with cheeky phrases.
Meanwhile, Boris Becker, the three-time Wimbledon champion, continues to make headlines, this time for playing tennis with his new wife, Lilian de Carvalho. The couple, married just a few months ago, recently enjoyed a friendly match in Milan, sparking playful speculation about who claimed victory. The union, celebrated in Portofino, Italy, brought together Becker’s sons from his first marriage, though other family members were conspicuously absent.
Veteran actress Brenda Blethyn is also bidding farewell, wrapping up her role in ITV1’s detective drama Vera after 14 years. During a BFI talk in London, she shared a peculiar accolade she received in the U.S.—a “Poirot Award” cup and saucer, comically dripping with fake blood.
Elsewhere, Jude Law finds himself between homes. Having sold his Highgate mansion for £13 million, he and his wife, Phillipa Coan, are caught in an unending cycle of renovations. Forced to live out of suitcases, the actor reflects on the unsettling experience of returning to the UK without a permanent address.
Culinary star Mark Hix, known for his innovative dining spots, has closed his final restaurant in Lyme Regis, citing industry pressures. However, he plans to continue hosting guests at his home in Charmouth, offering a more intimate dining experience.
Lastly, comedian Alan Davies shared a darker side of digital life. The Jonathan Creek star revealed that he had been the victim of online scams, including a fraudulent PlayStation 5 purchase and a hacked social media account. Davies’ struggles underscore the frustrations of navigating today’s digital world and the elusive human connection in customer service.
In a tapestry of culinary misadventures, pop culture hilarity, ecclesiastical drama, and more, these tales reflect the complex and endlessly fascinating lives of public figures—both famous and infamous.