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

Daily Mail​

17-07-2025

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.