Blairs aim to live in theatrical style

Tony and Cherie Blair have bought the former home of the late actor Sir John Gielgud. The Mail on Sunday claims the Blairs paid £4m for South Pavilion, in Wotton, Buckinghamshire, where the thespian lived happily with his long-time companion Martin Hensler. The elegant property - ­ the actor called it his own 'Brideshead' - has beautiful gardens and statuary and, in Sir John's day, peacocks strode the grounds.

The acquisition of the South Pavilion brings the number of homes the Blairs now own to six: they already have two in London, a pair of flats in Bristol and Blair's former constituency home in Durham.

It is believed the former Prime Minister and his wife persuaded the current owner to sell them the house before it could even be put on the open market.

There is apparently one catch, however: South Pavilion is overlooked by Wotton House, a stately home that is open to the public, which presents security problems. Unless the Blairs buy that one too.