TAYLOR SWIFT is splashing out more than £10million to build a private estate in one of the capital’s most exclusive areas, Biz on Sunday can reveal.
The American popstar’s North London mansion is set to have all the trimmings of luxury and will include a swimming pool alongside an orangery, according to planning documents.
The Shake If Off singer, who recently became a billionaire, snapped up the huge property, which used to belong to a politician, and currently has an army of tradespeople expanding and re-designing it to suit her needs.
Taylor, who wrote the song London Boy in 2019, has long had a soft spot for the capital, and has dated Brits including Calvin Harris and Harry Styles — both of whom live in North London.
Insiders say she plans to make it her permanent European base.
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A source tells us: “It is no secret that Taylor loves London, and she has been looking for a base in the capital for a long time.
“She loves the culture and vibe of the city, and is particularly at home in North London, so this estate makes perfect sense.
"Her song London Boy was a love letter to the city as much as it was to a bloke, and that is why so many areas are mentioned in it.
“She is thrilled with this new property as it gives her roots here, but is taking her time to make sure it fits all her needs and is ultra secure.”
The singer, who is dating NFL star Travis Kelce, had lived in the capital with former flame Joe Alwyn, before their six-year relationship ended in April.
She and Joe shared a home in Crouch End before moving to Primrose Hill, where Taylor often hooked up with close pal Zoe Kravitz.
Taylor won’t be short of famous neighbours in the well-heeled area her new pad is set in. Stars nearby include Ricky Gervais, Liam Gallagher and Keira Knightley.
Plus if she wants to lay down new tracks, she will be close to the world-famous Abbey Road Studios — where The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Amy Winehouse and Adele have all recorded material.
Sounds like a match made in property heaven.
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LEIGH’S MIXING UP MUSIC
LEIGH-ANNE PINNOCK was in sparkling form last night as she revealed a new music direction.
She posed in a shimmering black dress on the red carpet at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball at London’s O2.
Teasing the sound of her new music, she told me: “I definitely feel a bit more R&B.
"But with my Leigh-Anne stamp.”
Asked if any of her Little Mix bandmates would collaborate on a track with her, she said: “I feel like that’s definitely an option.
“We always said that and joked about featuring on each other’s albums.”
She added: “We’re definitely enjoying this time on our own, a chance to grow – but never say never.”
Other famous names at the concert included TV and radio presenters Roman Kemp and Sian Welby and singer Becky Hill.
OVERTONES SHAKE IT UP BACKSTAGE
THEY have the smoothest voices in the business.
And The Overtones have revealed how they keep their vocal cords in shape during their 27-date Good Times tour, which heads to Glasgow tomorrow.
Singer Darren Everest said: “We are relaxed, we just have fun. Before we go on, we do a pre-show shimmy.
“Don’t get me wrong, we come off stage after putting in a shift – we work bloody hard on stage.
“It is nice to have a cold beer waiting for you and some blue M&Ms – that’s on our rider.”
But following the release of their festive track, Christmas Everyday, the group revealed December is emotional following the tragic loss of bandmate TIimmy Matley.
He died in 2018 when he fell while trying to climb down from a 13th floor balcony after taking crystal meth.
Darren said: “We work as hard as we do to carry on his legacy.
“Timmy was definitely an advocate for bringing the good times, vibes and making people laugh.
“We are honouring the past of The Overtones.
“There is a real poignant moment where we sing The Longest Time – the song that we got discovered singing in 2009 – and it feels like a real full- circle moment.”
SURPRISE PROPOSAL FOR KYLIE
KYLIE MINOGUE helped a fan pull off an emotional proposal during her televised show at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
While the Aussie pop star was taking questions at An Audience With Kylie, she headed over to two young boys Jayden and Jay, who were there with their dads Craig and Martin.
During a touching moment, Craig revealed: “I wanted to make tonight memorable and special for our family.”
He then got down on bended knee in front of the crowd and said: “So, thank you, because this question is to you, Martin.
"Martin, will you marry me?”
After Martin accepted the proposal, an overjoyed Kylie said: “Has that actually just happened?! Boys, how do you feel about that? How did you guys meet?”
To which Craig responded: “At a Kylie concert.”
The singer, pictured during the show, replied: “There is love in the air all around tonight.”
Famous faces at the gig included Rylan Clark, Alan Carr and Amanda Holden, who were all spotted dancing to The Loco-Motion near the stage.
An Audience With Kylie airs tonight at 7.45pm on ITV1 or catch up on ITVX.
BEN AND DIBA’S FUR ’N’ FIR FUN
CHELSEA footballer Ben Chilwell is dating glamorous marketing executive Diba Bayan.
A source told me: “Ben is smitten with Diba after the pair were introduced through pals.
“They have been hanging out in her home town of Copenhagen and have also had a romantic getaway to Paris.”
And they have been getting into the festive spirit, putting up a Christmas tree in the England ace’s Leicestershire mansion.
On snaps on Instagram this week, Diba was spotted sorting baubles before sharing a shot of the finished fir in the hallway.
Another shot showed Ben cuddling his dog.
In May, Ben split from Aussie model Cartia Mallan, following a three-month romance.
Hinting of the split, Cartia had posted a video online of how she had dyed her dark locks blonde.
The caption read: “Did you even break up if you didn’t dramatically change your hair?
TV FAVE’S REGENCY RAUNCH CANNED
BRIDGERTON stars are reshooting sex scenes for the third series to make them less raunchy for Gen-Z prudes.
The Netflix bonkbuster has called actors back to Pinewood Studios in Slough to reshoot toned-down versions of the steamy scenes next week.
Derry Girls actress Nicola Coughlan reprises her role of Penelope Featherington in the third instalment of the series, which is set in the Regency era.
An insider said: “Producers thought the scenes they had were too raunchy so are making amendments.
“They showed the scenes to Gen-Z who were clearly more interested in the storylines than steamy action.
“Producers have called back actors to reshoot the scenes before the series is placed in a vault for its release next year.”
The period drama’s debut season – starring Phoebe Dynevor And Rege-Jean Page – was packed with steamy action.
Jonathan Bailey bared his bum within three minutes in the first episode as his character Lord Anthony had sex with Siena Rosso, played by Sabrina Bartlett.
But studies show people born between 1996 and 2012 want less sex in TV and films with more focus on stories of platonic relationships
