The One Show presenter Alex Jones is renovating a Georgian property in Berkshire near Tittenhurst Park, where average house prices reach £1.3m
During summer 2024, following a four-year hunt for the ideal family residence, The One Show presenter Alex Jones discovered a Georgian house close to Tittenhurst Park in Berkshire with an impressive entertainment industry background. “John Lennon owned it at one point and so did Ringo Starr,” she revealed.
Almost two years later, Alex and her husband, Charlie Thomson, continue extensive renovation work on the property, which had been fitted with multiple “care home chic” additions by its former elderly occupants.
Alex, who marks her 49th birthday today, shared with followers in a recent Instagram post: “As the house is four bedrooms, we need an extra one for guests to stay, so we’re planning on an annexe in the garden.”
She added that a further benefit of having a separate annexe would be the option to temporarily relocate there “when the going gets tough with the main build.”
“We need to do a lot of work but the bones of the house are lovely,” Alex told The Times. The location is highly desirable, with properties in neighbouring Sunningdale commanding an average price of nearly £1.3 million.
Detached homes sold for an average of £2,449,895, while semi-detached properties achieved £630,571.
Alex admitted she purchased the house spontaneously, without her husband having viewed it. He had been visiting family in New Zealand when she first saw the property.
“When Charlie got back, I said, ‘Listen, I’ve sort of bought a house so we better go and see it.’ Luckily he loved it immediately. It felt like home when we walked in.”
Whether Alex will find time to press ahead with the renovation this year remains uncertain, amid speculation linking her to a potential hosting role on Strictly Come Dancing this autumn.
Alex, alongside BBC Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox, Mel Giedroyc and Zoe Ball, has been rumoured for the position, with sources suggesting the programme could be “freshened up” by introducing a third host.
Nevertheless, Alex has emphasised she is taking a measured approach to the renovation, revealing that she and Charlie have learned the importance of thorough preparation before starting any building work.
Reflecting on the renovation of their former home in Chiswick, west London, she said: “We got really overexcited last time, did it all in a bit of a rush and then had to redo parts. Sometimes people put too much pressure on themselves to move in and get it all sorted.”
Speaking to Homebuilding & Renovating magazine, she added: “We only want to do it once, and we want to get it right.”
While the Georgian home’s expansive, mature garden was among the features that first captivated her, she has suggested plans to transform it into a more tranquil and practical outdoor space.
Alex is also restoring period details, including uncovering a fireplace in the playroom that had been concealed for years. “I love how cosy the space is, but I do think we need to lighten it up a little,” she said.
She has also assembled a mood board to guide the interior design. “I find the process of scrapbooking so handy as a starting point for a new project,” Alex explained.
“Ahead of our new renovation project I’ve been looking through my last scrapbook from our old house and it’s really lovely to see how many ideas made it into the real things. My absolute favourite thing to do is to browse through interior magazines. My friends and I often share them and I gratefully receive all their old copies so that I can chop them up and use them as inspiration.”
She added that the activity itself is therapeutic: “Scrapbooking is a great way to get the creative juices flowing.”
Beyond the demands of renovation, Charlie has faced serious health challenges in recent years, including Lyme disease and viral meningitis, followed by a lengthy recovery.
Speaking on The MidPoint, Alex said: “He’s in a way better place now to where we were a year ago, but diet has played a huge part in that,” adding, “We always eat relatively well but he’s quite into nutrition.”
Alex also emphasised her commitment to maintaining her own wellbeing, explaining: “I think what drives me is the fact that we have got three young children, and I feel, for them, I need to do the best to preserve myself.”
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