A New Chapter for Alex Jones
Alex Jones, the beloved presenter of The One Show, is currently in the spotlight not just for her potential role as a host on Strictly Come Dancing but also for her ambitious renovation project at her country mansion. The 49-year-old TV personality has been documenting her journey of transforming a £2.8 million Georgian property in Ascot, Berkshire, on social media. This stunning four-bedroom house, which once belonged to music legends John Lennon and Ringo Starr, has become the center of her attention.
A Dream Home with a Rich History
Alex’s decision to purchase the house was driven by her deep connection to it. She even wrote a heartfelt letter to the elderly owner, Penelope, explaining why she believed the house would be perfect for her family. Her efforts paid off, and the owner responded positively, stating that Alex was exactly the type of person she wanted to sell the house to. When her husband, Charlie Thomson, returned from New Zealand, he instantly fell in love with the property, feeling it was their new home.
The location of the house is highly desirable, situated in an area where homes in Sunningdale are selling for an average of almost £1.3 million. Detached properties fetch around £2.45 million, while semi-detached ones go for about £630,571.
A Fresh Start for the Family
Moving her three children—Teddy, Kit, and Annie—from their previous home in West London to this new countryside residence has been a significant change. Alex has noticed positive effects on her children’s health, particularly the fact that they no longer cough. “For the children, it’s been an absolute game-changer,” she said. “They stopped coughing.”
However, the renovation process is far from complete. Alex and Charlie plan to take decades to finish the transformation, making the potential income from a hosting job on Strictly a valuable asset.
Transforming the Property
The couple has big plans for the layout of the house. They intend to add a single-storey extension to create a spacious kitchen diner that overlooks the gardens. Upstairs, they aim to create four new bedrooms, while knocking down four rooms downstairs to form a more open living space. The interior needs a complete overhaul, as the current style is described as “care home chic” due to the previous occupants’ installations.
Alex jokes that her current kitchen is like stepping into a time machine, as it was installed in 1976 and has remained untouched since. It features an antique fridge and a heated cupboard for tea towels.
The outbuilding will also be transformed into a single-storey annexe featuring a studio, gym, bedroom, workshop, and storage space. The couple plans to take their time renovating the house, aiming to do it once and get it right.
A Personal Touch
Alex has created a mood board to guide the interior design. She finds the process of scrapbooking helpful as a starting point for new projects. “I find the process of scrapbooking so handy as a starting point for a new project,” she 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.”
She also enjoys browsing interior magazines, often sharing them with friends and receiving old copies to use as inspiration.
A Move to the Countryside
Alex and Charlie lived in West London for over a decade but felt the need to move to the country to offer their children more room to play. “It was a big decision to leave West London where we have been very happy for 14 years but we wanted the children to have space to play outside and to grow up in nature,” she wrote on Instagram.
A Happy Marriage
The couple married in 2015 on New Year’s Eve. Their wedding ceremony took place in Cardiff Castle’s stone-vaulted 15th-century undercroft, followed by a reception in the castle’s 18th-century library and dining room.
In recent years, Charlie has faced significant health challenges, including battling Lyme disease and viral meningitis. However, Alex says he’s in a better place now, with diet playing a crucial role in his recovery.
A Bright Future
Alex is also mindful of her own health, driven by the need to preserve herself for her children. As she continues her renovation journey, she remains focused on creating a beautiful home for her family.
Alex is reportedly on a nine-person shortlist of potential hosts to take over the presenting duties on Strictly. The other contenders include Rylan Clark, Emma Willis, Tom Allen, Angela Scanlon, Bradley Walsh, La Voix, Alison Hammond, and Zoe Ball. Bosses are believed to be picking two or potentially three candidates to take over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman for the upcoming series.
