George Michael’s £11million London home is up for rent — costing £80,000 a month
IT’S one of the most famous houses in showbiz, with A-list neighbours including Kate Moss and Sting and secret access to London’s Hampstead Heath via a back gate.
And now fans of the late George Michael could soon have access to the inner sanctum of the home where the reclusive superstar locked himself away — but it will cost a cool £80,000 a month.
I can reveal the I’m Your Man singer’s £11million pad is on the rental market after his family ordered a clean-up of the Highgate mansion last month.
They asked fans to stop leaving floral tributes which have piled up since George’s death 18 months ago.
A source said: “George’s home is ready to rent and is being secretly touted to ultra-rich elite clientele, emphasising its unrivalled privacy. There has already been huge interest.”
George’s family decided to keep the 18th Century north London property, which boasts five bedroom suites, a summer house and swimming pool, after his death on Christmas Day in 2016, at another of his homes in Oxfordshire.
In a statement on his website, George’s family asked fans to help return his homes to their former “simple state” by removing the tributes, adding: “We are hoping, into the future, to get back to you with more thoughts on ways and ideas to remember Yog that we hope you’ll like.”
But dealing with another of his London pads is proving a bit trickier, after on/off lover Fadi Fawaz decided to hole up in a £5million home in Regent’s Park — which is now being visited by bailiffs after he failed to keep up payments on some of the items inside.
Workshy Fadi ranted about his battle with George’s family and legal team, sulking on Twitter by posting: “I will fight for my right from George Michael until the day I die.
“And no, I won’t get a job.”
He needs to Wake Up and Go Go.
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Red-hot Rita roars back
RITA ORA knows how to turn heads as well as make headlines.
The singer showed off her curves in this revealing red costume on the second night of her sold-out tour in Leeds – just days after she confirmed that she is bisexual in new single Girls.
The Sun on Sunday told how the track was about her relationship with model Cara Delevingne, whom Rita called her “wifey” when the duo were almost inseparable in 2013.
It references special moments they shared in Malibu and mentions the tattoo of a lion Cara had inked on her index finger during Bebe Rexha’s guest appearance on the single.
Bebe sings: “You know I tamed it, and then I named it.
"I put the lion in the cage and then I laid with her.”
I imagine that revelation could have a few of Rita’s other exes worried, with her first full album in six years set to drop this autumn.
bizbit
FAIR play to Cate Blanchett for reminding Cannes Film Festival of the industry’s equality crisis.
In an impassioned speech she warned: “Women are not a minority in the world, yet the current state of our industry says otherwise."
Sam is flippin' mad
SAM SMITH’s superstar transformation has seen him shed 3st and nab one of Hollywood’s biggest heart-throbs in actor boyfriend Brandon Flynn.
Now the singer is doing all he can to ensure his cooler image stays intact.
I can reveal Sam is embroiled in a bitter legal battle with his old record label Flipbook Music to stop it from releasing two lost albums full of cheesy tracks.
A music source said: “Sam has worked tirelessly on his pop star image, pouring his heart and soul into two official albums he is proud of and honing his hunky new look.
Now he fears he will become a laughing stock if these tracks see the light of day.
He recorded the cheesy tunes when he first started out as a teenage wannabe singer.
“But he had no artistic control and left on bad terms when he refused to let the tracks be released, realising they did not represent him as an artist.
"That was in 2008, but Flipbook isn’t backing down and Sam is doing everything in his power to block the release.
"It’s been tough – things have got very messy.”
The secret war has been raging for more than two years.
In 2016, Flipbook mysteriously announced the release of Sam’s unofficial debut album Diva Boy and released the first single Momentarily Mine without his consent.
Since then, Sam scored his second No1 album with last year’s The Thrill Of It All, following the success of his debut In The Lonely Hour.
He also bagged an Oscar for his James Bond theme tune Writing’s On The Wall.
Sam should send round 007 star Daniel Craig to have a word with his old bosses.
bizbit
MARVEL is introducing Muslim superhero Ms Marvel to its cinematic universe.
Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige said: “Ms Marvel . . . the Muslim hero who is inspired by Captain Marvel, is definitely sort of in the works.
"We have plans for that.”
Ed's Narstie surprises
BIG NARSTIE was left panicked when he received an unexpected late-night delivery from best pal Ed Sheeran.
Ed, who is godfather to the grime star’s daughter, was touring the world when he organised for a surprise package to be delivered for the tot.
Narstie said: “He always checks on her and sends her stuff.
"It’s mad.
“Last month, it was late at night, there’s a knock at the door and some tall, white man in a helmet comes to the door.
“I’m thinking, ‘Who is this guy?’
"It’s late and he’s holding a box.
"He goes, ‘Rah, package from Ed Sheeran’.
“It was some unicorn teddy bear in a Selfridges bag.
"She was upset it [later] had to go in the washing machine.
"It was covered in poo.”
That’s probably not quite the “thank you” Ed was expecting.
Rob feels bad vibes
THEIR planning war rumbled on for four years before finally being settled last month, but Robbie Williams and rock icon neighbour Jimmy Page, clearly have no plans to bury the hatchet just yet.
Robbie won the right to build a summer house in the grounds of his £17million London home which is next door to Led Zepplin guitarist Jimmy’s pile.
But a separate dispute over Rob’s hopes to build a basement flared up again last week when Page lodged objections.
Concerns include vibrations from the work damaging his Grade I-listed 19th Century pad.
I’d have thought that after co-founding one of the loudest rock bands of all time he’d be pretty immune to vibrations by now.
Maybe Jimmy’s getting more sensitive in his old age...
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Wearing fur, Katy
KATY PERRY’s boyfriend Orlando Bloom won’t be No1 in her life as long as her puppy Nugget is around.
The pampered pooch fit snugly in the pouch of the American Idol judge’s hoodie during a hike in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Wisely, Katy had swapped her usual designer handbag for a poop bag.
She’s set to bring her Witness world tour to Europe this month before wrapping it up in Australia in August.
I hope teacup poodle Nugget likes cargo holds.