Natasha Kaplinsky Lists Country Estate Amidst Divorce

Natasha Kaplinsky, the former news anchor, has placed her nine-bedroom country estate in East Sussex on the market for £7 million. The decision to sell comes as her 20-year marriage to investment banker Justin Bower has ended. Bower has reportedly already moved out of the property.

Kaplinsky, 54, transformed the 15th-century Grade II-listed farmhouse into a rural retreat over 12 years, aiming to create a dream family home. The property sits on over 200 acres of countryside and includes eight bathrooms, a swimming pool, and a tennis court. Additionally, there are two separate two-bedroom cottages on the estate, converted from a stable and a granary.

The farmhouse has been extensively renovated, retaining original features such as inglenook fireplaces and exposed beams, while incorporating modern Georgian-style extensions. These extensions include a unique entertainment suite with a games room, cinema, and a poker room with a bar. A gym and garage are also located on the ground floor beneath this suite.

The interior features a large entrance hall, living room, drawing room, TV room, dining room, and study. A dedicated dog room with a separate entrance is also noted. The centerpiece of the home is described as a vast open-plan kitchen, breakfast, and dining room, complete with stylish grey cabinets, islands, marble countertops, and an AGA cooker. A notable quirky feature within this space is a traditional-style sweet shop with confectionery displays and an old-fashioned till.

Upstairs, the principal bedroom offers an en-suite bathroom and a dressing area with views of the gardens. There are four additional bedrooms, two of which are en-suite, and another bathroom. The estate is set in an area of outstanding natural beauty and includes fields, parkland, ancient woodland, gardens, two streams, and seven ponds. A 26-foot tree house with various recreational features is also on the grounds. The swimming pool area has a patio, pool house, and al fresco dining space, with additional seating areas and an open-air bath.

Kaplinsky and Bower, also 54, moved to the countryside 12 years ago, having been married for eight years at the time. Kaplinsky has previously expressed contentment with their rural life, stating she had never been happier. They had decided to move from Fulham to raise their two children, who are now teenagers.

Neighbors have described the situation as a shame and expressed sadness at their departure. One neighbor stated Kaplinsky is "devastated" by the divorce, while another noted the split appears "irreconcilable."

Kaplinsky, known for her career as a newsreader and winner of the first series of Strictly Come Dancing, was the first newsreader to earn a reported £1 million a year when she joined Channel 5 in 2007. She has since held roles including ambassador for Save the Children and president of the British Board of Film Classification.