Ricky Gervais Sells Riverside Home Amid Marriage Plans
Comedian Ricky Gervais has accepted an offer on his Buckinghamshire property, which he had intended to replace with a new mansion, as he prepares to marry his long-term partner.
Ricky Gervais has found a buyer for his £2.95 million riverside home in Buckinghamshire, just days after listing the property. The sale comes as Gervais, 65, and his partner of 44 years, Jane Fallon, 65, plan to marry. The comedian purchased the property, which he referred to as his "little country retreat," for £2.75 million in 2014.
Gervais had obtained council approval this year to demolish the existing four-bedroom house, built in the 1920s, and construct a new mansion. However, he has now decided to sell the property, potentially taking a financial loss after accounting for stamp duty, legal fees, and the costs associated with a prolonged planning battle.
The comedian revealed last month that he and Fallon are marrying, a decision influenced in part by inheritance tax laws. Unmarried couples do not benefit from the exemption that allows an estate to be passed to a surviving spouse tax-free. Without this, estates are taxed at 40% above the £325,000 tax-free threshold, which could significantly impact Gervais's estimated £53 million fortune.
This decision marks a shift for Gervais, who had previously expressed skepticism about marriage. His change of heart reportedly followed Fallon's breast cancer diagnosis in March.
Planning and Property Details
The Thames-side property in Marlow, described by estate agents Savills as "a detached family home in an outstanding position," includes a mooring and a tennis court. Gervais's initial plans for a neo-Georgian mansion were rejected due to concerns about local guidelines and flood risks, as the area has experienced flooding five times since 1947.
The approved plans for a replacement home included measures to mitigate flood risk, such as a 26ft-wide flood buffer zone along the Thames and raising the ground floor by 3ft. The proposed new dwelling would feature a four-bedroom layout with amenities like a gym, drawing room, lift, and a master bedroom with a terrace overlooking the grounds.
During the planning process, Gervais also had to address the presence of bats at the property. A 2023 survey recorded 333 soprano pipistrelle bats emerging from the dwelling, and a 2025 observation noted 276. To comply with regulations, Gervais committed to building a new bat loft in his garage and erecting bat boxes in nearby trees.
Despite the approved plans for redevelopment, the sale proceeded quickly, indicating a buyer interested in the property's location and potential. The listing emphasized the "wonderfully private and secluded setting" and the "exceptional riverside setting."