In fact, if all goes to plan, it will beat the UK's current most expensive home - Updown Court - by a full £75m, to become the country's finest and most beloved symbol of excess. Currently, though, it's where they make Fame Academy.

According to this in the Telegraph Witanhurst - the mock-Georgian, slightly dilapidated mansion on West Hill, in Highgate, has just been bought - all 5.5 acres and 65 rooms - by developer Marcus Cooper for £32m. The plan is to restore the 1920s building, which you might have seen starring in Nicholas Nickleby and/or Tipping The Velvet (it played a house), to its former glory and then sell it for £150m. Sounds like a lot of money? It is - of course - a lot of money. But Witanhurst is also the second largest private house in London after Buckingham Palace. Whoever buys it will be able to look down their nose at considerably poorer neighbours George Michael and Sting. The Rat and Mouse would like to offer its congratulations to Knight Frank for their involvement in the sale.

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