Inside Ben Fogle’s £2.2m countryside mansion as star plans Grand Designs-style makeover with podcast and yoga studios
BEN Fogle has been given the go-ahead by planners to build a huge podcast and yoga studio at his £2.2million country home.
The adventurer’s rural retreat near Henley, Oxfordshire, already boasts a tennis court, pond and a sunken garden with stunning valley views set in 1.3 acres.
The charming three-bedroom brick and flint cottage also features a green Neptune kitchen and breakfast room, summer room, open fireplace and adjoining annexe.
But the Countryfile star, 50, now wants to demolish an existing garage and workshop and replace it with a new two-storey multi-purpose building.
The 42x20ft oak-framed structure will have a ground floor home office, two-bay garage and store with a first floor recording studio and yoga area.
Ben and his podcaster wife Marina were initially given the green light a year ago but now want to build an external timber staircase instead of an internal one.
They also want to add a timber balcony and glazing bars to the windows, and move it a metre away from the tennis court. Revised plans have now been approved by the local council.
In a design statement, Fogle’s planning agent said: “The purpose built, multi-use building will provide home working space allowing the applicants to work from home and reduce the need to travel.
“It is accepted that the proposed building is large but it is believed to be acceptable given the scale of the existing dwelling and extend of the residential curtilage.”
The former Castaway star and his wife moved to the countryside with children Ludo and Iona five years and also have a £2.7million west London home which they rent out.
Their cottage, a former gatehouse built in 1920, is described by estate agents as a “charming house in a stunning setting” and lies in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
In April, Ben was almost hit by a delivery van while out walking near his home in the village where other famous residents include TV presenter Phillip Schofield.
He said his life “flashed before my eyes” in yet another near-death experience after the driver careered around a band, slammed on the brakes and skidded to a halt just a fee feet from him and his dog.
Ben is known for fronting survival and wildlife programmes such as Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild and has previously overcome hypothermia, a flesh-eating parasite and a spiked drink.
Council officials gave the green light for the studio after there were no objections from neighbours.
Planning officer said: “The building will be a substantial distance away from neighbouring properties and would not result in unacceptable levels of overlooking from the balcony or external staircase.
“The scale and design of the proposed development would be in keeping with the character of the site and the surrounding area and would not materially harm the amenity of neighbouring properties or highway safety.”
Ben Fogle's career to date
2000 – Launched his TV career appearing as a contestant on Castaway
2001 – Became a co-presenter of Countryfile, hosting on and off before leaving for good in 2018
2001 – Joined the BBC’s Animal Park
2002 – Presented One Man and His Dog
2003 – Hosted Big Screen Britain
2003 – Fronted Death by Pets
2005 – Hosted Animal Park’s special Wild in Africa series
2006 – Joined Channel 4’s coverage of Crufts for two years
2007 – Presenter another Animal Park special, Wild on the West Coast
2009 – Hosted Country Tracks for BBC Two
2013 – Launched his Channel 5 series New Lives in the Wild
2013 – Became the host of Countrywise on ITV1 for three years
2024 – Fronted Into the Congo for Channel 5