Celebrity couple eye £45m BBC estate with private racecourse move

Former F1 boss Christian Horner and his Spice Girl wife Geri Halliwell currently live in a multi‑million‑pound home on the Oxfordshire border with Northamptonshire.

They are said to be interested in Edgcote House, an 18th‑century estate nearby, which is close to Banbury.

The estate doubled as Netherfield Park in the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and has been put on the market with an asking price of about £45m.

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Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner. (Image: Jonathan Brady / PA)

It includes a large Georgian main house, extensive parkland, stables and staff accommodation.

The grounds also contain a private racecourse, adding to the estate’s appeal for wealthy buyers.

Horner, the former Red Bull Formula 1 team principal, and Halliwell‑Horner, who rose to fame with the Spice Girls, already have strong links to the area.

They are regularly associated with the local countryside around their current property.

A move to Edgcote would keep them close to existing connections while giving them a larger and more secluded base.

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Edgecote House at the Oxfordshire border. (Image: Savills)

The house is regarded as one of the most significant country properties to come up for sale in recent years.

Its profile was boosted by its appearance in Pride and Prejudice, where it stood in for the home of the character Charles Bingley.

The Sun reported that the couple have viewed Edgcote several times and are keen to buy it.

A source told the national newspaper: “Geri and Christian know all about Edgcote, living so near. To live there would be a dream.

“They have been to look round several times and are desperate to own the property.”

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The private racecourse. (Image: Savills)

According to the same report, the source also suggested that previous planning disputes at their current property have made a move more attractive.

The source indicated that representatives for Horner and Halliwell‑Horner have held talks with the owners about acquiring the estate.

“Christian and Geri have had run-ins with local planning officers at their home, so would welcome a move,” added the insider.

“They have viewed Edgcote and their agents have held discussions with owners to acquire the estate.”

Any purchase would be likely to involve a complex and lengthy negotiation because of the value and scale of the property.

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Inside Edgecote House. (Image: Savills)

Sales of country houses at this level typically require detailed surveys, legal checks and discussions over land and sporting rights.

There has been no public confirmation from the couple that a deal has been agreed, and their representatives have not commented on the latest reports.

The owners of Edgcote have also not made any public statement on the identity of potential buyers.

Until contracts are exchanged, the estate will remain on the market and open to interest from other parties.