Alan Carr Acquires £3.25 Million Scottish Castle for Disney Plus Series
Comedian Alan Carr has made a dramatic real estate move, purchasing Ayton Castle in the Scottish Borders for £3.25 million. The acquisition follows his recent victory on Celebrity Traitors, where he secured £87,500 for Neuroblastoma UK. Now, Carr is embarking on an even grander venture, transforming the historic property into a luxury hotel and spa for a new Disney Plus series.
Historic Estate with Grand Ambitions
Ayton Castle, described as "an important Scottish baronial mansion" and "impressive local landmark," boasts 17 bedrooms and spans 160 acres of land, including its own private railway. Carr, 49, expressed his lifelong fascination with stately homes, stating, "Since I was a boy in Northampton, I've always dreamt big, and have always been enchanted with the history and romance of a stately home." He added humorously, "Some men when they have a midlife crisis buy a Lamborghini or grow a ponytail, but me – I want my very own castle."
Disney Plus Deal and Production Details
According to reports, Carr has signed a seven-figure deal with Disney Plus for a show documenting the castle's renovation, tentatively titled "Castle Man." The production company behind Amazon Prime's Clarkson's Farm is reportedly involved, leveraging Carr's previous success with renovation series. Carr and Amanda Holden's BBC show ran for four seasons and a Christmas special, though they have declined to host Strictly Come Dancing despite recent presenter changes.
Carr funded the castle purchase with his own money and stands to gain significantly if the project succeeds. Sources noted, "It's also a shrewd move by Disney because they're kicking this show off with little or no risk to themselves."
Balancing Multiple Projects
Despite the massive undertaking, Carr remains busy with other commitments. He is preparing for a large-scale stand-up tour in 2027 and recently filmed a Channel 4 series, Secret Genius, with Susie Dent. Carr revealed he was so exhausted during production that he napped on set, especially after filming Celebrity Traitors and Secret Genius back-to-back. He even accidentally disclosed his Traitors win to a producer due to fatigue.
While Carr and Holden have ruled out presenting Strictly, they appeared on the Table Manners podcast to clarify the rumors. Carr stated simply, "No, we said no ages ago." His focus now shifts to Ayton Castle, where he aims to create a turret "to call my own" and bring his Disney dream to life.
