Additional Coverage:
- Ellen DeGeneres’ disastrous year abroad as she and Portia de Rossi ‘heading back to US’ (irishstar.com)
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi’s British Adventure: From Roman Ruins to Rural Retreats
The picturesque Cotswolds in south-central England has been home to talk show icon Ellen DeGeneres, 67, and her wife, actress Portia de Rossi, 52, since November 2024. Their move, reportedly spurred by the re-election of Donald Trump, has been anything but quiet, with recent rumors suggesting a possible return to the United States.
“We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis, and I was like, ‘He got in’,” DeGeneres reportedly told the BBC, adding, “And we’re like, ‘We’re staying here’.” However, recent whispers indicate a change of heart for the couple, with sources close to them suggesting a move back to California is on the horizon.
A source, as reported by the Daily Mail, stated, “Ellen was adamant that she and Portia were going to stay in the UK while Trump was in the White House, but evidently she’s changed her mind somewhat.” The couple reportedly misses their friends and the warmer weather, with Portia also expressing a desire to return to acting.
“They will be here for the holidays and longer by the sound of it,” the source added. “Ellen was very clear that they’re coming back to California sooner rather than later.”
Home Renovations Spark Controversy: Flood Risks and Roman Remains
Beyond the transatlantic travel plans, DeGeneres and de Rossi’s British abode has found itself at the center of local controversy. The couple has been accused of a “technical breach” related to their home improvements, which allegedly pose a flood risk and could disturb ancient Roman remains.
Parish councilors have reportedly contacted local planning enforcement officers, citing concerns that proposed work could impact historical artifacts on the site. According to Mail Online, three councilors emphasized the property owner’s responsibility to report any discovered historic remains.
Minutes from parish council meetings, as reported by The Mirror, reveal residents’ worries that a new hedge and wire fence could “increase flood risk in the village” if debris were to accumulate, thereby “limiting flow across the field.” This concern follows a period of severe flooding in the UK last December, which saw residents grappling with heavy rains and strong winds.
While a local near Ellen’s property told MailOnline that the floodwaters were “the worst I have seen it in years,” DeGeneres took to Instagram to reassure fans that her 43-acre property had escaped damage, confirming, “P.S. for those of you concerned, our UK farmhouse did NOT flood.”
Farm Life Fails and Fences: Ellen’s Sheepish Confession
Embracing the rural lifestyle proved to be more of a challenge than anticipated for the celebrity couple. DeGeneres recounted their initial enthusiasm for maintaining their sprawling property, which quickly turned into a comical struggle.
“We just can’t keep up with this,” DeGeneres recalled telling de Rossi, who then suggested introducing sheep to manage the pastures. What seemed like a simple solution rapidly spiraled into a series of misadventures.
“[Portia] said, ‘Let’s just get four sheep to put in the pastures with the horses,’ and we did. And the next morning they were just out and they were gone.
They just climbed right out and then I had to buy electric fencing,” DeGeneres explained. When the electric barrier proved ineffective, leading to more escapes, DeGeneres resorted to building a more substantial fence.
“It was so ugly, it ruined everything. So I had to pay to take the fence down,” she lamented, adding, “I spent a fortune on those sheep.
I can’t even begin to tell you how much those sheep set me back. It was Portia’s idea.”
The comedian also lightheartedly complained about the “added hassle of constant cleanup,” noting, “They used the restroom everywhere, and the dog would get to it.”
Despite the farm-life hiccups, the couple has been actively exploring the UK. DeGeneres playfully admitted to struggling with British place names, quipping, “This is Cheltenham right?
I don’t say, ‘Chelten-ham.’ Y’all are in such a rush with your names.
It should [be] ‘By-sister,’ but it’s ‘Bicester,’ right?” She humorously suggested that town names must have been created in a hurry, declaring, “We don’t have time for that.”
Pub Life and Privacy: Ellen Finds Her Local Haunt
Settling into the English countryside has included finding a favorite local pub, none other than “The Farmer’s Dog,” owned by television personality Jeremy Clarkson. Clarkson, who also lives in the village, expressed his welcome to the couple, stating, “Everyone said she has been cancelled but she seemed nice when she came to the pub, the staff said she was very friendly and lovely.
I am not going to believe what I read online. She seemed lovely.”
No longer neighbors with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, DeGeneres and de Rossi now count celebrities like David and Victoria Beckham, Natalie Imbruglia, and Kate Moss among their rural community. Locals say the couple has fully embraced their new life, regularly socializing at the pub.
A source told People magazine, “They come in regularly, they are really chilled and very polite. They come in with their dogs, sometimes on their own and sometimes with other people.”
The source added that their privacy is respected: “One time, they asked to sit at the corner table, presumably as it’s a bit more private. Everyone knows who she is, but they don’t bother her.”
Whether their British adventure continues or they make the anticipated return to California, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have certainly made their mark, both on and off the farm, in the charming English countryside.