A-lister's abandoned mansion broken into 70 times set for demolition

TV and movie star James Corden has been given permission to demolish his abandoned UK home, which fans were given a glimpse inside thanks to rogue YouTubers breaking in.

The former chat show hosts £8.5 million (about $AU16.3 million) estate in Berkshire, in the UK countryside, has been empty for years, sliding further into disrepair, while he and his wife were in the United States for work. They returned to the UK last year but were seen house hunting in London, The Mirror reports, while the retro-style Berkshire property languished.

There have been 70 “security incidents” at the mansion, the newspaper reports, recorded by Corden’s security team, counted as attempted or potential break-ins. That includes a team of “urban explorers” who entered, filmed the interior, and posted a video on YouTube.

Corden lodged plans to knock down the outdated property and build a “traditional” style house with pool, sauna and steam room, The Mirror reports. Local council have given him the green light, after a long back-and-forth over elements of the design, which were modified in order to get the rubber stamp.

The almost 34-minute YouTube tour, filmed illegally two years ago, has been viewed less than a million times. The urban hunters, who called themselves Partners Of The Forgotten World, enter the stacked stone residence through a side sliding door, which was open, after finding the front door locked, and trespass for more than half an hour.

This route, through the open breezeway, takes them into empty indoor swimming pool, before they venture into the circular living zone and onto the kitchen, there they find a carton of milk or juice in the cupboard and a couple of sets of keys.

The era of the home appears to be 1970s, with brown penny riles and decades-old appliances in the kitchen.

One bone of contention the council had with Corden’s plans was the pool house, which other residents in the area argued was too close to ancient stone monoliths on his title, similar to but smaller than the famous Stonehenge. These are found throughout English rural areas.

The intention to construct a yoga studio, bathroom and gym near the pool caused a hold up and planning permission was only granted on the proviso Corden and his design team removed those facilities.

Corden is best known as the former host of CBS talk show The Late Late Show with James Corden, from 2015 to 2023, which made him a star in America. The popularity of his segments interviewing and singing with celebrities in a car cemented his own A-list status.

An accomplished singer, he has featured in the movies Cats, Peter Rabbit, Into The Woods and Cinderella.