Homes gossip: Olly Murs, Helen Hunt, Abbey Road, Askham Richard Estate

In case you didn’t know, Olly prefers Essex...

Olly Murs is settling in well at his new Essex bachelor pad. But it is still missing the X Factor — a superhero flatmate. “My dream roomie would be Nathan from E4 sci-fi show Misfits,” the singer told me.

Well, Robert Sheehan (who plays Nathan) has just finished his run in Playboy Of The Western World at the Old Vic. So, if you ask nicely, Olly, you may persuade him to move away from the capital.

Murs, who is juggling his presenting stint on The Xtra Factor with a promo tour for his new album, In Case You Didn’t Know (www.amazon.co.uk), flirted with the idea of moving to Camden but decided he would get more for his money in his home town. “For me, the bigger the property, the better, and my mum lives up the road.”

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The hunt for a star pad could be over

Hollywood sweetheart Helen Hunt is selling her New York apartment for £1.15 million. The Oscar-winning actress’s Manhattan home, built in 1915, is perfect for New York winters with two fireplaces and antique lighting throughout.

The three-bedroom, three-bathroom flat is accessed via a semi-private lift and, for added security, the prestigious block has a full-time porter, plus a hefty £2,100-a-month service charge.

Best known for her roles in Twister, Cast Away and As Good As It Gets, Hunt has a jam-packed filming schedule over the coming months and is spending most of her free time in Los Angeles. And who are we to argue with the What Women Want star?

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Worship the new gods of music in Abbey Road

A highly unusual flat overlooking the world-famous Abbey Road Studios is available to rent for £1,250 a week. The property is right next to the iconic Beatles zebra crossing, so the view could not be better for music fans.

From Pink Floyd to Take That, every pop act worth its salt has recorded at the EMI studios, which turned 30 earlier this month. So who knows which contemporary chart-toppers the new tenants will spot from the comfort of their three-bedroom home? Singer Pixie Lott was recently seen outside, for starters.

Star-gazing aside, this is a flat like no other. It is part of a scheme centred around the Grade II-listed Abbey Road Baptist Church. The careful juxtaposition of the existing church architecture and highly modern interior makes for a truly rare space. If the sound of this divine pad appeals, visit astonchase.com, or call 020 7724 4724.

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Here’s your chance to buy a slice of the Downton lifestyle

If Downton Abbey has left you yearning to own an estate in the heart of the Yorkshire countryside like the Crawleys, now is your chance. Look no further than the Askham Richard Estate which comes with half the village.

Owned in the 18th century by local architect John Carr, once Lord Mayor of York, the £6.5 million package comprises two farms spanning 417 acres, with 323 acres of bare land let on a short-term farming tenancy, outbuildings, 54 acres of well-managed woodland, 14 let residential properties in the village, Park Cottage, which adjoins former stable buildings, together with several ground rents and sporting rights.

Sadly, Matthew Crawley doesn’t come with it. Through Carter Jonas (01904 558219, carterjonas.co.uk).