TV STAR Jonathan Ross - known for sending up his own difficulty with the letter "r" - has bought a new £1.1million "wuwal wetweat". The chat show host has moved with his family to a magnificent farm house in the seaside town of Swanage.

The genteel resort is not the most obvious place to live for someone whose personality is as flamboyant as that of Ross.

Indeed, with his wife Jane - famed for her bright orange hair - the couple would raise an eyebrow or two walking down the local high street.

But Swanage is also a well-known retirement area and, at the age of 44, Ross may be looking to take things a bit easier.

It is thought the Radio 2 presenter, who shot to fame as the host of Channel 4's The Last Resort in 1987, has many friends in Dorset. He and wife Jane are said to be a big fans of nearby Studland beach, which is also a well-known nudist beach.

The move will also allow him to be near an ape called Seamus he has adopted from nearby Monkey World at Wool.

Ross, awarded the OBE last month, paid £1.1 million for the 16th century, grade II listed property called Cauldron Barn Farm.

The house, which comes with six acres of grounds, sits on the edge of Swanage and is one of the most exclusive properties in the town.

Its walls and roof are built from the famous Portland stone and the main living room has a huge fireplace with exposed ceiling beams.

It is thought that Jane, and their three children, Betty, Harvey and Honey are keen horseriders and the property comes with fantastic equine facilities.

There is at least one stable block and a menage for schooling horses.

There is also an old cattle shed, which has been converted into a 50 metre long indoor swimming pool.

Surrounding the property are allotments on one side and a caravan park on the other.

The garden, which also has an orchard, leads down to the Swanage Railway which runs steam trains dating from the 1800s on special services.

Stuart Carmichael, who runs the Anchor Inn, said: "I know Jonathan likes it down here because I used to manage a beach cafe and every year he came down. He used to hire a beach hut each year and now it seems he has decided to buy something more permanent. I used to serve him and his family and I hope they will visit us in the pub. People are really pleased he's moving here."

Vanessa Baume, who runs the Crows Nest pub, half a mile from Ross's new home, said: "I'm always pleased to see new faces. I hope he and the family will visit us. He'll be treated just like all my other guests."

One neighbour said: "The couple love Swanage and have visited the town for many years. I think they've had their eye on the house for a while and snapped it up.

"The property is on the biggest plot of land in the town; he will be the Squire of Swanage!

"Jonathan Ross has already introduced himself to a few neighbours and some of the allotment holders next to the farm."

First published: July 19, 2005