Luxury properties owned by George Clooney, Russell Brand and Debbie McGee have been affected by flooding following weeks of relentless rain that forced the River Thames to overflow.
Aerial photographs reveal water creeping across the grounds of the high-value homes, all situated along the river in scenic Berkshire towns and villages.
The UK has endured near-daily rainfall in recent weeks, prompting the Environment Agency to issue hundreds of flood alerts as water levels surged across major rivers and lakes. Berkshire — long favoured by celebrities seeking countryside living within reach of London — has not escaped the severe conditions.
Flood warnings were put in place for Remenham, where comedian Russell Brand owns a home, and for Wargrave, where former Strictly Come Dancing star Debbie McGee resides. George Clooney and his wife Amal Clooney, a prominent human rights lawyer, own a £12 million mansion in Sonning, right on the Thames.
The Clooneys bought the property — nicknamed “Castle Clooney” — in 2014 and moved in after extensive renovations two years later. Recent flooding has left large parts of their garden and tennis court waterlogged. The couple also maintain homes in Lake Como, Italy, Brignoles in France, and Los Angeles.
Images show floodwater surrounding Brand’s £3.3 million riverside property, purchased in 2016. The home sits on an acre overlooking the Thames. He is believed to spend much of his time at a separate residence in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, where he relocated in 2024 with his wife, Laura Gallacher.
McGee’s property appears to have suffered the most severe impact, with water nearly encircling the house. She previously had to leave the home in 2024 after flooding from the Thames caused extensive damage. A friend told the Daily Mail at the time that she had only just completed repairs from earlier flooding when it struck again.
The home has experienced repeated flooding in recent years, leading McGee to install a pump system. However, during the 2024 deluge, rising waters overwhelmed the system.
The Environment Agency has urged residents in affected areas to remain prepared, warning that flooding remains possible. In locations including Henley, Remenham and Medmenham, low-lying land and roads are expected to stay under threat in the coming days, especially with more rain forecast.
So far this year, at least 300 properties across the UK have been flooded. According to the agency, more than 16,000 homes and businesses have been protected, though significant groundwater flooding remains a concern in parts of Dorset and Wiltshire. River flooding risks are also ongoing in the Somerset Levels, the East Midlands, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.
Met Office data shows February rainfall totals already far exceeding average levels in many regions. By February 8, Aberdeen had recorded 180 percent of its typical monthly rainfall, with similarly elevated figures in Kincardineshire, Angus, the Isle of Wight and Worcestershire.
Meteorologists say the persistent unsettled weather pattern has front-loaded rainfall totals, with some areas surpassing a full month’s average within just days. Several locations, including North Wyke in Devon, Cardinham in Cornwall and Astwood Bank in Worcestershire, recorded 42 consecutive days of rain between late December and mid-February.
The Met Office attributes the prolonged wet spell to the jet stream shifting further south than usual. When positioned this way across the Atlantic, it directs low-pressure systems straight toward the UK, increasing both the frequency and intensity of rain-bearing fronts.
