Inside celebs modest homes from Anne Hegerty to Susan Boyle's council houses

Susan Boyle still lives in her council house (Image: Getty)

In the glitzy world of celebrity culture, where luxury and lavishness are often the norm, a select group of stars are bucking the trend, choosing humble abodes over sprawling mansions.

While many celebrities splurge on palatial homes, flashy cars, and designer wardrobes, others like Britain’s Got Talent icon Susan Boyle and The Chase star Anne Hegarty have famously maintained their modest living arrangements.

TV icons like Caroline Aherne left fans stunned after her death with her ordinary flat in Manchester and The Traitors winner Harry Clark stuck with his council flat.

Let’s take a look at some of the celebs who made it big but live in surprisingly humble digs.

Susan still lives in her council house (Image: Getty)

Susan Boyle

Since rising to fame on Britain's Got Talent in 2009, Susan Boyle has seen tremendous success, yet she has chosen to stay in the Blackburn council house where she grew up.

Now 63, Susan has amassed a fortune that could have bought her a residence in any of the world's most luxurious locales.

Instead, a few years ago when she was feeling particularly prosperous, she purchased the semi-detached house next door for £111,000 and merged it with her childhood home to create her dream residence.

Despite competing on BGT and coming in second to the dance troupe Diversity, Susan has sold over 19 million records and accrued an estimated £22 million.

She told OK! Magazine, "It’s to do with the memories of your house and your upbringing, you need to take stock of things and maybe see where you come from and where your roots lie."

The Grammy nominee also mentioned the importance of staying grounded: "It’s best to be grounded and with your roots. It keeps you grounded and prevents you from saying things maybe you shouldn't say."

Anne continues to live modestly in a shared ownership flat (Image: Getty)

Anne Hegerty

Despite amassing an estimated fortune of £3.2 million, Anne Hegerty, known as The Governess on The Chase, continues to live modestly in a shared ownership flat that's part-owned by the Housing Association.

At 66, the beloved braniac has lived in this affordable property since before her rise to fame on the ITV game show, a living arrangement initially designed to help less affluent individuals ascend the housing ladder.

Despite her substantial earnings, Anne reveals that she has opted not to upgrade her living situation. The bulk of her wealth, she admits, is simply accumulating in her bank account.

In an episode of the podcast How To Be 60 With Kaye Adams, Anne shared: "I live in a Housing Association flat. I own half of it and rent the other half.” She shared that her expenditures are minimal, mainly saving her money, though she does indulge in purchasing "stupid amounts of clothes."

Anne, who was already living in the flat when she joined The Chase in 2010, has spoken about living with autism and never having married or had children: "The two things that seem to cost people the most money are their families and their holidays. I’m okay for disposable income, shall we say. I’m not really an expensive person, and that’s nice. I’m comfortable, as it were."

Caroline resided modestly in a small bungalow (Image: Getty)

Caroline Aherne

Caroline Aherne, celebrated for her comedic genius, left behind a fortune estimated at half a million pounds after her untimely death.

Despite her significant wealth, she resided in a small bungalow in Timperley, near Altrincham. Caroline was best known for her portrayal of Denise Royle on the beloved sitcom The Royle Family, which she also co-created and wrote with Craig Cash.

She was equally famous for playing the chat show host Mrs Merton and for her three-year stint as the narrator of the Channel 4 series Gogglebox.

Caroline passed away in 2016 aged 56 at home in Timperley, Greater Manchester.

She did not leave a will, resulting in her entire £500,000 estate passing directly to her mother, Maureen. Unfortunately, the inheritance exceeded the tax-free threshold of £325,000, leaving Maureen to pay over £71,000 in inheritance taxes to HMRC.

Additionally, Caroline's business, Mitzi Entertainment, held £76,000 in its accounts at the time of her death, having been valued at £300,000 back in 2011.

Harry shot the fame on The Traitors (Image: Getty)

Harry Clark

Despite winning a hefty £95,000 on the BBC show The Traitors, Harry Clark continues to live modestly in his family's council house in Slough.

The 23-year-old won the grand prize after outmanoeuvring his fellow contestants, including a dramatic final where he controversially claimed the entire jackpot from his co-star Mollie Pearce. Since his victory, Harry hasn't embarked on a lavish spending spree but has secured some "cool sponsorship deals" and attended high-profile events like the BRIT Awards and the National Television Awards.

Harry is also in a relationship with CBBC presenter Anna Maynard, who is related to singer Conor Maynard and YouTuber Jack Maynard.

Despite his newfound fame and success, Harry prefers the familiarity of his childhood home. He shared in a piece for the i newspaper: “Back in March I was on the red carpet at the BRITs and saw Dua Lipa. And then I got a taxi home to the council house in Slough, where I grew up with my parents and five siblings. In May I went to a Make-A-Wish Ball at the Savoy – I got driven there in a car which had a TV screen in the back. And then I came home and slept in my bunk bed.”

Harry admits that some people might find his choice to return home "odd," yet he sees it as a "nice contrast" to the glamorous life he's experienced recently.

He also insisted he ”doesn't care what anyone else thinks” about his decision and that he hopes to be able to buy the property for his beloved parents.