The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)

True or false?: We look back on A-list celebrity rumours

2024-05-25 - BY ANDREW ROBSON

Tayside and Fife is not exactly renowned as a playground A-list celebrities. Although St Andrews regularly welcomes famous faces because of its golfing heritage and world-famous university, most superstars tend to swerve the area for the brighter lights of bigger cities.

But that has not stopped the local rumour mill going into overdrive involving many A-listers. We take a look at seven times famous faces have been the focus of local gossip – and whether the speculation turned out to be true.

BECKHAMS PAY OFF COUPLE’S MORTGAGE TO HIRE GLENEAGLES

Many will now be familiar with the rumour about the Beckhams and Gleneagles.

It has been suggested that David and Victoria paid off another couple’s mortgage to move their booking at the Perthshire hotel so they could celebrate Posh Spice’s 50th birthday in April at the venue.

This is just the latest version of a rumour that has been circling for more than 20 years about the former footballer and the fashion designer, involving venues across the country, and appears to be nothing more than an urban myth.

EWAN MCGREGOR BUYS PERTHSHIRE MANSION

Speculation was rife in early 2023 that Crieff-born actor Ewan McGregor, famed for his roles in Star Wars and Trainspotting, had bought a mansion in the Carse of Gowrie.

At the time, The Courier approached the owners of the house McGregor had reportedly bought and they denied any knowledge of the story. But several people living and working in the area told us they had heard the same rumour.

The Courier finally confirmed the story as being true in January 2024 after the actor had snapped up the £2 million property.

TOM CRUISE HOLIDAYS ON SUPERYACHT OFF FIFE COAST

Back in 2021, Mission: Impossible star Tom Cruise was shooting the latest instalment of the action series in Hertfordshire.

While taking a break from filming, Cruise reportedly stayed on the Triple Seven superyacht for a holiday in Cornwall.

However, the £33m vessel was spotted off the coast of Pittenweem just days later, fuelling speculation that the Top Gun icon may be visiting the East Neuk. It has never been confirmed that Cruise was on board at the time.

GEORGE CLOONEY AND BILL GATES INVEST IN PERTHSHIRE CASTLE

Rumours linking Hollywood superstar George Clooney to Taymouth Castle spread across Perthshire village Kenmore in 2022.

The actor was linked to the estate after close friend and business partner Mike Meldman’s company snapped up the property in 2018. Microsoft tycoon Bill Gates was also touted as an investor in the castle.

However, representatives later confirmed that neither Clooney nor Gates were involved in the estate.

TAYLOR SWIFT EYES PERTHSHIRE HOME

Sticking with the castle theme, in 2015 it was suggested that singer Taylor Swift was interested in buying Tower of Lethendy. The eight-bed baronial home south-west of Blairgowrie boasts a golf course, a heated pool and tennis courts.

Swift, who was dating Dumfries-born DJ Calvin Harris at the time, was reportedly considering buying the home to use as a Scottish base.

However, the star tweeted: “I’m not actually buying a castle.”

BEYONCE AND TAYLOR SWIFT TO APPEAR AT DUNDEE BIG WEEKEND

When Radio 1’s Big Weekend returned to Dundee last year, the rumour mill went into overdrive. Fans speculated that Taylor Swift could join then-boyfriend Matty Healy – frontman of The 1975 – on stage. But that was soon quashed when it was pointed out that she was playing her own gig in the US on the same date.

With Beyonce’s Renaissance world tour visiting the UK around that time, there were rumours she could be a special guest.

That was also put to bed when she performed in Paris that weekend.