Paul Hollywood faces fury of neighbours over helicopter ‘disturbance’

Residents claim Bake Off host is ‘up and down like a yo-yo’ in new £360,000 private aircraft

Paul Hollywood risks burning bridges with his neighbours by flying over their homes in his new helicopter.
Residents living close to Hollywood’s £1 million farmhouse in Ashford, Kent, have complained the Great British Bake Off host keeps buzzing over their homes, disturbing horses and pets.
It is claimed that Hollywood and his wife Melissa enjoy using the helicopter for day trips and leisure jaunts to luxury hotels, to the annoyance of their neighbours on the ground.
Hollywood, 58, began training to become a pilot two years ago, saying he wanted to escape the “madness” of his celebrity life.
He explained at the time: “It’s just you, a machine, and you’re away from all the madness. Of course I’m a bit nervous. But up there you’ve got total freedom.”
But his neighbours say their peace is being disturbed by the celebrity baker’s search for freedom.
One neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, told MailOnline: “He comes buzzing back and forth every couple of days.
“He’s been up and down like a yo-yo and he flies so close over the top of people’s gardens and houses.
“Many of my neighbours have horses and animals which are very disturbed by the noise. He can only really fly it in good weather so it’s not been every day, but it’s been a lot over the past few weeks.”
Hollywood is understood to keep his £360,000 Robinson Raven helicopter at Manston airport in Ramsgate as he continues to work towards his pilot’s licence.
This week, he posted a photograph on social media of himself at the controls of his chopper, writing: “Managed to fly solo!!! Always wanted to learn…a big life tick!”
Flight records show that Hollywood has undertaken regular flights from Manston in the past few weeks, with trips across the Kent Downs, and others along the coast past Dover and Deal.
He would be on track to obtain a private flying licence after 45 hours of flight instruction, consisting of 25 hours of dual flight instruction and 10 hours of supervised solo flight time, including at least five hours of solo cross-country.
In anticipation of the qualification, he is reported to have installed a windsock in his garden to monitor flying conditions.
Hollywood earned £14,146,703 in 2023, making him one of the UK’s best-paid TV stars.
He received a £100,000 pay rise on top of his £600,000 salary for Bake Off before the next series in September and his 11 books have each sold more than 700,000 copies since publication.
Hollywood married Melissa, 39, in September last year in a chapel in the grounds of one of Cyprus’s most exclusive hotels.
The couple had met in 2020 at the Chequers Inn in Smarden, Kent, where Mrs Hollywood was the landlady, and which has been owned by her family for many years.
Their wedding was attended by 75 friends and family, including Prue Leith, Hollywood’s fellow Bake Off judge.
He and first wife Alexandra divorced in July 2019, despite their marriage having earlier survived his affair with Marcela Valladolid, his co-judge on The American Baking Competition.
Hollywood was approached for comment.