Cheeky aristocrat 'interviewing hard' for a young wife
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An aristocrat has revealed he is “interviewing hard” for a new wife after splitting from his partner because she is too old.
Sir Benjamin Slade , 70, says he is on the lookout for a woman who is “fit”enough to help maintain his two homes, which include a castle in Somerset.
And he cheekily declares those “past their sell-by-date” need not apply.
He said: “I am interviewing hard. I have had a few proposals, but sometimes the women are past their sell-by date and have been over the guns a few times.
“They have to be fit - I have two castles. I am like a feudal prince when it comes to throwing parties.
“I am also on the Genghis Khan diet, which is recommended for young lotharios and involves eating sweet potato, sunflower seeds and horny goat weed.
“It was recommended by my French nephew, who is 70 and hasn’t a single grey hair. And Genghis had 2,000 children.”
The eccentric baronet has had a long list of female admirers.
Most recently he was in a relationship with a businesswoman, Bridget Convey, but they separated. “She is 50 so too old to have children,” he explained.
He previously dated the Countess of Carnarvon. “She was very difficult to live with. Good riddance to her.”
The warring couple later went to the High Court to fight for custody of their dog.
His last girlfriend “went off with my handyman in 2011, but was already showing signs of madness”.
Sir Ben is troubled by his lack of an heir. He previously advertised for a distant relative to take over the estate , offering to pay for DNA testing for anyone with the Slade surname.
Running a 2,000-acre estate, he has explained, is no picnic: “The annual heating bill is £24,000; insurance is £15,000. I’ve always wished my name was Smith and that I lived in a council house.”
Last year he found himself in the press after offering a £1,000 ‘dead or alive’ reward to anyone who helped him kill a beaver.