The latest research from eXp UK, the platform for personal estate agents, has revealed which famous TV faces would struggle to make it in today’s property market when taking into account both the pay they take home and the cost of homeownership in their respective areas.
eXp UK looked at 12 much loved TV characters, what their onscreen professions would earn today and just how much it costs to purchase a property in their hometowns, before working out the income to house price ratio for each character.
With the current average UK house price sitting at £291,385 and the average gross salary coming in at £25,404, the average income to house price ratio currently stands at 8.2*.
Ian Beale priced out of Albert Square
But spare a thought for Ian Beale, long-serving Eastender, who is facing a far less affordable outlook when it comes to the property market. While he may have held many jobs over the years, his fish and chip shop and vegetable stall have seen him through thick and thin.
While the average caterer makes £27,886 across the UK, the average cost of a property in the East End of London is a lofty £512,825. As a result, Ian Beale would have a very tough time climbing the property ladder in today’s market with the income to house price ratio coming in at a huge 18.4 – 10.2 higher than the national benchmark.
Vicar of Dibley would be Dibley-less
Geraldine Granger, otherwise known as the Vicar of Dibley, wouldn’t fare much better. The average earnings for a member of clergy is currently £26,300. The fictional village of Dibley is set in Oxfordshire, where house prices average £445,210, meaning Geraldine would require 16.9 times her income to cover the cost of a home.
Sherlock Holmes has no chance in Westminster
While the average detective may earn as much as £62,343 per year, the average price of a home in Westminster is currently £967,277, meaning Sherlock Holmes would require 15.5 times his annual earnings to purchase within the borough today.
Gavin and Stacey would have to make do without Smithy
Smithy from Gavin and Stacey would earn £28,109 as a builder and decorator today, but should he want to purchase in his hometown of Billericay, he’d need 13.2 times his annual income to cover the cost of the average property there.
Other famous TV faces priced out of the market
Edina Moon from Ab Fab would also need 13 times her annual income as a PR executive to purchase in Holland Park, Alfie Wickers from Bad Education would have to earn 10.9 times his annual earnings as a secondary school teacher to cover the cost of a property in his hometown, while the average price of a property in Postman Pat’s hometown sits at 10.9 times the average earnings of a postman.
Who would make it onto the property ladder?
Of the famous faces analysed by eXp UK there are a few who would have less of a struggle than the rest when it comes to the task of achieving homeownership.
With a general office manager pulling in £42,156 a year and the average house price in Slough sitting at £312,777, David Brent is facing one of the more affordable house price to income ratios at 7.4.
Alan Partridge would require 5.8 times the average income of a broadcaster to purchase in Norwich, while the average house price in Cornwall is just 4.7 times Doc Martin’s annual income as a GP.
Head of eXp UK, Adam Day, commented:
“These famous TV faces are, of course, fictional. However, it’s interesting to see just how many would struggle in today’s housing market based on the locations they live in, the income they generate and the average cost of a home.
Had Ian Beale known just how much house prices in the east end would climb in recent years, he probably would have sacked off the chip shop and invested in bricks and mortar a long time ago.
It also goes to show that even someone as incompetent as David Brent can climb the ladder with greater ease by opting for a more affordable location as Slough, while those working as detectives, teachers, clergy and PRs will struggle in London and the surrounding areas due to the far higher cost of property.”
Data Tables
Income to house price ratio is the number of years annual gross income required to cover the current average house price in a given area.
Current house price data for each area sourced from the Gov – UK House Price Index
Current average gross earnings sourced from the Office for National Statistics – Employee earnings in the UK: 2023
View the full data tables here.
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