The Location, Location, Location star grew up near Canterbury
Avid TV watchers are sure to be familiar with Phil Spencer, a staple of daytime telly as the co-host of the long-running property show Location, Location, Location. Having starred in the show since it began in May 2000, Phil has racked up countless hours of screen time across the show’s 44 seasons, earning him a spot among the nation’s most popular television personalities.
While the show and its hosts have earned many awards from the entertainment industry over the years, including a recent BAFTA, Phil has just netted himself a different kind of impressive accolade. The 56-year-old was named on the King’s New Year Honours List for 2026, receiving an MBE for his work as a patron of homeless charity St Mungo’s.
He told the Press Association: “I’m hugely honoured and humbled. I mean, it’s a hell of a thing. It’s not something that I’d ever expected or even thought about. So it’s a huge honour.”
Kent beginnings
While many know of Phil’s life onscreen, some may be unaware the TV icon actually grew up right here in Kent. It was in the humble countryside village of Littlebourne, found four miles east of Canterbury, where the star grew up on his family farm.
Described as a “country boy” on his official website, Phil spent much time in these early years “messing around outdoors on the farm with his three siblings, learning about nature and conservation and playing lots of cricket”. He was then educated at Uppingham School, Rutland, in the Midlands, and left school in 1988 after finishing his A-Levels.
Following this he undertook a number of unique job roles including teaching sport along the Australian Gold Coast, three months in the British Army and playing junior county cricket for Kent. Later in his life he would then return to the Canterbury area for work.
Here his passion for property emerged while working for an estate agent in the area, inspiring him to take on a four-year course at London’s Southbank University.
Location, Location, Location
After completing his studies, Phil’s natural affinity to understand property hunter needs and negotiate deals led to him being contacted by a Scottish production company. Before long, Location, Location, Location was born and the rest is history.
Phil and co-host Kirstie Allsopp screen tested together and immediately hit it off, with their colourful presenting becoming one of the most recognisable features of the show. Spanning a very impressive 44 seasons as of 2025 and still going strong, the show is the longest running and most successful programme of this nature and is streamed to 72 countries worldwide.
Relocation, Relocation was a welcome by-product of the show which also saw great success. Spencer and his co-host Kirstie have also gone on to create the Raise the Roof production company, while Phil has also written three largely successful books.
A return to the countryside
In 2015, Phil moved out of London into the countryside with his wife of more than 20 years, Fiona Spencer, and their two sons, Ben and Jake. The family moved into a stunning £3.3 million home in the Hampshire countryside which they share with their numerous dogs, ponies, chickens and sheep.
The Daily Mail reports that Phil sold his six-bedroom family home in London for £3.6m – a tidy profit of £2.4m from when he bought the property 10 years ago. The sprawling home in the country, bought for £3.35m, comes complete with 10 acres of land, its own cinema, and a tennis court.
Speaking to Mirror Celebs when he moved he said: “I’ve loved living in SW London for last 25 years, but have moved to Hampshire for a change of life – children getting older and changing schools etc. I was born and bred in countryside so excited about having space, nature and greenery around us. Two ponies and six chickens have already joined the family!”
Family tragedy
Phil’s life was devastated in August 2023 with the tragic death of both his parents. Anne Spencer, 82, and Richard Spencer, 89, tragically died when their car fell into a river near their home in Kent while they were on their way to a pub lunch.
Phil shared a heartfelt statement after the sad loss of his parents, finding comfort in the thought that they passed away together: “holding onto the fact mum and dad went together” and that “neither will ever have to mourn the loss of the other one”. The TV presenter has since spoken about the devastating event and expressed his deep appreciation for the overwhelming support he received.
“I feel a lot of gratitude to people for the thousands of kind, supportive messages I got. The whole thing was overwhelming, but that blew me away. People were very loving and thoughtful,” he said with emotion.
His parents left assets worth a reported £18m to Phil, his brother Robert, and his sisters Caryn and Helen when they passed. Among these was their Lower Garrington Farm property in Kent, which remains in the family and is now owned by Robert, who had already taken over the running of it.
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