FAR from an Englishman’s home being his castle it turns out that his personal bastion might well be his own bathroom.

Asked about the secret of his successful 43-year marriage, Sir Michael Caine was adamant that it was because he and his former model wife Shakira have a bathroom each.

This arrangement is completely understandable. Bathrooms offer personal space for, ahem, personal things and are really best not shared if you have a choice.

His and hers bathrooms in particular seem like a wonderful plus for any property – and an important part of the formula for longevity in a relationship.