The Time Machine

University / 1 December 2004

Griff Rhys Jones to buy London Foot Hospital?

René Lavanchy
The hirsute TV man, inset, and the London Foot Hospital in Fitzroy Square, up for grabs.

The hirsute TV man, inset, and the London Foot Hospital in Fitzroy Square, up for grabs.

NO, WE’RE NOT making it up. The long-haired multi-million- aire TV produc- er, actor and pre- senter of BBC’s Restoration pro- gramme might possibly try to bring the Lon- don Foot Hospi- tal back to life.

The LFH, based in Fitzrovia, was once site to UCL’s now-defunct podiatry course. After a futile cam- paign last year to save the hospital, the building looks set to be sold off to some developer. However, sources close to Jones, who made £23 million when he sold his stake in nearby-based TV production company Talkback Thames 2000, tell us that he has recently con- sidered forming a consortium to buy up and preserve the hospital. So far, however, no serious buyers appear to have come forward.