Exclusive celeb retirement home where All Creatures and Last of the Summer Wine stars died

Just three years ago, Josephine Tewson - best known for her role as Elizabeth Warden in BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, and as Lucinda Davenport in Last Of The Summer Wine - died aged 91. Five years prior to that, Robert Hardy, who was legendary as Siegfried Farnon in All Creatures Great and Small and even received honours from the late Queen, died at exactly the same age.

What do the pair both have in common? They, like Andrew Sachs of Fawlty Towers, David Attenborough's brother Richard and Black Narcissus actress Kathleen Byron, had all been cared for at the refined Denville Hall. A residential care home for showbiz pros, famous actors, actresses, dancers and even circus performers have all chosen to live out their final years at the Hillingdon property, in the hands of expert carers. Opened in 1926, it quickly established a reputation as "the residential home for all members of the theatrical profession", vowing on its website that it counts "care, happiness and dignity" among its "core values".

There's a specialist dementia care unit on site for those who have the condition, with statistics suggesting up to 50% of over 85s live with it, and for everyone else, there's a nursing team on hand both day and night to help with everything from mobility to medications.

Meanwhile, those who remain relatively healthy in their later years are rumoured to put on epic acting performances for each other behind the scenes.

There are also daily film screenings in the on-site theatre, plus visits from professional musicians and performers who add to the entertainment opportunities on the premises.

Residents are welcome to wander through Denville's extensive grounds and courtyard gardens and to join scheduled visits to theatres, pubs, shops and restaurants.

It's had the seal of approval from family members of residents, with Andrew Sachs' wife Melody revealing that, after his cognitive decline began, she "couldn't think of anywhere nicer" for him to live out his final days.

The home's famous ambassadors - from Dame Helen Mirren to Kimth Cattrall of Sex in the City, and Sir Patrick Stewart of X-Men -would no doubt agree.

Meanwhile, kind-hearted actors including Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Paul Scofield and Elizabeth Taylor all donated substantial amounts towards rebuilding the house during the 1960s and 70s.

More recently, even the original set from The Mousetrap was auctioned off to raise money for the home, after being in use for almost 50 years.