Media mogul Richard Desmond, proprietor of the Daily Express, the Daily Star and Asian Babes, is planning a £5m refurbishment of his Hampstead mansion
Desmond and his wife Janet are understood to have appointed London architect Corstorphine & Wright to design the makeover of their home in The Bishops Avenue – also known as Millionaire's Row – one of the capital's most exclusive roads.

It is understood that Janet Desmond is particularly keen to relocate her husband's drumkit to a chillout room.

One essential that the Desmonds don't have is a swimming pool. However, Building understands that this is shortly to be remedied.

Desmond's luxury makeover puts him more than a decade behind rival porn boss David Sullivan, owner of The Daily Sport.

According to one of the designers who was involved in work on Sullivan's £8m mansion in Theydon Bois, Essex, which was built in the early 1990s, the multimillionaire commissioned an indoor and an outdoor pool. He also installed a spa bath linked to the indoor pool, and for a finishing touch added a two-lane bowling alley.

Three architectural practices were approached by Desmond's project manager last month, leading to Corstorphine & Wright's selection.

The architect and Northern and Shell, Desmond's company, declined to comment.