Johnny Depp breaks his silence over Norwich bathtub rumours

Johnny Depp attending the Alice Through The Looking Glass European premiere, at the Odeon Leicester Square, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday May 10, 2016. See PA Story SHOWBIZ Alice. Photo credit should read: Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Wire PA

It’s a riddle that has bubbled away for well over a year.

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The 1880 French Bateau Bath on ornate feet in the Stiffkey Bathrooms shop in Upper St Giles, which has been bought by Johnny Depp for his home in LA. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY The 1880 French Bateau Bath on ornate feet in the Stiffkey Bathrooms shop in Upper St Giles, which has been bought by Johnny Depp for his home in LA. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY

Did film icon Johnny Depp really splash out on a £5,000 bathtub from a Norwich shop?

The star came clean about reports when interviewed by former UEA student Greg James on his BBC Radio One show this week.

And far from pulling the plug on the rumours, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor confirmed his purchase from Stiffkey Bathrooms, in Upper St Giles Street in 2014, which was reported in this newspaper at the time.

But he said he had since washed his hands of the antique, without stating what led him to his decision.

The 1880 French Bateau Bath on ornate feet in the Stiffkey Bathrooms shop in Upper St Giles, which was bought by Johnny Depp for his home in LA. The sold tickets on the bath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY The 1880 French Bateau Bath on ornate feet in the Stiffkey Bathrooms shop in Upper St Giles, which was bought by Johnny Depp for his home in LA. The sold tickets on the bath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY

“We disposed of the thing and everything’s fine,” said Mr Depp, whose latest film is Alice Through The Looking Glass.

He apparently became a fan of the Norwich shop after seeing its taps on set at Pinewood Studios.

Mr Depp was filming Mortdecai, an American action comedy film, when props loaned to the studio by the bathroom shop caught his eye.

The French Bateau bath on ornate feet dates back to 1880, and he reportedly had it shipped to America on the wishes of his wife Amber Heard.

Stiffkey Bathrooms shop in Upper St Giles. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY Stiffkey Bathrooms shop in Upper St Giles. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY

The couple are now divorcing.

In the radio interview, Mr Depp was also quizzed about a number of other rumours.

Asked whether he was planning to move to Manchester he said he had never even visited before, and he laughed off rumours that he was spotted buying spatulas in Bath, Somerset.

SEE ALSO: Johnny Depp gets warm welcome to Norwich - after fictitious claim he is moving to city