A 70-year-old aristocrat is “interviewing hard” for a young wife after splitting from his partner because she is too old.

Sir Benjamin Slade is searching for a woman who is “fit” enough to help maintain his two homes, which include a castle in Somerset. Those “past their sell-by-date” need not apply.

He previously dated the Countess of Carnarvon. “She was very difficult to live with. Good riddance to her.” The warring couple later went to the High Court to fight for custody of their dog.

His last girlfriend “went off with my handyman in 2011, but was already showing signs of madness”.

Sir Ben is now on the look-out for a young bride. “I am interviewing hard. I have had a few proposals, but sometimes the women are past their sell-by date and have been over the guns a few times,” he told the Daily Mail.