From California to the Cotswolds: Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi step out together for first time since their multi-million pound farmhouse in English countryside was hit by flooding

Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi have stepped out together for the first time since moving from sunny California to the rainy English countryside.

The American talk show superstar braved the stormy weather as she strolled through a village while wrapped warmly in a navy blue jacket, blue jeans, rubber boots and a dark blue woolen hat.

Ellen, 66, and Portia, 51, were spotted on their getaway just days after their new multi-million pound farm in the Cotswolds was threatened by flooding shortly after they moved in.

Dramatic footage in late November showed the area around their 43-acre home being inundated by floodwaters after being lashed by days of heavy rain and winds of up to 80mph in Storm Bert.

Roads remained impassable under five feet of water after a tributary of the River Thames next to their property broke its banks, trapping locals in their homes.

Despite their overflowing misery, the couple are said to be happily settling into their new life in England, after reportedly emigrating from the United States in protest against Donald Trump’s election victory.

Portia managed a smile as she was photographed reaching into her brown handbag for her phone as she walked under cloudy skies on a deserted country road near her new home.

Ellen looked even more somber as she braved the cold English winter weather with her hands in the pockets of her jacket.

The left-wing celebrity couple are said to have been spotted in local cafes and pubs, including Jeremy Clarkson’s new pub and restaurant called The Farmer’s Dog, where they often go unrecognized by locals.

But the villagers are baffled as to why they wanted to swap their California lives for the dull English weather, even though the area they have moved to is known as a celebrity enclave.

Other big names with homes in the Cotswolds include David and Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss, Patrick Stewart, Elizabeth Hurley and Damien Hirst.

A local resident said: ‘It’s been absolutely bleak. It’s a beautiful area but the weather has just been a nightmare and it’s only going to get worse.

“God knows those two must be thinking after they left California to come here. The English countryside is a long way from Los Angeles, and I doubt they were prepared for this kind of thing.

“I wonder if next time they’re wading home through a soaking wet field, they might think it’s not worth it.”

US media reported last month that Ellen and Portia, who donated money to Kamala Harris’ doomed election campaign, decided to ‘leave’ after Trump’s victory, apparently vowing never to return.

They are said to be delighted with their new property, which includes a helipad and swimming pool, and were reportedly willing to pay £2.5 million more than the asking price.

Their house was originally built as a farmhouse and converted 15 years ago into a modern, luxury home with six bedrooms, four bathrooms and an environmentally friendly heat pump for heating.

The home features a gym, games rooms and separate offices with a one-bedroom cottage and five-bay garage on site. But it is still said to have retained its old-world charm, with secluded barns connected to the main house via glass corridors.

A source in the Cotswolds said: ‘It really is a beautiful house. It’s so quintessentially English that they, as Americans, have fallen in love with, even though they can forget the glamorous nightlife and weather of Southern California.

‘The area itself is very quiet, some might even say boring as there isn’t much to do, especially in the colder months, but there are a lot of celebrities in the area.’

Before the floods arrived, Ellen and Portia were pictured on social media enjoying a raucous evening at Jeremy Clarkson’s Cotswolds pub, where they were entertained by The Corrs.

Pop stars James Blunt, 50, and Natalie Imbruglia, 49, were also in attendance as they enjoyed a few drinks with friends.

It is thought that Ellen and Portia have invested in a few 4×4 vehicles which could prove a lifeline when driving on boggy roads.

According to People magazine, Ellen is a known collector of “multi-million dollar homes”, including a $32 million property in Montecito, where Harry and Meghan live, which she sold earlier this year.

In 2023, she told a US outlet that she had bought and sold “more than 50 houses”, including a house in Malibu that once belonged to Brad Pitt.

Other stars, including Cher, Barbra Streisand, Sharon Stone and Sophie Turner, also said they would consider leaving the US if Trump wins, although it is not clear if anyone has done so.

Ellen’s career was tarnished by claims that she fostered a toxic workplace on the set of her eponymous daytime talk show, the final episode of which aired on May 26, 2022.

She delved into her persona non grata status in her stand-up special For Your Approval, which was released on Netflix in late September.

The comedian joked that she had been “kicked out of show business” in the special, which featured material about how she has been spending her time since her TV show ended.