Alongside death and divorce, moving home is recognised as one of the most intensely stressful experiences of an adult's life.

　　So pity, then, Michael Caton-Jones and Laura Viederman, who are doing so in front of the assembled press corps.

　　The couple are renting the imposing townhouse, which the Blairs purchased last October at a cost of ?3.65 million, while filming in Britain.

　　They are understood to be paying substantially less than the ?15,000 a month in rent which the Prime Minister wanted, and possibly as little as ?8,000.

　　Intended as their home once they eventually leave Downing Street, the Blairs hoped to rent out the five-bedroom 19th century property immediately to help with mortgage payments. It has taken them six months to find tenants.

　　They are understood to have spent tens of thousands of pounds refurbishing their five-storey property after initial interest failed to deliver a tenant.