'Fifth Beatle' Sir George Martin cut eldest son out of £1m will

The Beatles' legendary producer Sir George Martin has reportedly left his family an estate worth over £1m but is alleged to have cut his eldest son out of the will due to a long-running fued. Martin, dubbed The Fifth Beatle, died at his home in Coleshill, Swindon, on 8 March 2016 at the age of 90.

According to the Mail Online, Martin's will states that an amount of money small enough to avoid UK inheritance tax be shared equally amongst seven. They are said to be his daughter Alexis, from his first marriage to Jean "Sheena" Chisholm, three of his grandchildren, a former chauffeur, his secretary and a niece.

It is reported that his eldest son Greg has not been mentioned in the documents.

The remainder of Martin's estate will be left to his wife Judy Martin, 87, and the will allegedly states that if she were to die before her husband, her inheritance would have automatically transferred to their children Lucie and Giles "in equal shares absolutely".

Martin states in the documents: "I give free of tax to my trustees such sum as at my death equals the maximum amount which could be given by this will without inheritance tax becoming payable in respect of my estate." Alexis will inherit 21% of the estate, an estimated £68,250, while her children Saul and Natasha are entitled to 16% each. The third grandchild Connor Martin, Greg's son, gets the same.

Martin is responsible for producing some of The Beatles' most notable early hits including their iconic albums Revolver and Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. At the time of his death, Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney described Martin as a father figure, writing in a tribute: "I have so many wonderful memories of this great man that will be with me forever. He was a true gentleman and like a second father to me.

"He guided the career of The Beatles with such skill and good humour that he became a true friend to me and my family. If anyone earned the title of the fifth Beatle it was George. From the day that he gave The Beatles our first recording contract, to the last time I saw him, he was the most generous, intelligent and musical person I've ever had the pleasure to know."