Jeremy Clarkson at loggerheads with the council AGAIN… this time over building a pickleball court at his Diddly Squat Farm

• Jeremy Clarkson says he’s faced opposition to plans to build a pickleball court
• He says he got hooked on the game after a stay at a ‘juice farm’
• The game is played by 37 million Americans, and around 40,000 Brits 

TV star Jeremy Clarkson says he’s building a pickleball court at his farm – but is already facing opposition from the local council.

The 63-year-old former Top Gear host – who owns 1,000-acre Diddly Squat farm in Chipping Norton – said he got hooked on the sport after a recent trip to a health farm.

Around 37m Americans play the sport – a combination of tennis, badminton and table tennis, using a bigger ball, paddles and a smallish court – and around 40,000 Brits.

Among the fans of the spot – invented in 1964 in the USA – include tennis ace Andy Murray and mum Judy, who have a pickleball court at Andy’s Cromlix Hotel in Scotland.

The court is 44ft long and 20ft wide.

Jeremy Clarkson (pictured) said he has already faced local opposition to his plans to build a pickleball court

Around 37m Americans play the sport – a combination of tennis, badminton and table tennis, using a bigger ball, paddles and a smallish court

Among the fans of the spot – invented in 1964 in the USA – includes tennis ace Andy Murray

Writing in The Sunday Times at the weekend, the star of Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime, said he was introduced to pickleball recently after a stay at a ‘juice farm’.

He said: ‘It is strenuous, fast-paced and more exhausting than breakdancing while you’re being shot at and given electric shocks.

‘But it is also absolutely brilliant.

‘Played on what looks like a quarter-scale tennis court, it’s a cross, really, between tennis, ping pong and badminton.’

He added: ‘I could not believe how quickly I picked it up.

‘After 20 minutes I was smashing and slicing and volleying like a good ‘un.

‘It gets better, because while there is some running and jumping, you’re only really covering an area the size of your kitchen.

‘That’s why I’ve decided to build a court at home.

‘As it’s only a quarter the size of a tennis court and needs no netting, you’d assume planning permission would be unnecessary.

‘And you’d be right. As long as you don’t live in an area of outstanding natural beauty, which I do. And you aren’t in west Oxfordshire, which I am. And your name doesn’t begin with a ‘J’ and end with an ‘eremy Clarkson’.

‘I shall persevere, though, because what are the alternatives for the ageing chap who isn’t quite ready to hit the wingback.’

The TV star regularly moans about restrictions placed on his farm by West Oxfordshire District Council and Chadlington Parish Council on his show Clarkson’s Farm.

MailOnline has contacted Jeremy Clarkson, West Oxfordshire District Council, and Chadlington Parish Council for comment. 

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