Soap star goes on bizarre rant and slams Ricky Gervais for flaunting wealth with tennis court at £10.8m mansion
A SOAP star has gone on a bizarre rant and slammed Ricky Gervais for flaunting his wealth with his tennis court.
The comedian, 63, got to work revamping the garden at his posh London home in December, and he’s got a brand new court for “one-to-one tennis coaching” only.
But Ricky has now received backlash from a soap star after he shared a picture of the court on his social media.
The Office star posted a snap of the impressive new court, and wrote: “Played my first game of tennis on the brand new court today. A fox had already christened it for me.”
And Jeremy Edwards, known for his roles as Kurt Benson in Hollyoaks, Danny Shaughnessy in Holby City and Mike Taylor in Millie Inbetween, had something to say.
Taking to social media he uploaded a video, and said: “I’m a huge Ricky Gervais fan, I think most of us are.
“I think his work for animal charities is fantastic and I think he’s very funny and very clever, and I’m lucky that he actually came to see me in a play in Greenwich.
“What a good guy, he came down to see the play and laughed a lot and thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Jeremy continued: “I follow him on Instagram and stuff like that but I could kill him right now. I could actually physically murder him.
“He just posted a picture of his brand new tennis court and Ricky, if you see this, there is a line.
“I don’t mind seeing the Dutch Barn vodka, I don’t mind seeing all the awards.
“But I am never going to have that f****** tennis court Ricky, and that has just tipped me over the edge.
“I am mad, I am mad as hell. Enough.”
Ricky shared another photo of his tennis court recently, as well as flower bed, and told fans: “Flower beds planted, patio scrubbed, symmetry attained. (Think I might be a bit OCD).”
Earlier this year, Ricky was locked in a row with his neighbours over the building of a “noisy” tennis court.
The comedian, 63, got to work revamping the garden at his posh London home in December, with locals spotting vans and construction workers outside.
As well as the brand-new court plans also include chopping down nine trees are ripping up three-quarters of the lawn.
This is despite the property – where Ricky lives with wife Jane Fallon – being in a conservation area.
Locals are particularly concerned about noise emanating from the court, The Sun revealed.
Complaints were dismissed by the planning officers who stating that issues like stray tennis balls and spectators are civil matters, not planning issues.
One resident said: “It is unfair and unrealistic, noise-wise. It will not only be the ball or balls being hit or bounced before serving that will be noisy.”
While a grass badminton court already exists at the property, the neighbour feared the new set-up would be bigger and louder.
They added: “If practising a machine firing balls over the net is even more noisy. The players will make noise when speaking or shouting to each other.
“A tennis court can be used for doubles i.e. 4 adults and / or children. From time to time there will be spectators watching, shouting and cheering.”