David Jason's quiet life in idyllic village where homes cost average of £600k

David Jason chats about his memory

David Jason has swapped the bright lights of showbiz for a quiet life in Ellesborough, Buckinghamshire, a picturesque village at the foot of the Chiltern Hills where homes cost an average of £653,848.

Despite his fame as one of Britain's most beloved actors, the Del Boy star has found contentment embracing village life.

Sir David’s quiet existence contrasts sharply with his long and successful career, which includes memorable roles in Only Fools and Horses, A Touch of Frost, and The Darling Buds of May.

Locals often spot the actor at The Russell Arms, a traditional pub in the nearby hamlet of Butlers Cross, which serves as a community hub for the village. The pub is known for its welcoming atmosphere and classic British fare.

He also has access to the playing field and allotments at Royal Mead in the village. Sir David's extensive garden has become his personal retreat. He’s particularly passionate about topiary, shaping his shrubs into elaborate animal figures.

David Jason's quiet life in idyllic village where homes cost average of £600k (Image: Getty)

“I love creating animals: I’ve done a gorilla, a rhino, two baby elephants, and a dog,” he told The Telegraph. “I’m now in the middle of a standing bear: I’ve been working on it for two years, but I’m still only up to his waist.”

That section of the garden is aptly nicknamed “The Zoo.” During the lockdown, Sir David and his wife Gill Hinchcliffe moved their vegetable patch closer to the house, building four raised beds.

They now grow everything from carrots and onions to peas and corn on the cob. However, Sir David admitted disappointment with his carrots, which he says “come out looking like boxing gloves.”

The Only Fools & Horses star is also a keen tomato grower, starting his plants from seeds collected the previous year. Sir David described his impatience waiting for the seedlings to appear.

Sir David's stunning has the Ellesborough Church at the heart of it (Image: Getty)

“Every day or two, I’ll sneak in and check on them," he said. "After a few weeks, I’ll start getting impatient and do a bit of coaxing: ‘What’s the matter with you?’”

Once they sprout, he uses the tomatoes to make relish and chutney. Despite Only Fools and Horses being off-screen for a number of years and Sir David can afford to take it slow in his idyllic village.

He still earns approximately £1 million a year and made more than £2.3 million in the last two years. In 2017, he was named a top earner on the BBC list with his salary reported to be between £300,000 and £349,999.

According to CelebrityNetWorth, David Jason has a net worth of £7.2million, which has come from his roles such as Only Fools and Horses, A Touch of Frost and Open All Hours.