Gardening expert and ITV presenter Alan Titchmarsh, who has been on our screens since 1979, has opened up about his long career and says he has a “lot to be grateful for”
Alan Titchmarsh has candidly reflected on his illustrious career and acknowledges he has “a lot to be grateful for”.
The beloved TV personality, who first graced our screens back in 1979, has a portfolio packed with shows like Ground Force, Gardeners’ World, and the Alan Titchmarsh Show.
At 76, the Yorkshire-born presenter reminisced about his initial steps in the limelight. He’s lent his expertise to BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours and The Today Programme as a gardening guru, and, even before fame, he edited gardening books and penned his own.
However, Alan, hailing from Ilkley, West Riding, pointed out that “many people don’t realise how difficult” life was in 1950s Yorkshire. He admits the need for “realistic aspirations” was a driving force in his early life.
With just one O Level to his name upon leaving school, Alan began his journey as an apprentice gardener with Ilkley Council. His passion for plants propelled him through studies at the Hertfordshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture, leading to a coveted position at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.
In a frank discussion with Saga magazine, Alan offered this stark take on youthful ambition: “There seemed no point in having any.”
He humbly added: “So, if it all finishes tomorrow, I will have a lot to be grateful for. I’m of an age now where not many people my age are on the box, but I’m still doing new things and I’ve still got my hair.”
Currently embracing digital trends with recent ventures into YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, Alan is keen to “give people their money’s worth”. With a sense of gratitude, he comments on feeling “blessed” to prolong his tenure in media.
Alan recently revealed that he’s been cutting down on his workload, confessing that he’s stopped working on Fridays and sometimes even Mondays.
Discussing his choice to take a step back, he commented: “It’s the old cliché, but you can’t get it back”, alluding to the invaluable time spent with loved ones. “My oldest grandchild has just hit 13 and you think, ‘Oh crumbs! I’ve got a teenager as a grandchild now’.”
Together with his wife Ali, to whom he’s been married for over half a century, they share two daughters, Polly and Camilla, and are proud grandparents to four. Despite not anticipating such a packed agenda at his age, Alan still relishes the work that keeps coming his way.
The cherished television gardener is set to grace our screens again this week with Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh. Scheduled for 9.30am on ITV One, the show will feature guests Anita Dobson, Tom Allen, and Amol Rajan.
Garden expert Camilla Bassett-Smith will give us a glimpse into her summer diary, while there’s also a segment for wildlife enthusiasts to catch up with the brown bears at Jimmy’s Farm. Andy Clarke will be on hand to talk about the top tipples and snacks.