Alan Titchmarsh
Alan Titchmarsh
Alan Fred Titchmarsh, MBE, DLis an English gardener, presenter, and novelist. After working as a professional gardener and a gardening journalist, he established himself as a media personality through appearances on gardening programmes. He has developed a diverse writing and broadcasting career...
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth2 May 1949
book holiday clothes
I don't spend much on clothes. I buy old books. I tell myself I ought to save - it's the classic Northern work ethic. I like good holidays, though. I'm a big fan of cruises. I love unpacking once and having the scenery change every day.
people
Alan Bennett and Judi Dench are amazingly talented people who don't let you down when you meet them.
appreciate people pity
I've covered a lot of the British countryside and the UK from top to bottom and side to side. It's such a pity more people don't appreciate what's on their doorstep.
i-like-you grateful people
You hope people won't be tricky or miserable. If you're in public life, it's important not to be. If someone says, 'I like your programme, thank you,' you should be grateful. I am. Why be nasty?
people trying bags
I get up to 400 letters a week, so I have a full-time PA, but I try to answer everything. People don't seem to realise that if they send something living in the post it's going to die on the way. Especially when you wrap it in a polythene bag.
growing-up carbon-emissions wish
I wish we could grow up about it, I'm sure we are contributing to global warming, and we must do all we can to reduce that, but our climate has always changed. The Romans had vineyards in Yorkshire. We're all on this bandwagon of 'Ban the 4x4 in Fulham'. Why didn't we have global warming during the Industrial Revolution? In those days you couldn't have seen across the street for all the carbon emissions and the crap coming out of the chimneys.
fun lovely forget
Airports - they're not my idea of fun at all. Some of the staff are lovely, but you do always get one or two that seem to forget that it's actually costing you a lot of money to be there and be insulted by their surliness. Times have obviously changed and we need to get used to being more strictly vetted, but they could be more pleasant about it. A smile wouldn't go amiss.
sorry blame these-days
I am partly to blame for the decking boom, and I am sorry, I know it?s everywhere these days.
thinking people different
People think cruises are for old folk, but they are amazing, as you get to see so many places, and you're never stuck as you're docked in a different port every day.
queens doe sticks
I'm a big fan of the Queen. She carries herself well, as does the Prince of Wales, despite getting lots of stick.
friday wine night
When I'm in Italy on a Friday night, my first supper there is a big bowl of fresh pasta and a glass of local wine, sitting outside. There's nothing better.
nice years ideas
I get nice letters, but really I have no idea. I just try to enthuse people. You've been married for 31 years.
garden be-kind kind
Be kind to your garden and be gentle on your back!
nice wine glasses
Depends on the evening. A good red wine is nice in cold weather. A Claret or a Rioja. I've got a good gin we make from damson plums. And you can't beat a glass of champagne every now and again.