Alan Titchmarsh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alan Titchmarsh
CBE DL VMH HonFSE
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Titchmarsh in 2007
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| Born |
Alan Fred Titchmarsh
2 May 1949 Ilkley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
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| Education | Hertfordshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1974–present |
| Television | Gardeners' World (1996–2002) Ground Force (1997–2002) The Alan Titchmarsh Show (2007–2014) Popstar to Operastar (2010) Love Your Garden (2011–present) |
| Spouse(s) |
Alison Titchmarsh
(m. 1975) |
| Children | 2 |
Alan Fred Titchmarsh (born 2 May 1949) is a famous English gardener, TV presenter, and writer. He started his career as a professional gardener and wrote about plants. Later, he became well-known for hosting many popular TV and radio shows. He has also written many books, including novels.
Contents
Alan Titchmarsh's Early Life and Education
Alan Fred Titchmarsh was born on May 2, 1949, in Ilkley, England. His mother, Bessie, worked in a textile factory, and his father, Alan senior, was a plumber. Alan left school at 15 with one qualification in Art.
Starting as a Gardener
In 1964, Alan began working as an apprentice gardener for Ilkley Council. He also attended classes to earn a qualification in horticulture. Horticulture is the science and art of growing plants.
Studying Plants and Gardens
Later, in 1968, Alan studied at Hertfordshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture. He then moved to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in 1969. Kew Gardens is a very famous place for studying plants. After finishing his diploma, he worked there for two years. He was a gardens supervisor, helping to train other staff.
Becoming a Writer
In 1974, Alan decided to focus on writing about gardening. He joined a publishing company as an assistant editor for gardening books. Soon after, he started writing his own books. His first book, Starting With Houseplants, was published in 1976.
Alan Titchmarsh on TV and Radio
Alan Titchmarsh began his broadcasting career in 1977. He shared his gardening knowledge on BBC Radio 4 shows like You and Yours. He also hosted a gardening show called A House in a Garden on BBC Radio 2.
First TV Appearances
Alan first appeared on BBC TV shows such as Nationwide and Breakfast Time. He was a gardening expert on these programs. This led to him presenting the famous Chelsea Flower Show for the BBC. He hosted this show every year from 1983 until 2013.
Hosting Popular Shows
In 1986, Alan hosted Open Air for the BBC. From 1987 to 1996, he presented talk shows like Daytime Live and Pebble Mill at One. In 1991, he presented a series called Titchmarsh's Travels. In this show, he explored Britain and Ireland.
Gardening TV Star
In 1996, Alan became the host of Gardeners' World. This show was even filmed in his own garden! A year later, in 1997, he started hosting Ground Force. On Ground Force, he and other presenters like Charlie Dimmock and Tommy Walsh would transform gardens. After Gardeners' World, he also presented How To Be A Gardener.
Other TV and Radio Work
Beyond gardening, Alan also presented Songs of Praise. He hosted two nature documentary series for the BBC: British Isles - A Natural History and The Nature of Britain. He even voiced the main character in a cartoon series called Gordon the Garden Gnome for CBeebies.
Alan hosted The Alan Titchmarsh Show on ITV from 2007 to 2014. This was a popular afternoon chat show. He also had a regular radio show on BBC Radio 2 called Melodies for You. In 2010, he co-presented Popstar to Operastar. From 2011 to 2023, he presented the gardening show Love Your Garden. Since 2012, he has hosted a show on Classic FM.
In 2014, Alan presented The Queen's Garden, a two-part series about the gardens at Buckingham Palace. He also presented Britain's Best Back Gardens in 2015. From 2016 to 2017, he hosted the game show Masterpiece. More recently, he has presented Secrets of the National Trust for Channel 5.
In March 2024, there was news that Alan's trousers were censored on North Korean TV. He was wearing jeans in Alan Titchmarsh's Garden Secrets, and jeans are not allowed there. Alan joked that this gave him "a bit of street cred."
Alan Titchmarsh's Writing Career
Alan Titchmarsh has been writing for newspapers and magazines for over 50 years. He has written more than 70 books! These books cover topics like gardening, the countryside, and even the Royal Family.
Books and Novels
His first book was published in 1979. About 20 years later, he started writing fiction. His first novel, Mr MacGregor, came out in 1998. He has written a dozen novels in total. Some of his other books include Trowel & Error (an autobiography) and Nobbut A Lad: A Yorkshire Childhood. He also has a series of gardening guides called the How to Garden series.
Alan Titchmarsh's Personal Life
Alan Titchmarsh married Alison in 1975, and they have two children. In 2002, they moved to a historic farmhouse in Hampshire with a four-acre garden. He also has a home on the Isle of Wight.
Alan is a bell ringer. In 2011, he rang bells to celebrate the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.
Views on Public Matters
Alan Titchmarsh is a monarchist, meaning he supports the idea of a king or queen as head of state. He has also shared his thoughts on political topics, explaining that he understands why some ideas appeal to people. In 2014, he was one of many public figures who signed a letter hoping that Scotland would remain part of the United Kingdom.
Conservation Work
Alan Titchmarsh is involved in conservation efforts. In 2011, he took part in a ceremony to plant elm trees in London. This was to help make urban areas greener. In 2022, he returned to plant the 1000th new tree for a project in London.
Honours and Awards
Alan Titchmarsh has received many awards and honours for his work.
Royal Honours
He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2000 for his work in gardening and broadcasting. In 2025, he was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to horticulture and charity. He was also made a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) of Hampshire in 2001. In 2008, he served as the High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight.
Academic and Horticultural Awards
In 1999, he received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Bradford. He became a Patron of Writtle College in 2001, and a building there was named after him in 2011. In 2004, he received the Royal Horticultural Society's Victoria Medal of Honour. This is the highest award the RHS can give. He also served as the Chancellor of the University of Winchester from 2015 to 2022.
Images for kids
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Alan Titchmarsh at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2014
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Alan Titchmarsh at the Gardeners' World Live Exhibition in 2008
See also
In Spanish: Alan Titchmarsh para niños
