Beloved Gardeners’ World icon Alan Titchmarsh says he didn’t need to think long when he was asked if there was one thing he did that would irritate his wife Alison
Alan Titchmarsh says he does one thing that irritates his wife (Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
Alan Titchmarsh issued an apology to his wife Alison as he addressed a personal “struggle”. The Gardeners’ World icon has been married to Alison since 1975, sharing two children together.
But when recently asked whether he does anything that would “irritate” his wife, Alan admits he didn’t have to think about it for too long. The 76-year-old admits he has always been a “potterer”.
While Alan admits he can find himself sitting down for an hour or two to watch a film – should it capture his attention – he regularly finds himself with the urge to get up and keep busy. He says around 10 to 15 minutes with a book is about all he can take as well.
Writing in Gardeners’ World, Alan said: “What irritates my wife above all else is my inability to sit still for more than five minutes. I am, you see, a born potterer.”
Alan says he doesn’t quite get the urge to leap up out of his chair and start doing things around the house. But he does often find being inactive difficult, particularly during his working week.
Alan Titchmarsh issued an apology to his wife Alison(Image: Ferdaus Shamim, WireImagevia Getty Images)
He wonders if it is a pitfall of being a gardener. Alan revealed he often finds himself wanting to do a job around his garden, only being side-tracked by a host of other tasks that need completing before getting around to it.
Alan admits he is however “pleased” by “the very nature” of being a potterer. He does confess that he often finds himself “wasting time” by watching his bird feeder as the little robins peck away at the seed.
While Alan acknowledges that he ought to take time to sit back and enjoy his work in the garden, he would rather do so while dead-heading flowers or edging the lawn. Alan admits there is something “irresistibly pleasurable” about being “gently busy”.
It was a confession that led him to issue an apology to Alison. He added: “So forgive me if, after having sat down for my tea or coffee for all of about three or four minutes, I feel the need to get up and… well, potter. Sorry Mrs T.”
Alan Titchmarsh and his wife Alison(Image: Getty)
Alan’s TV career has spanned over four decades now, with the star first appearing on the BBC’s Nationwide in 1979. He has gone on to present some well-loved shows including BBC Gardeners’ World, Ground Force, and the coverage of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
His Love Your Weekend will air once again this morning (July 13) from 9.30am on ITV One. This week Alan will be joined by actress Penelope Keith, actor Robert Lindsay and musical theatre star Marisha Wallace.
Meanwhile horticulturalist Camilla Bassett Smith will be bringing colour to the borders at Alan’s Manor Farm. It will also revisit the unveiling of Alan’s popular Love Your Weekend greenhouse.