Alan Titchmarsh has been a staple on the small screen for decades, but, behind-the-scenes, the Gardeners’ World icon has opened up on devastating losses in his personal life
Matthew Davies Community Content Curator, Natalie King and Matt Davies
11:46, 19 Aug 2025
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Alan Titchmarsh gave a rare glimpse into his family life(Image: Mark Cuthbert, UK Press via Getty Images)
Alan Titchmarsh, the beloved television gardening expert, has discussed his experiences with bereavement, before opening up on saying a ‘heartbreaking’ farewell to his wife and daughters for his career.
The presenter has spoken frankly about the devastating effect of losing both of his parents, revealing how their deaths brought about a life-changing realisation.
During a heartfelt conversation with radio presenter James O’Brien on a 2023 edition of the Full Disclosure podcast, the much-loved gardener, now 75, discussed his family life.
Recognised primarily for his horticultural knowledge on the BBC’s Gardeners’ World and the popular programme Ground Force, Alan revealed his mother’s sense of achievement regarding his success prior to her passing in 2002.
Alan Titchmarsh attends The RHS Chelsea Flower Show(Image: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
He revealed: “Well, she was…yeah, she was proud of me in the end and that was nice to know, and the thing you realise, as soon as you’ve lost both your parents..”
Taking a moment to explain the timeline, he recalled that his father passed away in 1986, whilst Alan was in his thirties, before his mother’s death took place in the early 2000s, when the star was in his fifties.
Alan continued: “You suddenly realise there’s nobody to impress anymore, nobody to show off to, really, nobody to make proud of you, and I think that’s a big realisation for anybody in any walk of life.
“I think we all try and do right by our parents in a kind of reflected way, saying, ‘Look, I did alright; you saw me right. You grounded me; you brought me up to achieve what I’ve achieved’, and it’s not just showing off to your parents.
“It’s feeling you want to give them some kind of vindication for your life and that they did right by…I was very aware of that when they went and I would still…I’d do something and I’d think, ‘Oh, I must ring me…oh’.”
Alan opened up about the difficult period he endured whilst mourning his losses, acknowledging it was “hard”, but revealed that sufficient time has now elapsed where he he doesn’t “weep about it” anymore, choosing instead to “believe that they’re looking down” on him.
Alan Titchmarsh with wife Alison who he married in 1975(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Alan also spoke about how he courageously made the jump into freelance work back in 1980.
This bold move occurred when the gardening expert and his wife, Alison, were anticipating the arrival of their first child.
He had recently left his position at Kew Gardens and ventured into journalism, feeling reluctant to remain settled in his magazine role.
Speaking on Full Disclosure, Alan revealed: “I warned Alison that my income would probably halve in the first year.”
However, he was taken aback when things unfolded quite differently: “But it doubled, totally unexpectedly.”
Currently writing for Gardeners’ World Magazine, Alan also hinted at the inevitable time when he’ll put down his pen for good, explaining he’ll “stop” should he ever find it “impossible to find a current angle on it”.
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