Adam Frost, best known for his appearances on BBC Gardeners’ World, made the revelation while talking about his grandparents, who played a “massive part” in his life
Matt Davies Trendswatch Reporter
09:31, 26 Jun 2025
Adam Frost disclosed that his grandparents played a “massive part” in his life
(Image: BBC/Glenn Dearing/Geffrye Museum)
Adam Frost has affectionately dubbed his wife “controlling” and revealed she has a particular complaint about his “behaviour”. In a recent interview with Round and About Magazine, the BBC Gardeners’ World star disclosed that his grandparents, both of whom were gardeners, played a “massive part” in his life.
He also shared their nicknames, “Tidy Nan” and “Scruffy Nan”. He explained that Tidy Nan had an allotment, 70s lawn, and rockery, dubbing her a “bit of a control freak” who tied things up in the garden to “within an inch” of their lives, but also noted that it was a “safe place.”
Meanwhile, Scruffy Nan lived a more “bohemian existence” at the weekends and was a “little on the wild side”. He added that they never threw anything away, and there was “freedom there”.
Adam was asked which of his nans he was more like, but it seems his wife Sulina may have a different opinion because she is a “bit like Tidy Nan.”
Adam said Sulina Frost was a “bit like Tidy Nan”
(Image: adamfrostdesign/Instagram)
Adam said: “In my behaviour patterns, Mrs Frost would say I’m on the Scruffy Nan side. Hopefully, my nature I’m on Tidy Nan side, so yeah, a bit of both.
“I don’t think I’m as scruffy as Mrs Frost thinks I’m scruffy, to be honest, but then, she’s a bit like Tidy Nan. She’s a bit controlling, and everything has its place and this, that and the other.
“You know, so yeah, we have moments in this house. My kids are a mixed as well, so I’ve got some tidy kids and some not so tidy kids.” (sic)
In related news, the much-loved garden designer previously opened up about a difficult period in his life when he had to close his garden school during the Covid-19 pandemic.
During this time, “Mrs Frost was really poorly” and had to spend 11 or 12 weeks in hospital. It meant Adam was left “juggling” this while taking care of their four children and completing his TV duties.
Adam was asked which of his nans he was more like
(Image: BBC)
He sometimes had to step in on Gardeners’ World for his co-star, Monty Don, prior to the hospital visits. However, he would also suffer his own bout of ill health, being “shut in a room with Covid for ten days”.
Speaking to Gardens Illustrated magazine, he said: “Then I was shut in a room with Covid for ten days. Next thing, I was sat in front of a psychiatrist with depression and burnout. We talked about everything from my childhood to where I am now and why plants and gardens have played such a big part in my life.”
The family, which includes the couple’s four children, Abi-Jade, Jacob, Amber-Lily, and Oakley, reportedly also sold their home, an 18th-century farmhouse, over health concerns.
Adam previously explained that, although it was “great”, it was only “great when everybody was well.”
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