Alan Titchmarsh announced a new gardening segment on Love Your Weekend, telling viewers they can get involved by sending in their questions. The announcement came during a discussion about gardening gadgets with presenter Camilla Bassett-Smith.
New feature Trowels and Tribulations
While testing a leaf picker, Titchmarsh joked: "It looks like you can make toasted sandwiches with it." He added: "I thought it would be too slow, but it really isn't, is it?"
Bassett-Smith also showed him the Dahlia, a plant Titchmarsh praised: "I love them to bits, until the frosts come, they will be flowering forever."
He then revealed: "We are going to be starting a new feature because we are going to be taking your gardening questions. We have been collecting them through the summer, and we are going to be answering them on air in our new feature called Trowels and Tribulations." Bassett-Smith responded: "Excellent name."
Context of Monty Don's exit
The announcement follows reports that Titchmarsh is among the favourites to replace Monty Don on Gardeners' World. In September, the BBC confirmed Don was stepping down after 23 years, without announcing a replacement. An odds list included Titchmarsh, his former Ground Force co-star Charlie Dimmock, and JJ Chalmers.
Titchmarsh, 77, has a long history with Gardeners' World, taking over as host in 1996 with the show filmed in his own garden. He later presented two seasons of How to Be a Gardener.
Upcoming series and viewer engagement
ITV also announced a new 12-part series, My Year In A Cottage Garden With Alan Titchmarsh, airing next year, following Titchmarsh as he "breathes new life into his long-established cottage garden in Surrey."
Later in the episode, Titchmarsh said: "We get so many questions about gardening, we thought it was time we address them," as he answered viewer questions on topics such as plants for cat shade and pruning roses. He urged fans to share questions via the show's Facebook page.
Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh airs Sundays on ITV at 9.30am.
