Renowned gardener Alan Titchmarsh has revealed he was told off by his wife after failing to follow through with a plan to slow down. The former Gardeners' World presenter, 77, and his wife Alison, married for 51 years, recently downsized from a five-bedroom Grade II listed Georgian home with a four-acre garden to a single-story bungalow in Surrey. This move was intended to help the couple slow down as they age. However, while they successfully downsized, the second part of the plan has been neglected.
Busy Schedule Raises Concerns
Alan remains active, offering gardening advice on his YouTube channel and working on other projects. Recently, he told The Times that Alison had raised concerns about his consistently busy schedule. Alan said: “I had a lecture this week from her indoors. She said, ‘Do you remember when we were going to start taking Fridays and Mondays off? Not really working, is it?’”
Emotional Toll of Moving
The presenter also opened up about the emotional impact of leaving his beloved Hampshire property, into which he had poured much effort. He said: “I love that garden more than I’ve loved anything I’ve ever made. I’ve given it a quarter of a century of love and care. But when we hand over the key and close the gate, I’m not looking back. I can’t.”
This is not the first time Alan has discussed the move. Speaking to BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine last year, he admitted moving would be a “wrench” after investing his “heart and soul” into the property. He added: “But when you are knocking on a bit (which I refuse to believe, despite what the numbers tell me) you do muse on the future - a future which I hope will be long and fulfilling.”
Retirement Rumours Addressed
When asked about retirement, Alan defiantly replied: “'Are you retiring?' I am asked. 'Er, no!' Consolidating more like. Looking after four acres and a Grade-II listed house has been - and still is - a treat beyond measure, but the day will come when it starts to be overwhelming, and I'd rather move on to fresh pastures before that becomes the case.”
Alan continues to stay busy, not only with his YouTube channel but also with a garden he designed alongside King Charles, David Beckham, and Frances Tophill for the Chelsea Flower Show. He said: “As a long-time supporter of both the RHS and The King’s Foundation, I am delighted to lend my horticultural expertise to the Curious Garden. Curiosity is really the beginning of any gardening journey – and certainly that’s how I began my career – so I hope this work inspires a new generation of gardeners.”
