Alan Titchmarsh has been married to his wife Alison since 1975, and the couple's relationship has been marked by a Strictly Come Dancing ban, a confession about a plant that 'turned his head', and a heartbreaking moment that saw him pack a bag and drive away.
The TV presenter, known for shows such as Love Your Weekend, met Alison in their early twenties at an amateur dramatics group. They share two children: Polly, born in 1980, and Camilla, born in 1982. The couple are also grandparents to four children.
The secret to a lasting marriage
In 2020, Alan spoke about the key to their enduring relationship. He told Yours magazine: "Romance is about being thoughtful. I have made Alison tea for 45 years – but mind you, she's ironed my shirts every week for 44 years, which is the greater gift."
Why Alison banned Alan from Strictly
Despite being a regular on television, Alan has never appeared on Strictly Come Dancing. The BBC has approached him half a dozen times, but his wife advised against it, citing concerns for his knee health.
Speaking to Saga magazine, Alan shared: "Alison was a dance tutor and she is convinced my knees wouldn't stay the course." He added: "On top of that, it is a huge commitment; you start in September and you might be there until Christmas. There's too much other stuff I need to be getting on with."
'Having his head turned' by a plant
In 2011, Alan joked about having his 'head turned' during his marriage due to his love of plants. Speaking to The Guardian, he said: "The old flame I've loved for 50 years is the humble pelargonium. You can neglect them and yet they are good, shapely plants."
He also admitted: "My head has been turned by Annabelle, a summer-flowering hydrangea, with floppy heads of creamy white, fading to palest green."
Apology and a heartbreak
In 2025, Alan extended an apology to his wife as he opened up about a personal 'struggle'. Writing in Gardeners' World magazine, the 76-year-old 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."
In his 2009 autobiography Knave of Spades, Alan recalled how he packed a bag and left after Alison told him the news of his father's death in 1986. He said: "As a couple they were totally devoted. Apart from Mum's hens and the fire service they did nothing without each other, so when my father died suddenly of a heart attack in 1986, the bottom fell out of her world. She was devastated."
Alan described how he had been working in Stoke-on-Trent at the garden festival when the tragedy occurred. "There were no mobile phones back then. I drove back home to Hampshire, oblivious to what had happened, and only when I got there could Alison tell me the news. I walked up to the top of the garden and stood for a bit. Leaning on a tree. Then I came back to the house, packed a bag, got in the car and drove up to Yorkshire," he shared.
