Keith and Verna Naunton, an Essex couple who appeared on ITV's Love Your Garden, have revealed they replaced a key feature installed by Alan Titchmarsh's team to make their outdoor space more practical. Speaking after their garden was named Garden Of The Week by Garden News magazine, the couple explained that the hot tub area created for the show was later swapped for a seating area.
Garden Nominated for TV Show
The Nauntons, who have been part of the National Garden Scheme (NGS) for 16 years, said their garden was recommended by the Essex branch of the NGS after a TV production company approached county teams to find suitable gardens for a new programme. The show, which first aired in 2011, features Titchmarsh visiting themed gardens across the UK, offering advice to gardeners and viewers.
Their garden was praised for its multi-layered design, leading to the film crew visiting to shoot an episode. For the 30-minute programme, Titchmarsh and his team transformed a space containing a hot tub, giving it a tropical feel, and interviewed the couple about their gardening journey.
Post-Show Changes
In the years following the show, the Nauntons made a significant alteration. They told Garden News: "For the 30-minute programme, Alan and his team worked on a space that contained a hot tub, giving it a tropical feel, and showed areas of the garden and interviewed us. Now the children have grown up we've subsequently replaced the hot tub with a seating area, which we find is much more useful for us!"
The couple's decision reflects changing needs as their family matured, prioritising functionality over the original design.
Titchmarsh on Personal Growth
Their remarks followed Titchmarsh's candid discussion about his own evolution. Speaking to journalist and podcaster Jake Humphrey, he emphasised the importance of enablers in life who encourage taking chances. "You need enablers in life who say 'you know what you should have a go at'. I started as an apprentice gardener, and here I am now with a chat show," he said.
Titchmarsh also revealed challenges from his youth, including being bullied at school. He said: "I was small at school and pushed around... I mean, I never told anyone. Well, my parents obviously knew. You know, it's part of growing up, and we can't shield children from everything. There's no excuse for bullying at all. But, yeah, I was bullied, and if you can find something you love and come to terms with who you are. I was a classic late developer."
The horticulturalist credited discovering his passion for gardening as a way to navigate that difficult period, which he confessed moved him to tears.
