Alan Titchmarsh, the 76-year-old television presenter and gardener, has given a light-hearted health update after undergoing knee surgery in 2018. During an appearance on his show 'Love Your New Year’s Day with Alan Titchmarsh' on Thursday, January 1, he demonstrated his flexibility by kneeling down and getting back up, only to quip: 'Ow, I’ll pay for that later!'
The conversation turned to ageing as Titchmarsh chatted with guests Bonnie Langford and Gregor Fisher. When Fisher encouraged him to 'embrace your age, it’s like you and your knees,' Titchmarsh responded by performing the movement, prompting applause from Langford. His joking remark about the aftermath highlighted the ongoing challenges from his earlier surgery.
Titchmarsh underwent knee surgery in 2018 to remove damaged tissue and cartilage, a result of years of gardening. At the time, he told The Mirror: 'I had it all cleared out and they feel so much better. I've got bad knees as a result of a lot of kneeling over the years from gardening.' He described himself as 'a spring chicken again' after the operation.
In addition to his knee issues, Titchmarsh broke his ankle in 2020 after slipping on wet grass during lockdown. He told the Radio Times that the injury left him on crutches for six weeks and frustrated, as he could not carry a cup of tea or maintain his usual activity levels. 'I'm not a terribly good patient; I don't do ill,' he admitted.
Despite these setbacks, Titchmarsh remains active, hosting 'Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh' every Sunday at 9:30am on ITV1. His recent TV appearance showed he still has a sense of humour about his health, even as he acknowledges the realities of ageing.
