Alan Titchmarsh
Alan Titchmarsh
Alan Fred Titchmarsh, MBE, DLis an English gardener, presenter, and novelist. After working as a professional gardener and a gardening journalist, he established himself as a media personality through appearances on gardening programmes. He has developed a diverse writing and broadcasting career...
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth2 May 1949
fun lovely forget
Airports - they're not my idea of fun at all. Some of the staff are lovely, but you do always get one or two that seem to forget that it's actually costing you a lot of money to be there and be insulted by their surliness. Times have obviously changed and we need to get used to being more strictly vetted, but they could be more pleasant about it. A smile wouldn't go amiss.
thinking
Always take much less than you think you'll need.
holiday sleep winter
My wife and I always have a winter holiday that I call the "fly and flop". In January and February, you don't want culture, you just want to get your bones warm and eat, drink, sleep. We usually go to the Caribbean.
friday wine night
When I'm in Italy on a Friday night, my first supper there is a big bowl of fresh pasta and a glass of local wine, sitting outside. There's nothing better.
trying friendly matter
Once I was on a plane and a woman said to me, 'Now, what's the matter with my tomatoes?' And I said, 'Well, it's a bit difficult to see from here.' She took offence and said, 'I was only trying to be friendly.'
nice wine glasses
Depends on the evening. A good red wine is nice in cold weather. A Claret or a Rioja. I've got a good gin we make from damson plums. And you can't beat a glass of champagne every now and again.
nice years ideas
I get nice letters, but really I have no idea. I just try to enthuse people. You've been married for 31 years.
sorry blame these-days
I am partly to blame for the decking boom, and I am sorry, I know it?s everywhere these days.
book holiday clothes
I don't spend much on clothes. I buy old books. I tell myself I ought to save - it's the classic Northern work ethic. I like good holidays, though. I'm a big fan of cruises. I love unpacking once and having the scenery change every day.
fun school reason
It's never much fun at school - it's just dates. Then as you get older, for some reason, you get more interested.
i-like-you grateful people
You hope people won't be tricky or miserable. If you're in public life, it's important not to be. If someone says, 'I like your programme, thank you,' you should be grateful. I am. Why be nasty?
people
Alan Bennett and Judi Dench are amazingly talented people who don't let you down when you meet them.
queens doe sticks
I'm a big fan of the Queen. She carries herself well, as does the Prince of Wales, despite getting lots of stick.
fall years lovely
Julia Roberts was really rather lovely. I had to interview her on Pebble Mill At One years ago. You learn not to be starstruck if you're trying to get a decent interview out of someone. If you fall apart it's counter productive.