The legend that is Alan Titchmarsh, 71, here with a brand-new ITV series where he’ll be celebrating the beauty of the great outdoors…
What can we expect from the show? Gardening, obviously – because it’s me – and a bit of growing your own food, however tiny your space is. There will be a celeb guest on each episode, and we’ll be celebrating the great outdoors and the countryside. We’ve got lambs in episode one, and I really enjoy the animal bits. Hopefully, it will give people a lift – and we all need that at the moment. There’s a crafting element?
I’m anxious to remind people of who works in the countryside and what they do – and it could be anything from basket work to cheese-making… We’ll be looking at the best of British produce at the end of every programme, with a mix of food and drink. There’s one coming up which is gin and pâté, which I thought was an interesting combination… Which celebrities have you got on?
We’ve been really lucky. All our guests like talking and I’m looking forward to finding out what their links are to the countryside, or what their craft skills might be. They’re there to have a good time and enjoy themselves. Alison Steadman’s on the first programme so that will be fun. We’ve got Twiggy on too, and Julie Hesmondhalgh who was in Corrie.
This goes out over Easter – what will you be up to?
We normally do a big Easter Egg hunt in the garden for our grandkids. I think we’re still allowed to do that – but with social distancing. It’s always wonderful, and the children get terribly excited. Will I be eating chocolate? If it’s dark, or fruit and nut, then yes, definitely! Have you learnt any new skills during lockdown?
Well, I’m a bell ringer and I’ve done that since about the age of 10. I’m quite good with my hands, because I’m a gardener and practical. I can fix things or put a plug on something or whatever…
By Hannah Wright