TURN OVER A NEW LEAF!
AS WE START TO HEAD TOWARDS SUMMER, ALAN TITCHMARSH TELLS US WHY IT’S TIME TO ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS…
Alan Titchmarsh returns to our screens this Easter, with a new series speci cally designed to help cheer us all up as we prepare to come out of yet another lockdown. In Spring Into Summer, the cheery TV gardener will be joined by some famous faces…
Hi, Alan! What can you tell us about the show?
We’ll have lots of guests: Ainsley Harriott, Alison Steadman, Michael Ball, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Twiggy… A varied bunch! It’s a celebration of the great outdoors and the people who are in it. Hopefully, it will give people a lift! I think we could all do with that at the moment.
What is it about springtime that you particularly love? Renewal. The fact that we’ve had winter – everything fell off the trees, we swept it all up, we bunged it on the compost heap, and it was all quiet. You think, “It will come, won’t it?” And then it does – the buds start breaking, the snowdrops and daffodils come out… What’s not to like? In the tropics, it’s the same all year round, but here, spring erupts, and it’s so reassuring.
What else will you be covering in the show? There will be various gardening things, obviously. We’ll be nding out what our celebrities enjoy in terms of outdoor crafts. I’m anxious that we remind people of who works in the countryside, and what they do – whether it’s making drum baskets, or cheeses… We’re looking at British producers in every programme. There’s one coming up about gin and pâte, which I thought was an interesting combination!
Did you know that we produce more cheeses in Britain than in France? We have 700 different varieties in the UK – amazing!
We have so much beautiful scenery in Britain. What are your favourite places?
How long have you got? I love the Cornish coast. The Isle of Wight is a favourite – I have a little holiday home there. And I love Scotland. Plus, I’m from Yorkshire, so the moors are very special. And if you like coastal walks, no one is more than 55 miles from the sea – even if you’re right in the heart of the Midlands!
What can we do in our own homes and smaller spaces? Make use of what you’ve got. We had a lovely email from
THE TROPICS ARE THE SAME ALL YEAR – HERE, SPRING ERUPTS!”
a lady last year, who said, “I’ve only got a doorstep! What can I do?” So I said, “Get a big pot, put compost in it, and plant some owers”. Two months later, she emailed me back with four words: “I’ve got a bee!” It gave us so much pleasure that she’d seen a bee coming to the
owers that she’d planted.
The show starts on Easter Monday – will you be spending it with family?
I think we’re allowed to be distanced from our grandchildren in the garden by then, aren’t we? So, yes! I’ll offer the venue, and my children will provide all the hard labour, hiding the eggs for my grandchildren… It’s terribly exciting!