Alan Titchmarsh: Spring into Summer
Alan Titchmarsh on celebrating the great outdoors with special guests in his new ITV series Spring Summer...
5 April, 8pm (not Wales) ITV Factual
Alan Titchmarsh gets us in the spirit of summer with his new nine-part series that celebrates the great British countryside, as the warmer months beckon and the lockdown is (hopefully) lifted. Expect celebrity guests, gardening advice, food tastings and nature features to help us make the most of these glorious months.
Q What can you tell us about your new nine-part series?
A It’s a half-hour show at 8pm on Mondays between the Corrie episodes. I’m hoping that it will give people a shot in the arm and take them out of themselves. If you don’t have a bit of countryside you can go into, we’ll bring it to you. It’s an outdoors programme, not a gardening programme, but gardening will be part of it.
Q Will you be working with some animals?
A Yes, viewers can expect lambs, chickens and heaven knows what else! I’ve kept chickens for over 30 years, so I love when we do chickens!
Q What about humans contributors?
A They’re great! When Tom from Mudchute Farm comes in, I find myself listening and thinking, ‘Gosh, I never knew that!’ Wayne, our carpenter, is making an arbour for the garden, which we’ll see over three weeks. And there are country crafts.
Q Can you name any of your celebrity guests?
A In the first programme it’s Alison Steadman. It’s going to be a classic Easter show with lambs. Other nice celebrity guests lined up to tell us what they like about the outdoors include Julie Hesmondhalgh, Twiggy, Michael Ball and Ainsley Harriott.
Q Why do you love about this time of year?
A It’s so uplifting. I love when snowdrops come up, then we get the glorious daffodils, and I can’t wait for the tulips. Tulips are my favourite spring flower. Bung them in a large flower pot in October or November, stand back, wait, and up they come!
Q How do you like to celebrate Easter?
A Normally it’s very much a family time for us. I’ve got two daughters and they’ve each got two children, and we have an Easter egg hunt. This Easter hopefully we’ll be able to say ‘hello’ outside, because we live quite close to each other. I enjoy the chocolate side of Easter, too… a little too much sometimes!