Alan Titchmarsh, the beloved ITV gardener, recently opened up about his family’s reaction to his appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). Awarded in April for his services to horticulture and charity, this prestigious honour came 25 years after he received an MBE, yet his family still refuses to address him as “commander.”
The 76-year-old presenter recalled his initial surprise when the letter arrived. “It was an enormous shock when a letter came in November saying the Prime Minister has got this plan to ask the King if you can be a CBE,” he said. Alan initially mistook the investiture notification for an April Fools’ prank, given it arrived on April 1st. But it was indeed a genuine recognition, made even more special by his 40-year acquaintance with King Charles.
Speaking with the Talk Horse podcast, Alan jokingly revealed, “I tried to get my family to call me a commander but they won’t, it’s very sad really. My wife is the commandant. I think that’s why.” His wife Alison, who has been his steadfast supporter throughout his career, especially during his MBE and now CBE accolades, stood proudly by his side during the award ceremony.
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Married for over 50 years, Alan and Alison share two daughters, Polly and Camilla, along with four grandchildren. Family remains at the heart of Alan’s life, recently prompting him to reduce his work hours. He now routinely takes Fridays off and occasionally Mondays too to spend quality time with loved ones. “It’s the old cliché, but you can’t get it back,” he explained to Woman’s Weekly, reflecting on the swift passage of time as his oldest grandchild turned 13.
Despite scaling back, Alan has no plans for retirement. He continues to embrace gardening as his passion and “lifesaver,” dedicating much of his time to his garden between writing and broadcasting. “I just relish the opportunity to enjoy people’s company, to enjoy my garden and to find something stimulating in each day,” he told Country Living Magazine.
Viewers can catch Alan hosting his ITV shows, including Gardening Club and Love Your Weekend, as well as following his gardening expertise on his YouTube channel, Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh. Love Your Weekend airs Sundays at 9:30 am on ITV and ITVX.