Imagine being a gardening guru and receiving letters of both praise and critique from fans of all ages! That’s the reality Alan Titchmarsh faced as the face of Gardeners’ World. From 1996 until 2002, he charmed audiences, transforming backyards and inspiring millions with his botanical wisdom, alongside his unforgettable stint on Ground Force with Charlie Dimmock and Tommy Walsh!
Despite his immense popularity, not all messages were filled with admiration. Angela Glass, who was Alan’s personal assistant from 1997 to 1999, recalled her experiences. She stumbled into this role after encountering Alan at a school meeting, and little did she know she would soon be sifting through a flood of fan mail.
Angela took great joy in the warmth evident in the letters. “They often start with ‘Dear Alan, I hope you don’t mind me calling you Alan, but I feel like you are a friend…’,†she shared. Fans would send quirky gifts, including silk handkerchiefs from sweet elderly fans. “He brings out the mothering instinct in women of all ages,†she noted, painting a picture of Alan as not just a gardening expert, but a charming friend.
Of course, it wasn’t all lilies and roses. Angela revealed that she also managed countless requests for Ground Force makeovers and received numerous letters from strict gardeners expressing their distaste for Alan’s unconventional methods. “Some disapproved of his use of shingle or mirrors that confuse birds,†she recounted. One particularly humorous letter came from a woman who almost suffered an injury trying to navigate her Step-Over apple treeâ€â€a testament to the lengths fans would go to engage with Alan’s gardening endeavors!
Adding to the hilarity, there was a letter from a man perplexed by his council’s refusal to remove a massive conifer lodged in his wheelie bin. The dedication of Alan’s viewers was nothing short of entertaining!