Alan Titchmarsh on his CBE and the King's surprise gesture

Alan Titchmarsh is a gardener, TV presenter and author. He talks to Saga Magazine about his admiration for the King, his career and his new series on YouTube Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh.

He thought his CBE was a tax bill 

I’ve been an MBE for 25 years. I didn’t expect anything else, and certainly not the CBE, which is a bit grown-up really. I’m deeply honoured, really chuffed. 

I found out when a letter came through the post with Cabinet Office written on it. I thought, ‘Is this a tax bill?’ It is true I shed a tear. My wife Alison was in the bathroom upstairs when it came. I said to her [with voice cracking], “I’ve just got a letter.” I was a bit emotional, because it’s such a nice thing to happen.

I’m touched there were enough people who thought it was high time. It really is rather something. It’s not a medal, it is something they hang around your neck, so it’s a bit posh. You’re lucky I’m talking to you!

Would he like to be Sir Alan?

Ha! I never expected to get this far. I’m very content with the CBE, that will do. I wouldn’t say no to a knighthood, but given it took 25 years between honours, I’ll be in a bath chair before the next one comes along.

No, this will do me. I’m very happy.

On his admiration for the King

Even before his recent cancer treatment, he was the hardest working man I had ever met. That is still true. He is so devoted to his people and his country. He is in a position that nobody else understands and it’s very much what you make of it.

His conscience is such that he won’t let up with the work, but to do it when you’re undergoing cancer treatment? I am in awe.

To lose your father, then your mother and to finally be in that job, but then to get cancer – the treatment for which saps your strength – and still plough on? Come on! 

I think people have realised just what kind of a man he is, and that he is amazing. The King is considerate, he sent flowers with a handwritten letter when Alison was poorly for a while.

He’s a cracking friend to his friends; he is a role model for a lot of folk, really.

Alan was married before he was famous - what does his wife Alison think of his fame?

She dealt with it because I am, as she says, just her little gardener – we’re still the people we were when we married. I hope my head hasn’t been turned. 

One thing that I have learned from people I admire in the business is that you should never let down your viewer or your fan.

Be yourself, so you don’t have to try to remember who you are, but when people come up to you, just be nice.

We all fall from grace sometimes, mind. 

I was once ever so slightly crabby on an aeroplane, when a woman came down the aisle and demanded to know, ‘What’s wrong with my tomatoes?’ I said, ‘Well, I can’t tell from here.’ She said, ‘There’s no need to be like that!’ 

The one time I nearly lost it was when I was in a restaurant with Alison, about to eat. A man grabbed my arm and said, ‘Now I’ve got you!’ My fork was halfway to my mouth. It was hard to keep my cool.

Generally speaking, it’s not an effort. It’s fine. We always say, ‘They bought our house.’

Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh

This is a fresh opportunity and a different audience. I can be instructional, but hopefully engaging and personable at the same time. I know from experience, if you ever want to know how to do something, go on YouTube and somebody, somewhere will tell you how.

We’re going to post a new one every Friday night. It will build and build so as the yearly cycle goes around, you’ll be able to check up on what we did and what to do.

I’m of an age now where not many people my age are on the box, but I’m still doing new things and I’ve still got my hair. I feel very blessed, and I just keep trying to give people their money’s worth.