'The problem is I love what I do!': Alan Titchmarsh, 72, reveals has no intention to slow down his busy work life - despite telling family he would
Alan Titchmarsh has said that he has no intention of slowing down his professional activity, despite telling his family he would.
The TV gardener, 72, first appeared on television on Nationwide before he took the role as host on the televised Chelsea Flower Show in 1983.
He is now gearing up for his Grand Christmas Classics events in London, Manchester and Birmingham and his Boxing Day Love Your Garden special. He also has his 12th novel coming out in Spring 2022.

No stopping him! Alan Titchmarsh has said that he has no intention of slowing down his professional activity, despite telling his family he would; pictured 2017
He told The Mirror that even though he told his family he would slow down, he has no plans to.
He said: 'My family keeps saying to me, "You shouldn’t be working as hard as you do." So I’ve told them I’ll try to slow down. But the problem is I love what I do. I must try to get the balance better, but I love it.'
He has two grown up daughters with wife Alison called Polly, 42, and 40-year-old Camilla.
Alan went onto admit that he doesn't get tired on an evening either, and that he felt more tired 10 years ago when he was doing a chat show in the afternoon than he does now.

He is gearing up for his Grand Christmas Classics events in London, Manchester and Birmingham and his Boxing Day Love Your Garden special. He also has his 12th novel coming out in Spring 2022; pictured with his wife Alison, November 2021
He credits his fitness levels, he told the publication, to his years of gardening - but even he knows his limits to what he can do.
'The only concession I make on Love Your Garden, is if there’s a massive tree to plant. Then I get someone else to dig the hole.'
He also admitted that his work gives him purpose and a 'reason to get up in the morning' so that's why he can't see himself retiring.
Alan's horticultural career began when he left school with one 'O level' in Art and studied for a City and Guilds in horticulture which opened the door to studying for a diploma at Kew Gardens.
He then changed his course to Gardening Journalism which led him down the path of Chelsea Flower Show, Gardeners World and Ground Force.
Alan also admitted he is excited to spend Christmas with his family and his grandchildren - after missing out last year due to lockdown.
He is yet to see whether he has passed down his green thumb to his grandchildren, and shared that they did try and plant vegetables last year but to no avail.
Alan then shared that he does not want to join in on Instagram, despite having 48,000 followers on the photo sharing app.
He said he always forgets to post and does not follow anyone.

Working hard: He said: 'My family keeps saying to me, "You shouldn’t be working as hard as you do." So I’ve told them I’ll try to slow down. But the problem is I love what I do.'