‘Practicality is underrated!'

Alan Titchmarsh tells TV Times how his new chat show can help us live the good lifeÉ

- Elaine Reilly

LOVE YOUR WEEKEND

NEW SUN / ITV / 9.25AM / EP 1 of 10 / LIFESTYLE

Alan Titchmarsh is definitely not letting the grass grow under his feet during lockdown. After sharing his insider tricks for making the most of our green spaces in Grow Your Own at Home, the much-loved gardening expert and presenter is now taking over Sunday mornings with his brandnew ITV chat show, Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh.

The 10-part series is filmed on location in a repurposed barn at postcard-perfect nature reserve Manor Farm in Hampshire.

Each two-hour episode sees Alan chatting to celebrity guests as well as wildlife, craft and sustainability experts to celebrate all that is great about the British countryside. Also look out for Birds of a Feather star Lesley Joseph’s regular segment, Tree of the Week – which she presents Dorien-style!

‘There’s nothing of this nature on the box, and it struck me as a great antidote to either cooking or politics on Sunday morning – and I know what I’d rather watch!’ says Alan, as he calls TV Times for an exclusive interview. ‘I want to put people in a good mood, rather than make them think they ought to be doing something.

‘It’s a celebration of the countryside and everything it contains – the people, the crafts and the animals. It looks at not just old traditions but current ones as well. I wanted to leave people thinking, “Do you know, it’s not a bad old country, really.”’