TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh has made a deeply personal confession about his emotional reaction to the beloved children's film The Railway Children. The former Gardeners' World presenter admits he "has to leave the room" whenever the movie plays, calling his response "pathetic" for a grown man.
The emotional trigger stems from the film's famous "Daddy, my daddy" line, which brings back powerful memories of his own children. Alan told The Times: "It's pathetic, really. I'm a grown man and I have to leave the room if my girls put The Railway Children on."
Alan shares two adult daughters, Polly (born 1980) and Camilla (born 1982), with his wife Alison, whom he met at an amateur dramatics society in their twenties. Despite his daughters now having their own homes, husbands and children, their childhood bedrooms remain untouched in the family home with their names still on the doors.
Career sacrifices and heartbreaking moments
Alan's broadcasting career, spanning programmes including Gardeners' World, Ground Force and Songs of Praise, previously required lengthy periods away from home. He would typically leave on Sunday evenings and return later in the weekend for filming commitments.
During an appearance on James O'Brien's Full Disclosure podcast in 2023, Alan recalled a particularly heartbreaking moment when kissing one of his daughters goodnight. He explained: "I do remember the heartbreaking thing of kissing one of them goodnight and them saying 'will you be here in the morning?'"
Marriage and daily devotion
The couple have been married for an impressive 50 years, yet the presenter's paternal emotions remain as strong as ever. Alan continues to demonstrate his devotion through daily gestures, having made tea for Alison for 45 years.
In return, she has ironed his shirts "every week for 44 years" - something he calls the "greater gift" and credits to her being the "most unmaterialistic" person he knows. According to Hello!, the broadcaster has called the retired medic his "best friend".
Modern family life
The couple now split their time between their Hampshire farmhouse and a getaway residence on the Isle of Wight. Alan's daughters have blessed him with grandchildren, with the oldest now 13 and the youngest nine years old.
Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh airs today on ITV from 9.30am to 11.30am.
Sources used: "The Times", "Hello!", "The Mirror", "Wales Online" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
