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Alan Titchmarsh 'heartbroken' after returning home from trip with wife

Alan Titchmarsh 'heartbroken' after returning home from trip with wife

Daily Record3 days ago
Alan Titchmarsh has opened up on the highs and lows of nurturing his own wilderness in his garden, and shared a recent discovery in his wildlife pond that left him 'heartbroken'.
Television favourite Alan Titchmarsh has experienced the delicate balance of nature first-hand in his own back garden.
The much-loved presenter of ITV's Love Your Weekend, 76, described how new life has sprung up in the wildlife pond he created some 15 years ago in his Hampshire haven.

Alan had modest hopes of attracting creatures like "newts and dragonflies, damselflies and perhaps the odd kingfisher," but what he found was an unexpected surprise.

Speaking to BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, Alan recalled a significant discovery, much grander than the usual tiny inhabitants one might anticipate in a garden pond.
His water feature became the unexpected home for roach when he noted: "But then, from somewhere, probably on the webbed feet of a visiting duck, roach arrived."
These adaptable freshwater fish can reach sizes of up to 14 inches and are adept at thriving under tough conditions, reports Birmingham Live.
Excited by the new addition to his wildlife repertoire, Alan said,:"Thinking it was just another form of wildlife to gleefully add to my list, I bought some fish food,".
Illustrating the feeding frenzy that follows, he observed: "Whenever I sprinkle it on the water, the surface turns into something reminiscent of that scene in the James Bond movie where the baddie is eaten by piranhas."

He vividly described the transformation, saying: "The once limpid pool becomes a foaming cauldron for fully 30 seconds before all the food disappears."
Despite initially welcoming the roach, Alan discovered that these fishy newcomers have significantly reduced the insect population around his pond, which had previously brought him so much joy.
Alan has been fostering the growth of an alder tree by his pond to aid any visiting kingfisher in spotting roach, in a bid to tackle this fresh nuisance.

Yet, for Alan, no gardening mishap can match the devastation wrought upon his cherished cherry blossom.
Reflecting on the incident, he shared: "My small but now 20-year old plantation of the pure-white 'Shirotae' cherry generally gives rise to gasps in early April."

He recounted the unfortunate event: "This year we went away for the weekend just before it was due to open.
"We returned and excitedly walked around the back of our barn to take in the anticipated view.."
To his dismay, he discovered: "The welter of buds had been decimated by wood pigeons."
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EXCLUSIVE Loose Women ready to AXE celebrity guests after ITV shake-up amid growing fears the show could be cancelled within a year
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Daily Mail​

time3 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

EXCLUSIVE Loose Women ready to AXE celebrity guests after ITV shake-up amid growing fears the show could be cancelled within a year

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'Gentleman' Giorgio Russo leaves Love Island fans BEMUSED after returning from Casa Amor single, with some questioning whether he's ever watched the show before
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Daily Mail​

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'Gentleman' Giorgio Russo leaves Love Island fans BEMUSED after returning from Casa Amor single, with some questioning whether he's ever watched the show before

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Coronation Street's Simon Gregson almost quit the soap for very different job
Coronation Street's Simon Gregson almost quit the soap for very different job

Daily Mirror

time6 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Coronation Street's Simon Gregson almost quit the soap for very different job

Soap favourite said Corrie bosses dashed his hopes of exploring his dream career, much to his disappointment Coronation Street star Simon Gregson says soap bosses left him 'gutted' after they banned him from pursuing his first love of racing cars. The actor even thought about quitting the ITV show so he could fulfil his passion, he confessed. But Simon decided to stay on as much-loved character Steve McDonald, who he's played for 36 years. 'I was offered rallying with Seat,' he recalled. 'I was offered a few things. I had to meet with the boss of insurance for ITV, and he said 'Absolutely hell no', and that was my possible career in racing gone. I was gutted, it was my lifelong dream.' ‌ ‌ Simon, 50, says he was envious of fellow soap star Kelvin Fletcher, who left Emmerdale to race cars. The actor, best known for playing Andy Sugden, became a rally driver after leaving the show and competed in various championships, including the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and the British GT Championship. 'And then of course, Kelvin from Emmerdale, he's racing McLaren, Bentley, Porsche," Simon mused. 'I was like, 'that was my dream!' He said 'get lost' and left the show. Which is what I should have done, or maybe I shouldn't, or I wouldn't be here now.' Simon walked on to the cobbles in 1989 as happy-go-lucky Steve McDonald. Picking up numerous awards for his comedic timing and dramatic performances, Simon became a firm favourite. ‌ The Coronation Street star said his love of cars led to him getting into acting. 'The reason I went for the job - because I wasn't an actor, I wanted to join the RAF originally - the reason I went for it was for money,' he explained on motoring podcast Fuelling Around. 'Because I'd seen a Ford Escort Mexico, in bright orange and I was like 'I want that car, so I'll go for that job'.' Simon says he's played Steve so long he often gets called by his screen name by fans in public - and even his own mum. He revealed: "I got called Steve by my mum once at home. I mean, it was a genuine mistake... but it's the last thing I need at home. Bless my poor mum, it was genuine. But yeah, I get called Steve all the time, all the time. I even get called Steve off people at work I've known for 35, 36 years, you know?" ‌ The actor - who has been married to wife Emma for 14 years - has faced financial problems recently as he liquidates his production company. He has been ordered to pay back a £252,000 loan he took from the firm. Dad-of-three Simon, who finished second in the 2021 series of I'm A Celebrity, spoke earlier this year about his new venture - a children's book, called The Dream Dragon. Speaking on Loose Women, he said: 'I started it about 12 or 13 years ago because my elder two boys, Harry and Alfie, kept having night terrors,' he told the panel. 'So, I told them that I had a dragon called the Dream Dragon, which would beat up the nightmares and scare them off, and they believed it,' he said. 'I had to embellish on this story often, and I was telling a couple of the ladies at work, and they said 'You should write it down', and 12 years later I did.' The book has already had interest from publishers, with Simon hopeful that it will be published this year and become a money spinner.

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