Alan Titchmarsh reveals surprising romantic mishap before meeting his wife Alison

Alan Titchmarsh shares joke with Ian McNeice and then apologises

It is common knowledge that Alan Titchmarsh is happily married to his wife Alison.

What is lesser known about the famous gardener and broadcaster is that he expressed interest in a friend’s current wife first.

Thankfully for his union with Alison, the girl in question rejected him.

He recently opened up about this mishap while on a podcast with Gyles Brandeth.

They got onto the topic when the former MP asked Alan if he pursued Alison or if it was the other way around.

Alan Titchmarsh has spoken about a romantic rejection he received before meeting his wife (Image: Getty)

He admitted: “I pursued her. But we got on very well, we were always very comfortable. We had a couple of friends who were together in the operatic as well.

“In fact I asked my friend Steve’s now wife – they’ve just celebrated their golden wedding – I asked her out first, on Thursday.

“She said, ‘Oh I can’t do tonight, it’s the night I wash my hair.’”

The former Gardeners’ World star chuckled, and hinted that he thought the hair washing appointment was only an excuse.

The famous gardener has now been with his wife Alison for over five decades (Image: Getty)

Alan continued: “It’s a classic that, wasn’t it. All right. I’ve never been particularly persistent.

“Anyway, we all used to go out together in a group. Alison was sort of there, we sort of got on, I thought she was really rather special.”

Thankfully it all worked out in the end, and Alan has been with his wife for over 50 years now.

The pair got married in 1975 after getting closer through their friendship group in their 20s, and they went on to have two daughters.

Alan has often referred to Alison as his best friend, and it’s clear they still have a strong bond years on from their days exchanging glances over the shoulders of their theatre pals at the pub.

At one point when he was questioned about his secret to keeping romance alive in a previous interview, he shared: “Romance is about being thoughtful. I have made Alison tea for 45 years – but mind you, she's ironed my shirts every week for 44 years, which is the greater gift […] I'm a lucky man because she's the most unmaterialistic person I know.”