Gardening
guru Alan Titchmarsh is hanging up his hoe on BBC TWO's Gardeners'
World after seven years as the show's main presenter to work with
the BBC on a major new series.
He
said: "I'm really sad to be leaving Gardeners' World, but when
I joined back in 1995 I never really expected to be presenting it
for so many years and now it feels right to move off onto other
programmes and give someone else a chance.
"I'm
immensely proud to have been part of Gardeners' World heritage alongside
greats like Percy Thrower and Geoff Hamilton and I'm sure the show
will go from strength to strength", he added.
Alan
is currently working on a second series of his hugely successful
back to basics gardening show How To Be A Gardener and is working
with the BBC on developing two other major projects, including a
landmark documentary series on the natural history of Britain.
Alan
said: "Although I'll be back to host the RHS Chelsea Flower
Show next year, I'm really looking forward to working on a whole
new range of projects with the BBC. Collaborating with the BBC's
highly respected Natural History Unit is particularly exciting and
I think together we can produce a fascinating series the like of
which we have never seen."
Jane
Root, Controller of BBC TWO, said: "Alan has played a central
role in Gardeners' World's enduring popularity, but he is terrifically
versatile and we are keen to work on more projects with him. Sadly
even Alan cannot be in several places at once and so that means
he has had to give up some of the things he has been doing.
"Alan
is so popular and respected by audiences that we wanted to make
sure his next project was mind-blowing. I can't say too much at
the moment for obvious reasons, but I don't think anyone is going
to be disappointed."
