Alan Titchmarsh makes admission about time 'slipping through fingers'

Alan Titchmarsh has made a poignant confession as he reveals he can sense time "slipping through his fingers". The horticultural guru has remained a beloved broadcasting personality for nearly five decades.

He kicked off his career on BBC Radio 4's You and Yours and The Today Programme as a gardening specialist in 1977. Prior to that, Alan had worked as an editor of gardening publications before progressing to penning his own works.

His love affair with gardening began in his youth, with Alan commencing work as a trainee gardener with Ilkley Council, reports Wales Online.

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He recalls the summers appearing to "last forever" during his childhood in Yorkshire. Alan, 76, would relish angling in the waterways, constructing hideouts in the woodland, or even imagining he was the Lone Ranger whilst "galloping over the moors" as a youngster.

However, Alan reveals life feels vastly different nowadays, and discovers the hours can "slip away" when "out there pottering".

Penning in Gardeners' World Magazine, he said: "There are those who become maudlin about the increasing speed at which 'time flies' and, true enough, the older one becomes, the faster the hours, minutes and seconds seem to slip through one's fingers."

Alan explains it was previously clarified to him that a seven-year-old perceives a year as a "seventh of their life," whilst for someone who is 70, a 70th of their existence is considerably smaller.

"I'm not sure I quite believe that analogy, but it suits my mindset to do so," he added. Alan has previously confessed his fears of passing away "at a relatively young age" after his father's death at 62.

In a past interview with Yours Magazine, he revealed: "The thing is, the men in my family have had a tendency to die from heart disease at a relatively young age. My dad, for instance, died suddenly in 1986 from a heart attack, aged just 62."

In 2014, Alan started taking statins daily in hopes of extending his lifespan. He admitted initial scepticism, saying: "I don't like the thought of taking tablets every day, but I'm following my doctor's advice. He thinks it's a good idea."

More recently, Alan attributed his good life to "luck" and "following the wind". He believes that having a job he loves, which allows him to spend time outdoors, along with the love and support from his family, has been beneficial for his wellbeing.

He further added: "I enjoy my food and drink - in moderation of course - and above all I laugh a lot. It's worked for me."

The gardening guru returns to our screens today (September 7) with Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh from 9.30am on ITV One. Joining him will be Queen of Crime Lynda La Plante and Gareth Malone, as well as Kelvin and Liz Fletcher.