WHO would have thought the gentle gardener with the relaxing Yorkshire lilt could turn his spade wielding hands to romantic fiction?

But Alan Titchmarsh has done just that.

His six novels were all best sellers and his memoirs sold 200,000 copies in hardback.

The green-fingered star has also written over 40 gardening books, writes regularly for Gardeners' World magazine and the Radio Times and still finds time to work as gardening correspondent for the Daily Express and Sunday Express.

But we love Titchmarsh best when he is on our screens, transforming pitiful backyard plots into dream gardens or casting his expert eye over the riches of the Chelsea Flower Show where he once won a gold medal.

He inspired millions to spruce up their outside space - or at least think about it - with his designs for garden makeover show Ground Force and presented Gardener's World for seven years.

He is also a familiar voice on radio and fans of children's television may recognise him as the voice of Gordon the Garden Gnome in the BBC cartoon.

Born and brought up on the edge of Ilkley Moor in Yorkshire, Titchmarsh was growing things in his parent's back garden when he was just ten years old. At 15 he left school to start an apprenticeship at his local garden centre and went on to complete his training at horticultural college and at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.

After a spell as supervisor of staff training at Kew he embarked on his journalism career, first as an editor of gardening books, then as deputy editor of Amateur Gardening magazine before going freelance.

His many honours and awards include being appointed MBE in the 2000 New Year Honours List and being made deputy lieutenant of Hampshire in 2001.

In 2004 he received the Victoria Medal of Honour - the highest accolade awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society.

Despite his Yorkshire roots, Titchmarsh chose to settle in the south and now lives with his wife and family in their country house in Alton.

Name: Alan Titchmarsh Occupation: Celebrity gardener and author Date of Birth: 2 May 1949 Local link: Lives in Alton