Alan's perennial success grows on by a degree AS a gardening expert, novelist and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh has enjoyed a highly successful career in the public spotlight.

Next month the popular television personality will relish an altogether different achievement when he receives an honorary degree from the University of Winchester.

The university is giving the honour to the 58-year-old, who lives near Alton, for his services to horticulture and the local community.

Delighted Alan, pictured right, said: "It's a great pleasure to receive an honorary degree from the University of Winchester, especially as the city of Winchester has been at the centre of my life for almost 30 years. I'm simply delighted."

He will receive the honorary degree during one of several graduation ceremonies at Winchester Cathedral on October 19.

Alan, who was awarded an MBE and has been a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire since 2001, shot to fame presenting BBC2's Gardener's World for seven years, filmed from his own home.

He then went on to present the garden makeover programme Ground Force which pulled in over 12 million viewers.

Alan has also fronted programmes including the BBC proms, Points of View, Pebble Mill, Songs of Praise, Titchmarsh's Travels and Ask The Family.

Away from television Alan has written 40 gardening books, including the fastest selling gardening book of all time, How to be a Gardener: The Basics.

He has also written six novels which have all become Sunday Times top ten bestsellers.

Winchester University Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor Chris Turner said: "We are very pleased that Alan Titchmarsh will be accepting an honorary degree from the University of Winchester at graduation this year.

"Not only has his distinguished career led him to become one of the leading horticulturalists in the UK but he continues to contribute so much to so many aspects of public life, establishing close ties with the region."

The university's three days of graduation ceremonies will see around 1,600 undergraduates and postgraduates graduate.