Veteran broadcaster and gardener Alan Titchmarsh has made a passionate defence of his ITV programme, Love Your Weekend, stating it provides a crucial counterbalance to the constant stream of grim headlines that "drown" the public.
A Voice for the Countryside
Speaking to presenter Christine Lampard on Thursday's edition of Lorraine (15th January 2026), the 76-year-old star asserted that shows highlighting rural Britain are now more vital than ever. He explained that his series, which launched in 2020 and celebrates the British countryside, actively "pushes something of that back" against the tide of distressing news.
When Lampard remarked that he had given rural life a voice for many years, Titchmarsh responded emphatically: "I do hope so, it desperately needs one." He elaborated by pointing to the programme's ongoing focus on young farmers, which aims to showcase the realities and rewards of agricultural life to a wider audience.
Combating a Tide of Negativity
The celebrated gardener expressed frustration at the perceived lack of sympathy for the countryside and the overwhelming negativity in daily media. "We're absolutely drowned every night in bad news," Titchmarsh stated. He provocatively suggested the nightly news should be renamed "tragedy," arguing that the relentless focus on global conflict and suffering is something humans are not equipped to process healthily.
"We can't process this, we're not equipped as human beings to keep a sense of proportion and perspective," he told Lampard. He sees Love Your Weekend as a corrective force, reminding viewers of enduring, tangible beauty. "I hope Love Your Weekend pushes something of that back and says, this scenery here, this is real, this is in a way more real than this stuff you've seen."
Protecting a Legacy for the Future
Drawing on six decades of working with nature, Titchmarsh framed the mission of his show as one of preservation and education. He described the outdoor life as unparalleled and stressed the importance of valuing the nation's rural heritage.
"Love Your Weekend addresses it and says, look this is what it is, this is important, don't squander it, this is our children's legacy, and we need to make sure that we value it," he explained passionately. After his heartfelt monologue, he asked Lampard if he had delivered a "bit of a rant," to which she firmly disagreed, stating: "I couldn't agree more, I completely agree with it."
Lorraine airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 9am.
