The Alan Titchmarsh Show

The programme made its debut on ITV in 2007.[2] It focused on the theme of "The Best of British" focusing on food, entertainment and celebrities in a mid-afternoon slot. The focus of the show later shifted towards gossip, entertainment and a light-hearted discussion of sex tips. The latter was dropped after viewer complaints and a shift to a late afternoon 5 pm slot in 2010. The show usually opened with a review of gossip and current affairs stories of the day with regular guests including Gloria Hunniford, Carole Malone, Penny Smith, Nick Ferrari, Janet Street Porter, Jane McDonald and Emma Forbes offering their opinions. The programme resumed the studio debate format at half-past the hour with a "heated" discussion on the main "hot topic" of the day. The programme also included regular cookery slots with Nadia Sawalha or Claire Richards with Titchmarsh adopting a comical, "hands-on" role as a hopeless cookery assistant. In Shrager's cookery demonstrations, the pair alternated between bickering and flirting with visual "humour" and numerous double entendres from the host. A wine-tasting panel often featured along with items on flower-arranging, pets and gardening, the latter involving Titchmarsh answering viewer's horticultural questions assisted by studio guests. The show usually concluded with Titchmarsh interviewing a major celebrity or public figure and also contained regular musical items with live studio performances. The show was coloured with Titchmarsh's dry, slightly camp style and Yorkshire wit and was often peppered with risque puns of a mildly sexual nature.

In March 2011, the show returned to its traditional daytime TV mid-afternoon slot for its eighth series between 3-4pm after a spell in the "primetime" 5pm slot for a 10-week run. The programme celebrated its 400th edition on 9 March 2011. The show returned to ITV daytime on 5 September 2011, with a return to its original opening 'starry' titles and theme music. The latest series stars David Domoney as one of the expert gardeners.

The show was produced at The London Studios by Spun Gold TV.[3] It is aired Monday to Friday with some editions broadcast live and other editions pre-recorded. Previous series were broadcast from BBC Television Centre.

The programme's discussion of "adult" themes, including a former regular item on sex toys presented by Julie Peasgood have sparked a large number of viewer complaints. In 2010, Ofcom, the media regulator, released figures revealing that Titchmarsh's ITV show had the fifth highest number of complaints of any programme for that year.[5]

In 2013, Ofcom ruled that an interview with actress Patsy Kensit breached regulations. Kensit was found to have made "promotional and unduly prominent" references to diet firm Weight Watchers, which she is paid to endorse, and Titchmarsh had failed to challenge her claims or mention that Kensit was a "weight loss ambassador" for the diet company.[6]

Alan Titchmarsh, the presenter of the show

Although the show is primarily presented by Alan Titchmarsh, presenters such as Myleene Klass and Claire Richards present segments such as fashion and cookery.

From 16 August to 24 September 2010, actor Michael Ball presented his own chat show also produced by Spun Gold TV which followed a very similar format to The Alan Titchmarsh Show during the latter's summer break. It ran for 30 editions over 6 weeks and was aired 3 to 4 pm and recorded at BBC Television Centre.