The Alan Titchmarsh Show

Format

The programme made its debut on ITV in 2007. 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 toned down after viewer complaints and a shift to a late afternoon 5 pm slot in 2010. The show usually opens 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 resumes the studio debate format at half-past the hour with a "heated" discussion on the main "hot topic" of the day. The programme also includes regular cookery slots currently 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 often alternate between bickering and flirting with visual "humour" and numerous double entendres from the host. A wine-tasting panel often features 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 concludes with Titchmarsh interviewing a major celebrity or public figure and also contains regular musical items with live studio performances. The show is coloured with Titchmarsh's dry, slightly camp style and Yorkshire wit and it is 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 is produced at The London Studios by Spun Gold TV. It is aired Monday to Friday with some editions broadcast live and other editions pre-recorded. Previous series were broadcast from BBC Television Centre.

2013 Revamp

The 2013 series, which began on Monday 21 January 2013, saw several changes to the show. Firstly the show's logo was replaced by a much more up-to-date and modern one. The former theme tune stayed the same but with a slower, fresher take on it. Several minor changes were made to the studio set. Many stars became regulars on the show, such as Coleen Nolan, Myleene Klass and Lisa Riley. Riley became a full regular on Monday's with up to date gadgets and ways to keep fit.

STV

STV, serving central and northern Scotland ITV regions, decided not to broadcast series' 3 to 7. STV wished to broadcast their afternoon chat show The Hour instead at 5 pm. STV also believe the show did not rate well and thus has an opt-out, but it become clear the series was partly axed to a dispute with ITV. In 2011 the dispute was resolved and STV began broadcasting the eighth series in March 2011, the same as the other ITV regions. During the period viewers had to use other means to watch the series including ITV Player or watch the show on ITV's London feed, on Sky or Virgin Media.

Controversies

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.

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.

Singing contest

The show returned for a third series at the start of September 2008. It launched a competition to find a soprano to sing alongside Jonathan Ansell in the A Night at the Opera tour. From the thousands of hopefuls who applied, eight ladies were selected to sing in front of a judging panel of David Grant, Ruthie Henshall and Jonathan Shalit. The four successful ladies – Rosie Bell, Rosie Havel, Olivia Safe and Esther Dee – faced a public vote on 15 September 2008 and Olivia Safe and Rosie Bell won through. They both sang with Jonathan Ansell Libiamo ne' lieti calici, the most famous duet from Verdi's La Traviata on 29 September 2008 and Olivia Safe won the public vote to appear in the tour of A Night at the Opera during October and November 2008.

Presenters, experts and guests

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

The Michael Ball Show

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.