Despite 's reputation as one of the "sexiest men on TV", his wife of 50 years, retired doctor Alison, isn't letting the fame go to his head. In fact, he's confessed that after five decades together, she's dismissed him as "just her little gardener".

Alan's lifestyle now couldn't be more different than the one he had when the couple first met at an amateur dramatics group back in 1975 - but he insists that, despite an estimated net worth of over £10million, he's scarcely changed. In his latest interview, he told Saga magazine: "We're still the people we were when we married. I hope my head hasn't been turned." The pair are firmly focused on family life at their Grade II listed Georgian farmhouse in Hampshire, as well as a seaside home on the Isle of Wight.

They're also besotted with their two grown up daughters, Camilla and Polly - and are grounded enough to take unusual fan encounters in their stride.

One overzealous man grabbed Alan's arm in a restaurant, exclaiming: "Now I've got you!" just as he and Alison were about to eat.

"[That was] the one time I nearly lost it... my fork was halfway to my mouth. It was hard to keep my cool," he admitted.

There was one other occasion on an aeroplane when the TV gardening expert was off duty, and didn't appreciate being interrogated about how to tend to a tomato patch.

"I was ever so slightly crabby on an aeroplane, when the woman came down the aisle and demanded to know, 'What's wrong with my tomatoes?'" he recalled.

"I said, 'Well, I can't tell from here.' She said, 'There's no need to be like that!'"

However, on most occasions, fan encounters are stress-free and Alan approaches them with a gracious attitude, reminding himself: "They bought our house!"

The Chelsea Flower Show fave recently received a CBE from and says the accolade - just like his "sexiest man" awards - have been "flattering beyond belief".